"Gowda's flair for detail is evident in the way she describes the clothes, food, the streets and their smells of this land teeming with people and poverty. This story about motherhood, loss, family and forgiveness is authentic in every way. ... The prose is so achingly touching, it draws the reader in with every description and emotion of the characters."
— Lisa Orkin Emmanuel, Associated Press
"Some of the best contemporary novels about families and what it means to be American are being written by Indian-Americans ... I've read and admired a lot of them lately, and Secret Daughter , Shilpi Somaya Gowda's debut, is my favorite. ... her novel is captivating and ultimately very wise. ... especially vivid and heart-rending. This novel travels far in the world, and deep into the human heart."
— Pamela Miller, Minneapolis Star-Tribune
“Gowda has adroitly tackled motherhood and India in her enchanting debut novel Secret Daughter . … Gowda has done a wonderful job here, and I enjoyed her depiction of Bombay, from both the wealthy and the poor perspectives. The novel really sings when Asha finally makes her way to India and reunites with her past. It’s heart-wrenching at times, but all in all, an engrossing debut novel and a perfect Mother’s Day gift.”
— Jennifer de la Fuente, San Diego Tribune
"The story is intricately woven from the perspectives of three major characters ... I was so engrossed with the details, from the exotic food down to the elaborate details of the city's well known slums, that I was hardly aware of the book drawing to a close. When it ultimately ended, it sincerely took a part of me with it."
— Nikki Tiani, Pittsburgh Examiner
"The richness of the Indian culture collides with the stark sterility of American culture in this multi-layered novel which draws out the dirtiest truths from both sides of the story. If you love reading about different cultures and if you are a mother in any shape or form, this novel is a great choice..."
— Crystal Falconer, Boulder Examiner
" Secret Daughter is multi-layered and complex ... Gowda’s characters are likable and well-developed. For example, she skillfully interweaves the bitter truths of class distinctions in India ... This is a lovely story about learning how to be a family, to respect differences, to seek understanding, and to give as well as receive."
— Diane Scearce, Nashville Examiner
" Secret Daughter tells a nuanced coming-of-age story that is faithful to the economic and emotional realities of two very different cultures. ... As the author moves among the perspectives of her various characters, she gives full weight to the humanity of each and views the problems of poverty and affluence with equal empathy. ... Gowda doesn't neaten up the messy complications of family life as she warmly affirms the power of love to help people grow and change."
— Wendy Smith, Washington Post
"[A] debut novel from [a] fresh, vibrant voice portraying a heroine straddling two cultures ... offers readers cause for celebration. ... a page-turning dual narrative."
— David Frauenfelder, Charlotte Observer and Raleigh News & Observer
“ Secret Daughter is an engaging read, with its quick shifts between characters and rapid movement through 20 years of familial narrative."
— Rebecca Steinitz, Boston Globe
"Dualities abound in this engrossing first novel ... Gowda weaves her tale deftly ... The sounds, scents and sights of India are vividly drawn, pulling the reader deep into a culture that most of us have only glimpsed, perhaps, in Slumdog Millionaire. Two worlds collide, then meld, in a story that intimately considers how we all are shaped, through fate or free will, nurture or nature, by the astounding power of family love."
— Joyce Sáenz Harris, Dallas Morning News
Good Housekeeping's Book Pick To Grip You: " Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda. ... This wise debut moves deftly between the child's two mothers and cultures."
— Good Housekeeping, April 2010 issue, Page 202
" Secret Daughter is spellbinding. ... Gowda sets the stage early, using lyrical prose that easily draws the reader in. Her story and characters are engaging and the setting exotic. Readers will have a hard time putting this novel down."
— Jessica Harrison, Deseret News
"[A] poignant and inspiring story of the strength and love of mothers everywhere. ... [Gowda's] writing is characterized by beautiful, vivid description and the story’s changing points of view enable the reader to grasp the wide range of emotions and struggles experienced by the masterfully crafted array of characters. Secret Daughter is a unified, moving and deeply satisfying novel."
— Erica Narwold, CityView
" Secret Daughter 's gentle rhythms seduce and win the reader over to this moving look at two faces of motherhood, oceans apart."
— Texas Monthly Magazine
"This is a well-written story packed with a wide range of emotions felt by both couples: grief, loss, sadness and shame, as well as hope, love, fulfillment and happiness ... First-time novelist Shilpi Somaya Gowda is a writer with a well-developed story-telling style. Her narrative skills are extraordinary, even when writing in the third person ... With such heart-rending writing, tears came to my eyes. And I am not one who cries easily or is moved so deeply with emotions. I need not say more in this review except this: Get the book and enjoy it thoroughly! This is a beautiful first novel by Shilpi Somaya Gowda written from her heart, who, I hope, will treat us with more stories in her uniquely talented way."
— Laxmi Chaandi, Biz India
" Secret Daughter mixes compelling drama with daring social commentary to create a powerful narrative that speaks a universal language ... This ambitious venture juggles multiple storylines with dexterity in a well-choreographed performance ... This is a beautifully crafted masterpiece by a gifted narrator who has embedded complex themes into a simple story in a way that makes it entertaining and educational at the same time ... a timeless tale that stands apart for its easy narrative style, insightful observations and unflinching portrayals."
— Afrah Jamal, Daily Times (Pakistan) and The News Today (Bangladesh)
"This tale of birth and death, strength and weakness, gain and loss, joy and pain runs the gamut of human emotions, with characters that always astound and relationships that swing from one extreme to the other... Gowda weaves a bold, compassionate story that is difficult to ignore. ...Written in compassionate prose with a deep understanding of the complexities of motherhood, Gowda can’t help but shine as a first-time author."
— Jeanne E. Fredriksen, India Currents Magazine
"Sentimental yet shrewdly observed, this debut novel puts a face on India's gender-skewed birth rates. Pressured to bear a son, Kavita leaves her newborn daughter at an orphanage and silently mourns for the rest of her life. The infant, Asha, is adopted by Somer and Krishnan, a white Californian and a son of India who don't quite manage to achieve the cross-cultural bliss they envisioned as they fell in love at Stanford's med school. Asha grows up and undertakes a study of Mumbai poverty—a quest that leads everyone to an examination of identity."
— Shelf Life, Stanford Magazine (Sept/Oct 2010 issue)
"In her engaging debut, Gowda weaves together two compelling stories ... Gowda writes with compassion and uncanny perception ... while portraying the vibrant traditions, sights, and sounds of modern India"
— Booklist Reviews
"First novelist Gowda offers especially vivid descriptions of the contrasts and contradictions of modern India … Rife with themes that lend themselves to discussion, such as cultural identity, adoption, and women's roles.”
— Library Journal Reviews
“[A] fable of family division and reconciliation, gaining intensity and depth from the author’s sharp social observations.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Top Pick, 4.5/5 stars: “This delicate exploration of forgiveness examines the myriad little cuts we give each other, and the tenderness with which we heal them. The story spans two decades, exploring how people love and understand each other and how two cultures can become one through understanding and love. A fantastic story.”
— Victoria Frerichs, RT Book Reviews (April 2011)
"[N]othing is better than settling into a great read – the kind of story you can’t put down. Secret Daughter ... is a book to read and savour and then pass on to everyone you know."
— Heather Reisman, CEO & Chief Booklover, Chapters Indigo
One of Elle Magazine's Top 3 Books: "In Secret Daughter , the first novel by Shilpi Somaya Gowda, a woman gives birth to a baby girl and reluctantly sends her to an orphanage in Mumbai. There, she is adopted by an American woman and her Asian husband and taken to California. Instead of offering the baby a “better” life, this exchange conjoins the two families in an increasingly intense conflict about love, heritage and motherhood."
— Elle (Canada) - May 2010 issue, Page 76
"Tackling such themes as birth, death, adoption, poverty and immigration, Secret Daughter is eminently readable. In fact, it is hard to put down, as its two parallel storylines inevitably collide."
— Tanya Sherlock, Vancouver Sun & Ottawa Citizen
"[Q]uite engrossing ... Gowda is an adept tour guide, smoothly transporting readers from one continent and culture to another with a sense of authority."
— Debby Waldman, Edmonton Journal
"First time novelist Shilpi Somaya Gowda arrives on the literary scene with her debut novel Secret Daughter , and scores a home run. ... a very compelling read, for its insights into Indian life, culture and customs. Gowda is definitely a talent to follow."
— Shelley Civkin, The Richmond Review
" Secret Daughter is a family saga and Gowda moves back and forth between continents and cultures effortlessly. This is a story of the endurance of hearts, marriages, women, and our heart’s need to find the place we belong. Gowda’s descriptive prose creates rich visuals ... Gowda tells a rich, interconnected story of families and of ties that never break, no matter how thinly they are stretched or how far the distance of time or geography."
— Judith Meyrick, Books and Bits, The Nova Scotian, July 11 2010
" Secret Daughter ... captures the sacrifice and anguish of motherhood, after a woman in an Indian village is forced to give away her daughter. A world away in America, the daughter searches for her origins. This book evokes powerful emotions long after it is read ..." [#1 recommended book, "Relax with a Book in 2011"]
— Monique Tamminga, Langley Times
"The novel is often emotionally poignant, especially when Gowda taps into the losses and fears that both mothers face, or as Asha slowly begins to appreciate what a family in all its intricacies can mean."
— Piali Roy, Globe & Mail
“Told from multiple perspectives, the novel takes readers to two very different worlds, including a well-established family home in California, where an adoptive mother struggles to build a strong relationship with her daughter, and an impoverished village and the streets of Mumbai in India, where the daughter searches for a sense of belonging … I realized how quickly I read through more than half of the book. I tried to pace myself through the rest but struggled. I was torn; I didn’t want the story to end, however, I couldn’t wait to find out how the author chose to put an end to the story. As I read the final words of Secret Daughter , I immediately felt the same void … I was sad to have to put another novel back on the bookshelf.”
— Catherine O’Hara, The Flamborough Review
"The novel does a wonderful job of narrating cultural differences and discrepancies of Indian life, the wide rift between the rich and the poor. The Book is easily readable and makes the reader emotional at several points. The novel has all the elements that attract a reader, especially women. The reader becomes captivated by the variety of characters in the story. Gowda writes the story with touching words and gives vivid descriptions."
— Siva Sivapragasam, Monsoon Journal, June edition, page 35
"This is the unforgettable story of two families ... movingly conveyed without a shred of sentimentality. This is a rattling good yarn taken to another notch entirely by writing that has intensity and depth, and a great cast of characters. Provocative and wonderfully real, this is the perfect book for reading clubs."
— Australian Women's Weekly Magazine, May 2010
"Gowda captures the pain and joy of motherhood with a fine balance between tenderness and reality, celebrating the power and impact of a mother’s love."
— The West Australian
"This is a powerful debut novel that manages to tackle infanticide, poverty and gender inequality in a heartfelt story."
— The Courier-Mail
"Twin stories run through this accomplished first novel ... [Gowda] tells them both convincingly. ... The journey towards the conclusion is well worth reading."
— Claudia Hyles, Canberra Times
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ADVANCE PRAISE
"[A] deeply moving and timeless story of an adopted daughter's long distance search for cultural identity and acceptance ... "
— Kathleen Kent, author of national bestseller The Heretic's Daughter
“Gowda has masterfully portrayed two families … linked by a powerful, painful tie that complicates their lives …. A thought-provoking examination of the challenges of being a woman in America and in India—and in the psychological spaces in between.”
— Chitra Divakaruni, author of One Amazing Thing, Sister of my Heart
“It’s moving and thought-provoking and informative and imaginative and beautifully executed. What a wonderful story!”
— Mary Jane Clark, New York Times bestselling author
“Set in California and the teeming city of Mumbai, Secret Daughter is a beautifully composed compelling story of love, loss, discovery and the true meaning of family.”
— Anjali Banerjee, author of Invisible Lives
“ Secret Daughter is an unflinching yet compassionate story of mothers and daughters. In a tale that moves between Mumbai, India and Northern California, Shilpi Somaya Gowda sensitively explores the balancing acts of of international adoption and bi-cultural families. This book is a must for anyone touched by adoption, or India, or the delicate dynamic between adolescent girls and their mothers."
— Sujata Massey, author of Shimura Trouble
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