You're invited to a funeral!

Liza Day didn't expect to find among her mail an invitation to her mother's funeral, especially since retired Hollywood star Darla Day is very much alive. Yet, the invitation was clear: Darla's family and friends were expected to arrive at the Day Ranch to attend her funeral, preferably dressed in a way that celebrated her career.

Through a series of events that included Liza getting fired from her job as a drama teacher, because her old (sins) work as a teen soap opera star came into the spotlight again, her getting in a row with her daughter Avery, and last but not least, running her daughter’s boyfriend with her car, Liza has nothing else to do but return to the Ranch for the funeral. Along with her ex-husband Scotty, and her siblings, Kat and Myles (each with their own grand emotional baggage), she attempts not only to celebrate her mother's life, but also to get to the bottom of things: why is Darla Day saying goodbye?

This book was WILD. I began it by absolutely laughing my ass off at the whole concept, and at the sketching of the heroes’ stories. Then, after the middle, I was overwhelmed by so many feelings as Darla’s reasoning was revealed. And the ending, don't get me started! It was perfect, not happy in the classic sense, but realistic. Happy in a very true, realistic way.

The whole book touches on so many things: family dynamics, especially as the matriarch used to be a famous star (how does this affect not only the first generation, but the second one as well?), motherhood in several different layers, love and loss and reconciliation, and most of all, memory and its power to transform a life.

All in all, in case I’m not vocal enough about it, I am in love with this story.

I enjoyed the author’s writing style previously ( Penelope in Retrograde) and was tempted by this title.

This is the story of a family, although the narrative focuses on one person within that family. We see the events through her eyes, and as she’s involved with everyone else in the story, it’s ready to get a better and clearer picture.

Liza is working at a school as a drama teacher, although her career path was once very different. We meet her and see her current state of mind before we get to know more about the past and Liza’s own relationship with her mother. There’s flamboyance in the tale, but also a lot of heart. The characters are involved in the glamorous life of movies but their lives were definitely impacted by the negative influences of the same.

If one starts the book without the blurb, it’s turns over the next few chapters after a funeral celebration is arranged for someone who is not yet dead will be as surprising as they were for me.

I would recommend this book to fans of family based drama, especially for a functional family dynamic with some realistic dysfunction thrown in. I would also love to read whatever the author comes up with next.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I enjoyed this book. The main character is Liza, former teen actress and part of the “Hollywood royalty” Day family. She receives an invitation to her mother Darla’s funeral, sent by Darla herself who is very much alive. Liza, along with her siblings Kat and Miles, has to figure out what’s going on with her mother while also balancing her own work drama and relationship with her daughter. This book was funny and entertaining while also dealing with more serious family and relationship issues. I think some aspects felt a little rushed and could have been better developed (for example, Liza’s work situation and her relationship with Scotty) but overall this was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers copy of Night of a Thousand Darlas by Brooke Abrams!

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.