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A Year of Nothing: As heard on BBC Woman's Hour
Not yet published
Expected 22 Jan 26130 pages, Paperback
Expected publication January 22, 2026
2 people are currently reading
247 people want to read
About the author
Emma Gannon
17 books664 followersEmma Gannon is the Sunday Times bestselling author of eight books, including ‘A Year of Nothing‘ and ‘Olive’, her debut novel, which was nominated for the Dublin Literary Award. Her second novel, ‘Table for One’, published in 2025 with HarperCollins. Emma also runs the popular Substack newsletter, ‘The Hyphen’, which has thousands of paid subscribers. She also hosts creativity retreats all over the world and was a judge for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 30, 2025
The author has written a gorgeous memoir of the year she suffered a breakdown, which she now calls a "breakthrough," and invites us on her journey of recovery. I loved it and so will readers longing for a break from their own too stressful lives. Recommended!
September 17, 2025
This book was so personal, and that's precisely why it had such a profound effect on me.
More and more often, I came across the idea of finding joy in simple things. A YouTuber I used to watch a lot always said, “Celebrate mundanity.” and I loved that mindset!
I found the book very emotional and also loved the questions for reflection after each month. A definite recommendation.
Thank you NetGalley for the Arc!
More and more often, I came across the idea of finding joy in simple things. A YouTuber I used to watch a lot always said, “Celebrate mundanity.” and I loved that mindset!
I found the book very emotional and also loved the questions for reflection after each month. A definite recommendation.
Thank you NetGalley for the Arc!
December 29, 2025
A Year of Nothing is certainly way more than that. This is a life laid bare, a year of self-discovery and breaking from expectations. Luckily the author was able to take time off and go on the kind of retreats others will only be able to dream of, but the lessons learnt are shared in a thoughtful manner. My main take away was that most of the work was internal. The questions that are put to you the reader are there for consideration and to give space.
I really liked this as this took the book beyond a memoir and instead a sharing of learning. The author explains her reasons for calling the memoir A Year of Nothing, which I liked it was about releasing that pressure internally and externally and just being. Hopefully others that read this will find comfort, wisdom and inspiration like I did. Thank by you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
I really liked this as this took the book beyond a memoir and instead a sharing of learning. The author explains her reasons for calling the memoir A Year of Nothing, which I liked it was about releasing that pressure internally and externally and just being. Hopefully others that read this will find comfort, wisdom and inspiration like I did. Thank by you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
October 22, 2025
This book about the author's 'Year of nothing' after a burnout is split into monthly journal-like sections. I really liked the useful, accessible and practical ideas at the end of each month, from cheerful dressing to readdressing your relationship to alcohol, these were really easy for you to take and try to implement them in your own life. But I wanted to know more about how she couldn't function and the depth of what she was feeling and thinking was lacking. The title for me also doesn't quite fit, as she does an awful lot from expensive retreats, holidays and alternative therapies in her year of nothing. It's also comes from a very privileged position of being able to take a year off work and having lots of financial/family/friend support. While I loved the positive practical elements the depth, truth and honesty in a small book about burnout recovery was missing for you to be able to trust and want to listen to and take her advice. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc for my honest opinion.
October 21, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Whitefox Publishing for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
We are always told we should keep busy, keep productive, don't be lazy. But sometimes it is important that we do take that step back and relax, do nothing, read, watch telly, go for a walk, buy a new candle. We don't have to be on the go all the time, and we shouldn't feel guilty about taking time to rest. We shouldn't have to wait until our body forces us to rest, before we do.
I have one of Emma's novels and one of her non-fiction books but am yet to read them so this was my first foray into her work, and I really enjoyed it.
As someone who has had her fair share of mental health difficulties, I find it difficult to fully explain how it makes me feel, so I'm always in awe of people who manage to do so.
This is a short but beautiful book and I think it could be really helpful. I didn't have a breakdown per se, but my illness got too much for me and in 2024 I took an overdose, something I still think about from time to time, not with regret but with a longing to have succeeded. It was the lowest I have ever been and I think sometimes we need to reach that point in order to rise up again, and Emma has pitched this perfectly.
I won't go into depth about the things she's written about because you need to read it for yourself, but one bit I really related to was how she talks about her strolls through cemeteries and graveyards to clear her head. When I was in better physical health and was still allowed to drive, I would often drive to the crematorium (where my Nan, Granddad, and Dad are) and just walk. There is a small lake at the bottom of the crematorium and I would frequently go down there with a book or a notepad, sit on the bench by the water and read or write, listening to the wind in the trees, and the birds, and the fish in the water. I found it so relaxing but I've never found someone who feels that way instead of thinking it's just morbid.
It's a small book but a powerful one, and I read it in a few hours, and once I finished I just had to contact her myself to express my thanks.
We are always told we should keep busy, keep productive, don't be lazy. But sometimes it is important that we do take that step back and relax, do nothing, read, watch telly, go for a walk, buy a new candle. We don't have to be on the go all the time, and we shouldn't feel guilty about taking time to rest. We shouldn't have to wait until our body forces us to rest, before we do.
I have one of Emma's novels and one of her non-fiction books but am yet to read them so this was my first foray into her work, and I really enjoyed it.
As someone who has had her fair share of mental health difficulties, I find it difficult to fully explain how it makes me feel, so I'm always in awe of people who manage to do so.
This is a short but beautiful book and I think it could be really helpful. I didn't have a breakdown per se, but my illness got too much for me and in 2024 I took an overdose, something I still think about from time to time, not with regret but with a longing to have succeeded. It was the lowest I have ever been and I think sometimes we need to reach that point in order to rise up again, and Emma has pitched this perfectly.
I won't go into depth about the things she's written about because you need to read it for yourself, but one bit I really related to was how she talks about her strolls through cemeteries and graveyards to clear her head. When I was in better physical health and was still allowed to drive, I would often drive to the crematorium (where my Nan, Granddad, and Dad are) and just walk. There is a small lake at the bottom of the crematorium and I would frequently go down there with a book or a notepad, sit on the bench by the water and read or write, listening to the wind in the trees, and the birds, and the fish in the water. I found it so relaxing but I've never found someone who feels that way instead of thinking it's just morbid.
It's a small book but a powerful one, and I read it in a few hours, and once I finished I just had to contact her myself to express my thanks.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’m not entirely sure what drew me to this novel. Perhaps it was the idea of stepping away from life for a year, which is an intriguing concept, although one that most of us can’t realistically afford. In a world where finances, responsibilities, and obligations weigh heavily, the luxury of pressing pause feels out of reach. As Thoreau wrote, many of us live lives of quiet desperation, and while the author’s journey may be more dramatic than that, it still sits on the same spectrum.
I opened the book knowing I’d likely find myself talking back to the author. Gannon’s reflections aren’t extraordinary; they echo the rhythms of everyday life, except hers are cushioned by privileges many readers don’t share. She writes of breakdowns and recovery, but always with the safety net of supportive friends, family, a husband, and the financial freedom to attend retreats, travel, and recalibration. For those without such resources, her words feel distant and perhaps even hollow.
As I read further, I couldn’t help but think about those teetering on the edge of depression or midlife crisis without resources. For those, this narrative might sting. It’s not that Gannon’s struggles aren’t real, but they’re framed within a context of comfort that most readers can only imagine. And yet, people without Gannon’s luxuries still manage to rise each morning, go to work, care for children, and keep moving forward.
The book straddles genres: part memoir, part self-help, with exercises meant to guide readers through their own journey. But I wouldn’t call it sad, or motivational, or even a traditional self-help manual. Instead, it feels like peering through a window, watching someone navigate hardship with support systems firmly in place, while recognizing that resilience looks very different when you don’t have those same cushions.
I opened the book knowing I’d likely find myself talking back to the author. Gannon’s reflections aren’t extraordinary; they echo the rhythms of everyday life, except hers are cushioned by privileges many readers don’t share. She writes of breakdowns and recovery, but always with the safety net of supportive friends, family, a husband, and the financial freedom to attend retreats, travel, and recalibration. For those without such resources, her words feel distant and perhaps even hollow.
As I read further, I couldn’t help but think about those teetering on the edge of depression or midlife crisis without resources. For those, this narrative might sting. It’s not that Gannon’s struggles aren’t real, but they’re framed within a context of comfort that most readers can only imagine. And yet, people without Gannon’s luxuries still manage to rise each morning, go to work, care for children, and keep moving forward.
The book straddles genres: part memoir, part self-help, with exercises meant to guide readers through their own journey. But I wouldn’t call it sad, or motivational, or even a traditional self-help manual. Instead, it feels like peering through a window, watching someone navigate hardship with support systems firmly in place, while recognizing that resilience looks very different when you don’t have those same cushions.
December 2, 2025
I received a copy of this book from Whitefox Publishing and Emma Gannon in return for an honest, independent review.
From the very first page, Emma Gannon draws you into her experiment of doing… well, nothing. After experiencing burnout and the constant pressure to achieve, she deliberately steps off the endless treadmill of "doing" for a year, allowing herself space to breathe, reflect, and simply be.
What I loved most was how honest and relatable Gannon is. She doesn't sugarcoat the struggle, but shows the beauty of letting life unfold at its own pace. Whether it's borrowing a dog, learning to swim again, or simply enjoying small, everyday moments, there's a quiet joy in every page.
Reading this also made me pause and reflect – I realised that, at times over the last year, I've been quite close to burnout, throwing myself into work as a way to cope with grief. Gannon's experiment with doing nothing felt like permission to slow down, even just a little.
The book isn't preachy or self-helpy; it's thoughtful, warm, and full of gentle reminders that rest, reflection, and presence are not indulgences – they're essential. Reading it felt like a breath of fresh air, a moment to pause and appreciate the simple things.
A Year of Nothing is inspiring, comforting, and the kind of read that stays with you long after you've finished it.
From the very first page, Emma Gannon draws you into her experiment of doing… well, nothing. After experiencing burnout and the constant pressure to achieve, she deliberately steps off the endless treadmill of "doing" for a year, allowing herself space to breathe, reflect, and simply be.
What I loved most was how honest and relatable Gannon is. She doesn't sugarcoat the struggle, but shows the beauty of letting life unfold at its own pace. Whether it's borrowing a dog, learning to swim again, or simply enjoying small, everyday moments, there's a quiet joy in every page.
Reading this also made me pause and reflect – I realised that, at times over the last year, I've been quite close to burnout, throwing myself into work as a way to cope with grief. Gannon's experiment with doing nothing felt like permission to slow down, even just a little.
The book isn't preachy or self-helpy; it's thoughtful, warm, and full of gentle reminders that rest, reflection, and presence are not indulgences – they're essential. Reading it felt like a breath of fresh air, a moment to pause and appreciate the simple things.
A Year of Nothing is inspiring, comforting, and the kind of read that stays with you long after you've finished it.
December 14, 2025
Thank you White Fox Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
Perfectionist, podcaster, author. And now in her latest book, Emma Gannon shares her unravelling, her breakdown which as she shares was horrible but necessary.
This brave, honest and down to earth memoir began as a collection of journal entries Emma wrote leading up to, during and through her breakdown. The end result is the collation of memories of these and adapted into the book we now hold detailing Emma’s “Year of Nothing”, a year where she puts everything on hold to metamorphosis into a more grounded, softer, relaxed yet integrated version of herself.
I really enjoyed accompanying Emma on her journey and was inspired by the honesty and rawness she shared.
Part of her “Year of Nothing” was exploring any healing modalities she could and I enjoyed reading about her experiences with them. I also really loved the day she wore her Dungarees and was absolutely intrigued by the concept of Dopamine Dressing. I’m sure we all have done / do it so a certain extent but this really stuck with me.
I highly recommend this memoir.
Thank you White Fox, Emma Gannon and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this and provide my honest review .
Perfectionist, podcaster, author. And now in her latest book, Emma Gannon shares her unravelling, her breakdown which as she shares was horrible but necessary.
This brave, honest and down to earth memoir began as a collection of journal entries Emma wrote leading up to, during and through her breakdown. The end result is the collation of memories of these and adapted into the book we now hold detailing Emma’s “Year of Nothing”, a year where she puts everything on hold to metamorphosis into a more grounded, softer, relaxed yet integrated version of herself.
I really enjoyed accompanying Emma on her journey and was inspired by the honesty and rawness she shared.
Part of her “Year of Nothing” was exploring any healing modalities she could and I enjoyed reading about her experiences with them. I also really loved the day she wore her Dungarees and was absolutely intrigued by the concept of Dopamine Dressing. I’m sure we all have done / do it so a certain extent but this really stuck with me.
I highly recommend this memoir.
Thank you White Fox, Emma Gannon and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this and provide my honest review .
Read
November 21, 2025What happens when the life you know stops abruptly? What happens when all the victories of your life turn to ashes in your mouth? Emma Gannon, a hugely successful author and broadcaster was forced to reassess her life when she found she simply couldn't make her mind and body carry on in the way she had always done. The break comes, as it so often does, at an event that was supposed to be a beautiful celebration, which turned into a nightmare that took Emma a year of gently considering her life to get out of. We follow her through the seasons of her burn out as she begins to figure out a different way of being. This is deeply touching and powerful in its simplicity. There is a raw, personal tenderness that allows Emma's vulnerability to shine through and which makes this something to be savoured. I loved the questions at the end of each section in which Emma invites us as the readers to think about our relationship to the things she is saying. There is no judgment or sense of demand here, just a gentle curiosity that asks us to spend a few moments considering our own lives.
October 3, 2025
I was very kindly given an e-ARC copy of this book via Netgalley and Whitefox Publishing.
I think if I'd had this during my nervous breakdown, I might have gotten out of it a bit quicker. Particularly as I probably needed to do a year of nothing to recover from it, but I was 20 and at university and just high-functioning enough to do some damage. I enjoyed Gannon's insights into how she supported the healing process from her own burnout. On something like this, I struggle to pass critique or judgement because it's clearly a significant moment in a person's life, but I did find it a little wanting in the writing style in places. Ultimately, I hope this gets into the hands of the people who need it, because it can help.
'A Year of Nothing' by Emma Gannon will be available in this format in January 2026.
I think if I'd had this during my nervous breakdown, I might have gotten out of it a bit quicker. Particularly as I probably needed to do a year of nothing to recover from it, but I was 20 and at university and just high-functioning enough to do some damage. I enjoyed Gannon's insights into how she supported the healing process from her own burnout. On something like this, I struggle to pass critique or judgement because it's clearly a significant moment in a person's life, but I did find it a little wanting in the writing style in places. Ultimately, I hope this gets into the hands of the people who need it, because it can help.
'A Year of Nothing' by Emma Gannon will be available in this format in January 2026.
November 13, 2025
It’s hard to review someone’s personal breakdown and ultimate triumph without sounding judgmental, so let me be clear: I am deeply glad Emma found so much to learn and rebuild after her crisis.
However, as a memoir, the narrative execution missed the mark for me. The account felt rushed, particularly during the moments of profound breakthrough and recovery. I sensed a powerful journey, but the emotional weight needed more space to breathe and fully land with this reader. This memoir felt more like a brisk summary than an immersive, detailed reflection. Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy.
However, as a memoir, the narrative execution missed the mark for me. The account felt rushed, particularly during the moments of profound breakthrough and recovery. I sensed a powerful journey, but the emotional weight needed more space to breathe and fully land with this reader. This memoir felt more like a brisk summary than an immersive, detailed reflection. Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy.
September 27, 2025
This book is a must read for everyone in today’s society where it’s constant tasks and commitments. One woman’s breakdown can teach us many lessons. I feel so inspired now to take back my life and my time. Every part of this book was so relatable. There are plenty of takeaways and so much motivation to slow down, rest, and really just live in the moment. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews