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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really enjoyed this book. I liked Olive's character and the bond she has with her friends. I thought the book was a snapshot into that complicated time of life where people start to get married and have kids. Everyone is on their own schedule so it can be a complicated time for friendships and Olive's situation is even more complicated because she has decided she does not want kids. You see how everyone struggles with their decisions in the book, even the more "typical" ones. But you also see how hard it can be to go against the grain. I thought the book was very realistic in terms of how complicated it must be to decide to be childfree by choice. Even though the decision makes complete sense. Olive has to come to terms with her decision and really fight for others to understand her and not chalk it up to a phase. I don't know much about the childfree by choice movement, but I am glad it exists to support people who make that choice. I highly recommend reading the book to learn about Olive's story.
*3.5 stars*
I’ll be honest - I’m quite conflicted about this book. I loved the storyline and the ideas behind the narrative. I loved that the characters were open about their emotions, their guilt, their struggles. I loved that so many different versions of motherhood were highlighted, including those who are desperate for children but haven’t been able to conceive. I loved that Olive’s journey to her ultimate decision wasn’t rigid or closed-minded and that she was able to question herself.
However, I didn’t find myself really liking any of the characters. I felt like every character, bar Olive’s partner at the end, was selfish and boring. No one had a distinct voice, and I found myself gritting my teeth every time Olive and her “friends” were together. If my friends and I treated each other the way the women in this book treated each other... well, I don’t think we’d be friends anymore. Everyone seemed to lack empathy and there was a lot of emotional manipulation that I was just not here for.
Whilst this was certainly a gallant effort at exploring the multifaceted realities of motherhood, having children and making the choice not to, it fell short for me. I was expecting big things from this novel and unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver.
When to Read - If you don’t want children and want a relatable read.
I’ll be honest - I’m quite conflicted about this book. I loved the storyline and the ideas behind the narrative. I loved that the characters were open about their emotions, their guilt, their struggles. I loved that so many different versions of motherhood were highlighted, including those who are desperate for children but haven’t been able to conceive. I loved that Olive’s journey to her ultimate decision wasn’t rigid or closed-minded and that she was able to question herself.
However, I didn’t find myself really liking any of the characters. I felt like every character, bar Olive’s partner at the end, was selfish and boring. No one had a distinct voice, and I found myself gritting my teeth every time Olive and her “friends” were together. If my friends and I treated each other the way the women in this book treated each other... well, I don’t think we’d be friends anymore. Everyone seemed to lack empathy and there was a lot of emotional manipulation that I was just not here for.
Whilst this was certainly a gallant effort at exploring the multifaceted realities of motherhood, having children and making the choice not to, it fell short for me. I was expecting big things from this novel and unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver.
When to Read - If you don’t want children and want a relatable read.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I totally understand that books need to have a focus and that, you know, this author was just trying to relieve honin, just on the conversations that this main character was having by herself. Yeah, about her feelings. And this was trying to be focused, but I just felt like, yeah, the book got a little too repetitive. And that I kind of got the point, and then I actually really enjoy that when she kind of stopped learning about it, I am just kind of hmm, I lived her life, which I think is also the point of once she stopped thinking about it so much just her living her life like things just kind of fell into. Place how they were meant too. But I' i just think it took a long time to get there and yeah, and i think it is hard, because yes, so okay, the focus of this book is about if a war on step a child or not she is at that age. All her friends are of a baby. She's like I don't know if I want to do this. I agree, like it's really hard. 23, make that decision, and it really is hard. Because it does kind of feel like in one cycle of a question because I', you know, there are so many other factors, and especially if you're a single person, and it's hard to really answer that question. Because yes. You don't know where like you and your future partner are going to be and like if you'll even be able to have a baby and you know all sorts of different factors. So the camera is gone, but I just think I guess it's just not my usual kind of
We follow this woman Olive. I can't even remember how old she is probably. I guess we see her different ages. But it's just her and the constant question of if she wants to have kids or dot all of her friends start having babies and of course, every time a kid friend has a baby, she's like, hmm, do I want a baby? And she's like, gosh, like, why don't I feel like that same urge to have a baby like what my friends are having? And yeah, yeah, it turns out it's because she doesn't want to have kids and turns out like that's okay and turns out like some people just don't want to have kids. And she's just one of those people, but it's okay, and she ends up meeting this man. Who has kids and his kids are older. There's like high school-age, and I think they kind of brushed over how that could be challenging, because she literally doesn't have kids. And here's this guy with 2 kids so obviously there is like, hmm, a lot of times he's gonna have to parent and then obviously like she's present now like They did not show a single conflict between the fact that she's dating a guy with kids and they guess they were in high school. They're older, but that does not mean they are like in their 20s, often married, like they still need to be parented and they still need it's time and attention, and like she was just like welcoming to the girls, and it was just fine. And I don't know, like there's just 0 conflict like If you look like, once you find the right die, everything will just work out and even though you don't want kids, maybe you could be a stepmom, like, why is that the solution like, I don't know. So, if you know it's fine, I just don't know. If this book goes for me.
We follow this woman Olive. I can't even remember how old she is probably. I guess we see her different ages. But it's just her and the constant question of if she wants to have kids or dot all of her friends start having babies and of course, every time a kid friend has a baby, she's like, hmm, do I want a baby? And she's like, gosh, like, why don't I feel like that same urge to have a baby like what my friends are having? And yeah, yeah, it turns out it's because she doesn't want to have kids and turns out like that's okay and turns out like some people just don't want to have kids. And she's just one of those people, but it's okay, and she ends up meeting this man. Who has kids and his kids are older. There's like high school-age, and I think they kind of brushed over how that could be challenging, because she literally doesn't have kids. And here's this guy with 2 kids so obviously there is like, hmm, a lot of times he's gonna have to parent and then obviously like she's present now like They did not show a single conflict between the fact that she's dating a guy with kids and they guess they were in high school. They're older, but that does not mean they are like in their 20s, often married, like they still need to be parented and they still need it's time and attention, and like she was just like welcoming to the girls, and it was just fine. And I don't know, like there's just 0 conflict like If you look like, once you find the right die, everything will just work out and even though you don't want kids, maybe you could be a stepmom, like, why is that the solution like, I don't know. So, if you know it's fine, I just don't know. If this book goes for me.
I really hated all the characters in this but maybe im being young and naive, really easy and simple to read (maybe too much so ? But realistic to how people talk) although it's raised some serious thoughts in my brain about not wanting to have children which has been interesting to discuss with people so would reccomend for this bit
I honestly don’t even know where to begin. I finished this book in about 26 hours, because I legitimately could not stop listening to (audiobook) this book. As a 29 year old woman who has been more vocal recently about not wanting to have children, I often hear the same criticisms said to Olive in this book. ‘Oh you’ll change your mind,’ ‘oh but what about your parents/grandparents, don’t they want you to have children,’ ‘oh but you’d be a great mom!’ Etc etc. Dealing with the guilt of my own life choices has been very difficult, especially the closer I get to 30. But this book put everything I’ve felt (guilt, stress, relief, selfishness, etc) about choosing a child free life in words. ‘Olive’ was almost a cathartic experience for me. Thank you, Emma Gannon.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
While mildly entertaining i just came away with an overbearing feeling of “what’s all the fuss about?”
I didn’t particularly like any of the characters and just had a feeling that none of it was very relateable despite me being smack bang in the middle of the target audience.
I didn’t particularly like any of the characters and just had a feeling that none of it was very relateable despite me being smack bang in the middle of the target audience.