This was an easy to read, pleasant bit of escapism. It wasn't a book with a huge plot or a lot happening but it was a book of friendships and each character was well fleshed out with their own reasons for being at the pottery class and their own backgrounds. I enjoyed the writing as it was quite witty and amusing at times. I think this one might be forgettable for me but it was a nice palette cleanser.

**Thrown** by **Sara Cox** is a delightful and heartwarming debut novel that blends humor, vulnerability, and the complexities of personal growth into an engaging narrative. Cox, a well-known British radio presenter, offers readers a refreshing look at the world of competitive sports through the lens of a relatable and quirky protagonist.

### Plot Overview:
The novel centers on **Jo**, a middle-aged woman who is juggling the demands of her career, personal life, and a growing dissatisfaction with her own choices. After being unexpectedly let go from her job, Jo finds herself in a bit of a crisis, unsure about the direction of her life. To cope with her sense of loss, she decides to take up a new challenge—joining a local *women’s netball team*.

Despite having no previous experience with netball, Jo quickly becomes involved in the ups and downs of the sport, with all the typical drama, camaraderie, and competition that come with being part of a team. As she attempts to improve her skills and get to grips with her new role on the team, Jo is forced to confront her past, including her relationships with her family, friends, and her own self-worth.

Through her time on the team, Jo learns valuable lessons about confidence, resilience, and finding strength in unexpected places. What initially begins as a way to fill the void left by her job loss transforms into a journey of self-discovery, leading her to reconsider her relationships, her career, and the path she wants her life to take.

### Character Development:
**Jo**, the protagonist, is one of the most endearing aspects of the novel. She is instantly relatable, especially for readers who have ever felt the sting of career setbacks or personal doubts. Cox does an excellent job of making Jo a fully realized character, giving her quirks, flaws, and a rich emotional landscape. She is funny, self-deprecating, and filled with a quiet longing for something more meaningful in her life.

Jo’s evolution throughout the novel is both heartwarming and authentic. As she throws herself into the sport of netball, she not only learns new physical skills but also grows emotionally, gaining confidence and self-acceptance. Her interactions with the women on her netball team—each with their own personal stories—help her understand that everyone, no matter how put together they may seem on the surface, carries their own struggles.

The supporting characters in the book, particularly the women on the netball team, are a diverse and colorful cast, each with their own distinct personalities and arcs. These characters provide both comic relief and emotional depth, adding to the sense of community and camaraderie that Jo begins to experience. From the team’s enthusiastic coach to the quieter, more introspective members, Cox ensures that each character feels fleshed out and integral to Jo’s journey.

### Writing Style:
Sara Cox’s writing is light, witty, and approachable, with a perfect balance of humor and heart. The narrative is engaging, with a conversational tone that makes the story easy to read and enjoyable. The novel’s pacing is steady, allowing for moments of reflection without slowing the momentum of the plot.

Cox's ability to capture the nuances of everyday life, as well as the joy and frustration of learning something new, makes the story feel grounded and relatable. Her sharp observations about the world of women’s sports, the pressure to meet societal expectations, and the complexities of adult friendships bring a level of authenticity to the story. The humor in the book is subtle and often comes from Jo’s inner monologue, which gives the reader insight into her vulnerability and self-doubt.

While the tone is generally light and humorous, Cox doesn't shy away from exploring deeper emotional themes, particularly the way women can support one another through challenging times. The combination of humor, insight, and warmth makes *Thrown* an emotionally satisfying read, one that blends lighthearted moments with genuine emotional resonance.

### Themes:
1. **Self-Discovery and Personal Growth**: One of the central themes in *Thrown* is the idea of rediscovering oneself in adulthood. Jo’s journey is a reflection of how we often lose sight of who we are amid the pressures of life, only to find a new sense of purpose when we least expect it. Her involvement in netball serves as a metaphor for stepping outside of one’s comfort zone and taking a chance on personal growth, no matter your age or past experiences.

2. **Friendship and Female Empowerment**: The novel celebrates female friendship and the power of women supporting one another. Jo’s netball team is a testament to the importance of community, teamwork, and solidarity. The diverse women on the team each bring something unique to the table, and their relationships with Jo help her to understand that she isn’t alone in her struggles. The book emphasizes that the right friendships can provide strength and comfort, especially during difficult times.

3. **Career and Identity**: Jo’s journey is not just about finding her passion in sport, but also about reassessing her career and how it defines her. The novel touches on the pressures of society to achieve success and the idea that professional fulfillment isn’t the only measure of a person’s worth. Jo's evolving relationship with her career is a core part of her emotional growth, and the novel explores how life can take unexpected turns, leading us to redefine success on our own terms.

4. **Overcoming Doubt and Insecurity**: Another significant theme in *Thrown* is dealing with self-doubt. Jo begins the story feeling inadequate and unsure about her future, but through her experiences on the netball team and her interactions with others, she learns to overcome her insecurities. The novel emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and the value of stepping outside of one's comfort zone to discover hidden strengths.

### Emotional Impact:
*Thrown* is an uplifting and feel-good novel that will leave readers with a sense of hope and encouragement. It is a perfect read for those looking for a heartwarming story of personal transformation, friendship, and the joy of finding something unexpected that reinvigorates life. While the humor and lightness make it a perfect escapist read, the underlying emotional depth adds weight and substance to the story.

The book’s exploration of self-worth and resilience will resonate with anyone who has faced personal challenges, whether in their career, relationships, or sense of self. It’s a reminder that life can be a series of unexpected reinventions, and that it’s never too late to pursue new passions or rebuild one’s identity.

### Final Thoughts:
*Thrown* by Sara Cox is a charming, witty, and heartwarming debut novel that explores themes of personal growth, friendship, and rediscovering oneself. With a relatable protagonist, a colorful cast of characters, and a compelling narrative, the book is a delightful journey filled with both laughter and poignant moments. Cox’s ability to combine humor with emotional depth makes *Thrown* a standout in the genre of contemporary fiction.

Fans of novels like **Dolly Alderton’s *Everything I Know About Love*** or **Beth O’Leary’s *The Flatshare*** will likely enjoy *Thrown*, as it offers a perfect blend of humor, heart, and a relatable protagonist. This is a book that will leave you feeling both entertained and inspired—ideal for anyone looking for a story about second chances, unexpected friendships, and the power of trying something new.

Sadly a DNF for me! I really want to love it but it just didn't live up to my expectations.

I found I was unable to root for the characters and the writing was just a bit bleugh

Such a wholesome and comforting read. I still think about the relationships these characters formed together today, years after reading.

I loved this book, full of so much humour. A fantastic story with wonderful characters. A must read!

Thrown by Sara Cox is a charming and heartfelt debut that I thoroughly enjoyed. It's a lovely story about community and friendship and was the perfect book to read after some grittier stories I've read recently.

Sara Cox’s warmth and wit, which we’ve come to love from her presenting work, definitely come through in her writing. She tackles heavy issues like abuse, mental health and infertility with such sensitivity and thoughtfulness. It’s clear she put a lot of care into portraying these themes, and it’s done in a way that’s gentle yet thought-provoking.

Thrown reminded me a lot of Libby Page’s books, especially The Lifeline. It has that same comforting, community-focused vibe, and the characters feel incredibly real and relatable. Their problems and triumphs are depicted with authenticity, making it easy to connect with them.

The plot might be a bit predictable in parts, but that doesn’t take away from the charm of the story.

Thrown is a lovely read that blends Sara Cox’s signature warmth with a touching story about the power of friendship and personal change. It’s a great debut, and while it might not blow your mind with surprises, it’s definitely worth the read.

With its gentle approach, this reading material discusses sensitive issues in a way that is both relaxing and thought-provoking. The story's characters are complex and relatable, which adds depth and inspiration to the overall narrative.

Despite its slightly predictable plot, the book captivated me and left me feeling fulfilled. The story was equal parts humour and heartwarming, with a unique and refreshing premise. I found myself particularly drawn to the character of Amy, who led a lively group of diverse and tightly knit friends. Each character brought their own quirks and charm to the pages, making for an unforgettable reading experience.

Highly recommended reading to fans of this genre!

A warm and at times hilarious read full of genuine characters. I was absorbed from page one with the frivolous description of an underwired bra wire breaking loose. The story is told from the POV of four women: Becky; Louise; Sheila and Jameela, who are all a little adrift in their lives, but find an outlet in the new pottery class at the local community centre. The women forge friendships, develop creativity and grow confidence allowing them to develop passions and sort relationships. A story brimming with heart. #thrown #Saracox #netgalley

A great book from Sara, I really enjoyed the plot and the characters and I found myself hooked. Thank you netgalley for the review copy!

It took me a while to pick this book up but in the end I did enjoy it. A great book about friendships with a good storyline. I liked the four main characters and thought this was a good debut novel.

I really enjoyed this novel. This is a great easy read. The women are very relatable and down to earth. Very flawed but also likeable. It’s full of humour

I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

An uplifting, gentle, enjoyable story with believable characters and situations. The plot builds as the pottery class develop their skills. There were times when I laughed out loud and others where I felt sad. It kept me engaged and listening. I look forward to another book from Sara.

Thrown written by Sara Cox, a NetGalley review. This book was a total refreshing surprise. I’m always dubious about reading books celebrities have written, that’s just a thing with me. However this wasn’t what I expected at all and I loved every page and every character. This book has a host of characters all with there own stories and there own struggle, in fact at the end I felt like some of these characters had more stories in them. The characters are what truly makes this book , but it’s also written incredibly well, making it a easy read, making it a page turner. I don’t know what I expected but it wasn’t this, it is predictable in places but it’s not page to page predictable. I tackles some tough issues, abuse, mental health, secrets and infertility. This book will make you laugh and cry and feel a whole host of emotions. I’ll be honest I’m not necessarily a fan of the author in the fact that I don’t enjoy her programme Between the Covers, as I find it somewhat pretentious, not many relatable books, but this book is definitely not pretentious, it’s about what feels like real people, in a real community, with a heart and warmth at the centre of it. The characters are loveable and quirky and as I said before I felt like some of the characters had more stories in them. I would recommend this book to everyone, it certainly was a page turner. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a relatively easy, if at times predictable, read. It's not going to be one I'll remember long term however.

DNF
Found it a very slow read and had no interest ninth characters at all, didn't capture my imagination at all. Felt bad for not finishing and I hardly ever but felt I couldn't continue with it

This is one of those books that’s good as a palate cleanser. Or one to read when you’ve got nothing else to read.

Easy but not a memorable read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC

Overall I found this quite a standard easy read, it didn't quite give me the feels or was memorable for me in terms of the plot or the characters. I was hoping for more humour and for things to not be so conveniently set out.

Totally charming contemporary novel by a super new author. So relatable to women with kids and relationships. The struggle to juggle well she got it spot on thanks

I'm a fan of Sara Cox so requested this as I was curious, but must admit I had low expectations because *another celeb author* But how wrong was I. This was so much fun and lovely and feel good. I loved the British humour of it and the growing friendships. And love the setting of the pottery club.

The reason it's getting one star off is because of the abrupt ending. There is a big bombshell from one of the characters and the book is finished. We don't get any answers or reasons for this.

But I really enjoyed this book and would recommend.