Reason no. 364859403 why I hate men. Especially men in tech. This storyline was so frustrating—I just wanted to shake the FMC out of her own stupidity. But it wrapped up nicely at the end, thankfully.

(Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.)

Dark, tense, layered and emotional--Nothing Serious is a fresh exploration of modern dating and sexuality. Sometimes it was a bit depressing for me as a single woman in this really abysmal dating landscape but also relatable and left me with a feeling of solidarity.

Pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this book. Wasn’t too faced paced or slow placed where I got bored.

Nothing serious was a super interesting read. I loved the character study and the writing felt propulsive. I'd read more from the author.

I couldn't finish this one. Started strong and intriguing but veered off too far into hot-mess-without-redeeming-qualities territory, but somehow also with low stakes. I just couldn't stand spending any more time with the protagonist.

I won't be reading this. I've tried multiple times and haven't gotten into it. Thank you though for the opportunity. If I read it in the future I will come back and change this review.

Nothing Serious was a bit of an enigma. It wants to be a smart-girl book about a woman who gets drawn into poking around a woman’s death after she is found dead the night after she goes on a date with her best friend, who she happens to be totally in love with. But it didn’t really resonate with me. She came off as too obsessive, desperate and weak, and he was a bit of a sad sack himself, typical man too full of his own shit. Overall, I could take it or leave it.

I couldn’t finish this one. The premise had a lot of potential, but it just didn’t hold my attention. The characters felt flat and hard to connect with, and the pacing dragged despite the high-stakes setup. I was hoping for something sharp and compelling, but it ended up feeling more muddled than gripping.

This is a charming contemporary that balances humor and heart effortlessly. The characters feel real, and the story’s paced well, making it easy to get immersed. Some parts are predictably sweet, but that’s part of the appeal.

Overall, a solid 4 stars. An enjoyable read for anyone looking for light, feel-good fiction with substance.

I spent the first half of this book screaming, "Girl, let him gooooo!" into the void and the second half rolling my eyes and saying, "You deserve each other." At what point do you stop being the victim and start becoming the enabler?

My version of the synopsis:
Edie Walker has a great life by any measure—supportive friends, an enviable tech job, and her own apartment. What Edie does not have is a romantic relationship, or rather, a romantic relationship with Peter Masterson, an unexceptional man who she's been hung up on for the last decade. He breaks up with his girlfriend of seven years and she thinks he'll finally see her as more than a friend. (Spoiler: He doesn't, and he never will. Let this be a lesson to you, ladies. If he wanted to, he would.) Oh, yeah, and he might be involved in the accidental death of a woman he was dating. So, you know. The bar is in hell.

Um, what to say about this story? Edie finally, after way too long, grows a spine? (Even though, I'd say her grand gesture in the courtroom wasn't enough to redeem her.) The recipe for a happy life is: 1) get over your daddy issues, 2) let him go, and 3) realize you're bi? (Although, maybe that is more ubiquitous than I give it credit for.) At the end of the day, I learned nothing but enjoyed this well enough.

This is not bad at all. I just could not relate to Eddie. I have never in my life liked any man that much. They are like NPCs to me. So decades of being love, and not having a romantic relationship, is like something I can't imagine.
I can't wait to see what else the author does though.

An interesting take on the way you view relationships and the different sides of people. As an adult it is hard to make new relationships and you hold fast to the ones you have, but what do you do when something happens that tests everything you thought you knew.

I liked the first 2/3 of this book immensely -- I had no idea where it was going but I easily inhabited Edie and was rooting for her. The last 1/3 of the book was not satisfying to me but I still enjoyed this overall. I was hoping for more with the ending but I think this was so irreverent and such a commentary on women in tech. I really enjoyed this author and can't wait for more from her.

Nothing Serious comes out next week on February 18, 2025 and you can purchase HERE.

When messy, ambitious women meet someone who understands their layers, who sees and hears them and appreciates each complex detail, logistics are a mere afterthought. We spend our whole lives dealing with the complicated logistics of womanhood, dating logistics can be dealt with— easily. But men's self-acceptance doesn't hinge on whether there is a woman in their day-to-day who fundamentally gets them. In fact, if they are truly seen by a woman, they may have to confront weaknesses that society rarely requires them to consider. The mutual understanding some women seek can be the very thing that makes some men hide.

This book follows Edie who is still trying to figure things out. Edie immediately becomes drawn in by her friend Peter's date who dies under mysterious circumstances. Edie is then faced with a side of Peter she has not allowed herself to see before. Edie now has to navigate through the emotional and social implications of her relationship with Peter and with others around her.

I really enjoyed this book. Edie is such a relatable character. The pacing of the book was perfect.

This book was giving emotionally constipated girl summer, and honestly, I was here for it. I loved the dry humor and the way the main character flailed through connection like she was allergic to it. It’s awkward in the best way—like a text you regret sending but still reread 20 times. If you’ve ever felt like a ghost in your own relationships, this one’s gonna hit.

I felt like this book wasn't sure waht book it wanted to me, and maybe there were too many themes or topics addressed.

Edie Walker has very complicated feelings for Peter Masterson. They are 35, but have been best friends since college. Edie secretly harbors a big crush on Peter, but he has never shown interest that way, instead, he's always had a girlfriend. He's also way more successful than Edie in their mutual field of work. As the book opens, Peter is breaking up with his longtime girlfriend, and Edie has high hopes. But right away, he begins dating Anaya, who even Edie has to admit that she likes very much. When Anaya is found dead, fingers point to Peter, and Edie gets to work trying to prove his innocence. It doesn't go the way she thinks it will, and there's a lot of intrigue from all corners and all characters. This makes for a fascinating book with truly likeable characters that's very hard to put down. I look forward to recommending this title.

2.5 ⭐️
Insufferablecharacters.Strongfeminist ideas.Notmyjam

Kind of hated this book. Also, it could have been cut in half length wise.

This is a 4.5 star for me and to be honest, I'm not entirely sure why.

While I did love this book, I can't pinpoint what EXACTLY I loved about it.

Nothing Serious is set in San Francisco, and it reads as very San Francisco.

The plot is interesting, but felt like it fell a little flat at times. The characters are all pretty much unlikeable and very flawed and at times bordered on outlandish.

Again, I really don't know what drove me to enjoy this so much, but I honestly couldn't put it down.

Edie, the main character has an (unhealthy) obsession with her "best friend", Peter, which then spirals into another (unhealthy) obsession with Anaya, a girl that Peter is seeing. Which THEN spirals into ANOTHER (unhealthy) obsession with the murder of Anaya. Which THEN... you get the point.

All in all, I loved Nothing Serious and would recommend if you're looking for a not so "typical" thriller/mystery. Keep in mind, there are mentions of SA and other adult themes.

Nothing Serious by Emily J. Smith
Genres:
Contemporary Fiction
Literary Fiction
Psychological Drama

This book caught me completely off guard. I hadn't seen much buzz about it, so I went in blind—and wow, was I intrigued. Not Serious dives into the messy, sometimes unhinged, and always complicated dynamics of friendships and relationships, particularly through the lens of Edie and Peter—two incredibly narcissistic individuals whose interactions are both fascinating and frustrating.

I had such a love-hate relationship with Edie. She’s emotionally crippled in a way that felt disturbingly realistic, making her difficult to root for, but impossible to look away from. Watching her journey unfold, seeing how far she was willing to bend (in all the worst ways) to find connection and love—it was unsettling but also painfully relatable. There’s something about the rawness of her struggles that lingers, even if she wasn’t exactly likable.

This is the kind of book that makes you reflect on the ugly truths of human nature—how people manipulate, self-sabotage, and desperately seek validation in ways that aren’t always healthy. It’s a darkly realistic exploration of relationships and self-worth, and while it wasn’t always comfortable to read, I found myself unable to put it down.

If you like…
Messy, flawed protagonists who make bad decisions
Character-driven books that focus on emotional complexity
Dark, introspective looks at self-worth and relationships
…then you might want to pick this one up.

Tropes:
✔️ Unlikable but compelling female lead
✔️ Toxic friendships & codependency
✔️ Emotional self-destruction

⚠️ Trigger Warnings:
This book explores messy, flawed characters and unhealthy coping mechanisms, so it may not be the right fit for everyone. If you’re sensitive to stories that dive deep into emotional dysfunction and self-worth struggles, check the trigger warnings before reading.

Toxic relationships & manipulation
Emotional abuse & self-sabotage
Mental health struggles (anxiety, self-destruction, emotional instability)
Unhealthy attachment & codependency
Substance use

Would I recommend it?
If you’re looking for something lighthearted, Not Serious is probably not for you. But if you love a book that makes you think, frustrates you, and lingers in your mind long after you finish, then this is absolutely worth the read.

Thank you to William Morrow, Harper Collins and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review.