This modern, fast-paced novel centres around three women that have been best friends since their university days. As all three find themselves in a crisis, either due to career shortcomings or family issues, their bond is tested and pushed to the limit. A quote on the back of the cover suggests “99% of women will relate to this novel” and they’re probably not wrong.
This book explores a myriad of female issues; in fact, it sometimes feels like
Hope is playing some sort of ‘millennial crisis bingo’ where every possible issue under the sun crops up. Early motherhood struggles? Got it. Sexuality confusion? Yup! Struggling to make ends meet by following your passion instead of settling into a stable career? Bingo! The problem with this catch-all approach is that very little feels genuine. So ambitious is Hope’s juggling act that lots of balls end up getting dropped. So while most readers will indeed find moments in the book they relate to (I certainly did), it’s too surface-level to leave a lasting impression on anyone.
All of this defies the series tone Hope wishes to achieve and makes the novel too frivolous for any serious level of discourse.
But there’s a time and place for frivolity too and I can’t deny this novel its inherent charm. The level of consideration afforded to Normal People wouldn’t go amiss for Expectation. Both novels are super readable, entertaining but ultimately forgettable. Though all of Hope’s plot twists can be spotted from a mile off, they’re exciting plot twists all the same and the whole thing is a gentle caper that will neither offend nor dazzle.
3/5
