The Vibrant Years: A Novel

Written by Sonali Dev and Mindy Kaling

Narrated by Deepti Gupta, Soneela Nankani and Anita Kalathara

“Bursting with humor, banter, and cringeworthy first dates, Sonali Dev’s The Vibrant Years is a joyful and fun read, but it’s also very much a timely tale about a group of underestimated women demanding respect and embracing their most authentic selves.” —Mindy Kaling

Living on their own terms means being there for one another.

When sixty-five-year-old Bindu Desai inherits a million dollars, she’s astounded—and horrified. The windfall threatens to expose a shameful mistake from her youth. Desperate to keep the secret, Bindu quickly spends it on something unexpected: a condo in a posh retirement community in Florida.

The impulsive decision blindsides Bindu’s daughter-in-law, Aly. At forty-seven, Aly still shares a home with Bindu even after her divorce from Bindu’s son. But maybe this change is just the push Aly needs to fight for the segment she’s been promised for years at the news station where she works.

As Bindu and Aly navigate their new dynamic, Aly’s daughter, Cullie, is faced with losing the business that made her a tech-world star. The only way to save it is to deliver a new idea to her investors—and of course they want the half-baked dating app she pitched them in a panic. Problem is, Cullie has never been on a real date. Naturally, enlisting her single mother and grandmother to help her with the research is the answer.

From USA Today bestselling author Sonali Dev comes a heartfelt novel about three generations of hilarious, unconventional, ambitious women navigating bad dates, a spiteful HOA board, reemerging exes, and secrets that refuse to remain hidden. Join the Desai women on a shared journey of self-discovery as they dare to live their most vibrant lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Dec 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781713681984

Sonali Dev

USA Today Bestselling author Sonali Dev writes Bollywood-style love stories that explore issues faced by women around the world. Sonali’s novels have been on Library Journal, NPR, Washington Post, and Kirkus’s Best Books of the year lists. She has won the American Library Association’s award for best romance, the RT Reviewer Choice Award for best contemporary  romance, multiple RT Seals of Excellence, is a RITA® finalist, and has been listed for the Dublin Literary Award. Shelf Awareness calls her “Not only one of the best but one of the bravest romance novelists working today.” She lives in Chicagoland with her husband, two visiting adult children, and the world’s most perfect dog. Find more at sonalidev.com.

Reviews for The Vibrant Years

[FT Kinard · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great story line. Strong, well developed characters. Thoughtful examples of strong women.

[stephanietg · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read this book months ago, and I'm still thinking about the characters! I absolutely loved this book!!

[shazjhb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable book about 3 Indian women living in US trying to find love happiness. Loved the stuff about a program for anxiety and dating.

[dknight0918 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy. I really enjoyed reading this book and the three generations of women and their bond with each other.

[tjsjohanna_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Three generations of women are all coping with change. Bindu inherits a windfall but there's a shameful secret attached. Aly, Bindu's daughter-in-law has to face the inherent racism in her profession and decide where to go. Finally Cully, Aly's daughter, is trying to save her business and deal with an ex who hasn't ever had her best interests at heart. Seeing each woman explore her wants vs the expectations she and others have put on themselves is interesting and funny and heartbreaking. I enjoyed this novel of family and female courage.

[reader1009-863136 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

fiction - family secrets, romance and humor featuring three generations of strong Indian-American women-- a widowed grandmother ready to live out the life she's been missing, her divorced daughter-in-law facing challenges in her dream to become a news anchor as a brown-skinned person in FL, and a granddaughter who is not interested in finding love but who is trying to create a better dating app and needs guinea pigs to test all the ways the existing apps go (hilariously) wrong.

upbeat and entertaining, and you can't beat this trio of smart, fierce, resilient women. If you haven't yet discovered Sonali Dev's books, here is a great place to start.