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REVIEW: No Worries if Not! by Lucy Nichols


Genre: Fiction | Feminist Fiction | Romance

Release Date: Expected 3rd August 2023

Publisher: HarperNorth

Charlotte Thomas is polite. Manners cost nothing, her mother always said … yet there’s a fine line between diplomat and doormat.

But every woman has their breaking point and Charlotte has just found hers. It wasn’t because she said sorry to her boss for challenging his terrible idea for a staff social, or because she apologised to the drunk girl who spilled espresso martini all over her favourite top. And it wasn’t because she agreed to go on a second date with the world’s most boring man to avoid hurting his feelings. Maybe it was all of these, or maybe it was when she realised she ended every email with the fateful words: No Worries If Not.

With the help of her best friend and housemate Mush, Charlotte declares she’s apologising no more. No more saying sorry for just doing her job, or speaking her mind or simply taking up space.

So when she finds her space being invaded by a manspreader on the Metro, Charlotte lets rip. When she’s finished shouting about why he’s the rudest man she’s ever met, she realises, annoyingly, that not only is he the best looking man she’s ever had the misfortune to sit next to … he’s actually really nice about it all too.

With her unapologetic pledge off to a tricky start, will Charlotte be, dare she say it … sorry she even started this?

"Difficult women are a necessity."

Women, how many times a day do you find yourself apologising for simply existing? Making yourself seem less assertive with an “if that makes sense”? Minimising your own needs with a “no worries if not!” — this book beautifully explores the more subtle parts of being a woman conditioned to live in a misogynistic world and does it with grace, flair and a lot of heart!

Charlotte was everything — she gave me so much catharsis and also gave us a brilliant chance to indulge in a sweet little romance with a streak of feminist fury and personal growth. She was witty, funny and painfully aware of her own compliance in keeping her stuck in a misogynistic world that makes her feel guilty for taking space — leading to her snapping in the most fantastic ways and going on a heartfelt and slightly chaotic journey of self love and reflection. She made me laugh, cringe, wince and fall totally in love with her as she went on this absurd adventure and that is what entirely dominated this brilliantly entertaining story.

The narration was personal and easy, with a steady pace and some deeply insightful diarised sections that go back to show us seemingly normal snapshot moments of the past, but fit together to show all these little moments that affect and change a person.

Witty, warm and wonderful. Everyone needs to read this book — and I will not be apologising for that statement.


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


I was gifted an advanced reviewers copy of this title in return for an honest review.

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