The Newlyweds

A stunning piece of reportage, examining modern India through the stories of three couples who defy their families to be together — across faith, caste and tradition.

What would you risk for love?

Twenty-first century India is a culture on fast forward, a society which is changing at breakneck speed, where two out of every three people are under the age of thirty-five.These young men and women grew up with the internet, smartphones and social media.But when it comes to love, the weight of thousands of years of tradition cannot so easily be set aside.

An extraordinary work of reportage, The Newlyweds is a portrait of modern India told through the stories of three young couples, who defy their families to pursue love. The lesbian couple forced to flee for a chance at a life together. The Hindu woman and Muslim man who must escape under the cover of night after being harassed by a violent mob.And the couple from different castes who know the terrible risk they run by marrying.

Written with great insight and humanity, Mansi Choksi examines the true cost of modern love in an ancient culture. It is a book that will change the way readers think about love, freedom and hope.

'Much like Lisa Taddeo's Three Women, it reads more like a novel than a piece of non-fiction. It's pacy, vivid and rich in detail ... A staggeringly good work of literary journalism' — The Times

'Essential reading for anyone seeking to understand youth in India today — or for anyone who believes in the galactic powers of love to change history, personal and political' — Suketu Mehta, author of Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found

ISBN: 9781785789069 | Published: 29 November 2022 | Hardback | pages