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Marigold
Marigold is a young Indian-origin woman who works in a vintage library of classics in the city of Rome. Her seemingly ordinary life- defined by routine and the quiet companionship of books-is held together by secrets she refuses to face.
Her relationship with her lover is close and consuming, yet built around a boundary he insists must not be crossed.
While mourning the loss of her dog, Marigold begins therapy. Her fragile sense of healing takes a sudden turn when her mother disappears unexpectedly.
The discovery of an unpublished biography hidden in the attic draws Marigold into her parents' childhood in New Delhi-and toward truths long buried in her own heart.
As she investigates the celebrated yet mysterious life of her artist mother, Marigold learns the language of paintings, and of what emerges only when one dares to look long enough. As fiction and reality slowly pull apart, her search carries her toward a revelation that is both intimate and devastating.
Her relationship with her lover is close and consuming, yet built around a boundary he insists must not be crossed.
While mourning the loss of her dog, Marigold begins therapy. Her fragile sense of healing takes a sudden turn when her mother disappears unexpectedly.
The discovery of an unpublished biography hidden in the attic draws Marigold into her parents' childhood in New Delhi-and toward truths long buried in her own heart.
As she investigates the celebrated yet mysterious life of her artist mother, Marigold learns the language of paintings, and of what emerges only when one dares to look long enough. As fiction and reality slowly pull apart, her search carries her toward a revelation that is both intimate and devastating.
385 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2026
About the author
Heena Singhal
3 books26 followersHeena Singhal is an Indian novelist and mixed-media artist. Trained as a Chartered Accountant, she found her voice in fiction and art, writing stories that explore grief, memory, womanhood, and the quiet violence of silence. She is the author of Songs of the Reed and Marigold, and lives between stories, colours, and motherhood.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 2, 2026
I picked up "Marigold" without really knowing what to expect, but this turned out to be one of those stories that quietly settles into your heart.
The story unfolds slowly, and that’s exactly what makes it so beautiful. It gently pulls you into Marigold’s world her grief, confusion, memories, and the truths she is trying to uncover about herself and her family.
What stayed with me the most was how layered the story felt. The shifting between Rome and New Delhi, the hidden family history, and the language of art and paintings added so much depth to the narrative. The emotions felt raw and real, especially the way grief was portrayed messy, confusing, and all-consuming.
What I also loved was how beautifully this book shows the way generational trauma quietly passes from one generation to another, shaping lives in ways we often don’t even realise. It was heartbreaking to witness how deeply silence, pain, and unresolved wounds can live on.
And Ira... I genuinely cried for her. There was so much pain and loneliness in her story that there were moments when I just wished I could reach into the pages and hug her. Her journey broke my heart in ways I wasn’t expecting.
I also really loved how beautifully the author captured the artist’s world. The way paintings became a language of their own, carrying emotions that words couldn’t express, was written so delicately and thoughtfully.
This book doesn’t scream for your attention. It quietly unfolds, layer by layer, and before you realise it, it leaves you carrying its characters and their pain with you.
Even after finishing it, I kept thinking about Ira, Marigold, and everything they carried within themselves. Some stories end when you turn the last page, but this one lingers. It leaves behind a strange ache, the kind that comes when a book has made you feel something deeply real. And honestly, that’s what made this book so special for me.
The story unfolds slowly, and that’s exactly what makes it so beautiful. It gently pulls you into Marigold’s world her grief, confusion, memories, and the truths she is trying to uncover about herself and her family.
What stayed with me the most was how layered the story felt. The shifting between Rome and New Delhi, the hidden family history, and the language of art and paintings added so much depth to the narrative. The emotions felt raw and real, especially the way grief was portrayed messy, confusing, and all-consuming.
What I also loved was how beautifully this book shows the way generational trauma quietly passes from one generation to another, shaping lives in ways we often don’t even realise. It was heartbreaking to witness how deeply silence, pain, and unresolved wounds can live on.
And Ira... I genuinely cried for her. There was so much pain and loneliness in her story that there were moments when I just wished I could reach into the pages and hug her. Her journey broke my heart in ways I wasn’t expecting.
I also really loved how beautifully the author captured the artist’s world. The way paintings became a language of their own, carrying emotions that words couldn’t express, was written so delicately and thoughtfully.
This book doesn’t scream for your attention. It quietly unfolds, layer by layer, and before you realise it, it leaves you carrying its characters and their pain with you.
Even after finishing it, I kept thinking about Ira, Marigold, and everything they carried within themselves. Some stories end when you turn the last page, but this one lingers. It leaves behind a strange ache, the kind that comes when a book has made you feel something deeply real. And honestly, that’s what made this book so special for me.
June 25, 2026
Heena Singhal’s Marigold is the kind of book that gently wraps around your heart and refuses to let go long after you turn the final page.
It introduces you to Marigold, a young woman of Indian origin living a quiet, routine life among old classics in a vintage library in Rome. On the surface, her days seem peaceful, but underneath lies a heavy layer of unspoken grief and buried secrets.
When she begins therapy to cope with the loss of her beloved dog, and her mother suddenly disappears, Marigold is pulled out of her safe bubble. Just then, the discovery of an unpublished biography hidden in the attic forces her to look back at her parents' childhood in New Delhi, unraveling truths that are both beautiful and deeply painful.
What makes this novel so wonderful is the incredibly moving way it handles human emotions. The book effectively explores how pain and silence can travel quietly across generations, shaping a family in ways they do not even realise.
Singhal moves the story effortlessly between the charming, historic lanes of Rome and the nostalgic memories of 1990s New Delhi, using the worlds of art and literature to express feelings that words alone cannot cover.
It is a slow, reflective read that focuses deeply on the characters' inner lives rather than rushing into any superficial drama.
If you appreciate raw, honest storytelling that feels like real life, where no one is perfectly right or wrong, but everyone is just trying to heal, Marigold is an absolute gem of a book that feels incredibly comforting to read.
Thank you, @papertownsindia @thebookoholics @booksbyheenasinghal for this precious copy ❤️
Rated: 4/5
It introduces you to Marigold, a young woman of Indian origin living a quiet, routine life among old classics in a vintage library in Rome. On the surface, her days seem peaceful, but underneath lies a heavy layer of unspoken grief and buried secrets.
When she begins therapy to cope with the loss of her beloved dog, and her mother suddenly disappears, Marigold is pulled out of her safe bubble. Just then, the discovery of an unpublished biography hidden in the attic forces her to look back at her parents' childhood in New Delhi, unraveling truths that are both beautiful and deeply painful.
What makes this novel so wonderful is the incredibly moving way it handles human emotions. The book effectively explores how pain and silence can travel quietly across generations, shaping a family in ways they do not even realise.
Singhal moves the story effortlessly between the charming, historic lanes of Rome and the nostalgic memories of 1990s New Delhi, using the worlds of art and literature to express feelings that words alone cannot cover.
It is a slow, reflective read that focuses deeply on the characters' inner lives rather than rushing into any superficial drama.
If you appreciate raw, honest storytelling that feels like real life, where no one is perfectly right or wrong, but everyone is just trying to heal, Marigold is an absolute gem of a book that feels incredibly comforting to read.
Thank you, @papertownsindia @thebookoholics @booksbyheenasinghal for this precious copy ❤️
Rated: 4/5
April 26, 2026
Marigold is one of those books that quietly settles into you and then refuses to leave.
At its core, it speaks about generational trauma and how it moves through families in ways we don’t always notice. Not out of intention, but because healing is hard, and sometimes we simply don’t know how to begin. Through Mandira, Ira, and Marigold, we see how pain travels from mother to daughter, shaping lives in quiet, lasting ways. No one here is entirely right or wrong. It feels honest, like life itself, where people are only trying to survive what they carry.
What makes this book so special is how real the emotions feel. They are messy, layered, and at times overwhelming. Nothing is softened or hidden. And yet, even within all that heaviness, love still finds a place.
I was especially drawn to Ira and Nihal. Their story felt so raw and genuine. Two people, both carrying their own pain, finding comfort in each other in the simplest ways. Their bond, their quiet understanding, stayed with me.❤️🩹
I also loved how art becomes a way of expression when words fall short. It adds such a beautiful depth to the story. And the warmth of characters like Amma and Sonam, along with those soft old-school 90s and early 2000s moments, made everything feel even more close and familiar.
The writing flows so naturally. It doesn’t try to impress, yet it pulls you in completely. The short chapters make it easy to keep going, I found myself finishing it in just three sittings without even realizing.
I picked up Marigold without knowing what to expect, but somewhere along the way, I fell in love with it. It’s quiet, it’s painful, it’s beautiful and it feels deeply human.
At its core, it speaks about generational trauma and how it moves through families in ways we don’t always notice. Not out of intention, but because healing is hard, and sometimes we simply don’t know how to begin. Through Mandira, Ira, and Marigold, we see how pain travels from mother to daughter, shaping lives in quiet, lasting ways. No one here is entirely right or wrong. It feels honest, like life itself, where people are only trying to survive what they carry.
What makes this book so special is how real the emotions feel. They are messy, layered, and at times overwhelming. Nothing is softened or hidden. And yet, even within all that heaviness, love still finds a place.
I was especially drawn to Ira and Nihal. Their story felt so raw and genuine. Two people, both carrying their own pain, finding comfort in each other in the simplest ways. Their bond, their quiet understanding, stayed with me.❤️🩹
I also loved how art becomes a way of expression when words fall short. It adds such a beautiful depth to the story. And the warmth of characters like Amma and Sonam, along with those soft old-school 90s and early 2000s moments, made everything feel even more close and familiar.
The writing flows so naturally. It doesn’t try to impress, yet it pulls you in completely. The short chapters make it easy to keep going, I found myself finishing it in just three sittings without even realizing.
I picked up Marigold without knowing what to expect, but somewhere along the way, I fell in love with it. It’s quiet, it’s painful, it’s beautiful and it feels deeply human.
May 1, 2026
No words can truly express the beauty of this book. Otherworldly. Fascinating. Magical.
Trauma ruins everything across generations. A dysfunctional family permanently leaves a wound that keeps passing on, continuing to ruin lives. Marigold is a young woman of Indian origin who works in a library in Rome. She’s an enigma. I absolutely love how her character is written—full of secrets, intimacy, and vulnerability. While tracing secrets about her mother Ira, she discovers something in her attic that turns her life upside down. You’ll find the line between truth and fiction blur. The human psyche is unsettling, that’s what I believe. Because it betrays you and takes you to places you never imagined you’d explore.
Through Marigold, we are taken into Ira’s life and her young love. This is what shattered me because I felt oddly seen. All the lives around Ira are woven beautifully, and the tragedy scratches at your heart. Ira’s heartbreak and the colours of her life seeped into my soul, making her feel extremely intimate. I absolutely loved how the characters’ pain is captured so beautifully—their helplessness, their vulnerability, and yet their act of pretending to be okay. But are we ever really fine?
While reading this, I was constantly reminded of Sylvia Plath —her lingering sense of not belonging anywhere, her pain and grief, that suffocating feeling of being trapped within your own emotions. Not being able to fully express it, and yet being completely consumed by it until it finds its way out through art.
Marigold has a constant companion, Gaius, who always protects her, yet is written with mystery. Why does your heart always take you to places that are forbidden?
I loved Nihal. His vulnerability, his rawness, just him. He finds solace in books because he is constantly fighting his own inner demons to protect his HOME.
Slowly, everything starts blurring before your eyes, and you’ll find your heart howling, unable to hold the emotions. All the love feels like it’s crumbling like paper, and your heart starts to pound, almost turning into dust under the weight of unbearable pain, until you’re left feeling numb… empty.
I felt so numb after I closed the last page yesterday. I didn’t know how to process the myriad of emotions I experienced while absorbing each word into my soul. I had absolutely no idea how devastating it would be, and it would be safe to say that the book consumed me, not the other way around. The book is so well written that I still don’t know how to explain exactly what I’m feeling, because I won’t be able to justify even 1% of what I felt while reading it. I loved the characters that unfolded as we got to know Marigold through her world.
Trauma ruins everything across generations. A dysfunctional family permanently leaves a wound that keeps passing on, continuing to ruin lives. Marigold is a young woman of Indian origin who works in a library in Rome. She’s an enigma. I absolutely love how her character is written—full of secrets, intimacy, and vulnerability. While tracing secrets about her mother Ira, she discovers something in her attic that turns her life upside down. You’ll find the line between truth and fiction blur. The human psyche is unsettling, that’s what I believe. Because it betrays you and takes you to places you never imagined you’d explore.
Through Marigold, we are taken into Ira’s life and her young love. This is what shattered me because I felt oddly seen. All the lives around Ira are woven beautifully, and the tragedy scratches at your heart. Ira’s heartbreak and the colours of her life seeped into my soul, making her feel extremely intimate. I absolutely loved how the characters’ pain is captured so beautifully—their helplessness, their vulnerability, and yet their act of pretending to be okay. But are we ever really fine?
While reading this, I was constantly reminded of Sylvia Plath —her lingering sense of not belonging anywhere, her pain and grief, that suffocating feeling of being trapped within your own emotions. Not being able to fully express it, and yet being completely consumed by it until it finds its way out through art.
Marigold has a constant companion, Gaius, who always protects her, yet is written with mystery. Why does your heart always take you to places that are forbidden?
I loved Nihal. His vulnerability, his rawness, just him. He finds solace in books because he is constantly fighting his own inner demons to protect his HOME.
Slowly, everything starts blurring before your eyes, and you’ll find your heart howling, unable to hold the emotions. All the love feels like it’s crumbling like paper, and your heart starts to pound, almost turning into dust under the weight of unbearable pain, until you’re left feeling numb… empty.
I felt so numb after I closed the last page yesterday. I didn’t know how to process the myriad of emotions I experienced while absorbing each word into my soul. I had absolutely no idea how devastating it would be, and it would be safe to say that the book consumed me, not the other way around. The book is so well written that I still don’t know how to explain exactly what I’m feeling, because I won’t be able to justify even 1% of what I felt while reading it. I loved the characters that unfolded as we got to know Marigold through her world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2026
There are books that tell a story, and then there are novels that seem to inhabit a wound. "Marigold" by Heena Singhal belongs firmly to the last category. It is not a book driven by plot in the traditional sense, nor is it interested in providing readers with easy emotional resolutions. Instead, it unfolds like a long conversation with memory itself, fragile, unreliable, haunting, and deeply human. At its core, this is a book about grief, but to describe it merely as a story about loss would be to overlook its far greater ambition. The book examines the invisible inheritance of pain, the dangerous comforts of illusion, the complicated nature of love, and the ways in which art becomes both a refuge and a reckoning.
The book follows Marigold, a young woman of Indian origin living in Rome, where she works in a vintage library filled with classic literature. On the surface, her life appears quiet and ordinary. Yet beneath that calm exterior lies a psyche fractured by grief, loneliness, and unresolved emotional wounds. The death of her beloved dog, the strange dynamics of an emotionally consuming relationship, and her mother's sudden disappearance begin to unravel the fragile framework holding her life together. When Marigold discovers an unpublished biography hidden in an attic, she finds herself pulled into the forgotten history of her parents' lives in New Delhi. What follows is not merely an investigation into family secrets but an excavation of identity itself.
