All Lorrie wants is to get promoted, accept her body and end global warming. By Friday. Is that really too much to ask?
Council employee Lorrie Hope has a great partner, two adorable kids and absolutely no idea what to do with her life. This Friday, she’s hoping for change – it’s launch day for her big work project, and she’s applied for a promotion she’s not entirely sure she wants. Meanwhile, her best friend, Alex, is stuck in a mess involving Lorrie’s rakish ex, Ruben – or, more accurately, his wife. Oh, and Ruben’s boss happens to be the mining magnate Sebastian Glup, who is sponsoring Lorrie’s project…
As the day spirals from bad to worse to frankly unhinged, Lorrie and Alex must reconsider what they can expect from life, love and middle management. The Opposite of Success is a riotously funny debut novel about work, motherhood, friendship, and the meaning of failure itself.
Buy a copy of The Opposite of Success here.
Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:
Eleanor Elliott Thomas is a voice to watch for. A stunningly creative, funny, quirky and bold debut, she does not look for an easy way to explain the A to Z. She takes us on a journey of all sorts. The author takes us into hilarious pastures of a woman irate with the unjustness of it all. Being passed over by an annoying and desperately polite interloper on a day that twirls into chaos, through Lorrie, this not-too-old Australian mother, we see that being mediocre is okay, we don’t need to have it all, but we would like something! A lifelong friendship is under the blurry microscope, a scoundrel of an ex makes his way onto the scene on today of all days, and our lovable Lorrie just cannot get a thing right. Bold, a little nutty and at times plainly hilarious, The Opposite of Success, to me, was a complete success. What a fun ride. Loved it to bits. Brendan, NSW, 5 Stars
A wonderfully creative debut, full of quirk, uniqueness, and spirit. And a little profanity and cheekiness, too. Our main girl, council employee Lorrie, is cruising along. Or so she thinks! To strive and be brilliant is not her cuppa, but she does feel deserving of a few things. Not fame or being a CEO, she’s okay with mediocracy. Deeply loving her family, she is a little shitty about being fat (as she often states in her blunt, but seemingly funny manner), and crazed about not getting a promotion. She was passed over. She has the skills. She was deserving! A hilarious and complete meltdown ensues (the author is very funny with her words). Lorrie’s undemandingly funny, very smart. Does she have to commit her life to work? She thinks not; is not working to live enough? She melts down at the job rejections, spiralling further into a hole of her own making. This day is downhill from here, job rejection, some kind of weird thing with her best friend, a lying ex popping onto the scene on today of all days, a dozen too many drinks and taking up smoking. Again. Unhinged! Lorrie’s zaniness and complete lack of regard for correctness were hilarious. She was naughty. Crazily honest. This was fun and silly and serious too. An excellent debut; sharp, funny, and entertaining. I flew through it with gusto. Suzanne, NSW, 5 Stars
When two old school friends on different paths meet up again after twenty years, something is bound happen. Lorrie is a part-time employee looking to advance her career, a full- time suburban mum trying to be perfect, a wife, and a friend. She wears her heart on her sleeve, something which others find confusing in a workplace where emotion plays no role. Alex is her old school friend who has followed a creative path, experienced some success in London, and returned to Melbourne because of family. She has a new project in which Lorrie plays a key role. Ruben Armand, another old school friend, and his French wife Zoe also add another perspective to the relationship. This is a character driven story that unfolds over one crucial day when worlds collide while also giving us the back story of the characters. This story follows very different women who all struggle to find themselves while pleasing others. It examines the role of activism in environmentalism and touches on the reality of big business sacrificing the future for money. Most women and many men will find something to identify with and love in one of the characters. I loved the entertaining way the story is told while examining concerning yet very differing themes. One I would recommend. Julie, NSW, 5 Stars
An entirely unique debut novel! You will laugh and cry along with the very real and topical ups and downs of these lovable characters. Read it, love it and share it with your friends! Justin, NSW, 5 Stars
This was a fun and easy read. Great characters who were somewhat relatable to me meant that I didn’t want to put the book down and finished it in a couple of days. Highly recommend. Natalie, NSW, 5 Stars
A really engaging read, I found this a quick easy read. Relatable people. Lorrie’s antics made me laugh and she had a great personality. This told a good story, funny and real, through love and friendship. I couldn’t put this page-turner down. Current and with the times. Julie, NSW, 5 Stars
The Opposite Of Success is a cleverly written book. It was like being given an all-access pass into friends’ and acquaintances’ lives, witnessing the mundaneness as well as the messiness. Lorrie is like many friends, acquaintances and myself rolled into one being. I could relate to her on many levels, the gifted student who doesn’t fit into any group, the devoted mother, the conscientious worker applying for a promotion. Add in a mother who is quite a critical person, I just wanted to give Lorrie a hug and tell her she was doing fine. Alex is Lorrie’s best friend, though she has a few morally grey areas and is not above throwing Lorrie under the proverbial bus when it suits her. Some of the people Lorrie and Alex interact with I disliked. Lorrie’s long-ago boyfriend and his wife are manipulative and egocentric. Factor in big business with an appalling environmental track trying to present a greener image – particularly topical in today’s world. The climax of this book is quite hilarious and unexpected, as are the consequences of this drama. The Opposite Of Success would make a great soap opera/mini-series. Eleanor Elliott Thomas’s debut novel was a fabulous read. I look forward to more from this writer. Rosemarie, NSW, 5 Stars
Hilarious! The title could not be more apt. In a world where women try to be all things to all people, this is a refreshing reminder that something will always give – or in this case many somethings! Lorrie is doing her best to juggle every plate in her life only to see them all crumble in a heap on one big disastrous day. Tina, QLD, 5 Stars
Fun and laughter guaranteed as you get to know Lorrie, her family, friends, and colleagues. I enjoyed the book and genuinely had some laugh-out-loud moments. The author’s comical turn of phrase and detailed descriptions of characters and their foibles were all very entertaining. Perfect weekend read! Cheryl, NSW, 5 Stars
I really enjoyed The Opposite of Success for its honest and sometimes hilarious narrative about female friendships. Lorrie’s friends and romances are somewhat extraordinary, from school days to the corporate world and life in between. Alex in particular was a delightful character, we could all do with a friend like that. The Council workplace and characters within it felt familiar and took me back to my days of being interviewed. Lorrie’s family life was brilliantly depicted, with the highs and lows beautifully and vividly described. The life stages for women resonated with me within these pages – haven’t we all had at least one day of feeling unhinged? Life’s best lessons are often drawn from failure in my experience. Well done on your first book, Eleanor Elliott Thomas. Margaret, NSW, 5 Stars
I loved this book, I couldn’t put it down. The story of Lorrie felt like my own life, no idea what I’m doing or really want to do. This is a must-read, a book all women can really relate to. Karen, QLD, 5 Stars
Loved from beginning to end. Easy to read and was sorry when finished. Lynette, NSW, 4 Stars
Sadly, the world tells us we should be hungry for career progression for wealth and life success. This is supposed to be a progression from the humdrum our grandmothers endured as wives and mothers. Eleanor Elliott Thomas’ Opposite of Success is a modern story that challenges this hypothesis. Lorrie wonders why she is doing the same job she fell into a decade earlier. She also has body image issues reinforced by her mother. I related so well to her journey. I loved, loved, loved Eleanor Elliott Thomas’ word pictures of Lorrie’s self-analysis of her life so far, her meltdown, and her contentment with motherhood. Eleanor Elliott Thomas knows her craft very well! The story is told by Lorrie and her longtime best mate Alex. Lorrie chose marriage and children; Alex chose career and casual relationships. These choices put pressure on their friendship as their lives diverge then collide. I have rated this book four stars and highly recommend it, a read that stays with you as you ponder what is important to you. Sallie, QLD, 4 Stars
A light-hearted, funny, delightful read with a great storyline that was well thought out. Lorrie thinks she has her life all together when it begins to unravel, causing her to question everything. I loved Lorrie’s character because I could relate to her. Alex and Lorrie’s friendship was a bit confusing but they were a great match. What a very pleasant read. Evelyn, NSW, 4 Stars
This book made me laugh! I found it very funny, whilst at the same time sympathising with Lorrie for the situations she got herself into. You wouldn’t think so much could happen in one day, but Lorrie made it look easy! I really felt for her – whilst at the same time being secretly grateful that none of that had ever happened to me! I enjoyed the author’s writing style because it felt as though I was having a conversation with a friend. I will look forward to more books from Eleanor Elliott Thomas! Dari, WA, 4 Stars
For every reader who has ever wondered, “Can this day get any worse?”, The Opposite Of Success by Eleanor Elliott Thomas is for you. Lorrie Hope is not prepared for the chaos that one Friday brings. Everything turns into a disaster, from work to family to friends. She feels like no matter what she does, the problems just increase. The author’s style of writing has the ability to convey the chaos easily. It seems busy and I felt I had to concentrate to keep track of the storyline. Having Lottie and Alex both telling their stories, when their lives are at different stages, makes it an even more interesting read. With the exception of Lorrie, I have to admit I didn’t find some of the other characters really likeable, especially Alex. This didn’t detract from the story. I felt their portrayal fitted well with the story. I found this book entertaining. Parts of it I could relate to, and I really empathised with Alex. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fun read and a story that makes you want to see how this day will end. Theresa, NSW, 4 Stars
Loved the story being told from two different characters to give different perspectives of the events unfolding. Funny and relatable. Cassie, TAS, 4 Stars
The Opposite of Success is a refreshing and hilarious debut novel by Eleanor Elliott Thomas. The story revolves around Lorrie Hope, a council employee who finds herself at the brink of a major life change on the day of her big work project launch. The book captures the nuances of work, motherhood, and friendship in a relatable yet hilarious manner. The plot thickens as Lorrie’s best friend Alex gets involved in a mess with Lorrie’s ex, Ruben, and his wife. The characters face their own challenges and come to the realization that failure is not always a bad thing. The book is witty, entertaining, and offers a fresh perspective on the meaning of success and failure. A must-read for those who enjoy a good laugh while exploring the intricacies of modern-day life. Amanda, VIC, 4 Stars
Snappy, funny and sophisticated were the words running through my mind as I read and thoroughly enjoyed this book. It felt that the author was speaking from experience when she led us through Lorrie’s work and home life and her gradual but understandable meltdown. The friends and family were an interesting lot and I enjoyed reading about them, even felt some of them deserved their own book to tell their story. Current issues affecting us all from children to climate change drew the whole story together to make a really enjoyable read. Wendy, TAS, 4 Stars
Lorrie and Alex have been friends since their school days. Now Lorrie is a happily married mother and works for the local council. Alex, after becoming a sculptor, is now making documentaries. Lorrie has a big project about one of her passions, to end global warming, that is being launched on Friday, the day that she hopes she will receive the promotion that she has applied for. The launch is to be held in the rooftop garden of Sebastian Glup, a mining magnate, and one of his employees is Lorrie’s ex, Ruben. Things have been going bad for Lorrie all day. Can they get worse??? Liz, VIC, 4 Stars
From the moment I started reading, I was involved with the characters. The story evolves over a few months and is easy to follow. The fact that there were only minimal characters, the storyline was easy to follow and understand how the different players interacted. Having the story set in Melbourne, it was enjoyable to actually place myself in the different parts of Victoria. The main characters have flaws, just like the readers. They are easy to relate to and understand what they are going through. Some of the background information was in-depth and not really necessary, but saying that, the book was hard to put down once I started it. An easy and enjoyable read. Cath, QLD, 4 Stars
This was an easy, fun read with likeable characters, even when they weren’t doing the most likeable things. I especially related to Lorrie with her council job, exhausting but lovely kids and supportive partner. Alex was a bit harder to relate to but she’s well-rounded enough that I enjoyed spending time in her head. The secondary characters were less rounded. Ruben, his wife Zoe, his boss Sebastian had some pretty broad stereotypes but they were there to serve the plot so any shortcomings in their personalities just drew more attention to Alex and Lorrie. The plot starts incredibly grounded and mundane and gets a bit further-fetched by the end but the momentum definitely carries the reader through. All in all, this is a fun story about how to value yourself and what’s really important in life with some characters I quite enjoyed spending a day with. Richard, VIC, 4 Stars
Thank you for the opportunity to read The Opposite of Success. Enjoyed the book. If all your bad days could come together, they did for Lorrie on the opening of the Glup Gardens. All the forgettable things in her past returned but these things are now not worth the worry that they were when they happened. She was able to realize that we can be happy and content with what we have. The book was able to discuss matters that are relevant now. Pat, QLD, 4 Stars
Lorrie is a mum, a wife and a long-term council office worker and she’s happy with that. Her best friend, Alex, a filmmaker, approaches her for an invite to film the opening of the latest big council greening project featuring rooftop gardens, which is controversially sponsered by Glup Projects. The relationship between Reuben (Lorrie’s ex), Alex and Glup is woven into the story. An exploration of identity and friendships, the book explores relationships, body image and life satisfaction as well as greater themes of parenthood, middle age and sexuality. Funny and hard to put down at times, the story is completely relatable for those approaching middle age and examines what it means to be successful. Meg, QLD, 4 Stars
Eleanor Elliott Thomas’ novel explores relationships in all forms – with friends, lovers and oneself. Her characters are likeable and relatable, and I was cheering for them right to the end! Emma, QLD, 4 Stars
A well-written, light-hearted book capturing the multilayered relationship between two female friends in their late thirties, amidst the backdrop of a particularly difficult day. A fun read. Mopsy, VIC, 4 Stars
It’s always nice to read a book with an Aussie flavour, especially when it’s based in Melbourne. This story centres around Lorrie, her friend Alex, and how Lorrie’s day goes from bad to worse to downright out of control. Definitely, the opposite of success. First, Lorrie loses out on a promotion, then things go pear-shaped, culminating in a night she would rather not remember. This was an easy book to read, and although I’m not sure Lorrie was a character that I was totally invested in, I did enjoy the story. Tracy, VIC, 3 Stars
Not what I expected: I found it pretty hilarious towards the end (before it all went to hell – the lead-up was very amusing!) Lorrie’s boss, as well as her office nemesis, are relatable types of workmates, but I really appreciated Ivan and his (lack of) diligence. (I hope) he’d be my work BFF if I worked there… Glad things got better for Lorrie by the end, but what a whirlwind of a ride/read. Ayesha, NSW, 3 Stars
Lorrie is a character we can all identify with. She wants to be perfect at home and work! I loved her flaws. I really enjoyed The Opposite of Success. I laughed and also found parts of it sad. It said a lot about friendships and loyalty. Highly recommend this book. Litsa, VIC, 3 Stars
I really enjoyed this novel! It was fun that it was set over such a short time period, I felt myself really anticipating the events of the evening. I loved the complicated dynamics between each character. Watching Lorrie slowly spiral was great. Overall, really good read! Emily, QLD, 3 Stars
The Opposite of Success is an Australian novel that follows two best friends over a challenging 24-hour period. The book begins with Lorrie and follows her through what is supposed to be a great day. Instead, she is faced with chaos and some self-generated drama. We spend the book going between her perspective and her best friend, Alex; a number of surprising connections unfold and keep the audience guessing. The first change between voices was a little jarring, but the importance of hearing from Lorrie and Alex soon became clear. One of the reasons this book was such an enjoyable read was the revelations from the different perspectives, which would have been challenging to convey without Lorrie and Alex’s voices. The focus on the 24-hour period makes Lorrie particularly relatable; you can place yourself in her shoes and she is formed as a developed character relatively quickly. It is a fun novel, and one that should be at the top of the ‘to read’ list for book clubs, particular those based in Melbourne. Kathleen, ACT, 3 Stars
We follow the lives of Alex (a single documentary maker) and her best friend Lorrie (loving wife and mum of two who works for the council). This is a modern-day in the life of Lorrie; just when you think her day couldn’t get worse, it does. We see a glimpse into the hardships that both these strong, beautiful women face in an effort to deal with mental health and what society throws at them. It delves into what decisions women have to face both in the workplace, in the home and in society. In the end, it is about honesty, trust, friendship, personal values and beliefs, and supporting each other’s differences without judgement. The characters are likeable and the plot has a good pace. It was an enjoyable read. Karli, VIC, 3 Stars
Lorrie has a loving, understanding husband and two beautiful little girls, but finds herself anxious about where her career is going, having never quite lived up to her own high expectations of herself. She believes she is a shoe-in for a promotion in her job, so when it doesn’t eventuate, she goes into a bit of a tailspin! The consequences are somewhat devastating, hurtling her into several situations that may force her to have a closer look at herself, her best friend, and where her life and career are headed. This story could encourage the reader to self-examine their own path, or, alternatively, just “go along for the ride” on Lorrie’s possibly self-destructive day of revelations and consequences. It is a fairly light-hearted read, all the same! The characters are very believable – we’ve all “been there, done that” with some of the feelings and emotions described, even if the actions may be slightly far-fetched! All together, it was an enjoyable story and I’d certainly recommend it for an entertaining, light read. Marilyn, NSW, 3 Stars
