53 Books Set in + About India

Jhumpa Lahiri is one of my favorite authors, and she is especially known for stories about Indian immigrants in the United States. The Lowland is perhaps my favorite of her books, and it is largely set in India. This is about two brothers whose close bond is tested when tragedy strikes. The impetus of this book is the events of the 1967 Naxalbari uprising in India, during which the views of the brothers take them on largely different paths. For fans of literary fiction and family stories.

When Jivan, a girl who lives in the slums, is caught up in the case of a terrorist attack because of a post on Facebook, the course of her life may depend on two other characters she is connected to. But these other characters also have their own self-sustaining motives. This is a novel set in contemporary India, and is a social commentary on politics especially in the age of social media. I read it and loved it, and it’s for fans of literary and contemporary fiction.

When India-American journalist Smita returns to India to cover a story, she is drawn into the life of Meena, who was recently attacked for her marriage to a Muslim man. Meanwhile, Smita is embarking on a very different kind of love story of her own. For fans of literary fiction.

In Kerala, India, a family is cursed. Every generation, someone drowns. This is a multi-generational family story that starts when a 12-year-old girl enters into arranged marriage. Eventually, she becomes the family matriarch, as the family faces changes and deals with their curse for over 70 years. For fans of family sagas.

In 18th-century India, Abbas becomes a renowned woodcarver and is commissioned to create an elaborate piece for Tipu Sultan. He carves a large tiger automaton, and years later when the palace is looted by the British, Abbas searches for the tiger among the aristocratic homes of England. For fans of literary and historical fiction.

In a market in Dehli, a bomb goes off killing two brothers. But their friend survives, and this novel tells the story of what his life becomes and how the two families continue to live after these events. This is nuanced story about terrorism, violence, and loss. For fans of literary fiction.

After her husband dies, family matriarch Ma is so depressed she won’t get out of bed. But then her grandson gives her a magical cane, and she sets off on all kinds of adventures that challenge her family’s understanding of itself. This won the 2022 International Book Prize and is great for fans of literary fiction.

After her mother dies, Meneka returns to India from the US for the funeral. But Indian town she left is nothing like what she remembers. This is a book about the dreams and aspirations of people in Indian society and is for fans of literary fiction.

In England, a group of Indian immigrants are struggling to make a new life for themselves. While this book is largely set in the UK, huge parts of it are set in India, as it delves deep into the backstory of each character. They all come from vastly different backgrounds and classes, and yet they have all found themselves in the same place, hoping for a better future. For fans of literary fiction.

This is a mother-daughter story set in India. The mother, Tara, has spent her life devoted to an ashram, while her daughter, Antara, has been largely raised by others. Now Antara is an adult, and she must come to terms with her childhood as her mother ages. For fans of literary fiction.

In this slim novel, a family that had been living in poverty comes into a good deal of money. What results is a tangled mess of family relationships. Hence the title: ghachar ghochar is a phrase used to indicated something that has been tangled and can’t be undone. For fans of literary fiction and dysfunctional family stories.

This book about a crime family in India is perfect if you love stories about rich people behaving badly. It’s part family saga, part suspense. And it begins when a Mercedes crashes and a servant is left to explain, and continues as the lives of three characters (the servant, the rich son of the family, and a journalist) become interconnected. For fans of family sagas and literary suspense.

Nine-year-old Jai loves watching police TV shows. So when a classmate goes missing, he enlists his friends to help him solve the mystery. But as more kids start disappearing, their mystery becomes scarier. For fans of mysteries and books for adults told from the perspective of a child.

When Shalini’s mother dies, she travels to the Kashmir region of India searching for answers. There, she becomes close with a new family. But she is still an outsider, which may be dangerous in the midst of the region’s political upheaval. For fans of literary fiction.

The Palace of Illusions takes one of India’s greatest epic poems, the Mahabharata, and retells it from the perspective of a woman. Panchaali helps her royal husbands reclaim their thrones, but she is also harboring a secret attraction to Krishna, her husband’s enemy. For fans of classics retold from the perspective of women (think, Circe).

Written as a letter from a driver and entrepreneur in Bangalore to the president of China who is visiting his country, this novel explores class, work, success, and morality in India. For fans of dark comedy and social commentary.

This book about contemporary India follows Noomi, an upper-class girl coming of age and trying to figure out how she can break free from the social obligations of her society. But when she moves to Mumbai, starts a new job, and falls in love, she may just be falling into the same old traps. For fans of contemporary, literary fiction.

Set in 1960s and 1970s Bombay, this novel centers around a woman named Vidya who falls in love with a type of dance called kathak. As she grows though, balancing her art with her life becomes a challenge. For fans of historical fiction and women’s stories.

When American Rachel Meyer moves to Mumbai with her husband, she has to adjust to what that means for family dynamics — especially with her mother-in-law who decides to move in with them after leaving her husband. For fans of women’s fiction and contemporary fiction.

After leaving her abusive husband, Lakshmi becomes a sought-after henna artist and a secret keeper for wealthy women. But when her husband shows up again with his own secret, the life she built for herself may crumble. For fans of women’s fiction and historical fiction, and if you love this book it’s the first in a triology.

This book, set in 1920s India, is inspired by the story of India’s first female attorney. In this novel, Perveen Mistry becomes the first female attorney in India and investigates the case of three widows who she suspects are being taken advantage of. For fans of mysteries.

This is a book about two fraternal twins in rural India whose lives are changed forever when tragedy strikes. It’s a story about a family whose life together is changing alongside the broader change happening in their country. For fans of character driven fiction.

This book is set in India during the 1980s near the Himalayas, where an old judge lives with his cook and his orphaned granddaughter. This is a book about loss, and reviewers consistently mention its heaviness as it deals with themes of colonialism, dashed hopes, death, and how the movement for democracy in nearby Nepal impacted the characters. For fans of literary fiction.

When their mother dies, three sisters living in the UK travel to India to lay her to rest as she wished. The three sisters have never been particularly close, and while they all have different motives for taking the trip, it will change them all, bring them closer, and reveal secrets from their past. For fans of contemporary fiction and women’s fiction.

In her small town in India, Geeta is general avoided because everyone is pretty sure she killed her husband. (Which is fine because he wasn’t great anyway.) But then other women start to come to her for help getting rid of their own no-good husbands, and Geeta is maybe in over her head. For fans of women’s fiction.

In this retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma set in Delhi, wealthy Ania plays matchmaker for her friend but finds herself caught up in her own unexpected love story. For fans of women’s fiction, rom-coms, and Austen retellings.

Saleem Sinai is born at the exact same time India gains its independence in 1947. His life afterward is anything but normal, as every event in his life is somehow linked to the events of India. For fans of historical literary fiction, family sagas, and modern classics.

This award-winning and critically-acclaimed book delves into the lives of those living in a Mumbai slum near new luxury apartments. The families there are hopeful for a brighter future, but it’s tough to escape poverty. For fans of narrative non-fiction.

If you’re looking for a history of India, which is of course rich and complicated, this may be the book you’re looking for. This book tells the story of India both before and since Independence, with a special focus on politics and the people who have influenced the political history. For fans of massive history books.

Madhur Jaffrey is an award-winning cookbook author, and here she presents a memoir about growing up in India, where every memory is laced with the richness of food. And of course, because she’s a cookbook author, this memoir contains recipes. For fans of memoirs and books about food.

Delhi is a city that has been created and destroyed many times, known for having seven past versions of itself. This book dives into the history of Delhi and all the ways it has been recreated over centuries up to what it is now. This book is for fans of history and especially for those who might be planning a trip to Delhi.

In these essays, Subramanian explores the coasts of India, examining the way fish impact the culture, economy, food, and more. For fans of travel memoirs and essays.

This book of colorful illustrations teaches kids about the five days of Diwali and the important traditions of this holiday. Recommended ages: 1-4 years.

This story of the Hindu god Ganesha has bright and delightful illustrations. Ganesha loves sweets, but one day a hard candy breaks off his tusk (which of course means he has a lesson to learn). Recommended ages: 2-5 years.

Two little girls watch their mother weave beautiful saris, but she never gets to wear any of them. So, they come up with a plan to get Ammi a beautiful sari of her own. Recommended ages: 4-8 years.

When Binny’s class is learning about different holidays, she is excited to tell them about her favorite celebration: Diwali. She teaches her class all about her favorite traditions, food, and more. Recommended ages: 4-8 years.

As a little girl searches for a gift for her mother, she encounters all the colors of an Indian market. Each page is dedicated to a different color, with fun and bright illustrations. Recommended ages: 4-8 years.

When Grandma receives a letter from her daughter asking her to come visit, Grandma must trek through the jungle and face the treacherous animals. Recommended age: 5-8 years.

In this picture book based on a true story, Nek Chand builds an intricate rock garden when he finds himself in a new place. When the government discovers it and wants to tear it down, the community comes together to save it. Recommended ages: 7-10 years.

In this graphic novel, Priyanka longs to know about India—the land her mother left behind and that she doesn’t like to talk about. When Priyanka finds an old pashmina though, it transports her to India where she learns the secrets of her past. Recommended ages: 8-12 years.

The Ramayana is one of the great ancient texts from India. Here it is told in graphic novel form, as Queen Sita is kidnapped by a king and rescued by her brother. Recommended ages: 9-12 years.

This is another retelling of the Ramayana for kids, this time as a chapter book with illustrations. Here, Prince Rama and his bride, Sita, set off on an epic journey after Rama is banished. It ends with their return home and the festival of Diwali. Recommended ages: 9-12 years.

When Anjali’s mother joins Ghandi’s freedom movement, the life of her family changes. From giving up some of her treasured possessions to overcoming prejudice, Anjali must learn and grow and eventually step up for freedom. Recommended ages: 9 and up.

In Mumbai, access to water can be difficult, especially for the poor. Minni can only get water for a few hours a day. But in the building where she starts a new job, the water supply seems endless. She also discovers a water mafia boss though, which could spell trouble. Recommended ages: 10-12 years.

When Meera was a child, her parents married her to a boy from another village. When she turns 13, she is expected to go live with him and his family. Instead, violence erupts, her husband is killed, and Meera finds herself working for a British officer. When she discovers violent plots in place to further the British colonization of India, she must decide whether to save herself or warn her her people. Recommended ages: 10-13 years.

This fantasy book set in India and England follows Chompa, who’s mother is kidnapped. Magic exists in India, but with the British colonialism it is quickly disappearing. Chompa has a powerful magic though, and must use it to travel to England and find her mother. Recommended ages: 9-14 years.

When four homeless kids come together in Chennai, India, they form a family. They are independent and strong, and they are skeptical of adults. But they just may need to learn to trust someone in order to survive. Recommended ages: 10 and up.

After the 1947 partition, when India is split into Pakistan and India, Nisha’s father decides it would be safer for them to move from Pakistan to India. Nisha has already experienced so much loss (her mother died when she was a baby), so she isn’t happy about losing her home too. But can she find hope in a new place? Recommended ages: 10 and up.

When the Emperor Sikander arrives in Shalingar, the freedom of the people is threatened. Princess Amrita offers to become the Emperor’s bride, but instead finds herself on the run. This fantasy book based in India is recommended for ages 12 and up.