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Girls Our Age: A Novel
Three women navigate their late twenties together in a bittersweet novel about female friendship, identity, and growing up—from the hope and promise of college to the realities that lie beyond.
Lily, Ana, and Margot have been best friends ever since Hawthorne Res Life assigned them as roommates during their first year of college.
Ten years later and Lily is planning her wedding to the endlessly supportive and entirely symmetrical Jack. Ana is a fourth-grade teacher at the prestigious Horizon Academy, alma mater of her long-term boyfriend, who’s finally asked her to move in. Margot is about to land a life-changing promotion at ad agency McQueen O’Doul’s.
It all looks good from here.
But when the three friends converge on Maine for the wedding, the real challenges they’ve been able to keep from each other begin to surface. It’s finally time to open up about their secrets, the very private struggles they’ve hidden for too long, and the risks they’ve taken to protect themselves, and those they love, from the truth.
For Ana, Lily, and Margot, whatever unsettled course their lives take next, one thing is Acceptance, unconditional love, and friendship are forever.
Lily, Ana, and Margot have been best friends ever since Hawthorne Res Life assigned them as roommates during their first year of college.
Ten years later and Lily is planning her wedding to the endlessly supportive and entirely symmetrical Jack. Ana is a fourth-grade teacher at the prestigious Horizon Academy, alma mater of her long-term boyfriend, who’s finally asked her to move in. Margot is about to land a life-changing promotion at ad agency McQueen O’Doul’s.
It all looks good from here.
But when the three friends converge on Maine for the wedding, the real challenges they’ve been able to keep from each other begin to surface. It’s finally time to open up about their secrets, the very private struggles they’ve hidden for too long, and the risks they’ve taken to protect themselves, and those they love, from the truth.
For Ana, Lily, and Margot, whatever unsettled course their lives take next, one thing is Acceptance, unconditional love, and friendship are forever.
315 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2026
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May 8, 2026
Ouch. Welcome to my TED Talk lol.
As a 22-year old having recently started a full time office job away from my family (I’m a home-bird) and familiarity, who also struggled with similar issues as some of these girls; this was written for me.
The basic premise is that three best friends reunite at a wedding, the reality is a messy, relatable, tender depiction of people trying to navigate their mid to late 20s.
We all curate our lives. We don’t want to unload on our best friends in the brief opportunities we have to relax with each other. On the other hand, your best friends have seen you at your lowest before and, just because we’re adults now, it doesn’t mean we need to have our sh*t together.
I think your 20s is the greatest time of growth. You’re surrounded by a community of students at university, teachers and structure at school, comforted daily by family at home (I know that’s a privileged position to say that from, but this is a very self-reflective, subjective review).
In your 20s, you realise, hey, your degree doesn’t matter, your hours of revision and dedication and ambition means nothing, you actually have to adult and it’s not as freeing as you always imagined it would be.
Anyway…
This novel covers sexual identity, job worries and satisfaction, and mental health (eating disorder).
On the outside, these three friends are girl bosses with great lives. When you get in their heads, you realise how tight they have to grip at the cracks in the facade.
I do think this book didn’t push it far enough. Just when things started getting deep and real and raw, things are wrapped up and we finish with overwhelming hope.
The author played it too safe and the page count was too short.
Audiobook arc gifted by RBMedia.
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As a 22-year old having recently started a full time office job away from my family (I’m a home-bird) and familiarity, who also struggled with similar issues as some of these girls; this was written for me.
The basic premise is that three best friends reunite at a wedding, the reality is a messy, relatable, tender depiction of people trying to navigate their mid to late 20s.
We all curate our lives. We don’t want to unload on our best friends in the brief opportunities we have to relax with each other. On the other hand, your best friends have seen you at your lowest before and, just because we’re adults now, it doesn’t mean we need to have our sh*t together.
I think your 20s is the greatest time of growth. You’re surrounded by a community of students at university, teachers and structure at school, comforted daily by family at home (I know that’s a privileged position to say that from, but this is a very self-reflective, subjective review).
In your 20s, you realise, hey, your degree doesn’t matter, your hours of revision and dedication and ambition means nothing, you actually have to adult and it’s not as freeing as you always imagined it would be.
