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Sisters of a Halved Heart
From the author of the highly acclaimed
The Magnificent Ruins
comes the electric story of two sisters who have to navigate a terrible betrayal from within their family.
Indian-American Mira Guhathakurta is a poetry editor at a distinguished literary magazine in New York. She reconnects with Jack, an old acquaintance from college, and feels as if she might have found her soulmate. All that remains is for Jack to meet her family: her beloved father and sister Joy, a high-powered lawyer. But when Joy commits an unthinkable act of betrayal, the sisters are impossibly fractured and their father's heart is broken. As the sisters navigate their tumultuous relationship and Mira starts over, it turns out that Joy isn't the only one who has been or continues to be dishonest.
In a propulsive story of love and passion and the ultimate pull of family and for fans of The Rachel Incident and The Paper Palace, Sisters of a Halved Heart examines the lengths we will go to in order to make our own narratives of love work out, the lies we tell ourselves, and the ways in which the truth, often right in front of you, can be impossible to see.
Indian-American Mira Guhathakurta is a poetry editor at a distinguished literary magazine in New York. She reconnects with Jack, an old acquaintance from college, and feels as if she might have found her soulmate. All that remains is for Jack to meet her family: her beloved father and sister Joy, a high-powered lawyer. But when Joy commits an unthinkable act of betrayal, the sisters are impossibly fractured and their father's heart is broken. As the sisters navigate their tumultuous relationship and Mira starts over, it turns out that Joy isn't the only one who has been or continues to be dishonest.
In a propulsive story of love and passion and the ultimate pull of family and for fans of The Rachel Incident and The Paper Palace, Sisters of a Halved Heart examines the lengths we will go to in order to make our own narratives of love work out, the lies we tell ourselves, and the ways in which the truth, often right in front of you, can be impossible to see.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published June 2, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved THE MAGNIFICENT RUINS. I was thrilled when Tara sent me a copy of her latest novel.
Sometimes it takes a while for a book (or me) to get going. But once it did, the sprint was on. For me, this is one of those novels I enjoyed in pieces, but it was hard to love the characters.
a real message I DMed Tara: WHAT IN THE AMY MARCH?!
Not a spoiler. The betrayal is in the book summary. I've always been confused by families and siblings that can share partners. I would never be able to do that. I couldn't even look twice at someone my siblings would be interested in. But even in my extended family, this kind of betrayal has occurred.
I'm not out here trying to blame one sister over the other. Why are women the first be blamed? The man was also very much involved. And yes, I usually hate stories that devote so much time and energy to cheating, but the crux of the story is underneath.
I'm rambling. Mira and Jack are the epitome of friends to lovers. They're seemingly happy, until Jack meets Mira's half sister Joy. Jack and Joy cheat, and then marry.
A story told in two parts, about five years apart, the story starts in present day with Mira returning to the city her father and sister live in. She meets a bartender named Marlon. They fall into bed together. It's complicated.
But not as complicated as Mira/Jack/Joy. And somewhere in this love square is a love story, but it's not between Marlon and Mira, Mira and Jack, or even Jack and Joy. It's the love you can feel for your siblings even if you don't like them. A heartbreaking sort of love.
I clearly can't review (lol), but the undercurrent beneath all this is Mira works in the publishing industry. A secret submission happens. She knows Jack so well she thinks it's his work. Not another spoiler alert, but do you think it is really?
🥃 take a shot for the London girlies
🥃 take a shot for the New York girlies
🥃 take a shot every time you feel betrayed
📖 Thank you to Tara
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Books
Sometimes it takes a while for a book (or me) to get going. But once it did, the sprint was on. For me, this is one of those novels I enjoyed in pieces, but it was hard to love the characters.
a real message I DMed Tara: WHAT IN THE AMY MARCH?!
Not a spoiler. The betrayal is in the book summary. I've always been confused by families and siblings that can share partners. I would never be able to do that. I couldn't even look twice at someone my siblings would be interested in. But even in my extended family, this kind of betrayal has occurred.
I'm not out here trying to blame one sister over the other. Why are women the first be blamed? The man was also very much involved. And yes, I usually hate stories that devote so much time and energy to cheating, but the crux of the story is underneath.
I'm rambling. Mira and Jack are the epitome of friends to lovers. They're seemingly happy, until Jack meets Mira's half sister Joy. Jack and Joy cheat, and then marry.
A story told in two parts, about five years apart, the story starts in present day with Mira returning to the city her father and sister live in. She meets a bartender named Marlon. They fall into bed together. It's complicated.
But not as complicated as Mira/Jack/Joy. And somewhere in this love square is a love story, but it's not between Marlon and Mira, Mira and Jack, or even Jack and Joy. It's the love you can feel for your siblings even if you don't like them. A heartbreaking sort of love.
I clearly can't review (lol), but the undercurrent beneath all this is Mira works in the publishing industry. A secret submission happens. She knows Jack so well she thinks it's his work. Not another spoiler alert, but do you think it is really?
🥃 take a shot for the London girlies
🥃 take a shot for the New York girlies
🥃 take a shot every time you feel betrayed
📖 Thank you to Tara
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Books
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2026
Wow, was all that I could say at several points as I was thoroughly engrossed in reading Sisters of a Halved Heart by Nayantara Roy. This book was a hauntingly beautiful exploration of how sometimes it is the ones we love the most, that hurt us in the most devastating ways. There is a saying that hurt people, hurt people - which I believe to be true. This book looks unflinchingly at how brokenness, left unchecked, has a way of making appearances throughout our lives creating havoc along the way in unhealed fractures and fissures. The story of this Indian-American family, sisters Mira and Joy, will leave you questioning just how much strain can familial bonds handle before they are irretrievably broken.
