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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
bookishpip's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility
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
cadnams1994's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility
amyvl93's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I was really excited to read Olive as novels about women who choose to be childfree still feel few and far between, and I was interested to read something that grapples with this. However for me this novel missed the mark, largely because our protagonist was The Worst.
Olive Stone (yes really) has recently broken up with her long-term boyfriend because he is ready for children and she doesn't think she wants them. Meanwhile, her best friends from secondary school have all followed this path; her friend Bea became a Mum early and how has three children, Cecily is ready to pop with her first baby and Isla is struggling to conceive and going through IVF. In her role working as an senior member of the team at an online feminism website, Olive begins to explore what it means to be childfree. We also get flashback scenes to Olive and her friends from university through their twenties as their lives change.
I found most of the characters fairly unbearable, and from the start the lack of communication between this group of apparent deep best friends just struck me as unbelievable; Olive as a protagonist is deeply judgemental of almost everyone she interacts with (and covers this up by just saying she's a journalist constantly) which makes it somewhat unsurprising that she apparently has no other friends than three people she's known since she was a child. What could have been an interesting exploration of important topics mostly had me hoping that I don't turn out like Olive; whilst her friends were all managing to live family lives in London and the South East which are entirely out of reach for most other people.
There were definitely moments in Olive that rang true - Isla's deeply complicated feelings about fertility, a nightmare baby shower, Olive's first attendance at a childfree session and her early interactions with a new love interest.
However, it felt like there were too many plotlines that were introduced (Olive's heavy drinking, some terrible partners, literally any of her writing) and go no where - it's almost hinted that Olive's reliance on alcohol is 'cured' by the arrival of a new relationship. There are important topics within the pages of Olive, which will hopefully be picked up in more successful novels.
Olive Stone (yes really) has recently broken up with her long-term boyfriend because he is ready for children and she doesn't think she wants them. Meanwhile, her best friends from secondary school have all followed this path; her friend Bea became a Mum early and how has three children, Cecily is ready to pop with her first baby and Isla is struggling to conceive and going through IVF. In her role working as an senior member of the team at an online feminism website, Olive begins to explore what it means to be childfree. We also get flashback scenes to Olive and her friends from university through their twenties as their lives change.
I found most of the characters fairly unbearable, and from the start the lack of communication between this group of apparent deep best friends just struck me as unbelievable; Olive as a protagonist is deeply judgemental of almost everyone she interacts with (and covers this up by just saying she's a journalist constantly) which makes it somewhat unsurprising that she apparently has no other friends than three people she's known since she was a child. What could have been an interesting exploration of important topics mostly had me hoping that I don't turn out like Olive; whilst her friends were all managing to live family lives in London and the South East which are entirely out of reach for most other people.
There were definitely moments in Olive that rang true - Isla's deeply complicated feelings about fertility, a nightmare baby shower, Olive's first attendance at a childfree session and her early interactions with a new love interest.
However, it felt like there were too many plotlines that were introduced (Olive's heavy drinking, some terrible partners, literally any of her writing) and go no where - it's almost hinted that Olive's reliance on alcohol is 'cured' by the arrival of a new relationship. There are important topics within the pages of Olive, which will hopefully be picked up in more successful novels.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Alcoholism and Death
kys831's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Infertility
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
_leesey's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
4.75
Absolutely loved this book, and it mirrored where I am at in my life and friendship group. Relatable characters, real life circumstances and writing with heart. A must read if you are in your 20s-30s and going through a transition period.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility