NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
Named a book not to miss by USA Today * Chicago Sun-Times * New
York Post
"Deeply involving....Rings so true." -- Emma Donoghue, bestselling
author of Room
From the international bestselling author of Secret Daughter and
The Golden Son comes a poignant, unforgettable novel about a family's
growing apart and coming back together in the wake of tragedy.
"The Shape of Family is a novel about race and culture, parents and
siblings, marriage and love, but most of all, it's about finding hope
after darkness. Shilpi Somaya Gowda is a compassionate and wise
storyteller who keeps us riveted from beginning to end." -- Jean Kwok,
New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Translation
The Olander family embodies the modern American Dream in a globalized
world. Jaya, the cultured daughter of an Indian diplomat and Keith, an
ambitious banker from middle-class Philadelphia, meet in a London pub in
1988 and make a life together in suburban California. Their strong
marriage is built on shared beliefs and love for their two children:
headstrong teenager Karina and young son Prem, the light of their home.
But love and prosperity cannot protect them from sudden, unspeakable
tragedy, and the family's foundation cracks as each member struggles to
seek a way forward. Jaya finds solace in spirituality. Keith wagers on
his high-powered career. Karina focuses relentlessly on her future and
independence. And Prem watches helplessly as his once close-knit family
drifts apart.
When Karina heads off to college for a fresh start, her search for
identity and belonging leads her down a dark path, forcing her and her
family to reckon with the past, the secrets they've held and the weight
of their choices.
The Shape of Family is an intimate portrayal of four individuals as
they grapple with what it means to be a family and how to move from a
painful past into a hopeful future. It is a profoundly moving
exploration of the ways we all seek belonging--in our families, our
communities and ultimately, within ourselves.
