First House: a visceral story about the collapse of a ‘perfect’ life and the imagining of a new one

Avni Doshi's new novel, First House, begins where one woman's seemingly perfect marriage ends—and her identity unravels. According to The Conversation, the book takes its title from astrology's 'first house,' symbolizing self and identity, and follows the protagonist—herself an astrologer—as she rebuilds herself from scratch. The novel explores how cultural expectations and family trauma shape who we become, examining the paradox of a woman living a life she never truly wanted. Doshi's prose is described as visceral and haunting—ultimately a story about falling apart in order to discover who you really are.

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