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Indian American author examines familial complexities in new novel
Shroff's latest work explores intergenerational trauma, immigrant identity, and the complexities of forgiveness.
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Malvika Choudhary - Tue, 28, Jul 2026
- 16:54 EDT
- 28
Parini Shroff/ Book cover / parinishroff.com
What happens when the last person you want to depend on becomes your only caregiver?
That's the premise of bestselling Indian American author Parini Shroff's second novel, Some People, released earlier this month.
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The plot centers on an single Indian American mother, Malti Patel, who is recovering from a concussion after an accident and insists she can manage on her own. But when her doctor orders a week of in-home supervision, the responsibility falls to Nathan Whitlock, her daughter Kavya's estranged husband.
With Kavya away in India pursuing graduate studies, the unlikely pair must navigate seven uncomfortable days together despite the bitterness surrounding Nathan and Kavya's failing marriage.
As old resentments resurface, Malti and Nathan are forced to confront the cultural misunderstandings, emotional distance, and family trauma that shaped Kavya's life and drove her away from both of them.
According to the publisher, the novel offers "a nuanced portrait of love, forgiveness, and our timeless quest for understanding and acceptance," while exploring intergenerational trauma, immigrant identity, and the complexities of family relationships.
Some People is Shroff's follow-up to The Bandit Queens, which became a national bestseller after its 2023 release.
The debut novel was named a Good Morning America Buzz Pick, was a PEN Open Book Award finalist, and was longlisted for both the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and the Women's Prize for Fiction.
It also drew critical acclaim for its blend of dark humor and social commentary on gender and power in rural India.
A practicing attorney based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Shroff has been awarded writing residencies at MacDowell, Djerassi, Jentel, Studios of Key West, and the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts. Most recently she received an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at Austin.
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