Our Best Intentions

A Novel

By: Vibhuti Jain

Narrated by: Ulka Simone Mohanty

A Good Morning America Buzz Pick * NPR 1A Inaugural Book Club Pick * A 'Must-Read' by USA Today * Longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize * Booklist Editor's Choice * CrimeReads' Best of the Year

A suspenseful drama about an immigrant family caught in a criminal investigation, perfect for fans of Celeste Ng's Everything I Never Told You.

“Our Best Intentions is a thoughtful, gripping suspense that shakes up definitions of family and identity in a beautiful and refreshing way!” —Kal Penn, actor and national bestselling author

During summer break one day, Angie, the teenage daughter of Indian immigrant Babur Singh, is walking home after swimming at the high school pool when she finds Henry McCleary, a white classmate from a wealthy family, stabbed and bleeding on the football field. The police immediately focus their investigation on Chiara Thompkins, a runaway Black girl who disappears after the stabbing and—it’s later discovered—wasn’t properly enrolled in the public high school.The incident sends shock waves through the community and reveals jarring truths about the lengths to which families will go to protect themselves. Alternating between multiple perspectives, Our Best Intentions is a gripping story about a father and daughter re-examining their familial bonds and place in the community that explores how easily friendships, careers, communities, and individual lives can unravel when the toxicity of privilege and racial bias are exposed.

©2023 Vibhuti Jain (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Thoughtful and entertaining

Lessons here as well as a sound, believable but original story. Characters were all well developed and the plot was finely crafted.

Great Story about veiled prejudice

Angi and Bobby paint a compelling picture of life of a single proud Indian father and daughter, who are trying to fit into the American mold in an affluent New York suburb, very thought-provoking!

Just ok for me

First off, this is no thriller which is the genre under which I found this title. This story carries important messages about racism in America so maybe this should've been fiction? Anyway, I didn't care for some of the characters. Like, the dad who is so weak & incredibly close-minded & only cares about how others perceive him. Idk, I'm glad I read this book, but it just wasn't my favorite. It definitely left me wanting more.

Sorry feels unfinished

The story is good, but it feels unfinished. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not happy with loose ends. Aside from that it is well written and engaging. I’m glad I read it.

Thoughtful and well written.

intelligently written, this book explores cultural issues that are relevant to our changing multicultural society. it is well read and thought provoking. The story and characters are well developed. it was well worth my time, and maybe yours.

Thoughtful story

Good narration, good story. Makes one think about the systemic racism in our society today.

WOW

This story was tragically amazing, accurate and sobering. Highly recommend...I went through it so fast!

Riveting

What descriptive portrayal of the subtleties of our multifaceted culture as well as the difficulties of being a teenager in America. It is beautifully written. It is spellbinding.

Excellent story, characters and plot

This book was a deal of the day and I bought it on a whim. Didn’t expect it to be such a great novel. What a fabulous gem of a story! Engaging characters, a bit of humor, believable “incident.” I immediately looked for another book by this author after finishing this book. Nothing so far but can’t wait to read more novels by Jain.

Nice story and needed discussion

The story was slow at times but I’m so glad I finished it! Narrator is really good .