I enjoyed this read but at times was predictable what would happen. I liked it was written from different pov's so got every side of the story. Would recommend.

A good summer holiday read, it reads easy but addresses a serious topic from different perspectives.

Set in a Michelin-star restaurant in Dublin, the story is told from three perspectives: the impressionable waitress Hannah, the celebrity chef Daniel and his wife Julie. Daniel is accused of rape but maintains he is innocent. As we move closer to the trial flashbacks reveal what happened when Hannah was working at his restaurant.

Some may see this as a possible outsider for the Booker longlist, but I find it a bit too light and predictable for that. A good read and well-written novel nonetheless!

3,5 rounded up.

While at first mesmerizing, I tired of the portrayal of a brutal chef and weak waitress. She had several choices, most important of which is not to get drunk and place herself at a disadvantage. Ultimately, this book disappointed me. I have already forgotten much of it, except for the depiction of Ireland.

A story of a famous chef who has been accused of sexual assault. It is told from the perspectives of three characters. It is a relevant and difficult topic and I found that at some point you feel sorry for each of the characters. The story shows the complexity and sensitivity of these cases.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy.

This was very good. Great writing and it shows well how complicated #metoo is. In our day and age it may sometimes seem as if it is a matter of opinion - which is excellently put forward here by Gilmartin through the three different perspectives in the book - but of course it’s not. It is extremely hard though, to get to the truth. Who in the end is telling the truth here in ‘Service’? And how to prove the truth? Gilmartin is nuanced and slowly lets the reader discover it all.
Thank you very much Pushkin Press and Netgalley for the ARC.

Service by Sarah Gilmartin.

Three people with three different stories but which one is telling the truth?

When Hannah learns that famous Irish chef Daniel Costello is facing charges of sexual assault, she relives the summer she spent a decade earlier working in his restaurant. The famous customers, the long shifts, the wild parties when the doors shut and the tension, allure and stress of working there.

Daniel has had to close his restaurant while waiting for the court date. He has been working in kitchens since he was a teenager, years of hard graft got him to the top of his game but the awards, money and success mean nothing now when his legal team are asking question after question and he know people are looking at him and talking about him when he leaves the house.

Julie, Daniels wife of 22 years has paparazzi outside the gates of her home. She is trying to keep everything normal at home for the sake of their two sons and is questioning her life and marriage and wondering was it all worth it.

Service is written from the perspective of all three characters and all three characters are developed in great detail as this story unfolds jumping back in forth from 2017 when the court case occurs to 2007 when Hannah worked in the restaurant. Each character is believable and realistic and their narratives interweave telling an all too familiar story of power, abuse , lies and complicity. Gilmartin's writing is assured and stylish throughout. This is a variation of a story we know and she writes it brilliantly. At times infuriating and upsetting , this isn't an easy read but its a compelling one. Dublin and its socio economic culture is captured with unflinching accuracy as is the toxic work environment a man with an ego, temper and some power can reign over. The three person perspective works so well in telling this story. This a powerful read, skillfully written.

4 star.

The story is cleverly told over 3 separate POV’s, giving a really thorough view of the story from all angles. It gives a real depth to the plot and adds a constant intrigue to it. As well as the constant wonder of who’s telling the truth.

The characters are well written and developed amazingly throughout the novel. Each bringing a fresh perspective to the story and adding that extra layer to the plot.

I found the POV changes and pacing worked really well, I just didn’t want to put it down. The whole style of the novel worked so well with the narrative and I was completely absorbed into it.

The setting is brilliantly written and the fast paced Dublin restaurant is really atmospheric. The socioeconomic and cultural aspects really enhanced it all. As well as the very apt and relevant focus of the MeToo movement and systemic sexual abuse.

A brilliant novel that is well written, relevant and throughout provoking. I massively recommend it to anyone who loves this kind of thing. Will definitely be looking for more work from Gilmartin.

In a Nutshell: A literary fiction focussing on three characters, one of whom has just been accused of rape. Infuriating and depressing in many ways, especially if you are a woman. A thought-provoking read for lit-fic lovers.

Story Synopsis:
When Hannah hears that her ex-boss, Chef Daniel Costello is facing rape charges, she goes down memory lane, to the summer she spent waitressing in Daniel’s hotel, about a decade ago.
Daniel, meanwhile, can’t believe that his personal and professional successes are now under a dark cloud just because of some allegation from the long-forgotten past.
Julie, Daniel’s wife, isn’t sure how to handle her husband’s new identity and the attention of the press. As she watches their private lives become public, and her two teenaged sons deal with the aftermath of the slander, Julie wonders if she could have done something differently.
The story comes to us in the first person perspective of these three characters. Hannah’s pov is majorly set in the past, while Daniel’s and Julie’s stories are set mostly in the present.

