Washington Writers' Publishing House

Testimonials

• A keen-eyed comedy of manners, For the Blessings of Jupiter and Venus tells the story of two people navigating the bumpy terrain of an arranged marriage while also contending with community politics in suburban Ohio. An exuberant debut that is as bitingly funny as it is wise.

  Tania James, author of Loot, long-listed for the National Book Award

• This novel has everything – gorgeous writing, a pacy plot, irreverent satire, lovable characters, and moments of devastating heartache. At the same time, Varun Gauri may be the wisest, most psychologically insightful of recent Indian American writers. You will understand marriage, romance, and diaspora culture from an entirely new perspective. This is a brilliant, hilarious, and wonderfully intimate first novel.

  Akhil Sharma, author of Family Life, winner of the Folio Prize and International Dublin Literary Award

• This debut novel looks at a contemporary couple of Indian background who opt for an arranged marriage. Meena and Avi go in with eyes open and settle in small town Ohio with the intention of making their relationship work. Varun Gauri narrates the story from both points of view with compassion and skill. Despite shared values and caring natures, the couple must navigate the stranglehold of family as well as familial judgment. Plenty of other misunderstandings and conflicts crop up to challenge their decision to marry. Gauri proves himself to be a wonderful storyteller

  Martha Toll, NPR 2024 Books We Love Selection