Reviews

Olive by Emma Gannon

mayanisma's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

poojagodh's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed Olive and found it refreshing that it tackled the important and often overlooked topic of choosing to be childfree, and how that choice isn’t always accepted by others. The book also captured the reality of life in your 30s, where everyone’s lives seem to be moving in different directions and at different paces.

Emma Gannon did a fantastic job of portraying Olive’s internal struggles, making her feelings relatable, while also allowing her to remain fully human – flaws and all. Olive makes mistakes along the way, but that only made her journey more authentic and engaging. Overall, it’s a thoughtful and insightful read that I’d definitely recommend.

daisyrichards7's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

inspires_mez's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

mrsjoc's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

readingwithgemma's review against another edition

3.0

This book has such an important message to it. Being child free by choice is something that many women make yet it is not seemed as ok. “How about a dog?” “But who’s going to look after you when you’re old?”. All these questions are challenged by fierce Olive who feels alone in her life due to the decision she makes to have no children. It’s such an important book and I love Olive’s character.

hanakow's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing

4.0

mellmeyer96's review against another edition

5.0

“You must remember that no decision is ever really the wrong decision. Because it's the decision you made at the time. Respect your past self and her choices.”

Let me start off this review by saying, oh my... what a read!!! I am absolutely kicking myself for letting this bad boy sit on my shelf for so long! WHAT WAS I THINKING!!! I'm calling it early & saying this is one of my top reads of 2020!

The story is based around Olive who in her early 30's has just split up with her partner of 9 years due to him being ready for kids & her not knowing if she will ever be. Her 3 childhood best friends are all facing their own difficulties relating to motherhood and family which is causing them to drift apart. Olive is diving deep into herself & discover who she is & what she is looking for in life.

Emma explores serious and sometimes 'taboo' issues with such a wonderfully light touch - she looks into subjects such as friendship, fertility, marriage, careers, relationships & the pressure society puts on women to be/act/feel a certain way. She writes with such empathy for all of the characters & gives a very realistic depiction friendship & the challenges that you can face as you grow older & lives change.

This story discusses all aspects of fertility & woman's choices with each woman dealing with a different scenario surrounding motherhood and family. - Olive feels as though she doesn't want children & that she never will, Isla has Endometriosis & is currently going through courses of IVF to hopefully fulfil her dreams of becoming a mother, Bea is married to her university boyfriend who she has 3 children with & Cecily is career driven who has just had her first child. Emma did a great job representing these different groups in such a raw & real way.

Overall, I absolutely adored this book. It did an incredibly job so candidly showing the many stories of women's relationships with the idea of motherhood & did so without any judgment. The themes in this book were tackled so well & the characters felt so real & human. Olive is a beautiful & heartfelt story of the many struggles woman can encounter when faced with motherhood & how relationships can evolve over the years as our lives change.

vanessasedgwick's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

m_mchaney's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful

5.0