Many thanks to the author, Nayantara Roy; the publisher, Algonquin Books; and NetGalley for the ARC of this book which will be published on June 2, 2026.
Many thanks to the author, Nayantara Roy; the publisher, Algonquin Books; and NetGalley for the ARC of this book which will be published on June 2, 2026.
May 4, 2026
Many readers may find this distasteful if they prefer a grandstanding of “good” morality in fiction. The characters are all making terrible decisions and it’s a trainwreck to witness. But idk, I found this novel enthralling even with all the messiness within its pages. To be fair, no one in this novel is “good” or justified— not even Mira, the main character. But something about the way Roy writes with a fullness and breadth to the narrative, prose and characters…. I really couldn’t look away. To have such a wrought relationship amongst these sisters and the push and pull through this betrayal…. Fascinating. In The Magnificent Ruins and here Roy does something interesting with the narrative and the passage of time. Or maybe it isn’t interesting at all? But in the landscape of publishing where majority of readers are begging for decent pacing and narrative arcs for characters, I feel that Roy does this in a real mundane way that feels like it the situation or lifestyle could actually be a real person or circumstance. Idk I’m rambling now but I will now jump this author into my autobuy/must read category! Plot reveal on the absolute LAST PAGE of the book. WILD.
June 2, 2026
There are times when a book takes you on a journey so full of surprises that all you can do is hold on for the wild ride.
I suggest going into this book as blind as you can so that you do not start forming expectations like I did. This book touches on betrayal, the meaning of family, but most of all: Are we capable of forgiveness when those that wronged us where the ones we loved the most?
Did not expect that twist at the end!
Loved!
Thank you to Algonquin and the author for providing a free copy of this book through NetGalley.
I suggest going into this book as blind as you can so that you do not start forming expectations like I did. This book touches on betrayal, the meaning of family, but most of all: Are we capable of forgiveness when those that wronged us where the ones we loved the most?
Did not expect that twist at the end!
Loved!
Thank you to Algonquin and the author for providing a free copy of this book through NetGalley.
January 20, 2026
4.5 stars
June 5, 2026
I LOVED THIS. Full disclosure, I have reason to be super biased, but I genuinely could not stop chugging this story.
📖
Memorable bits that I want to save for myself for later:
“In my opinion (I refused to keep diaries, certain that Joy would read mine)”
‘“My dear, one likes”—she flung a palm around—“a park. Or a summer day. A doughnut perhaps. One must be stirred by a man.”’
“Sometimes you wonder about the life that finds you.”
“I think she likes the feeling that comes with having a classic career, you know. Feels more reassuring to her, I think. And my dad.”
‘“I always think it’s a waste, to not stay friendly after a breakup. All those years together and people who once loved each other—I don’t really get it. Enmity, I mean.”’
“My father, a Brown, bearded man whose youth on foreign soil had taught him a private, inherent suspicion of white people, a flicker that only Joy or I might catch in his eyes since he moved so predominantly in their circles, regarded Jack with genuine fondness.”
“In India, your nickname is what your loved ones are allowed to call you, a special seal of their insider status in your life. The name itself could be anything from a favorite dessert to an animal to a color, adjective, even a city.”
“mommune”
“As a family we specialized in looking away, from wounds open and closed.”
“This was what we excelled at, telling our extended family, our friends and our acquaintances, how fine we were in the face of terror.”
‘“If you’re hungover, you’ve got to sleep it off before you drink again,” he said, without looking at me. “Those are just the rules. A little more alcohol is going to make you feel better in the short term. In the long term, you’re going to feel like shit.” He finished the stack and turned to look at me. “Same rules apply to life. And I don’t want to be made to feel like shit just because you do.”’
‘“If you had lived in London any longer, I would have pretended to have a heart attack in any case, so the universe has simply spared me the trouble.”’
“She had had more luxuries and things paid for as we had grown older, an advantage of being the younger sibling, arriving when my father had had more success in the workplace and was more softened at home. Even so, she had been dismissive of his importance in her life, easily annoyed by his deeply Indian ways and his inability to demonstrate love in the way that Western fathers did.”
‘“Who has a car, and a bike, in New York?” I asked, as I strapped myself into the seat. “You live in a city with a subway that’s as disgusting as it is effective.”’
‘“The world can demand that you turn all of yourself over too quickly,” I said. “So often, we do it before we are ready, and then the discovery lacks context and becomes just fact without nuance.”’
“the definitive, infinite nature and reassurances of marriage—light-years from the tenuous, disposable fabric of being the girlfriend I had been.”
“I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you earlier, but having that secret makes me feel like a freak, as if I have a second head. Every single person in my life walks on eggshells around me, but you never have. I didn’t want you to start. I didn’t want to change the way you looked at me. I didn’t want this.”
‘“I do believe in an individual’s privacy, even within close relationships. You can’t really have the room to breathe and have agency without it. But there’s a crucial difference between that and secrecy that causes harm to the other person or to the relationship. That, to me, is unacceptable.” Marlon took a breath. “Please just trust me with the truth. I promise to try to understand it, whatever it is. And if I have a hard time, you can help with that.”’
📖
Memorable bits that I want to save for myself for later:
“In my opinion (I refused to keep diaries, certain that Joy would read mine)”
‘“My dear, one likes”—she flung a palm around—“a park. Or a summer day. A doughnut perhaps. One must be stirred by a man.”’
“Sometimes you wonder about the life that finds you.”
“I think she likes the feeling that comes with having a classic career, you know. Feels more reassuring to her, I think. And my dad.”
‘“I always think it’s a waste, to not stay friendly after a breakup. All those years together and people who once loved each other—I don’t really get it. Enmity, I mean.”’
“My father, a Brown, bearded man whose youth on foreign soil had taught him a private, inherent suspicion of white people, a flicker that only Joy or I might catch in his eyes since he moved so predominantly in their circles, regarded Jack with genuine fondness.”
“In India, your nickname is what your loved ones are allowed to call you, a special seal of their insider status in your life. The name itself could be anything from a favorite dessert to an animal to a color, adjective, even a city.”
“mommune”
“As a family we specialized in looking away, from wounds open and closed.”
“This was what we excelled at, telling our extended family, our friends and our acquaintances, how fine we were in the face of terror.”
‘“If you’re hungover, you’ve got to sleep it off before you drink again,” he said, without looking at me. “Those are just the rules. A little more alcohol is going to make you feel better in the short term. In the long term, you’re going to feel like shit.” He finished the stack and turned to look at me. “Same rules apply to life. And I don’t want to be made to feel like shit just because you do.”’
‘“If you had lived in London any longer, I would have pretended to have a heart attack in any case, so the universe has simply spared me the trouble.”’
“She had had more luxuries and things paid for as we had grown older, an advantage of being the younger sibling, arriving when my father had had more success in the workplace and was more softened at home. Even so, she had been dismissive of his importance in her life, easily annoyed by his deeply Indian ways and his inability to demonstrate love in the way that Western fathers did.”
‘“Who has a car, and a bike, in New York?” I asked, as I strapped myself into the seat. “You live in a city with a subway that’s as disgusting as it is effective.”’
‘“The world can demand that you turn all of yourself over too quickly,” I said. “So often, we do it before we are ready, and then the discovery lacks context and becomes just fact without nuance.”’
“the definitive, infinite nature and reassurances of marriage—light-years from the tenuous, disposable fabric of being the girlfriend I had been.”
“I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you earlier, but having that secret makes me feel like a freak, as if I have a second head. Every single person in my life walks on eggshells around me, but you never have. I didn’t want you to start. I didn’t want to change the way you looked at me. I didn’t want this.”
‘“I do believe in an individual’s privacy, even within close relationships. You can’t really have the room to breathe and have agency without it. But there’s a crucial difference between that and secrecy that causes harm to the other person or to the relationship. That, to me, is unacceptable.” Marlon took a breath. “Please just trust me with the truth. I promise to try to understand it, whatever it is. And if I have a hard time, you can help with that.”’
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars
This book is a journey in grief and emotional trauma. The writing is so visceral that you don't just observe the story, it feels like you inhabit it. Every scene feels tangible and every emotion feels close enough to touch. To me what stands out the most is the author's ability to render the internal world with such precision. The emotional landscape is raw and unfiltered sometimes almost to the point of discomfort.
At its core, this is a story about damage. Its about how damage is carried and how it spreads. The characters make frustrating, even infuriating choices at times, and you feel that deeply as a reader. But that's also what makes these characters feel so real. Their decisions are messy, human, and almost always self-destructive.
Mira in particular is a fascinating protagonist. You root for her instinctively, almost protectively, wanting her to find some kind of peace. But as the story unfolds, that loyalty is tested. Her choices start to disappoint you, mirroring the disappointment the other characters feel toward each other. The book also asks difficult questions about family and about the limits of loyalty and love. How much betrayal can a familial bond withstand? How long can someone endure being diminished for the sake of preserving that bond? Mira's relationship with her family is particularly painful in this aspect. There's an expectation for her to absorb the consequences of other's decisions, to return to a sense of normalcy that no longer exists.
And then there is the ending. The final twist that I did not see coming at all reframed everything. It reveals that Mira is not as transparent as we believed. That even when all cards seem to be on the table, there is yet another unspoken secret held within Mira.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. If you loved the raw emotional fabric and complicated family narratives of "A Place For Us" by Fatima Farheen Mirza and "The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny" by Kiran Desai, you would love this book. I would highly recommend picking it up on June 2nd 2026!
My sincerest thanks to Netgalley and Algonquin Books for the ARC of this book. And thank you to Tara for continuing to enthrall us with beautiful stories and South Asian representation.
This book is a journey in grief and emotional trauma. The writing is so visceral that you don't just observe the story, it feels like you inhabit it. Every scene feels tangible and every emotion feels close enough to touch. To me what stands out the most is the author's ability to render the internal world with such precision. The emotional landscape is raw and unfiltered sometimes almost to the point of discomfort.
At its core, this is a story about damage. Its about how damage is carried and how it spreads. The characters make frustrating, even infuriating choices at times, and you feel that deeply as a reader. But that's also what makes these characters feel so real. Their decisions are messy, human, and almost always self-destructive.
Mira in particular is a fascinating protagonist. You root for her instinctively, almost protectively, wanting her to find some kind of peace. But as the story unfolds, that loyalty is tested. Her choices start to disappoint you, mirroring the disappointment the other characters feel toward each other. The book also asks difficult questions about family and about the limits of loyalty and love. How much betrayal can a familial bond withstand? How long can someone endure being diminished for the sake of preserving that bond? Mira's relationship with her family is particularly painful in this aspect. There's an expectation for her to absorb the consequences of other's decisions, to return to a sense of normalcy that no longer exists.
And then there is the ending. The final twist that I did not see coming at all reframed everything. It reveals that Mira is not as transparent as we believed. That even when all cards seem to be on the table, there is yet another unspoken secret held within Mira.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. If you loved the raw emotional fabric and complicated family narratives of "A Place For Us" by Fatima Farheen Mirza and "The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny" by Kiran Desai, you would love this book. I would highly recommend picking it up on June 2nd 2026!
My sincerest thanks to Netgalley and Algonquin Books for the ARC of this book. And thank you to Tara for continuing to enthrall us with beautiful stories and South Asian representation.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow— I just finished this book and am blown away. In reading the premise of the book, I understood at a high level that it was a sister story and the main plot followed the fallout of a major betrayal. Initially, it didn’t sound like anything earth shattering but, wow did this author transform this book into something absolutely magnificent. It checked every single box for me— it is a deeply emotional story about sisters, family, familial expectations, romantic relationships, grief, self re-discovery, and more. The author took this plot that maybe sounds familiar to a new territory, with the emotion she imbued into these characters.
I don’t remember the last time I felt so deeply for a character as I did for Mira, one of the sisters and the main character. In building up to this betrayal and watching her deal with the fallout, I was just stunned; it was so gut-wrenchingly horrible and I was both angry and deeply saddened on her behalf. I couldn’t imagine how the author would play this story out in a way that felt believable or satisfying because I truly didn’t see a way out of this story. The main character was flawed, made mistakes, and felt so real. I couldn’t put this book down because I had to know she’d be alright.
The storytelling here was really top notch; the author did a great job at constructing the story, giving you important details and character history/backstory in the right moments, then switching to the present time, and then making it all come together. There were beautiful sentences in here, eloquently capturing the real pain and heartbreak the main character felt.
Being in this book was a transportive reading experience; it is a strong character study and a book that made me look and reflect inward throughout. I’m in awe. This author’s debut was also spectacular (albeit a very different story) and she’s cemented herself here as a favorite author of mine. I will absolutely pick up whatever she writes next. I’m grateful for this book and wholeheartedly recommend to readers everywhere. Thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for the advance readers copy and final published copy, in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t remember the last time I felt so deeply for a character as I did for Mira, one of the sisters and the main character. In building up to this betrayal and watching her deal with the fallout, I was just stunned; it was so gut-wrenchingly horrible and I was both angry and deeply saddened on her behalf. I couldn’t imagine how the author would play this story out in a way that felt believable or satisfying because I truly didn’t see a way out of this story. The main character was flawed, made mistakes, and felt so real. I couldn’t put this book down because I had to know she’d be alright.
The storytelling here was really top notch; the author did a great job at constructing the story, giving you important details and character history/backstory in the right moments, then switching to the present time, and then making it all come together. There were beautiful sentences in here, eloquently capturing the real pain and heartbreak the main character felt.
Being in this book was a transportive reading experience; it is a strong character study and a book that made me look and reflect inward throughout. I’m in awe. This author’s debut was also spectacular (albeit a very different story) and she’s cemented herself here as a favorite author of mine. I will absolutely pick up whatever she writes next. I’m grateful for this book and wholeheartedly recommend to readers everywhere. Thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for the advance readers copy and final published copy, in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 / highly readable and engaging. i found myself heavily invested in tracking a few of the plot threads throughout the book. the characters often drove me up the wall and somehow still stirred me.
plot: i found it generally well-paced, but thought it odd that it was taking so long to explicitly name why mira was so troubled. at the same time, the particulars of the situation made the timing of the reveal make a bit more sense and made the facts land harder. the last page of the book drops a vague bomb that was certainly a choice— both in terms of character and plot implications; throwing in a significant plot point and character context as an intentional loose end. even though i was not a fan of that choice, it did make me want a sequel, because that bomb stirred up several questions.
character: which brings me to character. the last page to me shows that mira hasn’t really changed, all while she presents as “evolved.” drove me a little crazy. throughout the book, i went back and forth about my frustration / confusion / distaste about the characters at times; was it that the author could have brought more nuance to their stark contradictions? in part, i think yes. the other part of me remembers that mira is the narrator, and her self-awareness is rather limited. but i also had to catch myself: are actual grown ass adults in real life— who should know better— often this nonsensical, immature, cruel, and delusional? as much as i hate to say it: yes. and in that, roy has presented true to life depictions of human frailty with an impressive narrative neutrality that leaves the reader to decide what to make of it. i cycled through what to think of the individuals and their various dynamics many times. and as much as the characters exasperated me, i found myself surprised at how emotionally moved i was at a couple of the more complex, heightened exchanges.
this one is staying with me more than i expected, and even though i am conflicted, i can appreciate that.
plot: i found it generally well-paced, but thought it odd that it was taking so long to explicitly name why mira was so troubled. at the same time, the particulars of the situation made the timing of the reveal make a bit more sense and made the facts land harder. the last page of the book drops a vague bomb that was certainly a choice— both in terms of character and plot implications; throwing in a significant plot point and character context as an intentional loose end. even though i was not a fan of that choice, it did make me want a sequel, because that bomb stirred up several questions.
character: which brings me to character. the last page to me shows that mira hasn’t really changed, all while she presents as “evolved.” drove me a little crazy. throughout the book, i went back and forth about my frustration / confusion / distaste about the characters at times; was it that the author could have brought more nuance to their stark contradictions? in part, i think yes. the other part of me remembers that mira is the narrator, and her self-awareness is rather limited. but i also had to catch myself: are actual grown ass adults in real life— who should know better— often this nonsensical, immature, cruel, and delusional? as much as i hate to say it: yes. and in that, roy has presented true to life depictions of human frailty with an impressive narrative neutrality that leaves the reader to decide what to make of it. i cycled through what to think of the individuals and their various dynamics many times. and as much as the characters exasperated me, i found myself surprised at how emotionally moved i was at a couple of the more complex, heightened exchanges.
this one is staying with me more than i expected, and even though i am conflicted, i can appreciate that.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
First my thanks to the Author and Algonquin Books/Algonquin for sharing a digital ARC copy with me. I went into this book knowing the premise, two half-sisters, one man, thinking I have a sense of where it was going. I was wrong and I mean that as a compliment.
Mira is a kind of protagonist who gets under your skin because you will inevitably sail with her emotions in this book. A poetry editor navigating love, family loyalty, betrayal, and she is easy to root for - until she isn't. There were moments I wanted to shake her awake. The emotional blind spots (both at work and personal life) made me genuinely frustrated in the way only a well-written character can. But here's the thing, that frustration is intentional. The book is quietly asking you the whole time - how well do you actually know Mira?
The final chapter delivers a surprising twist that reframes everything you thought you understood. Though it's not a cliffhanger, you will find out that someone is an unreliable narrator and have always had secrets up their sleeve.
What anchored the book emotionally for me, though, was the father-daughter relationship. There's a quiet, selfless, love that Mira and Joy have for their immigrant father, Mihir. As daughters of immigrant parents, you sometimes set aside your feud or fury to preserve the kind of love earned by all immigrant parents. A type of love that doesn't announce itself, and the author renders it beautifully.
The prose is gripping and literary without being daunting, and while some turns were predicable, the emotional current kept me sailing through. Recommended for fans of literary family drama, South Asian stories, and anyone who loves a narrative that rewards a second look.
Mira is a kind of protagonist who gets under your skin because you will inevitably sail with her emotions in this book. A poetry editor navigating love, family loyalty, betrayal, and she is easy to root for - until she isn't. There were moments I wanted to shake her awake. The emotional blind spots (both at work and personal life) made me genuinely frustrated in the way only a well-written character can. But here's the thing, that frustration is intentional. The book is quietly asking you the whole time - how well do you actually know Mira?
The final chapter delivers a surprising twist that reframes everything you thought you understood. Though it's not a cliffhanger, you will find out that someone is an unreliable narrator and have always had secrets up their sleeve.
What anchored the book emotionally for me, though, was the father-daughter relationship. There's a quiet, selfless, love that Mira and Joy have for their immigrant father, Mihir. As daughters of immigrant parents, you sometimes set aside your feud or fury to preserve the kind of love earned by all immigrant parents. A type of love that doesn't announce itself, and the author renders it beautifully.
The prose is gripping and literary without being daunting, and while some turns were predicable, the emotional current kept me sailing through. Recommended for fans of literary family drama, South Asian stories, and anyone who loves a narrative that rewards a second look.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A poignant but revealing story of sisterhood and the publishing world.
Mira Guhathakurta is an editor of poetry at a literary publishing house. She’s just returned from London where she had worked four years for the publishing house to return to her home in Brooklyn. She had left because she was unhappy with her life, especially the loss of her lover, Jack, to her sister, Joy. Her father is also ill. The story revolves around the complications within her family and Mira’s vision for her life. She meets Marlon, a biracial Australian, and pursues a relationship with him. However, the complexity of her family catches up with her and she must deal with hard choices.
Mira isn’t a very likable character. She treats both Jack and Marlon poorly and her anger with her sister, Joy, over Jack seems misguided. But I think this is what the author wanted to pursue: how relationships break due to misunderstandings. Also the adding to the plot the anonymous book seemed strange and I didn’t understand how that added to the story. But overall this was a very good read.
This is a character-driven story. Mira is complex and torn by life’s challenges. She eventually figures it out once she wakes up and smells the coffee. The writing is excellent.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Hachette for allowing me to read this ARC.
Mira Guhathakurta is an editor of poetry at a literary publishing house. She’s just returned from London where she had worked four years for the publishing house to return to her home in Brooklyn. She had left because she was unhappy with her life, especially the loss of her lover, Jack, to her sister, Joy. Her father is also ill. The story revolves around the complications within her family and Mira’s vision for her life. She meets Marlon, a biracial Australian, and pursues a relationship with him. However, the complexity of her family catches up with her and she must deal with hard choices.
Mira isn’t a very likable character. She treats both Jack and Marlon poorly and her anger with her sister, Joy, over Jack seems misguided. But I think this is what the author wanted to pursue: how relationships break due to misunderstandings. Also the adding to the plot the anonymous book seemed strange and I didn’t understand how that added to the story. But overall this was a very good read.
This is a character-driven story. Mira is complex and torn by life’s challenges. She eventually figures it out once she wakes up and smells the coffee. The writing is excellent.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Hachette for allowing me to read this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to @AlgonquinBooks for the opportunity to read this early through #NetGalley (out June 2.) This book focuses on Mira, a poetry editor for a literary magazine who is returning to New York for the first time in years, having previously fled due to heartbreak and betrayal. We know her sister Joy, who she was once inseparable from, has hurt Mira terribly but we don’t know exactly how until about halfway through the book. We have dual timelines alternating between Mira’s current day and a few years back detailing the events leading up to the estrangement of the sisters. I need more time to let this settle to figure out my lasting impression of this book. On the one hand, this was completely propulsive - I could not put it down. Even though the bones of the estrangement are hinted at early on, I was waiting for the reveal of the details and how the sisters would handle their future relationship. On the other hand, these characters, while very likeable, make such terrible choices. Like, cringey, trainwreck sort of decisions. And I’m not 100% sure how true those decisions felt. I do think this would make an excellent book club selection because as soon as I was done I wished I had someone to talk about it with! But I think overall I did really enjoy this book - messy family relationship stories are my favorite genre and this definitely is a good example of that.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Ever dropped a glass before?
Slips from your fingers, strikes the ground then shatters in so many pieces. Some are jagged large ones that with a paper towel are easy to pick up. Others are so small that sometimes the naked eye has difficulty locating them but when you do, they can deliver as much 'hurt' as the big ones. That's how this Reader (in a good way) felt when reading this book.
Author's transparent from the get go that an ' unthinkable act of betrayal' severs the sisters relationship. Initially, the book appears to have the singular storyline wherein one sister is in the wrong, the other in the right. As the plot progresses, the Reader is shown so much more. The Author's choice of prose places the Reader in the conflicted role of observer as it's not as black and white as it first appeared. She does an excellent job exploring the complex feelings of Mira and how, in turn, her feelings guide her actions, sometimes in hurtful ways to innocent parties.
There are some lines you think aren't crossed. Until, they are and like the shattered glass, those crossed lines have painful consequences.
Thank you Little, Brown and Company | Algonquin Books providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Slips from your fingers, strikes the ground then shatters in so many pieces. Some are jagged large ones that with a paper towel are easy to pick up. Others are so small that sometimes the naked eye has difficulty locating them but when you do, they can deliver as much 'hurt' as the big ones. That's how this Reader (in a good way) felt when reading this book.
Author's transparent from the get go that an ' unthinkable act of betrayal' severs the sisters relationship. Initially, the book appears to have the singular storyline wherein one sister is in the wrong, the other in the right. As the plot progresses, the Reader is shown so much more. The Author's choice of prose places the Reader in the conflicted role of observer as it's not as black and white as it first appeared. She does an excellent job exploring the complex feelings of Mira and how, in turn, her feelings guide her actions, sometimes in hurtful ways to innocent parties.
There are some lines you think aren't crossed. Until, they are and like the shattered glass, those crossed lines have painful consequences.
Thank you Little, Brown and Company | Algonquin Books providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Mira and Joy are half sisters who were both raised by their father in NYC. While the sisters loved each other deeply, they were also constantly competing to be their father's favorite. This bred animosity at times, but they always got past it.
Until one day, when Joy commits the ultimate act of betrayal, resulting in Mira moving away to London.
Four years later, Mira is back in NY. She has not been back since she left, and although she kept in touch with her father by phone, she has never spoken again to Joy.
Like the author's previous novel, this one also felt drawn out, mostly because of the writing style. I think that's mostly a "me" problem however. It actually fit the story considering the main character's job and personality.
This was a really good story about family, love, betrayal, and how we convince ourselves of things even when the truth is right in front of us. I loved how the emotions were written, you felt the pain, the anger, and even the moments of reflection. The end had a revelation I was not at all expecting and was a bit bittersweet.
I was satisfied with how the story concluded and look forward to reading more by the author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Algonquin Books for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Until one day, when Joy commits the ultimate act of betrayal, resulting in Mira moving away to London.
Four years later, Mira is back in NY. She has not been back since she left, and although she kept in touch with her father by phone, she has never spoken again to Joy.
Like the author's previous novel, this one also felt drawn out, mostly because of the writing style. I think that's mostly a "me" problem however. It actually fit the story considering the main character's job and personality.
This was a really good story about family, love, betrayal, and how we convince ourselves of things even when the truth is right in front of us. I loved how the emotions were written, you felt the pain, the anger, and even the moments of reflection. The end had a revelation I was not at all expecting and was a bit bittersweet.
I was satisfied with how the story concluded and look forward to reading more by the author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Algonquin Books for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 6, 2026
We were the chipped pieces of our family’s urn, bound by common traumas and absent mothers; you could tell where the fractures had been. from Sisters of a Halved Heart
Get ready for heartbreak. The story of half sisters torn apart by their love for the man who loves them both is harrowing. The book uses this romantic triangle to explore themes of family, race, trauma, and especially how what we want can blind us to what is real.
We become intimate with these characters with all their beauty and flaws, unsure where our loyalty is, who we are rooting for. Because they don’t know themselves where their priorities are. Is family more important than love?
Mira holds on to her desire to capture the man of her dreams, even when he is lost, even in the face of a new, uncomplicated, sure love. Over the years, she makes herself and others miserable. She is unable to forgive her beloved sister Joy until their father’s health is failing and he endeavors to repair what has been broken.
If you want a family, if you want a sisters, this is the one you must make peace with. from Sisters of a Halved Heart
In the end, this is a story of coming through great pain and learning to forgive to move into a new future.
Thanks to Algonquin Books for a free book through NetGalley.
Get ready for heartbreak. The story of half sisters torn apart by their love for the man who loves them both is harrowing. The book uses this romantic triangle to explore themes of family, race, trauma, and especially how what we want can blind us to what is real.
We become intimate with these characters with all their beauty and flaws, unsure where our loyalty is, who we are rooting for. Because they don’t know themselves where their priorities are. Is family more important than love?
Mira holds on to her desire to capture the man of her dreams, even when he is lost, even in the face of a new, uncomplicated, sure love. Over the years, she makes herself and others miserable. She is unable to forgive her beloved sister Joy until their father’s health is failing and he endeavors to repair what has been broken.
If you want a family, if you want a sisters, this is the one you must make peace with. from Sisters of a Halved Heart
In the end, this is a story of coming through great pain and learning to forgive to move into a new future.
