The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing follows Amina as she visits her parents after her mom, Kamala, calls to tell her that her brain surgeon father, Thomas, is talking to dead relatives. This book jumps back and forth in time to slowly explain how the family got where they are, including a trip to India to visit family when Amina was a child.

I love a complicated family story, and this book is no exception. The way this book deals with grief, and particularly with grief over time and how life goes on regardless, felt realistic and moving, like with lingering resentments and family members blaming themselves. I also felt like Jacob perfectly captured the kind of anger and hurt you only feel towards or from someone you really love, and how you respond to that, whether it be by sinking into your work or following a new religion.

Somehow this book manages to feel lighthearted at times despite the heavy topics, which is exactly how it feels when you deal with grief in real life - there are still lighter moments in heavy times. So many emotions rang true. Also, this book did make me cry, and I love when a book makes me cry!

If you like family stories where the family has to come to terms with a complicated past, or come together despite a complicated past, I’d highly recommend this one.