Olive

By: Emma Gannon

Narrated by: Sian Clifford

*The audiobook includes an exclusive interview between Emma Gannon and Dawn O’Porter* The debut novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author, Emma Gannon.

‘Thoughtful, funny, and honest’ Elizabeth Gilbert

‘Brilliantly observed’ Sophie Kinsella

‘It'll give a voice to countless women’ Marian Keyes

Olive and her friends have shared every milestone.

From first loves and first heartbreaks to flatshares and the first scary steps into the real world, they’ve been through it all – together.

But in the maze of life, through the winding paths that lead to different choices and different futures, will the bonds of friendship hold strong when Olive needs them most?

Moving, memorable and a mirror for anyone at a crossroads, OLIVE is a love letter to the life raft of female friendship and reminds us how, with a little courage, we can all follow our own paths.

©2020 Emma Gannon (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

‘It explores such an important topic with a lightness and warmth’ Dolly Alderton

‘Gutsy and refreshing’ HEAT

‘It's warm and charming and yet VERY brave in its honesty about having children and how that impacts female friendships. I suspect a lot of women will feel relieved and seen when they read it’ Holly Bourne

‘Important themes explored by a true champion of women’ Nina Stibbe

‘Thought provoking with a wonderfully relatable hero’ Good Housekeeping

‘So fresh and funny and utterly distinctive . . . I loved it’ Emma Jane Unsworth

‘A delicate, heartbreaking and delicious story that will bring a pang of delightful recognition to every woman who reads it’ Scarlett Curtis

‘A witty, tender portrayal of female friendship under pressure’ Mail on Sunday

‘Honest, relatable, and incredibly real, Olive is going to resonate with an entire generation of young women’ Louise O’Neill

‘In Gannon’s capable hands, women are not so much divided along their disparate lines – but united’ Pandora Sykes

‘Cuts rights to the heart of conversations around women and the stereotypes we either adhere to – or reject’ Cosmopolitan

‘I raced through this brilliant, brilliant book, feeling more thoroughly seen than I have in years. Olive's story is big and bright and beautiful, and holds up a much-needed mirror to society’ Lucy Vine

‘Incredibly warm and loveable, you won’t be able to put Olive down’ Bustle

White middle class story - funny at times

Not a bad story just got tired with the lack of diversity of thought or voice from the characters. How do people get away with books set in present day London with such conformity and blandness is worth exploring.

Appreciate the attempt at normalizing life choices that differ from expectations.

what a great book!!

I absolutely loved this book! As a 33 year old myself who struggles with the question whether or not to have kids, I found this so relatable and comforting. I finished it in 2 days! I couldn't stop listening. The narrator was also brilliant!!
I absolutely recommend this book

JUST BRILLIANT!!

This book is a gift, I absolutely LOVED IT! Please everybody listen to it! You won’t regret it!!!

Had so much fun listening to this reading!

Excellent writing and narration.
I love how diversity of all stages of women’s life is represented in this book. The realistic narration definitely added so much thrill to the book.

I didn’t want it to end 🙈

This was such a breath of fresh air !
Current
Funny
Real
Loved it
Can’t wait for the next !