The Wedding - by Gurjinder Basran (Paperback)

About the Book

"You re invited to The Wedding, an electrifying novel about the joining of two South Asian families, and the secrets, resentments, and unspoken truths boiling just beneath the surface. Interweaving themes of identity, culture clashes, and the immigrant experience as found in The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri with the exuberance and sharp humour of Kevin Kwan s Crazy Rich Asians, Gurjinder Basran delivers a wide-ranging but intimate portrait of a vibrant, complex Sikh community. Set in Vancouver and Surrey, BC, The Wedding exposes the inner lives of the wedding party, guests and event staff, in the lead-up to a lavish wedding. This novel, centered around the impending marriage of Devi and Baby, illustrates the union of two people, two families and all the ways in which an entire community bears witness, ensnares and uplifts itself. Like all great Bollywood films, The Wedding is rife with family drama, steeped in tradition and an ode to love in all its forms. With humour, nuance and honesty, The Wedding spills the chai exploring desire and expectation, suffering and judgment, class and race all in search of a happy enough ever after"--

Book Synopsis

A KIRKUS REVIEWS 'BEST BOOKS OF 2025'

You're invited to The Wedding, an electrifying novel about the joining of two South Asian families, and the secrets, resentments, and unspoken truths boiling just beneath the surface.

Interweaving themes of identity, culture clashes, and the immigrant experience as found in The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri with the exuberance and sharp humor of Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians, Gurjinder Basran delivers a wide-ranging but intimate portrait of a vibrant, complex Sikh community.

Set in Vancouver, The Wedding exposes the inner lives of the wedding party, guests and event staff in the lead-up to a lavish wedding. This novel, centered around the impending marriage of Devi and Baby, illustrates the union of two people, two families and all the ways in which an entire community bears witness, ensnares and uplifts itself.

Like all great Bollywood films, The Wedding is rife with family drama, steeped in tradition and an ode to love in all its forms. With humor, nuance and honesty, The Wedding spills the chai--exploring desire and expectation, suffering and judgment, class and race--all in search of a happy enough ever after.

Review Quotes

"Basran writes with vivid eloquence. . . . [her] skillful interweaving of themes and connected backstories makes for a compelling narrative. . . . A warmhearted, entertaining, and recognizable family saga." --Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW

"With humor and honesty, The Wedding pulls back the curtain on a milestone event that comes with enough drama to make any Bollywood director happy." --The Vancouver Sun

"Basran delivers a wide-ranging but intimate portrait of a vibrant, complex community, and a family drama steeped in tradition." --Desi News

"The Wedding invites readers behind the scenes of your not-so-typical Indian wedding: sometimes delightful, sometimes salacious and always fraught with familial intrigue. A richly textured, wonderfully imagined novel...Gurjinder Basran offers an astute insight into the human psyche and an intimate look at the intricacies of love and family. This, and her beautiful, whip-smart prose make this a highly engrossing and un-put-down-able read. I loved every minute of it." --Ayelet Tsabari, author of Songs for the Brokenhearted