This is a book rich with wonderful characters.
It’s a story of the intertwined lives and romances of a group of five college friends many years on. They are written as real, flawed humans. No-one has it easy, and none of them have their lives “sorted” - even if they appear to have. They are proper true-to-life characters that you come to understand and truly care for. That is what I look for in a book and this one really delivers.

Not my usual type of read, but this was so good! I can totally see this working so well being turned in to a movie. It definitely reminded me of a modern day version of some popular romance movies

Births, deaths & Marriages explores how dreams and plans can change and go a different direction 20 years down the line

Although the book follows six friends, it was not difficult to keep up with six people and their stories, as I was originally a bit worried about this

The book takes you on a total emotional rollercoaster

Definitely worth adding to your ‘25 reads!

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from Netgalley. Although this book was interesting, unfortunately it didn't grab me, and I found it quite slow going. There were too many characters to keep track of, and it jumped between the six protagonists, and between events, too quickly, making it quite confusing at times. Despite the confusing writing, I was engaged in the characters' stories, especially Zoe and Rachel's. A great concept, but unfortunately its execution mean I can't score it as high as I'd like.

The writing is excellent and engaging but unfortunately I didn’t especially warm to the characters and this made the book a hard read. It’s the second book I’ve read recently along similar lines, exploring the relationships between a group of old friends, so I think it was simply a case of reading this at the wrong time. I love Laura Barnet’s storytelling so I’ll try this again another time.

This is a very chilled, Sunday laidback cosy kinda book which was a nice change of pace as I tend to fly through thrillers/ horrors etc but I LOVE a good real life, friendship, love and loss kinda book to sink into also.

We follow 6 friends (don’t let that put you off, I know at times a high character count can be overwhelming and a struggle to keep up with however this isn’t the case here. We get plenty of chance to get to know our characters and we get to know them well).

They met in university and regroup in their 40s , as I say this is a nice slow paced vibe so if you’re into the twists , turns, big reveal kinda book (also love these myself) you may or may not struggle with this one as it’s not a twisty whodunnit.

The writing style is lovely, the characters likeable & the story is such a warm fuzzy cosy kinda book and honestly I really enjoyed it.

I’m always super cautious to not reveal much about a story as I hate spoilers but think four weddings and a funeral 2025 style 🙂 would absolutely recommend.

Realistic and relatable characters carry this story through the complications, hardships and trauma that started when they met at university and are still there twenty years later. None of it is straightforward but there is eventually a sense of hope and future happiness for each person making a satisfying read through to the last page.

Births, deaths and marriages follows six university friends who reunite in their forties- It’s a read about friendship, love, and life in general.
It’s not a fast-paced story so isn’t really one I’d recommend for those who enjoy lots of action or twists and turns in their reads however, If books about friendships and real-life moments are your go to reads, then this one is right up your street.

Written around a group of friends from university, this book explores how dreams and plans can change and going a different direction 20 years down the line… For me this book just dragged on a little bit too much, I warmed to one character - Zoe but even then she wasn’t setting the world alight,

This is a steady read, don’t expect any deep storylines or twist and turns.

This was a gorgeous read- a millennial ‘four weddings’ with a wonderful, realistic cast of characters. Beautifully written and paced.

Huge thank you to NetGalley for this wonderful read. I read this as an early release ebook from NetGalley with the promise of my writing my thoughts and review of the book. I was very excited to read this one. I adored the author's previous novel called The Greatest Hits, the author's writing stood out so much in that. I am keen to read her others as they very much appeal to me.

Great cover appeal on the book first off, it would attract my attention in a bookstore/website. Before reading, I took in the blurb and felt a little early trepidation due to the book following six friends. I felt it might be quite difficult to follow six different characters' stories and their relationships, lives and so on. However, this was not at all a problem. I managed to follow and keep track of everyone!

Friendship and life are at the very heart of this novel. Though the main body of the story is set over the span of a year, as you read you really get to know each character. You follow a group of friends, who originally met at university. They were initially brought together in sad circumstances, these circumstances cemented their friendship and are part of the reason that they remain as close as years pass. Flashbacks are used to reveal older memories, background, characters stories and more. Each character is so different and at different life stages. It is therefore highly relatable.

Highly character driven, it is a great book to get lost in and there is more than enough to digest too. It is laced with humour and poignancy. I think that if you have enjoyed reading David Nicholls, Dolly Alderton and/or Owen Nicholls you will really enjoy this. Nostalgically British and comforting, I highly recommend it. Great writing.

A cautionary story about relationships. Nothing is straightforward. An authentic and compelling read on an emotional rollercoaster.

This story focuses on 6 friends who initially met at University, and this is where the journey starts, before moving to the present day (around 20 years later).

It then revolves around the friends and their various struggles, the ups and down that they encounter across the period of 12 months, around their various relationships, health issues, friendship and also some rekindling feelings that they thought were long buried. During this period there is a birth, a death and a marriage - but who's?

I don't usually struggle getting through a book, but with this one I did.

I requested this book, as I liked the sound of the premise and it was something a bit different to what I usually read. In my opinion though I found it a bit clunky and not very easy to follow. Also didn't enjoy the various POV's throughout each Chapter - it was just too much for me.

Also I like a book that takes you away from real life for awhile, but for me it gave me too many reminders of real life events, so didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

Didn't enjoy how it ended. For me there still felt like there were a few loose ends that needed to be addressed, which was disappointing.

A soothing read!
This is a book to lose yourself in on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
The plot revolves around six people who were inseparable at university and now find themselves navigating towards middle age in the wake (no pun intended) of births, deaths, marriages and divorces—with more joy and sorrow to follow.
If you love David Nicholls and relationship dramas like "This Is Us" or films like "Little White Lies" (Les Petits Mouchoirs), this is the novel for you. It's warm-hearted, focusing on relationship dynamics, life's routines and occasionally touching on big subjects, such as attitudes to death and dying.
Whilst it features an ensemble cast of characters, two stand out as the emotional backbone: Al, a widower now working as a funeral director at his about-to-retire father's business; and Zoe, a divorced single mother who works in end-of-life care.
The other characters are vital in their own right, and their stories no less fascinating, but Al and Zoe are weaving around each other, rekindling their university friendship and exploring new possibilities.

I loved this. The story of six university friends reunited that covers everything in its title, It's also the name of a group formed by one character who is a funeral director and that's perhaps the only part of the narrative that was slightly opaque. The rest of it is perfectly characterised and presents universal situations and experiences that we can all relate to.

Lovely read following the lives of 6 friends who met at a funeral as students. Now, as adults births, weddings, deaths and everything else life can throw are documented over 4 parts - like 4 seasons.
A read which I found hard to put down.
Highly recommend

This very much follows the format of four weddings and a funeral, with as the title suggests a huge focus on the cycle of life. A group of friends form a strong connection at university, with confusing romantic entanglements. Then they seem to go their separate ways, some keeping in touch, others not. So far this is fairly run of the mill. To add to the theme, two of the women are working for the NHS, a midwife and a surgeon, and one as a funeral director. Separations, marriage unhappy or otherwise, bereavements- it’s all part of life’s big plan, and this is panning out to be quite predictable. Having said that it did keep me reading, and I felt invested in at least one or two of their lives, which have a habit(like the film 4weddings) of getting back together at life and death moments. There are some interesting stories, and on the whole it kept me involved, and I liked the writing which was clear and free of pretension.

Summary:
Zoe, Al, Rachel, Rob, Yas and Indie. Six friends who were inseparable at university, who have all had their secret or not so secret passions for each other, their own hopes and fears.

Over the years, they have gone their separate ways. When Rob's engagement party throws the gang together once more, some passions are reignited, old connections and resentments resurface. Over the next twelve months, there will, among the friends, be a birth, a marriage, and a death – but whose?

Review:
I've read a few reviews from other readers and feel they've been entirely unfair!
This is a very British book - reminiscent of Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually, Notting Hill... if you picture a older Hugh Grant movie, this is very much the same vibe.
There were many complicated feelings, with a very intertwined history so it did take me a little while to figure out which character had a relationship with which other characters in their university days and how they had ended up in the present.
Each personality is captured really well. It's interesting to see how each character grows - and those falling back into old habits. There is certainly a character for everyone to relate to, encouraging you to reflect on your own journey through adulthood.
The events of the book take place over the span of a year, and each event feels natural and expected (in a good way!). There are at a period in their lives when you would anticipate weddings, births, funerals, children heading off to university or starting school.
As is expected, there are a great deal of references to loss and grief which may hit too close to home for some, but I feel these are done in a very thoughtful way. It's also set in the present day so there are also references to COVID and the lockdown experience in the UK from the perspectives of a teacher, a midwife, surgeon, funeral director and small business owners (all areas which were greatly affected by this both during and after the lockdown).
Overall, I liked it. I would recommend it to friends or family, but perhaps only those who would enjoy that Hugh Grant style of romantic comedy. The British humour is very light and would probably go unnoticed by some, too.
I would rate it at 3.5 but have rounded up to 4 stars.

Very pleased with this read. Some great characters. Would definitely recommend to other readers. Will look out for more from this author

I enjoyed Births, Deaths and Marriages, but I have to admit—it felt a little overcrowded. The story follows six university friends, now in their forties, as they navigate the next big milestones in life.

With so many perspectives, it sometimes felt like too much. The constant POV shifts made it hard to stay fully invested in any one character’s journey. To be honest, at least two of them could have been cut without changing the core of the story. Instead of deepening the emotional weight, the sheer number of voices diluted it, making it harder to connect with any one arc in a meaningful way.

Plus, while the characters are realistic, I just didn’t find most of them particularly likable. Some had their moments, but overall, I struggled to root for them.

That said, the book still has a lot of strengths—it’s an honest look at aging friendships, past regrets, and the unpredictability of life. If you enjoy ensemble casts and reflective storytelling, it’s worth a read. But for me, fewer characters and a little more warmth would have made it even better.

What a fantastic book by Laura Barnett.....I absolutely loved it.

It follows the intertwined stories of 6 fiends who all met at university.
They are brought together by a wedding which is being organised. As they come together, they remember old memories while making some new ones. Their stories start to intertwine again as they decide to keep contact and move forward, remaining friends.
But have they changed or are they still dealing with the same old problems. Broken marriages...and new ones, deaths and births through some real challenges at the group. Have they become older and wiser to deal with them or are they fundamentally the same as they were when they were together all those years ago?

Definitely a thought provoking book about the choices we make.