'Patel has embraced her inner Jane Austen for this tale, which tackles the social mores of the wider Indian diaspora living in the UAE.' Crack

'A darkly funny tale about the Indian diaspora' Avni Doshi, Booker Prize-shortlisted author of Burnt Sugar

Lina never wanted children, but now there are two lines on the test. Where does she go from here?

Lina Solanki is pregnant and newly orphaned, living with her in-laws in their opulent Dubai villa. While her husband fails to make concrete plans to find their own place and tensions in their marriage grow, Lina's boisterous mother-in-law interferes with every aspect of the pregnancy. Then, when proof of a horrifying family secret arrives from Mumbai, Lina realises that she has a choice when it comes to her baby, her marriage and her place in the world - but is it a choice she wants to make?

A bittersweet yet life-affirming debut revealing the intricacies of family life behind closed doors, Shape of an Apostrophe is a taboo-breaking exploration of motherhood, obedience, rebellion and the surprising persistence of love.