I absolutely loved this book, a true tale of love and friendship following the lives of the four women. It made me sad at times and delighted at others and I could relate to their stories and it makes me wish I had friendships like that!
I would love there to be a sequel to see how the girls moved on and how their lives and friendship evolved. Brilliant book!!

Having just finished Almost Adults I can say that it is one of the best books surrounding female friendship that I have read. Think Sex and the City but it’s set in England and the girls include a half-Irish girl and a half-Indian girl.

Alex wasn’t written stereotypically either considering her Indian heritage which was great to read because sometimes authors feel that they need to do that in order to solidify the use of a POC character.

All of the girls were funny and relatable and I really enjoyed this book.
It’s like a classic romcom, and it was great!

I adored this book. True friendship like the friendship in this book is precious and often rare. This book pulled me right in and I felt I was part of that circle of friends. This book has everything, I laughed, I cried, I nodded in agreement and could completely relate to so much of it. It’s a definite read again for me and one I’ll recommend to friends.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

This is an absolutely fabulous read full of fun and laughter and so much drama we can all relate to. The girls have a really strong friendship and its lovely to read. Really enjoyable book which is extremely easy to read. I am very excited to read more from this author in the future.

This was such a cute book about friendship and growing up or at least trying to anyway.

We see the lives of four women, Nat, Alex, Edele and Mackie all of which are trying to navigate their way through adulthood whilst dealing with all sorts of problems like breakups, unemployment and relationship issues.

My favourite thing about this book was definitely the friendship between the main characters, they were so close and always there for each other even when dealing with their own lives. I enjoyed the writing style a lot throughout, it was very honest whilst still being easy to read and humorous at times. Highly recommend if you're looking for a quick yet entertaining read.

I liked the characters in this book, Nat, Edele, Alex and Mackie, so the book was perfectly readable, it just bored me in the end. Too much swigging of wine, swearing and smoking and I felt as if I'd received the message of how vital the friendships were between these four twenty-somethings way before I reached the end of the novel.
My lacklustre review is no doubt due to the fact that my twenties are far behind me and so I found a lot of the content frivolous. Maybe if I was a twenty-something, recovering from a broken heart or about to embark on a new relationship or job I'd have found it more enjoyable and more relevant.
I think this book will have a definite audience who love it, but in this instance it wasn't the read for me.
Thanks to the publisher, author and Netgalley though for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I am not one that typically consumes contemporary fiction. I prefer the escapism of SFF. However, occasionally a blurb catches my eye and entices me to attempt to delve into this genre. Almost Adults promised a snapshot of modern 20 something female friendship as they try to navigate life, it doesn't disappoint.

It is rare that I genuinely like every character but these ladies were awesome. I enjoyed getting to read from all of their perspectives. This gave a fully rounded view of the emotional relationships between them. It gave a real authenticity to the emotions and the conversations as you got the situation from at least one perspective that I could relate too. In fact it was the description of how each women felt throughout the events of this book that really captured me. Other reviewers have stated that this is like the Ace Gang from the confessions of Georgia Nicolson series but in their late 20s and having grown up with those books I can see that comparison.

I wasn't to fussed about the plot, it didn't have too much substance and was rather slow, what kept me reading was how they all navigated through each element wither happy/sad and came together. This dynamic between the perspectives carries over into the atmosphere of the book, dependent on the mental health status of the current POV is a big influence on how their home town is described and laid out in front of the reader.
The ending is what I expected, we got a nice tided up bow and I am never a huge fan for the need of a happy ending for all I did feel this need to have all the characters content at the end of the book.

Overall, this is a fast and fun read, that centres on the love of family and friendship and how those relationships can get you through the bits of life you cant always navigate alone. I doubt I would rush to pick up another but I will at least stop and consider books in this genre a bit more before dismissing them entirely as not my cup of tea.