Anyway…
This novel covers sexual identity, job worries and satisfaction, and mental health (eating disorder).
On the outside, these three friends are girl bosses with great lives. When you get in their heads, you realise how tight they have to grip at the cracks in the facade.
I do think this book didn’t push it far enough. Just when things started getting deep and real and raw, things are wrapped up and we finish with overwhelming hope.
The author played it too safe and the page count was too short.
Audiobook arc gifted by RBMedia.
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Tiktok
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January 20, 2026
I'm still just a girl, I feel exactly like I did at seventeen, I don't know what I want, it's not easy to have needs,
Female friendship and pure emotional turmoil (I took breaks, because sometimes it overwhelmed me).
Three girls turning into women, living three different lives - one getting married, one moved away with her long term boyfriend and one is trying to climb the career ladder while figuring out her sexuality.
Sometimes friendships are thinning out, you move in different directions, have different needs, but eventually, if you have the right type of friends, you can find yourself back into the arms of your girls.
Making things harder for yourself because you think it's kinder to those around you is not a very honest way to live.
Female friendship and pure emotional turmoil (I took breaks, because sometimes it overwhelmed me).
Three girls turning into women, living three different lives - one getting married, one moved away with her long term boyfriend and one is trying to climb the career ladder while figuring out her sexuality.
Sometimes friendships are thinning out, you move in different directions, have different needs, but eventually, if you have the right type of friends, you can find yourself back into the arms of your girls.
Making things harder for yourself because you think it's kinder to those around you is not a very honest way to live.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
maybe it’s bc I’m getting married next year and this is all so real and so topical or maybe it’s because I am lucky enough to have such lovely friendships with complex women or maybe it’s because I love my mom or maybe it’s because it’s so easy to feel lost in your job and life as a young woman or maybe it’s because I came out in my late 20s but this was perfect for me
the writing feels true to life in a way I don’t often find and it made it feel like you were really there with these girls navigating their lives and maybe some people might dislike that but I love the way the dialogue reads the way I speak to my friends.
I wish it was longer and had more time to settle at the end bc the resolution came so late but also I kinda loved that there wasn’t just an easy wrap up to 2 years in the future or something.
cannot wait to read what the author writes next!! 4.5 stars rounding up since it’s a debut
did make me cry!! ana & margot & lily are my close personal friends!!
thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC 🫶🏼🫶🏼
the writing feels true to life in a way I don’t often find and it made it feel like you were really there with these girls navigating their lives and maybe some people might dislike that but I love the way the dialogue reads the way I speak to my friends.
I wish it was longer and had more time to settle at the end bc the resolution came so late but also I kinda loved that there wasn’t just an easy wrap up to 2 years in the future or something.
cannot wait to read what the author writes next!! 4.5 stars rounding up since it’s a debut
did make me cry!! ana & margot & lily are my close personal friends!!
thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC 🫶🏼🫶🏼
April 1, 2026
4.5⭐️ From the cover, to the title, and to the premise, I was immediately drawn to this book, and it did not disappoint!
“Girls Our Age” is a story about three women in their late 20s navigating rough patches in their relationships, careers, mental health, sexuality, and, inevitably, their friendship too.
I really enjoyed the writing in this book, it truly felt like you were going through the characters’ thought processes with them. When they started getting anxious and spiraling, you could see it in the way the writing flowed, and it made me feel everything with them! The character’s inner monologue was filled with so much nuance and commentary, while being slightly sarcastic, and that’s my absolute favorite type of writing.
The characters were complex, and even though their actions could be frustrating at times, they felt real and raw, making mistakes just like we all do in our everyday lives and in our relationships. Because of that I ended up feeling more connected to these women, and I could see a piece of me in every single one of them. So much so that it made me cry in the last few pages!
This book touches on so many important topics, but I especially appreciated the eating disorder conversation, the way it can affect your every single thought every single day.
The only reasons why this isn’t a perfect 5⭐️ is because I think the ending wrapped up too quickly and I wish there were more chapters in Margot’s POV, because she started to feel like a side character towards the second half of the book.
Overall, this was truly an amazing read, and I’ll be recommending this book to everyone as soon as it comes out! I can’t wait to get my own physical copy and eventually reread it.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!
“Girls Our Age” is a story about three women in their late 20s navigating rough patches in their relationships, careers, mental health, sexuality, and, inevitably, their friendship too.
I really enjoyed the writing in this book, it truly felt like you were going through the characters’ thought processes with them. When they started getting anxious and spiraling, you could see it in the way the writing flowed, and it made me feel everything with them! The character’s inner monologue was filled with so much nuance and commentary, while being slightly sarcastic, and that’s my absolute favorite type of writing.
The characters were complex, and even though their actions could be frustrating at times, they felt real and raw, making mistakes just like we all do in our everyday lives and in our relationships. Because of that I ended up feeling more connected to these women, and I could see a piece of me in every single one of them. So much so that it made me cry in the last few pages!
This book touches on so many important topics, but I especially appreciated the eating disorder conversation, the way it can affect your every single thought every single day.
The only reasons why this isn’t a perfect 5⭐️ is because I think the ending wrapped up too quickly and I wish there were more chapters in Margot’s POV, because she started to feel like a side character towards the second half of the book.
Overall, this was truly an amazing read, and I’ll be recommending this book to everyone as soon as it comes out! I can’t wait to get my own physical copy and eventually reread it.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!
December 4, 2025
i'm in my late twenties, so the premise of this book immediately caught my eye. in general, i'm not the biggest fan of "woman in her twenties doing Things" type of media (see: girls on hbo), but PT's writing and her way of handling these characters was so refreshing i got to enjoy this exactly how i wanted.
this book perfectly encapsulates what it's like to be in your late twenties. it highlights how daunting it can be to watch everyone around you do something with their lives and how that makes you feel like you've stagnated. there are so many different paths to take, and you're not sure which one is the right one for you. people are getting married, having kids, doing drugs, and then there's you, doomscrolling in your bed. and, dude, it IS hard making/maintaining friendships as an adult. i think all the struggles of being grown and still feeling overwhelmed were handled quite well.
i wish it were longer, though. that's the only reason the book doesn't get a full 5-star rating for me. but i enjoyed it a lot
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for a honest review
this book perfectly encapsulates what it's like to be in your late twenties. it highlights how daunting it can be to watch everyone around you do something with their lives and how that makes you feel like you've stagnated. there are so many different paths to take, and you're not sure which one is the right one for you. people are getting married, having kids, doing drugs, and then there's you, doomscrolling in your bed. and, dude, it IS hard making/maintaining friendships as an adult. i think all the struggles of being grown and still feeling overwhelmed were handled quite well.
i wish it were longer, though. that's the only reason the book doesn't get a full 5-star rating for me. but i enjoyed it a lot
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for a honest review
May 7, 2026
using “unproblematic king” unironically as a descriptor for your best friend’s fiancé when you’re pushing 30 is definitely a choice
January 7, 2026
As someone who also went to a small liberal arts college in Maine I ate this up! I felt resonances with each of the three women which tells me they’re good archetypes for different kinds of malaise that might afflict late 20s (or early 30s hehe) American women, especially with regards to the unifying pain they experience in Realizing You Won’t Get Everything You Were Promised But Also Is That Such A Bad Thing; What Was It You Wanted Anyway?
My only complaint is I really wish so much of the turmoil these women experienced wouldn’t be around their jobs. Like I get that’s a given (since most people have to work) but it just bummed me out. But that’s not so much the book’s fault than it is the fault of American late stage capitalism (sorry). I do appreciate that despite the fact that employment or lack thereof was a central conflict for each of the characters, they really spent a decent amount of time considering how their positionality was affected by class and power dynamics, which was interesting and compelling.
As I have said before: this (female friendship book) is my favorite genre of book and while I normally much prefer when they are set in the UK, Ireland, or Australia since American ones tend to suck, this was a rare good American entry into the canon.
My only complaint is I really wish so much of the turmoil these women experienced wouldn’t be around their jobs. Like I get that’s a given (since most people have to work) but it just bummed me out. But that’s not so much the book’s fault than it is the fault of American late stage capitalism (sorry). I do appreciate that despite the fact that employment or lack thereof was a central conflict for each of the characters, they really spent a decent amount of time considering how their positionality was affected by class and power dynamics, which was interesting and compelling.
As I have said before: this (female friendship book) is my favorite genre of book and while I normally much prefer when they are set in the UK, Ireland, or Australia since American ones tend to suck, this was a rare good American entry into the canon.
December 31, 2025
The cover: SHOW STOPPING, JAW DROPPING, DEAD GORGEOUS
The content: An intriguing debut that taps into the messiness of being in your late twenties, with lots of moments that are easy to relate to, especially for the girlie pops. Still, something was missing for me: a real reason to care about the characters. Maybe because it plays things a bit too safe?
The content: An intriguing debut that taps into the messiness of being in your late twenties, with lots of moments that are easy to relate to, especially for the girlie pops. Still, something was missing for me: a real reason to care about the characters. Maybe because it plays things a bit too safe?
February 17, 2026
Thank you to the author for sending me an advanced copy of the ebook 🩷
First to start with the serious: There were so many elements of all three characters that I resonated with. My favorite line was in Ana’s pov: “She’d tried so hard to leave, and she hadn’t gone far at all.” I FELT that. I was envious of Lily’s ability to be honest with her mother by the end of the book. Definitely felt Margot’s struggles of establishing a work-life balance and unlearning being a lifelong overachiever. I think any woman in their 20s will find a little bit of themselves in at least one main character!
Now the silly stuff:
Silas SUCKS, don’t condone cheating but I almost wish Ana had made a real move on Alistair
What kind of girl brings her fiancé and his posse on her bachelorette??? Without warning all the bach attendees??? Least believable part of the whole book!
These girls need to TALK to each other more often! What do you mean you barely talked to the bride at all between the Bach and wedding??
I saw another review say they wish the book was longer- total agree!!! I want to know if Margot and Alix end up together and if Ana moves back to Wisconsin and if Lily ever gets a job !!!
Overall, a lovely depiction of what it is like to be in your twenties and be a friend of other women in their twenties. It’s all hard, life sucks a lot of the time, but you can get through it with people who love and support you <3
First to start with the serious: There were so many elements of all three characters that I resonated with. My favorite line was in Ana’s pov: “She’d tried so hard to leave, and she hadn’t gone far at all.” I FELT that. I was envious of Lily’s ability to be honest with her mother by the end of the book. Definitely felt Margot’s struggles of establishing a work-life balance and unlearning being a lifelong overachiever. I think any woman in their 20s will find a little bit of themselves in at least one main character!
Now the silly stuff:
Silas SUCKS, don’t condone cheating but I almost wish Ana had made a real move on Alistair
What kind of girl brings her fiancé and his posse on her bachelorette??? Without warning all the bach attendees??? Least believable part of the whole book!
These girls need to TALK to each other more often! What do you mean you barely talked to the bride at all between the Bach and wedding??
I saw another review say they wish the book was longer- total agree!!! I want to know if Margot and Alix end up together and if Ana moves back to Wisconsin and if Lily ever gets a job !!!
Overall, a lovely depiction of what it is like to be in your twenties and be a friend of other women in their twenties. It’s all hard, life sucks a lot of the time, but you can get through it with people who love and support you <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2026
This is the good, the bad, and the ugly of girlhood. As a girl in her 20s going through one too many life changes, this was a relatable read. I now miss my college friends BAD.
December 8, 2025
4.5 —This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2026 and I think I even went so far as to beg the author for an ARC in her instagram comments? So imagine my delight when it became “Read Now” on NetGalley—I swooped it up QUICKLY.
As a 30 year old with a bit of a nostalgia problem and a deep fondness for my college years, I am absolutely the target audience for this book and it really worked for me. I want to say that I could’ve written this story based off how some of the feelings described in it seem to bit lifted directly from my own life, but 1) I’ve been trying to write a book for years and haven’t made it past 60 pages and 2) I know these experiences are not exactly unique to me but. Still.
While I like to challenge myself to read outside my own experiences regularly, there’s a certain specialness about reading a plot that feels so familiar. The story made me feel less alone. Is there anything more important to the human experience than that? I was sneaking in pages whenever and wherever I could because reading it felt like a little hug from the universe or a really impactful therapy session. While all the characters are deeply flawed, it would be incorrect to write them any other way. Their rawness and messiness and realness was what endeared me to them so easily. In the grand scheme of unlikability, these girls are also pretty mild. I found it impossible not to cheer for them individually and collectively, although I will say I wasn’t totally impressed by how they handled their conflict. But again, that just made it feel REAL.
As I mentioned above, this book definitely has a target audience and I’m not sure how it’ll land in the mainstream market. I do think most women will enjoy it, but I’m not totally sure. Honestly, if you hated college, you might hate this. If you aren’t a sentimental person or someone who considers HBO’s Girls the Holy Gospel, you also might hate this. If you have your shit together fully, you may not be the target audience either. But I hope those who need it find it—those like me, who are sometimes messy and sometimes lonely and sometimes feel like they are the only ones one who don’t have a social media worthy life.
I do wish it was longer and that the girls had their reunification a bit earlier in the story because the ending reminded me that all that messiness and loneliness isn’t quite so scary when you have friends that know and love you through it all.
(Oh and shoutout and thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!!)
As a 30 year old with a bit of a nostalgia problem and a deep fondness for my college years, I am absolutely the target audience for this book and it really worked for me. I want to say that I could’ve written this story based off how some of the feelings described in it seem to bit lifted directly from my own life, but 1) I’ve been trying to write a book for years and haven’t made it past 60 pages and 2) I know these experiences are not exactly unique to me but. Still.
While I like to challenge myself to read outside my own experiences regularly, there’s a certain specialness about reading a plot that feels so familiar. The story made me feel less alone. Is there anything more important to the human experience than that? I was sneaking in pages whenever and wherever I could because reading it felt like a little hug from the universe or a really impactful therapy session. While all the characters are deeply flawed, it would be incorrect to write them any other way. Their rawness and messiness and realness was what endeared me to them so easily. In the grand scheme of unlikability, these girls are also pretty mild. I found it impossible not to cheer for them individually and collectively, although I will say I wasn’t totally impressed by how they handled their conflict. But again, that just made it feel REAL.
As I mentioned above, this book definitely has a target audience and I’m not sure how it’ll land in the mainstream market. I do think most women will enjoy it, but I’m not totally sure. Honestly, if you hated college, you might hate this. If you aren’t a sentimental person or someone who considers HBO’s Girls the Holy Gospel, you also might hate this. If you have your shit together fully, you may not be the target audience either. But I hope those who need it find it—those like me, who are sometimes messy and sometimes lonely and sometimes feel like they are the only ones one who don’t have a social media worthy life.
I do wish it was longer and that the girls had their reunification a bit earlier in the story because the ending reminded me that all that messiness and loneliness isn’t quite so scary when you have friends that know and love you through it all.
(Oh and shoutout and thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!!)
December 31, 2025
thank you to the publisher for the ARC!
i went into this expecting to read about a bachelorette and a wedding, but instead it was about friendship, and classism and elitism and being in your late twenties and feeling like everyone else is doing soooo much better than you. and i loved it a lot!
it’s crazy because i am 27, but i feel so BEHIND compared to the girls in this book (they are 28). but then i’m like, thats the whole point of the book! we are all at different paces.
tw for ED.
i went into this expecting to read about a bachelorette and a wedding, but instead it was about friendship, and classism and elitism and being in your late twenties and feeling like everyone else is doing soooo much better than you. and i loved it a lot!
it’s crazy because i am 27, but i feel so BEHIND compared to the girls in this book (they are 28). but then i’m like, thats the whole point of the book! we are all at different paces.
tw for ED.
January 12, 2026
This book followed the lives of three school girl friends as they diverged to different cities. One put her career above all else and ended up with nothing to show for it. One lived a luxury dream lifestyle but had an eating disorder. The last was in a 10 year long crappy relationship. Not a whole lot happened, definitely nothing positive. It was well written but not my cup of tea. The ending was very abrupt and had no feel of conclusion to it.
May 5, 2026
Wow. This book left me in tears. I just wanted to hug it to my chest and tell my new fictional friends that everything was going to be okay.
Ana, Lily, and Margot are 3 best friends that met as college roommates. As it goes, they are slowly drifting apart as adults. This story follows them in the weeks before Lily's wedding, dealing with their own problems while trying to not lose all of the good things they have gained from their friendship.
The feeling of being an adult but still feeling 17, feeling like you should have your sh*t figured out but don't, feeling like friends have slipped away by life's natural progression and being upset by it...this book perfectly captures that.
So much of the character Ana resonated with me. The highs and lows of her relationship, how she describes the wealth divide, doubting herself and managing her emotions to make life "easier" for everyone else.
Then there's Lily. The girl who seems to have it all, but is just as insecure as the rest of us. As someone who has never dealt with an eating disorder personally, I felt the author described it in a way that made so much sense. It was heartbreaking. But the thinking behind why people struggle with disordered eating l've realized correlates so much with other mental illnesses. (In one lowkey recovering agoraphobic/general anxiety sufferer's unprofessional opinion.)
And then Margot, haven't we all wished at some point to be as fierce, badass and driven as Margot? And as each strength seems to have a flaw to mirror back at it; Margot's badassery she realizes has left her little time to figure out herself. What does Margot really want? What is important to her?
I sincerely LOVED diving into this world and reading about characters that felt like they could be in my own friend group. Watching them struggle with relationships, identity, sexuality, family, and careers. All readers can find something that resonates with themselves here.
Oh and THE COVER! I mean come on! She's gorgeous, she deserves her moment!
Recommend for anyone wanting to leave a story feeling like you're wrapped in a warm hug.
Ana, Lily, and Margot are 3 best friends that met as college roommates. As it goes, they are slowly drifting apart as adults. This story follows them in the weeks before Lily's wedding, dealing with their own problems while trying to not lose all of the good things they have gained from their friendship.
The feeling of being an adult but still feeling 17, feeling like you should have your sh*t figured out but don't, feeling like friends have slipped away by life's natural progression and being upset by it...this book perfectly captures that.
So much of the character Ana resonated with me. The highs and lows of her relationship, how she describes the wealth divide, doubting herself and managing her emotions to make life "easier" for everyone else.
Then there's Lily. The girl who seems to have it all, but is just as insecure as the rest of us. As someone who has never dealt with an eating disorder personally, I felt the author described it in a way that made so much sense. It was heartbreaking. But the thinking behind why people struggle with disordered eating l've realized correlates so much with other mental illnesses. (In one lowkey recovering agoraphobic/general anxiety sufferer's unprofessional opinion.)
And then Margot, haven't we all wished at some point to be as fierce, badass and driven as Margot? And as each strength seems to have a flaw to mirror back at it; Margot's badassery she realizes has left her little time to figure out herself. What does Margot really want? What is important to her?
I sincerely LOVED diving into this world and reading about characters that felt like they could be in my own friend group. Watching them struggle with relationships, identity, sexuality, family, and careers. All readers can find something that resonates with themselves here.
Oh and THE COVER! I mean come on! She's gorgeous, she deserves her moment!
Recommend for anyone wanting to leave a story feeling like you're wrapped in a warm hug.
April 14, 2026
5 stars for this absolutely amazing book and characters 🫶🏼🫶🏼
i think there’s something to be said about reading a book at the right time and this book was exactly that for me. i’m 25 and halfway through my 20s and to have a book centered about 3 women at different points at their life although being the same age really hit home for me. at 25 it feels like everyone is any direction and i’ll see it all on social media - we’re all the same age but everyone is so different. it shows that there’s no right way to do your 20s and this book showed that too. Lily felt like a window into my soul. as the book was unfolding i genuinely felt like the author looked into my life to write her. i’ve said before i connected to characters but Lily was a whole other level. it felt like i was reading myself in a book. maybe because im getting married this year myself this book and lily’s story hit extra different but nonetheless i felt so seen through her story. i got emotional so many times throughout this book and their stories. each women’s pov was so easy to distinguish who’s life we were back in and i was so connected to them i didn’t want to leave them. as i’m discovering your 20s is such a wild time in the sense that your growing up and figuring everything out and trying to find what is your next step and plan. i highly recommend this one to anyone really but anyone in their mid to late twenties. this will be hard to beat for my best book of 2026
i think there’s something to be said about reading a book at the right time and this book was exactly that for me. i’m 25 and halfway through my 20s and to have a book centered about 3 women at different points at their life although being the same age really hit home for me. at 25 it feels like everyone is any direction and i’ll see it all on social media - we’re all the same age but everyone is so different. it shows that there’s no right way to do your 20s and this book showed that too. Lily felt like a window into my soul. as the book was unfolding i genuinely felt like the author looked into my life to write her. i’ve said before i connected to characters but Lily was a whole other level. it felt like i was reading myself in a book. maybe because im getting married this year myself this book and lily’s story hit extra different but nonetheless i felt so seen through her story. i got emotional so many times throughout this book and their stories. each women’s pov was so easy to distinguish who’s life we were back in and i was so connected to them i didn’t want to leave them. as i’m discovering your 20s is such a wild time in the sense that your growing up and figuring everything out and trying to find what is your next step and plan. i highly recommend this one to anyone really but anyone in their mid to late twenties. this will be hard to beat for my best book of 2026
December 3, 2025
Wow. I want every woman I know to read this book. So insanely good, cried multiple times (I am currently 30 and all of it was way too relevant, sue me).
Thompson writes self-worth, doubt, and the shifting terrain of female friendships with such sharp accuracy it almost hurts. The book digs into self-image and the loneliness of independence and eating disorders in a way that feels intimate and truthful. Each character’s internal world feels lived-in, messy, and heartbreakingly familiar.
What really stayed with me is how it shows the growing pains of your late twenties: realizing the plans you made at 20 (or 22, or 25, or 28) don’t fit anymore, watching friends grow in different directions, and confronting the stories you’ve told yourself about who you’re supposed to be. So good and raw and beautiful. God I love women.
I did think it ended a little too quickly, I wish the girls had talked sooner than the like like 5% of the book so we could see the fall out a little more BUT also in love with the way it’s written anyways. Also great cover artwork.
Also this was an arc book from NetGalley, I think I’m supposed to say that.
(Spoiler: fuck Silas, absolute loser status. And we all know a Silas)
Thompson writes self-worth, doubt, and the shifting terrain of female friendships with such sharp accuracy it almost hurts. The book digs into self-image and the loneliness of independence and eating disorders in a way that feels intimate and truthful. Each character’s internal world feels lived-in, messy, and heartbreakingly familiar.
What really stayed with me is how it shows the growing pains of your late twenties: realizing the plans you made at 20 (or 22, or 25, or 28) don’t fit anymore, watching friends grow in different directions, and confronting the stories you’ve told yourself about who you’re supposed to be. So good and raw and beautiful. God I love women.
I did think it ended a little too quickly, I wish the girls had talked sooner than the like like 5% of the book so we could see the fall out a little more BUT also in love with the way it’s written anyways. Also great cover artwork.
Also this was an arc book from NetGalley, I think I’m supposed to say that.
(Spoiler: fuck Silas, absolute loser status. And we all know a Silas)
January 14, 2026
I really enjoyed Phoebe’s writing style, I couldn’t stop devouring this book when I picked it up. I was kindly given an ebook version by NetGalley and Lake Union. Thank you!
As someone who just passed her late twenties, it’s nice to find something where the main characters are on the cusp of adulthood, because although technically they were adults like 10 years earlier, I find like late 20s/early thirties to be the time that people really discover the real world (and start thinking about who they are and who they want to be) and it was really refreshing to see it through the eyes of the three main characters: Lily, Ana and Margot.
I’m actually a bit gutted that we didn’t get more of Margot though. Margot was seen less in the second half of the book and there was really something happening there between Margot and Alix and I don’t think it was covered enough.
I found it a really enjoyable read, fresh, easy writing style, good characters and their developments.
As someone who just passed her late twenties, it’s nice to find something where the main characters are on the cusp of adulthood, because although technically they were adults like 10 years earlier, I find like late 20s/early thirties to be the time that people really discover the real world (and start thinking about who they are and who they want to be) and it was really refreshing to see it through the eyes of the three main characters: Lily, Ana and Margot.
I’m actually a bit gutted that we didn’t get more of Margot though. Margot was seen less in the second half of the book and there was really something happening there between Margot and Alix and I don’t think it was covered enough.
I found it a really enjoyable read, fresh, easy writing style, good characters and their developments.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2025
This book follows 3 college friends (the story told through a rotating POV) and their lives post grad. The story explores female friendship, identity, and the complexities of becoming an adult, as each woman navigates a personal issue they’re going through. The pacing was sometimes off but it’s a heartfelt character driven story with emotion which I liked.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest interview.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest interview.
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January 25, 2026Girls Our Age is a nuanced and emotionally resonant novel that captures the quiet complexity of female friendship in the transition from youthful ambition to adult reality. Through the intertwined lives of Lily, Ana, and Margot, Phoebe Thompson explores the tension between outward success and private uncertainty, offering a portrait of late-twenties womanhood that feels intimate, honest, and deeply recognizable.
What distinguishes the novel is its emotional restraint and authenticity. Rather than relying on dramatic turns, Thompson allows character, memory, and unspoken truth to carry the narrative. The wedding setting in Maine becomes a natural catalyst for reflection and revelation, giving space for the characters’ hidden struggles to surface organically. Girls Our Age succeeds as both a coming-of-adulthood story and a thoughtful meditation on identity, vulnerability, and the bonds that endure when certainty begins to fracture.
What distinguishes the novel is its emotional restraint and authenticity. Rather than relying on dramatic turns, Thompson allows character, memory, and unspoken truth to carry the narrative. The wedding setting in Maine becomes a natural catalyst for reflection and revelation, giving space for the characters’ hidden struggles to surface organically. Girls Our Age succeeds as both a coming-of-adulthood story and a thoughtful meditation on identity, vulnerability, and the bonds that endure when certainty begins to fracture.
February 14, 2026
This book hit so incredibly close to home as one of three main characters is a teacher battling with her impact at a new school. So much of her dialogue was things that I have said out loud to my friends and family over the past few months. Loved the friendship notes and truly couldn’t put it down aux an easy read. I loved loved loved this book and I’m so glad I got the opportunity to read it before it even comes out!!!!!
December 18, 2025
s/o netgalley for the arc!!! i love female friendships and people overlapping lives and reconnecting and loving each other ❤️ good girls book for sure for sure
May 9, 2026
Didn’t expect this book to have me crying so much but made me extremely grateful for the pivotal and sincere friendships I made in college that are lifelong. Will be thinking about these characters for a bit 🤍
May 10, 2026
Oh I just adored this book. Love me a character driven novel that pulls me right into their lives. So heartwarming, so heartbreaking, so lovely🥹
May 11, 2026
4.5. Loved the character development but the end felt a little rushed. This book is wildly relatable. Everyone would enjoy it.
May 13, 2026
Friendship after college - it’s never quite the same. The stories of Margot, Ana, and Lilly were okay, but it never quite pulled together or because as fascinating a tale as I had hoped.
February 16, 2026
This is one of the best book i read from NetGalley!
Im in my twenties and i found my parts in every character brilliant book, it is beautifully written and for me it felt so good while reading.
Im in my twenties and i found my parts in every character brilliant book, it is beautifully written and for me it felt so good while reading.
May 13, 2026
Girlhood 💖 what an impressive debut! This book was a gut punch and a warm hug.
January 9, 2026
Girlhood be like that
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November 30, 2025**Thanks to netgalley for providing me with a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.**
Some poignant scenes and some challenging bits. More thoughts available upon request.
Some poignant scenes and some challenging bits. More thoughts available upon request.
December 14, 2025
*advanced reader copy*
This book truly is the raw and real telling of life after college and personal battles you don’t speak about. As someone who has been single for 5 years and moved across the country from all my loved ones to figure my life out, it truly felt like this was written for me. Especially in this season of watching my friends get married and have their own lives separate from what used to be ours together. Highly recommend everyone read this when it comes out.
This book truly is the raw and real telling of life after college and personal battles you don’t speak about. As someone who has been single for 5 years and moved across the country from all my loved ones to figure my life out, it truly felt like this was written for me. Especially in this season of watching my friends get married and have their own lives separate from what used to be ours together. Highly recommend everyone read this when it comes out.
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