Such an interesting character based novel about a dysfunctional Irish family.

The story follows Kate Gleeson and her family who meet up each year for the anniversary of her dead twin sister Elaine. It take places in both the past and the present and tells the tale of their life and their family dynamics.

Kate’s brothers are kind and understanding and most of the family get on but they have a very domineering mother who is always vying for attention and is very angry.

Kate is a soft and gentle character who struggles with an eating disorder and really misses her sister and throughout the story we see her fall apart and begin to self destruct. And boy do we feel the emotions!

Sarah Gilmartin not only writes so well but has a brilliant understanding of people and their emotions.

A well written debut by a very talented writer.

Thanks to the author @tarammcevoy @pushkin_press for my gifted copy and spot on the book tour.

Kate Gleeson spent most of the day preparing for that evening’s dinner party which was being held to remember her twin Elaine’s passing all those years ago. She was spending it with her brothers Peter and Raymond plus his wife, Liz. It was a tradition they did every year, sometimes at Carnavon with mammy just not this year. She had even made Baked Alaska for dessert in advance and was really proud of it but unfortunately the night turned sour so she tipped the dessert into the bin and the others soon left.

Kate struggled through college after moving into her own room in halls in her third year. She was cutting meals and telling others she had already eaten whilst according to one girl making them feel uncomfortable eating in front of her. That night Kate seriously drunk in her room but she had hurt her hip the night before, had gotten in touch with Peter then didn’t answer anymore of his calls. Then Peter had shown up at the halls the next morning to check on her with Ray.

Finally Kate moved to Dublin. She was having an affair with a married man and she used to eagerly wait to hear from him, even more so to see him although sometimes it would be a month between catch ups. The next anniversary was held at Carnavon with Peter doing the cooking. Kate picked up Ray from work but was held up by the traffic, they rang to say they were going to be late and were so relieved when it was Peter that answered the phone and not mammy. That night mammy revealed the secrets that she knew whilst at the dinner table.

In this book we follow the life of the Gleesons, mainly Kate, between 1990 to the current day. It covers mammy and their relationship with her. This isn’t my usual type of book but it was an ok read. Kate was the main focus of the book and it had one or two good points to come out of it. Mainly family sticking together and always being there for each other till the end.

Thank you to Tara at Pushkin Press for my invitation to the tour and for my copy of the book in return for a fair and honest review.

Kate has invited her brothers and partner around for a dinner party for family on Halloween, we know from the outset that she is anxious about it and the writing really encapsulates this. From her journey on the bus to their arrival the descriptive prose enables the reader to be almost there with her. Kate has the dinner party in remembrance of their sister Elaine who passed away many years before. Her brothers seem to be worried about her and she has recently spilt up with her lover who was married.

There is a tension and it is not clear what that tension is to start with, but their Mammy seems to be at the centre of it. Food is also very much the essence of the book and as it progresses it becomes clearer why, Kate has had an eating disorder and her brothers are anxious that she will relapse. As they leave that night , Ray gives her a gift and this is when we turn back to the 1990’s and find out more about Kate and her dysfunctional family.

We meet Kate’s mother Bernadette and she is really horrible, nasty, and obsessive about her weight, social climbing and she compares Elaine and Kate which is not to Kate’s benefit and I really understood how Kate feels the way that she does now. I liked the book, it was a slower pace than I usually read but I liked the intricate detail of the families relationships and really liked savouring the words. I really enjoyed the sections in the book in the 1990’s a house full of differing personalities and aspirations.

It is a story of growing up, loss and family, it is really emotional and at points difficult to read but sensitively done so.

4 stars ****

Possibly being mismarketed as a “dark and twisty tragedy”, Gilmartin’s debut novel follows the events in Kate’s life, reflecting on the challenges of modern life, familial relationships and coping with loss and an abusive mother.

I enjoyed the Irish setting, split between Dublin and Carlow, however the story didn’t quite resonate with me. While undoubtedly well written, I feel it lacks some grit and overly relies on some trite clichés, falling well short of its potential. 6/10

This is very much a family drama. It starts with the eponymous dinner party which is held annually on the anniversary of the death of Elaine who is the (non identical ) twin of Kate , whose story we follow. What is different is that Mammy isn't there.

We then move around to learn the back story of what happened to Elaine (we are kept guessing for a major portion of the book), what has happened to Kate at University and in her adult life. It ends with another dinner party (with Mammy present) and what happens then.

Weaving back and forward in time helps us to understand why Kate struggles with life, the roots of these difficulties not only being around Elaine's death but earlier too. We also see how each sibling tried to establish an identity as an adult but really these stories are "side roads" from the main narrative.

The family dynamics seem to be what interests the author. In this it reminded me of Anne Enright that other skilful Irish author who is good at the incisive observation of how families operate.

Insightful and psychologically convincing.

This is one weird and strange and fascinating book. I wasn’t that keen on most of the characters and found some to be quite awful but there was also something compelling about them too. Definitely an intriguing book.

This was not what I was expecting, or hoping for.
I was unprepared for the trigger warning, and while I have never needed a warning before, I definitely could have been here, after having a close family member suffer with an eating disorder.
The plot didn't distract me either, it was fairly flat and while the character relationships were interesting, I didn't care for them. Character driven books are not always my cup of tea, and I expected more of a thriller than what was delivered.

A really well-written, finely crafted piece of literary fiction about a dysfunctional family across a generation. I loved the portrayal of enduring familial love alongside and despite highly problematic characteristics and traumatic events. As someone in recovery from anorexia, I usually avoid books that include characters with eating disorders because they are usually incredibly triggering and/or stereotypical and cliched. I thought the issue was dealt with very well in this book, however. The descriptions were realistic without being unnecessarily detailed (and therefore triggering) and I found some of the character’s thoughts regarding her ED insightful. At times, the character of Kate voiced feelings and thoughts that I’ve never found the words to voice in over a decade of illness. Thank you to the author for handling the topic masterfully and sensitively.

I hadn’t heard of this author before. Excellent read. Great story of twins and their lives and their families.

Going into this book I expected a thriller which isnt what I got so I thought straight off it would be disappointing, however i stuck with it and it turned out to be a good read. Well written with good characters and a good story, i enjoyed it.

It is the 16th anniversary of her twin sisters death, and Kate has organised a dinner party to mark the occasion. She has planned it to a meticulous degree, carefully choosing each course and trying to ensure it’s perfect, but will they even make it to dessert - a perfect baked Alaska?

Dinner Party examines the innermost workings of a family, and the impact that grief can have upon them. It also examines the complex mother/ daughter relationship, and how the impact of that can echo through the years regardless how much people choose to distance themselves from that relationship.

I did enjoy this book, but it’s a dark read. I think it deals well with the emotional aspects of death and how it can impact a family, flashing backwards and forwards through the years to show the changes that are wrought upon the family as a result of what happens. But for me, I almost felt like they skirted around the death of the sister - it’s alluded to throughout the book, but it’s not until quite late on we find out what actually happened. There’s also a lot of reference to Kate’s mother and things which have happened in the past, and I feel that this part of the story could have been fleshed out a bit more, as it is obvious that the mothers influence has had such a significant impact of each of her children’s lives.

A well written book with dark themes, this is worth a read.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"But there were secrets in the centre of secrets that were still trying to come out."

I started this book expecting a thriller and instead found myself reading an Irish family saga that follows a dysfunctional family from the nineties to the present day. It started strong, opening with protagonist Kate welcoming her family over for dinner to mark the sixteenth anniversary of the death of her twin sister, Elaine. I loved their banter and the vivid descriptions that made me feel as if I could even smell the food cooking. The story then jumps back to August 1999 as we follow Kate and her family through pivotal moments that shape their lives.

The inner demons and struggles of each of the Gleeson family are addressed in this exploration of fractured family relationships, and the effects of trauma and loss. It is written with both sensitivity and compassion, though it feels a little slow at times. The matriarch of the family, Bernadette, is an overbearing, volatile woman whose behaviour clearly traumatises her children and looms large over every aspect of their lives, even when physically absent. There were many times I wanted to slap her for things she said or did and I was willing them to stand up to her. Elaine also casts a shadow over every page, but in a very different way. She is either the vivacious, outgoing twin who Kate adores, or makes the atmosphere feel heavy with the loss of her; a spark of light that was extinguished far too soon.

If you like family drama and literary fiction, then you will enjoy this intriguing debut.

Well this was just a brilliant debut which I found really compelling. The Dinner Party of the title felt cringeworthy and disastrous, the wrong thing said, the deeper meanings of off-hand remarks and the triggers for old arguments to rise. Yet, it set the scene for us to follow Kate, her family and relationships.
It was so well observed and written, it is about coming-of-age, family secrets and tragedy. As we learn of Kate’s struggles and inner turmoil, the complications of sibling relationships, especially those with her twin sister make us see how the past has shaped Kate’s future and her choices. I found it just so sad and difficult to read in places but at the same time it is sharp and insightful.
This is a fabulous literary debut, compelling very emotive and page- turning.

Dinner Party is not the thriller I thought I was picking up but instead is a beautifully written character-driven novel. I wasn’t entirely sure about it when I started reading it, perhaps because it wasn’t what I expected, but as I got to know the characters I found myself increasingly drawn into this slow burn of a family saga, heartwrenching at times, that tackled difficult issues with sensitivity.

The book opens with the eponymous dinner party thrown by Kate for her family on the anniversary of her sister’s death and it is clear from the outset that there are considerable tensions within the family that are simmering below the surface and threatening to explode. The book then goes back and forth in time, initially to 20 years previously, as we learn all that the family has had to endure over that period and the impact it has had on them all. It’s a book about family dynamics with all its complications, and we get to know all the characters and how it has affected all of them differently, changing relationships within the family as a result. It is clear from the outset that Kate is a complex character and we see how much she has been impacted by the events of her childhood, with devastating effects on her mental health.

It is at times not an easy read and Gilmartin is not afraid to tackle some difficult issues around mental health and eating disorders – for that reason it may not be for everyone but she handles them in a manner which I found poignant and thought-provoking and ultimately a compelling read.

The main character, Kate, tries to meet with her family every year on Halloween to mourn the death of her twin sister, Elaine.
The book starts with Kate hosting a dinner party for the above but her over-bearing mother is absent. However, her presence is in all that unfolds.
The family is tight knit but gradually unravels as secrets are revealed. Kate’s anorexia is a major one - this is well explored but may trigger some readers.
All have their hidden demons & Gilmartin’s words unearth them; uncoiling their uniquely powerful tales. Spreading across various timelines, a classic tragedy pulling at all your emotions, this is a very thought provoking book.
Intelligently written & recommended.

Sarah Gilmartin is an Irish journalist and critic who has gone from reviewing debut fiction, to writing her own, with the publication of her debut novel Dinner Party: A Tragedy, which is winning praise from writers such as Anne Enright and John Boyne.

Gilmartin’s book is indeed a tragedy, exploring the emotional fallout on Kate Gleeson and the rest of her family after Kate’s twin sister Elaine is killed. Stretching from the 1990s to the present day, from rural Ireland to Dublin, it is an exploration of decades-long grief and how things unsaid and unresolved can ravage a family. Kate has struggled to cope throughout the sixteen years since her twin’s death, but as she hosts an anniversary dinner party with her brothers, things will come to a head and Kate will come to recognise the importance of family, the need to return home and the need to move on from the past as her life spins out of control.

The novel moves back and forward in time to different important points in Kate’s life and many of the key scenes take place around a meal, which highlights Kate’s struggle with anorexia. Food, like family, is one of our primal needs, but it can be as dangerous as it can be nourishing. The dysfunctional family is a regular trope in Irish fiction and I quite enjoyed this exploration of grief and loss, although my expectation that the whole book was set over one dinner party may have coloured my reaction to it. Kate’s eating disorder is explored thoughtfully but I didn’t feel any of the characters really came to life enough for me to fully recommend it.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this in advance of publication.
The Dinner Party focuses on food and the role it plays in our lives, binding us to others and being part of celebrations as well as something that can be used to cause pain. Our main character is a young woman who it becomes clear has an eating disorder and who is struggling to cope with the death of her twin. Kate is a difficult character to engage with. There’s a veneer of hardness to her, and it always feels rather as if she’s keeping others at a distance in order to manage her emotions. We learn little about her and I’m sure this is deliberate, but it meant I found my attention wandering rather.
The story was written in a way that I could recognise as having quality, but - honestly - my overwhelming feeling as I read was of anticipation, waiting for something to happen to suggests purpose to the events described. Nothing did.
As the focus shifts in time and we see fragments of Kate’s interactions over time it always felt as if something was being held back. While her brothers were sympathetically portrayed they were weak in the face of their manipulative mother. This was not a family that I warmed to and it was frustrating that so much of my attention during reading was trying to establish what, if anything, might happen.

I found this book to be rather dull and uninteresting. Sections of the story seemed to drag and the again there were some elements I would have enjoyed finding out more. Overall a quite complicated and confusing family drama that didn’t do it for me.

Kate plans a straightforward yet flawless dinner party with her close family to mark the anniversary of her sister's death. However, this simple meal sets off a sequence of events which have dire consequences.

Unexpected and effective, Dinner Party is a story about family and grief and the great lengths a person would go to when they want to give the impression that they are ok when they are clearly not ok. It is a kind of morbid curiosity, like watching a car crash in slow motion - you don't want the picture to get any clearer because you know what's coming, and yet you can't look away. The dawning realisation that something was very wrong was hinted at gradually throughout the story until towards the end it just punches you in the face!

Even though Kate is the main protagonist who is dealing with a lot of major issues, it was actually her brother Peter who I felt the most sorry for. He gave up every chance of having a happy life to step up and take on the responsibility for their mother and the family farm.

The title and strap-line 'Dinner Party, A Tragedy' sums up the book perfectly. The things that Kate and her family went through were horrific but it was beautifully written, the story both complex and authentic. I thought that there might be more of a thriller element to the story, but what it turned out to be was a very unique, dark and moving portrayal of grief.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for a review copy of this book.

Synopsis:
To mark the anniversary of a death in the family, she plans a dinner party – from the fancy table settings to the perfect Baked Alaska waiting in the freezer. Yet by the end of the night, old tensions have flared, the guests have fled, and Kate is spinning out of control.

Review:
This book is a deep dive into the longevity and SOMETHING of grief.
The spider's web of stories and memories from Kate, spanning some 20 years are woven together in such a way that, even without much happening, you feel the complicated relationships within her family dynamic both pre and post the loss.

My favourite parts of the book were when the family members would sit to eat around a table together, and a lot of the scenes take place in this way. We can feel tensions, and 'keeping up appearances' throughout these moments, which I loved. I only wish that the whole book took place over meal times.

This book hurts to read, and there are plenty of trigger warnings ( death of a parent, death of a sibling, drug use, alcohol use, self harm, eating disorders, depression, cheating )

I gave this a 3.5 stars - and I am looking out for more from this author.