The Marvelous Mirza Girls

Gilmore Girls meets vibrant New Delhi in this thoughtful and hilarious new novel about a teen facing family expectations, relationship complications, and hidden secrets in a new country—sprinkled with Sheba Karim’s signature wit and steamy romance, and perfect for readers who loved Mary H. K. Choi’s Emergency Contact and Adib Khorram’s Darius the Great Is Not Okay.  

To cure her post-senior year slump, made worse by the loss of her aunt Sonia, Noreen decides to follow her mom on a gap year trip to New Delhi, hoping India can lessen her grief and bring her voice back.

In the world’s most polluted city, Noreen soon meets kind, handsome Kabir, who introduces her to the wonders of this magical, complicated place. With the help of Kabir—plus Bollywood celebrities, fourteenth-century ruins, karaoke parties, and Sufi saints—Noreen discovers new meanings for home.

But when a family scandal erupts, Noreen and Kabir must face complex questions in their own relationship: What does it mean to truly stand by someone—and what are the boundaries of love?

• A Gap Year Adventure in India: To heal from the loss of her aunt, Noreen follows her mom to New Delhi, exploring fourteenth-century ruins and the city’s complicated magic with a handsome local boy, Kabir.
• Finding Your Voice: Struggling with writer’s block, Noreen hopes the trip will bring back her creative spark. But finding her voice might mean taking the stage for a terrifying open mic comedy night.
• An Indian-American Story: Perfect for fans of Darius the Great Is Not Okay, this story navigates the complexities of identity, home, and belonging as an American-born teen in her family's homeland.
• Complex Family Secrets: Just as Noreen and Kabir’s relationship deepens, a shocking family scandal erupts, forcing them to question what it really means to stand by the people you love.

“Part self-discovery, part travelogue, all charming."  - Kendare Blake #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series

“Karim’s latest is a searing story of love in its many forms: young and old, romantic and familial, and maybe most complex, our capacity to love a place. A deep dive into the values of travel and firsthand experience, the book takes an unflinching look at poverty and complicity, sex and religion, without ever losing sight of what it is: family drama, rom-com, travelogue. Call it what you want, The Marvelous Mirza Girls is an utter delight.” - David Arnold, author of Mosquitoland and The Electric Kingdom

"A quiet, powerful romance recommended for fans of feminist stories like those by E.K. Johnston." - School Library Journal

Filled with beautiful imagery, sensory language, clever structuring, and humor, this is a romantic coming-of-age story.... An engaging and perceptive story of love, grief, and personal awakening.  - Kirkus Reviews

"While the #MeToo movement and female sexuality feature prominently in the narrative, this novel also feels like a love letter to New Delhi due to Karim’s vivid descriptions of the city. Readers seeking more mature YA romance titles will definitely enjoy this offering." - Booklist