Finding Belle

by Reeta Chakrabarti

Mivvi has two parents. But… sometimes she only has one. Or the other. And sometimes she has none.

Belle and Fairfax have a tempestuous marriage. Wed after a whirlwind romance in Belle’s hometown of Mombasa, they returned to England as man and wife, little anticipating the culture shock Belle would face. Alienated from her peers, far from relatives and friends who would have grounded her, and with a husband who couldn’t – wouldn’t – face her crisis, Belle gradually untethers from the world.

Years later, their only daughter Mivvi must decode her mother’s illnesses and her father’s infidelities, through adolescence and into adulthood, as she tries to shape a future of her own, while uncovering what’s been hidden from her.

Atmospheric and intriguing, this is a powerful story of mothers and daughters, betrayal and madness and a child who must forge her own identity.

Genres: Fiction

355 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 8, 2025

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

We first meet young Mivvi and her mother Belle in 1979, with Belle having her good days and bad. Belle has an up and down relationship with her husband Fairfax, she’s frequently unhappy, can act strangely and is often disconnected from everything. Belle has struggled in England ever since she comes to this country from Mombasa ( her family are originally from India) to marry Fairfax. Because of the difficulties at home, Fairfax is often absent which further exacerbates Belle’s issues, which in fact, worsen considerably. Can Mivvi work out what lies at the heart of her mother’s obvious problems? If she can unpick these, will she be able to understand her mother better? The novel is told principally through Mivvi and Belle‘s eyes but also from a couple of other perspectives.

I believe this is BBC News journalist Reeta Chakrabarti’s first full length novel and she can write beautifully. This is a slow burner, emotional novel which draws me in and makes me want to understand the principal characters who are all very well portrayed. Their feelings come across strongly, you sense the turbulence at home and witness how Mivvi copes (or otherwise), there’s a state of constant anxiety and of treading on eggshells. It’s frequently poignant but with feelings of sadness, inner anger and turmoil but there’s empathy too for what they’re going through. My sympathy goes backwards and forwards between the key characters especially Mivvi who has so many shocks and experiences much at such a young age but my heart goes out to Belle as she doesn’t fit in well in England and she suffers greatly as a consequence.

It covers a number of important issues such as racism which Mivvi experiences at school but that leads to an important friendship and much kindness. There’s loneliness, isolation, mental health issues, infidelity, loss and dysfunction, all of which are dealt with well and with great sensitivity.

It’s not exactly a happy novel as you would expect but there are moments of joy via love and children. Part of the storytelling takes place in Kolkata and I thoroughly enjoy that.

Overall, I can recommend the book as it shines a spotlight on complicated and complex situations and relationships and does so thoughtfully.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins/Harper Fiction for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

Publishes in the United Kingdom on the 8/5.

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding Belle, Chakrabarti's debut novel, is a reimagining of Jane Eyre.

Told mainly by daughter Malini (known as Mivvi) we get the story of her parents marriage seen through her eyes. Father, Fairfax, is a charismatic, handsome, blue-eyed, blonde English man married to Bela (Belle) who, as Mivvi gets older begins to display signs of schizophrenia.

Mivvi does not understand her mother's episodes and sides with Fairfax, drawing her further from her mother. Fairfax, unable and unwilling to accept his wife's illness begins another affair, this time with colleague, Jade Evans.

As time passes Mivvi comes to realise her handsome and popular father isn't the man she thought he was and her bond with Belle becomes closer; she begins to question her childhood memories and to discover the truth about Belle and Fairfax's relationship.

As I said, this is a reimagining of Jane Eyre. It does take a lot of the characters' histories
from the original book (albeit with subtle changes - Jane/Jane, Belle/Bertha, Fairfax is Rochester's middle name). However the story itself bears only a passing resemblance as Mivvi becomes an adult and learns the truth about her father.

I really enjoyed the book. It's certainly very well written and a lot of the characters are sympathetic and likeable. There are also, on the other hand, those whose characters err on the side of murky.

Very enjoyable. Definitely recommended. A good read with an engaging storyline. I look forward to her next novel.

Thankyou to Netgalley and HarperFiction for the advance review copy. Much appreciated.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has stayed with me since I finished it. It's a bit of a slow burner and quite hard to do justice to in a review. Essentially it's a coming of age novel about a mixed race girl Mivvi (after the ice lolly!) living in England. Her father, Fairfax, is a charismatic "ladies" man and her mother Belle is more distant and remote. As she grows up Mivvi realises how different her family is from her friends - so full of secrets and things not to be talked about. Belle's voice is quiet and minimal but her effect on the family is massive. Beautifully written.

