One of the most relatable pieces of literature I’ve ever had the privilege of devouring. It is witty, sharp and poignant in a way that cuts right to the heart. Surprising, and wonderful in every single way.

Marnie is one of those characters that made me feel like the author crawled around in my brain and delved up my greatest fears, insecurities and traits and formed a fully fledged fictional human out of them. I mean, she’s even a barista?! It was touching and heartfelt and made reflect on a lot of life, and my past and present friendships.

I think my favourite thing about Crushing is that it’s about love, in all it’s forms, and it’s a celebration of that love.

Thank you Genevieve for writing this 💗

I absolutely LOVED Genevieve Novak’s first book, No Hard Feelings, so I was beyond excited to receive her next book. The only problem was that I had such high expectations of the book. Did it meet my expectations?

Yes. Yes it did. In fact, I’m not sure which book I like the most!

Marine, in her late 20s, has just broken up with her boyfriend. She has rarely been single in her adult life, always finding a boyfriend. Deciding to swear off men, she is faced with what her life looks like alone.

I loved the fact that this book was set on Melbourne, which made it that much more relatable. I was completely drawn into what Marnie was experiencing. With Claud, Nicola, Kit and Isaac as supporting characters, it was just such a delightful read that I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

Do yourself a favour and read this book.

Thanks to @harpercollinsaustralia and @netgalley for the review copy.

this was okay, but read a little juvenile and i didn't feel connected to the characters or what happens to them at all. i can see other reader enjoying this a lot tho!

— thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the free digital ARC.

✨BOOK REVIEW✨

📚Crushing - Genevieve Novak📚

Having not read ‘No Hard Feelings’ (I know! 🙈), I didn’t know what to expect in terms of Genevieve’s writing and wow, wasn’t I pleasantly surprised?! 😍 this was such a compulsive read that had me captivated from the very beginning.

I love the honesty, the sarcasm, the wit, the relatability. I felt like I was 20 years old again, making my way from one “relationship” (LOL) to the next, feeling completely lost, trying to find my worth in the eyes and arms of a man 🙄

This book honestly was giving me “sleepover with your closest girlfriends, passing a tub of ice-cream around, watching re-runs of Sex and the City, whilst scream/cry-singing to Taylor Swift” 😂😂 it was just so brutally realistic but super cozy at the same time. It definitely made me want to give my younger self a big hug!

What you can expect:
🌸 Self-discovery
🌸 Messy hot girl
🌸 Hilarious banter
🌸 Sleepover vibes

One of my favourite quotes: "I'd spent so much time trying to fit into someone's life that
I'd forgotten to ask how they would fit into mine." - powerful stuff!

I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to read ‘No Hard Feelings’ and add both to my physical collection 😍

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

QOTD: What is something you wish you could tell your younger self?

Available to purchase now 😍🥳

Thank you so much to @netgalley @harpercollinsaustralia and @genevieve.nvk for sending me this to review 🙏🏻

Short and sweet thoughts on Crushing by Genevieve Novak here: Liked, didn’t love.

Liked enough to give it four stars because it was entertaining; the main character is a bit of a late 20s mess and don’t we all love that. Didn’t love the main plot line which is basically about an inappropriate “friend”ship and I KNOW this is the whole point of the story but I just don’t like it. Not for me guys.

There was a lot of main character growth and I loved to see the intense friendship between Marnie and her housemate and her bond with her sister as well. Watching Marnie go through all the rough patches and changes we go through in our 20s and 30s and how these friendships evolve.. really well written and relatable.

Also love that it’s set in Melbourne BUT - how come all Melbourne lit is based Northside eh??The author even mentions the North/South of the river divide in Melbourne (and every city) but I’m yet to read a fun contemporary novel based south o’ the Yarra. Christian White has given me a bayside thriller and I’m very happy about this, but I’m begging for someone to hop over the river and write something down this way please and thank you! Promise it’s cool down here too!

Definitely recommend Crushing to my friends (it’s in my bag to pass on to a colleague as we speak) but it’s not something I will rave about for years to come. Would love to chat about this one to others who have read it - send me your reviews I’m so curious to see if anyone felt the same way as me!!

