Overview

• The novel marks Desai’s first major work of fiction since her 2006 Booker-winning The Inheritance of Loss, ending a roughly 19-year gap.
• Spanning close to 700 pages, the story follows Sonia and Sunny across India and the United States in the 1990s and early 2000s.
• Critics emphasize that the book treats loneliness as political, cultural, and systemic rather than merely personal.
• Reviewers praise the empathetic prose and sustained attention to a wide cast, including minor characters who feel fully realized.
• The book is on the 2025 Booker longlist, with the shortlist slated to be announced on September 23, according to coverage.