[Jayne Southern · Rating 4 out of 5]

The profound effects of mental illness are all too often smothered, denied and not spoken about. Add the influences that affect a multicultural family and there is a recipe for heartbreak. Mivvy’s journey to adulthood in the shadow of her mother’s illness is a common story, I gather – her delving to find the truth of her mother’s back story is equally tragic. An enlightening read.

[Tara B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding Belle is a beautiful and disturbing story of family, friendship, betrayal and secrets. A book full of culture, heritage and tradition, however, is darkened by societal racism and mental health matters and their affect on family life.

The characters are vivid and colourful, especially Mivvy, who shines throughout.

A brilliant debut by Reeta Chakrabarti.

[Annette Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding Belle by Reeta Chakrabarti is a book that is filled with family drama, betrayal and the quest for identity and I found it to be an intense and compelling read. Told largely from the perspective of Mivvi, the child of Fairfax and Belle, but with interstitial diary entries that recount the history of Belle and Fairfax's courtship and marriage, the book follows the family over decades as it forms, falls apart and is reformed into something new and different. The book opens in 1979 when Mivvi is just a little girl, confused and worried about the tensions she already notices in her parent's relationship, a relationship that faces challenges of cultural differences since Fairfax is English and Belle is of Indian descent but raised in Mombasa. Having moved to England to raise their daughter Belle is struggling with the isolation she experiences and is also facing mental health challenges. Fairfax is focussed on his career and climbing the ladder, the last thing he needs is a wife that stands out for all the wrong reasons. The fact that Fairfax has a roving eye does not help the relationship and eventually the whole thing falls apart, though probably not as soon as it should have. Mivvi is left to look after her mother while Fairfax moves in with his mistress, Jade, a young woman who once worked for the family and now works with Fairfax at his legal firm. As Mivvi grows up and becomes a mother herself she longs to understand her mother's story and a trip to India to meet her grandfather may shed a new light on the past.
This is an emotional, contemplative character driven book that is almost uncomfortable to read at times but still had me absolutely gripped as the author showed how the past ripples through everything with huge consequences. The book tackles subjects like racism and mental health issues head on with unflinching honesty. The switching from first person to third person perspective was a little jarring at first but it did not take long to find the rhythm and the writing style is elegant and impressive, especially as a debut.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the author, all opinions are my own.

[Penelope · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of a cross cultural marriage, post-natal depression, miscarriage of another baby, and of growing up in a dysfunctional family and trying to understand why one is as one is. Narrated sometimes in the first person, sometimes in the third, it is occasionally interspersed with snippets of a journal from the past. There is an intriguing plot, and for much of the book I was wondering just where and how the author was intending to bring it to a conclusion. And by the end, one feels enormous sadness for the woman (Belle) who underwent such a massive upheaval from her African-Indian heritage to cold unwelcoming England, and who was isolated from her home with such a huge jolt, only to discover she had an unfaithful husband and then developed post-natal depression and sank lower into mental illness.
I found it a sadly depressing book, intensely self-absorbed and very inward looking. Yet it is perhaps a true glimpse of how life is for some and how others can ignore what is really going on in the lives of others. Not to be read if you are already depressed, I think, nor if you are looking for a 'feel-good' book. But interesting to read and thought-provoking. It raises questions such as how much one should interfere in the lives of others, if one senses there are things amiss. Or how to understand what goes on in the minds of others, and how to interpret what one sees or even just senses.
And all though runs the question of whether Mivvi, the daughter, will ever really know Belle, her mother, and find out what happened to turn the fun loving young girl into the remote and depressed mother who was unable to love deeply.


With thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Vicuña · Rating 5 out of 5]

I understand this is a debut novel from Reeta Chakrabarti, better known as a journalist and news correspondent. I’ve often enjoyed her commentary on current events and was interested in her book which, I suspect draws on relevant experience and knowledge. I’m not disappointed. It’s a family story but one filled with difficulty. Belle, of African Indian heritage, comes to England as a new bride with her white husband, Fairfax. She’s unable to settle and this is predominantly her story…one of profound loss. She suffers miscarriage, loss of identity, depression and the fun loving youngster is very different to the adult mother, unable to love as she would wish. It’s often a very uncomfortable read as the themes explored are dark. Mivvi, her daughter is clearly isolated and doesn’t understand what’s going on. Belle has significant mental difficulties, easy to see as an observer, but ignored by those close to her. I’m sorry to say that I fear Belle’s story is probably one based on fact. The cultural shock of coming from Asia to a cold and indifferent, often hostile Britain is the experience of many women. Sadly, racism and ignorance are rife and she has a diff path to navigate.

