Having read a book by this author before I had high expectations on this book and it certainly did not disappoint.

Wonderful writing, a great plot/storyline. Family dynamics at its bests.

Highly recommend this book.

Thanks to both the publisher and NetGalley for gifting me a copy of this book.

A fun tale about 3 very different sisters. I felt that some of the storylines whilst the sisters are in India felt unfinished for me and a little unbelievable at time .
I enjoyed this but enjoyed the authors previous book Erotic Stories for Punjabi widows more

Received an arc from Netgalley to review.


I’m familiar with this author and have read her previous book erotic stories for Punjabi widows so I was looking forward to reading this book and I really like it.

Its great take on family dynamics , sisterhood and culture clash.

I found this to be a very engaging and relatable book.

Provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. I think the author is very good and I love the fact that they can draw from their experiences from within the Asian community and culture.
A lot of the book I spent nodding my head and agreeing with the cultural references etc.

The story itself is well written and thought out. The pilgrimage is really about re-establishing the sister bond between the 3 characters. I could completely relate to this.

Each sister is hiding something and each thinks they have to tackle their issue on their own. Thankfully they pull together and help each other through.

Well written, well thought out and a very, very good read.

Another enjoyable story from Jaswal. She always shows family and cultural tensions with clarity, complexity and humour and balances everyday dramas with big-hitting issues. It follows three British-Pakistani sisters who, eagerly and reluctantly, make a pilgrimage to lay their mother's ashes to rest in Amritsar. Each sister has a difficult relationship with her family and her roots as these issues lie at the heart of a moving and enjoyable story that explores the tensions between tradition and modernity, particularly for women of Pakistani heritage. Jaswal brings her characters and their settings to life on the page in full colour.

The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters
by Balli Kaur Jaswal
Pub Date: 13 Jun 2019

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an ebook of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It gave a wonderful insight into the experience of Sikh women in Britain. The plot was really intriguing with flashbacks and plot reveals in little bits to keep the reader's interest until the reveal.

Balli Kaur Jaswal’s novel follows three sisters on a road trip across India to complete their late mother’s last rites. In order to do this, the three of them have had to press pause on their own personal issues and focus on mending their fraught relationships with each other.

Jaswal’s writing is full of humour and warmth, delivering a narrative that’s both funny and poignant. The three sisters’ characters are distinctly drawn, from the bossy-but-capable Rajni, to the reserved Shireen to hot-mess Jezmeen. The narrative is split between the viewpoints of the sisters, which is useful for gaining an insight into their individual personal problems and for contrasting this against how each sister is seen by the others.

What Jaswal does well in this book is to show how it’s possible for adult siblings’ relationships to fragment under the pressure of other relationships – marriages, children, careers all take their toll. But at the same time, there is always a sense that our siblings are the people who have grown up with us and who know our earliest and perhaps most authentic selves. As one of three sisters myself, I could relate to the close bond these three women clearly shared beneath all the bickering and teasing.

This was a novel about the earliest and perhaps most lasting female relationships we have: between mothers and daughters, and sisters. It was about how we interpret the actions and motivations of those who love us/whom we love. And that despite the turbulence and uncertainty in other areas of our lives, sisterhood can act as a supportive and anchoring force. Put like this, it might sound a bit cheesy, but it’s saved from being mawkish or sentimental by Jaswal’s unique comedic sense: the part with the fish had me snorting with laughter – I won’t say any more.

Jaswal also explores cultural expectations of women and marriage, and while I’m always a bit wary if I think a book is in danger of playing to stereotypes, I think the diversity of experiences within the same family in the novel means she manages to walk the line between writing just another immigrant misery-chronicle, and actually tackling issues which are real and specific in some parts of Indian / South Asian culture. The only thing I was disappointed about was that we didn’t really see the moment where one of the characters finally stands up for themselves and walks out of an abusive situation. I wanted to see the perpetrators of that injustice face the consequences of their actions and felt slightly robbed of a more satisfying sense of closure. However I can also understand the decision not to go down this route, as this might have shifted the focus of the novel.

A great summer vacation read.

This was such a beautiful story. I LOVED the three sisters coming together to honour the memory of their mother; i love their mothers motive and intent in making her children go on a pilgrimage. As a middle child of three daughters it made my heart swell.

I cried buckets while reading. The grief storyline is so poignant and I heavily related to the feeling of diaspora conflict and ostracization. A beautiful book.

I gave this book a try because of the title and the summary. I am glad I did. This was an amazingly delightful book.
I loved the description of the two sisters, the sibling rivalry but most of all I loved their love for each other and the importance of family that this book tries to convey with every page of this story. I was captivated from the first word until the last.

The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters is definitely one of the most evocative books I've read recently. Everything- from the setting, the vivid characters, the motivations behind our sisters, the lushness of the backdrop and the ingenuity that conspired during their travels (that hinted at the heartbreak within each one of them), made every page equally entertaining.

To start with, Balli Kaur Jaswal does an outstanding job at transporting us to India - alongside the incredible, mouth-watering food, the societal problems, the serenely beautiful landscapes, and the bustling streets where our 3 very different sisters traversed. They each had their own story to unfold, past demons to deal with and life-changing decisions to take. All of which kept me hooked onto every word.

