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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.
339 pages, Kindle Edition
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.
Read
June 30, 2026This is the Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club July 2026 selection and a 2026 Summer Reading Guide Minimalist Pick. The author will join us for a live discussion!
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.
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.
June 9, 2026
I was captured by this story of half sisters who are intricately connected to each other and yet hurt each other in the most devastating ways. I loved the way the author created these deeply flawed, realistic characters. It’s a story that explores both sisterly love and betrayal and the forced dependence of caring for an elderly father.
This book also examines family trauma and the nuanced difficulties of reconciling deep fissures caused by loved ones. This is my kind of book filled with messy sibling dramas and how the pain that’s experienced can often be the thing that heals us.
This book also examines family trauma and the nuanced difficulties of reconciling deep fissures caused by loved ones. This is my kind of book filled with messy sibling dramas and how the pain that’s experienced can often be the thing that heals us.
August 4, 2026
Five stars for the writing, two stars for my utter exasperation with BOTH sisters and Jack. FFS.
source: public library hardcover
source: public library hardcover
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2026
SISTERS OF A HALVED HEART by Nayantara Roy [Thanks to @algonquinbooks for the gifted copy.]
This is the story of two adult sisters, 8 years apart in age, and not speaking to each other for the last several years. Now they’re both back living in NYC, and dealing with an aging father, so their paths must cross. That’s an extreme over-simplification, but it’s enough. The story is told from the point of view of Mira, the elder sister. She reveals their relationship and their big conflict moving both forward and backward in time.
I found this book very easy to read, follow, and understand the complicated feelings of both sisters. What I didn’t find was enough complexity to the actual story. It was vrather one note. I knew where it was going from the first couple chapters and even though I didn’t know exactly how Roy would get us there, it was nothing surprising. Everything was overly simple and far too expected. The only part that felt unexpected was the very last chapter which came out of nowhere, completely after the main story’s resolution. Though I could go back and pick up its thread, my real question was why? Why at the very end and why not developed. It would have made a far more interesting story than just the fraught sister relationship. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is the story of two adult sisters, 8 years apart in age, and not speaking to each other for the last several years. Now they’re both back living in NYC, and dealing with an aging father, so their paths must cross. That’s an extreme over-simplification, but it’s enough. The story is told from the point of view of Mira, the elder sister. She reveals their relationship and their big conflict moving both forward and backward in time.
I found this book very easy to read, follow, and understand the complicated feelings of both sisters. What I didn’t find was enough complexity to the actual story. It was vrather one note. I knew where it was going from the first couple chapters and even though I didn’t know exactly how Roy would get us there, it was nothing surprising. Everything was overly simple and far too expected. The only part that felt unexpected was the very last chapter which came out of nowhere, completely after the main story’s resolution. Though I could go back and pick up its thread, my real question was why? Why at the very end and why not developed. It would have made a far more interesting story than just the fraught sister relationship. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
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.
July 14, 2026
Zwischen Familiengeheimnissen und einer zweiten Chance
Du in meinem Leben verbindet Familiengeschichte mit einer Prise Verlagswelt und einem geheimnisvollen Manuskript, das plötzlich im Verlag auftaucht. Gerade dieser Handlungsstrang hat mir richtig gut gefallen und der Geschichte zusätzliche Spannung verliehen.
Mira mochte ich als Protagonistin grundsätzlich sehr. Sie ist klug, verletzlich und alles andere als perfekt. Trotzdem konnte ich ihre Gefühlswelt oft nur schwer nachvollziehen. Vor allem ihre Wut auf ihre Schwester und ihre anhaltenden Gefühle für Jack haben mich ratlos zurückgelassen. Er hat sie verlassen, ist mit ihrer Schwester glücklich geworden – für mich war deshalb nicht greifbar, warum Mira so sehr an ihm festhält und sogar versucht, ihn zurückzugewinnen. Ich hätte mir gewünscht, dass sie diesen Abschnitt ihres Lebens hinter sich lässt und sich auf einen Neuanfang einlässt.
Besonders leid tat mir der Barkeeper Marlon. Er war aufmerksam, herzlich und geduldig – genau der Mensch, den Mira eigentlich gebraucht hätte. Dass sie sich auf ihn einlässt, obwohl sie emotional noch so sehr in der Vergangenheit feststeckt, hat mich immer wieder frustriert. Er hatte das in meinen Augen nicht verdient.
Gerade diese widersprüchlichen Entscheidungen haben bei mir viele ambivalente Gefühle ausgelöst. Ich war oft genervt, manchmal traurig und habe mich mehr als einmal dabei ertappt, Mira am liebsten zur Vernunft schütteln zu wollen. Gleichzeitig ist genau das die Stärke des Romans: Er lässt einen nicht gleichgültig. Die Figuren wirken nicht immer sympathisch oder nachvollziehbar, aber sie fühlen sich echt an.
Auch der charmante Erzählstil und die Einblicke in die Verlagswelt haben mir sehr gefallen.
Es gibt Bücher, die man liebt, weil sie einem ein gutes Gefühl geben. Und es gibt Bücher, die einen emotional herausfordern. Du in meinem Leben gehört für mich zur zweiten Kategorie. Ich habe nicht jede Entscheidung verstanden und war oft hin- und hergerissen – aber genau deshalb hat mich die Geschichte beschäftigt. Für mich ist das ein Zeichen eines guten Buches, auch wenn die Gefühle beim Lesen nicht immer angenehm waren.
4⭐
Du in meinem Leben verbindet Familiengeschichte mit einer Prise Verlagswelt und einem geheimnisvollen Manuskript, das plötzlich im Verlag auftaucht. Gerade dieser Handlungsstrang hat mir richtig gut gefallen und der Geschichte zusätzliche Spannung verliehen.
Mira mochte ich als Protagonistin grundsätzlich sehr. Sie ist klug, verletzlich und alles andere als perfekt. Trotzdem konnte ich ihre Gefühlswelt oft nur schwer nachvollziehen. Vor allem ihre Wut auf ihre Schwester und ihre anhaltenden Gefühle für Jack haben mich ratlos zurückgelassen. Er hat sie verlassen, ist mit ihrer Schwester glücklich geworden – für mich war deshalb nicht greifbar, warum Mira so sehr an ihm festhält und sogar versucht, ihn zurückzugewinnen. Ich hätte mir gewünscht, dass sie diesen Abschnitt ihres Lebens hinter sich lässt und sich auf einen Neuanfang einlässt.
Besonders leid tat mir der Barkeeper Marlon. Er war aufmerksam, herzlich und geduldig – genau der Mensch, den Mira eigentlich gebraucht hätte. Dass sie sich auf ihn einlässt, obwohl sie emotional noch so sehr in der Vergangenheit feststeckt, hat mich immer wieder frustriert. Er hatte das in meinen Augen nicht verdient.
Gerade diese widersprüchlichen Entscheidungen haben bei mir viele ambivalente Gefühle ausgelöst. Ich war oft genervt, manchmal traurig und habe mich mehr als einmal dabei ertappt, Mira am liebsten zur Vernunft schütteln zu wollen. Gleichzeitig ist genau das die Stärke des Romans: Er lässt einen nicht gleichgültig. Die Figuren wirken nicht immer sympathisch oder nachvollziehbar, aber sie fühlen sich echt an.
Auch der charmante Erzählstil und die Einblicke in die Verlagswelt haben mir sehr gefallen.
Es gibt Bücher, die man liebt, weil sie einem ein gutes Gefühl geben. Und es gibt Bücher, die einen emotional herausfordern. Du in meinem Leben gehört für mich zur zweiten Kategorie. Ich habe nicht jede Entscheidung verstanden und war oft hin- und hergerissen – aber genau deshalb hat mich die Geschichte beschäftigt. Für mich ist das ein Zeichen eines guten Buches, auch wenn die Gefühle beim Lesen nicht immer angenehm waren.
4⭐
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2026
Having thoroughly enjoyed Nayantara Roy’s first book, Magnificent Ruins, I was incredibly eager to dive into Sisters of a Halved Heart. Unfortunately, I walked away deeply disappointed. As one of the only people in my close friend circle without a sister, I usually gravitate toward and love reading books about sisterly bonds. I opened this novel hoping for a nuanced, complex exploration of modern sisterhood, but what I got instead was a narrative that retreats into the most tired, regressive tropes.
At its core, the story relies heavily on female rivalry over a man. Fighting over a male romantic interest feels like an outdated conflict that is frankly beneath these characters, both of whom are written as highly intelligent, successful professionals. I am simply not a fan of stories where a woman's entire personality and life trajectory remain rigidly centered around winning male approval, whether that validation is sought from a lover like Jack or from an aging father. The author had an incredibly rich foundation of maternal abandonment and cultural identity to pull from, which makes the ultimate reliance on a banal love triangle feel incredibly lazy.
While I never mind reading about morally gray characters, I do need the individuals I am spending hours with to show some semblance of growth or self-awareness. There needs to be a takeaway; otherwise, what was the point of the narrative journey? Instead of evolution, the ending drops a twist regarding serves no redeeming purpose. Rather than forcing the characters to confront their flaws or break their toxic cycles, the revelation only makes the entire story worse. It cements the fact that even their deepest life choices are permanently tethered to the men who defined them, leaving the reader with a bleak, stagnant conclusion.
What could have been a sharp psychological study of sisterly friction instead feels like a derivative soap-opera plot dressed up in literary prose. For a modern novel about brilliant women, Sisters of a Halved Heart feels frustratingly stuck in the past.
At its core, the story relies heavily on female rivalry over a man. Fighting over a male romantic interest feels like an outdated conflict that is frankly beneath these characters, both of whom are written as highly intelligent, successful professionals. I am simply not a fan of stories where a woman's entire personality and life trajectory remain rigidly centered around winning male approval, whether that validation is sought from a lover like Jack or from an aging father. The author had an incredibly rich foundation of maternal abandonment and cultural identity to pull from, which makes the ultimate reliance on a banal love triangle feel incredibly lazy.
While I never mind reading about morally gray characters, I do need the individuals I am spending hours with to show some semblance of growth or self-awareness. There needs to be a takeaway; otherwise, what was the point of the narrative journey? Instead of evolution, the ending drops a twist regarding serves no redeeming purpose. Rather than forcing the characters to confront their flaws or break their toxic cycles, the revelation only makes the entire story worse. It cements the fact that even their deepest life choices are permanently tethered to the men who defined them, leaving the reader with a bleak, stagnant conclusion.
What could have been a sharp psychological study of sisterly friction instead feels like a derivative soap-opera plot dressed up in literary prose. For a modern novel about brilliant women, Sisters of a Halved Heart feels frustratingly stuck in the past.
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 23, 2026
3.5/3.75?
Whew this book was drama!
It was a quick read. I listened to the audio for probably the middle half and the narrator was decent.
The sisters were both selfish and annoying and hurtful… but Jack is the worst. Mira has amazing friends.
*spoiler* I was not surprised that the anonymous writer wasn’t who Mira thought it was and by the time the “who” was revealed I had a pretty good idea who it was, or at least I wasn’t surprised by it.
I was ABSOLUTELY surprised by the twist about Gino at the end and a lot more made sense about Mira’s issues but I’m not sure how I feel about Jack not knowing he has a bio son.
Overall I enjoyed the read for a summertime book but I’m not super sure how I feel about all the characters and the story in the end. Nobody is really very “good”??? They all are deceptive….
Whew this book was drama!
It was a quick read. I listened to the audio for probably the middle half and the narrator was decent.
The sisters were both selfish and annoying and hurtful… but Jack is the worst. Mira has amazing friends.
*spoiler* I was not surprised that the anonymous writer wasn’t who Mira thought it was and by the time the “who” was revealed I had a pretty good idea who it was, or at least I wasn’t surprised by it.
I was ABSOLUTELY surprised by the twist about Gino at the end and a lot more made sense about Mira’s issues but I’m not sure how I feel about Jack not knowing he has a bio son.
Overall I enjoyed the read for a summertime book but I’m not super sure how I feel about all the characters and the story in the end. Nobody is really very “good”??? They all are deceptive….
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for sending me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was given the opportunity to read this author’s debut, and it was outstanding. Naturally, I was curious to see how this book was, and could not resist the opportunity. Roy has a talent for writing about complicated family dynamics, and this sounded like it would be more of that. I went into this read with some pretty high standards, and fortunately the read met most of them.
The main plot centers around two Indian-American half-sisters, Mira and Joy. Mira, the older sister, lost her mother at a young age, and Joy is the younger sister with a Caucasian mother. The structure of the story flips back and forth in time, giving readers insight into the sisters’ past relationship and how their sisterhood has changed over time, especially after a betrayal occurs.
Mira works as a poetry editor, and her love of poetry really shines through in the prose. I loved seeing the world through her eyes, although she doesn’t quite reach the level of likable, especially as the novel goes on. She’s quite a pushover, and struggles to stand up for herself, but the biggest issue I had with her was that she perseverates on things and has a hard time moving on. It made it harder to fully empathize with her, and she wasn’t necessarily the most reliable narrator I’ve encountered. However, I was much more empathetic towards Mira than Joy.
The younger sister, Joy is a high-powered lawyer, and the readers are given insight into how the sisters grew up and their bond in adulthood. This relationship is shattered by an unthinkable betrayal, and I couldn’t help but side with Mira, even though I didn’t love her as a character. I struggled even more with Joy, and found her to be a completely unlikable character. The dynamic between an older and younger sister fits here, with Mira being the more responsible, thoughtful sister, and Joy being the rowdy and irresponsible sister who doesn’t think through any consequences that might arise from her actions.
One thing that I didn’t like is that the story doesn’t take place neatly and consequentially. There are flashbacks to the girls’ years growing up with their father, flashbacks to when Mira was dating Jack, and then present day, although it usually took me a little bit to realize where along the timeline a chapter was taking place.
The aspect of the story that really grabbed me and kept me reading was the relationship dynamics that are explored throughout the story. I can empathize with how difficult family dynamics are and Roy really shows her talent off in this novel. She effectively captures a relationship between two half-sisters raised together, and how complicated sisterhood can be. The betrayal has an immediate and long-lasting impact on Mira’s bond with her father and sister, and leads to Mira moving to London for a while, until she returns to NYC and is forced to confront the broken relationships she left behind.
Overall, this was a great read. It focuses heavily on complex family dynamics, the power of forgiveness, and the importance of family. Despite not liking Joy and liking Mira minimally more, I could identify with their difficult relationships, although both sisters made a lot of choices that I had a hard time understanding. In particular, the way Mira and Marlon connect and how she acts towards him really frustrated me. Marlon was a great guy, although I really struggled with how Mira leads him on, knowing that she still isn’t over Jack, even after all this time. Since I come from a family where long-standing grudges can completely cut off certain branches of the family tree, I really had a lot of difficulty understanding why Mira is willing to do what she does, especially at the end of the book. The betrayal was not surprising; I had figured it out really early on, but I was more surprised at how the family was impacted by the betrayal and how Mira was expected to always be the older sister no matter what. But in a nutshell, Roy has become a personal favorite author of mine, and I can easily recommend this one to anyone who likes literary fiction surrounding family dynamics and how they’re impacted by betrayal.
Bottom line: A great book, even with some minor flaws like pacing and unlikable characters, the complex examination of family dynamics and beautiful, poetic prose won me over.
I was given the opportunity to read this author’s debut, and it was outstanding. Naturally, I was curious to see how this book was, and could not resist the opportunity. Roy has a talent for writing about complicated family dynamics, and this sounded like it would be more of that. I went into this read with some pretty high standards, and fortunately the read met most of them.
The main plot centers around two Indian-American half-sisters, Mira and Joy. Mira, the older sister, lost her mother at a young age, and Joy is the younger sister with a Caucasian mother. The structure of the story flips back and forth in time, giving readers insight into the sisters’ past relationship and how their sisterhood has changed over time, especially after a betrayal occurs.
Mira works as a poetry editor, and her love of poetry really shines through in the prose. I loved seeing the world through her eyes, although she doesn’t quite reach the level of likable, especially as the novel goes on. She’s quite a pushover, and struggles to stand up for herself, but the biggest issue I had with her was that she perseverates on things and has a hard time moving on. It made it harder to fully empathize with her, and she wasn’t necessarily the most reliable narrator I’ve encountered. However, I was much more empathetic towards Mira than Joy.
The younger sister, Joy is a high-powered lawyer, and the readers are given insight into how the sisters grew up and their bond in adulthood. This relationship is shattered by an unthinkable betrayal, and I couldn’t help but side with Mira, even though I didn’t love her as a character. I struggled even more with Joy, and found her to be a completely unlikable character. The dynamic between an older and younger sister fits here, with Mira being the more responsible, thoughtful sister, and Joy being the rowdy and irresponsible sister who doesn’t think through any consequences that might arise from her actions.
One thing that I didn’t like is that the story doesn’t take place neatly and consequentially. There are flashbacks to the girls’ years growing up with their father, flashbacks to when Mira was dating Jack, and then present day, although it usually took me a little bit to realize where along the timeline a chapter was taking place.
The aspect of the story that really grabbed me and kept me reading was the relationship dynamics that are explored throughout the story. I can empathize with how difficult family dynamics are and Roy really shows her talent off in this novel. She effectively captures a relationship between two half-sisters raised together, and how complicated sisterhood can be. The betrayal has an immediate and long-lasting impact on Mira’s bond with her father and sister, and leads to Mira moving to London for a while, until she returns to NYC and is forced to confront the broken relationships she left behind.
Overall, this was a great read. It focuses heavily on complex family dynamics, the power of forgiveness, and the importance of family. Despite not liking Joy and liking Mira minimally more, I could identify with their difficult relationships, although both sisters made a lot of choices that I had a hard time understanding. In particular, the way Mira and Marlon connect and how she acts towards him really frustrated me. Marlon was a great guy, although I really struggled with how Mira leads him on, knowing that she still isn’t over Jack, even after all this time. Since I come from a family where long-standing grudges can completely cut off certain branches of the family tree, I really had a lot of difficulty understanding why Mira is willing to do what she does, especially at the end of the book. The betrayal was not surprising; I had figured it out really early on, but I was more surprised at how the family was impacted by the betrayal and how Mira was expected to always be the older sister no matter what. But in a nutshell, Roy has become a personal favorite author of mine, and I can easily recommend this one to anyone who likes literary fiction surrounding family dynamics and how they’re impacted by betrayal.
Bottom line: A great book, even with some minor flaws like pacing and unlikable characters, the complex examination of family dynamics and beautiful, poetic prose won me over.
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.
July 10, 2026
While reading the book, it was giving me A Street Car Named Desire vibes. I suspect that I will have a long book hangover after this one. It is going on my best-of-the-year list for sure.
July 27, 2026
4.25
Years after a huge betrayal of Mira by her sister Joy, they grapple with their broken relationship and their ailing father, as well as other relationships often complicated by secrets.
Years after a huge betrayal of Mira by her sister Joy, they grapple with their broken relationship and their ailing father, as well as other relationships often complicated by secrets.
June 22, 2026
Poetic and intimate, Sisters of a Halved Heart (thank you to the author for my gifted copies) tells the story of two estranged half-sisters.
Mira, a poetry editor in NYC, has always loved her half-sister Joy, until a single event tears them apart. Years later, she still hasn't forgiven or even talked to Joy, but begins to take the first steps to reconciliation out of love for their father.
The sisters' relationship isn't always easy, but it did feel so real. Both felt competitive over the love of their Indian father, trying to navigate life with and without their family's support.
It's a character driven family drama that still kept me in suspense. I guessed early on at what had driven them apart, but that didn't keep me from wanting to know what would happen next. And the author had plenty of surprises left in store.
Just like Mira, I really struggled to forgive Joy. But both characters had such a beautiful arc, showing the ways we are unavoidably connected and the multitude of beginnings and endings we all have.
I combined print and audio and would recommend either format. The language was beautiful, and I loved reading the print to soak it all in. But the audio narrator Sharmila Devar exquisitely captures Mira's joys and sorrows, and her struggle to make sense of the world again. 4.5 stars
Mira, a poetry editor in NYC, has always loved her half-sister Joy, until a single event tears them apart. Years later, she still hasn't forgiven or even talked to Joy, but begins to take the first steps to reconciliation out of love for their father.
The sisters' relationship isn't always easy, but it did feel so real. Both felt competitive over the love of their Indian father, trying to navigate life with and without their family's support.
It's a character driven family drama that still kept me in suspense. I guessed early on at what had driven them apart, but that didn't keep me from wanting to know what would happen next. And the author had plenty of surprises left in store.
Just like Mira, I really struggled to forgive Joy. But both characters had such a beautiful arc, showing the ways we are unavoidably connected and the multitude of beginnings and endings we all have.
I combined print and audio and would recommend either format. The language was beautiful, and I loved reading the print to soak it all in. But the audio narrator Sharmila Devar exquisitely captures Mira's joys and sorrows, and her struggle to make sense of the world again. 4.5 stars
August 2, 2026
I have never felt so invested in a cast of characters that I absolutely loathed*. I disagreed with virtually every decision made, but I felt incredibly connected to them as they struggled through heartbreak, betrayal, and forgiveness.
Perhaps because my sisters are my best friends and objectively great humans, I really struggled to comprehend Joy and Mira's decisions & I was hoping they'd become less loathsome throughout the story, but there wasn't a ton of character growth. Plot-wise, I found most aspects predictable but there was one surprise that really caught me off guard. I know it's a great book because it made me feel such deep emotions and I constantly thought "I have to talk to someone about this!"
*The characterization in the audio format probably had a lot to do with my hatred, would not recommend.
Perhaps because my sisters are my best friends and objectively great humans, I really struggled to comprehend Joy and Mira's decisions & I was hoping they'd become less loathsome throughout the story, but there wasn't a ton of character growth. Plot-wise, I found most aspects predictable but there was one surprise that really caught me off guard. I know it's a great book because it made me feel such deep emotions and I constantly thought "I have to talk to someone about this!"
*The characterization in the audio format probably had a lot to do with my hatred, would not recommend.
July 19, 2026
Did I like this book? Nope.
Did I enjoy reading it? Nope.
Yet…the description of a much loved person in a relationship and the unspeakable betrayal that followed was so mesmerizing that I could not put it down. Reading it felt as visceral pain and, you just keep thinking…no…no…..no….but then it is yes and it’s the unthinkable and then all that ensues. Until the sweetness of the ending and there is hope. Just not in the way you envision it to be.
As Im writing this, Im thinking…mmmm. Maybe I did like it. I certainly respected it. And perhaps that is all that can be asked about a triangle when all 3 people love each other but only 2 can be together.
Ok. I recommend it. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.
It hurts.
Did I enjoy reading it? Nope.
Yet…the description of a much loved person in a relationship and the unspeakable betrayal that followed was so mesmerizing that I could not put it down. Reading it felt as visceral pain and, you just keep thinking…no…no…..no….but then it is yes and it’s the unthinkable and then all that ensues. Until the sweetness of the ending and there is hope. Just not in the way you envision it to be.
As Im writing this, Im thinking…mmmm. Maybe I did like it. I certainly respected it. And perhaps that is all that can be asked about a triangle when all 3 people love each other but only 2 can be together.
Ok. I recommend it. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.
It hurts.
July 20, 2026
This was better than a 3, but not quite a 4. I’m still mulling it over. I enjoyed this one, but sometimes felt like I was reading a book that was written to become a movie. But it could also be that she creates scenes in her writing that can be clearly visualized because of her skill as a writer.
Did Not Finish
July 20, 2026It felt like I had been reading this book for 93 years and had somehow made it only 75 pages. It wasn’t exactly boring but it definitely wasn’t interesting.
July 2, 2026
I really struggled with the choices made by the main character, Mira. And isn’t it convenient that the very first man she meets after her self imposed exile to London is the perfect man? Marlon seemed too good to be true. (Marlon’s brother Lee sure took a long honeymoon.) It would’ve been interesting if the author had also told these events from Joy’s perspective.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2026
This book is the very definition of a MESSY family drama. I was hooked rather quickly on the train wreck that was Mira’s life and the steps she took to try to recover from her sister’s betrayal. I found myself equal parts understanding her while also completely flabbergasted by her actions. The ending’s cliffhanger only made things even messier, and it felt like the author did it for shock value. I docked a star for that because it really changed my overall understanding of Mira. That said, I loved the writing, the literary and musical references. While slightly lacklustre, I appreciated the link between the main plot and the mystery novel that Mira was getting her company to publish and how it revealed Mira’s own blindspots and shortcomings. My heart ached for the complicated love/hate sisterly bond that Mira and Joy shared, and the secondary characters are so well fleshed out too that I found myself quickly getting attached to a few of them.
July 9, 2026
This one just didn't work for me.
I had a hard time connecting with either of the two sisters, and since they're at the heart of the novel, that made it difficult to stay invested. I also found it odd that so many of the men in the story were portrayed as thoughtful and kind, while the two main women often came across as unnecessarily harsh. That imbalance became distracting.
I also wasn't persuaded by Mira's big realization that she'd been telling herself the wrong story all these years. Discovering that she loved Jack more than he loved her didn't feel like the life-altering revelation the novel seemed to suggest. I kept waiting for a deeper insight that never quite arrived.
The writing was uneven for me. Every so often there was a lovely passage that reminded me why I'd picked up the book in the first place, but too often the prose felt awkward and clunky.
And then there was the ending. I know it was intended to be a surprise, but I finished the book wondering, "What was I supposed to take from that?" I couldn't see how the twist deepened the story or shed new light on what had come before.
There were flashes of beautiful writing, but overall I finished the book feeling more puzzled than moved.
I had a hard time connecting with either of the two sisters, and since they're at the heart of the novel, that made it difficult to stay invested. I also found it odd that so many of the men in the story were portrayed as thoughtful and kind, while the two main women often came across as unnecessarily harsh. That imbalance became distracting.
I also wasn't persuaded by Mira's big realization that she'd been telling herself the wrong story all these years. Discovering that she loved Jack more than he loved her didn't feel like the life-altering revelation the novel seemed to suggest. I kept waiting for a deeper insight that never quite arrived.
The writing was uneven for me. Every so often there was a lovely passage that reminded me why I'd picked up the book in the first place, but too often the prose felt awkward and clunky.
And then there was the ending. I know it was intended to be a surprise, but I finished the book wondering, "What was I supposed to take from that?" I couldn't see how the twist deepened the story or shed new light on what had come before.
There were flashes of beautiful writing, but overall I finished the book feeling more puzzled than moved.
January 20, 2026
4.5 stars
June 13, 2026
Sisters Of A Halved Heart by Nayantara Roy, this book has a lot going on in it and Mira enjoy aren’t people you want to root for but in the end you’ll probably like me wind up rooting for both of them. people love a second chance romance but this one is a tad bit different than your average day nice to see you again I still love you tight book. There’s a lot to this book that I cannot for the life of me give a brief summary so I’ll just say, I really thought this book was going to be a wow book for me it hits all the high notes but I just couldn’t root for joy, mirror and the perpetrator especially Jack. I always think the man is more fault, because he’s the one who professes’s lifelong undying love before he goes out and cheats but it’s a tad bit different in this book which kept it interesting but left as I said no one to root for. #NetGalley,#TheBlindReviewer,
June 19, 2026
3.5 Stars
As the title clearly suggests, this novel is about the bond between sisters and how difficult it can be to repair that bond if broken because of a betrayal.
Mira Guhathakurta is a poetry editor for a niche literary magazine. The novel opens with her returning to New York from London where she spent the last five years. The return is difficult because it brings back memories of her breakup with Jack, a man she loved. She avoids her sister Joy until a family situation forces them together. Tensions are high between the siblings; though the exact nature of the betrayal is not immediately revealed, it is obvious that Joy hurt her sister deeply so Mira has difficulty forgiving her. But Mira has a job she loves, is able to spend time with her best friend Lena, and tentatively begins a romantic relationship with a new man, Marlon Hughes.
I do not have a sister so cannot relate to the relationship between Mira and Joy. They were very close when younger though they vied for their father’s affection. Because they know each other well, they know exactly how to hurt each other. For instance, Mira knows that Joy desires, more than anything, a good relationship with her sister. Understanding that “the greatest punishment to Joy would be to deny her my presence in her life,” Mira does exactly that for years. I imagine that the love/hate relationship is realistically portrayed: “The desire to do her harm coupled with the fact that I could not bear her unhappiness – it had always been my undoing.”
I found myself very frustrated with Mira. She seems so immature. She runs from problems and keeps secrets that serve little purpose. And she makes infuriating choices. Mira is over 30; in someone that age I’d expect more self-awareness. Marlon tells her, “’when we’re hurt, we tend to . . . go blind a little,’” but Mira sometimes seems downright delusional. It is understandable that she feels anger and grief because of the painful breakup and her sister’s actions, but she’s had five years to recover. She likes to portray herself as a victim of betrayal but conveniently forgets about how she and Jack betrayed Frankie!
There is a surprise ending which does force the reader to reconsider what s/he has just read. I don’t like such a big reveal that logically would have been discussed earlier; it just feels too manipulative. It does explain more about the reason for Mira’s behaviour regarding Jack, but I found myself disliking her more because of her lack of emotions considering what she did four years earlier. And considering Lena’s role for the last four years, why would she even ask Mira if she’ll ever reveal the truth to Joy?!
In the first half, the pace dragged. It takes so long for the extent of Joy’s betrayal to be revealed, though I think most readers will guess it long beforehand. And there are other parts that are predictable as well. The mystery about the manuscript that is sent to Mira is certainly not a mystery. Of course Mira’s thoughts do emphasize the theme of how we avoid or are unable to see truths obvious to others.
In books focused on female characters, I often find that the male characters are portrayed negatively. In this novel, however, the men seem too earnest so some of the dialogue is just unbelievable. Jack, Marlon, Sebastian, and even Lee are all so enlightened in their treatment of women.
This may seem a trivial complaint, but does it make sense that an American would choose to study law in England if intending to practice in the US? Surely there are differences in law. A cursory Google search suggests a lawyer educated in the UK is not automatically allowed to practice in the US. At least, s/he must sit the bar.
Anyone who has had a tumultuous relationship with a sister will probably find much to like in this novel. Personally, however, I just couldn’t connect to the main characters and so had difficulty caring about what happened to them. Both Mira and Joy exhibit all the traits of an immature person: a lack of emotional control, poor accountability, and an inability to understand another’s perspective. Yet they somehow attract these almost too-perfect men?
Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/).
As the title clearly suggests, this novel is about the bond between sisters and how difficult it can be to repair that bond if broken because of a betrayal.
Mira Guhathakurta is a poetry editor for a niche literary magazine. The novel opens with her returning to New York from London where she spent the last five years. The return is difficult because it brings back memories of her breakup with Jack, a man she loved. She avoids her sister Joy until a family situation forces them together. Tensions are high between the siblings; though the exact nature of the betrayal is not immediately revealed, it is obvious that Joy hurt her sister deeply so Mira has difficulty forgiving her. But Mira has a job she loves, is able to spend time with her best friend Lena, and tentatively begins a romantic relationship with a new man, Marlon Hughes.
I do not have a sister so cannot relate to the relationship between Mira and Joy. They were very close when younger though they vied for their father’s affection. Because they know each other well, they know exactly how to hurt each other. For instance, Mira knows that Joy desires, more than anything, a good relationship with her sister. Understanding that “the greatest punishment to Joy would be to deny her my presence in her life,” Mira does exactly that for years. I imagine that the love/hate relationship is realistically portrayed: “The desire to do her harm coupled with the fact that I could not bear her unhappiness – it had always been my undoing.”
I found myself very frustrated with Mira. She seems so immature. She runs from problems and keeps secrets that serve little purpose. And she makes infuriating choices. Mira is over 30; in someone that age I’d expect more self-awareness. Marlon tells her, “’when we’re hurt, we tend to . . . go blind a little,’” but Mira sometimes seems downright delusional. It is understandable that she feels anger and grief because of the painful breakup and her sister’s actions, but she’s had five years to recover. She likes to portray herself as a victim of betrayal but conveniently forgets about how she and Jack betrayed Frankie!
There is a surprise ending which does force the reader to reconsider what s/he has just read. I don’t like such a big reveal that logically would have been discussed earlier; it just feels too manipulative. It does explain more about the reason for Mira’s behaviour regarding Jack, but I found myself disliking her more because of her lack of emotions considering what she did four years earlier. And considering Lena’s role for the last four years, why would she even ask Mira if she’ll ever reveal the truth to Joy?!
In the first half, the pace dragged. It takes so long for the extent of Joy’s betrayal to be revealed, though I think most readers will guess it long beforehand. And there are other parts that are predictable as well. The mystery about the manuscript that is sent to Mira is certainly not a mystery. Of course Mira’s thoughts do emphasize the theme of how we avoid or are unable to see truths obvious to others.
In books focused on female characters, I often find that the male characters are portrayed negatively. In this novel, however, the men seem too earnest so some of the dialogue is just unbelievable. Jack, Marlon, Sebastian, and even Lee are all so enlightened in their treatment of women.
This may seem a trivial complaint, but does it make sense that an American would choose to study law in England if intending to practice in the US? Surely there are differences in law. A cursory Google search suggests a lawyer educated in the UK is not automatically allowed to practice in the US. At least, s/he must sit the bar.
Anyone who has had a tumultuous relationship with a sister will probably find much to like in this novel. Personally, however, I just couldn’t connect to the main characters and so had difficulty caring about what happened to them. Both Mira and Joy exhibit all the traits of an immature person: a lack of emotional control, poor accountability, and an inability to understand another’s perspective. Yet they somehow attract these almost too-perfect men?
Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/).
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.
July 5, 2026
[4.5]
I liked this book from the beginning, but once I got about 1/3 of the way in, it really grabbed me. I compulsively finished the last 2/3 over a 24-hour period.
Mira, the MC and narrator, is an editor at a literary magazine. Within the plot, a novel manuscript is sent to her. She describes it as exceptional: frothy, but literary. A description that fits Sisters of a Halved Heart so well. This book seemed almost like a guilty pleasure, a summer beach read, even though it's character-driven with skillful prose and falls squarely within the literary fiction category.
The prose moves back and forth in time with ease, weaving in interesting musical and other cultural references while it follows the characters' disastrous decisions and actions. Reading the story, I rarely questioned those disastrous decisions and actions. While often unforgivable and not what I would have wanted them to do, they were in character.
Although the big betrayal at the heart of the plot wasn’t revealed until late in the book, it was pretty easy to guess. That said, I didn’t know exactly how or why it happened, or what would happen after. And that was enough tension for me to keep turning pages.
I loved this book and am recommending it to everyone I know, but it's not without its problems.
The way things wrapped up in the last several chapters seemed too easy, after all the difficulties the characters had gone through. That said, the surprising twist on the second-to-last page saved the ending for me, making the whole book a little more interesting as I looked back on all that had happened through this new lens.
Also, the male characters tended to give speeches in full, enlightened, emotionally aware paragraphs that often didn’t ring true.
And finally, there are some errors in the book. Because I read it in the course of a few days, it jumped out at me that, at the end, Mira and Lena reminisce about things they did together in high school, while at the beginning, we're told they met in college. In one spot, Mira calls her own famous poem "Evening Sun" when the actual title is "Evening Skin." And there are a couple of grammatical errors that weren't egregious, maybe even OK in spoken English, but shouldn't be made by a narrator who is also a lit mag editor (e.g., "between Joy and I" instead of "between Joy and me"). None of these things are major, but they took me out of the story and made me wonder why the editors hadn't caught them.
I liked this book from the beginning, but once I got about 1/3 of the way in, it really grabbed me. I compulsively finished the last 2/3 over a 24-hour period.
Mira, the MC and narrator, is an editor at a literary magazine. Within the plot, a novel manuscript is sent to her. She describes it as exceptional: frothy, but literary. A description that fits Sisters of a Halved Heart so well. This book seemed almost like a guilty pleasure, a summer beach read, even though it's character-driven with skillful prose and falls squarely within the literary fiction category.
The prose moves back and forth in time with ease, weaving in interesting musical and other cultural references while it follows the characters' disastrous decisions and actions. Reading the story, I rarely questioned those disastrous decisions and actions. While often unforgivable and not what I would have wanted them to do, they were in character.
Although the big betrayal at the heart of the plot wasn’t revealed until late in the book, it was pretty easy to guess. That said, I didn’t know exactly how or why it happened, or what would happen after. And that was enough tension for me to keep turning pages.
I loved this book and am recommending it to everyone I know, but it's not without its problems.
The way things wrapped up in the last several chapters seemed too easy, after all the difficulties the characters had gone through. That said, the surprising twist on the second-to-last page saved the ending for me, making the whole book a little more interesting as I looked back on all that had happened through this new lens.
Also, the male characters tended to give speeches in full, enlightened, emotionally aware paragraphs that often didn’t ring true.
And finally, there are some errors in the book. Because I read it in the course of a few days, it jumped out at me that, at the end, Mira and Lena reminisce about things they did together in high school, while at the beginning, we're told they met in college. In one spot, Mira calls her own famous poem "Evening Sun" when the actual title is "Evening Skin." And there are a couple of grammatical errors that weren't egregious, maybe even OK in spoken English, but shouldn't be made by a narrator who is also a lit mag editor (e.g., "between Joy and I" instead of "between Joy and me"). None of these things are major, but they took me out of the story and made me wonder why the editors hadn't caught them.
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.
June 20, 2026
A betrayal throws the lives of two sisters into disarray
The bond with one's sister can be challenging, and so it proves to be for Indian-American Mira and her half-sister Joy. Mira's life is in a really good place; she is working her dream job at a literary magazine in NYC and has reconnected with Jack, a nice guy she knew in college and who now appears to be The One for her. As their relationship grows closer she wants him to meet her family, the father she adores and Joy, a successful lawyer...the family is close-knit, so their approval of Jack is important to Mira. All does not go well, however, and things end with the sisters' relationship ruptured, Jack no longer in Mira's life, and the father devastated at the state of the family. Mira works to start her life over in London and is there for five years, until concerns about her father's health bring her back to New York. She must deal with her renewed proximity to Joy and the pain that still lingers between them, the trajectory of her career, and maybe find the courage to reopen her heart to a romance. Love, like family, can be complicated.
Sisters of s Halved Heart is a work of literary fiction that deals in dual timelines with family drama, in particular with the bond between sisters and the strong pull of family. Author Nayantara Roy has created an honest portrayal of flawed characters and the imperfect relationship between Mira and Joy, one tinged with rivalry and competition for their father's affection but which at its core is rooted in love. Mira is funny but complicated, and how she deals with the devastating betrayal as well as the push away from and pull back towards family is captured in a realistic way. There is a lot of pain woven into the narrative (alongside the trauma it causes to the family) which could be difficult for some to read, but I found the story hard to put down. Readers who enjoy character-driven fiction which focuses on family and relationships as well as fans of Wendy Chen, Delia Ephron and Min Jin Lee will likely find this 4 ⭐️ read worth adding to their TBR pile. My thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for allowing me access to the novel in exchange for my honest review.
The bond with one's sister can be challenging, and so it proves to be for Indian-American Mira and her half-sister Joy. Mira's life is in a really good place; she is working her dream job at a literary magazine in NYC and has reconnected with Jack, a nice guy she knew in college and who now appears to be The One for her. As their relationship grows closer she wants him to meet her family, the father she adores and Joy, a successful lawyer...the family is close-knit, so their approval of Jack is important to Mira. All does not go well, however, and things end with the sisters' relationship ruptured, Jack no longer in Mira's life, and the father devastated at the state of the family. Mira works to start her life over in London and is there for five years, until concerns about her father's health bring her back to New York. She must deal with her renewed proximity to Joy and the pain that still lingers between them, the trajectory of her career, and maybe find the courage to reopen her heart to a romance. Love, like family, can be complicated.
Sisters of s Halved Heart is a work of literary fiction that deals in dual timelines with family drama, in particular with the bond between sisters and the strong pull of family. Author Nayantara Roy has created an honest portrayal of flawed characters and the imperfect relationship between Mira and Joy, one tinged with rivalry and competition for their father's affection but which at its core is rooted in love. Mira is funny but complicated, and how she deals with the devastating betrayal as well as the push away from and pull back towards family is captured in a realistic way. There is a lot of pain woven into the narrative (alongside the trauma it causes to the family) which could be difficult for some to read, but I found the story hard to put down. Readers who enjoy character-driven fiction which focuses on family and relationships as well as fans of Wendy Chen, Delia Ephron and Min Jin Lee will likely find this 4 ⭐️ read worth adding to their TBR pile. My thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for allowing me access to the novel in exchange for my honest review.
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.
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