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

3.75/5

Bad Choices follows two best friends as they grow up, each snapshot in time is given to us on their shared birthday and we catch up on the women and what they've been up to.

Very big on stories that centre female friendships and female life without the sole focus being men n this is definitely that - warm n funny n very enjoyable.

Big thanks to NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group, and the author for this e-ARC. Available to purchase now!

I love this book., everything Lucy writes is relatable and funny.
I really enjoyed the flow of the book and how we got to visit Nat and Zoe once a year to see how much things had changed. It's one of those 'i'll just read another chapter before I go to sleep, oh whoops it's 1am' type books. Read it, you won't regret it.

I loved this book so very much, I adored the pop culture references, one of the main characters, Natalie was my favourite as I connected with her so much, she suffers from low self-esteem and I loved the fact we got to see her growth in this book. Zoe and Natalie’s have such an amazing friendship and I love when a book focuses on friendship more than romance it’s so rare. This is such a heartwarming read and it really is just the perfect feel-good book.

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

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for approving me for this arc.

I wanted to love this book way more than I did, I’ve heard good things and unfortunately it just wasn’t for me. I hope other enjoy jt more

I have not read any of this authors books before, but I quite like a bit of chick lit , however this one didn't hit the mark for me. Perhaps I am too old to be the target audience, but I am sorry to say I found the story dragged and did not engage me at all.

I wanted to love this book as I enjoyed Hot Mess but sadly it wasn't for me. I'll still read Lucy's next work as I think she's great, it just wasn't my cup of tea this time.

Easy reading, if you're a woman there is no doubt you will recognise yourself or one of your friends in this book. This didn't feel groundbreaking but is a relaxed, comfort read.

It's not often that a book can make you cry and laugh out loud on the same page but Lucy Vine does that to me every book without fail. It truly reminded me of my own teenage years and so had a nostalgic aspect. It is the story of Nat and Zoe's friendship over 20 years starting in 2001 and leading up to present day. Each chapter marks a different year of their friendship, and is told from both of their viewpoints. Despite the humour, many important topics are covered also such as abortion, grief and infertility. The detail and depth of this story really helped you to feel connected to the characters on another level!

I loved how this was a realistic story of the ups and downs of friendship. It’s told from the perspective of Natalie and Zoe, on their joint birthday each year. You grow up with the characters as they face new challenges as they get older and have new priorities in life. Each chapter is told from both of their perspectives, which was really well balanced. I loved the matter of fact and realistic problems (and drama) that the characters face.

There are also lots of nostalgic references throughout, like the mention of MSN! Anyone who was a teenager in the 00s will appreciate these in particular. The real life references made the characters so much more realistic and relatable.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orion for my ARC copy.

This book completely epitomises female friendship for me. The conversations, the fall outs, the laughs and most importantly the true and honest love that these two women have for eachother, spanning over two decades of friendship.

The two lead characters, with all their flaws, are relatable. It made me laugh (and even a little weepy at times.) It’s so refreshing to read a book with female leads that have real and honest, conversations that are both laugh-out-loud funny and also heart-warming.

Lucy Vine has a knack for writing relatable reads. Following a friendship that spans decades, she truly shines a light on the brutal reality of frienship - the ups and the downs, the soaring highs and devastating lows.

I thought both of the characters were well-rounded and multi-faceted, they had their good parts and their bad, which made them all more enjoyable to read about, no one wants a perfect character, they're not real! I found both the female leads were people I most definitely would and probably have stumbled upon in real life, and that's what made my enjoyment of this book all the more delightful.

Yes, there were definitely moments when I thought the characters were written a tad younger than they were meant to be, some of the thoughts and speech seemed a tad immature and almost cringe-y. But I can't speak for how all 20-something year olds are meant to act, that's just my preference!

Overall, I thought it was a heart-warming, and heart-wrenching book, that really showcased the true depths of long-term friendship and how we grow both together and apart as we grow up.

Firstly seeing as it’s publication day I want to wish Lucy good luck for this truly fantastic and all encompassing read. If you are new to Lucy Vine this could quite simply be the best introduction to her witty and extremely real writing.

Bad Choices is a fun tale of female friendship. The ups and downs and all the madness and fun and tears along the way. Lucy has always had a way of creating characters that you can relate to or they feel real enough like a friend. I wouldn’t say I’m like either girl really but as a woman I’ve experienced a number of their worries and that is why Lucy is a master at her craft. I wholeheartedly believe that almost every woman will feel seen at something that Natalie and Zoë go through.

Natalie and Zoë are so different yet that’s why their friendship works. We start by meeting them at the beginning of their friendship at school in the early stages of 2000 at just 14. There meet was amusing and heartbreaking with them both crying in the toilets. They are a unique pairing as these besties share a birthday. We are given entries from Natalie and Zoë around the time of their birthday over two decades. In some instances we get both sides on a situation on others we get differing stories.

What I really loved about this is how Lucy managed to incorporate everything through the ages – up to and including the virus we would rather forget. Yet she does so in a way that’s acceptable, relatable and it truly adds to the story.

Another aspect that Lucy has nailed is having a gloriously diverse character whose a main character – not an after thought. Who goes through so many emotions not only with her friend, her sexuality and her family life. Having real and wholesome characters who have flaws that they own really does feel like a real insight.

There’s so much I want to say but ultimately it boils down to you need to read this novel. There’s a number of other real-life hard hitting aspects that are covered with grace and obviously the wit we expect from Lucy Vine. But I shan’t be spoiling any aspects of this book.

Bad Choices is the perfect way to escape from the real world for a while. It will make you laugh, make you cry and you will feel very much seen by this novel. I loved every single second I spent with Natalie & Zoë. I’ve seen many people say they didn’t warm to Natalie – for me she wears her heart on her sleeve and I truly loved that about her. She has vision and passion and in the aspect of feeling like she’s left behind amongst her friendship group I’ve definitely felt like that at times over the years.

I have to mention the token boyband fiction because I am and always will be a 90s boyband fangirl. This made my little heart happy. This book will also make you think about your first crush for the first time in years ha.

This is one of those books that I would recommend to people looking for an easy holiday read! It centres around two friends, flipping between past and present, producing fantastic observations about the importance of strong friendships at all points in your life!

Zoe and Nat met in the school toilets and immediately hit it off, the fact that they’re sharing birthday date for sure not without significance. From day one of their friendship they supported each other and were there for each other, through thick and thin, through school, university, bad relationships, new friends, drama, loss and hope, sharing almost everything. Also sadness and disappointment – will their friendship survive really everything?

Oh my, I can’t tell you how excited I was to read this book! I adored Lucy Vine’s previous books, they were so sharp, filled with humour and brilliant characters and I was sure I am in for a treat with „Bad Choices“. The book started brilliantly, in such a promising way, with Nat and Zoe meeting in the school toilets, both crying out of different hilarious reasons, but then it simply went downhills and never got higher again. Sadly.

We follow Nat and Zoe’s lives, through all the trials and tribulations of being a teenager and growing up, through twenties, finding your feet on all levels. Their friendship was really well captured, I think, it was not only milk and honey, but the author also showed all kinds of insecurities and uncertainties, pretending and hiding the truth, just like in reality, and finding your own way, not the one others want you to take. Unfortunately, I couldn’t warm to any of them and sometimes the friendship looked too toxic for my liking. While Nat was all the time unhappy with herself and some of her decisions were debatable ( though I can understand it, we also don’t make the right decisions only), Zoe seemed too controlling to me, wanting to decide about Nat, wanting her to play according to her rules. Nevertheless, it was interesting to see both sides of the friendship, to hear two voices about what they are thinking about the same situations and events and I think it gave us a wider spectrum and view at the events, letting us also make our own decisions.

The book was actually about all kinds of relationships, about growing up, with all the ups and downs, featuring a strong friendship. It was relatable, we all have, or had, best friend in our life, so we know how important it really is. In the end though it was too flat and felt repetitive for me, and even though it jumped forwards with the years, it felt slow. I missed those belly ache from laughing that is Lucy’s hallmark, to be honest, as I didn’t find the story funny. I found it more sad and depressing and the characters, especially Nat, whiny and unhappy.

