So Thrilled For You By Holly Bourne

‘So Thrilled For You’ is the latest book by Holly Bourne.

Nicki, Lauren, Charlotte and Steffi have been friends since university. Now in their thirties, life is pulling them in different directions – but when Charlotte organises the baby shower of hell for pregnant Nicki, the girls are reunited. Under a sweltering hot summer day, tensions rise – and by the end of the day, nothing will ever be the same. Someone started a fire at the house – and everyone’s a suspect…
Is it Steffi, happily child-free but feeling judged by her friends? Is it Charlotte, desperate to conceive and jealous of those who have? Is it Lauren, who is finding motherhood far, far harder than she imagined? Or is it Nicki herself, who never wanted a baby shower anyway?

Holly Bourne has become one of my favourite authors, her insight into the dynamics and complexities of female friendships is so spot on and I know when I start a book by her, that it will be hard to put down. And boy, was I right about ‘So Thrilled for You’

The story is seen from the perspective of best friends, Nikki, Steffi, Charlotte and Lauren. Best friends from university, they are called ‘Little Women’ due to their love of books and have been there for each other during the ups and downs.

They get together for Nikki’s baby shower which has been kindly arranged for Charlotte, a kind woman who wants her best friend to have a day to remember which it turns out to be in the worst possible way.

The story is slightly reminiscent of a Liane Moriarty book, starting at the present before going back and forth in time.

All four women are completely different and somewhat relatable in their own way. Steffi is a career woman who’s publishing agency is just getting started, she enjoys her life and has no desire to have children which the other three women find strange and selfish. Nikki for me, is the least likable of the characters, pregnant, she’s self-absorbed and cruel about her friends even though they do so much for her. Charlotte, literally tugged at my heartstrings, desperate to become a mother, she clings onto the dream with positivity and manifestation, her dream will come true and finally there’s Lauren, a character I connected with so much.

As a new mother myself, I understood the desperation that she was going through, the feeds, the sleepless nights, the lack of support at times and pure sadness and loneliness that consumes you. My heart ached for her, and I desperately wanted to hug her and tell her that I got it, she’s not alone.

The fact that the four women have different viewpoints and circumstances, made the story particularly gripping, as Steffi was viewed as being abnormal for not wanting a child whilst Charlotte was a bit much for really wanting one and don’t get me started on the fact that Lauren had apparently let herself go after having a baby, with friends like these, who needs enemies?

This story is fantastic, it’s relatable, raw and honest and once again shines an insight into the toxicity and competitiveness of friendship. It doesn’t sugarcoat motherhood; it puts it bluntly how lonely it can be even if you are surrounded by others.

A story that pulls you in from the very first page, ‘So Thrilled for You’ explores the female mind, the brutality of motherhood and not every woman wants to be a mother, written starkly, tensely and sprinkled with some glitter along the way, this book is a must read for all women.

You can preorder ‘So Thrilled For You’ from Amazon and will be available to buy from good bookshops from 16th January 2025.