A House for Happy Mothers: A Novel

Priya and her husband are wealthy and happy, but unable to have a child of her own. Desperate, Priya turns to a surrogacy center in India, where women like Asha can rent out their bodies in order to better the lives of themselves and their families. There is much disagreement between the two, but as the months pass and Priya’s baby grows, Asha slowly learns to trust Priya’s motives. They’ll never be friends, but the two can definitely help one another out.

A House for Happy Mothers delves into the growing phenomenon of surrogacy, specifically surrogacy in foreign countries. The perspective alternates between Priya and Asha, each of which faces a myriad of other issues in their day-to-day life alongside the emotional upheaval of a surrogate pregnancy. Author Amulya Malladi does a fantastic job getting into the minds of each woman, Priya’s inadequacy and fears and Asha’s bitterness and longing. Readers will get a sense of what the process feels like along with an idea of some of the reasons why women may choose to undergo the process. This well-written novel will leave readers wondering about what the future holds for each woman.