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Side Character Energy
After a series of Mr Wrongs, Bee has finally found her Mr Right. Attractive, mature—William is everything she’s been looking for.
Gertrude is Bee’s best friend since forever (and also her flatmate, workmate and Insta content videographer). She’s happy for Bee—just as she’s been sad for Bee during those romantic missteps, and supportive of Bee in everything else. Actually, now she thinks about it, Gertrude isn’t sure there even is a Gertrude that isn’t determined by what Bee wants or thinks or feels.
Panicked to realise she’s not the main character in her own life, she turns to William’s best friend, Arthur. He isn’t the obvious choice for life coaching—apart from anything else, Gertrude doesn’t really like him—but everyone else is…Well, there is no everyone else. Just Bee.
Arthur’s mission is to find out whether there’s more to Gertrude than she thinks, and if so, what it is. The problem is, that might throw up some hard questions—about her life, her choices and above all, her friendship with Bee.
Side Character Energy is a sharp, wise, hilarious novel about love—romantic, platonic and toxic—from a brilliant new voice in Australian fiction.
Olivia Tolich is an emerging author based in Melbourne (Naarm). She has made books her entire personality from a young age and has terrible eyesight to show for it. She works as an educational publisher and has a dog named Poppy who really hates that her human’s main interest involves sitting around staring at a computer. Her first novel, Side Character Energy, will be released in Australia in 2026 via Text Publishing.
Gertrude is Bee’s best friend since forever (and also her flatmate, workmate and Insta content videographer). She’s happy for Bee—just as she’s been sad for Bee during those romantic missteps, and supportive of Bee in everything else. Actually, now she thinks about it, Gertrude isn’t sure there even is a Gertrude that isn’t determined by what Bee wants or thinks or feels.
Panicked to realise she’s not the main character in her own life, she turns to William’s best friend, Arthur. He isn’t the obvious choice for life coaching—apart from anything else, Gertrude doesn’t really like him—but everyone else is…Well, there is no everyone else. Just Bee.
Arthur’s mission is to find out whether there’s more to Gertrude than she thinks, and if so, what it is. The problem is, that might throw up some hard questions—about her life, her choices and above all, her friendship with Bee.
Side Character Energy is a sharp, wise, hilarious novel about love—romantic, platonic and toxic—from a brilliant new voice in Australian fiction.
Olivia Tolich is an emerging author based in Melbourne (Naarm). She has made books her entire personality from a young age and has terrible eyesight to show for it. She works as an educational publisher and has a dog named Poppy who really hates that her human’s main interest involves sitting around staring at a computer. Her first novel, Side Character Energy, will be released in Australia in 2026 via Text Publishing.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 3, 2026
8 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Olivia Tolich
1 book6 followersOlivia Tolich is an emerging author based in Melbourne (Naarm). She has made books her entire personality from a young age and has terrible eyesight to show for it. She works as an educational publisher and has a dog named Poppy who really hates that her human’s main interest involves sitting around staring at a computer. Her first novel, Side Character Energy, will be released in Australia in 2026 via Text Publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 11, 2026
Side Character Energy – when someone else has the lead role in your life.
This book made me laugh, wince, and then quietly rethink a few friendships I’ve had (you know the ones).
Side Character Energy is about that horrible, creeping realisation that you might not actually be the main character in your own life, you’re just very good at supporting someone else’s storyline. Gertrude has spent years orbiting her best friend Bee, her hype woman, emotional support human, unpaid life assistant. And when Bee finally gets her perfect man, Gertrude is left staring into the void thinking… wait, who am I when I’m not needed?
What I loved most is how sharp and self aware this book is. It’s funny in that dry, slightly uncomfortable way where you’re laughing but also thinking, “Oh no, this is about me.” Olivia Tolich nails the dynamics of female friendship, the love, the loyalty, the quiet resentments, the way lines blur until you don’t know where you end and someone else begins.
Arthur, the reluctant life coach, is grumpy, honest, and refreshingly uninterested in coddling anyone. Their conversations are where the book really shines, clever, probing, and weirdly soothing.
This isn’t a big dramatic rom-com. It’s smarter than that. It’s about identity, boundaries, emotional labour, and what happens when you finally ask for space instead of applause.
If you’ve ever felt like the side character in someone else’s life, or worried you’ve accidentally made someone else one, this book will hit. Soft but incisive, funny but thoughtful. Big “read this and text your best friend afterwards” energy.
I Highly Recommend.
Congratulations Olivia!
Thank you Text Publishing for my early readers copy.
Available Now!
This book made me laugh, wince, and then quietly rethink a few friendships I’ve had (you know the ones).
Side Character Energy is about that horrible, creeping realisation that you might not actually be the main character in your own life, you’re just very good at supporting someone else’s storyline. Gertrude has spent years orbiting her best friend Bee, her hype woman, emotional support human, unpaid life assistant. And when Bee finally gets her perfect man, Gertrude is left staring into the void thinking… wait, who am I when I’m not needed?
What I loved most is how sharp and self aware this book is. It’s funny in that dry, slightly uncomfortable way where you’re laughing but also thinking, “Oh no, this is about me.” Olivia Tolich nails the dynamics of female friendship, the love, the loyalty, the quiet resentments, the way lines blur until you don’t know where you end and someone else begins.
Arthur, the reluctant life coach, is grumpy, honest, and refreshingly uninterested in coddling anyone. Their conversations are where the book really shines, clever, probing, and weirdly soothing.
This isn’t a big dramatic rom-com. It’s smarter than that. It’s about identity, boundaries, emotional labour, and what happens when you finally ask for space instead of applause.
If you’ve ever felt like the side character in someone else’s life, or worried you’ve accidentally made someone else one, this book will hit. Soft but incisive, funny but thoughtful. Big “read this and text your best friend afterwards” energy.
I Highly Recommend.
Congratulations Olivia!
Thank you Text Publishing for my early readers copy.
Available Now!
December 30, 2025
This book was such a joy to read. An easy, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that I genuinely couldn’t put down — I was hooked from the very first page and devoured it in just a few hours. It was incredibly relatable, genuinely funny, and refreshingly unpredictable, which made it impossible to guess where things were heading. An impressive debut from a brand new author, and I’m already excited to read whatever she publishes next.
November 28, 2025
Such a funny, light hearted book. Olivia is a fantastic author that makes you want to keep reading the book and find out what happens to Gertie and if she can finally be the main character in her own life. Highly recommend.
February 6, 2026
Fresh and original romance!
Detailed review coming soon but this is terrific! Funny and sad and messy and heartwarming. Totally a romance but also an insightful riff on female friendship and what happens when the bestie is toxic. And Melbourne - a delicious read 🥰
Detailed review coming soon but this is terrific! Funny and sad and messy and heartwarming. Totally a romance but also an insightful riff on female friendship and what happens when the bestie is toxic. And Melbourne - a delicious read 🥰
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Oooooooo I adore this book.
I recommend this one if you like a fun romcom with strong Aussie vibes. I smashed through this book in two days. Such an enjoyable and easy holiday read. Debut author Olivia Tolich brings Gertrude, Bee, William and Arthur to vibrant life with a dry wit and strong Aussie voice.
Gertrude exudes side character energy and her best friend, Bee, is the star attraction. Bee is the one who has “main character” vibes… everything in Bee’s life is about Bee. The only problem is that everything in Gertrude’s life is also about Bee. The flat, the boy, the job… and every reaction Gertrude has is always checked, not only for how Bee will respond, but also to keep the peace in her own rather dull life. Meeting Arthur makes Gertrude question her responses and reactions to Bee’s selfish behaviour. She soon realises her own life has given way to Bee’s pulled focus. What about Gertrude. What does she want? She doesn’t know. Everything has always been about Bee. To find herself, Gertrude and Arthur look into what Gertrude might enjoy – outside of Bee’s presence – and it turns out, Gertrude has a personality and likes all of her own. She just needs to drop the Bee-blinders and find her own main character energy.
I mean, who doesn’t second guess every look given, or every word spoken ? Talk about writing stories in your own head about how a friend, or a boy, or a family member will react to something you do or say. And who hasn’t felt like an NPC at some point? It’s not often I feel “seen” in a romcom but this one really hit the nail on the head for me. So many of Gertrude’s anxious people pleasing internal conversations rang bells. (What will they think of me if I say that, what if they take that the wrong way, what if I say no, how will they judge me…) That inner voice spins so many circles you could be a failed ballerina getting dizzy from all the what ifs – and that’s before a word has ever been spoken.
It’s strange to say, but this is a terrific story about toxic friendship and people pleasers. It’s a reminder for the people pleasers not to lose their inner voice beneath the need to make everyone else happy. It’s also a reminder that wanting people to think well of you shouldn’t mean dimming your own light. It’s a book about learning to stick up for yourself. And also a warning not to lose your own personality amongst the bright lights of your friends. You can want things too. Big things, Bright things… the hot boi, for example. This is a terrific holiday read with strong romcom vibes and a lot of bite. Plus – it’s set in Melbourne. I love an Aussie Romcom and this one is set locally for me, so all the more fun to enjoy.
