A review by misspalah
The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

• Family is not just about blood. It's about the people who love you unconditionally. 

• Life is too short to live with regrets. Seize the moment and take chances. 

• Silent battles are fought by many, but support and love can help conquer them. 

- The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal

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The book immediately draws us into the story, showing how Sita, on her deathbed, has asked her three daughters—Rajni, Jezmeen, and Shirina—to embark on a pilgrimage to India together to scatter her ashes and honour her memory. From there, the narrative shifts to each sister's point of view, which I appreciated because they are well-rounded characters with distinct struggles. The author does a great job illustrating the complexities of family dynamics. We see that the sisters, though leading busy lives, are not especially close and even lived apart in a different country, but they agree to fulfil their mother's final wish. However, once they reached India, their different priorities and interests start to cause friction, leading to debates on how strictly they should follow their mother’s wishes. Throughout the book we can see that tensions among sisters kept on accumulating, conflicts arise, and long-held secrets come to the surface amidst the arguments. While I enjoyed the book overall, it didn't completely resonate with me. The constant bickering going back and forth among the sisters became somewhat tiresome, though I understand it was necessary for the the book to progress. I also have to say, as fellow traveller, this group would be a traveller’s nightmare. They struggle to manage their expectations, despite claiming not to have any, resist adapting to challenges, and seem unable to detach from the things that bother them. However, I can see that the author intention is to highlight the sisters’ contrasting personalities. At times, I found myself especially frustrated by Shirina’s interactions with her mother-in-law; it felt as though much of the mistreatment went unaddressed. Sehaj was such a Mama’s boy and his mother were typical dotted mother who can’t relinquish control of her own son. While the story seemed to suggest a message about standing up against such behaviour, it took so long for that confrontation to happen that it felt neglected. And when it did occur, the resolution felt rushed and unrealistic. Additionally, I believe the depiction of India might raise some concerns as it felt somewhat reductive. Overall, while I appreciated certain aspects, I found the book exhausting by the end. Perhaps I wasn’t in the right mindset when reading it.