Daisies in The Wild

by Stuti Agarwal

176 pages, Paperback

Published September 5, 2025

Reviews

[a_geminireader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I could hug these characters. That’s how deeply they stay with you even after the last page is turned. " Daisies in the Wild " isn’t just a story — it’s an embrace, a reminder of friendships that carried us through the most confusing years of our lives.

Inayat, Pema, and Nidra feel so real that at some point, you stop seeing them as characters and start seeing them as people you once knew. Their laughter feels familiar, their heartbreak aches in your chest, and their bond reminds you of those irreplaceable school friends who shaped your world in ways you never fully realized back then.

The writing has a softness to it — simple yet rich, like conversations you have with your closest friend late into the night. There’s honesty in the way it captures growing up: the thrill of first love, the sting of misunderstandings, the silence of unspoken words, and the comfort of knowing you’re not alone in any of it. What touched me most was how the author weaves joy and ache together, making you laugh on one page and pause with a lump in your throat on the next.

And beyond the personal, the story doesn’t shy away from the bigger picture — the unrest, the struggles, the backdrop that shapes these girls’ lives. Yet through all of it, their friendship becomes their anchor, their safe place, and their wild daisies growing against every odd.

It’s the kind of book that makes you want to revisit your own school days, your old friends, maybe even that one memory you’ve tucked away for years. It doesn’t just tell you a story — it invites you to feel, to remember, and to hold on a little tighter to the people who once made your world brighter.

If I could, I’d hug these characters. Since I can’t, I’ll hug this book instead — and I promise, if you pick it up, you’ll want to do the same.

[Rahul Vishnoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

-A Story of Friendship, Family and Adventure-
Review of 'Daisies in the Wild'

Quote Alert
"𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐝, 𝐒𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲'𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐲 (𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭, 𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐲). 𝐈𝐭 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐮𝐧𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞. 𝐀𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬, 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐈 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧, 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭?"

A story of three friends who are grappling with their bonds, their sexuality and the simmering tension in their hometown, Daisies in the Wild plays upon the themes of found family and love stemming from friendship. Not many stories are based upon the movement of Gorkhaland in Darjeeling district. Daisies in the Wild is set against this backdrop. I know about this movement since one of my friends is from Darjeeling and the issue has come to attention in the recent years

So what's the story about? Three friends Inayat, Pema and Nidra navigate the complex turns of life in St Mary's school in Darjeeling. Displacement, loneliness, sexuality, homophobia, love stemming from friendship are the issues Agarwal tackles head on.

Many stories have been penned around the theme of friendship and finding yourself and your place in the world while being bolstered by the friends you have and the support they provide. The storyl also straddles the themes of love is love and vocalizes equal rights for all genders and orientations.

Skilfully using the tropes of found family and friends are forever, Agarwal creates an engaging tale of love, loss, survival, acceptance and equanimity. The storytelling is engaging and the writing skilful. The characters feel real and full-bodied, not lifeless and cardboardish. The reader feels helpless as there is only one goal in the present and the now: to finish the book. Everything else comes later.

As the story progresses, the author builds up emotion and drama, and throws her characters into the mix. The reader can't help build a bridge of empathy with the lives of these people. An emotional cord is immediately hooked and it continues until the last page is turned over. Loved it.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book, which is set in an all girls boarding school in Darjeeling is the story of the unlikely friendship between three teenagers who are quite dissimilar, yet have more in common than they suspect. Pema is a Darjeeling native who is a day scholar at the boarding school where her father teaches- though she's been a student for five years, she feels isolated from the other students and longs for the adventures the boarders have. Ina is new student who joined in the middle of the term- taciturn by nature, she has a complicated family history she would rather not talk about. Nidra is the popular house captain- an outgoing all-rounder, who hides the pain of losing her father under a cheerful exterior.
Told through the perspective of each of the three young women, the book explores the confusion and contradictions of adolescence, the awakening of sexuality and the demands of friendship. Each of the young women has a distinct voice which comes through very clearly. The book is set against the backdrop of the Gorkhaland agitation of 2017, and each of the young women is affected in different ways by the growing political unrest, and is drawn into taking sides if only in their mind.
The main story, however is about the interrelationship between the three young woman, two of whom form a tentative friendship, and two of whom find themselves developing a romantic attachment to the other. The book explores challenges of entering into a homosexual relationship in a society that frowns upon queer love, and the unlikely allies the girls find.
Darjeeling comes alive in this book, especially through the local food they savour and the descriptions of places described from the perspective of a local.
This is definitely a book I would recommend to young people, especially those who might be struggling to come to terms with their sexuality (or know others who are).

