praise for ALL OUR EVENINGS

"Rao’s novel has all the makings of a twisty, slow-burn thriller whose careful structure is a marvel... Rao’s deft plot has much to say about the tragic consequences of desire, whether for social class, power, or love. Donna Tartt fans looking for dark erudition should pick up Rao’s novel."
—Kirkus

"Rao is a master at tinting the everyday with shades of darkness, made more impactful by the sheer and shocking callousness of some characters…With expert pacing, this knockout story explores the thinnest of seams between love and cruelty and the shocking depths one can sink to and unknowingly smother the people we supposedly hold dear."
—Booklist (starred review)

"The novel is highly immersive, rich with contextual detail even as it remains short enough to easily consume in just a couple of sittings... All Our Evenings is perfect for those who seek out novels that are subtly intense, dark and emotionally layered, brimming with literary creativity at every twist and turn."
—BookPage

"Even in a short format, Rao succeeds at dispensing elements of the plot’s big reveal throughout. This is a taut story of intersecting lives. Recommended for readers of books such as Richard Ali A Mutu’s Mr. Fix-It and those who enjoy short, international fiction focused on character studies."

—Library Journal

"All Our Evenings is a triumph of storytelling—a deeply affecting, atmospheric, haunting novel that explores the destructive nature of passionate love and the long shadows cast by our most emotional choices. Rao’s prose is both lyrical and sharp, skillfully navigating the complexities of class, desire, and the secrets that refuse to stay buried. I can't stop thinking about Arjun, Ruhee, Ganesh, and their families, and how our attempts to love on another are often as imperfect as we are. This stunning book resonated within me for days after."
—Lillian Li, author of Bad Asians

"All Our Evenings is delightfully subversive, with a Patricia Highsmith-esque spin on violence. I was completely enthralled and unable to put it down. Ruthvika Rao captures the period and its social dynamics with such care the novel becomes a mirror for one’s own memories. The prose is measured and luminous, and the final movement delivers a twist that’s as stunning as it is satisfying."
—Nishanth Injam, author of The Best Possible Experience

"The past haunts the present mercilessly in Ruthvika Rao's spellbinding novel that probes the hidden depths of dark human emotions."
—Ledia Xhoga, author of Misinterpretation, longlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize

"All Our Evenings is an interrogation of identity, class, and the long shadows of the past told with effortless brilliance. This is a gorgeous and thrilling book."
—Vincent Yu, author of Seek Immediate Shelter, winner of Barnes & Noble's 2026 Discover Prize

praise for the fertile earth

"A dazzling debut… The novel is grand in the way that the Indian epics are grand. It is plot-packed, emotionally extravagant, dramatically intense, and populated with a memorable cast who breathe fresh urgency into the everyday stakes of love, friendship, pride, duty and dignity. The writing, moreover, soars… Such is the unique power and enchantment of this novel that seems destined to be a future classic." ―The Guardian

"The relationship between the four characters is the heart of the book, but the village of Irumi, its inhabitants and the tensions between them are also important in this epic, ambitious debut." ―The Times

"An epic social novel that movingly weaves the political and personal." ―Daily Mail

"Reading The Fertile Earth it's clear that Rao is not only a sophisticated storyteller but an impressive prose stylist—her sentences sing. This is a novel you will not be able to forget." —Angela Flournoy, author of The Turner House, finalist for the National Book Award

"From its unforgettable opening pages, The Fertile Earth held me spellbound. At its heart is a transgressive love story that dares to bloom in a world of caste-based violence, vengeance, and political transformation. Ruthvika Rao is a fearless writer, and her debut is nothing short of dazzling." —Tania James, author of Loot, longlisted for the National Book Award

Ruthvika Rao is a formidable writer, her gorgeous, finely calibrated prose boldly takes on the terrors humans can inflict on one another while remaining attuned to the delicate frequencies of improbable, inevitable love. —Aube Ray Lescure, author of River East, River West, finalist for the Women’s Prize for fiction.