The Girl in the Painting by Renita D'Silva

..."true mettle is doing what is right despite the circumstances...It is being true to oneself, one's principles."

Emma, betrayed by her partner (David) takes their daughter, Chloe, to India at the behest of her dying grandmother. Emma has been tasked with a mission, to find a woman named Archana, and to give her a painting along with a request for forgiveness. Emma knows very little about her grandmother's former life in India as a young English bride married to an Indian lawyer -- only that something had happened and that her grandmother, Margaret, returned home to England alone.

Margaret Thronber was born and raised in England and in 1913 her world came crashing down with the war. She finds a way to nurture her artistic talent at University where she meets and falls for the enigmatic and mysterious Suraj. Her experiences with him allow her to feel known and give her a sense of belonging she has lost. Can she do the unthinkable and marry him, go to India and create a life for herself after all?

Told in alternating points of view and flipping back and forth in time, this beautiful story examines the emotions of guilt, anger ambition, grief and unbelonging. It challenges our personal beliefs in notions such as the bonds of duty and obedience to our family and our culture. As Emma, Margaret and Archana reveal their heartaches, we also must see them tackle the biggest hurdle of all -- forgiveness.

I really enjoyed this novel and could almost picture myself in every scene as the characters come to life on the pages. Beautifully written it will tug at the heart and give much for thought. I really do love the setting of India and learning about the country and culture. The concept of sati was hard to swallow, being the feminist I am. I think it would make a great book club selection as there is so much to discuss.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre -- historical fiction early 1900s through present day, India, England