The narrative flows and it’s a beautifully written story, Very much character driven, but well plotted as the influences of the past are explored and reverberate to the present, It’s an introspective eye on a different culture and one I found fascinating. Not an uplifting book, but it’s left an indelible imprint and insight into a human experience. I’m looking forward to more from this author who clearly has a gift with words and emotion. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early review copy.

[Valerie Thirkettle-Kayser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Belle is a very well written first novel, quite sad although finishing on a touch of closure and hope.
The story is told from different points of view, principally those of Belle and her daughter Mivvi.
It is a complex and tormented family story.
Belle has Indian roots and she has moved to the UK following her marriage with Fairfax, who is British. The culture difference and the experience of racism, both for her and for Mivvi, is one of the elements of their family experience.
The most complex one is Belle’s mental health challenges which tear the family apart. Fairfax gradually takes his distance and Mivvi struggles in her relationship with her Mum.
Later, Mivvi becomes a mother herself and retraces her family background and history, trying to understand who was her Mum and what led to her situation, and uncovering family secrets.
This story has so many angles, it is a real challenge for the empathic reader. Each of the characters has different facets, sometimes victim and sometimes cause, but all deeply affected by what happens in their family.
There are no author’s notes about what inspired the author to write this story but one has the strong feeling along the pages that it comes from a place of own experience and it offers a light and some hope for those who would experience a similar family situation.
It is a heavy story but I was captivated by it and by the fact it is told from different points of view. A really good first novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for giving me the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.

[Elainedav · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would describe this book as a family saga. The book follows married couple Fairfax and Belle and their daughter Mivvi. Belle has Indian heritage, was brought up in Mombasa and spends her married life in Milton Keynes. Much of the book is concerned with her struggles integrating into life in England and the mental health problems she endures.

A great deal of the novel is relateable and I found it absorbing and extremely readable. However, I struggled a bit with two things. Firstly the names. I found it particularly odd that the male in this story was called Fairfax - I had to remind myself he was english a few times. I'm not sure why the author chose such an unusual name. Secondly, the lack of medical intervention was difficult to imagine. It took a painfully long time for someone to advocate for Belle and get her the help she needed and I found this quite frustrating. However I also feel that mental health is a tricky subject for an author to navigate and this was only one of several tricky themes in the book.

I liked that the book continued on into the next generation and especially enjoyed reading about Mivvi's trip to India.

I believe this is a debut novel by Reeta Chakrabarti. I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to anyone who likes this type of novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Fiction for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Milly Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novel that crept up on me after a slowish start. We start in 1979 when the small Mivvi is worried about her parents’ relationship. Belle is of Indian descent but grew up in Mombasa. She met Fairfax, Mivvi’s father when he visited as both their fathers knew each other through business. Mivvi is aware, even though she is young, of the cultural differences in the marriage and has herself experienced racism at school. But Belle’s mental health is causing a strain within the family and allows one of Fairfax’s work colleagues, Jade, to prise him away. As Mivvi grows up and becomes a young woman and mother herself, questions about her mother are always present and she know that only tracking down her mother’s family will provide an insight into Belle’s real self. This is told mainly in the POV of Mivvi, but we also hear from Jade, and the novel switches between first and third person. We also have Belle’s diary entries which tell her story in reverse. I found this an emotional read at times as it tackled Belle’ mental health struggles. I had no sympathy at all for Jade and very little for Fairfax who was too concerned about appearance to do the right thing for his family. Mivvi grows throughout the novel and I was so sorry for her character as Belle’s health robbed her of a true mother/daughter relationship. A novel that is character driven, emotional but not exactly uplifting.

[Haxxunne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and tragic
—
In an unbelievable debut, Chakrabarti draws together many threads of story—from Mombasa to Milton Keynes, interracial relationships, mental health, fractured families—into a startling story filled with colour and sadness, the beautiful and the tragic.

Following Mivvi growing up with her increasingly disordered mother, to becoming a mother herself, the one thing that affects everything in Mivvi’s life is her relationship with her father Fairfax, a man who, when push comes to shove, is just not what a daughter needs. Blended with Mivvi’s slow realisation that growing up means sometimes surpassing your parents are entries from her mother Belle’s journal as she falls in love with Fairfax, as she finds that he’s not the man she thought he was (or even as he presents himself to be), as life becomes harder and harder for her.

I found this mesmerising and heartbreaking at the same time, from the romance that started it all off and the distinct atmosphere of life in a Fairfax household, to Mivvi’s pilgrimage to see her Mombasa relatives where the truth at last comes to light: Chakrabarti pulls no punches in this emotional and satisfying novel.

