Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme started by @Lauren’s Page Turners but is currently hosted by Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog. This meme is quite easy to follow – just randomly pick a book from your to-be-read list and explain why you want to read it. It is that simple.

This week’s book:

The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai

Blurb from Goodreads

The spellbinding story of two young people whose fates will intersect and diverge across continents and years—an epic of love and family, India and America, tradition and modernity by the Booker Prize-winning author of The Inheritance of Loss

Behind every love story are the myriad stories of two families.

In the snowy mountains of Vermont, Sonia is lonely. A college student and aspiring writer homesick for India, she turns to an older artist for inspiration and intimacy, a man who will cast a dark spell on the next many years of her life. In Brooklyn, Sunny is lonely, too. A struggling journalist originally from Delhi, he is both beguiled and perplexed by his American girlfriend and the country in which he plans to find his future. As Sonia and Sunny each becomes more and more alienated, they begin to question their understanding of happiness, human connection, and where they belong.

Back in India, Sonia and Sunny’s extended families cannot fathom how anyone could be lonely in this great, bustling world. They arrange a meeting between the two—a clumsy meddling that only drives Sonia and Sunny apart before they have a chance to fall in love. 

The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny is the sweeping tale of two young people navigating the many forces that shape their country, class, race, history, and the complicated bonds that link one generation to the next. A love story, a family saga, and a rich novel of ideas, it is the most ambitious and accomplished work yet by one of our greatest novelists.

Why I Want To Read It

Technically, it’s already Tuesday—I know. Monday again. Mondays aren’t everyone’s cup of tea… or maybe coffee. As someone who loves coffee, I must admit I’m also not a fan of Mondays. However, I try to see them as an opportunity to start afresh. It’s a chance to work on our goals—ironically, the start is often the most difficult part. That said, I hope everyone had a restful weekend in preparation for the rigors of the week ahead. The weather here in the Philippines has been unpredictable over the past few weeks. Occasional downpours contrast sharply with the stifling heat. It’s no wonder many are feeling under the weather. With this, I hope everyone is keeping safe and dry. I also hope you’re doing well—mentally, emotionally, and physically. May we all make it through (or survive) the workweek. I wish you all the best for the days ahead.

Time really does fly. Just like that, the ninth month of the year is over. We’re already done with three-fourths of the year and have welcomed the final quarter. Despite the uncertainties the future holds, time keeps moving forward, with no regard for our readiness. While the future remains shrouded in uncertainty, there’s still a lot to look forward to. I hope everything is going well for you. As the year approaches its inevitable close, I wish that the rest of this month will be kind to everyone. May the remaining months of the year shower us all with blessings, positivity, healing, and growth. I hope good news and kindness come knocking on your doors in the coming weeks. Wishing you success and happiness.

With the start of a new month comes a new reading adventure. After concluding my journey into the works of European literature—a journey that lasted a full quarter—I’ve now pivoted to the works of American writers. When I say American writers, I refer to writers across the entire continent, from North to South America. Their works—along with those of some African writers—are the remaining titles in my reading challenge. It’s a journey I’m excited about, and I’m pretty sure I won’t be disappointed. However, I’ll occasionally interject works by non-American writers. Take, for example, the Booker Prize, for which this week’s featured book is a nominee.

In 2006, Indian writer Kiran Desai—daughter of writer Anita Desai—captivated the world with her sophomore novel, The Inheritance of Loss. It was a literary sensation that fascinated not only Indian readers but also the global literary community. The book became the runaway winner of the Booker Prize, making Desai the youngest winner at the time—a record later broken by Eleanor Catton in 2013. The book also earned several other accolades worldwide, firmly establishing Desai as a global voice. However, it took nearly two decades before Desai released a new work. Back in 2017, she announced that she was working on a new book. It would take another seven years before its release was finally announced. In 2025, Desai made her long-awaited literary comeback with the publication of The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny.

Admittedly, I’ve yet to read The Inheritance of Loss, although it’s high on my priority list. That hasn’t stopped me from looking forward to Desai’s latest novel, which promises to explore themes of both Indian and personal identity. Some literary critics have even described it as a modern Romeo and Juliet—a lofty comparison. Moreover, the book has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize, making it imperative for me to read—or at least attempt to read—it this year. I hope to get a copy soon. How about you, fellow reader? How was your Monday? What books have you recently added to your reading list? Drop your thoughts in the comments. For now—happy Monday, and as always, happy reading!