Olive

One of the things that I appreciated most from this book, and that particularly struck a chord with me, is the depiction of the friendship of four adult women that have been together since childhood, and how difficult it gets sometimes to realize that despite their shared past, at some point inevitably their paths had changed, perhaps even to divergent directions, but with enough communication, empathy, and understanding (which are not easy things to reach, as we can see over and over in this novel) friendship might prevail above all, once they can embrace their differences. The conversations around the clashes of opinions and expectations around the choices to pursue motherhood, and between child-free and child-less characters, as well as the different representations of loss and the approaches to it, add up to the mix to make it quite captivating.
Sometimes I wished we could get out of Olive's head and voice for a moment, just to have a better and more nuanced sight from the point of view of her friends, because they all are very interesting in their own right, but I felt like we didn't hear their voices enough.
If I had to point out something that I didn't enjoy much, and this is a particular pet-peeve of mine so I understand it might not bother other people, there were way too many pop-culture references used as a resource to ground the characters and their shared experiences on a time frame, which was, for me at least, completely unnecessary, considering that once the novel starts getting momentum and moves forward, these references disappear entirely.

As a self-proclaimed Anglophile, Emma Gannon's debut novel, "Olive", checked all of my boxes and gave me all of the feelings that I find in a book that I adore. The characters were fun, interesting, loyal, quirky and caring; the setting was all things that I love about Great Britain...pubs, parks, flats, cold rainy days; and the storyline was crisp, quaint, thorough and thematically important and brave. I will carry the main character, Olive, in my heart for a long time. The premise of the book is that Olive, a thirty-two year old, single, career-minded independent, is not the least bit interested in having children, while her three best mates are knee-deep in the child-bearing and raising years. Of course, this is a strain on all of their relationships, but the handling of some tricky situations is what makes this book such a delight. Thank you NetGalley, Andrews McMeel Publishing and Emma Gannon for this fabulous eARC. I wish you much success with this wonderfully written and genuinely appealing story.

Olive by Emma Gannon was a book that I think was aimed at 20 or 30 something women who like Olive, may be struggling to decide whether or not they want to have children. I, as a mother of three, was interested to see why women make a decision like that, as it is so different from my own experience.

This book explored that theme through a few different plot devices, the CFBC ( Child free by choice) group, the myriad experiences of Olive’s friends, and a meeting with a homeopathy focused family planning counselor. At the end of the book, I had a greater understanding of why a woman would choose that path. Even though it was not the direction that I chose in life, I respect women who made that choice and I now know a little more about some reasons why they may have decided to not have children.

This book had an enjoyable cast of characters with sometimes laughable and sometimes heart wrenching side storylines. I enjoyed seeing how her friends grew and changed throughout the story. Her friends were true to life and reminded me of people I have known and loved. They all had satisfying character arcs, and were very well written.

Having or not having children is a difficult choice to make, and I feel that Emma Gannon did a good job of using several side characters and plot points to condense that theme into a lighthearted easy read.

I was provided a free advance reader copy from Andrews McMeel Publishing in exchange for my honest review from Net Galley. The opinions shared in this review are my own.

Oh my god. This is like a Bible for normalizing childless women. This is for every woman who has decided they don’t want to have children in their life, and also for women who either have children or want children and struggle to understand what it’s like for women who don’t want children. As someone who does not want children, this read was so empowering and made me laugh, cry and all things in between as I began to feel like I belong somehow to this imaginary flock of women.

I really really appreciated that it gave perspective from every end of the spectrum to those who do not want children to women who want children but cannot, to women who have children. Of course all shared with varying degrees and reasons behind their decisions.

I LOVED everything about this read and honestly can’t stop gushing about it. I definitely think it wouldn’t be for everyone, but for me it was everything.

One of the best people I've 'met' in a book.
The tale of four women whose lives have always followed the same path, the trials and tribulations of adulthood until the taboo subject arises, Olive does not want to have children.
Olive, our protagonist is a thirty something women who is independent, loyal, kind and a little anxious. Olive knows her own mind and struggles when those closest to her try to tell her something different.
This book is about the struggles of parenthood and fertility but also relationships. This is the part I loved. The relationship between Olive, Isla, Bea and Cecily is something many women dream about and the strong female bond resonated with me on so many levels.
I really cannot find the words to express how much I enjoyed this book. The characters were all so real and Olive so refreshing.
Having your best life after your 30... that's something to shout about.

Olive Stone is 33 years old, and has recently broken up with her boyfriend because he wants kids, and she does not. The story follows her as she processes the break up, want she wants, and the very different wants and choices of her friends. The story is told with flashbacks to key events that brought Olive and her friends to where they are today.

While the big question of Olive is how to feel confident with wanting things that break away from a conventional life path, there are several other threads throughout the story that I found really interesting. I think that Olive’s story captured how it feels to be in your late twenties/ early thirties and to feel very unsure of the choices you are making. Especially, when your close friends' lives are going in different directions than yours. Emma Gannon captures the jealousy, judgement, and pressure to impress others that is pretty universal.

