I absolutely loved this one! The characters, the plot, the way the mishaps were resolved... It's a light and fun book, a masterpiece like only Sophie Kinsella can do. Thank you NetGalley and Random House for sharing this book with me in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fun read with a lot of drama and craziness throughout. The family plot with all the different secrets kept my engaged throughout the book. Even though some of it was predictable I did enjoy reading it.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy to honestly review.

I adore a good chick lit piece with a strong protagonist, and Sophie Kinsella gives her readers that with Effie in The Party Crasher. Effie is a mix of holding it together while simultaneously falling apart = job, family, love life - will any of it go right for her? I sped through it, enjoying every scene, and found myself smiling at some scenes and snickering at others. The ending and epilogue left me happy and satisfied as well. The perfect weekend read. I adored it and did not want it to end. Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to preview #ThePartyCrasher

My love for Sophie Kinsella dates all the way back to the early 2000s when I discovered Confessions of a Shopaholic. I adored the writing and have been devouring anything Kinsella writes ever since. The Party Crasher was so enjoyable and I loved getting to know Effie and the quirky cast of family and party guests. Kinsella always does awkward, cringey moments so well. There were heart-warming bits and laugh-out-loud shenanigans, and I was left with a smile on my face when I finished.

I absolutely love Sophie books and this was one of my new favorites from her! The characters are great and from start to finish I was hooked! I highly recommend it!

Sophie Kinsella's newest book is The Party Crasher.

This latest is a stand alone. And it's also the perfect read for a dreary, rainy day.

Kinsella always creates a lovable lead character. In this case, its Effie. Now, she is an adult, but when you find out your parents are divorcing and everything you remember about your childhood may not be true, and your cherished family home is up for sale, well, it's devastating. How can her brother and sister be so accepting of their father's new girlfriend Krista? When Krista decides to throw one last party at Greenoaks, Effie doesn't receive an invitation. But, that's not going to stop her from attending....

And this is how it begins - Effie sneaks onto the grounds, into the house, hides in cupboards, attics and most spectacularly - underneath the dining room table. I totally remember hiding under a table as a youngster, hidden by a long tablecloth! I laughed out loud so many times while reading The Party Crasher.

So, with all the creeping about, Effie hears her own name being mentioned - more than once. Her clandestine skulking offers up a different picture than she had painted for herself. Or does it?

At it's heart, The Party Crasher is all about families and friends - the good, the bad and the ugly. Kinsella explores those relationships with humor, candor and wit. Indeed, I'm sure each reader will find something or someone that they can identify with. And it wouldn't be a Kinsella novel without some romance! There's a lovely will they, won't they storyline that is written just right.

The Party Crasher was perfect escapist, laugh out loud, heartwarming read sprinkled with some truths we can all identify with.

This book was just wonderful. It was a perfect coming-of-age story about growing up, learning truths about yourself, and that moment when you realize your parents aren't perfect. It perfectly describes the truths we must accept as we get older, and throws in some Sophie Kinsella humor. Overall, this is a wonderful, light-hearted read that feels like a nice warm hug.

Published review on Instagram on 10/11/21. Handle @Mz.Cookz.Bookz. Tagged Random House and Sophie Kinsella. Will publish a celebratory story and post on pub day. And will post review to Amazon on pub day.

Sophie does it again in her latest, THE PARTY CRASHER!

Effie’s antics made me laugh out loud throughout THE PARTY CRASHER in the usual “wow this is ridiculous AND hilarious” Sophie-kinda way. I personally enjoyed this one better than LOVE YOUR LIFE and Effie’s character reminded me a bit of our fave gal Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood). At first I was skeptical about how the premise of this book was going to play out, but Sophie leaves you with a satisfying feeling and unexpected ending (or maybe I just suck at guessing the endings🤣). Either way, I clearly recommend this one for a great laugh and a fun story of a quirky gal trying to find her way in life, with a touch of second-chance romance.

I read this one VERY close to GHOSTS (Dolly Alderton) and the antics and train of thought of the main characters reminded me of each other.

If LIVE YOUR LIFE wasn’t your favourite, I promise you that this one makes up for it!

When does everyone stop protecting the baby of the family and let them grow up? Effie is the youngest of three and still sees her parents' marriage as fixable even though they have broken up and her father is dating someone new. As her father and his girlfriend prepare to sell her childhood home, they plan a closing party that Effie can’t bear to go to.

This is pure Kinsella as she tackles this coming fully into adulthood with a little bit of romance and a lot of charm. Everyone reaches that point where they are an adult, but aren’t sure what an adult really means. For Effie, she heads to the party that she has claimed she wouldn’t go to and it’s a comedy of errors as she tries to stay hidden. Once there, she sees everyone is dealing with something they are trying to keep hidden and for the first time in her life, she feels she should be taking care of everyone else.

The author does such a good job of developing real characters that you like and root for despite their flaws. It isn’t just Effie that you are rooting for, but the whole clan. And as hi-jinks ensue while Effie tries not to get caught, she gets to see the real family that everyone protects her from and hear a little too much about what others think of her.

The story drew me in and I felt the emotions right along with Effie. And I was rooting hard for Effie and Joe to work out their differences. I think this is Kinsella’s best book in a while. If you are a fan of her wit and charm, you’ll fall into this book.

Another fantastic book by Sophie Kinsella! Effie and her shenanigans remind me of another character I love (Becky Bloomwood). The story was superb and I really hope there are more Effie books!

Sophie Kinsella’s books never fail to bring a smile to my face. The Party Crasher has all of the wit, heart, and quirky characters that I have come to expect and love from her books.

Effie is heartbroken when she finds out that her family home is being sold. It was bad enough when her parents decided to divorce after so many years of marriage, but now Effie and her siblings would no longer be able to go and visit the house, share holiday meals there, and just bask in all of its eclectic charm. It doesn’t matter if Effie is an adult, it still hurts.

When her father and his new, younger girlfriend decide to throw a final party at the family home, Effie is beside herself. She hasn’t been in much contact with her father, she doesn’t get along with his new love interest, nor does she want to go and celebrate and bid farewell to the house. The only thing that is pushing her to go is so that she can retrieve her beloved Russian nesting dolls.

The whole story takes place over the course of a couple of days. The book is centered around the party at the family home, and it’s not just your average get-together, not at all. No expense was spared for this shindig. While Gus and Bean, Effie’s siblings, were going to be in attendance, Effie decided to stay away. Well, maybe “stay away” isn’t quite the right way to put it. Effie was going to go to the party to find her Russian dolls and then get out (or escape), preferably without being noticed by the other guests. The Russian dolls may not be the only thing that Effie comes away with from this event.

You can probably imagine what ensued. To say that Effie’s grand plan went without incident would be completely inadequate. There was a great deal of chaos, mishaps, and plenty of humor and heart à la Sophie Kinsella. A party is not a real party without a bit of mayhem, right? Right.

The Party Crasher was an entertaining read. It had family dysfunction (but, really, whose family doesn’t have a bit of dysfunction?), a good amount of humor, and a touch of romance. Sophie Kinsella is a must-read author for me, and I’m already looking forward to discovering what story she will come up with next.

*4 Stars

You, like me, might find Effie immature and annoying at the beginning of this novel about a family forced to face change but wait- she'll grow on you. Effie's father and step-mom Mimi have divorced, her father is living with the hated Krista, and now their family home, Greenoaks has been sold. Effie has no intention of going to the last party there until she remembers she left her Russian dolls behind, shoved up in a chimney. So she sets off to sneak in while the party is going. No so fast. She runs into her old love Joe. Everyone has a secret- her sister Bean, her brother Gus, Joe, her dad, Mimi, and most interestingly of all, Krista. It's funny, if a bit over the top in spots. I found myself pulled in and rooting not just for Effie but also for the rest of the gang. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A light fast read that pulls you in and keeps you turning the pages.

This was a well-written, entertaining book. Funny, heartwarming and sweet, it held my attention, was fast-paced and I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

Sophie Kinsella never fails. I am such a huge fan and have read so many of her books but each time I am always squealing to see a new book come out and I fly through it- this book was no different. Her characters are always quirky with a flash of humor and you can easily find someone in your own life who fits the bill as one of these characters. Romance was not a huge part of the story- it doesn't really come up until it's almost half over but there was still enough to keep it spicy and have you wondering. Fun and easy read- made me smile as all her books do. Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgally for providing me with a copy of this book.
It's always interesting to see what Sophie Kinsella comes up with. I have grown up reading her work, and this did not fail to impress me.
There is that humor and charm that Sophie Kinsella is well-known for even in this book.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the free ARC of Kinsella’s, The Party Crasher. I was ecstatic because all of Sophie’s books are always dear to my heart. This one is no exception!

The story follows Efie, a 26 year old girl who feels as if her world is plummeting when she finds out her parents are separating and her dad gets an awful new girlfriend. As a result there’s a strain between Efie and her dad. When she finds out her childhood home is for sale, and she doesn’t get invited to the “house cooling” party, she is devastated and angry. She wants nothing to do with it, until she remembers her Russian dolls who have provided her comfort for so many years. She hatches a plan to sneak into the party, and what follows is a series of unfortunate and heartfelt events. However, what Efie gains throughout this one night is so much more. She bonds with her siblings, she learns about family secrets, and she faces unfinished business she has with her first love.

I’ll be honest, there wasn’t too much of a love story plot. The real message is about growing up, never giving up on those that you love, never assuming you know what someone is going through, and then some. It wasn’t my favorite Kinsella book, but her witty humor and light heartedness kept me engaged throughout.

Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

Another fantastic Sophie Kinsella book that I absolutely loved. Effie and her siblings Bean and Gus grew up at Greenoaks with her father and stepmother, Mimi. It’s a slightly hodgepodge house with lots of hiding places and secret ways to get around.
When her parents get divorced, Effie is devastated. She wonders if her childhood was a joke, because in her mind, her parents were happy and suddenly *poof* they’re divorced. Effie can’t get past it, and when her father gets a new girlfriend named Krista, Effie immediately brands her a gold digger and starts a feud.
She and her family drift apart, until she gets a call from her sister Bean. Bean says that her beloved Greenoaks has been sold, and Krista is holding a lavish farewell party. Effie receives an anti-invite from Krista, and decides she’ll go to the party, sneak in, get her favorite Russian dolls, and leave.
It seems that Effie has never really grown up. She thinks and behaves childishly, and tells outrageous fibs to cover her issues. She’s especially torn up over the loss of love of her life, Joe. They broke up and Effie still loves him.
When she gets to the party, she overhears things that shake up her perspective. She sees Joe there, and their conversation brings up her old feelings.
I don’t want to give anything away so I’ll stop there. The book is really funny in places and poignant in others. I highly recommend it, 5 stars.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Harlequin Junkie Recommended Read!

From the hilarious hijinx to the sentimental walk through our main character’s past–as now seen more clearly through the eyes of an adult–The Party Crasher had that classic Sophie Kinsella charm and wit that I adore.

Oh. My. Word. I had so much fun reading Sophie Kinsella’s latest novel! Her sparkling storytelling typically captures my attention and my heart with each new bunch of people we meet, but there was an almost magical combination in The Party Crasher that had me devouring this story. I think because it was part family saga, part reunion romance, and with the quirky house basically more of a character than just the setting. It all came together to create an adventure I *so* would have loved to participate in. (lol)

Effie, the “baby” of the family and the main character, was an absolute gem. She was already going through a tough time personally when she learned that her beloved family home Greenoaks had been sold. And to top it all off, she wasn’t invited to the send-off her father’s girlfriend was throwing. Effie’s idea of going to the party, all Mission Impossible-style to find her childhood treasure with no one noticing her? Yeah, she probably should have thought it through a *wee* bit more. Or, you know, at all. Because much to our entertainment, Effie spent the entire party hiding in cramped places and dodging family and friends–all while overhearing things she probably shouldn’t have. Things that made her see things much differently about their past.

I loved the scenes where Effie’s sister Bean and their brother Gus all interacted. It felt genuine and often ended with me giggling over their conversations. They also had some serious things going on in their lives–not just Effie–all of which came out into the light and were resolved by the end, but not before lots of delicious drama. Something Kinsella has a wonderful knack for in her books.

The Party Crasher was Sophie Kinsella at her best and will have readers laughing until they have tears in their eyes and sighing happily with that warm ending. Highly recommended.

Sophie Kinsella is one of my favorite romance authors, and has been for years now, and her newest novel is another treat! Full of romance and sibling rivalry, plus one disfunctional family, this is the sort of novel best consumed with a large tub of ice cream on the side! A fun and sparkly read!

While I have not read Sophie Kinsella's most famous book series, The Shopaholic books, I have really enjoyed her novels over the past few years. The Party Crasher continues this winning streak. This novel is all about the changing nature of relationships. Effie's relationship with her parents has changed since their divorce. And she is just starting to have a more equal relationship with her older siblings. Effie is also adjusting to the reality that her childhood home, a place of mostly happy memories, is being sold.

This book is about change and letting go. But it is also about redefining our relationships as we get older. As we mature, we may, or may not, be able to hold on to friendships and first loves. And how we interact with our family members will change, whether due to distances apart, or the choices we make.

This is a book with some really funny moments, as the main character, Effie plans to crash her own parent's last party in her beloved childhood home. The comedy may be a bit over the top, at times, but this is a really entertaining book. If you love family comedies, you will want to run out and grab this novel.

What I Liked:

Topics of Divorce:

No, I don't "like" divorce. But I was really glad to see this as one of the main themes of the book. This is such a regular occurrence among older marriages. A few years ago, I knew eight couples who's kids had recently graduated from high school. All of them were getting a divorce. While the reasons for this were many (long-term incompatibility, infidelity, etc.), they all thought they were doing the right thing by waiting for their kids to grow up. But, sorry folks, divorce is still devastating on adult children.

Effie is the most affected by her parents divorce. They seemed so happy to Effie. But, being the youngest, her siblings sheltered her from seeing the friction between her dad and mom. This really didn't do Effie any favors. Now she is questioning whether or not her whole childhood, which had seemed so idyllic, was a lie.

Characters:

Effie's brother and sister are fully formed characters, each with their own issues. Gus, an absent-minded tech nerd, is stuck in a relationship with a beautiful, but needy women. Bean, Effie's sister, is the peacemaker. She never gets ruffled. So when Effie see Bean crying, and then getting angry at everyone, she knows something isn't right.

I also loved the three siblings relationships with each other. As Effie is the youngest, Gus and Bean are used to sheltering her from unpleasantness. They won't usually tell her their problems. And for a long time, Effie was happy with this. As the book progresses, Effie sees that his dynamic must change in order for all of them to have more grown-up relationships with each other. This lifts the load that Gus and Bean have been carrying, and lets Effie step up to the plate and be more responsible for how she relates to the family.

There's a lot of high comedy with the side characters. Krista seems like a caricature of a gold-digging step-mom. Joe, Effie's ex-boyfriend, seems snooty and unattainable. And another former boyfriend, Hugh, is really full of himself. But this is just a set up for revelations later in the book that make these characters much more human and relatable.

Family Relationships:

I think we all struggle as adults to adjust to relating to our parents as people. They no longer have the automatic authority that they had when we were kids. We start to see them as more complex, fallible people. This is usually a good thing. But it can be unsettling to realize that they weren't perfect. Or if we have negative memories, we start to realize that our parent's choices were more difficult that we thought. This is Effie's issue. She has idealized her childhood as something magical and she can't let go of that myth. Yes, she had some amazing experiences as a kid. But her parents were just people, trying their best.

Moving On:

I moved around quite a bit as a child. So, as an adult, my husband and I made it a priority to stay put in one house for most of our kids lives. As we get older and are starting to think about downsizing to a smaller house, our kids are not happy! My youngest, especially, seems to want us to stay in this big house forever. So I completely related to this book. As Effie and her siblings say goodbye to their house and all the happy memories it holds, they have to find a way to move on. Change is inevitable. What Effie learns is that her family is still her family, no matter where they live.