I had absolutely no expectations of Olive when I started reading and I found myself getting more and more intrigued the more I read. The book is a first person narrative from Olive’s point of view and chapters jump between present day and past memories all centering around Olive’s small group of friends as they navigate ‘baby’s’ or the lackthereof.

I found the book really raised a lot of stigmas around women and the pressure of motherhood that surrounds being female and growing older. The book really made me question a lot of my own experiences and those around me, as well as understanding those in different circumstances and the choices they might make.

I’m somebody who has always felt the ‘twinge in my ovaries’ upon cradling a new baby and it was interesting reading from Olive’s perspective how some women just don’t have that and really understanding the thoughts and feelings behind why motherhood isn’t something that she wants.

All in all I thought it was a wonderful book that fully explored the topic of motherhood and how it fits into the modern day woman’s life, a definite must read for any woman, young or old.

Olive really got me. Forever I have been someone who doesn’t want children and it is so great to see that portrayed in fiction, rather than the perfect linear timeline for women - get married, have children, turn into ‘’mum” and nothing else.
There will be a lot of women who will appreciate this as much I do.

The characters that Gannon creates really highlight the intricacies of female friendship. I love that she portrays realistic women and the pressures that modern women face.

The writing was fab and I am waiting for it baited breath for more from Gannon!

I actually really struggled with this book because I recognised a lot of myself in Olive and some of the things she was doing and thinking are things I struggle with. I don't want children,I never have but society (and my mother-in-law) just don't seem to understand that. I really appreciated Olive and if she wasn't fictional I think we'd be friends.

Why should we want the same as everyone else? Is motherhood really the ideal to which we must all aspire? Does having - or not having - children make you better, worse, or just different? An important novel that raises important questions - and brings home the fact that no one should be able to make personal choices about our lives, except ourselves.

This was not brilliantly written. It also feels very niche, being mainly about whether to have a baby. I got a bit bored.

Olive is a witty and very relatable novel which centres around a topic I have rarely seen discussed in contemporary women's fiction - not wanting to have children.

Olive is 33, climbing the ladder at the magazine she works for in London (as a former Londoner I enjoyed the setting very much!) and has just broken up with her boyfriend of nearly a decade, because he's ready for kids and she isn't. In fact, she's pretty certain she never wants to have children. This is something she struggles to find understanding about in her immediate circle of friends, and in society as a whole. Everyone has an opinion and most people in Olive's life are confident that she'll change her mind.

If you're a woman in your thirties of the same disposition as Olive, you will find a lot to relate to here. The novel is also an exploration of female friendship and how the lives of Olive and her friends go in different directions, all based on their decisions/desires to become mothers, or not. Emma Gannon captures very well the lonely feeling of being the only one in your group of friends who doesn't have children, even though it's by choice, as well as the more frustrating aspects of your friends' choices being celebrated and prioritised more when yours are questioned, judged or simply dismissed.

I have not ripped through a novel so quickly, nor related so much to a protagonist, for a long time! Any woman in the same boat as Olive will feel recognition, relief and, most importantly, less alone after reading this very enjoyable book. Not enough contemporary literature deals with this choice that more and more women are making, and the feelings of isolation that come with it, so I hope more authors are inspired to follow Emma Gannon's fine example!

With thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

I've followed Emma Gannon for years so was really looking forward to picking this up. Whilst it was somewhat predictable, Olive was a likeable main character and it was a fun read. I'd recommend to others if they were looking for an easy to binge Summer book.
4 stars.

I’m a great fan of Emma Gannon’s non-fiction writing and wasn’t disappointed by her fiction debut. Tackling the childless/child-free debate with humour this was a searingly honest account of why a woman’s fertility is so deeply personal. Thanks NetGalley!

As a 20-something woman who is pretty sure they don’t want children, diving into this story felt like being seen, despite being a decade younger than our protagonist, Olive. Gannon’s writing about this woman who feels pressured by society and some of her mother friends to have children is witty, honest, and never judgemental. Having a group of four friends who have different experiences with having children (two have them, one is trying, and Olive is sure she doesn’t) allows there to be a mixture of opinions throughout, ensuring that the book doesn’t feel preachy-y or too one-sided. It is honest in noting that female friendships can be divided due to the motherhood question.

It’s so nice to have a story which explores such a contemporary topic, and it never feels forced or gimmick-y in any way. Olive is simply who she is and this is her choice. Gannon’s writing style is so easy to absorb – I gobbled up the book in about four sittings – and each chapter is begun with a quote about being a mother (from a Michael McIntyre joke to a meme found on Instagram). There are moments and some quite big events which I wish could have been touched upon more, but on second thoughts that would distract from the main event, and is pretty realistic to life. There’s always so much going on, that you can’t possibly tackle every big subject at once.
This is a cracking fictional debut from a writer who I have loved reading over the years, and a fab read to pick up this summer. It’s out July 23rd and you should definitely pre-order NOW.

I can’t decide how to review this book. I think over all I enjoyed it but that was because (in my opinion) some late additions to the plot and cast of characters saved it.
The book centres around women at ‘that’ time of life. Olive struggles as her friends marry and begin families. I felt the childless by choice message was rather laboured. This hypothetical conundrum affected Olive’s life far more than losing her partner of 9 years.
I had a bit of a struggle believing in the girls friendships. We are constantly reminded of the good times in their student house and how Bea and Olive were at primary school together but the 4 of them seemed to have nothing in common. Unless you count getting drunk as a shared hobby?
Being a good ten years older than these characters I wanted to bang their heads together and to be honest, I would never meet these people. Perhaps the author knows women like this and they really do behave like this. More money than sense as my mother would say.
I think that the infertility storyline wasn’t given enough time and space and Olive and her lack of broodiness and Cec’s postnatal depression were seen as far more important. There is generally, as I saw it a feeling throughout the book that motherhood wasn’t a great idea and that soured it a little for me.
But just as I’m starting to despair things begin to change. Marcus is the saviour of the novel for me and maybe I’ve misjudged the author and that I’ve disliked Olive and her friends because she wanted me to and now, she wants to show me that they, especially Olive can grow and change.
Sadly I felt the ending was rushed and could have been at least a few chapters longer.

Thanks to Netgalley for the digital ARC. I loved Olive. It was funny, wise, moving and incredibly relatable. I will be recommending to all of my friends upon publication.

This book follows the life of Olive, 33 year old professional woman, struggling to come to terms with adulthood (aren’t we all?). Told in the present, but also looking back at nostalgic moments with her ex, and her three best friends, this is a wonderful look at really growing up – and how that never really ends, no matter what age you are.

The plot covers topics from friendship, female fertility, motherhood, choosing not to have children, careers, romance, relationship breakdown, infidelity and perhaps more importantly, the pressures we allow ourselves to get buried under in the guise of social expectations.

The Stars
I’ve struggled trying to decide what to give this, and in the end I have to go with a 3.

For me, the relationships between the four friends (Olive, Bea, Cec and Isla) just felt forced. There was a lot of telling me how close they were, but I didn’t actually feel it. For the most part, I don’t understand why they are still friends, as they seem to do nothing but annoy the Hell out of each other. It just didn’t feel believable.
Equally, their dialogue was so stunted and immaturely written that I just couldn’t get any real sense of emotion or loyalty/friendship from it.

Whilst it was amazing to see some of the more “taboo” subjects tackled, i.e. a woman actively NOT wanting to have children (oh my, we must alert the Church Elders), I felt this almost got lost a little along the way of all the other dramas the friends experienced. Despite being the Mum of a large family, I entirely get why people choose not to go down that route. I don’t think it’s rocket science, and I find it hard to believe that a close group of friends would be so actively opposed to their best-mates decision not to produce a womb monkey of her own.

I have deliberately child-free friends, and half the time I just look at them with envy and admiration! So, for me, the friendships and dialogue really let this down.

Really enjoyed this comforting book.

The characters are relatable and diverse.

Read, if like me, you enjoy reading about people and the dynamics of their relationships.

The main character Olive (actually Olivia - but I like this different derivative, it's so usually Liv!) has 3 best friends.  They were all at school together and then went to the same university and shared a house - and now in their early 30s remain close friends.  Although having said that, I think all of them are quite selfish in their own ways - and don't really look out for their friends at times.

This is compounded by them all being at very different life stages - particularly when it comes to kids.  

Bea had her kids young. and is now in a seemingly happy country life with 3 kids and a husband.
Cec is a high flying lawyer who has her first child during the book.
Isla is desperate to conceive but has endometriosis and is having IVF.
And Olive has just split up with her long term boyfriend because kids finally became a dealbreaker for him.

Considering they've been friends forever - there seems to be lots of times when they don't think about each other much - or share what they're thinking with each other - which I'm not sure rang very true!

Olive seeing a fertility specialist about her decision not to want to have kids also seems a bizarre choice - seeing a relevant specialist is one thing - but someone dealing with the total opposite of what you want vindication for was a strange choice.  Attending a 'childfree by choice' event sounds much more sensible.

Despite me dissing the characters and their friendships, I did really enjoy the book.  It's written in a funny, relevant, chatty style - like the aforementioned Dawn O'Porter or Mhairi McFarlane - both of whom I love.  

I loved Olive's relationship with her elderly neighbour - having friends of different ages gives such a different perspective on life. 

It was a quick read and I did enjoy it and it broaches the subject of being childfree by choice which is still a real taboo for lots of people. 

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy.

I had mixed feelings going into Olive, and I have mixed feelings coming out of it. Emma Gannon hosts one of my favourite podcasts, Ctrl Alt Delete, but I find that her writing (like in her second book, The Multi-Hyphen Method) isn't always the best, and yet at other times (like in her newsletter, her Times column and in the most recent blog post on her website), I really connect with it. So I really wasn't sure what my reaction would be to her debut novel, Olive!

Olive focuses on Olive Stone, a writer in her early thirties living in London. She has been best friends with the same group of girls since school, but they are all intent on motherhood, whereas Olive feels more than a little ambivalent. 

