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The Knowing
Camille lives in the country.
She’s forgotten her phone.
She’s taking the train to work.
She’s got period pain.
She can’t escape herself … or her toxic boss, Holly. And it’s Valentine’s Day.
The Knowing is a day in the life of a woman who goes to work as usual while dreaming of more.
From the author of A Room Called Earth, a brilliant new novel about the mess that comes before salvation.
256 pages, Paperback
First published September 16, 2025
19 people are currently reading
808 people want to read
About the author
Madeleine Ryan
2 books174 followersMadeleine Ryan is an Australian author. A Room Called Earth was her first novel. Her second novel, The Knowing, is out now. Her third novel, love, honour & obey, is due 2027. Her articles & essays have appeared in The New York Times, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, SBS, The Sydney Morning Herald & VICE. Her Substack is dedicated to essays & erotic fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
January 16, 2025
Camille is young, this is not to be confused with incapable. Camille knows what she wants but is not able to enunciate what this is, or have her actions equate to this. At all.
Through her dazzling writing, Madeleine Ryan takes us into Camille's head - we are witness to raw thought, reflection and judgement. Because she does this a lot. She judges herself, knows her worth and knows herself, but she cannot get over the line into happiness. It's almost grating watching her do this, and this is the beauty of it.
This story takes us there on the journey to seeking this happiness. It's almost voyeuristic the glimpsing into her psyche as nothing is off limits. Her observation of others on a train, her co-workers, her demeaning boss. Her menstrual cup, stuck inside of her body and her willing boyfriend Manny who will do anything for her, include the intricate removal of same.
Camille commutes from country to city Victoria to work in a boutique floral business, the mundanity of this is not mundane as the author presents it, as I felt it was certainly leading somewhere, and where this somewhere was, I was happy.
Her reflections on her previous job and the normality of her interactions there, to the freakishly awful conditions of her current job and this woman named Holly who is truly horrid. We see this SO CLEARLY and I loved the build up of hatred. (Mine, not the protagonist's who was able to contain it somehow which was part of the appeal). There is no filter to Camille's thoughts and this truly is refreshing and a gift. I felt the younger generation reaching out via this young woman in the triangle of the emotional physical spiritual parts of her world. I think I just really loved her mind, which meant I really loved her.
They think Manny and Camille look like River Phoenix and Martha Plimpton, and it concerns them.
Camille thought one yelp would release the agony, but the yelp turned into a shriek, and the shriek turned into tears, and the tears turned into heartbreak.
Thank you @scribepub for my ARC copy, it was a surprising and wonderful book.
Through her dazzling writing, Madeleine Ryan takes us into Camille's head - we are witness to raw thought, reflection and judgement. Because she does this a lot. She judges herself, knows her worth and knows herself, but she cannot get over the line into happiness. It's almost grating watching her do this, and this is the beauty of it.
This story takes us there on the journey to seeking this happiness. It's almost voyeuristic the glimpsing into her psyche as nothing is off limits. Her observation of others on a train, her co-workers, her demeaning boss. Her menstrual cup, stuck inside of her body and her willing boyfriend Manny who will do anything for her, include the intricate removal of same.
Camille commutes from country to city Victoria to work in a boutique floral business, the mundanity of this is not mundane as the author presents it, as I felt it was certainly leading somewhere, and where this somewhere was, I was happy.
Her reflections on her previous job and the normality of her interactions there, to the freakishly awful conditions of her current job and this woman named Holly who is truly horrid. We see this SO CLEARLY and I loved the build up of hatred. (Mine, not the protagonist's who was able to contain it somehow which was part of the appeal). There is no filter to Camille's thoughts and this truly is refreshing and a gift. I felt the younger generation reaching out via this young woman in the triangle of the emotional physical spiritual parts of her world. I think I just really loved her mind, which meant I really loved her.
They think Manny and Camille look like River Phoenix and Martha Plimpton, and it concerns them.
Camille thought one yelp would release the agony, but the yelp turned into a shriek, and the shriek turned into tears, and the tears turned into heartbreak.
Thank you @scribepub for my ARC copy, it was a surprising and wonderful book.
January 14, 2025
Thankyou to Scribe Publishing for sending me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
Lets start off by emphasising the word honesty. There are some books you come across and they just are not your cup of tea. The Knowing, was one of those books. I feel bad rating this so low but I have to be honest to myself and my reading taste.
