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A review by beate251
This Is Fine by Poorna Bell
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for an ARC.
I first became aware of Poorna Bell through In Case of Emergency, her first fiction book. I rated it very much so when NetGalley granted me a copy I was very excited and started reading immediately. That was about ten hours ago. I read it in one sitting and I think it's even better than her first novel.
Padma is a 39 year old woman of Indian decent whose partner of ten years Wallace suddenly suggests a break from their relationship because she doesn't want to have kids and he does, like he could force her into it by doing so. She is also currently unemployed so when her sister Daisy and brother-in-law Henry ask her to look after their wayward 15 year old daughter Myra in a holiday cottage in Kent for six weeks during the summer holidays and get paid for it, she says yes. The cottage belongs to Hugo, a friend of the family. What follows is a lot of reflection on life while trying to get through to a depressed teenager. Padma herself also struggles with depression - it seems to lie in the family and stem from their alcoholic mother. Their childhood is frequently mentioned in her talks with her sister. The two of them struggle to connect as they remember things so differently, and Padma resents how Daisy tried to reinvent herself without acknowledging her Indian roots, even changing her name from Dharma. Padma's passion is cooking and she starts bringing her Indian dishes to the village where she makes friends quickly.
Bell's writing is so rich and so wise, I screen grabbed a few pages just for some quotes too good to forget. Padma's reluctance to have kids is brought up frequently but handled sensitively. It's really irritating how the decision to stay childfree is so often questioned in society.
Bell concentrates on the women in the story and there is very strong character development for everyone involved. The men aren't altogether too important although Wallace tries very hard to act like an arse. Thankfully even the love story isn't given great prominence and only happens at the end when Padma has regained her confidence.
What can I say, I loved the characters and the story, which is so effectively told. Myra is a typical but loveable teenager who opens up to her auntie and helps her gain followers on social media for her cooking videos.
I was sad when the book ended - I could have spent weeks with these characters as the love between the women was palpable.
I first became aware of Poorna Bell through In Case of Emergency, her first fiction book. I rated it very much so when NetGalley granted me a copy I was very excited and started reading immediately. That was about ten hours ago. I read it in one sitting and I think it's even better than her first novel.
Padma is a 39 year old woman of Indian decent whose partner of ten years Wallace suddenly suggests a break from their relationship because she doesn't want to have kids and he does, like he could force her into it by doing so. She is also currently unemployed so when her sister Daisy and brother-in-law Henry ask her to look after their wayward 15 year old daughter Myra in a holiday cottage in Kent for six weeks during the summer holidays and get paid for it, she says yes. The cottage belongs to Hugo, a friend of the family. What follows is a lot of reflection on life while trying to get through to a depressed teenager. Padma herself also struggles with depression - it seems to lie in the family and stem from their alcoholic mother. Their childhood is frequently mentioned in her talks with her sister. The two of them struggle to connect as they remember things so differently, and Padma resents how Daisy tried to reinvent herself without acknowledging her Indian roots, even changing her name from Dharma. Padma's passion is cooking and she starts bringing her Indian dishes to the village where she makes friends quickly.
Bell's writing is so rich and so wise, I screen grabbed a few pages just for some quotes too good to forget. Padma's reluctance to have kids is brought up frequently but handled sensitively. It's really irritating how the decision to stay childfree is so often questioned in society.
Bell concentrates on the women in the story and there is very strong character development for everyone involved. The men aren't altogether too important although Wallace tries very hard to act like an arse. Thankfully even the love story isn't given great prominence and only happens at the end when Padma has regained her confidence.
What can I say, I loved the characters and the story, which is so effectively told. Myra is a typical but loveable teenager who opens up to her auntie and helps her gain followers on social media for her cooking videos.
I was sad when the book ended - I could have spent weeks with these characters as the love between the women was palpable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Alcoholism