Amusing antics hiding serious messages

"The Party Crasher" lives up to the author's reputation of a zany but engaging heroine doing all sorts of amusing antics but this froth hides some very serious messages about the importance of family, communication and the peril of hiding your real feelings. This last is 'personified' by the set of Russian dolls sought by our heroine throughout her childhood home which, sadly, had to be sold. I really love how Ms Kinsella manages to mix the heartwarming with the serious. Definitely a 5 star read!

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-constrained e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

This is what I needed in my life right now- had hit a wall with what I wanted to read for a bit with just life being too much at the moment. So my brain shut down for anything extra, like reading. But along came this and I could read just to enjoy- the author's writing style is perfect for wanting something to read that you know will be well written, not too heavy, but not too over the top chic lit either. Perfect balance.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I absolutely adore Sophie Kinsella’s books, so I knew as soon as I saw this one that I needed to read it!
This book follows the main character Effie who has to say goodbye to her childhood home. Her father and his new girlfriend (who is not well liked by the kids) has decided it is time to move but Effie and her siblings are saddened by this. Effie’s dad & Krista decide to gather the family and host a final party to say goodbye the home, but the invitation Effie receives rubs her the wrong way. She decides no to attend the event. She realizes however that some of her possessions are still held in the house, and she wants to retrieve them before they are sold, so she hatches a plan to sneak into the party…
This book was everything I hoped it would be and more. The way that Sophie is always able to produce the adorable quirky heroine with such grace and charm is one of the reasons I love her books. The main character Effie is so relatable, and it was so fun to follow along with her and the family.
One thing I really enjoyed about this book specifically was that there was some romance in it, but the romance was not the main part of the story. I am glad to see more and more books focusing on more than just a love interest. There was lots of family drama and secrets to unravel, but there was also lots of humor and sentiment to the story as well.

I think this is the best book Sophie Kinsella has written in years! I loved this story because it was story about a changing family, and a woman growing up and figuring out who is she apart from her family of origin. And all of that was done with such humor and wit and tenderness. I loved the sibling relationships and the lore of a quirky family home that is about to belong to another family. Effie declines a decidedly begrudgingly given invitation to her childhood home's final soiree. But she remembers a beloved treasure that she must get back before the house is sold. So she breaks into the house the night of the party and is a fly on the wall while everyone celebrates. She watches her siblings, her dad, and a former love as she begins to piece together details about her family she never really understood.

While I haven’t read anywhere near all of Sophie Kinsella’s books I have read enough that when I saw The Party Crasher I knew I needed to read it. This one is of course a contemporary romance or chicklit novel that of if you are familiar with the author you probably know it’s filled with humor and a side of romance.

Effie has been estranged from her father since at the last family gettogether she attended she had it out with his new girlfriend. Effie sees Krista as nothing but a gold digger and really wishes her parents had never divorced at all bringing Krista into their lives. The latest slight comes when Effie finds out that her beloved childhood home is being sold and Krista has not invited her to their goodbye party. Effie comes up with a plan to sneak into the party to retrieve some of her childhood memories before it’s all gone.

The Party Crasher got off to a somewhat slower start for me than some of Sophie Kinsella’s other books have. To be honest I wasn’t sure if I was even going to like Effie in the beginning but I did end up liking her and having all of the laughs that I expect to have from this author. This one is definitely more on the chicklit side as the family feud is the main focus and the romance is barely there. I didn’t mind that fact so much myself but that would be my biggest warning when picking this one up if that is what you are searching out. In the end I enjoyed this one despite the slower start for me and would recommend it.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

What quirky, funny read! It certainly kept my attention and made me laugh. Yes, some of it was a bit over the top but I loved it!
The antics the main character, Effie, gets herself into are hilarious.
I honestly have not read many books written by Sophie Kinsella which I know may amaze others. I definitely will be looking for more books to read by her.
The Party Crasher was just what I needed after reading a few intense, thriller books.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

As a devoted Sophie Kinsella fan, I simply must read every new book she writes. So, it hurts a little to not be able to gush over her latest! Honestly, it's decent but probably won't make my list of favorite books of the year. So, if you're a Sophie fan, give it a shot, but otherwise it may be a worthy skip.

Effie's family has been falling apart ever since her parents announced their divorce and her dad shacked up with a new woman. Now, their charismatic house is being sold and Effie was "accidentally" not invited to the final get together there. A series of chaotic events lead to encounters with everyone important in her life and her final goodbye to the house.

I can't thank Random House, The Dial Press enough for this wonderful story!

The Party Crasher by Sophie Kinsella
Genre- General Adult Fiction | Women's Fiction

Effie’s parents got divorced a little over two years ago.
Messing up the perfect image of what a happy, caring, loving life she thought she had.
Since the divorce her dad moved on to a young, hot girlfriend Krista.
And to top it off she rarely talks to her father anymore.
Add salt to injury the home Greenoaks Effie grew up in, made amazing memories in has been sold.

Krista throws a major party and Effie isn't added to the guest list.... (Sorta rude)
She receive a last minute invite..... Which she declines but remembers suddenly that there is a very near and dear childhood memorabilia hidden in her old home.
The only way she can get it back is to break in.
As she finds her way through the house she comes to discover some secrets Greenoaks holds.
Can she act on this discovery?
Or will she step back into the party and never mention it?
When her sister, brother and father start acting weird and she stumbles upon a conversation she isn't suppose to hear she starts seeing her family in a new way.
When she least expects it she runs into Joe the love of her life. Who broke her heart so long ago.
When more secrets arrive she starts to question everything she ever knew!

This is my first Sophie Kinsella read! And where the hell have I been hiding?
She is phenomenal. Can't believe I'm just now discovering her!
This book was very interesting and kept me intrigued throughout the entire story!
There were a lot of interesting pieces to this novel.
Which I thought made the book overall.
This book sorta has it all..... Romance, melodrama, family drama, old to new lovers!
Sophie Kinsella fans will not be disappointed.
This book was charming, delightful & unputdownable.
A major 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ book!.

Thank you so much to The Dial Press for this wonderful story!
I will post to my platforms closer to pub date!

It took a little bit for this one to really get going, but it gets super fun about 1/4th of the way in when things actually start to happen.
Despite it being two years Effie finds out that the parents she thought had a perfect relationship are getting a divorce, she seems to still be in denial and hoping that someone will somehow say that it was all a mistake and nothing needs to change. Unfortunately, not only is that not happening, but her dad is selling the quirky family home they grew up in. So the title's crashed party is a goodbye house party set up by her dad's gold-digger girlfriend who didn't even bother to invite Effie to the party.
It's once the party-crashing begins that the story takes off. It's fun and warm and just crazy enough to showcase just how weird everyone's family can be in stressful situations. It leads to great revelations, small surprises, the realization that things might not always be what they seem, and the important discovery that change is sometimes for the better.
This truly is a fun and emotional read that goes from emotional to fun on a dime and keeps you on your toes as you're turning pages. Definitely, one to indulge in and enjoy.

Many happy thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press for the great read!

I have been reading @sophiekinsellawriter since I was in high school and I still love her books as much as I did then! I read and loved her newest book this week, the Party Crasher!

Effie has been struggling with the divorce of her parents for almost two years and her father has moved on with a much younger woman. Krista has big plans to sell Effie’s family’s country house and throws a big party to say goodbye. Effie has incredible family memories and isn't ready to say goodbye. She decides to sneak into the party and ends up hearing many secrets she wasn’t quite prepared for. Even Effie’s ex boyfriend is at this party and she runs into him.

I loved the family dynamics in this novel. Effie has an older brother and a sister who both have a lot going on with their own lives. Their biological mom, Alison, died when they were little, so they were raised by their dad and stepmom Mimi. Because of this, each kid has a different relationship with their parents. Effie still think her parents can get back together and won’t accept Krista (who is pretty awful!)

Effie definitely gets into some shenanigans and that is very classic Kinsella. It’s very heartwarming and fun, and I loved seeing Effie and Joe reunite. I really enjoyed this as I do with all of Sophie’s novels!

Thanks to NetGalley for being able to read this book early. This is an endearing family chapter that makes me wonder if Greenoaks is a real home. When Effie crashes a house-cooling party at her childhood home, she didn't expect what she would find. Will she and her siblings be okay after the dust settles? It kept me turning the pages to find out.

Loved it!! I would give it 4.5 stars, almost 5 stars. I was a little apprehensive about reading it because the last few books by the author were not my favorite and I hated the characters. This was a breath of fresh air and completely not what I expected (in a good way). I can't believe the lengths that Effie took to be invisible throughout the whole party. How did anyone not see her?? Do to her hiding from the family she got to hear a lot of information and see stuff she never wanted to witness. (Spanx removal!!!). She's probably traumatized from seeing the roleplaying between her dad and Krista. Effie, Gus and Bean's family completely changes when they get the news over Christmas that their parents are divorcing. Let's give horrible news while trimming the tree and passing out presents. Nothing says Falalalala and Santa like divorce. Mimi, gets replaced with Krista. Of course, I hated Krista immediately. The Instagram posts that she posted with Tony were disgusting. Bath tub pics do not need to be shared with everyone. I can't put all the blame on Krista, Tony is just as responsible. He allowed her to treat his children horrible. He buried his head in the sand an let Krista do what ever she wanted. Effie definitely added entertainment with all her shenanigans at the house all because of Russian Dolls. She told a little kid that she was a ghost. Everyone needs a Dr. Joe in their life. I wasn't expecting the reason Joe gave Effie for what happened four years previously.

Definitely recommend it. Loved the story, characters and writing style. You never knew what was going to happen with this crazy family. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Random House, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4.5/5 stars


I adore Sophie Kinsella and have been reading her books for years. If you're looking for a new quirky heroine Effie is your gal.

The Party Crasher is Chick Lit and it is set in the UK.

This story is charming and fun. Sophie Kinsella definitely excels at writing this type of book. I absolutely loved that the book is full of silly shenanigans.

The narrator is Effie/Ephelant/Euphemia (1st person POV - she is in her late 20s). She has an older sister (Bean) and an older brother (Gus). Effie's relationship with her siblings and dad are a key part of the story.

There is some romance in this book. But it is not the main focus of the story. But I still loved it so much!

There is an epic party and the whole premise of the party crasher is fantastic. I really liked everything to do with this part of the book.

There is also a great villainess. And I thought that this added so much to the book.

Overall if you love Sophie Kinsella then you will like this book. It was hilarious and I really enjoyed it.

This author never fails to deliver a great story, that hits all emotions. I love how she can lift you out of a certain mood and take you on an entertaining journey, that can make you laugh out loud, or cringe in embarrassment for someone, or just transport you into an, “I don't want to stop reading this story”. Escapism at its best.
Escapism is great but she also puts us into real life feelings and situations, that help one see different sides to a situation, so besides all of the drama, we are also taking something from it.
This story is a bout a family in crisis after a divorce, dealing with issues from the past, and coming together again in a strange but much needed way at a childhood home, soon to be sold.
Wonderful characters, great story and some wonderful moments of humor.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for a copy of this book.

Sophie Kinsella’s The Party Crasher is the story of Effie and her siblings, who are heartbroken after their parents divorce and their childhood home is being sold. The family decides to have a farewell party in their old home. The problems arise when their father’s much younger girlfriend is put in charge of the events. A humorous and well-written novel, I found myself cheering for Effie as she muddles through the weekend events. I can so see this book as a movie!

Effie may be an adult but she’s still reeling from her parents divorce, announced when her, her brother and sister were adults. She thought he had a happy childhood in a loving home and is now questioning it all. Now her dad is dating someone much younger, who she might have called a gold digger and is now not really invited to the house cooling party to say goodbye to her beloved family home.
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She decides she needs to get into the home one last time but she is not going to that party. So of course the reasonable solution would be to sneak into the party but like any Kinsela book many, many hi jinks ensue. While there are times in all of her books where I want to yell at the heroine not to do whatever outlandish think she is doing her books always win me over in the end with their heartwarming endings that keep me coming back.
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Sophie Kinsella’s writing always, without a doubt, puts a smile on my face, and this one was no different. Effie is having a hard time following her parent’s divorce only to learn that her childhood home is now being sold. Instead of attending the party, she sneaks in and we listen in along the way as Effie hears and sees the unexpected, reconnects with her ex, learns some interesting things about her siblings, and relives some of her childhood memories. I found myself rooting for Effie all throughout the book and enjoyed the intertwined storylines of family members as well. Definitely pick up this book for a quick, fun read that will make you smile.

Favorite Quote:
“Maybe our family has changed shape. Maybe things aren’t exactly like they used to be. And maybe they’ll be even more different in the future. But whatever happens, we’ll still be us.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read this book early!

I just loved this book. Such a lovable famil.y, except for a few girlfriends, that it was impossible not to relate with to them. I found myself smiling, laughing, tearing up, furious, and unable to put this book down. Well written, fast paced, and wonderfully entertaining. I will definitely be searching out more books by Sophie Kinsella.

3.5

Lots of family drama and the author's trademark British humor as Effie crashes the goodbye party as her father and her stepmother get ready to sell her childhood home. Not on the best of terms with her stepmother, Effie's invitation to the party doesn't arrive, leading Effie to sneak around looking for the things she wants from the house before it sells. While there Effie overhears more than she expects leading to some family confrontations and a reunion with her first love. While not my favorite Sophie Kinsella book, it was still good for some laughs and relatable sibling relationships. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy!

I enjoy Sophie Kinsella’s writing so was quite keen to read this. It was a fun entertaining story filled with humour and hijinks. The lead character Effie was engaging and funny. There were plenty of interesting side characters especially with her family. A light and interesting read.