Grown-Up Pose

Grown-Up Pose by Sonya Lalli is a marvelous journey of self-discovery. Anu Desai always does what is expected of her. She honored her parents’ wishes for her career choice and their views of dating. She and her husband Neil dated for five years before marrying. Now the parents of five year old Kanika, Anu shocks everyone when she asks Neil to move out. Neil and Anu share joint custody of Kanika and Neil lives with his mom. She is now dating but is Anu ready to finalize their divorce? Anu has still not achieved what she is looking for. Always obedient, she still wants her parents’ approval but their expectations do not match up with what she wants for herself. After an unexpected discovery, Anu makes an impulsive decision to fulfill her dream of owning a yoga studio. The only problem? She has no idea how to run a business. The lease is barely signed before Anu impetuously purchases a ticket to London. But she is disappointed to discover that traveling alone is not as fulfilling as she believed it would be. Anu’s search for herself is a bit frustrating since she is a somewhat aimless and reckless as tries to figure out what she visualizes her future and who will share it with her. Grown-Up Pose is an entertaining and thoughtful novel with a realistic storyline and appealing characters. Anu’s fight for autonomy vs family expectations will resonate with readers who have experienced a similar situation. Occasional flashbacks provide valuable insight into what Anu is searching for and why she is having difficulty asserting her independence. Anu sometimes does not make the best decisions but she tries to move forward without regrets. An epiphany late in the story provides her with direction but her fears might prevent her from finding true happiness. Sonya Lalli brings this enjoyable novel to a gratifying conclusion. I received a complimentary copy for review.