The story is very engaging and the characters are interesting and likeable. However, sometimes the dialogue feels a little forced and the plot points seem unrealistic. I would recommend this book to anyone who is currently facing big life choices, or who just overall feels anxious about life.

The first thing that attracted me to this book was its title, My name is Olivia, and here is a book about an Olivia, I had to jump on it.
I'm glad I did.
The book Olive although named after the major character isn't just a book about one woman, it is a book about choices and staying true to yourself and your choice despite societal pressure.
It is a book about friendship, love, family, and motherhood.

I personally think motherhood is damn difficult and definitely not for everyone.
The idea that a mother should be perfect and have everything under control is another scam, sometimes they get tired of putting everyone else first.

I would recommend this book because it is a jolly good read, raises a lot of questions about friendship and motherhood, it's the ideal 21st-century read.

I liked this book and the light way it talked about a very serious and often heavy topic! It felt like the book equivalent of a Sunday afternoon movie and that was exactly what I needed.

Olive follows the story of a woman in her early 30s who does not want to have kids. The whole book revolves around that topic and the impact of this decision in her relationship with herself, her boyfriend and her 3 best friends. We get to have a glimpse at the very different lives of 4 women who are very close friends but seem to be living distinct phases of their lives or have very different views of what they want their future to look like .

I’ve seen a lot of reviewers state that they found Olive very selfish and self-absorbed, but I disagree – in my opinion, Olive never came across as disrespectful of her friend’s choices, while the opposite happened often and she was way more patient with then than I would have been. I believe the author was able to create a flawed but realistic character who perfectly encompasses the way a lot of women feel about motherhood, as well as the ridiculous comments they constantly must deal with. It also talks about how difficult these comments are for couples dealing with fertility issues, which is not only very important but also often forgotten when this topic is discussed.

I think some topics and secondary characters could have been explored a little more in-depth but all in all it was a very pleasant read.

As soon as I saw the subject matter of this book (the decision to be 'child-free by choice'), it instantly became a MUST READ for me.

I read the first half of this book in a day! It's so easy to get into and I was quickly sucked into Olive's storyline and character. I've never experienced such familiarity to a fictional character before. Olive was just so incredibly relatable in everything she did, thought and said.
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I felt absolutely SEEN by this book because I am basically Olive but aged 32 not 33 - surrounded by friends getting engaged, married, pregnant or having recently given birth. I always knew I never wanted kids, it wasn't even a conscious decision process to be honest, I just always knew I didn't. Yet everyone I spoke to (when younger) seemed to be adamant I would change my mind... 🤔
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Have I changed my mind by age 32? Absolutely not! I like my independence, spending money on myself, peace and quiet and a good night's sleep! I can also barely look after myself sometimes, let alone another human!
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Thank you @emmagannonuk for writing such a brilliant book about a somewhat 'taboo' topic. This is such an important read for those of us who feel we are the "weird ones" for not wanting to have children. You are not weird and you are not alone, even though it so often feels that way!

Although I felt that I may have been a bit younger than this book’s intended audience, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was extremely interesting to read a book that deals with the different stages that people are at during their twenties and thirties: some married and having babies; some finishing University; some still just trying to figure it all out. This book really delved into these different stages that people reach, or perhaps don’t, throughout their lives.

It did an excellent job in challenging the stereotypical view that all women must want to have children and that this is the ultimate goal in life, looking at a wide range of possibilities for a fulfilled life. Each of the main four girls felt truly human, with a number of flaws and struggles they were trying to cover up in their lives and act as if everything was perfect. This book was raw with emotion and heartbreak on a number of different levels, from breakups to infertility issues, that really made you feel for everyone involved.

This book was an easy read, and I found myself rooting for Olive in her search for happiness. Although I did find that around halfway through the book I was getting bored as it felt as if Olive and her friends were having the same conversations over and over again, without any resolutions.

There were also moments throughout the book where things were mentioned, such as a moment where one of Olive’s friends reminds her of a time she agreed to be a surrogate for her, and then never discussed again despite seeming to be important things worth discussing. It made me wonder why these things were even included in the story when they were barely looked at for more than a one page conversation and then quickly forgotten.

Despite this, I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and would be interested in picking up future books by her!

I found Olive's perspective refreshing - especially when it came to her views on having children. I enjoyed the book, overall, found it to be an easy, quick read, but I would have also appreciated a further insight to her friend group and their thoughts. A great addition to woman's focused literature.

Olive is very close to her best friends, but when they start to marry and have kids, she feels less connected to them. What's more, she's decided she has no desire to have children of her own one day. She's absolutely sure of it. Fast paced and moving, I would recommend Gannon's debut novel to all my friends.

As someone who has straddled the fence regarding motherhood, I was very intrigued by the premise of this book. After much discussion, my husband and I decided the child-free life was for us. We don’t hate children, but we don’t want any of our own. I’ve since joined childfree forums and have read stories about people questioning the decision to be childfree, to the point of being rude. I’ve personally been told “you’ll change your mind, you’re young” more times than I care to count. There’s always this attitude that you don’t actually not want children, you’ll change your mind eventually, it’s just a phase, etc.

So how did Olive do with this subject? Well, it’s not so much a book about a woman’s choice to be childfree as it is what effect that decision has on her life and relationships. **spoilers** By deciding to be childfree she loses her long-term partner because he wants children. I think the portrayal of their breakup was very realistic and loving. They are two people who desperately love one another and know that they have to break up because of this one issue. Neither of them can compromise without risking a life of bitterness and regret. So they choose to break up, heartbreakingly. There’s the “are you sure you won’t change your mind” back and forth a bit, which I feel is also realistic. I wasn’t too excited about him going on to have another baby so soon after their breakup, it feels a bit rushed to me. You’d think that having such a spotlight on that life decision (parenthood), he would’ve been a bit more careful about it. But that’s a negligible complaint.

The other biggest part of the book is her relationship with her friends. They’re a group of four who have been friends forever, who have been through childhood, high school, and college together. One becomes a mother early and becomes a stay-at-home mother of 3 children, but her husband starts cheating. The other focuses on career first and then has a baby but struggles with postpartum depression, and her husband is nowhere to be seen when needed. The third is obsessed with having a baby and undergoing IVF treatments. Then there’s our protagonist, who has decided to buck the trend and go childfree. It’s easy to see how this decision could strain her relationships with her friends.

**end spoilers**

I think her friend group could’ve done with better communication. It seems they all got wrapped up in their own struggles, which are all very valid and important. But these are supposed to be lifelong best friends and they just start shutting each other out. But that’s the thing isn’t it? It’s so easy to just curl up within ourselves and pull away from those we love because we don’t want to bother them.

There were some things I didn’t like, actions the characters took. Like one friend says she’s sorry for not being there more, but then just leaves. Olive invites her friend over to stay but then never sees her. The two mothers sort of gang up on the other two. Truly, how Cec thought it was okay to ask Isla to come decorate for a baby shower is beyond me.

I’m also not fond of the ending, honestly. (spoilers again, sorry!). The whole thing for Olive is that she doesn’t want to be a mother. Not ever. Not to anyone, not a stepmother, doesn’t want to adopt. No kids. Yet the first guy she meets and has a connection with has kids. So what does she do? Well, become a stepmother, obviously. Which seems like such a cop-out of an ending. So you’re telling me, the whole time she’s trying to convince everyone that she won’t change her mind and then she does just that? It kind of felt like a slap in the face to childfree people. Like see, you *will* change your mind, you just need to find the right man. I thought for a minute Olive wouldn’t take on the stepmom kind of role, but would just be an aloof presence in the children’s lives. But no, she becomes a best friend, a confidante, and has a great moment of clarity when she realizes how much she loves the girls. It disappointed me, truly.

TL;DR: a decent book regarding the decision to be childfree and how it can affect your relationships with others as they navigate motherhood, though the ending doesn’t seem to quite fit with the rest of the book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book and give my feedback. Thanks for this opportunity!

Every chapter of this book was a delight. Clever, insightful and intimate, Olive tackles a taboo "issue" - the choice to have or not to have children.

I think what made this book so enjoyable for me was the main character, Olive. At 33, she is living a generally happy life, but is made to question her decision not to have children when everyone around her seems to venture towards parenthood. While I'm in my mid-twenties, I found Olive truly relatable, as though she could be my best friend. She is still figuring things out, which is almost universal at this age, but the society makes her feel inadequate because of where she's at and where she's not in her own journey. I could definitely relate to her feelings and frustrations.

But it is also an important discussion of friendship and fertility, which I found very thought-provoking, especially because I feel like (in)fertility isn't discussed in literature and public discourse nearly enough for how prevalent it is.

Finally, I especially enjoyed reading this novel with my new favorite mode of reading - an ebook and an audiobook simultaneously. As far as the latter is concerned, I thought the narration was superbly done with just enough emotion to make it an experience for me. Highly recommended.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I started this as an ebook and wasn't sure I'd like it. Somehow I just couldn't find the right voice for the MC. Then it popped up on Netgalley as an audio book and I quickly downloaded it and started.

The narrator does a fabulous job. Honestly, for me, it saved the story. She has the perfect breezy tone of Olive but also the frustration when needed. She gave voice to the friends and their own struggles but also the apologies and tip-toeing they do at times with each other. This is the story of 4 women and their friendship - how it changes as they become adults and hit milestones (or don't) at different times. Female friendships can be tough, especially when society and friends have ideas of who we are and what we <i>should</i> be doing. It was great to read Olive's perspective in a story and I found it refreshing to give voice to people who just want to choose their life and how to live it.

I loved this story and I'm really glad I gave it a try.

Yes! Yes! Yes! Bravo to Olive and all her amazing friends, her life and her quirks. Olive, like Eleanor Oliphant,, will remain in our hearts forever. I can’t wait to own a physical copy of this book to reread it many times over. I highly recommend it.

