Арктический клуб любителей карри

by Dani Redd, Дани Редд

У Майи вроде бы все хорошо - есть любящий отец, отличная работа и заботливый бойфренд Райан, но тоска по рано умершей маме до сих пор не дает ей спокойно жить.

Майя решается уехать от проблем в Арктику, вот только тревожность - очень тяжелый багаж, да и Арктика не соответствует ожиданиям: вместо волшебного северного сияния - жуткий холод и полярная ночь.

В попытке обрести равновесие Майя устраивается работать кухаркой и начинает готовить индийскую еду по рецепту из маминой поваренной книги. Тогда Арктика и перестает быть страшной - благодаря согревающим блюдам Майя находит друзей и обретает уверенность в себе.

Но с каждым новым рецептом она вспоминает то, что когда-то очень старалась забыть…

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Chick Lit, Ebooks, Adult

480 pages, Hardcover

First published December 19, 2021

Reviews

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: Because of the cover, this looks like chicklit. Because of the title, this sounds like chicklit. But it isn’t your typical light-hearted romcom at all. It goes into quite dark themes.

Story:

Maya’s boyfriend Ryan has got a fellowship in an Arctic town, so she packs up her life in London and accompanies him. The sub-zero temperature, the 24 hour darkness, and the constant anxiety over polar bears and other unknown dangers adds to her already fragile mental health. In these lonely times, Maya discovers her late mother’s cookbook. By trying out her Indian mom’s recipes, she is able to feel a connection that she had assumed was lost. Soon, darker truths come tumbling out, both from the past and from the present. Will Maya be able to overcome her under-confidence and make a success of her Arctic Curry Club?
The story comes to us in the first person perspective of Maya.

I was expecting a typical fun-and-frolic kind of read because of that cover. The depth to which the book explores darker issues was quite unexpected. I don’t want to reveal any here as they would all be spoilers, but suffice to say that most of those topics aren’t a part of your usual chicklit fare. A part of me feels that there were too many issues covered within the span of one book, but most of the issues are touched upon without going overboard. Some of the darker revelations, which are supposed to be secrets, are quite guessable. But hey, this isn’t a thriller, so I won’t dock off points for that.

One of the main reasons I enjoyed the book was that I felt a kinship with Maya’s character, and not just because of her Indian background. (Okay, she’s just half-Indian. But still…) She has so much in common to me. She is reserved, anxious about going out, not sporty, loves trivia, makes hundreds of check lists, doesn't like being the centre of attention, is cost conscious, and needs recipes to specify the exact quantity of ingredients. One crucial difference between us is that she actually enjoys cooking, but I’ll ignore that for now. 😂 The other characters in the story are fairly well-sketched, some of them being stereotypical but some others being quite interesting.

The author Dani Redd seems to have researched a lot about the remote islands of the Arctic. This is the second story I have read this year that is based in an Arctic area. In the other book, the author seemed to have a checklist of items related to that locale and with each progressive chapter, covered one item at a time: cold, polar bears, Northern lights, and so on. That doesn’t happen in this book. While Redd clearly has knowledge of the area, the local revelations are done only when needed by the story. They blend seamlessly with the narrative and don’t seem coerced into the writing. I loved getting a look at an Arctic island lifestyle through Redd's words.

As an Indian though, my heart was more attached to the “desi” side of the story. And to my surprise, my experience was quite positive, especially as the author isn’t an Indian but a Brit who stayed in India for a couple of years. There is so much reference to Indian cuisine that my stomach was growling almost throughout the list of authentic Indian dishes. (It doesn’t help matters that I consider Indian cuisine the tastiest in the whole world!) What won my heart over was also that there's no reference to peacocks, elephants, cows, snake charmers, dirt or poverty, all of which are considered the staple of India by international writers. This part of the story was set mostly in Bangalore and the portrayal is as authentic as I could make out. The people feel connectable, the locales feel real, and the emotions, heartfelt. Yes, there were a few anomalies and a couple of clichés. For instance, a person who is from the urban part of Bangalore but not knowing English at all is quite a stretch of the imagination. Mangalsutra isn't a ceremony but a symbol of marriage. There is the mandatory “ashram” mention. There is also a reference to the drink that perplexes me: “Chai tea”. (For those who still don’t know, “chai” is the Hindi word for “tea”. So when you say “chai tea”, you are basically saying “tea tea”, which sounds really silly!) Despite these few oddities, which only Indians would be able to spot, I’d still consider this one of the better fictional books by a non-Indian talking about India.

For a debut work, the book is quite ambitious and it mostly does justice to its story. There were many things I enjoyed, and without any spoiler, let me say that the author’s choice of ending for Maya was my favourite part.

I heard the audiobook, which clocked at 10 hours and was narrated by Zoha Rahman. This was a fairly mixed experience for me, though I am sure non-Indians won’t have the same issues as I did. Her pronunciation of the names of many Indian dishes and other Indian words were quite off. Otherwise, her narration was very enjoyable as she brings Maya to life with her voice.

