💕Highly recommend for historical fiction/women’s fiction readers! 💕

💛The story revolves around Sona (a British/Indian nurse) who encounters a famous painter; Mira. The story is about Sona’s life and growth and how she manages to break barriers. In her journey, we also find out about the real life of Mira leading to an ending that is quite unexpected. We also get to experience the 1930s India and the impact to the country under the British rule.

💚 This book was vibrant in a way that made me imagine the story like a movie. The characters are life like and I really loved Sona’s growth. She goes through so much and I was rooting for her so hard! There were incidents in the book that shocked and appalled me and I was angry at how women were treated. Coming from a country which was colonized by several countries and with similar notions towards women, my heart was heavy.

💛I also wasn’t aware of the artist Amrita Sher-Gil who’s behind the inspiration for the character Mira. I googled her and immediately saw the references to the life like portraits she did of Indian women. I wouldn’t have known about her if not for this book.

💚I listened to the audiobook too and it was fantastic! Narrated by Sneha Mathan, it brought the story into life. So well done!

My only reason for giving this a 4 ⭐️ is the first couple of pages were a bit hard to get into. But as the story progressed I started really enjoying it.

Thank you to HTP Hive for a galley and ALC of the book. All thoughts my own.

Six Days in Bombay is a whirlwind of emotion, connection, and the kind of unexpected magic that only comes when you let go of the plan and live in the moment. When Tara and Vivaan cross paths in the bustling, vibrant heart of Bombay, what starts as a chance encounter unfolds into a six-day journey full of vulnerability, healing, and chemistry that leaps off the page.

Shikha Kumar captures the pulse of the city and the quiet ache of two souls carrying heavy pasts, giving us a love story that’s tender, raw, and breathtaking in its simplicity. It’s about timing, fate, and the power of being seen—truly seen—by someone who just gets it.

A short stay, a long impact. This story lingers like the scent of monsoon rain and the echo of a goodbye that might not be forever.

3 Stars – Not the Story I Was Expecting

Six Days in Bombay is described as a story about a nurse who travels across Europe to clear her name after the death of a patient—but that plotline doesn’t actually unfold until halfway through the book. And when it finally does, the journey ends up having very little to do with her redemption at all.

The story was decent overall, but it felt clunky and a bit scattered. The pacing was slow to start, and it took a while for the main storyline to take shape. Aside from Sona and Dr. Stoddard—who were both well-developed and engaging—the rest of the characters felt flat and underexplored.

By the end, this felt more like a “finding yourself through life lessons” kind of read than the high-stakes redemption arc I was expecting. If you’re in the mood for a slower, character-driven story, this might work for you—but it just wasn’t quite what I’d signed up for.

This book was really good. I liked the concept and overall enjoyed listening to it. I would have had a hard time reading the physical book because some of the chapters are really long. Listening to it helped me get into the story and connect with the characters. It didn't have as much of a mystery aspect as I expected; it was more about friendship and the journey of getting out of your shell and fulfilling last wishes. It was well written, and the narrator was excellent.

Joshi is one of my favorites for the traditions and culture of India but also challenging those traditions and deeply engrained feelings. This time the story took the ideas of Indian culture back in time and outside the borders of India in discussing the shift in the British Empire in India and how that effected the cultural feelings of those who had a foot in Indian culture and a foot in British culture, or mixed blood. While this was a status symbol for many years, the shift was drastic and sudden, The consequences of this relationship between cultures is explored through an artist, a nurse, a series of doctors and a diplomat. This followed her previous book in being able to deftly weave all of these strands together in a way that is sensitive to the culture but also challenge it.

A young half British, half Indian nurse, Sona, befriends famous painter Mira Novak over six days in a Bombay hospital where she's staying following a miscarriage. Fired after being held responsible for the painter's accidental death, Sona gets tasked with delivering four of her paintings to the people Mira wanted them left to, leading to a cross Europe adventure that sees Sona discovering both love and herself.

Set in the 1930s, this was a moving coming of age/historical romance that did drag in places but overall had a unique take on a period of history I didn't know much about and was loosely based on real life people. While I wouldn't say this latest standalone from fav author Alka Joshi was my favorite of hers, it was still worth the read and good on audio. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

I wanted so badly to like this book, but sadly, I couldn’t get into the story. I enjoyed the author’s writing style, but I felt like the story dragged and took too long for the plot to actually get going.

This novel tells the story of a young and sheltered Anglo-Indian nurse who leaves her home in Bombay after losing her job due to the suspicious death of a famous painter while in her care. She travels through Prague, Florence, Paris, and London in hopes of proving her innocence.

I am a big fan of the Jaipur trilogy and was excited to see the release of a new book by Alki Joshi. The author writes with wonderfully flowing prose, drawing pictures of the world and allowing the reader to experience the feelings of the characters. The narrator did a wonderful job of bringing the words to life. My problem with this story is that nothing happens until almost halfway through the book. The reader must plod along through repetition of daily activities with short sequences of “exciting” passages waiting for the story to pick up. I would recommend the book based on the writing, narration and second part of the story. Just know the beginning may be a bit slow for those who enjoy more action packed reads.

I would like to thank Harlequin Audio for the alc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

📗Pub Day Review 🎧

{As a part of ‘The Hive’ (@htp_hive) I am generously #gifted access to titles on @netgalley. They’ve been adding more and more audiobooks and I was thrilled to see Six Days in Bombay by Alka Joshi as a choice via harlequin audio. It’s no secret that I love audiobooks, but especially cultural ones. Narrator Sneha Mathan was phenomenal!}

Part coming-of-age of in the late 1930s of a young Anglo-Indian Nurse, Sona.

“My dreams were cobwebs spun from gold.”

Part adventure and grief—After Sona loses her mother and a famous artist patient, Mira, Sona travels to Praque, Florence, and Paris to deliver artwork from Mira based on a note she left behind. Sona also decides to venture to London to meet her English father who deserted her and her mother in India many years ago.

“What would my life be like if I could break free of this cage?”

Part mystery—If Mira’s death was an accident, how could she have written a note ahead of time giving instructions of who, what and where to deliver her art too? All of these special people in Mira’s life she told stories to Sona while she was in the hospital.

“She considered her otherness a source of pride. She flaunted it, like a peacock’s train. It made her special. It made her an artist. A painter. I, on the other hand, wore my otherness like a scratchy blouse that I couldn’t wait to take off at the end of the day.”

Part examination of Indian vs. Anglo Indian women, when Sona and Rebecca—both Anglo-Indian women—work along side an Indian woman who is being domestically abused and trapped in a marriage because of her children.

“We are protected. We can do things Indian woman can’t.” . . . “I know. But if we don’t try to help, what good is our privilege.”

My gosh is author, Alka Joshi, a phenomenal story teller. This book almost felt like two parts to me with the first half being the six days that Sona takes care of Mira, witnesses her friend being abused, loses her mother and learns more details about her absent father. Then the second half is all the traveling Sona goes on. The writing is rich and vivid. And has excellent character growth. This was a solid read that I highly recommend!

4.5 stars

“I made you so safe that you are afraid to take chances. Think what your life could be if you weren’t afraid.”

This was a DEEP book. On the surface it is a mystery about Mira’s death when Sona is wrongly accused, but really this is a look at a young’s woman’s struggle with identity and coming of age. It explores how fear holds us back from living our best and fullest life!

To begin, I love how Joshi tells a story. You are fully emersed in the culture and sense of place. Additionally, it was exciting to see the world through Sona’s eyes as she began to take risks and grow into her future self. Isn’t it true how we become who we are through the risks we take?

Also, it was refreshing in a time of social media to see that people have always presented themselves in the best way. In all decades, how people seem may not be fully who they are. Each of us only shares part of ourselves with the world and those around us. We just did it differently in decades past. Sona learns there were many parts to her friend Mira, and to herself. Both women had some elements they chose to keep to themselves.

Additionally, I liked learning about the political climate of India in the late 1930s and Europe on the cusp of WWII. It was magically intertwined with the storyline! Plus I really enjoyed the ending. It was worth the reading journey to get there and caught me by surprise!

I will admit it moved slowly at times and the pacing was a little off, so this one might not be for everyone, but I admire a story with strong women characters and this book was filled with them. If you like historical fiction, world travel and a story forged in self-discovery, this book is for you! It is a lovely and thought-provoking read.

The narration by Sneha Mathan was beautifully done and experiencing the book through her voice was incredible. It really brings the characters and cultures to life!

This one is out today, April 15, and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts.

Thank you to @netgalley, @htp_hive @_mira_books_ for the physical copy and ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I finally got around to trying a book by the much loved ᴀʟᴋᴀ ᴊᴏꜱʜɪ and understand the outpouring of love for her. She has a lovely fluid way of creating a impactful narrative and drawing the reader into the world she constructs. I also liked that there was a bit of a mystery woven in with the history and the coming-of-age style of story.

It did take a bit to get into this but the audio was done so well that by 20% I was fully immersed and compelled to keep going. The characters were well developed and I enjoyed the journey!

Thank you Harlequin Audio for the alc via Netgalley

𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟒/𝟓⭐️
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐝𝐚𝐲: 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏𝟓 - 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲!

I loved Alka Joshi's Henna Artist trilogy and was very excited to receive an ARC audio of Six days in Bombay from NetGalley and Harlequin Audio in exchange for an honest review. Joshi bases this stand-alone novel on the life and work of Indian painter, Amrita Sher-Gil.

This novel read like a travelogue and the author did a fantastic job of transporting the reader back in time through compelling characters and excellent description. This story is set in 1930's India and we experience the unfairness of the caste system and the disruption of British rule. We also feel the underlying tension of WW2 and the impending horror of Hitler. We meet Sona, a sweet, but sheltered Indian-Anglo nurse who is working in a Bombay hospital. Sona is struggling to make ends meet and yearns to find independence for herself. Sona is also grappling with the abandonment of her English father and loss of a brother. When Mira Novak, a renowned painter is admitted to her hospital, Sona finds herself enthralled with the artist’s tales of lovers, fame and fortune, causing her to yearn for more in her own life. Mira, like Sona, is half-Indian, but the similarities between the two young women end here. Through her relationship with Mira, Sona is forced to leave Bombay and travels to Prague, Florence, Paris and London. Not only does Sona begin to learn about herself, but also realizes that most people only let you see the side of them that they want you to see. This whirlwind adventure not only encourages Sona to discover her true self and gain independence, but she also learns a great deal about the human spirit, forgiveness and grace in the process.

Sneha Mathan is the voice actress. Her range of accents and character voices are truly impressive and bring the story to life.

I enjoyed this story, but felt that the plot could have moved a bit faster at times. All in all this is a delightful tale for readers that prefer historical fiction and coming-of-age themed stories.

A decent historical fiction set in 1930s Bombay, following an Anglo-Indian nurse who lives with her mother and was abandoned by her British father in childhood. I found the social and historical context fascinating. Pre WWII and India’s independence, sentiments toward the British were changing and being half British became increasingly taboo. Sona grapples with her identity, duty, and caste. When an Anglo-Indian painter comes into her care at the hospital, Sona starts to have an awakening that eventually takes her across Europe. This is part adventure story, part coming of age. I wanted more exploration of Sona’s past and building her future but a lot of the plot focused on the painter. The narration was excellent.

Six Days in Bombay was a tad slow for me, but also steady-paced, filled with fascinating sights explained throughout the book. The audiobook narration added a to the journey and experience, making the characters and settings quite interesting. It was like taking a trip to all the places along with the characters. While the story took its time to unfold, the topics it explored kept me intrigued too.

The book dives into themes of identity, friendship, and the search for belonging, all set against the beautiful backdrop of Bombay and beyond. It touches on the complexities of cultural intersections and the struggles of women navigating societal expectations. The narrative also weaves in a bit of mystery and self-discovery, which creates emotions and revelations.

Though the pacing wasn’t as up to speed as I would have liked, the depth of the story and the thought-provoking themes made me continue to explore the journey. If you’re in the mood for a reflective and collective tale, this one might just be for you.

Alka Joshi does it again! 5 glowing stars! I am incredibly familiar with this author, as I have read and dearly loved the entire Jaipur Trilogy (which I highly recommend if you have not read it yet). Six Days in Bombay is a sweeping, emotional novel of mystery, adventure, and self-discovery. Once again Joshi’s incredible storytelling does not disappoint!

Sona is a young Anglo-Indian nurse living with her mother and working at a hospital in Bombay in the 1930’s. Her new patient is the infamous painter named Mira Novak who is admitted after having a miscarriage. Mira is also half Indian and the two develop a close friendship over the course of a week while Mira is in hospital under Sona’s care. Sona is enraptured by Mira’s stories of her exciting, salacious travels through Europe. After an unspeakable tragedy occurs, Sona finds herself in trouble and must set off on an unexpected solo quest across Europe to seek answers to a mystery and attempt to clear her name. Along the way, Sona encounters many characters, learns of political unrest throughout Europe, experiences the first potential romance of her young life, and tries to come to terms with her own Anglo-Indian identity and history of her English father who deserted her and her mother in India when she was a small child.

I absolutely LOVED this book! It was incredible to learn that the character of Mira Novak was inspired by a real painter of Indian Art from the 1930’s named Amrita Sher-Gil. Alka Joshi’s rich, vivid descriptions and miraculous storytelling transport the reader in both time and place. The authentic history and politics weaved throughout the book really help set the scene, showing a different perspective of the 1930’s without becoming the main focus. It felt as if I were right there with Sona as she experienced the most joyful and tragic moments of her life in such a short time frame. I really connected with Sona as a character and felt deeply for her. The relationships she had with both Mira and her mother felt genuine and loving. It was fun, although stressful at times, to watch her grow and venture out into the world. I was really hoping she would get the happy ending she deserved. However, I never would have guessed this ending and it very much caught me by surprise – absolutely in a good way!

I also had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version. The narrator, Sneha Mathan, is excellent and her impressive range of voices and accents kept me fully engaged throughout! Alka Joshi is one of my favorite authors of all time and I could not be more thrilled to have read this book in advance. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone! Thank you to NetGalley, Alka Joshi, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Harlequin Audio for the gifted ARC in an exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to @htp_hive, @htpbooks_audio & @netgalley for this gorgeously immersive story, 𝑺𝑰𝑿 𝑫𝑨𝒀𝑺 𝑰𝑵 𝑩𝑶𝑴𝑩𝑨𝒀 𝒃𝒚 𝑨𝒍𝒌𝒂 𝑱𝒐𝒔𝒉𝒊, out this week!

I have read Joshi's last series and really loved the character driven nature of her narratives. I was excited and ready to dive into another similar feel and Sneha Mathan did a fantastic job bringing me into it with her fluid and lyrical narration.

Sona is a nurse in Bombay in the years between the world wars, when a famous artist becomes her patient. After a difficult miscarriage, and painful recovery, Mira Novak has made a lasting impression of life-changing proportions on Sona. And then Mira unexpectedly dies, throwing Sona into suspicion and out on a quest that gives Sona opportunities to mine Mira's true identity, as well as her own.

I am happy to immerse myself into a culture of which I am less familiar, and I feel Joshi so gently allows me to learn and still be entertained by a good story. This is very much a story of identity from within and within cultures and contexts. We are parts of stories we do not choose, and yet, we get to have some control of the narrative as we grow and this story was an encouraging one in that latter piece.

I was prepared for a character rich story, yet did find the plot a bit slower than the first of her stories. I still enjoyed Sona's journey which took her into a place of inner strength. I was rooting for her throughout. The mystery of Mira's death propelled that journey, and I was never sure what had happened until it was revealed, but it didn't feel as primary to me compared to Sona's coming-of-age.

I did enjoy this tale and encourage fans of character-driven historical fiction to pick this up!

Thank you @_mira_books_ @htp_hive & @htpbooks_audio for the gifted ARC + ALC ♡

Are all great artists tortured beings? Broken artists litter the pages of history — maybe that which inspired their brilliance also hides a darker side..

Mira Novak, a half Indian / half Czech painter was inspired by real artists Amrita Sher-Gil and Frida Kahlo. Mira is flamboyant, sexually fluid, unrepentant, outspoken, a prodigy, and a riddle. She draws everyone in.

Nurse Sona Falstaff, also half Indian and half British, is the opposite: quiet, shy, a bit of a prude, holds everyone at arms length, leading a sheltered life in Calcutta/Bombay.

Set in 1937, India is still under British colonial rule, but independence (as well as WW2) is around the corner and the tides are turning against the colonizers.

Which identity can each of these women claim? Which will society allow them to and which will they choose?

I loved traveling to Paris, Prague, London and Italy with Sona on her journey of self-discovery. The pacing ebbed a bit in the middle, but I cheered and clapped at the conclusion! And the romance subplots 🥺💕

▶︎ •၊၊||၊|||။‌‌‌‌‌၊|• 🎧 listening to @snehamathanvo Sneha Mathan’s smooth oration was a pleasure. She captures Sona’s voice: her inner monologue, her sorrow, her anger, her resilience. Added 🌟 for audio performance.

💚 Six Days in Bombay releases this Tuesday, April 15. It’s also a @bookofthemonth pick 🙌🏽

TW: Racism, Assault, Domestic Violence

I want to thank everyone for this early gifted copy of Six Days in Bombay.

While I have enjoyed Joshi’s works in the past, for some reason this story didn’t resonate with me. I didn’t feel much for the characters or the storyline. I do think this will be a book people will enjoy, it just didn’t work for me.

Alka Joshi is one of my favorites for non fiction and this did not disappoint. I truly felt we were traveling along with the protagonist the whole time. We got to see a glimpse into Bombay and the lives these woman lived.

Thank you for this ARC! I will always cherish her books.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced audiobook copy. I am trying to branch out more when it comes to historical fiction other than World War II. I thought I would give this a try and it was just OK for me. Just an average read. As for the narration, it was fine.. she had a clear, pleasant voice to listen to.