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The Sisters of Serendib
Three sisters are separated as children. Decades later, with so much lost and changed, can they find their way back to each other?
In 1990, a boat of asylum seekers leaves war-torn Sri Lanka, bound for Australia. When a mother dies on the journey, her three young daughters are separated and scattered across the country.
Years later, the eldest, Janu, still remembers the home she left and the sisters she's lost. Having freed herself from the grip of a painful childhood, she builds a life for herself in a coastal town, running a small shop called Serendib, where the air hums with memory and people come to find what they didn't know they were searching for.
In Melbourne, Samar, the middle sister, dances to speak the words she cannot say, pouring her longing and restlessness into movement, while in Sydney, Maryam, the youngest, finds magic in language, always searching for a place to belong.
As Janu discovers clues to her sisters' identities and begins the quest to bring them together, they all face the can something broken for so long ever be made whole again?
Beautiful and heartbreaking, this is the story of women who rise from loss to reclaim their stories, rebuild their lives, and step into the fierce beauty of their own becoming. A powerful new novel from the award-winning author of Untethered.
In 1990, a boat of asylum seekers leaves war-torn Sri Lanka, bound for Australia. When a mother dies on the journey, her three young daughters are separated and scattered across the country.
Years later, the eldest, Janu, still remembers the home she left and the sisters she's lost. Having freed herself from the grip of a painful childhood, she builds a life for herself in a coastal town, running a small shop called Serendib, where the air hums with memory and people come to find what they didn't know they were searching for.
In Melbourne, Samar, the middle sister, dances to speak the words she cannot say, pouring her longing and restlessness into movement, while in Sydney, Maryam, the youngest, finds magic in language, always searching for a place to belong.
As Janu discovers clues to her sisters' identities and begins the quest to bring them together, they all face the can something broken for so long ever be made whole again?
Beautiful and heartbreaking, this is the story of women who rise from loss to reclaim their stories, rebuild their lives, and step into the fierce beauty of their own becoming. A powerful new novel from the award-winning author of Untethered.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
July 10, 2026
Wonderful book, my new favourite for the year so far (sorry Elizabeth). I enjoyed the first book by Ms Inoon about a Tamil Sri Lankan family migrating to Canberra. But this second book took the Tamil/Australian experience to an entire new level. We start with a mum and her three young daughters fleeing Sri Lanka by boat during the 'Troubles" with the father staying behind, promising to follow as soon as possible.
This is the story of the three sisters, separated on that voyage when their mother dies at sea, not really knowing of their siblings as the three families chose to raise the girls as their own in different parts of Australia. The rejoining of Janu, Samar and Maryam twenty years later is the heart of the story, with each having their own fraught times leading up to it. Multiple MCs work well here, not at all confusing to follow, most of the book taking place in 2010.
I loved the story, the three sisters and the mostly wonderful supporting cast making the story both heartbreaking and wonderful. I was lucky to travel to Sri Lanka back in 2000 while the conflict was still going on, but what a lovely, wonderful country and people. Five full stars from me, library ebook.
This is the story of the three sisters, separated on that voyage when their mother dies at sea, not really knowing of their siblings as the three families chose to raise the girls as their own in different parts of Australia. The rejoining of Janu, Samar and Maryam twenty years later is the heart of the story, with each having their own fraught times leading up to it. Multiple MCs work well here, not at all confusing to follow, most of the book taking place in 2010.
I loved the story, the three sisters and the mostly wonderful supporting cast making the story both heartbreaking and wonderful. I was lucky to travel to Sri Lanka back in 2000 while the conflict was still going on, but what a lovely, wonderful country and people. Five full stars from me, library ebook.
June 1, 2026
An engrossing story of loss and sisterhood - the perfect novel to read while sitting by the fire on a wintery day.
Given mere hours to prepare, a Muslim father and mother must make a difficult decision. They can only afford to pay for one adult to accompany their 3 young daughters on the boat escaping Sri Lanka's civil war. It is decided that the mother will go, leaving the father behind to earn more money so he can join them in Australia later - assuming they all survive. But something unexpected happens on that treacherous boat journey, and the 3 young girls - Janu, Samar and baby Maryam - are separated. They go on to settle in Australia, in different places, and different circumstances, with only Janu being old enough to remember what was lost.
I really enjoyed the story (although I could have handled it being a little edgier, to be honest) and the diverse characterisation. The desire to know what was going to happen was enough to pull me along through this long-ish novel. The only thing I didn't really like was the psychic aspect - a convenient device to help with plotting, but a little off-putting for me.
With thanks to NetGalley and HQ Books Australia for an eARC to read and review.
Given mere hours to prepare, a Muslim father and mother must make a difficult decision. They can only afford to pay for one adult to accompany their 3 young daughters on the boat escaping Sri Lanka's civil war. It is decided that the mother will go, leaving the father behind to earn more money so he can join them in Australia later - assuming they all survive. But something unexpected happens on that treacherous boat journey, and the 3 young girls - Janu, Samar and baby Maryam - are separated. They go on to settle in Australia, in different places, and different circumstances, with only Janu being old enough to remember what was lost.
I really enjoyed the story (although I could have handled it being a little edgier, to be honest) and the diverse characterisation. The desire to know what was going to happen was enough to pull me along through this long-ish novel. The only thing I didn't really like was the psychic aspect - a convenient device to help with plotting, but a little off-putting for me.
With thanks to NetGalley and HQ Books Australia for an eARC to read and review.
June 28, 2026
4.5 stars
the sisters of serendib was so beautiful, heartwarming and deeply emotional!! it was more intense than i was expecting it to be, but i loved it so much. ayesha inoon’s writing was so engaging and i didn’t want to look away from the page once.
longer rtc!
the sisters of serendib was so beautiful, heartwarming and deeply emotional!! it was more intense than i was expecting it to be, but i loved it so much. ayesha inoon’s writing was so engaging and i didn’t want to look away from the page once.
longer rtc!
August 9, 2026
LOVED this book. 3 sisters get separated when their mum dies on a boat from Sri Lanka to Australia whilst fleeing the war and that’s all I can share otherwise the experience will be ruined.
Highly recommend.
Highly recommend.
May 28, 2026
Review of advanced copy thanks to Harlequinn Australia.
The sisters of Serendib follows three sisters and their mother as they make the tumultuous journey to leave their home of Sri Lanka, during the war to seek asylum in Australia. Losing their mother along the way, the girls are instantly catapulted into a new world where they are no longer together. Ayesha Inoon has done a fantastic job at creating poignant story about loss and grief but never once does she lose the insight of beauty.
With the sisters going seperate ways after losing their mother, we swap between pov’s. Janu, the eldest sister is in Starlight Bay NSW and after her adoptive father dies, she packs up, moves and opens a shop called Serendib and begins her search for her two sisters, Samar in Melbourne & Maryam in Sydney - who were too little on their voyage to remember each other and their eldest sister Janu.
This story took me to places I never thought I’d visit with stories that were devastating & heartbreaking. Ayesha Inoon wrote beautifully on topics that are far from it. The narrative explores a worn torn Sri Lanka, muslims being made to leave, being a refugee, families who wanted to help the sisters after their mum died but unable to take all three girls together & the challenges of being in a new land where you don’t speak the language (or much of it). If you like books laced with historical fiction, heartbreaking and powerful novels, this novel is the one for you.
The sisters of Serendib follows three sisters and their mother as they make the tumultuous journey to leave their home of Sri Lanka, during the war to seek asylum in Australia. Losing their mother along the way, the girls are instantly catapulted into a new world where they are no longer together. Ayesha Inoon has done a fantastic job at creating poignant story about loss and grief but never once does she lose the insight of beauty.
With the sisters going seperate ways after losing their mother, we swap between pov’s. Janu, the eldest sister is in Starlight Bay NSW and after her adoptive father dies, she packs up, moves and opens a shop called Serendib and begins her search for her two sisters, Samar in Melbourne & Maryam in Sydney - who were too little on their voyage to remember each other and their eldest sister Janu.
This story took me to places I never thought I’d visit with stories that were devastating & heartbreaking. Ayesha Inoon wrote beautifully on topics that are far from it. The narrative explores a worn torn Sri Lanka, muslims being made to leave, being a refugee, families who wanted to help the sisters after their mum died but unable to take all three girls together & the challenges of being in a new land where you don’t speak the language (or much of it). If you like books laced with historical fiction, heartbreaking and powerful novels, this novel is the one for you.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Sisters of Serendib by Ayesha Inoon is a beautiful, heartbreaking, and healing novel about three sisters separated as children after fleeing war-torn Sri Lanka. Years later, they are still trying to find their way back to one another.
Ayesha writes with a lyrical, almost dreamlike quality. She has an extraordinary ability to create atmosphere; several scenes were so vivid that I could feel them around me. The story is tender in some moments and bold and unflinching in others, moving between grief, memory, and hope.
It’s remarkable how the story explores loss and belonging without ever losing sight of beauty. There is such warmth and humanity in these three women, even as the story breaks your heart.
What I did not expect was how healing I found the novel. As someone who has lived between Australia, which is one home, and another country that is also home, I recognised that pull so deeply: the feeling of being torn between two places and of wondering how life might have unfolded if there had only ever been one home, one country, one version of myself.
And then there is the title. When I realised what Serendib means, and the different form that word has taken in the language we use so often, it sent a shiver through me. Suddenly, the title seemed to hold everything the story is about: homeland and the strange, unexpected turns that shape our lives.
Ayesha writes with a lyrical, almost dreamlike quality. She has an extraordinary ability to create atmosphere; several scenes were so vivid that I could feel them around me. The story is tender in some moments and bold and unflinching in others, moving between grief, memory, and hope.
It’s remarkable how the story explores loss and belonging without ever losing sight of beauty. There is such warmth and humanity in these three women, even as the story breaks your heart.
What I did not expect was how healing I found the novel. As someone who has lived between Australia, which is one home, and another country that is also home, I recognised that pull so deeply: the feeling of being torn between two places and of wondering how life might have unfolded if there had only ever been one home, one country, one version of myself.
And then there is the title. When I realised what Serendib means, and the different form that word has taken in the language we use so often, it sent a shiver through me. Suddenly, the title seemed to hold everything the story is about: homeland and the strange, unexpected turns that shape our lives.
July 4, 2026
This was such a moving story of three sisters separated while seeking asylum from Sri Lanka and finding their way back to each other again.
I was so drawn in by all three sisters and their stories, and I really liked the addition of Huda’s chapters as well. All four stories were so beautifully woven together.
I teared up so many times reading this. Everything these women go through, every moment of joy and heartache, every moment of understanding and every missed opportunity, all of it touched my heart.
The magical realism was a really gorgeous touch and really added an extra layer of depth and emotion.
And I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t mention the lovely surprise of a queer relationship blooming between one of the sisters and her best friend. It was such a lovely little side addition to a story I was already enjoying immensely.
I was so drawn in by all three sisters and their stories, and I really liked the addition of Huda’s chapters as well. All four stories were so beautifully woven together.
I teared up so many times reading this. Everything these women go through, every moment of joy and heartache, every moment of understanding and every missed opportunity, all of it touched my heart.
The magical realism was a really gorgeous touch and really added an extra layer of depth and emotion.
And I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t mention the lovely surprise of a queer relationship blooming between one of the sisters and her best friend. It was such a lovely little side addition to a story I was already enjoying immensely.
July 5, 2026
Such a moving story as we follow three sisters, separated as children, when their mother passes away as they flee war torn Sri Lanka bound on boat to Australia. Each sister grows up with a different family and has a different upbringing. We are treated to each of their different POVs and see them come together again as sisters towards the end. This was such a beautiful book and one that left me feeling incredibly grateful for the easy life I have been dealt.
July 29, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
An incredible story of three sisters separated on their boat to escape the violence against them in Sri Lanka. I loved all the food references, the settings of Melbourne, Sydney and the Coast, as well as briefly in Sri Lanka. And the personalities of the characters were all so different yet also relatable.
Highly recommend!
An incredible story of three sisters separated on their boat to escape the violence against them in Sri Lanka. I loved all the food references, the settings of Melbourne, Sydney and the Coast, as well as briefly in Sri Lanka. And the personalities of the characters were all so different yet also relatable.
Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
In 1990, three sisters are separated as children after a tragic boat crossing from war-torn Sri Lanka to Australia. Years go by, and as they try to find a way back to each other, the past keeps throwing shadows in their path.
This is a stunning book about healing, identity, and belonging, building on themes author Ayesha Inoon explored in her debut novel Untethered. These three young women overcome In the face over everything they'd previously gone through, I found myself questioning at what point someone's reserves of inner strength would run dry. The resilience these young women show, in the face of such abject trauma, is all the more remarkable in that it's certainly something other young women have lived through. The reality of their situation is confronting. But Inoon handles what could easily have become 'trauma porn' with sensitivity and grace. It's a difficult line to walk, and it's done quite well here.
The relationships between the sisters, and the people who are part of their lives, are an interesting exploration of the family theme. There's presentation of families in many forms; blood and chosen, adoptive and constructed, nuclear and non-traditional. What stood out to me in Inoon's engagement with this theme was how many people would be able to find a representation of their most powerful relationships somewhere in the complex 'family' ties this story weaves.
The characters here are complex, flawed, and fully formed. There's a subtle element of magical realism in but it doesn't detract from the plot or render the story suddenly unbelievable. And Ayesha Inoon's writing is a delight; there's plenty to enjoy in her delicious use of language. The leaps between narrators can present a mild challenge on occasion, but they serve their purpose in observing a single event from multiple perspectives. And the pacing is very solid. I tried to pace myself in reading this book but I couldn't--I had to know what happened next!
Inoon has nailed the tricky sophomore book here. If you loved her debut novel, you're in for a treat. This is BETTER.
This is a stunning book about healing, identity, and belonging, building on themes author Ayesha Inoon explored in her debut novel Untethered. These three young women overcome In the face over everything they'd previously gone through, I found myself questioning at what point someone's reserves of inner strength would run dry. The resilience these young women show, in the face of such abject trauma, is all the more remarkable in that it's certainly something other young women have lived through. The reality of their situation is confronting. But Inoon handles what could easily have become 'trauma porn' with sensitivity and grace. It's a difficult line to walk, and it's done quite well here.
The relationships between the sisters, and the people who are part of their lives, are an interesting exploration of the family theme. There's presentation of families in many forms; blood and chosen, adoptive and constructed, nuclear and non-traditional. What stood out to me in Inoon's engagement with this theme was how many people would be able to find a representation of their most powerful relationships somewhere in the complex 'family' ties this story weaves.
The characters here are complex, flawed, and fully formed. There's a subtle element of magical realism in but it doesn't detract from the plot or render the story suddenly unbelievable. And Ayesha Inoon's writing is a delight; there's plenty to enjoy in her delicious use of language. The leaps between narrators can present a mild challenge on occasion, but they serve their purpose in observing a single event from multiple perspectives. And the pacing is very solid. I tried to pace myself in reading this book but I couldn't--I had to know what happened next!
Inoon has nailed the tricky sophomore book here. If you loved her debut novel, you're in for a treat. This is BETTER.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Sisters of Serendib by Ayesha Inoon opens in 1990. A boat of Moslem asylum seekers flee war-torn Sri Lanka, bound for Australia. Leaving their father behind, three sisters travel with their mother. Janu is seven, Samar is three and Maryam is just a babe in arms. A few days into the journey their mother dies and the girls are adopted by different people as they leave the boat.
Janu is the only one who remembers the happy home left in Sri Lanka, her parents and her sisters. When her abusive adoptive father dies, Janu buys a beach house and a rundown shop called Serendib in a coastal community in NSW. Here she finally starts to find peace and decides that now is the time to find her sisters.
Samar was adopted by a strict, but loving, Moslem couple. They had a little girl the same age and as the two girl toddlers played together on the boat it seemed natural that the family take Samar with them. While Nadia is an obedient child and follows her faith, Samar overhears that she is adopted and rather than talk to her parents she rebels and finds that professional dancing is one way she can free herself from all her anger and frustrations. When she gets the letter from Janu she decides to go and visit to get some answers.
The baby, Maryam, ends up in Sydney and has been raised in a loving Moslem home with older brothers and parents who adore her. She knows she was adopted/chosen but is content. Maryam has an obsession for words and loves reading the dictionary. She falls in love and marries but is shocked to find that love and kindness is missing in her marriage. The letter from Janu is timely and gives her a chance to escape.
Once reunited the sisters take the chance to find what they actually want out of life, they put the traumas of the past behind them and each start to build a new future along with their sisters.
The Sisters of Serendib is author Ayesha Inoon’s second book, and once again she has written a story that stayed with me long after I closed the last page. I laughed, I cried, I gasped in horror - but I could not put the book down. Writing about what she knows Ayesha covers themes of friendship, Sri Lankan culture, traditions, faith, and the challenges of being a migrant and assimilating into Australia. The sisters each take turn in telling the story and there are many ups and downs; at times it was not an easy read, but is absolutely well worth reading. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to HQ fiction for providing an advanced copy of this book, at my request, for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Janu is the only one who remembers the happy home left in Sri Lanka, her parents and her sisters. When her abusive adoptive father dies, Janu buys a beach house and a rundown shop called Serendib in a coastal community in NSW. Here she finally starts to find peace and decides that now is the time to find her sisters.
Samar was adopted by a strict, but loving, Moslem couple. They had a little girl the same age and as the two girl toddlers played together on the boat it seemed natural that the family take Samar with them. While Nadia is an obedient child and follows her faith, Samar overhears that she is adopted and rather than talk to her parents she rebels and finds that professional dancing is one way she can free herself from all her anger and frustrations. When she gets the letter from Janu she decides to go and visit to get some answers.
The baby, Maryam, ends up in Sydney and has been raised in a loving Moslem home with older brothers and parents who adore her. She knows she was adopted/chosen but is content. Maryam has an obsession for words and loves reading the dictionary. She falls in love and marries but is shocked to find that love and kindness is missing in her marriage. The letter from Janu is timely and gives her a chance to escape.
Once reunited the sisters take the chance to find what they actually want out of life, they put the traumas of the past behind them and each start to build a new future along with their sisters.
The Sisters of Serendib is author Ayesha Inoon’s second book, and once again she has written a story that stayed with me long after I closed the last page. I laughed, I cried, I gasped in horror - but I could not put the book down. Writing about what she knows Ayesha covers themes of friendship, Sri Lankan culture, traditions, faith, and the challenges of being a migrant and assimilating into Australia. The sisters each take turn in telling the story and there are many ups and downs; at times it was not an easy read, but is absolutely well worth reading. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to HQ fiction for providing an advanced copy of this book, at my request, for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
June 12, 2026
“How do you did you learn to love the sisters you never knew you had?”
The Sisters of Serendib is one of those rare books that had tears in my eyes more than once. A beautiful story about loss, identity, migration, and family. It spoke to the enduring ties that connect generations and continents. It makes us remember the global paths people take to find their identity and place where they belong. It's a story about the family you're born into, the family you find, and the family you never stop searching for.
The novel follows three sisters who are separated after losing their mother while fleeing war-torn Sri Lanka for Australia. Raised by different families, Janu, Samar, and Maryam grow up on very different paths. They know something is missing. They know that there are pieces of themselves that are out there they need to be reunited. Through their journeys of grief, trauma, and self-discovery, there is a compassionate exploration of the impact of loss while never losing sight of hope. What these girls endured was heartbreaking, and that is why, as a a story of resilience, healing, and the enduring bonds of family, we read and heal with them. These women are not defined by what happened to them. They fight, grow, heal, and eventually find their way back to one another.
The symbolism of the cormorant was especially powerful. Believed to carry the spirits of loved ones lost at sea, these birds become a poignant reminder of that hopeful connection the three sisters were yearning for through their courage and hope. Like the sisters themselves, the black wings of the cormorant represented survival and purpose despite impossible odds. The tenderness and insight of the refugee experiences, cultural heritage and faith all centres around reconnection.
What stayed with me most was the novel's exploration of belonging. Inoon beautifully captures the pull between countries, cultures, and identities, and the question of who we might have become had life unfolded differently. Cultural heritage and food are woven throughout the narrative, creating powerful connections between past and present, memory and home. How might their lives have unfolded if there had only ever been one home, one country, one version of themselves?
The Sisters of Serendib is one of those rare books that had tears in my eyes more than once. A beautiful story about loss, identity, migration, and family. It spoke to the enduring ties that connect generations and continents. It makes us remember the global paths people take to find their identity and place where they belong. It's a story about the family you're born into, the family you find, and the family you never stop searching for.
The novel follows three sisters who are separated after losing their mother while fleeing war-torn Sri Lanka for Australia. Raised by different families, Janu, Samar, and Maryam grow up on very different paths. They know something is missing. They know that there are pieces of themselves that are out there they need to be reunited. Through their journeys of grief, trauma, and self-discovery, there is a compassionate exploration of the impact of loss while never losing sight of hope. What these girls endured was heartbreaking, and that is why, as a a story of resilience, healing, and the enduring bonds of family, we read and heal with them. These women are not defined by what happened to them. They fight, grow, heal, and eventually find their way back to one another.
The symbolism of the cormorant was especially powerful. Believed to carry the spirits of loved ones lost at sea, these birds become a poignant reminder of that hopeful connection the three sisters were yearning for through their courage and hope. Like the sisters themselves, the black wings of the cormorant represented survival and purpose despite impossible odds. The tenderness and insight of the refugee experiences, cultural heritage and faith all centres around reconnection.
What stayed with me most was the novel's exploration of belonging. Inoon beautifully captures the pull between countries, cultures, and identities, and the question of who we might have become had life unfolded differently. Cultural heritage and food are woven throughout the narrative, creating powerful connections between past and present, memory and home. How might their lives have unfolded if there had only ever been one home, one country, one version of themselves?
June 3, 2026
💬 “They would not all die, but one of them would. They would not all be in danger, but one of them would. They would all know pain. They would all know loss. They would all know what it was to live without each other.”
💬 “So, in many ways, serendipity isn’t just luck; it’s about making the most of things, of being ready to notice the unexpected gifts life places in our path.”
💬 “Family. What a beautiful word.”
I finished reading this book a couple of weeks ago now and not a day has gone by without it being in my daily thoughts. It is one of those stories that leaves you pondering long after you’ve read it.
Sisters of Serendib is a tender tale of the sisters Janu, Maryam and Samar who were split up when they were young, following the death of their mother – I was taken on a journey into each of their lives, sharing the families they became a part of, their relationships, life’s highs and lows, the beautiful moments and the heartbreaking too.
Each sister tells their story and with their individual perspectives on multiple world and life events that occur and along with Ayesha’s beautiful storytelling, it makes for a very intimate read.
It is no spoiler that the three sisters reunite and while it is a beautiful story of forgiveness, strength, resilience and family, there are also some utter heartbreaking and shocking moments for each of them, surrounding loss and grief and it sat heavy on my heart – it touches on difficult themes of death, domestic violence and sexual abuse, but Ayesha touches on these delicately and with so much care.
While it is a story of sisters, it is also one of mothers, fathers and found family and I loved seeing their connections, their healing and their individual growth come to life through culture, food and new life in its many forms.
Thank-you Ayesha and @harlequinaus for an Advanced Readers Copy, in exchange for an honest review.
💬 “So, in many ways, serendipity isn’t just luck; it’s about making the most of things, of being ready to notice the unexpected gifts life places in our path.”
💬 “Family. What a beautiful word.”
I finished reading this book a couple of weeks ago now and not a day has gone by without it being in my daily thoughts. It is one of those stories that leaves you pondering long after you’ve read it.
Sisters of Serendib is a tender tale of the sisters Janu, Maryam and Samar who were split up when they were young, following the death of their mother – I was taken on a journey into each of their lives, sharing the families they became a part of, their relationships, life’s highs and lows, the beautiful moments and the heartbreaking too.
Each sister tells their story and with their individual perspectives on multiple world and life events that occur and along with Ayesha’s beautiful storytelling, it makes for a very intimate read.
It is no spoiler that the three sisters reunite and while it is a beautiful story of forgiveness, strength, resilience and family, there are also some utter heartbreaking and shocking moments for each of them, surrounding loss and grief and it sat heavy on my heart – it touches on difficult themes of death, domestic violence and sexual abuse, but Ayesha touches on these delicately and with so much care.
While it is a story of sisters, it is also one of mothers, fathers and found family and I loved seeing their connections, their healing and their individual growth come to life through culture, food and new life in its many forms.
Thank-you Ayesha and @harlequinaus for an Advanced Readers Copy, in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2026
I received an ARC from HarperCollins/HQ and I’m so grateful to have had early access to this book!
This story follows three Sri Lankan-Australian sisters as they navigate family expectations, identity, religion, grief, and the lingering impact of migration across generations. Rich with food, memory, and emotional complexity, it’s a deeply moving story about sisterhood, belonging, and the ways families can both wound and hold us together.
As someone constantly drawn to books with birds on the cover, the cormorant imagery in this novel ended up meaning far more to me than I expected.
While my own parents didn’t migrate to Australia fleeing a war-torn country, they were still Muslim immigrants and so many emotional truths within these pages felt deeply familiar to me. In each sister I could recognise pieces of myself or reflections of my own many sisters, while the parent figures reminded me so much of my mum and late dad.
The cormorant symbolism especially stayed with me. A bird existing between worlds, moving through air, land, and water without fully belonging to one. It became such a powerful metaphor for migration, identity, family, survival, and emotional inheritance across generations.
Combined with the layered sisterhood dynamics, food references, and exploration of religion and the sisters who chose to leave parts of it behind, this story became something incredibly tender, honest, and emotionally rich.
I genuinely didn’t want these women’s stories to end and as I turned the final page, I already felt myself missing Janu, Samar and Maryam.
And honestly, the title feels perfect because The Sisters of Serendib truly feels destined to fall into the exact right readers’ hands, like a little piece of serendipity arriving when it’s needed most.
This story follows three Sri Lankan-Australian sisters as they navigate family expectations, identity, religion, grief, and the lingering impact of migration across generations. Rich with food, memory, and emotional complexity, it’s a deeply moving story about sisterhood, belonging, and the ways families can both wound and hold us together.
As someone constantly drawn to books with birds on the cover, the cormorant imagery in this novel ended up meaning far more to me than I expected.
While my own parents didn’t migrate to Australia fleeing a war-torn country, they were still Muslim immigrants and so many emotional truths within these pages felt deeply familiar to me. In each sister I could recognise pieces of myself or reflections of my own many sisters, while the parent figures reminded me so much of my mum and late dad.
The cormorant symbolism especially stayed with me. A bird existing between worlds, moving through air, land, and water without fully belonging to one. It became such a powerful metaphor for migration, identity, family, survival, and emotional inheritance across generations.
Combined with the layered sisterhood dynamics, food references, and exploration of religion and the sisters who chose to leave parts of it behind, this story became something incredibly tender, honest, and emotionally rich.
I genuinely didn’t want these women’s stories to end and as I turned the final page, I already felt myself missing Janu, Samar and Maryam.
And honestly, the title feels perfect because The Sisters of Serendib truly feels destined to fall into the exact right readers’ hands, like a little piece of serendipity arriving when it’s needed most.
June 14, 2026
.....📚 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 📚.....
The Sisters of Serendib by Ayesha Inoon is a beautiful literary fiction that is a quiet, powerful novel about displacement, sisterhood, and the long journey toward belonging. It
blends lyrical storytelling with emotional depth. It sits covers themes of migration, identity, family, and the fierce resilience of women.
In 1990, a boat of asylum seekers leaves war‑torn Sri Lanka for Australia. When a mother dies during the journey, her three young daughters are separated on arrival and sent to different parts of the country.
Years later, the eldest sister, Janu, has built a quiet life in a coastal town, running a small shop called Serendib. Even with the stability she’s created, she carries the memory of the sisters she lost. In Melbourne, Samar expresses everything she can’t say through dance, while in Sydney, Maryam turns to language to make sense of the world and her place in it.
When Janu discovers the first clues to help her find her sisters, she begins the search to bring them back into her life. Each woman must face the question of whether something broken for so long can ever be made whole again.
This is a tender but confronting story about loss, resilience, and the slow, brave work of reclaiming your own story. It covers a number of challenging and devastating topics, but it is written with such care and compassion. Inoon writes with tenderness, giving each sister a distinct emotional landscape shaped by trauma, longing, and the stubborn spark of hope. What I think will stay with me most is the novel’s belief in healing, not as a neat resolution, but as a slow, courageous reclaiming of self.
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Thank you to HQ Books for this copy in exchange for my honest review
The Sisters of Serendib by Ayesha Inoon is a beautiful literary fiction that is a quiet, powerful novel about displacement, sisterhood, and the long journey toward belonging. It
blends lyrical storytelling with emotional depth. It sits covers themes of migration, identity, family, and the fierce resilience of women.
In 1990, a boat of asylum seekers leaves war‑torn Sri Lanka for Australia. When a mother dies during the journey, her three young daughters are separated on arrival and sent to different parts of the country.
Years later, the eldest sister, Janu, has built a quiet life in a coastal town, running a small shop called Serendib. Even with the stability she’s created, she carries the memory of the sisters she lost. In Melbourne, Samar expresses everything she can’t say through dance, while in Sydney, Maryam turns to language to make sense of the world and her place in it.
When Janu discovers the first clues to help her find her sisters, she begins the search to bring them back into her life. Each woman must face the question of whether something broken for so long can ever be made whole again.
This is a tender but confronting story about loss, resilience, and the slow, brave work of reclaiming your own story. It covers a number of challenging and devastating topics, but it is written with such care and compassion. Inoon writes with tenderness, giving each sister a distinct emotional landscape shaped by trauma, longing, and the stubborn spark of hope. What I think will stay with me most is the novel’s belief in healing, not as a neat resolution, but as a slow, courageous reclaiming of self.
.
.
.
.
.
Thank you to HQ Books for this copy in exchange for my honest review
August 13, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an ARC of The Sisters of Serendip by Ayesha Inoon from HQ Insiders in exchange for an honest review.
This isn’t something I would normally pick up, but the blurb intrigued me enough to think, you know what, I’ll give it a crack. And I’m really glad I did.
What I loved most about this book was learning about a part of history I knew very little about, particularly what happened to the Muslim population in Sri Lanka. The story follows three sisters who flee Sri Lanka by boat, the oldest only seven and the youngest still a baby. Tragically, their mother dies during the journey, leaving the three girls orphaned. The sisters are eventually separated, with each child taken in by a different family, and we follow them as they grow up, navigate their new lives and eventually find their way back to one another.
Each sister has her own complicated story, exploring identity, belonging, biological versus adoptive family and what it really means to know where you come from. I especially loved the themes of found family, not only in the sisters finding each other again, but in the way their lives and families eventually come together.
There are some very heavy themes throughout, including sexual abuse, domestic violence and queer identity, particularly in relation to the Muslim faith, so definitely check the trigger warnings before picking this one up.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. It was different from what I normally read, had a strong historical element, and introduced me to a part of Sri Lankan history that I honestly knew very little about.
If you’re looking for something a little different, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try.
I received an ARC of The Sisters of Serendip by Ayesha Inoon from HQ Insiders in exchange for an honest review.
This isn’t something I would normally pick up, but the blurb intrigued me enough to think, you know what, I’ll give it a crack. And I’m really glad I did.
What I loved most about this book was learning about a part of history I knew very little about, particularly what happened to the Muslim population in Sri Lanka. The story follows three sisters who flee Sri Lanka by boat, the oldest only seven and the youngest still a baby. Tragically, their mother dies during the journey, leaving the three girls orphaned. The sisters are eventually separated, with each child taken in by a different family, and we follow them as they grow up, navigate their new lives and eventually find their way back to one another.
Each sister has her own complicated story, exploring identity, belonging, biological versus adoptive family and what it really means to know where you come from. I especially loved the themes of found family, not only in the sisters finding each other again, but in the way their lives and families eventually come together.
There are some very heavy themes throughout, including sexual abuse, domestic violence and queer identity, particularly in relation to the Muslim faith, so definitely check the trigger warnings before picking this one up.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. It was different from what I normally read, had a strong historical element, and introduced me to a part of Sri Lankan history that I honestly knew very little about.
If you’re looking for something a little different, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try.
June 9, 2026
I was fortunate to receive an Advanced Reading Copy of The Sisters of Serendib by Ayesha Inoon.
This was one of those books that took me on an emotional journey and had me completely invested in the lives of the characters. The story follows three sisters, Janu, Samar and Maryam, who are separated as children after fleeing Sri Lanka with their family. Each sister grows up believing something different about her past, and as their individual stories unfold, you slowly piece together what happened to them.
I particularly enjoyed how the story was told from each sister’s perspective. Janu carries the memories of the family she lost and never gives up hope of finding her sisters. Samar channels her emotions through dance and struggles to find where she belongs, while Maryam’s love of words and learning helps shape her own path. I found myself equally invested in all three women and was eager to see how their stories would eventually connect.
The themes of family, identity, belonging and resilience are woven beautifully throughout the novel. While there are heartbreaking moments, there is also hope, strength and the reminder that family bonds can survive even the greatest distances and challenges.
Ayesha Inoon has created characters that felt real and relatable, and I quickly became immersed in their lives. The story flowed well and kept me turning the pages, wanting to know what would happen next.
The Sisters of Serendib is a moving and heartfelt story about loss, love and finding your way home. A powerful debut that will stay with me for a long time.
This was one of those books that took me on an emotional journey and had me completely invested in the lives of the characters. The story follows three sisters, Janu, Samar and Maryam, who are separated as children after fleeing Sri Lanka with their family. Each sister grows up believing something different about her past, and as their individual stories unfold, you slowly piece together what happened to them.
I particularly enjoyed how the story was told from each sister’s perspective. Janu carries the memories of the family she lost and never gives up hope of finding her sisters. Samar channels her emotions through dance and struggles to find where she belongs, while Maryam’s love of words and learning helps shape her own path. I found myself equally invested in all three women and was eager to see how their stories would eventually connect.
The themes of family, identity, belonging and resilience are woven beautifully throughout the novel. While there are heartbreaking moments, there is also hope, strength and the reminder that family bonds can survive even the greatest distances and challenges.
Ayesha Inoon has created characters that felt real and relatable, and I quickly became immersed in their lives. The story flowed well and kept me turning the pages, wanting to know what would happen next.
The Sisters of Serendib is a moving and heartfelt story about loss, love and finding your way home. A powerful debut that will stay with me for a long time.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sisters of Serendib is, at its heart, a story about love - quiet, enduring, and sometimes stretched across distance and time, but in the end always holding strong and true.
Three sisters separated as children after fleeing Sri Lanka, growing up in entirely different worlds, and then circling back toward each other years later. Each sister carries her own version of loss, and you feel it in the small things - in the way they speak, the way they hold back, the lives they build around what’s missing.
What I particularly love is how well Ayesha writes women. As people who are messy, contradictory, resilient in ways that don’t always look impressive from the outside – she brings them to life with a forgiving gentleness, giving them room to grow into themselves. You get the feeling that they are discovering themselves at the same time that we are.
There’s also a strong sense of place running through the book. Sri Lanka isn’t just a backdrop, it lingers, telling its own story, through memory, food, language, in the things the sisters hold onto or leave behind. It evokes the indelible touch of an island that was the sisters’ first home – one that has gifted them with parts of its very soul to hold on to.
This is a book that stays with you long after you’ve read it. It’s one you’ll reach for again. To remind yourself that home is a place yes, but also a feeling.
Do not miss out on reading this book.
Three sisters separated as children after fleeing Sri Lanka, growing up in entirely different worlds, and then circling back toward each other years later. Each sister carries her own version of loss, and you feel it in the small things - in the way they speak, the way they hold back, the lives they build around what’s missing.
What I particularly love is how well Ayesha writes women. As people who are messy, contradictory, resilient in ways that don’t always look impressive from the outside – she brings them to life with a forgiving gentleness, giving them room to grow into themselves. You get the feeling that they are discovering themselves at the same time that we are.
There’s also a strong sense of place running through the book. Sri Lanka isn’t just a backdrop, it lingers, telling its own story, through memory, food, language, in the things the sisters hold onto or leave behind. It evokes the indelible touch of an island that was the sisters’ first home – one that has gifted them with parts of its very soul to hold on to.
This is a book that stays with you long after you’ve read it. It’s one you’ll reach for again. To remind yourself that home is a place yes, but also a feeling.
Do not miss out on reading this book.
May 3, 2026
Thank you to @harlequinaus and HarperCollins Australia for sending me a copy of this book!
In 1990 a boat of asylum seekers leave war-torn Sri Lanka with several families on board. When a mother dies en route to Australia, her three young daughters are split up between three different families and go on to grow up in different parts of the country.
Janu, the eldest sister is the only one who remembers her sisters and vows to one day find them, and the father they had to leave behind in Sri Lanka.
What a moving and beautiful story this is about the power of family, including those that you choose as well. The author has beautifully portrayed three quite different and unique characters in the sisters, that each bring her own strength and charm to the story.
There are some quite heavy topics in the story that the author writes about with empathy and dignity, and how each character begins to heal. There is an almost magical quality to the characters (which will make sense when you read it) that is powerful, yet woven with a light touch.
I guess one could argue there are some grand coincidences in the story, however with a big part of its theme being serendipity, to me these just added to the joyful, magical and touching elements of the story. I enjoyed this so much! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
In 1990 a boat of asylum seekers leave war-torn Sri Lanka with several families on board. When a mother dies en route to Australia, her three young daughters are split up between three different families and go on to grow up in different parts of the country.
Janu, the eldest sister is the only one who remembers her sisters and vows to one day find them, and the father they had to leave behind in Sri Lanka.
What a moving and beautiful story this is about the power of family, including those that you choose as well. The author has beautifully portrayed three quite different and unique characters in the sisters, that each bring her own strength and charm to the story.
There are some quite heavy topics in the story that the author writes about with empathy and dignity, and how each character begins to heal. There is an almost magical quality to the characters (which will make sense when you read it) that is powerful, yet woven with a light touch.
I guess one could argue there are some grand coincidences in the story, however with a big part of its theme being serendipity, to me these just added to the joyful, magical and touching elements of the story. I enjoyed this so much! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
May 28, 2026
Three sisters are separated as children. Decades later, with so much lost and changed, can they find their way back to each other?
In 1990, a boat of asylum seekers leaves war-torn Sri Lanka, bound for Australia. When a mother dies on the journey, her three young daughters are separated and scattered across the country.
Years later, the eldest, Janu, still remembers the home she left and the sisters she's lost. Having freed herself from the grip of a painful childhood, she builds a life for herself in a coastal town, running a small shop called Serendib, where the air hums with memory and people come to find what they didn't know they were searching for.
In Melbourne, Samar, the middle sister, dances to speak the words she cannot say, pouring her longing and restlessness into movement, while in Sydney, Maryam, the youngest, finds magic in language, always searching for a place to belong.
As Janu discovers clues to her sisters' identities and begins the quest to bring them together, they all face the question: can something broken for so long ever be made whole again?
I loved this book as the bravery of these sisters and their journey was fascinating ,thank you HQ insiders for the opportunity to read this book.
In 1990, a boat of asylum seekers leaves war-torn Sri Lanka, bound for Australia. When a mother dies on the journey, her three young daughters are separated and scattered across the country.
Years later, the eldest, Janu, still remembers the home she left and the sisters she's lost. Having freed herself from the grip of a painful childhood, she builds a life for herself in a coastal town, running a small shop called Serendib, where the air hums with memory and people come to find what they didn't know they were searching for.
In Melbourne, Samar, the middle sister, dances to speak the words she cannot say, pouring her longing and restlessness into movement, while in Sydney, Maryam, the youngest, finds magic in language, always searching for a place to belong.
As Janu discovers clues to her sisters' identities and begins the quest to bring them together, they all face the question: can something broken for so long ever be made whole again?
I loved this book as the bravery of these sisters and their journey was fascinating ,thank you HQ insiders for the opportunity to read this book.
May 3, 2026
Review of advanced copy sent to me by the publisher
"Only then did Janu fully understand what it would mean to leave their father. The future unfurled in one dark, terrifying glimpse. They would not all die, but one of them would. They would not all be in danger, but one of them would. They would all know pain. They would all know loss. They would all know what it was to live without each other."
