Cover Image: Olive

Olive

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Member Reviews

I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

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Sadly this book didn’t do it for me
I couldn’t engage with Olive and didn’t really care about her. The friendships within felt false
However it was an easy read

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I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

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"Olive" is a thought-provoking exploration of the challenges faced by modern women as they navigate the intricate path of life, specifically focusing on the ticking biological clock and the choice of motherhood. The story revolves around Olive, a 30-something woman, who finds herself at a crossroads as her group of friends transition from university life to partners, marriage, and starting families while her life takes a different turn.

The novel delves deep into the heart of the modern woman's struggle, and Olive's character serves as a relatable and compelling guide through the maze of doubts and choices. The questions that plague Olive's mind are ones that many women today wrestle with: Does she truly desire motherhood? Can a baby fill the void she feels within? Or is it just a fleeting phase of doubt and uncertainty?

One of the strengths of this book is its portrayal of Olive as a "girl boss" who confronts these profound questions head-on. In a world where societal expectations often clash with personal desires, Olive's journey of self-discovery and self-empowerment is both inspiring and empowering. Readers will find themselves rooting for her as she grapples with the decision that will shape the course of her life.

What sets this novel apart is the skillful narrative that interweaves Olive's story with those of her friends. The contrast of their diverging paths adds depth to the narrative, highlighting the complexity of modern womanhood. The contrast between Olive's quest for self-realization and her friends' more traditional choices offers a nuanced perspective on the multifaceted nature of female existence.

The writing in "Olive" is engaging and evocative, drawing readers into the intricate web of Olive's thoughts and emotions. The author's keen insight into the female experience is evident throughout the book, as it skillfully explores themes of identity, fulfillment, and the evolving role of women in society.

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A great read that is very relatable to some. When your a certain age and in a relationship . You both have reached that stage in your relationship where you both want different things and it could make or break your relationships.
Thank you to both NetGalley and publishers for gifting me this book

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Olive is a newly single thirty-something and feels that she wants to follow a different path in life than that of her friends. She loves her job and is focused on building her career. She’s never felt that she wants children but feels pressured by society and ostracised from her friendship group because she’s child free.

The story alternates between different time periods and follows a close group of friends from their wild student days to managing family life.

I found this book very relatable on many levels and I think that’s why I liked it so much. I liked the characters, in particular Olive. The friendship group is a real mix of women with very different personalities. Despite being friends for so long, they can still argue and fall out, and the dynamics between them have shifted now that some of them are parents.

The book covers many issues ranging from fertility to infidelity and comes across very genuine and true to life.

At times it’s funny and at times sad. I empathised with Olive and was pleased when she finally found happiness, even if it was a little predictable.

Strangely, there seemed to be frequent mentions of cashmere and how characters were wearing cashmere. I wouldn’t have noticed it if it hadn’t been mentioned so often.

Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it. Personally, I found it easy to relate to and I like that the author is normalising women focusing on their goals and not settling down and having a family because society says so. I think this would be a good choice for a book club as it would prompt a lot of discussion.

Thanks to Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction and NetGalley for my copy to review.

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This is a book that should belong on everyone’s bookshelf.
I really enjoyed reading it. Olive is a character I won’t forget in a hurry and her story is one I will cherish.
Loved it!

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A warm and relatable story about friendship, motherhood and being a woman, that brings to life the issues that come from being defined by your fertility and going against society’s expectations. I enjoyed it.

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A great read. A great read. A great read. A great read. A great read. A great read. A great read. A great read. A great read. A great read. A great read. A great read.

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A good contemporary read, which I felt was quite different to a lot of other stories out there. Rather than the usual married with two.four kids situation which it is assumed most people want, Olive is absolutely positive she doesn't want children. This creates quite some issues, particularly amongst her best friend group of Bea, Cec and Isla, especially as Isla is desperate to have a child.

I did enjoy this book - I just felt that perhaps it went on a little and kept going over the same sort of things. Still, a good read, especially if the theme of the story appeals to you or you feel like Olive does. I did think it was well written and flowed well.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review, which is what I have given.

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I ended up DNFing this book after attempting it a couple of times.

I actually really liked Emma Gannon's authorial voice, but I couldn't stand Olive and I had to stop. I had really high hopes for this book, because like Olive I am a child free millenial and I was hoping I could relate to her, but she just seemed really bitter and immature. I found her to be frustrating and quite a poor friend, although her friends were also pretty annoying at times.

I will say that I really liked the two timelines, and seeing Olive and her friends younger, but that was about it. I really wanted to love this and I think that might be part of the reason I am disappointed.

Thank you for the gifted arc, and I am sorry that I DNF'd it.

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I received a pre-print version of Olive to read & it has honestly taken me months & a lot of willpower to finish it. Weird thing is, now that I have, I’m happy I did.

Olive is admittedly a self-involved early 30’s protagonist. But being at the same stage as her socially, made me relate to her in ways other readers may have struggled to.

Her “Sex and the City” friendship circle is far more relatable than anything I’ve read before. Four women at different stages of their adult journey navigating career, identity, fertility, fidelity and so much more. The fact is, we SHOULD all be our own main characters & it’s hilarious (but not surprising) that Olive’s decision to do just that not only riled up her fictional friends, but appears to divide Emma Gannon’s literary audience also.

I liked this; it’s a little slow and tedious, with very little dialogue and more so, a play-by-play of Olive’s internal monologue through about a decade of adulthood. Decent first stab at fiction for Emma, whom I’m a huge fan of otherwise.

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Really enjoyed this book, loved the main character and I thought it was really well written.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

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This is such a refreshing read! OlIve is in her 30s, successful and loving life but whilst her friends all start to hear their biological clocks Olive is adamant that she does not want children. This leads to the end of her relationship and tests her friendships.

I really enjoyed this book and the statement it made about it being OK to not want children. It's such an important discussion and Emma Gannon has managed to present it in a very thought provoking novel.

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Falling in love with a book from the prologue is a one in a hundred books moment for me. It’s a tough task but it’s one that Emma Gannon did with ease. It felt like she had reached into my brain. Navigating the intense narrative of women, their fertility and the impact it has on friendships is hard but it is done with gentleness and some scary accuracy! Why do we, as women, have it engrained from an early age that we should procreate and that it will be our life purpose? Sure I can imagine it’s one of the most special moments of any parents lives but that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. One thing I’ve learnt over the last few years as my friends and colleagues progress through their pregnancies is that it truly is a miracle. We learn through our years that we can get pregnant and there will be a healthy baby at the end of it. We were not taught that 1 in 4 may result in a miscarriage, 1 in 13 will be premature or that 1 in 250 will be a stillborn - women are nothing but warriors. Olive is the first book I’ve seen cover pregnancy, post natal depression, not wanting children, infertility and maternal death. Quite frankly, I couldn’t put it down. It was an incredible read and probably even more impactful as my 30th birthday is merely days away now.

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Thank you to the publisher for my eARC copy of this book. Unfortunately I didn’t love this book and therefore didn’t finish, I just didn’t connect with this one. Not for me, sorry.

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As a fellow CFBC (child-free by choice) the same age as the titular Olive I was drawn by the idea of a narrator negotiating life as a young woman who doesn't want children. The story is told by Olive, a society and culture editor at magazine .Dot. She had recently split with her long-term partner over the issue of children. He wants and she doesn't. And she is the only one in her friend group who isn't pregnant (Cecily), trying to get pregnant (Isla) or raising several kids (Bea). She feels isolated and left out by their common goals and is floundering in a society that often doesn't see being child-free as a valid choice for women.

The was a lot of potential but I had immediate issues with Gannon's style which has confessional, Carrie-from-Sex-and-the-City vibe that I didn't enjoy. While I appreciated that Gannon was attempting to cover a wide range of experience with her characters, there wasn't much individuality in their voices and without the details of their different lives, I wouldn't have been able to tell them apart. They were archetypes of the other lives Olive could have had rather than characters with a life of their own. Their inability to empathize with each other or value each others decisions and choices was infuriating. Maybe Gannon was trying to illustrate the Mumsnet-style judgement and competitiveness that parenthood can bring out but it felt like they were teenagers rather than women in their 30s. And I should mention that these are very privileged women with impressive careers, nice homes and (despite Olive's brief mention of paying double rent after her break-up) no financial worries.

I was hoping that Olive would finally give us a well-adjusted, child-free protagonist but a lot of her thoughts and actions really just reinforce the old stereotype of selfish, childish and self-obsessed, scornful and judgemental of those with children and bitter that their friends no longer pay them enough attention. There was some growth by the end but the way it comes about seemed like a betrayal of what the book claims to be.

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I was surprised how much I enjoyed this - it was so readable with short chapters and relatable content, whilst tackling some big subjects surrounding pregnancy/autonomy. One I’d rec to all my friends for an easygoing and pageturning read!

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A thought provoking story about friendship, motherhood and growing up, I adored this book and felt it was the perfect read for anyone feeling like they are at a different point in their lives from their friends. A must read.

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I have been there. I have been on the receiving end of the "Oh, you'll change your mind one day." conversation. Well I'm 38 and I have been feeling this way since I was about 6 and rejected playing with dolls for reading books. It's not that I don't like children. I am a boss aunty. I just don't want one of my own. And it is this subject that is the topic of Emma Gannon's debut novel Olive.

Olive and her three best friends do everything together however their friendship is challenged when their lives careen off in different ways. When the issues of motherhood come up it further drives a wedge in the friendship as both sides fail to fully understand how the other side is feeling.

What is genuinely lovely about this book - besides feeling like I have found my tribe in book form - is that these characters fight so hard for each other. Their lives are not the same as when they were young, foot loose and fancy free but their love for each other is something that they refuse to give up on.

I loved this book and at the moment Olive is my hero.

Olive by Emma Gannon is available now.

For more information regarding Emma Gannon (@emmagannon) please visit her Twitter page.

For more information regarding Harper Collins (@harpercollinsuk) please visit their Twitter page.

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