Tulsi Gupta is a third generation spice healer, expected to take up the mantle and carry on the legacy her grandmother built in their spice shop in Salem, MA. Despite the pressure to complete her training, Tulsi is delaying her decision. She wants more in life than to continue in her family’s footsteps. And when she begins investigating a mysterious letter she found in her family’s attic, she learns that her mother and grandmother are keeping secrets of their own. And after learning the truth, there’s no going back. The Curious Secrets of Yesterday is a women’s fiction novel from bestselling author Namrata Patel in which Tulsi must forge her own path while navigating the pressure of cultural and generational expectations.
Book
The family store is well-known amongst the Salem locals, but the rising trends of homeopathic remedies begin to draw larger crowds. While Tulsi’s grandmother is against digital marketing, Tulsi understands the benefits of expanding their customer base and using the platform to educate others about their practice. But someone else has done it for them without their consultation or permission. So the family becomes overwhelmed with the increased store traffic and misinformation. On top of that, a handsome entrepreneur, Jacob, has bought the deli next door. Naturally, Tulsi’s mother and grandmother begin playing matchmaker. As Tulsi gets to know him and his background, she gets more courage to break away from the life her family planned for her. And when she discovers the truth about the unmailed letter she found, she and her family will never be the same.
Review
The Curious Secrets of Yesterday is the third book I’ve read by this author, and it was just as lovely as the first two. Patel gives readers insight into how a multigenerational household and small family business adds pressure for those who are next in line to carry on the legacy and protect their culture. Readers who aren’t first-generation Americans will undoubtedly relate to the responsibility and guilt that Tulsi faces in pursuing the life that she wants, instead of the one that was planned for her. Plus, the bombshell twists that occur in this family add some juicy drama that will not disappoint.
Namrata Patel joins the Cantina Book Club Podcast to talk about the delicate balance of embracing other cultures and plans for future works. Keep an ear out for the interview and preorder The Curious Secrets of Yesterday, available June 1.
