3.5-STAR REVIEW: CAN YOU BE by Sonee Singh

Publication Date: August 22, 2023

Naina’s life is as it has always been. She lives in a self-imposed sheltered manner in Charleston, South Carolina, yet wants nothing more than to have the support of friends and family. She is too afraid to put herself out there, having been hurt so much in the past. Her routines give her a sense of safety … until an early August morning, when Naina receives a box. It has no information about its sender and is left on her doorstep. A mysterious man shows up at her work asking her about it.

Everything begins to change after the arrival of the box, and Naina is presented with a chance to change her life and explore compassion, forgiveness, and believing in herself. She struggles to understand the power of connections and the potential of expanding her horizons. Naina’s journey is mystical and, in portions, it takes her through Stockholm, Helsinki, and the Baltics. Will this quest lead her to discover who she can be?

Sonee Singh identifies herself as a cross-cultural seeker of deep knowing. The degrees which she holds appear to give credence to her writings that offer self-acceptance. In her novel Can You Be, Naina is pushed by worldly and other-worldly people and things toward a discovery of who she can be and who she has the right to be.  

Naina is not quite thirty. She is not quite independent, but she is alone in her daily rituals that make her feel a controlling safety. Her father has provided her a financial safety net since her mother died when Naina was seven, but he could never give her any emotional stability.  

Naina’s circumstances that kept her anxious and isolated, both as a child and young adult, allowed the reader to sense immediate empathy for her. So when magical elements enter, like a mysterious package containing an angelite crystal and an oft-appearing Holy Man, I was ready to follow Naina’s quest to gain courage and acceptance as she allows herself adventure.  

However, the author seemed to have so much to share about the modern human condition it bogged down the story. Using a setting of the Baltic Region and recent events of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the story included many historical facts about Russian influence. Naina’s healing journey included learning about the properties of crystals, the powers of the universe, skincare, and more, all with a little too much detail. 

Can You Be adds to the collections of writings by Sonee Singh to encourage readers to create their own positions of power for self-acceptance. 

Sonee Singh is a Doctor of Divinity, a cross-cultural seeker of deep knowing. She’s an award-winning and best-selling author of poetry and stories of self-discovery to encourage people to accept themselves for who they are and live life on their own terms. Her writing centers on the definitive moments on life’s journey. The mystical and spiritual are integral in her poems and storytelling, as is her multi-cultural background. Sonee is of Indian descent, born in Mexico, raised in Colombia, and resides in the United States. When not traveling, reading, or writing, she indulges in meditation, yoga, and aromatherapy. Sonee has multiple articles published on Elephant Journal and Medium.com. Her debut novel, Lonely Dove, was released in 2022.