Books
THE CURIOUS SECRETS OF YESTERDAY
A woman’s ambitions clash with familial expectations in a captivating novel about generational secrets and self-discovery by the bestselling author of The Candid Life of Meena Dave.
Raised by her mother and grandmother and tutored in the healing wonders of spices, Tulsi Gupta is expected to carry on the ancestral tradition from her family’s Salem spice shop. Restless and reluctant, Tulsi yearns to follow her own path—destiny has other plans.
When Tulsi finds a letter written by her grandmother, addressed and never sent, that speaks of a long-ago betrayal, she decides to unravel the mystery as a distraction. But Tulsi stumbles into much more than she bargained for. With each new discovery, she learns there’s much more to her mother and grandmother than their expertise in the remedial aromas of coriander and cloves. When an attractive neighbor begins renovating the shuttered deli next door, Tulsi finds the courage to break her routine and chase the unexpected.
As Tulsi digs into the past and secrets come to light, she’s determined to heal old family wounds and find her true purpose—and maybe even love—every step of the way.
Available for pre-order now
SCENT OF A GARDEN
A perfumer in Paris is forced to return to her California roots in an exhilarating novel about family, self-discovery, and taking risks by the author of The Candid Life of Meena Dave.
The daughter of proud Napa Valley hoteliers, Asha “Poppy” Patel chose a different line as a Paris perfumer, gifted with a nose for fragrances and business. Until her heightened sense of smell disappears. Her career in jeopardy, her world now muted, Poppy returns home. Maybe tending to her grandmother’s massive aromatic garden, where Poppy’s gift first flowered, will bring restorative hope.
But when she arrives, Poppy discovers that the land upon which the beautiful garden once thrived has been uprooted and destroyed. She realizes that the years she spent away from her home have loosened so many ties with the past. Torn between a mother who lives vicariously through her and a father who wants her to embrace her family’s legacy, Poppy is determined to chart her own path of rediscovery.
Poppy must juggle family drama, childhood friendships, and a former love to forge a future of her own choosing and, in time, heal an unscented life.
Published June 2023 by Lake Union Publishing.
THE CANDID LIFE OF MEENA DAVE
Meet Meena Dave: photojournalist, world traveler, and ultimate nomad.
For Meena, it is safer to observe the world through the lens of her camera. She has no family, no permanent address, and apart from one college friend absolutely no long-term attachments beyond her professional contacts. But Meena’s world is turned upside down when she unexpectedly inherits an apartment in a Victorian brownstone in the historic neighborhood of Back Bay Boston.
Thinking this unexpected turn of events could help her land a prestigious assignment, Meena decides to use her well-honed journalistic instincts to follow the story that landed her in the apartment of a stranger. It’s a mystery that comes with a series of hidden clues, a trio of meddling Aunties, a strikingly handsome next-door neighbor, and a connection to her past that she never—ever expected. Throughout her investigation she learns how to make the perfect chai, forms friendships she never thought were possible, and confronts her own need to run as soon as the going gets good.
As Meena learns the secrets of the apartment and her past, she’ll have to reconcile her desire to keep the world at a distance, and the unmistakable yearning for something more.
Published June, 1 2022 by Lake Union Publishing.
This novel is a long-list finalist for The Center For Fiction’s 2022 First Novel Award.
“A thoroughly entertaining rendition of one woman’s search for belonging.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Full of lively characters who will win readers’ hearts and keep them thinking long after the book is finished, this book is a genuine, charming debut. Long-buried secrets and a journey of self-discovery will keep the pages turning” —Booklist
“Namrata Patel’s debut is a delightful exploration of identity, community, and growth. I was drawn into Meena Dave’s captivating journey from the first pages and was rooting for her until the end. This poignant and witty story is perfect for book clubs!” —Saumya Dave, author of Well-Behaved Indian Women
“With a special appeal to readers with an interest in Asian-American literature and Friendship Fiction, “The Candid Life of Meena Dave” by Namrata Patel, with its elements of family secrets, personal identity, and the power of peer pressure on otherwise solitary souls, is an inherently fascinating and impressively scripted novel that will prove to be a highly prized addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction collections.” —Midwest Book Review
“Patel beautifully illustrates the struggle one would face had they detached themselves from their biological origins, only to be teased with the truth as an adult. The Candid Life of Meena Dave explores the significance of identity, family, culture, and adjusting your comfort zone for the better.” —The Nerd Cantina
“The Candid Life of Meena Dave is a stunning and comforting story about finding your way back to your heritage and building community. It is the coming of age story I need as an adult and it filled my heart with joy. An absolutely wonderful story!” —Bookish Brews
Support my local bookstores
I’m grateful to all the Boston area bookstores that have helped fill my bookshelves over the years. Please consider supporting one of these shops when you go to purchase my novel.
Brookline Booksmith (Brookline, MA)
Porter Square Books (Cambridge, MA)
All She Wrote Books (Somerville, MA)
Trident Booksellers (Boston, MA)
Frugal Bookstore (Roxbury, MA)