Thank you to the author, Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows six friends (three married couples), who celebrate each of their individual birthdays in the same way every year. On the one hand, a lovely tradition, and on the other hand this could become a bit of a rut. The book starts with one of the six feeling the effects of such a rut, and the upheaval that happens in all of their lives as a result. Relationships can look and feel so different depending on whether you're on the inside looking out, or on the outside looking in - and what happens when you value appearance over substance... The multiple plot lines are well-done, and kept me engaged and wanting to find out what happened.

Reservations for Six is a propulsive page-turner about three couples who have been getting together for each of their birthdays at the same restaurant for a decade. They order the same food, imbibe on wine, and catch up. Sounds like a nice tradition, right? But on Nathan’s fortieth birthday, the celebration is marred by his shocking announcement.

As a woman who has been married for a few…ahem…okay, many years, I am always drawn to books about married couples. I’m intrigued by the dynamics, their highs and lows, and the struggles that they all inevitably face. Lindsey Palmer made me feel as though I were right there with the characters, experiencing everything with them.

Nathan’s declaration was a catalyst for the other couples to re-examine their own relationships. To an outsider looking in, each of the couples would have seemed to have pretty solid, normal relationships, but things aren’t always what they appear to be. The three couples were each going through their own issues, but I was fully invested in each of them. From dwindling passion, infertility, miscommunication (or lack thereof), and a midlife crisis in which the grass looked greener on the other side, each couple was grappling with their marriages, their expectations, and what it would take to satisfy them and make them happy.

This novel is told from the various characters’ perspectives. Oh, this worked so well for this book. I would just want to read one more chapter, but then I would have to know what was going on with the other characters, and several chapters later I would reluctantly shut off my Kindle for some much-needed sleep.

Reservations for Six was an intriguing read. It dealt with the evolution of relationships: marital, friendship, and even parental. While I may not have liked all of the characters, I can honestly say that I enjoyed every minute that I spent immersed in their lives.

I am looking forward to reading more books by Lindsey Palmer in the near future.

*4.5 Stars

Thank you to Netgalley for my advanced copy.

My first Lindsey J Palmer book. Six friends, three couples meet for dinner regularly when one night, Nathan drops a bombshell on the rest of the group. The story unfolds over the course of a year and offers an interesting insight into marriages and what we could all potentially experience.
The story is immersive and the characters are well written, even if I didn't like some of them!

Really enjoyed this. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book and how it was told from each friend's perspective giving it more texture
I also loved the writing. This is my first read by the author and safe to say she has a fan in me as i plan on reading more of her work.
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for their next read

Thank you @netgalley for an advanced reading copy of Reservations for six by Lindsey Palmer
This was a compelling read of 6 friends, 3 couples who over a decade have had a tradition of celebrating each of their birthdays at their favourite Italian restaurant. The book opens up with Nathan making an explosive announcement at his 40th birthday that he wants a divorce and his wife did not see it coming! What follows this is a detailed look at each of the six character's lives and their marriages. This book is about marriage, divorce, family, careers, infertility, infidelity and parenthood. The story is fast paced and told from multiple viewpoints. It is a story of how these characters deal with their various mid-life issues, trying to work at their relationships whilst also trying to find a way to be true to themselves. The characters are vivid and relatable and I was invested in each of their story lines. It is one of those books I took a few pages to get into but then was very engaged and and left me thinking about the characters once I finished the book. A very enjoyable read!

This book tells the story of a year in a life of six friends. It starts off with some explosive news that shakes up the group, and from there each person experiences quite uneventful few months. Each character was developed so beautifully and I found myself appreciating them as though they were real people, flaws and all.

I especially loved the way the author tackled some sensitive topics, like marriage and having children, and portrayed multiple viewpoints — and while some perspectives may not be the way I personally feel, I was so impressed with how empathetic I felt toward each of the characters. Also without realizing it I fell in love with each of them, and found myself being disappointed in some of their actions but still rooting for them overall. That to me is the mark of a great character and a great author.

Maybe it’s unrealistic for all of this to happen to such a close group of friends in just a year. There is nothing truly groundbreaking about the novel — but I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it poignant and meaningful, and I would highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book and exchange for my honest review.

I thought this was an okay read, but it didn't really grab me .Not my usual type of book, but I do like to switch genres, so probably my fault for choosing it .I hope other readers enjoy it more.

3 couples, 6 best friends, Giorgios. It’s how they celebrate birthdays. Always at Giorgios and always together. This year however, Nathan has a surprise for everyone else on his birthday. He is leaving Louisa. Now suddenly the entire dynamic of the group has changed, and every seems to be falling apart a little bit…

Oh man did I hate Nathan. With like a deep passion. He was the worst kind of character and I wanted to punch him the entire book. I won’t go into all the reasons why as to not give spoilers, but man was he the freaking worst! Outside of how truly terrible Nathan was, I found the group of friends to be lovable, but also infuriating. Not a single one of the couples could communicate well with each other and it drove me insane, but also kept me turning the page to find out what was going to happen. I really enjoyed this one!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC.
This was a book similar to Meg Wolitzer's "The Interestings" and other fiction in this genre. The story follows six friends who celebrate their birthday in the same way every year as a tradition, and the trials and tribulations they face in the span of a year.
The book is fast-paced and keeps you interested with multiple different plot lines. I think people may be able to see some reflections of their relationship within these books - whether that's comfortable or not!
Overall, the book kept me engaged and I felt connected to a number of characters. Some were not my cup of tea - but they were still well written.

