The most interesting book-fair discoveries are often the titles that were not on the original shopping list. This second reading guide presents 15 different books at Ahmedabad International Book Festival 2026, moving beyond the earlier selection to explore social fiction, mystery, Hindi literature, short stories, poetry and practical nonfiction.
None of the recommendations below repeats a title from the previous Ahmedabad book guide. Every book has been selected from Anecdote Publishing House’s verified catalogue, with its product page, author, genre, description and original cover image checked before inclusion.
Anecdote has confirmed that its complete catalogue will be available at the festival. The current National Book Trust, India fair listing schedules the event from 24 October to 1 November 2026 and lists public hours of 11 am to 8 pm; an Amdavad Municipal Corporation announcement identifies the venue as the Riverfront Event Centre near Tagore Hall, Paldi.
Books at Ahmedabad International Book Festival 2026 by Reading Interest
| Reading interest | Books to explore |
| Women, identity and professional life | Have The Women Left Venus?, Kuroopa, A Mother by the Window |
| Society, prejudice and human relationships | A Gutterful Life, Anmol |
| Ideas, conviction and personal courage | Arvind, A Dragonfly’s Purpose |
| Mystery, suspense and supernatural fiction | The Girl In The Coffee House, The Reunion, Chandratal |
| Poetry, prose and short stories | In Search, Brink, Newfound Amazing Adventure |
| Information and digital-life nonfiction | From Chaos To Clarity, The Consequences Of Social Media Use Amongst Uniersity School Students |
This table is a starting point rather than a ranking. Readers should use the descriptions below to decide which themes and forms best match their interests.
Women, Work and the Search for an Independent Identity
1. Have The Women Left Venus? by Geet Mala Jalota
Cover: Have The Women Left Venus? by Geet Mala Jalota.
Catalogue genre: Nonfiction
This practical book examines the unspoken rules, biases and expectations that professionally qualified and financially ambitious women may encounter at work. It is particularly concerned with first-generation earners and women returning to professional life.
Readers looking for candid workplace guidance rather than broad motivational statements may appreciate it. The book may also support discussions about career progression, organisational culture and the gender dynamics that remain difficult to address openly.
2. Kuroopa by Kapil Raj
Cover: Kuroopa by Kapil Raj.
Catalogue genre: Fiction
Meera grows up being compared with her fair, blue-eyed sister and repeatedly made to feel inadequate because of her complexion. The novel follows the damage caused by such comparisons and her movement towards self-acceptance.
This book may interest readers seeking socially conscious fiction about colourism, beauty standards and identity. It could also provide a useful starting point for reading-group conversations about how prejudice becomes embedded in ordinary family and community language.
3. A Mother by the Window by Kapil Raj
Cover: A Mother by the Window by Kapil Raj.
Catalogue genre: Fiction
Neetu is a devoted housewife who has spent years living within expectations created by her family and society. Her wish to become a social-media influencer introduces a conflict between responsibility, ambition and the desire to build an identity of her own.
Readers interested in domestic life, women’s aspirations and the emotional cost of constant self-sacrifice may appreciate this novel. Its focus is not simply social media, but what the platform represents for someone whose world has long been restricted.
Society, Community and Relationships Under Pressure
4. A Gutterful Life by Kapil Raj
Cover: A Gutterful Life by Kapil Raj.
Catalogue genre: Fiction
Hindu and Muslim families live on opposite sides of a city gutter, where friendships and shared ambitions grow across religious lines. Those relationships are placed under pressure when communal politics and propaganda begin changing the atmosphere around them.
This may suit readers who want fiction about ordinary lives affected by larger social forces. The central question is whether friendship and human decency can survive when division is deliberately encouraged.
5. Anmol by Devi Raghuvanshi
Cover: Anmol by Devi Raghuvanshi.
Catalogue genre: Fiction
Kiran challenges the expectations of her patriarchal environment and becomes a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Her relationship with army officer Abhimanyu develops into a story about love, fate, personal strength and sacrifice.
Readers drawn to emotional fiction with a resilient central character may appreciate Anmol. It may also suit those who prefer intimate human drama shaped by wider expectations around gender, marriage and achievement.
Courage, Conviction and Recovery
6. Arvind by Devi Raghuvanshi
Cover: Arvind by Devi Raghuvanshi.
Catalogue genre: Fiction
Arvind believes that nuclear energy should be used to heal and support peaceful development rather than destruction. His conviction places him against people who want to turn his knowledge into a weapon, making the defence of an idea a personal struggle for survival.
This may appeal to readers interested in science, ethics and fiction about moral courage. The novel asks what happens when professional knowledge becomes valuable to forces whose intentions directly conflict with its creator’s principles.
7. A Dragonfly’s Purpose by Dr. Sujata Sharma
Cover: A Dragonfly’s Purpose by Dr. Sujata Sharma.
Catalogue genre: Fiction
A seemingly minor physical symptom begins a period in which a confident professor can no longer rely upon her own body. The narrative moves through illness, fear, loss and vulnerability towards resilience, humour and rediscovery.
Readers seeking a personal story about healing and rebuilding life after disruption may value this book. Its scientific and academic background adds context, but the emotional centre remains the experience of losing certainty and finding purpose again.
Mystery, Suspense and Encounters with the Unexplained
8. The Girl In The Coffee House by Sirjandeep Kaur Ubha
Cover: The Girl In The Coffee House by Sirjandeep Kaur Ubha.
Catalogue genres: Fiction and Mystery Thriller
Riya comes to Delhi hoping to begin again, but a quiet coffee house, two curious brothers and a charming stranger draw her into buried secrets and incomplete explanations. Familiar people begin disappearing, while those around her appear to know more than they admit.
This may appeal to readers who prefer atmospheric mysteries built around silence, withheld information and uncertain identities. It offers suspense without requiring the article to reveal the central solution.
9. The Reunion by Anas Kamal
Cover: The Reunion by Anas Kamal.
Catalogue genre: Fiction
Five friends meet again at a ten-year school reunion, expecting nostalgia and familiar companionship. Instead, ghosts, unnatural creatures and a final confrontation with the devil transform the gathering into a supernatural nightmare.
Readers who enjoy horror mixed with crime and friendship may find this a strong departure from realistic contemporary fiction. It may particularly interest those who like familiar social situations gradually becoming threatening and strange.
10. Chandratal by Punit Pundir
Cover: Chandratal by Punit Pundir.
Catalogue genre: Hindi Upanyas
A smuggler who feels no guilt about his work reaches the mysterious Chandratal lake after an accident. The experiences that follow force him to confront physical laws, questions about reality and his own place in the universe.
This Hindi novel may interest readers who enjoy suspense blended with philosophical and metaphysical questions. The Himalayan lake setting also gives the story a strong sense of place without turning it into a straightforward travel narrative.
Poetry, Prose and Shorter Forms
11. In Search by Ruchi Sharma Kapoor
Cover: In Search by Ruchi Sharma Kapoor.
Catalogue genre: Poetry
In Search combines prose and poetry to explore vulnerability, courage, pain, joy, confusion and acceptance. The collection invites readers to consider their own emotional journeys rather than follow a conventional plot.
It may suit readers who appreciate reflective writing that can be read slowly and revisited. Those seeking a book about inner exploration and the movement towards peace may find its mixed form especially approachable.
12. Brink by Bhaswar Mukharjee
Cover: Brink by Bhaswar Mukharjee.
Catalogue genre: Short Stories
This collection contains 13 stories examining different meanings of death, including release, love, vengeance, truth and transformation. Mortality is treated not only as an ending, but as a way of revealing how the characters have lived.
Readers who prefer concentrated narratives and thematic variety may appreciate Brink. Its format also makes it suitable for book clubs that want to discuss one story at a time rather than complete a full novel between meetings.
13. Newfound Amazing Adventure by Dr. Susmita Gupta
Cover: Newfound Amazing Adventure by Dr. Susmita Gupta.
Catalogue genre: Fiction
The book brings together 26 stories connected by happiness, kindness, affection and hope. Its structure offers multiple narrative beginnings rather than a single long plot.
This may appeal to readers looking for uplifting fiction or a book that can be read in shorter sittings. It may also work as a gift for someone who prefers varied stories over one continuous narrative.
Nonfiction for Information and Digital-Life Questions
14. From Chaos To Clarity by Dr. Deepak Kumar Shrivastava
Cover: From Chaos To Clarity by Dr. Deepak Kumar Shrivastava.
Catalogue genre: Nonfiction
This practical guide addresses the challenge of organising, filtering and using information in an environment of constant data. Its purpose is to help readers reduce information overload, make clearer decisions and create more reliable systems for personal or professional work.
It may suit professionals, students and researchers who regularly manage large quantities of material. Readers looking for methods and frameworks rather than a general motivational book are the most natural audience.
15. The Consequences Of Social Media Use Amongst Uniersity School Students by Dr. Deepak Kumar Shrivastava
Cover: The Consequences Of Social Media Use Amongst Uniersity School Students by Dr. Deepak Kumar Shrivastava.
Catalogue genre: Nonfiction
This academic work examines social-media use through mental health, addiction, cyberbullying, academic performance, social relationships and ethical questions. Its focus is on the consequences of digital platforms for university and school students.
The book may interest educators, researchers, parents and students seeking a structured treatment of the subject. It is a more appropriate choice for research-led reading than for someone seeking a light introduction to social media.
How to Choose from These 15 Different Books
Begin with the kind of reading experience you want, not the number of titles you hope to buy. A mystery, a reflective poetry-and-prose collection and a research-led nonfiction book require different levels of attention and create very different reading rhythms.
For a varied selection, consider choosing one plot-driven book, one socially engaged work and one title in a different form or language. A reader might combine The Girl In The Coffee House, Have The Women Left Venus? and Chandratal, for example, without purchasing three books that serve the same mood.
Before attending, explore the complete Anecdote catalogue and its genre pages. The Anecdote authors page can provide further context about the different professional and creative backgrounds represented in the catalogue.
Brief Festival and Anecdote Update
Public entry arrangements for the 2026 festival have not yet been confirmed on the current NBT listing. Search results may also surface news coverage of the 2025 edition; its dates, activities and facilities should not be treated as current.
The Anecdote stall number has not yet been confirmed. Author meetings, book signings and reading sessions are being planned, but participating authors, dates, timings, approved venues and registration requirements will be announced separately once finalised. Check Anecdote News and Events close to the festival.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do any of these 15 books repeat the earlier Ahmedabad book guide?
No. This selection was created specifically to extend the earlier article with different catalogue titles. The purpose is to give returning readers a fresh list rather than rearrange recommendations they have already seen.
2. Will all 15 books be available at Ahmedabad International Book Festival 2026?
Anecdote has confirmed that its complete catalogue will be available at the fair. Availability of an individual physical edition may still change during the event, so readers should check stock at the stall.
3. Which books address women’s experiences?
Have The Women Left Venus? focuses on professional life, while Kuroopa examines colourism and self-worth. A Mother by the Window explores domestic expectations and a woman’s wish to build an independent identity.
4. Which title is suitable for mystery readers?
The Girl In The Coffee House is catalogued as fiction and mystery thriller. Readers who want supernatural suspense rather than a conventional mystery may prefer The Reunion or the philosophical Hindi novel Chandratal.
5. Does the list include a Hindi book?
Yes. Chandratal by Punit Pundir is catalogued as a Hindi Upanyas. It blends a Himalayan setting and suspense with questions about reality and existence.
6. Which books may work for a reading group?
A Gutterful Life, Kuroopa and Have The Women Left Venus? raise clear social questions that can support discussion. Brink is also useful for groups that prefer to discuss individual short stories.
7. Is there a poetry collection in this guide?
In Search by Ruchi Sharma Kapoor combines poetry and prose. It may suit readers interested in vulnerability, courage, acceptance and reflective inner journeys.
8. Which book is best for shorter reading sessions?
Newfound Amazing Adventure contains 26 stories, while Brink contains 13 short stories. Both allow readers to complete an individual piece without following one continuous novel-length plot.
9. Which titles address technology or digital life?
From Chaos To Clarity deals with information organisation and overload. The Consequences Of Social Media Use Amongst Uniersity School Students examines the psychological, academic, social and ethical effects of social platforms.
10. Are any age recommendations being made for these books?
No unverified age ranges have been assigned. Parents, guardians, educators and readers should examine the official description and physical edition before deciding whether a title is suitable.
11. Are the cover images original?
Yes. Every image uses the original cover URL currently published on the corresponding Anecdote product page. No cover has been redrawn, recoloured, cropped or replaced.
12. Where can visitors find Anecdote’s stall and activity updates?
The final stall location and activity information should be checked on Anecdote’s News and Events page. Readers should wait for confirmed announcements rather than relying on assumed schedules or older fair posts.
Continue Beyond the Familiar Shortlist
A second book-fair guide should reveal a different part of the catalogue. These 15 titles give readers routes into workplace questions, social identity, mystery, resilience, Hindi fiction, poetry, short stories and digital-life research without repeating the earlier Ahmedabad recommendations.
Review the full Anecdote catalogue before the festival, choose a few contrasting possibilities and compare the physical editions at the fair. A shortlist built around varied reading experiences is more useful than a longer list of similar books.