I cannot believe how much I enjoyed this book. The blurb gave me a slight chuckle, to me as someone in their early 30s the idea of my friend group celebrating each others successes and suppressing internal eye rolls is all too familiar. 10% in and I was absolutely engrossed with the real humour, the little womens thoughts on eachothers joy but pure hatred for their own self efficacy. The mixture of "who done it" and cringe at their life choices. This was an absolute joy to read and cant wait for my friends to read this upon release.

Just an amazing book hands down. I’ve been a fan of Holly’s books since I was a teenage and have tried to keep up with all the releases she has had. When I saw this come up for request, I jumped at the chance.

This tells the honest complexity of women’s relationships and Holly gets it right everytime. We see a group of friends come to terms with big changes and struggles they’re going through whilst in the setting of a baby shower for Nicki.

Seeing the downward spiral happening from past and present points of view was brilliant as you got the full story which avoided the book stagnating from being set in one day.

Also my heart went out to Lauren and Charlotte. Both struggles written so heartbreakingly that I wanted to reach out and just try to soothe them.

Well done Holly! This was another winner!

Not for me, as I was definitely not thrilled by this book. I gave up at 17%, because by then I still didn't feel any wee bit of warmth towards any of these characters. Just one would have been nice. Disliking the woman with her own business she was running from her apartment enough to almost resent myself for it, I knew it was time to quit.

Having grown up with Bourne’s books sparking some feminist conversation for me, this adult mystery was an excellent evolution. It is unflinchingly honest about the perils of motherhood and the way mothers are viewed in a patriarchal society, but also remains focused on love and friendship in its ultimate goals.

In the midst of the worst heatwave ever to hit the UK, Nicki is having a baby shower. Not that she really wants it. Her old friend from university, Charlotte has organised it and to be honest Charlotte is a bit of a nightmare. The story focuses on these two and their other two friends Lauren and Steffi.. Did I say friends? Frenemies more like. There are some pretty unpleasant vibes going on here with lots of grudges being held.

I enjoyed this book on the whole. There's a lot about motherhood here, most of it negative. A lot of it is quite old hat but worth saying again.. I find it depressing that things don't seem to have changed much in the 45 years since I had my first child. The issues remain the same: medical intervention or not; natural childbirth or not; breastfeeding or not; what to do with the baby who won't sleep; how to stop yourself killing the annoying new mother who has the perfect baby who does everything right. Some of it is funny, a lot of it is sad and some of it is just unrealistic.

So overall, a mixed bag. The formatting of the book made it quite hard to read which may have affected my rating so to be fair i'm rounding it up from a 3.5 to a 4. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

What I enjoyed about this book is how absorbed I was with each of the characters.
I identified with Lauren the most. The way that her PTSD and postnatal depression are described is brilliant and I hope that readers who are suffering from depression can find support and help.
I was so caught up in the story that I didn’t even try to guess who started the fire.
At times I thought that I was too old to be reading this book, but friendships are important whatever your age.

Book review : so thrilled for you by @hollybourneya @netgalley .

DESCRIPTION

Under a sweltering hot summer day, tensions rise - and by the end of the evening, nothing will ever be the same. Someone started a fire at the house - and everyone’s a suspect... Is it Steffi, happily child-free but feeling judged by her friends? Is it Charlotte, desperate to conceive and jealous of those who have? Is it Lauren, who is finding motherhood far, far worse than she imagined? Or is it Nicki herself, who never wanted a baby shower anyway?

First book I have read by this author and it was a rollercoaster of emotions, hormones , jealousy, sadness.
The friendships of these women was so complicated but on the other hand beautiful.
The storyline pulled me in from chapter 2 . I loved all the characters different points of view . The experiences of each of these friends are so diverse . Holly mastered the topic of postnatal depression beautifully as it shows that we can look like we are functioning great but behind it all everything is falling apart.
Some of the friends experiences with motherhood was just so real and painful.
I am definitely going to be reading more if @hollybourneya books as if they are anything like this one I will be in for a rollercoaster of emotions .

Thank yous much @netgalley @hollybourneya for my advanced copy was a pleasure to read.

Absolutely raced through this,;; which was one of the most unflinching, honest looks at motherhood, PPD and friendships in your 30s that I've read. While some elements felt a bit exaggerated, much of what the characters were experiencing felt extremely real and almost relatable too. The four perspectives worked well too, to make each character and their motivations feel real and believable. I didn't love the police extracts quite so much (they felt a bit unreal and fever-dreamy, much like early motherhood I guess). But otherwise I loved this and while I'm not sure I'd recommend it to mums-to-be, I definitely would to those coming out the other side.

4.5, rounded up. Such an excellent and engaging read.A relatable exploration of female friendships and the expectations and supposed life milestones , mixed with a who dunnit - this so cleverly done.

This was such a thought provoking book for me. Although we are faced with a cast of four characters who are flawed in their own way, Holly Bourne has done an ASTONISHING job of making her readers think about the worst of their characters that we each carry.

There is talking behind people's backs, thinking things about our friends we would never say to their faces, selfishness, jealousy and manipulation. It's uncomfortable to read at times because it's meant to be. It's meant to make you question your own behaviours. I found myself getting so angry at these characters at times, wishing I could reach into the pages and grab their shoulders to shake some sense into them. But I also found myself blushing at the moments where I could see myself and my thoughts written on the page.

But the representations of motherhood - from being childfree by choice, to infertility, to pregnancy and finally to motherhood itself - are so viscerally and painfully shared that you just feel like Bourne really get these emotions because she's felt them herself (or has certainly spoken in depth to women who have).

This book really showcases the complexity of female friendships and motherhood. You will get annoyed at the characters but you will also empathise with them. It's very cleverly done and well worth the read.

So Thrilled for You is a raw, thought-provoking exploration of friendship and the different aspects of motherhood.
It’s unflinchingly honest, intertwining the perspectives of the characters, showcasing the dynamics of the group and how each one is struggling on their own and in their own way.

I appreciate the visceral portrayal of PPD (which at one point had me in tears) to the exploration of motherhood, whether that being you’re desperate to have a baby to not wanting one at all.

I enjoyed that it humanises these experiences.
The friendships are flawed and complex, HB is great at writing women who can do and say awful things but fundamentally aren’t awful people.
The multiple perspectives added depth, emphasising how perceptions often differ from reality.


On the other hand, whilst I appreciated the authenticity. Nicki, in particular who was the most selfish and judgmental of the group, never really acknowledged anything she did. Whilst her actions are explained to some extent, she’s absolutely vile to Steffi throughout and for the most part it’s just accepted, which was very frustrating.

Overall, ate this up and Holly Bourne is a must-read author for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.
5/5 ⭐

I've never read anything by Holly Bourne but like the sound of the story and thought I'd give it a go. I really enjoyed it up until about 80%. Although none of the characters are particularly likeable their individual stories were interesting. 4 friends from uni (the little women) gather at Nikki's baby shower. Organised by Charlotte, who sounds like complete nightmare (everything has to be perfect!!!!) Lauren who has 9 month old son and has barely sleep a wink in that time and Steffi who is child free and focused on the best day of her life as her publishing company takes off. All very nice. But boy are these people toxic. They are all so self obsessed that they can't see outside of their own little bubble.
The last 20% was just a manic rant which left me unable to sleep, as my heart was thumping away Iin distress! I get it. Our lives are messy even scary at times but this was a story about women and motherhood and I found the lack of sisterhood a bit troubling. I am a mother and found my first baby very hard. An emergency c section and a baby who wouldn't sleep. All very real. But this book would make any would be Mum scared silly! Also the police investigation was silly and didn't ring true. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read an advance copy in return for an honest review.

‘They talk so much about weaponised incompetence in men, but I swear weaponised incontinence is the bigger feminist issue’

I am a fan of Holly Bourne, so was very happy to read the advanced copy of this book.

It comprises of the ‘Little Women’, a circle of friends who have been navigating life together since University. Each are living their own lives, and are at different stages of their lives.

The four come together to celebrate the imminent birth of Nicki’s baby at her baby shower. The day is meticulously planned by Charlotte, whose desire for a baby is palpable. Exhausted new mother Lauren picks up Steffi and they arrive at the party together along with Lauren’s son Woody.

Although they are best friends, there is underlying animosity, jealousy and misunderstanding which starts to ignite.

I loved the brutal truth of struggling as a new mother, a taboo subject that is exposed and navigated so well in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to all women, whether they are mothers or not.

As ever with Holly Bourne books, So Thrilled For You was an incredibly fun and relatable read!

4.5 stars.

The whodunit element was such a pleasant surprise, it gave the story such great momentum! Every new reveal of the women's backstories felt like a ache - they've all been holding grudges for sooooo long it was tantalising! My only wish is that there has been one dynamic between the four of them where they didn't secretly hate each other, as it was ever so slightly exhausting to jump from one disingenuous relationship to the next. I loved Steffi most of all and couldn't wrap my head around her friends not understanding that her personal choices weren't a slight at them, but I'm sure everyone will identify with one of these characters more than the other - it's very Sex and the City in that way!

So Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My first Holly Bourne novel was definitely worth the read. Following a group of women in their early thirties, all at different stages of their life. The novel effortlessly jumps from past to present, giving readers a backstory of their friendship, while slowly uncovering the timeline of a present crime.

The first half reads as a fun and compelling crime novel, shown through different formats and lenses, such as interview transcripts, news articles and comments written by online users, as well as different POVs from the main characters. I think this could make it into a brilliant audiobook (think audiobook of Big Little Lies). As the story progresses, it shifts from the crime to a stress-induced baby shower, focusing on the characters, escalating their disagreements, built-up resentments and their experience and expectations of what motherhood is like. Hence, the culprit reveal is a bit underwhelming.

Bourne depicts great characterisation of women who, for different reasons, want and don’t want to be mothers, have been traumatised by birth or are awaiting the big day. Nikki, Steffi, Lauren and Charlotte are four unique yet relatable women, representing four different perspectives. As the story progresses, we gain understanding of their behaviour and what’s really hiding behind it. The most harrowing read for me were definitely the perspectives of Lauren and Charlotte - one clearly suffering from postnatal depression and the other one willing to do anything to have a child after rounds of unsuccessful IVF.

Overall, this was a quick but not an easy read, pointing out the expectations, challenges and sacrifices women have to take when considering and experiencing motherhood.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for my copy.

Holly Bourne is one of those authors who I will actively keep an eye out for new books and will always read straight away, and this latest offering didn't disappoint. In fact, So Thrilled for You might just be my new favourite Bourne book.

Bourne captured the toxicity of female friendship perfectly, alongside motherhood and fertility journeys. I think my only grumble would be the clichéd depiction of the child-free woman being a 'Samantha' - a fabulous, stylish, career-woman; it feels like writers can't possibly understand a child-free life without having to fill the 'gap' with something else that's 'big and meaningful', when some of us are happy just living a quiet life with a mundane job and a cat!

I think I have loved every single word that Holly Bourne has ever written. I’m certainly not in her demographic but her characters are so beautifully written than you feel you know each and every one.

A group of girls meet at University and become firm friends- even naming their group Little Women but as they move on with life, tensions appear as they start to make choices about how they live their own lives. Do they want to marry, have children, have an amazing career? Or are they each facing their own individual problems? Splits are forming within the group and a baby shower is the perfect reason to get them all together again…

I loved this book and where I used to thrust her YA books into the hands of the teenagers I work with, I’ll now be gifting them to the twenty and thirty somethings I know.

I mainly enjoyed this book, however the format made it really difficult for me to read which resulted in it not being as enjoyable. I believe this is due to it being a preview which meant it was difficult to tell when the book changed perspective, and the interview scenarios were all muddled up too.

I loved this book - and I was hoping for nothing less, as Holly Bourne is one of my favourite authors. A baby shower that goes horribly wrong, with a great set of characters, all imperfect in their own ways, and with different experiences of motherhood. A really well-written account of what life can be like for women in their thirties. Would highly recommend.