There was a lot I loved in this - Karthik, women getting writing credits they deserve, Karthik, nuanced exploration of family trauma, Karthik! But the distance between the MCs - literally, geographically - meant a lot of state hopping and time apart, and this made the pacing feel inconsistent at times. I wanted more time with the MCs together. I also loathed Seth to a degree that made that entire sub-plot a maddening experience - very intentional (he's an excellent villain), but again, more time with Karthik, less time with Seth, and I would be a happy camper. There were also a few moments that felt a bit out of character for both MCs - times they jumped to conclusions that didn't really track with their deepening friendship or their personalities. All in all, though, this was a lovely debut, and I really enjoyed Kumar's writing style.