Over to You (Georgie Tunny, A&U)

In her emotionally turbulent debut, Over to You, Georgie Tunny captures the highs and lows of working in television news. The novel follows 3 friends – Carter, Naya and Greta – who are rising stars in the industry. Carter has just landed her dream role as co-host of a breakfast television show, while social media expert Naya is thrust into the spotlight after reporting on a high-profile story. Meanwhile, former-athlete-turned-journalist Greta struggles with her competitive nature as she carves out a place for herself in sports reporting. As they navigate family and relationship pressures, each woman is forced to confront how far she is willing to go to succeed. Over to You is brimming with emotion and humour, highlighting the challenges women face in toxic, high-stakes workplaces. At times, however, the novel’s ambition works against it. The multiple intersecting plotlines can feel overstuffed, with heightened emotional moments not always given space to fully land. Still, there is plenty to savour, from the complexity of the central characters to the novel’s frank and inclusive exploration of identity and relationships. Over to You will appeal to readers of workplace dramas and stories of women’s friendship and ambition, as well as those interested in a behind-the-scenes look at the news industry, informed by Tunny’s own experiences as a journalist and television presenter.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Lisandra Linde is a writer based in Adelaide, South Australia. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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