Rebecca Anderson’s Galentine’s Day is a delightful celebration of friendship, love, and self-discovery. Heartwarming and hilarious, this charming rom-com offers more than just laughs—it’s also a touching look at the power of chosen family. Anderson writes with warmth and wit, creating characters that feel like your best friends. The story flows effortlessly, filled with heartwarming moments and clever banter. Whether you're single, coupled, or somewhere in between, Galentine’s Day is a joyful reminder that love comes in many forms. A perfect feel-good read that sparkles with authenticity and heart. Curl up and enjoy the ride!

I absolutely loved this book. I loved getting to see the characters grow up over 15 years, and by the end I felt like I really knew them. I thought the Galentines Day premise was cute, and the focus on friendship over romance was a nice change for this sort of book.

I liked the structure of the story, the excerpts from the group chat were fun and kept us up to date with the characters' lives without waiting for an information dump in the Galentines Day chapters.

I found the story really engaging and would 100% recommend it.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future

Firstly thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

When Hannah gets let down by a boy called Hugo at Valentine, Marnie and Alicia decide that they will have their own Galentine with Hannah. This sparks a journey over the next 20 years following each girls journey and the tests that a life long friendship can bring.

I really enjoyed the way the author gave each character their own story as well as interlocking the 3 girls friendship. It was an emotional book with the highs and lows of life and the journeys so many of us make lives. It also had little extracts from group chats which many of can relate to too. Beautifully written, a book that you can buy for your galentines!

This was such a fun novel’ I love anything that is compared to the Bold Type as it was always a favorite show of mine and this prefer to showcases email friendship. I love everything this book had to offer …. Friendship, nostalgia, heartbreak, joy & hope. This is the perfect novel to curl up with.

4.5✨
Thank you NetGalley, Rebecca Anderson and Avon for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review - Galentines Day publishes January 6th 2026.

Galentines Day spans 13 years of friendship between Alicia, Marnie and Hannah who reconnect every year for their annual Valentines sleepover. It’s a journey of life, growing up, love and friendship.

I loved the premise of this book, and it being compared to the Bold Type sold me (my love for Sutton, Jane and Kat is endless!!) and I really, really enjoyed this book!

It’s slice of life, you watch the girls grow up over the span of their friendship and you get all of their POVs with some of the chapters crossing over to hear the other perspective.
I loved the group chat messages - they were such a fun addition and I enjoyed the references to big events that were relevant to each year (hello the gold & white or black & blue dress!!)

I felt there was a good amount of depth to the characters, you saw them mature, develop and go through their individual challenges each year from school to adulthood. They’re all very different people and they bring something unique to the friendship group.

I think Hannah was my least favourite - but I had my frustrations with each of the girls individually as we went through the story for their behaviour in different situations (trying to not spoil anything here!)

The ending was beautiful, a lovely way to wrap up all of the girls stories.

Overall, a really brilliant read from Rebecca, I thoroughly enjoyed it! I flew through it, it was very addictive and such an easy read.

A story following three friends as they go through life challenges and changes.

The chapters are split between the three main characters which helps the reader see things from different points of views. The characters are also developed well and were mostly believable.

The story is written well and is engaging. I liked the ending mostly, I would have preferred a slightly happier ending for Alicia but it was left a little open and was a more believable ending.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this book.

First off, I loved the "then and now" showing how these girls have grown up and endured over the years. These characters are easily relatable and so is the overall story!

Amazing book loved the characters and plot. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. I loved the book so much thank you for the arc.

What a complicated story to rate, this one has a little for everything and at times is a beautiful read, and in all honesty at times a story that made me wonder if I wanted to keep reading. There are some really wonderful friendship moments, and some that made me cringe, I know friend’s journeys aren’t always sunshine and roses, I get that I have friends like that, and it hasn’t always been easy. Alicia and Marnie had their moments, but it was mainly Hannah that I struggled with, and then towards the end there was something that shone through from her that made me reflect on the whole story. I don’t want to give the game away and reveal anything, as I know so many people will love this story, there is something special about the friendship, the endurance and the power of friendship where you don’t speak every day, but you still know what the other will say, that’s the type of friendship these three have and that’s what makes this story such a good one.

This was such a cute read. I loved the author's writing style and the great mix of characters. The story was easy to follow and had good pacing. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💙 Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Celebrating my friends on Galentine's is a tradition I enjoy. Reading a book about the subject from a gifted writer was an equally good time. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a fun girls read about Galentine's Day. I loved the story and the characters. Would highly recommend!

Really enjoyed this story and the navigation of a female friendship over the years and how they retained that friendship through tough times.

I think this book really hopes that Hannah, Marie and Alicia will retain the level of friendship that they had since high school, but their different paths of lives as well as their different drives and hopes for outcomes in life, drive them fully apart. There is no doubt that Hannah jetted off to exotic locations to promote her swim suit and waz always unavailable for her friends. Alice perpetuates her level of anxiety especially with Hugo to the detriment of her own life and Marnie is determined to forge her own path with or without her friends support Yes, I enjoyed the book and how they all three felt the need to get together each year, but it was only because of history that I really feel that that this was to occur due to how different they had become.

I loved this!!! The book traces 13 years in the lives of three friends. Alicia, Marnie, and Hannah, who begin an annual tradition of having a Galentine’s Day sleepover (the night before Valentine’s Day). 
It starts on 13 February 2013, when they’re 18, single, full of potential, about to head off to different places (university, jobs, maybe different countries). Then it skips forward to 13 February 2026, where things have changed: only two of them show up this year. Their friendship has gone through ups and downs — everything from partying and life transitions to marriage, children, divorces, breakdowns.

I cannot wait for my hard copy. This is a wonderful and heartbreaking ode to friendship, and how it does or does not survive the test of time.

Galentine’s Day by Rebecca Anderson is a charming and heartwarming story that celebrates friendship, love, and the joy of finding your people. I really enjoyed the cozy, uplifting vibe of this book—it perfectly captures the spirit of Galentine’s Day with humor, heart, and plenty of feel-good moments.
The characters were fun and relatable, and I loved how the story highlighted the importance of female friendships alongside romance. At times the pacing felt a little slow, but overall, the sweet connections and witty dialogue made it a delightful read.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Avon Books UK for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a fantastic read, admittedly I went in not knowing too much about the story, just hearing good things online but I found myself getting emotional with the girls, understanding exactly what it’s like to have a friendship so close and be met with all the trivials of life. As someone who has a friendship group made of very different personalities I related to the constant bickering and disagreement but also the love that overpowered it all. This book was well written, easy to read and enjoyable. It gave me a very nostalgic vibe, despite only being 25, it made the last 7/8 years nice to reflect on. This book reminds me of stories told by Holly Bourne, so any fans of her would definitely enjoy this read!

This is a truly touching book.
Not only does it highlight and show the variations of peoples lives, it delves deeper into the logistical and emotional complications of friendships growing over time.
The writing and pacing of this book is brilliant; also, I really adore these characters, not only for their humour, but for their flaws too. Touching on some of the most testing things like mental health, loss, growing up and apart, deterioration of relationships - this is a book that will sit with me for years to come. Lessons can be learnt, mistakes can be forgiven and patience can be provided is something I will take with me from this novel.

Easiest 5 stars ever!

The book touches on many important subjects about female friendships and the way it’s done is absolutely amazing. Page after page, chapter after chapter, I couldn’t put it down and kept wanting more. I love the style of writing throughout the book and you can see how it changes with the character’s age.

Also absolutely loved the ending with how perfectly imperfect it has been. A book that should be read by many to understand the different perceptions and experiences of life and how they can shape friendships and our own understanding and feelings of paths our lives can take. Beautifully written book that I will be recommending every chance I get.

Anderson writes a story full of love, but just not in the romantic sense. It is an ode to female friendships spread over decades. It is a novel of ritual and tradition and all the ways life tries to get in the way.

The multiple POV structure Anderson uses to introduce us to Hannah, Alicia and Marnie's experiences was a genius stroke. This book flows through each of them in their own perspectives but it also flows through their history too. The author lets us experience what Galentine's Day is like for these women now, what it has meant to them over the years and how they, and it, have changed.

The way this book is written gives readers glimpses of the character's lives whilst not being particularly plot driven. I was nervous about this at first, but the pictures that are painted by Anderson are vivid and deeply relatable as someone struggling with adult friendships as life changes. I really liked how the author built each character and POV and felt that they were all well rounded and well developed. I think was especially important in a book that seemed, to me, to be very character driven. This, paired with the more free movement through time in the novel, made it an enriching and rewarding read as you see pieces of the lives of these women, learn more about them as individuals and together as best friends.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it! It was a story that connected with me on a deeper level and I am very grateful for Anderson's writing for putting what I felt were ineffable experiences into words and such a beautiful story.

I would also like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

"Perhaps it's more about accepting that our friendship looks different now to when we were eighteen ... choosing to reconnect with each other again and again, even after bust-ups, drifting away and busy lives."

When I met my best girlfriend, it was actually almost thirteen years ago just like our story. We used to spend our weekends drinking cheap beer, discussing our latest dumb decisions at sleepovers and being silly teenagers. Flash forward, our precious and pre-scheduled weekends include cooking each other dinner, just the one glass of prosecco, weddings, playing with her kid - we are entirely different people and I still love her just as much, if not more, than I did back then.

This book is an ode to lifelong female friendships, the love of sisterhood and the way we become friends over and over again as we change throughout our life. Exploring the growth and changes of a group of friends as they grow up, the real impact friends can have our lives and the deep sadness when we think we've lost them.

We first join Hannah and Alicia on their first sleepover without Marnie - and right away I was locked in. I felt awkward, uncomfortable, desperate to know why these two people who were once everything to each other are struggling to talk. We jump back to the ghosts of Galentines Days past, seeing our trio go through life, watching them grow up and figure out who they are. They take it in turns to switch perspective, sometimes I can find a third person style with multiple voices a little clunky but it worked here, keeping a quick, energetic pace throughout.

It might not always feel like there's a plot per se, but instead it's a brilliant collection of snapshots with it's own charm. We watch over many phases of their lives, seeing them take different paths and the changes that happen each Galentines Day. It was just so unapologetically relatable at every single turn.

The characters were just on point. The girls jumped off the pages for me; so distinct, full of personality, with their own lives to discover. Through them, we explored what it's like to live with the shadow of tradition or expectation, of wanting to grow up, of your plans being derailed, of feeling behind and ahead and everything in between. I absolutely loved them. Reading their stories felt like getting an update from old friends.

Warm, funny and relatable with characters that could be your own friends - this is a beautiful coming-of-age story and a love letter to female friendship. I'll leave you with the one quote that honestly made me rather emotional and resonated so deeply with me: "I fucking love cheesy garlic bread."

A strange way of writing each chapter but that shows my age. But I loved the story line. Three friends start celebrating 13 th Feb as sixth formers and you follow them through life and meeting every 13 th Feb. Lots of twists and emotions . It is a clever read. Good ending . Read it

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

A story dedicated to the love of female friendship. It kept me engaged throughout and some bits I didn’t see coming! Made me appreciate and love my female friends just so much more <3

Galentine’s Day by Rebecca Anderson is a warm and heartfelt story about friendship, love, and growing up together. Following Alicia, Marnie, and Hannah over thirteen years, the novel perfectly captures the humor, challenges, and joys of long-lasting female friendships. Anderson’s writing is witty, relatable, and emotionally engaging, making the characters feel real and their bond deeply meaningful. A charming, uplifting read that celebrates the power of friendship.

Galentines Day is the story of Hannah, Marnie and Alicia - and how their lives grow, change and flourish over ten years. The three swear to always meet every February 13th, and they do. This is a story of friendship, love and growth.

This book completely consumed me. From the first chapter, I was hooked — the writing is immersive, the pacing sharp, and the emotional pull impossible to shake. The characters felt alive in a way that made every choice matter, every twist hit harder, and every quiet moment linger long after I closed the book.

Thank you to NetGally and Avon for this ARC!

Galentine's Day was truly an amazing read. It follows three women across 13 years of their lives: Marnie, Alicia, and Hannah, who commit to having a sleepover every year on 13th February to celebrate Galentine's Day.

There is joy, heartbreak, celebration, and hardship throughout their lives, and this book shows how they weather the storms whilst trying to hold onto the friendships made in school.

This book is so relatable as it touches on events that impacted our lives, like COVID, and how difficult it can be to meet up with friends when you're so invested in your own life.

As someone who highly values their female friendships, I found this book to be very emotional but also a reminder to make time for those who mean a lot to you.

I really enjoyed this book, I loved how you went through the years of friendship with these characters and you learnt more information about each of them.

The story is easy to follow along with but with a few twists you don’t expect. It’s just a lovely light hearted story that you need to read on a cozy night.

This book was my first by this author and would definitely read more.

Thank you to Net Galley for this amazing ARC. I loved this book because of how real the characters felt and how much it reflected my own experiences growing up and into an adult along side my own friends. Now, did I necessarily like every character every chapter? No, but did I relate to each of them along the way. It definitely strikes a cord as I’m reaching the age where my friends have paired off and started families while I’ve been seemingly stuck and coasting along. Sure, there were bits of this book that I’m still not sold on but this story of Hannah, Marnie and Alicia, it’s raw and real and very much relevant in my own life.

Galentine’s Day by Rebecca Anderson is a warm and emotional book that celebrates the beauty and complexity of female friendship. Spanning thirteen years, it follows Alicia, Marnie and Hannah from carefree college days to the realities of adult life, with all its heartbreak, joy and change. Their annual Galentine’s sleepover becomes both a tradition and a lifeline, a space where love, loyalty and laughter endure even as life tests them in unexpected ways.

Told through multiple perspectives, the story captures the ebb and flow of friendship with honesty and affection. The author has done an amazing job bringing each character vividly to life, making it easy to connect with their stories as they navigate love, loss and growing up together.

This is a heartfelt, relatable and uplifting read that reminds you of the power of lifelong friendship and the importance of showing up for each other through every season of life.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I really enjoyed this one. There were a few times I wasn't sure if I actually liked all the characters but one of the really nice things about having chapters from the perspective of every main character is that you got to see what was going on in their heads and that their behaviour was just an extension of the things they were dealing with.

This felt like a very real depiction of friendships, especially ones that morph from childhood into adult life, and I liked that they all wanted to work on the friendship and keep it alive, even with the bumps life throws your way. It was really enjoyable watching the dynamics change, and seeing snapshots of each person at different stages of life each year.

This was a great and easy read, and I really related to some of the characters and the things they were dealing with. Very enjoyable, and it's made me want to think twice about some of my priorities in life too.

This was such an easy, fun read. Gives me Bridget jones vibes.
Following three friends from there teenage years until adulthood and all there adventures and drama in between, Just a lot of fun and girliness, with a lot of nostalgia for those in there 30/40s.

This is a fab read about girls and their friendships. Following them through the years of up and downs and being there for one another.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

A solid 4 for me.

I am now 30 and could reflect so much of my own life with this, not being close to my best friends I was when I was 18 but still there for all their milestones and rooting for them in life.

I loved the characters and how we got to grow with them and how they felt. Feeling left behind, not living to expectations set out for them and I honestly just felt like I was reading someone’s journal!

It was a fun book and I couldn’t recommend it more

One of my favourite reads of 2025! I love a book which makes me feel like i'm not failing at life. This book made me take a step back and look at my life. everyone is doing life at their own timescales and all differently. I have friends who are married and having babies and im nowhere near that but i've had the same group of girls since year 7 who keep me going. such a great book, i'm so glad i read it!

Thank you to Avon books UK for providing this book for review purposes via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Before this book I’d never heard of Galetines day, so when I read the blurb I was intrigued. So we follow Marnie, Alicia and Hannah over 13 years as they celebrate Galetine’s day, one thing that struck me as I was reading was that Marnie was the glue holding them all together. As Hannah and Alicia were a bit awkward when they were together, I couldn’t think of two people anymore different. I really did enjoy this book, following the three women as they navigate life through break ups, marriage, pregnancies etc.

At certain points in this book I really did not like Hannah but I warmed up to her at the end, the one I most felt for though was Alicia as she had everywhere mapped out and my heart broke for her as it all fell apart. I liked Marnie, can’t say I agree with all her choices but she was real and messy. This book was a tribute to female friendships and how they change over the years, I enjoyed the writing and the text message exchanges were a nice touch. Overall a really good book and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.

I'll be honest, to begin with I wasn't sure about this book but the further through I got it the more I connected with the characters and enjoyed it. this is a tale of 3 best friends and their lives when they get together every Galentines Day. It's emotional, funny and true to life - an enjoyable read.

Absolutely loved this book. Having an after and before situation with characters bring a lot to what it happens in real life, celebrating friendship, love and life, we are going through different times and situations that make us connect with our ladies.

Loved the story of 3 girls Hannah, Marnie, Alicia who at eighteen have a get together called Galentine's day and how they progressed through life.

They all have different traits Hannah is head strong and does not hold back on her opinions. Marnie finds herself pregnant, Alicia is a timid girl who is waiting to find the one.

This touches on how life can change when personal circumstances change and this explores the ups and downs of growing upwith heart warming moments and flows effortlessly.

Look forward to reading more books from this author.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#netgalley #GalentinesDay

3.5⭐️

This fun coming of age story, spanning life and friendship of three women over 13 years, highlights the importance of showing up for each other and choosing to keep reconnecting through the highs and lows of where life takes you.

A fast paced, interaction driven story, told through snippets of time, where our three best friends in this story interact with each others as they grow up spanning their teens to their thirties, focusing around Galentine’s day each year. Three very different lives are three very different women, was a fun read and I particularly enjoyed the dipping in and out of their lives in this story telling format! However I do feel like that format of story telling did maybe prevent me from connecting as well with these characters as maybe I would have liked too but that being said, their friendship and how it evolved, waivers and rebuilds feels like the main character of this story.

At moments the girls choices, almost made them unlikable and frustrating, but that sort of felt like the point. Growing up is hard, and everyone makes silly choices and bad decisions in order to grow - and this is the tale of how friendships, especially female ones, help us along the way!

Thanks to Rebecca Anderson, NetGalley and Avon Books UK for access to this arc!

💗🧁

Super fun book. A great coming of age story that tells three different paths and celebrates the relationships you rely on to get you there through the good and the bad.

In 2013, Alicia, Marnie and Hannah set a tradition to spend every February 13th together. Through the years, they grow up and face challenges with Galentine’s Day as the glue to their unshakeable bond of female friendship.

This book reminded me of a hybrid between Dolly Alderton’s ode to female relationships and the structure of David Nicholl’s One Day - two books I love. I really enjoyed Galentine’s as the anchor for the structure and catalyst for the plot. I enjoyed the group chats and how they tracked developments in the friendships along with world events like Brexit, Covid and the social media furore of the colour changing dress. I’m not going to lie, I found all the characters low-key annoying and found it hard to believe that some frenemy vibes and fractures in their friendship would lead to them attending future Galentine’s events, but I suspended my disbelief.

Galentine’s Day is a humorous and heart warming tale about the power of female friendship.

I’ve been looking forward to reading this as it sounded good and also relatable. This book had a great representation of female friendships. The highs and lows that we can go through and how friendships change over the years. It was an emotional rollercoaster of what they all go through. I saw it was quoted as a love letter to female friendship, and that is a spot on description. I found myself relating to the three main characters in different moments through the book. I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

A coming of age story which shows the changes in life over time and how relationships change. Somewhat likeable characters with some questionable moments that felt well placed

Hannah, Marnie and Alicia have been friends since their teens, when they first had a Galentines Day sleepover as a screw you to a boy that had turned down Hannah when she asked him out for Valentines Day. On the face of it they're all very different - Alicia has a 5 year plan that involves a sensible career, marriage and children, Marnie is going to change the world (maybe even solve climate change) and Hannah just doesn't want to fall into a corporate job, and do something creative instead - but fast forward to today and they've celebrated every Galentine's together through all of life's challenges.

The book opens with 13th February 2026 and it appears that Alicia and Hannah are still meeting up but barely speaking to each other, whereas Marnie is nowhere to be seen. Before long we've flashed back to the first Galentine's sleep over and from there, the story follows them through life and every 13th Feb since. Its an ode to female friendship, to how we can all be walking different paths and yet remain together regardless, supporting each other through life. I loved the 3 characters and how they were so different to each other but yet they stayed together through thick and thin, always lifting each other up no matter what life threw at them. If you've ever had a group of friends, or even that one amazing friend who stay with you from childhood to adulthood, you'll relate to Marnie, Alicia and Hannah. Its a coming of age story with a difference and I'm totally here for it.

Loved following the story of three girls — Hannah, Marnie, and Alicia — who start their own little tradition at eighteen called Galentine’s Day and then grow through life together. Each of them brings something different: Hannah is headstrong and unapologetically outspoken, Marnie faces an unexpected pregnancy, and Alicia is the gentle, timid one still hoping to find her person.

The book really shows how life can shift when circumstances change, and it beautifully explores the ups and downs of growing up. It’s heart-warming, emotional in all the right ways, and the story flows effortlessly. A lovely read.

Just what I needed when I was reading it- the perfect pick me up and the true meaning of friendship.

Will be reading again

If I could give this 6 stars I would. I have to be honest and say I was a little apprehensive to read this book. Whilst the premise captured my interest I was worried the idea of friends meeting on galentines day every year would get repetitive or boring. I am thrilled to be proven wrong.

This is the most beautiful love story of friendship from start to end. Following three friends, Hannah, Marnie and Alicia we journey through their lives with them for 15 years. Through love, heartbreak, new beginnings, loss, trials and tribulations at the heart of this book is something we all long for. Strong friendships that turn to family. This book was like a warm hug all the way through. And the ending....perfect in every way.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book as an ARC. I feel privileged to be part of its journey and I look forward to your next book that I get my hands on. This is a must read and I will be recommending it for a long time.

“The greatest love will be your friends” and that is SO TRUE. This is a love letter to female friendship in all its honest, messy and fierce glory. It gave me dolly alderton vibes and it made me want to buy copies for my girls.

Galentine's Day was a unique book. Covering three friends over 15 years of their friendship, it was a definite slow burn of a book with a satisfying ending,

The story was relatable, seeing the three all with very different personalities grow up, grow apart and then reconnect in ways you don't expect. I liked different characters at different parts of their lives.

Chapters had different POV and other parts include text messages and social posts, which kind of broke the story up a bit for me, but also showed different elements of what was going on in their life. There was a lot of references to key events over the years (world events and pop culture references) that might bring some nostalgia.

This book was a beautiful celebration of female friendship. I loved the journeys that these women went on and how the story flowed together.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for this eARC!

This book caught my attention because it sounded intriguing and looked so cute. I love stories that highlight female friendships, and this one looked like such a lovely read for Galentine’s Day.
Overall, I enjoyed it, though I have some mixed feelings. It had a bit of a slow start, but once I got into it, I was along for the ride and wanted to know more.
It was interesting to see how their lives transformed year after year as they figured out their paths, careers, and life decisions, as well as their place in each other’s lives. However, it did leave me wondering why they didn’t always share important life events with one another.
Watching their journey from teenage girls to mature women was meaningful. Seeing their growth, accepting that friendship can look different at different stages of life, and consciously choosing one another was truly beautiful.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC!

