4.5 ⭐️
"This Is Fine" explores the complex relationships we have with ourselves and others, and how the dynamics of these relationships impact the choices we make.
Although the characters are fictional, they come to life because somewhere their stories are someone's lived experience.
A recommended read for anyone who wants to understand addiction and/or mental health in a relatable way, and a reminder of the inner strength we all have!
Thanks, NetGalley, for the early copy.

I was invested in the characters and the story although at times I did feel it was quite contrived. **SPOILER ALERT** (It's much easier to recover from a relationship break up that leaves you homeless if you have rich relatives who can save the day.)

This is Fine - by Poorna Bell

4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This is a beautifully written story of women empowerment, family and culture with powerful and thought provoking moments. The author’s clever and witty writing style, made me chuckle a lot throughout the lighthearted moments.

It had great representation of mental health especially depression and the effects it has not just on individuals of all ages, but the family and friends that surround them. It also discusses sensitive topics such as alcoholism.

It’s really sad that in this day and age there is still ignorance towards the colour of people skin, so as a mixed race woman, I loved the representation of women of colour in this book. I really enjoyed learning about the Indian culture.

As a single and childless 35 year old woman, I really needed this book. It shows it okay for a woman not to want children. I feel there is too much pressure from all areas, family, friends and society that you HAVE to want children.

My two favourite quotes from the book which I resonated with were from Parma: “Just because you own an oven it doesn’t mean you have to bake a cake”

And Selena: “Ultimatums are tough, they make you feel as if the other person is attacking you, when really they are just desperately trying to hold on”

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House and Poorna Bell for this free ARC in return for an honest review. I am leaving this review voluntarily

I will also be posting my review on Instagram, Goodreads and Amazon on publication day.

This is such a wonderful, moving book, I loved every second of it! The character relationships are complex and feel real, you are absolutely rooting for the main characters throughout and the setting is lovely too. A real feel good, summer read. Thank you so much for this arc

This is Fine is the touching story of Padma, in a long but unfulfilling relationship, and her summer caring for her niece Maya, who has been troubled and experimenting with alcohol.

It is a love story about family, a kind and touching reflection on loving someone with addiction, of the challenges of mental health, the torturous teenage years, of cultural heritage, and of food.

I really enjoyed this, learned new things, and now very much need an accompanying cook book so I can make the amazing food described throughout - this is the time you wish books had scents!

Thank you to netgalley for the advanced readers copy.

Padma is fine. Or at least she thinks she is. But when her boyfriend announces that he wants to have children, something Padma has never wanted, they go on a break and everything she was previously certain of becomes uncertain. This happens shortly after she has lost her job and at the same time, her fifteen year old niece Myra, ends up in hospital after drinking too much alcohol. Her sister, Daisy, asks for help with looking after her over the summer holidays. Padma doubts that she is up to the task but with no real home and no job prospects, she agrees to do it.

What happens next is a tale of love, friendship, depression (and how it can run through a family), joy, understanding, cooking, race, new beginnings and becoming yourself with all it’s good and bad parts.

As cheesy as this might sound, this is a great book. Unlike stories of a similar nature, the characters felt realistic from the beginning and relatable. I was rooting for them all, particularly Padma and Myra, and it was wonderful to see their relationship develop in a way that didn’t feel fictional (even though it obviously is!). And I was also impressed with the way the author dealt with the experience of depression.

I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to others. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

This is such a beautiful book.

Beautifully written and immediately engaging. The journey the characters travel is authentic and believable.

I engaged with the protagonist straight away and felt connected to the more troubled elements of her character.

A definite triumph for the author.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

This is a warm yet compelling story of womanhood, family and all its complexities. I devoured the book in one sitting and loved every page. It's gorgeous, it's funny and it's hugely relatable.

The main character in this story is Padma, a 39-year old woman who is given an ultimatum by her long term partner, Wallace, about starting a family. She's not sure if she wants a child and then there's the whole feeling of disconnect she has been experiencing with Wallace. Wallace suggests taking a break and Padma finds herself spending her summer with her 15-year old niece, Myra, in Kent. Myra has her own fair share of problems, including alcohol poisoning and social pressures. There are tender moments of bonding between the two and then the storyline also goes into how Padma reconnects with Daisy, her sister and Myra's mother.

I love the book for covering various topics so relevant to women navigating life in the world right now, including mental health and complex family dynamics. I read some of Poorna Bell's previous non-fiction works and loved them, for how raw and honest her writings are, and this is equally moving.