Olive by @emmagannonuk

What an amazing book! I was lucky enough to be given access to the audio book from @netgalley and I just adored it! The narrator was excellent which is a big thing for me as I often find myself getting bored with audio books due to monotone narration and slow reading etc.

The story follows Olive Stone, a young woman who is set on living a child free lifestyle. The book follows Olive and her three friends who are all on different journeys and in different stages of life and the impacts that this has on their friendships and relationships.

The story was an excellent read and I loved the different time jumps giving alternate perspectives on certain aspects of the story. This was a heartwarming story of friendship and love and the acceptance of peoples choices in life and how we can all embrace the way that we choose to go forward in our personal journeys.

This is definitely a five star recommendation from me for all readers - but I would especially recommend this one to female readers and/or lovers of women’s fiction!

#Olive #netgalley

i thought this was a fun and sweet read! i will definitely read more emma gannon books in the future! thank you so much for this arc. i will post my full review once the publication comes out.

Olive was an absolute pleasure to read. Easy to jump into the story, easy to become attached to these women's special friendship, and easy to feel Olive's predicaments with her life stage as strongly as she does. Although there were many times I disagreed with Olive's reactions to the people in her life and at times felt she was self-obsessed and unable to truly visualize her friends' positions, I nonetheless enjoyed the story of a different perspective: a child-free woman.

Synopsis

Olive, a thirty-two-year-old feminist magazine exec finds her life—up until this point predictable and on track with her personal life vision—at a standstill when her boyfriend of nine years dumps her. The reason? He wanted kids, and she didn't.

Caught in the middle of a tightknit friend group that's suddenly growing up, with each girlfriend increasingly having or wanting kids, Olive suddenly has to reconcile the fact that she's never given serious thought to not wanting children, and that she can't will herself to want them, no matter how hard she tries. As her friendships begin to strain and her own sense of contentment and direction start to dwindle, Olive realizes she's got to decide—what if her version of her dream life doesn't look like everyone else's? And is she strong enough to live with it?

Review

From the very beginning, Olive is written to grip your attention. We meet Olive at the beginning of her breakup, reeling from the sudden rupture and metaphorically internally bleeding, needing the attentive care of her girlfriends. By the time the story ends, however, Olive is a completely different person—confident, assured, and stronger for it. What happens between these two extremes is the bulk of the story.

My favorite aspect of this read was the beautiful character development through the arc. This isn't one of those unsatisfying, waste-of-time reads where the main character stays exactly who they were at the beginning, having learned nothing. Olive grows and develops in such a nuanced, realistic, and almost imperceptible way; it's almost as if every day we're with her she heals and develops stronger layers without us taking note until the very end.

Additionally—the storyline is believable. It feels real, and the everyday romance of a group of friends wrestling with the unexpected challenge of realizing life stage—and life choice differences—have an uncanny way of messing with the strongest of friendships. The storyline is in no way slow—in fact, towards the end, I felt as if the author was trying to wrap up and leave a cleanly packaged end. Reading feels like you're moving at the speed of every day with each character.

A major qualm I had with our titular character was her degree of self-obsession. It was as if the rejection of childbearing had taken over Olive's ability to realize her societal privilege and all the good things in her life, from her incredible job to her easy access to travel and adventure. This, plus the fact that the vast majority of people in her life had already repeatedly demonstrated an understanding and acceptance of her choice to be child-free. In reality, the only person that seemed to have an issue with her choice to be child-free was her and she seemed to be consistently justifying to other people (when really speaking to herself) why her choice made sense.

Spotlighting a desperately-needed perspective on women's fiction, Olive had a lot to say. I only wish the self-obsession Olive perpetually displayed wasn't so pronounced, as it felt like it represented all child-free women that way, which we know is not at all the case.

Love It or Leave It?

I highly recommend this read you want an intimate look at the life and mind of a woman who decides she doesn't want children. Particularly if wanting children has been a natural, no-brainer choice for you, I believe it behooves you to learn from a divergent perspective. Reading Olive's story created greater empathy, understanding, and support for child-free women and couples for me, and it's so important in our ability to be able to accept others' locality—or our multitude of different identities. Olive tackles complex issues such as the role of women outside societal stereotypes, sociocultural implications of choosing to be child-free, and comparison in life stage all with grace, humor, and entertainment.

Rating: 4/5

Great book.
I still have some mixed pink feelings about this book.
I think it was a great story overall.
The author touches on subjects like friendship, women fertility, marriage, relationships, careers and society´s overall pressure on women throughout the book in a way that just made me feel all the feels.
I was just happy to pick up a book so light and easy to read

It was a book that I identified with quite a bit, in many ways.
I think it was a story that touched me quite a bit.

Olive was one of the first fictional books in which I saw myself reflected. Gannon does an impeccable job of showing what choosing to be child free looks and feels like in this day and age. This was fresh, fun and feminism in a way that I loved!

Excellent and affirming. A refreshingly different take on the typical 30-something motherhood trope. A recommended first purchase for collections where WF is popular.

