what_heather_loves's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
"I realised something had shaken loose in me since the accident. Nothing that would show up on a brain scan, perhaps more a loosening of the internal framework I'd painstakingly built to separate the different parts of my life."
Present day London and thirty-six year old advertising executive, Bel Kumar is making a mess of her life. In a well-paid, but soulless job, it takes a freak, near-fatal accident to make her realise she has isolated herself from those who care about her, leaving her emergency contract her ex, who she broke up with four years ago. As she recovers, Bel is determined to make changes, to re-connect with the important people in her life - her sister, mum & dad and her best friend from childhood. Will she unravel her past, can she ask for help and what will she discover about herself, her friends and family, on the way?
I loved Bel immediately, her relatable experiences, humour and spirited determination. The characters, particularly her family and immediate friends, are well-drawn and real with flaws and needs and the plot moves along at just the right pace to keep me reading. The focus on female friendships and familial relationships was a refreshing change from romantic relationships often found in novels, as were the astute observations about how those relationships work, struggle to work and even fail. Bel's friendships demonstrate joy and connection as well as sadness and betrayal. Her experiences in a South Asian British woman as well as her experiences with privileged, white men (and their "mental Rolodex of reference points for people who looked like me: corner-shop owner's daughter, demure, frigid onion chopper, garlic masher, terrorist's wife") are, I expect, spot-on. Witty and warm whilst covering complex issues, experiences and emotions with panache, I highlighted so many of the author's wise words. I absolutely loved this and would definitely like to read what Bel does next.
Present day London and thirty-six year old advertising executive, Bel Kumar is making a mess of her life. In a well-paid, but soulless job, it takes a freak, near-fatal accident to make her realise she has isolated herself from those who care about her, leaving her emergency contract her ex, who she broke up with four years ago. As she recovers, Bel is determined to make changes, to re-connect with the important people in her life - her sister, mum & dad and her best friend from childhood. Will she unravel her past, can she ask for help and what will she discover about herself, her friends and family, on the way?
I loved Bel immediately, her relatable experiences, humour and spirited determination. The characters, particularly her family and immediate friends, are well-drawn and real with flaws and needs and the plot moves along at just the right pace to keep me reading. The focus on female friendships and familial relationships was a refreshing change from romantic relationships often found in novels, as were the astute observations about how those relationships work, struggle to work and even fail. Bel's friendships demonstrate joy and connection as well as sadness and betrayal. Her experiences in a South Asian British woman as well as her experiences with privileged, white men (and their "mental Rolodex of reference points for people who looked like me: corner-shop owner's daughter, demure, frigid onion chopper, garlic masher, terrorist's wife") are, I expect, spot-on. Witty and warm whilst covering complex issues, experiences and emotions with panache, I highlighted so many of the author's wise words. I absolutely loved this and would definitely like to read what Bel does next.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Racism, Bullying, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault
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