Vanilla Hour by Neer Ya follows Nandini Yadav, a paleoclimatologist living in Tokyo, who is invited to her college reunion in Goa. Her daughter, Aani, encourages her to attend. At the reunion, Nandini reunites with a man from her past, Anoop Krishnamurthy, with a shocking revelation. When she sees another man from her past, it feels like there's little else that can happen to dredge up past trauma. That is, until a criminal named Malik abducts Aani and her friends at the Thailand Wonderfruit Festival. The kidnappers send a video to Nandini and Anoop demanding an unedited recording from Anoop’s prior work documenting a government compound and threatening harm if they do not comply. Not involving the police due to risk, Anoop and Nandini desperately try to hatch a rescue plan.

Neer Ya’s Vanilla Hour is a slow-burning suspense tale that demonstrates how life can come full circle. Unfortunately for Nandini, it all comes crashing down at the same time. She is not alone, though, and this is where the story really starts to shine. This is also where Ya incorporates contemporary investigative work, made possible by modern tech. Nandini tracks an AirTag in Aani’s backpack while Karan, Nandini's ex, analyzes festival footage to identify a recurring figure. A friend named Yuki gathers intelligence through academic contacts in Bangkok. I absolutely love that the spy-craft is helmed by a band of friends, with Aani, Kiko, and Takumi attempting to send modern-day signals, all of which embrace a realism in their resourcefulness. Overall, this is a good read and worth the emotional and time investment required. Recommended.

Neer Ya's Vanilla Hour follows the lives of Nandini and Anoop, two central characters who once deeply loved each other in college but were separated by misunderstandings and the passage of time. The story spans many years and different countries, showing how Nandini becomes a mother under difficult circumstances while trying to finish her studies and hold on to her sanity. With the support of Karan (her ex-husband) and later Yuki (Karan's new wife), Nandini creates a caring family unit that offers her daughter, Aani, love and support. At the same time, Anoop builds his career as a successful film documentarian. But he still has strong emotions for Nandini that constantly haunt him. When a school reunion brings everyone back into the same space years later, shocking secrets are finally revealed. Will the truth save these relationships or break them apart even more?

Vanilla Hour by Neer Ya is an intriguing literary novel that blends raw human emotions with a steady narrative style. Set across countries like India, Japan, and the U.S., the book uses different timelines to highlight how issues like trauma, love, and memory can impact a person's life. The writing is intimate and honest, allowing the characters (especially Nandini, Anoop, and Aani) to grow in authentic ways. Their character growth feels hard-earned and marked by moments of resilience. I really appreciate how Neer Ya shows that healing is never perfect, but having genuine people around you makes the journey easier than facing everything alone. This approach is evident especially in the way Karan and Yuki stand by Nandini and Aani. Overall, Vanilla Hour is a touching story that will connect with readers who enjoy character-driven books about meaningful relationships and the impact of the past.

Vanilla Hour by Neer Ya is a compelling drama that follows Nandini, a geochemist living in Tokyo with her lively seventeen-year-old daughter, Aani. Nandini left India many years ago, but her heart still longs to return. After a failed marriage to Karan, a talented professor who remains her friend, she realizes she cannot let go of Anoop, Aani’s biological father. A school reunion in Goa, India, offers her the chance to reconnect with him, but dark secrets from the past resurface. Anoop reveals the reason for his departure, while Nandini shares the incident that drove her away from home and led her to raise her daughter so far away. As the story unfolds, dangers from their past return just as Aani learns about her father, putting her at risk of experiencing a similar fate to her mother.

Vanilla Hour is a captivating tale with profound lessons about life, love, family, and the complexities of secrets. The characters are well-developed with deep emotions tied to their experiences. Nandini is dynamic; she embodies both strength and vulnerability. As an intelligent woman working in a male-dominated field who has overcome poverty, she demonstrates competence and resilience. At the same time, she is a devoted mother who openly admits her fears for Aani and is a survivor in her own right. Her journey is inspiring and highlights the various forms of love that come into our lives. Small details like her love for music made her human and relatable. Neer Ya’s narration is poetic and immersive. From the first scene to the last, I found it hard to put the book down due to its smooth flow and unexpected plot twists. The story also addresses serious issues such as sexual assault, postpartum depression, and the injustices that occur behind closed doors, often concealed by those in positions of power. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it celebrates Asian cultures and positive family bonds, making it a must-read for anyone interested in stories that explore deep emotional connections and the resilience of women facing life’s challenges.