Reviews with content warning for Pregnancy - Olive

Read this in a week, so think that says it all! Was a great read, was very interesting to read and you really start to love the characters. Only issue was now and then you feel angry at the choices the characters make but that's part of the story.

Amazing book, would definitely recommend!

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idekfeebs's review against another edition

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Felt really disappointed with the execution of the story possibility. When I first picked up the book and saw it was about a young lady who was choosing not to have children I was so pleased to see some representation of someone who shared the same opinions as me but this could t be further from the truth.

I share no resemblance to the main character Olive like I first thought. It seems she is annoyed at her friends for choosing to have children because she doesn't want them herself.

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becca_thegrimreader's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? No

3.0

This is a book that I think will resonate with many people. I don’t think I’ve read a book that delves into being childfree quite like this, and I think it is an incredibly important topic that is discussed.

We meet Olive who doesn’t want children. She has recently come out of a relationship with her long-term partner due to her decision. Her three best friends each have children or want children. Throughout the book, her decision to not have children is faced with judgment and the response of “you’ll change your mind.” I think her journey through this book and learning to be confident with her decision is incredibly powerful. I think the section of the book that stands out for me was when she met like-minded people and got to hear their stories of being childfree. In that meeting, I think many peoples’ voices will be heard here and I hope that some readers will find solace here.

Olive’s friends also have their own issues. Not only does this book delve into being childfree, it also examines motherhood and the path to motherhood. Isla, one of Olive’s best friends, has endometriosis and is struggling with IVF treatment. Her pain and heartbreak during her journey are raw and visceral throughout the book. With Olive’s other friends we see that they too have issues in their lives which Olive doesn’t necessarily take much notice of.

I have a lot of praise to give to this book for the message it sends. However, there are a few things that irritated me when I was reading it. I do not believe that Olive and her friends are actually friends. They argue, irritate each other, judge each other, and don’t communicate their feelings or thoughts. I think that these four “friends” will annoy many readers, as I wouldn’t describe them as likeable. Each has their own problems and yet their “friends” are exactly supportive. I think this book is one that will divide opinion and is definitely one you’ll either love or hate.

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abbiemreads's review against another edition

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challenging reflective 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? It's complicated

4.25

Olive was a book unlike anything I’ve read before. It covered the conversation of motherhood and expectations so thoroughly and filled me with uncountable emotions that snuck up on me out of no where as I read further and further.

This book was leant to me by my 30 year old, and recent mother of a 2 year old, sister and I can’t help but think she must have been at the perfect cross roads in her life to read this. Despite the constant pregnancy announcements and the feeling of everyone I have ever been close to moving on with their lives, on crazy journeys and becoming more adult than I’ve ever felt, I think this book was a year or two early for me.

That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it, or that I couldn’t relate to the characters. If anything I found it resonated quite well, it was just asking questions and showing view points I imagine would hit harder in a few years time. (I did have a good sob at the first scene though - thanks to my sister not telling me it was friends leaving their uni house when I started reading this 2 days after I left mine)

But I know it’s one that I’ll be thinking about for a while, and definitely a book I’ll be looking to reread when I reach those milestones.

Olive, Bea, Cec, Isla and their friendship makes me so happy. Seeing genuine female friendships, with each character developed fully, warms my heart and seems to be everything I’ve been searching for in those 20-to-30-something novels about growing up.

Even if some parts seemed cheesy or predictable it’s given me incredible food for thought, starting a discussion in my own mind that I’m sure I’ll extend to my friends soon. Olive is a talking point and something completely unique to my usual reads, which makes me glad to have stepped out of my comfort zone.

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