A heartwarming read which deals with the struggles that people go through with mental health issues, alcoholism and family and relationship struggles. It was also very refreshing to read about a woman who doesn’t want children, I feel that we are vastly unrepresented.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The most beautiful book!

A fiction debut about the difficult relationship a parent can have with their child and how a parents sibling steps in and helps. This is a book of hope and how things happen for a reason for the better!

Reading this novel is like buying a house: you know the minute you step through the front door when a house is the one you have to buy. I knew within a couple of paragraphs that this was going to be one of my favourites of this year. I was immediately captivated by the main character and more importantly, by the author's incredibly insightful writing.

The characters grab you from the beginning; they all have a story, a focus, an aim, a grief, a pain, a trouble, a dream. You become immersed in them all and you root for them all. It's funny, witty, sad and moving…all at the same time. An author who can do all that is an exceptionally talented one.

I read a quote about this book that said, 'I will read anything Poorna Bell writes' (Taylor Jenkins Reid). I did something I very rarely do: no sooner had I reached The End, I immediately bought another book by this marvellous writer. I think I too will be reading anything she writes.

This Is Fine is just perfection. A book that captured me from the beginning and didn't let go until the last beautiful word.

Padma is fine. I mean she has no job, and her long term partner has issued her with an ultimatum and she's basically homeless temporarily. But you know, she's fine.

It's only when her sister Daisy asks her to spend the summer with her niece Myra, that Padma discovers how not fine she was.

This Is Fine explores the meaning of family, childhood trauma, alcoholism, bullying and mental health. And whilst it feels wholly authentic, it's never wholly heavy either. Hope runs through every part of this book. Padma, Daisy and Myra show us how daring to be vulnerable and open reaps so many rewards in the form of true and deep connections.

I immediately want to read This Is Fine all over again, it's an absolute gem.

this was such a feel good book, I read this in one sitting and had no regrets!

Its a great read that I would recommend if you need something light and fun

I loved this book, the plot and characters were great.
I smashed through 43% in one sitting

I really enjoyed getting to know the seaside town and the relationships she built. Especially with her niece.
I loved Selena and Little café vibes the beach vibes

Things I really enjoyed and getting to know about more:
Mental health
Cooking south Asian
Family relationships
Loved the auntie dynamic

Favourite line that is so powerful:
“That darkness it passes. Just hold on until it does.”

Easy reading, a sweet story, no big surprises but perfectly comforting nonetheless. I appreciated the opportunity to learn about South Asian cultures, and the key issues of mental health, addiction and racism were handled well and sensitively.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc of this book!

Parma and Wallace have spent ten years building a relationship that feels…. fine. Until Wallace gives Padma an ultimatum about wanting to start a family that Padma isn’t even sure she wants! Myra, Padma’s 15 year old niece, is also reaching her own crisis point and she soon falls into the wrong crowd. This is the final straw for her parents and Padma will now spend the summer with her niece on the Kent clifftops. How will this pan out when she never used to see her niece this much before? Will it be a well deserved break for her and Wallace?

Adored this book! This was such a funny, heartwarming book that deals with real life family problems, relationship issues and mental health worries that we’ve all had to deal with at some point in our lives. It is real, honest and raw and that’s what I really loved about it. Poorna has such a lovely writing style that is easy to read and get lost in the story before you realise how much you’ve even got through! There’s a lot of female empowerment and strength which I also adored.

Definitely recommend this book!

This beautifully written story delves into themes of women’s empowerment, family, and culture, with a mix of powerful, thought-provoking moments and lighthearted humor that made me chuckle throughout. The author's witty style adds warmth to the narrative, making the serious topics more approachable.

The book offers great representation of mental health, particularly depression, showing its impact not just on individuals but also on their families and friends. It also touches on sensitive issues like alcoholism.

As a 28-year-old woman unsure about having children, I appreciated how the story highlights that it's okay for women to choose not to have children. The book challenges societal pressures and affirms that women have the right to make their own choices about motherhood.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I fell in love with this book a bit as I was reading. It's an empathetic and realistic exploration of the complexity of womanhood, while also dealing with issues of alcohol abuse, child neglect and relationships. The topic of whether or not to have children is such a delicate one and Bell handles it perfectly in this context. The narrative is simple but with excerpts of lyricism, and I identified with every single character.

Given an ultimatum by her long-term partner and asked to move out of their shared home, Padma moves to a seaside town in Kent to look after her troubled teenage niece. Although the situation the characters find themselves in feels a little forced, the story tackles some serious themes with insight and sensitivity. After a slow start, the story gains momentum with the development of the relationship between Myra and Padma, and with Padma coming to terms with her relationship with Wallace.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

When Padma tells her long-term boyfriend Wallace that she doesn't want children, the future for their relationship looks bleak. While he tries to work through his feelings, Wallace suggests that they have some space apart, so Padma has to move out.

While she is temporarily homeless, her sister suggests that she could help her by looking after her wayward teenage daughter Myra for the summer in a friend's remote holiday  home. Neither  Padma nor Myra are too keen on the idea, but could this be the break they both need?

I really enjoyed this book, it is a cosy feel-good story about family and relationships, a great summer read.

Padma and Wallace have spent ten years building a relationship that feels… fine. That is, until Wallace gives Padma an ultimatum about starting a family, which she isn’t sure she wants. Meanwhile Padma’s fifteen year old niece Myra, is reaching her own crisis point, leaving her parents unsure what to do. With Padma unemployed, and in a desperate attempt to keep Myra away from the wrong crowd she has fallen into, Padma’s sister suggests Padma and Myra spend the summer together – in a ramshackle, ivy clad house on the Kent clifftops.

Padma barely knows Myra, so how will it pan out? And with six weeks apart, will this be too much pressure for her relationship?

This is Fine is one the best books I’ve read in a while. It is a beautiful piece of fiction that provides the perfect escape, with characters you instantly connect with, and it deals with many of life’s complexities in an authentic way.

The main protagonist in the book is Padma, a British Asian whose culture is beautifully woven through the story. Through Padma and her sister, Daisy (previously Dhara), the author explores how easy it is to lose your culture when living outside of it, and also how important it is to hold onto it, as seen through Padma’s cooking and the traditional rituals.

Each character was fully dimensional, and I fully explored to getting to know each of them inside out. Padma and Daisy have had the same upbringing – their dad left them when they were young and their mother battled with alcoholism for years before her death, but they are different. How they channel their trauma and grief was interesting to explore and highlighted the complexities of families and how we react under different circumstances. Each character had their flaws, but the way I could emphasise with their individual battles is a testament to Poorna Bell’s writing.

Aside from self-identity, family complexities and alcoholism, other themes in the book included choosing to be child-free, relationships, and dealing with depression, which was vividly and accurately described with such emotional intelligence.

This is Fine reminds us what it means to be good enough. It is a feel good book, not in the sense where it is airy and everyone lives happily ever after, but in the sense that if you are struggling right now, this book reminds us that bravery prevails and life’s problems can be faced head on.

For anyone going through a tough time who needs a bit of escapism, This is Fine is a hug in a book.

Really enjoyed this one, especially because the author did not shy away from the topics she decided to tackle (child-free, depression, peer pressure, among other things). As I'm from the Indian diaspora myself, I was looking forward to this one with Indian-heritage characters, and the author didn't disappoint there as well.
Padma is a very realistic character - so much so, at one point near the start, I almost gave up on her because she is so candid and frank and jumpy, I felt like she was taking it too far. But I'm glad I stuck with it, because it was a beautiful read that mixed a lovely setting, interesting characters, family ties, questions about what a romantic relationship should be, and where/what each person wants their life to be about. Sensitive topics like the desire to not have children and also depression in all its depths were handled very consciously and without shying away, yet also without dropping into the misery/woe is me angle that such topics often veer to.
And it was lovely to see the relationships grow, the friendships happen, witnessing Padma coming into her own, even though it wasn't all rainbows and butterflies for her (some writers might've shied away - this author didn't!), and she had to find 'her' life amid her issues and struggles, which felt refreshing and also empowering.
My only peeve - won't spoil the ending, but man, I wanted more of what's in there - so much more (read it and you'll know what I mean! I'm voting for a sequel here!)

Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for my advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Just loved this summery novel from Poorna Bell, a writer and journalist I already hugely admire. Padma and Wallace have spent 10 years building a relationship that feels just fine. When he gives her an ultimatum about starting a family, the pair take a break with Padma seriously overthinking whether she even wants children. At the same time, Padma’s 15-year-old niece is also in crisis. Now, Padma and the niece she barely knows are to spend the summer together by the seaside – a rehab of sorts.

I absolutely loved reading this. It’s heartwarming, relatable, funny and emotional all at once, and Poorna does an incredible job at balancing all this in a well-paced story that also handles big issues like mental health, alcoholism, the immigrant experience and parenthood. The rich food descriptions instantly connected me to the South Asian experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed being brought deeper into the heritage and culture with Poorna’s deftly woven subplots and snippets. I seem to have a habit of gravitating towards immigrant stories – particularly those in intergenerational family storylines! Can’t wait to pick up a trophy copy to have on my shelves to reread again.

A funny heartwarming read that touches on the following subjects mental health, the death of a parent, teenage alcoholism and so much more.

This is Fine addresses some serious issues within a wonderful story about family, relationships and what it means to be good enough.
Padma’s partner decides they need a break when she declines his final demand for a baby. He has given little thought to where Padma ( currently unemployed and without an income) will go during this break. When Padma’s sister asks her to look after her daughter for the summer she finds herself in a remote coastal cottage with a very stroppy 15 year old.
As Padma and Myra slowly form a bound they become part of the local community, both making brave choices to move on in life, yet realise that depression and addiction can’t be left completely behind.
This is charming and beautifully written book with lovely characters that you will come to care about. It’s also very funny and very honest, dealing with depression and anxiety head on. A strong 5 stars from me.

A really lovely read, an engaging story with lovable believable characters, I loved the way it didn't shy away from what for some could be a difficult subject, but was dealt with sensitively.
I love reading books by this author and I look forward to her next book.

Absolutely love this book, such a refreshing insightful exploration of family and self, written from a British Asian perspective and focusing on Padma, who has lost her job, has a relationship hanging in the balance, and at her time of loss is asked to care for her niece Maya who has her own troubles.

The relationships between auntie and niece, the busy and absent parents, and the widening friendship circle as Padma and Maya take refuge by the sea are all beautifully drawn and offer an intimate portrait of relationships, self and identity for many of the characters.

Poorna Bell writes with an original, deceptively simple touch which is very genuine and a pleasure to read.

What a refreshing family drama romcom. Padma has just lost her job when her partner decides that they are over if she doesn't have children,in spite of knowing g that she has never wanted children.
When her niece gets in with a bad crowd and needs.to get away over the summer, Padma is asked if she will look after Myra at her godfathers house on the Kent coast.
An interesting insight I to British Asian life and culture adds a different slant.
Loved it