The Dinner List is an imaginative story full of beautifully, descriptive writing and captivating narratives. This was my first Rebecca Serle, and I absolutely LOVED her writing style.

This book was captivating, quickly paced and immersive. I enjoyed the descriptions of the characters’ lives and the poignant conclusions that Sabrina comes to throughout the dinner. This is a story of healing and of letting go of the past.

My struggle with this book was the lack of explanation for how this incredible dinner came to be. I love an element of magical realism in a story, but would appreciate more complete world-building in a plot. It’s amazing that she can literally be having dinner with the five people on her list, living or dead, but how was this possible? I wish there had been more. My final complaint is that while the story ends on a hopeful, but poignant note, it really just made me sad. I was so invested in Tobias & Sabrina’s relationship, I wish that things had ended differently.

Overall, it was a captivating read that I very much enjoyed!

This book was just OK. I felt that the plot was a bit slow moving and I found it devastatingly sad. While I think the idea of the dinner was a fun idea, it ended up falling flat.

I loved this book! I thought the plot was well done and very creative. There was good character development too; it left me thinking about who I would have at my own dinner.

When Sabrina shows up for her thirtieth birthday she is unexpectedly greeted by five people. The five living or dead people that she had on her "list." You know, the list of five people, living or dead, with whom you would most like to have dinner. Greeting Sabrina is her deceased father, who was out of her life long before he died. Her best friend, who has replaced her time with Sabrina with a husband and son. An old, professor, who made quite the impact on Sabrina. An old boyfriend, who departed in the most shocking of ways. And Audrey Hepburn, who wouldn't want to have dinner with Audrey Hepburn? Over the course of the evening, it is revealed why each one of them was chosen to be on Sabrina's list. And as each course of the dinner is completed, Sabrina is worried that when the dinner ends, those she misses the most will be gone forever. Will Sabrina get the closure that she so desperately needs or will the birthday dinner only prolong the pain that she has been feeling for too long?

The premise of The Dinner List is one that is intriguing. We all have a list either in our heads or written down of people we would most like to have at a special dinner. It has been a dinner party icebreaker for generations. The Dinner List is told in alternate timelines. The hours and minutes the night of the dinner and her past relationship with Tobias, the ex-boyfriend who is at the dinner. But really, Tobias is more than just a boyfriend and the author uses the alternate timeline to tell their story. The premise of The Dinner List is genius, but neither Sabrina nor Tobias are likable characters. They just aren't. Tobias is selfish and Sabrina plays the martyr. It makes it tough to really like either one of them. The end of the book was the end of the dinner and it didn't really end the way that I thought it would. The ending kind of came out of left-field. -- CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS

Bottom Line - The Dinner List is one of those books with a unique premise that falls short when it comes to character development. I stuck with it for the unique premise and hopes that there was going to be some sort of shocking twist at the end. There wasn't. But it did make me revisit the five people that I would want at my dinner. Living or dead, who would make your dinner list?

Rebecca Serle --- the author of several young adult books, including the smash hit FAMOUS IN LOVE --- makes her adult debut with THE DINNER LIST, a wistful, romantic and heartbreaking story based on the popular question “If you could have dinner with any five people, living or dead, who would they be?”

Every year, Sabrina and her best friend, Jessica, celebrate their birthdays with a dinner out. This year, Sabrina is shocked when she enters a restaurant on her 30th birthday to see not only Jessica, but also her estranged father, Robert; her former teacher, Professor Conrad; her ex-boyfriend, Tobias; and an annoyed Audrey Hepburn, all seated at one table. Sabrina quickly realizes that she is about to answer that famous question over a night of great food, abundant wine and, of course, lots of difficult conversations. As Sabrina realizes why the group has come together, she learns to accept what she needs to enter her 30s with closure, contentment and hope.

In alternating chapters, the reader is both invited to take a seat at the table and given a chronology of Sabrina’s decade-long relationship with Tobias and what led to their eventual dissolution. As Sabrina starts to come to terms with her messiest relationships (after all, her estranged father and best friend are also at the table), the reader is treated to scintillating conversations at the dinner table that serve to move the plot along while dissecting the events of Sabrina’s past. Serle does a remarkable job of balancing both plotlines, never once giving away too much or slowing down the pace. The alternating chapters work in tandem, with one informing the next through Serle’s deft and careful plotting.

The story of Sabrina and Tobias is heart-wrenching in all of the best ways. Sabrina first met Tobias when she was only a junior in college in California, though they never even learned one another’s names. Four years later, all the way across the country, the two crossed paths yet again in a stopped subway car. Their first date followed soon after, and they were inseparable --- until they weren’t. Bolstered by fate, compromise and an all-encompassing love, the relationship between Sabrina and Tobias seemed to be written in the stars, but it was not without its tensions. Tobias, for all of his “book boyfriend” qualities, has his faults: he can be indecisive, a bit lazy and occasionally greedy. Sabrina, meanwhile, is accommodating beyond her means and often blind in her love for him.

Still, they are the true loves of one another’s lives, and you will root for them as much as you will sigh, groan and weep about their bad decisions. Serle crafts their love story so beautifully and realistically that it seems impossible that they could not still be together. So what happened? You will be flipping pages well past your bedtime to find out.

The beauty of Sabrina’s story is that, while she, Tobias, Jessica and even her estranged father are all flawed, none of them are purely good or bad. They all have made tragic mistakes and accepted unacceptable compromises, but who among us has not? Where Serle’s character development truly shines is in the relationship between Sabrina and Jessica. When the two first became best friends, they were gorgeous and broke young twenty-somethings, but now Jessica is married with a baby and Sabrina is floundering. Their friendship has fizzled out, as most adult friendships do, but the interesting thing is that neither one has done anything wrong. Serle writes the most realistic description of adult friendships --- especially female ones --- that I have ever read, and Sabrina and Jessica will make you laugh, cry and cringe.

THE DINNER LIST is a sentimental story, one in which we see Sabrina grow and accept that she must forgive both others and herself if she is to enter her 30s with any potential for closure or growth. If the premise sounds impossible, you’re simply not using your imagination. Where a lesser author might waste precious time explaining the magic of the situation, Serle launches into the dinner feet first, appetizers warmed and wine pouring. Over the course of a few hours, she explores love, grief, addiction, friendship, death, marriage and so much more --- all without weighing down her highly imaginative premise. This story is full of pain, but it is the most delicious kind --- the kind that will make you feel as though you, too, have lost something, and will make you all the more grateful for the good things around you.

Serle is new to millennial writing, but I hope that she continues to explore this time in every young person’s life in many more books, for her talent is limitless and her voice profound.

I was only going to give a written book review for this book until I read Chapter 1. After Chapter 2, I couldn't read it fast enough. This book is the ultimate romantic women's fiction novel!! It is absolutely perfect. From the timelines to the ticking clock of the dinner - I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. And... it's a debut novel!!

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review!*

I really enjoyed this book. There is just something about it that is stylish and classy... and it's not just Audrey Hepburn being a character! This novel follows an original idea and take you on a ride full of humor, heartbreak, and redemption. I would highly recommend this. It is a MUST read if you like Audrey Hepburn, though.

Who would you invite if you could have dinner with five?

This is a difficult story to rate. I listened to it on Audio after receiving the ARC on NetGalley.

Initially, I was turned off by the premise. Yeah. Five at dinner. She should have invited Plato.

Then I was intrigued. Why did Sabrina chose the five she did? Loss and desertion are clearly ever-present in her life. She has founded the love of her life on a presumption of impending loss, and when it happens, she isn’t surprised, but she is devastated. And then?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5 stars
At some point in our lives, we've all been asked some variation of the question: "If you could have dinner with any five people, living or dead, who would they be?" Years ago, Sabrina was asked the same question by her college roommate, Jessica. On her 30th birthday, Sabrina meets up with Jessica at a restaurant for their annual birthday tradition. Instead. she is met by the five people she put on her dinner list: Jessica, her favorite professor, her father, a former love, and Audrey Hepburn.
Once Sabrina adjusts to the shock of her dinner guests, she realizes that she must use this opportunity to come to terms with unresolved issues, make amends, and enjoy the gift she has been given. Over the course of the dinner, she realizes each guest is there to teach her a lesson and offer their own insight into her relationship with one guest in particular.
The story alternates between the dinner party and the course of Sabrina's relationship with one of the guests. It's a slim novel at 276 pages but it packs an emotional punch. Serle weaves together a poignant story with beautifully written characters. It's funny, sad, and completely riveting from the very beginning. I found myself tearing up throughout the book and I am generally not a crier by nature. At the end I found myself reflecting not only on my past relationships but also thinking of my own dinner list.

This book has had tons of good premise, but I cannot get into it. I really liked the premise. The flipping back and forth between the actual dinner and the back story of some of the characters was too hard to follow. Was this supposed to be real? A dream? Magical realism? I found it too confusing and I don't mind suspending some disbelief when I'm reading.

“The Dinner List” by Rebecca Serle is a magical read about a woman celebrating her 30th birthday among the five people she longs to dine with most: her best friend, estranged father, philosopher professor, ex-boyfriend and ... wait for it ... Audrey Hepburn. The group discusses life, loss, love, family, and friendship while eating a glorious meal. It is a big-hearted hug of a book you won’t want to end. Bon appetit! 5/5

Pub Date 11 Sep 2018

Thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.

#TheDinnerList #NetGalley

When you can’t fall asleep at night, try thinking of who you would have on your dinner list of five? Some may be total fantasy such as Rebecca Serle’s pick of Audrey Hepburn. Others might have been a romance which slipped through your fingers or a family member who delivers equal parts joy and angst. In other words it could be a complicated evening to work through but worthy of raising your glass. This is The Dinner List.

I really wanted to love this book but I honestly felt very underwhelmed. I loved the premise of dinner with any five people dead or alive but just couldn’t connect with any of the main characters in the book.

I didn’t personally love it, but I can see why some readers might. I didn’t find the main character compelling enough to really root for. And I also didn’t thing the storyline was super clear.

Cool plot idea – dinner with any five people, dead or alive. Loved the nostalgia and romanticism running throughout. Didn’t love the predictability (something should have been saved as a surprise!) and the pouty protagonist. I did like the ending – but was surprised that i did. Good cast of characters except for the college professor who seemed superfluous. Movie star, estranged father, love of her life… I mean come on. Awesome. And not knowing at first which were dead or alive was pretty interesting.

The premise was so good! Execution could have been improved upon and that would have helped the first half of the book be less boring and drawn out.
https://randombookmuses.com/2018/09/26/review-the-dinner-list/

I was dying to read this book. You cannot beat a premise like this one, and I'm intrigued at the thought of whom I, myself, would choose for my own dinner list. The story was fun, whimsical, mysterious, and magical, and it was the perfect summer read to end a season of fabulous new releases. I think this book would make a great movie.

Who are the 5 people, dead or alive, that you would invite to dinner? The Dinner List begins with this premise. Sabrina has the opportunity to have dinner with these 5 people on the evening of her 30th birthday. This book had an unusual concept, enough so that it kept me turning the pages, even when at first I had no idea where the story was going. The story alternates between a dinner party with these 5 people and the story of Sabrina and Tobias's past. I loved the story of Sabrina and Tobias. However, I found myself rushing through the dinner party sections. At times they read more like group therapy than a dinner. I give this book 3.5 stars, rounded up because at the end of the book moved me to tears.

Check out this book if you like quirky romances. And split timeline stories.

I was provided a copy of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This was a very interesting premise for a book and very different than anything I have read lately. I thought it might be a very light read when I read about how it was based on the character inviting any 5 people of their choosing - dead or alive - to a dinner party. It actually had a lot more depth and I loved the focus on how the decisions we have made in the past, big or small, can entirely alter the rest of our lives. I enjoyed reading about these different relationships (or lack there of) and how they affected the main character and also interconnected with one another. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Such a fantastic execution of a fun concept. It definitely makes you think about what it would look like for you and how things would pan out.

If you could name five people, living or dead, who you want to have dinner with, who would you pick? It's a question that many of us have encountered at some point, and The Dinner List brings that question to life through telling the story of Sabrina Nielsen's thirtieth birthday dinner with her best friend, favorite college professor, father, ex-fiance Tobias and Audrey Hepburn. As the six of them share a meal, it starts to become clear that there is a reason apart from Sabrina's birthday that these folks are all at this dinner together, and so this story unfolds. Now, here's the bottom line: I genuinely thought the concept and execution of The Dinner List was quite enjoyable. It drew out the storyline in a way that felt fresh and interesting to me as a reader, and I'm always a big fan of when that happens. However, even though I thought that the narrative was interesting and pretty much devoured the entire novel in a day, I just didn't personally connect with Sabrina or any of the other characters. I truly feel that if I had, the emotional impact of this story would have been a lot stronger and I would have liked it even more. I still would recommend giving this one a shot, especially if the premise is one that you find intriguing.