Really enjoyed this! I found the friendship between the three girls very realistic and it was interesting to see how each character developed over the course of the book. I liked how the group chat was used to show time passing between chapters as well.

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy!

Galentine’s Day by Rebecca Anderson was a fun, feel-good read that celebrated friendship, self-love, and connection. The characters were relatable and easy to root for, and the story had plenty of heart and humour throughout. It was an uplifting, cosy read that flowed well and left me smiling. While it was fairly predictable, it was still a really enjoyable book that I’d happily recommend.

I enjoyed this story that followed three women’s friendship over the years. Each of the three main characters was relatable, flawed and through their different experiences, the author covered a wide range of issues. I liked the way their friendship ebbed and flowed, it was challenged and not an idealised, unrealistic portrayal. Well written and an ultimately uplifting read.

I really really enjoyed this book, especially how it was formatted. We get to see a friendship evolve throughout the years, through the lens of Galentine’s Day. I love books like this (One Day is one of my favorite books of all time), and it’s usually revolving around a romantic relationship, so it was a really nice change to have it be about a trio friendship. I also like how it starts in 2026 and then goes all the way back, year by year, so we really feel like we’re in the story with them.

Marnie, Alicia, and Hannah have been friends since their school days. Having a sleepover on Galentine’s Day (the day before Valentine’s Day for those who are unaware) becomes a yearly tradition, and some are easier to keep than others as they grow up, especially as life gets in the way. All three are very different in personality. Hannah is probably the hardest to take especially in the first half- she really has some moments that are super frustrating to read, but you can easily see why they’re all friends.

“Galentine’s Day is a love letter to female friendship” is in the description and honestly, this is the perfect way to describe it, I couldn’t do it better. These three could easily be your friends in real life, which is what made it such a relatable read. I’m sure in many cases we HAVE actually had a friend like one (or all!) of them.

A feel good great read, hard hitting with some of the facts and touches on relatable themes.
There was something I related to from each of the three main characters. Touches on difficulties within friendships as you grow - really well written

Thirteen years. Three women. One annual sleepover. I loved this book showcasing how female friendship changes over the course of a lifetime.

When Alicia, Marnie and Hannah have their first Galentine’s Day sleepover they're 18, single and excited for what life has in store for them. But each year, as they meet up, life changes, and so does their friendship.

Their friendships are tested by life, by partying, breakdowns, and even by pregnancies and I loved seeing them age, experience the world, and how all this affected their relationships with each other.

I enjoyed this book and would read more by the author.

We need more books that focus on platonic love and not make romance the main feature <3

Galentine’s Day is dramatic, painfully relatable, and unbelievably messy.

We follow a 13 year friendship between Hannah, Marnie, and Alicia through their annual Galentine’s Day celebration despite all life throws their way. This is very slice of life, with alternating point of views so we can follow each character come of age.

Hannah is the drama queen of the group, the creative spirit that struggles to find her footing as an adult. Alicia is more serious with her entire life planned out to the minute, she is the antithesis of Hannah. And finally, Marnie is somewhere between the two. She went from total free spirit akin to Hannah to more stereotypical mature adult like Alicia.

This was MESSY! When I truly didn’t think it could get messier, it somehow always did. It has similar vibes to the drama of Tell Me Lies, without the law evading secrets ofc 🤪 Despite the mess, these girls choose each other every time. There were times I struggled with the mess, namely with Hannah, but I am so glad I kept on. The character development was so well done and had me shifting my perspective on these characters. Each character is distinct and unlikeable at some point in the book, which immediately made me much more invested. It was comedic, heartwarming, and at times, utterly heartbreaking. This is such a beautiful ode to friendship and girlhood that doesn’t spare the reader from all the turmoil that comes with growing pains. Such a great, reflective read for the new year!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an arc in exchange for my honest review!

This book follows the stories of three friends from when they were 18 up to the present day, thirteen years later. Alicia, Marnie and Hannah meet up every year on the 13th of February as an antidote to Valentines day. Their relationships between each other don't always go smoothly, nor do their relationships with men.
I did struggle with this book, in fact I put it to one side a couple of times, but did persevere and finished it. Normally there is a male main character that I can relate to, however this wasn't the case in this book which made it more difficult for me to get into. That shouldn't be taken as being too negative, more that I'm not the target audience for this book being a gentleman of a certain age who does enjoy "women's fiction". The three girls are certainly disparate characters, but do seem to get on most of the time, with the occasional wobble. The book does jump between the three girls and forwards in time, but this is clearly signposted and didn't affect my enjoyment of the book . In summary not the type of book that I would normally choose, but many will certainly enjoy it.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

Thank you for Avon Books and Rebecca Anderson for my advanced reader copy of Galentines Day!

This books follows 3 friends, beginning as teenagers into their 30’s whose lives follow very different paths but they meet up once a year on Galentines day to catch up.

Sometimes books that follow friendships, especially in women starting so young, can be cheesy and predictable but this book made me cry and laugh out loud in places. It follows the girls through real issues that we all deal with or have friends that have dealt with such as career change, mental health, marriage, pregnancy, miscarriage and friendship. Also, how relatable that they only manage to meet up with friends once a year!

Usually books that have text threads are not really for me but I actually enjoyed them, however I wasn’t a huge fan of the random pop culture bits thrown in. I understand it was to keep us on the timeline of the year but I didn’t really enjoy them.

I loved all 3 of the main characters in different ways. They felt relatable and full of personality.

Overall the book was an easy 4 star. I loved it from beginning to end and will definitely recommend to friends!

3.75✨ [rounded up to 4]
Would I recommend? - Yes ✅

⭑ Publication date: 6th January (Audio) / 15th January (Paperback)
⭑ Genre: Women’s Contemporary Fiction

~

Galentine’s Day is a realistic portrayal of a love story between friends - a girlhood/sisterhood. It was brilliantly written, entertaining, emotional & a great book to start the New Year with.

Rebecca Anderson focused on both the ups & downs of life & I actually found it very refreshing to read a book that kept things real & didn’t shy away from the tough moments.

The group chat portions were both comedic & at times a little sad but overall a great way of highlighting that in this day & age, maintaining friendships can actually be quite difficult! [For me, the rigmarole of trying to arrange plans that suit everyone requires an entire sharing bar of chocolate AND/OR (mostly and) a huge cup of tea (/a stiff drink)…]

But the overall message of this book is that even when time passes & life gets in the way, there are just some people you know will always be there.

If you enjoy heartwarming stories that aren’t all rosy but leave you feeling content & uplifted - this one’s for you💘

~

❣️Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK & Rebecca Anderson for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my honest opinion & I’m sharing it voluntarily.

3.75 maybe 4

ARC PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW


Such a beautiful story about the love only your best friends give you, those sisters of the heart that have been with you and grown up with you, no matter the distance or the circumstances. It's not always perfect, because no one is and our differences are what makes us special, so it's heartwarming to read something we can all relate or have empathy with.


It's like taylor swift once said: “l'll never change but I'll never stay the same either” and our best friends, our soul sisters (and brothers) will come with us on the journey

💝👙🎀 Galentine’s Day — Rebecca Anderson — 🎀👙💝

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📅 Publication date: 15th January

Blurb:
Thirteen years. Three women. One annual sleepover.

13 February 2013. Alicia, Marnie and Hannah are eighteen, single, and full of dreams. They promise that no matter where life takes them, they’ll meet every year for a Galentine’s Day sleepover.

Fast forward to 13 February 2026 — only two friends remain. Life has tested their bond with parties, breakdowns, pregnancies and everything in between. Have their best Galentine’s Days already passed them by?

💭 My thoughts:
Firstly, a huge thank you to @netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I went into this one completely blind and ended up really enjoying it. The multiple POVs, group chat messages and diary-style entries worked so well, and I loved following each woman’s journey over the thirteen year span.

There were so many relatable moments especially the chaos of trying to organise time together in a friendship group chat (we’ve all been there 😅). I felt annoyed with the characters at times, rooted for them at others, and genuinely felt the love and emotion woven through their stories. It’s a very full-circle read.

If you’re looking for an easy, feel good book with heartfelt friendships, a few bumps along the way, and some lovely surprises, this one’s for you 💗

#GalentinesDayReads
#FriendshipFiction
#BookstagramUK
#ARCReview
#FeelGoodReads

I loved this story of female friendships which span over 15 years! As teenagers, they made a pact that they would always spend Galentines Day/ 13th Frebruary together, no matter what.

We follow Hannah, Alicia and Marnie as they navigate through life from late teens to their 30's. Three woman with three different personalities and three different life plans. I loved how they where all different but yet still got on. Hannah was a live in the moment type, Alicia had a 5 year plan and Marnie made some difficult choices but was the one who held the group together as at times Hannah and Alicia didn't get on. All very relatable characters you can't help but like, even Hannah who grated on me a times.

I really enjoyed getting to know each of the women through their POV chapters. I also loved the group chat pages as it felt like it was another little insight into their friendship.

This was a beautiful coming of age story with nostalgia and a love letter to female friendship.

Would highly recommend.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Galentine’s Day is a fun read exploring female friendship over a period of 13 years from their teens to their thirties. They meet every Galentine’s Day no matter what is going on in their lives be it work, romance or family.

I liked the text threads between the characters ‘Hot Mess Express’ reminded me of my own group chat with my girls. However I did find the current events being thrown in each year to be a bit much.

Having the events told from each characters POV was a nice perspective to see how each of the women may have approached or viewed the event. Most of all they were there for each other, even when they may have been going through a rough patch. A fun and honest portrayal of female friendship and managing it through life’s ups and downs.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Galentine’s Day by Rebecca Anderson is a heartfelt celebration of female friendship and the many seasons of womanhood. At its core, the story shines through the bond between the three main characters- capturing how friendships evolve, fracture, and ultimately deepen through shared history, honest conversations, and unwavering support. This book is a reminder that women’s friendships are often the truest love stories of all, making Galentine’s Day both relatable and deeply affirming.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for allowing me to read this ARC.

A fabulous tale of female friendship, told over 15 years, centering around a promise made by 3 teenage girls to spend every 13th Feb/Galentine's Day together, no matter what.

Hannah, Marnie and Alicia all have very different dreams about how they want their lives to be, but you know what they say about best laid plans...

As the story plays out, we hear each woman's perspective, with chapters taken in turn from the POV of each character. The struggles they face, and not only how they deal with it, but how they are there for each other - even when they may not like each other all the time! All such strong, inspirational women, but in such different ways.

Of course this book was fun and funny, but beyond that, it had heart.
You may not like them all all of the time, but it felt like an honest portrayal of friendship.
Personally, I enjoyed how the story was broken up with their group chats/messaging. It felt like another insight into their relationship, whilst also allowing the story to flow through the years at a steady yet easy to follow pace.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this.

a love story for friends. that sounds like just the thing i need to start the new year. and this one felt really heart felt and true. i love how it didn't hide the moving along of life and how that can change people and friendships. and sometimes friendships dont carry through. sometimes life means we fall away or move into different people. thats not blame or bad its just life. but it doesn't mean the friend you have at any point are any less meant to be in your life for a time. i love though how this group of friends introduces us to themselves at such a young and tender age. one where girls certainly need each other in the most vulnerable of young ways. and then we get to follow them on this day moving forward. their stories are told from there.
Marnie, ALicia and Hannah had distinct and unique voice and i could picture them as real individuals. i could also feel part of their stories really could relate to us all. we see them all through the real important touch stones of their lives. and sometimes i felt these lot couldn't be any less suited but also somehow they were. there are always those moments in time or life where friendship might feel like that. in this book too i felt connected a little to one over the other but then you get deeper understanding and see them working through what they have and you can totally swing back round to them too. and as in life we as real humans and our own friends might or might not connect with all three of these too. or certainly not always. Alicia for me held my heart in her hands for most of the book.
there are definite moments in this book that gripped my chest a little tighter. and that is the success of a book for me. when you feel things for and alongside your characters.
this was a gorgeous book for the soul. it blended so much and somehow was a love story in its own right. for friends, for woman this book ended up meaning so much for me. i wasn't expecting to feel this attached to our three and their journey. but like a good love story i so fell and fell hard for this duo.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are mine.

This was an ode to girlfriends and the sisterhood that comes with having female friendships. It was a great read about the gifts and challenges that come from being a friend and having a friend. It is well written and will definitely put you through the motions.

4 ⭐
This took me a little while to get into as it sometimes struggled to connect to the characters. I didn't feel like we got to see their deeper feelings and emotions.
I liked the group chat and that showing time passing, using current events to do this.
It sometimes felt like they went from one drama to another, without it being mentioned again?

All in all, a quick, fun read that showed how friendships changed as we get older.

Thank you for the chance to read this book 💛

Thanks to the Publishers and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This book was about the friendships between female girls and how their friendships change as they move away from each other and start new chapters like university and marriage.

Three friends Alice, Marnie and Hannah go through tough times, have fun, fall out, but are always there for each other through the others difficult times.

It’s funny, has serious moments and humour.

I recommend this book.

A really good story about the power of friendship.

Will recommend to others.

Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

Galentine’s Day is a hilarious and heartfelt tribute to unbreakable female friendships, capturing thirteen years of annual sleepovers that evolve from carefree teen escapades to the messy realities of adulthood.
I really enjoyed this book and its razor-sharp wit and authentic portrayal of three women…. Alicia, Marnie, and Hannah whose bonds weather parties, breakdowns, pregnancies, and diverging paths with laugh-out-loud banter and tender vulnerability.
The time jumping structure builds nostalgia while delivering Dolly Alderton-style insights on real relationships over perfection, leaving me grinning, teary eyed, and texting my own friends mid read.
Its unapologetic celebration of messiness and chosen family resonated deeply, blending humor with profound growth in a breezy, addictive read that earns five stars for pure escapist joy

This book was so nostalgic with the time jump and seeing the progression of their friendship was everything! I do feel like the group chats did get to be a bit much but I can see this one being popular!