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elenit96's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I know the book is titled "Olive" but I wished we had POVs from her friends. The way the book is right now I feel that they are not really fleshed out and they are kind of stereotypes. Also I'm not sure why Bee's and Cess's husbands were jerks - if felt like the book was trying to say "these women have settled but they are not happy, Olive's way is the way to happiness". (Although maybe I'm too young to understand these problems)
Lastly the book was supposed to focus on female friendship but I think the main them was actually motherhood.
Lastly the book was supposed to focus on female friendship but I think the main them was actually motherhood.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility and Pregnancy
Minor: Eating disorder and Death of parent
queensquiff's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
the_colourful_reader's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
4.5
Loved the idea, and characters! So easy to read and relatable
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility and Pregnancy
maddiela's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
I think this book healed my soul. It was so relatable, heart-warming and I wish I could be friends with everyone in Olive’s friend group. May not be for everyone as it does have some triggering content related to motherhood but to anyone who is currently in that weird part of life where half of your friends have houses and are expecting babies and the other half of your friend’s are still partying in university - you should read this book. Even if you aren’t on the fence about motherhood and next steps in your mid-20’s, this book offers so many perspectives about what creates meaning in life and that there is no right or wrong when it comes down to how you want to live it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility and Pregnancy
Minor: Eating disorder and Panic attacks/disorders
catsy2022's review
emotional
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
3.5
Rating: B
Olive is a contemporary fiction about the expectation of motherhood on women as they get older. Olivia (Olive) is friends with three other women, Cecily, Bee and Isla, each through different stages of their lives ending when they're 33ish. Cecily is a new mother at 28, Bee has three kids and Isla is trying for a child with her husband, Mike, via IVF. Outlier Olive doesn't want children and feels isolated from her friends as they reach different milestones.
This book was pretty light in plot given the circumstances. It's more of a slice of life, the characters each go through fights and trials as they try to understand each other. It was a nice read but didn't show me any other perspectives I didn't already have. The background breakup of Jacob and Olive was used to contrast how busy people get and how self-focused we all get as we get older, in that months have passed before anyone has any capacity to ask Olive about her life.
Kind of relatable and a little sad.
Worth a read if you're in this genre focus but nothing groundbreaking. I also found the characters real and enjoyable but like all contemporary fiction now you notice they all have high paying highly flexible jobs that allow them to achieve all their goals. Real people aren't all like that.
Olive is a contemporary fiction about the expectation of motherhood on women as they get older. Olivia (Olive) is friends with three other women, Cecily, Bee and Isla, each through different stages of their lives ending when they're 33ish. Cecily is a new mother at 28, Bee has three kids and Isla is trying for a child with her husband, Mike, via IVF. Outlier Olive doesn't want children and feels isolated from her friends as they reach different milestones.
This book was pretty light in plot given the circumstances. It's more of a slice of life, the characters each go through fights and trials as they try to understand each other. It was a nice read but didn't show me any other perspectives I didn't already have. The background breakup of Jacob and Olive was used to contrast how busy people get and how self-focused we all get as we get older, in that months have passed before anyone has any capacity to ask Olive about her life.
Kind of relatable and a little sad.
Worth a read if you're in this genre focus but nothing groundbreaking. I also found the characters real and enjoyable but like all contemporary fiction now you notice they all have high paying highly flexible jobs that allow them to achieve all their goals. Real people aren't all like that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility and Pregnancy
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Death and Eating disorder
emce821's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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
4.5
This book was a delight to read. The characters are lovable and relatable. I felt very seen with how similar my internal monologue is to Olive's. My only gripe was how much the years blended together, I at times wondered where I was in the timeline! However, this may be due to the pace at which I read, rather than the writing style.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility and Pregnancy
Minor: Eating disorder and Death of parent
katharina90's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.5
Enjoyed reading a novel about a female character who's child-free by choice. Also liked that we see a wide spectrum of experiences. Those who:
-don't want kids
-want kids but are struggling with infertility
-have kids and are struggling postpartum or have regrets
-have kids and are thriving
-are estranged from their adult children
-etc.
Didn't love the characters. Each of the four friends was self-involved and either judgmental or inconsiderate of others in the friend group.
A missed opportunity to write about women who meet their friends where they are, with curiosity and an open mind, and a willingness to be supportive even when they don't immediately understand the other person's choices or struggles.
-don't want kids
-want kids but are struggling with infertility
-have kids and are struggling postpartum or have regrets
-have kids and are thriving
-are estranged from their adult children
-etc.
Didn't love the characters. Each of the four friends was self-involved and either judgmental or inconsiderate of others in the friend group.
A missed opportunity to write about women who meet their friends where they are, with curiosity and an open mind, and a willingness to be supportive even when they don't immediately understand the other person's choices or struggles.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Mental illness, and Pregnancy
Minor: Eating disorder, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abortion
dixiecarroll's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
the writing is atrocious and the characters are not fleshed out - they all read very one note and the only topic these women think of is children (pro and anti). Parts of it really resonated with me, but not in the way the author intended lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
kobookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
2.0
I feel so conflicted about this book. In one way it made me think about my friendships etc, but mostly I’m just annoyed with the characters. If they would have just gone to therapy they could have avoided all their issues. But I guess it reflects real life situations. I was interested enough to listen to the whole thing but if I was reading it I probably would have stopped.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
michellek's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Infertility, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy