Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was an enjoyable book.

Thank you Netgalley, Jae Watson and Legend Press for free e-ARC in return of my honest review.

Marianne, a young woman, after heartbreak and unsure of her career, leaves for India with a friend, Sara. Marianne is hoping to find her self in a new environment and try to see what she really wants from this life.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I quite enjoyed it. Marianne is an interesting character, she is conflicted within herself. She does not know what she wants from life, from people around her and from herself. She is looking for answers in the past - her mother leaving when she was young, being a serious relationship since first year of college. Her struggle is real. Also, here is Sara - who seems to be self-centred in a good way, she knows what she wants and she gets it. Later, her story is developed more and some of her decisions are explained.

On the other, constant philosophical discussions in Marianne's head with a lot of quotes from different books are tiring. They did not make sense for me as it all could be explained in less words but with more meaning. Also, it was confusing as the synopsis told me about Sara's body found in a river but it took half a book to get there. I did not understand what was that I read - a thriller, a drama? A bit of that, a bit of this. It felts like author wanted to keep the reader interested in the story by killing Sara but also was into philosophic discussions too.

I think it has a lot of potential, and I am looking forward to more work by Jae Watson.

I really enjoyed this book It's a mystery, a travel guide and the story of an unlikely, but moving friendship between two women from London, who each had her own reasons for escaping her day-to-day life.
Highly recommended.

This book was an average read. I had been expecting more but it was still an ok book.
Writing style and pace were of average quality
An ok book

This is an easy-to-read book about 2 young women who decide to travel to India together. The story is deceptively simple but draws you in from the beginning. Marianne and Sara meet in London under difficult circumstances. They don't know each other very well. When they reach Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges lots of things start to go wrong. Marianne is recovering from a broken relationship but she doesn't really know or understand the exotic and sometimes alarming Sara. Sara doesn't obey the rules, disappears at times, is irresponsible and selfish - at least so Marianne thinks. The book is seen through the eyes of Marianne as she realises how little she knows of Sara and how dangerous their situation has become as they travel through India.

I loved this book - it had the feel of Kristin Hannah or Lianne Moriarty - in that it is very much character-driven but the plot moves well. The setting of Varanasi itself is a major part of the story and the author, Jae Watson, seems to know the place. The descriptions, the local life and culture are used to deepen the story until the ending arrives with a few twists to surprise the reader. I will definitely read this author again.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this copy from Netgalley.

I am in two minds about this book. The writing is beautiful but I found it hampered the narrative sometimes as the characters had very convoluted conversations which didn't quite run true. They were very introspective which did make them a bit dull. I did finish the book, but actually can't remember the ending so I can't have been that invested.. sorry.

This was a complimentary copy from netgalley - many thanks

I've not read anything by this author before but certainly will look out in the future

So many things to say about this book

I'll start by saying I absolutely loved it and will be recommending this to everyone I know

I love the historical fiction as a genre and the setting is just fabulous - I don't really know much about the geographical area so loved the mystery but the addition of what, in essence, is a travelogue was wonderful - everything just gelled beautifully.

Highly recommended both as a holiday read and a book club read

A fantastic read characters that come alive story that drew me right in .Lyrical literary fiction at its best highly recommend.#netgalley#legend

Varanasi is a engrossing historical novel that pulls you into the book. Well written and interesting characters. Fabulous book.

Thank you NetGalley and Legend Press for the eARC.
I loved this book, it was well written with a great sense of place and two very different, but fascinating women who are on the trip of a lifetime.
Because I spent my last three years of high school in Mumbai, India where the sight of European and N. American travellers (mostly hippies staying in dingy hotels, high as kites...looking for enlightenment!?) was a common, if slightly puzzling one to us who lived and went to school there, I mentally found myself back there. It was great! It's a mystery, a travel guide and the story of an unlikely, but moving friendship between two London women, each with her own reason for escaping their day-to-day lives.
Highly recommended.