Once I picked this book, I could not put it aside. It was real, intense and captivating. The emotions and the situations felt true and actual, just as life is. Life is clearly not easy, with its ups and downs, and so are friendships and the road to find one's self - the books show it all.

I loved this book! It was heartwarming and strong. It was exactly what I needed with everything going on in the world! A happy little escape!

I really enjoyed OLIVE. As a woman who is childfree by choice, it was especially refreshing and gratifying to see a contemporary novelist handle this hot-button topic with sensitivity, humor, and honesty. And it wasn't limited to Olive's perspective--each of the four main characters, of different minds and experience with fertility and parenting, were well-drawn and compelling. This book felt very "real," for lack of a better word, and I think it will speak to a lot of women!

I love a well written book with women as the varied, complex people that we are. I am one of those women that chose to have children, as deliberate thought out choice that I went into slowly while resenting expectations that it must be choice, even though it was in fact my choice, I hated the imposition, the assumption that we must all want the same for our lives, or that our happiness is hinged on one common goal, purple or function in society. This book is about that choice and the women that know motherhood is not what they want or choose. For me, the fact that women can a should have this decision for themselves somehow makes my choice also more valid, rather than some default role that had to be fulfilled. Great concept.

It's the first time that I read a book with such a topic, the perspective of a women who doesn't want kids sorrounded by friends with children, it made me think about my self, I really enjoyed the book, Olive is amazing

Olive, the title character of Emma Gannon's debut, and her three best friends are diverging from the closeness of their childhood and early 20s as their lives take different paths a decade out of school. The timeline bounces around throughout the novel, from the girls' days at university to graduation, ten years later, and everything in between. Olive and her boyfriend of nine years break up because she doesn't want to have children, just as her best friends are having babies or struggling to have their own. Olive feels adrift, more lonely, and isolated than ever. I found her to be a somewhat unreliable narrator, selfish, and often out of touch with what is happening with her best friends in the world. Olive isn't always likable, she certainly doesn't always make the right decision, but the questions and issues that she grapples with are relatable and important.

It was refreshing to read a book that deals with important and often unacknowledged issues women face when it comes to pregnancy, fertility, and the decision to have kids. They need to be talked about more. Emotionally gripping, Olive asks questions I have spent so much of my adult life struggling with.

I'm glad to have read this book. Thank you so much to Andrews McNeel Publishing for sharing this important book with me.

To be honest - I picked this book for it's beautiful cover. It sparked my curiosity about the story within.

"Olive" is a story of four childhood friends who are now in their 30s. Olive is the protagonist and the narrator of her story. She goes over their lives from her perspective.

"Olive" is aimed at readers between 20-40. This book takes you through the journey of someone who has made an active decision to live a childfree life - how they are perceived in the society, their struggles and their relationships.

Emma Gannon's writing is simple and though-provoking. There are good observations about the little things that makes the characters very real. It will also educate you along the way. These four women could be anyone around us or within us and the life they live could very well be ours.

The only con is, this is a very lengthy book with repetitive ideas. They could have easily done without some 50 odd pages of same unsubstantial arguments made by Olive. Also, it is meant for a specific group of readers.

Overall, Olive is an engaging read. In my opinion, it will connect well with you if you are in the late 20s+ age group. Pick this book up if you are looking for - a serious read / educative read on issues women face / beautiful women friendships.

I requested this book because I've previously read, devoured and loved every non-fiction book I've read by Emma Gannon. I love her podcast and online content and I was pleasantly surprised to finally read a fiction book from her.

The core of this novel is what instantly drew me in. I don't think we often see such realistic depictions of adult friendships and the challenges that those entails, usually in books we read a lot about love with friends as side characters and not at the centre of the story. So I particularly appreciated that Gannon chose this route.

I also particularly loved that she covered the topics of child-free by choice. It is definitely something that we rarely see in books, when we usually get a child-free character it's always a character that resents that state and does everything to find a partner and settle down with children. So it was definitely refreshing to see a character that willingly doesn't have children and doesn't resent her situation.

I love Gannon's writing style and I definitely can't wait to read more of her novels in the future.

Emma Gannon captures so many emotions in this book. I truly felt that she had lived some of my experiences in life, when reading this book. She captures the exact feelings I have felt. There is sadness and humor in the story line all mixed together with such delightful characters, and a few not so delightful. I really loved Olive's relationship with her sister, it reminded me a lot of me and my sis. ♥️

I enjoy stories about friendship and this one hits that mark, it also deals with issues many women face...namely to have children. I have two wonderful sons and neither have any desire to have kids. One is married and his wife is happy being able to focus on a career and traveling. As much as I would love a grandchild I didn't have kids for that reason and as long as they are happy and fulfilled I am happy. I only asked them once and when I got an answer I left it at that.

Poor Olive doesn't have that and it makes her feel angry, sad and left out. I loved how this book made me feel those things as well but I also found myself laughing out loud. What supported this beautiful and emotionally charged story is no doubt the strong writing. Literally each word sank in on me without any resistance, and it flows impeccably and smoothly, driving me further into the story without losing momentum. If this is an indication of what I can expect from this author, I’m all game to read more from her, this was a great debut novel.

Very happy to have gotten an advanced copy of this book. Devoured the book in a day - loved it! Will be recommending to book club, coworkers and friends.

If you like any of these 5 things in books, you should definitely read this one:
1. End of a long-term relationship
2. Women in their 30s
3. Discussions of motherhood and lack thereof
4. Strong female friendships
5. Evolving friendships

Trigger warning: if you have trigger warnings around, say TTC, maybe avoid this one.

This book...is so important. I really felt for the main character, an adult woman who doesn't want to have kids while her oldest and closest friends are all going through their own journeys with motherhood. I think this book does a great job of emphasizing how we are all individuals and how different each of our stories are as we continue to grow up. There is often this perceived pressure to be at a certain stage at your life by a certain age,, but Olive teaches us that there is beauty and happiness that can meet us wherever we are. A great and heart-warming read.

This book was sent to me as an ARC on NetGalley. However, all opinions are of my own.
This book has been on my TBR for the longest time and I jumped at the chance to read it. I had no idea what to expect. I loved the direction of this book and the way it was portrayed. I thought that it was done really thoughtfully and touches on topics that people are faced with daily.
TW for: trouble conceiving, marriage breakdowns, cheating and opposite opinions on wanting babies.
I understand that for some people this book may be triggering, but after reading this I really loved that all women had their own thoughts and opinions and that’s how it was.

3.5 stars. Olive is a novel that doesn't take itself too seriously but still manages to tackle some of the more complex parts of female friendship for women in their 30s (at-least upper middle class white women), which is no simple task. Before diving in, I heard others compare Olive to Bridget Jones, and I understand this easy comparison, as the book takes place in London and similarly delves into the inner thoughts of a female protagonist in her 30s at an identity/life crossroads (and she's also a journalist!). However, the comparison ended there for me, and I think this novel sets itself apart in the world of chick lit by providing an authentic look at the divergent pathways women in their 30s start to explore, particularly surrounding motherhood, fertility issues, and chosen child-free lifestyles. I appreciated Olive as a protagonist: she was honest and imperfect, and her job as a journalist lent her a natural curiosity as she tried to find her way. As a woman about to enter her 30s, I felt able to relate to Olive and her friends in this lifestage. I don't know that there's anything that would cause me to say this book is a must-read, but I unapologetically spent a full day curled up reading Olive and it kept my attention from the start. Overall, Olive effectively finds a niche hold in the ever-growing landscape of chick lit. Thanks to NetGalley for this wonderful opportunity for an early read!
#Olive #NetGalley

This book had been highly discussed around publication date and I was wary it might not live up to the hype from the author's friends in journalism. Having read novels from similar British authors, I expected an easy read exploring relatable women's experiences albeit from a very privileged perspective. That is exactly what I got! I am happy to indulge in a world where the hardest problem for a successful and loved 30-something is her friends being too busy to spend regular dinners and holidays together. This book explored an interesting topic in simple writing - I flew through it. Would recommend to other women my age and men considering fatherhood.

The book begins with Olive graduating, along with her 3 Best Friends, Bea, Cecile, and Isla. It is interesting how their relationships change as they grow up and make different choices in life. The book is told entirely through Olive’s perspective. One of the biggest issues is Olive is certain she does not want to have children. Life can be pretty tough on a woman who makes this choice.

Olive is a loyal, caring, slightly adrift women, but is easy to relate to. I did like this book, but did not love it. My favorite parts were hearing about Olive and how she knows her own mind, but keeps feeling pressured to be open to having children. I think her friends would say that Olive is not always open to their choices and struggles as well.

I did find the book dragged a bit, as it was entirely about Olive. We don’t get to hear from the other women. I think I would have liked to have heard more of their perspective considering the length of the book. The last 1/3 of the book picked up a lot more for me and enjoyed that the most.

Overall, it is a well written book and I was given a copy of the audio, too. I like this combination between reading and listening. That worked very well. At heart, Olive is a kind, loyal and caring friend who values her friendships. She just struggles sometimes to know how to stay connected, but that is understandable.

Thank You NetGalley, Emma Gannon, and Andrews McMell Publishing for giving an ARC of both the book and the Audio.

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Brief synopsis: Olive and her three best mates have always been there for each other, but these days Olive feels like an odd one out. As Bee, Cess, and Isla have all been focused on starting families, Olive is wrestling with whether she even wants to have children. Throughout the book we follow Olive as she tries to sort out who she is, and what she wants. There were so many things I loved about this book, but a few really stand out:

The Friendships: I love reading about a tight-knit group of friends, and these four did not disappoint. The women in the book all take different approaches to life, relationships, and motherhood, and each is going through a critical period in their lives. The stress of the decisions that weigh heavily on them, and the changes that seems to be happening constantly, put stress on their friendship and they have fights. But, and this is the crazy thing, those fights ARE NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. At the end of the day, their relationship is more important, bigger than one bad moment, and I loved that. It was so refreshing to read a realistic portrayal of female friendships where real women have real problems and deal with them in real ways.

