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As written, A.K. Karla's Mr. Gupta's Hardware Store reads as a series of observations on the lives of British Indian immigrants in 1970s suburban London. As readers, we meet homesick Meera, her strict older husband Mr. Gupta, her best friend Babita and Babita's impish husband Chandu. As the years progress, we see the maudlin dramas of their lives unfold amidst a changing London. What I wish the author had done more was to tie in historical and political events. In a way, the novel doesn't really feel like it's set in the 1970s. I also wish we knew more about the character's backstories as I didn't feel much of a connection to the protagonist, Meera, or any of the main characters. The writer feels very distant and overly involved in detailing the particular foreignness of Meera/Chandu/Babita's behavior compared to Mr. Gupta's British mannerisms. Overall, this is a somewhat entertaining read,