It's the first book in a new series about a young Indian woman who loses her family in a tragic incident. Forced out of her community due to superstition, she finds work with an English couple, looking after their children and goes with them when they return to England. When her employers fail to honour their promise to pay for her passage back to India, she finds herself homeless and alone. Finding the community on West India Dock Road is serendipitous for Divya, and she finds acceptance until things go wrong. It's an evocative story detailing the differences between Divya's life in India and England. She faces differing prejudices in both places. Divya experiences luck at both ends of the spectrum and begins to make a life in the East End with the help of her found family and the diverse community. Their cohesiveness develops from the wider prejudice they all experience, but it is fragile, and when the tragedy rocks the road, Divya's new life crumbles. I like the female protagonists who are courageous and compassionate. Detailed characterisation, culture and ethos in India and England draw the reader into the story. Although it is heartbreaking in parts, it's an engaging beginning to this new series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This story is set just before the start of WW2 and is about Divya who is hounded out of her village in India when her parents die suddenly in floods going to visit the matchmaker to find a husband for her.Divya then travels to England with Mr and Mrs Ellis as nanny too their two children. Divya is told that they will pay for her passage back to India when they have found an nanny for the childen once in England.This doesn’t happen and she is sent away from the house with little money and no where to live . Divya meets Jack Devline and is taken to lodging on the West India Dock Road run by Charity. Charity find it hard work running the boarding house and looking after her infirm parents.Divya starts to help Charity by making all the meals as Divya loves cooking and things start to look up for Divya.Can Divya earn enough money to pay for her passage back home to India before the start of war in 1939. Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood.

This powerful historical saga starts in India where Divya lost her parents in an accident, and she lost her village too. She travels to England as an ayah for a white couple who soon abandon her. Nuns help Divya find her way to the East End of London, where there’s a multi-ethnic cast of characters. Life has it’s ups and downs as Divya finds her place amongst the locals with a degree of success. It’s a tough life of hard work. The story ends just as the Second World War is starting. I thoroughly enjoyed this emotive read. Recommend.

Wow, I just finished an amazing historical fiction book. New Arrivals on West India Dock Road was such a good book. I loved it.

This story starts in India in 1037. We follow a young girl, Divya, who is employed by an English couple as a nanny for their two young boys. When the family moves back to England, Divya moves back with the family with the promise that they would pay for her return journey. But when they arrive, they abandon her. But a little luck is on Diva's side when she ends up in a boarding house and becomes the cook.

This is a descriptively written story. The characters are well-portrayed. The story covers racism and gang warfare. The racism that the black people had to suffer was harrowing. Divya has a couple of love interests. The pace is steady. What a great start to a new series, I will definitely be looking out for the next book.

Published 13th February 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #RenitaDSilva for my ARC of #NewArrivalsOnWestIndiaDockRoad in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

When Divya’s parents die unexpectedly, she’s left on her own and everyone in the village thinks she’s bad luck. After leaving the village she becomes an aaya to an English family who then leave India to go to England and take her with them.

But, once there, she’s left once again on her own after the family dismiss her from her role. With the help of people she’s never met, Divya arrives at a boarding house.

She loves cooking and again with people she’s just met, opens a restaurant.

I loved how the author portrayed the racism and bigotry people faced during those times and what they experienced through the hands of others. As well as this, how the people of the East Enders united and worked as a community.

The characters were all different which added to the story story which begins at the start of WW2. I’m recalling looking forward to reading how their stories develop and what’s next for Divya.

I highly recommend this book.

This is the second book I have read by this author, and like the first, I thoroughly enjoyed it. When Divya's parents die unexpectedly, she is on her own in India, and perceived to be the cause of bad luck. She ends up becoming an ayah and goes to England with her employers, who then leave her stranded in England. Through the kindness of others, she ends up at a boarding house and eventually opens a restaurant. The author has captured the racism and bigotry of the times, but also the way East Enders stick together and the feeling of community. There is a rich cast of characters that really adds to the story. The story ends at the start of WW2, so I am looking forward to the next book to see what happens next to our courageous heroine and her community. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy to read and review.

looked forward to reading the 1st book in this new series but was so let down! Long drawn out descriptions which did not add to the story. Was a hard book to complete but I kept going and eventually finished. Not a great book or story in my view.
Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book

I had read a previous book by Renita D’Silva and really enjoyed it so looked forward to reading this one .

But sadly it did not hit the same spot for me - the story in itself was very interesting but so many sentences were repeated. For instance when the Curry Competition was on and there was a street party there was mention of a chestnut seller at one end of the street and an ices seller the other -the same sentence on two consecutive pages. This was not the only example.

This revolved around an Ayah called Divya - who lost all in India -family respect and livelihood and accompanied an aristocratic family back to London where she was abandoned despite promises of passage back to India. Penniless and destitute her life improves until WW2 breaks out and return to India is impossible
I found her choices very odd - but suppose that one beau knew of the isolation and racism she had felt whilst the other could provide all she needed - maybe not love though just affection.

I understand that this is the first in a series but felt unsure where a further book could or would go - it all seemed very predictable to me.
Not sure I would seek out the second instalment

New Arrivals on West India Dock Road is the story of Divya a young woman who despite being shunned has great promise and has grown into a strong and resilient lady. The author is knowledgeable and experienced in the subject and times of the book and it shows through the descriptive writing. I felt like I was a silent feature in the book just watching all that was happening. It touches all your senses you can see, feel, smell and taste everything. I enjoyed everything about the story including the characters, narrative and the complexity of the plot. I wanted Divya to succeed and find happiness. A strong start to what is set to be a intricate series!

An array of businesses lines this crooked street: a butcher’s, a sailmaker’s, a Jewish shop, a Chinese hostelry, a lodging house for people of all nationalities. A snatch of song wafts from a music hall, mingling with the scent of the public house nearby, the swell of the Thames and the call of seagulls. The air tastes of yearning.

1938: Divya has made the long sea journey from India to England, employed as a nanny by a British family. But once they arrive, she is cruelly abandoned, with no means to return home. Afraid and alone, she faces prejudice and rejection… until she finds her way to an Irish-run boarding house on West India Dock Road and meets Jack, Charity and a host of unexpected friends.

Divya is a good cook, and preparing meals for the other immigrants, homesick for the food they were raised on, gives her a new sense of hope and purpose. In time, she opens a thriving curry house, beloved by the local communities. But as war in Europe looms, Divya’s fragile sense of belonging – through her business, her friendships and budding romance with sailor Raghu – comes under threat.

This book is beautifully written. This is a different perspective of this time period than I've ever read, and like all of D'Silva's novels I've read, she does an amazing job making you feel like you're THERE. The characters are human and flawed, the plot is engaging, and the prose is beautiful. Read this! 5⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

A strong historical fiction novel set in India and London following Divya Ram a young girl who is orphaned and then hounded out of her home as being considered bad luck. She eventually gets a job as a nursery maid to the children of a wealthy family and when they return to England she goes with them, with the promise of a return ticket to India when they find a nanny. Divya is a great character, strong and resilient and loyal to her friends.

Briefly, after Divya’s employers throw her out and refuse to pay for her ticket home, she eventually arrives in West India Dock where she finds lodgings with Charity O’Kelly and her family. Soon Divya’s love of cooking leads to her taking over the boarding house’s kitchen, and eventually with financial help from a local man, and help from the community her own restaurant.

The racial prejudice that Divya and other black people suffer is excruciating uncomfortable and no doubt true of the times. Despite the fact that the dock area is a hotchpotch of nationalities and religions it did seem that there was a black / white divide for many when it came to trust and loyalty. There is an interesting three way romance simmering with wealthy Jack and Indian lascar Raghu both setting their caps at Divya. A very enjoyable and entertaining read.

Fantastic book first in a new series and my first novel by the Author. Great story with interesting characters i look for forward to book 2

I really enjoyed this book but my heart broke for Diya for most of the book and it made me feel so embarrassed and ashamed at times because I know this generally happened a lot. I would highly recommend

Oh wow
This story is amazing.... The way divya was treated first by the villagers which she had known for years.
To the white people that she ended up working for. To be honest after reading this story up until Divya gets to west India dock road. I hated being white... I know it was a different world back then and it's a fictional story in some places but I'm glad she found a home in the east end.
Let's hope they all survive the war. Can't wait to read more about Divya, charity and everyone else from the east end.

New Arrivals On West India Dock Road by Renata D’Silva is a powerful, heartfelt historical novel that I read in just one sitting. I am hoping there will be many more books to follow.
The tale is set just before the outbreak of World War II. We begin the novel in India in 1937, following a young girl who is employed as a nanny to two small boys, whose parents are English. Unrest in India sees the family boarding a ship to England as they make hollow promises to the nanny. Once on the shores of England, she is left to fend for herself.
The vibrancy of India contrasts with the greyness of England. “Everything is coated in a grey mist, a far cry from the ubiquitous orange dust of India.”
England is an inhospitable place for those whose skin colour is not white, and whose accent is not English.
As the streets of London are traversed, we move towards the docklands. Here, the streets are not paved with gold but the hearts are filled with love.
It is a very cosmopolitan area, populated by those whom society has marginalized – the Irish, African, India, Chinese and more. Here, the lost and lonely find a place to call home.
It is not all a bed of roses as there is gang warfare and racial discrimination. Gangs of white youths resent immigrants from taking ‘their jobs’ on-board boats. “They talk with their fists and not their mouths. They see our colour; they don’t see us.”
The cosmopolitan community is treated abominably by some. “They cannot see past colour, identity, to humanity.” We see that some “make fun of her just because the colour of her skin is a darker shade than theirs… Isn’t the colour of the blood… the same?”
People are quick to judge when tragedy strikes. They believe a false narrative and not the truth. Characters fight for justice.
As the novel ends, World War II is just beginning. Characters fear another war so fast on the heels of World War I. Communities are still reeling from the loss of a generation of young men, when along comes another war to steal the next generation of young men.
All the characters were well drawn, likable and believable. The leading lady, though small in stature was hugely brave, unswervingly loyal and had a big heart.
I thoroughly enjoyed New Arrivals On West India Dock Road. It was a powerful read.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

Divya has been tricked into coming to England by her employers and is then callously thrown out with no money and no hope of returning to her beloved India. As she wanders the streets of London she is took in by nuns who nurse her back to health and point her to the Dock Road guesthouse where she meets friends and neighbours who accept her and love her cooking.
As war looms she finds herself in turmoil with her new neighbours but she must show her true self and not be bullied.
Great start to what looks to be a promising new series.

Was a good book to read and I want to read the next in the series.

Great story would recommend.

Thank you to NetGallery for advanced copy

I love the East end atmosphere, the community, the snarky remarks. You Will fall in love wirh the community, i Know i did. I really enjoyed the book, following the Main character's Journey. So a Great start to a New series.
Thank you to netgalley.com for letting me read this e arc, in exchange for an honesr opinion.

I love Renita’s books. Although most are set in India in the early 20th century, this one was a bit different. It started off in India and then moved on to England where most of the narrative unfolds. As always, Renita does a stunning job with the descriptiveness of the setting. I was able to fully immerse myself in West India Dock Road. I loved the community, diversity and friendliness although I was still wary of the undertones of bigotry which seemed just beneath the surface for most of the people.

Divya’s story is mainly focused on the theme of belonging. She was a great main character, sympathetic and easy to root for. I also liked how realistically portrayed she was. I liked being a witness to her life’s journey. The support characters such as Raghu, Jack, Charity were all very well portrayed. I could imagine myself in that little community. I literally feel like I can identify the characters if I found myself in West India Dock Road.

This is a beautiful, well-plotted story. The pacing is even and there are no parts that felt bogged down. I do love good well wrapped up stories and this wasn’t one but the ending was still satisfying. Hopefully, there will be a continuation of the story though. A fantastic read overall.