Firstly, this really needed a good edit. There were quite a few random changes from present to past tense, and some discrepancies like in the 2009 section, where both Bridesmaids (the film) and Instagram were referenced, despite neither existing yet... Once again, the writing wasn't great, and although - as usual - I really liked Emma Gannon's thoughts and ideas (and think the topic of women choosing not to be mothers is a really important one), I feel like this didn't go anywhere near as deep as I wanted it to. It also felt a bit rushed towards the end, covering too much stuff and not in the most subtle way. Still, this book focuses on a good spectrum of women's choices and I can totally understand the pain of seeing your friends making decisions and accidentally excluding you through something as fundamentally life-changing as motherhood. Olive is an enjoyable and quick read but not one that will stay with me, sadly! Thanks to HarperCollins for letting me read this in advance!

I was so thrilled to receive an ARC of Olive, having listened to Emma Gannon’s podcast and already knowing how much I enjoy the way she delves into important topics. This novel was insightful, timely and had a brilliant protagonist.

Olive follows, well, Olive! Our main character is a magazine editor living in London at the age of thirty two, faced with the expectancy that she will have children, and having recently come out of a nine year relationship because she doesn’t want to live up to that expectation. It follows her group of close childhood friends (Olive, Bea, Cecily and Isla) in the present day timeline as well as several different timelines in the lead up to 2019, as their lives diverge and adult life sends them down different paths.

I adore books that focus on friendship groups, and this was no different. Each woman came through so distinctly, and I was invested in each of their lives. This novel was refreshing because it centred around a woman that doesn’t want what she feels is the “traditional” path, and it also spoke up about issues such as infertility and postpartum depression. It explored all different kinds of motherhood and the weight that people can feel on their shoulders; should they have children? Are they raising their children right? Why will their body not comply and give them a child? This novel had wit and spark, vulnerability and growth, and I think it’s going to resonate with a lot of people in all walks of life.

As the exact same demographic as Olive and also without children, I really wanted to love this book. Unfortunately it wasn't for me; I found Olive rather unsympathetic as a character, in that way that you start to avoid that friend who has everything they could possibly want but complains incessantly about how hard their life is (we all have one).

I am sure that others will love Olive, and I do recognise that Emma Gannon is a great writer. This one wasn't for me, but I'll check out future fiction from this author.

As a 33 year-old woman with no kids I guess I'm the main demographic for this book. It addresses the social obsession with procreating and the constant "you'll change your mind when you're older" attitude towards women who choose not to have kids. For that, it is refreshing.

There are moments of genuine warmth and humour in the book as well. The writing is top notch and kept me engaged all the way through. There is no doubt that Gannon is a talented writer and I'd happily read more by her.

I thought Bea is a great character. I love her spark and every scene with her, even when her story dips into struggles, is a joy to read. Cec and Isla are well drawn too and the Isla strand is heartbreaking. So much so that it kind of makes Olive's narrative pale in comparison. As a result there were moments when Olive came across as selfish and petty, which was frustrating because I wanted her to be a child-free hero. I also felt that Cec's post-natal depression was glossed over.

I'm glad I got a chance to read Olive and I'd definitely recommend it for book groups and discussions because it brings up a lot to talk about. And, more to the point, despite Olive's character flaws (all good characters have flaws) Gannon is clearly a great writer.

Probably I'm not the right demographic for this book. I found Olive very annoying. She is so self centred and inward looking I wanted to give her a shake and tell her to grow up.
I suppose in that respect, the author did a good job of making her realistic. Unfortunately I couldn't care what happened to her, and so I gave up!

Olive’s lifelong friends, Bea, Cecily and Isla, are all having babies, or trying to have them. Only Olive feels on the outside, waiting to see if a maternal urges will suddenly hit her for six - but it never happens. And now that lack of desire for children has cost her her long term relationship and is putting a strain on her female friendships. Why, Olive wonders, can’t people just respect her feelings?

This is a good read, focusing mainly on Olive’s developing child-free identity and her relationship with her friends. It’s an interesting subject and not that much covered in fiction.

I do have children - and have also experienced difficult fertility problems - so didn’t relate to Olive in that respect, but I certainly don’t think motherhood is the only way to go and I wouldn’t dream of criticising anyone for feeling differently. I really don’t get this apparent tendency of some people to condemn as selfish those who have chosen to remain child-free. Surely not wanting children is an excellent reason - the best, in fact - for not having them. Having a baby you don’t want because of pressure from others sounds like a recipe for disaster, or at least unhappiness all round.

It became a little hard to swallow at times - Olive’s encounter with an eccentric sounding therapist who simply cannot accept the reality of her feelings was alarming and something I really hope wouldn’t happen in real life, but who knows? (Then again, why would you go to a therapist specialising in fertility if you don’t want children?) Olive lives in London and writes for a magazine, like a gazillion other protagonists of contemporary books about women. A little diversity would be good, but I guess authors write about what they know! (The magazine is called .dot, which bothered me throughout as I didn’t know how to pronounce it - dot? dotdot?)

Anyway a very enjoyable read - thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an unbiased review.