Shortlistedforthe2023BookerPrizeLonglistedforthe2024Women’sPrizeforFictionANewYorkTimesNotableBookoftheYearNamedaBestBookoftheYearbyTheGuardian,NPR,andKirkusAtaut,enthrallingfirstnovelaboutgrief,sisterhood,andayoungathlete’sstruggletotranscendherself.Eleven-year-oldGopihasbeenplayingsquashsinceshewasoldenoughtoholdaracket.Whenhermotherdies,herfatherenlistsherinaquietlybrutaltrainingregimen,andthegamebecomesherworld.Slowly,shegrowsapartfromhersisters.Herlifeisreducedtothesport,guidedbyitsrhythms:theserve,thevolley,thedrive,theshotanditsecho.Butonthecourt,sheisnotalone.Sheiswithherpa.SheiswithGed,athirteen-year-oldboywithhisownformidabletalent.Sheiswiththeplayerswhohavecomebeforeher.Sheisinawe.Anindeliblecoming-of-agestory,ChetnaMaroo’sfirstnovelcapturestheordinaryandannihilatesitwithbeauty.WesternLaneisavalentinetoinnocence,totheclosenessofsisterhood,tothestrangewayswecometoknowourselvesandeachother.
