Randy Boyagoda’s new novel, Lords of Serendipity, is available now.

Named a Best Book of Fall 2026 by Oprah Daily and People Magazine

“Ambitious…It’s the kind of no-holds-barred book only a consummate insider would know to write—but only one who is also conveniently outside the American university system could get away with writing. . . . An old-fashioned Dickensian tale, it sweeps across continents and campuses. ”

“ A book that's a feast, an occasion and a celebration . . . as moving as it is hysterically funny.”

“Boyagoda has, as ever, a sharp eye for the absurdities of university politics and pieties. ”

“Utterly fantastic and timely beyond belief. This is the campus novel we've all been waiting for: tender, eviscerating, perfect.”

“A wicked but humane satire . . . Boyagoda is a wry and clear-eyed guide to this three-ring academic circus.”

“Sparkling, humane, irresistible . . . As Randy Boyagoda celebrates (and subverts) the comedy of college, he offers what any good education should: a wide-ranging, free-thinking inquiry into life beyond the ivory tower.”

“A sly, wickedly funny campus novel about ambition, hustle, and how far our parents will go for their children. ”

“ Required Reading ”

“A darkly funny, continent-hopping satire with a sharp eye on the bottom line. ”

“This clever, continent-hopping read expands the frame of the classic campus novel to include the often-invisible characters behind a university education: the parents. . . . Boyagoda's mordant satire of academia and its costs is also a touching tribute to what parents will do for their children. ”

“Dazzling...The way Boyagoda develops and connects these characters is as compelling as it is seamless, merrily leading readers to the cynical revelations at its core...Richard Russo meets Mohsin Hamid in this knowing tale of academia and the lives of struggling South Asians. ”

“Engrossing…Boyagoda offers a clear-eyed view into academia’s competition, corruption, and exploitation. This leaves readers with much to chew on. ”

“It’s hard to miss the parallels between this novel and the social satires of Victorian-era novelist Anthony Trollope… A smart cautionary tale about the perils of ambition. ”