[Heather Howarth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mivvi is trying as an adult to make sense of her parents’ tempestuous marriage. Belle and Fairfax were married about a whirlwind romance in her native Mombasa and came to live in England where he worked as a solicitor in Milton Keynes. Belle never felt accepted nor was she able to gain employment. They did have a daughter, Mivvi and her early childhood years were happy but then her mother becomes ill and Fairfax is unable to deal with the challenge. Each illness is managed by the two of them but no medical help sought until a crisis implodes their marriage and he moves out to live with his mistress.

Mivvi seeks help for her mother and tries to understand what went wrong in their marriage as well as coming to terms with the impact it had on her and her ability to form relationships.

The birth of her own child gives her more understanding and a trip to India to meet her grandfather fills some of the gaps in her knowledge of her mother. Ultimately hopeful this book is not an easy read.

Relationships are complex - this book tries to grapple with this in a sensitive way.

One to be recommended.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of an African-Indian woman separated from her roots and family after marriage to an Englishman is told through the eyes of her daughter, Mivvi. She grows up in a troubled household, unable to understand her parent's volatile relationship or her mother's frightening mood swings.
This was an interesting concept - it must be so hard for a child in this situation, unable to rely on her mother or father. Mivvi is a very well-drawn character, and as a reader, I fully understood her struggles with her love-hate relationship with her mother, her desire to make things better, and her longing to know the real Belle, buried deep in her mother's poor, tired brain.
But I have to confess, I found this a depressing read - there was so much sadness, anger and betrayal within this family. Yes, there is love, too, but not enough to lift the story for me.
Not for me, but I'm sure many people will enjoy reading it.

[Bookish Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this book quite by accident when scrolling through Netgalley one dreary, wet Sunday and I'm so glad I requested it. Rich prose, stunning visuals and brilliant, if not always likeable, characters.

Our main focus is Mivvi (yes, like the ice lollies!) who is 7 when we first meet her and her story is told over several decades. It's about her mother's illness, her father's reluctance to acknowledge it, and the torrid events that unfold as a result of it. Mivvi's Dad is a blonde, blue eyed charmer full of self importance. Her Mum was born & raised in Mombasa but her family come from India.

It's emotional and deeply powerful and is a shrewd observation on the handling of mental health over the years. Quite remarkable for a debut but given Reeta's background in journalism, it's not surprising that she has segued so easily from writing her reports for the BBC News to such an eloquent fictional piece. Bravo!

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story that spans continents and follows the progress of one family and a very special love story - from its inception to its near disintegration - on a canvas thats spans Africa, Europe and Asia.

It is a story of shifting locations, complex family dynamics, clashing cultures and the coming of age of a young girl struggling to understand her troubled, charismatic mother. Despite the particularities of her situation, the difficulties that Mivvi faces in growing up without the kind of support that she needs from her mother Belle is something that will resonate with many.

This is a tender and touching story with a strong multicultural element, which will appeal to many readers. It gets 3. 5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Mags Schofield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review the debut novel by this author.
This is a powerful story about family relationships across two generations and three countries. We explore Mivvi's place in the family with her shadowy mother Belle and cruel father Fairfax. She struggles to understand her place in the family as she has a front row seat to view her mother's struggles with mental health. We read about her previous life in Mombasa through her diary, and understand how the move to Milton Keynes has had a profound effect on her.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree as Mivvi grows and meets Ash.
What is missing from this story for me ,is some joy as it all seems rather slow and depressing, like wading through treacle. A cross cultural marriage, miscarriage and PND don't make for happy reading.. Sadness, anger and betrayal.
I need to read something uplifting now!

[LindyLouMac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finding Belle is the debut novel from the BBC journalist Reeta Chakrabarti. It is the scrutinisation of a mixed culture marriage over many decades.

The main protagonist is Mivvi the daughter of Belle, who is Indian but was raised in Kenya and her father Fairfax who is British. It is an emotional story that unfolds as this dysfunctional family cope with Belle's mental health issues, her husband's narcissism and the racism that the family are subjected to.

Though it did give me a lot to think about to be absolutely honest I found this story terribly depressing. Be careful that you are not feeling depressed yourself if and when you choose to read.

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...

