Holly Bourne was one of my favourite authors in my days reading YA fiction. I knew I was in for a great time here.

In this book, four different aspects of parenting are depicted: a pregnant woman, a new mother struggling with the change in her life, a woman desperate to become a mother, and a woman who is childfree by choice. Each of these were dealt with respectfully, and with such care.

At the beginning, I really struggled with Lauren's perspective in particular. To be honest, I was worried a reason Woody was so miserable, was that he simply wasn't eating enough for a nine month old ( I worried he was being exclusively breastfed.) This, it turned out, was not the reason and not something to worry. As we learn more about Lauren's situation and struggles, I felt so much pain for her. I wanted to reach out and tell her she was ok.

Throughout the book, questions arise. Who is Phoebe? Who started the fire at the baby shower? Why are things strained between Nicki and Steffi? As we read and more becomes revealed, this book gripped me tight to it.

Nicki, Charlotte, Lauren and Steffi are best friends. After meeting in their first year of university and dubbing themselves 'The Little Women', they've been through everything together - from regrettable one night stands, first heartbreaks and holding each other's hair back after one too many sambuccas to moving to London, starting careers and getting married. But now life's next big milestone threatens to divide them: babies.

Heavily pregnant Nicki is desperate to see the birth of her child as a fresh start after a tumultuous year. Ater years of unexplained infertility, Charlotte longs for the chance to be a mother, and throws herself into planning her dream baby shower for Nicki in hopes that this will distract her from being consumed by jealousy. Lauren loves her nine-month-old son intensely, but she can't help feeling that having a baby might have been the biggest mistake of her life. Meanwhile, Steffi has had enough of feeling like she has to justify her decision not to have children and to instead channel her energies into her boutique publishing agency. Each woman harbours resentment towards her friends for not understanding what her life is like, and, as they come together to celebrate the imminent arrival of Nicki's baby one scorching summer day, the tensions are about to come to a shocking boil.

Though the main events occur on this one emotionally-charged day (probably the most triggering event possible for each of the women), we learn from flashbacks how the women met, the role each has historically played in the group, and how their relationships have shifted and evolved over time.

A thread of suspense runs through the narrative: what caused the rift between Nicki and Steffi? Who is Lauren sending aggressive messages to from multiple burner accounts? Who is Phoebe? And, of course, who started the fire at the baby shower? However, even without the mystery elements, each woman's story is uniquely compelling.

Author Holly Bourne wrote So Thrilled for You in the sleep-deprived trenches of new motherhood and it shows in the best way. Lauren's chapters are raw, honest and devastating; they shatter the illusion constructed via both social media and generations of mothers not wanting to terrify those who will come after them - that motherhood is always enjoyable, easy and fulfilling. It is estimated that between 10 and 15% of new mothers in the UK experience post-natal depression, and I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that pretty much all of us can relate to Lauren's feelings to a greater or lesser degree - even if our overall experience is easier. Having a baby causes such a seismic shift in your lifestyle and identity, as well as heralding such major physical and mental side effects, that it would be more surprising if you didn't have moments of wondering, 'What have I done?'
The descriptions of early motherhood are so visceral that I was catapulted straight back to my own days of frantically trying to park the car in order to feed my wailing baby and passive-aggressive conversations with my husband about the nappy bag not being packed correctly.

Lauren's chapters discuss the myriad difficulties which new mothers often encounter: birth trauma and PTSD; not being listened to by medical professionals; lack of breastfeeding support and poor aftercare due to an under-funded NHS; navigating a previously solid relationship which has been rocked by the arrival of a baby; resentment towards your partner for not being an equal parent; feeling totally disconnected from the person you were before. Bourne writes with a dark humour, but these sections of the book are desperately sad and potentially triggering.

Having access to each woman's inner thoughts and insecurities made my heart ache at the misunderstandings caused by the collapse of the open dialogue which the friends once took for granted. A powerful example of this is when Steffi shares an article about being child-free by choice. For her part, Steffi could relate to the writer's experience of dating as a woman in her thirties who doesn't want children, but Lauren is stung by the sharing of a piece which reads to her as attacking women who have decided to have children. Because neither of them feels able to start a conversation about how they are feeling, the misunderstanding grows into a resentment which threatens to tear the fabric of their friendship for good. None of the women is written as above reproach: they could all be accused of being selfish and unable - or unwilling - to empathise with those whose situation differs to theirs, but this only makes the story more interesting. I imagine most readers have been one of these women - perhaps more than one at different times in our lives - and so their decisions are understandable even when they are infuriating. Bourne handles each woman's perspective with sensitivity and respect; she is not here to pass judgement on the 'right' choice to make, and she does not want the reader to either.

Tonally, So Thrilled for You feels like Big Little lies as written by Dolly Alderton. It is a funny, sad and nostalgic ode to the beauty and complexities of female friendship and an honest, angry exposé on what it is like to choose to become a mother - or not.

Finally, Lauren's present is awesome!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Female friendships are rarely straightforward—and So Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne captures that messy, complicated dynamic so well.The story follows four women who’ve been friends since university. They’re all flawed, each dealing with their own issues, and honestly, I didn’t like every character—but that felt real. Their imperfections and tensions made the story more believable and relatable.

What really stood out for me was Bourne’s writing style: sharp, witty, and emotionally honest. There’s a good dose of humour throughout, and the twist at the end definitely took me by surprise.

Thanks to @NetGalley for the advanced copy. A thought-provoking and timely read about friendship, insecurity, and how we compare our lives to others—even those closest to us.

🌟🌟🌟✨ 3.5 stars
"Sharp, relatable, but occasionally heavy-handed."

So Thrilled For You dives into the complexities of female friendships, envy, and the exhausting pressure to keep up appearances in your thirties. Holly Bourne does what she does best—taking an uncomfortable truth and turning it into something raw and readable. It’s a biting look at comparison culture, and Bourne doesn’t shy away from the messiness of it all. You will cringe, wince, and probably see parts of yourself you weren’t ready to confront.

This is an insightful and honest portrayal of what it means to be a "successful woman" in a world where the goalposts are constantly moving. It’s not always comfortable, but it is undoubtedly thought-provoking and a real page turner.

This was an extremely realistic and well written book. It tackled some intense themes including birth trauma, post natal depression and miscarriage really well. It also tackled female friendships really well - exploring the jealousy and bitterness that can come with them.

The story navigates tricky emotions and messy situations with a refreshing authenticity, tackling themes like anxiety, love, and personal growth with sensitivity and insight. Bourne’s lively writing style keeps the pace engaging and the tone balanced between lighthearted and thought-provoking.

Really enjoyed this one. The fraught relationships between female friends. The pressures or not, of being mothers.
It was hard to put this book down, I wanted to read it all in one go.
Thanks to NetGalley.

So Thrilled for You is a witty and insightful take on friendship, envy, and the messy undercurrents of adult relationships. The writing is sharp and observant, capturing the quiet tension behind smiles and well-meaning congratulations. The main character is flawed but relatable, and the emotional depth sneaks up on you in the best way.

Some pacing issues and a few overly familiar beats keep it from being a full five-star read, but overall, it’s a compelling, thoughtful story that lingers after the final page. A great pick for fans of character-driven drama with a darkly humorous edge.

I have loved Holly Bourne for a number of years and I will always hop, skip and jump my way to buying her latest book. Sadly, this one wasn't up top in my Holly Bourne favourites this time. I'm not saying it was a bad read, I'm just saying it could have been a better read.

This book looks into female friendships. Not just how they are made, but how they evolve as life continues. It delves into the good, the bad, and the ugly and most definitely the toxicity of them.

The story is told from the perspective of four friends: Nicki, Lauren, Steffi and Charlotte. As each perspective is told you can feel the tension between then jumping off the paper. These four met during university and their friendship was based on fun and partying. It is not until they grow up and their lives go in different directions that the tensions begin to rise.

Overall, a thought provoking read that delves into the messy reality of female friendships and the exploration on the choice of motherhood.

I honestly cannot put into words how much this book impacted me. The treatment of the subject matter was thought-provoking, shocking and heartbreaking in equal measure.

I’ve been a fan of Holly Bourne for years, but this book is truly outstanding.

So Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne was my first introduction to this author and by the time I had finished it, I had bought Girl Friends, Pretending and How Do You Like Me Now? from her back catalogue as it was that good!

I read this book together with my online book of the month group and it was absolutely perfect for our in depth discussions, character assassinations and overall thoughts.

This is the story of 4 women who have been best friends since University and are getting together for a baby shower for one of the group. Lauren, Charlotte, Nicki and Steffi are very different now. Adulthood and motherhood has changed them all and, in some cases, not in a good way.

Nicki is heavily pregnant with her first child and it’s her parents house that the baby shower is being hosted. Charlotte is going through infertility problems, desperate for a child whilst watching all her friends have babies, she is organising her own dream baby shower for Nicki instead.

Lauren has a young child, Woody, and on the surface all appears perfect, but she is hiding her true feelings, emotions and struggles with motherhood whilst Steffi has decided motherhood is not for her and is often sharing her opinions on social media which is causing concern and upset to the others.

We know from the opening chapter that something terrible has happened at the baby shower, but we don’t know what, why or who. We do, however, take a very uncomfortable and emotional journey with all four women when they share their versions of events from the days of University up to the present day.

This is an unflinching, unapologetic look at motherhood, sisterhood and friendship. Each character is brought to life with depth and feelings. There are characters you will despise and characters you will love. There will be times that you want to cry alongside the women and times you want to slap them really hard.

I absolutely 100% recommend this book and look forward to reading more from Holly Bourne.

Oh, this book touched on so many things that felt so real and it was incredibly emotional - in general, and to me specifically. Holly Bourne has come on so much as a writer, and I was invested through every page. A messy, angry, sad and real situation that felt so real. Painful but brilliant.

I requested this book as I had been a fan of Holly Bourne when I was a teenager - unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me.

I think this book made me realize I'm not a fan of books relating to pregnancy/babies. I found it hard to relate to the characters and felt that the story didn't really go anywhere, maybe because I couldn't relate to the characters but I just didn't find it enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.

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