The Henna Artist: A Reese's Book Club Pick

Alka Joshi

Mar 2020 · The Jaipur Trilogy Book 1 · Sold by MIRA

About this ebook

A NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER

A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK

"Captivated me from the first chapter to the final page."—Reese Witherspoon

Vivid and compelling in its portrait of one woman’s struggle for fulfillment in a society pivoting between the traditional and the modern, The Henna Artist opens a door into a world that is at once lush and fascinating, stark and cruel.

Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist—and confidante—to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own…

Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow—a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. Still she perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does.

“Eloquent and moving…Joshi masterfully balances a yearning for self-discovery with the need for familial love.”—Publishers Weekly

Look for The Secret Keeper of Jaipur and The Perfumist of Paris from New York Times bestselling author Alka Joshi!

Ratings and reviews

I've just finished this incredible book that took me to India in the most vivid way. All the details and the emotions that I was able to feel through the characters... It was an amazing reading from the beginning to end! (And I want more!) I highly recommend it! Congratulations @thealkajoshi and thank you for such a gift, great work! ❤️

absolutely amazing. finished the trilogy within 3 nights💀🤚. I'm Indian and this book is almost unknown here but im so glad I read this I got to learn so much and no day goes by without thinking about Radha and Laxmi. I miss them like my past best friends :)

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi is the story of Lakshmi Lakshmi ran away from her village life with an abusive husband to make it on her own. This is a difficult task in 1950s India. She makes her way up through society, making sure to always follow the rules and know her place. Pleasing her “ladies” with every visit, and making her henna designs seem like magical cures. All the time, saving money to build her own house. But when Lakshmi’s sister, the one she didn’t know existed, shows up with the husband Lakshmi ran away from 13 years ago, things slowly begin to fall apart. As she tries to navigate the tricky social structures without missing a step, the worst happens, and she finds herself having to decide what family really means and how to best help them. The well-written relationship between Lakshmi and her sister, as well as the errand boy, turns out to be far more important than you think at first. They were incredibly different people, and yet they were very similar as well. As with many families, their relationship isn’t all roses. But you could see how Lakshmi was trying so hard to do what was right. She wanted to give her sister every opportunity that she could possibly have. Lakshmi earns extra money making herbal remedies. Some make sure women who don’t want to be mothers don’t have to be. Many people around her frowned on this practice. And they also shunned her other natural remedies in favor of modern techniques and medicines. This cultural difference between the city and the villages really played a role as Lakshmi’s character developed and she navigated the world around her. The Henna Artist was beautifully written and immersed me in an unfamiliar culture. I loved every second of it. The story unfolds in a way that isn’t all excitement and suspense. It’s peppered with moments that stood out in my mind as I read through it. I highly recommend this book. **I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

About the author

Born in India and raised in the U.S. since she was nine, Alka Joshi has a BA from Stanford University and an MFA from California College of Arts. Joshi's debut novel, The Henna Artist, immediately became a NYT bestseller, a Reese Witherspoon Bookclub pick, was Longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, & is in development at Netflix as a TV series. The Secret Keeper of Jaipur (2021) and The Perfumist of Paris (2023) completed the Jaipur Trilogy. Her fourth novel, Six Days in Bombay, will be released in February 2025. She is currently working on her fifth novel. In 2024, Joshi was selected for the Forbes 50 over 50 List, celebrating women who are shattering age and gender norms across all sectors of the American economy and culture.