A Girl Within a Girl Within a Girl - by Nanda Reddy (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

An Apple Books Best Book of March
An Apple Books Favorite Debut for March
A National Bestseller
A Great Group Reads of 2025 from the Women's National Book Association

A girl takes on a series of identities to survive, shrouding herself in layers of secrets, until years later when she is forced to reckon with her past.

On an ordinary day in an upscale Atlanta suburb, Maya is making breakfast for her two sons, when her husband drops a letter on the counter and asks a devastating question: Who is Sunny?

As she frantically weighs the impact of the truth on her future, Maya relives the details of her childhood journey to America from Guyana--and the traumatic events that forced her to leave her past behind. Through the eyes of Maya's innocent and scared younger self, we discover the power of hope, empathy, and the possibility of beginning again.

Review Quotes

"A captivating debut from an exciting new voice in fiction, Reddy shares an eye-opening story of a woman haunted by the harrowing events of her past. Told with bold and beautifully layered prose, A Girl Within a Girl Within a Girl is a heart-wrenching and inspirational exploration of survival, resilience, and grit, reminding us to be tenacious when fighting for ourselves. Complex, compelling, and masterful, this book shines, teaches, and rewards."
--Diane Marie Brown, author of Black Candle Women

"A kaleidoscopic investigation of identity and its shaping forces, A Girl Within A Girl Within A Girl explores what happens when you're forced to confront the past you thought you left behind. A riveting story of one woman's journey to build and protect her life, Nanda Reddy's debut will hold you in its grasp until the final page."
--Alina Grabowski, author of Women and Children First

"A many layered musing on what identity truly means, A Girl Within A Girl Within A Girl peels back its complex, powerful heroine's folds with slow precision, revealing an explosive, shocking story that ultimately transforms into an ode to love."
--Nayantara Roy, author of The Magnificent Ruins

"An urgent and necessary novel. Set in the 1980s, Reddy's story of a young trafficking victim could just as easily have taken place today. As bighearted as it is heartbreaking, A Girl Within a Girl Within a Girl does not dwell in darkness. This is a story rich in empathy, riveting, and redemptive."
--Leyna Krow, author of Fire Season

"A devastating and tremendous debut. This artfully constructed story delivers suspense, terror, thrilling self-salvation and life-transforming moments of human compassion. It's about all the selves we try to shed, and how we must stitch ourselves whole, humble and powerful again. I can't remember the last time I was impacted so emotionally by a novel."
--Angela Mi Young Hur, author of Folklorn

"Propulsive and gripping, in A Girl Within A Girl Within A Girl Nanda Reddy has crafted a vivid account of a harrowing journey into womanhood. Reddy's dynamic narrative seamlessly weaves a coming-of-age tale with a turbulent and suspenseful account of migration. This edge-of-your-seat read packs quite a punch."
--Mai Sennaar, author of They Dream In Gold

"Too important and gripping to put down. A coming-of-age story that is at once shocking and necessary."
--Kirkus Reviews

"This debut is a beautiful, if sometimes harrowing exploration of one woman's journey, not only from one country to another but through the pain and trauma of unimaginable childhood abuse to a life built by her own grit and determination."
--Library Journal (starred review)

"Reddy's powerful debut novel intricately explores the meaning of identity, resilience, and the price of reinvention. Both heartbreaking and hopeful, this novel is a powerful testament to the human spirit's capacity for survival and reinvention."
--Booklist

"A harrowing tale of sacrifice, survival, and identity . . . Reddy's deeply affecting novel is not easily forgotten and will appeal to fans of writers such as Khaled Hosseini and Charmaine Wilkerson."
--Bookpage

"Reddy debuts with a powerful story of resilience and reinvention. [She] capably raises the stakes at every turn, giving readers ample reason to root for Maya by highlighting the desperation behind her ruthless self-reliance. This satisfies."
--Publishers Weekly

"This searing and unforgettable debut is a masterful exploration of identity, bravery, and facing trauma."
--Apple Books

"Nanda Reddy has written an imaginative and fascinating story of good triumphing over evil . . . A Girl Within a Girl Within a Girl is a stirring, thought-provoking book that will leave readers clamoring for more from Nanda Reddy."
--BookTrib

"A captivating debut from an exciting new voice in fiction, Reddy shares an eye-opening story of a woman haunted by the harrowing events of her past. Told with bold and beautifully layered prose, A Girl Within a Girl Within a Girl is a heart-wrenching and inspirational exploration of survival, resilience, and grit, reminding us to be tenacious when fighting for ourselves. Complex, compelling, and masterful, this book shines, teaches, and rewards."
--Diane Marie Brown, author of Black Candle Women

"A kaleidoscopic investigation of identity and its shaping forces, A Girl Within A Girl Within A Girl explores what happens when you're forced to confront the past you thought you left behind. A riveting story of one woman's journey to build and protect her life, Nanda Reddy's debut will hold you in its grasp until the final page."
--Alina Grabowski, author of Women and Children First

"A many layered musing on what identity truly means, A Girl Within A Girl Within A Girl peels back its complex, powerful heroine's folds with slow precision, revealing an explosive, shocking story that ultimately transforms into an ode to love."
--Nayantara Roy, author of The Magnificent Ruins

"An urgent and necessary novel. Set in the 1980s, Reddy's story of a young trafficking victim could just as easily have taken place today. As bighearted as it is heartbreaking, A Girl Within a Girl Within a Girl does not dwell in darkness. This is a story rich in empathy, riveting, and redemptive."
--Leyna Krow, author of Fire Season

"A devastating and tremendous debut. This artfully constructed story delivers suspense, terror, thrilling self-salvation and life-transforming moments of human compassion. It's about all the selves we try to shed, and how we must stitch ourselves whole, humble and powerful again. I can't remember the last time I was impacted so emotionally by a novel."
--Angela Mi Young Hur, author of Folklorn

"Propulsive and gripping, in A Girl Within A Girl Within A Girl Nanda Reddy has crafted a vivid account of a harrowing journey into womanhood. Reddy's dynamic narrative seamlessly weaves a coming-of-age tale with a turbulent and suspenseful account of migration. This edge-of-your-seat read packs quite a punch."
--Mai Sennaar, author of They Dream In Gold

"Too important and gripping to put down. A coming-of-age story that is at once shocking and necessary."
--Kirkus Reviews

"This debut is a beautiful, if sometimes harrowing exploration of one woman's journey, not only from one country to another but through the pain and trauma of unimaginable childhood abuse to a life built by her own grit and determination."
--Library Journal (starred review)

"Reddy's powerful debut novel intricately explores the meaning of identity, resilience, and the price of reinvention. Both heartbreaking and hopeful, this novel is a powerful testament to the human spirit's capacity for survival and reinvention."
--Booklist

"A harrowing tale of sacrifice, survival, and identity . . . Reddy's deeply affecting novel is not easily forgotten and will appeal to fans of writers such as Khaled Hosseini and Charmaine Wilkerson."
--Bookpage

"Reddy debuts with a powerful story of resilience and reinvention. [She] capably raises the stakes at every turn, giving readers ample reason to root for Maya by highlighting the desperation behind her ruthless self-reliance. This satisfies."
--Publishers Weekly

"This searing and unforgettable debut is a master

About the Author