Chapters (40)
- Cover
- Also by Saumya Dave
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Acknowledgments
- Readers Guide
- Discussion Questions
- About the Author
- What’s next onyour reading list?
- What are your thoughts on the title of this book? Do you believe the Joshis are a happy family by the end of the novel?
- Mental health is a prominent theme in What a Happy Family. How is each character impacted by it throughout the story? Why is there so much stigma surrounding mental health? Do you believe this is changing?
- The book states that “Suhani got a hopeful, struggling mother, which fueled her ambition. Natasha got a strict and scared mother, which instigated her rebellion. Anuj got a softer, more secure mother, which gave him comfort.” Do you think this is true? Can the same parents be completely different with different children?
- Bina left her career as an actress, while Natasha is working to build hers in stand-up comedy. How did both women’s relationships with creativity change throughout the novel?
- Suhani struggles with impostor syndrome despite how much she’s accomplished. What contributes to this? How do you feel about her journey at work? Have you ever navigated this in your own life?
- This book examines how family members shape one another. Were there any dynamics or interactions that you identified with?
- Bina takes pride in her strong female friendships. At one point, she reflects on the differences between her bonds with Anita and Devi. How did these women impact her choices and goals? Do you ever see the three of them spending time together?
- Natasha has always worried that something is inherently wrong with her. What factors do you think made her feel this way? How big of a role did her family play in how she viewed herself?
- Despite wanting to create their own paths, both Bina and Deepak learn that they internalized their parents’ beliefs. How were their kids impacted by this? Do you think it’s possible to change longstanding patterns of thinking and behavior?
- Suhani’s shame pushes her to keep secrets from Zack. How do you feel about their marriage after she tells him everything? What do you think their future together holds?
- It’s five years after the novel’s ending. How is the Joshi family doing?
About the Author
Photograph © Sultan Khan of Image Works NYC
Saumya Dave is a psychiatrist and mental health advocate. Her essays, articles, and poetry have been featured in the New York Times, ABC News, Refinery29, and other publications. She is the co-founder of thisisforHER, a nonprofit at the nexus of art and women’s mental health, and an adjunct professor at Mount Sinai, where she teaches a Narrative Medicine class. She recently completed her psychiatry residency at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, where she was a chief resident and an inductee into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AΩA). She currently resides in New York City with her husband and son.
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