People Pleaser by Byrony Gordon

Olivia Greenwood has been trying very hard to please people for a very long time.

But today is going to change Olivia in a big way. A soul-crushing career disappointment, a fiery young woman with a chip on her shoulder and a cigarette in her hand, and one single blue hallucinogenic gummy all lead to a raucous night out and one hell of a hangover. And when Olivia wakes up the next morning, it seems she's unable to please anyone but HERSELF.

So who actually is Olivia Greenwood, when she's not trying to be what everyone else wants her to be?

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What happens when a lifelong people-pleaser suddenly loses the ability to filter what she really thinks?

Pre-Reading Thoughts

The premise immediately made me curious. A middle-aged woman snapping after years of accommodating everyone else feels both cathartic and a little chaotic in the best way. The blurb promises a transformation after one very strange night out - but the real question is whether Olivia becomes someone new, or simply stops hiding who she already is.

Post-Reading

As I thought…
The story absolutely leans into the fantasy of finally saying the things polite society tells you to swallow. Olivia’s spiralling night and the aftermath give the book plenty of comedic moments, but underneath the humour there’s a sharp edge. Watching her confront the expectations that have shaped her life is both satisfying and uncomfortable.

It surprised me by…
Rather than simply becoming selfish, Olivia reads more like someone whose internal filter has vanished. She says what she actually thinks - sometimes hilarious, sometimes cutting, and sometimes painfully honest. That shift makes the story feel less like wish-fulfilment and more like a messy reckoning with how much of ourselves we edit to keep other people comfortable.

Music Pairing

🎵 Featured Song: You Don’t Own Me — Lesley Gore

🎶 Vibe Album: Jagged Little Pill — Alanis Morissette

🎧 Artist Recommendation: Lily Allen — sharp, funny, and absolutely not interested in pretending everything’s fine.

Vibe Check

Colour Palette: lipstick red, cigarette ash grey, electric blue gummy candy

Soundtrack: late-night taxis, bar chatter, someone laughing a little too loudly

Season: summer - preferably read with sand on your feet

Mood: cathartic, chaotic, a little bit furious

Scent: spilled cocktails and sea air

Tarot Pull

Justice

Justice represents truth spoken aloud and consequences finally catching up with people. Olivia may blame the mysterious gummy for her sudden honesty, but what follows is a series of long-overdue reckonings - with her workplace, her relationships, and the expectations she’s been quietly carrying for years.

For Fans Of

Book: How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie

TV: Fleabag — messy honesty, dark humour, and a woman refusing to behave the way she’s expected to.

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People Pleaser publishes on the 23rd of April, 2026. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.