It’s my very great pleasure today to share my review of Probably Nothing by Lauren Bravo, not least because I still have Lauren’s debut Preloved waiting for me on my TBR. My huge thanks go to Sara-Jade Virtue of Simon and Schuster’s Books and the City for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for sending me a copy of Probably Nothing in return for an honest review.

Published by Simon and Schuster on 4th July 2024, Probably Nothing is available for purchase through the links here.

Probably Nothing

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?

My Review of Probably Nothing

Bryony’s casual boyfriend has died leaving his family believing she is the love of his life. 

I loved Probably Nothing because it is witty, relatable and deliciously entertaining. The plot is so good as it encompasses events and situations any reader can identify with so that it is as if Lauren Bravo has written it just for the individual. This is a story of ordinary people, often doing ordinary things, told with humour and affection. Equally, Probably Nothing is a warm, mature and insightful exploration of relationships – relationships between friends and lovers, in marriages and families, in communities and workplaces so that there is a universal and identifiable appeal making for a really compelling read.

The characters are fabulous. Time after time I felt their actions could belong to any number of people I know because Lauren Bravo depicts them so realistically, and my poor husband was constantly interrupted as I read aloud the most perfect descriptions of very familiar behaviour. Bryony is a triumph as she finds herself embroiled in the family events that celebrate Ed’s life. As Ed’s family learn more about Bryony, so she gains a greater understanding of herself. There’s a vivid sense of growth and development that makes Bryony a rich and complex character. She’s no cardboard protagonist who is perfect in comparison to others, but her personality leaps from the page and I particularly relished her hypochondria and her need to please others all the time. 

Indeed, I loved all the characters here. It’s a brilliant touch to make Ed the catalyst for the action and yet we never encounter him directly. Ann’s need to weave people into her family, Steve’s pragmatic approach, Kelly’s obsession with pregnancy, Annie’s ill fated attempts at being a grown up, Bryony’s inability to say no, are just a few of the traits that are so cleverly depicted so that it feels as if the reader is a fly on the wall, eavesdropping their lives rather than merely reading about them. The prickly, adversarial relationship between Bryony and Kelly is a touch of genius because it illustrates how we so frequently judge others without knowing the full facts, adding depth as well as fun to the story. I think Probably Nothing is crying out to be made into a television series because these are folk we care about and want to champion. There are no great heroes or villains, but rather flawed and messy personalities simply trying to get by who are hugely relatable. 

Probably Nothing is a wonderful story. The twists and turns of the plot are fun, moving and brilliantly uplifting. The narrative shines an affectionate, funny and engaging light onto who we are as people. Lauren Bravo uncovers our fears and foibles in a way that not only entertains the reader, but gives them permission to be themselves too. I thought it was a belter of a book and absolutely loved it.

About Lauren Bravo

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.

For further information, follow Lauren on Twitter/X @laurenbravo. You’ll find Lauren on Instagram too.

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