Olive by Emma Gannon was one of my most anticipated books of the summer so I was thrilled to be gifted an eARC to read in advance of today’s publication date.

This is a book that’s going to resonate with an awful lot of women. Olive is 33 years old, very successful in her career at an online magazine, and has a close-knit group of friends. But as the years go by she feels their paths starting to diverge, and they seem to drift apart. Olive sometimes feels like the odd one out and starts examining the validity of her life choices. But do the others really have their sh*t together? And can they find their way back to each other?

Olive battles with other people’s perceptions of her being childfree by choice and how it affects her relationships and sets her apart from those with children. It was refreshing to read a book written from this perspective, and I think a lot of women will nod along with Olive’s narrative. Emma Gannon’s writing style is really engaging and her characters are very relatable. The story is so engrossing that I flew through the book in a couple of days!

This novel was not at all what I expected. I thought it was going to be quite a light and easy read but I actually spent a lot of it feeling pretty sad and pondering on fertility, relationships, and career choices and how they have affected my own long-standing friendships. The moment I had turned the final page I genuinely picked up my phone and got in touch with some close friends that I hadn’t messaged for a while, some of whose stories mirror those of Olive’s friendship group. It made me realise that, though we’re all walking completely different paths we are still essentially the same people we’ve always been, and I miss them!

Thought-provoking, witty, funny and ultimately uplifting, to pack such an array of emotions into 400 pages is incredibly clever. I can’t wait to read what Emma Gannon has in store for us next!

With thanks to Harper Collins for this gifted e-copy for review. Olive is out now!

Great debut. Really thought-provoking and totally unique. I could see it being made into a sitcom – a bit like Fleabag.
What happens when a woman decides to be childfree by choice? It isn't something I've ever thought about as I always did want children and had three, but I was fascinated by the portrayal of Olive, her confusion and her treatment by society and even her closest friends. The nature of friendship as we grow up is really interesting too and poignant.
Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fresh, funny, and honest!

I loved that motherhood is the central plot, it isn't a secondary narrative swept under the rug. It's given the platform to be explored with all the different choices considered or experienced by Olive, Bea, Isla, and Cecily.

The quotes inserted at the end of each chapter around the subject of choosing not to have children really puts the spotlight on expectations, preconceived ideas, enforced opinions, and pressure most of society put on women.

It just missed out on 5⭐ because I personally struggled with the idea that as such close friends they could be so self-absorbed and not be really there for each other. Obviously it serves to highlight the different paths and changing priorities. Maybe that is exactly what happens and I'm just yet to experience it?

Overall a thought-provokingly engaging read that explores an incredibly important life choice in a refreshingly honest and open way.

A huge thanks to Harper Collins UK & NetGalley Review for gifting me a copy in return for an open & honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

A really good read about 4 friends and their friendship through the years as they journey through life. I found that in places I could really empathise with the characters. I liked that they had different views to how to live your life and that they were discussed. I liked the ending as well.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This was a joyful read about friendship and I love friendship stories. Always brings warmth.
Olive was a very likeable, fantastic character, very well developed. The writing was charming. Definitely recommend this book.

Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

Four friends with contrasting lifestyles. One with three children. One just having given birth to her first. One longing to become pregnant and one intending to live a child free life. They have been friends since childhood but can these friendships survive?
I felt I knew all the characters personally. A thoughtful interesting read

This is a book ultimately about friendship and their journey together.

The story follows Olive primarily, who I absolutely adored. Although loved the dynamic of all the other characters too.

There were elements of the story which really made me stop and think, which I always enjoy.

It is easy to read, well paced, interesting and full of ‘story’.

This was such an eye-opening and informative read that deals with the topic of women who do not want children and the struggles that come along with that decision in society.

I grew to really love Olive and admired how strong and confident she became throughout this book. She’s an incredibly likable character and is very realistic, she’s not perfect but she doesn’t claim to be and yes she makes mistakes but don’t we all? Not only does she deal with pain of splitting up with her long-term boyfriend she’s surrounded by her best friends who are settling down, either with children or in the process of trying for them. Olive feels like there is something wrong with her and feels somewhat ashamed of the way she feels.

This book touches on a lot of important topics which I am all here for and think they should be discussed more openly in books and in society in general. I think the topic of women not wanting to have children is one that is not done enough and we definitely need more characters like Olive in the world. I think women should be allowed to make that choice and should not be shunned by society for choosing not to. It is their body to with as they wish and they should not be judged or shamed for making these decisions. This book also opened my eyes to the way people instinctively reply to discussions revolving not having children and how quick they are to brush it under the rug with a ‘I’m sure you’ll change your mind!’ Why can people just not accept that woman may not want children and that is not an issue?!?! Sorry, rant over.

Another topic it discusses is infertility and it is one that you don’t see enough of in books. I think this one really hits home with me. Although I’m not trying I do really want children one day and suffer from Polysistic ovaries where my menstrual cycles are infrequent and therefore fail to regulary release eggs. It means down the line when I am ready to have children I may struggle. Seeing a character like this in the book hit hard but I felt the representation was done perfectly.

My only issue was with the friendships and arguments throughout the book. I felt a lot of them were unnecessary to the story and I honestly didn’t care for them. Yes, adulthood is hard especially when everyone’s lives are going down different paths but if they had just all taken the small amount of time to communicate I don’t think there would have been any issues.

Overall, this was a beautifully written book about adulthood, friendships and the freedom women should have to decide whether they want to have children or not.

Everyone needs to read this book! Even if you want children in the future you should read it to see the perspective of women from their side and realise that certain comments can actually be harmful to those who have made the decision to not have children.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Olive, now in her 30's, has reached the age where you start to feel the pressure of societies expectations. The certain things you feel you're supposed to have done or should being doing. Mortgage, marriage, baby. I think we all know the drill.

With her childhood friends all settling down, and either talking or having babies, Olive has no maternal urges what so ever which leads to the break up of her relationship. With her life choices being seemingly different to those of her friends, Olive begins to feel misunderstood.

Oh this book was a joy to read and so refreshing, with it touching on subjects such as friendship, growing up, relationships and the taboo of not wanting children, at no point did it come across as judgemental but more as understanding. Ticking all the boxes is not what life is about for the protagonist of Gannon's novel and I'm here for it! Enjoyable, well written and deals with the social stigma attached to women who choose to live child free, head on. It's a story I believe will bring comfort to many women who read it.

Women can have it all. Women SHOULD have it all. What if they don't actually want it all...? What if a woman doesn't want... shh now... children??

Olive doesn't want children. She never has, and never will. She may change her mind, but probably not. But why should she be vilified for it?

This is a great book showing the guilt a woman can be made to feel about her lifestyle choices, especially when her peers and friends are all having children. A woman's friendships are often more important to her than her 'life partner' - after all, who is it who sticks around after a relationship breakup? Olive needs her friends desperately when her long term relationship with Jacob ends, but their attention is diverted by others - their own families.

It's a painful tale of Olive coming to terms with the fact that she's pretty much on her own, but tempered with humour throughout, and the realisation that having a child doesn't automatically grant you access to the 'accepted' club of womanhood - there are plenty of women who have their own issues or who are judged by others to be lacking in something. If only we could accept people for who they are!

This isn't the usual sort of read for me but I did enjoy it,. Ups and downs of friendship with everyone living their lives even if they're opinions differ.

I was so excited to read this book as it’s the first time I’ve ever even slightly identified with the main characters in a book. It was an interesting read and although I really agreed with the message, it was not quite a 5 star read for me.

Olive is 33, she works at .dot magazine and is flying up the career ladder. She’s been with long term boyfriend Jacob for nine years and had the same group of close friends since her uni days, but lately she feels like she’s being left behind.

𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀. 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘇𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

All her friends are married and on to the next chapter of their lives. Bea has 3 kids, Cecily is pregnant with her first and Isla is trying and struggling to get pregnant.

But Olive doesn’t want children. And she’s choosing a life people just don’t understand. Jacob is devastated and the pair mutually decide to split. Olive is heartbroken.

𝗜 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘁, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻, 𝗜 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁.

I relate so much to Olive on the children issue. As soon as you get married or hit your mid twenties the questioning begins, “so when are you having a baby?” It doesn’t matter how many times you tell people you don’t think you want children they always say “you will change your mind”.

The book explores the issue of how people like Olive are made to feel like less of a woman or selfish because they do not want to be a mother. Just imagine how it makes someone feel when you automatically dismiss their decisions as wrong, like they haven’t thought them through.

In fact Olive agonises over the decision to the point of obsession. I’d be willing to bet she’s put more thought into it than her friends who do have children.

𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗯𝘆, 𝘀𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁?

The story is told from Olive’s point of view but we get to know her three friends very well, and they all have different problems, be it with their relationships or their fertility. I won’t go in to too much detail as I don’t want to include spoilers.

All of the characters have flaws and the group of friends seemed to be constantly bickering, but Isla frustrated me the most. Understandably she’s struggling as she’s having IVF. But she’s so sensitive and takes literally everything as a personal attack, including the fact that Olive doesn’t want children.

There were a few things that I wasn’t too keen on. One was that the book jumps back and forward in time a lot and it could get a little bit confusing until you worked out where you were in the timeline.

Another was the bickering between the friends. Maybe that’s realistic, I don’t know as I’ve never been in a group of friends like that. But I just felt like if I was Olive I’d have got fed up and given up on them long ago! 😂

Finally, and most importantly the ending. I really didn’t think it suited Olive, or the person she led me to believe she was, and I’d rather it ended differently. Don’t get me wrong it was a nice ending but it was just off for me.

Overall though I really enjoyed reading about this subject matter, it’s something that hasn’t been discussed too much before. One day I hope it becomes unacceptable to badger women into wanting children.

Just remember ladies if anyone suggests you are selfish for not wanting children just ask them why they had children. The answer will ALWAYS start with “I wanted...”

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher HarperCollins UK and the author for letting me read and review an advance copy of this book.

TW: fertility issues

Olive is a successful 33 year old woman who is decisive, ambitious and lives life her way. That is until her friends dive head first into a different direction that she begins to question her choices.
I loved Olive as a narrator she is funny, imperfect and completely relatable. This book tackles all of the different pressures women feel about motherhood and the role that society often promotes them to fill. Olive and her close knit group of friends have had their bonds tested and stretched recently as they begin to grow their own separate families but Olive knows she doesn’t want children and unfortunately everyone seems to have an opinion on that.
This is a brilliant, insightful and honest book for the modern young woman because we all know the pressures we impose on ourselves when everyday we have other people’s perfect lives to ‘like’ and comment on.
Emma Gannon has written a stunning debut that will play on your mind long after you have finished reading. ‘Olive’ reassures us that we all have our own paths to lead but it doesn’t mean that as friends and families can’t all find each other again in the end.

I wasn't too sure at first about Olive as I am way-past the need to decide about having children, but it grew on me, trickled between my toes. Olive knows what she wants - or what she doesn't - and is often reviled because of it. It is a great portrait of friendship, of the pros and cons of both motherhood and child-free-ness and I found myself both siding with Olive and being highly irritated with her at times. Great book, very timely, well written with a character that you won't forget in a hurry.

This book is a must read! I think it should be compulsory reading for all women. It is such an emotional but uplifting tale of how the modern world treats women, and how we all need to accept ourselves and our own choices so we can fully support each other.

The book is narrated by Olive and follows are and her 3 best friends from school. The 4 had promised to always have time for each other but inevitably life gets in the way and causes issues for them. Reading this book reminds me that women have such a hard time. No matter what choice each woman makes about babies, careers and life plan we are told it is wrong! This book addresses this and manages to make it uplifting rather than depressing!

I love the character of Belle, who is a tiny bit part, but her admission that she feels the need to present as having it all, when actually she has 3 nannies, is so honest. Women today are under immense pressure to “have it all”....and in so doing we all waste so much time feeling unworthy or not enough.

The 4 friends come to realise that they can all struggle with their own issues and that their friend having the opposite struggle does not belittle their issue.

I hope this book helps us all to be kinder to ourselves and kinder to each other!

I received an ARC of this book via Harper Collins UK and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Description

OLIVE is many things.

Independent.
Adrift.
Anxious.
Loyal.
Kind.
Knows her own mind.

It’s ok that she’s still figuring it all out, navigating her world without a compass. But life comes with expectations, there are choices to be made, boxes to tick and – sometimes – stereotypes to fulfil. And when her best friends’ lives start to branch away towards marriage and motherhood, leaving the path they’ve always followed together, Olive starts to question her choices – because life according to Olive looks a little bit different.

My thoughts

Almost immediately, this book gave me Dolly Alderton vibes (it reminded me of her upcoming novel Ghosts). Like Ghosts, this is a sensitive portrayal of adult life and how the people closest to you can (at times) feel far away.

The book follows Olive, a woman hurting towards her mid-thirties. Reeling off a breakup from her long-term boyfriend, she needs her friends. Yet her friends are going in their own directions focusing on families, children or wanting children. Usually these narratives purely focus on relationships and children being the goal, but – through Olive – we see that some people don’t want that.

Though Olive was sometimes irritating, I feel that every woman will relate to her in one way or another. She was funny, honest and vulnerable. I may only be 22 (and could potentially change my mind) but, at least for now, I don’t see children in my future. I love helping mind my nephews but I’ll admit I’m more than happy to give them back immediately. Aside from that, dolls have been my only experience of motherhood and – considering the fact that most of them ended up naked and discarded somewhere (and limbless, on one occasion, thanks to a fight with my older brother!) – I can’t say I feel cut out for it. Gannon’s change of narrative is refreshing and I definitely feel like somebody will need to read it (and will feel better having read it).

Not only did I like Olive’s character but Gannon also manages to make the other characters in the book (Olive’s ex-boyfriend, her friends, and every one else we encounter) just as likeable. I loved Olive’s group of friends and how they shaped and changed the course of the narrative.

I loved the fact that each chapter focused on an event in the past or in the present. It showed the people around Olive changing, and the reasons why these changes were happening, whilst Olive’s thoughts about motherhood remained the same. At first it makes you realise how alone Olive is but, as you read on, you realise that this feeling of loneliness affects more characters than you’d think.

Another thing I liked was how Gannon placed quotes from real people in amongst her chapters, just to show that alternative feelings towards being a mother isn’t out of the ordinary.

My only complaint was that the ending fell flat for me. I wasn’t unhappy with it exactly, it just felt less exciting than the flashbacks to Olive’s earlier years and the inner dilemma she faces throughout the book.

Saying that, Olive is an interesting and important debut novel for every person growing up with uncertain feelings in an uncertain world.

Olive will be published on 23rd July 2020.

I loved this book. Heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure. There was someone within these pages that all women can relate too and it explores the topics of motherhood (or not) in a sensitive yet honest way. I became so invested in these women’s lives and the paths they took. A beautifully written book about a very relevant topic for women today. Thank you netgalley for a fantastic read.

Emma Gannon’s ‘Olive’ is a great debut, with many relatable characters. I found myself highlighting my favourite parts at moments. This is the second book I read in recent times about expectations, friends slipping away and the life in your thirties being quite different than we imagined. Not everything is sorted. You are not a complete adult a hundred per cent of the time. And things get messy. ‘Olive’ is such an honest, at moments funny, at moments heartbreaking narrative from Olive’s point of view.

Olive and her group of friends have been very close growing up and during university, but in recent years, a lot of things has changed. They started settling down and having children. And Olive starts feeling like she’s a little bit left out, alone and like her goals are not as much important as those of her friends who are talking about children at all times.

When we meet Olive, she’s just broken up with her long term boyfriend and she needs her friends. And yet, she’s unable to share her struggles as everyone is living in their own little bubbles focusing on their families, children or wanting children. Olive doesn’t want that, the motherhood not in her future by choice, and yet she feels constantly undermined by everyone suggesting that she’ll change her mind. I love how despite expectations and pressure from society, she stays true to herself throughout the novel and finds her own path.

I loved how though Emma Gannon’s book focuses on motherhood and relationships and whether you’re choosing to have kids or entirely opposite, the friendship between Olive and her group friends is the heart of the story. Their changing dynamics throughout the years and trying to navigate the friendship as their life evolves and they don’t have that much time for each other as before is what makes ‘Olive’ a great and captivating narrative.

Emma Gannon’s ‘Olive’ has definitely been one of the most enjoyable contemporary books I’ve read this year. I would definitely recommend this book.

Friends from childhood, through university and beyond. One married young and had children, one has fertility issues, one is heavily pregnant and the forth does not want children. Four connected but very different individuals, how do you keep the connection with such disparity in life choices? You keep on trying. An excellent read.

The story is told from the perspective of Olive who is 33 and has been friends with Bea, Cecily, and Isla since living together at university. Olive is an ambitious journalist at .dot magazine and is in a long term relationship with Jacob. When he raises the discussion about children, she explains that she doesn't want children and they break up. Her friends are settling down and either have children or are planning to have children and Olive begins to feel disconnected from them.

I loved how this book explores friendship in womanhood, infertility and motherhood at different stages in life.
This was such a well-written book that has generated a lot of thought-provoking discussions on living childfree and how someone else's choice is not an attack on your own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins, Harper Fiction for the ARC.