When this book arrived in my basket with an invitation to take a look, I first glanced at the cover and noticed the tennis ball. Interesting. I play tennis. I quickly scan the back and see the main character works at a university. Interesting. Weird. So, do I. I tend to enjoy a book set on a university campus for obvious reasons, so it was all enough to tempt me to crack the cover. Just like those split second decisions we make based on first impressions, I thought I knew what the book was about, but the complexity below the surface was stunning and humbling. Dr. Raj and I could have made an instant connection over our commonalities as non-tenured lecturers and tennis players, but I could never fully understand his life as a man of color in today’s world. From the most subtle of microaggressions to the blatant isolationist and white-centric intentionally cruel comments, I will never experience the lonely feeling of otherness that accompanies Raj in his daily life. I believe this is Pandya’s point. On the surface, Raj seems to have all he needs with a lovely family and house, job security, and good network of colleagues and friends. Over the course of an exhausting week in his world, we learn how fragile all of these connections can be when you are different. We learn how unforgiving others can be when you make a mistake and how those little mistakes can begin to compound while you struggle to maintain your grace and composure when thrust unwillingly into an undeserved and harsh spotlight. The book ends with a realistic and satisfying conclusion leaving readers with much to chew and deliberate on.