A debut novel from Eleanor Elliott Thomas. I like the way she draws us straight into Lorrie’s world (a busy working mother of two young girls) with vivid images of the morning struggle. I had to smile at Lorrie’s multi-tasking – breastfeeding her youngest daughter, playing dragons with her eldest, while eating breakfast and attempting to shower and dress without an audience. Loved the dialogue, especially ‘Everything’s sagging, Mama. Your bottom is sagging, your tummy is sagging, your bosoms are sagging.’ Nothing like a 6-year-old to tell it like it is. As the story unfolds, events and secrets are revealed that combine to make Lorrie’s already disastrous day spiral out of control at the reception to celebrate the Green Cities project she’s been responsible for initiating. Her antics made me smile, wipe away an occasional stray tear and cringe more than once. An easy read and a promising start for this new author. Will be interested to read more from her in future. Pamela, QLD, 3 Stars
The Opposite Of Success by Eleanor Elliott Thomas is an interesting read. To say life is chaotic at the best of times for Lorrie Hope is an understatement – mum to two young girls, working part-time for a council where she’s working on a project that is funded by a mining magnate that not everyone likes, wife, daughter, and friend, she’s hardly got time for herself. Throw in an application at work for a promotion and it all comes to a crazy head with an interesting outcome one Friday afternoon. If you’re after an easy read that will make you laugh, cry and sometimes cringe, this book is for you. Jody, SA, 3 Stars
This is a book about two best friends, Lorrie and Alex. Lorrie works for the council and is preparing for a launch function for a big council project she has been working on. Meanwhile, Alex is having an affair with Lorrie’s ex-husband’s new wife. The book was a quick read. It is not really in my wheelhouse, but it does have a couple of twists to keep the reader moving along. One of my main complaints (just my thing really) is it has very long chapters. I like smaller chapters as I do not always have time to read long chapters. Jonathan, NSW, 3 Stars
How quickly one’s day can spiral down into absolute disaster. Lorrie is happily married with two kids that she absolutely adores. She has worked for the local council for 10 years. She is about to receive the recognition she deserves for a successful project. This book delves into each character in detail. They come together late in the story. The actions of her friends, collegues and old flame come to a head with a bang. Jan, WA, 3 Stars
Lorrie Hope is trying to do everything, being a mum and wife, working, and keeping everyone else happy. Her best friend Alex has a lot going on. A new author for me, a good-sized book. Enjoyed it and had a laugh. The story is very relatable. Margaret, NSW, 3 Stars
This book definitely lived up to its name, The Opposite of Success, as a lot did go wrong throughout the stories. There were a few plot twists that I was not expecting so that was exciting. The writer provided a dual perspective of the storyline through Lorrie (the main character) and her friend Alex. There was a lot of detail and information provided about the characters and how they all fitted in/knew each other. I wasn’t a huge fan of the long chapters/parts, as the shortest part was 40 pages. It was a little bit exhausting to read all of it in one go as I don’t like to stop mid-chapter. But the long chapters provided more depth/longer time spent on the particular characters’ point of view. Emma, WA, 3 Stars
The Opposite of Success is the opposite of what I expected. It centres on one day in the life of Lorrie and Alex, best friends with opposing lives. The story has a couple of humorous moments but is largely just awks for much of it and I found it hard to really connect with any of the characters… The dual POV and ending was probably the highlight of the book and the build-up to the ending in the last section was compelling. Ultimately, I was left with mixed feelings about this book but perhaps that was the author’s desired effect. Michelle, VIC, 2 Stars
I found The Opposite of Success a bit too cynical to be enjoyable. It’s a light and easy read that I’m sure lots of readers would enjoy and find amusing. It just isn’t a story to my taste. Alice, NSW, 2 Stars
I believe this novel had highs and lows. The author writes well; however, the story took a long time to really draw me in, I would say until three-quarters of the way through. I thought both Lorrie and Alex had good traits and also flaws, though I did feel Alex was particularly selfish and I thought overall whilst I think there was a friendship of sorts between the two main characters, I didn’t feel a deep connection or deep respect there. I think the funniest moments involved Lorrie and her ‘discussions’ with her boss Philomena. Danielle, VIC, 2 Stars
Leave a Reply