I liked how the book was built, following the characters basically on one day in each year over the course of many years, on their shared birthday. Of course, we are also told on those days what has happened in the past, usually the most significant events, however this started to feel too chopped and taken out of context. Nevertheless, the author has for sure gave us a chance to see how those events affected the characters and their friendship and sometimes even their closest families and other friends.

The book deals with many, many issues, mostly serious ones, and perhaps this is why it was relatively hard to read. I mean, when there is all the time something wrong or bad happening and we only talk about domestic abuse, cheating, infertility, no body confidence, emotional abuse, absent parents, depression etc, then really, you start to feel completely jaded, exhausted and in a need for a break. Yes, those issues were written with lots of subtlety and gentleness and sensitivity, but they were so serious, and all the time present, there was not a moment for respite, I had a feeling I am flooded with bad news.

But even though it was not my favourite read by Lucy Vine, I am already looking forward her next release. It was actually filled with all kinds of emotions and the feelings were really well captured, you could feel the heartache, the insecurity for yourself.

I loved this book wholly, and one of the main reasons for that is that it focuses on friendship much more than it does a relationship. Friendships are some of the most important relationships we have, and the ups and downs of Zoe and Natalie's relationship were fantastically portrayed.

There are a number of tough topics discussed and shown throughout the book, and I felt each of them were dealt with wonderfully.

This is Lucy's best book so far.

I am a huge fan of Lucy Vine. Her books often make me belly laugh and on occasion, lose control of my bodily functions! So, I was delighted when I was approved for her latest release Bad Choices.

Zoe and Nat met in the school toilets on their shared 14th birthday and have since shared pretty much everything. Through bad relationships, university and world travels, new friends, professional successes and messy complex sex situations, they always have and always will have each other. Is there anything their friendship can’t survive?

One of my favourite things about Lucy Vine’s books is the humour because it’s often dirty without being OTT. It’s always on a level that is highly relatable and therefore hilarious and it was here again in Bad Choices. Simon Stan does in fact turn out to be a huge semen stain of a person and this early nickname really does stand the test of time.

I also loved the very specific British pop culture references that illustrate the time period perfectly. At this point in the book, I knew that we were circa 2005 and I love that Lucy Vine puts these little in-jokes that perhaps only certain readers will truly get. Although a reference to Steve Brookstein probably will go over some people’s heads (so sad), it’s smile-inducing enough for those who do get it to be a necessary mention.

Natalie is very insecure with low self-esteem and this makes her vulnerable to attracting the worst kind of men. Sadly, she is someone who so many readers will see themselves or at least their younger selves in. Watching her grow throughout the book was really beautiful and I got tears in my eyes at certain points of her journey.

One of those points was when she began seriously dating Joe and we saw his true colours come out. Older readers will be able to see all of the red flags that Natalie fails to see at first and as she starts to disappear in front of our eyes, the fear starts to set in. I was terrified that Natalie wouldn’t get out of this alive because I know that so many real women don’t. I love how Lucy Vine manages to weave in real problems into her funny, heartwarming stories. There is plenty of light and shade in Bad Choices and I think this is how it all felt so true to life.

Zoe is full of her own demons too. She has trust issues because of how her mum left the family when she was a teenager and she does seem to be scared of being abandoned. As she grows, she learns to deal with these insecurities in a healthy, productive way. After experiencing something incredibly painful and traumatic, I think she realises that Natalie will always be there for her, no matter what tries to come between them. It’s almost as if her friendship with Natalie teaches her that not everyone is going to leave at the sight of weakness.

One of the biggest lessons of Bad Choices is to fully embrace and experience your emotions. Bottling things up and lying to yourself about how things are will only damage yourself and your relationships. Honesty and as much transparency as possible is always the best, healthiest approach to life. However, it can be especially hard to open up if you feel you might be judged or ridiculed which is of course, a side effect that many mental health conditions come with. You never know when a reminder that it’s ok to not be ok and that we have to live through the bad times to fully appreciate the good is needed.

Zoe and Natalie’s unbreakable connection is a really beautiful celebration of the unique bonds that characterise lifelong female friendship. Anyone who has ever had a friendship like it will immediately recognise the power and intense love that exists between women who would die for each other. Frank, funny and relatable female friendship is present in all of Lucy Vine’s books but it’s perhaps never been as prevalent as it is in this one.

The book ends with a chapter of One Direction fanfiction written by Natalie, which is the perfect, laugh-out-loud, escapism that leaves the reader in a safe, magical, romantic bubble. I can always count on Lucy Vine to leave me in a fantastic mood!

Bad Choices is a hilarious, addictive and heartwarming read with characters that you truly care about and who will stay with you after you’ve turned the last page. It touches on serious issues such as abusive relationships, mental health struggles, sexuality and self-esteem issues while serving a healthy dose of hilarity. Highly relatable with some valuable lessons, Bad Choices is the perfect feel-good book for the summer.

Ahh I loved this book so much. It's not often that a book can make you cry and laugh out loud on the same page but Lucy Vine does that to me every book without fail. This is also a book that I can relate to possibly the most out of anything I have read in a long time. A lot of what Natalie (one of the fabulous stars of this novel) goes through mirrors some of the things that I have dealt with in my life and so I really felt this on a deeply personal level!

Natalie and Zoe meet crying in the school toilets aged 14 and we get to follow them though life right up to present day. I loved that we got to revisit them it reminded me a lot of Firefly Lane in that respect but funnier and less tragic. Natalie, as I have already mentioned, is very easy to relate to. The issues she has at school that follow her into her career and personal life are some which I am sure we have all experienced on some level in our own lives. Then there's Zoe who I feel like we all had a friend like Zoe at some point in our lives. I totally wish she was my friend now but I also see parts of myself in Zoe. She seems ultra confident on the outside but she really struggles with things internally, not being someone who shares easily.

Whilst I love the fact that Lucy Vine always makes me laugh out loud and I loved tracking Natalie adn Zoe's lives over many many years I think the thing I loved most about this book is the fact that is includes real life diverse people and situations. Not everyone is straight and happy and goes on to get married and have 2.4 children so a massive thank you to this author for writing characters like me and putting them in situations that I have found myself in. I am not going to go into specifics because spoilers but I will say I LOVED having a commercial women's fiction book with a bisexual character come out during pride month where that wasn't the only facet of their character, it was just something about them-celebration!

In case you're in any doubt, I loved this book I thought it was amazing and I think that you should absolutely read it right now!

Bad Choices was my first Lucy Vine read and most certainly won’t be my last. I didn’t really know what to expect from the simple orange cover - although I knew female friendship would play a massive part in this one - but I was pleasantly surprised..

The book shifts between the points of view of best friends Natalie and Zoe from the early 2000s right to the present day, reuniting the reader with them each year on their (shared) birthday. Admittedly, it did take some time and effort to warm to Natalie — though I think this was down to the fact that I saw a few similarities regarding her character in myself— but I enjoyed getting to know the characters and seeing their bond shift and change as the narrative went on.

There was a lot covered in this one, from body image, mental health, abusive relationships, abortion and infertility, but Vine deals with these serious matters with sensitivity and humour so — even in the heavier moments— this still feels like an easy read.

Admittedly, at times I did have to remind myself which girl was which but (once I figured it out) I began to realise that Vine’s character creation and development is brilliant. It’s so easy to see parts of each character in people you know, maybe in yourself, and I think this alone is an impressive thing for any author to master.

The tone and pacing of this one is great. It’s funny, a little hard hitting in places, but — despite the little bits of romance dotted here and there— it is ultimately rooted in exploring female friendship which I loved. I only hope more books take this angle, as it was such a good read.

My friendship group — aside from an odd few — is predominantly female and I think Vine is bang on about female friendship in Bad Choices. It’s so easy at first but it does get difficult as alternative influences creep in (something I’m finding out to be more and more true as I navigate friendships in my twenties and in the Covid-19 pandemic). Despite this, though - as Vine emphasises in her novel - friends will always be there to laugh and cry with you..no matter what.

An easy, quick, enjoyable read with astute observations about friendship and growing up. A perfect holiday read.