People Pleaser by Bryony Gordon

 

The promotion she gets at work isn't quite what Olivia was hoping for. When a couple of quick drinks to celebrate are hijacked by a complete stranger, Olivia is told a few home truths which change her perspective on everything.

Olivia Greenwood, the main character in People Pleaser by Bryony Gordon, is someone many women will be able to identify with. She's part of the sandwich generation, trying to juggle work and family life, and not really doing a brilliant job at anything. She's been led to believe that if she does everything, and more, that's expected of her at work, she'll get the promotion she's longed for.

When she's overlooked for the promotion, she doesn't question the decision or complain; she simply accepts it. Celebrating her colleague's new job, the one Olivia desperately wanted, turns into a boozy night when she meets Rose, a young woman that Olive is fascinated by. Rose is forthright in her opinions, telling Olivia that she's allowed herself to be a doormat to everyone around her; her need to please other people taking precedence.

The following morning, Olivia is a changed person; she's no longer going to acquiesce to everyone's demands; from now on, she's going to be FRANK, FEARLESS, FUNNY. It was lovely seeing an empowered Olivia stand up for herself, particularly with her boss. I am sure that the vast majority of women who read this will be nodding along. even cheering, with many of the things that Olivia says. 

Telling the truth doesn't just happen at work; it also extends into her personal life. Along the way, she has to face a few home truths, accepting that perfection is nigh on impossible if you're a wife, mother, daughter, and work. 

There's nothing startlingly new in the narrative; what the book does is shine a light on women's lives, reminding readers that they are not alone in how they feel. As one section of the book points out, women vent their anger among other women, in safe spaces, instead of confronting the people responsible.

While I was cheering Olivia along, I did feel that there was a little too much psychoanalysis in the middle of the book, which slowed the narrative a little. I also felt there could have been more comedy from the situations where Olivia spoke her truth. Nevertheless, I enjoyed meeting Olivia, watching her personal growth, and her story come full circle at the end.

People Pleaser by Bryony Gordon will be published on 23rd April 2026 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Viking for a review copy.

Author Details

Bryony Gordon writes a column in the Daily Mail and is the host of the podcast The Life of Bryony. She previously wrote for the Telegraph for twenty-three years, becoming one of the paper’s best loved writers, and hosted the Mad World podcast. She is the author of the bestselling The Wrong Knickers and Mad Woman, plus the Sunday Times No.1 bestsellers You Got This and Mad Girl, which were both nominated for British Book Awards. As the founder of Mental Health Mates, a global peer support network which encourages people with mental health issues to connect and get out of the house, she is a passionate advocate for mental health in the media. In 2017 she won the MIND Making A Difference Award, and in 2023 was awarded the Royal College of Psychiatrist’s President’s Medal for her work in improving mental health. She has twice run the London Marathon in her underwear and thinks everyone should try running in their pants at least once. People Pleaser is her debut novel. She lives in South London with her husband and daughter.