“If someone had asked me how things were going a few weeks ago, I would have said this is fine, it’s fine. Little phrases we use to wash down our discontent, even though fine is an adjective that has moved so far away from its original meaning of things being excellent or good, that is has become a piece of tape hiding the cracks in a life. I only know that because life feels different now.”

I found myself connecting to each of the characters. A brilliant read to start the month right.

A really wonderful book exploring the relationship between sisters who were both affected differently by their father's abandonment and their mother's alcoholism. When Padma is asked to take care of her niece for rhe summer, to remove her from the influence of friends after she is hospitalised with alcohol poisoning, she realises how the past affects the future. Totally recommended.

Aaah this started FINE. I was not that into it, I thought the characters were shallow caricatures of who they should have been. Then I kept reading and the story and the characters grabbed me in a way that I was not expecting. I read in two sittings and it’s definitely five stars!

This was my first book by this author and won't be my last. The author sensitively tackles racism, alcoholism and mental health. I enjoyed learning about the different culture's foods and the oiling of the hair. It was a heartwarming emotional read that I really enjoyed.

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time!
Every time I picked it up, I couldn't wait to spend time with the characters, and it all felt very real and honest.
It wasn't a re-hash of other plots, but absolutely original.
I really liked the fact that there were people who were black, brown, white, from all sorts of different cultures and backgrounds.
It deals with some serious issues like addiction and mental health, but is so warm, life-affirming, and at times very humorous.
I don't want to give away too much, but read it for yourself!

My first time reading Poorna Bell, and I’m already eager for more!

This book explores themes of grief, heartbreak, and depression, shedding light on the profound impact of these experiences throughout our lives.

Despite its heavy themes, the narrative is far from bleak. It flows smoothly, bringing a sense of lightness even in the most poignant moments. The storytelling is beautiful, leading readers effortlessly through the complex lives of the characters.

It's a heartwarming story that grips you from the very beginning to the end. The author's skill in drawing readers into the narrative and the lives of her characters is truly impressive. I especially commend her portrayal of a teenager who genuinely feels like a teenager, a rarity in fiction. Myra was a total standout character for me, I loved reading about her and watching her character grow.

This is a captivating read that will resonate with many. It’s a perfect blend of heartwarming, hard-hitting, and realistic elements.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of This Is Fine by Poorna Bell!

this is such a funny, heartwarming and lovely book that deals with so many issues including mental health, the death of a parent, teenage alcoholism and so much more.

Padma is a fantastic and realistic character and her growth is very realistic as she has to face so many challenges both personally and professionally.

It was really thought provoking and struck a perfect balance between depth and humour, the importance of those key relationships and acceptance and just captured growing up in different ways and at different points so well.

Heart warming thoughtful book.

2 Generations of the same family have their issues, can one really help the other out.

Drug addiction, habits, very low self esteem bought about by partner. Should they really be together after 10 years of marriage. Do you have children because others think it is the right think to do, or stick to your own beliefs, Letting others down?

Modern internet vulnerability versus ignorance, can they go hand in hand?

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

Heartwarming, funny and poignant. A warm drink in a book.

An innocently forgotten letter from the doctors upturns Padma’s perfectly fine life. Her boyfriend (whose house she lives in) issues an ultimatum and a break, then her sister, the most together person in the world, calls in tears when her teenage daughter is hospitalised for alcohol poisoning. Suddenly, Padma finds herself by the coast with a surly teenager and a house both in need of TLC. (House kindly offered to her by her niece’s godfather, Hugo, who she accidentally called a racist). This is fine. Totally fine.

I loved this book. I love books about people so this is right up my street. If you’re looking for lots to happen this isn’t for you. This book discusses: race, identity, mental health, having children, alcoholism, neglect and most importantly love. Love isn’t the same as romance, there’s lots of love in life and this explores all different kinds.

Padma and her niece Myra were a great combination, they hit your heart but are also really funny. Throw in sister Daisy (formally Dhara) and the three women are a fascinating bunch. No character in this book blurs into another, they’re 4K sharp.

The characters are fabulous, the scenery comes to life and the food described just left me constantly hungry. This is a novel that you live and they don’t come around very often. Fans of Mhairi McFarlane and David Nicholls, this is for you. Bear with while I go and read Poorna Bell’s entire back catalogue.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for this #arc

"If someone had asked me how things were going a few weeks ago I would have said 'this is fine, it's fine'. Little phrases we use to wash down our discontent even though 'fine' is an adjective that has moved so far away from its original meaning of things being excellent or good, that it has become a piece of tape hiding the cracks in a life. I only know that because life feels different now."

39 year old Padma finds herself taking care of her distant teenage niece Myra in a Kent seaside town one summer after her self-centred boyfriend of 10 years suggests they go on a break and Myra suffers alcohol poisoning. Will Padma and Myra mend fences?

I adored In Case Of Emergency by the author, so requested her new book through NetGalley and was not disappointed. More wise words about friendship and family seen through the eyes of Padma and Myra, both of whom I was drawn in by, wanting to know them better. It was a joy to follow them both on their journeys to understanding themselves and what they wanted from their lives, less constrained by their pasts and others' expectations. The pretty and up-and-coming seaside town of Harkness was a lovely location from the summer away from their usual lives and supporting characters, Daisy (Maya's mum and Padma's sister), Selena (Padma's new friend), Henry (Padma's love interest) and Greg (Myra's new friend) were equally well-drawn and relatable. Astute examinations of some challenging themes, including alcoholism, depression, parental abandonment and grief, motherhood and choosing to be child-free, are expertly woven into the plot, peppered with affectionate humour. I found this to be so readable - a skillfully written and moving novel engaging the reader so they feels connected to the characters. Highly recommended!

Padma's life is unravelling. She's out of work and when she tells her partner she doesn't think she wants children, it doesn't go down well. But when her niece, Myra, is found passed out drunk on a doorstep, the family turn to Padma in the hope that both of them can get back on their feet.

This is a story about family, addiction, mental health and much more. Poorna Bell has written a thoughtful and thought-provoking novel about how life can sometimes break us and how we can learn to hope, and live, again.

Lovely
When Padma’s partner of 10 years throws a wobbly and says if she doesn’t want children they need a relationship break, it throws her life into a spin. And then it’s hard to say whether her sister’s request that she care for her teenage niece, Myra, for some months in a cottage in Kent (because of a frightening episode involving alcohol) is a godsend or just another unmanageable twist in her suddenly fractured life.
I enjoyed all the characters in this charming novel and I liked the carefully worked out progression through Padma’s and Myra’s relationship as it developed alongside the revelations about Padma’s own difficult life. The family relationships were also well developed and convincing – we all know someone who simply can’t help trying to fix everyone and people who can’t quite work out what to say to the people they care about. I felt that Wallace could have been given a bit of a back story – was he really so selfish and thoughtless as he seemed? Padma and Daisy’s childhood was heartbreakingly portrayed and if the reasons they gave for the stress in their relationship seemed a little glib at times, it all made a lot of sense.
Lots of wisdom in this story and I really enjoyed it and found all the characters engaging (possibly excepting Hugh – I felt that he and Wallace were carefully constructed as opposites to act as background to Padma’s growth, he was just a little too good to be true).
Overall, I would definitely recommend this as a warmly emotional read with engaging characters which addresses a number of issues with sensitivity and good sense.
(A small editing issue – the epilogue runs straight into the acknowledgements which was slightly confusing)

This Is Fine follows Padma who has just been given an ultimatum from her long-term boyfriend. He wants children. She doesn’t. While this is going on, Padma’s niece Myra is also going through something huge but her parents can’t reach her and ask Padma for help.

Padma says yes but she barely knows her niece. Will she really be able to provide the support that Myra needs? They’re sent off to live with each other in a house on the English coast. And they’ve got six weeks to figure it out.

This book has my whole heart. I remember exactly where I was when I realised I was nearly finished. I was overcome with this feeling of sadness - I don’t know what else to describe it as. Is there a word to describe not wanting something to end? I remember looking up at Michael, telling him that I didn’t want it to end yet, closing my Kindle and walking away because I wasn’t quite ready to say bye.

I’m going to tell you all to read this one. It has so many things going for it. For starters, it has incredible mental health rep which is still not that openly talked about within the South Asian diaspora. It’s getting better but we’ve got a long way to go. The story is based around a family with South Asian heritage which I am always going to love. But what I appreciated here is that the history of this family is not what you typically see in the media. Poorna so honestly explores how easy it is to lose your culture when living outside of it, and also how important it is to hold on to it. She beautifully explores the importance of knowing where you come from and how self-acceptance keeps us whole.