The Things That We Lost, Jyoti Patel’s debut novel, was published earlier this month by Merky Books. The novel won the Merky Books New Writers’ Prize in 2021 and secured Jyoti its publication.
On their website, the Penguin imprint describe the novel as “a beautifully tender exploration of family, loss and the lengths to which we go to protect the ones we love.”
Author, Nikesh Shukla, calls it “An assured debut from a vital new voice. About family, grief and belonging, Patel weaves an intricate story that will stay with you.” While Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City and Miss Aldridge Regrets, says it is ‘Incredibly moving, this is an immersive novel focusing on grief but also love and relationships. I fell in love with Avani and Nik, characters so real I could hardly believe they’re fictional. Jyoti Patel is a hugely exciting new writer.”
Many congratulations to Jyoti on the publication and we wish the novel every success in finding lots of readers.
Jyoti Patel was shortlisted for the 2022 Bristol Short Story Prize for her story, Once. It is published in our Volume 15 anthology.