September brings with it a gentle change in rhythm—a time to pause, reflect, and perhaps find solace between the pages of a good book. As the month unfolds, our Books of the Month selection brings together stories that linger long after the final page: tales of love and loss, ambition and identity, memory and resilience. Each book offers a world of its own, inviting us to step beyond the familiar and return with a new perspective. So, if you’re searching for your next great read, let September be the month you discover a story worth remembering.
Ink of My Existence – Deepti Arora Sharma
Ink of My Existence is a bilingual collection of poems in English and Hindi that explores the emotions and experiences shaping human life. Through themes of love, loss, hope, despair, joy, longing, courage, and vulnerability, each poem captures a fragment of a journey. Some verses arise from personal experiences, while others draw inspiration from the stories and silent struggles of people encountered along the way. The collection celebrates the universality of emotions beyond language and invites readers to pause, reflect, remember, and discover themselves within its pages. Each poem is a reflection of life, connection, and the human soul.
“Every tear wrote a verse. Every smile, a rhyme. Every moment, inked a part of me.”
Can We Be Strangers Again? – Shrijeet Shandilya
The book is a poignant exploration of love, separation, memories, and the complexities of human relationships. The title itself reflects a deeply emotional question—whether two people who once shared an intimate bond can ever return to being strangers. Through its narrative, the book delves into heartbreak, unresolved feelings, changing relationships, and the lingering impact of the past. It captures the vulnerability of letting go while holding on to memories that refuse to fade, making it a relatable reflection on love, loss, and the difficult journey of moving forward.
Ghosts of the Silent Hills – Anita Krishnan
The latest masterpiece by Anita Krishnan is a haunting tale that blends mystery, suspense, and supernatural elements against the eerie backdrop of the Himalayan hills. The story explores the dark secrets hidden within the seemingly peaceful mountains, where silence conceals unsettling truths, and the past refuses to remain buried. As mysterious events unfold, the characters are drawn into a chilling world of fear, legends, and unexplained occurrences. Atmospheric and gripping, the novel takes readers through an unsettling journey where the beauty of the hills contrasts sharply with the ghosts and secrets lurking within them.
Stars Will Guide You Home – Stuti Changle
This romance novel is a heartfelt story about love, friendship, self-discovery, and finding one’s way through life’s uncertainties. It explores the emotional journeys of young people as they navigate relationships, dreams, heartbreak, and the challenges of growing up. With warmth and sensitivity, the novel reminds readers that even during moments of darkness and confusion, hope can offer direction and comfort. The stars become a metaphor for guidance, resilience, and the belief that no matter how far one may wander, there is always a path that can lead back home—to oneself, to loved ones, and to what truly matters.
Kulhad Bhar Ishq: Kashishq – Kaushlendra Mishr
A soulful poetry collection that captures the many shades of love through heartfelt poetry and reflections. Blending tenderness, longing, romance, heartbreak, and emotional vulnerability, the book portrays love in its simplest yet deepest forms. The imagery of a kulhad evokes warmth, familiarity, and the intimate moments that make love memorable. Through evocative verses, the poet explores both the joy of finding love and the ache of losing it. Kashishq celebrates the irresistible pull of emotions and invites readers to pause, feel, and immerse themselves in the beautiful complexities of the human heart.
Midnight Snacks and Murder – Pratyush Jha
Midnight Snacks and Murder marks the promising debut of Pratyush Jha, a young author and IIT (BHU) sophomore who blends analytical thinking with a flair for storytelling. Published by Vishwakarma Publications, the collection brings together eight engaging stories spanning crime, mystery, science fiction, horror, psychology, law, and adventure. The narratives move across diverse settings and scenarios, from global nuclear conflict and futuristic espionage to crime families in New York and unexpected humorous adventures. Each story explores compelling human conflicts while questioning conventional ideas of morality and justice. The collection showcases Pratysh’s distinctive imagination and establishes him as an emerging voice in contemporary fiction.
The debut novel by Anchit Prakash is an emotionally rich story of estranged brothers, Ankur and Anshul, who travel across Japan in memory of their father’s unfulfilled dream of exploring the country. What begins as a journey through Tokyo’s vibrant streets, peaceful temples, cherry blossoms, and scenic landscapes gradually becomes an emotional reckoning. As years of resentment, grief, and unspoken regrets resurface, the brothers are forced to confront their fractured relationship. Through train journeys, late-night conversations, and shared memories, they slowly rediscover their lost bond. Set against Japan’s captivating backdrop, the novel explores brotherhood, loss, forgiveness, healing, and the possibility of second chances.
Musafir Cafe – Divya Prakash Dube
Musafir Cafe, adapted as a Netflix Series is a contemporary story about dreams, relationships, choices, and the search for a perfect life. Sudha has a list of dreams and little wishes that she wants to fulfil, believing that completing them will bring her closer to happiness. Chander, meanwhile, has experienced love in different forms and, by the age of thirty, believes he has done everything life expects of him. Their journeys reflect those of countless people who chase their wish lists while searching for meaning and contentment. The novel explores love, aspirations, uncertainty, and the realization that a perfect life may not exist.
Marriage & Masti – Nisha Sharma
Marriage & Masti is a humorous and heartfelt romance about Veera Mathur and Deepak Datta, two people whose lives have been disrupted by heartbreak, career setbacks, and family expectations. Veera is unemployed and struggling to rebuild her life after losing the man she loved and her place in the family business. Deepak, seeking the CEO position at his family’s company, needs to repair his public image after a failed engagement. A series of unexpected events leads to an accidental beach wedding. Their marriage becomes a strategic alliance, but as they pretend to be in love, genuine feelings begin to emerge, blurring the line between fiction and reality.
Lallan Sweets – Srishti Chaudhary
Lallan Sweets by Srishti Chaudhary is a heartwarming story of love, family, food, and adventure. Tara Taneja lives in the small town of Siyaka, where she runs a mathematics tuition centre and helps at her grandfather’s legendary sweets shop. When her childhood best friend and crush, Nikku Sabharwal, returns, old feelings are rekindled. Meanwhile, Tara and her cousins must compete in a quest to discover the secret magical ingredient behind Lallan Sweets’ famous laddoos and earn the right to inherit the shop. Their journey from Mathura to Ludhiana uncovers family secrets, challenges old legacies, and brings unexpected dangers, testing love, loyalty, and relationships.
