Finding Belle

Paperback Published on: 09/04/2026
Price: £9.99
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Synopsis

'A gripping story of family betrayal, full of passion and anger … moving and memorable' Rose Tremain

‘Harrowing, poignant and ambitious … a definite for book clubs’ Nina Bhadreshwar

What will it take to uncover her past?
A lost child.

When Mivvi is young, her mother Belle is a puzzle: beautiful, troubled, and, terrifyingly, increasingly disconnected from the world.

A displaced mother.

Belle came to England upon her marriage, a whirlwind romance from the beaches of Mombasa to the English suburbs. But far from friends and family, her life and love affair began to crumble.

A family secret.

As Mivvi grows up in the shadow of her mother's illnesses and her father's absences, she must reconnect the pieces that her mother scattered. Can she uncover the secrets clouding their past – and in doing so rewrite her own story?

Travelling from the beaches of Mombasa to the suburbs of England and then on to the teeming streets of Kolkata, a powerful story of mothers and daughters, betrayal and madness and a child who must forge her own identity.

Publisher information

  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
  • ISBN: 9780008553098
  • Number of pages: 368
  • Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 26 mm
  • Weight: 250g
  • Languages: English

Customer Reviews

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Finding Belle
Powerful
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 curren... READ MORE
Anita Wallas
Finding Belle
A good read
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 Fai... READ MORE
Celia Short
Finding Belle
A Captivating Read
Finding Belle is a beautiful and disturbing story of family, friendship, betrayal and secrets. A book full of culture, heritage and tradition, however, is... READ MORE
Tara Brown
Finding Belle
Emotional Story
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 ... READ MORE
LindyLouMac
Finding Belle
Well written first novel
I was very pleased to have the chance to read of this book, the first novel by journalist Reeta Chakrabarti. The titular Belle is a woman of Indian heri... READ MORE
Geraldine Smyth
Finding Belle
A compelling tale
Finding Belle is a well-constructed story that explores a mother-daughter relationship that is strained. At first appearance, Belle is an immigrant who has... READ MORE
Gerry Lee
Finding Belle
Beautiful and tragic
In an unbelievable debut, Chakrabarti draws together many threads of story—from Mombasa to Milton Keynes, interracial relationships, mental health, fractur... READ MORE
Huttson Lo
Finding Belle
Finding Belle by Reeta Chakrabarti
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 a... READ MORE
Christine Rennie
Finding Belle
On understanding why people are as they are
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 underst... READ MORE
Penelope Swithinbank
Finding Belle
The search for a parent
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 ... READ MORE
Jayne Southern
Finding Belle
Moving
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... READ MORE
Emma Renshaw
Finding Belle
Excellent debut novel
Gripping page turner of a book, excellent writing, Descriptions of the characters are second to none, you feel as if you get to know them personally. A ... READ MORE
Julie Watt
Finding Belle
Fascinating exploration of family relationships and racism
A fascinating book , not a light hearted read but informative and sensitively written . Great insight into how cultural differences, mental health issues ... READ MORE
MJS
Finding Belle
Finding belle
Troubling for the child a mother misplaced and anxious the trials of growing up with added grief on her side. Doubtful itll get better for her with an over... READ MORE
Claire Flanagan
Finding Belle
A powerful first novel
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 v... READ MORE
Valerie Thirkettle
Finding Belle
Poignant debut novel
This is the poignant story of Belle who travelled to the UK from Mombasa after her marriage to Fairfax, a friend of her parents. The narrator is Belle's da... READ MORE
Shirley Sinha
Finding Belle
A beautiful yet tragic story.
A beautifully written story of family heartbreak and betrayal, taking you from Kenya, to England and then India. Mivvi has a tricky relationship with he... READ MORE
Marie Kane
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
Finding Belle
Five stars!
Finding Belle by Reeta Chakrabarti is a poignant and beautifully written novel about family, identity, and the impact of mental illness. At its heart is Mi... READ MORE
The Secret Book Review
Finding Belle
A mixed-race family’s travails
I found this rather sad. The story is narrated by Mivvi, the daughter of a white father and Indian mother, Belle, who develops post-natal depression. This ... READ MORE
Jenny Hill