Probably Nothing by Lauren Bravo

 

Probably Nothing by Lauren Bravo.

Published 4th July 2024 by Simon and Schuster.

From the cover of the book:

Bryony doesn't actually mind being single. So she doesn't understand why she keeps seeing (ok, sleeping with) Ed, who is perfectly fine, but also only okay. After developing the ick on their fifth date, she resolves to end things – only to receive a call the next day telling her Ed has died.

Worse yet, he seems to have represented her to his family and friends as his great love. Obviously, it would be cruel to correct them. Then she's invited to the funeral. It would be equally rude to refuse... right?

Before she knows it, Bryony has been drawn in by the charisma and chaos of Ed's eccentric family and tangled in a web of her own lies. She's been guilted into signing up to his sister's pyramid scheme, she's in far too deep with several of his nearest and dearest – and to make matters worse she's experiencing a lot of physical symptoms that are becoming harder and harder to ignore…

Probably Nothing is the answer to just how far sheer awkwardness can take someone. Peppered with Lauren Bravo's irresistible wit, it explores the relatable modern cults of wellness and people-pleasing, and digs into the eternal dilemma: life is short – so should you settle for perfectly fine?

***********

Bryony is not looking for love, so casual 'things' with dating app matches suit her fine. A few dates with a nice-enough guy called Ed has brought satisfying amorous encounters, but by the fifth date, Bryony's increasing 'ick' sense probably means this one will be their last. 

But then Bryony's life takes an unexpected turn. The next day she receives a call from a stranger to tell her that Ed has died in a tragic accident. Shocked, but far from distraught, Bryony is mystified to learn that his family are under the misapprehension that she was the love of his life. Unable to admit the truth while they are grieving, Bryony finds herself being sucked into playing the role of heart-broken girlfriend. 

Soon the lies begin to pile up, and Bryony has no idea how to extricate herself from the situation her people-pleasing tendencies have embroiled her in. Now an integral part of the family, and local community, not to mention a fully fledged member of Ed's sister's pyramid scheme, Bryony's stress levels are off the chart and her chronic hypochondria is manifesting itself as all manner of physical symptoms that are becoming overwhelming. How can she bring herself to admit that she really did not even know Ed that well...?

Lauren Bravo hits her stride from page one in this gorgeous book, weaving a deeply emotional story about friendship, family, mental health, and well-being, that is full of relatable themes. The many layered story unfurls through two narratives, swapping back and forth between Bryony's increasingly complicated adventures as an outsider in Ed's family, and his sister-in-law Kelly's trials and tribulations within the bosom of their eccentric goings on.

Beginning with a little white lie intended to please, Bryony is soon in a right old muddle that tips her into an anxiety filled nightmare. Her relationship with Kelly begins slowly, before blossoming into tentative friendship (once embarrassing details have been worked through), but she is thrown rapidly into intimacy with Ed's larger-than-life mother Ann, and his ditsy sister Annie, partaking in memorial activities with an intensity that she is unprepared for, given the emotional distance of her own family background. Meanwhile, Kelly longs to be a mother, and chafes under the closeness of the family she has married into, with a lovely sideways look at her job as a GP's receptionist.

Bravo writes about messy families and unresolved trauma to perfection, with a serious thwack of heart-felt emotion that will have the tears coursing down your cheeks, and she touches on a wealth of subjects around love, loss, parenthood, and mental health along the way. Her characters spring from the page in all their vivid glory, especially Ed's family, and as she gradually reveals their vulnerabilities you find yourself wanting to give them a fierce hug. But this is far from a sad book. Bravo approaches weighty subjects with tenderness, insight, and delightful wit, with a twist of romantic suspense for extra uplift, so the ahh factor wins out.

I adored this quirky little gem. Bravo's writing is so engaging, and there is something magical about the way these fabulous characters help each other on the way to healing. Bags of warmth and lots of laughs make this a superb summer read.

Probably Nothing is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the author:

Lauren Bravo is an author, journalist and lifelong hypochondriac who has written about fashion, popular culture, food and feminism for titles including Grazia, Stylist, Vogue and Sunday Times Style. Her debut novel, Preloved, was named one of Red's best books of 2023. She lives in London with her husband and daughter.