"Everything Here Belongs to You succeeds beautifully at telling an intimate and deeply felt story of a troubled connection between two young women, set against a larger narrative of ideological conflict." -IndieReader (4.8 Starred Review)
Saborna Roychowdhury's novel is an absorbing, richly detailed narrative set in the early 2000s in Kolkata that explores the complicated dynamics of social class, female bonds and family expectations. In alternating points of view, the Everything Here Belongs to You follows Parul and Mohini through their early lives and coming of age. The two young women grow up under the same roof, but live very different lives.
Parul was six years old when her desperately poor father brought her from their village to live with the Sens, a middle-class Hindu family. Following common customs, Parul was taken in as a servant, asked to hide her Muslim identity, and trained to do household chores alongside Mrs. Sen. By contrast, Mohini, the Sens' daughter, who is a few years younger than Parul, has led a life of privilege and education.
As Parul grows older, she becomes increasingly unhappy and resentful with her lot in life. Mohini struggles with their relationship as well, never sure whether to treat Parul as a sister or a servant. When Parul has a passionate, secret affair with Rahim, a radical Muslim, the careful order the Sens have maintained is thrown into chaos.
Parul must decide where her loyalties lie when Rahim asks her to betray the Sens and endanger a young American man who is staying with them and to whom Mohini is attracted. Parul's choice will shock the family and determine everyone's future.
Follow the powerful and emotional story of two young women, Parul and Mohini, as they navigate their complex relationships and the strict societal expectations placed upon them. As tensions rise and secrets are revealed, one woman is faced with a heart-wrenching choice that will determine the fate of those around her. This beautifully written and deeply intimate exploration of love, loyalty, and identity will leave you questioning the norms and expectations placed upon us and the power of our own choices.
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