Everything is Probably Fine by Julia London is a heartfelt and uplifting story about self-discovery, healing, and second chances. Lorna’s journey from driven but misunderstood to open and authentic is both moving and inspiring, with moments of humor and warmth. I enjoyed this book and rated it five stars.

Although Lorna is successful in her career, the people she works with don't like her. When her company makes her take a 30-day sabbatical and attend a wellness program, and she also needs to make amends to get her inheritance from her mother, she is forced to take a look at her life, especially how her sister's addiction affected her. This got off to a slow start, but it got better towards the end. This is in the vein of Elinor Oliphant and other books about quirky single women.

I don't usually say books remind me of other books because I feel like I'm always let down by comp titles but 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗦 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗬 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗘 gave me 𝗔 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗢𝘃𝗲 and 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘂𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗮 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁 vibes. There's a precocious kid, a cute pet and kind neighbors that help draw the main character, Lorna, out. But unlike the other books, she's isn't a curmudgeonly recluse; instead, she's a 40-something whose past traumas keep her from trusting people and unable to manage her anger. I guess she kind of gives off 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗲 vibes. So much for not comparing to other books!

Anyway, after an incident at work, Lorna is forced to take a month off and attend a wellness program (side note: I'd be happy to offend my coworkers to earn the retreat she goes on!) which sets her on a path to confronting her issues and righting past wrongs. There are some moving moments in this one and some surprises along the way but I also found a lot of the story too convenient and while Lorna's past was difficult, it was hard to justify some of her behavior. That being said, I'm glad I read it and if you enjoy books about found family and emotional journeys of self discovery, this one's for you.

3.75 stars rounded up

Thanks to Harper Muse for the copy to review.

Such a fantastic and original book! I loved every bit of Lorna’s journey of self discovery, processing her emotions and unknown grief and trauma, and making amends with her past. Her evolution was so heart warming and I’m so glad she has her chosen family.

Lorna’s relationship with her mother and sister, Kristen, was really devastating to see unfold over the years. Her sister being an addict and Lorna taking on so much of that was heartbreaking.

I highly recommend this book if people love character driven novels with depth and humor. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher and author for allowing me to read this ARC!! Happy Pub Day 🥰

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was bittersweet, had fun moments, and gained my interest more and more as it went on. I enjoyed this book and would read more books by this author.

Thank you NetGalley, Julia London, and Harper Muse for this e-ARC! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Everything is Probably Fine by Julia London is a deeply moving exploration of family bonds, generational wounds, and the struggle to love someone through addiction. What really stood out to me was how approachable London’s writing is. She doesn’t sugarcoat the realities of addiction or the lingering ache of family trauma, but she presents them in a way that’s both empathetic and easy to engage with.

Lorna is an exceptionally well-rounded protagonist—flawed, relatable, and refreshingly self-aware. Watching her grow over the course of the story, learning to let go of what she can’t control and finding peace in the present, was both heartbreaking and uplifting. Her journey felt authentic, with no rushed or overly tidy resolutions, which made her transformation all the more powerful.

The side characters shine as well, each adding their own texture to the narrative. But Bean absolutely stole my heart. He’s the emotional anchor and unexpected source of light that helps Lorna navigate her path toward forgiveness. Their relationship brought warmth and levity at exactly the right moments, reminding me that healing often comes from the most surprising places.

Everything is Probably Fine is raw yet hopeful, and it lingers with you long after the final page.

** spoiler alert **


Everything is Probably Fine
by Julia London
Thank you to the author/publisher for the e-ARC provided in exchange for review. All opinions are my own.

This was AMAZING!! I cried and laughed so many times. I could totally relate to Lorna when it came to her role in her family and seem to overwhelm her mental health. I wanted to give her a big hug. The journey she embarks to finally find peace was a heartbreaking one because at times she was who suffered the casualties of her dysfunctional family. To be honest her family sucked and sadly it took her forty plus years for her to finally feel at peace and accept that she's not at fault and finding friendships that will last forever.

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧
Lorna starts off as an unlikable character right in the beginning, before she starts to work on herself, but I LOVE her from the very first line in the way London has her jump right off the page!
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐/5 stars

I enjoyed this book so much. It was a heartwarming, funny, and an emotional journey as Lorna Lott worked on herself after being put on a forced vacation when a private angry letter to her sister was accidentally sent to a client. London’s writing is unflinchingly focused on the shame and anger Lorna feels as she faces her past all while trying to buy back her grandmother’s old house which is now an apartment building full of neighbors who are becoming inextricably involved in her life.
This was such a cute, sweet read. I’ve been focusing a lot lately on the kind of people I want in my life and through Lorna, watching her put herself out there and make friends (when she never had any for decades) hit me right in the feels. This is the first book I’ve read by Julia London so I cannot wait to read her other works!

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
1. Bean and Aggie! Every scene with those two cuties just made me smile.
2. The storyline with the Precious Moments Figures (no spoilers) I loved seeing how their meaning to Lorna evolved and how she finally decided what to do with them all as she worked on herself and her life.

🍨 𝑆𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑒: 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑠𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑎 𝑠𝑛𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑜𝑟 𝑡𝑤𝑜! 🍨

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
🏠 Found Family
🏠 Forgiveness + Self Help
🏠 Nice Neighbors
🏠 Heartwarming

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC copy of Everything is Probably Fine. This is my honest review.

Tags:
#netgalley #EverythingisProbablyFine #JuliaLondon #ARCReview #NewBook #HappyPublishingDay #RecentReads #BookReviews #FiveStarReads

Everything Is Probably Fine by Julia London
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’m honestly amazed by how much I loved Everything Is Probably Fine — especially Lorna. I was crying so much near the end; maybe I’m just emotional, but Lorna’s journey hit me hard. The way she works through her grief, childhood trauma, and finally forgives her family was incredibly moving and inspiring.

Lorna is a workaholic, driven by the pain of losing her mother to cancer and the trauma of growing up with a drug-addicted sister. When she’s forced to take time off work, she is forced to attend a wellness retreat that pushes her to face her past head-on. Her “apology tour” took me on an emotional rollercoaster, I found myself relating to her deeply, even though I haven’t experienced the exact same circumstances. Her pain, rage, and eventual healing felt incredibly real.
She becomes friends with her neighbor’s young son, but their unique bond turned out to be something beautiful. He helps her in a way no one else really could and it certainly doesn’t hurt that his single dad is friendly and charming.
I loved the way the story shifts between Lorna’s present and past, especially how it explores the impact of her sister’s addiction and how her family (even unintentionally) neglected her. The multiple layers of her character and experiences made her feel so real to me.
This book made me wonder if I could find the same kind of strength to heal the way Lorna did. I was genuinely sobbing during the last few chapters, it was powerful, heartfelt, and ultimately hopeful. The ending left me feeling full and emotional in the best way.
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves stories about found family, overcoming childhood trauma, processing grief, and personal growth.
If you’ve read this or plan to, let me know! Especially your thoughts on Kristen. I’m dying to talk about her with someone. I also dislike one of her apology tour spots and I want to talk to someone without spoiling that apology….
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC.

Everything is Probably Fine by Julia London was an unexpected find! Lorna, the main character, has built a bomb shelter around her heart and body to protect herself from others. She is gruff and can be quite blunt in her way of dealing with issues and people. Unfortunately that has led to issues at work and a month-long hiatus while she gets herself together.

Lorna grew up knowing she was not the favored child. Her sister Kristen with her addictions and constant need for attention took over her world since she was young. Lorna slowly lost herself in her overwhelming family’s struggles with sobriety and survival. She is very much alone. Until an eight year boy moved into the apartment next to her. Between Bean and forced Retreat/Counseling Center. Lorna slowly entered into the world of her apartment building and her newly found family. She became more aware of the guilt of her sister’s addiction and her ability to forgive herself for incidents around her childhood (that really happened differently than she saw them).

