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Six Days in Bombay
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Henna Artist, this sweeping novel of identity and self-discovery takes readers from Bombay to Prague, Florence, Paris and London, to uncover the mystery behind a famous painter's death.
When renowned painter Mira Novak arrives at Wadia hospital in Bombay after a miscarriage, she's expected to make a quick recovery, and Sona is excited to spend time with the worldly woman who shares her half-Indian identity, even if that's where their similarities end. Sona is enraptured by Mira's stories of her travels and shocked by accounts of the many lovers she's left scattered through Europe. Over the course of a week, Mira befriends Sona, seeing in her something bigger than the small life she's living with her mother. Mira is released from the hospital just in time to attend a lavish engagement party with all of Bombay society and invites Sona along. But the next day, Mira is readmitted to the hospital in worse condition than before, and when she dies under mysterious circumstances, Sona immediately falls under suspicion.
Before leaving the hospital in disgrace, Sona is given a note Mira left for her, along with her four favorite paintings. But how could she have known to leave a note if she didn't know she was going to die? The note sends Sona on a mission to deliver three of the paintings—the first to Petra, Mira's childhood friend and first love in Prague; the second to her art dealer Josephine in Paris; the third to her first painting tutor, Paolo, with whom both Mira and her mother had affairs. As Sona uncovers Mira's history, she learns that the charming facade she'd come to know was only one part of a complicated and sometimes cruel woman. But can she discover what really happened to Mira and exonerate herself?
Along the way, Sona also comes to terms with her own complex history and the English father who deserted her and her mother in India so many years ago. In the end, she'll discover that we are all made up of pieces, and only by seeing the world do we learn to see ourselves.
When renowned painter Mira Novak arrives at Wadia hospital in Bombay after a miscarriage, she's expected to make a quick recovery, and Sona is excited to spend time with the worldly woman who shares her half-Indian identity, even if that's where their similarities end. Sona is enraptured by Mira's stories of her travels and shocked by accounts of the many lovers she's left scattered through Europe. Over the course of a week, Mira befriends Sona, seeing in her something bigger than the small life she's living with her mother. Mira is released from the hospital just in time to attend a lavish engagement party with all of Bombay society and invites Sona along. But the next day, Mira is readmitted to the hospital in worse condition than before, and when she dies under mysterious circumstances, Sona immediately falls under suspicion.
Before leaving the hospital in disgrace, Sona is given a note Mira left for her, along with her four favorite paintings. But how could she have known to leave a note if she didn't know she was going to die? The note sends Sona on a mission to deliver three of the paintings—the first to Petra, Mira's childhood friend and first love in Prague; the second to her art dealer Josephine in Paris; the third to her first painting tutor, Paolo, with whom both Mira and her mother had affairs. As Sona uncovers Mira's history, she learns that the charming facade she'd come to know was only one part of a complicated and sometimes cruel woman. But can she discover what really happened to Mira and exonerate herself?
Along the way, Sona also comes to terms with her own complex history and the English father who deserted her and her mother in India so many years ago. In the end, she'll discover that we are all made up of pieces, and only by seeing the world do we learn to see ourselves.
349 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2025
1119 people are currently reading
27678 people want to read
About the author
Alka Joshi
6 books5,126 followersThere comes a point in every daughter's life when she begins seeing her mother as a person separate from her family, someone who has an identity outside of motherhood. That was the moment I began re-imagining my mother's life, and that re-imagining became THE HENNA ARTIST. I was born in Rajasthan, India, and moved with my family to the U.S. when I was nine. Even after graduating from Stanford University, and working in advertising and marketing, I never considered becoming an author. But taking my mother to India in her later years changed all that. In 2011, I got my MFA in Creative Writing from the California College of Arts in San Francisco, California. It took 10 years, a lot of research, and many trips to India to complete my debut novel, and I'm thrilled to share my writing and publishing process on YouTube: http://bit.ly/alkajoshi
I live on the Monterey Peninsula with my husband and two misbehaving pups, so let me know if you're going to be in the neighborhood.
I live on the Monterey Peninsula with my husband and two misbehaving pups, so let me know if you're going to be in the neighborhood.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,483 reviews
April 21, 2025
I have so many complaints about this book.
But for me, it’s the way that Sona spends the whole book crying about her birth father leaving them and how much that impacted her life, the lie of him having another family being a never ending source of pain, etc etc.. while ending the book by casually mentioning that Amit is the father of her baby, but since Edward never mentioned it, she has just let everyone assume he is the father.
Besides having no plot and unlikable characters, why would you spend 300+ pages hitting us over the head with themes about “finding the truth” only to end with the FMC lying about the father of her baby?
But for me, it’s the way that Sona spends the whole book crying about her birth father leaving them and how much that impacted her life, the lie of him having another family being a never ending source of pain, etc etc.. while ending the book by casually mentioning that Amit is the father of her baby, but since Edward never mentioned it, she has just let everyone assume he is the father.
Besides having no plot and unlikable characters, why would you spend 300+ pages hitting us over the head with themes about “finding the truth” only to end with the FMC lying about the father of her baby?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2025
Available 4/15
I am a big fan of Alka Joshi, I adored her Henna Artist Trilogy. I couldn’t wait to read this new standalone story
You are transported back to India. This time it is 1937, we meet Sona an Anglo-Indian nurse working in the Bombay Wadia Hospital.she is nursing Mira Novak a famous painter, who has suffered a miscarriage. Mira is in the hospital for six days. Sona and Mira become friends. Unfortunately Mira dies suddenly and Sona is blamed for her death. Sona is devastated. She is driven into scandal and mystery when a note is left for her to deliver three paintings to friends and former colleagues. But why?
Sona takes the journey as per Mira’s request to Prague, Florence and Paris.
It is a real life lesson for Sona who lived a sheltered existence.
This is a beautifully written and researched novel It is a compelling story with engaging characters.
This book has everything Historical Fiction, mystery and intrigue.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade for this advanced readers copy.
I am a big fan of Alka Joshi, I adored her Henna Artist Trilogy. I couldn’t wait to read this new standalone story
You are transported back to India. This time it is 1937, we meet Sona an Anglo-Indian nurse working in the Bombay Wadia Hospital.she is nursing Mira Novak a famous painter, who has suffered a miscarriage. Mira is in the hospital for six days. Sona and Mira become friends. Unfortunately Mira dies suddenly and Sona is blamed for her death. Sona is devastated. She is driven into scandal and mystery when a note is left for her to deliver three paintings to friends and former colleagues. But why?
Sona takes the journey as per Mira’s request to Prague, Florence and Paris.
It is a real life lesson for Sona who lived a sheltered existence.
This is a beautifully written and researched novel It is a compelling story with engaging characters.
This book has everything Historical Fiction, mystery and intrigue.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade for this advanced readers copy.
May 26, 2025
This is a historical fiction set in the 1931 British-ruled India.
Great concept and good writing.
The storytelling was fabulous, but I must agree with the other readers who said that there were lots of telling and not showing.
I enjoyed the showing of cultural differences and the descriptions of the setting.
I know this is a work of fiction, but I found the development of the story a bit unrealistic, fiction or not.
I didn’t find Mira that interesting, but I understood the main character’s admiration for her.
I wanted more from the protagonist. She was too consumed by the idea of learning more about Mira’s life, and she forgot about herself. She became blinded by the idea of a life that she couldn’t have.
And as for Sona trying to clear her name and go on a trip of discovery that will change her life? To me the author lost some direction.
I really needed to feel that connection with the protagonist, but something was missing for me.
Anyways, I highly recommend the audiobook. The narrator was fantastic and she made everything come to life.
This was my fourth book by this author.
ebook (Kobo): 352 pages, 114k words, 14 chapters.
audiobook narrated by Sneha Mathan: 12.4 hours (normal speed), unabridged.
Great concept and good writing.
The storytelling was fabulous, but I must agree with the other readers who said that there were lots of telling and not showing.
I enjoyed the showing of cultural differences and the descriptions of the setting.
I know this is a work of fiction, but I found the development of the story a bit unrealistic, fiction or not.
I didn’t find Mira that interesting, but I understood the main character’s admiration for her.
I wanted more from the protagonist. She was too consumed by the idea of learning more about Mira’s life, and she forgot about herself. She became blinded by the idea of a life that she couldn’t have.
And as for Sona trying to clear her name and go on a trip of discovery that will change her life? To me the author lost some direction.
I really needed to feel that connection with the protagonist, but something was missing for me.
Anyways, I highly recommend the audiobook. The narrator was fantastic and she made everything come to life.
This was my fourth book by this author.
ebook (Kobo): 352 pages, 114k words, 14 chapters.
audiobook narrated by Sneha Mathan: 12.4 hours (normal speed), unabridged.
April 12, 2025
Joshi took me to 1937 Bombay where our Indo-English protagonist Sona a devoted young nurse who leads a sheltered life encounters patient Maya, a flamboyant painter and her life is forever changed.
This was a perfect book for me as it blended two of my favorite genres…historical fiction and mystery.
Throughout this novel are the rich underpinnings of what life was like in Europe at the time. As Sona travels through four incredibly rich and romantic European cities I felt the rumblings of Mussolini and Hitler trying to emerge.
What was it like to be an Anglo-Indian at the time when India was building power in order to shake off England's throat hold? Sona was called a darkie by some and a halfsie by others. My heart hurt for her as she was torn by the circumstances of her birth.
The author spent the first third of this novel in character building and scene setting and then BAM! it really took off. We are swept across Europe through four incredible cities with Sona on a quest that Mira the painter set her on.
This novel felt both heart warming and heart wrenching at times.
If you enjoy historical fiction, a quest for answers along with a large dab of romance than I suggest you pick up this novel.
Publication day is April 15 but I understand some Book of the Month members have already received their copies.
Thank you to Alka Joshi the author of The Henna Artist Trilogy, her publisher MIRA as well as NetGalley for my advanced reader copy of this fabulous novel.
This was a perfect book for me as it blended two of my favorite genres…historical fiction and mystery.
Throughout this novel are the rich underpinnings of what life was like in Europe at the time. As Sona travels through four incredibly rich and romantic European cities I felt the rumblings of Mussolini and Hitler trying to emerge.
What was it like to be an Anglo-Indian at the time when India was building power in order to shake off England's throat hold? Sona was called a darkie by some and a halfsie by others. My heart hurt for her as she was torn by the circumstances of her birth.
The author spent the first third of this novel in character building and scene setting and then BAM! it really took off. We are swept across Europe through four incredible cities with Sona on a quest that Mira the painter set her on.
This novel felt both heart warming and heart wrenching at times.
If you enjoy historical fiction, a quest for answers along with a large dab of romance than I suggest you pick up this novel.
Publication day is April 15 but I understand some Book of the Month members have already received their copies.
Thank you to Alka Joshi the author of The Henna Artist Trilogy, her publisher MIRA as well as NetGalley for my advanced reader copy of this fabulous novel.
April 28, 2025
Six Days in Bombay by Alka Joshi
Is set in the late 1930s. The story is about Sona, a nurse at Wadia Hospital in Bombay. She meets Mira Novak, a renowned painter of half-Indian descent, who is hospitalized after a miscarriage. Mira fills Sona with stories of European adventures and lovers lovers she has taken. Mira dies in the hospital Sona becomes the prime suspect. Sona travels to Europe in order to deliver paintings to people Mira painted for in hopes to learn more and clear her name
Is set in the late 1930s. The story is about Sona, a nurse at Wadia Hospital in Bombay. She meets Mira Novak, a renowned painter of half-Indian descent, who is hospitalized after a miscarriage. Mira fills Sona with stories of European adventures and lovers lovers she has taken. Mira dies in the hospital Sona becomes the prime suspect. Sona travels to Europe in order to deliver paintings to people Mira painted for in hopes to learn more and clear her name
April 2, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and HARLEQUIN Trade Publishing for access to this title. ALL opinions expressed are my own.
Alka Joshi is a fantastic author. Her characters tug at your heartstrings. She transports her readers to India in different parts of its history. Also, whomever is designing the covers of her books makes it unreasonably difficult to resist adding them to your bookshelf.
Six Days in Bombay is set in 1930s and tells the story of Sona, a young nurse of British-Indian heritage who befriends a wealthy female painter. Their meeting will spurn Sona to undertake an adventure that takes her beyond India's borders and promises to help her become the woman she so desires to be.
This was a beautiful story. Once I began reading, I couldn't tear myself away. I like when I believe the plot will move in one direction and the author throws a few curves into my thinking.
Expected Publication Date 15/04/25
Goodreads Review Date. 31/03/25
Alka Joshi is a fantastic author. Her characters tug at your heartstrings. She transports her readers to India in different parts of its history. Also, whomever is designing the covers of her books makes it unreasonably difficult to resist adding them to your bookshelf.
