“[A] luminous debut.” --Terry Hong, The Bloomsbury Review

Neel Sarath, an Indian-American anesthesiologist in San Francisco, believes he’s distanced himself from traditional Indian life with his blonde American girlfriend, his shiny Porsche, and his spotless condo. Called back to India to visit his ailing grandfather, Neel finds himself tricked into a marriage with Leila Krishnan, a local English teacher well past marrying age. But Leila is not a meek, traditional bride who can be set aside while life goes on as usual, girlfriend and all. As quick-witted Leila struggles to find her way in a new country, so too does Neel struggle with his desires and the expectations of others, both real and imagined. In this riveting tale of a transplanted arranged marriage, first-time novelist Anne Cherian explores how immigrants, caught between two worlds, have to learn to overcome their own suspicions of others in order to find themselves.

“Interesting and well-written.... Cherian tells a compelling story that will hold the reader’s attention throughout.” --Dinesh Ramde, Associated Press