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Almost Adults
The struggle is real…
Ever managed to kill a succulent after just a few days?
Got seven reminder letters on the kitchen table because you forgot to pay your council tax?
Become a hot mess who’s falling apart because they’ve been broken up with?
Nobody told Mackie, Edele, Alex and Nat (aka the MEAN Girls) that life was going to be this way. They’re busy navigating the joys of adulthood – getting their shit together, breaking up and making up, moving out and moving on. This grown up stuff is hard but at least they’ve got each other.
Welcome to the world of adulting.
Ever managed to kill a succulent after just a few days?
Got seven reminder letters on the kitchen table because you forgot to pay your council tax?
Become a hot mess who’s falling apart because they’ve been broken up with?
Nobody told Mackie, Edele, Alex and Nat (aka the MEAN Girls) that life was going to be this way. They’re busy navigating the joys of adulthood – getting their shit together, breaking up and making up, moving out and moving on. This grown up stuff is hard but at least they’ve got each other.
Welcome to the world of adulting.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 24, 2019
28 people are currently reading
808 people want to read
About the author
Ali Pantony
1 book13 followersI’m a freelance writer, editor and author. Since going freelance in 2017, I’ve written for publications including Grazia, GLAMOUR, British Airways High Life, BBC Three, Boots Health & Beauty, Red and ES magazine.
I mainly cover lifestyle, travel and features, but have also written across beauty, fashion, women’s rights and health. I’ve written first-person essays on everything from heartbreak to orgasms, and have interviewed everyone from supermodels to MPs. Basically, I can turn my hand to just about anything because I love to write.
I started my career as Features Intern at Red and most recently covered as Features Director at Grazia. I also do regular shifts for digital publications.
My debut novel, Almost Adults, was published in August 2019 by Ebury Press.
I mainly cover lifestyle, travel and features, but have also written across beauty, fashion, women’s rights and health. I’ve written first-person essays on everything from heartbreak to orgasms, and have interviewed everyone from supermodels to MPs. Basically, I can turn my hand to just about anything because I love to write.
I started my career as Features Intern at Red and most recently covered as Features Director at Grazia. I also do regular shifts for digital publications.
My debut novel, Almost Adults, was published in August 2019 by Ebury Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
June 18, 2019
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Meet Nat, Edele, Alex, and Mackie four women in their late twenties who have been friends for many years who are each trying to work out what it is to be an adult.
Nat – (Natasha) In the early hours of the morning her long term boyfriend, who she lives with returns home from an impromptu night-out and declares he no longer loves her in that way and that he is moving out. Nat is devastated and heart-broken. She is now having to learn to live on her own, do everything for herself and get herself back in the dating game.
Edele – Still lives at home with her mum and younger brother (who happens to have a very hot best-friend). She likes the odd glass of wine, lager, cider or any other alcoholic beverage. She is out of work and broke. Her mum gives her pocket money for doing chores.
Alex – Teacher Alex lives with her boyfriend Craig. She feels that things are quite right between the two as he’s being secretive and rushing out on her. She doesn’t believe he is cheating, but something is happening in her relationship and she needs to know what.
Mackie – (Emma) Works as an Art Editor for a magazine company. She wants to further her career but the magazine seems to be in trouble. There is one option but it means moving away from the place she calls home and her friends. Is she brave enough to make the leap?
Individually these four women are all facing their own personal battles, but they are a solid team there for one another at the drop of a hat. They comfort one another and lift each other’s spirits both in person and via WhatsApp messages in their group chat ‘Mean Girls’.
What I love about Almost Adults is the friendship that these four girls have. They each bring their own unique style and flair to the book and via chapters from different POVs you get to see the girls through their eyes and through their friend’s eyes too.
The book has plenty of humour, however, I don’t think I would call this a comedy of any degree as it is a book primarily about four women in their late twenties trying to survive in a world which tries to make you conform to the way society wants you to act. It is also about life and taking the good with the bad, as well as their long and strong friendship.
Individually the girls are a mess in their own way, but together they are tough and can take on the world. They stand by one another no matter what happens and this was such a joy to read.
The book was engaging and I enjoyed it all, which surprised me as my heart dropped when I noticed it was told in multiple POV as that is something I normally hate. Goes to show how well the book is written and how invested in the girl’s lives I became as I didn’t even notice after a while that it was multiple POV.
Meet Nat, Edele, Alex, and Mackie four women in their late twenties who have been friends for many years who are each trying to work out what it is to be an adult.
Nat – (Natasha) In the early hours of the morning her long term boyfriend, who she lives with returns home from an impromptu night-out and declares he no longer loves her in that way and that he is moving out. Nat is devastated and heart-broken. She is now having to learn to live on her own, do everything for herself and get herself back in the dating game.
Edele – Still lives at home with her mum and younger brother (who happens to have a very hot best-friend). She likes the odd glass of wine, lager, cider or any other alcoholic beverage. She is out of work and broke. Her mum gives her pocket money for doing chores.
Alex – Teacher Alex lives with her boyfriend Craig. She feels that things are quite right between the two as he’s being secretive and rushing out on her. She doesn’t believe he is cheating, but something is happening in her relationship and she needs to know what.
Mackie – (Emma) Works as an Art Editor for a magazine company. She wants to further her career but the magazine seems to be in trouble. There is one option but it means moving away from the place she calls home and her friends. Is she brave enough to make the leap?
Individually these four women are all facing their own personal battles, but they are a solid team there for one another at the drop of a hat. They comfort one another and lift each other’s spirits both in person and via WhatsApp messages in their group chat ‘Mean Girls’.
What I love about Almost Adults is the friendship that these four girls have. They each bring their own unique style and flair to the book and via chapters from different POVs you get to see the girls through their eyes and through their friend’s eyes too.
The book has plenty of humour, however, I don’t think I would call this a comedy of any degree as it is a book primarily about four women in their late twenties trying to survive in a world which tries to make you conform to the way society wants you to act. It is also about life and taking the good with the bad, as well as their long and strong friendship.
Individually the girls are a mess in their own way, but together they are tough and can take on the world. They stand by one another no matter what happens and this was such a joy to read.
The book was engaging and I enjoyed it all, which surprised me as my heart dropped when I noticed it was told in multiple POV as that is something I normally hate. Goes to show how well the book is written and how invested in the girl’s lives I became as I didn’t even notice after a while that it was multiple POV.
August 17, 2019
4☆ Uplifting and Heart Warming Must Read!
Almost Adults is a heart warming Coming of Age story of Second Chances, Friendship, Relationships and growing up.
The story is about four best friends Nat, Edele, Mackie and Alex, each juggling adulthood, life and relationships, but even when things get tough they are always there for each other to help pick up the pieces, support each other and make each other laugh with a lil help from booze, fun, drama and mayhem.
Each of the four women are so very different but their quirky loveable personalities all compliment each other's flaws and one thing that shines through is the strength, bond and loyal friendship they have for one another.
The chapters are told by each girl's points of view. Which I really loved as the all have their own stories, dramas, fears, worries and I really appreciated getting to know each one individually. At the same time all of the stories weave together seamlessly.
Almost Adults is a heart warming, Uplifting and Compelling Story about the power of friendship, the highs and lows of becoming an Adult in your 20s, The trials and tribulations of Relationships, Life, Work, Family, Living Alone and Moving on.
Each of the characters are relatable, strong, well grounded and developed.
Expect Laughter, Emotion, serious subjects, plenty of drama and oodles of girl power friendship.
So if you are looking for a Feel Good, Uplifting Read then pick up a copy of Almost Adults.
Thank you to Ebury Publishers for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/0...
Almost Adults is a heart warming Coming of Age story of Second Chances, Friendship, Relationships and growing up.
The story is about four best friends Nat, Edele, Mackie and Alex, each juggling adulthood, life and relationships, but even when things get tough they are always there for each other to help pick up the pieces, support each other and make each other laugh with a lil help from booze, fun, drama and mayhem.
Each of the four women are so very different but their quirky loveable personalities all compliment each other's flaws and one thing that shines through is the strength, bond and loyal friendship they have for one another.
The chapters are told by each girl's points of view. Which I really loved as the all have their own stories, dramas, fears, worries and I really appreciated getting to know each one individually. At the same time all of the stories weave together seamlessly.
Almost Adults is a heart warming, Uplifting and Compelling Story about the power of friendship, the highs and lows of becoming an Adult in your 20s, The trials and tribulations of Relationships, Life, Work, Family, Living Alone and Moving on.
Each of the characters are relatable, strong, well grounded and developed.
Expect Laughter, Emotion, serious subjects, plenty of drama and oodles of girl power friendship.
So if you are looking for a Feel Good, Uplifting Read then pick up a copy of Almost Adults.
Thank you to Ebury Publishers for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/0...
July 17, 2019
4 stars
This was a fantastic read. I don't think I can really compare it to anything except maybe a British version of girls but less weird and with more emotion and great British humour.
I adored the 4 main female characters. They are all realistic for a start. They have flaws and quirks! None of them have a perfect life and we hear their day to day worries and problems.
I was struck hard by emotions whilst reading this book. A lot of what happened to the women really resonated with me and the writing was so perfect that it made you feel everything as if it were you in that position.
Edele constantly made me laugh with her brash and honest comments and was the star of the show in my eyes. However each character deeply connected with me.
This book looks into becoming an adult in the modern world, from looking after a plant, worrying your relationship isn't right to struggling with your career. Most of all it is a book about female friendship, about being there for your friends unconditionally and having their back through the good and the bad. As you can probably tell...I loved it!
This book was gifted in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fantastic read. I don't think I can really compare it to anything except maybe a British version of girls but less weird and with more emotion and great British humour.
I adored the 4 main female characters. They are all realistic for a start. They have flaws and quirks! None of them have a perfect life and we hear their day to day worries and problems.
I was struck hard by emotions whilst reading this book. A lot of what happened to the women really resonated with me and the writing was so perfect that it made you feel everything as if it were you in that position.
Edele constantly made me laugh with her brash and honest comments and was the star of the show in my eyes. However each character deeply connected with me.
This book looks into becoming an adult in the modern world, from looking after a plant, worrying your relationship isn't right to struggling with your career. Most of all it is a book about female friendship, about being there for your friends unconditionally and having their back through the good and the bad. As you can probably tell...I loved it!
This book was gifted in exchange for an honest review.
July 10, 2019
𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴?
𝘎𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘹?
𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰’𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩?
Almost Adults is perfect for anyone who suspects they may not have this whole ‘adulting’ business sussed.
Mackie, Edele, Alex and Nat (aka the MEAN Girls) are four best friends in their late twenties who are trying to navigate the chaotic mess we call adulthood. Nat has been dumped by her boyfriend of seven years leaving her to feel lost and worthless. Alex is paranoid that her own boyfriend, Craig, is no longer interested and is looking to follow suit. Edele is unemployed, living at home and is coasting on by not sure what path to take. Then finally, on the surface, you would think Mackie has it all figured out with her morning runs and meal-prep. But Mackie, much like myself, is clumsy, socially awkward and desperate to move on to bigger and better things in her career. With their distinct personality and individual problems, I’m certain any reader could identify with one, if not all, of them.
‘𝘕𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘰-𝘥𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘐 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘐 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴.’ If this doesn’t describe me, I don’t know what does.
Each chapter alternates between their personal POVs offering us a wider sense of their quirks and slices of life. From heart-rending breakups to dismal unemployment, each of the girls is facing their own battles and experiencing minor setbacks. Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean they won’t drop everything to support one another. My favourite moments were the small favours they did for one another, like Edele spending the last of her money to fill Nat’s fridge. Although something I did find slightly sappy was their declaration of love for one another, maybe that’s just my Edele streak showing. I’d personally rather roast my friends than tell them I love them. That being said, their loyalty was admirable and encapsulated the beauty of female friendship.
Moreover, Pantony covers some hard-hitting topics which any twenty-something can relate to. She doesn’t sugar-coat any of the girls’ situations. Rather, she presents them at their most insecure, at their most vulnerable while also demonstrating how they’re working hard to overcome their setbacks. There are no miracles, rather, this book is a testimony to the incredible power of friendship. No matter what happens in life, they will always have each other. Among this, the humour and cultural references interlaced throughout the narrative made me laugh out loud making it all the more engaging.
This is a book many of us can relate to. That awkward stage where we’re expected to have our lives sorted out yet are still clueless when it comes to bleeding radiators or testing smoke alarms. Ali Pantony accurately taps into how difficult and bewildering adulthood can be.
Now, I’m left wanting to meet up with the girls at their local pub and have a glass of wine and a goss with them. Ali Pantony has painted a beautiful picture of female friendship that made for an uplifting, heart-warming read.
Thank you, Ali Pantony, and Ebury Publishing for sending me this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
𝘎𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘹?
𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰’𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩?
Almost Adults is perfect for anyone who suspects they may not have this whole ‘adulting’ business sussed.
Mackie, Edele, Alex and Nat (aka the MEAN Girls) are four best friends in their late twenties who are trying to navigate the chaotic mess we call adulthood. Nat has been dumped by her boyfriend of seven years leaving her to feel lost and worthless. Alex is paranoid that her own boyfriend, Craig, is no longer interested and is looking to follow suit. Edele is unemployed, living at home and is coasting on by not sure what path to take. Then finally, on the surface, you would think Mackie has it all figured out with her morning runs and meal-prep. But Mackie, much like myself, is clumsy, socially awkward and desperate to move on to bigger and better things in her career. With their distinct personality and individual problems, I’m certain any reader could identify with one, if not all, of them.
‘𝘕𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘰-𝘥𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘐 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘐 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴.’ If this doesn’t describe me, I don’t know what does.
Each chapter alternates between their personal POVs offering us a wider sense of their quirks and slices of life. From heart-rending breakups to dismal unemployment, each of the girls is facing their own battles and experiencing minor setbacks. Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean they won’t drop everything to support one another. My favourite moments were the small favours they did for one another, like Edele spending the last of her money to fill Nat’s fridge. Although something I did find slightly sappy was their declaration of love for one another, maybe that’s just my Edele streak showing. I’d personally rather roast my friends than tell them I love them. That being said, their loyalty was admirable and encapsulated the beauty of female friendship.
Moreover, Pantony covers some hard-hitting topics which any twenty-something can relate to. She doesn’t sugar-coat any of the girls’ situations. Rather, she presents them at their most insecure, at their most vulnerable while also demonstrating how they’re working hard to overcome their setbacks. There are no miracles, rather, this book is a testimony to the incredible power of friendship. No matter what happens in life, they will always have each other. Among this, the humour and cultural references interlaced throughout the narrative made me laugh out loud making it all the more engaging.
This is a book many of us can relate to. That awkward stage where we’re expected to have our lives sorted out yet are still clueless when it comes to bleeding radiators or testing smoke alarms. Ali Pantony accurately taps into how difficult and bewildering adulthood can be.
Now, I’m left wanting to meet up with the girls at their local pub and have a glass of wine and a goss with them. Ali Pantony has painted a beautiful picture of female friendship that made for an uplifting, heart-warming read.
Thank you, Ali Pantony, and Ebury Publishing for sending me this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
September 8, 2020
“I find my room claustrophobic. It is small, but that's not what I mean. It's claustrophobic because I feel like I've been trapped here for so long, this floor forming the centre stage from where my life story is playing out.”
This was a fun light read.
A book that I think most of us can definitely relate.
Adulting is such a real first world problems.
We all wish there is an easy guidelines to how to became or survive when becoming an adult.
I love that we get four different POVS.
Four different people, background and going through different journey of their life.
They might be facing different things but they have each other to go through it together.
The story is very realistic.
I was very invested with all their journey in hopes I find my solution to my problems through the books too. hahaha
The character development is nothing too drastic but just enough.
I get that the themes were very serious but I wish there was more humour than what we got. I feel like I needed it at least.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and need more relatable books like this!
You can't fix something if you don't know where all the tiny shattered pieces were lost along the way. There are no steps to retrace, no trail to follow to pick them up and piece them back together"
This was a fun light read.
A book that I think most of us can definitely relate.
Adulting is such a real first world problems.
We all wish there is an easy guidelines to how to became or survive when becoming an adult.
I love that we get four different POVS.
Four different people, background and going through different journey of their life.
They might be facing different things but they have each other to go through it together.
The story is very realistic.
I was very invested with all their journey in hopes I find my solution to my problems through the books too. hahaha
The character development is nothing too drastic but just enough.
I get that the themes were very serious but I wish there was more humour than what we got. I feel like I needed it at least.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and need more relatable books like this!
You can't fix something if you don't know where all the tiny shattered pieces were lost along the way. There are no steps to retrace, no trail to follow to pick them up and piece them back together"
July 21, 2019
It's really refreshing to read a book where the characters are in their twenties - though all are a few years older than I am.
Nat has just been dumped after a 7 year relationship, Edele is unemployed, living at home and struggling to find a job, Alex is happily coupled up but worried it won't last because of Nat, and Mackie is single and seemingly has her life together.
The best thing about this book is that even though all four girls have a point of view, they all sound different and are unique. I expect alot of women will see themselves in at least one of the characters. My life is a little simpler than theirs though. It would have been nice to have more diversity as well as the personality differences.
Each of the characters goes on a journey during the book. I enjoyed aspects of all of them - the romance in Alex's bits, Nat's mental health journey, Mackie putting herself first, and Edele believing in herself (and Gary the barman!).
I like how it portrayed how friendships diverge in adulthood as people move away and settle in long term relationships. I loved the Britishness as I always do in books set in England. I loved Diane, the old lady. She was very lovely.
Honestly I think it got the seriousness and comedy balance right which is sometimes difficult in books like this.
The ending is super uplifting. I think I enjoyed Mackie's arc the most because I'm probably more similar to she is but definitely not as together. I also found her experiences really funny in places! Edele's was my least favourite point of view because for most of it I was getting frustrated because she'd dismiss jobs for being boring which isn't exactly a good criteria when you're desperate - but that's just me.
The friendship between the girls is amazing - I've not got friends I've known half of my life so it was nice to read about. I do have some good friends who I work with though and it reminded me of them (even though we are alot less wild hahahaha).
Overall, a great book, just would have been nice to have a little more representation.
Nat has just been dumped after a 7 year relationship, Edele is unemployed, living at home and struggling to find a job, Alex is happily coupled up but worried it won't last because of Nat, and Mackie is single and seemingly has her life together.
The best thing about this book is that even though all four girls have a point of view, they all sound different and are unique. I expect alot of women will see themselves in at least one of the characters. My life is a little simpler than theirs though. It would have been nice to have more diversity as well as the personality differences.
Each of the characters goes on a journey during the book. I enjoyed aspects of all of them - the romance in Alex's bits, Nat's mental health journey, Mackie putting herself first, and Edele believing in herself (and Gary the barman!).
I like how it portrayed how friendships diverge in adulthood as people move away and settle in long term relationships. I loved the Britishness as I always do in books set in England. I loved Diane, the old lady. She was very lovely.
Honestly I think it got the seriousness and comedy balance right which is sometimes difficult in books like this.
The ending is super uplifting. I think I enjoyed Mackie's arc the most because I'm probably more similar to she is but definitely not as together. I also found her experiences really funny in places! Edele's was my least favourite point of view because for most of it I was getting frustrated because she'd dismiss jobs for being boring which isn't exactly a good criteria when you're desperate - but that's just me.
The friendship between the girls is amazing - I've not got friends I've known half of my life so it was nice to read about. I do have some good friends who I work with though and it reminded me of them (even though we are alot less wild hahahaha).
Overall, a great book, just would have been nice to have a little more representation.
August 10, 2019
Book reviewed on sarahsvignettes.wordpress.com
*I received a proof copy of the book in return for this voluntary and honest review*
Almost Adults is a fresh and uplifting story exploring the power of female friendships. It was such a joy to read and I honestly didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did.
Mackie, Edele, Alex and Nat have been the best of friends for years. Mackie and Alex seem to have life figured out and Nat and Edele are still working it out. Almost Adults charts the highs and lows of the twenty somethings as they navigate their way through their personal and professional lives, asking the question, when is it that we truly become adults? It is the strength of their friendship that gets them through. These are the friends who are there to cheer you on on your good days but more importantly who sit and hold you on the bad days. These women have each others backs and will do anything for one another.
Each chapter is told from a different character's point of view , allowing us to get to know each of them individually and see the other characters how they see them. Each character is relatable and I think there are elements of these women in all of us.
Ali Pantony writes with such ease that the story flows seamlessly and I could easily have read this book in one sitting. Instead, I read it over several lunch breaks and I found that I couldn't wait to pick up where I last left the girls to find out what was happening and how they were. I felt so comfortable in their company that I felt as though I was an honorary member of their group.
Almost Adults has a lot of heart and I finished it with a smile on my face. It is feel-good fiction and a perfect summer read. This is a brilliant debut and I'm looking forward to seeing what Ali Pantony writes next.
*I received a proof copy of the book in return for this voluntary and honest review*
Almost Adults is a fresh and uplifting story exploring the power of female friendships. It was such a joy to read and I honestly didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did.
Mackie, Edele, Alex and Nat have been the best of friends for years. Mackie and Alex seem to have life figured out and Nat and Edele are still working it out. Almost Adults charts the highs and lows of the twenty somethings as they navigate their way through their personal and professional lives, asking the question, when is it that we truly become adults? It is the strength of their friendship that gets them through. These are the friends who are there to cheer you on on your good days but more importantly who sit and hold you on the bad days. These women have each others backs and will do anything for one another.
Each chapter is told from a different character's point of view , allowing us to get to know each of them individually and see the other characters how they see them. Each character is relatable and I think there are elements of these women in all of us.
Ali Pantony writes with such ease that the story flows seamlessly and I could easily have read this book in one sitting. Instead, I read it over several lunch breaks and I found that I couldn't wait to pick up where I last left the girls to find out what was happening and how they were. I felt so comfortable in their company that I felt as though I was an honorary member of their group.
Almost Adults has a lot of heart and I finished it with a smile on my face. It is feel-good fiction and a perfect summer read. This is a brilliant debut and I'm looking forward to seeing what Ali Pantony writes next.
July 11, 2019
This book is so uplifting! It's the ultimate feel good read. It makes you feel so good about females and the power of female friendship. It's empowering, funny I'm just an all around great read.
Centred around a group of four females we follow each of them as they go through the trials and tribulations of life.
I found each character equally likeable which is an achievement for me in itself. The friendship the girls have it's just amazing. The solidarity and love they have for one another really shines through.
I would happily recommend this lovely story to anyone!
Centred around a group of four females we follow each of them as they go through the trials and tribulations of life.
I found each character equally likeable which is an achievement for me in itself. The friendship the girls have it's just amazing. The solidarity and love they have for one another really shines through.
I would happily recommend this lovely story to anyone!
May 3, 2025
This was an utterly fantastic read and feels so unique to anything else that I have read recently. Despite what else is going on for the characters in this book the main theme is loyalty and friendship, and the real unbending love that can come out of friendships between females.
I found this book to be really charming but also really relatable and heartwarming; there are so many moments in the book that I could relate too but it also feels very relevant to today where everyone is meant to know what the want to do with the rest of their lives and have it sorted by their twenties; I for one don’t, and was happy to have a book that reflected that stage of your life.
The book starts with Natasha having her heart ripped to shreds by a man she has loved for 7 year, and what quickly follows is the way her incredible friends gather around her to support her (including threats of violence to the said man – and if that isn’t relatable I don’t know what is). Whilst Nat feels she is the only one struggling, we soon learn that each of the M.E.A.N girls are struggling with their own demons; Alex is paranoid that her boyfriend is getting bored of her, Edele is unemployed and living back at home with no clue where she wants to go in life, and Mackie, who seems to have everything sorted, is striving to achieve more in her job and is desperate to move upwards. Each girl shows such unwavering support to one another but are all struggling in their own way and are worried about admitting their struggles.
The chapters alternate between characters and I really enjoyed this as it really developed each character and allowed us an insight into their characters, and also their families. I was constantly changing my opinion on who I loved the most but honestly I think I just loved them all the same. They all drop everything at a moment’s notice to go and support their friends, and I know in my own life that i’ve got people who would (and have) done that for me. Pantony doesn’t hold back and really focuses on issues that twenty-something women can relate to; whether it’s the diets being pushed down your throat, wanting to progress at work but not feeling confident to speak up, the men who won’t take no for an answer, or the inability to keep a succulent alive (this felt like a personal attack).
“I would say I try not to compare myself to other women, but that would be a lie. Show me a woman who doesn’t automatically compare the size of her eyes, the glossiness of her hair, the largeness of her tits, the smallness of her thighs and the gravity-defying powers of her arse with another woman, and I’ll buy a long, pointy sword (like the Queen’s) and make her a dame myself”
What I also loved about this book is that there is no miracle cures for any of the problems; it takes the whole book for them to work through their issues and it’s not neatly summed up and solved, but they’re all cautiously taking the steps towards their future lives and I would love if Pantony wrote a sequel based ten years later so we could see what the women were up too.
There were so many lighthearted moments in this book that had me chuckling and I think Pantony managed to find a good balance between seriousness and light-heartedness, and I think this is what really makes this book relatable. It’s a constant up and down, but the ending is really uplifting and i’m glad they were all taking positive steps forwards.
Hands down my favourite moment in this book that had me cheering and crying in the same bit was when Natasha met with Matt and he told her that he was with someone new; her speech to him was so brave and strong and broke my heart but also had me cheering for her in one go. “I hope it eats at you. I hope it fucking consumes you” has to be one of the best quotes i’ve ever read because you can literally feel the pain and anger coursing through those words.
I really felt that Pantony reflected real female friendships in this book and I was just hooked from start to finish. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book and it is a must read for everyone this year. I will definitely be buying a finished copy when they’re released.
“‘Friends’ is too weak, too weightless for all of that. Really, I think, this is it. This is the kind of love that makes you whole, that rebuilds you and helps you to gather all of your broken pieces and build them into something new. Something hopeful, strong, Something better. And it has been right in front of me this whole time. Maybe Matt didn’t have all of those tiny pieces of me after all. Maybe, all along, my friends were keeping some safe for me”
I found this book to be really charming but also really relatable and heartwarming; there are so many moments in the book that I could relate too but it also feels very relevant to today where everyone is meant to know what the want to do with the rest of their lives and have it sorted by their twenties; I for one don’t, and was happy to have a book that reflected that stage of your life.
The book starts with Natasha having her heart ripped to shreds by a man she has loved for 7 year, and what quickly follows is the way her incredible friends gather around her to support her (including threats of violence to the said man – and if that isn’t relatable I don’t know what is). Whilst Nat feels she is the only one struggling, we soon learn that each of the M.E.A.N girls are struggling with their own demons; Alex is paranoid that her boyfriend is getting bored of her, Edele is unemployed and living back at home with no clue where she wants to go in life, and Mackie, who seems to have everything sorted, is striving to achieve more in her job and is desperate to move upwards. Each girl shows such unwavering support to one another but are all struggling in their own way and are worried about admitting their struggles.
The chapters alternate between characters and I really enjoyed this as it really developed each character and allowed us an insight into their characters, and also their families. I was constantly changing my opinion on who I loved the most but honestly I think I just loved them all the same. They all drop everything at a moment’s notice to go and support their friends, and I know in my own life that i’ve got people who would (and have) done that for me. Pantony doesn’t hold back and really focuses on issues that twenty-something women can relate to; whether it’s the diets being pushed down your throat, wanting to progress at work but not feeling confident to speak up, the men who won’t take no for an answer, or the inability to keep a succulent alive (this felt like a personal attack).
“I would say I try not to compare myself to other women, but that would be a lie. Show me a woman who doesn’t automatically compare the size of her eyes, the glossiness of her hair, the largeness of her tits, the smallness of her thighs and the gravity-defying powers of her arse with another woman, and I’ll buy a long, pointy sword (like the Queen’s) and make her a dame myself”
What I also loved about this book is that there is no miracle cures for any of the problems; it takes the whole book for them to work through their issues and it’s not neatly summed up and solved, but they’re all cautiously taking the steps towards their future lives and I would love if Pantony wrote a sequel based ten years later so we could see what the women were up too.
There were so many lighthearted moments in this book that had me chuckling and I think Pantony managed to find a good balance between seriousness and light-heartedness, and I think this is what really makes this book relatable. It’s a constant up and down, but the ending is really uplifting and i’m glad they were all taking positive steps forwards.
Hands down my favourite moment in this book that had me cheering and crying in the same bit was when Natasha met with Matt and he told her that he was with someone new; her speech to him was so brave and strong and broke my heart but also had me cheering for her in one go. “I hope it eats at you. I hope it fucking consumes you” has to be one of the best quotes i’ve ever read because you can literally feel the pain and anger coursing through those words.
I really felt that Pantony reflected real female friendships in this book and I was just hooked from start to finish. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book and it is a must read for everyone this year. I will definitely be buying a finished copy when they’re released.
“‘Friends’ is too weak, too weightless for all of that. Really, I think, this is it. This is the kind of love that makes you whole, that rebuilds you and helps you to gather all of your broken pieces and build them into something new. Something hopeful, strong, Something better. And it has been right in front of me this whole time. Maybe Matt didn’t have all of those tiny pieces of me after all. Maybe, all along, my friends were keeping some safe for me”
June 19, 2019
This book revolves around 4 best friends who are all 27 year old , revolving around their romantic escapades , personal & professional dreams and overall them enjoying life and being the best of friends to each other. What I really liked was how each of them were so different and had different issues going on but were still their for each other and how their differences made it even a more honest book to read. I liked how the book focused on what one goes through after a break-up and how it can affect ones metal heath. That if one friend goes through a break up the other one in the group who is in a relationship might also get scared . How instead of being proper adults they were just winging their way through their 20's learning adulting and doing their best . And the best part was that the book has been written through the point of view of all the characters which made me realise that all the 4 of them were the leading protagonists of the book and just made the whole story more understandable. It even made me realise that those people are really lucky who have such a tight-nit group of friends , its not that others are unlucky , its just the ones who have it are lucky.
I WILL BE GIVING A SMALL SUMMARY ABOUT EACH MAIN CHARCTER OF THE BOOK IN THE ORDER THE AUTHOR GIVES THE READER THEIR POV'S (POINT OF VIEW)
The book starts with Natasha going through a breakup with her boyfriend Matt of 7 years who out of the blue break ups with her and how it affects her. Through her character we get an insight into how a person deals with a break up and how it affects her self esteem leading her to finally go and visit a shrink. Through out the book we see her friends being their for her . Helping her remove the feel of Matt from her flat , encouraging her to go to a shrink and finding her own footing. Natasha in the ending of the book mentions how she gave so many of her pieces to Matt and that in the future she would keep a part of herself locked up which no one would have the power of taking away from her which really touched with me .
Next in the group is Edele who is the carefree member of the group living back with her mom after she gets fired from her PR job which she couldn't do well as she had no motivation for it . Her friends rely on her advices and she just felt as a fire cracker trying to find what to do next. She represented how even in our late 20's we can not be sure about our dreams and yes job is important but is it even worth working somewhere you are not happy.
Alex is the history buff of the group who is an history teacher of high school students . We see her teacher effect with her friends too. She is a rock on whom her friends can always rely. We see her questioning her relationship with her boyfriend Craig of 3 years because of its similarity and in a huge way because she starts doubting their relationship because of what happened with Natasha and Matt. And this even at points brings a rift between her & Natasha.
Mackie is the mom of the group who has her adults life the most sorted . She works in marketing around graphics and layouts and has always considered her career and her friends the most important part of her life . We see her going through interviews to jump her job and find more growth . She even takes a pretty brave decision related to a would be relationship and I really apricated how the author handled it .
This book is about 4 friends being their for each other , who get drunk together and stay together no matter time or distance or other changes adult hood brings in our live.
I absolutely loved reading it.
I WILL BE GIVING A SMALL SUMMARY ABOUT EACH MAIN CHARCTER OF THE BOOK IN THE ORDER THE AUTHOR GIVES THE READER THEIR POV'S (POINT OF VIEW)
The book starts with Natasha going through a breakup with her boyfriend Matt of 7 years who out of the blue break ups with her and how it affects her. Through her character we get an insight into how a person deals with a break up and how it affects her self esteem leading her to finally go and visit a shrink. Through out the book we see her friends being their for her . Helping her remove the feel of Matt from her flat , encouraging her to go to a shrink and finding her own footing. Natasha in the ending of the book mentions how she gave so many of her pieces to Matt and that in the future she would keep a part of herself locked up which no one would have the power of taking away from her which really touched with me .
Next in the group is Edele who is the carefree member of the group living back with her mom after she gets fired from her PR job which she couldn't do well as she had no motivation for it . Her friends rely on her advices and she just felt as a fire cracker trying to find what to do next. She represented how even in our late 20's we can not be sure about our dreams and yes job is important but is it even worth working somewhere you are not happy.
Alex is the history buff of the group who is an history teacher of high school students . We see her teacher effect with her friends too. She is a rock on whom her friends can always rely. We see her questioning her relationship with her boyfriend Craig of 3 years because of its similarity and in a huge way because she starts doubting their relationship because of what happened with Natasha and Matt. And this even at points brings a rift between her & Natasha.
Mackie is the mom of the group who has her adults life the most sorted . She works in marketing around graphics and layouts and has always considered her career and her friends the most important part of her life . We see her going through interviews to jump her job and find more growth . She even takes a pretty brave decision related to a would be relationship and I really apricated how the author handled it .
This book is about 4 friends being their for each other , who get drunk together and stay together no matter time or distance or other changes adult hood brings in our live.
I absolutely loved reading it.
June 4, 2019
I liked this book, the premise caught my attention and I easily found myself immersed in the centre of the group of girls; Nat, Mackie, Edele and Alex who have been friends forever. They have grown up in the same town all their lives and now in their late twenties still don't feel like they have really grown up, that they are adults.
They help each other through the good times and the bad including breakups, new jobs and huge life changes. The highs and lows of being an adult.
I had expected a funnier book with a lot of laugh-out-loud moments and whilst there were moments like this, it also covers the struggles of making mistakes and learning from them and having a great group of friends who have your back. It is truly a relatable and accurate account of growing up and I for one felt like the book was about myself at times, even in my thirties! I think we all go through times where we feel we aren't a proper adult or don't really know where we are going with life. We all have setbacks, whatever they may be, and it's how we cope with these that allow us to grow in life.
Whilst I liked the characters I felt that they could have done with some development. Mackie, who seemed the most 'adult' of the group wasn't really fleshed out and I would like to have read more about her, her big life changes, how she dealt with these and how/if her friendship changed with the girls. I would also have liked to have seen more about Nat's therapy and Ed's unemployment.
One thing I really did like was it this wasn't all based on having to have a man on your arm. That finding yourself and making yourself happy was just as important as being in love and in a good relationship. I often think that our own happiness is overlooked at times and chicklit books sometimes hook in to that theme.
Overall, I liked this book and would read more from this author in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House UK for providing with an advanced copy of the book in return for an honest review.
They help each other through the good times and the bad including breakups, new jobs and huge life changes. The highs and lows of being an adult.
I had expected a funnier book with a lot of laugh-out-loud moments and whilst there were moments like this, it also covers the struggles of making mistakes and learning from them and having a great group of friends who have your back. It is truly a relatable and accurate account of growing up and I for one felt like the book was about myself at times, even in my thirties! I think we all go through times where we feel we aren't a proper adult or don't really know where we are going with life. We all have setbacks, whatever they may be, and it's how we cope with these that allow us to grow in life.
Whilst I liked the characters I felt that they could have done with some development. Mackie, who seemed the most 'adult' of the group wasn't really fleshed out and I would like to have read more about her, her big life changes, how she dealt with these and how/if her friendship changed with the girls. I would also have liked to have seen more about Nat's therapy and Ed's unemployment.
One thing I really did like was it this wasn't all based on having to have a man on your arm. That finding yourself and making yourself happy was just as important as being in love and in a good relationship. I often think that our own happiness is overlooked at times and chicklit books sometimes hook in to that theme.
Overall, I liked this book and would read more from this author in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House UK for providing with an advanced copy of the book in return for an honest review.
June 30, 2019
Almost Adults is the story of four friends, Nat, Alex, Edele, and Mackie. It begins with the end of Nat’s 7-year relationship with her boyfriend. Alex is worried her boyfriend would also pull something similar, considering she feels something is off between the two of them now. Edele is unemployed and is living with her mother and brother and Mackie feels stuck at a job where there’s no opportunity to advance further. How the four women band together and try to adult forms the rest of the story.
One of the main reasons I had Almost Adults on my Anticipated Releases list was the promise of an accurate female friendship. So many books have painted female friendships to be catty and nasty, portraying women as only capable of being frenemies at best. Being a 24-year-old “almost adult” with very strong female friendships, it was no wonder I was dying to get my hands on this book.
I went in expecting a laughter riot, but was pleasantly surprised by all the serious themes to this novel too. The four main characters have a strong friendship–they’ve got each others’ back and they’re vocal about their love for each other. Being the Edele of my own friend group, I found the latter a little sappy at times–why declare your undying love for your friend when you can roast them about something immaterial instead? That’s how you show love in my book. xD
Almost Adults is a book I’m going to find very difficult to rate, mostly because of the effect it’s had on me. To me, Almost Adults didn’t feel like a book. There isn’t one specific problem or conflict with the rest of the pages working to resolve it by the end of the book. Even romcoms follow this format but Almost Adults doesn’t. Instead, this book is a slice of the lives of four friends.
The friends all experience minor setbacks, they band together, they work towards fixing things. Isn’t that how real life is? It is this realistic nature of the book that I loved. Additionally, Ali Pantony has an excellent writing voice–there were several instances where I felt like she would be great at writing women’s literary fiction and suburban family dramas (only my two favourite genres in the whole world, thank you very much). I can’t wait to see what other books she writes in the future!
Almost Adults is a well-crafted novel that accurately portrays female friendships. It is a story of love, loss, and life itself. It is the kind of novel you’d like to step into on a warm day at the beach.
One of the main reasons I had Almost Adults on my Anticipated Releases list was the promise of an accurate female friendship. So many books have painted female friendships to be catty and nasty, portraying women as only capable of being frenemies at best. Being a 24-year-old “almost adult” with very strong female friendships, it was no wonder I was dying to get my hands on this book.
I went in expecting a laughter riot, but was pleasantly surprised by all the serious themes to this novel too. The four main characters have a strong friendship–they’ve got each others’ back and they’re vocal about their love for each other. Being the Edele of my own friend group, I found the latter a little sappy at times–why declare your undying love for your friend when you can roast them about something immaterial instead? That’s how you show love in my book. xD
Almost Adults is a book I’m going to find very difficult to rate, mostly because of the effect it’s had on me. To me, Almost Adults didn’t feel like a book. There isn’t one specific problem or conflict with the rest of the pages working to resolve it by the end of the book. Even romcoms follow this format but Almost Adults doesn’t. Instead, this book is a slice of the lives of four friends.
The friends all experience minor setbacks, they band together, they work towards fixing things. Isn’t that how real life is? It is this realistic nature of the book that I loved. Additionally, Ali Pantony has an excellent writing voice–there were several instances where I felt like she would be great at writing women’s literary fiction and suburban family dramas (only my two favourite genres in the whole world, thank you very much). I can’t wait to see what other books she writes in the future!
Almost Adults is a well-crafted novel that accurately portrays female friendships. It is a story of love, loss, and life itself. It is the kind of novel you’d like to step into on a warm day at the beach.
November 6, 2020
DNF’d @ 11%.
didn’t love the writing style and the humour was very millennial in the ‘it’s wine o’clock’ kinda way (u know what i mean..) so it was making me cringe already
then the author used the r-word so it was just a big no. imagine being a whole writer and still thinking an ablelist slur is a solid choice of vocabulary ://
didn’t love the writing style and the humour was very millennial in the ‘it’s wine o’clock’ kinda way (u know what i mean..) so it was making me cringe already
then the author used the r-word so it was just a big no. imagine being a whole writer and still thinking an ablelist slur is a solid choice of vocabulary ://
August 4, 2019
This is a feel-good story of four friends - Nat, Alex, Edele and Mackie, all in their late twenties who are making their way through adulthood. They face heartbreak, unemployment and hardships but their friendship is strong ✨ I loved the characters, I enjoyed each characters story and warmed to them all. I loved how Nat grew stronger as the book went on, Edele for having belief in herself and making changes, Mackie for her sarcasm and Alex for having her happy ever after. I warmed to the characters and cheered for them as the story developed. Friendships are amazing. I laughed and I throughly enjoyed this book. My first #netgalley book and I would like to say thank you @penguinukbooks
August 7, 2019
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
A wonderfully enjoyable story about friendship and finding your feet in this thing called life, ALMOST ADULTS by Ali Pantony is a great summer read for all fiction fans.
Four best friends are building their lives and together they have a strong relationship but individually their lives are hitting some hurdles that may change things for good. Nat is happily in love with her long-term boyfriend whom she lives with so when he comes home from a night out and breaks up with her, she is devastated and completely lost. Alex is a teacher who has a comfortable, loving relationship but she cannot help but question things in her life and wonders if she needs to make some changes. Edele has lost her job and is back living at home with her mum and brother wondering how her life has taken this turn. And then there is Mackie who is fierce, independent and knows exactly what she wants from her career and her future, but something is missing that she can't quite put her finger on.
As each of these women begins to unpack their lives and their problems, their friendship will be more important than ever before because most of the time being an adult is plain hard work.
With plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, there is also a sensitive and emotional element to this novel which helped me to connect with these characters who are each special in their own way. There is plenty of angst, drama, and life-changing decisions to be made, but the strength and support of their friendship was a sight to behold and there was never a dull moment with this gang of women.
ALMOST ADULTS by Ali Pantony is an entertaining story about morphing from one stage of life into another, and the relationships that will get you through the tougher times, and is sure to please fiction fans everywhere.
A wonderfully enjoyable story about friendship and finding your feet in this thing called life, ALMOST ADULTS by Ali Pantony is a great summer read for all fiction fans.
Four best friends are building their lives and together they have a strong relationship but individually their lives are hitting some hurdles that may change things for good. Nat is happily in love with her long-term boyfriend whom she lives with so when he comes home from a night out and breaks up with her, she is devastated and completely lost. Alex is a teacher who has a comfortable, loving relationship but she cannot help but question things in her life and wonders if she needs to make some changes. Edele has lost her job and is back living at home with her mum and brother wondering how her life has taken this turn. And then there is Mackie who is fierce, independent and knows exactly what she wants from her career and her future, but something is missing that she can't quite put her finger on.
As each of these women begins to unpack their lives and their problems, their friendship will be more important than ever before because most of the time being an adult is plain hard work.
With plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, there is also a sensitive and emotional element to this novel which helped me to connect with these characters who are each special in their own way. There is plenty of angst, drama, and life-changing decisions to be made, but the strength and support of their friendship was a sight to behold and there was never a dull moment with this gang of women.
ALMOST ADULTS by Ali Pantony is an entertaining story about morphing from one stage of life into another, and the relationships that will get you through the tougher times, and is sure to please fiction fans everywhere.
May 15, 2020
Trigger warnings:
Diversity:POC main character.
Real rating: 4,5 stars.
I loved this book so much. The exploration of these almost adults as they try to figure out life, adulting, their jobs, their relationships and more. The strong female friendships and lovely relationships.
Definitely recommending this!
Read my full review of Almost Adults on the blog!
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Diversity:POC main character.
Real rating: 4,5 stars.
I loved this book so much. The exploration of these almost adults as they try to figure out life, adulting, their jobs, their relationships and more. The strong female friendships and lovely relationships.
Definitely recommending this!
Read my full review of Almost Adults on the blog!
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April 26, 2021
Full review on the blog!
We follow our 4 bestfriends MCs, told in multiple POV; and when this can usually give me some trouble, this story was easily followeable so the multiple POV didn’t cause me any trouble at all. The friendship was build so well that it gave me a bit of an emotional moment with my own bestfriend of 20+ years; i’ve never experienced nor seen anything closely to that special bond I have with her, so it was truly amazing to see it portrait in this one!
We follow our 4 bestfriends MCs, told in multiple POV; and when this can usually give me some trouble, this story was easily followeable so the multiple POV didn’t cause me any trouble at all. The friendship was build so well that it gave me a bit of an emotional moment with my own bestfriend of 20+ years; i’ve never experienced nor seen anything closely to that special bond I have with her, so it was truly amazing to see it portrait in this one!
August 28, 2019
A coming of age book
Well I have friend envy! Four girls, Edele, Nat, Emma and Alex who are the best of friends and exploring all the stuff that goes with been a twenty something. Normally I have a favourite character but not for this one, I liked them all equally. A lovely read that as a 28 year old I could completely resonate with.
Well I have friend envy! Four girls, Edele, Nat, Emma and Alex who are the best of friends and exploring all the stuff that goes with been a twenty something. Normally I have a favourite character but not for this one, I liked them all equally. A lovely read that as a 28 year old I could completely resonate with.
May 21, 2020
4.75
I really enjoyed reading this; it made me laugh and it nearly made me cry at some points. I havn’t read a book like this before, where it centres mainly on a group of friends and the climax is at the very start of the book. The character development on this book was amazingggg!
I really enjoyed reading this; it made me laugh and it nearly made me cry at some points. I havn’t read a book like this before, where it centres mainly on a group of friends and the climax is at the very start of the book. The character development on this book was amazingggg!
March 20, 2021
Surprising insightful with something there for all ages. I especially loved the way in which the author created connections meaningful to relationships we all have through her characters that really make you think about what’s important. There’s so much more here than the story of 4 girls.
April 16, 2022
3.5/5
Liked the book. It is a classic slice of life book. There is some self growth from the characters but because the book tries to focus on a whole friendship group, we only learn little snippets of each characters's life. It would have been nice to go a bit deeper but I guess that's not really the point of the book. I wanted the book to be a little more relatable and it felt quite unrealistic at times. An easy and chill read overall.
Liked the book. It is a classic slice of life book. There is some self growth from the characters but because the book tries to focus on a whole friendship group, we only learn little snippets of each characters's life. It would have been nice to go a bit deeper but I guess that's not really the point of the book. I wanted the book to be a little more relatable and it felt quite unrealistic at times. An easy and chill read overall.
July 14, 2019
Brilliant
April 29, 2020
Loved it so much, really funny, quirky and loveble, moden day bridget Jones
October 21, 2024
I actually really enjoyed this! Felt like my girlfriends 🩷
February 5, 2026
i hadn’t cried while reading a book in a very long time. it’s such a raw account of women’s friendships, struggles and relationships of different kinds.
June 24, 2019
Mackie, Ed, Alex and Nat (or, as they call themselves, MEAN Girls) are all starting to feel that they definitely should have their lives together. They're all in late twenties, all have been friends for many years, and now they try to figure out how to be an adult, and what does it involve. Firstly, Nat's boyfriend of seven years, ends their relationship, with no warning. Alex is scared her boyfriend is cheating on her, Ed is still living with her mum and lying about how well her job search is going, Mackie is trying to get out of the job she's just got. Are all the changes going to challenge their friendship`?
What really worked for me in this story was the friendship between the girls. It felt real and honest, they were there for each other but it didn't feel too forced or unrealistic or overdone. It was genuine, with ups and downs, like in real friendships, it was comforting and spirit lifting. Each of the four girls was unique, with their own voice and experience, and they brought the best to the relationship. Individually they are all a real mess, but together it seems they can conquer the world, and I loved this feeling.
The book is told from all four points of view and the author has really well pulled it off and the characters tell as it really is, highlighting all the highs and lows of being an adult. But I wanted to tell, this is life, right, so please just pull yourselves together and stop feeling sorry. I mean, there were some funny moments, sure, and the girls were not flawless, they were making mistakes, so it should be a relatable, engaging read, but maybe I'm simply too old for such book already? Sure, we all have moments when we really don't know what to do with our life, when we feel we are adults by mistake but I simply expected more from this story. And, I think, something different - more fun, more humour, more hilarity because, once too much, it felt like the characters were only unhappy and complaining all the time. What's more, I didn't care about the characters, I wasn't sure what the book wants to tell us - I probably simply didn't click with it as I expected to, and hoped to, based on the brilliant synopsis.
I liked the message in "Almost Adults", that really it's not all about having a man in your life but about finding yourself and this what makes you happy. It was a story about true friendship, with its ups and downs, about making mistakes and learning from them and realising that being an adult doesn't mean you must have everything figured out. The dynamics between the girls were so well captured and the writing style was light - hearted, and I am already looking forward to reading more from Ali Pantony.
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
August 6, 2019
What I liked about the sound of this book was the way it seemed to question when exactly we are considered grown up members of the adult community. I think this is different for all of us depending on so many different things.
The four women at the centre of Almost Adults are navigating their way through life as best they can. One of them comes up with the term that gives the book its title and it's a very apt description for them. They're in their late twenties. Natasha and Alex seem to have it all sorted out, living with their respective partners. But just when they think they know which direction their lives are going in something happens to shake them up. Then there's Edele who still lives with her mother and brother, looking around for a job and earning money from her mum for washing her car. The fourth member of the gang is Mackie, who is very switched on, very career and health focused, and yet there is that little something missing from her life.
I really liked all the women but I think Mackie was my favourite. Maybe that's because she wasn't chaotic like the others, she knew where she wanted her life to go and was very organised. The strength in this story is the solid friendship between them all and how that is most important to them, although as the book ends they might just be making that transition from Almost Adults to fully fledged ones and with that comes change and new priorities.
This is a book that made me smile quite a bit and guffaw once or twice. Despite the fact that I can't personally relate to a lot of it, I still found myself drawn into the lives of the very likeable characters and wondering where life was going to take them next. Each chapter is from the point of view of a different character and I liked how this both enabled them to put across their story and also allowed the reader to see the other characters through their eyes.
Almost Adults is a really lovely story of friendship, the kind that doesn't always come along very often, people who have your back, would drop everything to help you, to comfort you. It's also about getting through job interviews, dealing with relationship break ups and working out what you want from life. I thought it was a really engaging debut from Ali Pantony.
The four women at the centre of Almost Adults are navigating their way through life as best they can. One of them comes up with the term that gives the book its title and it's a very apt description for them. They're in their late twenties. Natasha and Alex seem to have it all sorted out, living with their respective partners. But just when they think they know which direction their lives are going in something happens to shake them up. Then there's Edele who still lives with her mother and brother, looking around for a job and earning money from her mum for washing her car. The fourth member of the gang is Mackie, who is very switched on, very career and health focused, and yet there is that little something missing from her life.
I really liked all the women but I think Mackie was my favourite. Maybe that's because she wasn't chaotic like the others, she knew where she wanted her life to go and was very organised. The strength in this story is the solid friendship between them all and how that is most important to them, although as the book ends they might just be making that transition from Almost Adults to fully fledged ones and with that comes change and new priorities.
This is a book that made me smile quite a bit and guffaw once or twice. Despite the fact that I can't personally relate to a lot of it, I still found myself drawn into the lives of the very likeable characters and wondering where life was going to take them next. Each chapter is from the point of view of a different character and I liked how this both enabled them to put across their story and also allowed the reader to see the other characters through their eyes.
Almost Adults is a really lovely story of friendship, the kind that doesn't always come along very often, people who have your back, would drop everything to help you, to comfort you. It's also about getting through job interviews, dealing with relationship break ups and working out what you want from life. I thought it was a really engaging debut from Ali Pantony.
July 20, 2020
Nat, Edele, Alex and Mackie are four best friends all navigating through life in their late twenties. Each one trying to figure out who they are in this world and who they want to be. After heartbreaks, new loves, new jobs, new places, the girls, with each other’s help, guide one another through their almost adult years. This novel was really well written and put together. There were many highs and lows throughout the course of this novel and the reader enjoyed going on this journey with these four women. The plots were very relatable, even though each character had something different that was going on in their life, there felt like there were elements of each one that the reader could connect with. That’s what made these characters so loveable; they were relatable in a multitude of ways. Not only that, but they were funny and bold and at times brash; each character had their own uniqueness to them that let them stand out. The bond between all four girls was so well written too. It really showed that not every moment is always rosy between friends and sometimes things get hairy, but with communication things can work themselves out. This novel let readers know that they aren’t alone in their feelings of the unknown and uncertainty of trying to figure things out. Pantony really captured the essence of what it is to be a person in their late twenties and it was heartwarming to read.
June 23, 2019
Almost Adults follows the stories of four best friends, all in their life twenties and feeling like they should have their shit together by now.
Natasha has just been dumped by the man she’s spent the last seven years and thought she’d spend the rest of her life with.
Alex is worried that her own boyfriend, Craig, is acting distant and looking to follow suit.
Mackie is desperate to get out of the job she’s gotten just about all she can out of, and move on to bigger and better things. But can she do it if it means moving away from her friends?
Edele has just lost her job, is still living at home, and has no idea where it is she’s going next.
This is a story of true friendship, and how no matter what shit life throws at you, as long as there are people who will always have your back, you will be just fine. Being an adult doesn’t always mean you have everything figured out, these four are perfect examples that you don’t have to have the perfect life mapped out in order to enjoy it.
3/5 stars for this pleasantly enjoyable read!
Natasha has just been dumped by the man she’s spent the last seven years and thought she’d spend the rest of her life with.
Alex is worried that her own boyfriend, Craig, is acting distant and looking to follow suit.
Mackie is desperate to get out of the job she’s gotten just about all she can out of, and move on to bigger and better things. But can she do it if it means moving away from her friends?
Edele has just lost her job, is still living at home, and has no idea where it is she’s going next.
This is a story of true friendship, and how no matter what shit life throws at you, as long as there are people who will always have your back, you will be just fine. Being an adult doesn’t always mean you have everything figured out, these four are perfect examples that you don’t have to have the perfect life mapped out in order to enjoy it.
3/5 stars for this pleasantly enjoyable read!
April 15, 2019
This was surprisingly enjoyable! Having grown up with the Angus, Thongs series this felt like a return to a slightly more grown-up version of the books that made me fall in love with reading in the first place. It's lighthearted but still covers some harder hitting topics that were so in line with how I feel in my mid-twenties. A charming read about female friendship and navigating almost-adulthood.
I loved all of the characters - which is unusual for me - and found myself desperate to pick it back up again so that I could find out exactly what happened to them. Definitely worth a read if you enjoy chick-lit that isn't too romance heavy.
I loved all of the characters - which is unusual for me - and found myself desperate to pick it back up again so that I could find out exactly what happened to them. Definitely worth a read if you enjoy chick-lit that isn't too romance heavy.
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