The book tells the story of a father who sends his wife and children off a war torn Sri Lanka. It tells of their journey, their lives and all that it takes for them to reunite.
This books is beautifully written. The way the author makes every one of the three sisters magical in their way, how their journey unfolds, how their years are lived. Even when describing pain and hurt the author does so in such a thoughtful and brief way. She doesn't linger. There is no need, we can all understand.
Their encounter when they are older and how they become sisters again and become a big family happens naturally.
It brought tears to my eyes a few times which is very rare but also made me smile. Definitely recommend.
"Only then did Janu fully understand what it would mean to leave their father. The future unfurled in one dark, terrifying glimpse. They would not all die, but one of them would. They would not all be in danger, but one of them would. They would all know pain. They would all know loss. They would all know what it was to live without each other."
The book tells the story of a father who sends his wife and children off a war torn Sri Lanka. It tells of their journey, their lives and all that it takes for them to reunite.
This books is beautifully written. The way the author makes every one of the three sisters magical in their way, how their journey unfolds, how their years are lived. Even when describing pain and hurt the author does so in such a thoughtful and brief way. She doesn't linger. There is no need, we can all understand.
Their encounter when they are older and how they become sisters again and become a big family happens naturally.
It brought tears to my eyes a few times which is very rare but also made me smile. Definitely recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
“Because extraordinary circumstances create extraordinary courage.”
Oh my heart, this was so beautiful but also so devastating.
A boat of asylum seekers head to Australia from Sri Lanka and on board is a mother and her three daughters, Janu, Samar and Maryam. When their mother dies on the ship, the girls are separated when they arrive in Australia.
The lives they endure with their new families is not all sunshine in this new country. Some of the things they went through are disturbing and heartbreaking.
We are taken on the journey of all three sisters and their lives growing up. Each one facing difficulties and traumatic situations, all being brought up by different family units.
After all the loss, abuse, heartbreak and difficult years growing up, these three women are not brought down. They make changes, stand up for themselves, fight and they are eventually reunited. It’s amazing in a special way.
This was a powerful yet emotional story. It’s about belonging, finding oneself and family, hope, new beginnings and love.
Thank you @harlequinaus @harpercollinsaustralia for the early copy.
Oh my heart, this was so beautiful but also so devastating.
A boat of asylum seekers head to Australia from Sri Lanka and on board is a mother and her three daughters, Janu, Samar and Maryam. When their mother dies on the ship, the girls are separated when they arrive in Australia.
The lives they endure with their new families is not all sunshine in this new country. Some of the things they went through are disturbing and heartbreaking.
We are taken on the journey of all three sisters and their lives growing up. Each one facing difficulties and traumatic situations, all being brought up by different family units.
After all the loss, abuse, heartbreak and difficult years growing up, these three women are not brought down. They make changes, stand up for themselves, fight and they are eventually reunited. It’s amazing in a special way.
This was a powerful yet emotional story. It’s about belonging, finding oneself and family, hope, new beginnings and love.
Thank you @harlequinaus @harpercollinsaustralia for the early copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Big thanks to Harlequin for sending us a copy to read and review.
A bond between sisters is strong and a forced separation does not deter three strangers from regrouping, forming closeness and facing decisions made on their behalf.
War, asylum, death and reconnection create a powerful reconciliation in a culturally enriching and powerful story.
The oldest Janu knew she had sisters and had the most memories after the tragic death of their mother on the asylum boat.
After a horrific childhood that was stained with abuse she needs to find her sisters.
Samar had a love hate relationship with her adopted family over religious expectations and desires for the future.
Maryam married the wrong man so a reunion with her sisters was timely.
Sisterly love was cemented as the errors of the past were corrected.
Facing truths, fighting demons and searching for answers became a common thread for them.
The reader is taken on a journey that highlights the plight and the need to leave a striken country for safety and renewal.
Sacrifices, hopes and adjustment govern the risk they’ve taken.
Issues have a way of crossing cultural boundaries as does family loyalty.
I was invested and absorbed from the start to the finish.
A bond between sisters is strong and a forced separation does not deter three strangers from regrouping, forming closeness and facing decisions made on their behalf.
War, asylum, death and reconnection create a powerful reconciliation in a culturally enriching and powerful story.
The oldest Janu knew she had sisters and had the most memories after the tragic death of their mother on the asylum boat.
After a horrific childhood that was stained with abuse she needs to find her sisters.
Samar had a love hate relationship with her adopted family over religious expectations and desires for the future.
Maryam married the wrong man so a reunion with her sisters was timely.
Sisterly love was cemented as the errors of the past were corrected.
Facing truths, fighting demons and searching for answers became a common thread for them.
The reader is taken on a journey that highlights the plight and the need to leave a striken country for safety and renewal.
Sacrifices, hopes and adjustment govern the risk they’ve taken.
Issues have a way of crossing cultural boundaries as does family loyalty.
I was invested and absorbed from the start to the finish.
May 28, 2026
My weekend didn’t go as planned but I finally got to catch up on some reading.
This is the story of three sisters whose journey begins on a dark night in Sri Lanka, when their father says goodbye to them and their mother. Huddled in a boat with many others, they begin the long journey to Australia seeking asylum and hoping for a safer, better life.
But during the journey, their mother dies and the sisters are separated, each taken in by different people on the boat.
In many ways, it is a heartbreaking story, and not just because of the events in the opening chapter. Each sister faces her own trials and hardships. Can they find each other again, and what will they discover when they do?
It’s a story about belonging and finding your own identity — about families formed through blood versus the families we create ourselves.
I found this a moving and compelling read, though I did have to set aside my general scepticism about psychic abilities, as they play a role in the story.
So let yourself be lured in by the beautiful cover and stay for the story. And when you’ve finished, you might want to track down Ayesha’s earlier novel, ‘Untethered’, which offers another insight into Sri Lankan migration to Australia.
Thank you @harlequinaus for sending me an Advanced Reading Copy. The book was a gift, but opinions are all my own.
This is the story of three sisters whose journey begins on a dark night in Sri Lanka, when their father says goodbye to them and their mother. Huddled in a boat with many others, they begin the long journey to Australia seeking asylum and hoping for a safer, better life.
But during the journey, their mother dies and the sisters are separated, each taken in by different people on the boat.
In many ways, it is a heartbreaking story, and not just because of the events in the opening chapter. Each sister faces her own trials and hardships. Can they find each other again, and what will they discover when they do?
It’s a story about belonging and finding your own identity — about families formed through blood versus the families we create ourselves.
I found this a moving and compelling read, though I did have to set aside my general scepticism about psychic abilities, as they play a role in the story.
So let yourself be lured in by the beautiful cover and stay for the story. And when you’ve finished, you might want to track down Ayesha’s earlier novel, ‘Untethered’, which offers another insight into Sri Lankan migration to Australia.
Thank you @harlequinaus for sending me an Advanced Reading Copy. The book was a gift, but opinions are all my own.
May 25, 2026
Advance copy by HQ Insiders
This author has captured the true essence and spirit of the 3 sisters who are the main characters of this story. Heartbreaking and heart warming all
In one. A father who sacrificed all to save his family from the Sri Lankan war torn area. 3 children left alone when their mother perishes. Decisions made by other adults on the same boat shape the future of these children. The author explores child abuse and domestic violence but in a sensitive manner and explores the struggles for refugees between the western culture and maintaining culture from their own countries. 3 sisters reunite and show that their is enough love for all family. They overcome struggles in both their new family structure and their adopted family structure in which they grew up. Overall this novel will have you shedding a tear or two for the 3 sisters and their extended families. Well worth a read.
This author has captured the true essence and spirit of the 3 sisters who are the main characters of this story. Heartbreaking and heart warming all
In one. A father who sacrificed all to save his family from the Sri Lankan war torn area. 3 children left alone when their mother perishes. Decisions made by other adults on the same boat shape the future of these children. The author explores child abuse and domestic violence but in a sensitive manner and explores the struggles for refugees between the western culture and maintaining culture from their own countries. 3 sisters reunite and show that their is enough love for all family. They overcome struggles in both their new family structure and their adopted family structure in which they grew up. Overall this novel will have you shedding a tear or two for the 3 sisters and their extended families. Well worth a read.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
"𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐, 𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓".
The Sisters of Serendib is a beautiful story about three sisters who are separated as young children on their journey to Australia as Sri Lankan refugees. With multiple points of view, the book allows us to follow each sister's journey of growth, hardship, and healing, on their way back to finding each other.
I came into this book with very high hopes and it did not disappoint. Ayesha Inoon's writing is so articulate and full of imagery that I felt immersed into the vivid scenes and was glued from the very beginning. The atmosphere was both warm and comforting, and extremely chilling.
I particularly enjoyed the exploration of themes of belonging and identity, especially within the cultural and family expectations of growing up in an immigrant family in Australia.
Highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking for an emotional and powerful read.
The Sisters of Serendib is a beautiful story about three sisters who are separated as young children on their journey to Australia as Sri Lankan refugees. With multiple points of view, the book allows us to follow each sister's journey of growth, hardship, and healing, on their way back to finding each other.
I came into this book with very high hopes and it did not disappoint. Ayesha Inoon's writing is so articulate and full of imagery that I felt immersed into the vivid scenes and was glued from the very beginning. The atmosphere was both warm and comforting, and extremely chilling.
I particularly enjoyed the exploration of themes of belonging and identity, especially within the cultural and family expectations of growing up in an immigrant family in Australia.
Highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking for an emotional and powerful read.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Beautifully written story about three young sisters who are separated when their mother dies on a boat bound for Australia from war-torn Sri Lanka. The oldest sister, Janu, attempts to find her sisters and re-unite with them many years later.
The book describes the different up bringing of each sister and how this and their separation has impacted their lives. The sisters do not allow past traumas and experiences to define them. Instead, it strengthens them and prompts them to take control of their own lives.
There is a wonderful sense of connectedness that is woven throughout the story, highlighting the importance of not just immediate family but extended family, partners, friends, and other community members.
An enjoyable book to read that covers heartbreaking issues with a delicate touch.
The book describes the different up bringing of each sister and how this and their separation has impacted their lives. The sisters do not allow past traumas and experiences to define them. Instead, it strengthens them and prompts them to take control of their own lives.
There is a wonderful sense of connectedness that is woven throughout the story, highlighting the importance of not just immediate family but extended family, partners, friends, and other community members.
An enjoyable book to read that covers heartbreaking issues with a delicate touch.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
“Serendib was an island of unexpected treasures, gemstones, spices and beauty everywhere. And that’s how serendipity came to be defined - life’s unexpected turns, the good luck you aren’t looking for, happy endings that find you anyway.”
Despite the loveliness of the definition of serendipity, Ayesha Inoon’s new book follows three sisters who are separated as children escaping war torn Sri Lanka. This beautiful yet agonising narrative weaves their devastating background with present day Australia.
The powerful storyline of the lives of Janu, Samar, and Maryam gripped me. I couldn’t turn out the light until I turned the last page. This story left me satisfied while at the same time wanting to know what happens next. The sign of a great book!
‘For readers of Shaker Chandran, Tracey Lien and Emma Pei Yin.’ Out on 26 May!!!
Despite the loveliness of the definition of serendipity, Ayesha Inoon’s new book follows three sisters who are separated as children escaping war torn Sri Lanka. This beautiful yet agonising narrative weaves their devastating background with present day Australia.
The powerful storyline of the lives of Janu, Samar, and Maryam gripped me. I couldn’t turn out the light until I turned the last page. This story left me satisfied while at the same time wanting to know what happens next. The sign of a great book!
‘For readers of Shaker Chandran, Tracey Lien and Emma Pei Yin.’ Out on 26 May!!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review on an advanced copy received from the Publisher through HQInsiders.
What a beautifully written book that honestly had me feeling all the feels.
A mother and her three daughters set off on a boat from war torn Sri Lanka to Australia in 1990 as refugees, however tragedy befalls them, with their mother falling ill on the way over, and the girls are separated.
This is their story of being taken in and their lives growing up without one another. It is a story of life – that bad things can happen to people and the storms will come. But woven throughout the sadness and pain comes the journey of the sisters reuniting with one another. A story of hope, and eventual wholeness and healing.
It was such a wholesome read, and you could really connect and feel for each of the characters within the story. Would highly recommend!
What a beautifully written book that honestly had me feeling all the feels.
A mother and her three daughters set off on a boat from war torn Sri Lanka to Australia in 1990 as refugees, however tragedy befalls them, with their mother falling ill on the way over, and the girls are separated.
This is their story of being taken in and their lives growing up without one another. It is a story of life – that bad things can happen to people and the storms will come. But woven throughout the sadness and pain comes the journey of the sisters reuniting with one another. A story of hope, and eventual wholeness and healing.
It was such a wholesome read, and you could really connect and feel for each of the characters within the story. Would highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A young family is bound for Australia, put on a ship with their mother, and saying goodbye to their father. This is a story of asylum seekers leaving their homes in Sri Lanka as they are asked to leave their homes or face death.
The girls in this story will face the death of their mother and will get separated into different families when they arrive in Australia, and all their journeys will be different until they find a way back to each other.
This book was about strong women who have to tackle their own way in life, shattered moments, and some beautiful moments. I loved all their different personalities and dreams and how this blended them all in the end.
Thanks ♥️ HQ for my advanced copy.
The girls in this story will face the death of their mother and will get separated into different families when they arrive in Australia, and all their journeys will be different until they find a way back to each other.
This book was about strong women who have to tackle their own way in life, shattered moments, and some beautiful moments. I loved all their different personalities and dreams and how this blended them all in the end.
Thanks ♥️ HQ for my advanced copy.
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