Bookish Yays:
✔ Nicely developed characters, not surprising for a well-written literary fiction work. Hannah and Julie were so different from each other, and yet so similar in many ways. Both their arcs touched me.
✔ Is it a yay or a nay when you want to rip open the fourth wall and bash up one of the characters? Daniel’s pov left me jittery and infuriated at the same time. I suppose it is a yay as emotional involvement by the reader is a sign of realistically sketched characters.
✔ The use of Dublin city and its socio-economic-cultural aspects in the plot.
(Irish lit-fic novelists seem to be in a whole other league!)
✔ The focus on systemic sexual abuse, when misogyny and chauvinism are written away as necessary evils of urban living rather than as problems to be eliminated.
✔ The glimpse of what goes into the daily running of a restaurant. If you ever thought waitressing is an easy task, here’s the book to set your assumption right.
✔ The regularly interspersed statements in Daniel’s pov asking “What is a chef?” and providing a one-liner reply to the same. Loved every single one of these!
✔ The ending. Not too optimistic nor depressing. But just at the right point of hope.
✔ The author’s note at the end: brief yet impactful.

Bookish Nays:
❌ The story takes a while to get going. It’s too slow even for a literary work, and the constant back-and-forth between timelines and characters doesn’t help. I would have been okay with this for some other topic, but when I know a book is dealing with sexual assault, the woman in me wants to get to the crux of the matter because it is a topic that leaves me fretful.
❌ I would have liked more details about the impact of the accusation on Daniel’s sons. While there were details, the narrative from Julie’s side focusses more on her own emotions than on her children’s.

All in all, this novel created in me tremendous emotional upheaval. It wasn’t easy reading, partly because I wasn’t in the right headspace for this topic. Nevertheless, it still kept me involved all the way. It is a powerful work, and for the right reader (i.e. one who appreciates character-driven novels), it will create an impact that will last long after the last page.

4.25 stars.

My thanks to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the DRC of “Service”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Content warning: Misogyny, infidelity, sexual assault, physical assault.

Service by Sarah Gilmartin is a profound and moving story set in an upmarket Dublin restaurant where celebrated chef Daniel Costello strives above all else to maintain his two Michelin star status. Dan's wife Julie is used to managing without him as he works such long hours while she looks after their teenage sons.

Hannah is a student at Trinity College, a native of Tipperary and was hired to work in the restaurant as a waitress. She tried to do well but no-one escapes the wrath of the Chef when things go wrong. The restaurant is a highly charged emotional and misogynistic working environment with a few highs but mostly lows.

In this fictional account, of the trial of the celebrity chef for sexual assault, Gilmartin realistically portrays events with vivid insights into how each of the three characters is feeling at different stages in the story. It is a compelling and important read.

On paper this sounds like something I'd like having found a book set in a similar setting - Sweetbitter - to be memorable and usually finding myself drawn to books with a #MeToo focus, but I found myself only really interested in one of the three voices - that of the waitress Hannah - which meant the other sections which followed chef Daniel and then that of his wife, Julie, felt like a slog. Perhaps a case of me picking up the novel at a bad time.

In 'Service', Sarah Gilmartin offers three perspectives on a story that sadly feels all too familiar in this post-#MeToo era: the male celebrity accused of sexually assaulting younger women. Famous Dublin chef Daniel Costello is facing multiple allegations from previous employees of rape and sexual harassment, leading to a high-profile trial which puts Daniel and his wife Julie in the limelight. Also following the trial is Hannah who spent a summer as a waitress at his restaurant and must decide whether to speak or remain silent about her experiences.

This is a taut, engrossing novel which conjures the high-octane world of fine dining in which the aura of privilege and 'work hard, play hard' mentality can easily blur the lines of what is acceptable. Gilmartin uses the voices of Hannah, Daniel and Julie to ask searching questions: Whose stories do we believe, and why? What prevents survivors of abuse from coming forward, and how are they affected by their experiences? What stories do abusers tell themselves? Much of this is well-trodden ground but Gilmartin finds new angles and avoids predictable outcomes to her characters' stories.

Overall, this is an assured and thought-provoking novel. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC to review.

Service by Sarah Gilmartin tells the story of Irish Celebrity Chef Daniel Costello's fall from grace after allegations of sexual assault several years previously are made against him by a former waitress. Despite Costello pleading his innocence before the trial the court of public opinion has already affected his business and reputation. Events span two time frames as the trial progresses, at the time and during the period when the assault is alleged to have happened and are also seen through the eyes of Costello's loyal wife Julie,and Hannah, a friend and colleague of his accuser.

With an unrepentant Costello feeling a victim of a "me too" re-evaluation of different times Julie and Hannah are doing exactly that as well.

Like Ms Gilmartin's excellent debut ,"The Dinner Party" ,this is a powerful and contemporary tale that really gets under the skin of it's protagonists. Gilmartins's style is to drop subtle hints to tease the reader then reveal the significance of them,something someone has said or a seemingly minor event ,that turns out to be important later on.
A thought-provoking and engrossing read.

Last week my husband and I took our first trip to Dublin, and the day after I got home, I was approved for this e-ARC. I couldn't have asked for better timing! I was able to relive some of my favorite memories from our holiday: walking over the Ha'penny Bridge, taking the Dart train south along the coast, seeing the deers at Phoenix Park, and eating seafood everywhere. 🍀

I thought this novel was remarkable, especially suited for those who appreciate nice food/restaurants and a good mystery. Sarah Gilmartin perfectly captured the toxic restaurant culture that sexualizes the entire service industry: the customers, the staff, and even the food.

I loved the three distinct points of view, all of which felt true, and Gilmartin manages to tell this story without preaching and without taking sides, which is quite a feat with such a heavy and controversial topic. Overall, a perfectly constructed, dark, and empathetic read.

Many thanks to @pushkin_press and @netgalley for an advanced reader copy!

An amazing well written book which keeps the reader guessing the ultimate outcome. Strong 'me too' book with many scenarios that any woman would recognise. Set in Dublin in the catering trade and told from the perspective of three voices, Daniel, Daniel's wife Julie and an employee of Daniel's, Hannah.

Covers both sexual, physical and emotional abuse with a court case in 2017 and events from 10 years before. The tension grows as stories are interwoven with a mix of lies and truth which make compelling reading.

A must read revealing the toxic culture in many work places and which, we as women, have all experienced at some point even if not to such an extreme.

4.5

A sexual assault case against chef Daniel Costello is brought before the court in Dublin. Three versions but who is telling the truth? The waitress back in the day at his restaurant is Hannah, she tells her side. Daniel gives us his perspective as the allegations and the subsequent rumour mill force him to close the successful restaurant. He is in disbelief, he has worked so hard, he runs a ‘tight ship’, wins award after award but is it all to collapse like a house of cards? Finally, there’s Julia, the wife of twenty two years and who watches the paparazzi behind her curtains and ruminates how Daniels actions have ruined the lives of the family and she just wants it all to go away. Will she hold her peace as she always does, be loyal and stand by her man especially in the court room? She looks back on their life together and wonders about it all. Three people tell the story as they see it, each forced to reevaluate their version of the truth.

Sarah Gilman is a very talented writer as her latest character driven study clearly demonstrates and choosing to give three different versions of the rape accusations makes for fascinating and compelling reading. Through Hannah you are captivated by the intensity and chaos of the restaurant, the excitement of it but also running the gauntlet of the misogyny of some customers. Initially she’s buzzing with working in such a high end restaurant but then that changes and the atmosphere becomes more toxic. We also have her perception of Daniel, a powerful, egotistical and driven chef, a temperamental artist but also her growing insidious fear. Daniel's perspective is not unnaturally very different but you can read between the lines and you can see that behaviour post service is at best a bit weird and at worst something entitled. Julia is very contained, she has to be for the sake of her sons. Through her you see the impact on a relationship and the family with some interesting dynamics at play. You realise she is literally almost bursting with suppressed emotion. Each of the perspectives is equally strong, the characterisation is perceptive and incisive and it arrives at a very good conclusion.

Overall, a well written, pertinent and relevant novel.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pushkin Press, ONE for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Wow. Honestly, I'm in between lost for words and wanting to tell you the whole plot. I want to tell how wonderful the writing is, how the plot develops without judgment, without sansationalising. This book is superb. It should definitely win awards.

The story is simple: Daniel Costello is a chef at the top of his game until a year old charge of sexual assault is laid at his door from Tracey, a waitress whose story is one of harassment, sexual abuse and physical intimidation.

Three voices narrate this story - Daniel whose confusion and feelings of persecution are clear on every page. Julie, his wife, who tries to see past the allegations and remember the man she married. And Hannah, another waitress who had walked out of the restaurant without a reason.

I get lost in how beautifully this horrifying tale is told. Sarah Gilmartin's Dinner Party was good but this is another level; for me, this was perfect. I had to force myself to stop reading too fast because it grabs you and holds you like so few novels do these days. She manages to tell a divisive story without preaching, without taking anyone's side.

I've got to stop evangelising but this is a novel you really must read. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Service follows a celebrity chef faced with a reckoning when rape accusations against him appear on social media, his wife who has chosen not to examine his behaviour too closely and a young woman still dealing with the fallout from the toxic culture over which he presided.

Set in 2017, the year the Harvey Weinstein exposé was published, Gilmartin's novel looks back ten years, unfolding her story from three alternating perspectives. Hannah recalls the post-shift hedonism, the pleasure of being picked out by Daniel and the discomfiture of the restaurant’s misogynistic atmosphere. Daniel is full of pride at his achievement, an egotism fostered by celebrity and the hierarchical working practices in which the chef rules the roost. Julie’s narrative is addressed to Daniel, recalling the many compromises she and their sons have made for him. These three threads are smartly interwoven revealing a devastating portrait of abuse perpetrated in a multitude of ways. So much has happened since #MeToo occupied the media that it’s slipped off the agenda. Gilmartin’s acerbic, incisive novel makes abundantly clear that it’s not just movie moguls whose predatory behaviour needs to be checked.

A proper novel, each thread felt true, each character lived in a universe not a vacuum. Everyone was forced to revaluate events from the past as time puts a different spin on stuff.

The obvious comparison is the excellent Anatomy of a Scandal but I suspect more of us will recognise this life, these people.
The #metoo subject matter is big enough for multiple stories and we are all involved. The whole of society needs to be part of the long over due shift.

Service is big enough to cover our parents, our Eighteen year old selves, the way we react as witnesses and the way we move forward. It's been an excellent read.