I loved this novel for its compassion for Lorna’s struggle. Allowing her a young person and a found family for support allowed her to move beyond the past and become what she always wanted to be. Everything is Probably Fine by Julia London was a great read.

Lauren was quite a complex character. She is carrying a lot of baggage from her home life and her sister, in particular. It was easy to understand her feelings towards her sister, given all she had to contend with due to her sister’s actions. I enjoyed the way she worked through her problems with the help of others, friends and the wellness centre. Of course, her main help came from the irresistible Bean! An eight year old who was wise beyond his years and in his own way helped Lauren to come to realise how she should help herself. This was a thought provoking read and it had a satisfying ending. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Book:

Lorna Lott is ready to (or rather, kind of forced) to address her past and forges on a forgiveness tour where she forgives people in her past, including herself with an 8-year-old she befriends in her building.
After an email containing a letter meant only for her sister is accidentally sent to her office, making fun of her colleagues, Lorna is placed on a leave and sent to a wellness centre, where she starts addressing her past. The book is told in dual-timeline with Lorna in the present, as she attends the wellness centre, meets Bean (the 8-year-old) and his dad, and goes on her forgiveness-tour, and the past.
Over the past timelines we gradually learn more about Lorna's sister Kristen, who was an addict, and what life was like for Lorna growing up with an addict so close to her.
Lorna's journey is one of acceptance, forgiveness, and love.

My Thoughts:
I have mixed feelings on this one. I wasn't really invested in the present-timeline with Lorna's forgiveness tour, but I was really interested in the past timeline and seeing what happened in Lorna's family and with her sister, in particular. I could feel Lorna's anger, her hurt & frustration at what her sister was doing and how it was navigated in the family. Her sister's choices are quite tragic and readers may want to check trigger warnings before reading.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In Everything is Probably Fine, Julia London delivers a heartfelt, sharply observed portrait of a forty-something woman who decides to confront her past to reclaim her future.
Lorna Lott is fine, probably. Her sales team has met the company quota for the quarter. Her promotion to vice-president’s role is confirmed, and she is on track to purchase her grandma’s house, the last vestige of her happy childhood. So, how did it all go wrong?
She attached the wrong file in the company wide email, and now HR is pushing her to attend a thirty-day wellness retreat to work on her rage issues or she will be let go from the company.

With everything on the line, Lorna agrees, but that means coming to terms with her family’s volatile past — how her elder sister's substance abuse ruined Lorna's life, and her many regrets about the way she handled things.
London handles the subject of growing up and living with a family member’s addiction wit sensitivity and unflinching honesty revealing how such an isolating experience can shape a person’s defences, drive, and personality traits. Lorna’s nervous energy, rigid control, and tendency to keep people at arm’s length begin to pain the big picture as the novel unfolds; as well as the mystery of what happened between Lorna, her mother, and her elder sister.
Through an unexpected friendship with her eight-year-old neighbour and his charming father, Lorna begins to open up, to forgive — herself and others, and embraces the possibility of second chances.
And what a joy it is to read when Lorna’s happiness eventually comes.
In a bookstore crowded with mental health narratives, London’s contemporary women’s fiction book stands out for addressing emotional healing without sensationalism, violence or melodrama. Instead, she gives us a rare fictional character who feels entirely real.
In the end, Everything is Probably Fine is a moving, relatable story about the courage of self-examination, and the quiet power of connection.

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. She was so surprised how much it worked for her. She becomes a much happier person.

Lorna Lott has locked herself into a very tight script. She is awkward, she is unlikable, and she cannot change. The only thing she is good at is work, but she has been put on leave after yet another incident with her team. Her supervisor insists that she attend a wellness center and work on her anger issues. Lorna doesn't believe that it will work, but she has no choice. Slowly, she tries a few new things, and she even makes a friend. Surprisingly, he is the neighbor boy who loves her dog. But he reminds her of herself before her life went off the rails. Their relationship is pure and sweet and funny. Lorna revisits some of her hardest childhood memories, and we read those in present tense, the way a child would feel them. Lorna begins to make amends and to forgive. She allows the script to change. It is beautiful and compelling.

Everything Is Probably Fine packs a wallop of a punch. I loved that this book explores the full gamut of trauma, anger, and grief. Lorna was perfectly written because of her flaws, when readers are first introduced Lorna they meet someone who is angry, lashes out, and has difficulty connecting with others. Yet despite it all, there is something that readers will find so relatable. It like by having all of these emotions laid out on the page, the reader can see those parts of themselves that they maybe pretend aren't there and are stored away in their own emotional bunker.
This book is told purely for Lorna's point of view, but the timeline does have flashbacks to pivotal moments. This dual timeline adds a richness to the plot and allows readers to have small catharsis moments throughout the book. These small moment of healing was something I really enjoyed, it felt grounded and acknowledged that healing doesn't happen at one moment and isn't a straightforward line. That it is a series of small moments.

Okay… this book. I went in expecting a nice, cosy read and came out an emotional puddle (in the best way). Everything Is Probably Fine is part soul-soother, part gut-punch, and part warm hug from your favourite person.

We follow Lorna, high-flying sales exec on the outside, total emotional mess on the inside, who gets sent on a retreat after a work disaster. Suddenly she’s got therapy sessions, way too much free time, and nowhere to hide from the stuff she’s been avoiding for years. Cue a raw, heartfelt journey of untangling trauma, facing family truths, and figuring out how to actually be okay.

And then… Bean and Seth walk in. Honestly, Bean stole the whole show for me, pure top-tier character energy. The “found family” vibe from the neighbours and side characters gave the story so much extra heart.

This book doesn’t shy away from tough stuff like addiction and how it affects everyone around it, but it never feels bleak. There were tears. Everywhere. But also joy, hope, and that rare kind of ending that makes you feel lighter.

If you’re into heartfelt women’s fiction with characters you’ll want to hug, sass from the side cast, and emotional moments, and self forgiveness, add this to your TBR.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Harper Muse, and the author for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

Such an amazing surprise!
I didn’t know what to expect when picking up this book- but I really liked it and better yet, it has stayed with me. I’ve been thinking about it since I finished reading it.
Lorna is a top sales executive. But despite her sales successes, she is full of anger and bitterness that alienates her from her team and everyone else. After a mistake at work, Lorna’s boss mandates that she completes a 30 day wellness retreat. While very resistant, the retreat takes Lorna down a profound journey of healing- especially learning to forgive herself and others. The big theme is addressing her sister’s addiction and it’s traumatic impacts to Lorna’s life. Through it all, Lorna learns so much about herself and others.
There are also delightful side characters - especially 8 year old Bean and Aggie the dog. Throw in a little romance with Bean’s widowed father and we get a story of healing, forgiveness, friendship, found family and most of all hope. Highly recommend!
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

Everything is Probably Fine follows Lorna Lott, a lonely 43-year-old woman still grappling with her troubled past. She excels at her job as a software salesperson and holds her team to high standards, but has few real friends. After accidentally sending a personal email—containing unflattering remarks about her colleagues—to those very colleagues, she’s forced to attend a month-long wellness retreat.

At first, Lorna is uncomfortable and resistant. But as the weeks pass, she begins to soften. She befriends Bear, an eight-year-old boy living in her housing complex, with a big personality, and gradually grows closer to the other residents.
The story explores Lorna's sister’s struggle with addiction and how it has shaped Lorna’s life, alongside moments of regret from her childhood. Told mostly in the present, with well-placed flashbacks to her earlier years, the narrative gains emotional depth.

Though the pace of Lorna’s transformation in just one month can feel a little implausible, the novel remains an engaging and enjoyable read.

No things aren't fine at the start of Lorna's journey of self discovery but they are going to improve as she picks her way through her past to a more positive future. She's got a sister who is an addict, a grandmother who is an alcoholic, and a mother who was never present for her. She's also got Aggie, her pup, and now Bean, an 8 year wise beyond those years. It's poignant, it's topical, it's heartwarming without being twee. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.