LOVED this book. Nothing went as I expected it to and I loved it all.
Really made you think about how you'd make decisions if you were in those situations, and how family is what you make of it.
Was surprised at 2 outcomes at the end and found that I liked the direction the book went. You really rooted for Lolo the whole way....

Lorna Lott's intensity and drive haven't earned her any friends, but at least her sales team is meeting their quotas and a promotion to senior vice president is within reach. Or it was--until she made a mistake that has her mandated to attend a thirty-day wellness program, and everything is on the line.

What a book! There was so much Lorna had to work through. She had insecurities, things in her past she needed to work through. The biggest of them all was how her older sister's substance abuse had wrecked their family and how Lorna had handled it.

The apology tour she undertook wasn't the easiest thing. Sometimes things didn't go the way she expected but she kept at it. I loved her friendship with eight-year-old Bean who was her wingman throughout. The subtle hint of a romance was also a sweet addition.

I loved everything about this book. Getting glimpses into her past was done amazingly. Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5⭐
Steam level: 1🌶️ Kissing only

“Everything is Probably Fine” by Julia London is a story about found family and making peace with your past. This book tackles heavy themes, like addiction and it’s ripple effects, but also manages to be funny. The main character, Lorna, has an enjoyable, self-deprecating and dry sense of humor. The contrast of the light and heavy parts of the book made the story feel authentic and layered.

The book followed Lorna as she went down essentially a checklist to seek forgiveness from people in her past, and I really liked this structure. I think it prevented the reader from getting confused despite the story having dual timelines that it switched between frequently. I enjoyed Lorna’s character development as she was on her journey of acceptance, and found her to be relatable and increasingly likable as the story progressed.

It’s a minor issue, but I was bothered by some interactions between Lorna and Bean’s dad. He didn’t seem grateful for her help, despite clearly needing it and not being able to be present for his son. Instead of being grateful, he questioned her. The novel treats this as normal, but in real life, it would probably be different. On a lighter note, there were some quirky and nostalgic moments that might bring back memories for other readers, like the Precious Moments figurines and Bean collecting his badges.

There’s also a revelation toward the end that puts the entire story in a new perspective. I won’t spoil it, but it made me reflect back on everything that came before, especially regarding the sisterly dynamic. I’m still thinking about the book days after finishing it, and I think alot of that is to do with that reveal at the end.

I had never read or listened to anything by Julia London before, but I’m definitely interested in checking out more!

Thanks to Harper Muse and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#NetGalley #ARC #EverythingIsProbablyFine

3.5 Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC and Libro.FM for an ALC!

I wasn't sure what to expect from this novel, but I appreciated how it looked at one woman's repressed anger and guilt and how she overcame it. It covers friendship, family, addiction and ultimately the idea that we need to forgive ourselves to heal.

This book was as good as devastating. I felt everything Lorna felt and was so touched by her story.

The characters are complex. Kristen was controversial for me, I didnt know if hate her for her actions or love her for the good sister she was sometimes. I think that struggle is what Lorna felt, and the author has captured it well.

The relationship Lorna had with bean was so cute, the kid was an important suport for her. I loved how he helped her in the Sorry tour.

In short: I loved this book and felt so much with it. I very recomend it.

I primarily know Julia London from her historical romances, so I wasn't sure what to expect from a contemporary fiction story that promised very little on the romance end. What I found was a wonderfully heartwarming story of a woman who carried so much guilt and trauma from her past that she almost didn't have a future.

Lorna is forced into a personality detox of sorts after an email attachment snafu at work. She thinks it's ridiculous - she doesn't have a problem, it's the incompetence around her that's the problem - but with the help of her 8 year old neighbor, she learns that the sins of the past don't need to determine her future. She had a very traumatic past with her sister, Kristen, being an addict from a very young age, plus a not so idyllic family life, but she's convinced if she can buy her grandmother's house and turn it back into a single family home instead of apartments, she'll be happy. An unlikely friendship develops between Lorna and Bean, the adorable kid next door who sort of 'adopts' her and her dog, Agnes. Bean is dealing with the death of his mom, his father's long work hours, and the impending move of his best friend to another state. Together, Lorna and Bean help each other find a better way forward. Oh, and it certainly doesn't hurt that Bean's dad, Seth, is handsome and good.

