REVIEW: Nothing Serious by Emily J. Smith

Nothing Serious by Emily J. Smith seemed like an interesting idea. Edie and Peter have been best friends for a long time; Edie also fell in love with him. When one of Peter’s dates ends up dead under suspicious circumstances, will Edie still stand alongside Peter?

Nothing Serious is a very character-driven story. All the characters have faults and deep personalities, and many times, I wasn’t sure who I should trust. I also really liked the feminist issues brought up during the story. Many situations were relatable to the current times. Some areas could have used some content warnings. Some of the topics include eating disorders, alcoholism, domestic abuse, sexual abuse and violence, and drug addiction.

This book had real promise and potential. I liked the idea of a looming mystery and trying to decide if you know those close to you. Unfortunately, the execution of all this wasn’t excellent. It was hard to tell if it was trying to be a thriller or more of a contemporary fiction. It didn’t fit well in either. Nothing Serious is very slow; sometimes, nothing is happening. Too many subplots were taken away from the central mystery, and since it is a short book, more time should have been dedicated to that. Also, there were many unlikable characters, which didn’t help me care what happened to them in the story.

Overall, I enjoyed the idea of Nothing Serious, but it didn’t follow through for me.

Thank you, Netgalley and William Morrow, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

This book was almost too tense to enjoy (or maybe I just related too closely with it ;-) While this book is billed as a mystery, the story dealt less with the murder that takes place than with Edie's unrequited feelings for first Peter, then the women in her life. She has an obsessive fascination with Anaya, after Peter's frivolous idea to invite Edie to meet her at the end of a date. But Anaya's writings have awakened something in Edie, something that her job in tech doesn't give her access to - her feminist leanings. The book seemed more like a quest for self-discovery, rather than a mystery, and I might have read it differently if my expectations were different.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy.

Thank you to Netgalley & William Morrow for this eARC.

I'm stuck between a 3 or a 3.5 for this one. Overall I think the plot is interesting and could've been really great if it wasn't for some of the characters. Also please be aware the themes in this book are very serious! I really felt sad for Edie (FMC) but I also couldn't wrap my head around the fact that she was supposed to be 35. Peter on the other hand was just a horrible human. It was kind of odd to me that her friends had to tip toe around telling her anything bad about Peter because they knew she loved Peter so much.

I did switch over to the audio book so I could finish because I wanted to see how everything would come to an end.

Unfortunately this didn’t work for me as I didn’t connect with the characters—but the writing was excellent. I appreciated the snark, and clever analogies. Will keep an eye on this author!

Nothing Serious is equal parts commentary and character study, following tech executive Edie Walker who descends into an obsessive spiral after her best friend (and secret crush) Peter is implicated in the death of a woman he’d been dating.

I have very complicated thoughts about this book. I think the author was attempting to achieve a darkly satirical tone but the disturbing nature of events and subsequent details that emerge felt too heavy to have not been explored deeper.

I’ll start off by sharing what I liked: The author clearly has experience in (or proficiently researched) the tech industry and displayed a clear understanding of the difficulties women face in the field. This aspect of Edie’s character was very believable and despite not understanding why she stayed at her job, I understood the professional culture in which she clawed to maintain control.

I also thought that the unraveling of Edie and Peter’s relationship made for interesting scenes and it gave me joy to see her remove the rose colored glasses and become more critical of him. The author created a realistic antagonist in Peter, a good-looking, white tech bro with the world at his fingertips. We all know a Peter (or two) in real life and can see how old friendships are easier to maintain when you cease to challenge each other. Among my many grievances with Peter, the most absurd is that this accomplished, arrogant, multi-millionaire continues to split the bill with his best friend of fifteen years, knowing that she is struggling financially. I was seething reading his and Edie’s exchanges and his approach towards woman/dating effectively turned me off to him.

Unfortunately though, I didn’t feel like there was a cohesive message achieved by the novel’s end. Is this a commentary on the monstrosities of dating in the digital age? Is it an examination of morality and the excuses we make for the ones we love? I’m not quite sure because I was so distracted by Edie’s inconsistent character and aggravating inner monologue.

I simply could not connect to Edie because I was so confused by her thoughts and actions. I’m not sure if this was intentional, but I noticed a pattern with Edie’s sentiments every time another woman was seen or mentioned. She continuously judged and confined other woman into misogynistic boxes/stereotypes while simultaneously yearning to be treated with respect. If this was intentional and meant to show us Edie at her ugliest and rawest I would understand, but these feelings were never properly addressed and there was never a self-reckoning moment where Edie examined why she thought this way. Her delusions were beyond reproach and the romance she pursued with Leah felt misplaced. This subplot didn’t add anything and if I’m being honest, made me feel ickier about Edie’s judgement.

While I do applaud the conclusions Edie came to, her realizations came far too late in the narrative to sway my opinion. The ending left much to be desired and the lack of cohesiveness in thesis and tone ultimately didn’t work for me.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

**Review of *Nothing Serious* by Emily J. Smith**

Emily J. Smith’s *Nothing Serious* is a captivating debut novel that blends dark humor, psychological tension, and a sharp critique of modern-day dating culture. This compulsively readable story follows Edie Walker, a disillusioned tech executive caught in the throes of unrequited love and existential confusion. As her best friend—and long-time crush—Peter becomes entangled in a woman’s mysterious death, Edie’s life spirals into an obsessive quest for truth, testing her loyalty, her self-worth, and the boundaries of friendship.

At 35, Edie is stuck in a rut—professionally and personally. Her career as a tech executive leaves her feeling unfulfilled, and her tiny San Francisco apartment feels like a metaphor for her life. But it’s her intense, unreciprocated feelings for Peter, her charming and successful best friend, that truly hold her back. When Peter breaks up with his long-term girlfriend, Edie sees an opportunity to finally make her move and have the relationship she’s dreamed of. However, her hopes are dashed when Peter immediately moves on to date Anaya Thomas, a brilliant feminist writer and professor. Edie finds herself inexplicably drawn to Anaya, admiring her grace, intellect, and presence—qualities Edie feels she lacks.

When Anaya is found dead after a date with Peter, Edie is thrust into a web of suspicion, intrigue, and obsession. Her desire to prove Peter’s innocence transforms into a relentless investigation, during which Edie’s own motives and sanity begin to unravel. As she digs deeper into Anaya’s life and the circumstances surrounding her death, Edie’s fixation on both the woman and the situation grows, creating a tense atmosphere as she questions Peter’s innocence and her own understanding of love, justice, and loyalty.

*Nothing Serious* excels in its nuanced portrayal of female relationships, jealousy, and the complex emotions that drive us to do irrational things in the name of love and friendship. Edie’s inner turmoil is expertly captured, and readers will find themselves both sympathizing with her and questioning her actions as the story unfolds. Smith cleverly critiques the world of dating apps and modern relationships, exploring themes of superficial connections, idealized love, and the disillusionment that comes from wanting something more meaningful in a world full of fleeting encounters.

The dark humor laced throughout the novel balances the tense, psychological drama, making it an engaging and often witty read. The pacing is sharp, and the twists in the plot keep readers on edge, unsure whether Edie is the victim of a cruel twist of fate or if she’s inadvertently pushing herself toward a darker path. The novel also shines a light on the challenges women face—particularly those navigating the expectations of beauty, success, and emotional resilience in a culture that often leaves them behind.

Smith’s voice as an author is fresh, bold, and unflinching, offering both entertainment and a deeper commentary on the modern experience of women. The characters are layered, complex, and flawed, making for an unforgettable reading experience. The novel’s climax is both shocking and poignant, forcing Edie to confront her own actions, motivations, and the consequences of her blind obsession.

In conclusion, *Nothing Serious* is a thrilling and thought-provoking debut that will resonate with readers who enjoy darkly funny, psychological narratives about modern relationships, the tech world, and the pursuit of justice. Emily J. Smith has created a compelling and provocative story that is as heart-wrenching as it is addictively readable. Highly recommended for fans of contemporary fiction that explores the complexity of human emotions and modern dilemmas.

NOTHING SERIOUS is a witty and candid look into a woman’s quest to discover what happened to a woman she only met once. Smith creatively plays with an unexpected death, testing the bonds of friends, self-discovery, and dating in today’s society.

Though I wouldn’t necessarily call this a mystery, this story does have elements of amateur sleuthing, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The investigation into Anaya’s death creates a gateway for Edie and those around her to deal with much larger issues. These issues, as well as the characters, are what propel the narrative forward and make the book so good. Smith doesn’t shy away from addiction, assault, or the struggles facing women in terms of sexuality and fertility. In fact, the way she leans in makes this fictional world seem very real.

Now, I know this sounds like a dark and deeply depressing read, but it isn’t. There is humor and fabulous banter sprinkled throughout, which lightens the load and balances more weighty topics. Here is the secret sauce, so to speak, of this book. NOTHING SERIOUS entertains while still tackling sketchy online dating practices, drug use, and mental health. I truly applaud Smith’s eloquence and storytelling ability.