Overall, this is a book you ought not to judge by its cover. It isn’t frivolous but goes into deep and dark mental territories. It offers a great glimpse into two quite contrasting regions of the world – the cold Arctic and the hot India. And though it is a bit trite in some sub-plots, it is still a very good debut contemporary romance novel.

Added benefit: there are two scrumptious Indian recipes at the end of the book. In the audiobook, this final segment is narrated by the author herself.

3.75 stars from me, rounding up to 4.

My thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio, Avon and NetGalley for the ALC of “The Arctic Curry Club”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.



***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.

[©hrissie ❁ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A curry tale with possibly too many condiments.

Warning: the cover is somewhat misleading. This is NOT a romance / chick-lit, or, rather: it is so only on a very secondary level. (It isn't.) (Methinks I'm still fairly annoyed by this).

Then, what is it?, you will be dutifully asking. Essentially, this is what I would call a post-trauma Bildung: Maya's true coming of age, or, her coming to terms with her childhood trauma that has affected her entire life. This book is about the excruciating knowledge of the past; the reconsideration of one's existence via the disintegration of truths previously deposited in the brain as absolutes and unequivocal.

More than anything else, this is about Maya's relationship with her father, and Maya's relationship with India: the emotionally-charged return to her hometown after twenty years, and the unexpected discovery of the lies underlying her story and her mother's death, from a father who perhaps cowardly quietened his conscience and his own torment by willing himself to protect his daughter from the Terrible Truth.

What I loved about this book:
1) the m-a-r-v-e-l-l-o-u-s setting of the Arctic, alternated by India. The overwhelming white-black of the Arctic region, the cutting silence, isolation, pitch-darkness: all delightfully captured. As is the singular arduousness of existing within this landscape;
2) the characterisation of Maya and the story's structuring around her flashbacks, beautifully connected with the love of food, inherited from her mother. In this I sensed the surprising uniqueness of this book: Maya, unlike many other sibling protagonists, tells her story with a depth that opens up instances of free-flowing interior monologue, enhanced by snippets of fun facts that are thus smoothly embedded in the storyline. Her severe bouts of anxiety are treated with seriousness whilst not dominating the scope of the story;
3) the huskies! As a husky owner I had such a laugh whenever one of the huskies featured in the story. I hardly think that I will ever forget Frosty the epic Farter.

What I disliked about the book:
1) simply too ambitious: there is just too much going on, putting a strain on the central concerns of the story, and making it go astray. Maya and her relationship with her boyfriend; her re-established intimacy with her childhood family friend, the new Arctic friends and their stories, the Curry Club, her trip to India...I could go on!;
2) yes, simply too cluttered;
3) ...
4) by consequence, the resolution of the individual strands felt rather unsatisfactory, too hasty, hurried, or inconclusive.

The narration by Zoha Rahman was fantastic: compelling and thoroughly enjoyable. I would definitely look out for other audiobooks read by her.

Recommended to those who are up for a fairly light read with some darker themes, and especially for those who are not put off by the tooooo-much-going-on situation.

3.25 ⭐

Thanks go to NetGalley and publisher for this complimentary audiobook. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Yay! My very FIRST audiobook.

* so excited * 🤩

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish to thank NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC of this compelling book in return for my honest review. I was attracted to its delightful, eye-catching cover, which portrays a bright, joyful dinner in the far north. There were unexpected dark themes of anxiety, crippling fear, repressed memories, abuse, mental illness, suicide, and low self-esteem. The story seamlessly combines two of my favorite things, the Arctic and Indian food. I remained absorbed in the story.

Maya is of mixed Indian and British parentage. She lived in India until her mother died when she was 7. She grew up in England and has absolutely no memory of her early life in India. She absorbed the British culture but never felt that she truly belonged.

Her boyfriend has taken a job monitoring polar bears in the Arctic, and Maya accompanies him. Her lifetime of anxiety, fear, and panic attacks are magnified in the Arctic setting. She enjoys the northern lights, rides in a dogsled, learns to drive a snowmobile, and takes shooting lessons but is terrified by each new endeavour. She hates the bitter sub-zero temperatures, the 24 hour days of darkness, fears polar bears, and even an Arctic fox. Her anxiety is crippling, and she barely manages to function.

Her boyfriend thrives in this new environment. At first, he seems most patient and understanding, but soon tires of her inability to participate in community life. He slyly undermines her confidence. I felt that her panic attacks and self-doubts were handled with sensitivity and skillfully written so one could feel her anxiety. However, I felt that these were overwritten and described more than necessary.

Maya goes to work as a cook at a tourist stop a short distance from the town. Some of the tour group members mention they would prefer spicier meals to improve on the bland food being served. Maya knows little about Indian cooking but makes a few attempts. She finds that tasting her cooking sets off vague flashbacks of her early life in India.

Her father is being married in India to an old friend of her late mother. She travels to India for the first time for the wedding and begins to learn to cook Indian cuisine. This causes more flashbacks of her forgotten early life, and finally, some distressing secrets her father kept from her. She reconnects with a former male friend. Will a romance develop? Maya is given her late mother's recipe notebook and becomes proficient in preparing some of the meals. She returns to the Arctic, angry with her father.

Back in the Arctic, her dinners become a trendy tourist destination. She still lives with anxiety but now has a new skill that occupies her mind. She gains confidence and makes new friends. The descriptions of her meals caused me to rush out for Indian take-out. I wished her most popular recipes had been included at the end of the book. The dinners were overly described with no idea how to prepare or cook the delicious-sounding meals.

Several unfortunate events occur that mean the job at the tourist stop must end. She has been offered work as head cook at an upscale hotel in the Arctic town and is preparing to return to England. Has she found a place where she feels she truly belongs? A gripping story of living with anxiety and learning to overcome fears while building confidence and a feeling of belonging. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Arctic Curry Club is a book that surprised me. The cover gave me chick-lit vibes and so when the story had a far deeper and meaningful plot than a fun romance I was taken aback, but it certainly was marvellous.

We meet Maya, half-English, half-Indian. Maya lived in India as a child until the death of her mother and then moved to the UK with her father. She doesn’t remember her time in India or her mother and as a result, has suffered from anxiety since.

As she arrives in the Arctic with her boyfriend Ryan who has taken a new job studying Polar bears, she realises that although she knew it was going to be cold, the darkness, even during the day, is a surprise and the lack of support, including from her boyfriend, starts to tip her over the edge.

She loves to cook and is soon offered the job as the chef for a local excursion business which turns out to be her saviour. She does get some respite when she visits India where her father is getting remarried. However, her short visit starts bringing back memories she had buried, not all of them happy and there is more gloom when she returns to the Arctic.

I loved the scenes both in the Arctic and India which were complete opposites. Maya is a lovely young woman who has been through a rough time and has done her best to try to face her problems but often her anxiety would get the better of her which saw her taking comfort in bed.

I love how the author looks at mental health so sensitively and doesn’t rush through or have her character suddenly overcoming her anxiety. She uses the reality that some days are better than others. I also adored all the cooking Maya did and it certainly felt like I could smell all the delicious aromas radiating from the page.

The Arctic Curry Club is a beautiful story that touched me. It was emotional at times as well as having plenty of humour. Grab yourself a book that takes you to a frozen landscape and has you hungry the whole way through.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe this is a debut novel. It feels so accomplished and had me completely enthralled early on.

The Arctic and curry are not necessarily two things you would expect to fit together so well but yet everything about this book just works.

The descriptions of the Arctic in winter, the never ending darkness, the cold, the dog sledding and snowmobiling are all there and presented so vividly.

And then there are other equally impressive sections set well not in the Arctic but also conjure up the sense of that place so impressively.

Then there is the mental health theme running through the book that I'd dealt with sensitively, and I really felt for Maya at times. Especially when more of her family history is discovered.

And then there is food, and the descriptions left my mouth watering and feeling like I could smell the aromas and spices.

It wouldn't be the Arctic without some wildlife and there is a rather memorable scene involving something whiter and more savage than your average Teddy bear!!!

I've always been a sucker for a book with an exotic location and you can't get much more different to regular life than the Arctic. This gave a wonderful feeling of what life in the Arctic must be like in winter that transported me from the comfort of my garden. Somehow I ended up reading this in a rare hot day in September and not curled up in front of a fire all cosy are you are more likely to be!!

A gem of a book and I'm excited to see what the author will write next.

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,

[Katerina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Woke AF, but still readable and comforting as intended, even for those who could barely imagine going to the north for a day, let alone a year.

Как написали бы введении к дипломной работе, «научная новизна заключается в том, что до этого никто не пробовал соединять Индию и Арктику в художественном произведении».

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was anticipating a festive, light-hearted read based on the blurb and novel’s cover. However, the plot totally juxtaposes this and, to be honest, it rather threw me. I struggled to engage with the narrative at first, maybe because I was yearning for more Christmas spirit. Yet, once I had realised the plot direction, I fell in love with the setting, the cooking and Maya’s determination.

To be honest, it is quite a bleak story when you consider how dark the Arctic is for most of the novel. I could honestly not be able to live in a location that is minus 20 degrees, more snow than you can build a snowman city with, and zero sun for four months. You have to be pretty strong and determined to survive, and even thrive, in such harsh conditions. Therefore, Maya’s initial reaction to this remote village in the Arctic was of no surprise. I completely sympathised with how cold she felt and I think Redd does a fantastic job of conveying the setting throughout the story.

Yet, not only does Maya have to adjust to Arctic living, but also her inner demons. Very early on, readers learn how anxious Maya is. Suffering from regular panic attacks, the narrative reveals how Maya struggles over so many of life’s daily decisions. Despite having therapy throughout her life, Maya still finds it a challenge and her self-esteem plummets even further when she catches her boyfriend cheating on her.

I really sympathised with Maya and I think the writer’s exploration of mental health is done very delicately and sensitively. Throughout the book it would seem that so many of the characters suffer from their own internal battles and I think this reflects something that so many of us take advantage of every day: even if a person appears well on the outside, inside can tell a very different story.

Therefore, this book is more of a journey of Maya’s self-discovery. Channelling it through her cooking, Maya experiences flashbacks linked to her childhood. I think Maya displays dissociative amnesia whereby a traumatic event in her past has caused her to completely erase the memories of living in India with her mother. Over time, Maya learns what happened to force her brain to detach from this period of her life and I admired how she channelled these challenges in rediscovering the recipes her mum used to make.

Food is definitely a dominant theme in this narrative. The meals that Maya cook all sound delicious and appeal to the senses, leaving my mouth watering and my appetite craving! By far, my favourite scene was with the polar bear during one of Maya’s Curry Club nights and I think this demonstrated a turn in the narrative where Maya truly begins to realise how strong she actually is.

All in the all, I thought this to be a very unforeseen narrative that grew on me as time went by. It certainly went beyond my expectations and I found that I enjoyed it more, the more I read of Maya’s story. Despite set in such a hostile environment, the story radiates a warmth from not just the kitchen and Maya’s concoctions, but also the people around her.

With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Bookphenomena (Micky) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Headlines:
Deep themes
Authentic anxiety rep
From Svalbard to Bangalore

This book was a bit of a travel feast with polar (there's a pun there) opposite countries and a chef learning to cook the fayre of the places. I came into this book expecting a super light Christmassy romance, but what I got was so much more and better than that. The Arctic Curry Club was an empowering read of previous family trauma, mental illness represented well and woman finding her own feet to stand on.

Maya arrived in Svalbard (I enjoyed looking at photos of the place after reading the book) with her partner and her reaction to this extreme environment felt realistic. Finding your foot and purpose in a place like this was always going to be difficult. Relationships and friendships were key to this story but alongside this was a narrative of Maya's family, her childhood in Bangalore and a trip back there. I really enjoyed the contrast of these two places.

Food, cooking, polar bears, illness and arctic foxes made for an entertaining read. The themes while deep, weren't heavy and there was a lighter balance kept through the narrative to offset any emotional elements.

I listenend on audio and thoroughly enjoyed the narration (single pov).

Thank you to Avon Books UK for the review copy.

Find this review at A Take From Two Cities Blog.

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Women's Fiction with a lot about mental health. Most the market on this book says it is a romance, and that is what I was thinking it would be when I picked this book up. This is not a romance, and this is not a cute fun book. This is a hard hitting book where you follow a woman named Maya who is suffer from Anxiety, depression, memory loss and panic attacks. I have to say that the first half of this book was not fun to read and super hard to get through. The first half of this book was depressing to read because how down the character you are follow was. The second half was much better, and I felt I got to how the character more through the second half of the book. There was not a romance in this book, but the was a journey of overcoming through out this book. I felt this book showed how hard it is to live in Arctic is. I listen to the audiobook of this book. I did not love the narrator of this book. The narrator did not stop me for finishing this book. I was kindly provided an e-audiobook of this book by the publisher or author (Dani Redd) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5★

This book was both more and less than I expected; in a good way. Craving something light after a couple of intense thrillers, I took another look at the cover of this one and thought it would be just the thing. Chick-lit, a bit of romance, all set in an interesting location... Well, I got the location part right, but the rest was a surprise.

When Maya's Kiwi boyfriend Ryan is offered a fellowship to study polar bears on Svalbard, she agrees to accompany him to his base in Longyearbyen, the northernmost town in the world. They arrive in the depths of the dark, Arctic winter. Maya is rather aimless, and although she fully intends to work, she's not sure what she'll do there. One thing the town sorely lacks is diverse food offerings, so when a local tourism enterprise owner finds out Maya is a trained chef, she suddenly has a job offer. But the thing is, Maya is plagued with crippling anxiety, and her last job as a chef did not end well. After a short time she is already feeling like she is weighing down Ryan's great adventure, so she agrees to a trial work period at the the cabins.

Soon after, Maya discovers that her white British father is about to pack up the family home to move to Bangalore where he will marry Uma, an old family friend from her parents' early marriage. It's all quite sudden from Maya's point of view. Her Indian mother had died when she was a young child, and they had returned to England soon after. Since then Maya hadn't really taken any interest in her Indian side - barely even knew the food - so an imminent trip to Bangalore for the wedding was a confronting proposition.

Once she arrives in India she begins to have fleeting memories of her mother resurface. The food was a revelation and quickly Maya realises that certain dishes could trigger her memories. Her mother's old handwritten recipe book provides the inspiration to learn to cook the dishes of her childhood, and she returns to Longyearbyen full of ideas for her new job. As she works her way through the recipe book, the memories become stronger and Maya begins to have a new appreciation of her own family history.

Other things happen too; there is dog-sledding, learning to shoot, the northern lights, a betrayal or two, a wildlife incursion, the Curry Club of course, and the odd tragedy. But the main thing to be aware of is that this is a story about mental health and grief. It's handled well, so no problems there, but it's not really what you expect from the cover or the blurb.

I really liked it, and I think if I'd read a text copy it would have been a solid 4-star read. As it was, the narrator's voice was perfect for the story, but there was something she mis-read repeatedly that caused me endless irritation (to the point of taking me out of the story on a few occasions - one time until I'd researched what she was actually meant to be saying). So for that I'm knocking off half a star. Well worth a read though.

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Arctic Curry Club” by Dani Redd is a contemporary women’s fiction novel and is written based on the author’s own experience of two years living in India and her PhD work on Arctic Islands.
Despite the extreme icy temperatures in the Arctic and the sweltering heat in India, this novel was set at just the right temperature - warm, cozy and very heartwarming.

- “Facing sub zero temperatures, 24 hour darkness, crippling anxiety and a distant boyfriend as a result, Maya, in her loneliest moment opens her late mother’s recipe book and cooks Indian food for the first time. Building confidence, making friends and securing a job as a chef, the Arctic no longer freezes her with fear. But as the aromatic cuisine rekindles memories long since buried, can she face the past and forge a future?” -

Anyone who has ever experienced anxiety will relate to Maya and her tendency to make all situations into a catastrophe. I certainly did. What I liked about Maya though was her determination and mind set to beat her anxiousness, channelling it into cooking and making new friends.
As the aromas of each of the dishes her mother once cooked, arouse long buried memories of her mother, she starts to piece together the events leading to her mother’s sudden death when she was young, with some unexpected revelations.

Focusing on living with maternal grief, failed relationships, family, friends, mental health and starting a new life against all odds, this light hearted story but with hard hitting subject themes, made this a gripping read that I did not expect. It’s not a romcom or an easy read at times but it is a heart warming tale of overcoming anxiety and relocating to a country that in all areas is extreme. The aptly named “Arctic Curry Club” is sensory atmospheric with superb descriptions of Indian recipes and intense depictions of sub zero conditions in the Arctic. I’d love to follow Maya in her next life journey (perhaps in ‘The Third Pole??) the ending was very satisfactory with a promising future to come.

As the author herself says, “what looks like weakness, is in fact strength” really hits the nail on the head describing this story. Don’t give up when you’re feeling anxious or worn down, you’re never alone.

#TheArcticCurryClub - 4 stars

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book underwhelming, maybe it’s because I’ve read a lot of Christmas themed books quite a lot but, it just didn’t grab me as much as I hoped it would. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had a good gut feeling when I started it and it never went away. While the book isn't as fluffy and light as I first thought it was still a very good book. I was surprised this got such a high rating. Not been many or this is the very furst Chrissy book that definitely had me go as ny

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was SO pleasantly surprised by The Arctic Curry Club. I was expecting a fluffy, winter romance and lots of food descriptions.

What I got was so much more:
❄️a very delicate and realistic journey with mental illness
❄️ finding your true self in a brand new place
❄️ subtle romance
❄️ a strong female lead
❄️ warm side characters
❄️ delicious food descriptions that I could almost smell in real life
❄️ polar bears
❄️ me immediately wanting to visit Svalbard

Thank you so much to @avonbooksuk for my proof copy of this uplifting story. As someone who’s been struggling a lot with their own anxieties recently, this was a special read.

[On the Same Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

CWs: anxiety, internalised fatphobia, mention of suicide, sexual assault (off-page)

Maya leaves her entire world behind to accompany her boyfriend to the Arctic. But it's a harsh environment, especially in the winter, and Maya finds herself struggling. After a trip to Bangalore for her father's wedding and a less than warm welcome back to the Arctic, Maya finds refuge in her mother's old recipe book, and decides to prove to everyone that she can thrive, even in this hostile environment.

So this was a bit of a heavier read than I was anticipating, but I think that is actually a good thing. Don't be fooled by the cover: I know it screams "cute wintery romance" but that's really not what this is. I appreciated that there was more to this story than a simple, light-hearted romance. There is a lot of exploration of mental health and the way anxiety and depression can be affected by your environment. Maya also doesn't have any childhood memories, something which has been chalked up to trauma due to immigrating as a child. But returning to Bangalore unexpectedly forces her to confront the gaps in her mind. I liked the journey she went on, and how we as readers discovered her story alongside her.

I found some of Maya's reasoning highly suspect (like following your boyfriend to the coldest place on Earth, or inviting a friend to the Arctic "for the weekend"--it's a 37-40 HOURS FLIGHT), but ignoring that, she's a pretty relatable and likeable character. The thing that bothered me the most is probably all the lists; Maya calls it her way of coping with anxiety, but I was really not interested in lists of all the times this or that happened to her and ended up skipping a couple of the longer ones because I couldn't be bothered.

On the upside, this book has plenty of mouth-watering descriptions of Indian cuisine, although I think I'll stick to chicken as a main protein rather than reindeer.

[Wiktoria Krzyżaniak · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

First of all - it wasn’t exactly a chick lit. (the cover confused me!)
Second of all - I feel like I really need to visit Svalbard and India, yet I’m not sure if my piggy bank can handle it.

I absolutely LOVED this book!
I find myself very emotional every time I relate to main character and in this particular example I felt like Maya - leading lady - at some points was a spitting image of me.
Ok, but speaking about how I feel it was not a chick lit book… it was still very fluffy, lighthearted read, absolutely unputdownable but the whole storyline reminded me of a Bildungsroman; which wasn’t a bad thing at all, I’ve really enjoyed seeing Maya’s brilliant transformation. I feel so motivated and encouraged to do something with my life after I heard her story even if… it was fictional.
I really can’t focus on my review since all I have on my mind right now is butter chicken and a reindeer curry…
That was a truly delightful read; if you like snowy places, good food and want to grab a book with an anxiety representation - you should definitely give it a go!!

[Professor Weasel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this and read it in one sitting. This book was absolutely perfect to read during a very stressful time in my life. It's cozy, escapist, and comforting, without being cheesy, sentimental, or silly. The main character Maya is especially well drawn - the way her struggles with anxiety are depicted (I especially liked her lists!) will connect with a lot of readers. I love fiction that takes me to places I've never been - I've never been to the Arctic, or to Bangalore, and the strongest parts of this book are in how well it evokes the setting and details of these places. I loved the use of supporting characters - everyone comes off as human and believable. I loved the positive relationship with the dad. I loved how Maya struggles with not feeling either Indian or British enough, and her overall journey. The plot is exciting - a lot of events happen - and it kept me hooked. And use of food is mouth-watering (I mean, who doesn't love to eat?!). I loved the message at the end, about how the things we love change, rather than disappear completely, and how anxiety can be a strength, rather than a weakness. Overall, I really loved this. I think this would be a fabulous book club pick. Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

[Ashleigh Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes us on several journeys, the one that stood out for me was Maya’s journey with her own mental health as she suffers with Anxiety and also discovering her roots and where she came from, unlocking those memories she forgot about her mum who passed away when she was younger.

At the start of the story, we have a nervous woman who has followed her partner so he can pursue his dreams in the Arctic and by the end we have a strong, independent woman who still has anxiety but is learning how to deal with it and is learning to follow her own path. I adored the friendship between her, Rita, Mikkel and Adam, the bond they created over time. I don’t know what I was expecting from this book but I certainly learnt quickly which characters I thought were good ones and which were the bad and I was right with my guesses.

There were smaller parts to this story that I enjoyed too such as Foxy, that turns up to the cabin most days, the dogs that Mikkel loves so much, the discussion of Indian food and culture, the knowledge of the Arctic and what its like to live there in those conditions. This book has a place in my heart, I loved it.

[Charlott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable and easy to listen to but nothing that stands out.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful winter read! I loved everything about it: the setting, the main character's personal growth, the secondary characters, the way in which mental health is treated... I just have good things to say about this book. It had some twists I didn't expect, and I couldn't stop reading but at the same time I didn't want to read it too fast because I didn't want it to end.

This is the perfect read for long winter nights, and I recommend you have some Indian food near you while reading it because you're going to get very hungry!

** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. **

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very kindly sent a proof copy of this book from Avon Books. Thanks to the publisher.

Maya is on her way to live in the Arctic with her polar bear researcher boyfriend, Ryan. Maya can't believe she's doing this. Maya's lifelong anxiety is through the roof. When she arrives, it's just as terrifying as she thought it would be, darkness, cold, walls of snowstorms, polar bears. The list of things that are and can go wrong are endless and Maya quickly finds herself overwhelmed by life in the Arctic. She doesn't want to go sledging or hiking or camping, all things Ryan wants to do. When she finds out her father is getting married over Christmas in India, she is eager to go back to her home country for the wedding but nervous at the same time about her British identity clashing with her Indian identity. She begins to reclaim her passion for cooking and finds that cooking traditional Indian curry dishes begin to unlock some of the memories from her long-forgotten childhood, of her mother before she died, of living in India and some darker elements too. She remembers childhood friends, extended family, laughter, love but also mental illness, depression, assault, suicide and more. Maya has to learn to balance the revelations about her own personal past and cope with her present as she gets a job at a local cabin, hosts the first-ever Arctic curry club and finds out Ryan is sleeping with a sledging instructor behind her back.

I really enjoyed this book. I found Maya to be a really likeable main character and this book didn't minimise how much her anxiety and mental illness affected her life at all, which was nice. The book didn't indicate that she would find herself and magically be cured, the author recognised that anxiety is long a journey that requires medical attention, and I liked that a lot. That being said, I do like that Maya grew to stand on her own two feet as this book went on. I like that despite nothing going right, she just keeps going. The side characters in this book are also great, especially Adam and Mikkel.

I didn't know what to expect from this book, but overall, I'm glad I read it and had the opportunity to do so. I think this is a perfect wintery read for anyone looking for a book this winter to make them feel cosy. Please do note the trigger warnings however, but they do not impact the overall feel and emotion of the book.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

This read was as heartwarming, layered and full of depth, and spicy as you would expect any great curry to taste!

“For my whole life I had been looking for home. But why would that be in a place that I’d left? Perhaps I had to keep moving forward in order to find it.”

Redd writes to explore what happens when we rely on another’s dream to make us happy rather than seeking out our own. She also highlights mental illness, the difficulty some have in finding a sense of belonging, the stress of a parent dying and another re-marrying, narcissism and toxic relationships. On the surface this is a light book about a girl who cooks her mom’s recipes to help her survive, but it’s so much more than that.

You’ll read about Maya who struggles to fit in wherever she finds herself; India, England, or the Arctic! The author gently brings Maya to a place where she becomes aware of the causes of her anxiety and depression and allows readers to watch as she slowly builds herself up and gains control of her mental illness. The vivid descriptions of the arctic add to readers’ understanding of what Maya is facing. I was ever aware of the isolation, darkness and cold. What a juxtaposition against Maya’s culture; warmth and brightness mixed with exotic and spicy aromas. The best part for me was when Maya returned to the Arctic after the family wedding. I felt like I could cheer her on and was interested in her new adventure.

This is a difficult read on an empty stomach! Keep your local Indian restaurant on speed-dial as you read this one.

This sensitively penned debut about finding where you truly belong is one you’ll want to add to your winter reading list!

Publishes December 9, 2021.

I was gifted this advance copy by Dani Redd, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Thebooktrail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discover the locations in The Arctic Curry Club

The title of this book intrigued me from the start. You don’t expect to find curry and the Arctic together do you? Something hot and cold like this? Sounded very quirky and it made me want to read it.

Well, the arctic landscape was a great pull. It’s dark all the time, snowy, a tough and harsh environment and cold. The warm comes from the curry and the dogs! So cute. I immediately wanted to be on that sledge. The sense of place and sense of atmosphere was very well drawn and captures the essence of that part of the world.

It’s so well written that by the time you get to the food, you are going to want to eat curry in real life to warm yourself up. Spic overtones and warm, rich aromas were just mouth watering. That’s coming from someone who doesn’t like curry!

The book cover gives an impression of a cosy read but I was pleasantly surprised to find it delved into some really serious and dark areas. There’s a mental health thread and talk of suicide. Maya has challenges being of British and India descent. She is anxious and finds it hard to adapt to the new lifestyle her boyfriend loves. He, for example, studies polar bears. Now that was an interesting part of the novel!

A lovely surprise of a novel that suggests one thing but draws you in and gives you one nice surprise and reading treat after another.

[The Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maya has left India and her childhood behind at an early stage in her life, when her mother was supposedly killed in a car accident.
She can’t remember much of her childhood, the only memories she has of her mother are given by her father’s stories.
But now he is getting married with Uma, and so while she tries to adjust to her new life with her boyfriend Ryan in the remote Artic, she has to face her past as well.
The flavours of the Indian culinary tradition start bringing her on a memory Lane journey which might not be as pleasant as she believed.

This is definitely not your usual #Christmas romantic book. In a way I can understand why it classifies under that category, at the end Maya, does fall in love, but not in the classic cheesy way, but with herself and her roots.

Lots of focus has been on the mental health topic, which the same author, says it’s still a stigma to talk about in certain countries, and I couldn’t agree more!
Maya struggles with depression, memory loss given from trauma cause in her childhood and anxiety, I personally don’t experience panic or anxiety attacks, but I felt that the topics were realistically portrayed and well researched.

The exploration of the Indian culinary tradition was extraordinary, and if before I was quite reluctant in trying some curry, cause I’m not a big fan of spices, now I am utterly curious in trying some.

And guys the description about the Artic were so vivid! With my mind I was there with Maya, luckily not freezing as much as her, but I could imagine the different places she visited and the northern lights!

Definitely a #book I’d recommend!

[The Candid Cover (Olivia & Lori)]

DNF @ 25%

I'm not sure if it is just that I am not in the right mood for this book or it is taking a long time to get interesting. I was really drawn in by the unique premise and the setting is incredible. There are lots of food descriptions that I have been enjoying, but they aren't enough to keep me engaged. I was hoping for more romance, but it doesn't seem to be there at all. Not for me, unfortunately.

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

**audiobook version**

Narrator 5 stars
This narrator was mesmerising! I definitely want to hear more audiobooks with her voice.

Story 4 stars
What I thought I was reading (especially due to the cover) was a typical RomCom, but this book is absolutely not that which was a real good surprise. This book deals with some real serious stuff, very lite on the romance but still really enjoyable.

[Stephanielikesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out on December 9, The Arctic Curry Club is the story of a young British-Indian woman, Maya, who moves with her boyfriend, Ryan, to the Arctic for his work. The story touches on some serious topics including living with a mental health challenge (Maya has chronic anxiety), straddling two cultures, self-acceptance, and finding out where you belong.

The Arctic setting is a new one for me and the author vividly brought it to life. The main character was very likeable and relatable, the story was well-paced, and there was a satisfying ending. I also enjoyed the cooking as therapy element of the story and the way in which food, smells, taste and memories were intertwined. The descriptions of the food were mouthwatering! Overall, a gentle, loveable, comforting story.

Thanks to @AvonsBooksUk and @Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Arctic Curry Club is a fun and entertaining read. We follow Maya as she’s moved to the northern most town in the arctic with her boyfriend Ryan. If you’re expecting the usual rom-com read you won’t be disappointed but this book is far more than that. We see Maya’s character develop as she deals with many changes happening during her time in Longyearbyen. She also returns to her family in India where she makes new discoveries that shape her character. I found this book to be very enjoyable, great descriptions of food and scenery and some memorable characters. I would rate this book 3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author for the advance review copy.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Arctic Curry Club quite surprised me. It's not literary fiction and it's not quite 'chick lit'. It takes complex emotional and psychological topics and delivers them in a light, easily read style. It won't tax your brain, it might have you shaking your head in places (honestly, food as time travel gets a bit wearing after a while) but it does a great job tackling anxiety, self-doubt and, eventually, taking control of your life on your own terms. I thought it was pretty good.

I can't recall reading many (any?) books where the main character is so messed up with anxiety. I could understand why family and friends had hidden aspects of her past from her - you don't really want to go telling an anxious person about their even more anxious mother, lest you push her too far.

Maya follows her boyfriend to northernmost Norway to study polar bears - he's studying; she's just standing around shivering whilst her eyebrows freeze to her face. Everything about the place scares her. The sun's not been seen for months and won't be back for several more, the temperatures are shocking and everything is unbelievably expensive. She takes on a part-time job cooking for tourists on adventure breaks and soon becomes the best curry chef in the Arctic Circle - or probably, the ONLY curry chef in the Arctic Circle.

In the midst of all these challenges, she takes a trip to Bangalore where her father is marrying his late wife's best friend. In Bangalore, she gets her late mother's cookery book and starts recreating recipes. These recipes are like a time machine and she's soon dreaming and hallucinating events around the last time she ate those dishes. Sorry, bit far fetched for me. I know that food is inextricably linked to memory, but this is a tad too hard to swallow. These 'visions' lead Maya to question what happened to her mother and eventually uncover some very uncomfortable aspects of her past.

I liked the food. I cook and eat a lot of curry and I've travelled all over India. Maya took me on a trip with her through her cooking at a time when Covid has me tied up at home. I also liked the way Maya evolved from a fearful follower to a courageous and independent woman, making up her own mind and not just trotting after her man.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers. To the author, PLEASE can I come round to yours for dinner?

(One tiny correction. Coronation Chicken is described in the book as Anglo-Indian and as a dish from the days of the Raj. This isn't actually true. Perhaps she's confusing it with Jubilee Chicken which is an earlier dish. Coronation Chicken was created for Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 and thus post-dates Indian Independence).

[Melanie’s reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maya should not be a character that I like, she’s an anxiety ridden mess and I thought oh here we go another weak female following a man about. But there was something so personable and endearing about her that kept me reading. Before I knew it I had fallen a little in love with her and all I wanted was to be her personal cheerleader and follow her around telling her she could do it! Although the minus temperatures made me quickly reconsider that silly idea.

I loved getting to know her just as she was getting to know herself and all the people she meets along the way. From gruff straight talker Mikkel and Adam the guides, confident Rita from America to childhood friend Jobin. They all had a part to play in Maya’s transformation as the perpetual darkness gave way to light.

One thing I will say is that the cover is slightly misleading as this is not the fluffy book it implies. As dark as the arctic is, so are many of the themes that run through this book. I personally was actually pleased by that and felt this book had a lot more depth than I had originally assumed.

The food will have you salivating as Maya discovers that not only is she a blend of all the places she has lived but that her food could be too.

I actually felt quite sad finishing this as the author’s writing was strangely hypnotic and addictive. Making me not only bereft at saying goodbye to such wonderful characters that now felt like friends but also the beautiful settings. Although as I live in Norwich, which is also mentioned a fair bit, I can at least hold on to that.