Dava Shastri's Last Day

By: Kirthana Ramisetti

Narrated by: Soneela Nankani

In this novel "full of music, magnetism, and familial obligation" (Emma Straub, author of All Adults Here) a dying billionaire matriarch leaks news of her death early so she can examine her legacy—a decision that horrifies her children and inadvertently exposes secrets she has spent a lifetime keeping.

Dava Shastri, one of the world's wealthiest women, has always lived with her sterling reputation in mind. A brain cancer diagnosis at the age of seventy, however, changes everything, and Dava decides to take her death—like all matters of her life—into her own hands.

Summoning her four adult children to her private island, she discloses shocking news: in addition to having a terminal illness, she has arranged for the news of her death to break early, so she can read her obituaries.

As someone who dedicated her life to the arts and the empowerment of women, Dava expects to read articles lauding her philanthropic work. Instead, her "death" reveals two devastating secrets, truths she thought she had buried forever.

And now the whole world knows, including her children.

In the time she has left, Dava must come to terms with the decisions that have led to this moment—and make peace with those closest to her before it's too late. Compassionately written and chock-full of humor and heart, this powerful novel examines public versus private legacy, the complexities of love, and the never-ending joys—and frustrations—of family.

Includes a Reading Group Guide.

A Good Morning America and Lilly Singh's Lilly Library Book Club pick

Most anticipated in fall 2021 by TIME, The Washington Post, Bustle, Goodreads, and Debutiful • An Indie Next Pick • A Publishers Marketplace Buzz Book for Fall/Winter 2021 • Longlisted for the 2021 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize

Critic reviews

"A rich portrait of a family facing their powerful matriarch's death, Dava Shastri's Last Day is full of music, magnetism, and familial obligation. If Succession were about a multicultural family who actually loved each other, it might look like this."—Emma Straub, author of All Adults Here

"Kirthana Ramisetti has written a sweeping saga and also a poignant story about sacrifice and the exacting price of secrecy. Cinematic and intimate, Dava Shastri’s Last Day is an intricate story about family and love."—Devi S. Laskar, Author of The Atlas of Reds and Blues

"Dava Shastri's Last Day is a story about ambition and greatness, wealth and family, full of secrets, love, and music, and those eternal pop song complements: heartbreak and hope. It's a gripping, deeply satisfying story about one woman's tremendous life—and the infinitely complicated ways we create our own legacies."

—Kate Racculia, Author of Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts and Bellweather Rhapsody

"Ramisetti beautifully weaves keen analysis of celebrity culture and a deep love of music into this perceptive, intergenerational story of resentment, trauma, love, and redemption. A page-turner with humor, heart, and lots of pop music."—Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, New York Times bestselling author of Seinfeldia

"A hilarious and heartfelt narrative about legacy, power and privacy, all through the journey of a lively character who has limited time to make things right with the people she loves most."—Time

takes you on a journey

This amazing journey is so heartfelt and reaches so many different kinds of emotions. I bet everyone can find someone in the story that they can relate to. generational love generational miscommunication generational pressure generational hope.

Makes you think

It took some time to get into the book, but when I did, I loved to learn about each of the characters, the secrets that unfolded, and the relationship repairing that was necessary for the protagonist to actually leave an impactful legacy. Loved the writing and got to the point where I couldn’t put it down. You know it’s a good book when you are done and you are still thinking about it!

Love the complexity of the main character

As a parent, I can appreciate the contradictions of why you do things as a parent, what you hope it inspires in your kids, and the perception of why by your children. Great story of a strong woman.

A captivating and very well written story

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. it’s a great story, well written and performed. Some of the reviews I have read compared this book to the tv show Succession and, well, I strongly disagree; this book goes much deeper emotionally, and is far less foul-mouthed. I gladly recommend it.

Engaging!

It has been many books since I could really immerse myself in the story as if a friend was sitting next to me telling it. This character and her story really engulfed me. Thank you for this
enjoyable experience.