The Lotus Inn: A Novel

by Nisha Sharma

A small-town romantic suspense featuring three sisters, a dilapidated family, inn and the will that changes everything…

Dr. Aji Chawla is still reeling after her divorce and hospital layoff when she receives news that her estranged father passed away. As the dutiful eldest daughter, she returns to Misty Pines, a quiet town in the Pocono Mountains, so she can attend the funeral and support her mother. There, she encounters the last person her father was supposed to meet the night he her ex-husband’s older brother, Rohan.

Before she can interrogate Rohan about his presence, Aji learns that her father left a will which requires all three Chawla daughters to live at The Lotus Inn for six months. Together. If they walk away, the inn—and the valuable land it sits on—goes to the local Hindu temple. Aji and her sisters reluctantly agree to the terms, but it becomes clear someone in Misty Pines wants them gone.

After a series of escalating incidents with the local townspeople and temple, Aji begins to suspect that her mother is keeping secrets while her father was blackmailed before his death. The only person she can trust to help her find the truth and to protect her mother and sisters is Rohan…but trusting another man, let alone her ex-husband’s brother, was never part of her plan.

Aji has six months to save the Inn. Before her time is up, she just might lose more than just her heart.

Genres: Thriller, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance

Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 2, 2027

About the author

Nisha Sharma is the critically acclaimed author of YA and adult contemporary romances including My So-Called Bollywood Life, Radha and Jai’s Recipe for Romance, The Singh Family Trilogy and the If Shakespeare was an Auntie series. Her books have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly and more. She lives in Pennsylvania with her Alaskan husband, her cat Lizzie Bennett and her dog Nancey Drew. You can find her online at Nisha-sharma.com or on TikTok and Instagram @nishawrites.

Reviews

[Lochi's Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

So…I’m gonna need like at least two more books like this.

If the man isn't building a cottage just so he can be with you, and so you can be close to your loved ones, while a mystery unfolds, then frankly, I'm not interested.

Nisha Sharma never fails to deliver fresh, compelling stories, and The Lotus Inn marks an incredible jump, skip, and foray into suspense romance. Alongside a gripping mystery, Sharma offers sharp commentary on the realities of small-town life, reminding readers that the idyllic image we all love to consume in movies and television is sometimes far from reality. It isn't welcoming, or safe: for everyone. I remember visiting a small town and I can still remember the moment I felt unwelcome. The anxiety, the immediate need to feel safe. The result is creepy, simmering, emotionally charged, and unforgettable. Nisha captures all of this while also probing: what truly is the American Dream?

After their father's death, Aji, Rema, and Noor are forced back to their family's inn: The Lotus Inn, because of a clause in his will. To ensure their mother, Seema, inherits anything at all, the three sisters must live in the inn together for six months. Each of them carries complicated feelings and deep trauma connected to their father and the inn but they put those differences aside. Sisterhood is a pillar to their narrative.

When a string of increasingly suspicious events suggests something far more sinister is happening (we shall talk about the temple and more!) they band together.

And then there's the romance. Aji reconnects with Rohan her ex-husband's brother and their relationship becomes one of the emotional anchors of the book. The slow-building trust and unwavering support between them was so well done. Healing is a big arc for Aji and Nisha does it justice.

I was absolutely glued to this book from beginning to end. The mystery unfolds at just the right pace, and every seemingly small interaction feels like Nisha is carefully planting seeds that pay off later. Matty and Rema? Noor and Keith? I was absolutely left wanting more from both pairings (and Atria, I'm knocking on your door for those books to be released as well!).

I have so many passages highlighted, but one thing is certain: this is an easy five-star read. The Guyanese representation was such a wonderful surprise (I was so proud to see a Guyanese character helping Aji unravel the mystery), the character work is beautifully layered (Seema and Aji will make you cry), and the commentary on policing, prejudice, and life in a small town feels honest and impactful.

"I want to be there for you when you shine. I always knew you could shine."

I already can't wait to see what Nisha Sharma writes next. Thank you Atria Books for the early digital copy!

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. Lots to love about this book but it didn't quite hit the mark for me as a standout read.

While I loved the relationship between the three sisters and seeing what life could be like for a South Asian family in a small town in America (as the author says, it's not like a Hallmark movie), there wasn't enough depth to the characters for me. I think it was because there was a little too much high level summaries of things that had happened which influenced their current behavior. So the drama, emotions, and tension from those pivotal moments were erased.

But overall, a light, enjoyable read.

PS. But who wouldn't want a man like Rohan?! I did enjoy his protectiveness and focus on giving Aji the time to rediscover herself and her strengths.

[Shefali · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 ⭐️

This book had a LOT going on. Abusive father, emotionally absent mother, three sisters who left home as soon as they could, small-town racism, and a will with very specific terms. I haven’t read many romantic suspense novels, but Nisha Sharma seemed to nail it! I love reading books by South Asian authors because I feel so seen by the descriptions of our cultural traditions, expectations, and flaws. And truthfully, I don’t think I’ve read a book (at least in recent memory) where the male love interest is an Indian man who isn’t problematic. But Rohan is everything you could ask for and Aji is so deserving of a good love! The mystery in this story was compelling. The characters who refused to stand up for the Chawla family felt just as evil as the actual antagonists. The amount of physical violence that Aji and her family endured seemed a little heavy-handed, but I was able to get past it. The family coming together at the end was so beautiful and heartwarming. I’m hoping there’s another book with Rema and Keith! Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read this ARC!

P.S. I’m officially fancasting Anirush Pisharody as Rohan 🤪

[Just Blue Through Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and to Atria Books for the ARC of The Lotus Inn by Nisha Sharma.

Fans of Devney Perry's The Eden series, Catherine Cowles' Starlight Grove Series and other fans of romantic suspense/thriller will definitely enjoy Sharma's The Lotus Inn. It is packed with romance (touch-her-and-die and he-fell-first, complete with millionaire style yearning and some spicy scenes) and drama (ex-husband's brother is the romance interest, a family reuniting for the first time in 13 years, and all the baggage that comes along just with that) plus all the tension and suspense around what Aji's father intended by his will and how it has led to dangerous actions from someone in the town her parents have lived in for 35 years.

What gives it a deeper layer than others in this genre is the absolute cruelty of small town racism that Aji and her family experience, and how they still want to bear out the time for the will's stipulations to be completed because this land and this inn was once a dream and a hope for the future. The scenes featuring Aji's mom, Seema, are some of the most heartbreaking, and this whole aspect is done really well.

I think some romantic suspense can rely too heavily on the same repetitive tropes or going too extreme on the suspense aspects, and while Sharma is also following the playbook of escalation, it feels darker and more real. I also felt the way she describes the childhood trauma that all three sisters have from having an angry and negligent father and a diminished mother felt relatable across cultures, and didn't veer into trauma for trauma's sake, but a believable backstory and truth that has undeniably affected the family and left them with internal scars.

The romance is well-developed, and Rohan is a great balance to and for Aji. Both are in their mid/late 30s, and they act more maturely, with overall self-reflection and relationship awareness and communication. Aji is not in a great place when we first meet her, and Rohan takes great care to show he sees her and values her even as she is trying to piece herself back together while things get persistently more dangerous in Misty Pines. Aji herself is tough and brave and dealing with so much, but she takes the time to think through what she needs, what her family needs, and who she actually wants to be. She's strong and independent and learning what it means to let someone else take care of her.

Overall, it's a fun read, where the romance will be such a fulfilling distraction and growth point until the next attempt on Aji and her family becomes the focal point again. It was hard to put down, with a great finish and definite threads set-up for Aji's sisters to have their stories next, which I'm really excited for.

[Aamira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel. Was it sensational at times? Sure. But honestly, no more so than a movie in a similar genre. The plot moves quickly and keeps you engaged. Yet, I still felt removed at times from the characters.

I thought Aji was really interesting and full depth. She had a horrible upbringing under the thumb of an abusive father. And while she and her two younger sisters managed to escape it was at the cost of their relationships with their mother. Aji, as the eldest, took the brunt of the abuse to protect her siblings and as an adult, finds herself in an abusive marriage. Newly divorced and unemployed, she’s dragged back to her family home after her father’s death to meet the demands of his will. I felt that her struggle with alcohol was interesting and added nuance to her character. I wish that she had had more difficulty with giving it up. She goes on a bender when she first arrives at her house and is taken care of by Rohan, but that’s all we see, though she mentions her need to drink a couple of times more, we don’t actually see her grapple with sobriety. I think the author could have taken this further.

Rohan was one dimensional for me. Great guy. And I loved how he cared for Aji and her family and really championed her, but he was just too perfect. I did like how he didn’t give up on Aji whenever she was scared and overall, he was a great character, but he just lacked depth. I also wanted to see him grapple more with the idea that his brother was an abusive asshole. I don’t know how I feel about that resolution in general. I loved that Aji stood up to him in the end, but nothing felt resolved between Rohan and his brother.

I adored the relationship between Aji and her sisters. It read so heartfelt and supportive. I also felt her sisters had distinct characterizations, and I feel like they’re being set up for their own novels, which if so, I’d look forward to reading.

One of my major quibbles with the novel though, is that I felt there was a lot of telling and less showing. We’re told that Aji sleeps in Rohan’s room for two weeks, but I would have loved to have seen more of those scenes between the two of them and watched the relationship develop. It gave the relationship a sense of instalove when that wasn’t the case. A lot of time was passing as they got to know each other but we didn’t get to really see it. Aside from that though, this was an enjoyable book that dealt with serious topics with sensitivity and shined a light to real issues.

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you know me, you know romantic suspense is one of my absolute favorite subgenres, and you also know I will read literally anything Nisha Sharma writes because I think she is that good and I have loved her previous books. So when I found out she was writing a romantic suspense, I knew it was made for me!

This was SO good. This might just top the genre for me, and I need way more books like this ASAP.

The mystery was intriguing and engaging from the very beginning, but what really impressed me was how much depth Nisha packed into the story. Yes, there's danger, twists, and plenty of tension, but I think the real danger here is how small town racism, prejudice, and family trauma can proliferate and what it actually looks like for families who have never truly been welcomed in spaces where others could easily integrate and know their place.

I also loved that this wasn't just Aji's story, but it was truly about the sisterhood between Aji, Rema, and Noor and that was one of my favorite parts of the book. Family dynamics can be so difficult to navigate and I appreciated how messy and realistic it all was within this book, and how full of love they could all be even after years of hurt.

Rohan was out here building a whole cottage just so Aji could stay close to her family while helping her solve a mystery, and wow, if that isn't the definition of "if he wanted to, he would" because how precious was he? He was patient, supportive, quietly protective, and I loved that he never tried to dim Aji's light. He helped her grow and become who she ultimately needed to be, and their relationship felt very mature but also realistic.

I also have to mention how much I appreciated the South Asian representation. As always, Nisha seamlessly weaves in the family dynamics, traditions, and cultural expectations and I love seeing it and learning so much.

Now I'm desperately hoping Rema and Noor get their own books because I need them!

Thank you to NetGalley, Nisha Sharma, and Atria Books for the eARC of this book.

[Asmaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who grew up reading Maya Banks, Jayne Ann Krentz and Elizabeth Lowell, I am a big fan of romantic suspense. I love the fact that the location of the story is a small town. The promise of our FMC.Aji who just went through a divorce and being let go from her hospital job having to return to her hometown because of the passing of her father was intriguing to me. Then we find out and not only was the last person. Her father was supposed to meet was her ex brother-in-law, but that the will states that in order in order to inherit it the end that her parents own as well as the land her and her sisters must live there for six months together.
Aji and her sister is fine. That staying is not easy because of the reaction to the towns people to them as well as the fact that there seems to be a mystery behind their father’s death. Rohan, who is the X brother-in-law becomes.Aji’s ally, and trying to find out secrets that her father never disclosed.

I love the fact that the characters were so interesting. Also, the relationships between the sisters was fascinating to see in that sometimes we need to look back at how our family has a different perspective of the past than we do. I really also enjoyed and understood when the FMC had feelings about her small town because they were one of the few minorities who grew up there and being that she is south Asian. It affected the way she saw the small town and how she viewed how they saw her. The mystery itself was so intriguing and kept me guessing the entire book.

I so enjoyed every aspect of this book and cannot wait and I’m hoping that the sisters get their own stories.

Thank you to Atria for the early copy through NetGalley.

[RK · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe this is Nisha Sharma's first foray into romatic suspense. She did an amazing job.

She balanced the sexual tension between Aji and Rohan and the mounting terror being wreaked upon Aji's family due to her deceased father's poor choices.

Somehow she was able to do this while also introducing Aji's two sisters, her mother, an old hometown friend-come-family attorney, a decent cop friend of Roman's, and another attorney/love interest for Aji's mother. It sounds like a lot of people and subplots, and it is--but Sharma ties it all up spectacularly (and sexily!) after putting the reader through the suspense wringer. Sharma is a master of large casts of characters.

I'm excited to see if she turns this book into a series.

Thank you to Atria Boiks and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

[Joanna Z-F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Netgalley, for an early copy of this novel. It was an absolute dream to read.

This, to me, was the perfect representation of what I considered romantic suspence. The small town vibes, suspicious town folk, and a love story that was just the cherry on top. I absolutely hope there will be more books following other characters from this story.

This was written so well. I could feel the pain, loss, and love that the characters were experiencing through the authors writing, and that does not normally happen to me.

The main couple, chef's kiss. I thought they were great, separate, and together. And the spice! Perfect amount. And our MMC, just wow. There isn't more to say.

I highly recommend it, and I will be getting myself a copy when it comes out. Can not wait.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romantic suspense is back baby!!!! I was lucky enough to read this as Nisha was developing it and I think she has something fun and special. At its heart it’s a story of family, sisterhood, and survival against all odds. Against a backdrop of a racist small town, the Chawla sisters have to come back together to the home that broke them in order to solve a mystery. I loved Aji and getting to know Noor and Rema. I loved the quiet strength and intensity of Rohan and the glimpses of future love interests. And I loved the high stakes throughout - it’s not so much a who done it, but more of a HOW. And Nisha weaves all these threads beautifully.

[Pidabean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me up at night wanting to finish this book. I wanted to know what was going on and I was cheering for the Chawla sisters. This book was amazing. Aji Chawla is the oldest daughter who needs to take care of her family from everything. There were a lot of emotions felt in reading this book. I like Nisha Sharma’s contemporary romance books and will read them but I really liked her Romantic Suspense book. There is a mention of a park in the book and it happened to be that weekend while I was reading this book, I had visited the park which II was so excited.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for a copy of the ebook.

[Amy Escobar · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own


Wow! This book brought with a lot of baggage- lots to unpack. While so much tragedy befell the FMC (especially as she grew up) the story was actually quite hopeful and romantic. To find love after what she had been through and find someone who is willing to literally build a life for her was amazing. This book could have stayed negative and the dark side of humanity- thank goodness the author decided to take it in a different direction.

[Sarika · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this, I really did.

But I just couldn’t wrap my head around how Rohan and Aji were so immediately drawn to each other from the jump. The timeline seemed off to me, I don’t think it would take less than 6 months for the cottage to be planned, constructed and pass inspection (shout out to my boyfriend who’s super knowledgeable about real estate/construction). Maybe he had the plans drawn up months in advance but come onnnn we all know these things don’t go according to plan!

The other thing that seemed over dramatized to me was how hateful the town was towards the family. I get people having animosity because of business practices but what did everyone else do to deserve that hatred?? Seemed excessive to me personally.

2.5 stars for me

[Ali Rosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know how sometimes you’re reading a thriller as a woman and you think to yourself “I wish this story had intelligent complex female characters, extremely yearning men and way more sex?”. Well you’re in luck, The Lotus Inn is absolutely for you.

[Jessica Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tension, the mystery, the sexiness in the dark of night!! Nisha Sharma just put me back into my romantic suspense era with this one.

Also, I am Aji’s mom’s number one fan, everyone else get behind me. Actually, Seema get behind me too, I want to protect you 😭

[Tyler McCall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A steamy hot romance with a page-turning thriller??? What more could you ask for? (A couple of sequels, if the sisters’ vibes are right…)

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far one of my favorite reads of 2026. This was PHENOMENAL