I loved this book so much that I didn't want it to end! From the dynamic characters to the 'oh my!' moments, it had me well and truly hooked. It's so refreshing to read a book about women where having children isn't the only possible goal - each of the three women had something unique to bring to the story and I found myself identifying with each of them at different points.

I was blown away by the smoothness and beauty of the writing, the ability to get into the mindset of each character with every paragraph. Wonderfully insightful, Wood is able to portray three unique inner voices with wit, humour and depth. Almost unbearably honest, she is able to wade through the scathing put-downs and irritation right through to the threads of love and a life lived side by side. I hope that when I am in my 70s I have such strong, worthy and courageous friends.

2.5 rounded up

The Weekend tells the story of three very different friends, all in their 60s and 70s, who come together in the wake of one of their close friend's death. They journey to her beach house for Christmas Day, ostensibly to go through her belongings and sort things out at the property, but through the trip they all begin to re-examine their own lives after losing the member of the friendship group who seemingly brought them all together, and who's death has caused a shift in the dynamics of their group. As mentioned, the characters are all quite different and distinct personalities, and as they story progresses they begin to get on each other's nerves, with their clashing bringing about the main plot points of the novel.

I found the story to be a pleasant - if languid (and at times verging on trite) - examination of friendship and the changes that occur in later life, but I'm afraid it is not a novel which will likely linger long in my mind in months to come.

A story about three female lifelong friends who come together to clear the house of the fourth member of the group. Sylvie, who appeared to be the linchpin. They start to question why there were ever friends: "... the current has slowly subsided. And they were left drifting. Adele and Wendy and Julie did not fit properly anymore, without Sylvie."
The writing is beautifully descriptive, symbolising much throughout - old age, anger, their bodies. The women have widely diverse characters all with complications in their lives. There is at times cruel humour in the different POVs: "They were all too fat anyway, especially Wendy" (Jude) and, "there was something of the undertaker about Jude. She radiated a kind of grim satisfaction when things went wrong for other people." (Wendy).
I felt a connection to their situations and the difficulties of being an older women in modern society - not as outwardly beautiful as they once were, financial insecurity, patronised and mocked at by younger more successful people, men.
However, the tenderness between the women prevailed and they were aware of each others vulnerabilities:- Adele's "leisurely inspection of the other women's toiletry bags...There were no secrets about the body at this age ... it made it is easier to be kind"; Wendy's feelings towards and protection of her ageing dog; their horror at seeing each other at the wrong end of this mockery, their concern for each others welfare and finally realising that deep down they do still have love for each other and the beauty they hold inside.

This is a wonderful novel about (female) friendship between three (sometimes four) women in their seventies. I thought this was a really interesting portrayal of how one friend can be the "glue" in a group of friends and how much the dynamic can change in the group with the loss of that one person.

Another element I greatly enjoyed was the commentary around people's expectations of seventy year olds and seventy+ year old women especially. Wood's writing really paid tribute to the subtle, as well as not so subtle, differences between people and breaks down the assumptions people can make about others.

I advise going in to this with little more than the blurb and just sitting down with a warm drink and enjoying this glorious storytelling.

This was a beautifully written piece of fiction. I really enjoyed learning about these characters, their secrets, and pasts, their friendships.

It's definitely a very good book for literary fiction lovers.

Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

Three friends in their 70s meet to clear out the beach house belonging to the fourth member of their group who has died.
I loved the way they thought about what it’s like to be getting older and not the people they used to be. Each so different from the other two yet they had remained friends for 30 years.
I was so enthralled with the descriptions I didn’t even wonder where the storyline was going.

Full disclosure, I have never previously read a novel by this author, so I entered this book with no frame of reference for her previous works, which I've seen described as serious and heavy. The Weekend has been pitched by many author and media endorsements as "funny" and reminiscent of Big Little Lies, so I began reading expecting something sharp, fast-paced and witty.

Whilst I wouldn't call this book funny in any way, it is a gorgeous read. A slow-burning, poignant reflection on lifelong friendships, our attitudes toward ageing and our bodies, and of course, death. Details of the character's lives are carefully revealed and you feel what appears to be a very long weekend cleaning out a dead friend's house slowly building toward a crashing revelation.

It wasn't what I expected, but it's a beautiful piece of literature. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Possibly not the right fit for me.
I can see why people would enjoy this book, the characters, all ladies of a certain age, were interesting and their friendship, or possible lack of friendship after the death of one of their group was warming and honest. I however struggled to relate to the characters and therefore found myself not caring enough about them. The book is however beautifully written, the descriptions of the places - especially the house really drew me in. I could even picture something as simple as the broken down car on the motorway as if I was there. The sign of a great storyteller.
I’m sure in the right hands this book would be a huge success, it just wasn’t quite my cup of tea

I spent my weekend reading ‘The Weekend’, by Charlotte Wood but unfortunately it felt like a chore. Not yet released in the UK, it follows three women in their 70s who spend Christmas clearing out their dead friend’s beach house. The book was far too bleak for me and I disliked every character.
It made old age seem so depressing and I couldn’t quite work our why these women bothered to stay in touch with each other. Let’s hope my next read is better!

Such a lovely heart warming book. I loved it. It was funny and sad at times and just shows female relationships perfect. Love it xx

Sylvie, Jude, Adele and Wendy have been friends their whole adult lives. Now in their seventies, we meet Jude, Adele, Wendy and Finn (Wendy’s frail elderly dog) for a Christmas weekend when they meet to sort out at Sylvie’s beach house after her death. Charlotte Wood reveals the characters’ stories through their own eyes and that of each other, at times leading the reader to wonder why their friendship has endured. Characters that at first appear to be confident and assured have their vulnerabilities exposed whilst conversely characters that initially attract the reader’s sympathy gain their understanding and respect. This is an insightful read about loss; of friends, partners and youth, showing older women as tender, creative and productive.

It's not often that you read a novel where the four lead characters are in their 70s, as is the case here. Jude, Wendy, Adele and Sylvie have been friends for over 40 years and in The Weekend, we meet them as they come together after Sylvie's death. Sylvie may not be there in person, but she is as much a part of this story as her three friends.

Jude, Adele, Wendy and her ancient dog Finn (an equally important character in the story) spend Christmas weekend in the fictional New South Wales coastal town of Bittoes, clearing out Sylvie's house so that it can be sold. However, each woman is carrying a set of resentments that, it turns out, Sylvie was keeping in check. So without her there, tensions start to bubble...

The distinct inner monologues of each character were brilliantly and seamlessly woven throughout the chapters. The flow was so engrossing that I felt like a fly-on-the-wall in that Bittoes home.

We learn the back story of each woman: Effervescent Adele is a struggling actress, ('Artistic poverty was romantic when you were thirty. It was after fifty that people began despising you for it.') Straight-laced Jude is in the restaurant business and in the midst of a life-long affair and scholar Wendy is devoted to Finn - perhaps to the detriment of other people in her life. They are all so interesting and intricately crafted, which made their interactions so fascinating.

I found The Weekend to be a truly captivating story of friendship, home truths, reflection and the reality of getting older. Themes I haven't read about a lot, so I enjoyed this immensely.

This is my first book by Australian author Charlotte Wood and I'm excited to read more of her work. I love discovering a new novelist with such a clear, insightful voice. The way she brought her characters to life meant that weeks later I still find them popping into my mind.

The Weekend is sweeping and enduring saga which spans decades old friendships. The characters are so real and vivid they feel like they are your friends to. It's a novel that leaves you feeling quite at a loss when you finish it as you become so attached to the characters and their lives.

Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#TheWeekend #NetGalley

'The Weekend' is one of those books that haunt your consciousness long after the last page has been turned. Indeed, there is a beauty and honesty to Wood's writing that is unparalleled in the way it seers itself onto one's memory Unflinching, unerring, with a perceptive eye for the complexity of the human condition, Wood's acuity for the internal logic of her characters actions are unparalleled on the literary scene today. The women we encounter in this book - fully formed from the author's imagination, seem to defy their fictional existence, such is their realism. I felt I could almost touch Sylvie, Jude, Wendy and Adele and the shifting sands of their lifelong friendship. But this is no cosy read. At times uncomfortable, but always honest, Wood's beautifully composed narrative jarred, not incongruously, with the raw themes of the book. An oxymoron? Far from it. 'The Weekend' is a stunning, unforgettable tale of the human condition laid bare, and I loved every poetic phrase in this accomplished tale of the complexities and contradictions of female friendship.

A highly recommended 5 star read.

I didn't want to leave the characters behind in this one; i enjoyed their company so much! This is a brilliant, mutli-layered look at decades-old friendship between a group of women who are all still hiding parts of themselves from each other. The setting on a shabby chic stretch of the Australian coast was perfect and I felt as if I was in the rickety weather-worn house with them all, and the most loveable and empathetic old dog who belongs to one of the women, much to the disdain of another. It cleverly blended an introspective drama with a seductive pace to the plot that made me want to read on and on. Beautiful escapism.

This is a book that I think is going to resonate with some and really sadden others. I was in the latter camp I'm afraid. When old people talk about death and go to rake over their own lives and reveal secrets along the way, I am interested if the timing is right. During lockdown this wasn't the right time. My fault entirely but it's very inward looking and full of regrets and deception which didn't hit the spot for me, but that's not to say it's not a good book. Just not for me.

#TheWeekend #NetGalley
A sexy story of lies and deception. Go for it. A good read.
It was more like a novella, I finished it in only 4 hours.
Sylvie, Jude, Wendy and Adele have a lifelong friendship of the best kind: loving, practical, frank and steadfast. But when Sylvie dies, the ground shifts dangerously for the remaining three.These women couldn't be more different: Jude, a once-famous restaurateur with a spotless life and a long-standing affair with a married man; Wendy, an acclaimed feminist intellectual; Adele, a former star of the stage, now practically homeless.
This is a brilliant story who teaches us that there's no limit of deception.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for giving me an advanced copy.