For fans of Dolly Alderton, this book aims to be a "Everything I Know About Love" for women in their thirties, blending personal anecdotes with broader reflections on society and culture. Unfortunately, it falls short of delivering the same wit or meaningful insight.

The first half of the book critiques how society pigeonholes women in their thirties into two categories: mothers and non-mothers, layering intense expectations and pressure to have children "before it’s too late." However, in a jarring shift, Nell Frizzell transitions to narrating her own pregnancy and childbirth experience. To me, this felt incoherent—she ultimately conforms to the very societal expectations she critiques.

While young mothers might find solace in her honest portrayal of early motherhood, I felt disconnected and unrepresented. Rather than challenging traditional patriarchal values, the book seemed to validate them, leaving me with a sense of intellectual dishonesty.

Ultimately, it wasn’t the book for me, and I found it lacking in the sharpness and authenticity I’d hoped for.