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The Overthinkers’ Club: Happy List
352 pages, Paperback
Published March 12, 2026
About the author
Nat Luurtsema
13 books29 followersNat Luurtsema is a BAFTA-nominated screenwriter, a BAFTA Rocliffe alumni, stand-up comic, author, actor and a third of sketch group Jigsaw.
She has just finished directing WYRDOES, a comedy feminist ‘Macbeth’, with backing from Film London, Film4 and the British Arts Council. It will be a part of the Shakespeare Lives worldwide tour, which will play to an audience of 500 million.
Nat plays Tallulah Bankhead in FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS, directed by Stephen Frears.
Nat is developing two feature films and adapting the novel Spilt Milk Black Coffee by Helen Cross, for Mighty Atom Entertainment.
Nat’s latest book is a Young Adult novel – GIRL OUT OF WATER – to be published June 2016 in the UK, Germany, France and Italy. It will simultaneously publish as GOLDFISH in USA.
She has just finished directing WYRDOES, a comedy feminist ‘Macbeth’, with backing from Film London, Film4 and the British Arts Council. It will be a part of the Shakespeare Lives worldwide tour, which will play to an audience of 500 million.
Nat plays Tallulah Bankhead in FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS, directed by Stephen Frears.
Nat is developing two feature films and adapting the novel Spilt Milk Black Coffee by Helen Cross, for Mighty Atom Entertainment.
Nat’s latest book is a Young Adult novel – GIRL OUT OF WATER – to be published June 2016 in the UK, Germany, France and Italy. It will simultaneously publish as GOLDFISH in USA.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 11, 2026
A nice middle grade book that focuses on familiar themes: navigating friendship troubles, adjusting to change (including a new blended family), first hints of a crushes and the ever annoying (older) brother.
April 25, 2026
A great little pre teen page turner. Cozy and sweet it’s a story of friendship, blended families and the struggles of being a tween. Fun and helpful, highly recommend for 9+
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book explores really important topics like mental health, blended families and friendship difficulties.
Our main character, Birdie, is so wonderfully dramatic and quite frankly, I’m here for it. She’s so funny and her brain felt really familiar to me as someone who is also a chronic overthinker with anxiety. (I wondered whether Birdie was intended to be read as neurodivergent but this was never stated on page. She certainly felt very relatable to me as an autistic person with ADHD).
Birdie’s experience of having a panic attack at school was so familiar and well portrayed that it made me cry a little. This book really does do a great job of capturing the feelings that come with having anxiety in early secondary school- and how things like changing friendship groups just make this almost a uniquely horrible time for a lot of people.
I did like that a lot of the teachers and parental figures in this book were presented as people really doing their best to support Birdie and her siblings and friends. Many of the interactions Birdie has with teachers are examples of how I wish mental health issues would always be considered by educational professionals, and having good examples like this in books can help readers recognise if/when they are not supported by the adults in their lives in the way that they should be.
Some of the language I have to say didn’t land for me. The main character herself is funny, but sometimes the language choices feel like they are trying to stay relevant and ‘trendy’. This book will age /incredibly/ quickly. I would love to hear from kids of a similar age to the main character- because my gut instinct is that they will feel like the language choices are overdone and don’t reflect their everyday speech but I could of course be wrong.
I enjoyed the way the author portrayed the anxiety for Birdie around her blended family (during the course of the book her, her dad and her brother move into a new house with her dad’s partner and her two children). It felt very realistic while also ultimately showing how Birdie’s life is enriched by all her family members (bio and not) and vice-versa.
Overall I thought this was a fun read that tackled some important topics well. The writing style and language didn’t always work for me but that is a personal thing and others may have different opinions. Birdie herself is an extremely likeable and funny main character who I would love to hear more from!
Thank you very much to Usborne and NetGalley for the eARC!
Our main character, Birdie, is so wonderfully dramatic and quite frankly, I’m here for it. She’s so funny and her brain felt really familiar to me as someone who is also a chronic overthinker with anxiety. (I wondered whether Birdie was intended to be read as neurodivergent but this was never stated on page. She certainly felt very relatable to me as an autistic person with ADHD).
Birdie’s experience of having a panic attack at school was so familiar and well portrayed that it made me cry a little. This book really does do a great job of capturing the feelings that come with having anxiety in early secondary school- and how things like changing friendship groups just make this almost a uniquely horrible time for a lot of people.
I did like that a lot of the teachers and parental figures in this book were presented as people really doing their best to support Birdie and her siblings and friends. Many of the interactions Birdie has with teachers are examples of how I wish mental health issues would always be considered by educational professionals, and having good examples like this in books can help readers recognise if/when they are not supported by the adults in their lives in the way that they should be.
Some of the language I have to say didn’t land for me. The main character herself is funny, but sometimes the language choices feel like they are trying to stay relevant and ‘trendy’. This book will age /incredibly/ quickly. I would love to hear from kids of a similar age to the main character- because my gut instinct is that they will feel like the language choices are overdone and don’t reflect their everyday speech but I could of course be wrong.
I enjoyed the way the author portrayed the anxiety for Birdie around her blended family (during the course of the book her, her dad and her brother move into a new house with her dad’s partner and her two children). It felt very realistic while also ultimately showing how Birdie’s life is enriched by all her family members (bio and not) and vice-versa.
Overall I thought this was a fun read that tackled some important topics well. The writing style and language didn’t always work for me but that is a personal thing and others may have different opinions. Birdie herself is an extremely likeable and funny main character who I would love to hear more from!
Thank you very much to Usborne and NetGalley for the eARC!
March 31, 2026
Well, for a novel that seemed directed at the potentially-reluctant-reader market, this was quite rich. Birdie thinks she overthinks, but has a new system of gratitudes to enunciate each morning (which she barely manages to remember, to say the least), and a worksheet of happiness-giving tasks and activities and thoughts, which lasts a bit longer. She's sharing that with Chloe, the other founding member of the Club of the title, but she's also worried about the age of her hamster, and the fact her family will soon be blended – her, her dad and her older brother with the dad's new flame and her two kids. This requires the first house move she's ever known, so is it any wonder she is getting a bit anxious about it all?
Obviously I can't go into all the plot strands that each element – pet, family, house – inspire. The concentration is mostly on the school life, however, especially when Chloe says she wants new friends and finds one overnight, behind Birdie's back. Needless to say there is a lot of social embarrassment, faux pas, and bonding to be got through. And hating on Taylor Swift's ex-boyfriends.
For me the texts that all these books aspire to are the Louise Rennison series, and this is not as good as either. But it's not too bad. OK, I felt the ending quite underwhelming, yet it leaves things looking to the first sequel already, but I did wonder if at times what led to it was not overworking too much. Did this need to be about the move and the family and the sleepovers and this and that and the other?
And please, will someone not work out if Lainey is in front or behind of our girls in the school desk plan and keep her there?! One minute she's behind, then the view is of the back of her head, then vice versa.
No, what this remained was relatable – I am sure in all the talk of mental health and self-fulfilment lists such as Birdie's and Chloe's have existed for many girls in the audience for this. It is easy to see yourself in their position, especially as "overthinker" isn't exactly a precise diagnosis. It won't be rare, either, for the joining of families to be familiar, although hopefully with less wilful neglect where number of bathrooms comes in.
This was a three and a half starrer for me – it was a filling dish of a meal but not that flavourful or textured or surprising. The intended audience will rate it higher, and be much more eager for more of the same. I'm glad they have that in their futures to make them happy...
Obviously I can't go into all the plot strands that each element – pet, family, house – inspire. The concentration is mostly on the school life, however, especially when Chloe says she wants new friends and finds one overnight, behind Birdie's back. Needless to say there is a lot of social embarrassment, faux pas, and bonding to be got through. And hating on Taylor Swift's ex-boyfriends.
For me the texts that all these books aspire to are the Louise Rennison series, and this is not as good as either. But it's not too bad. OK, I felt the ending quite underwhelming, yet it leaves things looking to the first sequel already, but I did wonder if at times what led to it was not overworking too much. Did this need to be about the move and the family and the sleepovers and this and that and the other?
And please, will someone not work out if Lainey is in front or behind of our girls in the school desk plan and keep her there?! One minute she's behind, then the view is of the back of her head, then vice versa.
No, what this remained was relatable – I am sure in all the talk of mental health and self-fulfilment lists such as Birdie's and Chloe's have existed for many girls in the audience for this. It is easy to see yourself in their position, especially as "overthinker" isn't exactly a precise diagnosis. It won't be rare, either, for the joining of families to be familiar, although hopefully with less wilful neglect where number of bathrooms comes in.
This was a three and a half starrer for me – it was a filling dish of a meal but not that flavourful or textured or surprising. The intended audience will rate it higher, and be much more eager for more of the same. I'm glad they have that in their futures to make them happy...
March 19, 2026
According to Birdie being twelve is no picnic, and she would be right. From no bras to bras, and Pamela Hamela being awfully quiet lately, there is a lot to overthink.
The Overthinkers’ Club: Happy List by Nat Luurtsema is a hilarious, cleverly illustrated middle grade title with gems of knowledge for the reader to take away at the end.
Birdie is a classic overthinker, often curling up in bed in the hopes the thoughts will stop, she has decided to arm herself with a happy list to combat these thoughts. Sharing them often with her BFF, Chloe, though she feels that may change when she spots something on Chloe’s happy list.
With friendship drama, sleepover drama and as I said at the start, Pamela Hamela being awfully quiet. Birdie begins to question everything that is going on, surely the happy lists should be stopping the overthinking?
The Overthinkers’ Club shows just what the tween experience is like, for those going through those years now, they will find a companion in Birdie. For oldies like myself, a trip down memory lane will be taken.
At the heart of this novel young readers will feel less lonely in growing up and find that life advice we only hope to find sooner rather than later, whilst having a few laughs along the way as well.
For older readers, they will be reminded of what it is like to grow up, that feeling of starting to leave childhood behind. With great examples of parenting, and how teachers can better support students.
Perfect for Lottie Brooks readers! And a great starting point helping navigate readers going from middle grade fiction to Young Adult.
A special mention must be said for the illustrator, Cécile Dormeau. Her work adds to Nat Luurtsema words, giving laughs and colour to the story in a way that only the best illustrator’s can do. I can’t wait to read and see what else these two have in store for us!
The Overthinkers’ Club: Happy List by Nat Luurtsema is a hilarious, cleverly illustrated middle grade title with gems of knowledge for the reader to take away at the end.
Birdie is a classic overthinker, often curling up in bed in the hopes the thoughts will stop, she has decided to arm herself with a happy list to combat these thoughts. Sharing them often with her BFF, Chloe, though she feels that may change when she spots something on Chloe’s happy list.
With friendship drama, sleepover drama and as I said at the start, Pamela Hamela being awfully quiet. Birdie begins to question everything that is going on, surely the happy lists should be stopping the overthinking?
The Overthinkers’ Club shows just what the tween experience is like, for those going through those years now, they will find a companion in Birdie. For oldies like myself, a trip down memory lane will be taken.
At the heart of this novel young readers will feel less lonely in growing up and find that life advice we only hope to find sooner rather than later, whilst having a few laughs along the way as well.
For older readers, they will be reminded of what it is like to grow up, that feeling of starting to leave childhood behind. With great examples of parenting, and how teachers can better support students.
Perfect for Lottie Brooks readers! And a great starting point helping navigate readers going from middle grade fiction to Young Adult.
A special mention must be said for the illustrator, Cécile Dormeau. Her work adds to Nat Luurtsema words, giving laughs and colour to the story in a way that only the best illustrator’s can do. I can’t wait to read and see what else these two have in store for us!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Birdie is an overthinker (I know that feeling and I'm not 12!) Her friend Chloe has been her bestie for years.
But now they've started a Happy List - it's supposed to make them realise all the good things they can do rather than worry about others.
Suddenly Chloe has added "new friends" to the list. That's something else for Birdie to worry about. Why does Lainey want to be friends with Chloe? Why have the "cool gang" invited her to a sleepover? A sleepover which apparently means she can't do a sleepover at Birdie's house.
On top of all that Birdie, her brother Finn and Dad are moving from the only house they've ever known ....to move into a new house with Dad's girlfriend Maxie and her children Jay and The Pea!
Can Birdie cope with all these changes?
What are the cool gang up to?
How come Chloe has bras now!
Does Herb have a crush on Birdie?
All these things to worry about!
Thanks to Usborne for the advance copy. Out 12 March. This is going to be perfect for all those at school who love Lottie Brooks and Dork Diaries.
TA, ESCP
But now they've started a Happy List - it's supposed to make them realise all the good things they can do rather than worry about others.
Suddenly Chloe has added "new friends" to the list. That's something else for Birdie to worry about. Why does Lainey want to be friends with Chloe? Why have the "cool gang" invited her to a sleepover? A sleepover which apparently means she can't do a sleepover at Birdie's house.
On top of all that Birdie, her brother Finn and Dad are moving from the only house they've ever known ....to move into a new house with Dad's girlfriend Maxie and her children Jay and The Pea!
Can Birdie cope with all these changes?
What are the cool gang up to?
How come Chloe has bras now!
Does Herb have a crush on Birdie?
All these things to worry about!
Thanks to Usborne for the advance copy. Out 12 March. This is going to be perfect for all those at school who love Lottie Brooks and Dork Diaries.
TA, ESCP
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was sent this completely out of the blue. I've never heard of this author before or heard of this book but as soon as I saw this title, this flew straight to the top of my tbr pile!
I'm a chronic overthinker, always have been and it literally keeps me awake at night sometimes!
This book is brilliant! I mean the title alone had me hook, line and sinker but I literally read this in a matter of hours! Plus it had my crying within the first few chapters which tells you how emotionally invested I was.
A must read for all ages and I can see kids finding this such a helpful read too! Overthinking can be scary for an adult at times so kids must find it incredibly overwhelming!
This book gives several methods which can help focus on the joys of life and things we are grateful for. It's such a honest and relatable story told in a very delicate way and I honestly loved every page of this!
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm a chronic overthinker, always have been and it literally keeps me awake at night sometimes!
This book is brilliant! I mean the title alone had me hook, line and sinker but I literally read this in a matter of hours! Plus it had my crying within the first few chapters which tells you how emotionally invested I was.
A must read for all ages and I can see kids finding this such a helpful read too! Overthinking can be scary for an adult at times so kids must find it incredibly overwhelming!
This book gives several methods which can help focus on the joys of life and things we are grateful for. It's such a honest and relatable story told in a very delicate way and I honestly loved every page of this!
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2026
The Overthinkers Club: Happy List
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I bought this book because I am the world's worst overthinker 😬 it's a book for ages between 10 years and 12 years therefore isn't anything over taxing and easy to take in and read.
Birdie is a young girl who worries and overthinks about everything.... after talking to one of her teachers she starts keeping a happy list... which she works through with her best friend Chloe...
However working through her happy list she experiences lots of different situations to help her overcome overthinking and being unhappy.
Birdie and Chloe set out to do everything on the happy list whilst adding more to it, even Birdies family get involved! 🙂
Everyday both girls decide to list three things that both of them are grateful for - this helps both of them 😃
As I said it is a book for youngsters but in a really weird way it did help me to rethink the overthinking I put my poor brain 🧠 through.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I bought this book because I am the world's worst overthinker 😬 it's a book for ages between 10 years and 12 years therefore isn't anything over taxing and easy to take in and read.
Birdie is a young girl who worries and overthinks about everything.... after talking to one of her teachers she starts keeping a happy list... which she works through with her best friend Chloe...
However working through her happy list she experiences lots of different situations to help her overcome overthinking and being unhappy.
Birdie and Chloe set out to do everything on the happy list whilst adding more to it, even Birdies family get involved! 🙂
Everyday both girls decide to list three things that both of them are grateful for - this helps both of them 😃
As I said it is a book for youngsters but in a really weird way it did help me to rethink the overthinking I put my poor brain 🧠 through.
March 12, 2026
This book is a funny, honest and relatable story about anxiety, friendship and learning to focus on the positive parts of life.
The characters feel realistic and many readers will relate to the worries and thoughts the protagonist experiences.
Overall it is an uplifting and enjoyable read with a positive message about self-acceptance and finding joy in small moments.
The characters feel realistic and many readers will relate to the worries and thoughts the protagonist experiences.
Overall it is an uplifting and enjoyable read with a positive message about self-acceptance and finding joy in small moments.
April 10, 2026
4.5 stars
This is loads of fun! Anxiety meet over thinking meet teenage girl problems: bras! Friendships! A new blended family! Grief! Properly made me smile this and laugh out loud. Perfect for Y6+! This would be great for fans of Lottie Brooks! Gorgeously illustrated to boot. Where were books like this when I was 12?!
This is loads of fun! Anxiety meet over thinking meet teenage girl problems: bras! Friendships! A new blended family! Grief! Properly made me smile this and laugh out loud. Perfect for Y6+! This would be great for fans of Lottie Brooks! Gorgeously illustrated to boot. Where were books like this when I was 12?!
March 12, 2026
I really enjoyed reading the Overthinkers Club and have already purchased a copy for my classroom bookshelf.
Birdie is 12, nearly a teenager. Her Mum is on a boat saving whales and her Dad is about to move in with his new partner and her children. Birdie and her best friend Chloe come up with a “Happy List” - a list of things to do to make their lives better and happier.
The book is a great style for tween girls in particular and easy to read and follow, I know that the children in my class will enjoy the style and the illustrations.
Birdie is 12, nearly a teenager. Her Mum is on a boat saving whales and her Dad is about to move in with his new partner and her children. Birdie and her best friend Chloe come up with a “Happy List” - a list of things to do to make their lives better and happier.
The book is a great style for tween girls in particular and easy to read and follow, I know that the children in my class will enjoy the style and the illustrations.
April 17, 2026
ain't too bad to be honest
May 4, 2026
It was amazing and I could not stop reading it
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews