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Maidless in Mumbai
Think babies are hard work? Getting the baby's maid to stick around is even harder. When career-driven reporter Anu Narain has a baby, her house turns into a railway station where every maid is a passing train.Will Anu use wile and guile to make her maids stay and her mom-in-law leave? How will she balance playing mom and playing ma'am? And how will Anu become a working mom when her husband has become a shirking dad?Hysterically funny, unapologetically honest, and charming all the way, this is the diary of a Mumbai mom who dreams of only one thing--the perfect maid to live happily forever with!
- GenresFiction
192 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2017
22 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
Payal Kapadia
9 books47 followersPayal Kapadia’s “Wisha Wozzariter” won the Crossword Book Award 2013 for Best Children’s Book and is also on the “101 Indian Children’s Books We Love!” list. She is also the author of “Colonel Hathi Loses His Brigade” and “Puffin Lives: B.R. Ambedkar.”
Payal started her career as a journalist with Outlook Magazine in Mumbai and The Japan Times in Tokyo, after receiving a Master’s degree from Northwestern University, Chicago. But writing books was a childhood dream, and one day, it was not enough to dream of writing any more. With Wisha Wozzariter, the story of a 10-year old girl who wishes she was a writer,
So Payal wrote Wisha Wozzariter. And when Wisha stopped wishing and started writing, she did, too.
Payal’s newest book “Horrid High” is a perfectly horrid adventure in the world’s most horrid school. In the pipeline is the second part of “Horrid High” and a book about two unlikely princesses, a must-have for every girl everywhere.
Payal started her career as a journalist with Outlook Magazine in Mumbai and The Japan Times in Tokyo, after receiving a Master’s degree from Northwestern University, Chicago. But writing books was a childhood dream, and one day, it was not enough to dream of writing any more. With Wisha Wozzariter, the story of a 10-year old girl who wishes she was a writer,
So Payal wrote Wisha Wozzariter. And when Wisha stopped wishing and started writing, she did, too.
Payal’s newest book “Horrid High” is a perfectly horrid adventure in the world’s most horrid school. In the pipeline is the second part of “Horrid High” and a book about two unlikely princesses, a must-have for every girl everywhere.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 14, 2018
I fail to understand why do all the authors think it makes for a funny read if the protagonist takes a hyper tone and approach to everything in life. Sadly this turned out to be my first read for the year and I am feeling disappointed. It’s not funny, it doesn’t even make good on the the struggle that new moms, working or not, feel. And yes it’s about being maidless in Mumbai but she is way too obsessed... and dramatic...
November 12, 2017
More of a 3.5. This was a fun read. My blog on the book is here: https://newfracturedlight.wordpress.c...
February 16, 2025
It should be named as “Brainless in Mumbai”. The amount of sexism this book offers is just unacceptable, plus the punchable husband was insufferable. The over exaggerated idea of motherhood is a no-go for me. Of course, motherhood comes with tremendous responsibilities and difficulties, but exaggerating every bit of that just for the sake of invoking fun is not the right idea.
Besides, the protagonist sounded dumb, un opinionated and highly conservative contrary to the field of her job and the kind of woman the author wanted to portray. There are some really problematic lines in the book especially the idea of murdering both the MIL and mother (of course it was a pun on author’s part but again not everything is a joke). The characters were miserable. In fact, if I had to choose between the multiple maids and the protagonist, I will be happily going for the opinions of the maid because they were clear and confident in putting their opinions on table unlike the protagonist who sulks silently and goes on ming herself for her asshole husband.
For me the book became utterly disappointing at the point where the protagonist doesn’t choose to divorce her good-for-nothing husband and goes on living the life normally after creating drama throughout the narrative. Utterly disappointing and a terrible piece with stupid claims of creating a fun narrative. TBH! This book hits more on the deeper side and could have become a lot more better if the author had just avoided the unnecessary drama.
Besides, the protagonist sounded dumb, un opinionated and highly conservative contrary to the field of her job and the kind of woman the author wanted to portray. There are some really problematic lines in the book especially the idea of murdering both the MIL and mother (of course it was a pun on author’s part but again not everything is a joke). The characters were miserable. In fact, if I had to choose between the multiple maids and the protagonist, I will be happily going for the opinions of the maid because they were clear and confident in putting their opinions on table unlike the protagonist who sulks silently and goes on ming herself for her asshole husband.
For me the book became utterly disappointing at the point where the protagonist doesn’t choose to divorce her good-for-nothing husband and goes on living the life normally after creating drama throughout the narrative. Utterly disappointing and a terrible piece with stupid claims of creating a fun narrative. TBH! This book hits more on the deeper side and could have become a lot more better if the author had just avoided the unnecessary drama.
February 26, 2018
fall-off-the-bed-laughing funny!
Being a great fan of PG Wodehouse, this is the second book that impressed me to the core.. I congratulate Payal Kapadia for it..
I can relate very well to Anu, as I lived her life for some time.. the book brings out a lot of problems and frustration a mother faces due to the societal pressures and norms. Though meant to be funny, the message delivered is serious - our dependency on one perfect person to raise our child in this career oriented day thus leading to late marriages and late pregnancies. Her book makes us re-think what we are heading to..
Nonetheless, a great book to pass time or think thoroughly. Beautiful writing and excellent language and most of all, INCREDIBLY FUNNY!
Being a great fan of PG Wodehouse, this is the second book that impressed me to the core.. I congratulate Payal Kapadia for it..
I can relate very well to Anu, as I lived her life for some time.. the book brings out a lot of problems and frustration a mother faces due to the societal pressures and norms. Though meant to be funny, the message delivered is serious - our dependency on one perfect person to raise our child in this career oriented day thus leading to late marriages and late pregnancies. Her book makes us re-think what we are heading to..
Nonetheless, a great book to pass time or think thoroughly. Beautiful writing and excellent language and most of all, INCREDIBLY FUNNY!
July 15, 2018
This is a desperate attempt to force humour using everyday cynicism. I don't read books to listen to colloquial rants and this book is exactly that. Due to my strict don't-give-up-until-awful rule for books, I rushed through the pages just to finish it, but I must say it was a torturous experience. If you are an avid reader, this book is highly avoidable.
January 3, 2018
This book started off with so much promise but the plot didn’t hold my attention beyond a point. I found it boring in parts and predictable in others. Perhaps fleshing our the characters more in detail would have helped hold my attention. I wouldn’t recommend it.
March 6, 2019
#bookreview20 📕
Maidless in Mumbai
Author - Payal Kapadia
Publisher - @bloomsburyindia
Price - 299
Page - 162
Genre - Fiction/humor
Read this book as part of #femmemarchfest reading challenge hosted by @theliquidsunset ...
📕
📕
Content - Career-driven journalist, Anu Narain has her first baby.She has planned for everything, everything except maid.A maid that stays and look after properly. Moreover the baby pisses,poops,cries,feeds all day,throws tantrums and there is no instruction manual for this.Even her mother and mom-in-law are of no help and they are more interested in giving commands to the maid.But no maid is gonna take command from three memsahibs and eveyone leaves giving Anu a more hard time and a messy life...Even her husband stays ignorant.
.
Will Anu be able to manage everything?How will her life becomes when maids comes and goes like mumbai local trains?Does she finally have to quit her job too? Find the answers in the book...
📕
📕
My Views - The book shows life of a working woman who jas just become a mother and the life after it. Whether you are are a working woman or not,you have to face this situation at one point of life.The writer has written about a realistic problem beautifully wrapped in humor.Though sometime,the narration gets little bit stretchy.
But I kind of like the book as it depicts the real life problems of mothers.
📕
My Rating - 3.5 ⭐️/5⭐️
#femmemarchfest #bookreview #newpost #bookstagramindia #bookstagram #unitedbookstagram #bookaddict #mybookfeatures #payalkadakia #bookoholic #bookishlove #instabookreview #instabook #instabookreviewer #indianauthors #booksofinstagram #bibliophile
Maidless in Mumbai
Author - Payal Kapadia
Publisher - @bloomsburyindia
Price - 299
Page - 162
Genre - Fiction/humor
Read this book as part of #femmemarchfest reading challenge hosted by @theliquidsunset ...
📕
📕
Content - Career-driven journalist, Anu Narain has her first baby.She has planned for everything, everything except maid.A maid that stays and look after properly. Moreover the baby pisses,poops,cries,feeds all day,throws tantrums and there is no instruction manual for this.Even her mother and mom-in-law are of no help and they are more interested in giving commands to the maid.But no maid is gonna take command from three memsahibs and eveyone leaves giving Anu a more hard time and a messy life...Even her husband stays ignorant.
.
Will Anu be able to manage everything?How will her life becomes when maids comes and goes like mumbai local trains?Does she finally have to quit her job too? Find the answers in the book...
📕
📕
My Views - The book shows life of a working woman who jas just become a mother and the life after it. Whether you are are a working woman or not,you have to face this situation at one point of life.The writer has written about a realistic problem beautifully wrapped in humor.Though sometime,the narration gets little bit stretchy.
But I kind of like the book as it depicts the real life problems of mothers.
📕
My Rating - 3.5 ⭐️/5⭐️
#femmemarchfest #bookreview #newpost #bookstagramindia #bookstagram #unitedbookstagram #bookaddict #mybookfeatures #payalkadakia #bookoholic #bookishlove #instabookreview #instabook #instabookreviewer #indianauthors #booksofinstagram #bibliophile
December 20, 2019
Before I start, let me give you an example of the pain that our protagonist has to undergo due to her maid, in her own words.
"On the five-minute walk from her house to mine, she has twisted her foot; fainted; had an epileptic fit; suffered a stroke; experienced a mild cardiac seizure; and gotten roughed up by a mob.'
Anu is a new Mom with zero past experience and no support whatsoever from her husband Sameer, who has been sleeping happily at nights when Anu has to wake up and tend to her crying baby. Her mother and mother-in-law, maternal wellmeaningers are there to help of course. Though their help comprises more of advices and pin-pointing Anu's lack of baby care knowledge. Frustrated from her husband's Tom Cruise in Mission impossible like act where Tom can escape easily from the clutches of villain( in this case Anu with a baby is the villain), Anu decides to bring in the big guns. The MAID.
Thanks to the two constant looming figures of so called maternal love, both her mom and her mom in law, the maids do not stay beyond a week. Usain Bolt would have been left red faced after seeing them run. Anu's work life has gone for a toss. She is torn between being a good mother and being a journalist.
Story is quirky with the right dose of laughter. At places, it was too hyper but that's something I am willing to ignore as the content is fresh. It's monotonous at times though.It leaves you thinking that is it only a mother's job to raise her child while everybody else around her including her husband has no major impact on their lives. Maidless in Mumbai is a comic take on the contemporary lifestyle and struggles of women.
"On the five-minute walk from her house to mine, she has twisted her foot; fainted; had an epileptic fit; suffered a stroke; experienced a mild cardiac seizure; and gotten roughed up by a mob.'
Anu is a new Mom with zero past experience and no support whatsoever from her husband Sameer, who has been sleeping happily at nights when Anu has to wake up and tend to her crying baby. Her mother and mother-in-law, maternal wellmeaningers are there to help of course. Though their help comprises more of advices and pin-pointing Anu's lack of baby care knowledge. Frustrated from her husband's Tom Cruise in Mission impossible like act where Tom can escape easily from the clutches of villain( in this case Anu with a baby is the villain), Anu decides to bring in the big guns. The MAID.
Thanks to the two constant looming figures of so called maternal love, both her mom and her mom in law, the maids do not stay beyond a week. Usain Bolt would have been left red faced after seeing them run. Anu's work life has gone for a toss. She is torn between being a good mother and being a journalist.
Story is quirky with the right dose of laughter. At places, it was too hyper but that's something I am willing to ignore as the content is fresh. It's monotonous at times though.It leaves you thinking that is it only a mother's job to raise her child while everybody else around her including her husband has no major impact on their lives. Maidless in Mumbai is a comic take on the contemporary lifestyle and struggles of women.
January 28, 2019
Genre:Fiction, Women's Fiction, Chick Lit
Rating 4/5
So this is the first book I read this year. I was intrigued by the title and the illustrations. Any new mother would relate well with the book as well those who have toddlers or school goers. The memories this book brought upon made it all the more relatable. The book speaks of the frustration, hair splitting and nerve wracking problems mothers face when the combined forces of MIL and mother join the bandwagon to teach you to be a perfect mother. And the father of the child simply becomes 'the man'.
Anu,the new mother becomes obsessed in getting a maid(Maidomania) to help her settle down with her schedules and to do lists that she keeps on writing. This paranoia results in missing the little joys of her child growing up. You can easily relate to her side of story where you see the new mother struggle with advices from her mother and MIL, along with her group of friends. Whom does she turn to? Who can assist her when she is sleep deprived and lacks energy to even lift a limb? In the end though the father comes to support her and understands the fact that Parenting is all about learning and being together to take responsibilities. A must read for all those who are about to wear parenting shoes. It will help understand that parenting world is about managing emotions of parenting and enjoying the responsibilities as partners.
Read if you too want to tickle yourself silly and yet have thoughts to ponder.
Glimpse of whats inside:
“During visiting hours, Sameer brings flowers that the night nurse (why is she still awake?) dispatches to the bin. ‘Hospital policy,’ she says. Mom brings home-made sweets. The nurse sends the sweets off to keep the flowers company. Hospital policy again. Sameer’s mom, who has flown in from Igatpuri to spend the week with us, brings ghastly advice. ‘Yesterday, you were living for yourself,’ she says, making it sound like I was dancing for money on the tops of bar tables. ‘Now you must live for your daughter.’ There’s no hospital policy about advice. (I checked.)”
Rating 4/5
So this is the first book I read this year. I was intrigued by the title and the illustrations. Any new mother would relate well with the book as well those who have toddlers or school goers. The memories this book brought upon made it all the more relatable. The book speaks of the frustration, hair splitting and nerve wracking problems mothers face when the combined forces of MIL and mother join the bandwagon to teach you to be a perfect mother. And the father of the child simply becomes 'the man'.
Anu,the new mother becomes obsessed in getting a maid(Maidomania) to help her settle down with her schedules and to do lists that she keeps on writing. This paranoia results in missing the little joys of her child growing up. You can easily relate to her side of story where you see the new mother struggle with advices from her mother and MIL, along with her group of friends. Whom does she turn to? Who can assist her when she is sleep deprived and lacks energy to even lift a limb? In the end though the father comes to support her and understands the fact that Parenting is all about learning and being together to take responsibilities. A must read for all those who are about to wear parenting shoes. It will help understand that parenting world is about managing emotions of parenting and enjoying the responsibilities as partners.
Read if you too want to tickle yourself silly and yet have thoughts to ponder.
Glimpse of whats inside:
“During visiting hours, Sameer brings flowers that the night nurse (why is she still awake?) dispatches to the bin. ‘Hospital policy,’ she says. Mom brings home-made sweets. The nurse sends the sweets off to keep the flowers company. Hospital policy again. Sameer’s mom, who has flown in from Igatpuri to spend the week with us, brings ghastly advice. ‘Yesterday, you were living for yourself,’ she says, making it sound like I was dancing for money on the tops of bar tables. ‘Now you must live for your daughter.’ There’s no hospital policy about advice. (I checked.)”
September 17, 2017
Actual Rating 4.5 Stars
This hilarious beauty was read in just one freaking sitting! Enjoyed this realistic yet comedic look at a working woman's journey into motherhood! :D
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May 18, 2018
I thought the book was great fun. The topic itself can spark off enough debate and it quite exhaustively covers the type of help! I also like the fact that it’s not politically correct- this is how we feel about help. This is how we view them. I had expected it to be a whole lot more autobiographical but it was fictionalised which is fine but it dragged in bits and the essence of the main character (making lists, refusing to believe life wasn’t in control) got lost somewhere. Also the timelines were a little warped... like the maid is going on a week off but the next diary entry is two days later when she returns. Also child milestones are a little unbelievable. I have two kids and none of them showed so much progress so quickly!
But other than that it’s a nice light read and the author has a lot of humour packed in her so was definitely worth picking up.
But other than that it’s a nice light read and the author has a lot of humour packed in her so was definitely worth picking up.
May 17, 2018
Extremely well written, the book is an absolute joy from the first page to the last, if assessed only through the barometer of lovely language plus syntax. It was also very engaging and you are keen to know who wins, and what happens ultimately, in the Anu-versus-world battle, but somewhere in the midst of part 3 of the book, aptly titled Maidomania (because it gets maddening very literally here), the story takes a turn for the worse from a plot perspective, and the narrative drags.The realism which made the first two parts relatable, and therefore endearing has been replaced with absurdity in part 3; three and a half stars if I were to honestly rate the book, half a star for the underlined humour.
August 11, 2019
Maidless in Mumbai is a short realistic comedy story of a new mom struggling without a stable maid. The story is written hilariously. Anu, a new mom who lives her life with checklists in hand finds herself in a place where she couldn't find one maid to help her balance work and life.
New moms can relate to her I guess. The story has some low areas but not boring. Though written in a funny tone, the struggle the moms face without the help of the relatives and also from their husbands, trying to work out their carrier as well as their family can be understood seriously.
This author's writing style is like an Indian version of Sophie Kinsella's writing. Nice story, short one and also was super funny.
3.5⭐ read for me.
New moms can relate to her I guess. The story has some low areas but not boring. Though written in a funny tone, the struggle the moms face without the help of the relatives and also from their husbands, trying to work out their carrier as well as their family can be understood seriously.
This author's writing style is like an Indian version of Sophie Kinsella's writing. Nice story, short one and also was super funny.
3.5⭐ read for me.
November 11, 2018
The title of the book actually took my attention, well I am not a working mother so I don’t know the drill if how difficult it is to be both, a mother and a working woman. But I must say the book gave me enough glimpse of how exactly it can be and how not easy and irritating it can be!! It was very courageous of writer to put it out for everyone to read so that working mothers like her can relate to her and people like me can actually have idea of how life of a working mother is when they make it look like a cake walk!! It was one time fun read!!
May 10, 2019
Maidless in Mumbai:
Such an honest and light read😄😄 I have been waiting to read this one for quite sometime and finally finished it 😋😉 Maid problems are far more diabolic than what people assume it to be. Earlier people said that marriages were made in heaven but, today i believe we can say with utmost confidence that 'good maids' are made and found 'only' in heaven!! Humourous and beautifully written, this book is the stark reality of the maid hunting frenzy🤪
Such an honest and light read😄😄 I have been waiting to read this one for quite sometime and finally finished it 😋😉 Maid problems are far more diabolic than what people assume it to be. Earlier people said that marriages were made in heaven but, today i believe we can say with utmost confidence that 'good maids' are made and found 'only' in heaven!! Humourous and beautifully written, this book is the stark reality of the maid hunting frenzy🤪
March 14, 2019
Being a Maidless Mom desperately looking for a nanny with the reverse ticker of going back to work, I could relate to the title instantly, and I don't regret picking up this light read. Though the underlying theme is woes of being maidless, its a hilarious take on being a new Mom. The humour and understated wit makes it a breezy read. Looking forward to more books from the author.
May 2, 2020
Just an endless rant.
Started out promising with great laughs but that’s just 1/4th of the book.
The rest was a disjointed narration.
Few storyline’s that could’ve been troughs but we’re left dangling.
Started out promising with great laughs but that’s just 1/4th of the book.
The rest was a disjointed narration.
Few storyline’s that could’ve been troughs but we’re left dangling.
April 27, 2022
I have had this book on my TBR since ages, I love books on my city and I like funny female authors. This book was exactly like that The author is witty and she knows it. It's a quirky read but at some points it felt far too stretched. You won't like it if you are looking for something serious.
October 19, 2023
Not for me. 2 stars for when I might have found something funny by chance otherwise I don’t know the point of writing so many words and saying the same thing on repeat! No storyline whatsoever and I still don’t get the point of this book.
January 28, 2018
It was a fun read in the beginning... but after a while the book becomes monotonous with the protagonist obsessing over getting a maid...
May 20, 2018
Hilarious read, the sharp sarcastic humour can tend to get a little overbearing and boring at times, nevertheless the book is a good light quick read
August 4, 2018
Kinda funny
August 14, 2018
It gives a little heads up about how a life can be after having baby and not having maid . Ok book with daily notes.
March 16, 2019
Hilarious at times. But the ending didn't work for me. It almost states that a child totally ruins your life and career. Feels a little pessimistic.
May 7, 2024
DNF at 8%.
Mechanical voice
Mechanical voice
November 8, 2024
An ok read..
Not that catchy
Not that catchy
September 24, 2019
It was a fun read and as true to the title main focus is about being maidless.The emotions and things that run in mind when u have a newborn and juggling between work is depicted so naturally. It felt low in the middle as it was all about MaidOMania it could have depicted the little joys of being in the new born world but I loved the way it ended how finally both Anu Sameer support each other and understand the fact that Parenting is all about learning and being together to take responsibilities. It is a must read for all who are about to enter parenthood world for both of them to know about managing emotions of parenting and enjoying the responsibilities TOGETHER with ur partners. Do give it a full read to understand the essence of the book completely.
June 6, 2018
I felt transported into a vastly different world, and then, right at home. The journey of motherhood translates across continents. Add in all the other curve balls life throws at us, and we realize how similar we all are.
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May 9, 20183/5
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews