I really enjoyed Sonya Lalli's first book, The Matchmaker's List, and so I have been looking forward to reading Grown-up Pose. I'm thankful for receiving a copy from Berkely via NetGalley for review purposes; all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed the book despite not always agreeing with what Anu, the protagonist, does in the story. I also think the blurb is a little misleading; this is really a story of one woman's journey of self-recovery and the yoga studio itself plays very little into it until the latter part of the story.

So Anu is a woman who did not have much life experience under her belt when she married young. Her husband Neil is the only man she's ever dated, and they have a wonderful little girl she dotes on. Anu herself has a part-time job as a nurse (a career she felt pushed into by her parents), and her life mostly revolves around her husband and daughter. Her husband, I might add, is a bit of a man-child himself, relatively irresponsible (he leaves the front door open and unlocked while he's home with their daughter - what?) and pretty much helpless around the house.

Anu is the type of mom that many too many mothers can relate to - putting everyone else's lives first, not necessarily losing touch with old friends but just not making time for them (or yourself). Mix that with a life that feels utterly not of your own making, but one that was shaped by parental and cultural pressures, and you have one hot mess of a woman who isn't entirely emotionally mature herself.

She basically wakes up to the situation she is in - and wants more. In a series of somewhat impulsive decisions, she turns her life upside down, enters the dating scene, rediscovers a passion, buys a failing yoga studio, takes a much overdue (solo) trip abroad - it's all a bit of a mess.

I should be upset with Anu (and at times I am); she IS selfish, but I can also see where it's coming from. I wish that a few characters were more involved in the story (Imogen). and I wish that her parents actually felt more controlling so I really would FEEL like she was pushed into a life she didn't ask for. (Her parents are freaking adorable, although her mom feels a little intimidating.). The time jumps were confusing and distracting at times, too.

HOWEVER. Something about this story really captured me. It moved swiftly and I felt invested in her Anu, flaws and all. Her actions are not accepted by friends and family, and the train wreck that her life becomes (at times0. There's also a lot of character growth. We see it in Anu (slowly) and we see it, indirectly, in Neil. We even see it in Anu's parents, as her mother reaches out for a dream she has held, and her father steps into the role of caregiver. The writing caught me emotionally, and despite its flaws, I couldn't put the book down.

This is the story of a woman who finally finds her own way. ( )

I was sent this book from the publisher/publicity team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

I have seen many mixed reviews around this one, but I am really glad I gave it a chance. I really enjoyed it.

This was also a really quick read and I read it in one sitting which is always nice. I thought the pacing was great as it kept my attention throughout. There were some more humorous moments and also serious moments.

I do wish this would have explored mental health a little deeper, as I feel it almost skipped over everything that happened with Imogen. It does set up nicely for a second book around her character though which I would love to see.

Yes, our main character, Anu, could be very unlikable at times. However; I also found her relatable at the same time. She was very young when she got with her husband and had their first child. She really never found herself or who she wanted to be. She is on a journey to do just that within this story.

Overall, I really liked this though. ( )

When differing cultural practices collide

Traditional life expectations run into conflict for Anu Desai. A good girl who followed her family's strictures, and married the first serious boyfriend she had. The problem is that now she feels trapped. In effect she's painted herself into a corner and is kept there by her own and others expectations. Throughout this navel gazing Anu and her husband are growing away from each other. You could feel Anu's to some extent, self imposed cultural standards resulting from her traditional upbringing, causing her inner dissatisfaction.
So here she is with a husband, a young daughter and doting, traditional parents, reclaiming her friendships, and making a run for it.
Anu forges ahead, aided by her girlfriends, to claim her freedom and of course finding disappointment on the relationship level. There's a rather funny scene when she discovers her new interest wining and dining someone else. I applauded.
Her decision to follow her heart and buy a yoga studio comes with some interesting twists. Making it pay becomes even more complicated. Taking up the role of single parent comes with unforeseen complications and angst.
Coming full circle this is an interesting take on a coming of age novel when you're supposedly well beyond that time.
Not as satisfying a read as I'd hoped, but some interesting moments and cultural disconnects.

A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley ( )