Crushing is a burning sensation of a novel about Marnie and her disaster of a love life or just her life. Written with wisdom and insight that had me laughing and shaking my head. It's a joy to read.

Crushing needs no introduction here. Genevieve Novak is the big sister of all of us, and Crushing - her second novel had bookstagram in a frenzy, and for good reason.

It was sharp, witty, gut wrenching, and just completely relatable for us girls, gays and they’s in our twenties.

I loved this one, flew through it and genuinely looked forward to picking it up. I loved Marnie and I was rooting for her and Isaac so bad. I think the sad/hot girl in her twenties has had its moment, but this felt fresh and in a league of its own.

I actually haven’t read No Hard Feelings yet but I certainly will be after this one.

Big rec from mwaaaa.

Genevieve Novak has the ability to go into our heads at night, sift through the shit that was our 20’s and somehow make all the joys, drunken nights, horrible decisions, sex with losers, part time jobs and shit boyfriends into an incredible novel.

This story follows Marnie. Some might say Marnie is in a spiral of self-worth and well you would be right. Recently single, working in a cafe, basically having an emotional affair with a bloke she met on a night out, whilst trying to manage her housemate dating an absolute flog. It’s hard. Your 20’s are hard and Novak absolutely nails it on the head.

I think about my 20’s - ha! Are we selfish? Nooooo, are we arrogant? Nooooo, do we think the world revolves around us? Noooooo. OF COURSE WE BLOODY DO and this is why this book works, because it is everyone’s story. At least one bit of it. You may not have worked in a cafe, but did you get drunk and abuse a colleague? I think so.

Keep throwing these relatable books at me Genevieve Novak - I am here for it.

I read and adored Genevieve’s first book, ‘No Hard Feelings’, therefore it was with great anticipation that I came to read her latest offering. The last book followed a theme of where are you going with your life, on this occasion Crushing follows along a similar winning formula except this time around the question is, who are we when we’re on our own?

‘I was running late to my own identity crisis. Usually reserved for people on the cusp of adulthood, I had only just realised on the edge of my thirties that I had no idea who I was, what I liked, or what I wanted.’

Once again Genevieve hits you with her wit, humour and upfront honesty that people will relate to the rawness of emotion presented at times. Once more the uncertainties and insecurities can be felt by all people at any age of their life when they don’t know how to be by themselves. We can personally relate or know of someone who this would clearly speak to.

‘I had to know all of my options before making a choice, no matter its significance. I was paralysed by indecision, idling for years. I let myself be led by stronger personalities to absolve myself if — when — things went wrong.’

Genevieve takes her readers on an adventure from flat sharing, to family occasions, to looking for yourself and much, much more. I loved cruising the streets of my hometown Melbourne once more, with a particular nod to the Fairfield boathouse.
There will be many laugh out loud moments, there will be many tantrums and tears but I had faith in Genevieve’s writing. Marnie is a hard character to like at times, I mean in all honesty, she doesn’t even really like herself. But I trusted Genevieve and boy! Did she come through for me. When all the avoidance and anger was swept away, she leaves her readers with raw emotion, like new clay ready to be sculptured into something new and better. Remarkable.

Why do you do it?’ he asked. ‘What’s wrong with how you are? I might like her better.’ I paused, holding my breath in my lungs while I decided how honest to be.
‘I’ve let her down too many times,’ I said.

Crushing is polarising in that it can be hard to read yet is equally heart-assuring being full of lessons on loss and strength, hope and discovery all bound together with loads of ludicrous laughter.

‘How clearheaded we become when we come to terms with ourselves; our ugly and our redeemable. The weight hadn’t eased but it was easier to carry now. I was a person in progress, and there was much work left to do.’







This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Sally Rooney, eat your heart out.

I binged this witty, intelligent story about Marnie as she tries to break her 'serial monogamous' relationship streak only to find herself in yet another relationship she can't seem to move away from.

Genevieve Novak shines a light on both the small business struggles of post-covid Melbourne and how hard it is, as a twenty-something, to really know who you are and show that person confidently to the world.

I needed to sit with it once I finished before realising that, yes, I did love it!

Crushing will hit you in the feels, and simply put is... crushing.

Genevieve Novak sprinkles magic and realism in the new mundane, particularly in dealing with your 20s. The writing is impeccably doused with wit, pop culture references, deep-rooted insights, and wisdom. It definitely gave me Fleabag Down Under (20s edition) vibes.

Marnie is one character that I have connected with on multiple levels. Her metamorphosis is immensely painful as she navigates failed relationships, tense family dynamics, a rollercoaster friendship and a mysterious magical connection. The anger, hurt, rage, abandonment and codependency were real and raw. Multiple times, I teared up and was tempted to throw my phone as Marnie made some questionable decisions. This book beautifully tackles the overemphasis of romantic love and its connection with being enough, a celebration of platonic friendships and the beauty of human connection. The ending though gut-wrenching was refreshing. I will be keeping an eye out for Genevieve Novak's future work.

Thank you, NetGalley & HarperCollins AU, for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

This is such a good book, I really loved it. I think Genevieve Novak is. A brilliant writer who gets better with every book. This is chic lit at its finest.

Guys! Genevieve Novak is a genius. I thoroughly enjoyed her debut novel No Hard Feelings and I think I like Crushing more? I didn’t even think that was possible.

Crushing is the story of a 20-something Marnie Fowler who grapples with the notions of relationships, loneliness, identity and purpose. It is a witty, coming of age story that will leave you laughing and crying and rooting for Marnie every step of the way. Novak’s sophomore novel is also set in Melbourne; goes without saying that I loved it.

Novak manages to immerse readers into the world of the novel with such ease, partly because the characters are so believable and crafted with care. The entire time I was reading this novel it felt like I was catching up with a long lost friend who was updating me about the events of her life over brunch.

Marnie is flawed, messy and raw and I adored her. Her friendship with Claud plucked at my heart strings and I was so happy they could rely on each other. I feel like romantic relationships are often treated as the benchmark for happiness and success in traditional romances. That doesn’t mean that platonic friendships are non-existent or overlooked in romances, but usually they are not given enough importance or are taken for granted. However, this novel takes pride in platonic relationships and encourages everyone to realise the importance of genuine friendships.

I also really enjoyed how the novel didn’t rely on any conventional romance tropes. I would go so far as to say this isn’t a romance. This is a story about a woman coming to terms with dating and relationships in her twenties, learning to rely on those around her and most importantly, learning to rely on and trust herself.

I can confidently say that Novak is one of my favourite writers now and I will definitely read anything she publishes, even if it’s her grocery list.

If you’re looking for a captivating read about navigating your twenties and finding yourself, this is the perfect book for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Crushing comes out on the 5th of April, be sure to grab a copy!

Kick off your shoes, throw on your loungewear, grab a block of chocolate, or a glass of wine, and sink into your most comfy reading spot because I guarantee you will want to binge on this great book.

I did.

I loved it.

Novak has cleverly captured the ecstasy and angst of singledom as a 20-something living in inner city Melbourne. Affirming that learning to love and accept yourself is the best remedy for heartbreak.

Synopsis:

Serial monogamist Marnie is running late to her own identity crisis. After a decade of twisting herself into different versions of the ideal girlfriend, she's swearing off relationships for good. Forever. Done. No more, no thank you.

Pretty inconvenient time to meet Isaac: certified dreamboat and the only man who has ever truly got her. It's cool, though, they're just friends, he's got someone else, and she has more important things to worry about. Like who she is, what she wants, and what the hell she ever saw in the love(s) of her life in the first place.

Flanked by overwhelmed new mum Nicola, terminally single Claud, and eternal pessimist Kit, Marnie reckons with the question: who are we when we're on our own?

Set in Melbourne, Australia, Crushing is a witty and heartfelt novel about finding yourself in your late twenties. It completely pulls you in and has you feeling everything that Marnie does. It felt very honest and I found myself easily connecting with Marnie and rooting for her. At times heart-wrenching and at others hilarious, Crushing had me going through the full spectrum of emotions. I loved the focus on friendship and personal growth.

After adoring No Hard Feelings, Crushing was my most anticipated read of the year so you can bet I was more than willing to deal with the tiny text on the Netgalley app for an opportunity to read an advanced copy!

And it did not disappoint.

Marnie Fowler is single again. For the 5th time in 10 years. And she’s had enough. She’s sick of becoming a new version of herself for someone else. It’s time to learn to be ok being alone. But of course the moment she does that she meets Isaac (insert melting smiley emoji here).

I bloody adored Marnie. She is loyal, complicated, funny, sharp and a hilarious drunk. Her character development throughout the book was so lovely (despite the fact set almost every aspect of her life on fire!). The way Genevieve Novak writes the many many wild, roaming thoughts of her leading lady characters makes me feel seen. Like, thank god I’m not the only crazy person who thinks like this! The friendships were addictive and relatable (LC/Heidi Montag vibes…) and the ever consuming feelings of a crush were so so real.

I raced through this and am a little sad it’s over - I hope we get a Marnie sequel one day (Sam’s dance moves had me like 👀). I can’t wait to buy a hard copy for my shelf and recommend this to everyone I know!

a much awaited book for 2023!

it's hilarious and sad and entertaining. i finished this within 24 hours because i could not put it down! Novak's writing is engaging and funny, filled with pop culture references that screams TASTE. the characters are flawed but you can't help but root for them. the plot follows a rudimentary storyline but executed competently and satisfyingly that makes it good. i enjoyed this novel very much. i cannot wait to read more of Novak's writing!

this reminds me of one of my favorite movies The Worst Person in the World (2021) and one of my favorite series Fleabag, which should give you a good idea what this book is about.

I absolutely flew through this one and loved every second of it! I found is super relatable and loved that it was set in Melbourne after the pandamic and Marnie worked in hospitality. Took me back to when i spent most of my 20’s working full-time is hospo.
It definitely sums up trying to date in your 20’s, trying to find validation in others. I loved the hurt, rage, love, friendship in this book and i think most of us have found ourselves in Marnie or Claude’s shoes at sometime or another. This book felt real and honest! I loved it more than No Hard Feelings, which i didn’t think was possible. Would highly recommend! It was also giving me Taylor Swift Anti-Hero vibes.
Can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy so i can reread it!

Quotes i loved: “Getting over someone is not that difficult. All you have to do is focus on every negative thing about them for the rest of your life until you forget to stop actively hoping for their slow and painful death, then get a haircut”
“Don’t you hate that saying, that the sexiest thing you can be is confident? But how was I supposed to be confident if I didn’t feel sexy? How was I supposed to feel sexy unless I was confident that I already was?”

Amazing, fantastic, incredible.... My absolute favourite author!! I had high expectations after reading her debut but this is just as good. Five out of five stars.

JUST FINISHED: Crushing by Genevieve Novak

Love love lovedddd!

We all know I’m a sucker for a messy, relatable, sad-girl-fighting-to-make-it-through-her-20s-with-her-heart-and-mental-health-intact kinda story—and this one was spot on.

Building on her achievements with No Hard Feelings, Genevieve Novak’s writing in Crushing is simply wonderful: descriptive, emotive, and lyrical whilst remaining down to earth and crushingly (see what I did there?) real. Honestly, if we were allowed to quote ARCs I’d reference the heck out of this one. Like, my whole review would just be a list of quotes…

The banter between our protagonist Marnie and her friends and family was hilarious (up there with the banter in Emily Henry’s Book Lovers). The relationships with the individuals* who really mattered were so honest and messy, yet ultimately left my heart warmed.

*I do think I fucked up somewhere along the line though…because for some reason I pictured Lewis Capaldi as Sam???? I…highly doubt I was meant to. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Anyway, big congrats to @genevieve.nvk and cheers to NetGalley for letting me read this early, love ya ☕️-Mika