Cover Image: A Bumpy Year

A Bumpy Year

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I was getting Bridget Jones vibes from the cover and description but boy was I wrong. "Pregnant, single, dating" are the words on the cover, and the cover really depicts rom-rom/contemporary romance vibes but I think the cover was deceiving because I didn't get those vibes, at all. It almost read as a contemporary fiction. Patricia, "Trish" was also a very hard character to like. I did like the aspect of the found family storyline. Aside from that, I think there were too many storylines going on and I didn't find myself particularly interested in any of them.
2.5 stars rounded down.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

3.5⭐️

This was a cute story about Trish figuring out who she is and how to cope with life. You follow Trish along her pregnancy and the ups and downs that come along with life. This story is packed with chosen family, family drama, and acceptance for difficult things life throws your way. Overall, this was a lovely story and I would recommend to anyone looking for a mostly lighthearted story with the best girl friend group ever.

Was this review helpful?

Olivia Spooner’s A Bumpy Year is a fresh, funny and feel-good romantic comedy readers will be completely charmed by.

Trish Kirkpatrick never imagined that she would find herself unmarried, pregnant and not entirely sure who the baby’s father is. Could the father be her ex, Pete? Or perhaps her colleague, Elliott? As the three of them wait on DNA results, Trish reckons that she has enough chaos and complications in her life – she certainly does not want or need any more. However, fate has got other ideas when she meets gorgeous architect Scott on a plane to Tokyo and sparks immediately begin to fly…

As Trish’s bump continues to grow, so too does the stress! A heavily pregnant Trish finds herself forced to make an impossible choice about the person she wants to spend the rest of her life with and the woman she wants to be. Is she ready to make some difficult decisions and choose the path that will make her happy? Can she put her own needs first and everyone else second? Or is Trish about to make the biggest mistake of her life?

I loved this book! Olivia Spooner writes with flair, wit and candour and in A Bumpy Year has created a lovely heroine it is impossible not to care for and cheer on. Sprinkled with humour, pathos, warmth and charm by the bucketload, A Bumpy Year is an enjoyable, entertaining and fun romantic comedy perfect for Emily Henry and Beth O’Leary fans.

Was this review helpful?

A Bumpy Year is the perfect beach read! A light and easy ready that tackles sensitive subjects with ease and humility. Trish and her fantastic group of friends are a pleasure to get to know. My only qualm with this book would be the lack of romcom vibes, but then again I should know better than to judge a book by it’s cover!

Was this review helpful?

I was pretty obsessed with A Bumpy Year by Olivia Spooner and may have cancelled plans so I could continue reading this book. I loved the characters and their growth throughout the book. I also loved how Spooner navigated the issues of impending motherhood, mental health, and relationships.

Was this review helpful?

A Bumpy Year is an amazing and wholesome book that deals with quite a few different themes, including mental health! Whilst this book does contain romance, for me it was definitely a book about finding yourself, reconnecting with the past and the importance of having amazing and supportive friends.

I will not lie, at the beginning I struggled to like Trish but the more I read on the more I began to feel like that was the point as we got to watch her grow as a character and feel at home in her own body. Trish has an incredibly emotional pregnancy journey and is something I don't normally tend to gravitate towards. It's definitely opened up a new sub-genre for me to try!

A Bumpy Year is a fast-paced and, at times, hard-hitting book that focuses on self-discovery and dealing with trauma at a time where things aren't really going to plan. This story is one a lot of people can relate to! I do recommend picking this one up!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This was my first book from this author. It was a very wholesome story and though I was expecting a rom com style of story, it wasn't really that. It was a mostly enjoyable read overall but not one I would mark as a must read. 3 stars.

Was this review helpful?

This was a light and easy read, I finished it in an afternoon. The characters are relatable and the story moves along quickly. Probably best as a holiday read by the pool.

Was this review helpful?

I picked up this book based off the title and cover alone. It is marketed as a romance. From the cover, you get the sense of romcom. It is not either of those things and that really through me off. I think the concept of the story had such great potential, but figuring out the genre would have definitely made this book more successful. The book also ended abruptly without really a great conclusion. I would have liked an epilogue. I just felt like there were loose ends that needed tying up.

Was this review helpful?

This was a cute, easy read however I did expect a tiny bit more of a rom-com vibe based on the cover/blurb of the book. I loved following Trish’s journey, and she has the best, most supportive friend group. The book does touch on mental health topics that I felt help elevate the storyline.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of "A Bumpy Year" by Olivia Spooner.

I had such high hopes for this book but it really did not feel like a romance at all. It felt more like women's fiction? I also wanted a lot more character development within the book, or maybe a stronger focus on Trish. It was also a heavy read rather than a lighthearted romance. The synopsis of the book seemed fresh and new but the execution just wasn't there.

Was this review helpful?

Trish finds herself unmarried, pregnant, and her baby daddy is one of two men: her ex, Pete, and her coworker Elliot. There wasn't much I liked about this book. The characters weren't developed as good as they could have been, and the whole book just kind of felt flat to me. This was said to be a romance book but I really didn't see much of that in it. This book wasn't completely terrible but a lot could have been improved in it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

Was this review helpful?

This book fell really flat for me. There were so many characters that I disliked, and the romance was SO underdeveloped. I will say that the romance was definitely more of a subplot, but even so, I did not feel the chemistry at all. There were definitely some sweet moments in this book, but ultimately it didn't meet my expectations. Overall, I gave it 2.5 stars.

Was this review helpful?

This might look like a cute romance book but it's lacking in the romance department.

Our FMC has an amazing support system that I cannot fault but the romantic in me wishes we had more to obsess over in that department. If you’re looking for a book that follows a woman’s emotional journey through her pregnancy and navigates topics of trauma and mental health, well, then you chose well! Sure, it has an air of lightness and comedy. If you're looking for a single parent who's the dad romcom this won't be the one for you!

Was this review helpful?

A quick and easy read that I found myself picking up after a long day to unwind. The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book so much, the MC Trish is a mum to be with no idea who the father or how to navigate this new world. I think the way the character is written makes her hugely relatable. Another big plus for this book is the mental health representation its dealt with sensitively and I think any new mum needs to read this. I also think the friendships are written beautifully too and the complicated family dynamics. The only issue I had with this book is it ended too soon I wanted more, hopefully this means there is scope for a sequel - I genuinely can't wait to read more from this author #ABumpyYear #netgalley

Was this review helpful?

I read this book and at times it was funny. Trish is pregnant and doesn’t know which of the 2 men she slept with. Then she meets another man who she falls for. I did like the book but felt there was too much indecision on Trish part. She needs to figure out what she wants. This book was quick read but felt it missing something. Overall, the book was good and I am looking forward to see what other books this author has written.

**I received this book from NetGalley and publisher for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review .

I liked this one, I would recommend it.

Was this review helpful?

this novel sure was a whirl wind and it kept me on my toes! based on the cover and synopsis, i was expecting this to be a rom-com but it dug much deeper than finding THE relationship. i’d consider this novel more of the women’s fiction/self-discovery genre. i really admired trish’s determination, headstrong nature, and i’m all for women power… but i didn’t agree with all of her decisions. between pete, elliot, and scott, i was completely overwhelmed with all the men trish was keeping track of in her life. i kept waiting and waiting for her to accept the help offered from her amazing friends! yes, she’s independent, but i just wanted to tell her that getting some support doesn’t make you weak.

having said that, i enjoyed how the plot of “a bumpy year” doesn’t focus on the perfect relationship that is often highlighted in romance novels. i thought the characters were well-developed (i had my list of favorites but i absolutely despised pete!!) this novel shows how messy and unpredictable love is. i adored trish’s friends and how they were a constant factor in the craziness that was trish’s year.

Was this review helpful?

LOVED absolutely loved this one it was so well done and so relatable to a new mom. Highly recommend. It was quirky and fast paced.

Was this review helpful?