Garlands & Second Chances book cover
Contemporary Indian-American Romance

Garlands & Second Chances

by Swara Shanbag

“She built a life without him. She just couldn't make it feel complete.”

847+ readers have already grabbed their free chapter

The Story

If you want the slow burn, the ache, and a grovel worth waiting for — start here.

Aarohi Mehta has built the life she always wanted — a research career in New York, an apartment full of plants, and the hard-won belief that she doesn't need anyone to complete her.

Then a summer homecoming to Bangalore puts her back in the orbit of the one person she was careful to leave behind. His offer: six weeks, exclusive, no feelings, no promises — just getting each other out of their systems before she flies back.

Her logic says yes. Her heart was never consulted.

And she's about to find out there's a very fine line between a man you're getting over and a man you can't get past.

What early readers are saying

“I started this at 10pm telling myself just one chapter. I finished at 3am. Viren broke my heart in the best possible way — the grovel had me putting my phone down and staring at the ceiling. This is the second chance romance I didn't know I needed.”

— Priya M.

“As someone who grew up between two cultures, Aarohi's story hit different. The way this book writes about belonging — to a city, to a person, to yourself — I've never felt so seen in a romance novel. The slow burn is exquisite.”

— Divya R.

“I've read hundreds of second chance romances. This one is different. Bangalore feels like a character itself and the writing is cinematic. That ending? I've already recommended this to every person I know.”

— Ananya S.

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A Note from Swara

Hi, I'm Swara.

I grew up in Bangalore. In my mid-twenties, I packed two suitcases and moved to New York, and have spent every year since trying to explain to my family why I can't just move back.

I write about women who chose ambition and still dream about the one they left behind — because I believe you were never meant to choose between them.

When I'm not writing, I'm debating whether New York bagels are worth giving up Bangalore filter coffee (jury's still out), rewatching comfort shows in two languages, and collecting bookmarks I never actually use.

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