Within

I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. It was well written with each story being compelling and hard to put down and allcontaining well developed characters. Each story was different and so I was engaged the whole way through the book. I read it really quickly

Thank you NetGalley and Raising World Chjildren LLC for presenting me with an ARC of this book in exchange of a honest review.

WITHIN is a must pick-up for all Desi readers. It shines light on so many struggles and snippets from the daily lives of multicultural women.

I initially this wouldn't be as interesting as a normal novel as I thought it would be similar to an anthology, but boy, I was so wrong. WITHIN, as the author states, is a collection of various short stories. Yes, short as in actually short and not 8-10 pages long. The chapters vary from 2 pages to 6 pages and are so interesting to read through. I was hooked into the lives of all these women from the point I laid my eyes on this gorgeous cover.

I especially loved how the book handles trauma, prejudice and stereotypes while also incorporating the Indian culture into it. It also sets a perfect vibe so you're immediately hooked no matter where you're starting from. It's also perfect for tea-time reading since the chapters are very short but meaningful.

WITHIN shows us an insight of all the things women go through via their routines, be it anything. As a person of South Asian descent, this really filled my heart and I'd definitely read anything that's similar to this. This is an amazing book and I'd like everyone to pick this up and share some love!

This book felt like a hot cup of tea. It was so refreshing to read diverse stories that were not watered down for the audience. It was authentic and tender.

One of my favourite tender moments was “But he will never feel what she does. Because he never felt what she did.”

Please pick this book up to read! 4 stars

Thank you for this beautiful ARC in return for my honest review.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Within is an amalgamation of short stories that sheds light on the various experiences of Desi women. I appreciated Wardhan Singh's approach on enveloping the stories with the culture and traditions of India. Many of the stories give you a chance to stop and reflect, with a moral that encourages the reader to consider their own journey. The cover is simple yet gorgeous and the content within will truly take you through a myriad of emotions that will stay with you long after you close the final page. A true celebration of a women!

Whenever people ask me about why I enjoy reading, I always say I get to explore new places, new times, new lives, however, this book was different because it felt like coming home. I don't often read short stories, something about them leaves me unsatisfied more often than not, but I think short stories were exactly the right medium for this kind of book. I don't read many books featuring Desi people because so often, they are written by people of other cultures who do it wrong, but everything about these stories was familiar and comforting, from the casual mix of Hindi and English, to the classically Desi approach to topics like love, marriage, money, family, vocation, and so much more. As someone who emigrated from India as a child, this book was so relatable and made me think back to my own childhood. For other stories, it was like opening a window to see potential futures. While people of other cultures can definitely read and enjoy these stories to appreciate Indian culture, as a Desi woman, reading these stories felt like being seen and understood for the first time in such a long time. Which brings me to the second part of my review, the focus on female voices and female stories. I cannot say how much I enjoyed reading about women and their lives and their ideas because so often, female voices are silenced, and Desi female voices even more so. I especially loved the queer voices that were included in the stories, because in Indian culture, so often, they just aren't talked about or acknowledged. In this book, they were given their own place to tell their stories, and what beautiful stories they were - authentic, heart-wrenching, and yet stories that needed to be told.

Whether you're looking for casual stories to entertain you for a short while, or looking for a book to find yourself within or just exploring a culture that may not be your own, these stories have something for everyone. "Within" has the subtitle of 'Short Stories for the Evolving Multicultural Woman' and I truly think it lives up to its name.

This was such an interesting selection of stories for me. It was like stepping into another persons life and culture, so many things different but so many things the same. I liked the short story format, it was easy to dip into when I did not have much time. It also gave you a chance to think about each story in the busy times inbetween.

I'll be honest. I requested this book from NetGalley on a whim. I normally am not a fan of short stories or poetry but the description really piqued my interest. I am very glad that I gave in to the impulse because I really enjoyed this book. I have always been interested in learning about other cultures and this book was informational without being an information dump.

One of the things I like most was that the stories were of different lengths. Some were a quick read while others you had time with. I also liked that the stories were a bit random. That all the sadder stories weren't lumped together. There were some stories that I liked for than others. Confidence and Acceptance were my absolute favorites. Honestly, though with Acceptance, I wish is was a full book instead of a snippet because it was really beautiful.

Many of these stories felt so real. Even though there is no way I could fully understand certain experiences, the author wrote in a way where I still felt for these characters despite my brief time with them. There are times when I wanted to cry and some when I laughed.

Honestly, I apologize for my review being so short but I really feel that these stories need to be experienced. It's definitely worth the read and the buy. You will not regret it.

This book had a lot of good stories. They were just things that happened with people, conversations we are a part of, memories, things that we would remember. It is a beautiful kaleidoscope of people, different situations that we fall in, tensions in life, the things that we value and definitely our biases as well.

There are many characters! Some are new lovers, some are separated and married, sometimes it’s a conversation between two mothers and a daughter, simple everyday stories like passing on recipes from one generation to another. Things that happen in the house. It made me recognize that just general everyday moments are still very true.

We are connected on such a deep level that our experiences are so similar that in another person and their story, a short story, can bring so much emotion and be teleported there, experiencing their life. Within was very well done and clearly shows the love for others and also how sometimes we have to stand up for ourselves and make hard decisions. We have to set up boundaries, and if someone does not respect us, we owe them nothing.

Indian cultures and upbringing are integral to these stories and I loved reading their words and mannerisms – they took me home. Just like the synopsis says, these are stories I would share with a best friend or family over chai or coffee.

Some stories that I will never forget: the one about the mother and son having dinner and the father interrupting the meal, the one where two exs find each other in an elevator, and the one about a young girl going to kanjak. This last one reminded me of my own life in India eating puri, halwa and chole – those days visiting people’s houses and being pampered with my favorite food and some money were good days every year until I couldn’t do them anymore. I loved that food and hope to be able to get my kids to experience them. I need to get over the paralysis I feel – it is worth making.

I love these stories because they reminded me how, at the end of the day, we are fighting everyday to be who we are.

Within: Short Stories for the Evolving Multicultural Woman was good company.

Many thanks to the author for providing me a review copy of this book via NetGalley and the opportunity to host her here! Check out my blog, Armed with A Book, to read the interview with the author.

This was an incredibly engaging anthology full of heart, healing, and culture. As a South Asian person myself, this book was full of tales I could relate to and even talk about with family members who saw themselves represented in these pages. The book is a careful and touching look into the lives of women in South Asia steeped in culture and intrigue. Stunning.

I purposely look for work from POC authors and South Asian authors so this was right up my alley. They mix of stories and subject matters was interesting and ultimately great to delve into. Some of the stories had slight twists to them but others were more straightforward character pieces.

Really enjoyed this book

Within is a beautiful collection of short stories written by Desi women. They cover topics from abuse, divorce, marriage, falling in love, sexuality, and family. The stories are a variety of lengths and very easily consumable, though they do leave you thinking. Many of the stories address trauma and prejudice in a though provoking yet incredibly relatable way. I absolutely adore anthologies, and I will be coming back to this one again and again.

Thank you to Netgalley and Raising World Children LLC for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is a mixed bag of long and short, short stories. I can see the talent on display even though I didn't enjoy all of the stories. It may appeal most to Indian readers or those interested in that culture. 3.5 Stars

I really appreciate the free review copy!!

The stories Within are simple and compellingly brief reads which make me feel like I'm having coffee with my mom or sister or best friend. They are soothing and comforting reads touching on a vast array of experiences of Womanhood.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Raising World Children LLC
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This book's synopsis and cover drew me in on NetGalley initially. Though I am not a person of Desi culture, I think these stories shared messages that are universal to many's experiences. I felt like I was given really beautiful insight into the experiences of Desi women through these stories and I really appreciate this window into other perspectives and cultures.

I am normally not a person who reads short stories because I often am left feeling like the story's would have benefited from being fleshed out further and I struggle with engaging with them. This was very much the case with many of these stories, though I did enjoy them overall and appreciate the messages being shared