This one is available from the 3rd Feb 2026… Put it on your radar.
I recommend this one if you like a fun romcom with strong Aussie vibes. I smashed through this book in two days. Such an enjoyable and easy holiday read. Debut author Olivia Tolich brings Gertrude, Bee, William and Arthur to vibrant life with a dry wit and strong Aussie voice.
Gertrude exudes side character energy and her best friend, Bee, is the star attraction. Bee is the one who has “main character” vibes… everything in Bee’s life is about Bee. The only problem is that everything in Gertrude’s life is also about Bee. The flat, the boy, the job… and every reaction Gertrude has is always checked, not only for how Bee will respond, but also to keep the peace in her own rather dull life. Meeting Arthur makes Gertrude question her responses and reactions to Bee’s selfish behaviour. She soon realises her own life has given way to Bee’s pulled focus. What about Gertrude. What does she want? She doesn’t know. Everything has always been about Bee. To find herself, Gertrude and Arthur look into what Gertrude might enjoy – outside of Bee’s presence – and it turns out, Gertrude has a personality and likes all of her own. She just needs to drop the Bee-blinders and find her own main character energy.
I mean, who doesn’t second guess every look given, or every word spoken ? Talk about writing stories in your own head about how a friend, or a boy, or a family member will react to something you do or say. And who hasn’t felt like an NPC at some point? It’s not often I feel “seen” in a romcom but this one really hit the nail on the head for me. So many of Gertrude’s anxious people pleasing internal conversations rang bells. (What will they think of me if I say that, what if they take that the wrong way, what if I say no, how will they judge me…) That inner voice spins so many circles you could be a failed ballerina getting dizzy from all the what ifs – and that’s before a word has ever been spoken.
It’s strange to say, but this is a terrific story about toxic friendship and people pleasers. It’s a reminder for the people pleasers not to lose their inner voice beneath the need to make everyone else happy. It’s also a reminder that wanting people to think well of you shouldn’t mean dimming your own light. It’s a book about learning to stick up for yourself. And also a warning not to lose your own personality amongst the bright lights of your friends. You can want things too. Big things, Bright things… the hot boi, for example. This is a terrific holiday read with strong romcom vibes and a lot of bite. Plus – it’s set in Melbourne. I love an Aussie Romcom and this one is set locally for me, so all the more fun to enjoy.
This one is available from the 3rd Feb 2026… Put it on your radar.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
“Words can’t be just words when his eyes look like that.”
Well that was fun! I loved it!
I knew I was going to as soon as I read the note that arrived with the book, where the author said that she wrote this book for the best friend of the leading lady and was giving her the adventure she deserves.
Well, you nailed it Olivia! Gertie had the best adventure and I just loved it all!!! I didn’t want it to end.
Gertie was always there for Bee in every sense, she went above and beyond. But thank goodness for Arthur, Gertie started looking at her life, her choices and her friendships. I was so happy and was cheering for Gertie every step of the way.
Arthur was my favourite character. The absolute sweetest. I loved their interactions, and how good he made Gertie feel. But I mostly loved how he gave Gertie the confidence to stand up for herself. He believed in her.
There were some characters that made me want to scream, such as Bee, agh she was so self absorbed!! But I actually don’t mind having some unlikable characters in a book!
All in all, a wonderful story about friendships, real love and putting yourself first. Highly recommend!
Thank you so much @text_publishing for sending me an early copy.
Well that was fun! I loved it!
I knew I was going to as soon as I read the note that arrived with the book, where the author said that she wrote this book for the best friend of the leading lady and was giving her the adventure she deserves.
Well, you nailed it Olivia! Gertie had the best adventure and I just loved it all!!! I didn’t want it to end.
Gertie was always there for Bee in every sense, she went above and beyond. But thank goodness for Arthur, Gertie started looking at her life, her choices and her friendships. I was so happy and was cheering for Gertie every step of the way.
Arthur was my favourite character. The absolute sweetest. I loved their interactions, and how good he made Gertie feel. But I mostly loved how he gave Gertie the confidence to stand up for herself. He believed in her.
There were some characters that made me want to scream, such as Bee, agh she was so self absorbed!! But I actually don’t mind having some unlikable characters in a book!
All in all, a wonderful story about friendships, real love and putting yourself first. Highly recommend!
