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katharina90 's review for:

Olive by Emma Gannon
3.5
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.

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