It's official - I love the way Brooke Abrams tells a story! After consuming Penelope in Retrograde when I received it via NetGalley, I was eagerly awaiting the next novel from the oh-so-talented Abrams, and it did not disappoint.

This is such a marvelous story. It's full of heart and loss and wisdom and humor. The characters leap off the page with their well-rounded depth, and the relationships are so meticulously presented that you cannot fail to laugh and cry right along with them. This was at times a tough read - the emotions run deep and the struggles for (re)connection are relatable and at times heart-breaking - but it's filled with enough joy, laugh-out-loud hilarity, and snarky wit to make the entire experience an overwhelmingly positive one. I loved it and cannot say enough good things!

Heartwarming story about an unconventional family whose matriarch, Darla has invited everyone to her home for her "funeral" except she isn't dead. This book was a quick read and really left me thinking about family dynamics and how we are all struggling in our own way. I loved the growth between the siblings and also between Liza and her daughter. I also have to say I was laughing the whole book at the ridiculous banter between the siblings! Very funny!

Definitely check this one out if you need a good palate cleanser.

Thank you to Brooke Abrams, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4⭐
Three generations of retired/aspiring actresses each trying to achieve their own dreams in this world without 'breaking a leg' in the process.

This book really wasn't what I expected it to be, went into it completely blind which I think made it all the more better. I enjoyed this book so much - the ENTIRE character ensemble, the family drama, the dual timelines, the emotions - so good!

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

With its combination of classic Hollywood glamour, some wildly funny adventures, and plenty of family drama, Night of a Thousand Darlas is a little bit dishy but also sometimes surprisingly moving. It’s an honest look at the messiness of life and love and family.

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery.

A wonderful novel about family, the drama it has, a funeral/not funeral. Show business snippets abound and lost connections might be fixed
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I wasn’t sure what to make of this one at first and almost gave up a few times. I thought it was another one of the many “stars behaving badly” books that are not my favorite, but as I went on, I realized it was so much more. This is about relationships – mother/daughter, siblings, romantic – and how messy they can be. Liza and Darla’s relationship is tenuous at best but blossoms as they work to understand each other. This was a heartwarming read that shows the strength and beauty of family.

Liza is a part of an acting dynasty and was herself in a popular soap opera in her teens (until she got pregnant with Scotty's, her costar's child).  Her mother Darla has always been dramatic and now has decided to go all out on her funeral (party planner and all), except she's still alive. Liza and her siblings return to Day Ranch, her childhood home, to attend the event.  When she and her daughter arrive, Liza finds a much changed Darla and, with her siblings and Scotty, try to determine what is going on with Darla.  The more time she spends with her family, the more she realizes she needs to be closer (both physically and emotionally) to the important people in her life.

I didn't know what to expect from this one but I really ended up enjoying it, it has a lightness and heart strings pulls all at the same time.  I half and halfed the audiobook and the ebook and it was the perfect way to do this one.  The narrator brought life to the story but never got too dramatic even with the wacky ensemble of characters.  In many ways this is the story of family drama and love.  Not to age me but if you saw the movie Soapdish from the 90s - this gave me the same type of vibes - fun and emotional all rolled into one story.  I haven't read the author's debut novel, Penelope in Retrograde but it's definitely on my TBR now!

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for my ARC to review

Second book from Brooke Abrams confirms that I’m a forever fan. I thought Penelope in Retrograde was soooo good, and Night of a Thousand Darlas did not disappoint. It has the same balance of humor and heartfelt moments.

I love a little soap opera drama (I used to religiously watch All My Children and General Hospital) ……throw in some old Hollywood glam, and I’m sold! But thats just a tiny bit of this book.

I enjoyed following Liza, as she navigates the messy relationships between her movie star mom and her angsty teenage daughter. Along the way, she figures out who her mother is becoming, what her daughter needs from her, and what she wants for herself in the next stage of life.

Grab if you like the above plus….
•Great side characters. George and Miles are perfection! 👏🏻
•Want to know what a “still alive” funeral looks like. I’d love for this to become a trend. 😂
•Like a little sibling banter or silly laugh out loud food fight. 🥕🥬🧀

This came out last week so go grab!

Thank you to Brooke Abrams and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! 🫶🏽

Night of a Thousand Darlas by Brooke Abrams was an absolute blast to read!
A family drama that hooked me immediately and didn’t let go.
A dysfunctional family that grew on me and I loved every minute being with these characters.
I laughed, cried, smiled and smiled some more!

I was a huge fan of Penelope in retrograde and couldn't wait to get started on this one as well.

I loved the characters and the whole family dynamics and just the whole craziness that came with them! Looking forward to more from Brooke Abrams!

Favorite Quotes:

If there’s one common language between high school teacher and student, it’s sarcasm.

Mom places a hand to her forehead and crouches down low like she’s the Golden Girls version of Dora the Explorer.

But being close to Scotty, whether we’re holding hands or cuddled up together on a couch watching a movie, is like being wrapped up in warm sheets fresh from the dryer. I never want the feeling to end.

He leans over my shoulder to look at the tray and makes a face. “I don’t think we can call this cooking. It looks more like foraging. Feral cat foraging in a dumpster, to be exact.”

He doesn’t let go until I do. He never does. There’s something special about people who hug you as long as you need it.


My Review:

I adored this, I enjoy clever snark and this well-crafted tale delivered in spades. The writing was engaging, witty, perceptive, giggle-snort worthy, heart-squeezing, and often all on the same page.

This book was irresistible. How could I not read a book with my name in the title?! That has never happened before and I don't expect it to happen anytime soon.

Darla Day is not at all like me. She grew up in a celebrity home and raised her children on he same ranch not far from the glitz of Hollywood. Darla is a drama queen, former film star, recovering alcoholic, and determined to have a big party to celebrate her life. All the guests are asked to wear a costume that bears tribute to Darla's life in the limelight. It will be the "Night of a Thousand Darlas."

The main character is not Darla, it is her youngest daughter Liza. Liza is a drama teacher at a private school in Colorado and lives there with her sixteen-year-old daughter Avery. Avery's father is Scotty, an action star who started his career in a soap opera opposite Liza -- also starring Darla.

Now you can see where this entertaining read it headed -- straight to soap opera territory. Liza's siblings -- Kat and Miles -- have their own drama to add to the mix. When the whole family (including Scotty), George the caretaker for Darla and the ranch, and Chauncey the OTT event planner are all gathered for the big event.

I enjoyed this read. It is a story of generational reconciliation and new beginnings. Happy Publication Day! Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a heartwarming, cute story. It will make you laugh and will hug you like a wool blanket.

Liza Day is the daughter of a now-almost-forgotten-movie star. She grew up watching her mom's career and tasted it herself having a brief, yet successful episode in acting. Then life happened and she ultimately ended up far from the film industry. When she gets invited to her very much alive mom's funeral, she knows that something is wrong. Uncovering a family's history and untold facts is never easy. Facing a difficult future is frightening. But, it can be much easier when one has a loving family around.
This book touches on some important topics. If you're looking for a book that explores in depth heavy stuff this is the wrong direction. Here the author intends to lift your spirit and give you hope. She does that well.

Three siblings receive a mysterious invitation to to their mother Darla's funeral. Darla is a well known Hollywood actress, and she is very much alive. The book unfolds with the siblings trying to figure out why their mother is doing this, and untangling some complicated family relationships. The portrayal of the dynamics both between the siblings and the siblings and Darla felt very realistic, and the author handled their backstory with just enough information to help the reader understand how their relationships evolved. The book was very readable, and even had a dash of romance thrown in - but that was not the main focus of the story in my opinion.

I found this one to be someday predictable but enjoyable nonetheless. I didn’t find the character development to be as in depth as I had hoped but still, I will be recommending.

I liked this author's last book a lot but this one was slightly not as good for me. DOn't get me wrong -- it was entertaining and a quick read but it was way too much drama. This book definitely had its shining moments but I didn't love the daughter character. Maybe it was an accurate depiction of a sixteen year old but I was sad reading about her. Still, if you love behind the scenes hollywood - this book could be for you! Still, definitely love this author and can't wait for more!

Night of a Thousand Darlas comes out next week on January 21, 2025 and you can purchase HERE.

I shouldn't be in a book club.

Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of a book club. Getting together with a group of friends with a glass of wine and a nice cheese board to discuss a good book sounds like a little slice of heaven on earth. But like most ideas I've tried in an effort to find my thing-that hobby or activity that parents look for when their kids no longer need them to act as a personal chauffeur-joining a book club is proving to be more work than it's worth.

This was a fun story, but also had a lot of heart and growth for our characters. I loved the cast of characters, but found the FMC Liza to be a bit erratic. I’m left with a lot of questions about her background and why she reacts the way she does. Darla was a quirky character who reminded me of Debra Vance from Hacks. The mother/daughter relationships were so relatable, and I loved the way the siblings came together. Also, the late 90s/early 00s references brought on such nostalgia that I felt like I was there with the Day family.

Realistic Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

If this weekend has taught me anything, it’s that predictability doesn’t always equal happiness. Life was never meant to be a sitcom. It’s too big and far too bold for that” - Liza Vance-Day

This book was a heartfelt, funny and comforting novel. It centres around Liza Vance-Day, an English teacher and former actress who is a single mother and the daughter of Darla Day–a famous Hollywood actress from the 1980s. Liza returns to her childhood ranch, Day Ranch with her daughter Avery, baby daddy and first love Scotty and her siblings Kat and Miles to attend a fake funeral for her mother Darla Day.

I didn’t know what to expect when I went into reading this book, but it was just wonderful. It’s a story that shows three generations of women in Hollywood and also has a romance aspect between Liza and Scotty (which I didn’t expect for this book to be a romance once). I love the relationship between Liza and her siblings.

This book reminded me of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo–which is one of my favourite books so that made me love this book even more.

Tropes:
🎞️ Old Hollywood
🎞️ Second Chance Romance
🎞️ Family
🎞️ Dealing with death and addictions

Characters:

Liza is an English teacher and the daughter of Darla Day. She also is the mother of Avery Day-Samson who she co-parents with Scotty Samson–her first (and only) love. Liza is the perfect representation of an adult who is trying to do everything and make everyone happy, while still trying to figure life out.

Darla is Liza, Kat and Miles’ mother who was a huge Hollywood actress in the 1980s. She invites all her kids, friends and family to her fake funeral to give them one, amazing last memory as a family in the Day Ranch. Her relationship with her kids is cute, even though she claims she could have been a better mother, the kids said they would still pick her in every life.

Side characters:
Miles is Liza’s adopted brother who is a few months younger than her and also is her best friend. He is so funny.

Kat is Liza and Miles’ older sister. She is the more put together, adult who is kind of serious, but also knows how to have fun.

Scotty is Liza’s first love and baby daddy. He was Liza’s co-star in a show called <I>Sunset Breeze</I> and that’s where they met. He is such a sweet person and a loving dad to Avery.

Also shout out to George and Avery, they really made this book complete.

Pros:
- Each character made this story complete
- The writing was just beautiful
- I loved the chapters where it goes back to an episode of <I>Sunset Breeze</I>

Cons:
- I do wish this book had different POVs. It just made sense if Kat and Miles specifically had their own chapters. But perhaps, this could give Brooke Abrams an opportunity to create other books with their perspectives.

Overall, a wonderful book and I would definitely read it again.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

・₊✧ Quotes ・₊✧

“Miles places a yellow sticky note on a brass peacock sculpture hanging on the wall. I shoot him a death glare. “What?” He shrugs. I can be concerned and call dibs."
This scene where Miles was choosing what he wants while Liza and Kat were concerned why their mom planned a fake funeral had me laughing. Miles is so unintentionally funny.

I enjoyed this story very much. It’s all about family the good, bad and ugly. The matriarch of the family decides to throw herself a funeral while she is still living. What folliws is how her adult children handle it and find out along the way about themselves and that family is everything. Thank you to Lake Union Publishing.

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for this arc.

I thought I’d be getting a lot of comedy and a little drama – and absolutely there is some of both – but I wasn’t expecting quite as much of the dysfunctional family. There are also lots of serious issues being handled here and a group of imperfect people sometimes muddling through as best they can.

Liza was pushed into growing up too soon for a variety of different reasons and is determined that her own sixteen year old daughter will be able to just be a normal teen. They’ve now officially reached the stage when Avery is trying to separate herself from mom and maybe even try her hand at acting. But first they need to attempt to finally understand each other.

The Day siblings are stunned at what they think is another stunt by their famous mother. What is Darla thinking? Each sibling is having personal issues with Miles’ marriage breaking up and Kat thinking she wants a baby to go with Liza and Avery’s confrontations. What they discover is actually behind the party is another emotional blow they’ll need to come to terms with. When Scotty, Liza’s baby daddy appears, the drama goes into overdrive but maybe they’ll finally get to have the family that Reasons denied them.

Despite Scotty lurking in the background, I’d call this more a women’s fiction book. Everyone makes mistakes, has moments of imperfection that can cause frustration or pain to another. Most of the action centers on (first person POV) Liza and near the end of the story, her daughter Avery says something profound about how Liza always sees everything as it relates and affects her. I wanted more of Darla and that was something that only occurs sporadically and when it does, it’s often how Darla’s actions affect Liza. Of course.

I also wanted a bit more background on why Liza and Scotty’s relationship tanked sixteen years ago. Just the pressures of a new baby on teen parents? Then why does it appear that Scotty is having second thoughts about walking away? The one year epilogue wraps a lot of neat bows for everyone that are perhaps just a bit too neat and easy and not quite explained enough. This is a nice multi-generational drama that I read quickly but which I probably won’t remember much of. B-/C+