What do you think?
Rate this book
The Complex
A brilliant, sweeping, tour de force moving between America and modern India, following the illicit liaisons, real estate dramas, political ambitions, and mortal betrayals of one prominent Delhi family — from the author of the National Book Award finalist The Association of Small Bombs
In a sprawling complex in Delhi, the sons and daughters of SP Chopra, one of India's political architects, live together vying for influence in a family shaped by the great man's legacy. By the late 1970s, his descendants are scrambling to define their own futures in a still-young nation on the brink of transformation.
Sachin Chopra leaves for America, with his bride Gita following not long after, as the newlyweds are eager to forge their own lives beyond the pressures of the family compound. Yet Delhi remains an inescapable force, one that keeps pulling them back, even as Gita is menaced by Sachin’s predatory uncle, Laxman. A man of ruthless ambition, Laxman ascends through the ranks of a rising Hindu nationalist movement, caught between his political aspirations and his personal transgressions. Meanwhile, Vibha, his sister, tries to keep the peace and the reputation of the family intact even as she wrestles with her own exile.
As India erupts in violence and long-buried secrets come to light, the embattled Chopras must reckon with the cost of power, the weight of tradition, and the shifting nature of love and allegiance. Equal parts brilliant family saga and piercing political drama, The Complex is a virtuosic novel of revenge and redemption, ambition and undoing, loyalty and love, by one of the most lauded voices in contemporary fiction.
In a sprawling complex in Delhi, the sons and daughters of SP Chopra, one of India's political architects, live together vying for influence in a family shaped by the great man's legacy. By the late 1970s, his descendants are scrambling to define their own futures in a still-young nation on the brink of transformation.
Sachin Chopra leaves for America, with his bride Gita following not long after, as the newlyweds are eager to forge their own lives beyond the pressures of the family compound. Yet Delhi remains an inescapable force, one that keeps pulling them back, even as Gita is menaced by Sachin’s predatory uncle, Laxman. A man of ruthless ambition, Laxman ascends through the ranks of a rising Hindu nationalist movement, caught between his political aspirations and his personal transgressions. Meanwhile, Vibha, his sister, tries to keep the peace and the reputation of the family intact even as she wrestles with her own exile.
As India erupts in violence and long-buried secrets come to light, the embattled Chopras must reckon with the cost of power, the weight of tradition, and the shifting nature of love and allegiance. Equal parts brilliant family saga and piercing political drama, The Complex is a virtuosic novel of revenge and redemption, ambition and undoing, loyalty and love, by one of the most lauded voices in contemporary fiction.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2026
About the author
Karan Mahajan
8 books377 followersKaran Mahajan is the author of "The Association of Small Bombs," which was a finalist for the National Book Award, winner of the NYPL Young Lions Fiction Award, and was named one of the 10 Best Books of the Year by the New York Times Book Review. His debut novel "Family Planning" was a finalist for the International Dylan Thomas Prize. He has been selected as one of Granta’s Best Young American Novelists, and his writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Vanity Fair, The New York Review of Books, and other venues. He is an associate professor in Literary Arts at Brown University. His third novel, "The Complex," is forthcoming in March 2026.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
May 5, 2026
i have succession disease, which is when i can't hear that something is about a family vying for power without thinking about my favorite prestige television show
(thanks to the publisher for the arc)
(thanks to the publisher for the arc)
September 19, 2025
taking preemptive action LOL
March 30, 2026
A proper Indian family saga, in which the great-grandson of a famous politician tells the story of the decline of his once powerful family, all living together in The Complex.
It was hard for me not to compare this to the recent Pakistani saga 'This Is Where The Serpent Lives', which I thought was better written and enjoyed slightly more than this one.
The Complex appears mostly interested in the women of the family and their struggled to get out of the straightjacket that late 20th century Indian society puts them in - by moving abroad, by starting an affair. It focused a little bit too much on the affairs for my taste and I would have been interested to learn more about the religious and political contexts.
It was hard for me not to compare this to the recent Pakistani saga 'This Is Where The Serpent Lives', which I thought was better written and enjoyed slightly more than this one.
The Complex appears mostly interested in the women of the family and their struggled to get out of the straightjacket that late 20th century Indian society puts them in - by moving abroad, by starting an affair. It focused a little bit too much on the affairs for my taste and I would have been interested to learn more about the religious and political contexts.
September 30, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and Viking for the ebook. An epic book that follows three related families in India’s recent past. All three families are in the shadow of their famous patriarch, SP Chopra and are constantly measuring their failures against his greatness, which leads to goals that can never be met. One man throws himself into business, but barely breaks even, another tries to bring the innovations he learned in America back home, but finds his country just isn’t quite set up for these things. A third, Laxman, seduces, or assaults, the women inside the family and becomes a political zealot. With financial pressure and with trying to hold so many secrets, it’s only a matter of time until violence follows.
March 2, 2026
Thanks to Goodreads and Viking for the review copy.
I remember the opening of Karan Mahajan’s first novel, The Association of Small Bombs, going off like one — a literal bomb. I was immediately pulled in.
His latest novel, The Complex, lives up to its title in a different way. Much is revealed in the first chapter (no spoilers), and it’s the kind of subject matter I often hope not to read about.
The “complex” refers to the apartment building at the center of the story, but like his first novel, it’s also about the complexities of families — long histories, grudges, ego, and the ways people hurt each other without fully understanding why. The family drama mirrors larger political tensions in India, especially around events like the Anti-Sikh riots and the Mandal Commission protests. Mahajan seems less interested in taking political sides and more interested in showing how tribalism and self-righteousness — whether in a country or a family — can cause damage that’s hard to undo.
I’ve seen comparisons to Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky, but I’m not sure that’s quite right. It feels closer to the melodramatic family sagas of Jonathan Franzen or even Tom Wolfe. The language itself is fairly straightforward, but the shifting alliances, betrayals, and emotional undercurrents give it its edge.
Even though I didn’t enjoy it as much as The Association of Small Bombs, I still think it’s a strong novel and will find a wide audience. I could easily see this adapted into a Netflix series — and I would definitely watch that.
I remember the opening of Karan Mahajan’s first novel, The Association of Small Bombs, going off like one — a literal bomb. I was immediately pulled in.
His latest novel, The Complex, lives up to its title in a different way. Much is revealed in the first chapter (no spoilers), and it’s the kind of subject matter I often hope not to read about.
The “complex” refers to the apartment building at the center of the story, but like his first novel, it’s also about the complexities of families — long histories, grudges, ego, and the ways people hurt each other without fully understanding why. The family drama mirrors larger political tensions in India, especially around events like the Anti-Sikh riots and the Mandal Commission protests. Mahajan seems less interested in taking political sides and more interested in showing how tribalism and self-righteousness — whether in a country or a family — can cause damage that’s hard to undo.
I’ve seen comparisons to Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky, but I’m not sure that’s quite right. It feels closer to the melodramatic family sagas of Jonathan Franzen or even Tom Wolfe. The language itself is fairly straightforward, but the shifting alliances, betrayals, and emotional undercurrents give it its edge.
Even though I didn’t enjoy it as much as The Association of Small Bombs, I still think it’s a strong novel and will find a wide audience. I could easily see this adapted into a Netflix series — and I would definitely watch that.
April 4, 2026
The best part of this book was being finished with it and dropping it off in a Little Free Library.
Did Not Finish
April 12, 2026I pushed to about 30 percent and have decided to DNF. The family saga of a prominent Delhi family living in The Complex (and in the US) in the 70s, 80s and 90s amidst India’s changing political landscape sounded interesting. But ultimately I found it to be too Bollywood soap opera-ish and not to my enjoyment. If you are familiar at all with India, these kind of patriarchal and sexist families existing in a nationalistic landscape are not uncommon. So I think I was expecting a lot more depth perhaps from an award winning author. But Karan Mahajan is a new to me author and unfortunately his writing here just didn’t do it for me.
November 30, 2025
to the PRH rep that pressed this book into my hands at FallCon: thank you. you were right.
June 12, 2026
If you love a juicy family drama that hooks you from page one, you need to pick up The Complex by Karan Mahajan. Moving dynamically between a crowded family compound in New Delhi and the suburbs of America, this gripping novel spans the late 1970s to the 1990s, capturing the messy, chaotic heart of a family on the brink of change.
The story follows the Chopra family, who are all living in the shadow of their late patriarch’s massive political legacy. When newlyweds Sachin and Gita move to the US to build a new life, they think they've escaped the family pressure cooker. But Delhi has a way of pulling them back, especially when dark secrets, ruthless ambitions, and political rivalries begin to boil over.
What makes this book so unforgettable is how real it feels. Mahajan’s writing is sharp, witty, and deeply atmospheric. He takes characters who could easily feel like typical aunts and uncles and gives them incredible moral and psychological depth. It is part intense political drama and part heartbreaking family saga, exploring how private family tensions can mirror a country's larger political shifts.
It is a stunning, fast-paced ride about power, revenge, and what it truly costs to break free from tradition. If you’re looking for a brilliant page-turner that stays with you long after the final chapter, add this to your TBR list immediately!
Rated: 4/5
The story follows the Chopra family, who are all living in the shadow of their late patriarch’s massive political legacy. When newlyweds Sachin and Gita move to the US to build a new life, they think they've escaped the family pressure cooker. But Delhi has a way of pulling them back, especially when dark secrets, ruthless ambitions, and political rivalries begin to boil over.
What makes this book so unforgettable is how real it feels. Mahajan’s writing is sharp, witty, and deeply atmospheric. He takes characters who could easily feel like typical aunts and uncles and gives them incredible moral and psychological depth. It is part intense political drama and part heartbreaking family saga, exploring how private family tensions can mirror a country's larger political shifts.
It is a stunning, fast-paced ride about power, revenge, and what it truly costs to break free from tradition. If you’re looking for a brilliant page-turner that stays with you long after the final chapter, add this to your TBR list immediately!
Rated: 4/5
March 13, 2026
Loved this book! Karan will be a guest on my show this season - Check This Out!
April 24, 2026
3.5 stars. I read this via Whispersync and the audiobook was expertly narrated.
April 16, 2026
Bafflingly clumsy piece from a writer whose prior work is so taut. It's meandering, plotless, unfocused, and in the final few pages there's a cascade of new themes and character arcs tossed in almost out of nowhere. The startling and interesting moments are brief and spread apart (Mahajan is incapable of capitalizing on narrative momentum) but we then get pages and pages and pages devoted to scenes that serve absolutely no purpose.
The only redeeming character is Gita, whom we get ample exposure to in the first 100 pages, but who then drops almost all the way out of the narrative. The rest is devoted to Karishma and Laxman, both of whom are perplexing and unlikable (kind of the point, but still) and basically one note.
If it had been confined to 200-250 pages, this could have been a 5 star book.
The only redeeming character is Gita, whom we get ample exposure to in the first 100 pages, but who then drops almost all the way out of the narrative. The rest is devoted to Karishma and Laxman, both of whom are perplexing and unlikable (kind of the point, but still) and basically one note.
If it had been confined to 200-250 pages, this could have been a 5 star book.
November 30, 2025
I stumbled upon a free, uncorrected proof of The Complex at a bookstore. I enjoy reading realistic fiction books about India and complex familial relationships, so this book seemed up my alley.
At first I felt a bit overwhelmed by the number of characters, but Mahajan spent time digging into many of their motivations and points-of-view. I may have benefited from a family tree, but I believe I sorted everyone out after more detailed chapters cleared things up. I found the women, particularly Gita and Karishma, to be the most compelling. I love a story where everyone is flawed but has redeeming qualities. This rung true in The Complex. Even the seemingly most corrupt, Laxman, had complexity.
Some parts of the story dragged, but the usage of one-sentence chapter cliffhangers kept me steadily reading. Overall, I loved the opportunity to be one of the first to read and review this well-written novel. If you like messy relationships, character-driven storylines, and themes of economic classes, family duty, and the seeking of opportunities, this is a book for you.
At first I felt a bit overwhelmed by the number of characters, but Mahajan spent time digging into many of their motivations and points-of-view. I may have benefited from a family tree, but I believe I sorted everyone out after more detailed chapters cleared things up. I found the women, particularly Gita and Karishma, to be the most compelling. I love a story where everyone is flawed but has redeeming qualities. This rung true in The Complex. Even the seemingly most corrupt, Laxman, had complexity.
Some parts of the story dragged, but the usage of one-sentence chapter cliffhangers kept me steadily reading. Overall, I loved the opportunity to be one of the first to read and review this well-written novel. If you like messy relationships, character-driven storylines, and themes of economic classes, family duty, and the seeking of opportunities, this is a book for you.
June 9, 2026
There are books that tell stories, and then there are books that quietly dissect the systems that shape those stories. "The Complex" by Karan Mahajan belongs firmly to the latter category. It is a book less interested in comforting narratives than in exposing the uneasy machinery beneath modern life, the networks of power, privilege, ideology, and inheritance that determine how people live, love, compromise, and ultimately become who they are.
At first glance, the book appears to revolve around a housing colony in Delhi and the people connected to it. Yet the colony itself gradually transforms into something larger than a setting. It becomes a living metaphor for contemporary India, a space where aspirations collide with history, where private desires are inseparable from public realities, and where every wall seems to conceal both ambition and decay. The author constructs this world with extraordinary precision, creating a narrative that feels simultaneously intimate and expansive.
What makes this book so compelling is its refusal to offer easy moral certainties. The book is populated by individuals who are neither heroes nor villains but deeply flawed human beings struggling against their own contradictions. The author understands that people rarely act according to the ideals they profess. Instead, they move through life guided by fear, insecurity, self-interest, longing, and occasional flashes of genuine compassion.
The characters feel unsettlingly authentic because they are never simplified into symbols. They possess the messy unpredictability of real people. Their choices often frustrate the reader, but that frustration is precisely the point. The author is interested in exposing the gap between how people see themselves and how they actually behave when confronted with power, status, or survival. This psychological honesty gives the novel much of its emotional weight.
Beneath its family dramas and interpersonal tensions lies a deeper examination of political and social structures. He explores how ideology functions not merely as a set of beliefs but as a force that infiltrates everyday life. Politics in The Complex is not confined to elections, speeches, or public debates. It exists within families, friendships, neighborhoods, and personal relationships. It shapes aspirations, influences loyalties, and determines who gets to belong.
•••
This is where the book achieves some of its most powerful effects. Rather than presenting political realities through overt commentary, the author allows them to emerge organically through the lives of his characters. The result is a portrait of society that feels both nuanced and disturbingly recognizable. The reader begins to understand how large-scale social transformations are experienced not as abstract historical events but as intimate disruptions within individual lives.
•••
One of the book's most striking achievements is its treatment of privilege. He approaches privilege not as a simplistic moral failing but as a complicated inheritance, something that grants opportunity while simultaneously creating blindness. Many of the characters benefit from systems they scarcely recognize, and the novel repeatedly asks uncomfortable questions about complicity. What responsibilities accompany privilege? How much of a person's success genuinely belongs to them? Can one remain morally intact while benefiting from unjust structures?
•••
The author's prose is another significant strength. His writing is sharp, observant, and often devastatingly precise. He possesses a remarkable ability to capture emotional undercurrents without resorting to melodrama. A brief exchange, an awkward silence, or a seemingly insignificant gesture often reveals more about a character than pages of exposition could.
What lingers after finishing the book is not a particular plot twist or dramatic scene but a pervasive sense of unease. The book forces readers to examine the invisible systems that shape their own lives. It asks difficult questions about power, inheritance, morality, and belonging. More importantly, it refuses to provide reassuring answers.
•••
In an era when much contemporary fiction often prioritizes immediacy and accessibility, the book remains unapologetically demanding. It trusts readers to wrestle with complexity rather than escape from it. That trust is both its greatest strength and, for some, its greatest challenge.
•••
✍️ Strengths :
🔸Exceptionally layered exploration of family, politics, privilege, and social power.
🔸Complex, psychologically convincing characters who feel authentically human.
🔸Sharp, intelligent prose rich with observation and emotional nuance.
🔸Thought-provoking engagement with moral ambiguity and ideological conflict.
🔸A sophisticated portrayal of contemporary Indian society through intimate personal narratives.
🔸Rewards careful reading with lasting intellectual and emotional resonance.
•••
In conclusion, this is a book that understands an uncomfortable truth, societies do not unravel through grand catastrophes alone, they erode gradually through everyday compromises, inherited privileges, silent ambitions, and moral evasions. The author captures this reality with remarkable intelligence and restraint, crafting a work that is as psychologically incisive as it is socially observant.
This is not a book designed to entertain in a conventional sense. It is designed to unsettle, provoke, and illuminate. Its greatest achievement lies in its ability to transform a seemingly ordinary housing colony into a microcosm of a nation wrestling with questions of identity, power, and responsibility. Long after the story ends, its questions continue echoing in the reader's mind.
At first glance, the book appears to revolve around a housing colony in Delhi and the people connected to it. Yet the colony itself gradually transforms into something larger than a setting. It becomes a living metaphor for contemporary India, a space where aspirations collide with history, where private desires are inseparable from public realities, and where every wall seems to conceal both ambition and decay. The author constructs this world with extraordinary precision, creating a narrative that feels simultaneously intimate and expansive.
What makes this book so compelling is its refusal to offer easy moral certainties. The book is populated by individuals who are neither heroes nor villains but deeply flawed human beings struggling against their own contradictions. The author understands that people rarely act according to the ideals they profess. Instead, they move through life guided by fear, insecurity, self-interest, longing, and occasional flashes of genuine compassion.
The characters feel unsettlingly authentic because they are never simplified into symbols. They possess the messy unpredictability of real people. Their choices often frustrate the reader, but that frustration is precisely the point. The author is interested in exposing the gap between how people see themselves and how they actually behave when confronted with power, status, or survival. This psychological honesty gives the novel much of its emotional weight.
Beneath its family dramas and interpersonal tensions lies a deeper examination of political and social structures. He explores how ideology functions not merely as a set of beliefs but as a force that infiltrates everyday life. Politics in The Complex is not confined to elections, speeches, or public debates. It exists within families, friendships, neighborhoods, and personal relationships. It shapes aspirations, influences loyalties, and determines who gets to belong.
•••
This is where the book achieves some of its most powerful effects. Rather than presenting political realities through overt commentary, the author allows them to emerge organically through the lives of his characters. The result is a portrait of society that feels both nuanced and disturbingly recognizable. The reader begins to understand how large-scale social transformations are experienced not as abstract historical events but as intimate disruptions within individual lives.
•••
One of the book's most striking achievements is its treatment of privilege. He approaches privilege not as a simplistic moral failing but as a complicated inheritance, something that grants opportunity while simultaneously creating blindness. Many of the characters benefit from systems they scarcely recognize, and the novel repeatedly asks uncomfortable questions about complicity. What responsibilities accompany privilege? How much of a person's success genuinely belongs to them? Can one remain morally intact while benefiting from unjust structures?
•••
The author's prose is another significant strength. His writing is sharp, observant, and often devastatingly precise. He possesses a remarkable ability to capture emotional undercurrents without resorting to melodrama. A brief exchange, an awkward silence, or a seemingly insignificant gesture often reveals more about a character than pages of exposition could.
What lingers after finishing the book is not a particular plot twist or dramatic scene but a pervasive sense of unease. The book forces readers to examine the invisible systems that shape their own lives. It asks difficult questions about power, inheritance, morality, and belonging. More importantly, it refuses to provide reassuring answers.
•••
In an era when much contemporary fiction often prioritizes immediacy and accessibility, the book remains unapologetically demanding. It trusts readers to wrestle with complexity rather than escape from it. That trust is both its greatest strength and, for some, its greatest challenge.
•••
✍️ Strengths :
🔸Exceptionally layered exploration of family, politics, privilege, and social power.
🔸Complex, psychologically convincing characters who feel authentically human.
🔸Sharp, intelligent prose rich with observation and emotional nuance.
🔸Thought-provoking engagement with moral ambiguity and ideological conflict.
🔸A sophisticated portrayal of contemporary Indian society through intimate personal narratives.
🔸Rewards careful reading with lasting intellectual and emotional resonance.
•••
In conclusion, this is a book that understands an uncomfortable truth, societies do not unravel through grand catastrophes alone, they erode gradually through everyday compromises, inherited privileges, silent ambitions, and moral evasions. The author captures this reality with remarkable intelligence and restraint, crafting a work that is as psychologically incisive as it is socially observant.
This is not a book designed to entertain in a conventional sense. It is designed to unsettle, provoke, and illuminate. Its greatest achievement lies in its ability to transform a seemingly ordinary housing colony into a microcosm of a nation wrestling with questions of identity, power, and responsibility. Long after the story ends, its questions continue echoing in the reader's mind.
Did Not Finish
March 24, 2026I was interested until it fell away from the main woman's POV and shifted into the POV of the pathetic, entitled men who take out their insecurities on women.
April 24, 2026
Set in Delhi from the late '70s to the '90s, The Complex is about several generations of the Chopra family living in the sprawling apartment complex built by their revered patriarch, SP Chopra, who was one of India's political architects. Several family members make an appearance in the novel but the focus is on SP's son Laxman, the youngest of his 9 children, and two of SP's grandsons, brothers Sachin and Brij, as well as their respective spouses, Gita and Karishna.
Sachin and Gita emigrated to the U.S. and live in Michigan for many years while Brij and Karishna are raising their sons in the complex. Laxman, also resident in the complex, is a mediocre businessman, a ruthless politician and a sexual predator who assaults and abuses family members. The novel is narrated retrospectively by a great-grandson of SP's who is now a middle-aged man living in the apartment complex awaiting his father's release from prison after serving a 25 year sentence for murder.
The reader is slowly drawn into the layers of this compelling family saga. It's a character-driven novel that takes place against the backdrop of rapid economic and political change that post-Independence India was experiencing in the '80s and '90s including the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, anti-Sikh riots, protests of the Mandal Commission report, political instability in Punjab and Kashmir, the rise of Hindu nationalism and economic liberalization. Interesting, informative and well-written - this is the first book by this author that I have picked up and I enjoyed the read.
Sachin and Gita emigrated to the U.S. and live in Michigan for many years while Brij and Karishna are raising their sons in the complex. Laxman, also resident in the complex, is a mediocre businessman, a ruthless politician and a sexual predator who assaults and abuses family members. The novel is narrated retrospectively by a great-grandson of SP's who is now a middle-aged man living in the apartment complex awaiting his father's release from prison after serving a 25 year sentence for murder.
The reader is slowly drawn into the layers of this compelling family saga. It's a character-driven novel that takes place against the backdrop of rapid economic and political change that post-Independence India was experiencing in the '80s and '90s including the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, anti-Sikh riots, protests of the Mandal Commission report, political instability in Punjab and Kashmir, the rise of Hindu nationalism and economic liberalization. Interesting, informative and well-written - this is the first book by this author that I have picked up and I enjoyed the read.
May 20, 2026
Really enjoyed the characterization in this book. In particular, the characters of Gita and Karishma are wonderfully written. Really appreciated the navigation of family ties and expectations of womanhood.
Laxman too is a well-written, albeit awful, character. Without spoiling too much, his arc focuses on who gains power.
The saga weaves in the rise of Hindu Nationalism, the decline of Congress, and class issues. Though this takes place in the past, it’s highly relevant today.
Would recommend.
Laxman too is a well-written, albeit awful, character. Without spoiling too much, his arc focuses on who gains power.
The saga weaves in the rise of Hindu Nationalism, the decline of Congress, and class issues. Though this takes place in the past, it’s highly relevant today.
Would recommend.
June 12, 2026
Good, but over long, story of extended Chopra family living in “ The Complex.” Each family member’s story is highlighted by the current political situation. Some members were more interesting than others.
March 30, 2026
I LOVED The Complex. The Chopra family was the epitome of dysfunctional family love and torment.
May 6, 2026
I didn’t hate it but this was far too long for how little happened.
May 11, 2026
Thanks to Viking, Karan Mahajan (author), and Edelweiss for providing an advance digital review copy of The Complex. Their generosity did not influence my review in any way.
In what I would consider a complete nightmare situation, the complex being referred to in The Complex is a housing community in India where an entire extended, multigenerational family lives in separate but connected housing units. Second cousins twice removed and a husband’s great aunt’s sister in law are all close relatives and all up in everyone’s business. This well-known family descended from a wealthy political guru, and they are looking at a crisis as the book starts: one of their own is getting out of prison after a couple decades and is returning to the complex today. Lots of opinions, fears, and obligations are being spoken to our narrator who then begins to tell us the story of how we got here.
And all I can say is WOW. This was so great. Life kept trying to intrude, but every time I set the book down for a few minutes I craved it and had to get right back to it. This is a 450 page book that I finished in one day where I basically refused to do anything else. This is like the Indian version of The Godfather but without the murders. Well, one murder occurs. And some bu… you know what? Just go ahead and pick this one up. 4.75 stars.
In what I would consider a complete nightmare situation, the complex being referred to in The Complex is a housing community in India where an entire extended, multigenerational family lives in separate but connected housing units. Second cousins twice removed and a husband’s great aunt’s sister in law are all close relatives and all up in everyone’s business. This well-known family descended from a wealthy political guru, and they are looking at a crisis as the book starts: one of their own is getting out of prison after a couple decades and is returning to the complex today. Lots of opinions, fears, and obligations are being spoken to our narrator who then begins to tell us the story of how we got here.
And all I can say is WOW. This was so great. Life kept trying to intrude, but every time I set the book down for a few minutes I craved it and had to get right back to it. This is a 450 page book that I finished in one day where I basically refused to do anything else. This is like the Indian version of The Godfather but without the murders. Well, one murder occurs. And some bu… you know what? Just go ahead and pick this one up. 4.75 stars.