Thanks to Algonquin Books for a free book through NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Nayantara Roy maps out the complexity of familial love. Roy's narrative is steeped in love, guilt, betrayal, loneliness, and deep attachment. Mira and Joy experience the bliss of sisterly connection, but then a betrayal crushes Mira. Her shock and pain drive her to leave her life in New York for London. Mira isn't happy in London, but she can avoid the people who crushed her heart and soul. A good amount of time passes, and Mira becomes weary of London. It is wet and boring. Why not return home to the Janus headquarters and begin to rebuild her life?
Mira is an editor at the literary publication, Janus. Mira's decision to go back to New York proves to be a challenge both professionally and personally. I truly felt that this compelling saga of two sisters was more than the stories I tend to expect in fiction. In a New York life that is far from the glitz and glamour I am used to reading about, a complicated life of someone who could be any of us unfolds dramatically and painfully. This new novel, which will be published on June 2, 2026, is worth waiting for and reading.
Thank you to the author, Little, Brown and Company | Algonquin Books, via NetGalley, for this eARC.
Mira is an editor at the literary publication, Janus. Mira's decision to go back to New York proves to be a challenge both professionally and personally. I truly felt that this compelling saga of two sisters was more than the stories I tend to expect in fiction. In a New York life that is far from the glitz and glamour I am used to reading about, a complicated life of someone who could be any of us unfolds dramatically and painfully. This new novel, which will be published on June 2, 2026, is worth waiting for and reading.
Thank you to the author, Little, Brown and Company | Algonquin Books, via NetGalley, for this eARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow, what a book! Overall, this book wasn’t exactly what I had anticipated, and I mean that in the best possible way! It truly exceeded my expectations.
Mira and Joy, half-sisters and inseparable best friends, find their bond tested by a series of recurring incidents that shatter their relationship. This rollercoaster of a book takes them on a journey of self-discovery and healing.
I’m hesitant to reveal too much about this book. I went in blind and was instantly captivated by the intricate dynamics between the sisters and the ensuing drama. I also loved learning the backstory of their sweet relationship with their father who desperately wants them to repair their sisterhood.
Author Nayantara Roy’s writing was stunning. Her remarkable ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, including love, jealousy, and bitterness, when writing about these characters is truly incredible. If you enjoyed Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors, you’ll find this book to be an excellent book pairing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Algonquin Books, for the advanced copy. I highly recommend picking this book up when it releases on June 2, 2026.
Mira and Joy, half-sisters and inseparable best friends, find their bond tested by a series of recurring incidents that shatter their relationship. This rollercoaster of a book takes them on a journey of self-discovery and healing.
I’m hesitant to reveal too much about this book. I went in blind and was instantly captivated by the intricate dynamics between the sisters and the ensuing drama. I also loved learning the backstory of their sweet relationship with their father who desperately wants them to repair their sisterhood.
Author Nayantara Roy’s writing was stunning. Her remarkable ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, including love, jealousy, and bitterness, when writing about these characters is truly incredible. If you enjoyed Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors, you’ll find this book to be an excellent book pairing.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Algonquin Books, for the advanced copy. I highly recommend picking this book up when it releases on June 2, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This story of betrayal in a family of two Indian-American sisters is heartbreaking, especially since the sisters grew up close and responsible for and to each other. When Joy, the younger sister and a successful lawyer, "takes" what her sister Mira, a poetry editor, values most in life, Mira feels betrayed and there is estrangement between the two for some time.
Determined to get back together in spite of her heartbreak, Mira mentions the sacrifices she has made for her sister Joy, but does not get into the details. This sacrifice is revealed at the end of the book, but only to the reader and not to Joy. It came as a shock, leaving the reader with a feeling that there was deserved though unintended "retribution" that one sister secretly has over the other.
A masterful family story of family betrayal mixed with love and unity, well told.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this advance reader's copy.
Determined to get back together in spite of her heartbreak, Mira mentions the sacrifices she has made for her sister Joy, but does not get into the details. This sacrifice is revealed at the end of the book, but only to the reader and not to Joy. It came as a shock, leaving the reader with a feeling that there was deserved though unintended "retribution" that one sister secretly has over the other.
A masterful family story of family betrayal mixed with love and unity, well told.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this advance reader's copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sisters of a Halved Heart follows sisters Mira and Joy as they navigate their relationship after a devastating betrayal. Mira is eight years older than her half sister Joy. All their lives they competed for their dad's attention and their adult lives are very different. Mira is an editor at a poetry magazine, while Joy is a corporate attorney. They have not spoken or seen each other in nearly five years. Mira moves back to New York City from London and reluctantly reconnects with Joy after their father suffers a heart attack. The sisters' relationship is complicated and when you read about the betrayal it seems pretty clear who's at fault. As the book progresses, it's not as clear cut as initially thought. Mira and Joy both had likeable and unlikeable qualities and it was interesting to read how they attempt to rebuilt their relationship. I enjoyed Sisters of a Halved Heart and recommend it!
Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this ARC.
Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Many thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I typically love family dramas, but this was really, really not for me. I did enjoy the Brooklyn setting, the food writing, and the patriarch of the family. Otherwise, I strongly disliked this book, largely due to how the characters were written and the angsty dialogue. Every male character was written as an idealized, one dimensional character- overly earnest and nearly perfect. The female characters were petty and shrewish, and also one note. Furthermore, the dynamics here were completely unrealistic. I'm not sure why, but I went into this expecting elevated writing and storytelling, and it all felt recycled and dull with zero nuance. I only finished this because I heard there was a huge reveal on the last page. There was, but I no longer cared. I rarely write such a negative review but I was so deeply disappointed in this.
