The Dinner Party - by Viola Van de Sandt (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Franca left the Netherlands behind to start her new life in England with Andrew. Andrew, whose parents lived in South Kensington but had a flat their son could "borrow" nearby. Andrew, an old-fashioned British gentleman who encourages her not to work but to instead focus on her writing. Andrew who suggests a dinner party with his colleagues to celebrate their big upcoming launch.

A dinner party that Franca must plan and shop and cook and clean for. A dinner party during a heatwave when the fridge breaks, alcohol replaces water, and an unexpected guest joins their ranks, upending the careful balance between everything Franca once was and now is...

Expertly weaving the past and present with precision and delicious tension, The Dinner Party is a thoughtful and thought-provoking look at female rage, body autonomy, and all the concessions women make throughout their lives--big and small--until the surprising moment when they decide they can make them no longer.

Review Quotes

"Raw, compassionate, and compelling--what a beautiful world we live in where a book can be messy and tender all at once." -Lit Hub
--Lit Hub

"Mesmerizing . . . A visceral, powerful novel about grief and trauma and identity; it will make you cringe and flinch, laugh and cry."--Naomi Kelsey, author of THE BURNINGS

"An intimate, provocative, and irresistible debut. I was mesmerized."--Jami Attenberg, author of THE MIDDLESTEINS

"The Dinner Party is a profoundly confronting and claustrophobic novel which consumed me whole. It's tender, astonishing, and unflinching, and a deeply moving portrayal of experiencing sexual trauma in the domestic. Warning, dear reader, side effects may include utter speechlessness, a deep sinking feeling, and staring at walls for prolonged periods upon turning its final pages."--Lucy Rose, author of THE LAMB

About the Author