The relatability of the main character through her travels and navigation of unknown territory was compelling, similar to how I felt when reading the Henna Artist.

🎨✈️📚🕊️

A lush and moving story that blends mystery, art, and self-discovery across continents. When nurse Sona becomes entangled in the sudden death of renowned painter Mira Novak, her search for answers takes her from Bombay to Europe, uncovering hidden truths, haunting secrets, and ultimately, her own path to identity. Perfect for fans of sweeping historical fiction with heart and intrigue. I've read many Alka Joshi books, and they are always mesmerizing with a touch of mystery. I enjoyed this one, and the narrator was genuine and lively. However, I still love The Henna Artist the most; that book was perfect!

Six Days In Bombay
Pub Date: 4/15/25

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my first book by this author. I enjoyed the thorough description of India as she transplants you back to Bombay in 1937. Sona is a nurse at Wadia Hospital in Bombay. She becomes friends with her patient, Mira, who is a famous painter. Mira dies after complications from a miscarriage. Sona goes on a journey that Mira requested delivering her paintings. Sona is trying to clear her name while she is on this journey of self-discovery. This was a wonderful historical fiction book that kept me engaged the entire time. I did tandem reading with physical and audiobook. The audiobook was excellent and kept me wanting to listen and read more!!

Thank you @netgalley @harlequinbooks and @htpbooks_audio for the eARC and eALC of this book

The narrator for this book was amazing! I almost forgot it was the same person the way she was able to switch her voice between the characters so easily. I would definitely recommend a book narrated by this narrator. She kept me engaged, I like to immersive read but the way she narrated I didn’t need to read the good at the same time, I started cleaning and doing other things.

📖 Book Review 📖

🎧 "Six Days in Bombay" by Alka Joshi

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
published April 15, 2025

Read or listened to this while mowing grass, and really enjoyed the hospital setting, where a young Anglo-Indian nurse travels from Bombay to all over Europe bringing a famous painters dying wish come true. When Mira Novak comes into the Bombay hospital after a miscarriage Sona enjoys caring for her as she gets to know her. Mira has lived so much life, has the best stories compared with Sona who lives a very small life with her mother. After mysterious circumstances Mira passes away leaving Sona a letter with a mission to deliver three paintings. Petra, Mira's first love in Prague and then Josephine, an art dealer in Paris and then Paolo, young Mira's painting tutor all get a painting. Now as Sona travels to deliver the paintings she comes to terms with her life- when her English father abandoned her and her mother years ago.  

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Loved this historical fiction book. The author transports the reader back India during the 1930s. A nurse and a grieving mom become friends after she suffers a miscarriage. Mira has a sudden death and sona is blamed. This was a reminder of how far we have come with women’s rights internationally.

I have mixed feelings about Six Days in Bombay. The book is beautifully written and pulls you into Sona's life. The book takes place in the 1930s, right before the outbreak of the Second World War.

One of the parts of the book that I liked the most is how much someone can change your life in such a short amount of time. Sona only knew Mira for six days before she set off across Europe to deliver her paintings. They both cared deeply for each other. Mira knew she was dying and wanted to break Sona out of her shell, allowing her to experience the world.

I also really liked that, by delivering Mira's painting, she discovered that Mira was a flawed person. Sona went on her quest to deliver the painting with Mira placed on a pedestal. We find out all these slights that Mira committed against people she called her friends.

One of the parts that I struggled with is how Sona dealt with her mother's death. It almost felt like she pushed it to the side, and that Mira's death was more important to her. It was like she never grieved for her mother.

I really struggled with the ending of the book. We find out that Sona became pregnant with Amit's child, and allows Edward to believe that the child is his daughter. This seemed really out of character because for the majority of the book, Sona struggled with her father leaving them and going back to his English family.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade for this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Six Days in Bombay is an evocative journey of art, identity, and self-discovery that begins in the vibrant, chaotic heart of Bombay and unfolds across Europe. Alka Joshi masterfully blends historical inspiration with rich storytelling, centering the novel around Sona—a nurse whose life is thrown into disarray after the sudden death of her patient, the enigmatic artist Mira Novak. What begins as a tragic loss evolves into a riveting mystery and a personal quest for truth.

Sona is a genuinely likable and quietly strong protagonist, and it’s easy to root for her as she moves from the safety of her routine into a world of secrets, art, and unfamiliar cities. Her emotional evolution is heartfelt and believable, especially as she grapples with her mixed heritage and the shadow cast by Mira’s captivating but troubled legacy. Sneha Mathan’s narration is flawless—measured and emotive, she brings each character to life, particularly Sona and the wise, compassionate old doctor who quietly steals a few scenes.

This novel is more than a mystery—it’s a story of a woman stepping fully into herself, and it lingers in the mind long after the final chapter. Medium-paced and immersive, it’s perfect for those who love character-driven historical fiction with a global scope and a touch of intrigue.

As a fan of the Henna Artist series, I was excited about a new book by Joshi. This is another strong historical fiction piece blending Indian history, culture and identity. This one kept me guessing until the end. Beautifully written and explored and the narration did the whole work justice in production.

Six days in Bombay by Alka Joshi

Sona is a nurse and when Mira comes to her hospital having a miscarriage they strike up a friendship. Sona is devastated when she dies but finds that MIra has left her a task. To deliver paintings to some of the people who matter to her, also leaving her a painting too.. After losing her job at the hospital, Sona is set on the adventure of a lifetime.

Firstly I am a massive, MASSIVE fan of Alka Joshi so I had high expectations of this book. It didn’t disappoint. The stage is set in an epic fashion. Sona is a wonderful character and I love how much depth there was to her. Mira is an interesting character. We get the version of her she wanted Sona to see and you get a different version of her with every person Sona gives a painting to. It was fascinating.

I loved the plot. It was fully immersive and the narration was on point!!

I love her writing style and this standalone book might be my favourite of hers to date. It was clever, well paced and entertaining from start to finish.

5 stars

Thank you to Alka Joshi, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I requested this book, but wow—I was not disappointed! As a longtime lover of historical fiction, I can be a little picky (okay, maybe even a bit snobby) when it comes to rating books in this genre. That said, Six Days in Bombay fully met—and even exceeded—my expectations.

Reminiscent of the rich storytelling styles of Kristin Hannah and Ariel Lawhon, Joshi masterfully brings her characters to life with nuance and emotional depth. She transports readers across time and place—from India to France to Prague—seamlessly weaving the past and present into a compelling narrative. The settings are immersive, the relationships complex, and the pacing just right.

This novel is a beautiful blend of history, mystery, and emotional insight. If you're a fan of layered historical fiction with vivid settings and well-drawn characters, Six Days in Bombay should absolutely be on your reading list.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for this e-alc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Narration for this book was by Sneha Mathan and I really enjoyed her voice as she did this narration.

This book was set in Bombay in 1937 and follows a nurse....and I just couldn't get past the way she only gave of herself, and didn't take care of herself as it feels way too close to home.

Loved the textured history with a unique view point for a time once lived. Enjoyed the bright description of India and the travel journey. The main character development ( Sona ) growth was shown here beautifully, a discovery of one's true self needs and path to happiness. Although the story started off slow for me and didn't agree with with some of the decisions this was such a beautiful story and enjoyed every minute of it. The audio was such a phenomenal way to read the story. I read and listen to this and it was such a wonderful experience.


Thank you NetGalley for the Ebook and audiook!

There is a part of me that really loves the opportunity to be immersed in India's history and culture, and this novel helped me appreciate the years leading to India's independence from Britain. The main character, Sona, a nurse, is half Indian - half English, and has spent all her life in India. Sona's world view expands when artist Mira Novak is admitted to the hospital for a miscarriage. Though just a few years older than Sona, Mira seems to have lived a full, exciting life by comparison. As a famous painter, Mira has traveled through Europe and as she regales Sona with stories of her adventures, Sona becomes enamored of the life that Mira seems to have. When Mira dies suddenly and Sona is not only devastated but dismissed from her position. Mira left a final message for Sona asking her to deliver four paintings that she's left for friends. Fulfilling this last request takes Sona out of her comfort zone and forces her to travel to Prague, Paris, Florence, and eventually London. Along the way, Sona learns Mira's life was not as carefree and glamorous as she thought. However, the greatest gift Mira leaves Sona is the opportunity to carve out her own life changing path.

This was my first Alka Joshi book and I enjoyed it along with the excellent audiobook. I found it interesting to read in the author's notes that the novel was inspired by a real-life Indian artist, Amrita Sher-Gil, who was known as the Frida Kahlo of India.

This is my very first book by Alka Joshi! I have seen people raving about her books often. This book took me a bit by surprise as I love historical fiction. The audio was very well done, the narrator was perfect for it. It was gripping and entertaining. My heart broke at times for Mira and Sonas story. I look forward to read more from Alka!

I was excited to dive into this one as I loved The Henna Artist for its dynamic characters and the descriptive prose and, while this one had the prose, the characters were less formidable than I am accustomed to. Sona paints the picture through her eyes so you never really get to know Mira on her own, and for a while, you don’t get to know Sona, either; eventually you get glimpses but it’s not until the end that you really get to know her, and even then, it’s through the lens of someone else’s expectations and needs. I enjoyed learning about medicine and life in this time period but was not as enthralled with this one as I was with other works.

Six Days in Bombay had all the ingredients for a story I thought I’d love—lush settings, cultural immersion, and emotional depth. Unfortunately, the heart of the novel, the central relationship between the main character and her patient, didn’t work for me. The intense connection between them felt rushed and implausible. We’re meant to believe that in less than a week, they formed such a deep bond that it becomes the emotional core of the story. I struggled to suspend disbelief; it all felt too forced and underdeveloped. There, I said it.

That said, Joshi’s writing is beautiful. Her prose is evocative and rich, painting vivid portraits of Bombay’s streets and its layered cultural identity. I found myself completely swept away by the sensory details of the setting—sights, sounds, and smells came alive on the page. The novel shines most when it leans into travel and memory. Joshi has a real gift for place-writing, and it’s that immersive quality that kept me turning the pages.

I was thriled to receive Six Days in Bombay by Alia Joshi as a NetGalley-especially since l've loved Alia Joshi's previous work-and it did not disappoint! I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was fantastic, bringing so much heart and depth to the story.
This beautifully written historical fiction transported me to another culture and time, and I loved learning through the eyes of a young woman facing unexpected changes to the life she imagined. A moving, vivid story of self-discovery, resilience, and choosing your own path.

Title: Six Days in Bombay
Author: Alka Joshi
Narrated by: Sneha Mathan
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Length: Approximately 12 hours and 24 minutes
Source: Audiobook from NetGalley. Thank-you!

What is your favorite coming of age story?

Sonia is a young nurse in Bombay. She has grown up ostracized as the daughter of Englishman and an Indian mother. Her father left the young family when she was three years old. Her brother died shortly after, and her mother worked hard to raise her. Now at twenty-three, she takes pride in her work as a nurse. Over the course of six days, she spends time with a new patient, Mira Novak. Mira helps her to see life in a new way and to help her to leave her sheltered world and take a new look at life. Will Sonia find love, closure on what happened to her father, and what she wants to do with her life moving forward?

My thoughts on this novel:
• This was a great coming of age novel and I liked seeing Sonia’s growth through the novel.

• I previously read and enjoyed The Henna Artist by this author, and I enjoyed reading this work by her as well.

• This novel was set in the spring of 1937, mostly in Bombay, but there is also travel to Europe. I thought it was a fascinating time period as Ghandi was mentioned and the relationship between Indians and the English is tense. There is also signs of the lead up to WWII.

• Sonia has unresolved issues with her father Owen Falstaff. Owen swept her mother off her feet and lived with her as a husband until he suddenly announced one day that he was leaving for England and that he already had a family back there. He sent money for Sonia’s birthday every year, but she never heard from him again after he left when she was three. It made me wonder how many children were born like this and abandoned? Why did some men abandon their Indian wife and children while others brought them back to England?

• Sonia is called blackie by English people and white by Indian people. She doesn’t feel comfortable in either world and is constantly trying to prove herself.

• Mira Novak was a fascinating character. I was interested to learn at the end that she was based on real artist. She challenged Sonia’s feeling on what life could be. Mira is also half white and half Indian, but she has become a successful artist and does not live by modern conventions. Sonia is half scandalized by her tales and half fascinated.

• Women’s health was a big issue in this book. It disturbed the characters that in 1937, a woman could die from a miscarriage. It’s unfortunate that is can still happen today. An Indian doctor realized things were going wrong, but his superior, a white doctor, did not take him seriously.

• I enjoyed the narrator of this audiobook. It was a great story. It moved a little slow at first, but once the story was set, I couldn’t stop listening to it.

• There was some romance in this story, but really it was Mira and Sonia’s story. There were also a few slight mysterious events that were resolved by the end of the story that kept me hooked.

• This was a perfect book to read for Asian American Pacific Islander Month

Overall, Six Days in Bombay by Alka Joshi was a fascinating historical fiction novel with great characters and setting.

I loved the concept of the book, but just wish it had been executed better. Some parts were too drawn out and lacked progression in plot. It felt like most of the action took place in the second half when she traveled to deliver the three paintings to people from Mira’s past, but it too so long for the writing to get there. Snetha Mathan, the narrator, has a beautiful, soothing voice which made it extremely pleasant to listen to.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen in exchange for an honest review.