I finished the book about an hour ago, and I've kind of let my mind wander about how I felt about it. Sometimes this helps. In this case, it didn't. I didn't get the purpose of the book, I didn't get the significance of Y2K, I didn't feel any nostalgia from a time gone by, and I didn't get any sense of depth in the "friendships" portrayed in the book. The lead-up to the ultimate scene was long, the ultimate scene was long, and the resolution was short, and none of it was very interesting.

I tried to like it and get some redeeming value from it, but I didn't. The author's writing style was ok - it didn't feel forced or cliched, but the story didn't do anything for me.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had to really really struggle to finish this book 1st of all the lead up to the party just dragged on and on. I didn’t care about the characters. I really didn’t get a sense of who Mary or Lauren were supposed to be. And no I didn’t think the end was so fantastic., The entire read was a struggle.

This is a brilliant and quick read. Without spoilers, it’s about friendship and the consequences of jealousy and greed. The story centers around a house warming party where you learn early on something tragic occurred. The time setting for the story is a flashback to the 90’s and was a reminder of all the dot com talk and Y2K technology fears that were discussed back then.

I loved the ending! Very unique and clever. Bravo!

Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy of Many are Invited. This is my unbiased review.

Pub Date: October 6, 2022
Pages: 242

Not gonna lie, this wasn’t a book I’d have chosen on my own. With that said, was a nice solid read.
It took me a minute to get into a groove with the writing style. The first bit was a bit confusing for me but once I got the rhythm going it was much better.
The writing is compelling and it does suck you in. I liked the dialogues between characters. Sometimes I feel like conversations between characters aren’t believable but the author did a great job making it feel like two people were actually having a conversation.
I wasn’t old enough to really be affected by Y2K so I may have missed some of the suspense but overall, liked the book and would recommend it.

I have to say that is not a book that I would have chosen, but was asked to read, and I am glad that I! It is a moral on envy, and how it can destroy your life, and those around you. Steve and John work at a large phone company in California, it is Y2K time, if you don't know, every corporation in the world was bracing for catastrophe! It is during this time period that Steve and John meet, form an unlikely friendship, that is headed for a collision that we know is coming, like a hurricane, it has to have the right conditions and then it implodes! I liked the book, the story kept me entertained, do I think more could have been done with the ending? Yes, but I am looking forward to more books by this talented author! I expected something far worse, I have an over active imagination, but it was
very believable, which I consider as my number one priority when reading a book! Interesting cast of characters.
I highly recommend! Thank you, #Netgalley #Celestial EyesPublications

Do you remember the anxiety in the late ‘90’s as the years moved closer to the Year 2000? Would the Millennium bug or more popularly known at the time the Y2K bug (for the Year 2000) create the risks computer programmers began talking about? Could the bug be fixed in time?

It’s 1994. John Goertz and Steve Galanos work at a phone company with John as the lead of the Year 2000 Conversion Team and Steve as delivery manager, a direct report to John. Almost despite himself, Steve becomes friends with John but it’s hard not to envy John as his life seems to move forward with all the right moves. But it’s time to put envy aside and celebrate another milestone in John’s life. Newlyweds John and his bride are hosting a housewarming party in mid-December 1999. It’s party time – a new home, the holiday season, and it’s almost 2000. So what could go wrong?

I finished the last page and surprised myself as I had exclaimed out loud, “WoW!” Whether you were listening to the news or in meetings at work conversations were filled with the repetitious drone (to many of us!) of the Y2K bug. It was interesting to read this novel and remember that time.

The author created realistic colleagues to friends, socializing after work and/or on weekends with dialogue touching on a variety of topics including religion and politics. It was an easy read to immerse oneself in earlier years. For me, it was more drama than suspense or thriller although the psychological component is present. After this introduction to the author’s writing, I wouldn’t hesitate to read more.

My sincere thanks to Dennis Cuesta, and Celestial Eyes Press for my complimentary digital copy of this title, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

#ManyAreInvited #NetGalley

𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀:
Many Are Invited introduces us to Steve and John who both work in a big company. John comes in and takes over a big project to make sure the servers and systems don't crash as 1999 turns into 2000. John doesn't take long to establish himself within the company and then to move around to a startup, making a successful run as an early employee of a dot.com success. He meets a beautiful woman, gets a great house in Silicon Valley, and seems to have it all. There was always a sort of fraternal rivalry between Steven and John. Steve was jealous and tried to one-up John whenever possible (it was rarely possible). As 1999 turns into 2000, will systems crash? Will Steven and John enjoy the new decade? Or will Steve continue his secretive and childish ploy to one-up his friend John?

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁:
The book does a great job of introducing us to the characters and their lives. We get to see how John and Steve interact with each other and how they react to different situations. The book also does a great job of showing us the different aspects of the IT industry in the 1990s with the dot-com boom in Silicon Valley.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
- This book takes a long long time to start having some thriller/action, so it definitely falls more within the Contemporary Fiction mark.
When the action does occur, it concludes abruptly, offering practically no information?
So much happened all at once, yet there is virtually no evidence presented.
The target audience seems to be almost certainly men, given the portrayals of women are quite carnal (book does not pass the Bechdel Test. ).

𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁:
Yes. However, the first two-thirds are a bit of a slog, and the finale is confusing. The storylines of the characters are fascinating, and they are effectively embodied, and I would want to read more from this author in the future.

Not a book I would of picked for myself. But, NetGalley let me read it for free for a review. The book was a quick read and flowed very nicely. The chapters were short and sweet. Could definitely tell that it was written from a males point of view and seemed sexist at times. I liked the plot being set around the whole Y2K fiasco. I think there could have been more to the ending.

Thank you to Dennis Cuesta, Celestial Eye Press, and Net Galley for being able to review this book.

3.5 Stars

I loved that this story took place at a tech company during Y2K, as it brought about a lot of nostalgia for me. This book was well written and a very quick read, and I liked all of the twists that developed. There was enough suspense and drama in the book to want me to keep reading.
My one critique is the ending felt a bit rushed, and seemed to just end. I wish it was drawn out a bit more.

This story is told by Steve years after the fact. Steve and John were competitive coworkers. Mary and Lauren were roommates with their own issues of jealousy. They all meet and begin double dating. John and Mary are drawn to each other, though Steve is secretly attracted to her also. John and Mary get married and purchase a home. They hold an open house, housewarming. Steve sets a situation in motion during the party that ends in disaster. If you like a twisted psychological novel, you’ll love this one.

An excellent retelling of the Great Gatsby set in the 90s during the dot com boom. Compelling storytelling and a fresh take on a classic make this a fast, fun read.

This was a waste of time.. not interesting.. not believable… not mysterious, and not worth buying. I found myself wondering throughout where this plot was going.. it was no where, The main protagonist was so unlivable I could not imagine why the author made him the main character. I cannot recommend anyone to spend anytime reading this novel. Sorry,

Thanks to NetGalley and Celestial Eyes Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was intrigued by the Y2K premise of this novel as I lived it, working for a technology company myself. Its a quick read and fairly true to life for anyone who has worked in the corporate world. In the early 1990s, the technology managers are meeting and listening to a presentation by Goertz, of the impending doomsday event of Y2K or for those of you who dont know that term, the year 2000. Goertz is dramatically painting the picture for which he will be the hero to swoop in and provide the fix.

HI co-worker, Steve Galanos, is in the meeting and is suspicous of the drama, especially when Goertz gets a promotion to, you guessed it, head up the Y2K committee.

A few years later, Goertz leaves for a startup and the 2 men go their separate paths. A few more years pass and the 2 reconnect when Goertz invites Steve to a house warming party. At the party, the old issues erupt and a tragedy strikes.

A good quick read!!!

At the request of John Goertz, a group of technology managers and executives gather in a conference room. Listening to the presentation is Steve Galanos, who is suspicious of Goertz’s approach and the dramatic way he describes the problem. Goertz tries to convince his audience that a disaster awaits them unless they immediately address the two-digit year in the company’s distributed systems and compiled code. It’s 1994, well before anyone has heard of the term, Y2K.
A promotion to run the newly-created year 2000 compliance program earns John more skepticism and envy from Steve, yet the two have much in common and soon become good friends. A few years later, John leaves for a startup and their lives trend in different directions.
By the time John cashes out from a successful IPO, gets married, and buys a house in Los Gatos, his friendship with Steve has waned. It’s at John’s housewarming party where latent animosity and lingering distrust finally come to a head.
Really enjoyable read totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Celestial Eyes Press
I just reviewed Many Are Invited by Dennis Cuesta. #NetGalley

I binged this book in a few short hours. You meet Steve a 35 year old man who lives a relatively simple life. He and his best friend John have a competitive relationship as Steve always feels outclassed. Once John meets Mary his life gets even better. They quickly become engaged and he finds himself on an uphill after cashing in stocks to make a few million dollars. He has his dream house, a great job and the girl. But Mary best friend has a similar relationship with her. She is jealous of what Mary has. One housewarming party later and tragedy strikes leaving everyone involved lives changed.
I read enjoyed this book however it seems to just end. I didn't feel there was a conclusion. It's not a cliffhanger ending it just stops. So hopefully by the time it's published that will change.