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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
**Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of the audiobook for me to review for the release date of the paperback of this book! March 3, 2021
I want to start this out by saying that I really, really liked this book. As a woman who has been struggling with her sexuality for years, I’ve definitely thought about whether I want to have biological children. I am asexual and I don’t want to bring kids into the current world we live in. Plus, it doesn’t really appeal to me. I like children, for the most part. I just don’t want to have any myself.
Which brings me to our main character, Olive. Olive recently has broken up with her longtime boyfriend because he wanted kids and she didn’t. She’s surrounded by women who already have families, are pregnant, or trying to become pregnant. All she wants to hear is validation from someone saying that it’s okay that she doesn’t want children! But instead she’s hit with the “it’s a phase” and “you’ll want them eventually” talks. At one point, she is bluntly told that her feelings are not as important as someone who doesn’t want children, because there are women who are struggling to conceive.
There were a lot of characters who put her down and told her she would reconsider, but there were also characters who felt the same way.
I want to start this out by saying that I really, really liked this book. As a woman who has been struggling with her sexuality for years, I’ve definitely thought about whether I want to have biological children. I am asexual and I don’t want to bring kids into the current world we live in. Plus, it doesn’t really appeal to me. I like children, for the most part. I just don’t want to have any myself.
Which brings me to our main character, Olive. Olive recently has broken up with her longtime boyfriend because he wanted kids and she didn’t. She’s surrounded by women who already have families, are pregnant, or trying to become pregnant. All she wants to hear is validation from someone saying that it’s okay that she doesn’t want children! But instead she’s hit with the “it’s a phase” and “you’ll want them eventually” talks. At one point, she is bluntly told that her feelings are not as important as someone who doesn’t want children, because there are women who are struggling to conceive.
There were a lot of characters who put her down and told her she would reconsider, but there were also characters who felt the same way.
emotional
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Shit ending — thought it undermined the character’s development up to that point. Also Isla is a bitch.
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
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, Toxic friendship
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This book was fantastic. A really authentic and realistic account of sisterhood - the good and not so good and navigating relationships from teens through to adulthood. If you are purposely childless, this book is for you. If you want to be a mamma or are - this is for you. If you've ever struggled to conceive this is for you. But it's much more than just babies. I mention motherhood because it seems to be the most divisive aspect of the book. It really is about adulting and figuring s**t out in your 30s - work, life, love and making difficult choices. For me, the conversations and relationships were so relatable. Full disclosure: do expect themes in this book to be quite polarising amongst your friends :) I loved this book; though not one of my friends did!! I found this book honest, I've heard people say it's anti-motherhood? Huh? Why can't women just support other women whether they choose to have kids or not?? So weird. And frankly sad.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy