As a lover of the novel 'Olive', that has been read and re-read three times over! I was very excited when I heard about Emma Gannon's newest novel 'Table for One'. I was fortunate enough to read it via NetGalley and proceeded to read it in the course of one day. It could easily have been one sitting, however.., I did wish to savour it too!

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and in particular Gannon's writing style. There is such an ease and intimacy with it, I find myself getting so drawn into the story. She also writes very believable and relatable characters and in this, it was no different. The novel centres around Willow, who has managed to get herself to a very good place in life. She is in her early thirties and is a homeowner, in a stable long term relationship and a co-owner of a successful self-made business (set up whilst at university with her partner Dom). Huge focus and pressure has been put on establishing and growing the business and it has put a strain on her relationship, life and she has had to put her own ambitions and passions to one side. We later learn of her passion for writing and journalism and that she cut short a successful career in that field. Her partner puts off marriage and plans to start a family due to the business. She puts her life on hold for so long, Dom insists soon to progressing their life together but work always comes first. Then it utterly takes over and he tells her he is moving to America alone and it is the end of their relationship. It was such a punch in the gut to read.

We follow Willow as she navigates and laterally embraces singledom. Becoming single has meant her being forced to focus on herself and to come back to herself in a lot of ways too. The novel goes back and forth through time, back to childhood, university days, her twenties and the protagonist's present day. This is so well done, making Willow such a multi-faceted and well rounded character. Of course it is very difficult for her but as you read, you are with her every step of the way. Her friends, Aunt and a new acquaintance play a huge part in the rebuilding of her life.


I enjoyed most of all how current the book felt, the cultural references, relatability, descriptions of places, the seaside location and the pace of this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed reading Emma Gannon’s previous books, Claire Daverley, Dolly Alderton and Anna Hope. An ideal book if you are looking for something with a focus on female friendships, overcoming heartbreak and navigating one’s thirties. It is a fulfilling and companionable read.

I read Amy Key's Arrangements in Blue: Notes on Love and Making a Life a few books prior to requesting this one, and the two complement each other beautifully; Gannon's book also reminds me of Claire Powell's debut At the Table, which I read last year and still can't stop thinking about. Like Key's and Powell's writing, so much in Table for One is deeply, painfully relatable: the labour of navigating everyday life in a lonely city, feeling left behind by the 'marrieds' in your friendship circle, feeling like you have left behind your passion project and sold your soul to a type of work that your younger self just could not have imagined for you. The character of Naz in particular - a self-proclaimed beacon for single womenhood - served as an excellent addition. I follow Gannon's Substack and will be seeking out her earlier books!

Table for One is a really fun easy read that I'd definitely recommend to friends. That said there was something about it I didn't *love*, Willow was a little frustrating at times.
3 stars.

This is my first book by Emma and had no idea what to expect. I liked the sound of the plot so I was hoping I was going to enjoy it and I did. It is a story about Willow who has the perfect life, everything is going well for her and she is really happy until it's not. When things come crashing down on poor Willow I really felt sorry for her, I think people reading this book may be able to relate one way or another. Willow does not know where to turn to or what to do until a very unlikely companion moves into her life and she knows with this companion she will be able to get through it. She finds a way to reconnect with herself after such a long time. It was a incredibly moving story that stole my heart. I felt drawn into the story and wanted to help Willow see how amazing she really is. I cannot wait to read more of Emma's books now. This was brilliant.

This is a warm, charming, easy book to read and fall in love with. The cover is also gorgeous. I can see it being a title I gift to many friends. Recommended

Thanks for the early copy of Emma Gannon’s latest fiction novel. I’ve been a fan of Emma’s non-fiction work and can see threads of that within her latest novel covering London life and modern themes and lifestyles.

What to do when you're a journalist and your life turns upside down. The end of a relationship, old friendships and new exciting friends who are not all they seem. There's a light at the end of the tunnel.

Table for One by Emma Gannon is a heartfelt and authentic exploration of loneliness, personal growth, and the power of friendship. The story follows Willow, a woman in her mid-thirties, who is navigating the challenges of being in a relationship yet feeling more alone than ever. Her partner, Dom, has become consumed by their successful business, leaving Willow to face a new chapter in life without the connection they once shared. As Willow starts to rediscover herself and seek a fresh start, the stark contrast between her loneliness and the joy she once knew is evident.

Gannon’s writing is lively, entertaining, and incredibly relatable, capturing Willow’s journey as she embarks on her new life as a singleton. The characterisation is excellent, especially in the way Willow’s emotions are portrayed—her loneliness is palpable, yet there’s also a sense of hope as she learns to navigate life on her own. One of the highlights of the book is Willow’s relationship with her aunt Carla, whose warmth and love offer Willow the support she needs during this transitional period. Carla’s character brings so much heart to the story, and she reminded me of how important it is to have those who truly care about us in our lives.

Dom’s character, however, is another story. While he may have a pleasant scent, his actions leave much to be desired, and the reader’s views of him are unlikely to be favourable. Gannon does a great job of exploring the complexities of relationships, and Dom’s character serves as a foil to Willow’s journey towards self-discovery.

At its core, Table for One is a celebration of friendship, which plays a crucial role in Willow’s emotional support system. Her friends, both old and new, help her through practical and emotional challenges, reminding her that even in moments of isolation, there are connections that can make all the difference. The book is particularly resonant for those in their thirties, as Willow reflects on the rapid passage of time and the changes that come with it, such as the overwhelming feeling of time flying by too quickly.

This book was the perfect antidote to my early January reading slump, offering both comfort and realism as Willow navigates a crossroads in her life. Table for One is an engaging and relatable story about finding one’s place in the world, both personally and professionally. It’s a must-read for anyone who has ever questioned their path and is searching for a sense of belonging.

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I loved Table For One! It was an enjoyable, inspirational read and I would recommend this to anyone. The characters are great and I didn't want it to end.

What a fantastic, beautiful book. It had me hooked from it's opening pages. Beautiful characters, fantastically well written. Ideal for on the beach but equally as a reminder that 'we are enough'.

What a great and inspirational read if you’re a single women. Interesting story and really gave me food for thought. Would recommend this book.

A really enjoyable read. Paced well with interesting characters. I loved the chapters reflecting on past memories too - such a clever way to give insight into characters & relationships!

I read and really enjoyed Gannon’s first fiction book “Olive” so I knew, when I saw this on the Discover page, I had to pick this up.

This is essentially a tale of two halves: one half is the main character believing she’s living a happy life and the other half is her actually living it. It took a while to get started, and I really disliked the main character’s boyfriend (even though you’re supposed to), but I really enjoyed this read in the end.

The main character is by no means perfect but she is a relatable showcase of both sides of the coin: being happy (and unhappy) in a relationship and being happy (and unhappy) out of one. I loved the relationships with her friends and her aunt Carla particularly, as well as her newfound friendship with a woman who is her polar opposite.

No matter whether you are single or in a relationship, this book is a great read to pick up. It’s a reminder to get out of a relationship that doesn’t serve you (if you can) and to embrace the mess but also the joy that comes with life, friendships and figuring everything out again.

It even has me tempted to book a, well, Table for One.

When Willow's relationship falls apart, she is forced to realise how much of her identity it had shaped. Returning to the world as a single woman after 10 years in a comfortable relationship, she finds herself mildly obsessed with pro-single-life influencer Naz in a simultaneously envious and skeptical way.

As Naz challenges Willow's world view on romantic relationships and her relationship with herself, readers are whisked along for the journey. There's nothing overwhelmingly revolutionary about Naz's philosophies but I can see how, perhaps to a different reader, Table For One might be able to give people in unhappy relationships "permission" to put themselves first.

The musings on butterflies/caterpillars I found particularly meaningful, and her relationship with her aunt and friends were also well done. A well-rounded, readable narrative that I would recommend to anyone who feels stuck in their personal life.

This felt like a coming of age but in your 30s kinda book. Realising that you might not have been happy when you thought you had everything you wanted and I loved that aspect!

Absolutely brilliant! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy, I will definitely be recommending it.

3.5⭐️

First off, how great is this cover? I‘m obsessed.

The premise of this story is, unfortunately, all too relatable. Willow has everything she‘s ever wanted - a boyfriend, house and is the co-founder of a company. But, her boyfriend thinks it‘s time to move on and dumps her. Now she‘s in her thirties, single and jobless.

This is particularly shitty for a woman who wants children. That being said, I just… don‘t like Willow all that much, as she sometimes seems so condescending and judgmental. She’s also pretty self-absorbed and whenever great things happen for her friends, she reflects on her life and feels sorry for herself. Like I absolutely get that this can happen, especially after her breakup, but it’s constantly repeated, so much so that I want to have a chat with her and explain to her that not everything’s about her. However, this does get better as the story progresses (yay, character growth!).

So I guess I was kind of rooting for the idea of her (woman finding herself after a terrible relationship). But Willow was… not great. Still, I adored Carla and the mother-daughter relationship she had with Willow.

I think it‘s a good read for women in their 30ies who are faced with a different reality from the one they‘ve envisoned.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for providing me with a digital review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Willow has her whole life figured out, until she doesn’t. Suddenly finding herself out of a long-term relationship, out of a job, and back to living with her aunt, she has to start over.

Truly a heartwarming, moving story that centers around loneliness, friendships, relationships, love, and self-love.

I will admit it did take me a while to get invested; I really liked the plot from the get-go, but it did take me a while to get to know and, ultimately, care for Willow as a character. Which I ended up doing, even if very well into the book, but I do think she had a great journey, and amazing character growth. Even though I would say the pacing also felt a little weird at times, and it felt like time was just jumping around very randomly, and things were changing so quickly from one chapter to the other for seemingly no reason, but it wasn’t bad enough of an issue to take me out of the story or anything like that.

There’s a good cast of supporting characters, who I found very interesting and enjoyable to see glimpses of, and would have loved to see more of since they felt more of a device to further Willow’s story — which makes sense as this is about her, and this is just to say they were a great addition to the story. Being closer in age to Naz’s character I was very interested in seeing how she would be portrayed, and I will say I was surprised with it all and the direction her story took — not in a bad way, but I will need to come back on it.

I liked the themes it explored and how it was executed, even if I was a little skeptical I would at times. It was maybe a little predictable, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Overall, I really liked a lot of this story, and I do think a lot of it will stick with me for a long time.

Willow, the protagonist of Gannon's latest novel, offers a softened, more mature voice than Olive - the titular character of Gannon's debut. A voice I personally much prefer. The story is a gentle, considered meander through a period of great change and transition in a 30-something woman's life. The quiet ordinariness of the plot is a comfort, I imagine especially for those currently going through a challenging time of their own.

I had taken interest in this book because the premise sounded so much fun, especially as someone who’s never been in a relationship. However the MC was unbearable in my opinion for 70% of the book. I’ve always been the “Pen” in all my friendships, so I just couldn’t bear the protagonist expecting her best-friend who she didn’t have time for during her relationship to be at her beck and call now that she was single. That’s not how friendships work. I enjoyed her growth by the end, however considering that I spent majority of the book being annoyed by her, I can’t rate it more than 3 stars. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.