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?
Whimsical but never frivolous, sweet but not sugary, deeply kind rather than merely nice. I loved it.

A life changing moment makes Bel realise that's she's almost alone in the world. She sets out to understand and to change this. Bel is an interesting extremely self deprecating character that you can't fail to like. A fun and funny life affirming story that you can't help but get on board with. A bit of a slow starter so stick with it.

The opening is very good. I could really feel Bel’s emotions about her treatment in the boardroom and know that I to have reacted in anger and frustration and made matters even worse. Likewise many of Bel’s realisations about her behaviour in the past.
As her life moves forward after her mishap she continues gain insights into the paucity of her relationships and works to understand how she drifted away from them, re-valuate and re-build the relationships that are actually meaningful and appointment. I found it very insightful.
It does contain a series of “prat falls” that aren’t comedic or funny and don’t add anything to the story being told.

This book took me a little while to get into and I cant really pinpoint why. I loved the range and diversity of the characters and the story gets moving from the get go.

The further in to the book I got though, the more I couldnt stop reading. A lovely heartfelt story about friendship, love and family. I laughed, I cried and I want to be pals with Bel and Devi!

An enjoyable book to read! Took me a few chapters to get into it but then I couldn’t put it down as I wanted to know how things turned out for Bel!
Really felt that I got to know the characters- Luke was my favourite! Loved how Bel developed as a person as she discovers there are two sides to every story and things aren’t always as they seem! Loved the humour and underlying theme of self-love too!
Great read!

This book dealt with some issues where there is racism and lost friendships.

Bel has an accident and this sees her change her mind about things that happened in the past. She usually does not have many friends and if she does she seems to lose touch with them. She reconnects with her friend from school Ama but cannot bring up what happened when they are 16. She also connects back with her sister Devi and niece Karen.

I thought I wasn’t going to enjoy the book but found it really interesting how they dealt with the racism. We see how it deals with her friendship with her friends from school how she felt they treated her.

It is a well written book and really enjoyed the main character.

Bel has a nasty accident that could've been a lot worse. She starts to think about her past relationships. particularly her school friends with whom she has lost touch. Getting in touch with one reveal lots of unpleasant memories from her school days, which seem to have affected how she deals with relationships now. Well written and thought provoking..

When you fall down an open cellar and wake up in hospital, your emergency contact is your exboyfriend.
Physically you are OK but mentally it makes you reevaluate relationships.
From family, work colleagues and old school friends. Looking back and forwards through the eyes of Bel, or Beryl depending on who you are with.
It feels as if I have made a new friend.

I loved this! Absolutely incredible for a debut! It has all the makings of a huge summer rom-com hit.
The characters are brilliant, I found myself really invested and needing to know more.

I absolutely loved this book. When Bel falls into a cellar and ends up in hospital she is in for a shock. as people and events surface from her past she is forced to face unresolved things. Maybe her perfect life is not so perfect. Maybe it's time for Bel to start asking for help. Funny at times and so relatable.

After a difficult meeting and a no-show, too,
Bel Kumar is texting, not looking as you should do.
She falls into a cellar and is knocked out
She wakes up in hospital wondering what it is all about.

Whilst not injured physically the effects of the fall
Make her rethink her life, relationships and all.
It starts her on a journey to reconnect at last
And to resolve things with folks from her past.

It shares events from the present and then
Recalls what happened when she was sixteen again.
It is a story of key events in her life
And how they impact now in times of trouble and strife.

A moving story with laugh out loud moments, too,
One in which the need to reconnect keeps shining through.
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review

This book took me a while to get into and I almost gave up but am glad I read to the end. Exploring issues that I am less familiar with, it was a good education in racial bias and social injustice. A good storyline as she reconnects with her friends and family following a near fatal accident. Enjoyable read.

In Case of Emergency follows Bel who after an accident finds herself reevaluating her life and the relationships within it.

It was a really interesting look at the complexities of female friendships and sisterhood in all its forms. It very much plays into the idea that the love of your life doesn’t always have to be a romantic partner it can be your best friend.

It was well written and funny, exploring more serious topics like racism, colourism and sexism in an accessible way.

My only real issue is that I found it much too long, the chapters seemed never ending and I feel like some of the side plots were unnecessary to the main narrative of the book.

A bit of a slow start.
Bel falls down a pub open cellar and ends up in hospital and then starts questioning her life, she has a good job and a small flat but is not happy and starts to confront people from her past some with good results some with bad, but soon finds out what matters in life.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

After an accident where an ex-boyfriend was called as her emergency contact Bel has to re-examine her life, her family and friends.
I will start off by saying that this book wasn't for me, but then again I'm not the target reader for this story, so have given 4* as it does deserve that. Normally I can relate to the male lead in a romance, however this isn't that type of book. This isn't a criticism, just an observation, instead it is Bel working out who her real friends are, how she can relate to her family against the background of being an Asian in Britain. Not always comfortable reading, but it did make me think about how I treat anyone who isn't from the same background as myself and also my relationships with friends and family
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

I really enjoyed this novel. It’s funny and I think we can all relate to it. I loved the main characters and thought they worked well together. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK and the author for the chance to review.

This was really different but a good read. It is strange how things can happen and bring your past back in your thoughts. I wont say any more as I don't wish to give the storyline away, you need to read this and find out for yourself. I am giving this 4 stars. Enjoy

Thanks to Netgalley publisher and author for this ARC

Bel is a young executive navigating life's troubles until, distracted by her phone, she walks straight into the open cellar of a pub. Crashing 10 feet to the ground, Bel wakes up in the hospital, disoriented and unsure about what has happened, to find that her ex-boyfriend has been called - because he is her emergency contact.

This was a simple, fun, easy and quick read. The perfect type of book for your holiday, beach, pool kind of read. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Bel Kumar has had a bad day - and it's only getting worse. After a disastrous meeting at work, she has an accident that almost kills her … and then wakes up in hospital to find her ex-boyfriend is still her emergency contact and is right next to her. She can't help but wonder, who should that emergency contact really be? Is there anybody she'd really trust enough to write their name in that little box? Maybe, if she looks back far enough, she'll find them somewhere in the past.

Jumping between her recovery and her recollections, we journey with Bel not only as she gets better after a devastating accident, but back into her youth to reminisce on friends, family, loves and losses from the past and present as she tries to figure out who her people really are, and where they've gone.

This story was heavily, vividly nostalgic and transported me back in time with ease, blending that sense of longing for easier days of our youth with the realisation of how difficult life can be, especially when you're trying to do it alone. Addressing the weight of expectations from wider society, family or even ourselves and making us think and reflect on our own life, and the people we'd turn to in an emergency.

Emotive and evocative, this story packs a punch but manages to maintain a light, easy reading style that would make this a perfect heartwarming summer read.

I tried to get into this book but it defeated me. Not my type of writing or storyline. Three stars because I probably shouldn't have requested it. With thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.