What makes the book particularly compelling is the way it treats grief not as an event but as a state of existence. The author understands that grief rarely behaves in a linear fashion. It distorts memory, reshapes perception, and often blurs the boundaries between reality and imagination. Throughout the book, Marigold inhabits a psychological landscape where truth feels unstable. Hallucinations, memories, fantasies, and emotional projections intermingle until the reader begins to question the reliability of perception itself.
This ambiguity becomes one of the book's greatest strengths. Many contemporary books explore trauma, but few capture its psychological texture with such unsettling intimacy. The author portrays grief not as dramatic suffering but as something quieter and more corrosive. It seeps into everyday life. It alters relationships. It rewrites personal narratives. Most importantly, it convinces people that fiction may be safer than truth.
The book repeatedly asks a disturbing question, What happens when the stories we create to survive become more real than reality itself? The answer is devastating.
Yet the book is not solely Marigold's story. Hidden within its pages is another book entirely, the story of Ira and Nihal. Their relationship forms the emotional heartbeat of the book, and their sections possess a warmth and immediacy that often eclipse the present-day narrative. Through them, the author explores first love in all its innocence and brutality. Their bond is not romanticized into perfection; instead, it is presented as two wounded people attempting to find refuge in each other while carrying burdens they scarcely understand themselves.
Nihal, with his love of books and quiet resilience, emerges as one of the book's most affecting characters. Ira, meanwhile, becomes a fascinating study of artistic longing and emotional fragility. Through painting, she seeks freedom, expression, and permanence. Through love, she seeks belonging.
Their relationship carries the book's most heartbreaking insight that is sometimes people do not heal each other's wounds; they simply learn to live beside them.
This understanding gives the book much of its emotional maturity rather than presenting love as a cure, she portrays it as companionship amid suffering, a subtle but significant distinction. Art occupies an equally important place within the book's architecture. Paintings function not merely as aesthetic objects but as emotional documents. They become vessels of memory, repositories of pain, and clues to hidden truths. In many ways, the book argues that art reveals what language cannot.
At its best, the author's prose is lyrical, atmospheric, and emotionally charged. She demonstrates a remarkable ability to translate internal states into vivid imagery. Certain passages possess a dreamlike quality that lingers long after reading. The descriptions of Rome, old Delhi, paintings, libraries, and memories create an immersive sensory experience that enhances the novel's emotional power.
The book's greatest achievement lies in its willingness to embrace complexity. It refuses simplistic explanations for suffering. It acknowledges that trauma can travel across generations. It recognizes that love can heal and wound simultaneously. It understands that people often spend their lives searching for versions of themselves that existed before grief arrived.
By the final pages, the author transforms from a mystery about a missing mother into something far more profound, a meditation on inheritance, not inheritance of wealth or possessions, but of stories, fears, wounds, desires, and dreams. The revelations are not shocking because they are surprising.
They are shocking because they feel inevitable and that distinction matters.
✍️ Strengths :
🔸Exceptionally nuanced exploration of grief, trauma, memory, and healing.
🔸Deeply layered psychological characterization, particularly Marigold, Ira, and Nihal.
🔸Beautiful integration of art, literature, and emotional symbolism.
🔸Atmospheric prose that creates a vivid sense of place and mood.
🔸Strong emotional payoff supported by carefully constructed narrative layers.
🔸Thought-provoking examination of generational trauma and inherited pain.
🔸Effective blending of literary fiction, psychological drama, family saga, and mystery.
✒️ Areas for Improvement :
▪️Slow pacing may test readers seeking a plot-driven narrative.
▪️Some sections feel overextended and could have benefited from tighter editing.
▪️The large cast occasionally makes emotional investment uneven.
▪️Certain passages prioritize poetic language over narrative momentum.
▪️The psychological ambiguity, while powerful, may frustrate readers looking for definitive answers.
In conclusion, it is not a book that seeks to entertain in the conventional sense. It seeks to understand. It asks difficult questions about grief, memory, identity, and the stories we inherit from those we love. The author has crafted a work that is emotionally fearless, artistically ambitious, and psychologically intricate. Its imperfections are visible, but so is its heart. Long after the mystery resolves and the final page is turned, what remains is not the plot twist or the revelations. What remains is a feeling, a quiet ache, a lingering tenderness, a sense of having briefly stepped inside another person's sorrow and emerged understanding something new about your own.
In a literary landscape increasingly dominated by speed and immediacy, this book dares to move slowly, to sit with discomfort, and to trust its readers to navigate emotional complexity that patience will not reward everyone. But for those willing to surrender to its rhythms, the book offers something increasingly rare that is an experience that feels less like reading a story and more like carrying someone else's memory for a while and that is precisely why Marigold stays with you.
The book follows Marigold, a young woman of Indian origin living in Rome, where she works in a vintage library filled with classic literature. On the surface, her life appears quiet and ordinary. Yet beneath that calm exterior lies a psyche fractured by grief, loneliness, and unresolved emotional wounds. The death of her beloved dog, the strange dynamics of an emotionally consuming relationship, and her mother's sudden disappearance begin to unravel the fragile framework holding her life together. When Marigold discovers an unpublished biography hidden in an attic, she finds herself pulled into the forgotten history of her parents' lives in New Delhi. What follows is not merely an investigation into family secrets but an excavation of identity itself.
What makes the book particularly compelling is the way it treats grief not as an event but as a state of existence. The author understands that grief rarely behaves in a linear fashion. It distorts memory, reshapes perception, and often blurs the boundaries between reality and imagination. Throughout the book, Marigold inhabits a psychological landscape where truth feels unstable. Hallucinations, memories, fantasies, and emotional projections intermingle until the reader begins to question the reliability of perception itself.
This ambiguity becomes one of the book's greatest strengths. Many contemporary books explore trauma, but few capture its psychological texture with such unsettling intimacy. The author portrays grief not as dramatic suffering but as something quieter and more corrosive. It seeps into everyday life. It alters relationships. It rewrites personal narratives. Most importantly, it convinces people that fiction may be safer than truth.
The book repeatedly asks a disturbing question, What happens when the stories we create to survive become more real than reality itself? The answer is devastating.
Yet the book is not solely Marigold's story. Hidden within its pages is another book entirely, the story of Ira and Nihal. Their relationship forms the emotional heartbeat of the book, and their sections possess a warmth and immediacy that often eclipse the present-day narrative. Through them, the author explores first love in all its innocence and brutality. Their bond is not romanticized into perfection; instead, it is presented as two wounded people attempting to find refuge in each other while carrying burdens they scarcely understand themselves.
Nihal, with his love of books and quiet resilience, emerges as one of the book's most affecting characters. Ira, meanwhile, becomes a fascinating study of artistic longing and emotional fragility. Through painting, she seeks freedom, expression, and permanence. Through love, she seeks belonging.
Their relationship carries the book's most heartbreaking insight that is sometimes people do not heal each other's wounds; they simply learn to live beside them.
This understanding gives the book much of its emotional maturity rather than presenting love as a cure, she portrays it as companionship amid suffering, a subtle but significant distinction. Art occupies an equally important place within the book's architecture. Paintings function not merely as aesthetic objects but as emotional documents. They become vessels of memory, repositories of pain, and clues to hidden truths. In many ways, the book argues that art reveals what language cannot.
