From a Canadian-born, LA-based author, a fun, heartfelt and thought-provoking novel that is One Italian Summer meets Balli Kaur Jaswal, about a disgraced Indian-American divorcee and former chef who spends a summer in Italy, reconnecting with her passion for cooking and reckoning with cultural expectations to make a life-changing decision.

Jyoti has always been the ideal second-generation Indian daughter. She stayed out of trouble, looked after her younger sisters and married a man her parents approved of. So when her husband, Ashok, forces her to quit her dream job as head chef of his family’s restaurant to focus on starting a family, she obliges.

But despite Jyoti’s tireless efforts to provide children, when it becomes clear that she cannot carry a baby to term, Ashok leaves her for a younger woman. Jyoti’s new status as an unemployed divorcee is a disgrace to her traditional Gujarati family, and she flees New York to visit her best friend in Tuscany.

Sumptuous meals, warm Italian sunshine and la bella vita reawaken the passion that Jyoti has lost, leading to a serendipitous opportunity that could help her buy Ashok’s restaurant. But when Jyoti’s Indian-Italian culinary fusion unexpectedly goes viral, her aunties immediately find out and gossip ensues, estranging her even further from her family back home.

Then a shocking revelation comes to light, leading Jyoti to reconsider her relationship with Ashok. Now she must decide what she truly desires—family approval, career growth, even motherhood—before the summer ends.

MANSI SHAH was born in Toronto to Indian immigrants and raised in the midwestern United States. Her novels, which include The Taste of Ginger and The Direction of the Wind, centre on Gujarati characters and speak to generational differences across the Indian diaspora. Now based in Los Angeles, Shah left her long-time career as an entertainment attorney in Hollywood to travel the world and write full time. She loves to cook and frequently experiments with culinary creations that blend Indian flavors with those of other cuisines, and food often plays a prominent role in her books.

Mansi Shah's profile page

“An immersive journey of self-discovery filled with so many tantalizing descriptions of Indian-Italian fusion meals… I wish the food could have jumped off the page and into my mouth. A Good Indian Girl will wrap you up and hold you riveted until the very last page.” — Lyn Liao Butler, author of The Tiger Mom's Tale

“A delight to the senses, A Good Indian Girl is an emotional journey of self-discovery, self-love, reinvention, and family that resonates on multiple levels. With eloquent prose, Mansi Shah weaves a story as mouth-watering as the dishes presented within these pages. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Jyoti and Karishma, their friend group, families, and culture. This novel needs a companion cookbook!” — Kerry Lonsdale, bestselling author of Find Me in California

"A Good Indian Girl is a layered exploration of identity and living on your own terms. Readers everywhere will fall in love with the compelling blend of food, friendship, and self-discovery. Shah gives us a rare combination: the opportunity to escape and feel anchored at the same time." — Saumya Dave, author of Well-Behaved Indian Women

"A brimming story of culture and family, forgiveness and self-discovery... For Jyoti, food is her love language, and Shah uses the sumptuous flavors as another character, both to tantalize and to teach. An immersive tale of staying true to one's self while wrapping ourselves in our deep, familial roots. Shah's captivating voice is one to be heard." — Rochelle Weinstein, author of What You Do to Me

“A lush, sophisticated coming-of-age story centering the pleasures of travel, the joys of found family, and delicious food you can almost taste on your tongue!” — Paulette Kennedy, bestselling author of The Devil and Mrs. Davenport

"A heartfelt exploration of learning to first survive and then thrive after finding your life plan turned upside down. With mouthwatering food descriptions and an escape into the beauty of Italy, Shah digs into what it takes to unravel all you've learned about yourself and find your true purpose. A deeply honest tale of letting go and starting over."
— Sonali Dev, USA TODAY bestselling author of The Vibrant Years

“A timely novel about finding your individuality within a collective culture… Shah seamlessly writes about hyphenated lives in a way that feels both personal and universal. A Good Indian Girl is a truly sensory experience—you can almost taste the recipes!—and will leave you hungry for more.” — Namrata Patel, author of The Candid Life of Meena Dave

"Mansi Shah's latest novel is a recipe for success: engaging, heartfelt characters who challenge expectations about what a woman's life should be, sumptuous food that awakens your taste buds while also highlighting the cultural balancing faced by immigrants, and eloquent prose that keeps you turning the pages, all set against a stunning Italian backdrop. This one is not to be missed." — Jo Piazza, internationally bestselling author of The Sicilian Inheritance

“A heartfelt portrayal of going against expectations... I was swept up in this beautiful, immersive novel and rooted for Jyoti every step of the way. I loved this delicious story!”
— Jamie Varon, author of Main Character Energy

"This heartfelt novel will have you wanting to move to Florence and learn to cook Gujurati food at the same time. As Jyoti balances how to honor the sacrifices of her immigrant parents while also being true to herself, she learns to let go of a lifetime of people-pleasing. A celebration of food, friendship, and living an authentic life." — Marjan Kamali, bestselling author of The Lion Women of Tehran