Audiobook Note: Narrator Anna Caputo did a good job with this audiobook. It moved at a good pace, and there weren’t any moments that lagged. The way Caputo gave the characters their voice was extremely well done.

This book was heavy. I think the cartoon cover fooled me and I thought it would it would be a cheeky, cozy mystery but this book was dark, tense, and filled with trigger warnings (sexual assault, drug abuse, suicide, mom/daughter relationship). Edie was in love with her best friend, Peter, who she was blinded to see was an absolute menace to society. He saved her from a horrible situation back in college and she could not see past it to realize that he was the worst human ever written. I hated Peter but that is expected, however, Edie was so flawed. I do not understand how she believed she could "investigate" this murder, get so close to the case and expect no one to realize she was Peter's best friend. I was so annoyed with her and also just so tense throughout reading the book because I knew it was all going to blow up in her face. I actually think people were a lot easier on her than they should have been... This book was a lot but it was so well-written and thought provoking. I would definitely read the author again. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

I went into this without remembering or reading the synopsis which might have been a mistake. Early on I thought oh, Peter is clearly awful and so Edie and Anaya are actually going to fall in love. Here for it! Obviously that is not what happened. And as I realized I don’t want to spend any more time with Edie or Peter, decided to DNF.

I quite liked this book. The characters in it were either toxic or touched by toxicity and were too blind to see. The mystery of how a woman died after being with Peter and the subsequent obsession by Edie seemed a bit OTT and i just found it a tad unbelievable at times. I mean, she met the woman for a an hour and was then conducting her own investigation? And the police kind of cooperated? I found that weird. However, I enjoyed the journey as Edie uncovered the truth about the person she idolized and was in love with. (Though from an outsider’s perspective, what took you so long?!!).

This book was all over the place. The MC had me CRINGING, obsessed with this tool of a best friend tech bro and like, I totally get that he saved her from an absolutely horrendous situation in college, but he became a shitty person and our girl was obsessed and it was painful to watch her get dragged along by this disgusting human.

Also, I was cringing as she obsessively went around trying to look into this woman’s death, and again she was looking like crazy stalker obsessed it was tough to read.

The MC had so many issues. She was insecure, constantly comparing herself to other people and their looks and the negativity towards herself and her age (she was mid 30’s she wasn’t even that old, like…?) Like she was going to house parties like a college student and getting wasted and then going home and hating on herself for having frizzy hair and wrinkles and feeling old.

There’s a whole thing about her parents that doesn’t get resolved but is also terrible, a whole side story of freezing her eggs that has nothing to do with the other main story and could have been cut. And the ending was too realistic in that it was infuriating and extremely disappointing and made you wonder what the point of the book was at all.

I don’t think the MC really grows, other than she realizes the guy is a gross asshole.

I also thought we were going to get something else with the dude going on, cause there’s a weird part with him overcharging her for their takeout, when he’s supposed to be a millionaire tech bro. Like I thought he was secretly bankrupt and selling on the side to make some money or something. That was implied but never confirmed?

Anyway, this book was an easy read, I got through it in a day hoping for the best and the ending was just frustrating. Like I know how these things go in real life, give me some sort of hope in this fictional world? I don’t know, something about this rubbed me the wrong way. It was trying to say something, but it was just weighed down with too much stuff and the message gets lost.

Thank you @williammorrowbooks for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this one! I thought it was addicting and honestly relatable in soo many ways, I highly recommend if you’re looking for a solid read.

**Read If You Like:**
- Darkly humorous murder mysteries
- Explorations of modern dating and technology
- Protagonists entangled in obsessive investigations
- Stories set in the tech industry

In her scintillating debut, Emily J. Smith introduces readers to Edie Walker, a disillusioned tech executive in San Francisco. At 35, Edie is weary of the online dating scene and harbors unspoken feelings for her longtime friend, Peter Masterson. When Peter's latest online date, Anaya Thomas—a charismatic feminist studies professor—turns up dead, Edie's world spirals into chaos. As Peter becomes the prime suspect, Edie's obsession with uncovering the truth intensifies, leading her down a path fraught with danger and unexpected revelations.

Nothing Serious masterfully blends suspense with dark humor, offering a sharp critique of modern relationships and the tech-driven world. Smith's portrayal of Edie's descent into obsession is both compelling and unsettling, making for a page-turner that keeps readers on edge. With its incisive commentary and intricate plot, this novel is a must-read for fans of contemporary suspense fiction.

Thanks so much to the publisher for my ARC!

This book addressed issues of power, gender, and kept my attention the whole way through. It was an interesting plot and the development of the main character throughout was thoughtfully done.

This is such an interesting concept, and a it was a pretty quick read. It was uncomfortable to read at times because it does deal with some heavy topics (I would recommend checking trigger warnings).I felt like main character was not likable in the beginning while she worshipped and defended a guy who was clearly not worth it, but I really enjoyed seeing her process her feelings and decenter men from her life. Overall I felt like it was a realistic take on online dating and the lack of accountability for powerful men.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced reader copy.

The premise of NOTHING SERIOUS--Edie finds that her best friend, and unrequited love interest, Peter is a suspect in the death of a woman he went on a date with. Having met the woman once, Edie becomes consumed with the woman and whether Peter is responsible for her death.

The beginning of this novel set up lots of interesting pieces: Edie's love of Peter from when they were in college and he saved her from being sexually assaulted, Peter getting out of a long-term relationship and immediately finding success on dating apps where Edie has struggled, the connection Edie makes with Anaya (Peter's date), and then Anaya's unexpected death and Peter's potential involvement. Perhaps if this book had been marketed as literary fiction, the fact that it seems to go nowhere wouldn't have bothered me. But this is meant to be a satirical thriller of sorts; not only wasn't it thrilling, but I found Edie and Peter to be insufferable characters that I didn't care about.

This was a miss for me.

The title of NOTHING SERIOUS by Emily J. Smith is a bit deceiving because it is in fact, VERY serious. My gosh, this debut was a lot heavier and gloomier than I was expecting, but I’m not complaining as I found it very intriguing and addictive! I wouldn’t classify this novel as a thriller, but it’s definitely dark and mysterious. Check out this quick synopsis:

“𝘈 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘹𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘨𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥-—𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩—𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩.”

Edie is stuck in a hard place. She wants to believe that her best friend, Peter is 100% innocent and had absolutely nothing to do with the death of a woman he had been recently dating. But as new evidence and incriminating information is brought to light, she begins to question his character and integrity.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- The tech world
- Online dating apps
- San Francisco setting
- Obsessive behavior
- Murder investigations
- Character-driven novels
- Mother/daughter relationships
- Complex friendships
- #sadgirl stories
- Feminist undertones

I must admit that I had a love/hate relationship with the female protagonist. Edie’s wishy-washy and obsessive ways got a little old at times, but she continued to grow on me with each new chapter. I appreciated and admired her character development throughout.

This novel showcased an effective exploration of gender and power through multiple scenes and situations. Mostly with Peter’s case—a successful white man with multiple strings to pull, but also with Edie working with all of the tech bros and navigating a male-dominated workplace.

The conclusion was rather jarring and strangely satisfying. I love how this story wrapped up and how much it surprised me. Overall, I’d say that it’s a super solid debut! 4/5 stars for NOTHING SERIOUS! It’s out now!

I really enjoyed this! I would recommend to fans of Sally Rooney or Dolly Alderton. The suspense element was intriguing, but not overdone. I really appreciated the main character's journey through the story as she navigated the complex relationships she was in. She was not at all perfect, and well aware of that fact which was incredibly refreshing and kept me rooting for her as the reader. I've seen some 'complaints' in other reviews about this being too character focused, which for me is a big win as a fan of character-driven narratives. I found myself saying "just one more chapter" over and over again and ended up finishing in just a few days. Overall, great story. One star deducted because the ending felt a little TOO perfectly complete - but that's not the worst characteristic a book can have. Do recommend!

I really enjoyed this book. It was thrilling at the same time righteous by the end. I was chewing my nails off trying to figure out what was going to happen. I was hooked from the very beginning. I would’ve liked to see more about Edie’s mom although I understand why it wasn’t included.

If I'm honest with myself, I actually liked this book a lot more than I thought I would after the first 1/4 of the book.

When it starts, I was having a hard time relating to the MC and the choices she was making, and the blatant red flags she was ignoring in herself and her relationships.

Along with the cover, and the way the story starts out, I thought I was reading a rom-com turns mystery. But the story wasn't about romance (at least in the conventional sense), it was about so much more - Edie opening her eyes to her own faults, as well as those around her, about how to fight for others, how to find herself and to love herself, how to be a good friend - and what a friendship looks like in return.

The ending wasn't what I imagine, but I don't know that I'd have wanted it to end any differently. The writing of Smith was beautiful, and I definitely hope she has more stories in the future!

TW: SA, drug use, death, mentions of suicide, domestic abuse

**Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.**