At its best, the author's prose is lyrical, atmospheric, and emotionally charged. She demonstrates a remarkable ability to translate internal states into vivid imagery. Certain passages possess a dreamlike quality that lingers long after reading. The descriptions of Rome, old Delhi, paintings, libraries, and memories create an immersive sensory experience that enhances the novel's emotional power.
The book's greatest achievement lies in its willingness to embrace complexity. It refuses simplistic explanations for suffering. It acknowledges that trauma can travel across generations. It recognizes that love can heal and wound simultaneously. It understands that people often spend their lives searching for versions of themselves that existed before grief arrived.
By the final pages, the author transforms from a mystery about a missing mother into something far more profound, a meditation on inheritance, not inheritance of wealth or possessions, but of stories, fears, wounds, desires, and dreams. The revelations are not shocking because they are surprising.
They are shocking because they feel inevitable and that distinction matters.
✍️ Strengths :
🔸Exceptionally nuanced exploration of grief, trauma, memory, and healing.
🔸Deeply layered psychological characterization, particularly Marigold, Ira, and Nihal.
🔸Beautiful integration of art, literature, and emotional symbolism.
🔸Atmospheric prose that creates a vivid sense of place and mood.
🔸Strong emotional payoff supported by carefully constructed narrative layers.
🔸Thought-provoking examination of generational trauma and inherited pain.
🔸Effective blending of literary fiction, psychological drama, family saga, and mystery.
✒️ Areas for Improvement :
▪️Slow pacing may test readers seeking a plot-driven narrative.
▪️Some sections feel overextended and could have benefited from tighter editing.
▪️The large cast occasionally makes emotional investment uneven.
▪️Certain passages prioritize poetic language over narrative momentum.
▪️The psychological ambiguity, while powerful, may frustrate readers looking for definitive answers.
In conclusion, it is not a book that seeks to entertain in the conventional sense. It seeks to understand. It asks difficult questions about grief, memory, identity, and the stories we inherit from those we love. The author has crafted a work that is emotionally fearless, artistically ambitious, and psychologically intricate. Its imperfections are visible, but so is its heart. Long after the mystery resolves and the final page is turned, what remains is not the plot twist or the revelations. What remains is a feeling, a quiet ache, a lingering tenderness, a sense of having briefly stepped inside another person's sorrow and emerged understanding something new about your own.
In a literary landscape increasingly dominated by speed and immediacy, this book dares to move slowly, to sit with discomfort, and to trust its readers to navigate emotional complexity that patience will not reward everyone. But for those willing to surrender to its rhythms, the book offers something increasingly rare that is an experience that feels less like reading a story and more like carrying someone else's memory for a while and that is precisely why Marigold stays with you.
October 9, 2026
This is the fastest I have read a book this year. I finished it in seven days, and honestly, I don’t think I could have taken much longer even if I had tried. Every time I picked up Marigold, one chapter became five, and five became “just a little more.” I simply couldn’t put it down.
Now that I have finished it, I don’t quite know how to explain what I am feeling. This book is deep, emotional and, at times, almost painful. Yet I loved every bit of it.
At its heart, Marigold is about a daughter trying to understand her mother. Marigold wants answers about her family’s past, but the more she searches, the more complicated everything becomes. What begins as a search for the truth turns into a journey through the minds, memories, wounds and secrets of the people she has known all her life.
And the truth that finally comes out? I genuinely did not see it coming. It makes you look back at the story and its characters differently. The ending is shocking, but what makes it even more painful is everything you understand about the people involved once the truth is revealed.
What I loved most was the psychology of the characters.
Marigold is not simply looking for answers; she is trying to make sense of things she cannot fully understand. Her grief, confusion and perception of the world make you want to get inside her head. Just when you think you have understood her, the story makes you question yourself again.
Then there are Ira and Nihal. Oh, their love!
Their relationship was one of my favourite parts of the book. The way they love, understand and comfort each other makes you wish such a bond existed in real life. It is the kind of love where someone sees your pain, flaws and fears, yet still chooses to stay. Someone who becomes a safe place in a world that hasn’t always been kind to you.
But there is another love in this story that stayed with me just as deeply: Sonam’s love for Nihal.
There was something so heartbreaking about the way Sonam loved him. Her feelings seemed to exist in a space where she was constantly giving, hoping and holding on, while quietly wondering whether he could ever feel the same way. When she began to feel that her love was one-sided, I could feel the weight of that realisation with her.
That kind of love hurts in a very particular way. It is not only about being rejected; it is about slowly understanding that the person who means everything to you may never see you in the same way. You keep searching for signs, holding on to small moments and convincing yourself that perhaps there is still hope. And when that hope begins to fade, it leaves behind a loneliness that is difficult to explain.
But this book is not just about love between two people. It is also about the pain we inherit from those who came before us.
This is the aspect that stayed with me the most.
We often think our parents’ lives belong only to them—their childhoods, heartbreaks, mistakes and secrets. But what if their unhealed pain becomes part of our lives without us knowing where it came from? And what if we pass that pain on to our own children, even when we never intended to hurt them?
Through Mandira, Ira, Marigold and the generations around them, the book shows how one generation’s suffering can become the next generation’s confusion. Silence can hurt as much as words, and people can love each other while still causing harm because they have never learnt how to face their own wounds.
It made me think about how easily we judge people without knowing what they have lived through. Understanding someone’s pain does not make their choices right, but it can help us see how they became who they are.
Sometimes, that understanding hurts even more.
I also loved Amma. There is something special about characters who don’t need many words to convey wisdom. A simple sentence from her can carry years of experience and truth.
Heena Singhal makes these characters feel real and deeply personal. You become invested in their relationships, hoping they find happiness and healing, even when you want to shake them for the pain they cause themselves and each other.
The story moves between past and present, gradually connecting its art, memories, books and unspoken truths. The mystery keeps you turning the pages, but the emotional depth is what stays with you.
This is not an easy read. It explores grief, trauma, mental health, complicated relationships and family secrets. Yet that is also why it affected me so deeply: life, love and families are rarely simple.
For me, Marigold was a reminder that we can spend our lives trying to understand the people we love, only to realise we never knew their whole story.
Now that I have finished it, I don’t quite know how to explain what I am feeling. This book is deep, emotional and, at times, almost painful. Yet I loved every bit of it.
At its heart, Marigold is about a daughter trying to understand her mother. Marigold wants answers about her family’s past, but the more she searches, the more complicated everything becomes. What begins as a search for the truth turns into a journey through the minds, memories, wounds and secrets of the people she has known all her life.
And the truth that finally comes out? I genuinely did not see it coming. It makes you look back at the story and its characters differently. The ending is shocking, but what makes it even more painful is everything you understand about the people involved once the truth is revealed.
What I loved most was the psychology of the characters.
Marigold is not simply looking for answers; she is trying to make sense of things she cannot fully understand. Her grief, confusion and perception of the world make you want to get inside her head. Just when you think you have understood her, the story makes you question yourself again.
Then there are Ira and Nihal. Oh, their love!
Their relationship was one of my favourite parts of the book. The way they love, understand and comfort each other makes you wish such a bond existed in real life. It is the kind of love where someone sees your pain, flaws and fears, yet still chooses to stay. Someone who becomes a safe place in a world that hasn’t always been kind to you.
But there is another love in this story that stayed with me just as deeply: Sonam’s love for Nihal.
There was something so heartbreaking about the way Sonam loved him. Her feelings seemed to exist in a space where she was constantly giving, hoping and holding on, while quietly wondering whether he could ever feel the same way. When she began to feel that her love was one-sided, I could feel the weight of that realisation with her.
That kind of love hurts in a very particular way. It is not only about being rejected; it is about slowly understanding that the person who means everything to you may never see you in the same way. You keep searching for signs, holding on to small moments and convincing yourself that perhaps there is still hope. And when that hope begins to fade, it leaves behind a loneliness that is difficult to explain.
But this book is not just about love between two people. It is also about the pain we inherit from those who came before us.
This is the aspect that stayed with me the most.
We often think our parents’ lives belong only to them—their childhoods, heartbreaks, mistakes and secrets. But what if their unhealed pain becomes part of our lives without us knowing where it came from? And what if we pass that pain on to our own children, even when we never intended to hurt them?
Through Mandira, Ira, Marigold and the generations around them, the book shows how one generation’s suffering can become the next generation’s confusion. Silence can hurt as much as words, and people can love each other while still causing harm because they have never learnt how to face their own wounds.
It made me think about how easily we judge people without knowing what they have lived through. Understanding someone’s pain does not make their choices right, but it can help us see how they became who they are.
Sometimes, that understanding hurts even more.
I also loved Amma. There is something special about characters who don’t need many words to convey wisdom. A simple sentence from her can carry years of experience and truth.
Heena Singhal makes these characters feel real and deeply personal. You become invested in their relationships, hoping they find happiness and healing, even when you want to shake them for the pain they cause themselves and each other.
The story moves between past and present, gradually connecting its art, memories, books and unspoken truths. The mystery keeps you turning the pages, but the emotional depth is what stays with you.
This is not an easy read. It explores grief, trauma, mental health, complicated relationships and family secrets. Yet that is also why it affected me so deeply: life, love and families are rarely simple.
For me, Marigold was a reminder that we can spend our lives trying to understand the people we love, only to realise we never knew their whole story.
October 4, 2026
Marigold is the kind of book that makes you question your own understanding of a story while you’re reading it.
At first, it feels like you’re stepping into Marigold’s rather quiet life in Rome — a vintage library, books, a relationship that comes with its own boundaries, therapy, grief and the loss of her mother. But then the story opens another door. An unpublished biography takes her into her parents’ past in Delhi, and suddenly the book becomes a much more complicated exploration of memory, family, love and everything people carry without ever saying it aloud.
I really enjoyed how the story was narrated. It doesn't give you the whole picture at once. Instead, it moves between timelines and lives, revealing little pieces and making you put them together yourself. And because so much of the story is rooted in Marigold's mind, there is always this underlying question of what can be trusted. I found myself forming theories, changing them and then questioning them all over again.
The characters were probably my favourite part of the book. Marigold, Ira and Nihal are all so beautifully imperfect. Their choices aren't always easy to understand, but the more you know about them, the more you begin to see the pain behind those choices. I especially loved the emotional complexity in Ira and Nihal's story. There is something very tender about two people finding comfort in each other while both are carrying their own struggles.
And then there is the way art and books run through the story. I loved that paintings aren't simply an aesthetic element here. They become a way of expressing things that the characters cannot put into words. The references to literature, the old Delhi memories and the atmosphere of the library in Rome gave the book a very distinctive feel.
But what stayed with me most was the idea of inherited pain. How one generation can leave behind wounds that the next generation doesn't even realise it is carrying. The book doesn't make this simple or sentimental. It shows how love, hurt, guilt, grief and silence can all exist within the same family.
There were moments when the story felt quiet and introspective, and others when I genuinely wanted to know what was happening inside Marigold's mind. And when the psychological layers began coming together, I found myself looking back at earlier parts of the story differently.
I read Marigold last month, and I think that's why I'm still thinking about it. Not because it was a perfect, tightly plotted mystery, but because the people in it felt complicated enough to stay with me.
It is psychological, emotional and deeply character-driven, with a story that keeps making you question what you see and what you believe.
I genuinely loved this one.
At first, it feels like you’re stepping into Marigold’s rather quiet life in Rome — a vintage library, books, a relationship that comes with its own boundaries, therapy, grief and the loss of her mother. But then the story opens another door. An unpublished biography takes her into her parents’ past in Delhi, and suddenly the book becomes a much more complicated exploration of memory, family, love and everything people carry without ever saying it aloud.
I really enjoyed how the story was narrated. It doesn't give you the whole picture at once. Instead, it moves between timelines and lives, revealing little pieces and making you put them together yourself. And because so much of the story is rooted in Marigold's mind, there is always this underlying question of what can be trusted. I found myself forming theories, changing them and then questioning them all over again.
The characters were probably my favourite part of the book. Marigold, Ira and Nihal are all so beautifully imperfect. Their choices aren't always easy to understand, but the more you know about them, the more you begin to see the pain behind those choices. I especially loved the emotional complexity in Ira and Nihal's story. There is something very tender about two people finding comfort in each other while both are carrying their own struggles.
And then there is the way art and books run through the story. I loved that paintings aren't simply an aesthetic element here. They become a way of expressing things that the characters cannot put into words. The references to literature, the old Delhi memories and the atmosphere of the library in Rome gave the book a very distinctive feel.
But what stayed with me most was the idea of inherited pain. How one generation can leave behind wounds that the next generation doesn't even realise it is carrying. The book doesn't make this simple or sentimental. It shows how love, hurt, guilt, grief and silence can all exist within the same family.
There were moments when the story felt quiet and introspective, and others when I genuinely wanted to know what was happening inside Marigold's mind. And when the psychological layers began coming together, I found myself looking back at earlier parts of the story differently.
I read Marigold last month, and I think that's why I'm still thinking about it. Not because it was a perfect, tightly plotted mystery, but because the people in it felt complicated enough to stay with me.
It is psychological, emotional and deeply character-driven, with a story that keeps making you question what you see and what you believe.
I genuinely loved this one.
August 25, 2026
MARIGOLD — Heena Singhal 🌼
Genre: Psychological Literary Fiction
Pages: 317
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Some books make you curious about what happens next. Marigold made me more curious about why the characters were the way they were.
A quiet, layered and emotionally heavy read and definitely one that gave me quite a lot to think about after I finished it.
The story follows Marigold, a young woman living in Rome, whose already fragile world begins to unravel after her mother suddenly disappears. As she starts digging into her family’s past and discovers an unpublished biography connected to her parents’ lives in Delhi, the story slowly opens up into something much deeper than a mystery.
What stayed with me the most was the way the book explores generational trauma. The pain carried by one generation quietly finds its way into the next, sometimes through silence, sometimes through relationships, and sometimes through the things people never learn how to say. I liked that the characters weren't simply divided into “good” and “bad” people. Everyone seemed to be carrying something of their own, and that made their choices feel much more human.
I was especially drawn to the relationships in the book. Ira and Nihal’s story had a softness to it that I really enjoyed the kind of connection where two people don't necessarily fix each other, but somehow make carrying their own pain a little easier. I also loved the presence of Amma and Sonam, and the little 90s/early-2000s touches that brought a familiar warmth to the story.
And as someone who loves books, the literary references were probably one of my favourite parts. The mentions of classic books and writers never felt completely random; they added to the atmosphere and made certain scenes feel even more immersive. The way literature and art become forms of expression when words aren't enough was another detail I really appreciated.
The mystery itself kept me guessing. There were moments when I genuinely wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't, and I kept trying to figure out the characters’ psychology along with Aunt Solo. 😭 I had my own theories about Marigold's experiences, and let's just say Heena Singhal did a pretty good job of making me question them.
I also really liked the short chapters. They made the book incredibly easy to get through, and I found myself saying “just one more chapter” more times than I should have. 😭
For me, Marigold isn't really about finding one big answer. It's about memory, grief, family, love, and the things we inherit from the people who came before us without even realising it.
Genre: Psychological Literary Fiction
Pages: 317
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Some books make you curious about what happens next. Marigold made me more curious about why the characters were the way they were.
A quiet, layered and emotionally heavy read and definitely one that gave me quite a lot to think about after I finished it.
The story follows Marigold, a young woman living in Rome, whose already fragile world begins to unravel after her mother suddenly disappears. As she starts digging into her family’s past and discovers an unpublished biography connected to her parents’ lives in Delhi, the story slowly opens up into something much deeper than a mystery.
What stayed with me the most was the way the book explores generational trauma. The pain carried by one generation quietly finds its way into the next, sometimes through silence, sometimes through relationships, and sometimes through the things people never learn how to say. I liked that the characters weren't simply divided into “good” and “bad” people. Everyone seemed to be carrying something of their own, and that made their choices feel much more human.
I was especially drawn to the relationships in the book. Ira and Nihal’s story had a softness to it that I really enjoyed the kind of connection where two people don't necessarily fix each other, but somehow make carrying their own pain a little easier. I also loved the presence of Amma and Sonam, and the little 90s/early-2000s touches that brought a familiar warmth to the story.
And as someone who loves books, the literary references were probably one of my favourite parts. The mentions of classic books and writers never felt completely random; they added to the atmosphere and made certain scenes feel even more immersive. The way literature and art become forms of expression when words aren't enough was another detail I really appreciated.
The mystery itself kept me guessing. There were moments when I genuinely wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't, and I kept trying to figure out the characters’ psychology along with Aunt Solo. 😭 I had my own theories about Marigold's experiences, and let's just say Heena Singhal did a pretty good job of making me question them.
I also really liked the short chapters. They made the book incredibly easy to get through, and I found myself saying “just one more chapter” more times than I should have. 😭
For me, Marigold isn't really about finding one big answer. It's about memory, grief, family, love, and the things we inherit from the people who came before us without even realising it.
May 8, 2026
Sometimes the book looks so good you need to pick it up, especially if the author has drawn the cover herself <3
@pages_pen_heena has definitely created a beautiful world of emotions where every reader will resonate deeply with Marigold's pain and struggle and yet, will be reminded with a bittersweet smile that life definitely can get better!Set in the vintage libraries of Rome and the past of 1990s New Delhi, it follows an Indian-origin woman who must confront long-buried family secrets after her mother’s sudden disappearance.
🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️
Tropes :
🏵️The Disappearing Mother
🏵️Artistic Expression as Truth
🏵️Generational Trauma
🏵️Dual Timelines
🏵️The Reluctant Return
🏵️Found Documents
🏵️Grief-Induced Awakening
🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️
This isn’t just psychological literary fiction; it’s a deep dive into the "quiet violence" of family secrets and generational trauma.
Overall impression:
Introspective, moody, and deeply human. A must-read for fans of female-centric psychological drama.
.
.
Thank you @thebookoholics
and @papertownsindia for the gifted copy!
.
.
#MarigoldNovel#HeenaSinghal#PsychologicalFiction#LiteraryFiction#BookstagramIndia
.
.
{Heena Singhal Marigold book, psychological literary fiction, contemporary Indian novelist, motherhood in literature, family secrets mystery novel, generational trauma stories, mixed media art in fiction, librarian protagonist books, Rome and New Delhi settings, psychological thrillers for women, grief and healing novels, character-driven literary fiction, poetic prose Indian authors, Indian-origin women fiction, art as a language in stories, mother-daughter relationships fiction, mental health and therapy in books, hidden family biography trope, slow-paced literary drama, best contemporary Indian fiction, Songs of the Reed author, emotional inheritance themes, mixed-media artist writer, dark academia library aesthetic, 1990s New Delhi historical fiction, female-centric psychological drama, quiet intensity in writing, introspective reading recommendations, Bookstagram India top picks, and mystery of motherhood exploration.}
@pages_pen_heena has definitely created a beautiful world of emotions where every reader will resonate deeply with Marigold's pain and struggle and yet, will be reminded with a bittersweet smile that life definitely can get better!Set in the vintage libraries of Rome and the past of 1990s New Delhi, it follows an Indian-origin woman who must confront long-buried family secrets after her mother’s sudden disappearance.
🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️
Tropes :
🏵️The Disappearing Mother
🏵️Artistic Expression as Truth
🏵️Generational Trauma
🏵️Dual Timelines
🏵️The Reluctant Return
🏵️Found Documents
🏵️Grief-Induced Awakening
🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️🏵️
This isn’t just psychological literary fiction; it’s a deep dive into the "quiet violence" of family secrets and generational trauma.
Overall impression:
Introspective, moody, and deeply human. A must-read for fans of female-centric psychological drama.
.
.
Thank you @thebookoholics
and @papertownsindia for the gifted copy!
.
.
#MarigoldNovel#HeenaSinghal#PsychologicalFiction#LiteraryFiction#BookstagramIndia
.
.
{Heena Singhal Marigold book, psychological literary fiction, contemporary Indian novelist, motherhood in literature, family secrets mystery novel, generational trauma stories, mixed media art in fiction, librarian protagonist books, Rome and New Delhi settings, psychological thrillers for women, grief and healing novels, character-driven literary fiction, poetic prose Indian authors, Indian-origin women fiction, art as a language in stories, mother-daughter relationships fiction, mental health and therapy in books, hidden family biography trope, slow-paced literary drama, best contemporary Indian fiction, Songs of the Reed author, emotional inheritance themes, mixed-media artist writer, dark academia library aesthetic, 1990s New Delhi historical fiction, female-centric psychological drama, quiet intensity in writing, introspective reading recommendations, Bookstagram India top picks, and mystery of motherhood exploration.}
June 27, 2026
”Covering her face with her palms, she closed her eyes. In the darkness, her mother's face returned. Before despair swallowed her, she opened them.”
- Heena Singhal, Marigold
Heena Singhal begins writing about Kahlil Gibran's statement - ’The child is the father of the man’. I didn't understand it when I read it when I was in seventh grade. Through the course of the reading Singhal has quoted the stalwarts of writing. For instance, Dostoevsky's statement - How can you live and not have a story to tell? is mentioned in the beginning. Marigold (Mari) while taking care of her ailing father is tormented by her mother's memories.
Singhal's painting that forms the cover is painted with intricate strokes, one that defines a human through a marigold flower. Marigold that is blooming everywhere. A flower that is known for its endurance. Mari found herself admiring books, who's smell bought a lot of memories.
”That is why art moves through this novel—not as ornament, but as breath. As memory, confession, and repair.”
Marigold, Ira and Nihal are deeply flawed characters that breathe life into the narrative. Set in places that traverses the alleyways and crevices of Delhi and the old vintage libraries in Rome. When everything was going in accordance with Marigold's plan, she finds an attic that has a book with a biographical account. Flipping its pages, she's transported to the 90s. Some of the themes that have been portrayed are loss, loneliness, belonging and hope.
”They simply stay—quietly, patiently—giving me a kind of power I never had with people: the power to read them, or to look away.”
Overall, Marigold by Heena Singhal is a must read for artists, readers who appreciate different art forms and even somebody with an open mind.
”I am Marigold.
I am layers and layers of petals in one.”
- Heena Singhal, Marigold
Heena Singhal begins writing about Kahlil Gibran's statement - ’The child is the father of the man’. I didn't understand it when I read it when I was in seventh grade. Through the course of the reading Singhal has quoted the stalwarts of writing. For instance, Dostoevsky's statement - How can you live and not have a story to tell? is mentioned in the beginning. Marigold (Mari) while taking care of her ailing father is tormented by her mother's memories.
