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Belgrave Road

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Belgrave Road

By: Manish Chauhan
Narrated by: Ajayta Rai, Mascuud Dahir
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'Exquisite and unputdownable.' RACHEL JOYCE
'A rare joy.' SARAH MOSS
'Remarkable.' JO BROWNING WROE
'A modern tale of love blossoming in unlikely circumstances.' AUBE RAY LESCURE

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 lives: 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?

©2026 Manish Chauhan (P)2026 Faber & Faber Contemporary
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I loved this book. The characters are totally believable and it deals with the harsh realities of being an outsider in a very sympathetic way. The two main characters both have different but hard struggles to overcome. It doesn’t shy away from the grim reality of being an outsider (racism both individual and institutionalised, misogyny and domestic violence included) in the UK but I was rooting for them to succeed against the odds. I was sad when it finished I was enjoying the writing and their stories so much. Great narration too. Thank you for this book

Beautiful story of love defying cultures and hardships

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This unexpected, tender connection between a Somali asylum seeker and an Indian woman in an arranged marriage is rare and deeply moving. This beautifully written story explores identity, cultural expectations, trauma, and resilience. Their genuine connection breaks through cultural constraints, reminding us that love can thrive in the most unexpected places. It even softened my old, skeptical heart. If you want a story that stays with you, this is it. Five stars.

I couldn't put it down... Utterly addictive...

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A wonderful love story of two unexpected souls who find each other in the multicultural city of Leicester.

The meticulous detail painted by Manish Chauhan immerses you into a world of two people who through circumstances find each other, facing the difficulties of their harsh reality in the hope to find a better future. A love letter to Leicester where you are transported to those exact same places and are on the journey with the characters.

Beautifully recited by two amazing performers.

Highly recommend

An unapologetic love story and love letter to Leicester

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I came to Belgrave Road by Manich Chauhan via a review in The Guardian and, as always, I listened to it on Audible. From early on, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a comfortable listen — which is precisely what makes it so compelling.

The story follows Mira, who comes to Leicester for an arranged marriage to Rajiv, whose family live on Belgrave Road. Married life quickly proves disappointing, especially as Mira begins to suspect Rajiv still has feelings for an ex-girlfriend. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Tahliil, a Somali asylum seeker living illegally in the UK after arriving via people smugglers. What develops between them is a forbidden relationship loaded with risk, shaped by class, culture, religion and fear.

I couldn’t stop listening because I needed to know what happened next — but at the same time, I almost didn’t want to know. My imagination ran ahead of the story, and the tension between hope and dread is what drives the novel so powerfully. The narration by Ajayta Rai and Mascuud Dahir is excellent, with pronunciation and tone adding real authenticity.

This isn’t my usual kind of book, and that’s exactly why it’s so good. Five stars without hesitation.

Belgrave Road – A Gripping, Unsettling Love Story

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A book I shall be pressing into the pressing into everyone's hands. It got me in all the feels.

Awsome

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