--- product_id: 215875949 title: "The Henna Artist: A Reese's Book Club Pick – A NYT Bestselling Historical Fiction Story Set in India (The Jaipur Trilogy, 1)" price: "161.81 DT" currency: TND in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.tn/products/215875949-the-henna-artist-a-reeses-book-club-pick-a-nyt store_origin: TN region: Tunisia --- # Reese's Book Club Pick NYT Bestseller #18,231 Rank 38,460+ 4.5★ Reviews The Henna Artist: A Reese's Book Club Pick – A NYT Bestselling Historical Fiction Story Set in India (The Jaipur Trilogy, 1) **Price:** 161.81 DT **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 📖 Unlock the secrets of 1950s Jaipur—where tradition meets rebellion in a bestselling saga! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Henna Artist: A Reese's Book Club Pick – A NYT Bestselling Historical Fiction Story Set in India (The Jaipur Trilogy, 1) - **How much does it cost?** 161.81 DT with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tn](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/215875949-the-henna-artist-a-reeses-book-club-pick-a-nyt) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Rich Cultural Insight:** Explore India’s caste system, herbal medicine, and social dynamics through a compelling narrative. - • **Award-Winning Storytelling:** Chosen by Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club, a mark of cultural cachet and literary excellence. - • **Immersive Historical Fiction:** Step into 1950s Jaipur with vivid, authentic settings that blend tradition and modernity. - • **Empowering Female Protagonist:** Follow Lakshmi’s fierce journey of independence and resilience in a patriarchal society. - • **Bestseller with Massive Acclaim:** Join over 38,000 readers who rated this novel 4.5 stars, making it a must-read conversation starter. ## Overview The Henna Artist is a New York Times bestselling historical fiction novel and Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, set in 1950s Jaipur, India. It follows Lakshmi, a skilled henna artist and herbalist, as she escapes an abusive marriage to build an independent life among wealthy clients. The story offers a rich portrayal of cultural traditions, female empowerment, and social challenges, backed by over 38,000 glowing reviews and top rankings in cultural heritage and historical fiction. ## Description A NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK "Captivated me from the first chapter to the final page."—Reese Witherspoon Vivid and compelling in its portrait of one woman’s struggle for fulfillment in a society pivoting between the traditional and the modern, The Henna Artist opens a door into a world that is at once lush and fascinating, stark and cruel. Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist—and confidante—to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own… Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow—a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. Still she perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does. “Eloquent and moving…Joshi masterfully balances a yearning for self-discovery with the need for familial love.”— Publishers Weekly Look for the complete Jaipur Trilogy: Book 1: The Henna Artist Book 2: The Secret Keeper of Jaipur Book 3: The Perfumist of Paris Review: I've found a new favourite author! This book was GORGEOUS! - I've taken my time with reading this. It was so beautifully written, I felt like I was there. All the attention to detail, even the glossary at the back of the book gave a richer depth in getting to know Indian culture a little bit more. Ms Joshi is incredibly talented, each of her characters were well thought out and developed. This book isn't something to rush. It's more a rich treat to be savoured. Review: An imagined story of life in 1950s India - The Henna Artist is about a woman struggling for independence and voice. Lakshmi is the first-person storyteller who was an accomplished henna artist and herbalist. Her story takes place during the 1950s in India after the country had gained independence, but women were still property. It is not historical fiction but rather an imagined history. Lakshmi left her husband Hari since he beat her, primarily for not having children. Leaving her arranged marriage meant that she also left her family and hometown. She had to reinvent herself and establish contacts where she had lacked the network of relatives from her formative years. Lakshmi, meaning goddess of wealth, employed a young boy named Malik to help her obtain supplies and move her business around to her clients. Malik is an endearing character who matures as the plot develops and portrays to Lakshmi, whom he calls "Aunty Boss," how to use relationships to one's advantage without taking advantage of people. I loved how he interacted with clients, women of a higher class. Privileged women appreciated Lakshmi's talents in painting their hands, feet, and other body parts with artistic personalized henna designs. She also peddled herbal contraceptives; for that business, she had men who purchased her sachets for their mistresses. Additionally, Lakshmi provides fertility and abortion treatments. Her many wealthy clients provide enough income for a house but also put her in precarious predicaments. Complicating her life, Lakshmi discovers she has a thirteen-year-old sister that she hadn't known existed. Since she had fled her family in the disgrace of divorce, she had not known her mother had another child. Her sister Radha shows up courtesy of her estranged husband, and Lakshmi becomes the teenager's guardian and experiences all the angst and responsibility that raising an adolescent brings. Her Life becomes even more entangled and complex as she endeavors to continue her business and try her hand at matchmaking. Though the story is sometimes unrealistic, this talented author delves into bloodlines, power and powerlessness, and caste. There are also poignant running themes about reputation and gossip. Then there is much related to ambition, skill, responsibility, betrayal, and moral grounds. This author is a great storyteller; she made her characters come alive and created a page-turner with this novel. ## Features - Reese's Book Club Award ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #18,830 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #45 in Cultural Heritage Fiction #109 in Biographical Historical Fiction #121 in Women's Divorce Fiction | | Customer Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars 38,921 Reviews | ## Images ![The Henna Artist: A Reese's Book Club Pick – A NYT Bestselling Historical Fiction Story Set in India (The Jaipur Trilogy, 1) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81-p6SFCN6L.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Media Language, Media Format** options. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I've found a new favourite author! This book was GORGEOUS! *by T***G on September 5, 2026* I've taken my time with reading this. It was so beautifully written, I felt like I was there. All the attention to detail, even the glossary at the back of the book gave a richer depth in getting to know Indian culture a little bit more. Ms Joshi is incredibly talented, each of her characters were well thought out and developed. This book isn't something to rush. It's more a rich treat to be savoured. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ An imagined story of life in 1950s India *by L***L on November 22, 2022* The Henna Artist is about a woman struggling for independence and voice. Lakshmi is the first-person storyteller who was an accomplished henna artist and herbalist. Her story takes place during the 1950s in India after the country had gained independence, but women were still property. It is not historical fiction but rather an imagined history. Lakshmi left her husband Hari since he beat her, primarily for not having children. Leaving her arranged marriage meant that she also left her family and hometown. She had to reinvent herself and establish contacts where she had lacked the network of relatives from her formative years. Lakshmi, meaning goddess of wealth, employed a young boy named Malik to help her obtain supplies and move her business around to her clients. Malik is an endearing character who matures as the plot develops and portrays to Lakshmi, whom he calls "Aunty Boss," how to use relationships to one's advantage without taking advantage of people. I loved how he interacted with clients, women of a higher class. Privileged women appreciated Lakshmi's talents in painting their hands, feet, and other body parts with artistic personalized henna designs. She also peddled herbal contraceptives; for that business, she had men who purchased her sachets for their mistresses. Additionally, Lakshmi provides fertility and abortion treatments. Her many wealthy clients provide enough income for a house but also put her in precarious predicaments. Complicating her life, Lakshmi discovers she has a thirteen-year-old sister that she hadn't known existed. Since she had fled her family in the disgrace of divorce, she had not known her mother had another child. Her sister Radha shows up courtesy of her estranged husband, and Lakshmi becomes the teenager's guardian and experiences all the angst and responsibility that raising an adolescent brings. Her Life becomes even more entangled and complex as she endeavors to continue her business and try her hand at matchmaking. Though the story is sometimes unrealistic, this talented author delves into bloodlines, power and powerlessness, and caste. There are also poignant running themes about reputation and gossip. Then there is much related to ambition, skill, responsibility, betrayal, and moral grounds. This author is a great storyteller; she made her characters come alive and created a page-turner with this novel. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Give me a minute to process *by B***W on February 23, 2021* I’m still reeling from this book and I’m having to pause and really reflect. I really enjoyed the historical fiction of the book. The author is very descriptive and takes you back to India in the 1930s-1950s. You get a glimpse of the caste society, the country and lay of the land, religions, traditions on discriminations. It was so well written, I could not put this book down. Warning: You may be up all hours of the night and not a productive member of society because you will be sucked into the book. Lakshmi is portrayed as a strong woman who was married off at the age of 15 according to custom. She was paired with an abusive man both physically and mentally and was ill prepared to care for a family. Lakshmi escapes and runs away from the marriage and brings shame to her family. For over a decade, she has built a thriving business with the elite in Jaipur as the Henna Artist. She also has a thriving business that tends to be hushed as medicine woman. Through her hard work, she tries to build a better life for herself, a Dream home for her family so that she can one day be reunited with them. All of this unravels when her husband finds her and delivers a 13 year old sister left behind in their village who has been scorned and forced to leave. While she continues to try to build her dreams, she is thrown into a scandal that could ruin all she’s worked for, cast her from good standing with the elite to a cast off. She works through these twist and turns life throws at her to discover those her are true to her and how she needs to be true to herself. The ending will give you so many mixed emotions. **Trigger warning: domestic abuse, sexual content, questionable medical practices including abortion. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.tn/products/215875949-the-henna-artist-a-reeses-book-club-pick-a-nyt](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/215875949-the-henna-artist-a-reeses-book-club-pick-a-nyt) --- *Product available on Desertcart Tunisia* *Store origin: TN* *Last updated: 2026-10-20*