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Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows

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What to expect

Reese Witherspoon’s March Book Club Pick!

‘Big-hearted, earthy and funny… A rattlingly good story’ Deborah Moggach, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Every woman has a secret life…

When Nikki takes a creative writing job at her local temple, with visions of emancipating the women of the community she left behind as a self-important teenager, she’s shocked to discover a group of barely literate women who have no interest in her ideals.

Yet to her surprise, the white dupatta of the widow hides more than just their modesty – these are women who have spent their lives in the shadows of fathers, brothers and husbands; being dutiful, raising children and going to temple, but whose inner lives are as rich and fruitful as their untold stories. But as they begin to open up to each other about womanhood, sexuality, and the dark secrets within the community, Nikki realises that the illicit nature of the class may place them all in danger.

East meets west and tradition clashes with modernity in a thought-provoking cross-cultural novel that might make you look again at the women in your life…

Critics Review

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‘Big-hearted, earthy and funny: turns so many preconceptions upside down. A rattlingly good story’ Deborah Moggach, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

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‘Warm and hilariously funny’ Good Housekeeping

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‘Charming, hilarious and thoughtful’ The Pool

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‘Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows balances darkness and light, social commentary and ecstatic escapism… funny and moving tale of desire and its discontents’ The Economist

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‘Sensual, authentic and hilarious, I will never look at an aubergine in the same way again – 5 stars’ The Sun

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‘Enlightening and entertaining’ Woman & Home

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‘A dark comedy… about empowerment and friendship’ Tatler

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‘A page turner… Tackles serious themes with a light and funny touch’ Glamour

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‘Funny yet serious, this is a fab book about women, culture and secrets’ Prima

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‘By turns erotic, romantic, and mysterious, this tale of women defying patriarchal strictures enchants’ Kirkus Reviews

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‘Compulsive, funny and wonderfully original – this novel glows with witty sensuality. I love it ’ Helen Lederer, Losing It

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‘Poignant, intelligent yet wickedly funny – a delightful read that reignites one's belief in the power of sisterhood’ June Sarpong

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User Reviews

Book 2.0
Narration 5.0
2.0
5.0
This book had such a promising start! I was really enjoying the commentary on arranged marriages, class divisions, and the role of older women in society. The themes around community and religion were interesting but nothing ever seemed to go deeper than surface level. I would have loved more on the immigrant experience and Sikh culture.

I listened to this on audio and the narrator (Meera Syal) did an excellent job - the narration was probably the reason I finished the book. The writing style itself wasn't my favourite (a lot of tell, not much show).

The inclusion of the stories the widows tell was fine at first, but there were far too many of them by the end. I also didn’t find the murder mystery or romance sub-plots very compelling.

The elements were all there but this one didn't hit for me.
Abbie 05/08/2025
2.0
5.0
2⭐ = Below Average.
I didn't really know quite what to expect with this book but having thoroughly enjoyed The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters ', I was hoping for a similar experience. This wasn't the case.
Whils the narration by Meera Syal was just brilliant, the storyline was a little bland.
I love to learn about different cultures, and for me this was where this book fell short. It could have been so much more descriptive. The only real insight was looking at the attitude to women and sex.
There were a few laugh out loud moments and I'll never look at an aubergine with the same eyes again! 😂
Julie7 17/11/2023

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