An interesting spin on romance. Sam and Lucas first met and clicked as teenager - but years later, they reconnect as adults and have to figure out whether a relationship is really what they want and whether they can get on the same page with what that means. This is more literary than genre, so don't expect to be swooning, but you'll be convinced the characters are real people. They struggle, overthink, mess up, and do it all again.

Adored this book!
Such an easy listen and devoured it in a few sittings. Such a great modern romcom with similarities to books by Sally Rooney and Coco Mellors Cleopatra and Frankenstine.
What an amazing debut, I will be following this author work!

Thank you Netgalley for early access to this work!

A high 3*

Wonderful dual narration for the different POVs.

This is a slice of life rom-com with characters you would get fed up of their constant life decisions if they were your friends... Unlikeable characters that still manage to win you round at times, LOTS of bad communication and awful decisions as a result. Will make you scoff in anger and annoyance.

A frustrating book that feels very sad-girl millennial with its focus on a relationship that is patently unsuitable for both Sam and Lucas who strike up what is supposed to be (and frankly should remain) a short-term fling during a swelteringly hot London summer before Sam is due to return to Stockholm. There is a lot of bad decision-making, an awful lot of bad communication and a resolution that was both frustrating and believable. Because couples DO stay together when they shouldn’t and they DO make unsustainable compromises. I liked that Jenny Mustard tackled some important discussions about the choice to have children and that she presented it fairly and empathetically despite the deep emotions involved. It’s well-written with characters just (dis)likeable enough to make it interesting but not much that was particularly memorable or original. Narrated well, with good pacing and inflection and both characters given distinct voices.

Okay Days is a raw and emotionally charged novel that delves deep into the messiness of human relationships, self-reflection, and the pursuit of happiness. It is a clever exploration of both the mundane and extraordinary moments of life, and I was completely absorbed from the first pages.

I found the protagonist Mia to be very relatable in her self doubt and overthinking. I think we are all guilty of this more often than not. It is one of my favorite types of stories where romance is a subplot but not always the focus. I loved the anguish of doing what you feel is right versus what you want but wish you didn’t.

This is a brilliant debut from @jennymustard who is addition to writing also excels at instagram 😍 I’m honestly surprised that this has not been seen everywhere, I think @paulineisreading reviewed it a while back, you should trust her! It’s one of my top reads this year.

A heavy, introspective read. Solid 3 stars. The narration was quite good. It was easy to follow along with the narrators.

I only clicked the option 'no' on 'would you suggest your store to buy this audiobook ' because we don't sell audiobooks, not because I didn't like this one.

Thanks for this audio ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, the narrators played the roles perfectly. I felt that they embodied the characters really well and portrayed so much emotion. The story itself was refreshing and reflective on society and individuals finding their feet within it. Additionally, the slow-burn romance was very well written and I thought it flowed seamlessly, with emotional depth, which I love. The busy London and surroundings were very well painted, and the pressure faced by those in their late twenties. I really enjoyed listening to this.

This was a slow-burning anatomy of a relationship. Without giving too much away, there's an abortion in the storyline.
For me, there was a lot of introspection in this story. It was easy enough to listen to, but nothing that hooked me into the story wholeheartedly.

I really wanted to like this one, but it was just ok to me...

Okay Days focuses on the relationship between Sam, who is Swedish, and Luc, who she first met when she was a teenager. They reconnect years later when Sam's doing a work placement in London and ends up becoming involved in an intense relationship. The novel narrates the comings and goings of their relationship as lovers and friends.

This book has been described as having a Sally Rooney vibe, but I think the comparison highlights how different the authors' writing styles actually are. Okay Days certainly seemed to want to appeal to readers of Sally Rooney, with the 20-something couple and the comings and goings, but it just fell a bit flat for me. I felt like I couldn't really connect with these characters and, apart from their relationship with one another, they felt very one-dimensional. The other characters in the novel weren't really developed either.

I loved the narrators of the audiobook version of this one. Their narration certainly made me enjoy the book more.

Thank you Sceptre/Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for this ARC in both ebook and audiobook format!

I'm giving this four stars just because I'm so jealous of the happiness of these two. Yeah. I'm being honest. Like this book.

Kaisa Hammarlund is an authentic Sam - it was a pleasure to listen to her narration. David Wayman was an okey Lucas (pun intended). Kudos to Jenny Mustard for her optimistic and loveable book with a sunny cover.

Thanks NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC.

Okay Days by Jenny Mustard is a smart and spiky modern love story that tells the tale of the rise and fall of Sam and Lucas's affection for each other. The story is set in London, where Sam, a 28-year-old Swedish woman, is spending the summer working for a top marketing agency. It is during this time that she falls hard for Lucas, a man she first met as a teenager. Lucas is working at a boutique clothing store while trying to get a foot on the corporate ladder and is struggling to hold the pieces of his life together. Sam is a gorgeous distraction, but both Sam and Lucas know their relationship can't last. Nobody can be this happy forever, surely?

The book explores themes of modern love, male body dysmorphia, and women's reproductive rights. The author looks unflinchingly at the pitfalls of modern love and asks when is okay good enough? And what are we willing to lose in the search for a life that is much better than just okay?

The writing style is engaging and the characters are well-developed, making it easy for the reader to empathize with them. The narration in the audiobook version is excellently executed, further enhancing the experience of the reader.

However, the plot of the book may remind some readers of Sally Rooney's Normal People, as it revolves around the familiar "will they won’t they" trope. While the book is a pleasant read, it may not offer anything particularly unique or groundbreaking in terms of the romance genre.

Overall, Okay Days is a well-written and enjoyable read that will appeal to fans of modern romance. The book explores important themes in a thought-provoking way that will leave readers pondering the complexities of modern love and the search for happiness.

Okay Days by Jenny Mustard is a delightful and refreshing read that captured my heart on a weekday. The story revolves around Sam, a carefree and chaotic 28-year-old Swedish woman, who finds herself in London for a work placement. There, she meets Lucas, a sensitive and calm Londoner whom she had first encountered as a teenager. Their immediate attraction is undeniable, but they both know their time together is limited. Despite the looming end date, they cherish every precious moment they have.

Jenny Mustard's debut novel impressed me with its unique and captivating writing style. The book delves into thought-provoking topics like male body dysmorphia, women's reproductive rights, and the complexities of modern love. I was drawn to how Jenny skillfully explored long-distance relationships and the challenges of living abroad. The characters felt so real, and their struggles and dilemmas were easy to relate to in our own lives.

Okay Days is a modern fiction gem that takes you on an emotional journey through the ups and downs of a fleeting romance. If you're looking for a heartwarming read that will leave you with a smile, this book should definitely be on your TBR list. Many thanks to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and Jenny Mustard for providing me with this copy!

This book gave me so many vibes of one of Sally Rooney's books. So if you love her books, I would totally recommend reading this one too.

It was interesting to listen to this book, and how different can be some other people and how they react to the same emotions that probably most of us have been at some point in our lives.

I also thought this book was captivating as it wasn't a story about two people falling in love, but the realistic side of what is actually happening after or if it could happen. Also, how a woman should be able to take her own decision if to have a baby or not.

The only thing I think which wasn't really relevant to the book and as being Romanian myself I did not it enjoy, was that Sam's dad was Romanian. Of course, I did not mind that her dad was Romanian, but the facts she added in the book about himself, like he was cooking "sarmale rolls" or zacusca. I felt like the author didn't make proper research before adding the nationality of her dad in the book.

Not last I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for offering the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.

I just reviewed Okay Days by Jenny Mustard. #OkayDays #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

I must admit to thinking that I am not the target audience for this book. A modern tale of relationships that fly high then boomerang to rock bottom has me thinking 'yes been there but a long time ago'. Now I must admit that I loved this book, it really did bring back those feelings of angst and inadequacy; you know that feeling when you are sitting next to the phone just willing it to ring.

So if you are anywhere between teens and retirement then I think you will either love this book for being in the moment or love it for reminding you of the complete idiot you were!

Okay Days is a modern romcom, set mostly in London, featuring two late twenty-something people stuck in a “will they/won’t they?” trope. Having met 10 years earlier, they reconnect at a party and embark on a short summer fling, as Sam is returning to her native Stockholm for the autumn. The storyline is a little cliché; however, the relationship between the two main characters is well written and I did find myself rooting for them throughout.

Sam, the female protagonist, is kind of uptight, hiding her vulnerability behind a stony persona and dry wit. However, she’s struggling with quite a lot internally and deals with it in increasingly self-destructive ways, until she reaches a turning point. This has a big impact on her and Luke’s relationship, and I thought was portrayed in a well-rounded way throughout her arc in the book. I really liked Sam’s character - personally, I’d have liked more of her perspective and less of Luke, as I found her much more relatable.

I found the voice acting of Luke’s character to be quite effected: it was almost like listening to someone constantly reading poetry, which was annoying. I also wasn’t keen on how the actor put a high pitched voice on when he read the parts of Sam. It felt somewhat patronising, as the actor who read for Sam didn’t affect their voice for Luke’s dialogue. Luke’s actual character was okay: a bit stereotypical of this sort of genre, but I did find the story points about his Mum, and how he dealt with that situation, interesting and kind of endearing.

One of my biggest pet peeves was that the scene where Sam confesses her big news (no spoilers, I promise!) was written from Luke’s perspective. That was something deeply personal to Sam and had the most impact on her, yet we mostly had to hear about Luke’s reaction and how it affected him, which I think was a poor decision.

Okay Days, for me, was ultimately a good listen. I’m not sure I’d have stuck with it past the halfway mark had I been reading the physical book, rather than the audiobook - this would’ve been a shame, as I think the last half is actually stronger. If you’re looking for something that’s not too taxing, with good writing, then certainly give it a go.

NOTE: I received a copy of the audiobook from Netgalley to review.

I mostly enjoyed this book, I liked the characters and I liked the narrator. However there were a couple of times I thought the booked jumped a bit and I found it hard to follow. I suspect this was more so because I listened to the audio, it probably would have been easier to follow reading it.

"Sam is 28, Swedish, carefree and chaotic. Doing a work placement in London over the course of three sticky summer months, she falls hard for Lucas, a man she first met as a teenager.
Lucas, 27, sensitive and calm, is trying to get a foothold in the adult world while struggling to hold the pieces of his life together. Sam is a gorgeous distraction.
But you can only avoid reality for so long, and both Sam and Lucas know their relationship can't last. Nobody can be this happy forever, surely?"

Okay Days follows Sam and Lucas as they reconnect as adults, start a relationship and fall into a comfortable normality. However, is this enough for either of them? The chapters alternate between Sam and Lucas' perspective. At times, the misunderstandings revealed to us as readers was wonderfully frustrating, and you can't help but root for them throughout the book and despite of the mistakes they make. I read a review of this book being compared to Sally Rooney but I preferred this one by far. Their relationship is easy but complex and serious matters, such as male body dysmorphia and reproductive rights are dealt with sensitively and subtly.

This was an utterly addictive read - honest, pacey and vivid. I adored both Sam and Lucas and their story will stay with me for a while. The audiobook is very well-done too, with both narrators performing the story excellently. 4.5 stars rounded.

Audiobook - easy listening.
Sam is from Sweden and first meets Lucas when she is on a trip to London aged 18. Ten years later their paths cross again.
Enjoyable, yet poignant and sad in places. Ups and downs of relationships - great days, okay days, miserable days. Very real. Two confused people - confused with life, direction, relationships, everything.
I actually didn’t see the end coming, which I usually do.

Love story in a modern world, Sam from Sweden and Lucas in UK get together, then drift apart, then repeat. They meet other people but something pulls them back together again with all the complications of making your way in this world. Emotional, honest and very readable. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review.