What I really liked about the story was how it followed Lorna's journey from outcast to understanding. With the help of her required therapy, which sounded amazing, and getting to know her other neighbors through Bean, she was able to finally forgive her sister, and more importantly to forgive herself. Yes, there was a teeny tiny bit of romance, but it was more of an 'oh by the way' kind of thing, and not in your face, which I also appreciated.

This was a very enjoyable book, and I am happy they all found a way to be better together.

I was gifted both the eARC and the audiobook of this title, and I am so grateful to Harper Muse and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the gifted copies!

This book had me stopping SO many times to think and let it sink in...

Lorna Lott, our protagonist, is so angry and has isolated herself, and ends up being forced into a mental health sabbatical by her employer. We essentially go to therapy with Lorna thusly learning WITH her how to come out of her self-proclaimed bomb shelter and make amends with the "skeletons in her closet." Her biggest one: her sister, who is a drug addict and who she blames many regretful circumstances The combination of hard-truths (that will resonate with so many readers (even if one hasn't been directly affected by addiction) mixed with gentle, introspective and healing moments is executed in an impressive way.

Other than the book itself just being the best kind of hug for yourself, for me there were two of the best warm fuzzy feeling elicitors....a child, and a found family:
1. BEAN! ....the child of a neighbor who befriends Lorna and helps her understand some of the basic concepts of friendship and being yourself ...as children are known to do: everything is just so simple through their eyes and cute little brains!
2. Lorna's neighbors and her care team at Bodhi are respectively subtle and pushy, as she navigates making amends and forgiving herself.

This book also included a *touch* of slow, sweet romance that I felt was a pleasant addition to Lorna's story and well done.

This review is also an excellent example of when you are so pleasantly surprised by a book you're not sure your words will do it justice. I highly recommend this book to everyone!

After being required to take time away from work and taking part in a wellness program, Lorna is finally revisiting relationships and happenings from her past. It's stuff she's held onto for years, and she's finally (re)examining the reality, emotion, and all things connected to significant relationships in her life. That does mean she's tapping into some heavy stuff which is hard, but there's also some opportunities for redemption and reconnection. This one is definitely an emotional read, particularly as much of Lorna's journey talks about her sister's struggles with substance use. Much of Lorna's story is connected to Kristen's and understanding what really happened or didn't. It was a powerful piece that truly ran the gamut of emotions as Lorna examined her past, present, and future. There was also a wonderful cast of characters, and this was just an all-around gem. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the look at this August 2025 release!

EVERYTHING IS PROBABLY FINE by Julia London absolutely blew me away, book friends. This book exceeded my expectations in so many ways, and truly surprised the heck out of me. It made me feel allllll the feels! It follows Lorna Lott, a woman in her early-forties who is forced to take a leave of absence from work and attend a thirty-day wellness program in order to get her anger and rage under control. It deals with some heavy issues from her past regarding her sister’s substance abuse and addiction, along with the childhood trauma that stemmed from that.

I absolutely loved Lorna and all of her quirks. She’s a character that you can definitely root for. I cheered for her from start to finish as she revisited moments (and even people) from her past, peeling back layers, discovering new things about herself, and coming to terms with her difficult past. It was a pleasure to witness her growth.