Singhal's painting that forms the cover is painted with intricate strokes, one that defines a human through a marigold flower. Marigold that is blooming everywhere. A flower that is known for its endurance. Mari found herself admiring books, who's smell bought a lot of memories.
”That is why art moves through this novel—not as ornament, but as breath. As memory, confession, and repair.”
Marigold, Ira and Nihal are deeply flawed characters that breathe life into the narrative. Set in places that traverses the alleyways and crevices of Delhi and the old vintage libraries in Rome. When everything was going in accordance with Marigold's plan, she finds an attic that has a book with a biographical account. Flipping its pages, she's transported to the 90s. Some of the themes that have been portrayed are loss, loneliness, belonging and hope.
”They simply stay—quietly, patiently—giving me a kind of power I never had with people: the power to read them, or to look away.”
Overall, Marigold by Heena Singhal is a must read for artists, readers who appreciate different art forms and even somebody with an open mind.
”I am Marigold.
I am layers and layers of petals in one.”
May 29, 2026
Marigold is a psychological literary fiction And the best part? The painting on the cover is done by the author herself! Her talent is something to talk about.
Set in Rome, the story revolves around Mari, who works in a vintage library and is living a life not irrespective of grief and emotional distress. Her perspective slowly unfurls like the petals of a voluminous flower, letting her most intimate thoughts glimmer in the lowest of lights.
She's a puzzle to be solved, and her willingness to isolate her mind doesn't make it easy. I don't want to give any spoilers so I'll just drop the synopsis here. From the beginning, the book picks up on her daily dutiful activities. Later, she loses her pet dog which leads her to therapy sessions. But, as she was in the process of healing, something else hit her like never before. Her mother disappears out of the blue.
She discovers a hidden biography in the attic and through that, she learns about the childhood of her parents in New Delhi, followed by truths she wanted to forget.
The writing is heavily emotional, not rushed or unnecessary. I felt so many things at once which are completely raw and unprotected. And that's the beauty of this book, it doesn't let your guesses win, instead it'll shock you with unforeseen twists. The characters are perfectly flawed, perfectly human. I loved the book through and through. Pick this up if you haven't yet because this book will stay with you for a long time.
Set in Rome, the story revolves around Mari, who works in a vintage library and is living a life not irrespective of grief and emotional distress. Her perspective slowly unfurls like the petals of a voluminous flower, letting her most intimate thoughts glimmer in the lowest of lights.
She's a puzzle to be solved, and her willingness to isolate her mind doesn't make it easy. I don't want to give any spoilers so I'll just drop the synopsis here. From the beginning, the book picks up on her daily dutiful activities. Later, she loses her pet dog which leads her to therapy sessions. But, as she was in the process of healing, something else hit her like never before. Her mother disappears out of the blue.
She discovers a hidden biography in the attic and through that, she learns about the childhood of her parents in New Delhi, followed by truths she wanted to forget.
The writing is heavily emotional, not rushed or unnecessary. I felt so many things at once which are completely raw and unprotected. And that's the beauty of this book, it doesn't let your guesses win, instead it'll shock you with unforeseen twists. The characters are perfectly flawed, perfectly human. I loved the book through and through. Pick this up if you haven't yet because this book will stay with you for a long time.
May 12, 2026
This book turned out to be such an emotional and beautifully layered read. From the very beginning, the writing felt raw, deep and full of feelings that stay with you even after finishing the book. The author has written every character with so much care that their pain, love, grief and confusion feel completely real.
What I loved most was how the story slowly unfolds instead of rushing through emotions. The book talks about heartbreak, healing, family, loneliness, art and relationships in a very honest way. Marigold, Ira and Nihal are characters that stay in your mind for a long time because of how human and flawed they feel. Their journeys are emotional, messy and relatable.
The suspense element of the story was also brilliantly done. I genuinely did not see the twist coming at all, and almost all of my guesses turned out to be wrong. That made the reading experience even more intense and memorable. The mystery blends perfectly with the emotional depth of the story.
Another beautiful thing about this book is the writing style. It feels poetic without becoming difficult to read. Knowing that this is written by an Indian author makes it even more special because the emotions, family dynamics and settings feel close and familiar.
A wonderfully written book that is emotional, gripping and unforgettable.
May 31, 2026
Marigold is a psychological literary fiction novel of around 315 pages, written in beautiful and expressive language. The story is about Marigold's life and her mother, exploring themes of first love, heartbreak, trauma, healing, and personal growth.
The story beautifully captures the intensity of experiencing romantic feelings for the first time, the joy, vulnerability, and pain that often accompany them. Filled with deep emotions, the narrative weaves together the lives and stories of several characters, each adding another layer to the overall journey.
The story is divided into three parts. The first part focuses on Marigold's present life, the second tells the back story of her mother, and the final part returns to Marigold and brings her journey to a close.
While the emotional depth of the novel is one of its greatest strengths, I felt the story was stretched out at times, making it a rather slow-paced read for me. The writing demands careful attention, as the story is beautifully written in emotional layers.
Additionally, the large cast of characters occasionally made it difficult for me to keep track of everyone and their individual storylines.
Overall, if you enjoy character-driven psychological fiction and do not mind a slow-paced narrative, Marigold is a book worth considering.
The story beautifully captures the intensity of experiencing romantic feelings for the first time, the joy, vulnerability, and pain that often accompany them. Filled with deep emotions, the narrative weaves together the lives and stories of several characters, each adding another layer to the overall journey.
The story is divided into three parts. The first part focuses on Marigold's present life, the second tells the back story of her mother, and the final part returns to Marigold and brings her journey to a close.
While the emotional depth of the novel is one of its greatest strengths, I felt the story was stretched out at times, making it a rather slow-paced read for me. The writing demands careful attention, as the story is beautifully written in emotional layers.
Additionally, the large cast of characters occasionally made it difficult for me to keep track of everyone and their individual storylines.
Overall, if you enjoy character-driven psychological fiction and do not mind a slow-paced narrative, Marigold is a book worth considering.
August 17, 2026
Therapy – this is that one word I think I am really scared of but also I know how important it is. Growing up, I have always felt that I could resolve everything that I want to, its all in the head, but now I realise that it is not necessary that one will have answers for everything and it is okay to not be strong all the time.
This book – Marigold, made me understand that how people do things to cope up with their trauma, it could be anything – running, talking to friends, reading a book, watching a video, including oneself in an activity to calm the mind. But in the process sometimes we forget that we still are running away from the main issue and we all need help at some point in time in life.
Now about Marigold, first let us please appreciate its cover! The painting is so beautiful, I love her. She is Marigold. She is a librarian in Rome who has lost her dog. She feels like she needs therapy and seeks help. Now her therapist – Solo - is a friend of her mother. So she has a sort of comfort with her. But the only pressure she has during the therapy is that she cannot mention her boyfriend to Solo. Her boyfriend has set some strict lines for her to not cross. Though she wants to mention him to her, but she cannot. She cannot lose her boyfriend, she is the only one she can share all her darkest, deepest secrets with.
While in therapy, there comes a time when Marigold cannot see her mother. She searches for her everywhere, but cannot find her. She sets up a goal to know about her mother’s life and in this quest, finds some secrets of her parents back from Delhi. And then begins the story of Ira and Nihal, the story of her parents.
So the book is written in two timelines, the present day where the story of Marigold unfolds and then of Delhi, 1992 where the story of her parents begin. The book is written in such a deep way, it is emotional, deep and also beautiful but in a way that it will destroy you. Now about the present day timelines, I really liked how Marigold’s life is shown and how the author has beautifully shown what is going on in her mind. The Delhi timeline is something.. I don’t know. So it is a story about school going teenagers, and their love story or a story of destruction. I love the way the author has again written so deeply about the feelings, about the characters, narrating it in such a way that you will feel you know them personally. Having said that, I think one thing that I did not like or understand was can school going teenagers actually think so deep? Are they really that matured? Talking about love, betrayal, future, being philosophical at times. Or at least I was not. CLEARLY! But I totally know what the author was trying to convey.
Now about the writing style, like I said it is very detailed, all the characters, it is poetic. Deep, emotional, and shaking. Every character for me was in black or white – Either I liked them or I did not! As simple! The character I loved the most was of Amma – Ira’s grandmother, who would speak one sentence as a simple answer but there would be a truth, a life lesson and experience, all packed in that one sentence. Also, every chapter will end with something that will make you ponder, or will make you want to jump to the next chapter. I love the fact that the chapters were not very long which is soooo annoying in books.
The book is a lot of mental health, trauma responses, emotions but in the end, when you will know the truth of Marigold , her life, her dog, her family, her friends, you are going to be in for a shock. This is will blow your mind.
I have given this book a 3.5/5 stars.
Happy Reading.
This book – Marigold, made me understand that how people do things to cope up with their trauma, it could be anything – running, talking to friends, reading a book, watching a video, including oneself in an activity to calm the mind. But in the process sometimes we forget that we still are running away from the main issue and we all need help at some point in time in life.
Now about Marigold, first let us please appreciate its cover! The painting is so beautiful, I love her. She is Marigold. She is a librarian in Rome who has lost her dog. She feels like she needs therapy and seeks help. Now her therapist – Solo - is a friend of her mother. So she has a sort of comfort with her. But the only pressure she has during the therapy is that she cannot mention her boyfriend to Solo. Her boyfriend has set some strict lines for her to not cross. Though she wants to mention him to her, but she cannot. She cannot lose her boyfriend, she is the only one she can share all her darkest, deepest secrets with.
While in therapy, there comes a time when Marigold cannot see her mother. She searches for her everywhere, but cannot find her. She sets up a goal to know about her mother’s life and in this quest, finds some secrets of her parents back from Delhi. And then begins the story of Ira and Nihal, the story of her parents.
So the book is written in two timelines, the present day where the story of Marigold unfolds and then of Delhi, 1992 where the story of her parents begin. The book is written in such a deep way, it is emotional, deep and also beautiful but in a way that it will destroy you. Now about the present day timelines, I really liked how Marigold’s life is shown and how the author has beautifully shown what is going on in her mind. The Delhi timeline is something.. I don’t know. So it is a story about school going teenagers, and their love story or a story of destruction. I love the way the author has again written so deeply about the feelings, about the characters, narrating it in such a way that you will feel you know them personally. Having said that, I think one thing that I did not like or understand was can school going teenagers actually think so deep? Are they really that matured? Talking about love, betrayal, future, being philosophical at times. Or at least I was not. CLEARLY! But I totally know what the author was trying to convey.
Now about the writing style, like I said it is very detailed, all the characters, it is poetic. Deep, emotional, and shaking. Every character for me was in black or white – Either I liked them or I did not! As simple! The character I loved the most was of Amma – Ira’s grandmother, who would speak one sentence as a simple answer but there would be a truth, a life lesson and experience, all packed in that one sentence. Also, every chapter will end with something that will make you ponder, or will make you want to jump to the next chapter. I love the fact that the chapters were not very long which is soooo annoying in books.
The book is a lot of mental health, trauma responses, emotions but in the end, when you will know the truth of Marigold , her life, her dog, her family, her friends, you are going to be in for a shock. This is will blow your mind.
I have given this book a 3.5/5 stars.
Happy Reading.
July 6, 2026
Set between the enchanting streets of Rome and memories rooted in New Delhi, this is the story of Marigold. She's a young woman with a seemingly peaceful life that revolves around books, routine and a relationship built on unspoken boundaries. She grieves the loss of her beloved dog and begins therapy. Her mother's sudden disappearance pulls her into a search for answers. An unpublished biography hidden in the attic opens a window into her parents' past, leading Marigold towards truths that reshape everything she thought she knew about her family and herself.
The novel draws its strength from emotion and introspection. Heena Singhal's writing is elegant and immersive. The psychological depth of the characters is what stayed with me the most. Their fears, grief, longing and unanswered questions are all depicted so well. This literary fiction is a thoughtful exploration of identity, memory, family and healing.
The novel draws its strength from emotion and introspection. Heena Singhal's writing is elegant and immersive. The psychological depth of the characters is what stayed with me the most. Their fears, grief, longing and unanswered questions are all depicted so well. This literary fiction is a thoughtful exploration of identity, memory, family and healing.
May 24, 2026
I picked up this book only because of its cover but after knowing that it was painted by the author @heena singhal itself made you admire her more. It’s the kind of book that quietly settles into you and no matter how you take it in beginning at the end you understood the gravity of words it comes with.
Marigold, a young Indian origin woman works in a library in Rome who investigates the mysterious life of her artist mother who died unexpectedly. During this she learns the language of paintings and explores the grief and secrets she held inside. As she found out more truths in all along this she reveals herself to more than she thought. It’s a fictional story with twists in the end that’s the best part. A good read.
Marigold, a young Indian origin woman works in a library in Rome who investigates the mysterious life of her artist mother who died unexpectedly. During this she learns the language of paintings and explores the grief and secrets she held inside. As she found out more truths in all along this she reveals herself to more than she thought. It’s a fictional story with twists in the end that’s the best part. A good read.
April 29, 2026
The messiness, shortness and tragedy of life.... the irony of life that we end up hurting the ones we love the most.... We promise not to let out darkness swallow our kin, but somehow end up passing the burden onto them in one way or the other!! Mandira, Ira and Marigold, women across generations, strong, powerful, unyielding, yet broken, in their own ways, and each one, knowingly or unknowingly, passed on the burden of their pain onto their loved ones!!! This piece hit way close to home, because each of us has had demons to slay, when no one was watching, no one was listening and about whom no one knew!!! Yet life goes on...
August 29, 2026
I felt that the storyline missed a certain flow between the stories of the mother and the daughter. Some parts of it didn’t make sense to me such as if Ira didn’t die by suicide, why did she send them on a date? And I am not clear about what happened between Donna and Ira?
I feel some parts of the story remain vague and doesn’t add up. Yet, I wanted to get to the end and parts of it was interesting.
I feel some parts of the story remain vague and doesn’t add up. Yet, I wanted to get to the end and parts of it was interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2026
Marigold refreshingly stands out from other contemporary litfic titles, with its layered and emotional story telling. I believe Heena has her way with words, and her extensive usage of similes and imageries help the reader paint a detailed picture of scene in their minds. The story was really well thought of, with each character in the book having multiple dimensions to them, making this one of the very few books that I’d love to pick up once again.
August 31, 2026
4.5 ⭐
I have never seen a great representation of Grief in any book. This book explores grief and it's effect on every individual's present and future is impeccable!!. The twist and mystery is very good.
But I think I wanted more of it.
Now, I will read her debut novel too!!
I have never seen a great representation of Grief in any book. This book explores grief and it's effect on every individual's present and future is impeccable!!. The twist and mystery is very good.
But I think I wanted more of it.
Now, I will read her debut novel too!!
April 21, 2026
My mind was blown off by the ending, I would highly highly recommend people to read this book🤌🏻🤌🏻 The narration, the writing everything was sooooo well written...❤️
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