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Intemperance
A middle-aged woman starts a firestorm when she holds a contest, based on an ancient Indian ritual, in which men must compete to win her affections.
A woman who has left two husbands announces she will celebrate her 55th birthday by holding a swayamvar. Drawn from an ancient custom in her Indian culture, this is an event in which suitors line up to compete in a feat of wills and strength to win a beautiful princess’s hand in marriage. The woman, a renowned and respected intellectual in an American town who had once declared she was "past such petty matters as love" is setting herself up for widespread societal ridicule. But her self-esteem and sexual libido are off the charts even as her body withers from disability, fading beauty, and an appetite for cake.
A woman who has left two husbands announces she will celebrate her 55th birthday by holding a swayamvar. Drawn from an ancient custom in her Indian culture, this is an event in which suitors line up to compete in a feat of wills and strength to win a beautiful princess’s hand in marriage. The woman, a renowned and respected intellectual in an American town who had once declared she was "past such petty matters as love" is setting herself up for widespread societal ridicule. But her self-esteem and sexual libido are off the charts even as her body withers from disability, fading beauty, and an appetite for cake.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2025
64 people are currently reading
7374 people want to read
About the author
Sonora Jha
9 books190 followersSonora Jha is the author of The Laughter (Harper Via 2023), winner of the 2024 Washington Book Award for Fiction and the memoir How to Raise a Feminist Son: Motherhood, Masculinity, and the Making of My Family, published in the U.S., Germany, Brazil, and by Penguin Random House India in 2021. She also wrote the novel Foreign (Random House India, 2013), which tells the stories of farmers' suicides in India. Foreign was a finalist for The Hindu Prize for Fiction, The Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize, and was longlisted for the DSC Prize. Sonora grew up in Mumbai and was chief of the metropolitan bureau for the Times of India in Bangalore and contributing editor for East magazine in Singapore before moving to the U.S. to earn a Ph.D. in media and public affairs. Dr. Jha is a professor of journalism at Seattle University and her op-eds and essays have appeared in the New York Times, the Seattle Times, The Establishment, DAME, and in several anthologies. She also teaches fiction and essay writing for Hugo House, Hedgebrook Writers’ Retreat, and Seattle Public Library. She is an alumna and board member of Hedgebrook Writers’ Retreat, and has served on the jury for awards for Artist Trust, Hedgebrook, and Hugo House. Her latest book is the novel Intemperance (Harper Via, 2025).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
October 17, 2025
I love books centered around middle aged women who defy social constructs and Intemperence is the perfect example of this!
I just adored the main character! She’s a bold and brazen intellectual who goes after what she wants while embracing herself completely. The self love and acceptance she had for herself as well as her refusal to conform to social norms was inspiring. I also really enjoyed learning more about the ancient Indian custom of the swayamvar which is where a woman chooses a husband from a group of suitors.
Intemperance is a hilarious story told from a feminist perspective (which I loved). The book explores many themes including the prevalence of Ageism in women, Identity, sexuality, and socioeconomic class. Along with Intemperance, I also highly recommend checking out Sonora’s prior work, The Laughter which was one of my top reads of 2023.
I listened to the audiobook version of Intemperance, which is read by Sneha Matham who did an excellent job.
Intemperance by Sonora Jha was published on October 14 so it's available now! Many thanks to Harper Audio, Harper Via, and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
I just adored the main character! She’s a bold and brazen intellectual who goes after what she wants while embracing herself completely. The self love and acceptance she had for herself as well as her refusal to conform to social norms was inspiring. I also really enjoyed learning more about the ancient Indian custom of the swayamvar which is where a woman chooses a husband from a group of suitors.
Intemperance is a hilarious story told from a feminist perspective (which I loved). The book explores many themes including the prevalence of Ageism in women, Identity, sexuality, and socioeconomic class. Along with Intemperance, I also highly recommend checking out Sonora’s prior work, The Laughter which was one of my top reads of 2023.
I listened to the audiobook version of Intemperance, which is read by Sneha Matham who did an excellent job.
Intemperance by Sonora Jha was published on October 14 so it's available now! Many thanks to Harper Audio, Harper Via, and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
November 30, 2025
3.5 stars. I don't know if this really works as a novel, but this book got in my head like almost nothing else I can remember in the last few years.
A twice-divorced, happily single professor decides to have a swayamvar, a traditional ceremony where a woman chooses a husband from a pool of vying men through tasks and feats. What I loved about this book was the time spent thinking about marriage and partnership in a very distinctive way. Our protagonist and narrator does not need anyone, no one understands what she is doing, but she pushes on through force of will. The absurdity of this ritual in the modern age is part of what makes the story so interesting. It's hard to imagine modern men participating in this kind of ritual, having to prove themselves and risk humiliation, submitting themselves before a woman in hopes of being chosen. This is the thing Jha turns over and over as we move through the book.
There is a subplot involving visions of our protagonist's ancestors that never worked for me, I didn't feel that it really connected back to what the book had to say in a meaningful way.
I loved Jha's first novel, THE LAUGHTER, which was prickly and difficult with a hateful protagonist. This is quite different, but both books really get stuck in your head and get your wheels turning. I'll definitely be reading whatever she does next.
A twice-divorced, happily single professor decides to have a swayamvar, a traditional ceremony where a woman chooses a husband from a pool of vying men through tasks and feats. What I loved about this book was the time spent thinking about marriage and partnership in a very distinctive way. Our protagonist and narrator does not need anyone, no one understands what she is doing, but she pushes on through force of will. The absurdity of this ritual in the modern age is part of what makes the story so interesting. It's hard to imagine modern men participating in this kind of ritual, having to prove themselves and risk humiliation, submitting themselves before a woman in hopes of being chosen. This is the thing Jha turns over and over as we move through the book.
There is a subplot involving visions of our protagonist's ancestors that never worked for me, I didn't feel that it really connected back to what the book had to say in a meaningful way.
I loved Jha's first novel, THE LAUGHTER, which was prickly and difficult with a hateful protagonist. This is quite different, but both books really get stuck in your head and get your wheels turning. I'll definitely be reading whatever she does next.
October 7, 2025
I thought the premise of this novel sounded intriguing when I first heard of it, but I did not expect to love it nearly as much as I did. It had me from hello:
I am not the sort of person to throw a lavish party, but this is no ordinary party and the thing that makes it necessary is no ordinary loneliness.
A twice-divorced, fifty-four-year-old well-respected professor of Sociology at a Seattle University reaches back to her Indian heritage and determines to celebrate her next birthday with a Hindu tradition called a swayamvar. The way it works is, she will extend an open invitation to suitors to vie for her hand in marriage and win her by performing feats designed to prove their worthiness and love. In spite of the strangeness of this plan by a well-educated American-based 21st century professional and academic, and her understandable trepidation about the possible repercussions, she has the support of a loving grown son and a devoted best friend, and finds other very unexpected sources of help along the way. Sometimes when you’re in a rut, you need to get a little weird.
The story of her event-planning journey and the swayamvar itself involves ritual and tradition, mysterious missives and gifts from unknown relatives, secrets from her family history, hallucinatory experiences, encounters with mysterious strangers who seem to have messages to impart, as well as meditations on aging and disability, betrayal, forgiveness, and emotional generosity, the importance of self-love, the courage to be who you are, and never giving up.
This book went a lot deeper than expected on themes of gender roles and patriarchy and love within all kinds of relationships, including believing in one’s self. I liked this protagonist so very much. This book is going on my “kick-ass heroines” shelf.
Expected publication date is October 14, 2025. Thanks to HarperVia for my Advance Readers Copy.
I am not the sort of person to throw a lavish party, but this is no ordinary party and the thing that makes it necessary is no ordinary loneliness.
A twice-divorced, fifty-four-year-old well-respected professor of Sociology at a Seattle University reaches back to her Indian heritage and determines to celebrate her next birthday with a Hindu tradition called a swayamvar. The way it works is, she will extend an open invitation to suitors to vie for her hand in marriage and win her by performing feats designed to prove their worthiness and love. In spite of the strangeness of this plan by a well-educated American-based 21st century professional and academic, and her understandable trepidation about the possible repercussions, she has the support of a loving grown son and a devoted best friend, and finds other very unexpected sources of help along the way. Sometimes when you’re in a rut, you need to get a little weird.
The story of her event-planning journey and the swayamvar itself involves ritual and tradition, mysterious missives and gifts from unknown relatives, secrets from her family history, hallucinatory experiences, encounters with mysterious strangers who seem to have messages to impart, as well as meditations on aging and disability, betrayal, forgiveness, and emotional generosity, the importance of self-love, the courage to be who you are, and never giving up.
This book went a lot deeper than expected on themes of gender roles and patriarchy and love within all kinds of relationships, including believing in one’s self. I liked this protagonist so very much. This book is going on my “kick-ass heroines” shelf.
Expected publication date is October 14, 2025. Thanks to HarperVia for my Advance Readers Copy.
August 11, 2025
Sonora Jha’s Intemperance is an audacious work that combines literary themes with magical realism to spotlight an unconventional main character’s inner world.
When is the last time you have read a book with a fifty-five-year-old disabled Indian woman as the protagonist? If you’re like me, the answer is probably “never,” followed by some reflection about the lack of diversity in literary fiction. Intemperance follows a feminist sociologist who decides that she’s tired of being lonely. Two divorces and a long stretch of solitude provided her with perspective and joy, but she’s ready to meet the man of her dreams. She decides to hold a swayamvar, an ancient Indian marriage ritual in which men compete for a woman’s hand in marriage. The story follows her in preparation for this ritual as she meets new people, contemplates intersectional feminism, and reflects on her life and heritage.
I requested Intemperance because I loved Jha’s previous novel, The Laughter. Intemperance diverges from The Laughter in many respects: it is languorous, dreamy, and gentle where The Laughter is taut, tense, and violent. Intemperance unabashedly celebrates its protagonist’s inner world. Appropriately, the novel’s mirrors its protagonist’s intemperance through digressions that burst with excess and joie de vivre.
Jha is never afraid to disrupt the reader’s expectations. Her literary boldness compliments the book’s steadfast feminism. She uses the encounters her protagonist has with others and herself to continuously reaffirm the claim older, disabled, women of color have to joy and sexuality. While I appreciate what Intemperance brings to the table thematically, I often found my attention slipping due to its, well, intemperance. I grew confused and annoyed at the element of magical realism that seemed thinly related to the central story. I tired of the repetitive musings on the nature of feminism. By the end, I found that I didn’t really care about the swayamvar or its outcome.
Intemperance turns out to be a work I admire far more than I enjoyed. I suspect reactions to it will be mixed, but I encourage literary fiction readers who don’t mind some magical realism to pick it up and form their own opinions.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When is the last time you have read a book with a fifty-five-year-old disabled Indian woman as the protagonist? If you’re like me, the answer is probably “never,” followed by some reflection about the lack of diversity in literary fiction. Intemperance follows a feminist sociologist who decides that she’s tired of being lonely. Two divorces and a long stretch of solitude provided her with perspective and joy, but she’s ready to meet the man of her dreams. She decides to hold a swayamvar, an ancient Indian marriage ritual in which men compete for a woman’s hand in marriage. The story follows her in preparation for this ritual as she meets new people, contemplates intersectional feminism, and reflects on her life and heritage.
I requested Intemperance because I loved Jha’s previous novel, The Laughter. Intemperance diverges from The Laughter in many respects: it is languorous, dreamy, and gentle where The Laughter is taut, tense, and violent. Intemperance unabashedly celebrates its protagonist’s inner world. Appropriately, the novel’s mirrors its protagonist’s intemperance through digressions that burst with excess and joie de vivre.
Jha is never afraid to disrupt the reader’s expectations. Her literary boldness compliments the book’s steadfast feminism. She uses the encounters her protagonist has with others and herself to continuously reaffirm the claim older, disabled, women of color have to joy and sexuality. While I appreciate what Intemperance brings to the table thematically, I often found my attention slipping due to its, well, intemperance. I grew confused and annoyed at the element of magical realism that seemed thinly related to the central story. I tired of the repetitive musings on the nature of feminism. By the end, I found that I didn’t really care about the swayamvar or its outcome.
Intemperance turns out to be a work I admire far more than I enjoyed. I suspect reactions to it will be mixed, but I encourage literary fiction readers who don’t mind some magical realism to pick it up and form their own opinions.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2026
When I’m in a “most millennial-coded book ever” competition and this is my competition 😨
I really did not enjoy this book. All over the place and trying to be deep without committing to anything. Cringey ass narrator, completely unbelievable characters and story, throwing in random sentences to be woke that contribute nothing and don’t match the characterization of whoever said it
A relatively interesting premise, but terrible execution. Dear god give me the strength to stop picking out books solely because they have a cute cover
I really did not enjoy this book. All over the place and trying to be deep without committing to anything. Cringey ass narrator, completely unbelievable characters and story, throwing in random sentences to be woke that contribute nothing and don’t match the characterization of whoever said it
A relatively interesting premise, but terrible execution. Dear god give me the strength to stop picking out books solely because they have a cute cover
November 30, 2025
2.5// this was longlisted for the Aspen Words literary prize. We get an unnamed middle-aged Indian professor who studies feminist sociology. She has been twice-divorced and is planning to throw a swayamvar, which is basically the Indian version of The Bachelorette. She plans to throw a public wedding where suitors will compete against each other to win her marriage. This book tackles a lot in a short amount of time and is trying to touch on the intersectionality of race, age, gender, sexuality, disability, class (pertaining to the caste system), family history, Indian folklore… which in the end just didn’t work for me. It’s also one of those books where it’s more about the past than the present, which is a device I generally don’t like. I think the disability lens was the most successful, but there was too much going on that took us away from the swayamvar.
October 22, 2025
I wasn't my fave. It took me ages to really get into the vibes. It was pretty slow and a bit montonal but it seemed to find its groove in the last half of the book.
I think this would have been better to read because the audio just did not grip me and the plot sounded so great.
3 stars
I think this would have been better to read because the audio just did not grip me and the plot sounded so great.
3 stars
dnf
January 8, 2026Not for me and I can’t even hate read it because it’s not bad I just can’t sink my teeth into it
January 8, 2026
this was such a fun and promising premise, and i really enjoyed Jha’s writing but i felt the story goes in a direction that was a bit misleading from the synopsis - it has its silly and quirky moments but it’s really an emotional coming-of-middle-age story
October 5, 2025
This started really strong, lost its way a bit in the middle and landed the ending.
October 28, 2025
the swayamvar only takes place in the last 10 pages just FYI to future readers !!!
September 1, 2025
4⭐
Heartfelt, sensitive, and a journey.
When a feminist professor chooses to hold a ritual test of feats to find her third husband, it sets off a whirlwind of confusion, scandal, confusion, and history.
I'll admit, I had my phases with this book. I will admit that perhaps I was reading this not at the correct time for everything to hit as hard as it should. Maybe if I had been in a better headspace or situation that this would have landed better, I'd be over the moon.
That said, I can tell when a work is deeply cutting and emotionally charged. Sonora Jha is a masterclass in combining fiction, magical qualities, and womanhood to create a story that can be hard to read because of its brutal honesty and truth. Coming out of this, I can't but feel the love pouring out of these pages wrapped in beautiful and, at-times, poetic verses.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for an ARC of this work!
Heartfelt, sensitive, and a journey.
When a feminist professor chooses to hold a ritual test of feats to find her third husband, it sets off a whirlwind of confusion, scandal, confusion, and history.
I'll admit, I had my phases with this book. I will admit that perhaps I was reading this not at the correct time for everything to hit as hard as it should. Maybe if I had been in a better headspace or situation that this would have landed better, I'd be over the moon.
That said, I can tell when a work is deeply cutting and emotionally charged. Sonora Jha is a masterclass in combining fiction, magical qualities, and womanhood to create a story that can be hard to read because of its brutal honesty and truth. Coming out of this, I can't but feel the love pouring out of these pages wrapped in beautiful and, at-times, poetic verses.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for an ARC of this work!
December 9, 2025
Such a beautiful book. Warm, funny, wise, sensual, and full of goodness. Builds to a lovely close. So many well observed moments along the way.
Disclosure: happy to count the author a friend. But it’s still 5 stars.
Disclosure: happy to count the author a friend. But it’s still 5 stars.
May 31, 2025
I first off would like to say that I was ecstatic to find & be offered to read this book solely based on my love for Jha’s “The Laughter” that was published a few years back. I truthfully read that book in one sitting and adored it, so I was pleased to see a second book of Jha’s being published!
This story was absolutely stunning and Jha’s weaving of feminist ideals, humor, history, and exploration of identity truly made this book shine. The main character’s quest for love as an older woman with a disability in a seemingly uncharacteristic way (based on the story that is weaved about her identity throughout) seemed to me to not only be a conversation about the act of looking for love as a woman BUT as a test to herself. Similarly, the characters throughout the book add great value and conversation to the story, often through the discussion of the main character’s underlying expertise in gender studies and through the history of her culture.
This book was truly is a shining star at integrating many complex topics into a story and overall conversation in a way that felt natural, beautiful, and necessary. And the ending truly had me grinning from ear to ear.
Thank you to NetGalley & HarperVia for an opportunity to read the ARC of this book!
This story was absolutely stunning and Jha’s weaving of feminist ideals, humor, history, and exploration of identity truly made this book shine. The main character’s quest for love as an older woman with a disability in a seemingly uncharacteristic way (based on the story that is weaved about her identity throughout) seemed to me to not only be a conversation about the act of looking for love as a woman BUT as a test to herself. Similarly, the characters throughout the book add great value and conversation to the story, often through the discussion of the main character’s underlying expertise in gender studies and through the history of her culture.
This book was truly is a shining star at integrating many complex topics into a story and overall conversation in a way that felt natural, beautiful, and necessary. And the ending truly had me grinning from ear to ear.
Thank you to NetGalley & HarperVia for an opportunity to read the ARC of this book!
January 12, 2026
I was confused 20% of the time but jolly the other 80%
August 27, 2025
This lush novel of desire and self-love features a sensual menopausal professor seeking a mate for her third marriage.
She decides to hold a ritual swayamvar, or contest of feats, updated for the characteristics she desires in a partner today. Her announcement causes something of a sensation and a former student, now a wedding planner, steps up to help her navigate all the permits, event details, and social media. The story is about seeking, finding, and holding on to those you love and adapting to one’s changed circumstances while staying true to one’s self. Several interesting twists and discussions about aging and disabilities added to the weight of the story while magical elements and traditional stories added charm.
“No one is looking. No one has expectations any more,” she writes, regarding being a woman of a certain age. “Somewhere between the void of expectations and the abyss of irrelevance, I want to float up, one arm outstretched, to find an intimate other.”
I found a lot to like about the frank heroine and her life on a houseboat in the Seattle area. Beautiful writing and excellent narration.
My thanks to the author, @HarperAudio, producer, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #Temperance for review purposes. Publication date: 14 October 2025.
She decides to hold a ritual swayamvar, or contest of feats, updated for the characteristics she desires in a partner today. Her announcement causes something of a sensation and a former student, now a wedding planner, steps up to help her navigate all the permits, event details, and social media. The story is about seeking, finding, and holding on to those you love and adapting to one’s changed circumstances while staying true to one’s self. Several interesting twists and discussions about aging and disabilities added to the weight of the story while magical elements and traditional stories added charm.
“No one is looking. No one has expectations any more,” she writes, regarding being a woman of a certain age. “Somewhere between the void of expectations and the abyss of irrelevance, I want to float up, one arm outstretched, to find an intimate other.”
I found a lot to like about the frank heroine and her life on a houseboat in the Seattle area. Beautiful writing and excellent narration.
My thanks to the author, @HarperAudio, producer, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #Temperance for review purposes. Publication date: 14 October 2025.
September 30, 2025
without question, my favorite book this year
November 29, 2025
“𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵. 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯, 𝘰𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘥, 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯.”
Thank you HarperVia Books for this gifted copy! I also followed along with the audio, which is narrated by the author herself! I learned a lot about Indian ceremonies in general (not just marital) and folklore/mythology, and found this to be sharp, candid, entertaining, humorous, though at times I did find myself spacing during her longwinded musings.
Due to the plot there is to-be-expected content, but thankfully I found it wasn’t overdone or all that explicit. I did find the structure and flow to be unique and wasn’t what I expected, which caught me a bit off guard and again, with the reflections, I wasn’t fully enamored throughout. Since I am unfamiliar with Indian folklore and myths, I missed a lot of the references, retellings, and metaphors, and was thankful the publisher provided a guide to accompany.
I’m still glad I read it as for me personally it was educational but I felt the conclusion didn’t match the extent of the build-up; it felt so rushed. While there was plenty about womanhood and even the changes a female body experiences as we get older I could relate to, the aspect of marriage (or in her case marriages) was something I didn’t connect with.
Content includes some profanity, brief references to underage sexual harassment and r*pe, a ceremony involves a slaughtered animal, frequent sexual innuendos, references to disabilities and chronic health conditions, divorce, and infidelity.
Thank you HarperVia Books for this gifted copy! I also followed along with the audio, which is narrated by the author herself! I learned a lot about Indian ceremonies in general (not just marital) and folklore/mythology, and found this to be sharp, candid, entertaining, humorous, though at times I did find myself spacing during her longwinded musings.
Due to the plot there is to-be-expected content, but thankfully I found it wasn’t overdone or all that explicit. I did find the structure and flow to be unique and wasn’t what I expected, which caught me a bit off guard and again, with the reflections, I wasn’t fully enamored throughout. Since I am unfamiliar with Indian folklore and myths, I missed a lot of the references, retellings, and metaphors, and was thankful the publisher provided a guide to accompany.
I’m still glad I read it as for me personally it was educational but I felt the conclusion didn’t match the extent of the build-up; it felt so rushed. While there was plenty about womanhood and even the changes a female body experiences as we get older I could relate to, the aspect of marriage (or in her case marriages) was something I didn’t connect with.
Content includes some profanity, brief references to underage sexual harassment and r*pe, a ceremony involves a slaughtered animal, frequent sexual innuendos, references to disabilities and chronic health conditions, divorce, and infidelity.
December 13, 2025
Sonora Jha can WRITE, both beautiful sentences and complex characters that pull you in. This book is about a fifty-something year old woman who decided to throw herself a “swayamvar,” a tradition in which men are invited to perform feats and compete for her hand in marriage. She’s twice divorced, and a professor in feminist and masculinity studies, so this plan causes some extra commotion in the fabric of her life. I thought this would be a story about a woman and the men seeking to win her heart—it’s not. It’s a story about a woman and her love for herself. It’s about women and men, how women must live and think and feel in the world of men; what women want in a man and what we want in ourselves. The myths and stories we’ve been told and those we want to create for ourselves. There is some magical realism at moments, and some hallucinatory dips into the past that I personally could have done without; but overall I really enjoyed my time getting to know this woman, mother, friend.
November 17, 2025
Quite wonderful. I feel an excruciating affinity for the protagonist with all of our similarities and all of our differences. I don't think it will resonate with first-year college students, although it will absolutely "slay" in average book clubs! I'm even more convinced that one day I will need to learn Hindi.
January 5, 2026
Overall meh, but I did like the overall Seattle houseboat setting and references like the Flower Lady
January 3, 2026
What a surprise! I grabbed it off the my library’s Peak Picks shelf. It is such an engaging story filled with honesty, love, humor, magic, and a gently scathing reflection on ableism. But the one refreshing thread throughout was the protagonist’s confidence in her beauty… often sorely lacking in post menopause. I LOVED this book.
January 12, 2026
but see, only now, when I have overcome the fear of being seen by the world as the 'unloved woman' do I truly desire to be a woman in love"
TITLE : Intemperance
AUTHOR: Sonora Jha
GENRE: Contemporary fiction
RATING: 4/5
A renowned professor, twice divorced, announces a swayamvar to celebrate her 55th birthday. A swayamvar is an ancient Indian tradition where kings and princes gather to compete for the bride by completing tasks or challenges. This is exactly what our female protagonist declares on social media. Surprisingly, she receives overwhelming support from a group of women who come together as makeup artists, event managers, photographers, and more.
But the swayamvar is not the only thing this book has to offer. A lot unfolds between the announcement and the actual event. She receives a letter from a distant cousin who speaks of a generational curse placed on their family, claiming that her life choices are the result of it. He narrates the story of her ancestors who fell in love by breaking every rule and societal norm. What makes this even more intriguing is that the protagonist herself begins to have visions, experiencing these stories firsthand.
When I read the blurb, I initially thought, like many others, that the idea was quite preposterous. Yet, it intrigued me. I love Sonora’s witty and hilarious style of storytelling, and this book is no exception. I loved the characters and the friendships. The “women supporting women” trope is my weakness these days, and Sonora’s touch made it even more special.
This is one of the most feminist love stories you will read. After all, self-love is the greatest love, and I admired how boldly the narrative emphasizes that loving yourself is the first step toward everything. The story touches on many themes that were true eye-openers for me—ageism faced by women, disability, socio-economic class, and more. I was especially drawn to the Alokendra–Heera story.
I loved every bit of this book. How does one blend a love story, elements of mythology (where the protagonist meets princesses and goddesses in the modern world), a generational curse, and a beautiful queer love story so seamlessly? I was completely amazed. I laughed out loud at the sharp, witty commentary on patriarchy, rolled my eyes countless times at how women are labelled witches for loving their bodies or for men falling in love with them, and more than anything else, I felt seen when the protagonist chose solitude to rest and recharge.
I am not entirely sure which genre this book fits into, but Sonora has done a brilliant job weaving a hilarious, meaningful story. You are guaranteed to have a wonderfully feminist and enriching reading experience
TITLE : Intemperance
AUTHOR: Sonora Jha
GENRE: Contemporary fiction
RATING: 4/5
A renowned professor, twice divorced, announces a swayamvar to celebrate her 55th birthday. A swayamvar is an ancient Indian tradition where kings and princes gather to compete for the bride by completing tasks or challenges. This is exactly what our female protagonist declares on social media. Surprisingly, she receives overwhelming support from a group of women who come together as makeup artists, event managers, photographers, and more.
But the swayamvar is not the only thing this book has to offer. A lot unfolds between the announcement and the actual event. She receives a letter from a distant cousin who speaks of a generational curse placed on their family, claiming that her life choices are the result of it. He narrates the story of her ancestors who fell in love by breaking every rule and societal norm. What makes this even more intriguing is that the protagonist herself begins to have visions, experiencing these stories firsthand.
When I read the blurb, I initially thought, like many others, that the idea was quite preposterous. Yet, it intrigued me. I love Sonora’s witty and hilarious style of storytelling, and this book is no exception. I loved the characters and the friendships. The “women supporting women” trope is my weakness these days, and Sonora’s touch made it even more special.
This is one of the most feminist love stories you will read. After all, self-love is the greatest love, and I admired how boldly the narrative emphasizes that loving yourself is the first step toward everything. The story touches on many themes that were true eye-openers for me—ageism faced by women, disability, socio-economic class, and more. I was especially drawn to the Alokendra–Heera story.
I loved every bit of this book. How does one blend a love story, elements of mythology (where the protagonist meets princesses and goddesses in the modern world), a generational curse, and a beautiful queer love story so seamlessly? I was completely amazed. I laughed out loud at the sharp, witty commentary on patriarchy, rolled my eyes countless times at how women are labelled witches for loving their bodies or for men falling in love with them, and more than anything else, I felt seen when the protagonist chose solitude to rest and recharge.
I am not entirely sure which genre this book fits into, but Sonora has done a brilliant job weaving a hilarious, meaningful story. You are guaranteed to have a wonderfully feminist and enriching reading experience
January 13, 2026
For her 55th birthday, an Indian-American woman puts a new spin on an ancient tradition: she’s asking suitors to come perform feats to vie for her affection. The winner will marry her that same day. She of course becomes the subject of ridicule in the meanest online circles—but she also meets some incredible people in the course of planning the event.
This one should have been a slam dunk for me. I LOVE when a middle-aged woman is the protagonist and I am here for the story of one demanding to be seen as an object of desire. The writing style just didn’t work for me. The narrative felt meandering and naval-gazey with too many unnecessary details. There were delightful moments (like the irate letters the protagonist receives from a distant male relative about the shame she is bringing on their family) but overall, the execution didn’t live up to the excellent premise.
This one should have been a slam dunk for me. I LOVE when a middle-aged woman is the protagonist and I am here for the story of one demanding to be seen as an object of desire. The writing style just didn’t work for me. The narrative felt meandering and naval-gazey with too many unnecessary details. There were delightful moments (like the irate letters the protagonist receives from a distant male relative about the shame she is bringing on their family) but overall, the execution didn’t live up to the excellent premise.
November 27, 2025
I think this is a 3.5 but maybe it’s a 4. Unsure. Lots going on here: beautiful writing and really interesting commentary, but it just lagged so much in the middle.
December 24, 2025
Could’ve been a short story
Want to read
March 16, 2025as someone who has been obsessed with the concept of swayamvars ever since i read the ramayana, i know this book is going to be so GOOD.
December 20, 2025
I’m changing my review from 4 to 5 stars because I cannot stop thinking about this one🩷
November 27, 2025
Features:
- Middle aged, disabled woman ‘taking space’ and challenging social norms
- Themes around identity, female sexuality, history, heritage, and feminism
- Literary fiction infused with magical realism
Synopsis:
What does a well-known, middle aged, feminist sociologist do when faced with the prospect of finding love again? Well, this one decides to throw a swayamvar; an ancient Indian tradition in which suitors compete for a woman’s hand in marriage. As she starts to plan her swayamvar and consider what sort of challenges would prove a man was the right fit, her bold decision is faced with both criticism and support. However, finding what she is truly looking for will require facing past secrets, failed relationships, and a complicated family history.
Thoughts:
The candor and quirkiness of this book was an unexpected breath of fresh air. I loved seeing a middle aged, disabled woman of color unapologetically taking up space in her world. Though she definitely has her flaws, she is also self aware and self accepting in a way that is rarely seen with younger characters; especially if they are women. I think a lot of women will relate to the way this narrator embraces her independence while still desiring a meaningful partnership and trying to define what that sort of relationship would look like for her. I particularly loved this narrator’s practical approach to the whole affair. She is not without emotion, but her intellectual reflections and expression of her sexual needs and desires helps turn the slightly absurd situation into a rich ground for deeper exploration.
This is very much a literary piece with a bit of magical realism mixed in. Since a lot of it is told through the narrator’s ruminations, it has a meandering, poetic quality. As a result, the pace felt a little slow to me, but not in a bad way. This is a story that wants you to truly engage with its themes and takes its time to develop them. Admittedly, I was ready for the narrator to ‘get on with it’ a couple of times towards the middle of the story, but the story overall evolves in a fantastic way. The magical realism element comes into play in the form of a family curse that causes the narrator to look far back in her family history while also coming to terms with her more recent history. I felt like I learned a lot through this exploration and loved what it added to the personal journey the narrator was on.
Where this book is definitely quirky, it is definitely not as ‘light hearted’ as the synopsis might suggest. Despite the swayamvar being out of place in both time and its typical context, it is used as a vehicle for serious reflection on the part of the narrator. This book is not without its humorous moments, but readers should be aware that it stays firmly in the serious literary fiction category.
Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperVia for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review
- Middle aged, disabled woman ‘taking space’ and challenging social norms
- Themes around identity, female sexuality, history, heritage, and feminism
- Literary fiction infused with magical realism
Synopsis:
What does a well-known, middle aged, feminist sociologist do when faced with the prospect of finding love again? Well, this one decides to throw a swayamvar; an ancient Indian tradition in which suitors compete for a woman’s hand in marriage. As she starts to plan her swayamvar and consider what sort of challenges would prove a man was the right fit, her bold decision is faced with both criticism and support. However, finding what she is truly looking for will require facing past secrets, failed relationships, and a complicated family history.
Thoughts:
The candor and quirkiness of this book was an unexpected breath of fresh air. I loved seeing a middle aged, disabled woman of color unapologetically taking up space in her world. Though she definitely has her flaws, she is also self aware and self accepting in a way that is rarely seen with younger characters; especially if they are women. I think a lot of women will relate to the way this narrator embraces her independence while still desiring a meaningful partnership and trying to define what that sort of relationship would look like for her. I particularly loved this narrator’s practical approach to the whole affair. She is not without emotion, but her intellectual reflections and expression of her sexual needs and desires helps turn the slightly absurd situation into a rich ground for deeper exploration.
This is very much a literary piece with a bit of magical realism mixed in. Since a lot of it is told through the narrator’s ruminations, it has a meandering, poetic quality. As a result, the pace felt a little slow to me, but not in a bad way. This is a story that wants you to truly engage with its themes and takes its time to develop them. Admittedly, I was ready for the narrator to ‘get on with it’ a couple of times towards the middle of the story, but the story overall evolves in a fantastic way. The magical realism element comes into play in the form of a family curse that causes the narrator to look far back in her family history while also coming to terms with her more recent history. I felt like I learned a lot through this exploration and loved what it added to the personal journey the narrator was on.
Where this book is definitely quirky, it is definitely not as ‘light hearted’ as the synopsis might suggest. Despite the swayamvar being out of place in both time and its typical context, it is used as a vehicle for serious reflection on the part of the narrator. This book is not without its humorous moments, but readers should be aware that it stays firmly in the serious literary fiction category.
Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperVia for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review
November 17, 2025
Two years ago, I discovered Sonora Jha through her compelling campus novel, The Laughter. For those of you who struggled with The Laughter’s repugnant narrator, I’m happy to report that Jha’s new novel is as equally compelling as her last, and this time she's given us a truly delightful narrator!
Intemperance tells the story of a twice-divorced middle-aged woman. She is an esteemed sociology and gender studies professor living alone on a house boat with her dog in Seattle. She is fiercely independent but has become exceedingly lonely. So she draws on her Indian heritage to throw herself a swayamvar: an ancient Indian matrimonial practice through which a bride selects her husband by publicly inviting suitors to compete for her hand. On a rational level, she knows, as a fifty-five year old woman with a disability, this bold decision will open herself up to social ridicule; however, on a deeper level she feels called to take this path. As the main character plans her swayamvar, she is visited by ancient hindu goddesses in modern form, and she receives news from an extended relative about a curse laid upon the women of her family.
I really enjoyed how the novel dipped into magical realism, and yet my favorite part of Intemperance was Jha’s realistic portrayal of the main character— Jha’s nameless narrator is complex and fully realized, both funny and thoughtful, with desires, vulnerabilities and flaws. I was charmed and captivated with her as a narrator, and I sincerely appreciated Jha’s centering of a middle-aged woman as a romantic heroine with self-esteem, sexual libido, and the conviction that she is deserving of love. (Bonus points that she is a woman of color with a disability!)
At various points throughout the book, the narrator touches on her experience with menopause with refreshing honesty. In many ways, Intemperance felt like the more relatable sibling to Miranda July’s “All Fours.” Ultimately, I believe we need more stories of middle-aged women living unconventional lives, and with Intemperance it feels like Sonora Jha is leading the charge. I loved Intemperance and I know many of my friends will too.
Thank you to HarperVia for the gifted copy and HarperAudio Adult for the gifted audiobook. While I’m sure this novel will be enjoyable in any format, I want to give a special shout out to Sneha Mathan who gave a phenomenal performance on the audiobook.
Lastly, I wanted to share that I was fortunate enough to catch the author during the Los Angeles stop in her book tour, and Sonora Jha was every bit as engrossing as the narrator of Intemperance (even though she half-jokingly reminded us that the book is not based on her life). I can’t wait to see what she writes next.
Intemperance tells the story of a twice-divorced middle-aged woman. She is an esteemed sociology and gender studies professor living alone on a house boat with her dog in Seattle. She is fiercely independent but has become exceedingly lonely. So she draws on her Indian heritage to throw herself a swayamvar: an ancient Indian matrimonial practice through which a bride selects her husband by publicly inviting suitors to compete for her hand. On a rational level, she knows, as a fifty-five year old woman with a disability, this bold decision will open herself up to social ridicule; however, on a deeper level she feels called to take this path. As the main character plans her swayamvar, she is visited by ancient hindu goddesses in modern form, and she receives news from an extended relative about a curse laid upon the women of her family.
I really enjoyed how the novel dipped into magical realism, and yet my favorite part of Intemperance was Jha’s realistic portrayal of the main character— Jha’s nameless narrator is complex and fully realized, both funny and thoughtful, with desires, vulnerabilities and flaws. I was charmed and captivated with her as a narrator, and I sincerely appreciated Jha’s centering of a middle-aged woman as a romantic heroine with self-esteem, sexual libido, and the conviction that she is deserving of love. (Bonus points that she is a woman of color with a disability!)
At various points throughout the book, the narrator touches on her experience with menopause with refreshing honesty. In many ways, Intemperance felt like the more relatable sibling to Miranda July’s “All Fours.” Ultimately, I believe we need more stories of middle-aged women living unconventional lives, and with Intemperance it feels like Sonora Jha is leading the charge. I loved Intemperance and I know many of my friends will too.
Thank you to HarperVia for the gifted copy and HarperAudio Adult for the gifted audiobook. While I’m sure this novel will be enjoyable in any format, I want to give a special shout out to Sneha Mathan who gave a phenomenal performance on the audiobook.
Lastly, I wanted to share that I was fortunate enough to catch the author during the Los Angeles stop in her book tour, and Sonora Jha was every bit as engrossing as the narrator of Intemperance (even though she half-jokingly reminded us that the book is not based on her life). I can’t wait to see what she writes next.
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