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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
An interesting and honest insight into the challenges of maintaining friendships when life choices bring you all on different paths. Olive has chosen a child free life and struggles to find a way to fit in with society and her friends who are all choosing to become parents.
Wow. I love "Olive". Hopped between the audiobook on borrowbox and the hardback copy I picked up in easons for a bargain. Honestly wish I could read all books this way!!
This is the first time I've read a book specifically about this topic. I'm someone who for various health reasons has been on a very different path than the people I started off with. I don't want children. Lord knows I've been asked many many MANY times when I plan to get started on kids. This book had me hooked from the start until the end, specifically the line about happy to hand babies back!! Frustrating at parts, but then again, very realistic.
Any shame I may still have had from previous interactions where I was grilled as to whether I hate children because I don't want one of my own, disappeared at some point during the reading of this book.
Don't know how this book will sit with someone who is on a different path than that, but between the various friends in this book, many situations in relation fertility are covered.
Now I'm torn between wanting to keep my copy or pass it on to another friend who could appreciate reading this
This is the first time I've read a book specifically about this topic. I'm someone who for various health reasons has been on a very different path than the people I started off with. I don't want children. Lord knows I've been asked many many MANY times when I plan to get started on kids. This book had me hooked from the start until the end, specifically the line about happy to hand babies back!! Frustrating at parts, but then again, very realistic.
Any shame I may still have had from previous interactions where I was grilled as to whether I hate children because I don't want one of my own, disappeared at some point during the reading of this book.
Don't know how this book will sit with someone who is on a different path than that, but between the various friends in this book, many situations in relation fertility are covered.
Now I'm torn between wanting to keep my copy or pass it on to another friend who could appreciate reading this
I’m so glad I decided to read this book slowly, I had previously felt like binge reading it but to appreciate these empowering women and their stories, I found it was best to slow down.
Olive, Bea, Isla and Cecily have been friends forever but what this book highlights is how friends can drift apart and all wanting different things for themselves but it also shows just how in times of need, these friends are there for each other despite their own issues.
I think the character I related to most was Cecily & I’m thinking this is because her story is practically identical to my life and feelings.
I definitely felt Bea was more the supportive friend, the one whose shoulder you can cry on and who won’t judge you but I also felt she was on edge around Isla and sometimes Olive.
I sympathised with Isla, I felt her passion and frustration throughout but I think we need a book that highlights her issues but also reflects her feelings that bit more.
Olive was by far the strongest. She knows what she wants and how she wants people to see her but even so, she’s supportive of her friends no matter what happens. I personally want to see more from Olive. Please can we make it happen?!
A definite must read that comes highly recommended to everyone.
Olive, Bea, Isla and Cecily have been friends forever but what this book highlights is how friends can drift apart and all wanting different things for themselves but it also shows just how in times of need, these friends are there for each other despite their own issues.
I think the character I related to most was Cecily & I’m thinking this is because her story is practically identical to my life and feelings.
I definitely felt Bea was more the supportive friend, the one whose shoulder you can cry on and who won’t judge you but I also felt she was on edge around Isla and sometimes Olive.
I sympathised with Isla, I felt her passion and frustration throughout but I think we need a book that highlights her issues but also reflects her feelings that bit more.
Olive was by far the strongest. She knows what she wants and how she wants people to see her but even so, she’s supportive of her friends no matter what happens. I personally want to see more from Olive. Please can we make it happen?!
A definite must read that comes highly recommended to everyone.
I reeeeeally wanted to like this book a lot, since I’m partial to the name Olive. It was pretty good yet Olive kind of annoyed me. She was pretty self focused and it was disappointing that she was so concerned about justifying not wanting to have kids to everyone. That seemed to be her identity.
Olive is 32 and child free by choice. While her friends become mums or are trying for a baby, she struggles with not having maternal feelings and being the only one who doesn't want kids. This sounded relatable and it drew me in, but I did not like this book. Mostly because Olive is a horrible person. Not because she doesn't want children, no one cares about that, but because she is rude to people, most of all her friends, she wears a baby on board badge on public transport to get priority seating and she still manages to feel victimized. Also what's up with spending months researching and writing one (1!) article for your "online magazine"? That's not how it works, babe. (See, I can talk like annoying, rich white Londoners too). The other characters weren't much better. The plot was just a random string of events with Olive moaning about no one understanding her. What was the use of her going to a holistic healer? What? She did redeem herself a little at the end, but this novel was just not for me.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
Look, the writing in this isn’t brilliant, some bits are very repetitive, others are very cliché, and some things just don’t need to be there at all and feel very forced (what was the gender-fluid, Uber part for?)
Also, Olive’s doubts about not wanting kids, and worrying there was something wrong with her kind of annoyed me. I would have loved it if she were super sure of herself throughout the whole book, with less “will I change my mind?”
That being said, this book is still an enjoyable read, a fair portrayal of women’s friendships and how things can move off track when your wants/needs differ, and an ok representation of the topic and people’s opinions of it.
Also, Olive’s doubts about not wanting kids, and worrying there was something wrong with her kind of annoyed me. I would have loved it if she were super sure of herself throughout the whole book, with less “will I change my mind?”
That being said, this book is still an enjoyable read, a fair portrayal of women’s friendships and how things can move off track when your wants/needs differ, and an ok representation of the topic and people’s opinions of it.
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
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, Pregnancy
Minor: Eating disorder, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Abortion
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated