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For the Love of Apricots
Forty-year-old divorcee Nandini is something of an oddity in the Himalayan small town of Mukteshwar where she has come to settle with her absent-minded birdwatcher father. Fiercely independent, strong-willed—she’s a woman you can’t take for a ride, which is how she has turned a homegrown pickle-making business into a successful women’s co-operative.
When she encounters the newcomer Vikas Joshi, who has recently acquired an apricot orchard, sparks being to fly as a series of mishaps bring them together. It doesn’t look like this shy, gentle widower and the feisty pickle producer are made for each other. But destiny deems otherwise, with a little help from the villagers—and a mysterious jar of apricot jam.
Played out against the backdrop of the Kumaon Hills, across wooded mountains and apricot orchards, For the Love of Apricots is a quietly romantic, humorous story about a seemingly headstrong yet vulnerable heroine and a lonely man who realize, before it’s too late, that love deserves a second chance.
Warm and light-hearted, yet sensitive and with an understanding of human nature at its core, this is a book to celebrate love in all its unpredictable ways.
When she encounters the newcomer Vikas Joshi, who has recently acquired an apricot orchard, sparks being to fly as a series of mishaps bring them together. It doesn’t look like this shy, gentle widower and the feisty pickle producer are made for each other. But destiny deems otherwise, with a little help from the villagers—and a mysterious jar of apricot jam.
Played out against the backdrop of the Kumaon Hills, across wooded mountains and apricot orchards, For the Love of Apricots is a quietly romantic, humorous story about a seemingly headstrong yet vulnerable heroine and a lonely man who realize, before it’s too late, that love deserves a second chance.
Warm and light-hearted, yet sensitive and with an understanding of human nature at its core, this is a book to celebrate love in all its unpredictable ways.
- GenresIndian LiteratureRomance
224 pages, Paperback
Published January 6, 2025
127 people want to read
About the author
Madhulika Liddle
22 books545 followersMadhulika Liddle is best known for her books featuring the 17th century Mughal detective Muzaffar Jang, although she is also a prolific writer of short fiction, travel writing, and writing related to classic cinema.
The Muzaffar Jang Series: Madhulika’s best-known series of works are historical whodunnits featuring the 17th century Mughal detective, Muzaffar Jang. Till now, four books in the series have been published:
The Englishman’s Cameo (2009)
The Eighth Guest & Other Muzaffar Jang Mysteries (2011),
Engraved in Stone (2012), and
Crimson City (2015).
In October 2021, Madhulika Liddle published The Garden of Heaven, the first novel of a four-novel series called the Delhi Quartet. This is a series of historical novels that will span 800 years of Delhi's history. The Garden of Heaven was long-listed for the Book of the Year (Fiction) Award of the annual Tata Literature Live! literature festival.
In March 2023, Madhulika's The Pledge: Adventures to Sada was released. A fantasy adventure novel, this is the first part of a two-part series called The Mandala Purana, written in collaboration with film-maker Kannan Iyer.
Short stories: Madhulika has written a range of short stories in different genres, including black humour, humour, crime and detection, and social awareness. Several of these have won awards (including the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association’s (CBA) Short Story Competition, for A Morning Swim, in 2003) or have been selected for anthologies. Her story, Poppies in the Snow, was longlisted for the 2015 Sunday Times EFG Short Story Prize.
Short story collections:
My Lawfully Wedded Husband & Other Stories. Black humour shorts, all of which have a twist in the tale.
Woman to Woman: Stories. A collection of twelve women-centric stories.
Madhulika is also known for her travel writing, which has been published in Rough Guides, National Geographic Traveller (India), Lounge (Mint), and other periodicals.
In addition, she is a cinema buff and blogs (mostly about classic cinema) at www.madhulikaliddle.com.
Awards and Recognition:
CBA Short Story Competition – Honourable Mention (2002) for Love and the Papaya Man
CBA Short Story Competition – Overall Winner (2003) for A Morning Swim
Winner of Oxfordbookstore e-Author version 4.0
Sunday Times EFG Short Story Prize (2015) - Longlisted for Poppies in the Snow
Book of the Year Award, Tata Literature Live! (2023) - Longlisted for The Garden of Heaven
Starting 2022, Crimson City (Muzaffar Jang #4) is being taught as an elective to Delhi University students majoring in English
The Muzaffar Jang Series: Madhulika’s best-known series of works are historical whodunnits featuring the 17th century Mughal detective, Muzaffar Jang. Till now, four books in the series have been published:
The Englishman’s Cameo (2009)
The Eighth Guest & Other Muzaffar Jang Mysteries (2011),
Engraved in Stone (2012), and
Crimson City (2015).
In October 2021, Madhulika Liddle published The Garden of Heaven, the first novel of a four-novel series called the Delhi Quartet. This is a series of historical novels that will span 800 years of Delhi's history. The Garden of Heaven was long-listed for the Book of the Year (Fiction) Award of the annual Tata Literature Live! literature festival.
In March 2023, Madhulika's The Pledge: Adventures to Sada was released. A fantasy adventure novel, this is the first part of a two-part series called The Mandala Purana, written in collaboration with film-maker Kannan Iyer.
Short stories: Madhulika has written a range of short stories in different genres, including black humour, humour, crime and detection, and social awareness. Several of these have won awards (including the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association’s (CBA) Short Story Competition, for A Morning Swim, in 2003) or have been selected for anthologies. Her story, Poppies in the Snow, was longlisted for the 2015 Sunday Times EFG Short Story Prize.
Short story collections:
My Lawfully Wedded Husband & Other Stories. Black humour shorts, all of which have a twist in the tale.
Woman to Woman: Stories. A collection of twelve women-centric stories.
Madhulika is also known for her travel writing, which has been published in Rough Guides, National Geographic Traveller (India), Lounge (Mint), and other periodicals.
In addition, she is a cinema buff and blogs (mostly about classic cinema) at www.madhulikaliddle.com.
Awards and Recognition:
CBA Short Story Competition – Honourable Mention (2002) for Love and the Papaya Man
CBA Short Story Competition – Overall Winner (2003) for A Morning Swim
Winner of Oxfordbookstore e-Author version 4.0
Sunday Times EFG Short Story Prize (2015) - Longlisted for Poppies in the Snow
Book of the Year Award, Tata Literature Live! (2023) - Longlisted for The Garden of Heaven
Starting 2022, Crimson City (Muzaffar Jang #4) is being taught as an elective to Delhi University students majoring in English
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 29, 2025
Forty-year-old Nandini has moved to the small Himalayan town of Mukteshwar at her father’s insistence after suffering heartbreak in Delhi. Independent and outspoken, she starts a homegrown pickle business and successfully turns it into a women’s cooperative. She meets Vikas Joshi, a 32-year-old former IT employee who has called it quits and moved to the same town to take over an apricot orchard. The young widower initially locks horns with Nandini over minor issues, which soon sparks something deeper between them. Nandini never thought she could fall in love again. Yet, she finds Vikas irresistible. Will her fears take over, or will Vikas’s love prevail?
Remember how I always keep nagging about not being able to enjoy romance books because of their unbelievable plotlines and cliches? Well, this one didn’t even make me feel any of that. It was a great romance story told subtly and believably. Maybe it’s because the characters in the book are in their thirties and forties, and the kind of love portrayed here feels more mature. There are no love triangles, forced proximity, timid girl x millionaire boss tropes, or other over-the-top drama.
Reading this book was a peaceful journey, not just because of the story, but also because of how beautifully Mukteshwar and the apricot orchards were described. There were so many things I loved in this book including the jams, marmalades, pickles, and chutneys. A Romance blossoming amongst all the things I already loved felt convincing. And more than that, all the characters were relatable and grounded. They were just like you and me, and their story could have been anybody’s as well.
My only complaint is that the book was a bit too short, so the story felt rushed in parts. But even with all its relatable and everyday elements, this book is a great one if you like romance set in the mountains between two headstrong, quirky characters. Even if you're not a fan of romance, this might just be the book to start with.
Read
February 13, 2025This arrived yesterday afternoon and it's been an unstoppable read, and a nostalgic ride, into a very Himalayan retreat of jams, woodsy walks, self help cooperatives, and village stories. And a very un-valentine, understated romance that feels almost too real at times.
A book as delicious and delightful as the chutneys and achaars described in it!
A book as delicious and delightful as the chutneys and achaars described in it!
February 4, 2025
When did you last love a character so much that you wanted to race through the book because I couldn't have enough of her, and yet, you consciously slowed down because you knew you didn't want the book to end? Nandini Mathur, the 40 year old protagonist of "For the Love of Apricots" is exactly that character. She is clumsy, accident prone and impulsive. Yet, she is also efficient, hard working and resourceful. She can be brusque, but she will do anything for the people she cares about. She pads about in a shapeless jacket and well worn trousers, but finds time for the moments of beauty that take your breath away.
Nandini's father chose to move to the hills post retirement, but it is not clear why a young woman who clearly grew up in the city would choose to bury herself in a hill station where she doesn't even have anyone to talk to. Yes, she has set up a women's cooperative that manufactures pickles. Yes, she goes for long walks in the hills and has a beautiful garden. But one would normally picture someone like her living in a city apartment with a balcony garden, dreaming of the hills while she goes about her daily chores.
When Vikas Joshi, Negi Sahib's distant relative, purchases his apricot orchard, he and Nandini keep running into each other. Far from being love at first sight, in fact, their relationship got off on a bad note and they maintained what could at best be called an uneasy truce. But they gradually grew to understand and respect each other, and from that grew a tentative affection.
This book is a refreshing change from most romances- it is a love story between two mature adults who have seen enough of life to be skeptical of romantic love. Sparks do not fly when they their hands accidentally brush against each other (in fact, their hands do not brush against each other at all), but they each see the other for what they truly are, and that is more precious than sparks flying.
I also loved the way the author describes the relationship between Nandini and her father- they live in the same house, but lead their own lives. Would her father even notice if she goes away, Nandini often wonders, or will life go on just the same for him.
The book is rich in sensory detail- you can taste the various jams, chutneys and pickles, you smell the pine needles and the flowers dripping with nectar, you can be dazzled by the variety of flowers, you can even be stung by the bicchu grass. Reading this book literally transports you to the hills and makes you forget everything else.
Nandini's father chose to move to the hills post retirement, but it is not clear why a young woman who clearly grew up in the city would choose to bury herself in a hill station where she doesn't even have anyone to talk to. Yes, she has set up a women's cooperative that manufactures pickles. Yes, she goes for long walks in the hills and has a beautiful garden. But one would normally picture someone like her living in a city apartment with a balcony garden, dreaming of the hills while she goes about her daily chores.
When Vikas Joshi, Negi Sahib's distant relative, purchases his apricot orchard, he and Nandini keep running into each other. Far from being love at first sight, in fact, their relationship got off on a bad note and they maintained what could at best be called an uneasy truce. But they gradually grew to understand and respect each other, and from that grew a tentative affection.
This book is a refreshing change from most romances- it is a love story between two mature adults who have seen enough of life to be skeptical of romantic love. Sparks do not fly when they their hands accidentally brush against each other (in fact, their hands do not brush against each other at all), but they each see the other for what they truly are, and that is more precious than sparks flying.
I also loved the way the author describes the relationship between Nandini and her father- they live in the same house, but lead their own lives. Would her father even notice if she goes away, Nandini often wonders, or will life go on just the same for him.
The book is rich in sensory detail- you can taste the various jams, chutneys and pickles, you smell the pine needles and the flowers dripping with nectar, you can be dazzled by the variety of flowers, you can even be stung by the bicchu grass. Reading this book literally transports you to the hills and makes you forget everything else.
April 21, 2025
Nandini has been living in the small, quaint hill town Mukteshwar with her father Mr. Mathur for over a decade now; divorced in her early twenties without kids, Nandini who is now forty years old, initially struggled to adjust to this remote place when they shifted here from Delhi. As her bird-lover father kept himself busy chasing all kinds of birds in the woods, Nandini started a pickle cooperative with the local women, in a bid to find meaning to her life.
Vikas Joshi who was once the ‘IT’ guy, now shifted to Mukteshwar after he bought the apricot orchard of the Negis. Without any prior experience of tending to an apricot orchard or living in such a small town surrounded by total strangers, Vikas encountered Nandini on multiple occasions in weird and awkward situations.
Will the young widower Vikas develop feelings for the independent and feisty Nandini and will both give a second shot at relationships forms the rest of the story.
Set against the backdrop of a small hill station, this story explores the relationship between two individuals from contrasting backgrounds and personalities and how love can develop in the most unexpected situations. The author uses the town not just as a romantic destination as hill stations are generally portrayed but creates meaningful business backgrounds for both the protagonists — Nandini running a pickle cooperative and Vikas running an apricot orchard. Both the businesses are also described in detail, with the many stages playing a good part in the narrative, and the author also connects both the businesses in a smart way.
In a generation of going on multiple dates in a single day has become the norm, the author describes how a real love story actually looks like. Nandini being aware of how her looks and body have changed from mid-twenties to early forties is what every woman experiences at some point irrespective of their marital status. Vikas’s clarity on loving, liking, admiring, and being infatuated by a woman, especially after his experience from his first marriage showcases why people who have a failed first marriage/relationship have better clarity on choosing partner later on.
There are limited number of supporting characters and each of them have a meaningful role to play in the narration. If you always wanted to read a mature love story with realistic characters, then this is the perfect one. The story reads like a warm hug through and through.
Vikas Joshi who was once the ‘IT’ guy, now shifted to Mukteshwar after he bought the apricot orchard of the Negis. Without any prior experience of tending to an apricot orchard or living in such a small town surrounded by total strangers, Vikas encountered Nandini on multiple occasions in weird and awkward situations.
Will the young widower Vikas develop feelings for the independent and feisty Nandini and will both give a second shot at relationships forms the rest of the story.
Set against the backdrop of a small hill station, this story explores the relationship between two individuals from contrasting backgrounds and personalities and how love can develop in the most unexpected situations. The author uses the town not just as a romantic destination as hill stations are generally portrayed but creates meaningful business backgrounds for both the protagonists — Nandini running a pickle cooperative and Vikas running an apricot orchard. Both the businesses are also described in detail, with the many stages playing a good part in the narrative, and the author also connects both the businesses in a smart way.
In a generation of going on multiple dates in a single day has become the norm, the author describes how a real love story actually looks like. Nandini being aware of how her looks and body have changed from mid-twenties to early forties is what every woman experiences at some point irrespective of their marital status. Vikas’s clarity on loving, liking, admiring, and being infatuated by a woman, especially after his experience from his first marriage showcases why people who have a failed first marriage/relationship have better clarity on choosing partner later on.
There are limited number of supporting characters and each of them have a meaningful role to play in the narration. If you always wanted to read a mature love story with realistic characters, then this is the perfect one. The story reads like a warm hug through and through.
February 6, 2025
When I think of For the Love of Apricots, I think of the warm winter sun on my face. I think of the lush greenery on the hills, the crispness of the fresh air in my lungs. And I think of a love that's kind and accepting, very much like mine. Madhulika Liddle's cosy romance is set in a Himalayan town named Mukteshwar where everybody knows everybody. It is here that Mr Mathur settles down with his forty year old daughter, Nandini, two people who love everything about the hills and the bounty that it offers. When she starts the pickle co-operative, giving the women a chance to be financially independent, she feels a sense of purpose that keeps her both busy and content. And when 33 year old Vikas Joshi moves to Mukteshwar to take over his relative's apricot farm, Nandini's life takes a turn.
The story is rather simple but what makes this novel so delightful are the people who flit in and out of the story so often. The story feels real and so do the characters. Together with the beautiful description of the hills and greenery and all the food that Liddle features, along with the protagonists' inner monologue, this book leaves a warm hum in your chest. I've come to realise how much I actually enjoy reading romance that features older characters, the wise ones who might have already experienced a love of sorts because with them comes a sense of understanding and almost an organic chemistry.
For the Love of Apricots is bound to make you smile and add a spring to your step. It will also make you want to book tickets for your next hilly vacation. Might not we all like a brief respite from the noisy city and enjoy a buttery toast with a thick spread of apricot jam slathered on it?
Thank you for the copy @speakingtiger and @madhulikaliddle I can't wait to read more by you 🤍
The story is rather simple but what makes this novel so delightful are the people who flit in and out of the story so often. The story feels real and so do the characters. Together with the beautiful description of the hills and greenery and all the food that Liddle features, along with the protagonists' inner monologue, this book leaves a warm hum in your chest. I've come to realise how much I actually enjoy reading romance that features older characters, the wise ones who might have already experienced a love of sorts because with them comes a sense of understanding and almost an organic chemistry.
For the Love of Apricots is bound to make you smile and add a spring to your step. It will also make you want to book tickets for your next hilly vacation. Might not we all like a brief respite from the noisy city and enjoy a buttery toast with a thick spread of apricot jam slathered on it?
Thank you for the copy @speakingtiger and @madhulikaliddle I can't wait to read more by you 🤍
February 19, 2025
Beautiful
Such a refreshing mature romance novel, for a change. Now that I can't stomach any YA stuff
Such a refreshing mature romance novel, for a change. Now that I can't stomach any YA stuff
Read
April 27, 2025For the Love of Apricots is a sweet story that reflects the author’s love for nature. Set in Mukteshwar, it captures not just a mature love story, but also the power of a community and upliftment of individuals in various ways. It's so refreshing to see a community grow and live in perfect harmony in a beautiful place in the mountains. The secondary characters —the locals —and their connection with Nandini and Vikas are nicely portrayed.
The imagery of the setting is vivid and beautiful. The pickles —ah, mouthwatering description! When Vikas was tasting it or choosing them in the store, I could practically feel its smell and the tangy taste. Apricot Jam with kernels —I really wanted to taste it.
The writing, as always, is very neat and crisp.
There's one thing that bothered me a little —Maybe it’s just me, but I couldn’t fully connect with the protagonists’ chemistry. I wanted to see them fall in love but at times, they seemed a little distant (to me). I couldn't help thinking of the author's other love story Put Asunder, where I absolutely loved the chemistry.
Overall, it is a light, interesting and uplifting read. Now, I am looking forward to reading her Muzaffar Jang mystery, which I have been saving for months!
The imagery of the setting is vivid and beautiful. The pickles —ah, mouthwatering description! When Vikas was tasting it or choosing them in the store, I could practically feel its smell and the tangy taste. Apricot Jam with kernels —I really wanted to taste it.
The writing, as always, is very neat and crisp.
There's one thing that bothered me a little —Maybe it’s just me, but I couldn’t fully connect with the protagonists’ chemistry. I wanted to see them fall in love but at times, they seemed a little distant (to me). I couldn't help thinking of the author's other love story Put Asunder, where I absolutely loved the chemistry.
Overall, it is a light, interesting and uplifting read. Now, I am looking forward to reading her Muzaffar Jang mystery, which I have been saving for months!
March 8, 2025
Picked the book up solely based on the cover. The illustration is so yellow and welcoming that I just had to get this book. Plus, a desi story set in the hills? Count me in.
While the writing was good, the depth of the characters felt a bit artificial. The pairing is breaking stereotypes and is set in quite realistic scenarios, but I feel that for Vikas to decide that he loves Nandini within 2-3 meetings is a bit star plus coded.
That being said, the book was refreshing. The sense of community in Mukteshwar is quite beautiful. And oh, it has definitely influenced me into trying out different pickles and chutneys and jams this summer!
While the writing was good, the depth of the characters felt a bit artificial. The pairing is breaking stereotypes and is set in quite realistic scenarios, but I feel that for Vikas to decide that he loves Nandini within 2-3 meetings is a bit star plus coded.
That being said, the book was refreshing. The sense of community in Mukteshwar is quite beautiful. And oh, it has definitely influenced me into trying out different pickles and chutneys and jams this summer!
April 20, 2025
What a fun and whimsical read. It’s a cute rom-com, with a charming setting and very well done meet cute plus adorably awkward scenes. It’s also seasoned with a good amount of emotional and serious content that believably drives a realistic and mature friendship and romance. The prose is super breezy too - A good beach read but for the mountains!
August 29, 2025
This is one of the most enchanting reads of August. Set against the scenic backdrop of a hill station in Uttrakhand called Mukteshwar, it's a beautiful book.
The two main protagonists in the book are Vikas Joshi a widower and Nandini Mathur a 40 year old divorcee. Nandini came to Mukteshwar with her father very young and set up her co-operative engaging the village women in making pickles and chutneys with her. Vikas bought the apricot orchard from his distant relatives, the Negi's. He came to Mukteshwar to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city life which he didn't enjoy.
Nandini is an astute woman who's also fiercely independent, ambitious, strong headed but a bit impulsive and clumsy at the same time. Vikas is calm to Nandini's chaos, quite literally. The accidental meeting between the two, the misunderstandings, the dislike for each other organically blossomed into a beautiful friendship which further led to a romance which makes you feel calm, peaceful, settled and unrushed.
Both the characters are written exceptionally well and the romance between two mature adults in this book is swoon-worthy.
This book is about taking a second chance at love and is also rich in flavours. Love in this book flows through the sweet and sour taste of the chutneys, pickles and jams. It's about love finding you when you least expect it. It's not about love you feel in your twenties high on adrenaline, rushed and chaotic rather it's about love which makes you feel seen, heard, acknowledged and which heals you all along, which accepts every part of you the good, the bad and the ugly, which doesn't flinches away from your battered and tattered soul, which actually sees you through.
PS: I finished this book in one sitting, it's unputdownable. It's an endearing book, truly.
The two main protagonists in the book are Vikas Joshi a widower and Nandini Mathur a 40 year old divorcee. Nandini came to Mukteshwar with her father very young and set up her co-operative engaging the village women in making pickles and chutneys with her. Vikas bought the apricot orchard from his distant relatives, the Negi's. He came to Mukteshwar to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city life which he didn't enjoy.
Nandini is an astute woman who's also fiercely independent, ambitious, strong headed but a bit impulsive and clumsy at the same time. Vikas is calm to Nandini's chaos, quite literally. The accidental meeting between the two, the misunderstandings, the dislike for each other organically blossomed into a beautiful friendship which further led to a romance which makes you feel calm, peaceful, settled and unrushed.
Both the characters are written exceptionally well and the romance between two mature adults in this book is swoon-worthy.
This book is about taking a second chance at love and is also rich in flavours. Love in this book flows through the sweet and sour taste of the chutneys, pickles and jams. It's about love finding you when you least expect it. It's not about love you feel in your twenties high on adrenaline, rushed and chaotic rather it's about love which makes you feel seen, heard, acknowledged and which heals you all along, which accepts every part of you the good, the bad and the ugly, which doesn't flinches away from your battered and tattered soul, which actually sees you through.
PS: I finished this book in one sitting, it's unputdownable. It's an endearing book, truly.
March 21, 2025
-Romancing amidst the hills of Mukteshwar-
Review of 'For the Love of Apricots' by @madhulika and @speak
There is something about love stories that attract readers of all age and ages. And stories ABOUT love, even more so. For the Love of Apricots is one such story- not just about romance but a story about love nestled in the lap of Himalayas.
Forty-year-old divorcee Nandini is something of an oddity in the Himalayan small town of Mukteshwar where she has come to settle with her absent-minded birdwatcher father. Fiercely independent, strong-willed—she’s a woman you can’t take for a ride, which is how she has turned a homegrown pickle-making business into a successful women’s co-operative.
When she encounters the newcomer Vikas Joshi, who has recently acquired an apricot orchard, sparks being to fly as a series of mishaps bring them together. It doesn’t look like this shy, gentle widower and the feisty pickle producer are made for each other. But destiny deems otherwise, with a little help from the villagers—and a mysterious jar of apricot jam.
Love blazes through the story, sometimes whispering sometimes screaming through words. The writer, through her characters, talks about love, the longing it brings, the pain of separation, the effervescent joy of reunion.
The story is atmospheric and takes its own time to settle upon the page. Liddle has a knack to paint the surroundings with her words. Her words evoke nostalgia and unbridled sadness. Read this to fall in love once more. With the story, of course.
Review of 'For the Love of Apricots' by @madhulika and @speak
There is something about love stories that attract readers of all age and ages. And stories ABOUT love, even more so. For the Love of Apricots is one such story- not just about romance but a story about love nestled in the lap of Himalayas.
Forty-year-old divorcee Nandini is something of an oddity in the Himalayan small town of Mukteshwar where she has come to settle with her absent-minded birdwatcher father. Fiercely independent, strong-willed—she’s a woman you can’t take for a ride, which is how she has turned a homegrown pickle-making business into a successful women’s co-operative.
When she encounters the newcomer Vikas Joshi, who has recently acquired an apricot orchard, sparks being to fly as a series of mishaps bring them together. It doesn’t look like this shy, gentle widower and the feisty pickle producer are made for each other. But destiny deems otherwise, with a little help from the villagers—and a mysterious jar of apricot jam.
Love blazes through the story, sometimes whispering sometimes screaming through words. The writer, through her characters, talks about love, the longing it brings, the pain of separation, the effervescent joy of reunion.
The story is atmospheric and takes its own time to settle upon the page. Liddle has a knack to paint the surroundings with her words. Her words evoke nostalgia and unbridled sadness. Read this to fall in love once more. With the story, of course.
July 14, 2025
For The Love of Apricots by Madhulika Liddle takes you to the picturesque town of Muktershwar in the hills, where Nandini runs a pickle co-operative kitchen with the women of the town and Vikas has just bought a very popular apricot orchard.
It is not your usual love story or rom-com, this one has a sense of maturity to it. And of course let’s not forget the range of jams, pickles and chutneys mentioned here along with some other dishes. I absolutely love it when food brings people together
For The Love of Apricots is a story that keeps you hooked as the details are revealed in layers one by one. With every chapter, you want to know more about the protagonists and what happens next. The story is as fresh as the air of the hill station.
It’s a light and fast paced read. Anyone trying to get back to reading or anyone who wants to enjoy a good rom-com should pick this up!!
It is not your usual love story or rom-com, this one has a sense of maturity to it. And of course let’s not forget the range of jams, pickles and chutneys mentioned here along with some other dishes. I absolutely love it when food brings people together
For The Love of Apricots is a story that keeps you hooked as the details are revealed in layers one by one. With every chapter, you want to know more about the protagonists and what happens next. The story is as fresh as the air of the hill station.
It’s a light and fast paced read. Anyone trying to get back to reading or anyone who wants to enjoy a good rom-com should pick this up!!
April 22, 2025
A must-read for fans of slow-burn romance, strong female leads, and stories that celebrate the magic of second chances.
In the shadow of the mountains and Buransh Cottage, where the air is crisp and the orchards bloom with golden promise, there resides a woman who defies the quiet rhythms of Mukteshwar. Nandini, a forty-year-old divorcee, is a figure of quiet rebellion in this sleepy Himalayan town. She has come here with her father, a dreamy, birdwatching man whose absent-mindedness is matched only by his devotion to the skies. But Nandini is no idle dreamer. Fiercely independent, sharp of tongue, and unyielding in her principles, she has carved a life of purpose from the simple art of pickle-making, transforming it into a thriving women’s cooperative. She is a force to be reckoned with, a woman who refuses to be underestimated—or swept off her feet.
In this story you will come across various pickles and chutneys which I will be listing here. The Mukteshwar Women's Co-operative, NGO started by Nandini, allows local women to get together and produce whatever they were good at. Initially they started with very small-scale pickles like garlic, lime, green chillies and mangoes. Then they expanded into more unusual types of pickles like a raw apple pickle, a pear pickle, an apple chutney with ginger and raw turmeric, baingan ki kasaundi – a tart-sweet-spicy chutney. Unusual pickles – thick-skinned and very sour apples, with lots of fennel seeds. A sorrel pickle. A mushroom one. A very plain, very gentle pickle of strips of ginger, pieces of lime, and green chillies, all soaked in brine and lime juice.
Set against the breathtaking vistas of the Kumaon Hills, where the mountains hum with ancient secrets and the orchards whisper of renewal, For the Love of Apricots is a story of second chances. It is a tale that unfolds with quiet humour and tender insight, a celebration of love’s resilience and its ability to bloom in the unlikeliest of places. At its heart, it is a story about two souls—one fiercely independent yet quietly vulnerable, the other gentle yet burdened by loss—who discover, against the odds, that love is not bound by time or circumstance. Warm, witty, and deeply human, this is a novel that captures the unpredictable beauty of the heart’s journey, reminding us that even the most unlikely of unions can bear the sweetest fruit. Enter Vikas Joshi, a man as unassuming as Nandini is bold. A widower with a gentle heart and a quiet demeanour, he has recently acquired an apricot orchard, seeking solace in its quiet rows. When their paths cross, sparks fly—not the fiery kind, but the kind that comes from misunderstanding, mishap, and the peculiar workings of fate. To the villagers of Mukteshwar, the pairing seems improbable: the shy, thoughtful orchard owner and the fiery pickle producer are worlds apart. Yet, as the seasons turn and the apricots ripen, Nandu and Vikas weaves their own tale, nudged along by the whispers and matchmaking of the townsfolk, pickles and chutney and the inexplicable magic of a single jar of apricot jam.
For the Love of Apricots is the kind of novel that sneaks up on you like a soft hill breeze—refreshing, gentle, and quietly unforgettable. This story is as much a love letter to the mountains as it is to second chances and unexpected connections.
The author paints the landscape with such evocative detail that you can almost smell the pine-scented air and taste the tangy apricot jam. The community of villagers, with their quirks and wisdom, brings warmth and texture to the story, and their gentle nudging of the protagonists feels organic rather than forced.
What truly sets For the Love of Apricots apart is its mature take on love. This isn’t the dizzy rush of first romance—it’s the quieter, more complex rediscovery of companionship after loss, heartbreak, and life’s detours. Nandini and Vikas aren’t perfect, and that’s precisely what makes their journey feel so real.
In sum, this novel is a delicious blend of humour, heart, and mountains charm. It’s a comforting read, like a warm slice of toast slathered with apricot jam—simple, satisfying, and made with love.
In the shadow of the mountains and Buransh Cottage, where the air is crisp and the orchards bloom with golden promise, there resides a woman who defies the quiet rhythms of Mukteshwar. Nandini, a forty-year-old divorcee, is a figure of quiet rebellion in this sleepy Himalayan town. She has come here with her father, a dreamy, birdwatching man whose absent-mindedness is matched only by his devotion to the skies. But Nandini is no idle dreamer. Fiercely independent, sharp of tongue, and unyielding in her principles, she has carved a life of purpose from the simple art of pickle-making, transforming it into a thriving women’s cooperative. She is a force to be reckoned with, a woman who refuses to be underestimated—or swept off her feet.
In this story you will come across various pickles and chutneys which I will be listing here. The Mukteshwar Women's Co-operative, NGO started by Nandini, allows local women to get together and produce whatever they were good at. Initially they started with very small-scale pickles like garlic, lime, green chillies and mangoes. Then they expanded into more unusual types of pickles like a raw apple pickle, a pear pickle, an apple chutney with ginger and raw turmeric, baingan ki kasaundi – a tart-sweet-spicy chutney. Unusual pickles – thick-skinned and very sour apples, with lots of fennel seeds. A sorrel pickle. A mushroom one. A very plain, very gentle pickle of strips of ginger, pieces of lime, and green chillies, all soaked in brine and lime juice.
Set against the breathtaking vistas of the Kumaon Hills, where the mountains hum with ancient secrets and the orchards whisper of renewal, For the Love of Apricots is a story of second chances. It is a tale that unfolds with quiet humour and tender insight, a celebration of love’s resilience and its ability to bloom in the unlikeliest of places. At its heart, it is a story about two souls—one fiercely independent yet quietly vulnerable, the other gentle yet burdened by loss—who discover, against the odds, that love is not bound by time or circumstance. Warm, witty, and deeply human, this is a novel that captures the unpredictable beauty of the heart’s journey, reminding us that even the most unlikely of unions can bear the sweetest fruit. Enter Vikas Joshi, a man as unassuming as Nandini is bold. A widower with a gentle heart and a quiet demeanour, he has recently acquired an apricot orchard, seeking solace in its quiet rows. When their paths cross, sparks fly—not the fiery kind, but the kind that comes from misunderstanding, mishap, and the peculiar workings of fate. To the villagers of Mukteshwar, the pairing seems improbable: the shy, thoughtful orchard owner and the fiery pickle producer are worlds apart. Yet, as the seasons turn and the apricots ripen, Nandu and Vikas weaves their own tale, nudged along by the whispers and matchmaking of the townsfolk, pickles and chutney and the inexplicable magic of a single jar of apricot jam.
For the Love of Apricots is the kind of novel that sneaks up on you like a soft hill breeze—refreshing, gentle, and quietly unforgettable. This story is as much a love letter to the mountains as it is to second chances and unexpected connections.
The author paints the landscape with such evocative detail that you can almost smell the pine-scented air and taste the tangy apricot jam. The community of villagers, with their quirks and wisdom, brings warmth and texture to the story, and their gentle nudging of the protagonists feels organic rather than forced.
What truly sets For the Love of Apricots apart is its mature take on love. This isn’t the dizzy rush of first romance—it’s the quieter, more complex rediscovery of companionship after loss, heartbreak, and life’s detours. Nandini and Vikas aren’t perfect, and that’s precisely what makes their journey feel so real.
In sum, this novel is a delicious blend of humour, heart, and mountains charm. It’s a comforting read, like a warm slice of toast slathered with apricot jam—simple, satisfying, and made with love.
July 20, 2025
Nandini, CEO, COO, CFO of Mukteshwar Woman's Co-operative, an NGO has left city life to be with her father, who retired from Government service to settle down in Mukteshwar and continue with his obsession with birds.
Vikas Joshi too, has given up his Corporate job with an IT company, and bought an Apricot Orchard with a cottage at Mukteshwar, from Negi Sahib, to focus on growing Apricots in the hills, a much rewarding job than his Coding job in the city.
While Nandini, now forty, has lived in Mukteshwar for the last 20 years, Vikas, thirty three, is alone and rather lonely in a new place.
Soon, however, Cupid, strikes his arrow at both Nandini and Vikas thrusting the two together in the most unpredictable way.
On her way to check out on Mausi, with Shalu and her baby, quite near Vikas's orchard, Nandini is forced to call upon Vikas to help with pounded fenugreek seeds to quieten a wailing child. From then on, the story takes a turn for the heart.
Nandini is both attracted and resistant to admit her growing 'liking' which will ultimately turn to love for Vikas. The latter, however is not so complex and is able to admit his feelings to Nandini. Above many other reasons, Nandini is conscious of the fact that Vikas is eight years younger than her. Vikas doesn't care about such trivialities.
In a delightful, yet slow development of love, Nandini, fights her feelings to the last extent, but must give in finally, as she does face her own need for a friendship beyond her work and her father.
Vikas is patient but often confused about Nandini. As much as he is sure about his love for her, he doesn't want to force a commitment from her. So, as quietly flows a stream, over cobbles and makes it's way to where it will finally meet the sea, Vikas is gentle and gives Nandini space to feel comfortable receiving his love and returning it. Unlike the rapids of a gushing river, so grows the love, amidst, pickles, chutneys, sharing and giving of Apricots and other fruit pickles and chutneys.
The reader, though, must wait till the end, to read about several Cupids who worked diligently to make this happen. The good news is, the book is not too long and don't run into over 200 pages.
Madhulika Liddle, best known for creating the Muzaffar Jung detective series, has written many books on other subjects too. However, Love doesn't leave her pages, no matter what the central theme of the book may be. To me though, in For the Love of Apricots, love between an older woman and a younger man, is as delicious as the many pickles and chutneys.
January 24, 2025
A warm and light hearted novel, Madhulika Liddle’s For the Love of Apricots is a gentle romance set in Mukteshwar, a hill station in Kumaon Himalayas. Nandini, a strong willed and independent woman who has made these hills her home for the last 15 years, runs her own venture - The Mukteshwar women's cooperative, an NGO that makes pickles and chutneys from local produce. Vikas Joshi, a newcomer from the plains, acquires an apricot orchard that once belonged to his family member.
When Nandini and Vikas meet, there is no love at first sight, no head swooning attraction, no sparks fly. In fact, almost all their interactions leave either or both with a sense of embarrassment, something strange enough to push them into thinking about each other until they get formally introduced and become friends. But destiny coupled with a bunch of well-intentioned villagers playing cupid, a plan of action to bind the 40yr old divorcee and the widower in his early 30s together in marriage rolls out. As trivial as it may sound, this quick paced, well-written novel is much more. It's a tender exploration of human relationships and multiple forms love assumes in one's lifetime - love for nature, birds, gardening, books, cooking and someone special that’s as important as oxygen to live.
What elevates the reading experience and enlivens the senses is the lush description of nature, flowers and hills on one hand and of mouthwatering pickles, chutneys and jams on the other. I liked the author not just stopping with detailing her primary characters - Nandini and Vikas but allowing room for us to understand Nandini's father, Mr Mathur, quite a colourful character. Depression shape-shifting into anger, fear of failure in relationships stymying a person are portrayed so well. Kernels of apricot in jam, raw mustard oil, spices and cut veggies in bottles left soaking up the sun, copse of rhododendrons, oaks and deodars make a perfect setting here to show what it is to be alone and in love. A little mushy, but overall a feel-good novel, one that shows love comes in as many shades as colour green, the favourite colour of one of the characters here, Shalu. Works well as a breather between heavy reads.
(A copy of the book was obtained from the publisher in return for an honest opinion/review.)
When Nandini and Vikas meet, there is no love at first sight, no head swooning attraction, no sparks fly. In fact, almost all their interactions leave either or both with a sense of embarrassment, something strange enough to push them into thinking about each other until they get formally introduced and become friends. But destiny coupled with a bunch of well-intentioned villagers playing cupid, a plan of action to bind the 40yr old divorcee and the widower in his early 30s together in marriage rolls out. As trivial as it may sound, this quick paced, well-written novel is much more. It's a tender exploration of human relationships and multiple forms love assumes in one's lifetime - love for nature, birds, gardening, books, cooking and someone special that’s as important as oxygen to live.
What elevates the reading experience and enlivens the senses is the lush description of nature, flowers and hills on one hand and of mouthwatering pickles, chutneys and jams on the other. I liked the author not just stopping with detailing her primary characters - Nandini and Vikas but allowing room for us to understand Nandini's father, Mr Mathur, quite a colourful character. Depression shape-shifting into anger, fear of failure in relationships stymying a person are portrayed so well. Kernels of apricot in jam, raw mustard oil, spices and cut veggies in bottles left soaking up the sun, copse of rhododendrons, oaks and deodars make a perfect setting here to show what it is to be alone and in love. A little mushy, but overall a feel-good novel, one that shows love comes in as many shades as colour green, the favourite colour of one of the characters here, Shalu. Works well as a breather between heavy reads.
(A copy of the book was obtained from the publisher in return for an honest opinion/review.)
April 12, 2025
For the Love of Apricots is primarily based on two protagonists—forty-year-old divorcee Nandini, who lives in Mukteshwar, having established a pickle cooperative there, and Vikas Joshi, who also lives in the hill town, having recently acquired an apricot orchard. The story delves into their interesting interactions, painful pasts, and the possibility of second chances at love.
The novel grips you from the get-go, and the narrative flows at a beautiful, languid pace - perfect for the story. The mild twists and turns are placed appropriately and keep you engaged in the story. There is also a sprinkling of humor throughout, which made me smile.
But the characters are what keep you glued to the story. Nandini and Vikas are exceptional characters. They are lovable and worth rooting for. The character development is brilliant, with sufficient backstories to flesh out the characters. The only minor nitpick is that Vikas's father is hardly mentioned in the book. Considering he is alive, maybe some interaction and/or thought about his father should have been there. That would have been the icing on the cake.
I could relate to every sentiment experienced by the characters, as the feelings were natural and realistic. Despite the strength of the characters, they have their share of vulnerabilities and idiosyncrasies, which again reinforces the relatability factor and makes you feel for them.
As expected from a writer of Ms. Liddle's caliber, the language is excellent—lucid and unornamented yet garnished with the appropriate wordplay at the right places. The grammar and punctuation are immaculate, as always.
The descriptions of the scenery are delectable, painting a vivid picture of the lush landscapes of Mukteshwar, making me want to visit the beautiful hill town. Moreover, the descriptions of food are luscious, making my mouth water. I want to taste the apricot jam studded with kernels, smeared on crisp buttered toast.
The ending is perfect, and the emotional punches are so beautifully executed that I teared up a couple of times. All loose ends are tied up immaculately, providing a wholesome, unforgettable experience.
This novel proves that Ms. Liddle, an award-winning writer specializing in historical fiction, is equally proficient at contemporary fiction.
4.7 stars from my side.
The novel grips you from the get-go, and the narrative flows at a beautiful, languid pace - perfect for the story. The mild twists and turns are placed appropriately and keep you engaged in the story. There is also a sprinkling of humor throughout, which made me smile.
But the characters are what keep you glued to the story. Nandini and Vikas are exceptional characters. They are lovable and worth rooting for. The character development is brilliant, with sufficient backstories to flesh out the characters. The only minor nitpick is that Vikas's father is hardly mentioned in the book. Considering he is alive, maybe some interaction and/or thought about his father should have been there. That would have been the icing on the cake.
I could relate to every sentiment experienced by the characters, as the feelings were natural and realistic. Despite the strength of the characters, they have their share of vulnerabilities and idiosyncrasies, which again reinforces the relatability factor and makes you feel for them.
As expected from a writer of Ms. Liddle's caliber, the language is excellent—lucid and unornamented yet garnished with the appropriate wordplay at the right places. The grammar and punctuation are immaculate, as always.
The descriptions of the scenery are delectable, painting a vivid picture of the lush landscapes of Mukteshwar, making me want to visit the beautiful hill town. Moreover, the descriptions of food are luscious, making my mouth water. I want to taste the apricot jam studded with kernels, smeared on crisp buttered toast.
The ending is perfect, and the emotional punches are so beautifully executed that I teared up a couple of times. All loose ends are tied up immaculately, providing a wholesome, unforgettable experience.
This novel proves that Ms. Liddle, an award-winning writer specializing in historical fiction, is equally proficient at contemporary fiction.
4.7 stars from my side.
July 22, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was such a refreshing break from the usual romance novels I pick up. Honestly, I was a bit unsure since it’s the author’s first romance, but I was also super curious and I’m so glad I gave it a shot.
The story is set in the beautiful town of Mukteshwar, and the way it’s described makes you want to just drop everything and move there. It’s peaceful, slow, calm… everything city life isn’t. And don’t even get me started on the food descriptions, so much drool-worthy detail about pickles and jams. Fair warning: do not read this book on an empty stomach!
The whole cast of characters is so warm and inviting. It genuinely felt like being welcomed into a little community. And then we have the main characters, Nandini and Vikas, who are just everything.
Nandini is 40, a divorcee, runs an NGO that makes pickles, and honestly, I was a little envious of her life. She reads, experiments in the kitchen, makes her own compost, grows flowers… she’s independent, sharp, and incredibly grounded. But beneath all of that, there’s this quiet longing for someone who truly gets her.
Enter Vikas. A quiet widower in his 30s who’s just moved to town, trying to get away from the chaos of his old life. Their interactions are so wholesome and real. The slow build-up, the banter, the shared silences, it felt very old-school and comforting, like those early 2000s Hindi serials we all secretly loved.
What I really appreciated was how the book touches on deeper themes in such a gentle, non-preachy way. It makes you pause and think, but it never takes away from the story.
My only tiny complaint? I felt like one of them fell in love a bit too fast. Maybe it’s the age and experience factor, but still it felt a tad quick. But aside from that, this was such a lovely, grounded take on love. Definitely worth a read if you’re looking for something mature, calm, and quietly romantic.
September 16, 2025
This book was a breath of fresh air in the genre of desi rom-coms, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading–relishing it.
The descriptions of the lush landscape of Mukteshwar, its riot of colours and flavours, gave me a much-needed sense of nostalgia, and the characters felt like old friends. The warmth and good-natured humour, the realistic portrayals of living in the hills, and the descriptions of jams and pickles and chutneys: mouth-watering!
The sweetness and tartness of the love story , is like jam itself , and it all comes together through the development of the couple’s relationship.
The writing itself is also candid, like one’s talking to a friend. The ability to paint pictures swiftly and deftly, is akin to making a pickle as well, it needs maturing in the sun, and the right balance of rawness and ripeness.
I would highly recommend this book!
The descriptions of the lush landscape of Mukteshwar, its riot of colours and flavours, gave me a much-needed sense of nostalgia, and the characters felt like old friends. The warmth and good-natured humour, the realistic portrayals of living in the hills, and the descriptions of jams and pickles and chutneys: mouth-watering!
The sweetness and tartness of the love story , is like jam itself , and it all comes together through the development of the couple’s relationship.
The writing itself is also candid, like one’s talking to a friend. The ability to paint pictures swiftly and deftly, is akin to making a pickle as well, it needs maturing in the sun, and the right balance of rawness and ripeness.
I would highly recommend this book!
February 17, 2025
I am in awe of Ms Liddle. She writes in lots of genres, and she does well at all of them. I was unsure about this book (it's contemporary, and is described as 'romantic comedy'), but what a treat this was. Nandini is a darling heroine, so vulnerable and sweet and real. The descriptions of mountains, food, etc are lovely, and I almost felt I was there, in verdant Mukteshwar.
