Julia London Delivers Heart and Humour in Everything Is Probably Fine: A Review

Everything Is Probably Fine explores how one woman’s journey through a wellness program opens the door to forgiveness, emotional growth, and a second chance at joy.

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to Harper Muse and Netgalley for the ARC of this audiobook. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Summary:

Lorna has spent her life burdened by guilt over her sister Kristen’s lifelong addiction, which overshadowed her childhood and left her mistrustful and emotionally isolated. Now an adult, she lives a quiet, guarded life with only her dog for company—until an unexpected friendship with Bean, a wise and winsome eight-year-old neighbor, begins to crack her tough exterior. When an opportunity arises to buy her beloved grandmother’s house, Lorna must confront the painful memories and betrayals of her past as part of a trust agreement. Guided by Bean’s innocent insight, she begins to re-examine her past, discovering that not everything happened the way she remembered. In accepting that she couldn’t have saved Kristen, Lorna finds the strength to forgive herself and start rewriting her own future—on her own terms.

My Thoughts:

Every once in a while, an author creates a character so vivid and layered that you feel like you’ve genuinely come to know them. Lorna Lott is one of those characters. She’s smart, ambitious, and undeniably successful in her career—but she’s also deeply wounded, carrying the weight of past trauma, and struggling to connect with the people around her. Julia London has crafted a story that’s both sharply observant and profoundly compassionate, exploring the messy reality of relationships, mental health, and healing with honesty and heart.

The story opens with Lorna killing it at work—driven, assertive, and results-focused, she’s led her sales team to exceed their targets. But her no-nonsense attitude and lack of warmth have earned her a less-than-flattering nickname (yes, King Kong), and one poorly handled incident lands her in mandatory wellness leave. With her promotion to senior VP on the line—and along with it, her dream of buying back her late grandmother’s house—Lorna reluctantly checks into a thirty-day wellness program.

Told in two timelines—present day and moments from her childhood and early adulthood—we begin to understand how deeply Lorna’s older sister’s substance use shaped her life and fractured her family. London does a beautiful job showing how unresolved grief, anger, and guilt can become part of someone’s identity, and how hard it is to let that go, even when you want to.

A standout element of this novel is the role relationships play in Lorna’s growth, especially the one she forms with her eight-year-old neighbour, Bean. He’s precocious, sweet, and instantly won my heart. Their unlikely friendship is both healing and heartwarming, and watching Lorna soften and open up through their bond was one of my favourite parts of the book. There’s also a slow-burn connection developing with Bean’s widowed father—secondary to the story, but meaningful and genuine in its own right.

The Narration:

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Marni Penning, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Her narration brings each character to life—whether child or adult, male or female—with nuance and clarity. I especially appreciated how the tone of Lorna’s voice subtly changed as she began to grow and let her guard down.

Final Thoughts:

Everything Is Probably Fine is ultimately a hopeful, character-driven novel about forgiveness, self-discovery, and the courage it takes to change your own story. Julia London balances the heavy emotional themes with warmth and moments of humour. This 5-star read will stay with me for a long time.

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