What does the title ‘Births Deaths and Marriages’ remind you of? Yes, it is reminiscent of ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ and the comparison doesn’t stop there. However, if you are up for reading about the lives of six university friends over a couple of decades, then this story could bring you a lot of pleasure.

Laura Barnett has used the concept of exploring relationships which develop and change over time in her previous novels. The creation of credible characters, alongside cultural details, is clearly a strength but I wish that she had explored the motivations and personalities of her central characters in more depth. Perhaps the fact that she has six to focus on means that they are all a little diluted. This results in what are some pretty life-changing events not packing the punch that the reader might expect. That said, this is an involving, well written read, even if it does follow a familiar format. I note it’s due to be launched in early June and I’m sure it’ll prove to be a popular summer holiday read.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Sadly I never finished reading this. I struggled with getting into the story, I'm sure others will enjoy reading it, just wasn't my taste.

This was the first book I've read in a looooong time that wasn't heavily plot driven, and what a refreshing, easy, cosy read it was.

Six university friends, after many years, come together again to celebrate the engagement of Rob and Ges. Not having all been together as a six for a long time, the6 all finally reconnect as well as new connections being made, between those that hadn't always been as close.

I'll admit it took me a while to get agrip of who was who, who was married to who, who had been married to who ... but once I got that all figured out, I couldn't put it down.

It reminded me an awful lot of a modern day Four Weddings and a Funeral, which was rather apt at the end!

The mix of characters was perfectly written, as were the complete mix of personalities and relationships. I loved just how real it all felt, so easily relatable, and each character was such a strong representation that anybody reading this book will find a connection somewhere!

A tale of friendship through the years, all of life's intricate weavings of love, life, death, and everything in between. The good. The bad. The ugly.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the ARC.

Wow! Just wow! I can’t believe that, when I started this book, I thought, this isn’t for me. It is, of course. It is a book for anyone who has loved, for anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one, for anyone who has contemplated or been married, for every parent, indeed, for anyone who has lived. Stunningly astute and relevant, it is a book that will remain with me for a long time. The characters are wonderfully flawed and believable, and the dilemmas they face identifiable. Six friends from university, brought together time after time to celebrate births, deaths and marriages. Their own friendships are strong and enduring, but they are not exclusive. There is space for new relationships. This is a profoundly human book, with a genuine depth of understanding of the complex challenges of simply living life.

Laura Barnett writes absorbing, well turned-out fiction, tending towards the commercial end of the scale. Beginning with an engagement and ending with a marriage, her new novel follows .Zoe, Rob, Rachel, Yas, Al and Indie who formed the kind of friendship that for those lucky enough to find it, can last a lifetime. Twenty years later, they’re looking forty in the face, some more scarred than others. This will be a significant year for all of them: lives will be changed irrevocably, unimaginable loss will be faced but there will be unexpected joy, too, and old desires reawakened.
Barnett handles her structure beautifully, flitting in and out of her six main characters’ lives, exploring their often-complicated relationship with each other and with others as they face what life throws at them - love, loss, joy, the general grind of the day-to-day – just as we all do. Her characters are well drawn and entirely believable, each of them faced with challenges mid-life often throws up. Climate change is subtly woven through it as is the shadow cast by the pandemic but it’s the characters that are to the fore in this hugely enjoyable novel which celebrates the durability of friendships that have weathered the storm of growing up

Not sure what I made of this. I found it hard to get into. The changing perspectives. I think its because I'm not used to this style of writing. It felt like I finally started to understand the format around the 75% mark.

I will give it another go at some point.

A big thank you to Random House UK for the ARC!

A great cosy read - Four Weddings and a Funeral meets One Day meets White Heat (the TV series).

Six university friends, present day and flash backs through their intertwined history. I love how the book wasn't predictable (I audibly gasped at some points), had a diverse range of characters with great depth and realistic storylines.

In particular Al was my favourite - what a guy ❤️.

A must read for 2025, I couldn't put it down and finished it within one evening!

I absolutely love these types of books! The perfect reflection of nostalgia and hope for the future. I enjoyed learning about each of the characters their struggles and ultimately there triumphs throughout all stages of life.

Always love Laura’s writing, from versions of us till now.
This reminded me a lot of Four weddings and a funeral, mixed with One Day, mixed with This Life. The story of 6 university friends who over the years stay in touch and this follows their lives since, approximately 20 years later. In which time 2 got married to each other, had a child and divorced. Others married outside of the friendships. There are children, deliberately childless, widower hood etc.
it’s a story of life and all its intricacies. Births. Deaths and all that’s in between.
Not heavily plot driven, but that’s ok.