A good story of friendship and growing up. There were parts that every reader would be able to identify with. Well worth a read

I think this book will speak to a lot of late 20s/early 30s 'almost adult' woman. The close-knit friendship group evolving and transitioning into respectable adults is perfectly portrayed. Each character has her own personality and journey. Maybe it's a little cliché and they are all quite privileged but it was still a pleasure to read.
I found it odd that only one of the characters had a sibling and parent in any way involved in her life. Surely in all these major life milestones, parents are siblings are around. But maybe the author didn't want to muddy the water of pure friendship. This leads me to my second criticism: a few two many chapters waxed lyrical about how amazing it is to have these friends in their life and how they wouldn't be the person they are today without them. After a while I did feel like telling them yes, I got that, let's move on...

But all in all a very enjoyable read.

As a twenty-something millennial I should have know that I would have ended up either delighted or offended by this book, and I certainly fluctuated between the two feelings on a regular basis as I made my way through it.

Nat, Ed, Alex and Mackie call themselves the MEAN GIRLS, even though they are probably not (mostly). It's hard trying to figure your life out when you're young, and even harder trying to figure out how to be an adult.

Nat's boyfriend of seven years has just dumped her out of the blue, and she now needs to find the pieces of herself again. Ed is living at home with her mum and her brother; she's recently unemployed, gets pocked money for household chores and, although she will fight for her friends, isn't ready to fight for herself yet. Alex is a teacher - calm and responsible - except when it comes to her boyfriend, who she's afraid it going the same way as Nat's when he starts acting strangely. And Mackie seems to have it all figured out; she eats kale, runs for fun, has a career ... although she knows she needs to find a new job soon if she wants a career for much longer.

The friendships were great in this book, even though it all got a bit Sex and the City (wine and cigarettes to solve all of life's problems?) - the relationship between the four girls is natural, funny and perfectly supportive, as well as dealing with issues of mental health and self-confidence. The book managed to do all of these things well and it certainly made me reflect on my own friendships too, grinning when I recognised those phrases or actions or decisions - that is certainly done well.

The downside - I hated all four of these girls from the very start. They only really improved once they had started to overcome their problems. But to start with they were so shallow that they were just unpleasant to read along with.

And to be fair, the four girls do grow and develop, which makes them much more likeable before then end of the book. However, in their final chapters they become slightly preaching and sanctimonious about how much more in control of their lives they now are - so much more 'self-actualised'. But, reading over my notes from the beginning, it also means that they have not just developed, it's like they have completely different voices.

And the other positive - Alex, Ed, Mackie and Nat's endings are good. And they're not the just shiny, happy, glossy endings kind of good, instead they're good for each character in their own individual way. Points for that.

A special shout-out, however, goes to the fictional town of Hackton on Sea. It is everything that an out of London, British home-town experience is like - drinking in Wetherspoons, sticky floored nightclubs, more KFCs that people. That was nicely done.

Mackie, Ed, Alex and Nat (or, as they call themselves, MEAN Girls) are all starting to feel that they definitely should have their lives together. They're all in late twenties, all have been friends for many years, and now they try to figure out how to be an adult, and what does it involve. Firstly, Nat's boyfriend of seven years, ends their relationship, with no warning. Alex is scared her boyfriend is cheating on her, Ed is still living with her mum and lying about how well her job search is going, Mackie is trying to get out of the job she's just got. Are all the changes going to challenge their friendship`?

What really worked for me in this story was the friendship between the girls. It felt real and honest, they were there for each other but it didn't feel too forced or unrealistic or overdone. It was genuine, with ups and downs, like in real friendships, it was comforting and spirit lifting. Each of the four girls was unique, with their own voice and experience, and they brought the best to the relationship. Individually they are all a real mess, but together it seems they can conquer the world, and I loved this feeling.

The book is told from all four points of view and the author has really well pulled it off and the characters tell as it really is, highlighting all the highs and lows of being an adult. But I wanted to tell, this is life, right, so please just pull yourselves together and stop feeling sorry. I mean, there were some funny moments, sure, and the girls were not flawless, they were making mistakes, so it should be a relatable, engaging read, but maybe I'm simply too old for such book already? Sure, we all have moments when we really don't know what to do with our life, when we feel we are adults by mistake but I simply expected more from this story. And, I think, something different - more fun, more humour, more hilarity because, once too much, it felt like the characters were only unhappy and complaining all the time. What's more, I didn't care about the characters, I wasn't sure what the book wants to tell us - I probably simply didn't click with it as I expected to, and hoped to, based on the brilliant synopsis.

I liked the message in "Almost Adults", that really it's not all about having a man in your life but about finding yourself and this what makes you happy. It was a story about true friendship, with its ups and downs, about making mistakes and learning from them and realising that being an adult doesn't mean you must have everything figured out. The dynamics between the girls were so well captured and the writing style was light - hearted, and I am already looking forward to reading more from Ali Pantony.

A good read...with friendship at its heart. I got really engrossed in each girls life. Mackie, Edele, Alex and Nat all have a story to tell......so true to life with episodes some of which I'm sure each one of us could identify with. I loved the strong bond between the girls and that their issues were realistic. An easy read that was full of humour, honesty and understanding and the realisation that being 'almost adult' doesn't mean that you've got life sorted out....and friends are what keep you sane!!

Four friends, Nat, Edele, Mackie and Alex have shared everything since their school days. When Nat’s partner of 7 years, Matt, announces he’s leaving her, the friends rally round to support her. What follows is an entertaining tale of the girls’ struggles with love, loss, work and just trying to be an adult. Each chapter continues the story from a different character’s viewpoint, which helps keep it flowing.

I really enjoyed this story - the four friends have very distinct personalities and their problems and uncertainties are easy to relate to. Their interactions are well written and makes for a very easy read,

A great book, well worth a read.

An enjoyable read about true friendship, this book is so humorous but also touches on very emotive and serious issues. The characters are very relatable and well written, the story whilst not action packed is enjoyable although a little slow at times.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

This is such a hilarious and uplifting book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Everyone has that group of friends that they can always rely on and this book could be about any one of us. At first I thought I wasn’t going to enjoy it because it seemed to jump from one person to the next but it worked and it soon reeled me in with the humour. I loved Edele and her sarcasm, she always had a witty comment about something but was always the first to offer support in her feisty manner. She reminds me very much of myself. I loved how this book also showed how a break up can affect someone and that even though you may show strength and courage and a blasè attitude to life like Edele, that maybe it’s just a front. Edele hides behind her attitude and doesn’t allow her insecurities to show but it’s clear in the book that there is more to her than meets the eye. I think it’s great that Ali created such a true to life character. I’d like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Almost Adults was an absolute joy to read. Based around the friendship between four women, this story of what it means to be 'almost adult' was funny, touching, relevant and uplifting. Mackie, Edele, Alex and Natasha have been friends since they were 11. Each of the four have their trials and tribulations. Heartbreak, insecurity, unrequited love, inadequacy, uncertainty. Edele, acerbic and hilarious but behind the humour, deeply sensitive and hurting from a childhood of pain and the death of her father. Natasha, raw and honest, but at her core she feels worthless and her inner voice is constantly critical. Mackie, clumsy and socially awkward which made her instantly relatable; and Alex, kind and wise but not afraid to admit she fears her life is stuck, as we all feel at times.

As we get to know each of the four better and on a deeper level we become fully invested in their journey to fulfilment. What I adored the most was how the friends were always there for one another, and one of the most touching moments was when Edele spends the last of her money for the week to fill Nat's fridge'. True friendship is giving from the heart unconditionally and selflessly.

Almost Adults isn't afraid to deal with difficult subjects and there was an authenticity to the writing that made it so easy to relate. For anyone going through hard times, it's friends who get you through and this book was a soaring testimony to the power of friendship.

'Friends is a word too insubstantial. It is not good enough for the people who rush to your side and hold you up like a delicate piece of china. The people who clean your flat, stock your fridge, pour you wine, cook you dinner...The people who wrap themselves around you in bed so you don't have to feel the cold expanse of nothing next to you. Friends is too weak, too weightless for all of that. Really, I think, this is it. This is the kind of love that makes you feel whole, that rebuilds you and helps you to gather all of your broken pieces and build them into something new. Something hopeful, strong. Something better'.

This was a really dull read.

It is a slice of life about 4 women who are friends in their 20s. The characters' personalities are flat and really similar to each other with minor differences to help distinguish them. Each chapter is from the point of view of one of the friends, however I kept having to recheck the title of the chapter to remember which character.

I found the story boring - I felt it lacked drama or conflict. Everything was very predictable and dull.

The book attempts to make a lot of the friendship but to me it seemed very superficial and cheesy. Everyone is always there for each other and unfortunately there wasn't much else.

I loved this book! It follows 4 women who have been lifelong friends and are now in their late twenties: Nat, Edele, Alex and Mackie. Nat has just been dumped by her long term boyfriend, Edele is unemployed and still living at home with her mum and younger brother, Alex is worrying about her relationship with boyfriend Craig, and Mackie is contemplating a career move.

Although the women have their individual battles, they have such a strong friendship that they are not alone in them. The story is told from each of their perspectives yet still follows a chronological timeline. The prevalence of the friendship group means that the story flows extremely well despite the perspective changes as the four women feature in each perspective. Naturally some characters have a little more depth than others, but I think that the emphasis on the girls as a four saved this from being a problem. We learn a lot about the characters from the chapters narrated by themselves, but also from the chapters narrated by the others.

The book has a fairly light-hearted feel to it yet still addresses some really important issues and difficult life events: unemployment, therapy, breakups, love, death, friendships and family relationships. There is definitely something that will be relatable for the reader.

Overall this was a really engaging story; I didn't want to stop reading. I felt as though these characters were my friends and I wanted to be there for them through their troubles and join them for a glass of wine! It was an extremely comforting read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ebury Publishing at Penguin Random House for a copy of this e-book in exchange for a review.

I really enjoyed this book!
Four friends, Natasha, Edele, Alex and Mackie, are in in their late 20's and coping with life being "Almost Adults".
Each chapter is told from a different characters point of view as they muddle through relationships, jobs, moving out of home and nights out. The friendships are realistic and totally relatable - I've had some of these very conversations with my own friends!
I definitely recommend this book - a great debut.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review

Nat, Mackie, Ed, and Alex are nearing that point in their twenties when they feel like they should definitely have their lives together. Except Nat's boyfriend of seven years has ended things with no warning, Alex is scared her boyfriend is cheating on her, Ed is still living at home and lying to her Mum about how well the job search is going, while Mackie is trying desperately to get out of her dead end job. They have no idea how to 'adult', and certainly have no idea how to live without each other. But as life goes on and things begin to change, can they stay best friends while turning into almost adults?

The thing I always worry about in books which have a cast of four/five female characters is their identity - and I say this because I've been let down before. It's so common for a group of female characters to blend into each other, for me to find it hard to tell them apart, and it's frequently very disappointing to read.

These girls, however, had their own voices, their own identities, and I loved each of them individually. Unfortunately, I wasn't totally invested in their stories. I needed more background, it to be more personal, something a bit more to really get into their relationships and work dramas.

HOWEVER, and yes that is in caps on purpose, this was a fantastic book at portraying friendships, and I adored the dynamic and interactions between the girls. These are obviously people who have known each other for so long, who know each other inside out, and you really got that feeling when reading it. They loved each other, that much was obvious, and yes they bickered but there was realistic banter and digs at each other. 

It was a little too boy centric for me (are you telling me not one of them was a little bit gay?) but I loved their relationships and that made it a really enjoyable read. 

3 starts. Almost Adults is out June 24th by Ebury publishing.