Your Next Life Is Now

A Novel

By: Namrata Patel

Narrated by: Soneela Nankani

A mother and daughter—their lives in turnaround—navigate their next move on a road trip in a captivating novel about choices and self-discovery by the author of The Candid Life of Meena Dave.

Life is built on single decisions. Choose wisely.

It’s one of life coach Nikki Parekh’s mottos. That and being open to opportunities and taking leaps without fear. But when Nikki accepts her boyfriend’s casual proposal of marriage, she wonders if it’s just too soon, too spontaneous—and so sudden that she seeks out the advice of her not-so-nurturing mother, Tara.

To Nikki’s surprise, Tara, who raised her daughter to be self-sufficient, urges Nikki to trust her decision. Maybe that’s because Tara has made a headstrong decision of her own. After nearly forty years of marriage, she’s divorcing Nikki’s father. She’s already packing up an RV to search for her first love, who still looms large in Tara’s memories. So what’s a daughter to do with a runaway mother? Join her.

Their romantic lives in flux, Nikki and Tara hit the road. Mile by mile, they’re reliving past mistakes, learning more about each other, and rebuilding faith in themselves and in the choices they’ve made—wherever it all may lead.

©2025 by Namrata Patel. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Narrator Soneela Nankani delivers a nuanced performance of this family drama. Nankani skillfully modulates her voice to express worry, playful moments, and terse exchanges between sisters."—AudioFile Magazine

“Patel exhibits a deft touch…There’s no shortage of juicy drama between the striving Parekhs and the higher-caste Mehtas. This entertains.”—Publishers Weekly

Family Blend

Testament to the Indian novel adaptations. A cosmic tale of real real life residue, emotions gumming up the gears, and greasing generational challenges. Refreshing to hear Namrata's reality-check of a modern American Indian Family, a necessary contrast to that which could become make-believe expectation's when genre, cultural, and style surfing.

So BORING

The only reason I didn’t DNF is because it was on audio and I just had it on in the background.