Set against the backdrop of a young girl's battle with grief and the rigor of athletic discipline, 'Western Lane' dives deep into the emotional journey of eleven-year-old Gopi. After the death of her mother, Gopi is immersed in the demanding world of squash by her father, a sport that both constrains and defines her life. Within the walls of the court, she grapples with the echoes of familial bonds, the presence of a gifted peer, and the shadow of players past. As she stands alone with her racket, she is nevertheless connected—to her father, to her enigmatic friend Ged, and to her sisters from whom she slowly drifts apart. Chetna Maroo's debut novel is a poignant eulogy to innocence and sisterhood, a delicate portrayal of coming to terms with oneself amidst the silent overtures of loss and ambition.