A review by katharina90
Olive by Emma Gannon

emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.5

Enjoyed reading a novel about a female character who's child-free by choice. Also liked that we see a wide spectrum of experiences. Those who:
-don't want kids
-want kids but are struggling with infertility
-have kids and are struggling postpartum or have regrets
-have kids and are thriving
-are estranged from their adult children
-etc.

Didn't love the characters. Each of the four friends was self-involved and either judgmental or inconsiderate of others in the friend group.

A missed opportunity to write about women who meet their friends where they are, with curiosity and an open mind, and a willingness to be supportive even when they don't immediately understand the other person's choices or struggles.

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