From the acclaimed author of Imaginary Men comes an enchanting new novel about a young woman with an uncanny ability to see deep into every heart but her own.
Lakshmi Sen was born with a magical ability to perceive the secret longings in others. Putting aside her own dreams to help run her widowed mother’s struggling Seattle sari shop, Mystic Elegance, Lakshmi knows exactly how to bring happiness to customers — from lonely immigrants to starry-eyed young brides. And to honor her father’s dying wish, she has agreed to marry a respectable Indian doctor who will uphold her family’s traditions.
But when a famous Indian actress chooses Mystic Elegance to provide her wedding trousseau, Lakshmi finds herself falling for the actress’s sexy chauffeur — all-American Nick Dunbar — and her powers seem to desert her just as she needs them most. As Nick draws Lakshmi into his world, however, new dreams awaken in her, and she begins to uncover deeper, startling longings in her mother, her friends, her fiancé, and even herself. But choosing between Nick and her fiancé seems an impossible task, like intuiting the very nature of true love. Is it instantly recognizable or does it need time to grow? And how can she possibly know for sure?
PRAISE
“The book has a romantic, magical quality that isn’t a bit treacly. It’s exciting to see how much Banerjee has grown since her debut, Imaginary Men.”
—Booklist
“A masala-scented Like Water for Chocolate.”
—SF Gate
“Poignant…surprising”
—The Seattle Times
“Magical…revelations are whimsically depicted — straight out of a Bollywood musical — in this joyful, sweet read.”
—RT Book Reviews Magazine
“…Anjali Banerjee weaves yet another intoxicating tale that will instantly transport you into the heat and spice of India. Quick-paced and clever, INVISIBLE LIVES explores the shallows and depths of true love.”
—Meghan Fryett, FreshFiction.com
“A delightful tale packed with engaging characters, a vivid sense of time and place, and a little bit of magic.”
—Fallen Angel Reviews