Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was an enjoyable read. Bourne provides and interesting exploration of motherhood, pregnancy, and infertility, and their impact on female friendships. The characters were vivid, although I felt, some, Charlotte at least, was almost a caricature; Lauren was definitely the most interesting / likeable. The book felt like it was longer than I needed to be, and some parts felt slower than others; the twist revealing who started the fire was unexpected, and I was ultimately intrigued as to how the story would play out.

Holly Bourne is literally the best at accurately portraying the realities of female friendships - the toxicity they can bring, and how they change through adulthood. It is SO relatable.

In ‘So Thrilled For You’, the self-proclaimed friendship group, the ‘Little Women’ are gathering for Nicki’s baby shower. It’s been a turbulent few years for them all. Nicki is obviously preparing to become a first time Mum, but an unexpected guest at the baby shower threatens to derail her entire life. Lauren is a relatively new mum to son Woody, and is struggling with post natal depression following the trauma of her birth and the days and weeks that followed. Charlotte, the chief organiser of the baby shower, has spent years struggling to conceive and going through IVF. And Steffi has launched her own publishing business, but feels that her friends have not been there to support her successes.

There is definitely A LOT of tension and resentment between the four women. So when the firework that was supposed to be used for the gender reveal is set off and causes mass destruction through the form of a wildfire, the police do not believe that it was an accident.

This was an honest and frank exploration of female friendships. It also really highlighted how the decision to have or not to have children can really impact a friendship. I was completely invested in all of the character’s stories and backgrounds. I particularly liked Steffi and I felt that she had a really rough time of it, so I did enjoy reading her ending! Nicki grated on me and was probably the one that I liked the least, but I did care for them all. I loved the reveal of how the fire truly started - didn’t expect it at all!

I enjoyed this initially - an interesting tale from the perspective of several women; those with or without children, wanting or not wanting children. It was a good read and well-written, but the ending was (for me) a bit disappointing. It didn't come as a surprise - no bad thing, but without giving any spoilers it seemed a little bit unbelievable. I found it a bit jarring, if only because the rest of the book had felt like quite a real reflection of a friendship group.

This book was so good and I think all millennials should read it!

I didn't like any of the characters but was still compelled to read it. The book perfectly captures the stress of social media, societal pressures and communication or lack of in friendships.

I loved this book, thank you for the arc

Holly Bourne is one of my “go-to” authors. I will read anything she releases and I have yet to be disappointed in her writing. So Thrilled For You was another amazing book focusing on the nuances of friendship when life throws curveballs your way.

What was brilliant about this novel is that each of the four women were fully fleshed out. They weren’t lessened by the life choices that they had made and there is a character in there for everyone to identify with.

The flashback style suited the slow drip development of the plot and there were genuine gasp out loud moments throughout.

An absolute corker of a story.

So Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne is available now.

Although it’s aimed at an audience of 30 somethings and new mothers, I really enjoyed this well written novel from Holly Bourne. Delving into the shadowy nuances of female friendship and the sometimes dark reality of early motherhood, all set around a baby shower party in a sweltering heat wave, So Thrilled For You is a perfect poolside summer read for 2025. Very engaging. Will definitely look for more by this author.

Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this title.

Beautiful reflective book on all aspects of motherhood. Would make a great movie or miniseries. Perfect for fans of Big Little Lies

This isn’t my usual read but I really enjoyed it, full of a rollercoaster of emotions. If you’re in your 30s please pick up this book, you won’t regret it

Buckle up for this rollercoaster of a dark comedy thriller, where four thirty-something friends reunite at a baby shower in the countryside during an absolutely sweltering heat wave – but it’s not just the climate which is making them all hot under their collars. Mum-to-be Nikki is heavily pregnant, yet uncertain it’s what she actually wants for herself. Charlotte – throwing the shower for Nikki – cannot become pregnant, but is absolutely desperate to be a mother, and is funnelling all this emotion into ensuring the event is perfect with a capital P. Lauren has a young baby, but is finding motherhood harder than she ever could have imagined – and happily child-free Steffi is forging ahead with her career, but feels judged by her supposedly dearest pals, and doesn’t know if she has anything in common with them. Events soon take a dramatic turn for the worse, and the finger of suspicion is pointed at each of the four women – but which of them is to blame, or are they all at fault? This is an eye-openingly-extreme look at what it is to be a woman and a friend in the modern age, told from four different corners of the female experience: the brutal descriptions of savagely plausible experiences do mean this might not be one for imminently expectant mothers, but it’s a great summer who-dunnit novel for all other readers.

Overall, very honest, relatable and realistic. For those of us who are in our 30s, where our lives are all diverging in different ways, this will be a book that really captures that well. I do wish there had been a broader representation of characters, it seemed as though there was only one that seemed to go against the grain.
The story itself was okay, not especially engaging, but I found the characters very well written.

So honest and relevant having just had my second baby - every sentence resonated to the point where some of it I felt I could have written! Managed to balance humour with some pretty dark motherhood stuff as well as perfectly skewering modern parenting capitalist nonsense we are all pressured into. If you want kids, have kids, or definitely don't want kids, it's worth a read!

So Thrilled For You is set over one tense afternoon at a baby shower–turned–surprise gender reveal, told from the POVs of four long-time friends, with police interview transcripts hinting at a disaster by the end. As the prose peels back layers of jealousy, insecurity, and long-held grudges, it becomes clear: no one here is truly likeable—and that’s kind of the point. Holly Bourne digs into the messy reality of adult friendship, where support and resentment often coexist. It’s sharp and uncomfortable in a good way, though some parts start to feel a little repetitive. A twisty, emotional pressure cooker.

Not my most favourite book of the year so far but an interesting take on 4 uni friends and how their different paths in life has affected them all. I wasn’t keen on any of the main characters so it was hard to be engaged throughout.

I found this book so compelling, but the ending left me a bit cold. The premise was so relatable. I loved the blunt look at the choices women face and how no one can really have it all. But I felt like the ending was much too tidy, which made it less relatable. There are a lot of loose ends left unaddressed. I guess the message is supposed to be that friendship can overcome it all, but can it?

Holly Bourne's So Thrilled For You is a compelling exploration of the complexities of female friendships and the societal pressures surrounding motherhood. Set against the backdrop of an intense heatwave and a high-stakes baby shower, the novel brings together four university friends—Nicki, Lauren, Charlotte, and Steffi—whose lives have diverged significantly since their college days.​ The narrative delves deep into each character's psyche, revealing insecurities, jealousy, and unspoken tensions that simmer beneath the surface. The baby shower serves as a catalyst, unearthing long-held resentments and leading to a dramatic climax that leaves the reader questioning the nature of true friendship.​ Bourne's writing is both witty and incisive, capturing the nuances of female relationships with authenticity and empathy. Her portrayal of the struggles associated with motherhood, the choice to remain child-free, and the societal expectations placed on women is both thought-provoking and relatable.​ This novel is a must-read for anyone interested in a realistic portrayal of modern womanhood, complete with its challenges and triumphs. It's a story that will resonate long after the final page is turned.

I have always been Holly Bourne’s biggest fan and this book did not disappoint. This book focuses on motherhood and friendships. I found that this book was such a page turner, I was invested in the story of the friends and really couldn’t put it down.

The book follows four friends from university in their thirties, Steffi - a new book agent living a childfree life, Charlotte - an overly organised teacher trying to conceive, Nicki - a self obsessed pregnant woman and Lauren - a new mum suffering from postpartum depression and PTSD. A gripping story of friends that were once very close but life and circumstances has pushed them apart. I like how the mystery was unravel in a gradual manner (over the duration of day of the baby shower ) that didn't seem rushed and that each persons chapter was interspersed with interrogations by the police. I also liked that the book tackled depression in new mums and, the need for both mental and physical support. Overall, a good mystery with some serious and humorous moments. I would highly recommend.

I received this ebook from NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton in exchange for a free and honest review.

Another great book by Holly Bourne! She absolutely nails the complexities of relationships between women, the book explores how messy, raw, and real they can be, and how these relationships change over time. I also loved how it showed that we’re all just a little too caught up in our own heads to notice what others are really thinking about us. The dynamics between the characters felt so honest and relatable, I completely forgot I was reading at times, it just flowed so well. Loved it.

So Thrilled For You is painfully real in the best way. It dives headfirst into the messy world of female friendships, societal pressure, and the whole exhausting “keeping up” vibe that so many women deal with in their 30s. Bourne nails that inner voice that says, why can’t I just be happy for my friends?—and she does it with her usual blend of honesty, humor, and heart.

The main character, who’s stuck in that awkward space between being genuinely happy for her friend’s success and quietly spiraling, felt so relatable it hurt. It’s cringe-y at times (in a too real way), but also deeply validating. Bourne doesn’t shy away from the ugly feelings we don’t like to admit we have, and I really appreciated that.

Some parts did feel a bit repetitive, and I wished a couple of side characters were fleshed out more, but overall it’s a smart, emotionally raw read that leaves you thinking about the complexity of friendship and self-worth long after you finish.

If you’ve ever smiled through gritted teeth while saying “I’m so happy for you,” this book is for you.

A delayed review unfortunately - my apologies.

Finally here we are:

So Thrilled for You was completely up my street!

A solid 4 stars. Holly Bourne a new mum herself, captures a really blunt raw honestly about female
Friendship with this character led book, each woman is someone to relate to for most women. Tackling serious topics whilst also having comic, memorable lines. The Little Women are all in some ways recognisable… flawed but real, Holly handles discussing tricky topics around motherhood with empathy and understanding which was good to see. Unsure on the ending feeling a bit meh, hence one less star but overall, it’s a relatable read. Thank you to NetGalley and hodder stoughton.