Lavanya Lakshmi Debuts With Novel ‘Leave and Come Back’

India-West Staff Reporter

‘Leave and Come Back’ by Lavanya Lakshmi, Pamela Dorman Books, Hardcover, $30.00

‘Leave and Come Back,’ the debut novel by Lavanya Lakshmi, blends romance, family drama and South Asian cultural traditions. Released on June 16, the book explores themes of love, grief, reconciliation and the meaning of home. 

Set against the backdrop of a two-week Indian wedding, the novel follows Simran Gopal as she reconnects with her extended family after years of distance following the loss of her parents. Through family reunions, shifting relationships and a new romance, the story explores cultural expectations, generational bonds and the complexities of returning to one’s roots.

Bollywood references, humor and wedding-day chaos add to the narrative, which examines what it means to embrace love while navigating family ties and long-buried emotions.

Early reviews have been positive. BookPage described the novel as “a beautiful debut about returning home, making peace with old familial wounds, and finding love,” while Publishers Weekly praised the book’s character conflicts and the varied motivations driving its large cast.

Lakshmi has lived in India, China, the United States and Canada. She earned a master’s degree from New York University and spent nine years in New York before moving to Toronto. ‘Leave and Come Back’ is her first novel.