A good read for a book club. Over the course of ten years, three couples have met at their favorite restaurant to celebrate birthdays. One of the men, Nathan, chooses his birthday dinner to inform his wife that he wants a divorce. This causes all of the characters to examine their lives and the struggles they are going through. The story is told from the point of view of all six characters and readers will relate to at least some of the issues these middle-aged couples are dealing with.

RESERVATIONS FOR SIX is the story of three couples who are reaching the inevitable stage of life and marriage when we question whether we are living our best lives and whether we have chosen the right person. It was entertaining and I found it engaging but unfortunately, I didn't think that it brought more to the table than other, better books addressing the same ideas.

Reservations for Six
by Lindsey J. Palmer
Description
In the tradition of Emma Straub and Tom Perrotta, three couples celebrate every birthday together at their favorite New England restaurant for decades until their lives unravel when one turns 40 and announces over dinner he wants a divorce. Each couple is forced to reexamine what's brought and kept them together—and whether their relationships are strong enough to survive infidelity, job loss, infertility, and the drudgery and demands of married life.
This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Wyatt-Mckenzie Publishing, and NetGalley. Thank you. I enjoyed the book, funny and full of realness. I just have a problem with SIX povs. I would have to think back. It was many people to reflect on.

This was a super quick, fun little read! Well written, well paced, and well measured. I enjoyed this and would read from this author again!

Such a great story of 6 friends who comprise 3 couples and how they navigate middle age.
The story is told mainly through birthday dinners at a local restaurant. At Nathaniel's birthday dinner, he wishes out loud to be divorced from his wife Louisa who is sitting next to him. This catapults everyone into questioning their status in life and what they should be getting from their marriages.

This was a really enjoyable read. The narration seamlessly jumps between 6 main characters and a couple of secondary characters without ever feeling confusing. Great for fans of books about relationships with a lot of character development -very sally rooney-esque.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Wyatt-Mckenzie Publishing and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

While several of the characters were challenging and unlikable, they’re well written and developed. The story is well done though and enjoyable.

I want first thank Netgalley for providing me a ARC for Reservations for six by Lindsey J. Palmer.

My rating for this book is a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars

This is a story of 6 close friends, 3 couples who celebrates every one of their birthdays together at their favourite New England restaurant until their lives unravels when Nathan who turns 40 announces over dinner that he wants a divorce with his wife Louisa.
This forced the other 2 couples to re-examine their own relationship.

I love how Louisa has her friends for support for all the issue she has to go through. She subsequently found out why her husband wanted the divorce. We got to read from her perspective on what she was thinking during all her struggles.

We also got the perspective from all 6 friends including a few other characters

We got to read about how every birthday celebration after the bombshell Nathan dropped on his 40th birthday had fundamentally changed .
I felt that Nathan wasn’t the smartest when he cheated on his wife with a student and it caused him his job. .

Six friends, three married couples. A birthday tradition.

For over a decade, the group has had dinner, drinks, and cake at their favourite Italian restaurant Giorgio, to celebrate each of their birthdays. A tradition they each look forward to, a night to reconnect and unwind together. But on Nathan’s 40th birthday he shocks everyone, especially his wife, when he announces that he wants a divorce. What follows is a detailed look into the married lives of each couple. The couples are forced to re-examine their own marriages, their own needs, their own desires. Each reflecting off Nathan and Louisa’s divorce, they begin to wonder if they’re happy in their own marriages, or if they’re heading down a similar path.

This novel reminded me of shows like 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦, and movies like 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺. As we shift between the couples getting a comprehensive look into their lives. The novel switches POV between ALL six characters + two side characters. That is no easy feat. To establish and give eight characters a POV, while making sure each character is unique and authentic. And for the most part this was achieved. There were clear distinctions between characters. They all had their own unique traits, beliefs, reflections, and flaws. By having everyone’s POV, I was able to empathize with each character (well except for Nathan, ha). Instead of just getting one side of the story, the reader gets ALL sides to a story, which provided a fuller, clearer picture. Allowing for further insight and understanding while digging into their marital problems.

Honestly, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel. It took me a minute to get into it but once I was in, I was fully invested. The novel explores typical marital issues like infidelity, infertility, and incompatible sex drives. And it didn’t particularly give me any new understanding or insight into the lives and complications of married people. But I still enjoyed it for what it did provide. Situations and perspectives to contemplate and reflect on. Just enough drama, just enough fun, just enough confrontation. And at the heart of the story, honest, relatable, and flawed characters you are compelled to root for.

Recommended to those who like novels about the complexities of relationships, parenthood, and friendships.

Thank you to #netgalley, Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing and author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3.75/5

Fun, real life drama read. Loved it all.

Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free, it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.