With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio arc of this book, all opinions expressed here are my own.

Olive by Emma Gannon was an interesting read. It explores the different choices (and non-choices) life can throw our way in terms of motherhood.

Olive, Bea, Isla and Cecily have been friends forever, but their friendships are changing and struggling. Bea is a happy Mum of three in an unhappy marriage. Cecily is a new Mum struggling with all the postpartum emotions. Isla has health issues that are leading her down the IVF path. And Olive? She has broken up with her partner of 9 years as she becomes more and more aware that she doesn’t want children, so is CFBC (Child Free By Choice.)

Although I didn’t really feel a connection to any of the characters, I think this is an important book to have out there. As a Mum of three, and I was quite a young Mum, I hadn’t really thought about people not wanting kids. Life is, and should be, all about our choices no matter what they are. There is no right formula to life. We just need to do what is right for us.

Overall this was an enjoyable read. The narration was good. A solid 3 stars. The reason it’s not higher is due to Olive’s romantic choice later in the book. I felt that person was the wrong fit for how the rest of the book had been.