Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This is a great read that highlights regardless of where you’re from or where you call home; we all have struggles and hardships in life. That having friends and family close by can make all the difference and family doesn’t necessarily mean by blood.

"Home Has No Borders" features several stories written by and featuring characters of South Asian people exploring their unique experiences.

The book features stories that deal with love, relationships, bullying, racism, identity, acceptance, among other common themes of this genre. Some of the stories lacked an engaging conflict, which made reading those stories a bit dull. I could see a younger audience being more engaged in the stories than I was as an adult reader.

"Star Anise" was my favorite story in the collection, likely because the conflict transcended the teen experience and was a bit more complex than the others. Other stories of note were "No Taste Like Home", "Memories of a Mango Tree", and "The Big Rig Blues". I probably won't choose to teach any of these in my classroom, but it could be a good independent reading text.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harpers for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Now available.

I greatly enjoyed this collection of short stories centering South Asian disaporic experiences of growing up! From queer coming out stories to grieving the loss of friends and family to confronting xenophobia, this collection tackles a range of issues young South Asians face. I also enjoyed the balance of sad stories with humor and love stories and I especially appreciated the inclusion of different South Asian communities such as Indian, Fiji, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, etc. This was the type of collection I would love to read when I was a teen.

Some of the stories were perfectly nice and fit the prompt or had a meaningful/enjoyable story, but none stood out as remarkable, and the anthology as a whole was not anything I would return to.


Seven of Swords - DNF

We Dine With Our Dead - 2 stars. Did not care for the writing style.

When Durga Devi Weeps - 3.5 stars. A fairly emotional story that hit the marks on the prompt.

Simar, Aaron, and the Big Punjabi Wedding - 2 stars. Not great but then the ending was WILDLY abrupt.

You Can’t Go Home Again - 2 Stars. Objectively fine in the writing style, but it missed the mark by a mile on the prompt and also, I am not here for couples supposedly that still love one another, have zero actual reason for breaking up/staying apart, but that do so because...????? We don't know.

One Island - DNF

The Big Rig Blues - 2.5 stars. Sisters and therapy mostly.

Lovesick - DNF

Love The One You’re With - DNF

Star Anise - 2.5 stars.

Kick Flips in My Stomach - 2 stars.

No Taste Like Home - 2.5 stars. Cute little start of a romance.

The Way It Was Supposed to Be - DNF

Memories of a Mango Tree - 3 stars.

Jahaji - 3 stars.

Rakhi & Roll - DNF. Did not like writing style.

In a Nutshell: A teen anthology about South Asian diasporic experiences. I had been very excited for this collection, but much of the content wasn’t to my reading preferences. Thus might work better for other readers, hence leaving this without a rating.

This collection has sixteen stories written by South Asian writers, giving a voice to teens of South-Asian descent staying in another country (USA). The blurb declares that this book “explores race, class, culture, language, and the very idea of home as both a place and a feeling.” These themes made me hope for a stimulating experience, as the concept of showing diasporic experiences about their progenitors’ cultures is always an interesting one, especially when the culture is as rich and diverse as in the South Asian nations. However, the book didn’t work for me for quite a few reasons.
🚩 For a ‘South Asian’ anthology, the content is heavily dominated by India. As per SAARC, South Asia includes eight countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. But except for one story each from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, the stories are about the Indian diaspora. (If you are wondering why I, an Indian, am complaining about India getting the central role, it’s simply because it’s inaccurate to call a book “South Asian” and focus on only one country.)
🚩 I always love anthologies with themes as it is fun to see how authors interpret the theme and create a variety of tales. In this case though, a majority of the stories don’t bother about the theme. Their stories are about generic YA experiences, not South-Asian YA experiences. Quite a few of the tales are about love problems. YA readers might not have any issue with this, but I didn’t pick this book up to read YA romance and crushes and heartbreaks.
🚩 I am not comfortable with foul language popping up in teen/YA books. I might have overlooked this issue had there been only a couple of such occurrences, but twelve of the sixteen stories had bad language. (15 instances of f*ck, 6 of a*hole, 38 of sh*t.) I know some readers are okay with such words in YA books as they represent realistic teen conversations, but I am not. Even the romance content in a couple of the stories went beyond my preference level for this age group.
🚩 The writing style in two stories didn’t suit me. The second story is written entirely in small case, which suits poetry better. I like fictional stories to stick to proper sentence case. And in the final story, the lingo was too gen-z for my understanding and the sentences, too broken. (Was it supposed to be a story-in-verse? Its structure was so haphazard!)
🚩 Most stories contains several words from regional languages, but there is no glossary. In some cases, I didn’t need one as I was familiar with the language. But if the book has to work in the intended target market, a glossary is a must.
🚩 At 400 pages, this is quite lengthy for a short story collection, all the more if it is aimed at YAs.

On the pro side,
📍 The foreword by the two editors of Indian origin – powerful and heartfelt.
📍 The significance of the title, even if not every story lives up to it.
📍 The pacing – decently quick.

As always, I rated the stories individually. Only two stories reached/crossed the four-star mark as they delivered exactly what the theme promised. The rest of the stories were either 3 stars or below. My two favourites were:
😍 When Durga Devi Weeps - Rajani LaRocca: When I saw Rajani LaRocca’s name in the list of contributors, I was thrilled. I've enjoyed the two books of hers I've read. She writes beautifully and authentically to the culture. This story further confirms her status in my mind. Such a perfect story in terms of characters, writing, theme, and age-appropriateness! This is the kind of story I picked up this anthology for. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
😍 No Taste Like Home - Nisha Sharma: Meet-cute, but desi style. Perfect for the theme, great combo of culture and modernity, of expat feelings and third-gen confusion. Well executed story overall. A bit too insta for this desi mom, otherwise it would have gained all the stars. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

All in all, this is a case of expectation-mismatch as well as preference-mismatch. I wanted a more culturally-focussed experience, but the stories turned out to be standard YA stuff. The cuss words exasperated me further. The book might still work for YA readers looking for stories with issues they can identify with. Not for me though.

I shall leave this without a rating as this simply wasn’t my cup of tea. It is undoubtedly one of my biggest disappointments of 2025. I had also planned to pick up "Magic Has No Borders", a "cousin" of this book, edited by the same team, and containing stories from South Asian folklore, but after this lacklustre experience, I am not so sure. Maybe in future, when I have put this sufficiently behind me…

My thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books for providing the DRC of “Home Has No Borders” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better.

(Hitting the 2 star on NG as the rating is compulsory on this site.)

The cover....gorgeous.
The subject matters....universal topics that many can relate to (loves, community and family).
The overall presentation...some writing is better than others.

Standouts: "When Durga Devi Weeps" - a tale that resonates with anyone who is asked 'So, where are you REALLY from' ?'; "Love the One You're With' -embracing your true self; and my favorite, "No Taste Like Home" -meet cute with cuisine as a common language (already a fan of this author and what drew me to this anthology in the first place).

This ARC was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#HomeHasNoBorders #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book! The stories featured in this collection will function as both mirror and window for young adult readers. A diverse set of South Asian voices make the collection constantly engaging, and help Western readers appreciate new perspectives on the world.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The collection was a lot of fun, and I liked that it collected perspectives and experiences from South Asian authors. Some stories were stronger than others, but I enjoyed how they were united in getting the message across about the intersection of issues that impact the community, like racism, classism, and xenophobia, with typical teen issues, like looking family and friendship dynamics, finding community, and how that is all encompassed in the term “home.” Would recommend!

HOME HAS NO BORDERS edited by Sona Charaipotra & Samira Ahmed

Pub date: May 13th, 2025
Publisher: HarperCollins
Rating: 4 / 5


"It's critical for kids to see themselves on the page, now more than ever... I hope they know that they can make their way through the world and find home wherever they go." [Sona Charaipotra, Foreword]

In Sona Charaipotra and Samira Ahmed's second YA anthology collaboration, authors across the South Asian diaspora have come together to share glimpses into the experiences of South Asian teens. Featuring 16 original short stories, this anthology explores family and food; heartbreak and healing; firsts and lasts. The central theme tying these stories together: What experiences define the idea of "home"?

HOME HAS NO BORDERS is filled to the brim with love, reflection, and hope, while beautifully centering South Asian voices. Universal sentiments and shared experiences of immigrant and minority cultures are framed in the context of contemporary South Asian characters. This offers an excellent opportunity for young South Asian readers to feel seen and validated, and for non-South Asian readers to find commonality. The stories focus on topics like first love, immigrant families, religion, racial and political issues, and dealing with loss. The anthology has a good mix of shorter and longer stories, with some having more stylistic and poetic formatting. Stand out pieces include "we dine with our dead" by kanwalroop kaur singh, "Star Anise" by Anuradha D. Rajurkar, "No Taste Like Home" by Nisha Sharma, and "Memories of a Mango Tree" by Sarah Mughal Rana. Readers looking for refreshing and heartwarming introspection on home should not miss this anthology!


(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!)

This anthology truly moved me. Home Has No Borders isn’t just a collection of stories—it’s a powerful glimpse into identity, belonging, and what “home” really means. Each story brought something unique, yet together they felt so connected and meaningful. Some made me laugh, others hit hard emotionally, but all left me thinking. It’s honest, beautiful, and so needed.

Home Has No Borders by Samira Ahmed and Sona Charaipotra was an incredibly moving and thought-provoking read for me. This anthology is so much more than a collection of stories—it feels like a window into lives, struggles, and triumphs that often go unseen. Each piece resonated deeply, exploring identity, belonging, and the idea of home in a way that is both personal and universal. What I loved most was how every story brought a unique voice and perspective, yet they all tied together to create a tapestry of rich, nuanced storytelling. The authors beautifully capture the complexity of navigating cultural expectations while embracing individuality. Some stories made me laugh, others brought tears, but every single one left me reflecting on my own perceptions of identity and community. If you're looking for a book that challenges and inspires, while offering warmth and authenticity,

This is a beautiful collection of South Asian stories. I loved all the different characters and learning more about these cultures through these stories.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC

Genre: Anthology, Essays & Collections, Children & Teen/YA
Pub Date: May 13, 2025


A beautiful & bittersweet collection of South Asian coming-of-age stories that explore what “home” really means during a time of diaspora. My absolute favorite story was: we dine with our dead by Kanwalroop Kaur Singh. It was an amazing story from the perspective of a young girl and her Sikh community mourning the 1984 massacres against the Sikh.

These stories are a celebration & eye opening experience of South Asian voices. I enjoyed every single one of the stories and I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to gain a new perspective or learn more about South Asian culture and history.

This anthology of South Asian stories is a wonderful and bittersweet collection of coming of age stories exploring home and what it means to be South Asian. Each story sparked my curiosity and provided a window into the South Asian diaspora, inspiring me to look into a new dish, phrase, or historic event I'd never heard of before. This is a fantastic collection that I would recommend for all ages.

This anthology is EVERYTHING. A celebration of South Asian voices, Home Has No Borders is a beautiful, emotional rollercoaster that highlights the complexities of race, culture, family, and the idea of home. From first crushes to family struggles, each story dives deep into what it means to belong — to a place, to a community, to yourself.

Featuring some of the most incredible, bestselling South Asian authors writing for teens today, this collection is a MUST-READ. The diversity in storytelling, from heartbreaks to triumphs, will have you reflecting on your own experiences of identity and home. What I love most about this anthology is how it handles sensitive topics with grace while also being real, raw, and uplifting. Whether you're South Asian or not, there's something here that will resonate with you. The voices in this collection are diverse, powerful, and necessary.

Highly recommended if you're looking for stories that explore the intersection of identity, culture, and the search for belonging. On shelves everywhere May 13th!

Home Has No Borders is another wonderful anthology from a group of really diverse writers. I liked reading authors I had met for the first time in the first anthology (Magic Has no Borders). All the authors are exploring what home means for young Desi people in various contexts.

I particularly loved:
we dine with our dead by Kanwalroop Kaur Singh (Sikh community grieving 1984 massacres against the Sikh)
Love the One You're With by Sheba Karim (young gay man discovering who he wants to be after working at a haunted house, even as his sister is fighting the good fight at home, and he struggles to defend her)
No Taste Like Home by Nisha Sharma (two college freshmen with the same last name but with family from different parts of India crossing paths while picking up each other's care packages and falling into a developing friendship/romance)

overall I really liked all the stories in the collection, though there was one that felt unfinished/ended abruptly and I'm not entirely sure what the point of the story was? I'm hoping that because this is an arc there was an issue and in the final print the paragraph that's repeated twice is removed and there's some kind of closure to the story, as all of the others felt fully rounded.

This was such an engaging collection of stories. I enjoyed the diversity of subjects and characters. I even like the way that some of the stories played around with formatting and such.

Home Has No Borders is another wonderful anthology! I loved seeing familiar authors and new telling stories about young desi people figuring out what home looks like in different times. Standouts include a Sikh community grieving the 1984 massacres of Sikhs in India (we dine with our dead from kanwalroop kaur singh), a young boy finding himself after meeting the devil and working at a haunted house (Love the One You're With by Sheba Karim), and two college freshmen who have the same last name meeting when they pick up each other's care packages (No Taste Like Home by Nisha Sharma). I can't wait to see more from these authors!