Centered around our main character Camille, living in the country and having to catch the train into work. She forgets her phone at home, her period just started and she is required to be left with her thoughts during her long journey. The result being a stream of consciousness-esque prose.
Funnily enough, I read this book whilst on the train myself, passing some of the same landmarks that are mentioned within the pages, this unfortunately did not help elevate my reading experience.
I felt like there was no character building or development, seemingly wanting to be this Sally Rooney/ Dolly Alderton type of prose, instead it fell completely short for me. It felt incredibly rushed, the musings of an insufferable protagonist. I don't think I can tell you much of what happened, because nothing was notable. But I can tell you this, the constant need to capitalise random words every 6 sentences grated on my brain so intensely, it was the driving force for my DNF even though I was only 60 pages off finishing.... I am not kidding, there would be the most strange use of capitalization in some pages. Examples...
(There is plenty more but I cannot be bothered typing the rest, you get the point....)
I am unsure if I am the correct demographic for this novel. The writing style just wasn't for me, I prefer deeper character development and connection. I also don't really agree with the sentiment that just because a woman is menstruating that means she is inherently useless and unproductive, and I felt like this story perpetuated those ideals.
Lets start off by emphasising the word honesty. There are some books you come across and they just are not your cup of tea. The Knowing, was one of those books. I feel bad rating this so low but I have to be honest to myself and my reading taste.
Centered around our main character Camille, living in the country and having to catch the train into work. She forgets her phone at home, her period just started and she is required to be left with her thoughts during her long journey. The result being a stream of consciousness-esque prose.
Funnily enough, I read this book whilst on the train myself, passing some of the same landmarks that are mentioned within the pages, this unfortunately did not help elevate my reading experience.
I felt like there was no character building or development, seemingly wanting to be this Sally Rooney/ Dolly Alderton type of prose, instead it fell completely short for me. It felt incredibly rushed, the musings of an insufferable protagonist. I don't think I can tell you much of what happened, because nothing was notable. But I can tell you this, the constant need to capitalise random words every 6 sentences grated on my brain so intensely, it was the driving force for my DNF even though I was only 60 pages off finishing.... I am not kidding, there would be the most strange use of capitalization in some pages. Examples...
Page 95
"where are you? Who are you? What is this place? How did you get here? Who cares? Why is it hilarious? What the fuck is going on? What are all of these words, and images, and dreams, and fears, and feelings even MADE OF?
MUSCLES?
BAHAHAAAA
YEAH
SURE
WHATEVER"
Page 86
"TRUST life and she'll bleed FREELY and she'll live on a HUGE PROPERTY with the DOGS and with MANNY like total UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN VIBES and the two of them will build WALLS together from STONE and make LOVE on HIGH-THREAD-COUNT-SHEETS"
(There is plenty more but I cannot be bothered typing the rest, you get the point....)
I am unsure if I am the correct demographic for this novel. The writing style just wasn't for me, I prefer deeper character development and connection. I also don't really agree with the sentiment that just because a woman is menstruating that means she is inherently useless and unproductive, and I felt like this story perpetuated those ideals.
February 4, 2025
The blurb for The Knowing by Madeleine Ryan is essentially all there is to this novel.
“Camille lives in the country. She’s forgotten her phone. She’s taking the train to work. She’s got period pain. She can’t escape herself … or her toxic boss, Holly. And it’s Valentine’s Day. The Knowing is a day in the life of a woman who goes to work as usual while dreaming of more.”
Though written in the third person, the reader is in Camille’s head as her unfiltered thoughts roam between her past, present and future. She muses on a range of subjects, from her relationships - with partner Manny, sister Clarice and her late grandmother Jacqueline, to the insidiousness of social media. She acknowledges the scenery from her window and her fear of herself. She grits her teeth against the clenching of her uterus, and thinks about sex, faith, and Mediterranean interior design. She frets about her job, or more accurately about dealing with her narcissistic boss, a lot. She buys coffee (on tick because no phone means no money) and makes a life-changing decision.
Camille’s enforced period of introspection is a solid argument for the need of regular digital detox’s. Without the distractions offered by her phone she’s forced to look both inward, and up.
I didn’t find The Knowing uninteresting but I did find her angst somewhat tiring, being from a different generation, and at a different stage of life.
“Camille lives in the country. She’s forgotten her phone. She’s taking the train to work. She’s got period pain. She can’t escape herself … or her toxic boss, Holly. And it’s Valentine’s Day. The Knowing is a day in the life of a woman who goes to work as usual while dreaming of more.”
Though written in the third person, the reader is in Camille’s head as her unfiltered thoughts roam between her past, present and future. She muses on a range of subjects, from her relationships - with partner Manny, sister Clarice and her late grandmother Jacqueline, to the insidiousness of social media. She acknowledges the scenery from her window and her fear of herself. She grits her teeth against the clenching of her uterus, and thinks about sex, faith, and Mediterranean interior design. She frets about her job, or more accurately about dealing with her narcissistic boss, a lot. She buys coffee (on tick because no phone means no money) and makes a life-changing decision.
Camille’s enforced period of introspection is a solid argument for the need of regular digital detox’s. Without the distractions offered by her phone she’s forced to look both inward, and up.
I didn’t find The Knowing uninteresting but I did find her angst somewhat tiring, being from a different generation, and at a different stage of life.
February 11, 2025
If you want to dedicate time to a story that goes no further than a day in the life of an uninteresting girl taking a long uninteresting train ride to her toxic workplace to be berated and belittled by her toxic boss, then this story is for you.
It is short but dominated by unnecessary description of minutiae. Who would have thought a coffee shop in Melbourne would have been staffed by hipsters with tattoos and piercings?
The redeeming feature of this book is that it was a quick read. I would have hated to have wasted more time on it.
It is short but dominated by unnecessary description of minutiae. Who would have thought a coffee shop in Melbourne would have been staffed by hipsters with tattoos and piercings?
The redeeming feature of this book is that it was a quick read. I would have hated to have wasted more time on it.
December 28, 2024
this book is proof that you should make big life decisions when you’re menstruating.
this was really enjoyable, and an interesting premise. musings on the modern world, culture and the things you can achieve when you’re not on your phone.
this was really enjoyable, and an interesting premise. musings on the modern world, culture and the things you can achieve when you’re not on your phone.
March 31, 2025
I just don’t know what the lesson was! Strong use of question marks also not sure what to make of that????
December 31, 2024
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Summed Up: Witty and Fresh Take On Life
- - -
What a breathe of fresh air The Knowing was!
Giving me Dolly Alderton and Genevieve Novak vibes, this book hit home with so many relatable ‘ah-ha’ moments for me as a 30-something female navigating life’s ups and downs.
Following the main character Camille’s journey felt like stepping into a mirror and experiencing the life events most of us have all been through - forgetting your phone, feeling stuck in a job, trying (and failing) at a big life change and dealing with the general chaos of adulthood.
Madeleine Ryan captured all of this with sweet, snappy chapters and a witty, fun writing style.
While the ending felt a bit vague, I’m holding out hope for a sequel because I’d love to see where Camille’s story takes her next.
A big thanks to Scribe Publishing for letting me peek into this refreshing, honest read before its release in February 2025 🌸
Summed Up: Witty and Fresh Take On Life
- - -
What a breathe of fresh air The Knowing was!
Giving me Dolly Alderton and Genevieve Novak vibes, this book hit home with so many relatable ‘ah-ha’ moments for me as a 30-something female navigating life’s ups and downs.
Following the main character Camille’s journey felt like stepping into a mirror and experiencing the life events most of us have all been through - forgetting your phone, feeling stuck in a job, trying (and failing) at a big life change and dealing with the general chaos of adulthood.
Madeleine Ryan captured all of this with sweet, snappy chapters and a witty, fun writing style.
While the ending felt a bit vague, I’m holding out hope for a sequel because I’d love to see where Camille’s story takes her next.
A big thanks to Scribe Publishing for letting me peek into this refreshing, honest read before its release in February 2025 🌸
February 11, 2025
When I finished The Knowing, I sat back and thought about a mind that's distracted (like the dog in the Up movie that sees a squirrel), Lorelai's mini monologue in Gilmore Girls about her brain: “Bicycle. Unicycle. Unitard. Hockey puck. Rattlesnake. Monkey, monkey, underpants”, and a frazzled mind that cannot take one more thing and needs to scream.
I loved Camilla's accident of leaving her phone at home.The chaos from the panic and the rationalisation seemed astonishing yet comfortingly real. What does it do to us, to be stripped of our crutches? I remember life without phones attached to our hands, left with all of my senses working as they should. Taking in what I could see, smell, hear, and touch, relying on my own mind to cast judgement. Camilla had to remember what it was like to rely on her own judgement. The train ride was perfect for Camilla to sit and reflect upon all that was within her realm and to contest the buried thoughts and the ones measured against other yardsticks. I think Camille wasn't dreaming of more; I think she was wanting to live everyday moments a little more instead of putting them aside and living up to other expectations.
Life is better when we appreciate and savour the little things. The ordinary is not bad. It is extraordinary because it is only experienced by you; your personal experience of the world around you. You might think it's boring when you compare it to something or someone else, but who says their interpretation is better than yours? No one wants to be ordinary - a pitfall of social media, to make you believe your ordinary life is just not good enough. But everyday life was magical for Camilla because it was all her own.
Sometimes the best entertainment is our imagination. Read this book, and think about the magic of everyday life. Thank you #scribepublishing for the pleasure of reading this #gifted book.
I loved Camilla's accident of leaving her phone at home.The chaos from the panic and the rationalisation seemed astonishing yet comfortingly real. What does it do to us, to be stripped of our crutches? I remember life without phones attached to our hands, left with all of my senses working as they should. Taking in what I could see, smell, hear, and touch, relying on my own mind to cast judgement. Camilla had to remember what it was like to rely on her own judgement. The train ride was perfect for Camilla to sit and reflect upon all that was within her realm and to contest the buried thoughts and the ones measured against other yardsticks. I think Camille wasn't dreaming of more; I think she was wanting to live everyday moments a little more instead of putting them aside and living up to other expectations.
Life is better when we appreciate and savour the little things. The ordinary is not bad. It is extraordinary because it is only experienced by you; your personal experience of the world around you. You might think it's boring when you compare it to something or someone else, but who says their interpretation is better than yours? No one wants to be ordinary - a pitfall of social media, to make you believe your ordinary life is just not good enough. But everyday life was magical for Camilla because it was all her own.
Sometimes the best entertainment is our imagination. Read this book, and think about the magic of everyday life. Thank you #scribepublishing for the pleasure of reading this #gifted book.
August 27, 2025
Really, really liked this one! Enjoyed a lot more than A Room Called Earth. Thanks so much to Scribe for my copy!
March 3, 2025
Camille has recently moved to the country with her poet partner but continues to take the long commute into Melbourne to work at a florist. Set on a single day which starts badly as Camille accidently leaves her phone at home, the novel is effectively in two parts - the train journey and the work place. The necessity of the phone in Camille's life is a theme that will reoccur as she is left with only her thoughts on the long commute and during the events that unfold.
I quite enjoyed the start of this novel. Camille's angst during the long train ride is palpable in the stream of consciousness writing style however, her character became a little overwhelming and I struggled to stay connected.
My initial admiration for the writing style also waned. I am a fan of experimental fiction and enjoy authors who are willing to play with prose, type etc. In this novel Ryan uses capitalization and repetition. Initially I thought the capitals to be for emphasis, for heightened expression, but the odd word turned into whole paragraphs and it just didn't work for me. Similarly, the repetition of a single short phrase across lines and pages led me to ask why - for what purpose. These additions just didn't impact or feel relevant. I quickly found my initial interest in Camille's story diminished and just wanted the book over.
I quite enjoyed the start of this novel. Camille's angst during the long train ride is palpable in the stream of consciousness writing style however, her character became a little overwhelming and I struggled to stay connected.
My initial admiration for the writing style also waned. I am a fan of experimental fiction and enjoy authors who are willing to play with prose, type etc. In this novel Ryan uses capitalization and repetition. Initially I thought the capitals to be for emphasis, for heightened expression, but the odd word turned into whole paragraphs and it just didn't work for me. Similarly, the repetition of a single short phrase across lines and pages led me to ask why - for what purpose. These additions just didn't impact or feel relevant. I quickly found my initial interest in Camille's story diminished and just wanted the book over.
March 12, 2025
Camille drinking a ‘Victoria Bitter’ at the footy when the MCG has only ever served Carlton Draught really threw me and I did not really recover from here. I normally enjoy experimental neurotic young woman in my home town of Melbourne musings where not much happens, but there was just something about Camille that felt flat, forced. Some of the prose in the authors first book made me laugh out loud and I enjoyed moments of it again here but not enough to make up for the wrong beer at the footy.
April 29, 2025
This read like my friends and I text (which I loved).
Read
July 2, 2025Birthday gift from Mum, via Shelf Life.
September 26, 2025
i loved this novel almost as much as i loved a room called earth! i love the one day plot line and that it ended with camille quitting because that’s exactly what i was hoping would happen.
February 9, 2025
The angst generated these days by being without one's phone captured so well as were the thoughts and doubts of Damille and the environment in which she moved. A big cheer when she quit.
May 12, 2025
Camille lives in the country.
She's forgotten her phone.
She's taking the train to work.
She's got period pain.
She can't escape herself ... or her toxic boss, Holly. And it's Valentine's Day.
The Knowing is a day in the life of a woman who goes to work as usual while dreaming of more.
I absolutely love the simplicity of the blurb for The Knowing by Madeleine Ryan and I really enjoyed experiencing this book. The short chapters were punchy and interesting and I was so rooting for Camille to get through her day and have a happy outcome!
This was all interior thoughts, raw and unfiltered, reflections on her past and her current unsatisfying job. I flew through this. I definitely connected more with this book than with Ryan's debut A Room Called Earth and I'm glad I gave this one a go. Not only was it a great read it also has one of the most stunning covers I've seen lately.
Pick this one up if you want to immerse yourself in a day in the life of a really likable young woman who wants more than she currently has.
Thank you @scribepub for my #gifted copy.
She's forgotten her phone.
She's taking the train to work.
She's got period pain.
She can't escape herself ... or her toxic boss, Holly. And it's Valentine's Day.
The Knowing is a day in the life of a woman who goes to work as usual while dreaming of more.
I absolutely love the simplicity of the blurb for The Knowing by Madeleine Ryan and I really enjoyed experiencing this book. The short chapters were punchy and interesting and I was so rooting for Camille to get through her day and have a happy outcome!
This was all interior thoughts, raw and unfiltered, reflections on her past and her current unsatisfying job. I flew through this. I definitely connected more with this book than with Ryan's debut A Room Called Earth and I'm glad I gave this one a go. Not only was it a great read it also has one of the most stunning covers I've seen lately.
Pick this one up if you want to immerse yourself in a day in the life of a really likable young woman who wants more than she currently has.
Thank you @scribepub for my #gifted copy.
February 14, 2025
This was the latest book sent to me by my online book club, WellRead. I have not read anything by Madeleine Ryan before but I understand that this is her second book. I had no real expectations before starting this but the reviews I read beforehand seemed very mixed, so I really wasn’t sure.
The main character is Camille and we follow her on her commute on the train from her country house to the florist where she works. Her period has just started, she forgets her phone at home and is required to be left with her thoughts during her long journey on the train. Camille can’t escape herself or her toxic boss, Holly, and it’s Valentine’s Day. The Knowing is a day in the life of a woman who goes to work as usual while dreaming of more.
This wasn’t as bad as some of the reviews I read had made out. I quite liked Camille and enjoyed spending time with her. Though written in the third person, we are in Camille’s head as her unfiltered thoughts roam between her past, present and future. This stream of consciousness-esque prose took a while to get used to but I was on board when it clicked. The characters are probably a little stereotypical; the nasty boss, lovely but low paid employees, wonderful grandma etc so this was a little disappointing.
Nothing really happens in this book, it really is just a random person’s thoughts on a random train journey. It felt like it was trying to be a bit Sally Rooney but missed the mark. The most annoying part of this book was actually the capitalization of seemingly random words every 10 sentences or so. This grated on me as I couldn’t figure out why this was done at all.
I didn’t find this book totally uninteresting, I just didn’t find it gripping either.
The main character is Camille and we follow her on her commute on the train from her country house to the florist where she works. Her period has just started, she forgets her phone at home and is required to be left with her thoughts during her long journey on the train. Camille can’t escape herself or her toxic boss, Holly, and it’s Valentine’s Day. The Knowing is a day in the life of a woman who goes to work as usual while dreaming of more.
This wasn’t as bad as some of the reviews I read had made out. I quite liked Camille and enjoyed spending time with her. Though written in the third person, we are in Camille’s head as her unfiltered thoughts roam between her past, present and future. This stream of consciousness-esque prose took a while to get used to but I was on board when it clicked. The characters are probably a little stereotypical; the nasty boss, lovely but low paid employees, wonderful grandma etc so this was a little disappointing.
Nothing really happens in this book, it really is just a random person’s thoughts on a random train journey. It felt like it was trying to be a bit Sally Rooney but missed the mark. The most annoying part of this book was actually the capitalization of seemingly random words every 10 sentences or so. This grated on me as I couldn’t figure out why this was done at all.
I didn’t find this book totally uninteresting, I just didn’t find it gripping either.
September 12, 2025
This was a nothing book - junk food book - I read something else in the middle of it though, so it wasn’t like airport fiction, where is was bad, but kind of addictive - just nothing, BUT it was nicely written, there just wasn’t a lot of point to it. The kind of book that I won’t keep, but put in a little free library. I hate it when I feel like that about a book.
It was a Well Read subscription book. I would hope for more, not something so non. Not the worst book I’ve had through the subscription (I’m looking at you Best of Friends 😬😑😩), but disappointing that it was included.
It was a Well Read subscription book. I would hope for more, not something so non. Not the worst book I’ve had through the subscription (I’m looking at you Best of Friends 😬😑😩), but disappointing that it was included.
August 25, 2025
I really liked this book, and I don’t know why. The melbourness/ bleakness / hopeless work references were a real treat.
March 8, 2025
Perfection!
I wondered was I going to have to try hard to imagine the discombobulation caused by NO PHONE. No work needed as Ryan gives a clear and witty description of what Camille feels on finding herself in this unenviable state of deprivation. I am not of the generation or lifestyle group that relies on phones for much but I completely felt Camille’s pain. That is quite a skill - to make me care about or empathise with a character’s distress in a situation which is terrifyingly banal and normally engenders (in me) more of a ‘get over it’ response, itself a well-worn cliché, than an OMIGOD GURRLL I SO GET IT. But get it I did.
To be left alone with our thoughts can be anywhere from disorienting to agonising and Ryan’s character has a lot of reckoning to do. She is assailed by her inner voice. Things occur to her in ways either prompted by the train journey or set off by a prior notion on her internal train of thought. Ideas and questions ricochet around the inside of her head. They are chaotic, impulsive, overwhelming and alarmingly frank/frankly alarming.
I loved Camille. More than that I was fascinated by her and wanted to understand her. I wanted to know where she was going to end up with her saga of stress, period pain, retail pressure and a beautifully depicted toxic boss, Holly. There was, of course, a dose of feeling sorry for herself and bemoaning (justified), a healthy sense of rage at the petty-minded narcissistic moves Holly plays (TOTALLY justified) as well as a gossipy feel of online horror stories that abound on social media. Ultimately, Ryan lands this story in a way that sees her character move to a different space propelled by a mix of self-examination and furious, strung out ‘over it-ness.’ In the meantime, it’s all about the journey.
Many topics/issues/grievances are covered in the space of this one day, but self-awareness and compassion are at the heart of this fresh and funny novel. Highly recommend.
I wondered was I going to have to try hard to imagine the discombobulation caused by NO PHONE. No work needed as Ryan gives a clear and witty description of what Camille feels on finding herself in this unenviable state of deprivation. I am not of the generation or lifestyle group that relies on phones for much but I completely felt Camille’s pain. That is quite a skill - to make me care about or empathise with a character’s distress in a situation which is terrifyingly banal and normally engenders (in me) more of a ‘get over it’ response, itself a well-worn cliché, than an OMIGOD GURRLL I SO GET IT. But get it I did.
To be left alone with our thoughts can be anywhere from disorienting to agonising and Ryan’s character has a lot of reckoning to do. She is assailed by her inner voice. Things occur to her in ways either prompted by the train journey or set off by a prior notion on her internal train of thought. Ideas and questions ricochet around the inside of her head. They are chaotic, impulsive, overwhelming and alarmingly frank/frankly alarming.
I loved Camille. More than that I was fascinated by her and wanted to understand her. I wanted to know where she was going to end up with her saga of stress, period pain, retail pressure and a beautifully depicted toxic boss, Holly. There was, of course, a dose of feeling sorry for herself and bemoaning (justified), a healthy sense of rage at the petty-minded narcissistic moves Holly plays (TOTALLY justified) as well as a gossipy feel of online horror stories that abound on social media. Ultimately, Ryan lands this story in a way that sees her character move to a different space propelled by a mix of self-examination and furious, strung out ‘over it-ness.’ In the meantime, it’s all about the journey.
