After finishing The Henna Artist, I couldn't quite let go of the culture and dove directly into this novel about Punjabi Indian women in a London community. The question this book poses: Are all women (and their needs/desires) intrinsically similar no matter what their culture? Based on the stories these Punjabi women tell (some of which were quite eye opening), I'd say, yes, indeed. While I'm not even a big fan of romance novels and steamy scenes, I was endeared to these women and their desire to bust free of the walls and expectations encasing them.

(I'd also add that the "steamy scenes" are only a small piece of the novel, not the novel in and of itself. Don't let them keep you from reading this book. There is much more to the book than steam.)