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msliz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An unexpected gem! A thoughtful, honest and nuanced exploration of societal expectations regarding having children, and the impact a young woman's decision to be child-free has on her identity, wellbeing, friendships and relationships. I wasn't a fan of the narrative leaps back and forth in time, but otherwise really enjoyed this and think it would be an excellent book club choice.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Eating disorder, Infidelity, and Panic attacks/disorders
overbookedmama's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Eating disorder, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Grief, and Abortion
mezzarella's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
As a woman in her mid 20s, who's often prodded to settle down or provide a family by strangers and family members, Olive by Emma Gannon is a relatable experience. The pressure to provide a family is strong for both women who do and do not want children. Adult life can be complicated. Everyone working and dealing their own struggles, it can be hard to find time to come together and simply enjoy being alive.
Olive can be very long-winded, judgmental, and lost in her own struggles. She forgets about promises she's told friends. She's lost in her own losses and emotional turmoil to properly support her friends when they also go through hardship. While this makes Olive come across as unlikable at times, I found her actions and thought process to be incredibly realistic. Olive is a complex, flawed person who is trying to find her place in a world which doesn't quite fit her. Learning where you belong is a universal struggle which any reader could identify with. In Olive's case, she is trying to figure out how her life fits in with the narrative of child-rearing. Her lack of interest in having kids creates tension in her relationships, friendships, and how she views the world around her. With some effort to find others who assure her that her life path can be meaningful without kids, Olive begins to truly thrive.
The feeling of sinking away from friendships was a real theme in this book, which defines living in your 20s well. As people begin to figure out who they are and where they see themselves in the world, it's natural for people to drift apart from one another. In some cases, people can reconnect. In other cases, people must learn to cherish memories and say goodbye. This was a very underrated subplot present in Olive, as many reviewers focused on the central themes and plot of the story in their reviews.
This book feels long-winded at times, repeating information that was already presented without adding a great deal of different perspectives or insights. This is meant to support the main thesis of the book, but instead hides some truly beautiful character conversations and internal dialogue that Olive experiences. In addition, the story is so singular in its message of living without children, I couldn't help but think about the amount of women that still do not have access to family planning resources. In the book, Olive has the choice to remain childless. Olive has a relationship with a man for about 9 years and has never once had to worry about access to contraceptives. One of Olive's friends is paying for in vitro fertilization visits. This book, which is set in the United Kingdom, comes across as written in the perspective of the white, upper middle class woman. While the story was fine and it's important to have a variety of stories and perspectives in literature, I would have loved to see someone challenge the idea that being childless isn't always a choice a woman has.
Olive can be very long-winded, judgmental, and lost in her own struggles. She forgets about promises she's told friends. She's lost in her own losses and emotional turmoil to properly support her friends when they also go through hardship. While this makes Olive come across as unlikable at times, I found her actions and thought process to be incredibly realistic. Olive is a complex, flawed person who is trying to find her place in a world which doesn't quite fit her. Learning where you belong is a universal struggle which any reader could identify with. In Olive's case, she is trying to figure out how her life fits in with the narrative of child-rearing. Her lack of interest in having kids creates tension in her relationships, friendships, and how she views the world around her. With some effort to find others who assure her that her life path can be meaningful without kids, Olive begins to truly thrive.
The feeling of sinking away from friendships was a real theme in this book, which defines living in your 20s well. As people begin to figure out who they are and where they see themselves in the world, it's natural for people to drift apart from one another. In some cases, people can reconnect. In other cases, people must learn to cherish memories and say goodbye. This was a very underrated subplot present in Olive, as many reviewers focused on the central themes and plot of the story in their reviews.
This book feels long-winded at times, repeating information that was already presented without adding a great deal of different perspectives or insights. This is meant to support the main thesis of the book, but instead hides some truly beautiful character conversations and internal dialogue that Olive experiences. In addition, the story is so singular in its message of living without children, I couldn't help but think about the amount of women that still do not have access to family planning resources. In the book, Olive has the choice to remain childless. Olive has a relationship with a man for about 9 years and has never once had to worry about access to contraceptives. One of Olive's friends is paying for in vitro fertilization visits. This book, which is set in the United Kingdom, comes across as written in the perspective of the white, upper middle class woman. While the story was fine and it's important to have a variety of stories and perspectives in literature, I would have loved to see someone challenge the idea that being childless isn't always a choice a woman has.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infertility, and Infidelity
Minor: Medical content
sarahkate22's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility
Minor: Eating disorder and Infidelity