[Peter Willoughby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although there were some interesting facts and ideas about Kolkata, Mombasa and Milton Keynes, I found that the story was slow, and there was too much repetition.
A philandering man will always leave casualties in his wake, and this book tells the story of some of these and hints at others.
Belle suffered from either Schizophrenia or dissociative identity disorder and was not properly treated for it in the early days.
For readers who don't know the culture of Indian families there will be a bit of further interest.
A reasonable attempt at a first novel, and there were signs that any future work may well be worth a read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[R Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took ages for me to get wrapped up in this book. While it was absorbing as it detailed the intrigues within a family the sense of drama was muted. The main character , Mivvi, is great, resourceful and principled but it seems she was surrounded by many people who let her down, in particular her father. The book became a quest for Mivvi to find out about her mother, as by the time she was old enough to realise, her mother was lost in mental health problems, becoming a shadow of the person she once was. Eventually she accomplished this, but the denouement was an anticlimax in my opinion. She has a conversation with her grandfather and got the lowdown followed by an argument with her father. It would have been great to see more drama.

[Sheena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I choose to read this book as I admire Reeta Chakrabarti and she gave my daughter her PGCE as chancellor of York St John University and I was curious to see if she could write. I'm sorry but in my opinion she can't. This book was not for me. Very clunky, clumsy writing style, far to much repetition and characters having to sneak around listening at and peeking through open doors so we could get around the problem of using the first person narrative. I found no likeable characters and as a consequence I had no empathy for any of them. Nothing actually happened very much which is fine if relationships are explored but sadly we went round in circles with repeated dialogue and situations. I did not feel the emotions the author clearly wanted me to feel.

[Christine Rennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding Belle by Reeta Chakrabarti is the story of Belle and her struggles throughout her mixed marriage to cope with the changes from living in Mombasa and then moving to England as man and wife. The cultural shock is enormous not helped by her husband Fairfax who is unable or unwilling to help with the huge changes Belle has to contend with on a daily basis.
Years later their daughter Mivvi must try to decode her mother’s many numerous illnesses and her father’s infidelity and finding what has been hidden from her, to enable her to move on from adolescence to adulthood.
This is a story of others and daughters, love and betrayal and Mivvi who must find her own identity.

[Kath Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book a compelling read. Belle, a young Indian woman brought up in Mombasa, marries an Englishman and comes to the UK. The culture shock is huge, and when she struggles with mental illness, her husband is too concerned with appearances to get her the help she needs. Much of this tale is told from the point of view of their daughter, Mivvi. The story results in her re-evaluating her feelings for each parent. I found it an engrossing look at the different branches of a complex family. I loved the writing style too. I'd happily read more like this from the author.

[Gillian Farago · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the digital ARC in return for an honest review.
I wasn’t able to finish this book as it had too much sadness and depression for me when I wasn’t in a great emotional place myself (grief). However I still wanted to review it as it is a well written debut novel and tackles the very important subject of how a mother’s mental state affects her child, and the impact of moving from one’s own country and culture into another. I will finish it another time and wish Reeta well with this and future novels.

[Rudrashree Makwana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mivvi’s parents’ relationship is not good. Her father was often away and Mivvi highly doubt if she has only one parent as there were always conflicts between her parents. Belle go through a lot of emotions and up and down in a relationship. Mivvi has grown up in such kind of environment. When she grows up, she tries to unveil the secrets behind her mother’s illness and their upended marriage. This was such an emotional read and author has addressed all the issues that shouldn’t be in a marriage and shared the secrets that breaks the marriage.

Thanks to the Publisher

[Polly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to be honest, this wasn’t a good book in my opinion. Plot dragged out unnecessarily when nothing even happened. Characters didn’t change or develop. Unlikeable protagonist and no satisfying resolution, just felt like it was going round in circles with repetitive thoughts and conversations. And the conclusion — I started writing the book you’ve just been reading! Was painfully cliched.

On the bright side, the writer has a lovely tone and the premise was unique. But I just wasn’t engaged.

[Emma Renshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deeply moving story about motherhood, loss, love and the repercussions of family secrets. Finding Belle is so well done, I particularly liked the letters because it gives such an intimate insight into how Belle was feeling and the depth of love she felt for her children, family and Fairfax. I felt so much for Mivvi, Belle and the whole family. Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.

[Salma Najefy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felt closer to home ……

Myself being from Mombasa and having moved to England after marriage I could understand why Belle felt the way she did ….. it is massive transformation.

However for Belle … her mental illness and lack of spouse support made it much more difficult for her

The book is well written and enjoyed it thoroughly.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. I couldn’t put my finger on why this book was so unsatisfying. The writing flowed, it was lyrical in places…but I think ultimately there was no depth. For subject matter that held so much potential - family dynamics, mental illness, cultural unfamiliarity - it just seemed to skate on the surface.

[Emma Showler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for this Arc. I enjoyed this book and the weaving story of this family. I loved Mivvi’s growth and character and how she experienced life and the challenges she faced. A slow and quiet read in the best possible way. Thank you.