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The Other Lata

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By Kirthana Ramisetti

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$19.99 CAD

A compulsively readable romcom of mistaken identity set within high society New York and the sacrifices made to keep up appearances, in trade paperback.

Somewhere in New York City, Lata Murthy knows there is another person with her name living a much more interesting life. That's because Lata often receives the other Lata's emails: invites to Hampton soirees, fundraising appeals from the New York City Ballet and reminders about sample sales at Soho boutiques.. Lata's own life—working in digital content, watching Food Network marathons, spending recklessly on clothes she can't afford—feels pathetic in comparison. So, one day she decides to take on this other Lata's identity and jumps headfirst into the glamorous New York lifestyle … but not without consequences. 
 
At first, it all feels like a fairy tale. Lata learns that the invites were meant for a Mumbai socialite who shares her name, and finds a way to step into the woman's shoes. In doing so, all of Lata's NYC dreams come true: she gets a higher-paying job, moves into a chic Chelsea apartment and is embraced by an elite friend group that includes Rajeev, an up-and-coming fashion designer intent on making a splash at New York Fashion Week.
 
But Lata doesn't just catch the attention of the handsome fashion designer—she also incurs the wrath of the mysterious woman she is impersonating. And this Other Lata wants Lata to pay…but in the oddest of ways. Other Lata's blackmail seems designed to humiliate Lata in front of her wealthy new circle, and Lata has no choice but to submit to her demands if she doesn't want to lose her new friends and lifestyle.
 
Despite Other Lata's machinations, Lata and Rajeev's romance finds ways to blossom. But when Other Lata's demands change from mischievous to illegal, Lata must find a way to extricate herself from Other Lata's control once and for all.  
 
 

  • Praise for Kirthana Ramisetti
  • "Kirthana Ramisetti is a gifted storyteller, and Advika and the Hollywood Wives is such a gift. The glitz and underlying darkness of Hollywood make for a setting as complex and compelling as Ramisetti's characters, and every page of this smart, sharply observed novel rings with insight - and with heart."
    Meena Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author
  • "Kirthana Ramisetti has a rare gift for penning page turners full of wisdom, nuance, and depth, and I know I am not alone in saying that I will read any book she writes."
    Qian Julie Wang, New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Country
  • "Kirthana Ramisetti is quickly becoming the go to author for nuanced stories about fame, family, and love."
    Saumya Dave, Author of What a Happy Family
  • Praise for The Other Lata
  • "As lively and refreshing as a chilled glass of champagne, The Other Lata is a sharp, surprising exploration of identity, class, and what it means to truly belong. Kirthana Ramisetti has done it again!"
    Kirstin Chen, New York Times bestselling author of Counterfeit
  • “Who hasn’t longed to be someone richer, more glamorous, more famous, more fashionable, more powerful and alluring? Who hasn’t wanted to slip out of their own skin? Kirthana Ramisetti explores these ideas through a zany protagonist who makes the highly questionable, yet hilarious choice to assume a wealthy Mumbai socialite’s identity. Yet, for all The Other Lata’s humor, hijinks, and memorable party scenes, Ramisetti also tackles deeper themes of identity, belonging, class, and money in her third novel. While ultimately posing the question: how radical would it be, in fact, to love our true selves?” 
    Daphne Palasi Andreades, author of Brown Girls
  • The Other Lata is a page-turning examination of class, wealth, and privilege, and just how fully you can erase yourself in a desperate attempt to be seen. Ramisetti is a master at creating the kinds of complex and nuanced female protagonists you can’t help rooting for even when they’re at their most exasperating. Fans of Inventing Anna will be taken in by this compulsive mistaken identity romcom that’s as insightful as it is satisfying.”
    Bianca Marais, international bestselling author of The Witches of Moonshyne Manor
  • "The Other Lata is an energetic romp through New York City's high society, following our eponymous heroine, Lata, as she navigates the dizzying transformation from outsider into bonafide insider. This cat-and-mouse game of mistaken identity and deception will delight fans of both rom-coms and suspense."
    Caitlin Barasch, author of A Novel Obsession
  • "There’s a new Tom Ripley in town! Identity thief Lata Murthy is all heart, an endearing underdog with a penchant for lying and stealing. She bounces around high society scenes in New York City and the Hamptons, but I would have followed Lata’s antics anywhere. The hot dog juggling scene (yes, you read that correctly) in particular had me cackling. Thanks to Ramisetti’s assured prose, The Other Lata manages to be both a delicious romp and a profound examination of what it means to belong." 
    Stephanie Wrobel, international and USA Today bestselling author of The Hitchcock Hotel
  • "Kirthana Ramisetti's latest novel is both irresistible and impossible to put down! If you received an email invitation for a more exciting life, wouldn't you consider accepting it? Readers everywhere will be surprised and satisfied with Lata's journey with identity, power dynamics, and New York City. I know this will be a story that so many readers will love to return to. The Other Lata is my favorite type of novel: juicy, clever, and full of heart."
    Saumya Dave, author of The Guilt Pill

On Sale
Apr 1, 2025
Page Count
384 pages
ISBN-13
9781538771006

Kirthana Ramisetti

About the Author

As a former entertainment reporter for Newsday and the New York Daily News, Kirthana Ramisetti has written her fair share of stories about the lives (and deaths) of the rich and famous. She has a master’s degree in creative writing from Emerson College and has published work in The New York TimesThe Wall Street JournalThe Atlantic, TODAY.com and elsewhere.

Learn more about this author