All This Could Be Different is a coming-of-age novel focusing on sexuality, immigration, and friendship. The story is set in the United States of America, depicting the country as a free world where young people can decide the destiny of their sexuality. Sarah Thankam Mathews uses enlightening and confident tone to show readers the experiences of immigrants in the United States of America. The novel's protagonist is Sneha, a Queer who chooses to date fellow women for sexual pleasure. The novel's primary themes are sexuality, friendship, and the life of immigrants.
Mathews builds the theme of sexuality as the core contemporary issue affecting young people. Sneha is an immigrant teen, and when she reaches the age of twenty, she discovers that she can choose whom to date and have a sexual relationship with. Sneha meets Marina, a fellow woman, and they fall in love. Unlike other countries where same-sex relationships are discouraged, the United States of America recognizes lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, and Queer (LGTBQ) relationships. Sneha is queer, and she is proud of her sexuality.
The author shifts her attention from sexuality and focuses on the life of immigrants in the USA. Sneha and her parents are of Indian origin. Unfortunately, Sneha's father is accused of a crime he never committed, and he is deported. The immigrants do not enjoy similar privileges as their white counterparts. Therefore, immigrants' challenges range from criminal injustices lack of opportunities, and poverty. Comradeship is another point of focus in the novel because Sneha values her close associates. For instance, Marina, Thom, and Tig play a significant role in her life.
All This Could Be Different is an exclusive debut novel that touches on real issues affecting readers in daily life activities. The book has sympathetic characters who offer a first-generation experience with queer millennials. Consequently, readers will note tire reading All This Could Be Different repeatedly because it is both enlightening and compelling.