March 11, 2026
A Turbulent Family Epic
Karan Mahajan’s " The Complex sprawls across decades and continents, telling the story of the Chopra family as they grapple with power, betrayal, and the shifting sands of modern India. At the heart of it all is SP Chopra, a political fixer whose legacy shapes every twist of fate for generations to come. From Delhi’s fevered real estate scene to the charged atmosphere of America, the novel’s tapestry is rich and tumultuous, as three main couples jostle for influence and survival against a backdrop of family secrets, illicit affairs, and the rise of Hindu nationalism. Laxman, ambitious and flawed, emerges as both a product and a driver of this turbulent era, his political aspirations forever at odds with his personal demons.
Mahajan’s characters leap off the page; ruthless, yearning, and painfully human. Laxman’s hunger for power collides with the quieter ambitions of Gita and Sachin, whose marriage reveals another side of the family’s tangled loyalties. Across siblings and spouses, old resentments simmer, and alliances shift, all within the claustrophobic confines of the family’s compound. The result is a portrait of relationships as fraught and fascinating as any political drama.
Big themes pulse through the novel: identity, immigration, and social change, but Mahajan never loses sight of the individuals at the center of the storm. He tackles issues like racism and sexual assault with nuance, grounding them in the realities of a world in flux. The Chopras’ triumphs and tragedies mirror India’s own transformation, making their journey both personal and political.
What sets The Complex apart is Mahajan’s style: sharp, subversive, and modern, yet rooted in the grand tradition of nineteenth-century family novels. If you are a fan of classic literature, you will likely find Mahajan's writing comparable to the works of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, and for good reason. Mahajan juggles the epic and the intimate, the political and the deeply personal, with remarkable precision. His prose is clear, unsparing, and full of both horror and tenderness.
The novel’s thrilling plot, emotional depth, and ambitious scope are just *chef's kiss*. It’s a page-turner, a magisterial performance, and a book worth rereading for its insight into memory and truth. Readers will be drawn in by the vivid characters and the immersive web of family and politics, even as the multitude of storylines demands close attention.
The real magic of The Complex lies in how it marries the grand and the granular, making every political upheaval feel intimate and every family squabble thrum with national consequence. Mahajan has delivered a novel that is as smart as it is heartfelt; a sweeping, deeply satisfying portrait of India, the immigrant experience, and the families we can’t escape, no matter how hard we try.
Karan Mahajan’s " The Complex sprawls across decades and continents, telling the story of the Chopra family as they grapple with power, betrayal, and the shifting sands of modern India. At the heart of it all is SP Chopra, a political fixer whose legacy shapes every twist of fate for generations to come. From Delhi’s fevered real estate scene to the charged atmosphere of America, the novel’s tapestry is rich and tumultuous, as three main couples jostle for influence and survival against a backdrop of family secrets, illicit affairs, and the rise of Hindu nationalism. Laxman, ambitious and flawed, emerges as both a product and a driver of this turbulent era, his political aspirations forever at odds with his personal demons.
Mahajan’s characters leap off the page; ruthless, yearning, and painfully human. Laxman’s hunger for power collides with the quieter ambitions of Gita and Sachin, whose marriage reveals another side of the family’s tangled loyalties. Across siblings and spouses, old resentments simmer, and alliances shift, all within the claustrophobic confines of the family’s compound. The result is a portrait of relationships as fraught and fascinating as any political drama.
Big themes pulse through the novel: identity, immigration, and social change, but Mahajan never loses sight of the individuals at the center of the storm. He tackles issues like racism and sexual assault with nuance, grounding them in the realities of a world in flux. The Chopras’ triumphs and tragedies mirror India’s own transformation, making their journey both personal and political.
What sets The Complex apart is Mahajan’s style: sharp, subversive, and modern, yet rooted in the grand tradition of nineteenth-century family novels. If you are a fan of classic literature, you will likely find Mahajan's writing comparable to the works of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, and for good reason. Mahajan juggles the epic and the intimate, the political and the deeply personal, with remarkable precision. His prose is clear, unsparing, and full of both horror and tenderness.
The novel’s thrilling plot, emotional depth, and ambitious scope are just *chef's kiss*. It’s a page-turner, a magisterial performance, and a book worth rereading for its insight into memory and truth. Readers will be drawn in by the vivid characters and the immersive web of family and politics, even as the multitude of storylines demands close attention.
The real magic of The Complex lies in how it marries the grand and the granular, making every political upheaval feel intimate and every family squabble thrum with national consequence. Mahajan has delivered a novel that is as smart as it is heartfelt; a sweeping, deeply satisfying portrait of India, the immigrant experience, and the families we can’t escape, no matter how hard we try.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I definitely think that a lot of people will find this book extremely interesting and intricate, especially those who are looking for post-colonial historical fictions. I generally do fall into this category, but for me, this one just fell a bit short, and I think a lot of that is to do with how it was structured.
“The Complex” follows a large Indian family that is living and surviving in a post-British-ruled India, which soon leads to their new government’s instability. The book navigates the family as they all follow different paths and learn more about one another in ways they never expected.
I really think that the book was well-written; it is very clear that Mahajan worked extremely hard on making sure to contextualize Indian culture in the 70s and 80s and how that impacted this family in Delhi. That being said, I find the structure of the book a bit disjointed and for me, it paid it extremely difficult to follow the narrative. When it was all in Gita’s perspective, I liked it and could see the push and pull between U.S. and Indian culture and the extreme differences between them and that internal struggle that she had about it. But when it came to Laxman and Karishma, I felt like the constant jump between one and the other was making it difficult for me to follow who cares about what. I did love Karishma’s story and found it equally if not more compelling than Gita’s, but I really did not want to hear from Laxman. Every time I got his perspective, which was quite often, I just didn’t want to hear it because he is so unreliable and I just could not empathize with anything he did. We also stop getting that cultural struggle because midway through the book, we just stop getting Gita’s perspective until the very very end, and instead it begins to focus on the political instability in India. To me, it just felt like it was trying to cover two very different topics and while I understand that those two topics can be very interconnected, I didn’t really feel like that connection was being drawn.
I say all of this but please know that I did not dislike the book in any way. I found it extremely informative, especially since I am not very knowledgeable in Indian history or culture to be honest. I liked the comparisons it drew to the U.S. and how different family dynamics are between the two countries as well. I just found the book itself to be doing a bit too much when it came to some of its commentary, leading to what felt like a disjointed narrative overall. I think others who have more of a piqued interest in this type of history and historical fiction would absolutely love this book and find it captivating; I just was not one of those people necessarily and that’s ok.
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
“The Complex” follows a large Indian family that is living and surviving in a post-British-ruled India, which soon leads to their new government’s instability. The book navigates the family as they all follow different paths and learn more about one another in ways they never expected.
I really think that the book was well-written; it is very clear that Mahajan worked extremely hard on making sure to contextualize Indian culture in the 70s and 80s and how that impacted this family in Delhi. That being said, I find the structure of the book a bit disjointed and for me, it paid it extremely difficult to follow the narrative. When it was all in Gita’s perspective, I liked it and could see the push and pull between U.S. and Indian culture and the extreme differences between them and that internal struggle that she had about it. But when it came to Laxman and Karishma, I felt like the constant jump between one and the other was making it difficult for me to follow who cares about what. I did love Karishma’s story and found it equally if not more compelling than Gita’s, but I really did not want to hear from Laxman. Every time I got his perspective, which was quite often, I just didn’t want to hear it because he is so unreliable and I just could not empathize with anything he did. We also stop getting that cultural struggle because midway through the book, we just stop getting Gita’s perspective until the very very end, and instead it begins to focus on the political instability in India. To me, it just felt like it was trying to cover two very different topics and while I understand that those two topics can be very interconnected, I didn’t really feel like that connection was being drawn.
I say all of this but please know that I did not dislike the book in any way. I found it extremely informative, especially since I am not very knowledgeable in Indian history or culture to be honest. I liked the comparisons it drew to the U.S. and how different family dynamics are between the two countries as well. I just found the book itself to be doing a bit too much when it came to some of its commentary, leading to what felt like a disjointed narrative overall. I think others who have more of a piqued interest in this type of history and historical fiction would absolutely love this book and find it captivating; I just was not one of those people necessarily and that’s ok.
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Viking Penguin, and the author Karan Mahajan for the e-ARC!
First things first, this caught my eye because I love books that delve deep into character studies, especially if they are within a family unit- always complicated and somewhat dysfunctional- whether it's super relatable, has completely different dynamics, or includes pieces of another culture that I am eager to learn about (as in this case).
The Complex is a sprawling, multi-POV family story set in a Delhi housing complex, where everyone is living (knowingly or not) in the shadow of SP Chopra. SP Chopra is depicted as a legendary politician, nationalist, and patriarch whose posthumous legacy controls his large family throughout the late 1970s and beyond. What unfolds is less a single plot and more a web of siblings, marriages, affairs, expectations, and quiet resentments that keep building over time.
This novel really leans into the messiness of family life, especially when lived in such close quarters. There's a lot of exploration in cultural and gender expectations, especially how much is demanded of women in marriage and how much is quietly endured and considered "normal". Some of it is uncomfortable to sit with (i.e., the intro with Gita and Laxman, Karishma feeling like Laxman is the better option compared to Brij, the unfairness of who has children and who mistreats them...). But that all felt very intentional to the overarching story. It also touches on how one traumatic event can completely shift a relationship, and how quickly (or not) everything underneath the surface can unravel.
I liked how immersive it felt culturally, even when I didn't fully understand every reference. There are a lot of Hindi terms and cultural details that aren't always explained outright- though quite a few are explicitly defined for the reader- and while I couldn't always look them up easily, I ended up appreciating figuring things out in context. In that way, I'm also glad the author didn't kowtow to the "American" reader.
Despite the huge cast, the multi-POV structure works well, and I got a surprisingly clear sense of who everyone is (down to their internal, most private thoughts) by the end. There is a theatrical quality to it. The book even points to characters feeling like actors playing roles, both private and public, within the family and beyond. And at times, it felt like everyone was watching each other just as much as they were living their own lives. If I had to pick one word that filled my thoughts after finishing this book, it would be "relativity".
This is definitely a more character-driven than plot-driven novel, which works for me, but I can see it being slower for readers who prefer a faster paced story. Overall, a really engaging, layered family story.
First things first, this caught my eye because I love books that delve deep into character studies, especially if they are within a family unit- always complicated and somewhat dysfunctional- whether it's super relatable, has completely different dynamics, or includes pieces of another culture that I am eager to learn about (as in this case).
The Complex is a sprawling, multi-POV family story set in a Delhi housing complex, where everyone is living (knowingly or not) in the shadow of SP Chopra. SP Chopra is depicted as a legendary politician, nationalist, and patriarch whose posthumous legacy controls his large family throughout the late 1970s and beyond. What unfolds is less a single plot and more a web of siblings, marriages, affairs, expectations, and quiet resentments that keep building over time.
This novel really leans into the messiness of family life, especially when lived in such close quarters. There's a lot of exploration in cultural and gender expectations, especially how much is demanded of women in marriage and how much is quietly endured and considered "normal". Some of it is uncomfortable to sit with (i.e., the intro with Gita and Laxman, Karishma feeling like Laxman is the better option compared to Brij, the unfairness of who has children and who mistreats them...). But that all felt very intentional to the overarching story. It also touches on how one traumatic event can completely shift a relationship, and how quickly (or not) everything underneath the surface can unravel.
I liked how immersive it felt culturally, even when I didn't fully understand every reference. There are a lot of Hindi terms and cultural details that aren't always explained outright- though quite a few are explicitly defined for the reader- and while I couldn't always look them up easily, I ended up appreciating figuring things out in context. In that way, I'm also glad the author didn't kowtow to the "American" reader.
Despite the huge cast, the multi-POV structure works well, and I got a surprisingly clear sense of who everyone is (down to their internal, most private thoughts) by the end. There is a theatrical quality to it. The book even points to characters feeling like actors playing roles, both private and public, within the family and beyond. And at times, it felt like everyone was watching each other just as much as they were living their own lives. If I had to pick one word that filled my thoughts after finishing this book, it would be "relativity".
This is definitely a more character-driven than plot-driven novel, which works for me, but I can see it being slower for readers who prefer a faster paced story. Overall, a really engaging, layered family story.
June 11, 2026
In some families, they pass down heirlooms, but the Chopras, in Karan Mahajan’s The Complex, hands down resentment, ambition, and a political obsession wrapped up in damage called legacy. This happens in a Delhi housing complex that acts as both home and battleground for their emotions.
The story follows an influential family through the changing times of India. One great thing about this book is how it avoids simplifying anyone. Mahajan paints characters who can be annoying, sensitive, self-centered, isolated, and mean, frequently all together. Laxman really gets under your skin, yet the book never transforms him into an easy-to-hate bad guy. It’s more about understanding how power plays out within a family before it ever shows up in politics.
The history and political stuff is nicely integrated too. Think anti-Sikh riots, the economy opening up, people moving around, and nationalism rising. All of this shapes the characters’ feelings while skipping any boring history lecture. Best parts are seeing big national changes subtly shift marriages, how siblings get along, and individual dreams.
The novel's scale is both a strength and a weak point. The vast cast brings the setting to life, though some characters needed deeper exploration. At times, the narrative becomes bogged down by too many plot threads, yet even in slower parts, the writing stays insightful and emotionally attuned.
Mahajan’s prose is sharp without overtrying. He perfectly captures the claustrophobia of family life, those tangled webs of affection and resentment that last for decades in the same spaces.
The Complex really comes alive in its gray areas, in lingering hurts, in surface-level respectability, and in the unique intimacy of knowing exactly how to wound someone. Despite occasionally sprawling too far, its sharp emotional insight and clever psychology make it hard to put down.
This kind of reminded me of the movie Rajneeti honestly!
.
The story follows an influential family through the changing times of India. One great thing about this book is how it avoids simplifying anyone. Mahajan paints characters who can be annoying, sensitive, self-centered, isolated, and mean, frequently all together. Laxman really gets under your skin, yet the book never transforms him into an easy-to-hate bad guy. It’s more about understanding how power plays out within a family before it ever shows up in politics.
The history and political stuff is nicely integrated too. Think anti-Sikh riots, the economy opening up, people moving around, and nationalism rising. All of this shapes the characters’ feelings while skipping any boring history lecture. Best parts are seeing big national changes subtly shift marriages, how siblings get along, and individual dreams.
The novel's scale is both a strength and a weak point. The vast cast brings the setting to life, though some characters needed deeper exploration. At times, the narrative becomes bogged down by too many plot threads, yet even in slower parts, the writing stays insightful and emotionally attuned.
Mahajan’s prose is sharp without overtrying. He perfectly captures the claustrophobia of family life, those tangled webs of affection and resentment that last for decades in the same spaces.
The Complex really comes alive in its gray areas, in lingering hurts, in surface-level respectability, and in the unique intimacy of knowing exactly how to wound someone. Despite occasionally sprawling too far, its sharp emotional insight and clever psychology make it hard to put down.
This kind of reminded me of the movie Rajneeti honestly!
.
May 6, 2026
The Complex by Karan Mahajan is a deeply layered story about family, power, and the quiet tensions that grow over time. Set in Delhi, the novel takes you inside the lives of the Chopra family, where relationships are complicated and every person is trying to find their own place under the shadow of a strong legacy.
The story moves between personal struggles and bigger political changes. The family dynamics feel very real full of control, silence, expectations, and unspoken pain. Each character has their own journey, and none of them feel perfect or ideal, which makes them more believable.
Gita and Sachin’s track added an emotional depth for me. Their decision to move abroad to escape family pressure shows how heavy expectations can become. But even distance doesn’t bring complete freedom, and that part felt very honest. Gita’s character especially stays with you because of her quiet strength.
Laxman’s role in the story brings a darker and more intense side. His ambition and involvement in politics show how power can shape a person in unsettling ways. On the other hand, Vibha tries to hold everything together, and her presence adds balance to the story.
The backdrop of India in the 1970s to 1990s adds another layer. The social and political unrest is present, but it never takes away from the emotional core of the book. Instead, it makes the story feel more grounded and meaningful.
The writing is simple yet sharp, the impact is strong. It’s the kind of book where you understand characters slowly, and their choices make you think.
Overall, this is a thoughtful and realistic novel about family, identity, and change. It doesn’t try to be loud, but it says a lot in a quiet way.
The story moves between personal struggles and bigger political changes. The family dynamics feel very real full of control, silence, expectations, and unspoken pain. Each character has their own journey, and none of them feel perfect or ideal, which makes them more believable.
Gita and Sachin’s track added an emotional depth for me. Their decision to move abroad to escape family pressure shows how heavy expectations can become. But even distance doesn’t bring complete freedom, and that part felt very honest. Gita’s character especially stays with you because of her quiet strength.
Laxman’s role in the story brings a darker and more intense side. His ambition and involvement in politics show how power can shape a person in unsettling ways. On the other hand, Vibha tries to hold everything together, and her presence adds balance to the story.
The backdrop of India in the 1970s to 1990s adds another layer. The social and political unrest is present, but it never takes away from the emotional core of the book. Instead, it makes the story feel more grounded and meaningful.
The writing is simple yet sharp, the impact is strong. It’s the kind of book where you understand characters slowly, and their choices make you think.
Overall, this is a thoughtful and realistic novel about family, identity, and change. It doesn’t try to be loud, but it says a lot in a quiet way.
March 6, 2026
The Complex by Karan Mahajan is the kind of novel that quietly pulls you in and then refuses to leave your mind.
Set in Delhi across the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, the story follows generations of the influential Chopra family living together in a sprawling compound built by their formidable patriarch, S.P. Chopra. Within those walls: businesses are built, egos collide, fortunes shift, and resentment quietly simmers.
Mahajan doesn’t rely on spectacle or plot twists. Instead, he gives us something more interesting—a layered portrait of ambition, privilege, insecurity, and the complicated gravity of family.
The descendants of the once-dominant Chopra empire struggle to live up to the legend they’ve inherited. Some chase opportunity abroad in the United States, hoping distance will translate into success. What they find instead is the uncomfortable realization that legacy doesn’t guarantee achievement.
What fascinated me most was how the compound itself becomes a character. Family members drift away and return, circling the place that shaped them. It’s a small world packed with buried grudges, quiet rivalries, and the kind of secrets that eventually surface no matter how carefully they’re hidden.
This isn’t a high-octane, plot-driven novel. It’s slower, more observational—deeply interested in people and the contradictions they carry.
If you enjoy sweeping family sagas, character-driven fiction, and stories that explore how power and expectation echo across generations, The Complex is well worth your time.
A thoughtful, absorbing read that proves the most compelling dramas often unfold within the walls of a family.
Set in Delhi across the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, the story follows generations of the influential Chopra family living together in a sprawling compound built by their formidable patriarch, S.P. Chopra. Within those walls: businesses are built, egos collide, fortunes shift, and resentment quietly simmers.
Mahajan doesn’t rely on spectacle or plot twists. Instead, he gives us something more interesting—a layered portrait of ambition, privilege, insecurity, and the complicated gravity of family.
The descendants of the once-dominant Chopra empire struggle to live up to the legend they’ve inherited. Some chase opportunity abroad in the United States, hoping distance will translate into success. What they find instead is the uncomfortable realization that legacy doesn’t guarantee achievement.
What fascinated me most was how the compound itself becomes a character. Family members drift away and return, circling the place that shaped them. It’s a small world packed with buried grudges, quiet rivalries, and the kind of secrets that eventually surface no matter how carefully they’re hidden.
This isn’t a high-octane, plot-driven novel. It’s slower, more observational—deeply interested in people and the contradictions they carry.
If you enjoy sweeping family sagas, character-driven fiction, and stories that explore how power and expectation echo across generations, The Complex is well worth your time.
A thoughtful, absorbing read that proves the most compelling dramas often unfold within the walls of a family.
March 21, 2026
This novel is set in a sprawling apartment complex, housing the sons and daughters of SP Chopra, one of India's political architects. Sachin Chopra, currently lives in America, with his wife Gita, as both try to figure out their own way without the heavy burden from the family back in India. However, they can't escape India as Gita returns from a family wedding and ends up being harrassed by Sachin's uncle, Laxman. Laxman is ruled by his ambition, and starts to rise through the ranks of the Hindu Nationalist movement, but while he is working he ends up setting his sights on another family member - his other nephew's wife, Karishma. As violence erupts in India, the Chopras must deal with the consequences of their actions and choices.
This was a family saga that was interesting at times, but really dragged on. I think it was super ambitious by having the book from multiple perspectives in the family, but I preferred Gita's perspective the most. It was the best for highlighting the battle between Indian and US culture when moving to a new country and the internal struggles she dealt with. I hated Laxman's the most because he was so obnoxious and disgusting. Halfway through the book the focus on the struggles changes and heavily focuses on political instability, which made the book feel like it was trying to cover too much and should have just focused on one specific theme. For me the book was just okay, it was extremely informative about the time period in India.
Thanks Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Why did I read? I wanted to learn more about India Would i read again? No
This was a family saga that was interesting at times, but really dragged on. I think it was super ambitious by having the book from multiple perspectives in the family, but I preferred Gita's perspective the most. It was the best for highlighting the battle between Indian and US culture when moving to a new country and the internal struggles she dealt with. I hated Laxman's the most because he was so obnoxious and disgusting. Halfway through the book the focus on the struggles changes and heavily focuses on political instability, which made the book feel like it was trying to cover too much and should have just focused on one specific theme. For me the book was just okay, it was extremely informative about the time period in India.
Thanks Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Why did I read? I wanted to learn more about India Would i read again? No
May 14, 2026
"The complex" feels like you have moved into the house with the family of powerful political figure, "S. P. Chopra". You hear arguments through shared walls,even the people who seem gentle or novel from outside seem to be hypocrites, weak under the surface. At its core, the novel explores a family house as a complex, with grandparents, uncles, aunties, cousins, and children. They are all messy and full of secrets. The book slowly reveals how small domestic choices about love, money, or loyalty end up with property shares and inheritance fights.
The story is told through the eyes of Mohit, son of Karishma. Mohit is bitter and clinical. Through him, you experience the characters,their flaws, their selfishness, their cruelty, more than their kindness. Lakshman, whose predatory behavior towards females completely unsettles: abusive, infidelity, toxic masculinity. You don't skim past it; you're made to sit with how family normalizes and rationalizes it.
In the family, women like Gita, Karishma, and Vibha are caught between safety and suffering. Yet they still try to keep the household running, protect their children, and preserve their dignity all while haunted by fear, abuse, and economic dependence. The book doesn't soften these realities; it portrays them raw, with all their pain, making the reading emotionally heavy. Love, care, and affection are real, but they're tangled up with competition, jealousy, property disputes, and money.
Emotionally, this book is not a light read. It deals with abuse, infidelity, political violence, and generational trauma. If you like slow, heavy themes and novels that sit with you for days after you finish, you'll enjoy it.
The story is told through the eyes of Mohit, son of Karishma. Mohit is bitter and clinical. Through him, you experience the characters,their flaws, their selfishness, their cruelty, more than their kindness. Lakshman, whose predatory behavior towards females completely unsettles: abusive, infidelity, toxic masculinity. You don't skim past it; you're made to sit with how family normalizes and rationalizes it.
In the family, women like Gita, Karishma, and Vibha are caught between safety and suffering. Yet they still try to keep the household running, protect their children, and preserve their dignity all while haunted by fear, abuse, and economic dependence. The book doesn't soften these realities; it portrays them raw, with all their pain, making the reading emotionally heavy. Love, care, and affection are real, but they're tangled up with competition, jealousy, property disputes, and money.
Emotionally, this book is not a light read. It deals with abuse, infidelity, political violence, and generational trauma. If you like slow, heavy themes and novels that sit with you for days after you finish, you'll enjoy it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Viking for this advance readers copy, in exchange for an honest review. The Complex is an epic family saga, following the descendants of famed SP Chopra, around the globe from India to the US. Our main characters, Sachin and Gita, are our primary focus in the novel but, we follow many of their family members over time and come to see how family dynamics, politics, gender roles, and an evolving Indian society affect their lives. In particular, we also follow the character, Laxman, Sachin’s uncle, who is an abusive figure and has a heavy role in local politics, giving us insight into this particular landscape.
This was a wonderful story, one that I was really able to sink into and enjoy over time. There are enough plot points that the book moves along swiftly enough but, the real magic here is in the characters. The author does a great job at providing insight into the characters inner motivations and emotions, which helped me understand what was driving them and had me rooting for them. Not all characters were likeable but, this was okay— Laxman in facts was despicable but, was a great way for the reader to really feel the rising tension of the times and as a view into the political climate. There are some difficult experiences to read in this book, particularly related to sexual assault, but the author handles them with care. He covers many important themes throughout this book and these difficult plot points don’t feel at all gratuitous.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who enjoy big, dramatic family sagas!
This was a wonderful story, one that I was really able to sink into and enjoy over time. There are enough plot points that the book moves along swiftly enough but, the real magic here is in the characters. The author does a great job at providing insight into the characters inner motivations and emotions, which helped me understand what was driving them and had me rooting for them. Not all characters were likeable but, this was okay— Laxman in facts was despicable but, was a great way for the reader to really feel the rising tension of the times and as a view into the political climate. There are some difficult experiences to read in this book, particularly related to sexual assault, but the author handles them with care. He covers many important themes throughout this book and these difficult plot points don’t feel at all gratuitous.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who enjoy big, dramatic family sagas!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews