I am rating this book more as 2.5 stars.

I recognize that I am a very harsh reviewer, it takes a lot for me to even give something 4 stars, so take that information as you will.

This book was OK, the writing wasn’t awful, but the editing was. I realize this was an ARC, so I hope this criticism is helpful. I even took into a account that a some of the words were written in British English and not American, but there were still too many mistakes, especially in the beginning chapters where I think it matters most to keep the readers’ attention. The tense changed a few times as well.

I definitely like the premise of this novel quite a bit, the synopsis intrigued me. However, the story did not live up to the synopsis. I was expecting something creepy, more of a thriller vibe. This story was a family drama honestly. It was like a Lisa Jewell novel, but with less thrills and intrigue.

I will never understand how you could marry someone that never spoke to you about their past lives and family, so that was unrealistic. The central relationship between Stig and Lily was in such shambles that it made me uncomfortable. The reason why they were so strained was understandable, but the extremes of their discontent was not. Like, why not talk it out? Why are you both so miserable lol, just break up!!

Anyway, this book frustrated me a bit, and it was forgettable, unfortunately. It also had a super abrupt ending. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Fantastic fast paced thriller that keeps you totally into the book and the characters, some likeable some not so much but that makes for great reading.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.

Really intriguing premise and I loved the author's writing style. However, the main character was very unlikeable (actually all of the characters were). She made irrational decisions and refused to actually talk to her husband about anything. It really kept me from enjoying the book because she was so ridiculous. The plot started off interesting but it just didn't hold my attention and the ending was pretty predictable and unsatisfying.

Finished this in one sitting!! This book is fast-paced, addictive and perfectly written. Great for fans of Freida McFadden! Would recommend

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

Lily is married to Stig. He’s secretive of his past and Lily is uncomfortable. When they go to a fancy restaurant for their anniversary it starts a chain of events that will change their lives.

This starts slow. I couldn’t see where the author was going. Then suddenly, event after event, reveal after real! I enjoyed the flash back chapters that really explained things. The final big conclusion however felt a bit disappointing for me.

One to add to the to be read list!

I really enjoyed this book. I love the character Lily and her overwhelming positivity. I feel like it’s needed in real life. I hate how Stig lied to her but I’m glad in the end they worked it out and he told the truth. I really like how in the beginning of the book it was all from Lily’s perspective and then near the end it switched over to flashbacks of Stigs. I honestly thought that Hector would have a redemption arc but nope, he was just a bad guy and wanted to be. Really good book, really good writing, great ending.

Ms. Manning starts the story with Lily & Stig celebrating their anniversary. Their marriage has not been the best. Stig wants a child, but Lily doesn't want to commit to starting a family when there are so many secrets Stig has kept from her. She knows nothing about his past. Lily decides to surprise Stig with dinner at a famous restaurant owned by a celebrity chef Hector Bolson-Woods. She expects Stig to be thrilled, however he's not. And when Chef Hector invites them for a private dinner, Lily cannot contain her excitement. The story progresses with Hector introducing them to his friends and Lily feels special that he has invited her and Stig into his circle. Stig becomes very agitated over all of it.

The book kept my interest, however there was alot of repetition on what Stig was hiding and why was Hector so interested in Lily. As you continue the book, many questions are answered. The ending does offer surprises, but some are predictable. I still would recommend this book. I read it in a few hours. It's a quick easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for providing me with an ARC for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book as it was suspenseful and I was riveted until the end! It begins with Lily and husband Stig having dinner at an exclusive restaurant with chef Hector who later invites them to dine at his house. It then vacillates in time as we witness Hector at boarding school where he was a bully and frightened every kid there. It's such a wonderfully convoluted novel that kept me reading to make all the connections. It's one of those that I will think about and recommend to friends!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Thriller readers keep your eyes open for your next great book. The Dinner Party by Nina Manning is coming soon. It’s a good one!

3.5/5 ⭐'s
A decent read, captivating from the beginning, and held my attention throughout. Not so much a thriller in my opinion, but the mystery of the characters history and how they are all intertwined had me eagerly buzzing through this book. The ending took some random turns and then abruptly ended, leaving a bit to be desired.

To celebrate a milestone in their troubled marriage, Lily snags a reservation at the exclusive restaurant of one of their favorite chefs, Hector. Her excitement grows as they are invited to dine in the kitchen with front row access to Hector.

This was a super quick read and was action packed from the beginning. The author does a great job of creating an eerie feeling throughout with interactions that are just slightly off.

I didn't love the ending. There were a couple loose ends that I would have liked some additional closure on, particularly how Stig reacted to the various revelations, as there were chapters from his POV throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley & Boldwood books for the ARC.

A domestic drama which i became a bit irritated with.
The husband wouldn't open up to his wife, the wife didn't help to get them out of there financial difficulties and what with all the other creepy characters i was glad to get to the end!
Hate leaving these sort of reviews but this was not my cup of tea.

Initially, the book captured my interest with its exciting premise, but as I progressed, it began to lose its momentum and became somewhat tedious. Nevertheless, I am pleased that I persevered, as the conclusion was quite satisfying. The characters were adequately developed, though they did not reach the depth I typically expect. While the plot and concept were promising, I believe there is room for further development and refinement to enhance the overall narrative. In summary, this book falls into the category of a decent read—neither exceptional nor disappointing.

This was my first experience with the authors writing. So i went in not knowing what to expect. Her style of writing will have you gripped from start to finish. in saying that i wasnt a fan of some of her Characters. Lily Leonard came across as very Naive and i found it annoying. However the author kept me guessing what would happen throughout the book. It is that that kept me going in the end. I will be honest and say i am unsure about reading other work from the author. I hope other works from her match her gripping style of writing with more likeable characters . 3 and a half stars for me. thanks to the publisher for offering the ebook on Netgalley .

The captivating cover and intriguing synopsis of this book drew my attention. It kept me invested, eager to uncover the characters’ hidden secrets. However, I found the characters to be unlikable and the ending felt rushed.

This one just didn’t work for me. The premise and cover initially caught my interest, but I struggled to connect with the characters, who were mostly unlikable. Stig's constant refusal to be upfront with his wife was frustrating — it felt like she was always left to piece things together on her own. Unfortunately, I found myself not really caring about the unfolding plot, which made it difficult to stay invested.

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and Boldwood books for approving my request to read this book.

I enjoyed this book but did find the ending was a bit rushed. However I did like the plot and the characters intrigued me from the start. I found myself wanting to keep reading to see how the story unravelled which is always a sign of a good read.

Overall I found The Dinner Party a quick, easy read and would recommend if you enjoy psychological thrillers.

To celebrate their wedding aniversay, Lily Leonard books a table at the exclusive restaurant of Hector Bolson-Woods renowned celebrity chef. It should be the perfect evening for Lily and husband, Stig, but not even a perfect menu can heal the cracks in their marriage. So when Hector invites them to dine with him privately, Lily is thrilled. Surely this will please Stig? Hector is charming and attentive everything Stig is not and she finds herself more and more drawn to the enigmatic Hector! Good book! This book had suspense, murder, past dark secrets, kidnapping, revenge, mystery, and a few shocking twists! The story was interesting! It wasn’t one of my top favorites but still a good read! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Nina Manning’s The Dinner Party delivers an intriguing premise with a mix of psychological tension and marital drama, but it doesn’t fully reach its potential.

Lily Leonard hopes an evening at a high-end restaurant will help rekindle her struggling marriage, but when celebrity chef Hector Bolson-Woods extends a personal invitation, the night takes an unexpected turn. While Lily is drawn to Hector’s charm, her husband Stig is unsettled—his reaction sparking suspicions that he’s hiding something. When a second, more ominous invitation arrives, Lily realizes she’s caught in something far more dangerous than she imagined.

The novel shines in its atmospheric setup, with the exclusive dining world adding an intriguing layer of luxury and unease. Manning keeps the pacing steady, gradually revealing secrets that complicate Lily’s perception of both her marriage and her enigmatic host. However, while the tension builds effectively, some plot twists feel predictable, and Lily’s choices can be frustrating at times. The psychological suspense elements are engaging, but they don’t always pack the punch needed to make this a standout thriller.

Overall, The Dinner Party is an entertaining read with some compelling moments, though it may not leave a lasting impact. Fans of domestic thrillers will enjoy the unraveling secrets, but the execution doesn’t quite match the strength of its premise.

Lili and stig are celebrating their 5th anniversary with a surprise dinner out for stig at a famous chefs restaurant. Stig acts strangely all night and has a weird hatred for chef Hector.

Lili is busy working at a non-profit charity and keeping a secret from stig by taking birth control pills behind stigs back.

Lots of mysterious circumstances that are slowly explained about stig and Hector childhood. Lili not knowing if she can trust Hector and his job offer.

I found it irritating that stig would never reveal things to his wife and she had to discover them on her own. A number of unlikable characters but a satisfying ending