My thanks to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for a review copy of this one.

This is, as the title suggests, the story of the Shergill sisters—Rajini, Jezmeen, and Shirina, who while not quite at loggerheads have drifted apart with time. Each is dealing with their own life problems—Rajini’s son is about to opt out of college and marry a woman twice his age, Jezmeen’s career is going only one way—downwards, and Shirina’s marriage is not turning out quite as she thought it would be—and not really aware of what the others are going through. When their mother, Sita Kaur, dies, her last wish is that they travel to India, taking a pilgrimage of sorts that she couldn’t go on because of her illness—taking them from Delhi to Amritsar, to the Gurdwara Hemkund Sahib, up in the Himalayas. So of course, the three must take that journey together, one that their mother had planned out for them in detail in a letter she left. Sita Kaur didn’t merely want them to travel to the places she wanted, but more so to spend time with each other and learn to get along once again (or perhaps as they never did). Needless to say, it doesn’t go entirely to plan, but because of this, they begin to face their own problems and also grow closer once again, when dealing with issues of inequality, family, tradition, and modernity.

This was a mixed sort of read for me. On the one side, I liked reading the story/stories (their individual stories as well as of their relationship with each other) of the three sisters, their lives, and how they ultimately handle the problems in their lives (in which at times, circumstances and (happy) coincidences also have a role). Some simply require a change in perspective (acceptance), while others more serious, life-changing decisions. I liked how the author handled these aspects of the story, especially that it was done realistically, with no ‘magical’ changes and yet a bit of magic at work (if that makes any sense). The picture of the country however, I wasn’t too thrilled with—I mean the author highlights various issues that the country is dealing with no doubt, including inequality and women’s safety, but the picture she presented felt to me far too gloomy, as though there is only darkness, no light, and that to me was off-putting. There is the negative, but that doesn’t mean that there is no positive, no hope, either, which I felt the book didn’t reflect.

Three and a half stars.

This book took me on an emotional journey. I went through many different emotions reading this book.
The cultural descriptions in this book were so interesting
In brief this was a remarkable story about remarkable women

Another fabulous read from Balli Kaur Jaswal , I loved Erotic stories for punjabi widows and was so excited to read this, believe me I was not disappointed. It’s funny and touching, I loved the relationships between the sisters. It’s great in showing how secrets have an affect on everyone, it’s also wonderful to see the cultural differences and how it moulds them. A wonderful entertaining read, one you won’t be able to put down

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Another fabulous book by Balli Kaur!
I absolutely loved her first one (Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows). So, was extremely excited to read this one and she does not disappoint.
The book is based on three disconnected sisters who end up on a pilgrimage to India as a last request from their dying mother. The characters were very etched out and I could connect with many of them.
This was a light read with plenty of comedic moments that at times made me laugh out load.
I would definitely recommend to those after a quick light hearted read but wanting more than a chick-lit romance.

This is a family story about 3 sisters, who over the years, have not been particularly close. When their mother passes away she leaves them instructions to make a pilgrimage to India to scatter her ashes and to also get to know each other again.
However all have secrets which are gradually revealed as the trip progresses. These secrets have an effect on how they interact with each other and how they treat the trip they have been asked to take.
This is an enjoyable light hearted read which held my attention. I learnt about India too, both interesting customs and some rather shocking beliefs about the place of women which seems to have carried on amongst those not living in their homeland.
This would be perfect as a light beach read over the Summer and would appeal to those who know something about India as well as those, like myself, who know very little.
I have read Balli Kaur Jaswal’s previous book- Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows which I quite enjoyed and so I was pleased to be able to read and review this new novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

Wow what a lovely, funny, interesting book.
I read it in one sitting, it’s a real page turner despite not having the thriller aspect of who done it. The sisters were funny, true to what siblings can be like and endearing. I would highly recommend this book to friends for the ideal summer read.

I requested a copy from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters. All I knew is that the plot interested me, and the author was familiar because of a previously released work. Not to mention, the covers of the books are beautiful. I wasn’t expecting to get a fully realized journey between three sisters who are very different from each other going through a pilgrimage to honor their mother. This was well written, filled with a lot of emotions that each character feels about their lives and their relationship with each other. It also gives a glimpse of the bits of India - the beauty, and also the gritty parts that we get aware of through the media. It also has factors about their religion, and the clash of their Eastern and Western culture and how it shaped each of them personally. I thought this was a riveting read, as it was hard to put down and you would just want to continue the journey with the sisters.

This was a lovely and distracting read. The sisters relationship was wholly realistic and I think that might be a bit for some readers to handle. I enjoyed it. The romp through India was hilarious at times. Tom Hanks was fantastic!

