The Things That We Lost

AN OBSERVER BEST DEBUT NOVEL OF 2023

WINNER OF THE 2021 #MERKY BOOKS NEW WRITERS' PRIZE

'Secrets spill and relationships sour, sacrifices are made and promises are broken, as plot twists propel the narrative forward to a dramatic finale.'- The Guardian

'An assured debut from a vital new voice. About family, grief and belonging, Patel weaves an intricate story that will stay with you.' - Nikesh Shukla, author of Brown Baby and The Good Immigrant

Nik has lots of questions about his late father but knows better than to ask his mother, Avani. It's their unspoken rule.

When his grandfather dies, Nik has the opportunity to learn about the man he never met. Armed with a key and new knowledge about his parents' past, Nik sets out to unlock the secrets that his mother has been holding onto his whole life.

As the carefully crafted portrait Avani has painted for her son begins to crack, and painful truths emerge, can the two of them find their way back to each other?

The Things That We Lost is a beautifully tender exploration of family, loss and the lengths to which we go to protect the ones we love.


'Brilliant.' - Candice Brathwaite, author of I Am Not Your Baby Mother and Sista Sister

'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.' - Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City and Miss Aldridge Regrets

'A thoughtful meditation on family, grief and the lengths we'll go to protect the ones we love.' - Good Housekeeping

'A deftly assured debut novel about a fractured family and how words left unspoken can be more devastating than the truth.' - Red Magazine

'One of the best books I've read this year.' - gal-dem