This Is Fine

An insightful, funny and moving novel about second chances and starting over from award-winning journalist Poorna Bell.

'I will read anything Poorna Bell writes!' Taylor Jenkins Reid
'Gorgeous, affirming, an exploration of why and how we nurture' Pandora Sykes

It might not be the stuff of dreams, but Padma and Wallace have spent ten years building a relationship that feels... fine. Until Wallace gives Padma an ultimatum about starting a family she's not sure she even wants.

Padma's fifteen-year-old niece Myra is reaching her own crisis point. When she falls in with the wrong crowd and her life ends up in danger, it's the final straw for her parents.

Now Padma will spend the summer with her niece - in a ramshackle, ivy-clad house on the Kent clifftops - running a DIY rehab of sorts.

Will this be a pressure too far for her and Wallace? And how will she spend six weeks with a niece who, thanks to her sister, she barely knows?

It's the last place they want to be. But this could just be the summer that changes everything...

Praise for This Is Fine

This Is Fine is so much better than fine, it's totally genius. The writing is compelling and insightful - not to mention hilarious - and the story moved me to tears more than once. I LOVE THIS BOOK!' Lucy Vine

'A perfect summer novel with endless entertainment and escapism. Warm, funny, charming and so brilliantly executed' Salma El-Wardany

'This witty, warm, beautifully written novel will both gladden and sadden; it'll crack open your heart and pour gold into it' Catherine Gray

'A sweet, smart story about sisterhood, exploring complex themes courageously. I fell in love with Padma and Myra'' Daisy Buchanan

'Light, funny and gorgeous - but also at times gritty and profound' Good Housekeeping

'A brilliant, highly relatable look at complex family dynamics and womanhood, This is Fine is a must-read this summer' Olivia Petter

'Warm, witty, wise and brimming with heart' Zing Tsjeng

'Poorna taps into the crevice of every human emotion and brings out pure light and joy. A must read' Poppy Jay

'Funny, insightful and ranges thoughtfully over all manner of subjects that matter' Natasha Poliszczuk

'A thought provoking and delicate read with a great deal of warm humour too!' Stephanie Yeboah