This book didn't suit my reading taste and sadly I couldn't get into the story. I also feel because I am used to Holy Bourne's writing in YA, changing to writing Adult fiction confused me and I just didn't enjoy the change. Therefore I did not finish this book.

With thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

Tori Bailey wrote a bestselling self-help book about navigating relationships through your twenties. At the end of the book Tori met the Rock Man in America and they walked into the sunset together. Six years later Tori has writers block and has never published another book. Tori performs motivational speeches and book tours attended by adoring women who say Tori changed their life. The question most asked Is she still with the Rock Man and are they still in love?

Tori and Rock Man AKA Tom own their flat and have a cat. Although Tori and Tom still love each other the relationship has gone stale. Tom no longer finds Tori's quirks endearing and constantly disapproves of her. Tori imagined at 31 she would be married to Tom but she is still waiting. Her university friends are married now and starting families. Tori definitely does not want children and laughs with her best friend Dee about boring parents. When Dee becomes pregnant by a man she just met, Tori is pleased for by ultimately jealous because she has Been with Tom for longer. Tori tries to speak to Tom but he refuses to discuss the issue, Tori knows she should leave Tom but she is scared of starting over in her thirties.

I read How Do You Like Me Now in two days, the book had some funny moments which made me laugh out loud, However neither liked or cared about Tori, she was supposed to be 31 and acted like she was still in her twenties. She was a vacuous character who lived every minute on social media, taking selfies trying to find the perfect shot to send to her fans. In the book she had an obvious eating disorder and self harm issues I would of liked that aspect explored a little more.

Tom was a Nasty piece of work who blamed Tori for their problems, There were a nasty incident between Tom and Tori and she just seemed to brush it off, desperate for affection.

My favourite character was her best friend Dee who was far more down earth then Tori. I loved the drinking game they played at the wedding.

I have given How Do You Like Me Now? Three stars because the book was a fun read even though I could not stand the protagonists personality or her actions.

I liked this book right at the beginning, but the further I got into it, the less I started to like it tbh.
The narrator / main character was really irritating and I could not connect with the character in any way.
It really is a shame that I couldn't like this one though, i absolutely adore all of Holly's previous books, and love the characters, but this one was just a huge miss for me personally :(

Holly Bourne is my go-to author for YA - I push her books into the hands of girls knowing that each one they read will give them strength, confidence and spine. I was a bit worried that this adult book would side step those qualities and slide into chick lit; something I imagine Ms Bourne would hate. However my fears were entirely unfounded. This fearless book explores the spiral of uncertainty surrounding a not-terrible but actually-pretty-bad relationship lived under the scruitiny of fans and social media. What pressures do we put ourselves and, unwittingly, our friends under as we desperately deny how bad things are because admission means taking action, and isn’t it too late?
This sharp, witty, and frankly funny book will make you peer at your own relationships, nod knowingly about past disasters, and possibly snort wine down your nose occassionally. Try not to read it in public.

I started reading How Do You Like Me Now? over TWO months ago for an advanced reader review and although I usually would get ARC reads done ASAP, I’ve unfortunately had to de-prioritise reading to make room for everything else going on with me. Much to my disappointment because this book is amazing! I loved it!

Tori is in the start of her thirties and from the outside, smashing life. She’s the best selling author of a self-help bible for women in her twenties, she’s together, successful, independent and has the love of her life, Tom, by her side for the ride. Except society still dictates that isn’t enough. She’s not married, she’s not had children and neither are firmly plotted onto her life plan so in the eyes of society, is she really successful as a woman? The question is, what does Tori want? Regardless of what she feels she should be doing in her thirties, what does she want from her thirties and the rest of her life? Will she take her own advice that she doles out to her huge female following and follow her on desires?

I relate to this book on so many levels, it’s unreal. I’m 30 (tick), I consider myself fairly successful in my career (tick), I’m not married (tick) and I don’t have children (tick). Basically I am a slightly tweaked version of Tori! Although I do have differences in my life in that I am very happily in a relationship and accepting of my life I agree with so many messages in this book.

Why is it that there is a clear, unspoken definition of “success” for women in their thirties that’s heavily steered towards marriage and children? Why is that so many women can appreciate that another woman is successful in her career, but if said woman has not had children, the unspoken conclusion is “but she’s not truly made it, she hasn’t got children”? Or why is that woman who have a very successful career can appreciate that a woman has worked hard to raise a family but if said woman has chosen not to work, the assumption is “she’s lazy, and doesn’t want to work. Anyone can stay at home minding children all day”?

I don’t understand why society STILL can’t accept that success can only be measured by oneself. Whatever makes you happy; do it. Whatever makes you feel fulfilled; do it. What I firmly believe and what this book did a fantastic job of re-affirming for me was that no matter what you do in life, if you can’t take a step back and truly feel content at least every once and while – something needs to change!

Tori is a fantastic character and I don’t know any 30 something woman that would be able to read this book and not see themselves reflected in her in at least the tiniest of ways. She portrays such a perfect life when in reality, she’s clinging on to the hope of happiness behind closed doors. There were times when I felt like shouting in to the book for her to grow a pair and take control of her life for herself. Which is me looking down on her from my high horse…so many things are easier said than done.

As I’m sure you will have grasped by now, I loved this book. My reading of this book may have been incremental and broken, but I never lost interest in it. In fact just a few days ago, I spent a good 45 minutes ranting to my partner about expectations on women and judgement of decisions and situations. Evidence of just how much this book struck a chord with me! I’d be a moron to not give this book a more than deserved 5 stars!!

I enjoyed this book, but think I'd have "got it" a lot more if I was younger. My own fault, I tend to pick up a book and dive right in to surprise myself! This is aimed at the 30 something reader, like Tori herself. It's not like thinking back to myself twenty years ago would help, it's a different world out there, with women comfortable in their own sexuality, not done in the 80s/90s!! Not much of substance to the read - you did want her to leave her useless boyfriend, she was worth so much more. And I was so glad she met a new friend to help her realise that not having children doesn't mean her life is worthless. It's a trap we do fall into when we do have children - thinking we have achieved our life's purpose, and that's great, but not for everyone! I see friends without children or partners and their life looks perfectly nice - we always want what we don't have.

I am OBSESSED with this book! I wasn’t sure what to expect as it is a debit but I will certainly be keeping my eyes peeled for Holly’s future books. Brilliant!

Hits the target on some things that women in their 30s deal with, but also widely misses the mark on others. It’s probably a generalisation, maybe the author has just turned 30, or maybe we just have different experiences and friends but I could (and plan to) write a whole blog post on things I disagree and find baffling with the book. 3-3.5 stars.

Holly Bourne is one of the most underrated authors around and this is one of her best! With Bourne's trademark humour, this had my sides aching within a few pages. Like her YA offerings, HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW has a female MC that it''s impossible not to relate to. My favourite thing about her novels is not just the humour, but the way they make you challenge long-held socially accepted beliefs. I will be pushing this book into my friends hands all summer long!

Holly Bourne has turned her hand to adult writing and this is her debut. It is an emotional story of one women's roller coaster ride through relationships, life, and being thirty. Though provoking and funny.

An amazing read. Articulated so many things about female friendships and performing social norms that I hadn’t even realised I was thinking about. Five stars.

I could not put it down.

Very funny, well written and relatable, even though I am a couple of years older than Tori.

The book honestly and bluntly calls out the weight of society's expectations from a woman passing a 'milestone' age, as well as the struggle to reaffirm everyone (if not always oneself!) that the expectations are indeed being met.

The best friend story line hits the nerve too - how quickly something stable and relied-upon can disappear - and how even the positive change for someone dear can hurt and disorient.

Brilliant read.

I’ve enjoyed Holly’s YA novels before so was really excited to see she’d written an adult novel and she did not let me down!

Tori is the girl who said no to looking happy and yes to being happy in her twenties.. so much so that she wrote a book about it which has helped others to peel back the superficiality of life to find the parts that really matter.. so what happens when she gets stuck in the rut that so many women in their thirties do... job you tolerate, boyfriend who has always been there, friends getting married and having babies whilst you feel you’re being left behind... you grin and bear it whilst trying to work out when everything became just what was expected.

Tori doesn’t have life sussed, she still has a lot to learn from her friends, family and herself... written in a blunt, humorous prose that speaks truth to this thirty-something year old I enjoyed getting lost in Tori’s world for a couple of days and would love to know what happens next

A fun, smart and absorbing read which perfectly skewers our social media-mad age and the madness of your thirties.

Difficult to read as it posed some hardhitting questions, and yet hard to put down. The question is ....do you have the strength and the courage to read and be changed by it?!

I need a sequel now!

In 3 words - Fun, relatable, entertaining.

Tori is fab, you're routing for her, shouting at her through the pages. Dee too is great!

4.5 stars, it's only missing half a star as I wanted an epilogue, a teaser of bigger ending. More please, asap.

Thanks to NetGalley, Holly Bourne and Hodder & Stoughton for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“How Do You Like Me Now” is a hilarious book - had me actually laughing out loud which is very unusual for me as I’m usually more of a “chuckle in my head” reader. There are some real home truths throughout this book and some fantastic reflections on life. I went from loving the main character Tori, to feeling incredibly frustrated with her and actually shouting at my kindle for her to sort her life out. I did feel about 2/3 way through the book that I was getting a little bored and wanted the storyline to move on a bit but I was then disappointed with how the book finished - I get the feeling it’s been well set up for a sequel. I absolutely fell in love with both her little moggy “Cat” and her best friend “Dee” - I think we all want to think we are just like Dee. What was fascinating is how the highs / lows of social media addiction are portrayed and the psychological effects these posts can have, on both those posting and those seeing these posts - anyone who feels ever so slightly addicted to getting their fix of happiness based on how may “likes” your posts get, should really read this novel.
It’s definitely a book I will recommend for anyone wants a good, funny read - perfect for the summer holidays

I struggled to relate to Tori majority of this book. Mainly because I'm 23 so I don't feel the pressure she does. I only related to her with feeling like having to keep up appearances online.
I enjoyed the writing and it had some funny lines. A quick easy read. However it feels unfinished, but maybe it's supposed to.
Majority of this book I felt it was Tori knowing her problems complaining to herself/therapist about it but not actually changing anything. But soon as she does the book ends. I wanted to see how she changes her life.

"Turning thirty is like playing musical chairs. The music stops, and everyone just marries whoever they happen to be sitting on."

There are no words to explain just how excited I was when I heard about this book. I am already a huge fan of Holly Bourne's, having read every single one of her YA novels and I love them. Although I mainly read YA, I have a major soft spot for adult contemporary books. I adore books from the likes of Cecelia Ahern and Paige Toon and just as I got excited when they, my favourite adult authors, released a YA book, I was super excited that one of my fave YA authors was releasing an adult book. I knew this adult debut from Holly Bourne was going to be true, gritty and hilarious... and I was right. I absolutely loved How Do You Like Me Now? it was everything I could have possibly hoped for.

How Do You Like Me Now? follows Tori, a best selling author who is under preassure from her publisher for a follow-up book. But Tori is out of ideas and as she travels around talking about how put-together her life is, the one thing she is hiding is that she doesn't actually know what is happening in her life. Everywhere she looks her friends are getting married or having babies and Tori is stuck in an unhappy relationship, feeling like she can't leave. Is she brave enough to follow the advice she gives to others?

I loved Tori. She is honest, true and hilarious. Holly Bourne has not held back in this book. She hasn't sugar coated her characters and I loved that. There are thoughts that Tori has that can be seen as 'bitchy' or 'mean' but if you're being honest with yourself, they're things that everybody thinks about others. I loved how true this character was. She is completely flawed and that is so relatable. She doesn't pretend to be perfect and I absolutely loved that. I was on board with Tori right from the very start.

I hated Tori's boyfriend... like hated him. He was such an ass and everytime he was interacting with her I just wanted her to leave him. It was such a toxic relationship and a part of me was irritated that Tori was staying in this relationship, but the more I read the more I loved that fact that she was growing as a character and I was left with the hope that she would leave him.

Holly Bourne is a fantastic novelist and she has proved that not only can she dominate the YA market but the Adult one too. I could not put How Do You Like Me Now? down. I was completely taken away with this story and the characters. I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen and couldn't read it fast enough. I love how brutally honest and true it is about what society depicts as what is acceptable life events to have happened by the time that you're thirty and how actually it's okay if that hasn't happened to you. It's okay to be single and childless... that doesn't mean you've failed. I loved that it had this incredibly important message. As a 27 year old who is single, childless and still living with parents I loved this message.

I will most definitely be recommending this book to everyone in their late twenties and older. This book is brutally honest, true and just downright hilarious. It is so uplifting as well and I seriously have so much love for this series. It is utter perfecting and I can honestly say Holly is officially sealed in my fave authors ever list. I will read anything this woman writes... I don't even need to know what it's about if Holly's wrote it I'm reading it. So honestly... what are you waiting for? Stop reading this and go read Holly's phenomenal adult debut. I promise you won't be disappointed.

"I’m so much happier. Don’t get me wrong, I still hope I meet someone, but I also know I’ll be fine if I don’t, you know? My life is mine, totally mine."

3.5*

A funny, thought-provoking read which kept me turning the pages. I was very excited dipping into this novel as a big fan of Holly Bourne's YA titles however this one fell a little short for me. Although I enjoyed it and Bourne maintained her wit and humour alongside some very real experiences, I felt that it lacked the passion of her previous works.