This book was a slow start for me--mostly because the main character, Lorna, was hard for me to connect with. She felt closed off and overly fixated on on a sentimental purchase that didn't really land for me early on.
However, I am glad that I stuck with it. Once she started letting people in, she became easier to relate to. And the plot twist about 3/4 through really brought everything together and gave her actions more meaning. That final stretch saved the book for me.
I would have rated it a 2.5 , but the ending nudged it up to a solid 3.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse for the ARC of this book in return for my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for this ARC of Everything is Probably Fine in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

The story alternates between present day Lorna and the events that have shaped her adult self. As the story unfolds, you’ll find yourself questioning how your past has influenced your future and what you need to let go of. This sounds cheesy and cliché, but the emotional and humorous writing keeps the story moving.

I was pleasantly surprised with the ending because I thought I figured it out, but I did not.

Lorna is losing it. She gets sent to a retreat to save her career and ultimately herself. Creative, deftly plotted plotted and a main character you find yourself rooting for time and time again.

I guess I'm in the minority here but I am not a fan of this one. DNF. I just could not care about anything happening here.

‘Everything is Probably Fine’ by Julia London is another great contemporary story.
I loved all of Julia London’s books, both historical and contemporary.
Lorna was a troubled kid and now as adult is trying to fix things. When her work makes her take a month off and attend a wellness center—she sees it as punishment but in fact they love her and want her to heal.
I loved Bean, the little boy in her apartment building. Such a relevant story.
I recommend this book highly.

This was an incredibly raw and moving book. Julia London does an amazing job of crafting Lorna Lott’s journey of finally healing and as Lorna puts it, slowly dismantling her “bomb shelter.” While I knew this would cover heavy issues of addiction, grief, and moving on from trauma, I was surprised by just how much of a gut punch this book was. The book alternates between flashbacks and the present, and the flashbacks sometimes felt hard to read but were very impactful in portraying why Lorna grew up as she did. I felt so much for a young Lorna. The deep emotions Lorna feels, particularly her anger, resentment, guilt, and hurt, are written in such an unflinching, palpable way that I felt like I was experiencing those emotions myself, and it truly shed a light on how challenging and heartbreaking it must be to live with and love someone struggling with addiction. And yet, this is a very hopeful story as well. I enjoyed seeing Lorna realize that events she has felt guilt over were not as they seemed, and slowly but surely forgiving herself. While hopeful, the book also feels realistic and grounded in that during her “apology tour,” things didn’t always work out perfectly to give her complete closure. I really appreciated that Lorna didn’t get a perfectly “happy ending” with each of these apologies, but she did get the closure she needed and was able to grow and move on, and even reconnect with a friend.

Bean is of course the scene stealer, and I loved Lorna’s friendship with him, and seeing her defenses come down with the sweet 8-year-old, alongside her adorable Corgi Aggie. I also really enjoyed Lorna’s found family with Bean’s father Seth, and fellow neighbors Liz and Martin. The story wraps up so beautifully, and had me tearing up. Lorna is one of the most compelling characters I’ve read this year!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received an ARC of Everything Is Probably Fine by Julia London from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is a heartfelt, sometimes messy, and ultimately hopeful story about Lorna Lott, a 40-something woman with years of unresolved childhood trauma buried deep beneath her tightly controlled exterior in an internal “bomb shelter”. After a career-jeopardizing faux pas, Lorna is forced into a month-long wellness sabbatical which kickstarts her unexpectedly tender and emotional journey. I didn’t expect to tear up while reading this, but I absolutely did.
Lorna is not immediately likeable, but Julia London doesn’t flinch from showing us why she is the way she is. Between toxic family dynamics, a sister’s addiction, and a long history of being the overlooked “responsible one,” her rage feels earned. Watching her begin to soften, to trust, and to let people in - especially Bean, her eight-year-old neighbor with a heart of gold and a scout badge to earn - was genuinely moving. The trauma feels real, and the growth, while a little fast-tracked, felt honest enough to suspend disbelief.
Things I loved: Bean, what a kiddo. Normally I hate kids in books because they are always written either too saccharine sweet or too precocious, but Bean was just such an adorable wingman for Lorna’s journey, I couldn’t be mad. And of course I loved the found family vibe with Seth and her neighbors, who were lovely characters in their own right. Oh, and Agnes the dog. Obviously. On a more serious note, I also love that not everyone on Lorna’s forgiveness tour forgave her, and that’s okay!
Things I didn’t: The codicil/apology plot device felt contrived, although I was willing to go with it for the sake of the story. The wellness retreat's gimmicks were a little too gimmicky, and Lorna’s healing journey was a little too rapid to be believable. I also thought the epilogue was a bit too pat - I would have preferred just one more scene at the end — a final beat with Lorna and Seth would’ve sealed it perfectly.
Perfect for fans of: Found family, healing arcs, slowburn self-discovery, grumpy women learning to love again (themselves included), emotionally intelligent side characters, therapy fiction, cute kids, and anyone who’s ever cried in a yoga class while pretending it’s just allergies.
Five stars. Not because it’s flawless, but because it’s real

This story is about how Lona learned to heal herself. How she learned to go on with life. Lona had one heck of a childhood. Since she is so good at her job, her boss suggests some therapy. As much as she hated to acknowledge that she did need it. And was surprised how much it worked for her. She becomes a happier person.

I could not stop thinking about this book and finished it so quickly. I’m not usually one for books with kids as a main character but Bean has my whole heart. And Lorna, too 😊 this book was much deeper than I expected and explores the effects of addiction on the family really beautifully. What a great book!

4.5 ⭐️

So everything is actually not fine. This book was one big spiral and i am not ok.

One of the most raw, invasive, gut wrenching and devastating books i've read in a long time. I love that it wasn't a glittery, shiny, happy ending because life just doesn't work like that. I like how not everyone forgave her because again, life just doesn't work like that. When Bean gave her the figurine of the mother, son and dog before she went into the facility to see Kristen? I was GONE. Such a beautifully captured scene.

I was not expecting Kristen to end up in a facility and it was quite difficult to read about.. i can't describe this book in any way besides that it reached into the most inner parts of my soul and strangled and hurt me from within. This story is an ode to older sisters & oldest daughters or anyone who has been thrown into those roles regardless.

Such a fantastic read.

Heart-tugging, occasionally hilarious, and refreshingly honest—Julia London serves up a “wellness-retreat” redemption arc that mostly sticks the landing.

Lorna Lott is that prickly, over-caffeinated colleague we all know (or maybe are). When a meltdown costs her a long-awaited promotion, she’s banished to a 30-day corporate zen camp to fix her “low-key rage thing.” What follows is a very un-relaxing journey through grief, sibling guilt, and—thanks to an unexpectedly wise eight-year-old neighbor—second chances that feel earned rather than sugary.

What kept me turning pages
An unflinching heroine. Lorna’s blunt, often cringe-worthy self-talk is equal parts funny and painful—but her growth feels authentic, especially as she unpacks the wreckage from her sister’s addiction.

Found-family charm. The father-son duo next door adds warmth without slipping into saccharine territory. Every scene with the earnest kiddo cracked my tough exterior the same way he does Lorna’s.

Corporate satire meets genuine pathos. Team-building trust falls, avocado-toast mindfulness sessions, and “apology-donut diplomacy” made me laugh even while the novel digs into heavier themes of forgiveness and self-worth.

Why one star stays in my back pocket
Pacing dips near the middle. A few wellness-retreat exercises drag, repeating lessons we already got.

Romance light. The neighborly spark is sweet but sometimes sidelined, so pure romance readers might crave a touch more swoon.

Verdict
Everything Is Probably Fine isn’t just about calming down—it’s about tearing down old defenses and rebuilding a life you can live with. For fans of messy, midlife reinventions and sister-wound stories that don’t shy from the ugly bits, this novel lands firmly on the “add to cart” list. It may not be a flawless journey, but like Lorna herself, it gets there—bruises, breakthroughs, and all.

A realistic portrayal of what happens when you confront and attempt to heal your past trauma, of the imperfect love of family, and the strength to be found in forgiveness.
This was an emotional read that brought both tears and laughter. The character development was stupendous. Lorna started off as an abrasive and unlikable character, one I couldn't imagine coming to like, but truly appreciated by the end of the book.

If there’s one thing Julia London is going to do, it’s write a devastating female character. I loved Nora November, but I fell head over heels with Lorna’s journey in anger management and grief at her relationship with her sister. Every character sung, every plot point rang poignantly. I may or may not have cried.

Romance is a simple but sweet sub-subplot (the real subplot is the relationship between Lorna and Bean, her eight year old neighbor). The best part is Lorna’s growth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! I finished this book several days ago and it just doesn’t let me go. It touches on so much that I am sure all who read it will see some part of there own life. Lorna Lott is a work driven “tough cookie”. Her story tells us what brought her there. A long, hard journey! We start with her e-mail attachment mistake to her co-workers which is so filled with anger it earns her a 30 day mandatory leave with required therapy at Bodhi Bliss Retreat and Spa. I was a little unsure of this New Age sort of therapy which included things like yoga and sound baths. What an eye-opener! Wouldn’t mind going there myself. There are tears and laughs from this place. Speaking of tears, Lorna spends a lot of time in the book with “anger leaking out of her”. Probably a good start to everything being fine. Lorna’s life is literally a giant mess which she attributes to her sister Kristen’s addictions. From her father’s abandonment to her mother’s neglect and a million broken promises Lorna builds her very own “bomb shelter” inside to protect her from more pain. Along comes my very favorite character, Bean, an eight year old neighbor boy with so much charm and wisdom everyone needs a Bean in their life. He helps Lorna to see life differently. He’s working on his” helping an old person badge” even though Lorna is only in her forties. Lorna’s corgi Aggie brings a light, happy note into the book. Together with Bean they really steal the show. Seth is Bean’s father with issues of his own. His presence in the book moves Lorna forward as they help each other along with neighbors in the apartment building. This house has been Lorna’s sole purpose in life. It was only a single family home belonging to her Nana before her Mom had to sell it because of Kristen’s expenses. Lorna wants to return it to her happiest family memories. This has driven her at work for years. She believes going on an apology tour righting past wrongs will gain her the money for Nana’s house since her dying Mom left this task for her before inheriting her trust. Instead, Bean, Seth and the neighbors are really starting to look like a new found family. Slowly Lorna opens her bomb shelter and finds Everything can be Fine! If you like books that touch on all your emotions and leave you with feelings of hope you will love this one.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC. All opinions are strictly my own.

Lorna Lott embodies a bitter old cat-lady full of regret - except she's barely middle aged and doesn't own a cat... the bitter and regretful part is true though. Reminiscent of the characters in "Up!", Lorna befriends a precious young boy who begins to open up the past wounds and pour healing and love back into her. As she's confronted with her anger and dysfunction, she's forces to walk through the rooms full of memories that have haunted her life (both figuratively and literally) and find a way to move forward.

It's a great story of healing, self-actualization and forgiveness. It's the sort of book that makes you want to take stock of your life and what you've made of it. It's challenging, uplifting and heart-warming all at the same time. The story trails her life that's been full of grief, neglect, abandonment and addiction. It delves into some pretty weighty topics while giving them the space and the nuance they deserve. This book is very well done and has warmed my heart.

Emotional! A lot of folks can relate to this journey of forgiveness and navigating tough family dynamics. Deep, emotional story that will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way through

After accidentally emailing all of the people on her team a list with their names and how she describes them - one girl is listed as having a very punchable face - Lorna’s job mandates her to take a one month sabbatical and complete a wellness program. Although she’s completely against it, she has no choice if she wants to go back to work. Over the next four weeks she begins finally facing her past and fixing the relationships her sister’s addiction ended for her. Will she be able to come to terms with everything and move on or will she remain closed off and never let anyone in?

Although I occasionally found Lorna to be annoying, I understood why she was the way that she was & how both her sister’s addiction and her mother’s cancer could’ve changed her. Her character proved that it’s never too late to start fresh and that letting people in, while sometimes scary, is ultimately a freeing process. One of my favorite relationships was between her & Bean, her 8 (I think 8 or maybe 9) year old neighbor. He does what all tiny humans are great at, being a friend without judging which was something Lorna truly needed. Through her relationship with him she was able to face almost anything straight on & come out the other side better for it.

I didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did & truly recommend that anyone who has dealt with a sibling having addiction issues reads it. It doesn’t read like a self-help book but still allows you to reflect on your experiences and possibly even come to terms with things you never realized you were holding on to.

**Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for providing me with an ARC**

Absolutely loved this book. Lorna, or Lolo to her friends and family, is sent on an employer mandated sabattical to a self help clinic for her anger issues. She is convinced that all of her problems stem from her sister's addiction issues and if she could only buy her grandmothers old house it would all be fixed. The only problem? The house is currently divided into apartments. Lorna rents one in the hope that she will feel closer to a time when her life was good. She reluctantly goes to the clinic every day where she learns how to let go of her anger and focus on the positive. She befriends a boy named Bean and his father who live in the apartments. In order to receive the trust set up by her mother Lorna must make amends for several past incidents and forgive her sister. She goes on her apology tour, along with Bean, and learns some things about herself along the way. Just a wonderful book about letting go of the past and forgivness of both yourself and others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This story was emotional and layered. I really loved that Lorna represents the messy or 'ugly' parts of women when we go through trauma. She is not a traditionally likeable character. I like that she is in her 40s and is prickly, unrelenting, a bit mean, rude, and angry as all hell. She is also just trying to protect herself in the ways she knows how. I really loved seeing her disarm her 'bomb shelter' and we got to really see her grow as a character. We also got to see how her bomb shelter came to be in the first place.

What I was not so thrilled about is that there are references made in the book that didn't sit right with me. They are flippant, unimportant moments, but I think it showcases perhaps a need for a more critical read through of the story, and perhaps some inner reflection on the author and team's part. For instance, near the beginning of the story, a child character Bean (who I love) asks '"Do you think there's treasure buried here?" he asked excitedly. "Because the Indians used to live here. They might have buried something!"', which is a train of thought that is rooted in anti-Indigenous racism. This line of logic relies on some really problematic stereotypes about Indigenous peoples. The use of the past tense contributes to this idea that Indigenous peoples are of the 'past' and thus are no longer on this land (their land, might I add). To locate Indigenous peoples in the past is a long-held colonial tool to erase Indigenous existence and continued resistance. In this moment with Bean, the author did not need the reference to Indigenous peoples for the plot, but instead it was used to amp up the 'whimsy' and 'charm' of the kid. Another example of a sticky moment is when Lorna is receiving treatment at the centre, and the only worker who is grumpy or short with her (as all the other workers are insufferably kind and understanding) is a woman who is made known to be overweight. Mentioning her weight (when no other side character's is throughout the story- thus they are assumed to be straight-sized) link her poor attitude with fatness. This is a classic example of fatphobia- the idea that people in larger bodies are inherently bad or negative. I imagine that this is just an unconscious bias that is shining through for a moment in the book, but these examples (and others like them throughout the book) were enough to take me out the story. Some may think that I'm being too precious or sensitive, but these seemingly small moments throughout a book rely and reify oppressive views and attitudes. I encourage the author and the rest of the team to think through how some of their unconscious bias's are present in the current and upcoming work.

In all this is a complex and raw book where we get to see a flawed and wonder character, Lorna, persevere in finding her own happiness.

Often, I’m not in the mood to read books categorized as “women’s fiction,” because the tale is deeper than I’m in the mood for. Give me a feel-good romance with a guaranteed HEA any day.

But Julia London is a go-to author, so I dove into “Everything is Probably Fine.”

And I am so glad I did.

I will admit, I didn’t really like Lorna Lott, our main character, when I started the book. She’s whiny and mean. I guarantee I would not want her as my boss, which is where our tale begins.

Lorna, however, is willing to put in the work to make changes in her life. Within a few chapters, I was hooked. Watching her discover how to let others into her life, which seems to happen when she’s not looking, was beautiful.

London tells Lorna’s story with the witty dialogue I’ve come to expect. London excels at well-defined characters are a delight to get to know.

Don’t let the term “women’s fiction” put you off. By the end of the book, I wanted to find myself lucky enough to be Lorna’s friend.