Member Reviews

Reading this book brought back so many of my own childhood memories as the characters spoke about their youth and the wonderful memories embodied in their strange old house. This tale is rich in family interactions, old friends, old loves and bright new futures. Loved every second of this hilarious yet poignant romp.

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There's always something a little manic about Kinsella's heroines. A lot of times, I wonder if I'll end up liking them. Again, Kinsella balances out her wackadoo heroines with an end redemption and HEA. Amazingly, the main action of this story takes place over a weekend party where the heroine livens up her journey with some covert shenanigans. The storyline and characters were ok, but this wasn't a strong winner for me.

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As always, a great light-hearted romp from Kinsella. Maybe not her best but still great for some perfect beach-reading entertainment.

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This is an incredibly relatable story! I did find the main character to be super whiney, which was off putting in my opinion.

If you like family drama, and hysterics/choas I’d recommend this one.

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Sophie Kinsella has once again blessed us with a hysterical, fun, and easy read. I was literally laughing out loud at the antics that Effie got herself into in The Party Crasher. I could so easily picture her hiding in the shrubs, under tables, and inside cupboards. I groaned at some of her bad choices, but yet was so happy that she did them because it led to some really enjoyable reading! I especially loved that some of her (more sane) feelings were REAL and RELATABLE. Though she is facing some true tough times and issues, Effie somehow manages to fumble through them with outlandish and unlucky encounters. This author expertly and creatively introduced us to quirky and entertaining characters that beg to be read about. Super cute book!

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I am a big Sophie Kinsella fan so I was excited to read this new title. Effie is a young adult whose British family was shattered by her parents' divorce. After two years, her father begins dating Krista, a much younger woman, who makes unwelcome changes to their family home. When Effie and Krista argue, Effie becomes estranged from her family. Krista puts the family home up for sale and throws a party for people to say goodbye. Effie decides to use the time of the party to retrieve a childhood keepsake. She disguises herself and hides in a variety of locations during the party. She overhears many conversations which make her reexamine her relationships with her sister, brother, and dad as well as with her first love. I really enjoyed this book. It was an excellent blend of humor with a good family story. The characters were great and the ending was satisfying.

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Another winner from Ms. Kinsella. This one has everything I’ve come to expect from her: heart, wit, growth and love. If you don’t like Effie then well I’m not sure what is wrong with you. Effie is all of us dealing with change and coming to terms with being an adult.

The cast of characters that surround Effie are wonderful as well. I pretty much dare you not to enjoy this one.

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In this novel, main character Effie is an adult but has been thrown for a loop by her parents’ divorce, has become somewhat estranged from her dad thanks to his unpleasant new girlfriend, and now is upset by the sale of her beloved family home. The book takes place mostly over the course of one weekend, during which Effie has declined to attend the big party her dad’s girlfriend is throwing at the house before the sale, but then decides to go anyway, not to attend the party but to sneak in and to find a childhood prized possession she left behind, and before she knows it she is sneaking around and eavesdropping.

When I pick up a Sophie Kinsella book, I’m expecting something light and frothy with humor and a little romance, and this one certainly delivered. Effie seems rather immature for her age, and yet somehow her ridiculous antics charmed me anyway. This book was actually more about family than romance, though the romance was sweet as well. And to my surprise, I even found myself tearing up towards the end! So all in all, a very cute read when you’re in the mood for something light, and maybe even one of my favorite Kinsella books.

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Such a fun story. sneaking around your childhood estate at a party that you don't want anything to do with. Your father and his new girlfriend, who you dislike immensely are the hosts. Hearing and seeing things that you didn't expect and are real eye openers. Love this! One eye opener after another, really held my interest.

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I generally LOVE Sophie Kinsella, but some reason I just couldn't get into this book. Perhaps it's just not the right time for me to read so I intend to pick this up and try again later.

3/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House, The Dial Press for providing me with an e-arc of his book in exchange for an honest review.

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This book took me a few chapters to get into and warm up to Effie. But I am so glad I stuck with it because it turned out to be a fun, warm story. Effie is reeling from the announcement that her parents are divorcing. Though Effie is an adult she behaves like a child about many things at first and seems to be throwing a tantrum most of the time. Her older siblings, Bean and Gus, appear to be taking it all in stride. Even the sale of their family home, Greenoaks. When Effie's father's new girlfriend sends out invitations for a house cooling party and Effie doesn't receive one Effie decides she's not attending. But then she remembers her beloved russian nesting dolls are still there. So she does what any of us would do - goes to get them. Only most would go in and ask where they were. Not Effie. She decides to sneak in during the party and then eavesdrops on her family and the guests.

There were some eye rolling moments in this book. And there were some touching moments. Once I settled into the silliness of it all I enjoyed getting to know this cast of characters. It was a great reminder to not assume things and talk to people about what is going on instead. I was thrilled Effie had a happy ending.

If you love Kinsella's books then this is another great read for you! If you have not checked out her work then this is a good book to pick up. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

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The premise of this book? Effie Talbot’s beloved childhood home is being sold, and due to family difficulties, she doesn’t feel like she can attend the house-cooling party being held to say goodbye to the house. But she does need to get into the house to retrieve a treasured memento. What is the solution? To crash her own family’s party. Lol.

Sometimes a book with such an overarching premise can feel a little bit too contrived, but I did not feel that way at all with this book. The events felt real and organic, but with Sophie Kinsella’s comic touch, of course.

During the course of the book romantic relationships were revived, fraught familial fracases were fixed, and merry mirthfulness was made.

One thing I really like about Sophie Kinsella’s books is that they are funny, but also heartfelt, touch on deep issues, and often make me well up with tears just a bit. I read most of the book in one sitting, because once I started, I didn’t want to put it down. Now you can see if you feel the same.

Note: I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley.

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Thank you so much for this ARC!

What an adorable book! I have loved Sophie Kinsella since the beginning of time. My genre preferences have changed, but I will ALWAYS read what she comes up with next.

I love that Kinsella mixes both the silly element with the serious family dynamics. Makes for a light read with meaningful lessons.

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In the beginning, I didn't really like the main character very much. However, the more I read, the more I liked Effie! How she learns to deal with family relationships and disappointment makes a great story. This is a fun book that will make you smile, if not laugh out loud!

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The Party Crashers – the perfect witty and rib-tickling guide to the Do’s & Don’ts of gate-crashing a party. A must-read for all rom-com lovers!

A huge fan of Sophie Kinsella, I was over the moon when I received an advance copy of her latest book, 'The Party Crasher', via NetGalley. I was so excited that I finished her book in one go, staying up beyond the wee hours of the morning and currently, nursing an enormous book hangover.
This book is everything you expect from a Sophie Kinsella novel! It was uproariously hilarious and entertaining, replete with a cast of flawed and endearing characters who would melt your heart. The plot is so fast paced, with all the events taking place in the span of a day that you are completely glued to the read.
Family – can’t live with them, can’t live without them!
The last thing Effie expected to hear on an enchanting Christmassy day was the news of her parents splitting up. 18 months later, she finds herself stuck in the same spot, mulling over her parent's divorce, while having to deal with the more devastating news of the sale of her family home. Her father's girlfriend, Krista is rather a pain, with whom she has been engaged in a long-running feud. With the house now all set to be handed over to the new owners, Krista is throwing a 'house-cooling party' to which practically the whole town has been invited except for, well you guessed it, Effie. Effie retaliates by deciding to not go to this fancy event, until she realizes that she has a valuable childhood artifact back at home that she is not ready to part with yet. So she decides to sneak into the party and retrieve her hidden treasure at any cost! Creeping into the house, dodging bouncers and moving secretly between cupboards and trapdoors, Effie learns two things that day, the hard way. One, party crashing and trying to stay hidden is a sinister and inconvenient business, and two, her family is not what she made it out to be! Throw in a hot ex-boyfriend, few crazy guests and some earth shattering truth bombs to this mix, and the party is all set to rock!
Make way for some drama!
By god, imagine sneaking into your own home like a robber, that too on such a day when the house is brimming with people! I had my heart in my mouth watching Effie trying her best to not get caught, swiftly managing to avoid running into any of the guests and moving from room to room in search of her dolls. What stood out the most for me about this book is its plot, which I found to be fresh and original. Sophie Kinsella has put a lot of thought into each and every element of her story, right from the naming of her characters. Why Effie is called so is rather a cute story in itself and I felt it made the characters a whole lot more relatable. The story is narrated through Effie’s point of view, which is only fair, I guess, considering how the poor thing had to perform more than her fair share of gymnastics, even hiding under tables, for her rather important cause! :P While the book moves quickly, with the events unfolding one after the other through unpredictable shifts, the narrations, descriptions and inner musings are just the right amount, not boring the reader with too many details while relaying important aspects that is vital to the story.
Although the book treats us to a swoon worthy romance involving Effie and her ex-boyfriend Joe, much of the focus is kept on her family’s histrionics, which is both hilarious and heart-wrenching at the same time. The shift in the dynamics in the family, amidst the disintegration and decline of relationships following a divorce have been handled quite sensitively, a feat that only Sophie Kinsella can do! While the whole story has been conveyed on a lighter note, there are plenty of thought-provoking bits that makes you think about life in general. I particularly enjoyed the bonding between the sibling trio – Bean, Effie and Gus, and the way each of them finds themselves, through startling revelations, towards the end of the story. Needless to say, this was a five star read for me, one I was sorry to put away when it finished!
With Fall just around the corner, The Party Crasher would be a perfect addition to your autumn reads – warm and cozy, with the right blend of drama and emotions that is sure to keep you entertained till the end.
Rating: 5/5

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So good.
I readthis in one go, without stopping. I just couldn't put it down.
I love the end, it's just perfect. Another winner for Kinsella. Her books never disappoint.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC for review purposes

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Effie, 26, is the baby of the family. She has a big sister, Bean, 33, and big brother, Gus, 31. Their mother died when Effie was just a baby and their father later married, Mimi, who has been a wonderful mother to them. They grew up in a huge house called Greenoaks. This Christmas they learn that their father and Mimi are getting a divorce and that Greenoaks will be sold. They are devastated by this news. They have always loved their close family and their wonderful home. They later learn that their father is dating an overbearing woman named Krista who appears to have taken him over and treats his children indifferently. She has decided to throw a cooling party as they prepare to leave Greenoaks. It is black tie and will be expensively catered. Effie does not receive an invitation to the party like the other siblings and is furious. Then, she remembers her beloved Russian dolls are in the house and she is determined to sneak in during the party, retrieve them and then leave. Simple, huh? What could possibly go wrong?

During the event, Effie overhears and sees things that shock and anger her. Watching Krista and her sister, Lacey, in action at the party disgusts her. The entire time she learns more things about her siblings too and she wants to help them. Then we have Joe, the revered surgeon that she grew up with and loved long ago until they broke up. Could they reignite their passion?

There are so many funny things in this story that are typical of any Sophie Kinsella book. But the love of family shines through and that’s what’s important. I thought Mimi was great and Bean too. I really wanted to deliver a swift kick to the arrogant Krista and Lacey. How mean! How could their father be so blind? I hope readers will enjoy this book as much as I did.

Copy provided by the NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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The Party Crasher was a fun and fast read. Sophie Kinsella really knows how to take important subjects such as family issues and weave them into light, enjoyable stories such as this one.
I really liked the characters, even though I must admit I did not like Effie at first, she had a nice development as a characters and I really enjoyed her sense of humor. The other characters were interesting and added to the story, not Krista though, hated her from the first moment (LOL).
Overall, is a nice read that you can easily finish over the weekend and you will definitely enjoy.

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This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

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First of all, Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - The Dial Press and Netgalley for the ARC of The Party Crasher in exchange for an honest review.

Publishing Date: October 12, 2021.

A cute second chance rom-com by Sophie Kinsella. My biggest gripe with this book was how the whole plot revolved around one day and the house so we didn’t get a lot of stories, however towards the end we start to hear more of the story.

This is actually my first Sophie Kinsella book so I had some high expectations because people have ranted and raved about her books. I also did see some reviews that said this was her favorite book of theirs so I was disappointed that it fell so flat for me.

If you love Sophie Kinsella you will probably enjoy this book, but I don’t think women fiction is my genre and I just felt like there wasn’t much plot to this book that kept me wanting to read.

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