Desirable Daughters (2002) is the first in a trilogy of novels by Bharati Mukherjee which includes The Tree Bride (2004), followed by Miss New India (2011).

[1][2][3][4][5] The novel is told from the point of view of the protagonist, Tara Bhattacharjee, the youngest of three desirable Bengali sisters.

The three hail from a prosperous and urbane Calcutta family and are "raised according to the genteel social conventions and hallowed domestic traditions of India.

In contrast, the oldest sister, Padma, has become the perfect representative of the expatriate, ardently retaining her Indian identity in New Jersey.

Parvati, the middle sister, has stayed in India and leads an affluent family lifestyle.