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idekaleks 's review for:
So Thrilled For You
by Holly Bourne
The best way to describe this book? Pure drama. And when I say drama, I mean 90% of the story simmers with it. The four main characters, each with their own perspective, spend most of their time dissecting one another’s choices (usually not in the kindest way) while constantly reminding themselves how good of friends they are. At times, it’s frustrating to read - but also painfully realistic. You can feel the love and history between these women, while also seeing the cracks they’re not fully ready to acknowledge… until they have no choice.
Though it’s framed as a story about friendship, to me this book is really about motherhood - and the weight of society’s expectations. All four women are in their thirties, yet each faces motherhood differently. Steffi has chosen to be child-free. Charlotte is desperate to get pregnant but has endured multiple failed IVF attempts. Lauren finds motherhood much harder than she ever expected. And Nicki, already pregnant, slowly realises a baby won’t fix her deeper issues. Casati captures beautifully how women who have shared so much since university can grow into completely different lives, while still grappling with the same societal pressures and private doubts.
Secrets and resentments simmer beneath their friendships, and the tension builds in a slow but steady burn. By the time it erupts - literally into fire - the emotional intensity is almost suffocating. I could feel my pulse rise as the story spiralled, watching their friendships teeter on the brink of collapse yet somehow endure the flames. The pacing of that build-up was brilliantly executed.
Where the novel lost me slightly was the ending - I found it morally questionable and not entirely satisfying. And while I do enjoy drama, at times this felt a little too much. That said, it’s undeniably well written, with distinct voices and layered characters whose perspectives on motherhood felt raw, varied, and honest.
Overall, I’d recommend this to anyone in their 20s or 30s who enjoys contemporary fiction that digs into friendship, identity, and the complicated, messy expectations of womanhood.
Though it’s framed as a story about friendship, to me this book is really about motherhood - and the weight of society’s expectations. All four women are in their thirties, yet each faces motherhood differently. Steffi has chosen to be child-free. Charlotte is desperate to get pregnant but has endured multiple failed IVF attempts. Lauren finds motherhood much harder than she ever expected. And Nicki, already pregnant, slowly realises a baby won’t fix her deeper issues. Casati captures beautifully how women who have shared so much since university can grow into completely different lives, while still grappling with the same societal pressures and private doubts.
Secrets and resentments simmer beneath their friendships, and the tension builds in a slow but steady burn. By the time it erupts - literally into fire - the emotional intensity is almost suffocating. I could feel my pulse rise as the story spiralled, watching their friendships teeter on the brink of collapse yet somehow endure the flames. The pacing of that build-up was brilliantly executed.
Where the novel lost me slightly was the ending - I found it morally questionable and not entirely satisfying. And while I do enjoy drama, at times this felt a little too much. That said, it’s undeniably well written, with distinct voices and layered characters whose perspectives on motherhood felt raw, varied, and honest.
Overall, I’d recommend this to anyone in their 20s or 30s who enjoys contemporary fiction that digs into friendship, identity, and the complicated, messy expectations of womanhood.