In Case of Emergency by Poorna Bell

4 stars

(No Spoilers)

The novel delves into the life of a thirty-something London professional, Bel Kumar, who finds herself in an emotional and existential predicament. The story kicks off with a near-death experience and an awkward encounter with an ex-boyfriend, which sets the stage for Bel to question the intricacies of her relationships, spanning colleagues, friendships, romantic partners, and family. It’s a love story redefined.

Bel is undeniably relatable, smart, and humorous, yet she grapples with being self-absorbed and neglectful of those around her. Loneliness, resentment, and an overarching sense of unfulfillment plague her daily life, which the narrative meticulously dissects. While the exploration of these relationships is sometimes a little repetitive, the novel unfailingly approaches this subject matter with a thoughtful perspective.

My favourite aspect of the novel is how it portrays the complexities of feeling like an "other" within the millennial generation. Bel's struggles in navigating and healing from generational family complexities within her Indian family are poignantly depicted, providing consistently relatable and sometimes painful insight into her familiar journey.

This is all tied together by masterfully woven prose. It’s perfect between Bel and her older sister Devi. Their back and forth is both addictive and frustrating, especially during their arguments, you can really empathise with their sore points, strained patience and miscommunication. The narrative carefully treads the path of reconciliation and healing in their relationship, illustrating the profound impact of family dynamics and intergenerational struggles.

The only aspect of the novel I didn’t find necessary was the last-minute add of drama and the prolonged build-up of the Cornwall trip, it wasn’t as impactful as I expected. The novel didn’t really need it. Overall though, it was a lovely and refreshing read.

My fav quote:

“I said to her love was not love if it was not unconditional. And she said that while love shouldn’t come with conditions because that would be like trying to tame the ocean, you still had to take care of it if you wanted something that lasted., something that was beautiful.”