Child-free rep: I think Olive’s inner struggles are very real, and a lot of women can relate. On the other hand, a lot of women who are child free might feel differently. What I appreciate about this book is it never claims to represent the views/desires of all child free women. It’s just Olive’s story, and what she goes through.

People with jobs! I’m a sucker for a character who is exceptional at their job, and Olive does not disappoint. She not only has talent at her job as a journalist, she shows good judgement. Every time I thought she was going to make a Bridget Jones-esque work faux pas or violate her professional ethics...she instead just went about her job like a grown up and eventually gets promoted for her skill and competency. You love to see it! There were some references to “showing up late and no one noticing” but we don’t actually see that behavior. Typically she’s working late at home doing research for stories, staying late, and hating the weekends because she prefers a productive workday.

Overall, this was a wonderful quick read, light but thoughtful, and I highly recommend it. The audio book is also a gem

Firstly, I want to thank NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read the book.
Olive is in her early thirties, has a job that she loves and three best friends. Her life seems to be great, almost perfect, until she realises that everything around her is making her feel like she is “different”. She, unlike her friends, doesn’t want a big house filled with toddlers. She likes her city life, in the chaotic London, going out at night and going back home drunk.
Olive portrays a type of girl that is very often brought into question in our society.
I really appreciate the story, it has been a surprising read, though sometimes a bit sad.
I am 22 years old so I do not feel this pressure right now, but I hope to create my own family one day. It is always very interesting to find out other point of views, as we all have different opinions about this topic. Probably in the future I’ll find myself wondering if I shall have kids or not… who knows!

This is the perfect book for anyone feeling behind their friends in life, especially for those in their mid 20s and up, and I cannot recommend it enough. Everyone has been there and everyone has felt overwhelmed with social “milestones” and life choices. More specifically, there is a certain taboo that comes with choosing to not have children.

(potential spoilers ahead)

OLIVE focuses a lot on the main protagonist’s decision to be child-free. OLIVE is the perfect balance of quirky, imperfect characters, and real-life. This book is not only based on Olive’s journey to come to peace with her decision to remain child-free, but explores common topics re: societal norms.

I think one of my favourite parts of OLIVE was Gannon’s portrayal of the intricacies of friendships that Olive and her three best friends face as they choose different paths in life and try to find the balance between their friends, families, careers, and relationships. Regardless of your choices in life, I think this book does a great job at sharing sides of the story we do not always get to hear, such as choosing to remain child-free in life.

I loved how this book shared the real-life feelings someone experiences when trying to navigate their life choices with what “they should do”. Gannon’s writing left me feeling frustrated and sad along with the four main characters as she explores themes of marriage, infertility, careers, friendships, and relationships.

A friendly reminder that it’s not okay to judge people on their choice to have or not have children. You never know what people are going through with fertility, health, and personal choices.

content warning: infertility

I originally put off reading this book due to the insane hype surrounding it. There was a fear of Olive letting me down or that it wouldn't live up to the high expectations. Oh, how wrong I was. Having just finished Olive, I really wish I had picked it up sooner.

From the very first page, I was completely hooked. The character of Olive is someone I completely related to. Although I have not ruled children out completely, I know that it won't be the end of life as I know it if I decide not to have any. However, like Olive, whenever this conversation has happened, comments have been thrown my way that I will change my mind, to give it time, and I will regret it if I never make it happen. This book has been one I've suggested people who say those comments read; it gives light to those people who simply do not want children for no other reason than not wanting them.

One thing Gannon does spectacularly is to write a group of women so perfectly. They are all at different stages in their lives and dealing with their own problems, ranging from fertility issues to postpartum anxiety and depression. But at the end of the day, they are there for each other. Gannon does not show any bias towards the story of these women. Especially Isla, who struggles to get pregnant and understandably takes a break from her friendship with Olive. Although Isla's ending wasn't one I'd hoped for, not everyone having a happy ending added even more realism within the book that I love; parenthood and fertility is different for everyone.

I really enjoyed this book and have already lost count of the number of people I've raved about it to. Definitely a favourite read of 2021!

This book tells the story of Olive and her three best friends - all at very different places when it comes to motherhood. Olive is sure that she doesn't want to have kids, and feels that creating a wedge in her friendships. She is sure that choosing not to have children isn't a defect, but proving it to others is a bit more difficult.

Have to start off by saying that I absolutely LOVE Emma Gannon and am so happy to have been able to read her debut novel. Her style was simple and inviting and I really hope she writes more novels in the future.

I felt so connected to Olive in the way that she doubts her place in life and if she is doing what she should be. I think we all can relate to that feeling, and Emma wrote about it beautifully. It can be very hard to compare your current stage of life with that of your friends - from group hangs that feel a bit forced to flawless Instagram pictures - we all play the comparison game from time to time.

What I really appreciated about the story was the varying generations and types of female relationships - Olive and her three best friends, her elderly neighbor Dorothy, Olive's sister, and then eventually even Olive's relationship with Marcus' family. It was a beautiful showcase of how different relationships can serve us differently depending on what we need at the time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrew McMeel for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

Olive is a young 30-something living in London and working as a journalist at an on-line magazine. She feels like she's falling behind in life because her best girlfriends are married/pregnant/homeowners, and she's recently single and renting a flat -- who here doesn't relate to Olive at least a little?

I picked up this book about a month ago, read the prologue, had a mini existential crisis and put the book away until this past weekend. The opening of the book discusses motherhood and the decision to have or not have children. I'm Olive's age, and I've battled some of the same issues she is battling -- reading that prologue was like looking in a mirror and I did not like it. Once I got my act together, I gave it another go and then I coudln;t put it down.

I really loved the way the author tackles adult female relationships and they way we tend to drift apart as we age. I think everyone who reads this will be able to relate to at least one of these characters, or maybe a little bit to multiple characters. I'm also a big fan of alternating time lines, which I think was executed very well. .

Thank you to the author, Andrews McMeel publishing, and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

**Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review**
“Olive” by Emma Gannon is an incredibly human story about Olive and her feelings with her choice of not having children. I loved this book more than I thought I would, because as a teenager I didn't expect to connect much with the character, but she's so real and so human I couldn't not understand her. Olive is a woman who makes mistakes, contradicts herself, and overall feels like such an honestly real person. Emma Gannon has done something so important and special, and I'm very grateful, for me and other women out there (especial women the age of the main character), that she wrote this.
I like the quotes by ordinary women sprinkled throughout the book, and I love how much Olive grows and matures in the space of a few months (maybe a year?), [minor spoiler] and especially how this is shown towards the end with her boyfriend's daughters.
The only things I didn't like were the clarity of the passage of time, which wasn't very strong, and I was never sure how long after the last chapter things were set, and the character Colin, who I think was mostly just a “gay best friend” stereotype and nothing deeper than that.
Overall, I give this book 4/5 stars, and I hope I remember to read it again when I am thirty, because I know I'll love it even more.

I'll be honest that I jumped into this book without really knowing what it was about -- but I like Women's Literature and often enjoy a strong or empowering female lead. This book is about Olive, a 30-something Londoner (by the way, I loved the narrator's accent and the British vernacular, "plasters" and "kerb") that has hit a major cross-roads in her life, most of her closest friends have children, are having children, or want children and she is pretty certain she does not. What ensues is her journey to figure out how to live with this decision and how not to destroy her closest female relationships.

I am sure that as a 40-something working mother of a teenager, I was not Gannon's idea of "target audience" as I have obviously chosen differently than Olive. However, I think it is very important for women to take on each other's viewpoints about intimate topics such as child-rearing. I have many girlfriends my age and older that have made the decision to not have children (or their own children) and are living healthy and productive lives. I know better than to pester them with questions about this lifestyle choice and I know not all of them have "decidedly made the choice" and some have just not had the opportunity to make it work out. However, I am so thankful that they have loved me through my child-rearing (corning the end of her really being a child) and I love them through their Singleton lives. This title reminded me that we must not impose our opinions about such intimate life choices on others.

I went back and forth between the Kindle Version and the Audio Version of this book -- but really enjoyed the narrator in the audio version more!

Thank you Netgalley & Harper Collins for this ARC copy of both the digital and audio of Olive by Emma Gannon.

Often the subject of becoming a parent can be a difficult one, especially for women, but Gannon really explores this through the perspectives of her characters in a really natural way. It absolutely is Olive's story, but at the same time we easily see what each of her friends are going through (even if Olive sometimes doesn't see it herself!)

I'll definitely be recommending to friends, it's a really good read no matter what your standing is on having children.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a very compelling portrayal of navigating one's early 30s, and how friends, no matter how close, can end up taking different paths. The author did a terrific job of creating a memorable main character. Highly recommended!

This is an important book that explores what it is to not want a child in a world that expects women to all become mothers at some point in their lives. The author presents us with multiple different perspectives on women and motherhood while never being judgemental. I believe this book could start very important conversations that need to be had in society about free choice and the pressure that women feel to become mothers. Women are allowed to make their own choices in life without feeling like they will be criticized. A really great, poignant fiction book by Emma Gannon.

I found this book very interesting. It is the first time I have read about someone who really didn't want to have children and why they didn't want to have children. I liked the main character Olive and her friends and I enjoyed finding out about their lives and how their friendship changed over the years. The story opened my eyes and mind to a new way of thinking that I had never explored before.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

So many books are written about the joys or heartbreaks that come with having children, but this is written from a really different viewpoint of a woman who has chosen not to have children. I really enjoyed reading all the very varied experiences of Olive’s friends, and how their relationships change as a result of their very different opinions and lifestyle choices. I would say that every 30-something woman with a group of girlfriends can relate to at least some of the stories in the book!

I did lose track of the timeline in places, and I felt there weren’t enough rites of passage to be able to pinpoint a particular chapter to a particular year. But I found this a really powerful book and would highly recommend!

With thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.