We follow our 3 sisters who are tasked upon their mother's last wishes to go on a journey in India to scatter their mom's ashes and fulfill certain tasks together that will help them reconnect with each other, their culture and their ancestral homeland. We follow Rajini- the strict, assertive and motherly figure who is dealing with her son's relationship 'crisis', Jezmeen- the wild, stubborn and fun-loving sister who is in the midst of a rapidly failing acting career and finally, Shirina- the quiet, polite, 'do-gooder' youngest child, who might be carrying a secret that threatens her new family's peace.

The book was an immersive experience to read because it felt like I was walking with our trio on the same streets, feeling their stress, understanding their misery towards their situations, appreciating the way they challenged their positions and got sad when they were crushed with the weight of the expectations on them.

The story continuously peeled back layers so we get a glimpse at the motivations between each of our sister's actions- the backstories that shaped them or drove them to act in certain ways. It was enough to reel me in and reflect on their gracious expositions and narrations that heightened my emotions around their journey. The moment I was annoyed with a sister, I was thrust with the events they experienced- events that provided much perspective.

SPOILERS:
For instance, I was harsh on Rajini's strong-willed attitude that refused to accommodate her sisters, but then understood the guilt she was feeling. Or when I couldn't really come to terms with Jezmeen's occasional immaturity, the spotlight on the years of her quarreling and her need to be recognised shifted my view. Shirina seemed almost perfect but then we were given a heartbreaking insight on how she never felt visible in either family- the neglect ringing out loud.

Similarly, their mother was driven to become superstitious and not necessarily be the most understanding or attentive towards her children because of the limitations that her strict husband's family placed on her. The expectations were of a very high standard. This doesn't wholly excuse her poor parenting though, which didn't necessarily give her daughters a solid enough childhood foundation but it does make her plight a lot more understandable. She barely had any choice.
END OF SPOILER

This book is perfect for anyone who is willing to undertake a journey, one that puts the focus on family and culture . It's especially great for anyone of Indian descent, someone who has traveled to Northern India, or curious readers who don't mind googling places, food or rituals to fully appreciate the atmospheric experience.

The story managed to unfold a lot more than healing past wounds though. We were whisked away to confront the realities of society- a situation, or at least aspects of it that resound all over the world and it was dealt with understanding, compassion and beauty.

The book also deftly touches on the idea of always considering the ' what would others think' mindset that prevails in Asia, female discrimination, female feticide, double standards, rape culture, the growing feminist movement in developing countries, and how patriarchal hierarchy can influence the mindsets of communities, families and societies to the point where women are denied agency and freedom to make their own decisions about their careers and families- to the point where it becomes institutional.

But despite all that, the book is never heavy to read because we breeze through the sisterly arguments and their reflections, whilst the wondrous music and food fill our senses. We are privy to snippets of history, the Sikh Religion and glorious north-Indian culture (from 3 distinct perspectives) alongside some of the bitter realities that exist within the country.

It's a tale of sisters, one that revolves around guilt, healing and then hopeful reconciliation that made me utterly content.

I absolutely loved Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows and The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters was a perfect match! Deliciously rich in detail and wonderfully witty in its writing, this is a remarkable tale of home, heritage and the power of sisterhood, all wrapped up in a life changing pilgrimage to India.

Tradition versus modernity is skilfully illuminated within its stunning setting, and issues surrounding love, acceptance and forgiveness were enveloped between the delicate layers of each of the sisters personas and the bond they share with one another.

I honestly cannot wait to see what Balli Kaur Jaswal gifts us next!

I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It was light, entertaining yet thought provoking. It's about three sisters who complete a week long journey to India on behalf of their mother who herself had wanted to go before she died. Rajni, Jezmeen, and Shirina. She purposely preplanned their destinations and as they progressed through their adventures they learned so much about themselves and each others. It was a great read, so enjoyable and funny in parts. I really enjoyed it.

Really enjoyed this book thank you. Vibrant, believable, characters and an absorbing plot. I will ensure I look out for this author in the future!

Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will enjoy.

Thank you Net Galley. Ms Jaswal has written another delightful book. The importance of family and how it intertwines with identity is very well written. The problems of immigrants and their search for 'self' are written with sensitivity and understanding. Highly recommended.

I did not read author's previous book but its definitely on my list after this one! Wonderful writing and story. Loved the characters and setting as well.

This was the first book I have read by Balli Kaur Jaswal and it won't be the last. Sibling rivalry, tangled family past and descriptions of India that make you feel as if you are there, all combine for a gripping read. The sisters are very different in circumstance and outlook despite a similar upbringing and the personality clashes underscore the culture clashes that they experience. Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for providing such an absorbing and thought provoking read.

After the death of Rajni, Jezebel and Shirinas mum the girls set off on a journey to India.

Following the directions of their late mother and travelling through India, the girls discover secrets about each other.

Wow, this book blew me away!
For so long I’d wanted a book that I couldn’t put down and I couldn’t put down and this was it. Each page kept me hanging on for more. The mystery surrounding each sister makes this novel so unputdownable.
I thoroughly recommend this book.

I was provided a free e-book via netgalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.