An American Desi in Queen Victoria's Court

by Suleena Bibra

Meera Chopra wants to study history, not become it!

All I want to do is study and teach about the history of Indians in the United Kingdom. The studying part is going great…the teaching part could be going better. Mostly because so many still refuse to acknowledge that there were Indians in the United Kingdom before the 1950s.

But I’m not going to stop trying. It’s what led me to a costume ball at a history conference in England. And the frustration of no one listening, along with a truly unnecessary amount of clothing layers and architecture that is hostile to the clumsy, led me to tumble down some historic stairs…and into history.

Now Queen Victoria has mistaken me for a princess and taken me under her protection, I’m in a fake relationship with a marquess who’s on the hunt for a rich heiress, and I have to avoid getting caught by suspicious people who don’t trust me.

I need to find a way home, and fast, before the queen finds out I’m a liar. And not get distracted by the attractive half-Indian marquess who is determined to make me have fun while he fake courts me. But how can I resist a man with a carriage who knows his way around a waltz?

Genres: Romance

365 pages, ebook

Expected publication February 10, 2026

About the author

Suleena Bibra studied art history in college and loves to travel every opportunity she gets. A bit indecisive, she has worked as a museum intern, lawyer, workers’ compensation adjuster, and private investigator. Author is best, though, so she can continue living out a bunch of other careers without changing out of her pajamas. Suleena writes RomComs heavy on banter, shenanigans, and aggressive whimsy. She spends the rest of her time annoying her bulldog with her love.

Reviews

[Vee G · Rating 5 out of 5]

AAAAAAAH! I LOVED THIS SO SO SO MUCH. IT WAS SUCH A FUN READ! I didn't like history as a subject in school and I never thought I would find history interesting but here I am, after reading one hell of an amazing book, wanting to know more about it! like what exactly Meera was doing. I would LOVE to spend time with her and know her and listen to everything she has to say! OH-god she was amazing. I LOVED the way she thought, like an actual adult and more sensible than most of people would. I loved how she used her knowledge and common sense to survive in the past. SHE WAS PHENOMENAL. AWE-fucking-SOME. I loved everything she did, thought, said and her story of falling in with Leo.

LEO! THIS MAN- this wonderful, gorgeous, swoon worthy man. I love love love him not-so fake courting Meera. What i wouldn't give to know everything from his POV. Meera's first impression, what he did when wasn't with her, what went in his head whenever Meera brought up their deal, what went he thought when Meera told him about her, what he felt when Meera mentioned her going away, I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING! because he was down BAD! wayyyyy toooo gone for her! The stuff he did with her, for her, after her! It was swoon-worthy. I LOOOOOVED HIM SO DAMN MUCH.

AAAAAH- THIS BOOK WAS FUN AND EVERYTHING AMAZING.
This is definitely going up in my TBR! and I NEED LIKE 20 MORE BOOKS LIKE THIS!! chefs kiss

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5

I have no idea how I missed the fact that this is a time travel book but I was thoroughly surprised. Leo and Meera have great chemistry and it was funny to see them interact. She was able to teach him so much about the world and he was able to teach her how to have fun. They felt very real and I love them. Does the ending make a lot of sense, no but I don't need it to.

I received an arc from luna literary.