As someone who grew up with a similar situation/sibling, I must say that I found Lorna’s experience very relatable. Without airing out my family’s dirty laundry too much, I gotta admit that it stirred up a lot of emotions and memories for me. I know what it’s like when one sibling sucks out the energy of the entire the family, and there’s nothing left for anyone else. The author describes this experience so incredibly well.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Memorable characters
- Family drama and dynamics
- Found family storyline
- Unlikely friendships
- Forgiveness and acceptance
- Second chances
- Self-reflection and improvement
- Emotional reads
- Character-driven novels

I really can’t recommend this novel enough. If you do plan on reading it, be prepared for some serious subject matter, but also a lot of heart and humor. London finds a perfect balance to tell Lorna’s unforgettable story. EVERYTHING IS PROBABLY FINE is available now! 5/5 glowing stars!

EVERYTHING IS PROBABLY FINE by Julia London absolutely blew me away, book friends. This book exceeded my expectations in so many ways, and truly surprised the heck out of me. It made me feel allllll the feels! It follows Lorna Lott, a woman in her early-forties who is forced to take a leave of absence from work and attend a thirty-day wellness program in order to get her anger and rage under control. It deals with some heavy issues from her past regarding her sister’s substance abuse and addiction, along with the childhood trauma that stemmed from that.

I absolutely loved Lorna and all of her quirks. She’s a character that you can definitely root for. I cheered for her from start to finish as she revisited moments (and even people) from her past, peeling back layers, discovering new things about herself, and coming to terms with her difficult past. It was a pleasure to witness her growth.

As someone who grew up with a similar situation/sibling, I must say that I found Lorna’s experience very relatable. Without airing out my family’s dirty laundry too much, I gotta admit that it stirred up a lot of emotions and memories for me. I know what it’s like when one sibling sucks out the energy of the entire the family, and there’s nothing left for anyone else. The author describes this experience so incredibly well.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Memorable characters
- Family drama and dynamics
- Found family storyline
- Unlikely friendships
- Forgiveness and acceptance
- Second chances
- Self-reflection and improvement
- Emotional reads
- Character-driven novels

I really can’t recommend this novel enough. If you do plan on reading it, be prepared for some serious subject matter, but also a lot of heart and humor. London finds a perfect balance to tell Lorna’s unforgettable story. EVERYTHING IS PROBABLY FINE is available now! 5/5 glowing stars!

Awkward, angry, and anti-social Lorna Lott is stuck in a prison of her own making. She has internalized everything that has happened to her, most of which she blames on her addict sister, Kristin. When she is faced with losing her job if she doesn’t take a month-long wellness course, Lorna finally begins to lean into the changes she needs to make and makes new friends along the way. Peopled with great characters, this was a heartwarming read.

✨Everything is Probably Fine✨
By Julia London

Genre: Literary Fiction
Format: 📖 🎧
Published: 8/12/25
Publisher: Harper Muse
Audiobook: Harper Muse Audiobooks
Narrators: Marni Penning

Lorna Lott’s life unravels after one small misstep at work lands her in a mandatory 30-day wellness retreat. Suddenly she’s forced to confront the grief and guilt she’s carried since her sister's addiction overshadowed her childhood. Through the unlikely friendship with her precocious, 8-year-old neighbor, and healing moments of self-forgiveness, Lorna discovers that rewriting her future may just be possible.

I went into this book not really knowing what to expect (as usual!), and at first I found Lorna, the FMC, a bit hard to connect with. She isn’t the most relatable or likeable character, but as her backstory unfolds, everything clicks into place and you really find yourself really rooting for her growth. What emerges is a powerful story of healing and the ripple effects of addiction on a family, especially on siblings in this case. Along the way, we also get to witness the development of her heartwarming friendship with 8-year-old Bean, that adds humor, light, and so much heart to the heavier themes.

The audiobook was fantastic. Marni Penning’s narration brought so much life to Lorna and nailed the charm of Bean. She captured Julia London’s balance of humor and emotional weight in the story beautifully.

