When their mother dies, three British-born Punjabi sisters are tasked with fulfilling her dying wish: returning to Punjab to make the pilgrimage she never could. The sisters were never terribly close, and now that they’re older, don’t get along at all—but how can they refuse their mother’s last wish to scatter her ashes in her homeland? They’re all dreading the trip, but once they’re together, they find it’s not as bad as they feared, and they begin to understand one another once again. But each sister is keeping a serious secret, and it’s unclear if when revealed, those secrets will cement the sisters’ relationship, or destroy it. This novel deals in serious issues—love, sisterhood, grief, immigration—but the high zany factor keeps the mood light.

Nikki has spent most of adulthood distancing herself from her family's Sikh traditions, but when her father's unexpected death leaves the family in dire financial straits, she finds a new job teaching creative writing at London’s Punjabi community center. Due to a miscommunication, the Sikh widows show up to class expecting to learn basic English language skills, and Nikki isn't sure what to do. One day, a student brings in a collection of sexy stories to read in English. The women are intrigued, and Nikki quickly realizes that beneath their prim and proper exteriors, the widows hold romantic histories and fantasies in their hearts. Beneath this heartwarming tale of community and the power of storytelling is a compelling mystery. I couldn't stop listening to find out what happens next.