‘Moms’ is a searing and deeply unsettling novel by Shivani Sibal
Jaipur: HarperCollins India has announced the publication of Moms, a new novel by Delhi-based author Shivani Sibal. The hardback fiction title, priced at ₹499, was released on 12 September 2026 and is available wherever books are sold.
Set against the polished world of Delhi’s privileged social circles, Moms follows Radhika Khanna, a woman whose seemingly perfect family life and carefully maintained social image begin to unravel following a confrontation at her daughter’s elite school.
Radhika’s carefully constructed world—built around neighbourhood friendships, social gatherings, curated social-media posts and an appearance of effortless perfection—starts showing cracks. As gala weekends and themed dinners lead towards a spectacular destination party in Rajasthan, she is compelled to confront the emotional and personal cost of maintaining an idealised version of her life.
At its heart, Moms explores motherhood, marriage, social expectations, privilege and the distance between how life appears from the outside and how it feels within.
Speaking about the novel, Shivani Sibal says that the book examines the increasingly performative nature of contemporary life and the pressure to present an image of perfection. She describes Moms as a story about modern motherhood, marriage, social expectations and “the price of that perfection,” hoping it will resonate with readers who have felt the pressure to make life appear effortless and wished to be seen more completely.
Rashmi Menon, Publisher – Harper Fiction, describes Sibal’s writing as sharply observant and empathetic, highlighting the novel’s exploration of modern motherhood and marriage. According to Menon, Moms examines the performance of the “perfect” life and the cost of sustaining it, while exploring themes of privilege, control and the desire to be truly seen.
The novel has also received praise from Banu Mushtaq, International Booker Prize-winning author of Heart Lamp, who describes Moms as a searing and unsettling novel that examines privilege, power and respectability with emotional force.
About the Author
Shivani Sibal is a Delhi-based author. Her debut novel, Equations, was launched in July 2021 and received reviews in publications including The Hindustan Times, The Times of India, The Hindu, The New Indian Express, The Asian Age, Scroll and Open Magazine.
With Moms, Sibal turns her attention to the complexities of contemporary motherhood, marriage and social identity, presenting a story that examines the gap between outward appearances and inner realities.
Book Details
Title: Moms
Author: Shivani Sibal
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Format: Hardback | Fiction
Price: ₹499
Release Date: 12 September 2026
Availability: Wherever books are sold
