Dear Thorns is one of those novels that works slowly on you until you realise how emotionally devastating it’s become. What stayed with me most was the atmosphere - the heat, the isolation of the wildlife refuge, and the constant awareness that both the landscape and the people in it are fragile in ways they can’t fully admit. Lora is such a restrained, believable character. Karen Olsson writes beautifully about environmental loss without ever turning the novel into a lecture. By the end, the story felt like a meditation on loneliness, aging, and the fear of disappearing unnoticed

Dear Thorns is a beautifully written novel that blends themes of love, loneliness, and conservation against the backdrop of the Texas wilderness. I loved how Karen Olsson explores the complexities of human relationships alongside the fragile survival of the endangered ocelots Lora works to protect.

The story is thoughtful and character-driven, with a strong sense of place and a protagonist who feels real and relatable, even when she makes difficult choices. Olsson's writing is immersive and quietly powerful, making this a book that stays with you long after you've finished it.

A compelling read for anyone who enjoys literary fiction with rich characters and a strong connection to the natural world.

before anything, i'd like to thank netgalley for giving me an ARC. this is only my second review of one.

so. i thought this was a lovely book overall. the ups and downs were mild yet interesting, and reading it was like listening to a friend tell you about everything you'd missed in their life in the time your schedules hadn't permitted you to meet up even for a coffee. it was also partially akin to watching the national geographic channel because of the ocelots.

(since i see entire movies in my head while reading fiction, i kept envisioning lora being played by phoebe waller-bridge because of her character fleabag, and the main, erm, """love interest"""by jacob elordi because of his height.)

lora is a pretty relatable character, all the more so for middle-aged individuals like me. she's passionate about her work and cares for non-human animals deeply, so i kept rooting for her to succeed in her endeavors even though the odds were against her. i thought the conclusion was realistic and hopeful, hinting that everything would turn out fine in the end despite not being entirely what lora had had in mind. that's what life is like, really, for a lot of us, and sometimes all we can do is to let go and let live.

Learned a little about ocelots and enjoyed the info. The storyline was a little unexpected and enjoyable. Enjoyed the storyline.

Lora is a keen conservationist currently specialising in Ocelots in Texas. She has been working hard to improve the terrain and to implement structures to allow their safe passage through an increasingly human dominated terrain. Whilst she is stationed out there, she supervises interns as they come and go. Upon the arrival of a new intern, Lora begins to experience desires that she has long buried below her passion for work. With these desires come dips in her self confidence and reflections on the 'what ifs' of her life. Both main characters exhibited traits that felt familiar to me which meant I was rooting for them both throughout.

I found that Dear Thorns captured the frustration of workplace politics and we want to rally with Lora to maintain what is morally right and help these beautiful creatures. She is put up against systems of people who are ambitious for all the wrong reasons.

A warm, thoughtful novel with a gentle pace, this story captures the unpredictable twists of life while celebrating a deep love for wildlife and meaningful work. Its realistic yet hopeful ending feels satisfying, reminding us that happiness doesn't always arrive in the form we expect.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy! I really enjoyed this book. The main character is struggling, makes some questionable decisions, and isn't always the most likeable. I thought those aspects were handled really well. You follow Lora as she tries her best while also dealing with confusion and isolation, which made her feel like a real and believable character.

The atmospheric writing was another highlight. It made me feel like I was right there in the hot, dry landscape of southern Texas.

I did think the beginning of the book was stronger than the final 20%, so it isn't a perfect read. Even so, I enjoyed it from start to finish. If you like character-driven books with unusual settings or premises, in this case, an ocelot refuge, I would definitely recommend giving this one a try.