Belgrave Road

by Manish Chauhan

This is a love story of two people working side by side but living worlds apart.
Mira's days are filled with duty and light on freedom. In a new country, living with a husband she barely knows - and who she fears she'll never love - Mira is desperate to discover all that her new life in England might offer.



And then there's Tahliil. The quiet, beautiful man she sees at work each day. With a depth in his eyes and a face full of questions. The first person in this new world who listens to Mira's hopes for who she yearns to become.



But beyond their lunchtime encounters, the pair couldn't lead more different the duties that bind them, the homes they are trying to build threaten to subsume them. As Mira and Tahliil navigate the deep and turbulent waters of their new worlds can they find a way to be together, and will finding each other set them free?

Genres: Contemporary, Fiction, Romance, Adult Fiction, British Literature

357 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 13, 2026

Reviews

[Cass Chloupek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. Everything about it was captivating. I usually dislike romance books because they oftentimes wind up being cheesy and cliche but this managed to avoid that fate. My only critique would be the ending. Nothing wrong with the artisitc choice to end it that way but I feel like it neded something more definied. But I understand that that was intentional to leave the reader with the same uncertainty the characters felt and that millions of people in similar circumstances feel. I just wanted something more solid. Nice book, good writing.

[Aoife Cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Belgrave Road is an accomplished, thought-provoking debut novel that drew me in early and didn't let me go. I found myself thinking about the characters when I wasn't reading it.

I've seen a couple of different covers for this novel, one of which says "a love story" on the cover. Yes there is a love story in here, but I probably found that to be the least compelling aspect of this novel. Really, this is a novel about two people from very different backgrounds - Mira from India and Tahliil from Somalia - both of whom end up living in Leicester, England, attempting to forge a new life for themselves in very difficult circumstances.

Mira lives with her husband Rajiv and his parents, after she enters into an arranged marriage and moves to Leicester to be with her new husband. Rajiv is in love with someone else however, and Mira's mother in law lives a life in denial of all that is wrong under her family's roof.

Tahliil is a Somali asylum seeker, who made a traumatic and dangerous journey by boat from Libya to Europe with his sister, to be reunited with their mother in Leicester.

Mira and Tahliil meet at work and form an almost instant connection which grows stronger over time. In alternating sections told from the perspective of each of them, we get to know them, their hopes and fears, their innermost thoughts and how their formative journeys have brought them to this moment. The prose is spare and not in any way embellished, but this isn't a straightforward read - the crispness of the words chosen by the author hides a depth of emotion, particularly as the story reaches its climax.

I tend to find myself drawn to books like this - books that reminds the reader we are all human, with complex emotions and vulnerabilities, and if we live happy, settled, comfortable lives, it is mostly by accident of birth that we are afforded such luck. Profound, moving and ultimately sad, this is one debut I won't forget in a hurry. Recommend. 4-4.5/5 stars

*Many thanks to the author, publisher Faber Books and Netgalley for the advance review e-copy in exchange for an honest review. Belgrave Road was published on 29 January 2026.

[Nae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you @williammorrowbooks for my advanced copy and @harperaudio for the audiobook, Mascuud Dahir and Ajayta Rai did a great job bringing Mira and Tahlill's pangs and desires to life.
Belgrave Road was a good book that pulled me in from the beginning. Mira is from India who moves to England to live with her husband and his family through an arranged marriage but things between her and her husband are very complicated, the love just isn't there. Tahliil is seeking asylum from his home country, Somalia, is now in England attempting to forge a new life in very different environment. There's forbidden romance within this story, but what really stayed with me was how deeply it explored immigration, belonging, and the weight of cultural expectations. It's tender, layered, and far more than just a love story.
I think I'd give this a 3.5 stars mainly because of the ending, I wanted more closure with how it all ended for these people.

[Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my usual kind of read, but one that I very much enjoyed. Though having it set in a place I know certainly helped. The characters are likeable and you definitely root for them as they go about their everyday lives and dream of a happier future. A promising debut and ripe, I’d say, for a BBC adaptation.

[Bukola Akinyemi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What begins as an immigration and asylum seeker story soon unfolds into a forbidden love story.

For those seeking refuge or a place to call home, there is hardly room for anything beyond survival, becoming a version of oneself that fits, that blends, that belongs rather than stands out. But love, indifferent to circumstance, has other plans.

This is the story of Mira, a young Indian woman who has just moved to Leicester to join her husband and Tahliil who has moved from Mogadishu.

This is more than a love story, it is a story about resilience, identity, independence, family and cultural expectations, loneliness and friendship.

I had a wonderful time reading this book.

[Dana K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to William Morrow for the gifted copy. All opinions below are my own.

[Victoria Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the subtitle of this book is “A Love Story”, there is so much more to this story than that and it certainly doesn’t follow a conventional romance. This story follows our two main characters, Mira and Tahliil, both immigrants to Britain who are trying to build a better life for themselves. Mira comes from India following her arranged marriage and struggles to find her place in this new strange world, while also exploring what it might mean for her to pursue something she truly wants. Tahliil comes from Somalia, carrying very heavy trauma, and is working hard to establish himself in this new place, support his family, and again, dare to consider what he really wants moving forward. Mira and Tahliil’s stories intersect well into the novel and their love threatens to upend everything they have and have built.

The alternating chapter perspectives, between our two main characters, allows our author to fully flesh their stories out and helps us know them as individuals before they first come together. I liked this structure and felt that it helped propel the story forward. Although the novel has enough plot points to propel it forward, at a reasonable pace, there are quite a few interior moments for these characters; I think the author did a great job at using these opportunities to shed light on the challenges, hardships, and traumas that immigrants face every day. She didn’t shy away from difficult topics and there were parts of this story that were very sad and heartbreaking. However, there were also uplifting, hopeful moments and had you rooting for the characters until the very end. The story does have a somewhat unresolved ending but, given the reality and nature of the situation at hand, it felt appropriate to me. This story was very well written and enjoyable to read, it was accessible and interesting from the start.

I would certainly recommend this book to literary fiction fans and contemporary fiction fans!

Thanks to NetGalley and Williams Morrow for this advance readers copy, in exchange for an honest review.

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Faber for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

This was another book I had pre-ordered but sadly had to cancel due to money issues, and if truth be told, I wasn't completely sure what it was about, but it intrigued me - and I am a huge sucker for a beautiful or interesting cover.

I fell for Mira. She's been wed to essentially a stranger, forced to move thousands of miles to a new country where she is not fluent in the language, she has no family there, no job. I won't even pretend to say I know what an arranged marriage is like, but Manish, he's written it in such a way that feels honest and authentic, without sensationalising it, but without pretending it's all sunshine and roses.

I didn't like to Mira's new husband Rajiv. I know he was going through similar things, marrying a stranger and whatnot, but he was at least still in his own country with his family and friends, and I felt he was selfish, only thinking about himself.

I also didn't like the second storyline between Mira and Tahliil. It felt very forced and I'd have preferred just to read about Mira's new life in England, rather than have this traditional love triangle going on.

This is what I would refer to as "literary fiction" and I generally only read that genre when it's part of an award shortlist or something. I have read some good ones but I am more a fan of thrillers, fantasy, romance books, and so I did wonder if this would be too "literary" for me. If I would spend more time thinking about its importance than actually enjoying the story for what it was. But I found it quite friendly to read.

I loved the cultural differences between the Indian characters and the English, and then the Somali, that was interesting. I don't know Manesh's background or heritage and it's not my place to ask, but it'll be interesting to know what his experience of the topics raised are, as I'm sure that would help give it more depth. I have some Indian friends and so have a rough idea of culture but the Somali culture was completely new to me and so whilst I didn't overly enjoy that side of the story, it was interesting.

It is a romance, yes, in the sense that there is a new marriage and romantic undertones. But for me this was more of a look at culture differences, newness, finding yourself and a sense of belonging - the romantic elements were almost in the background.

It's not an overly uplifting book. Yes there are hopeful parts but overall it is rather heavy and serious.

The ending wasn't bad but it was open ended, which generally I don't mind but in this circumstance I'd have liked it finished. It feels in this case that Manish couldn't think of an ending so just left it. I'd have liked to have known what happened.

It is an interesting story but I think the pacing is wrong. This is going to sound bad but I don't mean it like that, but nothing really happens. There's no big twist or thrill or big action piece, it just goes on its merry way through the story and it's well written. But because it isn't building up to that big moment, it often feels a bit rigid and stuck and mundane and therefore it does have a tendence to feel a bit slow.

I believe this is his debut and, whilst not perfect, it was still an enjoyable book to read and a very promising debut. I could definitely see it being made into a TV series.

[Candy I · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet, deft, lovely and heavy.

[Lisa Robison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A love story that took a turn in a different direction. It is about arranged marriages which can be a struggle itself. I found this book to be an interesting read.

[Book Addict Mands · Rating 3 out of 5]

This year I have joined The Tandem Collectives New Year, New Author campaign aiming to bring new and different authors to readers

Our first read was Belgrave Road by Manish Chauhan. I’ll be honest and say this was wasn’t a book I wouldn’t have picked up usually however I’m glad I did as I enjoyed it and it was great to read something different to what I’m used to. This is why this campaign is so good.

The book is thoughtful, emotional and draws you in and stays with you. The writing is controlled and perceptive, with a strong sense of atmosphere and emotional depth. I found myself really invested in the characters and their individual journeys and struggles.

This book isn’t for the faint hearted, there are complex and tough subjects discussed at length. I did struggle at points and need to come away from the depth of the story before continuing.

The ending was very open ended and I would have like more of a conclusion to the story but other than that it was an enjoyable read

#newyearnewauthornewme

[Uzoamaka · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well written story about two people from different culture, religion and status falling in love at work but it's forbidden since Mira is married to Rajiv and Tahliil is trying to sort out his status. I was intrigued by the way the female characters were portrayed especially by a male author. It was the men instead that didn't come out in a good light. I enjoyed reading the different pov from Mira and Tahliil and although I was not rooting for their 'love' I loved how the story ended.

[Sara]

At ston time there little flower grow to be kissed
fear nt to be diserve the life
feel nair of duty as heaive as any cary
lonly to make her heart beat another life
strugle to belgrave
alone betwen ston heart face wind beat
bird sing to me and pray
love nt make my prisnt complicated .make it clear
i will breath another free day
without duty
without fear
for free and learn
for love and gain
at strang land my heart ring another bill

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mira knew this wasn’t true. Neither her being the right person for Rajiv nor the assertion that two different religions and cultures couldn’t be united in love. The former she had learned to accept. The latter she had felt in her heart.

The author originally from Leicester is now a London based Finance lawyer, and has been a very successful individual short story writer to date (winner of the Galley Beggar Prize in 2021/22 among others and shortlisted for the BBC short story award in 2024).

Set in and around the titular Leicester road famous for its Indian restaurants, sari shops and jewellers - the later such a feature that it has the nickname Golden Road although neither this or the jewellers are really referenced in the novel which is based around a lower socio-economic level – this debut novel is at a heart a rather gentle love story, told in third party sections which alternate between its two main protagonists – Mira and Tahliil - who are throw together by circumstance, but which also serves as an exploration of both the legal (via arranged marriage) and illegal (via people smuggler) immigrant community in England.

The two main characters are:

Mira – from an Indian Hindu low-caste family – the novel opens with her travelling to England in her early 20s to marry Rajiv. Her initial impressions of England are that, due to the area she is living in, it seems just like India but also that Rajiv’s family are much less well off than she and her family had believed – Rajiv’s father’s 30+ year garage business struggling and surviving by family loans. She also realises fairly quickly that Rajiv was previously in a long term relationship, but with a Muslim girl with neither family approving off that relationship – and that he is still in contact and has feelings for her. Unwilling to accept a passive life as a bride (and anyway understanding that family circumstances are not what she had expected and that her idea of a beautician business are not economically viable) she first takes English lessons and then a job working as a cook in an Indian run food mart.

Tahliil is a refugee from war-torn Somalia – trying to get across Europe to stay with his mother (who is estranged from his now second-time married father) and with his sister, they are caught up first in a tragic mediterranean dinghy crossing and then a terrible assault/rape incident which leaves his sister resentful and passive while he actively goes out to get various jobs including one as a porter in a warehouse next to the food mart.

And from there the two are drawn closer together and we read of their burgeoning relationship against the background of (among others): Rajiv’s sisters lesbian wedding; Tahliil and his sister’s trials and tribulations trying to claim legal asylum (including involvement with advisors both legitimate and scammers); Tahliil’s other job as carer for an old English man largely abandoned by his family; the struggles of Rajiv’s father and how he increasingly takes them out physically on Mira’s mother-in-law; Tahliil’s mother’s bitterness over her husband; Mira’s attempts to prevent her sister taking an arranged marriage under the same false expectations and much more.

Unusually it is perhaps if anything rather too empathetic for my tastes – almost all the characters (whether its Rajiv or the potentially racist older man or his daughter) are ultimately portrayed sympathetically in their motivations.

It also for me lacks any real sparks of inspiration in language or experimentation in style as I would look for in a genuinely literary novel. Were the author female I would think it made an idea Women’s Prize book.

But overall this is a well crafted novel which I enjoyed reading over a couple of sessions. And – after some perhaps slightly forced melodrama - the book ends in a for me impressively ambiguous ending.