If you are looking for an escapist read give this one a try.

I was awaiting Balli Kaur’s next novel as I absolutely loved her first one (Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows). So, imagine my delight when I was given a review copy by Harper Collins for ‘The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters’. I was very excited to read it and am glad that it was an interesting read even though it did not entirely meet my expectations (which were probably set too high based on my experience of reading her previous work).

Full review on my blog, please follow link below:

https://indianfictionforyou.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-unlikely-adventures-of-shergill.html

A charming, humorous, poignant journey for three sisters; Rajni, Jezmeen and Shirina, who travel to India, to honour their mother’s memory. A duty trip turns out to be a cultural, emotional and ultimately enlightening adventure, even if things didn’t happen quite how their mother Sita envisaged them.

Sita is dying and in pain on a terminal care ward, her family life has not been easy, and she despairs of the lack of connectivity between her daughters. Writing a letter with her last wishes means she can die in peace in the hope her three daughters can find each other and live their lives in a positive way.

Each sister has secrets, revealed as their journey unfolds, the sisters are believable, flawed characters, easy to empathise, even if they exasperate you sometimes. The setting is vividly described and an important character in this story. It’s India in all its contrasting forms that makes the sisters need each other and reflect on their lives and relationships. For someone who has never visited, it is an interesting travelogue, which complements the sisters’ journey of self -realisation perfectly,

Past and present events woven into the well-paced plot, illuminate the reader. The humour is sometimes dark, but this makes the story authentic. Social issues affecting women everywhere and more particularly in India are highlighted, they fit seamlessly into the plot but still resonate.

The ending is heartwarming and you are hopeful the sisters’ lives will be everything Sita would wish for them.

I received a copy of this book from Harper Collins UK - Harper Fiction via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A quick and enjoyable easy read about the Shergill sisters: Rajni, Jezmeen and Sherina, and their pilgrimage to India together as their mother’s dying request.

Discovering themselves, exploring the relationships between each other and the families they’ve left at home, and over all, an account of the power of women.

Like the author’s last book, this novel is set in the second-generation South Asian community in London, but now moving further afield to explore their roots. Fresh, funny and moving, you’ll get to know some great and diverse characters in this fantastic read.

You can find my full review on my blog

https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2019/05/30/book-review-balli-kaur-jaswal-the-unlikely-adventures-of-the-shergill-sisters/

A completely engaging and delightful novel from Balli Kaur Jaswal. The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters, features three sisters, Rajni, Jezmeen and Shirina on a pilgrimage to India to scatter their mother’s ashes. Their mother has left them a detailed itinerary of their trip and many of the chapters open with her observations on India, culture, religion and her daughters’ interactions with each other.

The sisters have uncomfortable relationships: Rajni, the eldest, believes she always has to be in charge, Jezmeen is irreverent and challenging and Shirina will do anything to avoid conflict. Each sister travels to India carrying a personal burden she feels she cannot share with her siblings. Rajni’s eighteen year old son want to move in with his thirty-six year old girlfriend, Jezmeen is in disgrace for bad behaviour which threatens her acting career and Shirina is being bullied by her mother in law. During their trip almost nothing goes to plan but as they struggle to navigate chaotic cities, understand the Indian culture and each other, they become closer and more understanding and tolerant of one another.

This novel is full of authentic characters with distinctive voices. The sisters’ struggles and predicaments are brought vividly to life as is the background of hot and hectic India. This is a heart-warming story which incorporates an important social commentary that deals with the treatment of women and cultural expectations that surround them. It made me smile and it made me sad; it was a very worthwhile read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Having read and enjoyed a previous book by this author, ' Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows' I was delighted when I had the opportunity to review this book
The story centres on three sisters in the period just after the death of their mother. They travel to India with her ashes to dispose of them.
Being one of three sisters myself I recognised the jockeying for position between the three of them, the intricacies of their relationships and the loving humour are well described.
The three women's own lives feature in the story and the three very different stages they are all at. There are separate strands for each of the main characters as they deal with their own crises which the reader gradually comes to know about as the story progresses. Throughout the story their mother leads them on their task through her past influence and letters
The descriptions of life in India bring it to life for the reader and, to me, the differences between their current lives as Europeans and that of their families who still live in their cultural home of India, are very well integrated in the tale.
The book is well written and the threads of the story are easy to follow. It is funny in parts and also poignant. The characters are believable and recognisable and the descriptions are good. There is humour, adventure, frustration and family values throughout.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I read it very quickly, eager to get back into the story whenever I had a moment. I would highly recommend it