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.

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

‘Light, funny and gorgeous – but also at times gritty and profound’ Good Housekeeping

‘Heartwarming and funny’ Heat Magazine

‘One of my favourite fiction reads of the year so far. . . this was my first book of Poorna’s and what a great introduction it was’ Jessica George

‘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

‘Heartwarming and poignant’ Woman’s Own

‘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

When Bel Kumar leaves for work in the morning, the last thing she expects is wake up in hospital later that day – with her ex from four years ago by her bedside.

It turns out that:

1) She’s had a near-death accident outside work
2) She urgently needs to replace her ex with another next of kin on her HR form

But who can Bel turn to in a crisis? She’s never been good at asking for help, but she knows she needs to reconnect with the most important people from her past.

Within days she’s navigating complex family history, old school friendships and romantic encounters – with consequences she never could have predicted.

Perhaps the worst day of Bel’s life will turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to her . . .
___________________________________________

‘An instant rom-com classic’ Lindsey Kelk

‘Switching between the past and present, In Case of Emergency is a novel of self-realisation and the freeing power of defying both familial and societal expectations. It’s simply impossible not to root for Bel’ CultureFly

‘Fans of Dolly Alderton’s Ghosts and Emma Jane Unsworth’s Adults will adore IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. This book reminds us all that no matter how capable we might be, we’re nothing if not properly connected to those around us. A remarkable and thought-provoking debut!’ Laura Jane Williams

‘A gorgeous read full of warmth, humour and relatable moments that make you realise you’re less alone in the world. The perfect book to curl up with this summer. I adored it’ Salma El-Wardany

‘Funny and clever with a ton of swagger’ Stacey Duguid

‘I inhaled this book. You really root for Poorna’s characters. They’re both relatable and relevant’ Natasha Devon

‘We loved this warm and thoughtful read’ Sun on Sunday

‘Journalist Bell writes with panache about a young woman finding herself… and finding what matters’ Daily Mail

‘This smart and incisive debut novel explores the pressures placed on women and reflects the full intricacies, joys and nuance of life as a British South Asian woman in the UK today’ Stylist

‘Bel is wonderfully flawed and relatable, and this is a witty, thought-provoking read. Great 90’s references too’ Woman Magazine

‘There’s a moment in which the author describes the first sparks of love, a feeling so small yet unstoppable, with such aching delicacy it took my breath away’ Ranvir Singh

‘In Case of Emergency explored some intricacies of growing up British Indian and the way Bel and her sister have taken radically different paths in life’ Better Words

‘A beautiful book that dismantles the pressure and expectations placed on our lives.’ Gizzi Erskine

Poorna Bell was sold the fairytale of life. That love wins the day. That marriage is the rescue to an otherwise unhappy existence. That children are the natural progression of any relationship. But really, is it? Are we actually being honest with ourselves about the expectations we have set for ourselves? Are we able to distinguish between what we really need from life, from everything that we have been conditioned to want? Because the current rhetoric doesn’t prepare you for the reality.
 
In 2015 Poorna Bell became a widow after her husband Rob took his own life on a winter’s night, having battled depression and addiction. Her situation was unusual when compared to a lot of people, but she was left figuring out exactly the same things. Will she ever be happy? Will she find love again? Who will rescue her from her sadness?
 
Two years on and Poorna is rebuilding her life. And it is from this place – as she works towards choosing what she does and doesn’t want from society, that she will explore a different conversation around fulfillment and self-worth.Cutting across the  landscapes in India, New Zealand and Britain, Poorna Bell explores the things endemic in our society such as sadness and loneliness, to unpick why we seek other people to fix what’s inside of us.

In Search of Silence is the recognition of the echo chamber we find ourselves in, in terms of what constitutes a successful, fulfilling life. This is a heartfelt, deeply personal journey which asks us all to define what ‘happiness’ truly means.  

‘Rich with achingly beautiful language that transports the reader to the streets of Bangalore, the mountain-topped peaks of Nepal and the long and winding roads of New Zealand, I adored absolutely everything about In Search of Silence. A book that will speak to anyone who has grown tired of London, who has lost, who has loved, who has lamented the loss of a loved one, it is a beautiful, life-affirming read that explores solitude, silence and sadness and is underpinned with hope and happiness for the future.’ The Literary Edit

Bel Kumar wakes up in hospital surprised and confused.

Surprised to be told she had a near-fatal accident outside work. And confused as to why her ex-boyfriend is by her bedside.

Bel’s HR record still lists her ex as her next of kin, but she can’t think of a less appropriate person to nurse her back to health.

But who can she turn to in a crisis? Over-invested parents? A sister whose life has turned out perfectly? Friends she exchanges dating woes with over cocktails?

If this experience has taught Bel anything, it’s that she should reconnect with the most important people from her past. But that’s going to be easier said than done because Bel has never been good at asking for help.

And she’s doing just fine on her own… Isn’t she?!
___________________________________________

‘An instant rom-com classic’ Lindsey Kelk

‘Switching between the past and present, In Case of Emergency is a novel of self-realisation and the freeing power of defying both familial and societal expectations. It’s simply impossible not to root for Bel’ CultureFly

‘Fans of Dolly Alderton’s Ghosts and Emma Jane Unsworth’s Adults will adore IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. This book reminds us all that no matter how capable we might be, we’re nothing if not properly connected to those around us. A remarkable and thought-provoking debut!’ Laura Jane Williams

‘A gorgeous read full of warmth, humour and relatable moments that make you realise you’re less alone in the world. The perfect book to curl up with this summer. I adored it’ Salma El-Wardany

‘Funny and clever with a ton of swagger’ Stacey Duguid

‘I inhaled this book. You really root for Poorna’s characters. They’re both relatable and relevant’ Natasha Devon

‘We loved this warm and thoughtful read‘ Sun on Sunday

‘Journalist Bell writes with panache about a young woman finding herself… and finding what matters’ Daily Mail

‘We predict [In Case of Emergency] is going to be the book of the summer’ Stylist

‘Bel is wonderfully flawed and relatable, and this is a witty, thought-provoking read. Great 90’s references too’ Woman Magazine

‘There’s a moment in which the author describes the first sparks of love, a feeling so small yet unstoppable, with such aching delicacy it took my breath away’ Ranvir Singh

Stronger will change what you think you know about strength and, most importantly, empower you to go on your own journey to discover what strength looks like for you.

Having gone from hating P.E. to becoming a powerlifter who can lift over twice her own bodyweight, Poorna Bell is perfectly placed to start a crucial conversation about women’s fitness – one that has nothing to do with weight loss. In Stronger, she shows how all of us can tap into our inner strength and find the confidence that physical pursuits can amplify – the confidence that has been helping men to succeed for centuries – and that women can find too.

In this updated edition with a new introduction, Poorna tells not only her own story but those of a range of women, investigating intersections of race, age and social background. Part memoir, part manifesto, Stronger explodes old-fashioned notions about getting strong and explores the relationship between mental and physical strength.

Whether you’re into weightlifting, running, swimming, yoga or don’t consider yourself to be sporty at all, Poorna shows how finding strength can work for you, regardless of age, ability or background.