My thanks to Faber for an ARC via NetGalley

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut novel describes the immigrant experience from two quite different points of view. It begins with Mira's arrival from India to make a new life in Leicester with her husband. She's twenty-three, and this is an arranged marriage. In itself this would be fascinating for a reader from a culture where arranged marriages, apart from those on reality TV, don't really happen. What can it be like to suddenly share a bed, a home, a life with someone you hardly know? Mira has to remain married to Rajiv for five years to stay in England, if that's what she wants. Somehow you get the feeling though, there's no turning back - that she could never face returning home to India to be a disappointment to her parents.

Mira had hoped she could use her beauty therapy diploma to start her own business - she's bright and ambitious - but beauty therapists are a dime a dozen in this part of Leicester, an area that is surprisingly full of Indian people, Indian shops, Indian food outlets. It could even be a lot like home, if only it wasn't so cold. An opportunity arises for Mira to work in the kitchens of a sweet shop, where she makes friends with the other workers and where, across the yard, she first sees Tahliil.

Tahliil is a young man who has recently had a harrowing journey from Somalia with his sister and lives with his mother in a tiny flat. He's not legally allowed to work, has not even registered as an asylum seeker when we first meet him, but picks up several part-time jobs, paid in cash, no questions asked. He's diligent and well-mannered, so is kept on. It's at the cash-and-carry where he shifts stock, sometimes delivering grocery items to the sweet shop next door, where he meets Mira.

Mira begins to question her marriage. Rajiv is older and has a history with a woman who secretly texts him, and friends he sees without Mira. So it's easy to fall into a friendship, and then something more with Tahliil. The story includes Tahliil's struggles as an asylum seeker, the lengthy wait for his paperwork to go through, the worry that he could be sent home. The fact that he's Muslim means any relationship with Mira would be unacceptable to his family.

This is such a compelling novel, beautifully written, with its two very different characters, who find themselves in desperate situations. Perhaps an older version of themselves would think twice, but when you're in your twenties it's so easy to let your heart hold sway. And why wouldn't they? They've both travelled so far. Why would they settle for anything less than a life lived on their own terms? As a reader you can't help thinking of the roadblocks, and whether each has the fortitude for the journey ahead of them if they want to be together. This drives the story and keeps you engrossed to the end.

Other characters have their struggles too. Mira's mother-in-law seems to be eternally optimistic rather than seeing the reality of what's going on with her family, with her marriage. Rajiv's cousin Rupal is in a same-sex relationship she's completely committed to, but struggles to formalise before her family. Tahliil works for an old man who hardly ever sees his daughter, and is estranged from his son.

I found the setting of Leicester, with its huge immigrant population, quite fascinating, a place that must seem cold and physically inhospitable to those from warmer climates, and yet which offers opportunities and safety. Belgrave Road is a brilliant story, and Manish Chauhan really gets into the heads of his characters, making their lives believable. If you want to understand what makes people leave their country for new beginnings in the West and the struggles they face, this is well worth reading - a five-star read from me.

I read Belgrave Road courtesy of Netgalley and Faber & Faber (UK). The book is due for release on 29 January.

[Nish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Belgrave Road by Manish Chauhan is a heartfelt exploration of migration, identity, and the quiet courage it takes to rebuild a life far from home. What makes the novel especially compelling is how Chauhan intertwines two distinct immigrant experiences, each shaped by different histories yet united by the universal desire to belong.The novel doesn’t shy away from the realities of hardship—long hours, unfamiliar systems, and the constant pressure to prove one’s worth in a society that too often reduces immigrants to stereotypes.

Chauhan dismantles the tired notion of “taking jobs” by showing the emotional, cultural, and personal labour behind every step forward. His characters work not to displace others, but to survive, to contribute, and to carve out a future that honours both where they come from and where they hope to go.

Culture is the heartbeat of this story. Through food, festivals, language, and ritual, Chauhan shows how heritage becomes both an anchor and a lifeline. These moments of cultural celebration are not decorative—they are acts of resilience, reminders that identity can expand without erasing what came before. The richness of these traditions adds warmth to the narrative and deepens the reader’s empathy for characters who are constantly negotiating who they are allowed to be.

Belgrave Road itself is the perfect setting for these themes to unfold. It’s a place where diversity isn’t an abstract idea but a lived reality—where shopfronts, aromas, and conversations overlap in a vibrant mosaic. The street becomes a character in its own right: a space where community forms in unexpected ways, where acceptance is found in shared struggle, and where compromise and reinvention happen side by side. It’s here that Chauhan’s characters learn that belonging isn’t something granted; it’s something built, often slowly, through connection, courage, and love.By the end, Belgrave Road leaves the reader with a deeper understanding of what it means to start again—and why empathy matters more than assumptions.

Chauhan’s storytelling invites us to look beyond headlines and stereotypes to see the humanity, hope, and heart that define the immigrant experience.

[Hannah Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told from two perspectives, we first meet Mira in an airport having just landed in the UK from India, she is young and newly married to Rajiv, their’s is a marriage built on practicality more than romance, and leaves her feeling untethered, both to her new husband and to the life she thought she was beginning in Leicester. She is intelligent, hopeful and sometimes awkward. She is nervous and unsure, about a lot of things, but she is determined to carve out a place for herself within her new family and her new country, learning skills and making friends, building a real life for herself.

And Tahliil, a Somali asylum seeker navigating the daily uncertainties of complicated paperwork, cash-in-hand jobs, and a traumatic past he would rather forget. He, like Mira, has bravery and determination that have not been dimmed, no matter what struggles he has faced, and continues to face. However, he is not dramatic in the slightest, he is matter-of-fact, soft and calm in nature, which made the bureaucratic hoops we see him have to jump through more frustrating.

They meet on Belgrave Road, the Leicester street bustling with shops and vibrant with culture, which feels almost like a third protagonist, anchoring their individual stories (and those of the various side characters) with its rhythms, its smells and its crowded pavements. Their connection grows in the everyday things, in conversations that jump between small talk and deeply personal experiences.

The story doesn’t just stay tightly focused on these two though… Mira’s mother-in-law and Rajiv’s cousin challenge stereotypes and add richness and depth. Tahliil’s family and Mr Stevens too, show us that life here isn’t neat and tidy, it’s layered and sometimes surprising. I really liked how the story expanded outside of their little bubble.

More than just a ‘love story’, it doesn’t shy away from the loneliness, the anxieties around visa status and what it means to belong somewhere. But these are all written about as lived realities, they are complicated and human. I really cared about ALL of the characters... without any spoilers, I cried my eyes out in the final few chapters!

[mane cg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Belgrave Road is marketed as a love story, and it definitely is… but not in the cute, romantic way people might expect. It’s more of a messy, complicated kind of love story mixed with culture, religion, identity, and the reality of immigration.

One of my favorite things about this book was how much it focused on Indian culture, and how it explored LGBTQ relationships within that world. It didn’t feel like it was added for “representation points,” it felt like a real part of the story. I also loved how it shows cultural differences in a way that makes you genuinely curious instead of just giving surface-level details.

Mira’s story honestly made me sad at times. When she moved to London with Rajib, you could tell she was so hopeful, like she truly thought she was stepping into a better life and a loving family. And then reality hits, and it’s nothing like what she imagined. But I really liked seeing how much she grows, because by the end she’s not the same person she was when she first arrived.

Rajib was a complicated character for me. I didn’t always like him, but I also didn’t fully hate him either. Even though he didn’t love Mira, he still encouraged her to do things for herself, and I felt like he was also trapped by his own culture and religion in a way that made me feel bad for him.

And Tahlil… he was just a good man. You could see how much he cared for Mira, but also how hard it was for him to deal with what his culture expects from him.

I know the ending will annoy some people, but I actually liked it. It didn’t feel wrapped up in a perfect bow, but it felt realistic, and it lets you decide what you think happens next.

Overall, I really enjoyed this audiobook. It was emotional, thought-provoking, and it made me think about immigration and culture in a way I honestly don’t see enough in fiction.

[Diana Clough · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Love itself is never complicated, Tahliil. It’s everything that surrounds love that’s complicated.”

Mira has left India for the first time to live with her husband and his parents in Leicester. Encouraged to pursue the daunting prospect of gaining independence, she must first improve her English and find work. However, she discovers that she’s not the only one unhappy in their arranged marriage.

Meanwhile, Tahliil has been in the UK six months since leaving Somalia under frightening circumstances. He’s picking up as much cash-in-hand work as he can, while keeping under the radar from the Home Office until he is granted asylum.

A complicated love story between the pair begins after they meet at work, as they battle language barriers, religious and cultural differences, and in Tahliil’s case his own family’s refusal to accept their relationship. Chauhan writes about the reality of immigrants in the UK with such compassion without glossing over the casual cruelty so many are subjected to. The ending in particular is not one you see coming, nor is it one you want to happen, but depicts reality all too well.

Despite that, there are innumerable uplifting moments. We witness Mira grow in confidence and in changing her outlook to accept a gay family member, which could have only been possible thanks to the friends she has made since finding independence in the UK. It also shows her that love can usurp norms and traditions, and a future with Tahliil isn’t impossible.

All the characters are excellently written that I can already picture this book being adapted for screen. Plus, I love that the book is set in Leicester with so many iconic roads mentioned that I remember frequenting while I lived there as a uni student.

Big thanks to the publisher for an early copy!

[Renu S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Belgrave Road, the debut novel by Manish Chauhan. The novel centers on Mira and Tahlil. Mira, an Indian immigrant living in Leicester, England, is trapped in a loveless marriage while trying to adjust to life in a new country. Her world shifts when she forms a forbidden relationship with Tahliil, an undocumented Somali refugee also struggling to survive on the margins of British society. Set against the vibrant yet complex backdrop of a multicultural city, the story explores themes of love, duty, identity, and belonging. As Mira and Tahliil navigate cultural divides, family expectations, and the constant pressures of immigration status and social judgment, Belgrave Road offers a poignant and compassionate portrayal of immigrant life in Britain.

The writing is assured and emotionally resonant, drawing the reader in from the very first pages. One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its use of multiple perspectives, which adds depth and nuance to the story and allows the characters to feel fully realized. Through this approach, I truly felt immersed in the main characters’ journeys, as though I were walking alongside them through their moments of hope, fear, and longing.

By the end of the novel, I was left hoping that this would not be my last encounter with Chauhan’s characters or his storytelling voice. The emotional depth and thoughtful exploration of complex social issues make Belgrave Road a memorable debut, and I would be eager to read a sequel or any future novels by Manish Chauhan. His ability to blend intimate personal stories with broader cultural themes suggests a promising and compelling literary career ahead.

Note: Received an ARC via Netgalley.

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed this one. First off, the cover is so gorgeous!!

Belgrave Road tells the story of Mira, who moves to England from India after marriage to be with her husband and in-laws. It isn’t a love marriage by any means, but she’s hopeful that one day it will be, as she adjusts to a whole new life. It’s also the story of Tahliil, who escaped Somalia with his sister to come live with their mother in England. He’s determined to make a better life for himself and his family, but is also facing challenges in a new world he isn’t used to.

Their paths cross by chance, as they happen to work next door to each other, and what begins as tentative smiles and waves to each other progresses into an easy friendship and eventually, as they realize they have more in common than they initially realize, feelings for each other. This is complicated in a multitude of ways: they’re from different countries, different religions, and of course the most obvious one, Mira is married to someone else.

There is so much heart and care that is put into this book. Yes, it’s a love story but it’s so character driven that Mira and Tahliil feel like real people. I’m usually not a huge fan of books with cheating storylines but this one I give a pass for reasons that are obvious once you read the book. I would LOVE to see this adapted to screen one day, it’s such a beautiful story of two people’s lives that are intertwined in the most organic of ways. Having a set of chapters in one person’s POV and then switching is such a smart way to get the reader really invested. There’s so much detail in both of their stories that you know exactly who these people are and why they make the decisions that they do.

The one thing I will say is, I’m unsure how I feel about the ending- I think I need to sit with it for a bit. But this is definitely a book I’ll be thinking about long after I’ve finished reading it. It’s a really, really solid first novel for Manish Chauhan- I genuinely could not believe that this was a debut. It’s unbelievably well written and I know it’s one that I’ll be reading again.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Belgrave Road by Manish Chauhan explores the crossroads of cultural and family expectations and personal needs, showing how tradition, love, and autonomy often exist in tension. The story thoughtfully examines how much of a woman’s life is expected to revolve around marriage and children, captured in moments like when Mira reflects on how rarely Rajiv’s relatives ask her anything meaningful that does not center on those topics.

Mira is a strong, independent thinker who, despite her upbringing and cultural expectations, is clearly on a pursuit of happiness and fulfillment on her own terms. Her reflections on love and marriage were especially compelling, including her realization that she once believed marriage was a guarantee of love, only to see how much of a myth that can be. The novel balances this insight with humor and self-awareness, from the sharp observation that “if you can get your mother-in-law on your side, you’ve won” to the candid admission, “when I was 24, I didn’t know my ass from my elbow.”

The dual narration by Mascuud Dahir and Ajayta Rai added depth and emotional nuance to the audiobook, bringing the characters’ inner lives to the forefront. One of the lines that lingered with me most was the reminder that “love itself is never complicated, it’s everything that surrounds love that is complicated,” which felt central to the story’s message.

The ending was open to interpretation, a fitting choice for a novel rooted in growth, choice, and the ongoing process of self-discovery.

[Fay Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a book that put me directly in Mira and Tahliil‘s shoes. It was thought-provoking, at times heart-breaking and utterly full of beauty in the ordinary. I especially think it’s the perfect book for right now in the UK. I think people have a lot of opinions about who does and doesn’t ‘deserve‘ to be in this country, without any understanding as to why people might be here. I almost wish this could be made into compulsory reading in schools to help teenagers understand that at their core people are just people. I already know I will be recommending to everyone (and probably buying as gifts). I especially liked getting a deeper understanding of how things like the ending (which I won’t spoil) actually end up happening.

It also gave me context on the culture of previous patients when I was a nurse. I had patients that were on asylum and outside of hospitals were living in hotels. Patients that couldn’t speak any English. And they often weren’t able to communicate with us without an interpreter, so we were never able to hear some of their experiences. But the bits we were able to hear had a lot of overlaps with the stories of Mira and Tahliil.
I am so grateful to have found this book, and I hope to find more like it. The ending isn’t what I wanted for them. I want so much more for them, but it was somewhat hopeful for the future.

Thank you so very much to the New Year, New Author book club from Tandem Collective and to Faber for sending me a copy of this lovely book🧡

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a full on love story, not one of my usual lol romantic comedies but a book oodling with love, love and more love ( for example Mira prefers Tahliil to eat his Aero than share it because she gets more pleasure watching him eat than her eating it herself, that full on heady giddy love )

But yep Mira and Tahliil meet and fall in love, however Mira is Indian and ends up in Leicester ( from India ) via an arranged marriage, stuck in a loveless life and living with her in laws,Tahliil is Somalian and living hand to mouth with his domineering Mum and Sister ( who has her own trauma re their journey via Libya to the UK )

And basically ne’er the 2 should meet, but they do and they want to be together

Sigh, I wanted them to be together, I was convinced by their love and passion but so much was ‘in the way’

The book is very honest and truthful and not an exercise in preaching re Refugee status but more of an insight into the problems this brings with a helping of dark and poignant remarks and thoughts and insights

My only mini grumble would be the rushed ending as had invested in their lives, it didn’t spoil the book but wish had been more conclusive

Very different again for me but immensely readable and chosen as liked the cover and hadn’t even read the blurb, so was surprising on many levels

[Fiona Barnett · Rating 2 out of 5]

The novel begins when Mira arrives from India to begin her life in Leicester with her husband Rajiv, whom she married some months before in an arranged marriage. Mira moves in to Rajiv’s home, where he lives with his parents. Life begins, but it proves to be a hard life in so many ways: her husband remains emotionally attached to a previous girlfriend, her English is poor, money is tight in the family, there is unaddressed domestic violence in the home between her in laws.

Then, she meets Tahliil, a Somali asylum seeker who has escaped his horrific life in Somalia and, after a shocking journey to the UK with his sister, settled here with their mother. Life for Tahliil is also very tough. He needs to seek asylum, earn and save money, suffer and endure the constant setbacks and prejudice.

Tahliil and Mira fall in love and plan a future together…

Unfortunately, I was not a fan of this novel. I found it dull, notwithstanding the subject matter. Sub plots were “thrown in”, such as the domestic violence between Mira’s in laws, her mother in law’s mental health issues, a gay marriage. These sub plots felt gratuitous somehow and I also did not sense the passion between Mira and Tahliil. The ending was abrupt, leaving too many important unanaswered questions.

I’m sorry to say I was glad to get to the end ☹️

[Humaira · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is incredibly atmospheric and it made me think about the immigration and refugee experience.

Mira is a complex character who seeks a relationship with her new husband but he’s already in love with someone else.

Talieel seeks a better life but is relegated to the shadows as he seeks to gain legitimacy through asylum.

When these two meet and start a relationship it sets off a chain of events neither could have predicted.

Overall this novel asks a lot of questions but I was a little disappointed at some of the lack of development with the characters especially Rajiv, Mira’s husband.

When Mira talks to her parents in India and Talieel talks to his father, their version of their experiences is hidden behind a wall of smiles to make the people back home feel that they are living a better life than they had there but in reality, being an immigrant is very hard. And add a language barrier, and it becomes even more difficult.

The author writes amazingly well and clearly did their research into the Somali community which comes across well in this book.

Both characters have hopes and aspirations for the life they could live, but circumstances change their perspective as the story goes on.

Overall, this is not a book I would have picked up but I’m glad I got the opportunity to try a new author thanks to the Tandem Collective’s New Year, New Author book club.

[William Carleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Even though it had no plot whatsoever! Instead, it was about two immigrants who meet improbably and bond by choosing one another in life and family circumstances that afford no choices!

The ending was harsh. I suppose there was a political point there, that a Western country in its way can be as nasty as a third world one.

The narrative was is third person, flipping back-and-forth between the “protagonists,“ Mira and Tahlill. Each of them well drawn. The best characterization, though, I think, is of Rajiv, Mira’s very unlikable husband. A villain, surely, but broken, compromised, taking the escapes that assimilation affords him. Lots of insight there that may have been the author’s as much as Mira’s.

The syntax is sometimes awkward, but often correctly so.

Some good pithy similes and word sketches. Examples:

". . . there was a sense of possibility that he carried with him, like a wallet or a set of keys." (p 43, Faber)

"He was a round bubble of a man, with a face permanently on the cusp of a smile. When he spoke, his body jiggled with laughter, as though joy lived very close to the surface of his skin." (pp 90-91, Faber).

He has a bad habit or two. Well, one I can call to mind: he has an insignificant character shield himself from falling rain with his hands, after using this device previously as a character trait of Tahlil's. That dilutes the figure and breaks the suspension of disbelief.

[Nimrit Rajasansi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mira has arrived in Leicester as a newlywed 23-year-old, but she had an arranged marriage, and the more time she spends with her husband Rajiv and his family, the more she realises they lied about a lot of things. For one, he is in love with someone else, also the family are not as wealthy as they said they were when they saw Mira in India before their wedding. Now Mira will need a job to have some independence, good thing she can cook.

Tahliil has had a harder journey to Leicester, living as an illegal immigrant who is seeking asylum, having had a perilous journey from Somalia with his sister. Tahliil just wants to work hard to earn enough money for a good life, for himself and his mum and sister. When he manages to find an off-the-books job at a cash & carry, Tahliil feels one step closer to the life he wants. Then he spots Mira over the fence at work. Thus blossoms a love between two souls who feel so out of place in this heaving multi-cultural city…Leicester.

I know what you are thinking, but Mira is already married – yes I am aware, and I would never condone having an affair however, their love is innocent, beautiful, raw and emotional, a love story for the generations, but it didn’t feel like the cheesy, cliched romances, merely the soft, emotional and real deep love. Where two souls meet across race, background and boundaries.

The narrative flips between the two of them, so you really live in their shoes and understand their backgrounds and motivations in life. You feel their feelings alongside them, the heartbreak, betrayal, the surprising friendships they build. You also understand how they feel in a new country and how they feel about being “foreign” ….a true look at the immigrant experience.

One of my favourite things about this novel is the relationship between Mira and her Mother-in-Law – forever in Indian culture the dreaded MIL rears her ugly head, abusing, gaslighting and interfering in her son and DIL’s relationship. So, to read this story and see a MIL and DIL have genuine affection for each other was something special to read. The author did an amazing job in smashing this stereotype right down and giving us a different spin on this classic relationship in Indian culture. This felt so relatable to me, as I have an amazing relationship with my own MIL, so I know these relationships are real and can be achieved!

Behind the main love story between Mira and Tahliil, there was a background love story happening… between the author and Leicester. As my mum is from Leicester and I have a lot of family there, I could relate to the places referenced and felt a genuine love for the multi-cultural and booming city.

What a beautiful debut and I look forward to more from this author!

Favourite Quote:

“In the end, he put it down to the fact that they were both strangers in a foreign land. United in their foreignness and in their bravery, the world having cast itself anew once more for their benefit, to be felt and understood as if for the first time.”

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own..

Oooo this was an impressive debut. The writing style was evocative and emotional, the characters were fleshed out and provided substance to the story, and the plot itself was heartbreaking. I loved Mira as a character, her pain and fear felt so real as I was reading her parts of the story. Tahliil was similarly full of depth and his portions felt difficult to get through at an emotional level. I think that the depth and empathy for the characters did go a little bit too far, as even the antagonists were people that you felt for. I love that the subtitle was “A Love Story” because reading it, the actual on-page romance doesn’t feel too important, until you think about it deeper. There were so many different types of love shown within this book, and I think the slower pace allowed for the introspection to come to that conclusion. I will definitely be reading more of Manish Chauhan’s books as he releases more. This was a beautiful debut.

[Luv2TrvlLuvBks · Rating 3 out of 5]

“That's what fiction is for. It's for getting at the truth when the truth isn't sufficient for the truth.”

Mira and Tahliil's fictional story releases so many truths that reality too often avoids. There's the discrimination ethnic communities possess for other communities. Or, the preying on an already vulnerable population seeking to gain a foothold in their adopted country, only to be scammed. There's also the domestic violence in immigrant households that takes a backseat to financial stability.

These are just a few of the many topics exposed in this novel. The author weaves these stories in well but the writing style is a bit stilted. The prose read like a woodpecker pecking away in short bursts rather than an eagle gliding in the wind. The latter is what reduced this reader's rating from a four star to a three star.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, William Morrow via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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