Lovely. "For the Love of Apricots" is like the apricot jam Nandini savors. It's sweet, golden, full of sunshine and warmth, and impossible not to love.
I was at a book event meet where I heard Ms Liddle say that maybe someday she will write a book in a similar vein, called 'Oranges and Apples'. I can't wait!
Lovely. "For the Love of Apricots" is like the apricot jam Nandini savors. It's sweet, golden, full of sunshine and warmth, and impossible not to love.
I was at a book event meet where I heard Ms Liddle say that maybe someday she will write a book in a similar vein, called 'Oranges and Apples'. I can't wait!
June 12, 2025
Picked this despite it sounding like a romcom because I had just finished one of her other works - The Garden of Heaven, which was very good; the protagonists were not teeny boppers but around 40 years old which is unusual for romcoms, and; above all because it's set in the Kumaon, for which I have a soft spot. But, it turned out to be a very mediocre, and I did a DNF two-thirds of the way in (I did really try). Outside of the setting, most everything was cliched - think woman falls, man tries to help, and they land up one on top of the other. Cringe. Still giving this 3 stars because maybe romcons are just not my jam and I'm not measuring this by the right yardstick.
January 22, 2025
Although this is a very different genre from Madhulika Liddle's previous works, it is as delightful and enriching. Set in Mukteshwar, in the Kumaon hills, a romance develops between two very unlikely protagonists, facilitated, strangely enough, by various pickles and by apricot jam! The author's ode to apricot jam verges on the poetic, and is bound to make the reader very hungry indeed! A delightful and delicious read!
August 26, 2025
For the Love of Apricots is the second book by Madhulika Liddle, and I am once again moved by how deceptively simple her stories are. She has captured the sleepy town and the meddling town-people of Mukteshwar accurately. Considering the fact that the protagonists are 40 something's (usually overlooked by marketing geniuses), the story stays true, both in body language and in dialogues. The incident with Bichhu ghass was funny and quite relatable.
It is a soft story that heals and soothes.
It is a soft story that heals and soothes.
March 17, 2025
For me, it was the writing, over everything else. So relaxed and nonchalant in its pace, but so rich! It made me savor the whole experience - the sharp, citrusy experience of a story vibrant with the kind of imagery that is so dear to my heart, and also one of slow love, the old school love that resides in us all.
June 16, 2025
a cozy, warm and breezy tale about love, companionship, women empowerment set in the backdrop of beautiful town of mukteshwar. a feisty woman in her 40s, a reserved loner in his 30s. they meet and there's this spark, this weird connection.
its a beautiful short book that delivers all that it promises. I could smell the pickles and almost taste the jams she made. it was a delicious tale!!!
its a beautiful short book that delivers all that it promises. I could smell the pickles and almost taste the jams she made. it was a delicious tale!!!
August 31, 2025
Life in midlife and a romantic novel set in the small place.
March 14, 2025
The hills of Uttarakhand, namely the village of Mukteshwar where hill women knit colourful sweaters and urban women get self help groups together to teach women to make pickles. This is Nandini’s life as outlined by Madhulika Liddle in her latest book. Nandini Mathur is 40, lives with her birder father and is known to everyone as being single though she is, in fact, a divorcee having been married for 6 months decades ago. In this placid world of pickles comes Vikas Joshi who has taken over his uncle’s apricot orchard. Joshi is also single though in his case, he is a widower.
He and Nandini meet in the most accepted way over an awkward bawling baby and a misunderstanding. He thinks Nandini is a rural grandmother – she’s in an old salwar kameez – and she thinks he’s obnoxious. Quite obviously from this promising beginning the two have to be brought together – even the women in Nandini’s pickle factory are agreed on that.
Through a series of comic cataclysms – Nandini tries climbing over Vikas’ gate to return his jam jar while Vikas gets his hands stung by nettles from a basket Nandini has given him to hold – the two come together. Vikas is smitten by Nandini’s caramel eyes though what he looks like we really don’t know – except that he is younger than Nandini which is a slight stumbling block to a fiercely independent, successful woman. That adds a twist to the whole story like the spice in Nandini’s pickles. Liddle muses on the complications in relationships whether with parents or otherwise, adding grist to her story mill.
Ultimately the tale is filled with lusciousness – the flavour of pickles of all kinds, the sweetness of golden apricot jam and the descriptions of hill paths and flowers. All in all, the perfect background for romance and all of which Liddle with her cooking and everything else seems to know very well from the kasundi to the rhododendrons. And it happens over apricots in a rather business like way. However, one might quibble that Liddle did a better job with her Jang Sahib’s love story a long while ago with its shy, subtle nuances. Still, it is a happy book to curl up with on a winter evening.
He and Nandini meet in the most accepted way over an awkward bawling baby and a misunderstanding. He thinks Nandini is a rural grandmother – she’s in an old salwar kameez – and she thinks he’s obnoxious. Quite obviously from this promising beginning the two have to be brought together – even the women in Nandini’s pickle factory are agreed on that.
Through a series of comic cataclysms – Nandini tries climbing over Vikas’ gate to return his jam jar while Vikas gets his hands stung by nettles from a basket Nandini has given him to hold – the two come together. Vikas is smitten by Nandini’s caramel eyes though what he looks like we really don’t know – except that he is younger than Nandini which is a slight stumbling block to a fiercely independent, successful woman. That adds a twist to the whole story like the spice in Nandini’s pickles. Liddle muses on the complications in relationships whether with parents or otherwise, adding grist to her story mill.
Ultimately the tale is filled with lusciousness – the flavour of pickles of all kinds, the sweetness of golden apricot jam and the descriptions of hill paths and flowers. All in all, the perfect background for romance and all of which Liddle with her cooking and everything else seems to know very well from the kasundi to the rhododendrons. And it happens over apricots in a rather business like way. However, one might quibble that Liddle did a better job with her Jang Sahib’s love story a long while ago with its shy, subtle nuances. Still, it is a happy book to curl up with on a winter evening.
June 13, 2025
This book was like a warm hug. It is about the friendship of a 32 year old apricot orchard owner and a 40 year old pickle making cooperative owner. They start of on the wrong note and slowly start to appreciate each other's world and world views. Along the way you also learn about the hill station they call home and the people that are part of their extended circle in that place. It has the most delicious food descriptions and reminded me of the food descriptions in the Famous Five series. I read the acknowledgement note at the end and the author said that the jam she described in the book was also made by her mom and that is why she was able to describe it so well. It also shows you romance in a new light because it isn't always about the physical connection. Sometimes it also about the values you stand for and the company you seek at a particular point in your life. Would highly recommend this for a light read by an indian author about food, love and second chances.
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