I typically love family dramas, but this was really, really not for me. I did enjoy the Brooklyn setting, the food writing, and the patriarch of the family. Otherwise, I strongly disliked this book, largely due to how the characters were written and the angsty dialogue. Every male character was written as an idealized, one dimensional character- overly earnest and nearly perfect. The female characters were petty and shrewish, and also one note. Furthermore, the dynamics here were completely unrealistic. I'm not sure why, but I went into this expecting elevated writing and storytelling, and it all felt recycled and dull with zero nuance. I only finished this because I heard there was a huge reveal on the last page. There was, but I no longer cared. I rarely write such a negative review but I was so deeply disappointed in this.
Want to Read
May 14, 2026MMD SRG Minimalist Pick:
Mira had always looked out for her beloved half-sister Joy, nine years younger. But in the wake of a breathtaking betrayal, Mira fled to London to put needed distance between them, though it broke her heart to leave behind her loving father as well. Now Mira is back in Brooklyn, and Joy is pushing for things to be “okay” again—but how could they be? I ate this up: it’s juicy, delicious, atmospheric, and messy in the best way. I queued up the numerous referenced songs and mapped scads of real locations. It shines bright for its minor characters, platonic and romantic love stories (not just the love triangle at its core), literary world setting, and believable exploration of how the sisters seek to move forward. Out June 2. (This is the Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club July 2026 selection.)
Mira had always looked out for her beloved half-sister Joy, nine years younger. But in the wake of a breathtaking betrayal, Mira fled to London to put needed distance between them, though it broke her heart to leave behind her loving father as well. Now Mira is back in Brooklyn, and Joy is pushing for things to be “okay” again—but how could they be? I ate this up: it’s juicy, delicious, atmospheric, and messy in the best way. I queued up the numerous referenced songs and mapped scads of real locations. It shines bright for its minor characters, platonic and romantic love stories (not just the love triangle at its core), literary world setting, and believable exploration of how the sisters seek to move forward. Out June 2. (This is the Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club July 2026 selection.)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.
I both liked and didn’t always like “Sisters of a Halved Heart” by Nayantara Roy. On one hand, this story deals with messy relationships (family ones), betrayals (family), love, guilt, and grief. This book did take me a bit of time to get into - and the prose was a bit too angsty for me (though it fit the main character perfectly). At times I wanted to shake the characters due to the decisions they made. My suggestion is to read others reviews because while this book wasn’t bad, it didn’t always work for me.
I both liked and didn’t always like “Sisters of a Halved Heart” by Nayantara Roy. On one hand, this story deals with messy relationships (family ones), betrayals (family), love, guilt, and grief. This book did take me a bit of time to get into - and the prose was a bit too angsty for me (though it fit the main character perfectly). At times I wanted to shake the characters due to the decisions they made. My suggestion is to read others reviews because while this book wasn’t bad, it didn’t always work for me.
June 3, 2026
Nayantara Roy's latest book, "Sisters of a Halved Heart," examines family relationships similar to those in her debut, “The Magnificent Ruins.” The story centers on two sisters and a betrayal that has broken their bond.
It’s very engaging. The timeline shifts between past and present, enhancing the suspense and mystery. I enjoyed the book—it’s thoughtfully written and emotionally compelling—but it likely wouldn’t pass the Bechdel test, as most meaningful conversations between women revolve around men. Thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It’s very engaging. The timeline shifts between past and present, enhancing the suspense and mystery. I enjoyed the book—it’s thoughtfully written and emotionally compelling—but it likely wouldn’t pass the Bechdel test, as most meaningful conversations between women revolve around men. Thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
fantastically lyrical work with some great plotting and some incredible vibes throughout. the characters were built up pretty well and the writing flowed quite well throughout. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
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Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
A compelling story about complex and messy family relationships, betrayals, love, and guilt within an immigrant family set in New York. Beautifully written, the story is easy to get into. I enjoyed reading it. However, the characters' actions were baffling, each pursuing selfish and self-sabotaging behaviors. Sometimes, the resulting dynamics seemed impossible and far-fetched.
June 2, 2026
I loved this book, and if you’re a fan of family dramas, you will likely enjoy it too. Half sisters Mira and Joy have always been competitive despite their 8-year difference. But betrayal and heartbreak have broken their close bond, and the sisters are not sure they can ever be close again. With great characters and a few plot twists, the author has provided great read.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Frankly one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Everything felt like it was intentional in place and had meaning. The way Nayantara Roy juxtaposes ideas and meaning into her prose is absolutely masterful.
May 31, 2026
Mira Guhathakurta is a poetry editor at a distinguished literary magazine in New York, a dream job that gives her almost everything she’s ever wanted. When she reconnects with her crush from college, Jack, Mira thinks she’s found her soulmate. They’ve woven their lives so throughly, that Jack just needs to meet her father and sister, Joy. When Joy commits an unthinkable act of betrayal, the sisters are impossibly fractured. As the sisters navigate their tumultuous relationship and Mira starts over, it turns out that Joy isn’t the only one who has been and continues to be, dishonest. Wow, talk about twisted sisters! This novel explores a very tumultuous, dysfunctional relationship between two sisters. You could feel Mira’s pain and bitterness throughout the novel. I really sympathized with her over Joy. The final twist really blew me away.
Want to Read
May 14, 2026MMD July 2026 Book Club
June 4, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ The author’s sophomore effort is as captivating and exquisitely written as her debut.
Lose yourself in this rich saga of family, friendship and love.
Lose yourself in this rich saga of family, friendship and love.
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