Thank you so much @text_publishing for sending me an early copy.
Review of advance copy
Side Character Energy is an utter delight. Characters unspool beautifully (and hilariously, and sometimes they cut verrrry close to the bone), the pacing is spot-on, and the humour is snort-into-your-wine (or tea, or coffee, or aperol – pick your poison). Our love interest is genuinely swoon-worthy, but he’s also flawed – he’s real. But it’s not ‘just’ a romance. This is a book about about friendship, about selfhood and about the bravery to stand up to the people you once loved. On that note, one of my very favourite aspects of SCE is Gertrude’s arc. Gertie is all of us who have ever felt a bit less-than, a bit lost, a bit overshadowed – who’s ever been to afraid to want. She’s vulnerable, but she’s strong. She makes mistakes, but she owns them. She makes hard choices and she *grows*. She’s a goddamn Meredith Brooks song. You too can feel like that photo of Nicole Kidman leaving the lawyer’s; just get SCE onto your TBR and pick it the hell up.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is such a fun read.
As Gertrude begins to work out that what she thinks is an amazing relationship with her best friend is actually a toxic friendship where she has totally dimmed her light to be everything that Bee demands, we get to follow along with her journey to self-awareness and self-belief... on her journey from being Gertrude to Gertie.
And the banter between Gertie and Arthur is to die for.
This debut novel is funny, insightful, and will have you cheering for Gertie as she works out how to become the main character in her own life.
Thanks to Text Publishing for the review copy of this book
As Gertrude begins to work out that what she thinks is an amazing relationship with her best friend is actually a toxic friendship where she has totally dimmed her light to be everything that Bee demands, we get to follow along with her journey to self-awareness and self-belief... on her journey from being Gertrude to Gertie.
And the banter between Gertie and Arthur is to die for.
This debut novel is funny, insightful, and will have you cheering for Gertie as she works out how to become the main character in her own life.
Thanks to Text Publishing for the review copy of this book
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Side Character Energy is the first novel by Australian author Olivia Tolich and it was a wonderful, funny and endearing story about friends good and bad with a little love thrown in.
Gertie and Bee have been friends since high school and now live together and work together. Gertie is Bee’s biggest cheerleader and has supported her through many relationships. But now Bee has found her Mr Perfect – William. William and Bee keep insisting that Gertie and William’s best friend Arthur come along on their dates and Gertie starts to realise that she isn’t sure who she is with Bee in her life.
On a whim she asks Arthur to help her work out how to become the main character in her own life. Arthur isn’t a natural life coach but he gives it a shot and soon Gertie is questioning all of her life choices and her initial irritation towards Arthur gives way to attraction.
I really enjoyed this book! Sure, I’m well beyond first loves and friendships in your twenties but I was so invested in Gertie’s life. Side Character Energy was a refreshing, surprising read and I found it genuinely funny. I loved watching Gertie take control of her life and find her happy. It was a page turner and I think it is going to be very well loved!
Thank you @text_publishing for my #gifted copy.
Gertie and Bee have been friends since high school and now live together and work together. Gertie is Bee’s biggest cheerleader and has supported her through many relationships. But now Bee has found her Mr Perfect – William. William and Bee keep insisting that Gertie and William’s best friend Arthur come along on their dates and Gertie starts to realise that she isn’t sure who she is with Bee in her life.
On a whim she asks Arthur to help her work out how to become the main character in her own life. Arthur isn’t a natural life coach but he gives it a shot and soon Gertie is questioning all of her life choices and her initial irritation towards Arthur gives way to attraction.
I really enjoyed this book! Sure, I’m well beyond first loves and friendships in your twenties but I was so invested in Gertie’s life. Side Character Energy was a refreshing, surprising read and I found it genuinely funny. I loved watching Gertie take control of her life and find her happy. It was a page turner and I think it is going to be very well loved!
Thank you @text_publishing for my #gifted copy.
Want to read
January 20, 2026The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of Side Character Energy
‘If you’re looking for banter, chemistry and characters who are authentically imperfect, Side Character Energy delivers...For readers of Nina Kenwood, Steph Vizard…’
Books+Publishing
‘If you’re looking for banter, chemistry and characters who are authentically imperfect, Side Character Energy delivers...For readers of Nina Kenwood, Steph Vizard…’
Books+Publishing
November 28, 2025
An entirely unbiased rating given by the person who wrote this book. (I really hope you like it too if I'm lucky enough to count you as one of my readers!)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews