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?

• Gap Year Abroad: To heal from grief and a post-graduation slump, Noreen follows her mom to New Delhi, only to find a city that is more complicated—and magical—than she ever expected.
• Witty Banter: Fans of Gilmore Girls will love the sharp, funny dialogue as Noreen navigates a new culture, a new romance, and her own hilariously complex family.
• Cultural Immersion: From ancient ruins filled with jinn to modern-day karaoke parties, Noreen discovers the vibrant, chaotic, and beautiful soul of Delhi with the help of a charming local boy.
• Family Secrets: Just as Noreen starts to fall for Kabir, a buried scandal comes to light, forcing them to question everything they thought they knew about their families and each other.

“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