Author: Sophie Kinsella
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Publisher: Random House
Publication Date: October 12, 2021
Book Description: From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love Your Life comes a humorous and heartwarming novel about family, set against the backdrop of the most fabulous party you’ve ever snuck into.
It’s been over two years since Effie’s beloved parents got divorced, destroying the image of the happy, loving childhood she thought she had. Since then, she’s become estranged from her father and embarked on a feud with his hot (and much younger) girlfriend, Krista. And now, more earth-shattering news: Greenoaks, the rambling Victorian country house Effie called home her whole life, has been sold.
When Krista decides to throw a grand “house cooling” party, Effie is originally left off the guest list—and then receives a last-minute “anti-invitation” (maybe it’s because she called Krista a gold-digger, but Krista totally deserved it, and it was mostly a joke anyway). Effie declines, but then remembers a beloved childhood treasure is still hidden in the house. Her only chance to retrieve it is to break into Greenoaks while everyone is busy celebrating. As Effie sneaks around the house, hiding under tables and peeping through trapdoors, she realizes the secrets Greenoaks holds aren’t just in the dusty passageways and hidden attics she grew up exploring. Watching how her sister, brother, and dad behave when they think no one is looking, Effie overhears conversations, makes discoveries, and begins to see her family in a new light. Then she runs into Joe—the love of her life, who long ago broke her heart, and who’s still as handsome and funny as ever—and even more truths emerge.
But will Effie act on these revelations? Will she stay hidden or step out into the party and take her place with her family? And truthfully, what did she really come back to Greenoaks for? Over the course of one blowout party, Effie realizes that she must be honest with herself and confront her past before she’ll ever be able to face her future.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review: For fans of Sophie Kinsella this is another fun book in her canon. Effie is our protagonist, and is dealing with her parents divorce and a declining relationship with her father after he meets and moves in the new woman in his life. Her father is selling the house and they are having one last hurrah before the sale closes. There is only one problem Effie was not invited.
Effie is hurt that her father would let this happen, but vows not to make a big deal. On the morning of the party she realizes she forgot to get her beloved set of Russian Nesting Dolls. Of course, she decides to crash the party, to get her prized possession back. When she shows up there is a bouncer, but with the help of her sister and an ex-boyfriend she gets in.
I will leave it at that, as I don’t want to spoil this fun romp. This was very typical Kinsella and I thoroughly enjoyed it. She writes delightful stories that always have a Happy Ever After, it is just a bit of a mess (in a good way) to get there. If you are looking for a lighter read, that will make you laugh, run and pick this up, you will not be disappointed.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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