National Network for Equitable Library Service

The Desirable Sister uses the framework of "colourism" to expose the circumstances of two sisters who are born into the same family with two different skin tones: one with skin fair enough she passes for white, the other with skin dark enough that she is instantly labelled as Indian, and contextualizes how the women view themselves, each other, and are viewed by society. The novel starts by following Kasim Pirji, an Indian immigrant arriving to Canada in the 1970s. Later we later meet his daughters - one of which is granted immediate acceptance into Canadian society. When the sisters meet a cast of characters, including a womanizing son of a trophy hunter, an alcoholic aunt, and an uncle that is madly in love with a Thai lady boy, they slowly uncover things are not always as they seem. Gia learns it is not charming to be desired above all else, while Serena experiences a deep disloyalty. It takes a horrific tragedy to reconnect the sisters. Written for audiences that can relate to the bitter games of treachery women are forced to play to achieve ranks of beauty and success, The Desirable Sister demonstrates that love in sisterhood is not yet lost.