What a scorching, timely and memorable read for the start of 2025. Bourne has captured the complexity of the motherhood debate through four distinct women's experiences, journey and thoughts. Nicki, an expectant mother who has unresolved issues and feelings from her past but is resolved in her desire to be a mother; Charlotte, a perfectionist who has faced an increasingly familiar battle with IVF to conceive; Steffi, the child-free member of the group who has found tremendous success professionally but feels as though this is never given as much credit as building a family is; and Lauren, who suffered a traumatic birth and is still reeling from the shocks and challenges of early motherhood. Bourne is deeply empathetic of these characters and I was so impressed by how nimbly she jumps from one mindset to another, unfurling their pasts and their psyches over the course of one immensely hot and sticky summer's day. Bourne is equally unafraid to pick out their hypocrisies, and to make them as unlikeable as they are likeable. While I do feel Charlotte's perfectionism does descend into a mania that needed greater attention/support at times, Nicki in particular is an immensely complex character who seems to contain multitudes locked within her calm and sweet persona. Indeed, as someone who is personally on the fence regarding motherhood, I found myself identifying with every single woman in this book about the fears of paths not taken; the worries of infertility; the anxiety of never being valued by my friends or society if I don't, and equally the challenges of motherhood that are hidden, judged and unfashionable in our world of social media.

The book is fast paced and biting, charting the course of a day that ultimately ends in disaster by skipping between the four girls' perspectives and flashing back to the foundations of their friendship at university. The tension builds spectacularly, especially in the sweaty heat of a high summer's day, and you are gripped as the women pick at, antagonise and challenge one another's lives, feelings and mindsets in small and huge ways throughout the book. Bourne is particularly skilled at capturing the zeitgeist, and the experiences of a later millennial (now entering their thirties) both at university and while living in London as adults. Many of her observations are wry, both critiquing and celebrating the way we live now, and, having read her earlier book: How Do You Like Me Now? which also fed off popular culture and social media, I do feel this is a sharper piece of writing which weaponises our familiar culture more effectively. There are some dark themes and very upsetting elements to the book, specifically Lauren's struggles which are portrayed so vividly, and entering her mindset can be challenging simply because you want so desperately for her to get help, but it feels so important and vital for these experiences to be committed to writing. Motherhood is so thorny and the advice can be so unsympathetic and so varying; Bourne even begins to address the maternity crisis in the NHS - Lauren really is the figurehead of all the ways we fail mothers in society and cast them into irrelevance. I winced when she said that, once she had a baby, she became merely his custodian as all people cared about was the child, especially in conjunction with Steffi's huge successes in her business which are received with so little fanfare in comparison to having a baby: why must society repeatedly find ways to dismiss women?

If I had to critique the novel, I would say that the epilogue felt a tad twee and tried to tie things up too neatly in a bow for me. I like how the story ends and the open-ended nature of it, and I feel the epilogue inadvertently diminishes the complexities of motherhood and of being child-free by resolving all of the tensions of the novel. I enjoyed the knotty complexity of the novel and it ultimately felt unnecessary. Similarly, a few of the conversations around sexuality felt half-baked and some of the characters' comments, whether deliberate or not, were uncomfortable.

Regardless, I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a snarky, sharp and thought-provoking read which gives an authentic voice to women's experiences and takes you on a whirlwind of a day.

Holly Bourne writes complex female friendships so well and this is no exception, with maybe a bit more darkness than you're used to! Really enjoyable.

I really enjoyed this book. It dives into the darker aspects of parenting & friendships. The only drawback for me was that the ending didn’t feel that believable. However, the writing is exceptional; raw, honest, and incredibly well written. Another strong novel from Holly Bourne.

Thank you, NetGalley, for approving me for an ARC of "So Thrilled For You". This is not only my first Holly Bourne novel but also my first ARC ever, which made the reading experience even more exciting!

The book delves into friendships, motherhood, and how the relationships within a small but tight-knit group of brilliant women evolve over the years. Told from multiple POVs and through various formats (first-person narrative, interviews, etc.), the story has excellent pacing and is highly engaging. Without a doubt, it’s a 5-star read for me.

I loved this book so much that halfway through, I ordered a physical copy for myself because, yes, it’s one of those books I know I’ll want to keep on my bookshelf—to read and reread in the future. And I will certainly keep an eye out for this author's future works!

When I first started reading So Thrilled For You I was sure I wouldn’t enjoy it because I found so many of the characters a little insufferable and generally I’m not a huge fan of femake friendship centred plots.

That being said, Holly Bournes realistic outlook on pregnancy, motherhood and relationships made this appeal to me a lot more as the story went on.

The only downside I have is the ending as I feel it lacked something but otherwise an enjoyable read!

This book was kind of a harrowing read for me. It’s about a group of friends gathering together for a baby shower that goes catastrophically wrong. It also details the nightmare of first motherhood of one of the women. I found it really hard to relate to this story because my motherhood journey, though decades ago now, was nothing like that, but I concede that it may be like that for some women. I definitely don’t think that this is Holly Bourne at her best, but it’s a decent read. Thank you to Netgalley and Hatchette Australia for the ARC of this novel.

Another 5 star read by Holly!

Best friends Nicki, Lauren, Steffi and Charlotte have been inseparable since meeting in university ten years ago. On the day of Nicki’s baby shower all 4 women are preoccupied; Nicki is seeing her ex friend for the first time in a year, Lauren is suffering post natal depression, Steffi is about to launch a client’s life changing book, and Charlotte has planned the perfect baby shower for Nicki to cope with the pain of her fertility struggles.

Told from the four PoVs of the main characters and some flashbacks to fill in the blanks from significant events from uni and recent years, this book is addictive! Holly doesn’t shy away from emotive themes of post natal depression, infertility and remaining childless by choice. Holly manages each theme sensitively and really gets across the turmoil experienced by each character.

Compelling, touching and original.

I absolutely loved this book. Bourne centres it around a group of 4 female friends, at various stages of their life or motherhood journey. We know from the beginning that something happens leading to police involvement and Bourne slowly reveals the truth including long-held secrets that could damage a friendship forever.
I enjoyed this for so many reasons, the plot is fast paced, set over one day apart from flashbacks to fill in the backstory. This is intense and an electrifying read. The characters are perfect, 4 strong women who also have a strong friendship and it was so interesting to see how motherhood or not having children impacts their lives and friendships.
As well as the exciting side, Bourne really focuses on different viewpoints of motherhood; what it means to be a mother, different ways of approaching motherhood and those who choose not to have children. It was great to see different perspectives and experiences reflected in the read. Because of this, Bourne writes about some very sensitive and dark subjects which made for difficult reading however it really suits the plot.
I loved this book and its portrayal of strong women, motherhood and friendships.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy.

So Thrilled For You - Holly Bourne
🌟🌟🌟🌟

It’s always a special day when you receive an ARC of a book written by one of your all time favourite authors ✍🏻

This wild ride of a story mostly unfolds during a tension-filled baby shower, with occasional flashbacks woven throughout.

One of Holly's greatest strengths is her ability to write complex relationships, especially between flawed characters. I love how the book tackles the judgments placed on women - whether they're new mums, expectant mothers, those struggling to fall pregnant, or those who choose not to have children. It delves into how friendships evolve over time and how loyalties can shift in unexpected ways.

If you love books that cover female friendship, discovering your identity and love a bit of drama this is absolutely going to be one for you.

To all my friends overseas who may be less familiar with Holly, she is an author you need to check out!

I loved this book. I was pregnant with my second baby and I loved how she explored the theme of motherhood between four different friends. It was so relatable and expertly written. It is a really brilliant book from a very talented writer.

I’m a huge fan of Holly Bourne and have been since a young teen. I feel like she is today’s Jacqueline Wilson and it’s incredible to see her adult novels are just as honest and thought-provoking as her YA fiction.

I was a little worried going into this story that I wouldn’t relate to anyone in the book, as I have no experience of motherhood or what it takes to be a parent. But I was foolish to ever doubt Holly!
I think every girl/ woman will relate to a character in this in one way or another. The anxiety and tension in this was difficult to read at times, but I think so many will feel relieved to see their feelings being experienced by other people.

*whistles* this was UNBELIEVABLY tense to read at times and I was literally holding my breath. No one writes girlhood like Holly and boy, girls really can be mean!

I can’t recommend this book enough and think it may be her best work yet.

What a book! It takes you on a raw journey of motherhood, female friendships and the impact of social expectations. A mesmerised fan of Holly Bourne- such incredible writing. A solid 5 stars. Thank you, Netgalley, for an ARC.

I adored this book! What I loved in particular was the exploration of motherhood and friendship through the four main characters, each at a very different stage of their lives. It was funny, caustic at parts and beautifully paced.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

I love Holly Bourne as an author. I have read all of her YA books, as well as her adult fiction. I adore her writing style, and I love the way she writes about hard hitting topics but in a really accessible way, that allows the reader to question their own lives.
However, I just couldn't get into this book. I liked the characters, and how different they all were - but I found the plot to be incredibly slow. Sections of the plot were repeated but looking at a different character perspective - but we didn't really need the second or third perspective as the characters were so fully formed, I already knew what they would think or do in particular situations.
The premise was really interesting to me, being a similar age to the characters within the book and having friends from university that may not be at the same 'life' stage as me. But the execution was just so so slow. I wanted more things to happen rather than building to this big fire at the end, that actually was a bit of an anti-climax.

Definitely not the best Holly Bourne book I have read, but I will still read whatever she releases in the future - hopefully will be back to her best!

So Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne is about Nicki, Lauren, Steffi and Charlotte who have been friends since university and are now in their thirties.
It was interesting seeing all four Point of Views but most of them were honestly unlikable and I’m not sure how to rate this book.. I finished it because I wanted to know who started the fire and how the situations for Charlotte and Steffi will play out.

Thank you to Holly Bourne, Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Holly Bourne’s books really knock the wind out of me - the woman writes about such complex and urgent topics with a fearlessness that’s lacking in her field. So Thrilled For You is no exception, though it did leave me more disquieted than her other novels. It’s set over the course of one day; the day of Nicki’s baby shower. Among the guests are her best friends from college: childfree-by-choice Steffi, a hotshot literary agent, who is about to see her career skyrocket, new mum Lauren, struggling with what might be PND and what might be intense sleep deprivation. And we have Charlotte, who has organised the whole thing and wants it to go perfectly. Charlotte is struggling with infertility, and her magical thinking has led her to believe that the perfect baby shower will lead to a pregnancy.
HOWEVER: it’s the hottest day of the year, and by the end of the shower, the house will be burned to the ground. This dash of high drama gives the novel a thrilling hook, as it’s a whodunnit as well as an exploration of life for women in their thirties.
Switching between the POVs of the four women, it’s a poignant and honest exploration of changing friendships, motherhood and pregnancy - there’s a lot to take in, but Bourne manages to keep all the balls in the air. There are simply so many big topics discussed! Infidelity! Infertility! New mother regret! Friendship dynamics! It is by turns incredibly juicy to read, almost soapy, until it becomes the most upsetting thing you’ve ever read. One chapter, from the perspective of new mother Lauren, gave me a physical pain in my chest from anxiety, whereas other chapters had me shouting and revelling in the messiness.
I got a bad case of emotional whiplash from So Thrilled For You, especially as I tore through it in 24 hours - it’s a real page-turner. It’s also a raw book; in the afterword, Bourne explains that it was written while her own daughter was a newborn, and it shows! She really isn’t afraid to explore the uglier elements of motherhood. As a woman in her early thirties, this book scared the bejaysis out of me, and I am still trying to decide if that’s a good thing or not.
It lost a few points for me for that fluffy little epilogue; it felt a bit neat after 400 pages of knotty, difficult feelings, but fair enough - it's not like these gals didn't deserve a happy-ever-after after all that mess!

I absolutely ADORE Holly Bourne's writing - she manages to capture the exact thoughts and feelings of women at every stage in their life. A tremendously enjoyable read!

Oh. My. Goodness. This book *had me in a chokehold*! Holly Bourne has done it again, delivering a brilliantly sharp, painfully relatable, and darkly funny story.

So Thrilled for You dives deep into the messy world of friendship envy, societal pressures, and the silent competition we all pretend doesn’t exist. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s utterly unputdownable. The characters were so well written—flawed and human—and I found myself alternating between cheering for them and wanting to shake them.

The themes of comparison and toxic friendships were handled with such honesty, making this not just a read but an experience. There were moments where I was laughing out loud, moments where my chest felt tight, and moments where I wanted to throw the book across the room (in the best way possible!).

If you’ve ever felt like you’re running a losing race against your friends or like your life doesn’t quite measure up, this book will hit you square in the feels. Bourne balances wit and heartbreak masterfully, creating a story that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page.

Highly recommend to anyone who loves a deep, thought-provoking read with a good dose of snarky humour. This is a must-read!

I liked the idea of this story but I really struggled to get into it. I found the multiple character narratives confusing. Clever writing but didn’t work for me on this occasion.

I liked the blurb but just couldn't get into it. There were too many characters for me and the background stories were very confusing.