This book was such a page turner. i was so invested in the story of the 4 friends that i couldn’t put it down!
so many twists and though it jumped from character to character the way it was written was genius and i loved it!
definitely recommend

This is really women’s fiction, but it’s quite funny. There’s a hilarious monologue about breastfeeding which anyone who’s tried to breastfeed will empathise with
The trauma of birth is laid bare as is there typical difficulties of early days with a small baby?
IVF, miscarriage post depression There’s lots of weighty stuff in this novel but it’s all dealt with with subtlety poise and sense of humour that ultimately makes the book a fantastic read. as the author herself puts it the share audacious every day relentless effort of motherhood.

There’s something in here about millennial generation and social media making us all feel that our friends are having such beautiful glorified lives when we see their posts but can’t see what’s going on behind them
I always love it in a novel when there is discussion about novelists writing their first novels and publishers because obviously all of this has happened to the author of the book quite recently too
I originally copy of the novel on NetGalley UK and return for an honest review. The book was published in the UK on the 16th of January 2025 by Hodder and Stoughton.
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, StoryGraph, and my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.wordpress.com. It will also appear on Amazon Uk

As a new mum, this book made me feel more seen than anything else has in the last five months. I highlighted so many quotes that resonated with me and felt less alone as a result as the girls kept me company during naps.

At times the plot dragged a little, hence the reduction to four stars, but ultimately this was a hugely insightful read, and one I will recommend to all of my friends having children.

I have seen a lot of good reviews for this book online so thought I would give it a read but it did take me a while to get into it.

This is the story of four friends from university and how their lives have gone in different directions since leaving university and going into their thirties. This is a story of friendship, motherhood and different decisions that women make during their lives.

The main focus of the story is on the baby shower which ends in disaster and you are kept guessing who the culprit is.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advanced reader copy.

Incredible book about the very real truth to friendships - especially as a woman i find - as you grow up. Some truly messy characters that just fit right into the image in your head and honestly relatable either to yourself or someone you know/have run into before.

I didn't know exactly what to expect from 'So Thrilled For You' - the synopsis made me think it would be a tense thriller, but I actually felt it was a (still very tense) drama focused on a group of female friends who have stayed in touch, but whose lives have changed a lot since they all became close at university many years ago. We meet Lauren, struggling hugely as a new mother; Nicki, who is pregnant; Charlotte, who is desperate for a baby but has never been able to conceive; and Steffi, who has never wanted children but feels her friends treat her differently because of this. They are all invited to Nicki's baby shower, organised by Charlotte and shaping up to be a very 'extra' shower - and tensions rise as the friends' relationships get put to the test in different ways - with some secrets peppered amongst the drama.

What we do know, however, is that somehow, a fire is started at the venue - but who started it? And why?

I definitely found I was enjoying the journey to get to the 'whodunnit' as much, if not more, than the mystery element, and I'm someone who LOVES a mystery in books usually. The main character's relationships, backstories, and interactions are dramatic and incredibly entertaining. I didn't necessarily like them all but I loved reading about them.

I don't have any experience with pregnancy, children or anything else to do with this topic, but I was entirely absorbed by this story. I didn't want to put this book down and I found it completely gripping. I would highly recommend whether you have children or no interest!

This is funny in many places and therefore fun to read. The challenges and tropes of being a women in today's world will resonate with many.
It's not my usual genre and I didn't get on well with the plot (I basically didn't care) but it's a good comedy, fun, and emotional.

This is not a genre I would normally go for but something stood out for me here. I really enjoyed the relationship of the four women and thought each of them had a convincing story.. Between them, they represent so many young women’s lives today. At times the narrative was funny but mostly I found it quite thought-provoking. I didn’t always love the style of the writing, which is sometimes quite informal, however, I can see what the author was achieving by doing this. I enjoyed the police interviews interspersed throughout.

Maybe motherhood books aren't really for me. I have enjoyed pretty much all of Holly's books and this one was well written like the others but I couldn't really relate to any character even the childfree by choice one. I feel like so many childfree characters are written in the same way.

I am sure so many others will relate to one of the women though as we see motherhood through 4 completely different lenses.

Absolutely brilliant! I loved this book and have now ordered 2 others by this author - it was very well written, engaging, realistic and I could not put it down.
I enjoyed the dynamics of all 4 friends and felt this is just how they may behave. Although it’s been some years since I had. Baby these things do not change and you are in a slight fog for a while amd this was portrayed accurately.

I would thoroughly recommend this book.

Firstly, the cover on this is absolutely beautiful and I am absolutely obsessed with it !

The story was a whole vibe from start to finish and I loved it!!

I would recommend this book to everyone and anyone who loves to read !!

This months Bookclub choice was So Thrilled For You by the fabulous Holly Bourne and it was another great choice!
I’d say it was a sort of contemporary soft thriller of ‘whodunnit’ (fyi you’ll never guess 🤪) with police interview extracts which nicely break up the text. It’s very character led, focusing on motherhood and all its (often gory) glory! At times it was laugh out loud funny and other times really quite sad and relatable for many new, expectant or hoping to be, mums.
I did get a little confused with the characters to begin with but soon got the hang of who’s who!
Thank you @netgalley for sending.

Four women in their thirties - friends since Uni - all get together for a baby shower
They have grown apart recently and this could be the opportunity to rekindle their friendship
But things go horribly wrong and as events unfold and secrets come to light - this could be the end of the friendship altogether
New mums in particular will love this story !!!
Thankyou NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

I did struggle with this book at first - particularly the profane language used. However as I progressed I wanted to know how the fire started and what the real relationships were between the ‘Little Women’. I certainly did not expect the outcome!

A baby shower, a heatwave, tensions rising, relationships unravelling, a fire and a police investigation.

A dissection of the difficulties of motherhood, the heartache of infertility and the pressures on those choosing to not have children are all explored in a hard hitting and raw way.

Not for the faint hearted!

I am yet to find a Holly Bourne book I did not enjoy (YA or adult). Holly’s third adult book, this one looks at the complexities of motherhood in a very real way, and the impact it has on friendships and ourselves. Set over tjthe course of one day at a baby shower, a lot of different perspectives are represented through this lens, including pregnancy and child free individuals. I also really enjoyed the “twist” aspect about who began the focal point of the book (if you read it, you'll know what I mean). Somehow very hard hitting and laugh out loud funny at the same time.

An interest premise on what happens when friends have children but some of it felt exaggerated and slightly unrealistic.

A terrible heatwave. A very tense baby shower. It will all end in tears….someone started a fire at the house but who?
I really enjoyed this light hearted read of four 30-something uni friends who reunited at an ill-fated baby shower. It held my attention and the for main characters were all very well constructed. A story of friendship, rivalry, emotions and motherhood.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing an advance copy in return for my honest opinion. I have also posted this review on Goodreads and will post it on Amazon.

I absolutely loved the author’s previous novels this Girl Friends so was excited to read So Thrilled for You.
The novel explores friendship and motherhood through the relationships of four university friends at different stages of their lives. I found that it took me a while to get into but once I did it was an immersive and sometimes unsettling read. I really appreciated the honest insights on motherhood and how our experiences and desires around it are so different, An excellent honest and emotional read that I’d recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC,

A must read for anyone. This felt like a really real portrayal of different viewpoints on having children, nuanced in a way I've not seen in literature before.

Seeing the friendship between these four women be pulled taunt by their situations, caring so deeply for each other but worrying that they can't relate or connect, was really beautiful.

For such an introspective read (it made me question a lot!) I was surprised by how gripping it was. I read this super quickly and the tension was perfect.

Holly Bourne’s So Thrilled For You is a sharp, witty, and deeply relatable exploration of friendship, envy, and the complexities of adulthood. The story follows a friendship pushed to its breaking point as one woman’s life seems to be flourishing while the other grapples with disappointment and self-doubt. Bourne expertly captures the subtle dynamics of comparison and resentment that can creep into even the closest relationships.

The writing is insightful and laced with Bourne’s trademark humor, which helps balance the heavier themes of jealousy and insecurity. The characters are flawed yet sympathetic, making their struggles feel authentic and raw. While some parts of the story are uncomfortable to read, they’re handled with sensitivity and nuance, encouraging reflection on the pressures of societal expectations.

This novel is perfect for readers who enjoy realistic, emotionally charged stories about the messiness of life and friendships. Bourne’s honest portrayal of imperfect relationships makes So Thrilled For You a compelling and thought-provoking read.