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Reviews

""Do Not Follow is a moving exploration of family, grief, and the search for self. Surbhi Bansal captures the push and pull of love and obligation with honesty and grace. Readers will find themselves rooting for Seema and reflecting on their own journeys home.""-Saumya Dave, author of The Guilt Pill ""A lovingly written story about the quest for identity. Surbhi Bansal's protagonist Seema finds herself at a moment in midlife we can all relate to: what did my choices-friendships, romantic partners, family relationships, careers-mean? Do I know myself any better for the pain and triumphs I've experienced? Bansal's story of an immigrant's return to her adopted country after her father has passed away is written with exquisite detail and care. The occasion of his death prompts deep reflection as to who she is and whether she is at peace with that person. Her mother becomes both her foil and ally in this journey. Bansal deftly illuminates a fraught and beautiful relationship. Seema's understanding of herself at the end of it all rings true and honest. A book not to miss.""-Alfredo Botello, author of Spin Cycle ""Through vivid imagery and elegant prose, Bansal captivates readers in this soulful meditation on the layered dynamics of mother-daughter relationships within immigrant families. In Do Not Follow, Seema, a middle-aged Indian American woman, returns home for two weeks after her father's death to help her mother sort through the remnants of the past. The story prompts reflection on whether immigrant mothers attempt to control their daughters' lives in response to their own lack of agency-and how children in these families, often emotionally stunted, may only begin to seek their true identities much later in life. Deeply relatable, emotional, and thought-provoking, this narrative resonates with anyone navigating healing from their past while still on the journey to self-discovery in midlife.""-Paria Hassouri, author of Harvesting Rosewater ""I loved how real and grounded this story felt. It doesn't rely on big twists-just the quiet, emotional weight of going home, facing the past, and reconnecting with family. Even the everyday moments, like cleaning out a house, carry depth. This is a story about identity and the courage it takes to live life on your own terms. It's honest, thoughtful, and deeply human.""-Lenna Walker ""This is a tender, quietly powerful story about grief, belonging, and the complicated bonds of family. Through one woman's belated return home, this novel explores the long arc of reconciliation and what it means to be yourself despite what society may expect of you.""-Kriti Sharda

Author Information

Surbhi Bansal is an award-winning physician and associate professor of ophthalmology at Virginia Commonwealth University. She has published extensively in medical journals such as Clinical Ophthalmology and American Journal of Ophthalmology and contributed chapters to The History of Glaucoma and A New History of Cataract Surgery. Born and raised in India, Surbhi moved to the United States at age thirteen. She completed her medical studies at the University at Buffalo in New York and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Her unique blend of storytelling and professional insight makes her work both relatable and thought-provoking. Surbhi lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband and two children.

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