Many topics/issues/grievances are covered in the space of this one day, but self-awareness and compassion are at the heart of this fresh and funny novel. Highly recommend.
December 7, 2025
The Knowing by Madeleine Ryan
I was looking for something short and snappy after If We Were Villains, which was very long and pretty intense. After a look at my TBR, I decided on a WellRead book club book from February: The Knowing by Madeleine Ryan. The WellRead readers' notes warn me that this is the type of book that I will 'feel strongly about'.
The Knowing spans a single day; Camille lives in country Victoria and is on her way to work at an upscale florist in Armadale. She's forgotten her phone. And she's got period pain. And a toxic boss. And it's Valentine's Day. We follow Camille's inner monologue as she wrestles with her thoughts, feelings, emotions, relationships, and societal pressures.
A quick, engaging read, offering not just a snapshot of Camille's life but also more profound reflections on the complexities of life today.
Thumbs up. I also give a thumbs up to the cover art and the overall book design, which utilise icons as chapter headers and some very short chapters laid out as if they were poems.
Body count: 0.
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I was looking for something short and snappy after If We Were Villains, which was very long and pretty intense. After a look at my TBR, I decided on a WellRead book club book from February: The Knowing by Madeleine Ryan. The WellRead readers' notes warn me that this is the type of book that I will 'feel strongly about'.
The Knowing spans a single day; Camille lives in country Victoria and is on her way to work at an upscale florist in Armadale. She's forgotten her phone. And she's got period pain. And a toxic boss. And it's Valentine's Day. We follow Camille's inner monologue as she wrestles with her thoughts, feelings, emotions, relationships, and societal pressures.
A quick, engaging read, offering not just a snapshot of Camille's life but also more profound reflections on the complexities of life today.
Thumbs up. I also give a thumbs up to the cover art and the overall book design, which utilise icons as chapter headers and some very short chapters laid out as if they were poems.
Body count: 0.
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February 16, 2025
I very much wanted to like this book, and at times I did. Some of the writing was lovely, however the development of the characters didn’t shift during the novel at all.
Camille, the main character is almost intolerably angsty, and her partner Manny is like a shadow, with limited defining characteristics besides being a poet and hating it (?)
There were also several reflections in this novel that I was like ‘wtf is this doing here?’, including musing on watching a woman in a burqa cross a road. This was exceptionally strange as it seemed to lack any context, but also painted the sighting of this woman as ‘exotic’ or unfamiliar, which is simply inaccurate for the city it is set in. There was also a point where the Camille’s partner took a candid naked photo of her and in her self consciousness reflected that ‘no wonder First Nation’s people don’t like having their photos taken’ - which seemed to me at best reductionist, at worse a very inappropriate comparison.
Cover art is absolutely stunning.
Potentially I’m not the right audience for this novel, but I can’t imagine who else it would be targeted at. Like Camille, I live in the same city and have worked for a lot of dickheads, but unfortunately just didn’t resonate with me.
Camille, the main character is almost intolerably angsty, and her partner Manny is like a shadow, with limited defining characteristics besides being a poet and hating it (?)
There were also several reflections in this novel that I was like ‘wtf is this doing here?’, including musing on watching a woman in a burqa cross a road. This was exceptionally strange as it seemed to lack any context, but also painted the sighting of this woman as ‘exotic’ or unfamiliar, which is simply inaccurate for the city it is set in. There was also a point where the Camille’s partner took a candid naked photo of her and in her self consciousness reflected that ‘no wonder First Nation’s people don’t like having their photos taken’ - which seemed to me at best reductionist, at worse a very inappropriate comparison.
Cover art is absolutely stunning.
Potentially I’m not the right audience for this novel, but I can’t imagine who else it would be targeted at. Like Camille, I live in the same city and have worked for a lot of dickheads, but unfortunately just didn’t resonate with me.
April 6, 2025
This was shaping up to a solid 3 star review- it’s not really for me, but not bad exactly- but by the end I was really having to force myself through it, so it’s a 2. I guess I was expecting more from the prose, or more insight?
Camille catches the train to work, with a boss she hates- she’s getting her period and she forgets her phone. The book takes you through her phone less day.
For something with a slight premise like that I feel the writing needs to be great to really bring it across the line. But while the writing isnt bad but it didn’t really sing for me. The fragmentary bits and the inner monologue were fine, but it wasn’t beautiful. It was all a bit banal- I was hoping for something that elevated the mundane, but no. Camille could be grating- as a character at a different life stage and worldview than me- but I think that would have been fine without the authorial intervention bits. Those moments grated hardest. Anyway disappointing but I’m sure that it has its audience.
Camille catches the train to work, with a boss she hates- she’s getting her period and she forgets her phone. The book takes you through her phone less day.
For something with a slight premise like that I feel the writing needs to be great to really bring it across the line. But while the writing isnt bad but it didn’t really sing for me. The fragmentary bits and the inner monologue were fine, but it wasn’t beautiful. It was all a bit banal- I was hoping for something that elevated the mundane, but no. Camille could be grating- as a character at a different life stage and worldview than me- but I think that would have been fine without the authorial intervention bits. Those moments grated hardest. Anyway disappointing but I’m sure that it has its audience.
February 16, 2025
(Thank you Edelweiss and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own)
I was expecting a relatable glimpse into the mundane struggles of modern womanhood: a forgotten phone, period cramps and the daily grind. Unfortunately, it delivered more mundane than relatable. Camille's inner monologue felt repetitive and whiny and the portrayal of her toxic boss, Holly, was more caricature than compelling. Manny, her partner was more like a ghost or a shadow rather than an actual character. While the concept had potential, the execution fell flat. By the end, I was more relieved the train ride was over than I was invested in Camille's day.
I was expecting a relatable glimpse into the mundane struggles of modern womanhood: a forgotten phone, period cramps and the daily grind. Unfortunately, it delivered more mundane than relatable. Camille's inner monologue felt repetitive and whiny and the portrayal of her toxic boss, Holly, was more caricature than compelling. Manny, her partner was more like a ghost or a shadow rather than an actual character. While the concept had potential, the execution fell flat. By the end, I was more relieved the train ride was over than I was invested in Camille's day.
March 2, 2025
This book came to me by way of comments like "funny" and "light" , and it certainly does have these aspects within. But it's much more than simply that. Beneath the humorous light narration, is an introspection that is deep and existential, and a lot is covered, such as purpose in life and the ways hierarchy can be navigated. The narration feels very specifically Millennial so I'd be curious how others respond to it, and I think you could say it depicts and explores millennial ennui, in ways that are simultaneously about the banal as well as the most tender parts of a psyche. I'm also a sucker for authentic depiction of menstruation, and there's a whole part devoted to such, so win win.
[Instagram: emreadsbooksagain]
[Instagram: emreadsbooksagain]
May 5, 2025
I don't know if i'm becoming more critical as I age, or I know my years of reading are limited, and I can't waste time on books I do not enjoy. I've had a terrible run of DNFs lately. I made it to page 96 (of 244 pages) with this one, and I just could not go on. The stream of consciousness, the exclamation marks, the CAPITAL LETTERS unnecessarily added to a sentence. Camille had skills, she left a great job - why stay with someone who is basically bullying her? I just did not get any of this, and quite frankly, I couldn't care less whether she made it to the end of her train trip to work or not.
May 14, 2025
This was a fun quick-paced read that takes place over one day. Camille reflects on so many feelings I think a lot of us have experienced, having a difficult manager is the worst, especially when it is paired with a career you want to pursue.
The writing style was very chatty, which I loved, and the chapters were also short. Although the book takes place in one day there are lots of flashbacks that help to complete the whole picture. There were also lots of dogs!
Thank you @scribe_uk for kindly gifting me this copy
The writing style was very chatty, which I loved, and the chapters were also short. Although the book takes place in one day there are lots of flashbacks that help to complete the whole picture. There were also lots of dogs!
Thank you @scribe_uk for kindly gifting me this copy
February 15, 2025
2.5⭐️A stream of consciousness on a bad day in the life of Camille, who lives in regional Victoria and commutes to Melbourne where she works in an upmarket florist…it happens to be Valentines Day…it’s readable…relatable at some levels…some days life really sucks…and we will all have to work or deal with at least one narcissist at some point in life and as women get through the day where our period doesn’t help!
February 23, 2025
This was a really special book. Readers are taken on a journey into the thoughts of Camille, a young woman living in Victoria, and her experiences over a single, ordinary day. The writing was funny, thoughtful and unique. At times, we experienced Camille’s streams of consciousness. This book was unlike anything I’ve read before and I enjoyed it so much more than I expected.
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