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THE CURIOUS SECRETS OF YESTERDAY (DNF Book Review)

book cover of the curious secrets of yesterday by namrata patel

I really wanted to love Namrata Patel’s newest novel, The Curious Secrets of Yesterday. I absolutely adored Patel’s debut, The Candid Life of Meena Dave. While I didn’t get a chance to read her sophomore book, Scent of a Garden, I was excited when Kaye Publicity approached me about an ARC for book #3.

Unfortunately, The Curious Secrets of Yesterday is getting added to the DNF pile for me. Let’s talk about why.

 

What’s The Curious Secrets of Yesterday about?

The Curious Secrets of Yesterday follows Tulsi, an Indian American woman who lives with her grandmother and mother in the quirky and historical town of Salem, MA. Tulsi and her family run a spice shop that caters to homeopathy and healing spices and herbs, a calling rooted in centuries of ancestral tradition. Tulsi longs to break out of her routine and find “something more” for herself. However, she can’t exactly pinpoint what “more” looks like for her. She only knows that she’s not ready to take over the family’s shop.

 

What I liked about The Curious Secrets of Yesterday

There are a lot of interesting aspects to The Curious Secrets of Yesterday:

  • the novel’s set in Salem but isn’t really a witchy book. It’s a refreshing change for novels set in this town.
  • Tulsi’s Indian roots and culture, and her traditions both herbal and familial passed down through the centuries.
  • there’s genuine, loving camaraderie between Tulsi, her mother, and grandmother.
  • an Instagram account starts promoting Tulsi’s store — but no one knows who created it.
  • some romance starts brewing when a hunky chef moves into the restaurant next door to the spice shop.
  • a potential long-lost love and secret past betrayal to delve into once Tulsi discovers that her quiet grandma may have more of a tumultuous history than she’s let on.

 

These themes all piqued my interest several times over the 84 pages I read of The Curious Secrets of Yesterday. But, they didn’t hold my interest. 

 

What I didn’t like about this book

Unfortunately, the quality of writing and storytelling in The Curious Secrets of Yesterday just isn’t the same as in The Candid Life of Meena Dave. The characters, the dialogue, and the stakes are all missing that oomph that packed Patel’s debut novel with such an emotionally captivating punch. 

Tulsi was a problem for me. I just couldn’t figure out who she’s supposed to be. Which I guess is the point of women’s fiction – Tulsi’s not sure who she wants to be, either – but she doesn’t really have much of a personality, and she blends into the background in every scene she’s in. 

Except for when Love Interest Lucas walks in. Whenever Lucas is around, Tulsi’s suddenly bubbly and talkative and the life of the party. I’m sorry, but where did that come from? I might have bought the switch if Tulsi didn’t insist on telling Lucas that she’s normally chatty and personable. But, the minute Lucas exits the scene, Tulsi goes right back to being a bump on a log. There’s no spark between Tulsi and Lucas, at least not at the stage I read to, and their conversation feels pretty wooden, so there was nothing to really warrant this personality shift. 

The theme of the The Curious Secrets of Yesterday – Tulsi wants something more –  also becomes repetitive really quickly. Yes, for the 100th time, Tulsi, we know you want more than the same life as your mother and grandmother. We know you don’t want to take over the family business. We get it

 

Should you read The Curious Secrets of Yesterday?

Since I loved The Candid Life of Meena Dave so, so much, I encourage you to give The Curious Secrets of Yesterday a try. Hopefully, there’s more hiding in this novel than I could see. Plus, a lot of people on Goodreads loved this story, so it seems I’m in the minority of readers who don’t finish it. 

 

What’s the book-inspired recipe?

Even though I didn’t love the book, I was still inspired to make a recipe for The Curious Secrets of Yesterday. Check back in for Shrimp Turmeric Curry!

 

Although I received a complimentary advance copy of The Curious Secrets of Yesterday from Kaye Publicity, all opinions expressed in this review are my own. I was not compensated in any way for this review or for any other promotion/publicity I’ve done related to this book.

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