Six Days in Bombay is set in 1930s and tells the story of Sona, a young nurse of British-Indian heritage who befriends a wealthy female painter. Their meeting will spurn Sona to undertake an adventure that takes her beyond India's borders and promises to help her become the woman she so desires to be.
This was a beautiful story. Once I began reading, I couldn't tear myself away. I like when I believe the plot will move in one direction and the author throws a few curves into my thinking.
Expected Publication Date 15/04/25
Goodreads Review Date. 31/03/25
April 13, 2025
Such an interesting concept for a plot, SO POORLY EXECUTED. The writing was corny and disjointed, so it was extremely difficult to get invested in this story or the main character. I kept waiting for it to get better, but I think it actually got worse. The ending was especially terrible because it was just so unbelievable and anticlimactic. I’m upset that I wasted 5 days powering through this. Should’ve dnf’d.
January 11, 2025
Alki Joshi is an extremely talented storyteller and writer. I’ve read all her books and I love the way they transport me to India. An India that is both wonderful and horrible. Horrible, the way women are second class human beings. Horrible the way that even some women not only accept this - but believe this also. And wonderful too showing the compassion of certain men who don’t believe this.
This story centers on a nurse, Sona, who meets a patient, Mira, who changes her life. The six days that Mira is a patient fills Sona with a new outlook on her own life. A life that will take her to Prague, Florence, and London all because of a patient named Mira.
Another excellent journey that Ms Joshi takes the reader and Sona on in discovering these cities and ultimately herself.
This story centers on a nurse, Sona, who meets a patient, Mira, who changes her life. The six days that Mira is a patient fills Sona with a new outlook on her own life. A life that will take her to Prague, Florence, and London all because of a patient named Mira.
Another excellent journey that Ms Joshi takes the reader and Sona on in discovering these cities and ultimately herself.
December 22, 2024
Alka Joshi has another win with Six Days in Bombay! This historical fiction novel tells the poignant story of Sona, a night nurse at Bombay's Wadia Hospital, set against the vivid backdrop of British-ruled India in 1931. She meets patient Mira, a vivacious and famous painter who is based on the real-life painter Amrita Sher-Gil, who passed away at the age of twenty-eight or could have become a household name. Both Sona and her patient Mira are half Indian and half European descent. Sona is captivated by Mira's confidence and free spirit, and they quickly become friends during the six days that Mira is in the hospital. Tragically, Mira dies unexpectedly, and Sona is caught up in scandal and the mystery of how she died. Mira leaves four paintings for Sona and asks her to travel to Prague, Paris, and Florence to deliver one painting to each person from her past. Sona's journey is a beautiful self-discovery and coming of age as she learns more about herself and others.
Joshi beautifully weaves the themes of identity and belonging into the storyline. This is a theme that resonates with me personally as my father is Indian and was raised in India while my mother is of European descent. Growing up in the late 20th century, I still struggled with where I fit in. Any biracial or multi racial person today can relate. Treatment by others depends on what you look like. Whether you look more European or more Indian can determine how others view and treat you. Sona's trips to different European countries are not only a stunning travel journal that makes you feel present and immersed in the culture, but also a brilliant view of the political unrest on the cusp of WWII.
Alka Joshi's storytelling is masterful, and her characters are rich and compelling. This is an immersive historical fiction novel that explores 1930's India and Europe politically while weaving in themes of identity, belonging, family, love, friendship, career, and women's rights. She can pack in a lot in under 350 pages, and her thought-provoking and heartwarming novels are what make Joshi one of my favorite authors today.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing - MIRA, and Alka Joshi for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
Joshi beautifully weaves the themes of identity and belonging into the storyline. This is a theme that resonates with me personally as my father is Indian and was raised in India while my mother is of European descent. Growing up in the late 20th century, I still struggled with where I fit in. Any biracial or multi racial person today can relate. Treatment by others depends on what you look like. Whether you look more European or more Indian can determine how others view and treat you. Sona's trips to different European countries are not only a stunning travel journal that makes you feel present and immersed in the culture, but also a brilliant view of the political unrest on the cusp of WWII.
Alka Joshi's storytelling is masterful, and her characters are rich and compelling. This is an immersive historical fiction novel that explores 1930's India and Europe politically while weaving in themes of identity, belonging, family, love, friendship, career, and women's rights. She can pack in a lot in under 350 pages, and her thought-provoking and heartwarming novels are what make Joshi one of my favorite authors today.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing - MIRA, and Alka Joshi for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 21, 2025
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Random Things Tours.
Six Days in Bombay is a beautiful and heartfelt story about Sona, a night nurse at a hospital in Bombay in the 1930s. When a patient is admitted suffering a miscarriage Sona is instantly drawn towards her. The patient is Mira, a famous painter (based on a real-life painter: Amrita Sher-Gil) who is also half Indian and half European. The pair become friends, and when Mira dies very suddenly and suspiciously leaving her four beloved paintings in the care of Sona, Sona is hit by another tragedy and is relieved of her position at the hospital. With nothing left for her, she embarks on a trip around the world to deliver the paintings to the people Sona wanted them to go to. Her quest is filled with self-discovery, hardship, intrigue, and identity, and the book explores themes of women's rights, family, and friendship.
This was a beautiful story filled with rich and immersive scenes and culture that captivates you. I loved Sonas' innocence and personal journey and didn't expect the ending but really enjoyed.
Six Days in Bombay is a beautiful and heartfelt story about Sona, a night nurse at a hospital in Bombay in the 1930s. When a patient is admitted suffering a miscarriage Sona is instantly drawn towards her. The patient is Mira, a famous painter (based on a real-life painter: Amrita Sher-Gil) who is also half Indian and half European. The pair become friends, and when Mira dies very suddenly and suspiciously leaving her four beloved paintings in the care of Sona, Sona is hit by another tragedy and is relieved of her position at the hospital. With nothing left for her, she embarks on a trip around the world to deliver the paintings to the people Sona wanted them to go to. Her quest is filled with self-discovery, hardship, intrigue, and identity, and the book explores themes of women's rights, family, and friendship.
This was a beautiful story filled with rich and immersive scenes and culture that captivates you. I loved Sonas' innocence and personal journey and didn't expect the ending but really enjoyed.
December 23, 2025
I finished this read a few weeks ago. I loved it. I didn't review it before because I could not find the words to describe how much I liked it. I still can't find the right words. The best I can do is describe it as a masterpiece. Set in Bombay in 1937, the story follows the journey of Sona, a young Anglo-Indian nurse. A meeting with a patient, a talented artist, causes Sona to make some drastic life changes, including a rushed world trip. The book contains delicious descriptions of Bombay and other cities. Through vivid imagery, the author draws the reader into each scene. The novel speaks of family, love and loss. The author, Alka Joshi, successfully explores the emotions and isolation of being of mixed race. I have never read the novels of this talented storyteller. That is something I will correct without delay.
April 3, 2025
Alka Joshi is known for making her birth country of India come alive for her readers.
In this novel, Joshi explores the concepts of otherness and identity and reveals the push and pull that ‘in betweens’ face and how the ripple effects shape them. To do so, she introduces us to Sona and shows us how she attempts to harness the best of both worlds (British and Indian) to survive. Adding to the complexity of Sona’s challenge is the political climate of the time. By the late 19th century, many Eurasians faced issues of loyalty and patriotism; was it possible to straddle both cultures? Does each demand a sole focus? This was fascinating for me as I was an immigrant child and could identify with Sola’s situation.
Joshi also highlights equality and the work that’s being done worldwide to see and treat women as equals. We are still struggling with this in the 21st century.
I enjoyed my traipse around the world and a glimpse into the art world. I finished the book thinking that we are not really as different as we’d like to think. We’d like to put everyone into a category and define them, but we’re all fluid, straddling to find the best of both worlds and hoping to settle into a life that works for us.
I was gifted this copy by Harlequin Trade Publishing/Mira and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
In this novel, Joshi explores the concepts of otherness and identity and reveals the push and pull that ‘in betweens’ face and how the ripple effects shape them. To do so, she introduces us to Sona and shows us how she attempts to harness the best of both worlds (British and Indian) to survive. Adding to the complexity of Sona’s challenge is the political climate of the time. By the late 19th century, many Eurasians faced issues of loyalty and patriotism; was it possible to straddle both cultures? Does each demand a sole focus? This was fascinating for me as I was an immigrant child and could identify with Sola’s situation.
Joshi also highlights equality and the work that’s being done worldwide to see and treat women as equals. We are still struggling with this in the 21st century.
I enjoyed my traipse around the world and a glimpse into the art world. I finished the book thinking that we are not really as different as we’d like to think. We’d like to put everyone into a category and define them, but we’re all fluid, straddling to find the best of both worlds and hoping to settle into a life that works for us.
I was gifted this copy by Harlequin Trade Publishing/Mira and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
May 21, 2025
SIX DAYS IN BOMBAY
By Alka Joshi
Narration by Sneha Mathan was enjoyable and well done.
Set in Bombay in 1937, the story unfolds against the backdrop of the brewing political tensions across Europe and India. A young Anglo-Indian nurse, Sona, is the central character and travels across Europe to deliver paintings to three significant people from an artist’s past. Mira, an artist who befriends a nurse, Sona, while under her care, passes away and leaves instructions for Sona. While unraveling the tapestry of Mira’s complex life, Sona also grapples with her personal tragedy and complicated heritage. The way Sona sees the world is deeply rooted in the abandonment she experienced.
This is my first book by the author and found her writing in this historical fiction read to be engaging and captivating, and her descriptions vivid and striking. The characters are complex and well-developed. Explores powerful themes of identity, belonging, friendship and courage.
By Alka Joshi
Narration by Sneha Mathan was enjoyable and well done.
Set in Bombay in 1937, the story unfolds against the backdrop of the brewing political tensions across Europe and India. A young Anglo-Indian nurse, Sona, is the central character and travels across Europe to deliver paintings to three significant people from an artist’s past. Mira, an artist who befriends a nurse, Sona, while under her care, passes away and leaves instructions for Sona. While unraveling the tapestry of Mira’s complex life, Sona also grapples with her personal tragedy and complicated heritage. The way Sona sees the world is deeply rooted in the abandonment she experienced.
This is my first book by the author and found her writing in this historical fiction read to be engaging and captivating, and her descriptions vivid and striking. The characters are complex and well-developed. Explores powerful themes of identity, belonging, friendship and courage.
May 1, 2025
Oh Sona, I thought you’d be my girl’s girl protagonist. I’d strap in as your ride-or-die reader as you went from lamb to lioness and became the hero of your own story.
Instead, as the book progressed, your first-person perspective became more about being the investigative narrator of someone else’s storyline. I know you’re a nurse, which means you prioritize caring for others—but it’s OK to put your own hero’s journey first. To attach emotionally to you and your outcome, I needed more from you than being a dead patient’s delivery girl.
The audiobook narrator, Deepti Gupta, has such a soothing voice. Her delivery really added positively to my reading experience.
Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I’m still such a fan of Alka Joshi’s Henna Artist trilogy that whatever she writes snacks will go straight to my TBR list.
Instead, as the book progressed, your first-person perspective became more about being the investigative narrator of someone else’s storyline. I know you’re a nurse, which means you prioritize caring for others—but it’s OK to put your own hero’s journey first. To attach emotionally to you and your outcome, I needed more from you than being a dead patient’s delivery girl.
The audiobook narrator, Deepti Gupta, has such a soothing voice. Her delivery really added positively to my reading experience.
Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I’m still such a fan of Alka Joshi’s Henna Artist trilogy that whatever she writes snacks will go straight to my TBR list.
February 14, 2025
2/14/25: It is a fitting day (Valentine's Day) to have finished Alka Joshi's 4th novel after her Jaipur trilogy (The Henna Artist | The Secret Keeper of Jaipur | The Perfumist of Paris), as the novel is all about Main Character Sona, an early 20's woman living in 1930's Bombay, falling in love with life.
This 352-page novel (hardcover) is set to release April 15, 2025, and is a historical fiction with a straight forward timeline, no back and forth to modern day. It has a pretty clear plot line of Sona being exposed to and befriended by a very worldly, charismatic, and beautiful artist, Mira, during Mira's 6-day hospital stay when Sona cared for her as a nurse. Sona's circle is largely filled with "good" people, including her mother, other patients Sona befriends, one of the doctors and a hospital handyman. But she is a sheltered and fairly poor person, living alone with her seamstress mother with no support from her father.
Author Joshi weaves in couple different mystery situations, as well as suspicious characters who are not nice or possibly not nice, friends or possibly not friends? (the nurse at the hospital, her friend's husband, one of the doctors, her father, the hospital handyman), and several instances to demonstrate how women were (still are?) 2nd class citizens. She deepens the "othering" of Sona by making a "half/half" or a product of a white British father and an Indian mother.
The first half of the book centers on those 6-days in Bombay and establishing Sona's life situation and her developing friendship with Mira. Through Mira she begins to experience new things outside the world of her mother and nursing. The second half of the book takes us on a bit of a global adventure as Sona takes on a special request by Mira. Throughout the book there is a bit of romance as one would expect in a novel about a beautiful young woman, but it is not the central theme of the novel. Along the way some of Sona's beliefs are challenged and as she exposed to new people and new situations she begins to grow up, toughen up, and see the massive potential and opportunities of her life.
Joshi does a great job of making us see and feel Bombay and understand what Sona felt like as a young woman. She also does a subtle but compelling job of educating the reader on how India was controlled by Great Britain. The other thing she does well in this book is show how people are not black or white, all good or all bad. This concept is a key plot element for Sona's maturation through the novel.
The only thing I felt was a little out of place was one "sexy" scene in the book that felt a little graphic to me compared to the rest of the novel. It felt unlikely to me given the era and the influence of Indian culture, but I could be wrong. I would have been perfectly happy to have the scene happen with more allusion than description. Similarly, I felt the cover art on this copy was too "romance" vibe. I feel it would have been good to show her in her nurse uniform to establish she is more than just a beautiful woman, but smart and serious about having a career and earning money on her own.
Overall this is a great historical fiction combined with a coming of age era for our MC Sona. 4.5-stars rounded up. Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for providing a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
1/18/25: Yes! I was approved for a free copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
1/17/25: Huge fan of Alka Joshi and had the great fortune to virtually meet her on a zoom author talk for her original 3-book series (she was lovely). So excited to enter the giveaway for her upcoming 4/15 new release, and have requested it on NetGalley. Hoping I get approved!!!
This 352-page novel (hardcover) is set to release April 15, 2025, and is a historical fiction with a straight forward timeline, no back and forth to modern day. It has a pretty clear plot line of Sona being exposed to and befriended by a very worldly, charismatic, and beautiful artist, Mira, during Mira's 6-day hospital stay when Sona cared for her as a nurse. Sona's circle is largely filled with "good" people, including her mother, other patients Sona befriends, one of the doctors and a hospital handyman. But she is a sheltered and fairly poor person, living alone with her seamstress mother with no support from her father.
Author Joshi weaves in couple different mystery situations, as well as suspicious characters who are not nice or possibly not nice, friends or possibly not friends? (the nurse at the hospital, her friend's husband, one of the doctors, her father, the hospital handyman), and several instances to demonstrate how women were (still are?) 2nd class citizens. She deepens the "othering" of Sona by making a "half/half" or a product of a white British father and an Indian mother.
The first half of the book centers on those 6-days in Bombay and establishing Sona's life situation and her developing friendship with Mira. Through Mira she begins to experience new things outside the world of her mother and nursing. The second half of the book takes us on a bit of a global adventure as Sona takes on a special request by Mira. Throughout the book there is a bit of romance as one would expect in a novel about a beautiful young woman, but it is not the central theme of the novel. Along the way some of Sona's beliefs are challenged and as she exposed to new people and new situations she begins to grow up, toughen up, and see the massive potential and opportunities of her life.
Joshi does a great job of making us see and feel Bombay and understand what Sona felt like as a young woman. She also does a subtle but compelling job of educating the reader on how India was controlled by Great Britain. The other thing she does well in this book is show how people are not black or white, all good or all bad. This concept is a key plot element for Sona's maturation through the novel.
The only thing I felt was a little out of place was one "sexy" scene in the book that felt a little graphic to me compared to the rest of the novel. It felt unlikely to me given the era and the influence of Indian culture, but I could be wrong. I would have been perfectly happy to have the scene happen with more allusion than description. Similarly, I felt the cover art on this copy was too "romance" vibe. I feel it would have been good to show her in her nurse uniform to establish she is more than just a beautiful woman, but smart and serious about having a career and earning money on her own.
Overall this is a great historical fiction combined with a coming of age era for our MC Sona. 4.5-stars rounded up. Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for providing a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
1/18/25: Yes! I was approved for a free copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
1/17/25: Huge fan of Alka Joshi and had the great fortune to virtually meet her on a zoom author talk for her original 3-book series (she was lovely). So excited to enter the giveaway for her upcoming 4/15 new release, and have requested it on NetGalley. Hoping I get approved!!!
April 19, 2025
There wasn't much I enjoyed about this book. I was expecting a mystery with a dash of wanderlust and drama but what I got was an absolute snoozefest. Overall this was a wonderful idea but the execution on it was just horrible.
The first 60% of the book where Sona befriends Mira, the mysterious painter, was both necessary and unnecessary at the same time somehow. I felt like I was just treading water most of the time and all the character development and bonding was told to me rather than shown. And personally, I didn't find Mira that interesting in the first place that I would have embarked on this international trip on her behalf.
What I liked more was this constant pull between identifies for Sona being half British and half Indian. I wish this story could have focused more on that but in a less repetitive, blatant way. Instead again, I got Sona telling me this constantly with her thoughts rather than SEEING it demonstrated.
Once Sona gets going and traveling, I was hopeful the story would pick up finally. Sadly, what I got was just some truly disappointing and lack luster interactions with Mira's long lost friends and bland listing of tourist sites in each of these stops. I wanted to FEEL like I was there, but ultimately I just felt like the author was going through a list and rushing Sona on to the next destination.
And dare I bring up the ending? Like what was that? Both Mira's ending as well as Sona's, insanely frustrating and unsatisfying. For someone who has held on to the pain of her father abandoning her her whole life, to me Sona just repeats this in her own family life with her daughter.
Honestly, I finished the last sentence of this book and said to myself "OMG what was the point of this?"
The first 60% of the book where Sona befriends Mira, the mysterious painter, was both necessary and unnecessary at the same time somehow. I felt like I was just treading water most of the time and all the character development and bonding was told to me rather than shown. And personally, I didn't find Mira that interesting in the first place that I would have embarked on this international trip on her behalf.
What I liked more was this constant pull between identifies for Sona being half British and half Indian. I wish this story could have focused more on that but in a less repetitive, blatant way. Instead again, I got Sona telling me this constantly with her thoughts rather than SEEING it demonstrated.
Once Sona gets going and traveling, I was hopeful the story would pick up finally. Sadly, what I got was just some truly disappointing and lack luster interactions with Mira's long lost friends and bland listing of tourist sites in each of these stops. I wanted to FEEL like I was there, but ultimately I just felt like the author was going through a list and rushing Sona on to the next destination.
And dare I bring up the ending? Like what was that? Both Mira's ending as well as Sona's, insanely frustrating and unsatisfying. For someone who has held on to the pain of her father abandoning her her whole life, to me Sona just repeats this in her own family life with her daughter.
Honestly, I finished the last sentence of this book and said to myself "OMG what was the point of this?"
November 3, 2024
I was so very excited when I saw there was a new book my Alka Joshi. The Henna Artist series is one of my favorite series, and I was so excited to jump into her newest stand alone book. Set in 1930's India, it paint a vivid picture of the caste system and the disruption of the British rule. It follows a young nurse that has an Indian mother and a British father, and her coming of age as an independent person. Definitely pulls at the heartstrings. Definitely recommend!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 21, 2025
One of my favorite books of 2025 so far! 4.5/5 Stars!
There’s so much to love about Alka Joshi's Six Days in Bombay.
The novel immerses you in two distinct worlds: one in Bombay, where we meet Sona, a young woman born to a British father and an Indian mother during British rule in the 1930s. Sona works as a night nurse and crosses paths with Mira Novak, an artist who arrives at the hospital after a miscarriage. As the story unfolds, we learn that although Sona shares a joyful life with her mother, she's still struggling to make ends meet. The magnetic Mira and Sona quickly form a bond.
The second part of the story takes Sona on a journey across Europe, including Paris, Florence, Prague, and Istanbul. I’ll refrain from giving away the reasons for her travels because the story is rich in depth and full of surprises. Alka Joshi's writing is so vivid that I truly felt transported to these places. Her descriptions are lush, capturing each setting with such detail that you can almost feel the world around Sona. At just 23, Sona has so much to discover and navigate, and the story keeps you hooked from beginning to end.
The book is about the struggle of identity – Sona, caught between her British and Indian heritage, grapples with confusion over who she truly is. As she meets new people along the way, some struggle to pinpoint her nationality, and Sona wrestles with her sense of belonging. Yet, her heart remains firmly in Bombay. Along the way, she encounters memorable characters, each of whom teaches Sona something, while she too imparts lessons of her own.
I learned a great deal about Bombay during this period, and the book beautifully transported me to the streets of Florence and Paris in the 1930s. Set just before WWII, the looming threat of Hitler is palpable throughout the story.
I didn’t want it to end. The details are so vivid, the characters unforgettable, and I found myself rooting for Sona every step of the way.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for more people to experience it!
There’s so much to love about Alka Joshi's Six Days in Bombay.
The novel immerses you in two distinct worlds: one in Bombay, where we meet Sona, a young woman born to a British father and an Indian mother during British rule in the 1930s. Sona works as a night nurse and crosses paths with Mira Novak, an artist who arrives at the hospital after a miscarriage. As the story unfolds, we learn that although Sona shares a joyful life with her mother, she's still struggling to make ends meet. The magnetic Mira and Sona quickly form a bond.
The second part of the story takes Sona on a journey across Europe, including Paris, Florence, Prague, and Istanbul. I’ll refrain from giving away the reasons for her travels because the story is rich in depth and full of surprises. Alka Joshi's writing is so vivid that I truly felt transported to these places. Her descriptions are lush, capturing each setting with such detail that you can almost feel the world around Sona. At just 23, Sona has so much to discover and navigate, and the story keeps you hooked from beginning to end.
The book is about the struggle of identity – Sona, caught between her British and Indian heritage, grapples with confusion over who she truly is. As she meets new people along the way, some struggle to pinpoint her nationality, and Sona wrestles with her sense of belonging. Yet, her heart remains firmly in Bombay. Along the way, she encounters memorable characters, each of whom teaches Sona something, while she too imparts lessons of her own.
I learned a great deal about Bombay during this period, and the book beautifully transported me to the streets of Florence and Paris in the 1930s. Set just before WWII, the looming threat of Hitler is palpable throughout the story.
I didn’t want it to end. The details are so vivid, the characters unforgettable, and I found myself rooting for Sona every step of the way.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for more people to experience it!
April 5, 2025
Alka Joshi can write, but man this plot was all over the place. From reading the synopsis, I thought this book was going to be about Sona’s travels. That didn’t even actually start till the halfway point of the book. And to be honest, I can’t even figure out why she went. Her mom said she needed to clear her name- did we really think delivering paintings was going to do that? It seems like an absurd idea. Speaking of, absurd things- the event the prompted her to go? It felt like a plot point just so we could take care of that problem really quick 🙄 so rude! All in all, the writing just couldn’t make up for the flimsy plot.
May 13, 2025
ANHPI Heritage Month 2025 #5
I remember liking THE HENNA ARTIST more, not that I could tell you anything about it at this current point in time.
I wasn't incredibly fond of Sona, an Anglo-Indian nurse who works in Bombay. Take this with a grain of salt. I've enjoyed plenty of books where I didn't like the cast of characters.
So while I had trouble with her naïveté, I also had issues with the book's pacing. The time in Bombay, which constituted 2/3 of the book? Slow. The time galivanting around Europe? Rushed.
Sona is Mira's nurse, another half-half, although different halves than Sona. They befriend each other during Mira's six-day stay. When Mira, an artist, mysteriously dies under Sona's care, it is left to Sona to return Mira's art to various people in Europe, thus embarking Sona's first time out of India, and steps closer to her birth father.
🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio
I remember liking THE HENNA ARTIST more, not that I could tell you anything about it at this current point in time.
I wasn't incredibly fond of Sona, an Anglo-Indian nurse who works in Bombay. Take this with a grain of salt. I've enjoyed plenty of books where I didn't like the cast of characters.
So while I had trouble with her naïveté, I also had issues with the book's pacing. The time in Bombay, which constituted 2/3 of the book? Slow. The time galivanting around Europe? Rushed.
Sona is Mira's nurse, another half-half, although different halves than Sona. They befriend each other during Mira's six-day stay. When Mira, an artist, mysteriously dies under Sona's care, it is left to Sona to return Mira's art to various people in Europe, thus embarking Sona's first time out of India, and steps closer to her birth father.
🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio
December 4, 2025
There is more to this book than first glance.
Which can I confess I hated the book jacket art so much it sat on my shelf for months … embarrassing as that is. Should I have passed … I would have missed a story of struggling with identity, abandonment, and family. I would have missed a cast of characters like Dr. Stoddard that I became so fond of. I would have missed a character inspired by a real life art prodigy whose life emulated Frida Kahlo.
Was the plot a bit of a reach? Maybe. But Ms. Joshi has such a gift of bringing settings alive … especially her home of India, that I really did enjoy this story that spans the globe. A solid summer read.
Which can I confess I hated the book jacket art so much it sat on my shelf for months … embarrassing as that is. Should I have passed … I would have missed a story of struggling with identity, abandonment, and family. I would have missed a cast of characters like Dr. Stoddard that I became so fond of. I would have missed a character inspired by a real life art prodigy whose life emulated Frida Kahlo.
Was the plot a bit of a reach? Maybe. But Ms. Joshi has such a gift of bringing settings alive … especially her home of India, that I really did enjoy this story that spans the globe. A solid summer read.
November 23, 2024
I was really excited to see a new book by Alki Joshi. I loved The Henna Artist and its sequels. Unfortunately,I was disappointed with this one. The writing was good and her sense of place is wonderful but I had a hard time connecting with the characters. I also found it hard to believe the connection with a patient could send a young woman traveling all over Europe in the 30s.
April 20, 2025
Beautiful and vivid. I just love Alka Joshi's writing. I loved the characters- all of them for different reasons- all far from perfect... just learning and living life, and experiencing the different variations of love.
May 11, 2025
"Six Days in Bombay" was an interesting look at life for a woman who is half British and half Indian in the 1930s living in India. Sona is a nurse living in Bombay with her mother. She has led a difficult life being that she was abandoned by her white father but she has had a wonderful and caring mother. She enjoys her job and has made some significant connections with her patients. One of her patients will in fact change her life as Sona will ultimately go on an adventure to fulfill the patient's last wishes.
This novel had all the elements of a good historical fiction novel that I look for. Sona was a strong female who made mistakes but learned from them. I enjoyed reading about her strength and she had to face challenges head on. There was a little romance and also adventure. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction will enjoy reading this book!
This novel had all the elements of a good historical fiction novel that I look for. Sona was a strong female who made mistakes but learned from them. I enjoyed reading about her strength and she had to face challenges head on. There was a little romance and also adventure. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction will enjoy reading this book!
May 21, 2025
IG review: https://www.instagram.com/p/DH_FVZ-Ac...
3.25 stars. This story takes us to 1930s Bombay, India. India is currently occupied by the British but on the brink of independence. A young woman named Sona works in an English hospital as a nurse. She has no idea, though, that the friendship she strikes up with a special patient, Mira the painter, will change her life forever.
This book took me on a whirlwind journey across Asia and Europe and my desire to jump in a plane and go travel somewhere was loving every second of being immersed in Bombay, Prague, Paris and Florence.
However, I wasn’t completely obsessed with some of the actual storyline. It’s hard to completely put my feelings into words because there were moments I loved and I really enjoyed Sona’s journey and her wresting with being “half-half” (with a British father and an Indian mother) and the conversation around identity. But the storyline that dealt with Mira’s past wasn’t my absolute favorite.
This is my fourth Alka Joshi book and I will read whatever this woman writes!!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the e-galley!!
3.25 stars. This story takes us to 1930s Bombay, India. India is currently occupied by the British but on the brink of independence. A young woman named Sona works in an English hospital as a nurse. She has no idea, though, that the friendship she strikes up with a special patient, Mira the painter, will change her life forever.
This book took me on a whirlwind journey across Asia and Europe and my desire to jump in a plane and go travel somewhere was loving every second of being immersed in Bombay, Prague, Paris and Florence.
However, I wasn’t completely obsessed with some of the actual storyline. It’s hard to completely put my feelings into words because there were moments I loved and I really enjoyed Sona’s journey and her wresting with being “half-half” (with a British father and an Indian mother) and the conversation around identity. But the storyline that dealt with Mira’s past wasn’t my absolute favorite.
This is my fourth Alka Joshi book and I will read whatever this woman writes!!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the e-galley!!
April 24, 2025
4.25/5
Six Days in Bombay is set in the 1930's. Alka Joshi does an excellent job in transporting you to the specific era her stories take place; the descriptions of the places, the smells are fantastic. In this book, we read about Sona (a woman in her 20s, with English father and Indian mother), who works as a night nurse at a hospital in Bombay. After receiving some devastating news in her personal and professional life, she embarks on a trip to Europe, where she experiences new cultures and uncovers secrets about one of her patient and her own past.
Six Days in Bombay is set in the 1930's. Alka Joshi does an excellent job in transporting you to the specific era her stories take place; the descriptions of the places, the smells are fantastic. In this book, we read about Sona (a woman in her 20s, with English father and Indian mother), who works as a night nurse at a hospital in Bombay. After receiving some devastating news in her personal and professional life, she embarks on a trip to Europe, where she experiences new cultures and uncovers secrets about one of her patient and her own past.
July 27, 2025
This was a tough read to score for me. I love Alka’s writing and her previous trilogy is one I still recommend to anyone and everyone. This still had her signature flowing, lyrically descriptive writing style but the story fell a bit short for me. I wanted more from Sona, I didn’t feel connected to her feelings, I felt like someone was telling me about her story. I wanted so badly to give this at least a 4 but couldn’t and I would absolutely recommend her previous books over this one and will wait hopefully for her next which I will eagerly snap up.
May 28, 2025
The writing was fine, but the whole story felt too fantastical. I personally couldn't stand the characters, and was disappointed in the events at the end.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC.
May 31, 2025
Re-read 2025 as an audiobook: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
So good! Same narrator as for The Henna Artist series.
Actual Rating: 4.75
Has your life ever been changed by a chance meeting?
Six Days in Bombay by Alka Joshi beautifully explores how a single encounter with the right person at the right time can completely change the course of your life.
Alka Joshi, author of The Henna Artist, takes readers to 1930s Bombay, India, with a vivid and immersive narrative. The story centers on Sona, a 23-year-old biracial nurse (British and Indian), whose life intertwines with Mira Novak, a renowned biracial painter famous for depicting Indian women. Their meeting sparks a transformative journey for Sona, filled with emotional growth and self-discovery.
What I Loved:
* Sona’s character: I adored her growth arc, especially her evolving relationship with her mother. Joshi writes such multidimensional characters that they feel like real people you’d want to know.
* Historical depth: Joshi brilliantly captures the political tension between India and Britain in the 1930s. Her research shines through, and the author’s note adds even more depth—Joshi traveled to every country featured in the book to ensure accuracy.
* Mira Novak’s inspiration: Mira is based on Amrita Sher-Gil, a Hungarian-Indian painter and pioneer of modern Indian art. Her richly colored paintings, many of which were self-portraits, are legendary. Joshi says, “Amrita Sher-Gil is my inspiration for this novel, and it’s important to me that she and her work are not forgotten.”
* SCU connection: As an alum of Santa Clara University, I loved seeing a shout-out to an SCU history professor in Joshi’s author’s note!
*The ending: Wow, just wow. It kept me on my toes and completely surprised me.
What I Struggled With:
The pacing: The first half of the book felt a bit slow. While I was never bored—thanks to Joshi’s stunning writing and well-developed characters—it did take some time for the main plot to fully unfold.
Themes:
Trial and error of emotional growth: After meeting Mira, Sona embarks on a journey of emotional self-discovery.
Courage to live the life you want: Sona learns to step into her dreams, even when it means doing so with fear in her heart.
I was provided a copy via the publisher through NetGalley, but all thoughts are my own.
So good! Same narrator as for The Henna Artist series.
Actual Rating: 4.75
Has your life ever been changed by a chance meeting?
Six Days in Bombay by Alka Joshi beautifully explores how a single encounter with the right person at the right time can completely change the course of your life.
Alka Joshi, author of The Henna Artist, takes readers to 1930s Bombay, India, with a vivid and immersive narrative. The story centers on Sona, a 23-year-old biracial nurse (British and Indian), whose life intertwines with Mira Novak, a renowned biracial painter famous for depicting Indian women. Their meeting sparks a transformative journey for Sona, filled with emotional growth and self-discovery.
What I Loved:
* Sona’s character: I adored her growth arc, especially her evolving relationship with her mother. Joshi writes such multidimensional characters that they feel like real people you’d want to know.
* Historical depth: Joshi brilliantly captures the political tension between India and Britain in the 1930s. Her research shines through, and the author’s note adds even more depth—Joshi traveled to every country featured in the book to ensure accuracy.
* Mira Novak’s inspiration: Mira is based on Amrita Sher-Gil, a Hungarian-Indian painter and pioneer of modern Indian art. Her richly colored paintings, many of which were self-portraits, are legendary. Joshi says, “Amrita Sher-Gil is my inspiration for this novel, and it’s important to me that she and her work are not forgotten.”
* SCU connection: As an alum of Santa Clara University, I loved seeing a shout-out to an SCU history professor in Joshi’s author’s note!
*The ending: Wow, just wow. It kept me on my toes and completely surprised me.
What I Struggled With:
The pacing: The first half of the book felt a bit slow. While I was never bored—thanks to Joshi’s stunning writing and well-developed characters—it did take some time for the main plot to fully unfold.
Themes:
Trial and error of emotional growth: After meeting Mira, Sona embarks on a journey of emotional self-discovery.
Courage to live the life you want: Sona learns to step into her dreams, even when it means doing so with fear in her heart.
I was provided a copy via the publisher through NetGalley, but all thoughts are my own.
December 12, 2024
Alka Joshi has quickly become one of my favorite authors, so when I heard a new novel of hers was upcoming, I immediately jumped at the chance to get an early read. Similar to her earlier trilogy, her novel is set in a historic India and follows a young Indian woman as she life in a difficult time.
Sona Falstaff is a nurse at the Wadia hospital in Bombay who works to support herself and her mother, a seamstress. When esteemed painter Mira Novak is admitted as a patient and assigned under her care, Sona is immediately drawn into the alluring woman and her stories of her colorful life, and the two form a fast friendship. However, only six days afterwards, Mira unexpectedly passes away and Sona is blamed for her death. She's sent away from the hospital, but not before discovering Mira's last request for her - a series of paintings, three of which are to be given to her friends across the world: Petra, a former classmate and friend; Josephine, a former art dealer who represented her; and Paolo, a former teacher and lover. For the first time in her life, Sona steps foot outside her home of Bombay and travels to Prague, Paris, and Florence in pursuit of these three individuals whom she only knows of through Mira's stories. Her journey is not without troubles and difficulty, and with each meeting, she learns a little more about the elusive painter, and the complex life she lived - and gives Sona the opportunity to come to terms with her own identity as well.
There's a lot to love about "Six Days in Bombay" - a female protagonist with a difficult past who goes through an impressive character development throughout the story; an ever-changing backdrop of settings and environments; and a cast of dynamic characters, many of whom Sona meets as she she travels the world. Joshi covers the topics of race and identity, classism and wealth, and the broad range of interpersonal relationships with care and grace, and they add additional layers of depth to the story. Admittedly, there are some stretches in reality that you need to put aside, even for a book in the historical fiction genre, but I found this to be a largely enjoyable and immersive novel that I got lost in for several days.
Very much recommended with "Six Days in Bombay" is published in February 2025!
Sona Falstaff is a nurse at the Wadia hospital in Bombay who works to support herself and her mother, a seamstress. When esteemed painter Mira Novak is admitted as a patient and assigned under her care, Sona is immediately drawn into the alluring woman and her stories of her colorful life, and the two form a fast friendship. However, only six days afterwards, Mira unexpectedly passes away and Sona is blamed for her death. She's sent away from the hospital, but not before discovering Mira's last request for her - a series of paintings, three of which are to be given to her friends across the world: Petra, a former classmate and friend; Josephine, a former art dealer who represented her; and Paolo, a former teacher and lover. For the first time in her life, Sona steps foot outside her home of Bombay and travels to Prague, Paris, and Florence in pursuit of these three individuals whom she only knows of through Mira's stories. Her journey is not without troubles and difficulty, and with each meeting, she learns a little more about the elusive painter, and the complex life she lived - and gives Sona the opportunity to come to terms with her own identity as well.
There's a lot to love about "Six Days in Bombay" - a female protagonist with a difficult past who goes through an impressive character development throughout the story; an ever-changing backdrop of settings and environments; and a cast of dynamic characters, many of whom Sona meets as she she travels the world. Joshi covers the topics of race and identity, classism and wealth, and the broad range of interpersonal relationships with care and grace, and they add additional layers of depth to the story. Admittedly, there are some stretches in reality that you need to put aside, even for a book in the historical fiction genre, but I found this to be a largely enjoyable and immersive novel that I got lost in for several days.
Very much recommended with "Six Days in Bombay" is published in February 2025!
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