If you enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, or I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue, I think you’ll love this one. It’s about peeling back the layers of a character who may not be easy to love at first, but rewards you with incredible growth and perspective. A beautiful reminder not to jump to conclusions, we never know the full story someone carries.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🙏 Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Muse, Harper Muse Audiobooks, and Julia London for this ARC & ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts. Everything is Probably Fine published 8/12/25. 💖

I've been missing books with unlikable characters. The protagonist of this one is by far a fun character to follow. In fact, it's quite frustrating. But it was interesting how we discover why she acts the way she does. This is one of the best characters I've read lately.
For more books with characters like this.
I thank NetGalley and the author for the eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Julia London for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was groundbreaking and wonderful. What a raw and realistic journey through the pain and exasperation of being "the good child". That's an oversimplification of Lorna's role in her family, but it stays.

This book explores grief, illness, addiction, family dynamics, self respect and self love. I particularly appreciated that the ending was not linear. Bumps in the road were mentioned- that made this so real.

If I was a bookseller and needed to shelve this book- I'd put it in the Utopian Fantasy section- due to the fact that I had to suspend my belief at the beginning of this story. An American employer would send a burnt out employee on a 30 day therapy journey/sabbatical. Fully paid and the program paid for as well. I wish...

Julia London really said - 'Reader, you're going to be engaged in this book!' I wasn't sure what to expect since this isn't my normal first choice of genres or subjects, but I love Julia London, and I enjoyed the blurb about the book, so I was down to check it out.

I shouldn't have been surprised because I enjoy the author so much, but I was pretty shocked by how invested I grew in Lorna Lott, our main character. Mostly because at first, she was not likable. No really, she would tell you that herself. She's had some hard experiences and never gave herself the grace to take a deep breath and rise above. She assumed people didn't like her because she didn't really like herself, or more specifically, didn't see her true self under everything she carried for others.

She's a self-proclaimed "bomb shelter", holding herself back and most importantly her emotions from everyone around her. Her team at work calls her King Kong because she has relentless and exacting standards and zero people skills.

After an incident, and the following solution, where she's literally forced to take a step back and look inward, she starts to see herself differently and in turn sees the relationships and the people around her differently too.

Julia London gives us a wonderful arc of self-discovery, humor, and maybe like me, you'll end up wanting to get a little introspective with yourself as well. I really enjoyed this book, and I think you will too!

My opinion is my own and freely given.

I picked this book up because, like the FMC, I’ve been impacted by family alcoholism, and I was instantly intrigued by the premise. The plot felt fresh and layered, and I found myself pulled into Lorna’s journey from page one.

I know some readers tend to get frustrated with characters like Lorna—flawed, defensive, and sometimes messy—but for me, I empathized with her. Her reactions, her walls, and even her missteps felt painfully real. Instead of pushing me away, they made me root for her harder.

The supporting characters added warmth and humor that balanced out the heavier themes, making the whole reading experience richer. And while there is a thread of romance woven in, this story leans much more toward heartfelt contemporary fiction than lighthearted rom-com.

What I loved most was how Julia London didn’t shy away from the hard stuff—addiction, regret, family wounds—but still gave space for growth, forgiveness, and hope and moments of humor, lightheartedness and romance. By the end, I wasn’t just invested in Lorna’s redemption arc, I was inspired by it.

And finally, the narration of this audiobook was absolute perfection! Marni Penning was the perfect voice to tell Lorna’s story painting a clear picture of Lorna’s emotion through out the story. Even though this isn’t told in first person POV it is read in a tone that feels like Lorna’s helping you connect with the character.

For anyone who has lived through the ripple effects of addiction, or simply loves character-driven stories about growth, healing and second chances, you will love Everything Is Probably Fine.

Thank you NetGalley, Julia London and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the opportunity to be an ALC reader in exchange for an honest review!

This was a great womens fiction. Such a lovely emotional story. I love this author's romance books, so it was cool to read another genre by her.

This was such an amazing book that will stay with me. Truly an inspiring story of found family and second chances. It also tackles guilt and grief. The relationship between Lorna and Bean just melts my heart. Such a great read!

Book review: Julia London’s Everything Is Probably Fine
Thank you to Harper Muse for the gifted ARC and ALC.

This book is for the women who get called “intense” at work, cry in the grocery store parking lot for no reason, and keep a running apology tour in their head. It’s for the eldest daughters who grew up keeping the house running while the rest of the family burned it down. It’s for anyone who has ever tried to out-achieve their trauma. Everything Is Probably Fine is funny, biting, sad, honest, and unexpectedly hopeful. And Julia London makes sure that every gut punch is earned.

Lorna Lott is not a likable protagonist—not at first. She’s ragey, defensive, and so shut down emotionally she may as well be living in a bunker. (Actually, she refers to it as her internal “bomb shelter,” so not a stretch.) She’s also a top-tier sales exec at a software company in Austin who accidentally sends a brutally honest personal letter to her entire team. The fallout? Mandatory 30-day mental wellness retreat. Corporate HR has entered the chat, and they are sending her straight to crystal-healing hell.

Lorna’s life is barely held together by color-coded spreadsheets and an unhealthy attachment to her work identity. Her dream is to buy back her childhood home—a house that was sold to pay for her sister Kristen’s endless rehab stints. Kristen is the family addict, and Lorna? Lorna is the collateral damage. She’s spent four decades being the responsible one, the invisible one, the one who held it together while her family unraveled. Now, she’s out of excuses and out of office. It’s time to face the mess.

Enter Bean. Bean is her precocious eight-year-old neighbor with a marshmallow heart, a scooter, and a deep belief in Lorna’s basic decency. He’s also working on a scout badge that involves “helping an old person,” and Lorna—at 42—qualifies in his eyes. (The indignity.) But somehow this kid, along with his charmingly unbothered dad Seth and a therapy dog named Aggie, become the emotional rescue team she didn’t know she needed.

The book moves between Lorna’s present-day “apology tour” (required by her late mother’s will, no less) and flashbacks to her childhood. These aren’t overwrought trauma-dumps. They’re precise, revealing, and layered with emotion. We see how Lorna learned to survive by being perfect and invisible. We see how no one ever really showed up for her—and how she internalized that as proof that she wasn’t worth showing up for. She’s not just angry. She’s grieving. She’s exhausted. She’s emotionally constipated. And she’s trying—clumsily, stubbornly, hilariously—to fix it.

London’s writing is smart and full of punch. The dialogue is snappy without feeling manufactured. The wellness retreat scenes manage to mock and respect new-age therapy at the same time. Lorna’s interactions with the people on her apology list range from cathartic to brutal to unexpectedly freeing. The book doesn’t pretend healing is linear. Not everyone accepts her apology. Not everything gets tied up in a bow. And that’s what makes it all feel real.

Quote that lives rent-free in my brain:
“It made me invisible in my family.”
That one cuts deep. Because this book isn’t just about forgiveness. It’s about being seen. By others. By yourself.

I alternated between reading the ARC and listening to the audiobook (narrated by Marni Penning), and highly recommend both. Penning captures every drop of sarcasm, heartbreak, and tentative hope in Lorna’s voice. She brings the character fully to life, and the audiobook adds an extra emotional layer to scenes that already hit hard.

If you’re expecting a breezy rom-com, manage expectations. This is more emotional excavation than meet-cute. But if you’re looking for a story with heart, bite, and the slow, satisfying payoff of watching a woman finally give herself permission to take up space, this is it. And yes, there’s a gentle romance arc that never overpowers the deeper narrative—it complements it.

By the end, Lorna still isn’t perfect. But she’s free. Or at least freer than when we met her. And that’s the kind of progress I want to read about.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

This book is about a woman named Lorna who she is forced to take a leave of absence from work and attend a 30-day wellness program. She is not happy about it but it is probably the best. She learns to breath, grow and let go.

I found it a little slow at times but enjoyed it.