[Anshul and Sanshia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of teenage friendship and love💖
This is the kind of book that lingers in your chest long after you’ve turned the final page.Set in the hills of Darjeeling in the 1980s, during the Gorkhaland movement, the story follows three girls Inayat, Pema and Nidra. whose lives intersect at a convent boarding school.

▪️Inayat was an instantly endearing character, a shy girl overwhelmed by the unfamiliarity of boarding school life. Her habit of writing letters to God and pouring her heart out on pages was such a raw part. I was rooting for her throughout the book.

▪️Then we have Pema, the Darjeeling native. she is the warmth and light this story needed. Pema feeling left out in boarding school and having hard time being part of other girls group is what we all have felt in our teenage years. The pressure to fit in, been there.

▪️And then there’s Nidra a sharp and outgoing girl. The head girl whose interest in Inayat is layered with subtle queer tension. Their connection was so cute. It’s confusing, delicate, beautiful, and terrifying, just as adolescence often is.

And the setting of Darjeeling makes this story even more magical. One of the most powerful part of this book is its honest portrayal of queer identity in a conservative setting. The subtle longing, the confusion, it all felt heartbreakingly real. For queer readers, especially for desi readers this book is a must read.

This book will remind you of how it felt to be young,scared and in love.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books entertain, some teach — and then there are those rare ones that transport you. This book does exactly that. It takes you right back to your school days, with characters so vivid and familiar that you can’t help but see parts of yourself, your old friends, or even that one unforgettable teacher in them.

The writing is wonderfully authentic — simple, yet rich with emotion. The language feels real, not forced, and that’s what makes it so relatable. The author’s ability to capture the awkwardness, joy, heartbreak, and laughter of growing up is incredible. Every chapter feels like a memory you forgot you had.

It’s a true emotional rollercoaster — one moment you’re laughing, the next you feel a lump in your throat. But through it all, there’s a sense of warmth and honesty that makes the book so special. It doesn’t just tell a story — it brings you home to a time and place that shaped who you are.

If you’ve ever looked back at your school life with a smile (or a sigh), this book is for you.

[Bibliophile Bliss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently finished Daisies in the Wild and honestly, it felt like stepping right into Darjeeling in the 80s. The story follows three girls – Inayat, Pema and Nidra who meet at a convent boarding school. They couldn’t be more different, yet their lives somehow get tangled in ways that are messy, complicated, and completely real.

What I loved most was how distinct each of them felt. Inayat is quiet and guarded, Pema has this soft, calming presence and Nidra… well, she’s bold and unapologetic. Watching their friendship grow through all the ups and downs made me think about my own people, the ones who’ve stayed no matter what. There is also this gentle romance between two of them that feels so natural, it’s not just a subplot, it’s simply part of their world.

The political unrest in the background adds depth without overshadowing the personal moments. Some parts moved slower than I expected but maybe that’s what gave the characters room to breathe and feel so real. It’s the kind of book that doesn’t just tell you a story, it leaves you sitting there for a while holding on to it.

[The Good Book Edit · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short and sweet coming-of-age tale set in a Darjeeling hostel, Daisies in the Wild follows three friends as they navigate inner turmoils, sexuality, friendships, and longing. While it touches on some deep themes, the narrative remains fairly monotone, never quite digging deep enough. Nothing groundbreaking, but a gentle, easy read.
I did enjoy it so I think I’ll still recommend a read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

[_booksagsm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading Daisies in The Wild felt like opening a window to my own childhood. The school setting, the small everyday moments, and the characters brought back memories I didn’t even know I had tucked away. I found myself smiling at the innocence, pausing at the awkward silences, and tearing up at the moments that mirrored my own growing-up years. It’s not just a book—it’s a feeling, a gentle walk back to where it all began.

What stood out most to me was the way friendship quietly anchors the entire story. Even though it’s not directly labelled as a book about friendship, I couldn’t help but feel the presence of those bonds on every page. It reminded me of the friends I once sat beside in class, shared lunch with, and whispered secrets to during recess. Around Friendship Day, reading something like this made me reflect deeply on how much those early connections meant—and still mean.

The writing is honest, simple, and full of emotion. I appreciated how nothing felt forced or overdone. Each chapter came with its own mood, sometimes making me laugh, sometimes leaving me misty-eyed. But through it all, there was a sense of warmth and comfort. Daisies in The Wild made me feel like I was reliving a part of myself I often overlook—the part shaped by friendships, first crushes, and carefree days.