Good book that was a little hard to get into at first. It took a few chapters for me to fully settle into the story. Enjoyable when I did.

3 1/2 stars. This story starts in the 1990s and ends with the pandemic in 2020, but I had to keep reminding myself near the beginning that it didn't take place in the early 1900s. I'm not sure why I felt that way - maybe it was the setting and some of the language. Susan and Norma become accidental friends when they work together in Norma's parents' haberdashery shop. Susan is a hard worker, but Norma gets the loftier job title because of her connections. We follow the girls' friendship's ups and downs through the years, as well as their marriages, children, and jobs. This was definitely a character-driven story. Not much happens (until the end) or happens quickly, but we do see both women's reactions to the events. Norma is prickly throughout and is the very definition of "frenemy." It was hard not to feel sorry for Susan - but also annoyed that she didn't stand up for herself more. All in all, this was an enjoyable, slow-moving read. Many thanks to NetGalley, Ms. Stibble, and Little, Brown, and Company for the ARC of this title.

We first meet Susan when she's a university literature major working part-time at the local haberdashery shop. It's in the shop that she meets Norma, the shop owner's daughter who is majoring in geology with a specialty in sand. When Norma decides to abandon the geology degree and switch to literature Susan thinks she's found a friend. As it turns out, Norma only wants to pick Susan's brain for answers to her interview for admission into the program.
Norma and Susan remain in one another's lives over the years despite dramatic personality differences- Norma uses Susan to achieve her goals and Susan allows herself to be the doormat.
When Susan becomes pregnant she drops out of university while Norma goes on to become an academic star.
The rise and fall of their friendship over 28 years is the core of the plot with lots of events and quirky characters swirling around the center.
Unlike Stibbe's Man At the Helm and Paradise Lodge which are hilarious, the humor in this one is darker. There are still some laugh-out-loud parts but there'are also multiple betrayals, parental worries and serious illness. The book could have been improved with a bit of editing but it's worth a read and sends a message about the variety and value of women's friendship.

This one was just okay for me. I didn't feel like I really connected with the characters, or the journey of a long standing friendship.

If you're someone who loves a simple story about life, this one is for you.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review

It's tricky for me to find a friendship novel that I really enjoy. I have heard such great reviews about this one, so I think I'll say "it's not you, it's me" for this book. It wasn't invested in the women or their friendship and didn't fall in love like I had hoped.

A well-written, character-driven tale. A recommended purchase for collections where slice of life stories are popular, although the inclusion of pandemic details may be offputting for some readers.

Stibbe artfully tells Susan's story from young adulthood starting in the 90's all the way to 2020 and beyond with the onset of covid to present. This is the type of book that I would turn to in between intense books just to have something calm to read, but I would likely read it for a bit, set it down, read something else and then come back to it. This book's focus was more on personal development and the lifetime relationships instead of a plotline. Please note...there was no defined plotline. If you're looking for a calm gentle read, add this to your TBR list.

I was drawn in from the first pages to Susan and Norma’s friendship.their lives their community. Their were times I laughed out loud times I was emotionally drawn in by problems in their lives tension between them.as they grew.A very well written entertaining novel y the wonderful NinaStibbs #netgalley#littlbrownuk

I love Nina Stibbe's books, but this latest was not my favorite. It felt unresolved, and although that is the author's choice, as a reader I wanted a bit more, the satisfaction of the main character's frenemy being confronted by her appropriation and acknowledging it. The theme of appropriation of others' work/ideas, given in a spirit of generosity and kindness, rang very true for academia and particularly with the disproportionate power structure. COVID storylines make me weary. I've read a few so far and I understand why they are being done, but for me, I am living through it, don't want to read about it. Let's set it aside until it's legit historical fiction, please.
Ms. Stibbe, please keep writing, I really enjoy your voice. it's smart, wry, and distinctive, without any hint of coyness. You are a gift to us all.

One Day I Shall Astonish the World is a pretty enjoyable book but wasn't exactly what I was hoping for. The book is well written with a few confusing moments, but overall it was a bit of a miss for me. Still wonderfully written though.

This is a rambling stream of conscious that spans the lifetime of our main character Susan.

Even thought the story touches on hugely emotional situations (unplanned pregnancy, the discovery of her husband’s love child, etc etc) there is an emotional disconnect.

Susan, our narrator, is detached, like the story doesn’t really touch her.

The lack of emotion made this an incredibly boring read.