Reviews
" Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao blew my heart up. Heart-shards everywhere. I am in awe of the warmth and humanity in this book, even as it explores some incredibly dark places. I'm going to be thinking about Girls Burn Brighter for a while, and you're going to be hearing a lot about it." --Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky "Enchanting... The resplendent prose captures the nuances and intensity of two best friends on the brink of an uncertain and precarious adulthood... An incisive study of a friendship's unbreakable bond." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review), Goodreads: 23 Highly Anticipated Books of 2018 Bustle: 35 Most Anticipated Fiction Books of 2018 To Get You Pumped for a New Year of Reading The Huffington Post: 60 Books We Can't Wait To Read in 2018 Cosmopolitan : 33 Books to Get Excited About in 2018 The Chicago Review of Books : The Most Anticipated Fiction Books of 2018 Levo: 21 Fiction Books by Female Authors for Your 2018 Reading List Brit + Co: 16 of the Most Anticipated Books of 2018 Ms. Magazine 's Bookmarks: Feminist Reads for Winter Seattle Post-Intelligencer : Fiction To Watch For In 2018 Literary Hoarders: Winter 2018 Most Anticipated BookRiot: 10 March New Releases to Put on Hold at the Library Right Now BookRiot: 101 Books Coming Out in 2018 That You Should Mark Down Now Blog Critics: Fiction to Watch for in 2018 My Novel Life: Best Books for 2018 "This novel burnt up my weekend. With beautiful language, warm friendships, and vivid images, once I started reading I could not stop. It's a story of struggle and survival. Female friendship is the lifeline." -- Claire Cameron, author of The Bear and The Last Neanderthal " Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao blew my heart up. Heart-shards everywhere. I am in awe of the warmth and humanity in this book, even as it explores some incredibly dark places. I'm going to be thinking about Girls Burn Brighter for a while, and you're going to be hearing a lot about it." --Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky "Enchanting... The resplendent prose captures the nuances and intensity of two best friends on the brink of an uncertain and precarious adulthood... An incisive study of a friendship's unbreakable bond." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "This powerful, heart-wrenching novel and its two unforgettable heroines offer an extraordinary example of the strength that can be summoned in even the most terrible situations." -- Booklist , starred review "Highly recommended for book discussion groups, this tale of sacrifice, exploitation, and reclamation is not to be missed." -- Library Journal , starred review "Stirring...affecting...The narrative's thematic consistency and emotional urgency will pull readers along." -- Publishers Weekly "A confident debut novel set in India and America about the unbreakable bond between two girls. From the menacing nooks of India's underworld to the streets of Seattle, this searing novel traces the nuances of adulthood and the enduring power of childhood bonds." -- The Chicago Review of Books "Rao layers her debut novel with issues that face many young women worldwide, from street harassment and domestic abuse to oppressive societal norms." --Ms. Magazine "This debut novel is the perfect read for fans of Rupi Kaur." --Brit + Co "An unbelievably beautiful and harrowing story of friendship and devotion." -- BookRiot, Goodreads: 23 Highly Anticipated Books of 2018 Bustle: 35 Most Anticipated Fiction Books of 2018 To Get You Pumped for a New Year of Reading Cosmopolitan: 33 Books to Get Excited About in 2018 The Chicago Review of Books : The Most Anticipated Fiction Books of 2018 Levo: 21 Fiction Books by Female Authors for Your 2018 Reading List Brit + Co: 16 of the Most Anticipated Books of 2018 " Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao blew my heart up. Heart-shards everywhere. I am in awe of the warmth and humanity in this book, even as it explores some incredibly dark places. I'm going to be thinking about Girls Burn Brighter for a while, and you're going to be hearing a lot about it." --Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky "Enchanting... The resplendent prose captures the nuances and intensity of two best friends on the brink of an uncertain and precarious adulthood... An incisive study of a friendship's unbreakable bond." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "This powerful, heart-wrenching novel and its two unforgettable heroines offer an extraordinary example of the strength that can be summoned in even the most terrible situations." -- Booklist , starred review "Highly recommended for book discussion groups, this tale of sacrifice, exploitation, and reclamation is not to be missed." -- Library Journal , starred review "A confident debut novel set in India and America about the unbreakable bond between two girls. From the menacing nooks of India's underworld to the streets of Seattle, this searing novel traces the nuances of adulthood and the enduring power of childhood bonds." -- The Chicago Review of Books "Rao layers her debut novel with issues that face many young women worldwide, from street harassment and domestic abuse to oppressive societal norms." --Ms. Magazine "This debut novel is the perfect read for fans of Rupi Kaur." --Brit + Co, Amazon's March Spotlight Pick One of the Best Books of the Month ( Harper's Bazaar , Entertainment Weekly , Bustle, PureWow, Paste, Book Riot, Signature Reads, and The Chicago Review of Books ) A Most Anticipated Book of 2018 (Goodreads, Bustle, Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan, BookRiot, PopSugar, The Chicago Review of Books, Ms. Magazine, Seattle Post-Intelligencer ) "Incandescent...A searing portrait of what feminism looks like in much of the world." -- Vogue "Rao's feminist commentary is particularly potent." -- Entertainment Weekly "A definite must-read for readers who love authors like Nadia Hashimi and Khaled Hosseini." --Bustle "A treat for Ferrante fans, exploring the bonds of friendship and how female ambition beats against the strictures of poverty and patriarchal societies." --The Huffington Post "An unbelievably beautiful and harrowing story of friendship and devotion." -- Book Riot "Harrowing and beautiful.... Trust us--your book club will want to know Rao's name." -- BookPage "A beautiful testament to female friendship." -- PopSugar " Girls Burn Brighter is the kind of book you open and fall into...Rao's debut is a high achievement." --KQED, San Francisco " Girls Burn Brighter is an absolutely stunning debut novel from an author you'll want to follow for years to come." --Paste "This debut novel is the perfect read for fans of Rupi Kaur." --Brit + Co "Rao layers her debut novel with issues that face many young women worldwide, from street harassment and domestic abuse to oppressive societal norms." --Ms. Magazine "A confident debut novel set in India and America about the unbreakable bond between two girls. From the menacing nooks of India's underworld to the streets of Seattle, this searing novel traces the nuances of adulthood and the enduring power of childhood bonds." -- The Chicago Review of Books "Enchanting... The resplendent prose captures the nuances and intensity of two best friends on the brink of an uncertain and precarious adulthood... An incisive study of a friendship's unbreakable bond." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "This powerful, heart-wrenching novel and its two unforgettable heroines offer an extraordinary example of the strength that can be summoned in even the most terrible situations." -- Booklist , starred review "Highly recommended for book discussion groups, this tale of sacrifice, exploitation, and reclamation is not to be missed." -- Library Journal , starred review "Stirring...affecting...The narrative's thematic consistency and emotional urgency will pull readers along." -- Publishers Weekly "Rao writes exquisite sentences...By the end of Girls Burn Brighter , Poornima and Savitha earn their places in the hearts of readers." -- Woodbury Magazine "This novel burnt up my weekend. With beautiful language, warm friendships, and vivid images, once I started reading I could not stop. It's a story of struggle and survival. Female friendship is the lifeline." -- Claire Cameron, author of The Bear and The Last Neanderthal " Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao blew my heart up. Heart-shards everywhere. I am in awe of the warmth and humanity in this book, even as it explores some incredibly dark places. I'm going to be thinking about Girls Burn Brighter for a while, and you're going to be hearing a lot about it." --Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky, Amazon''s March Spotlight Pick One of the Best Books of the Month ( Harper''s Bazaar , Entertainment Weekly , Bustle, Vulture, PureWow, Paste, Book Riot, Signature Reads, and The Chicago Review of Books ) A Most Anticipated Book of 2018 (Goodreads, Bustle, Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan, BookRiot, PopSugar, The Chicago Review of Books, Ms. Magazine, Seattle Post-Intelligencer ) "Shobha Rao writes cleanly and eloquently about women who, without their brightness, might have been left to die in their beds. She writes them into life, into existence, into the light of day." -- Los Angeles Times "Incandescent...A searing portrait of what feminism looks like in much of the world." -- Vogue "Rao''s feminist commentary is particularly potent." -- Entertainment Weekly "A definite must-read for readers who love authors like Nadia Hashimi and Khaled Hosseini." --Bustle "A treat for Ferrante fans, exploring the bonds of friendship and how female ambition beats against the strictures of poverty and patriarchal societies." --The Huffington Post "An unbelievably beautiful and harrowing story of friendship and devotion." -- Book Riot "Harrowing and beautiful.... Trust us--your book club will want to know Rao''s name." -- BookPage "A beautiful testament to female friendship." -- PopSugar " Girls Burn Brighter is the kind of book you open and fall into...Rao''s debut is a high achievement." --KQED, San Francisco " Girls Burn Brighter is an absolutely stunning debut novel from an author you''ll want to follow for years to come." --Paste "This debut novel is the perfect read for fans of Rupi Kaur." --Brit + Co "Rao layers her debut novel with issues that face many young women worldwide, from street harassment and domestic abuse to oppressive societal norms." --Ms. Magazine "The two fierce young women draw you in with their resilience and hope, and their enduring bond will both inspire and break readers'' hearts." -- Apartment Therapy "A confident debut novel set in India and America about the unbreakable bond between two girls. From the menacing nooks of India''s underworld to the streets of Seattle, this searing novel traces the nuances of adulthood and the enduring power of childhood bonds." -- The Chicago Review of Books "Enchanting... The resplendent prose captures the nuances and intensity of two best friends on the brink of an uncertain and precarious adulthood... An incisive study of a friendship''s unbreakable bond." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "This powerful, heart-wrenching novel and its two unforgettable heroines offer an extraordinary example of the strength that can be summoned in even the most terrible situations." -- Booklist , starred review "Highly recommended for book discussion groups, this tale of sacrifice, exploitation, and reclamation is not to be missed." -- Library Journal , starred review "Stirring...affecting...The narrative''s thematic consistency and emotional urgency will pull readers along." -- Publishers Weekly "Rao writes exquisite sentences...By the end of Girls Burn Brighter , Poornima and Savitha earn their places in the hearts of readers." -- Woodbury Magazine "This novel burnt up my weekend. With beautiful language, warm friendships, and vivid images, once I started reading I could not stop. It''s a story of struggle and survival. Female friendship is the lifeline." -- Claire Cameron, author of The Bear and The Last Neanderthal " Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao blew my heart up. Heart-shards everywhere. I am in awe of the warmth and humanity in this book, even as it explores some incredibly dark places. I''m going to be thinking about Girls Burn Brighter for a while, and you''re going to be hearing a lot about it." --Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky, LibraryReads March 2018 PopSugar: 31 of the Best New Books You Should Read This Spring Goodreads: 23 Highly Anticipated Books of 2018 Bustle: 35 Most Anticipated Fiction Books of 2018 To Get You Pumped for a New Year of Reading The Huffington Post: 60 Books We Can't Wait To Read in 2018 Cosmopolitan : 33 Books to Get Excited About in 2018 The Chicago Review of Books : The Most Anticipated Fiction Books of 2018 Levo: 21 Fiction Books by Female Authors for Your 2018 Reading List Brit + Co: 16 of the Most Anticipated Books of 2018 Ms. Magazine 's Bookmarks: Feminist Reads for Winter Seattle Post-Intelligencer : Fiction To Watch For In 2018 Literary Hoarders: Winter 2018 Most Anticipated BookRiot: 10 March New Releases to Put on Hold at the Library Right Now BookRiot: 101 Books Coming Out in 2018 That You Should Mark Down Now Blog Critics: Fiction to Watch for in 2018 My Novel Life: Best Books for 2018 "This novel burnt up my weekend. With beautiful language, warm friendships, and vivid images, once I started reading I could not stop. It's a story of struggle and survival. Female friendship is the lifeline." -- Claire Cameron, author of The Bear and The Last Neanderthal " Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao blew my heart up. Heart-shards everywhere. I am in awe of the warmth and humanity in this book, even as it explores some incredibly dark places. I'm going to be thinking about Girls Burn Brighter for a while, and you're going to be hearing a lot about it." --Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky "Enchanting... The resplendent prose captures the nuances and intensity of two best friends on the brink of an uncertain and precarious adulthood... An incisive study of a friendship's unbreakable bond." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "This powerful, heart-wrenching novel and its two unforgettable heroines offer an extraordinary example of the strength that can be summoned in even the most terrible situations." -- Booklist , starred review "Highly recommended for book discussion groups, this tale of sacrifice, exploitation, and reclamation is not to be missed." -- Library Journal , starred review "Stirring...affecting...The narrative's thematic consistency and emotional urgency will pull readers along." -- Publishers Weekly "A searing portrait of what feminism looks like in much of the world." -- Vogue "A confident debut novel set in India and America about the unbreakable bond between two girls. From the menacing nooks of India's underworld to the streets of Seattle, this searing novel traces the nuances of adulthood and the enduring power of childhood bonds." -- The Chicago Review of Books "Rao layers her debut novel with issues that face many young women worldwide, from street harassment and domestic abuse to oppressive societal norms." --Ms. Magazine "This debut novel is the perfect read for fans of Rupi Kaur." --Brit + Co "An unbelievably beautiful and harrowing story of friendship and devotion." -- BookRiot "Magnificent and heart-wrenching.... Readers of Rao's vital, vibrant novel will not soon forget these two strong, driven young women." -- BookPage "A beautiful testament to female friendship." -- PopSugar, " Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao blew my heart up. Heart-shards everywhere. I am in awe of the warmth and humanity in this book, even as it explores some incredibly dark places. I'm going to be thinking about Girls Burn Brighter for a while, and you're going to be hearing a lot about it." --Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky, LibraryReads March 2018 PopSugar: 31 of the Best New Books You Should Read This Spring Goodreads: 23 Highly Anticipated Books of 2018 Bustle: 35 Most Anticipated Fiction Books of 2018 To Get You Pumped for a New Year of Reading The Huffington Post: 60 Books We Can't Wait To Read in 2018 Cosmopolitan : 33 Books to Get Excited About in 2018 The Chicago Review of Books : The Most Anticipated Fiction Books of 2018 Levo: 21 Fiction Books by Female Authors for Your 2018 Reading List Brit + Co: 16 of the Most Anticipated Books of 2018 Ms. Magazine 's Bookmarks: Feminist Reads for Winter Seattle Post-Intelligencer : Fiction To Watch For In 2018 Literary Hoarders: Winter 2018 Most Anticipated BookRiot: 10 March New Releases to Put on Hold at the Library Right Now BookRiot: 101 Books Coming Out in 2018 That You Should Mark Down Now Blog Critics: Fiction to Watch for in 2018 My Novel Life: Best Books for 2018 "This novel burnt up my weekend. With beautiful language, warm friendships, and vivid images, once I started reading I could not stop. It's a story of struggle and survival. Female friendship is the lifeline." -- Claire Cameron, author of The Bear and The Last Neanderthal " Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao blew my heart up. Heart-shards everywhere. I am in awe of the warmth and humanity in this book, even as it explores some incredibly dark places. I'm going to be thinking about Girls Burn Brighter for a while, and you're going to be hearing a lot about it." --Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky "Enchanting... The resplendent prose captures the nuances and intensity of two best friends on the brink of an uncertain and precarious adulthood... An incisive study of a friendship's unbreakable bond." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "This powerful, heart-wrenching novel and its two unforgettable heroines offer an extraordinary example of the strength that can be summoned in even the most terrible situations." -- Booklist , starred review "Highly recommended for book discussion groups, this tale of sacrifice, exploitation, and reclamation is not to be missed." -- Library Journal , starred review "Stirring...affecting...The narrative's thematic consistency and emotional urgency will pull readers along." -- Publishers Weekly "A confident debut novel set in India and America about the unbreakable bond between two girls. From the menacing nooks of India's underworld to the streets of Seattle, this searing novel traces the nuances of adulthood and the enduring power of childhood bonds." -- The Chicago Review of Books "Rao layers her debut novel with issues that face many young women worldwide, from street harassment and domestic abuse to oppressive societal norms." --Ms. Magazine "This debut novel is the perfect read for fans of Rupi Kaur." --Brit + Co "An unbelievably beautiful and harrowing story of friendship and devotion." -- BookRiot "Magnificent and heart-wrenching.... Readers of Rao's vital, vibrant novel will not soon forget these two strong, driven young women." -- BookPage "A beautiful testament to female friendship." -- PopSugar, Amazon's March Spotlight Pick One of the Best Books of the Month ( Harper's Bazaar , Entertainment Weekly , Bustle, PureWow, Paste, Book Riot, Signature Reads, and The Chicago Review of Books ) A Most Anticipated Book of 2018 (Goodreads, Bustle, Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan, BookRiot, PopSugar, The Chicago Review of Books, Ms. Magazine, Seattle Post-Intelligencer ) "Incandescent...A searing portrait of what feminism looks like in much of the world." -- Vogue "Rao's feminist commentary is particularly potent." -- Entertainment Weekly "A definite must-read for readers who love authors like Nadia Hashimi and Khaled Hosseini." --Bustle "A treat for Ferrante fans, exploring the bonds of friendship and how female ambition beats against the strictures of poverty and patriarchal societies." --The Huffington Post "An unbelievably beautiful and harrowing story of friendship and devotion." -- Book Riot "Magnificent and heart-wrenching.... Readers of Rao's vital, vibrant novel will not soon forget these two strong, driven young women." -- BookPage "A beautiful testament to female friendship." -- PopSugar " Girls Burn Brighter is the kind of book you open and fall into...Rao's debut is a high achievement." --KQED, San Francisco " Girls Burn Brighter is an absolutely stunning debut novel from an author you'll want to follow for years to come." --Paste "This debut novel is the perfect read for fans of Rupi Kaur." --Brit + Co "Rao layers her debut novel with issues that face many young women worldwide, from street harassment and domestic abuse to oppressive societal norms." --Ms. Magazine "A confident debut novel set in India and America about the unbreakable bond between two girls. From the menacing nooks of India's underworld to the streets of Seattle, this searing novel traces the nuances of adulthood and the enduring power of childhood bonds." -- The Chicago Review of Books "Enchanting... The resplendent prose captures the nuances and intensity of two best friends on the brink of an uncertain and precarious adulthood... An incisive study of a friendship's unbreakable bond." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "This powerful, heart-wrenching novel and its two unforgettable heroines offer an extraordinary example of the strength that can be summoned in even the most terrible situations." -- Booklist , starred review "Highly recommended for book discussion groups, this tale of sacrifice, exploitation, and reclamation is not to be missed." -- Library Journal , starred review "Stirring...affecting...The narrative's thematic consistency and emotional urgency will pull readers along." -- Publishers Weekly "Rao writes exquisite sentences...By the end of Girls Burn Brighter , Poornima and Savitha earn their places in the hearts of readers." -- Woodbury Magazine "This novel burnt up my weekend. With beautiful language, warm friendships, and vivid images, once I started reading I could not stop. It's a story of struggle and survival. Female friendship is the lifeline." -- Claire Cameron, author of The Bear and The Last Neanderthal " Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao blew my heart up. Heart-shards everywhere. I am in awe of the warmth and humanity in this book, even as it explores some incredibly dark places. I'm going to be thinking about Girls Burn Brighter for a while, and you're going to be hearing a lot about it." --Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky, A LibraryReads Selection A Most Anticipated Book of 2018 (Goodreads, Bustle, Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan, BookRiot, PopSugar, The Chicago Review of Books, Ms. Magazine, Seattle Post-Intelligencer ) "Incandescent...A searing portrait of what feminism looks like in much of the world." -- Vogue "A definite must-read for readers who love authors like Nadia Hashimi and Khaled Hosseini." --Bustle "An unbelievably beautiful and harrowing story of friendship and devotion." -- BookRiot "Magnificent and heart-wrenching.... Readers of Rao's vital, vibrant novel will not soon forget these two strong, driven young women." -- BookPage "A beautiful testament to female friendship." -- PopSugar "A treat for Ferrante fans, exploring the bonds of friendship and how female ambition beats against the strictures of poverty and patriarchal societies." --The Huffington Post "This debut novel is the perfect read for fans of Rupi Kaur." --Brit + Co "Rao layers her debut novel with issues that face many young women worldwide, from street harassment and domestic abuse to oppressive societal norms." --Ms. Magazine "A confident debut novel set in India and America about the unbreakable bond between two girls. From the menacing nooks of India's underworld to the streets of Seattle, this searing novel traces the nuances of adulthood and the enduring power of childhood bonds." -- The Chicago Review of Books "Enchanting... The resplendent prose captures the nuances and intensity of two best friends on the brink of an uncertain and precarious adulthood... An incisive study of a friendship's unbreakable bond." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "This powerful, heart-wrenching novel and its two unforgettable heroines offer an extraordinary example of the strength that can be summoned in even the most terrible situations." -- Booklist , starred review "Highly recommended for book discussion groups, this tale of sacrifice, exploitation, and reclamation is not to be missed." -- Library Journal , starred review "Stirring...affecting...The narrative's thematic consistency and emotional urgency will pull readers along." -- Publishers Weekly "This novel burnt up my weekend. With beautiful language, warm friendships, and vivid images, once I started reading I could not stop. It's a story of struggle and survival. Female friendship is the lifeline." -- Claire Cameron, author of The Bear and The Last Neanderthal " Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao blew my heart up. Heart-shards everywhere. I am in awe of the warmth and humanity in this book, even as it explores some incredibly dark places. I'm going to be thinking about Girls Burn Brighter for a while, and you're going to be hearing a lot about it." --Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky, " Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao blew my heart up. Heart-shards everywhere. I am in awe of the warmth and humanity in this book, even as it explores some incredibly dark places. I'm going to be thinking about Girls Burn Brighter for a while, and you're going to be hearing a lot about it." --Charlie Jane Anders, author of All the Birds in the Sky "Enchanting... The resplendent prose captures the nuances and intensity of two best friends on the brink of an uncertain and precarious adulthood... An incisive study of a friendship's unbreakable bond." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "This powerful, heart-wrenching novel and its two unforgettable heroines offer an extraordinary example of the strength that can be summoned in even the most terrible situations." -- Booklist , starred review
