An irresistible novella about two sisters and a night that changes everything, from the master chronicler of our heart’s hidden desires.
WOW! If this isn't a book to brag about I don't know what is... I started it late last night. Never did I anticipate I would be closing the book at 1am!

The Party by Tessa Hadley is a short well-observed novel about the coming of age of two young women and the relationship between the sisters.

'The Party' is a short, nicely written novella, set in post-war Bristol. Two young women, sisters, meet a pair of wealthy young men at a party. A week later they are invited to another party by the same young men, which they attend rather reluctantly, and find it marks the beginning of their true adult lives.

Hadley writes well - her style flows well and she is observant and able to create interesting and likeable characters. As a sampler of her writing ability, 'The Party' is a decent advert for any longer books of hers. However, it doesn't stand up very strongly in its own right. I didn't find it very impactful or memorable, and at the end I was left wondering what the point was. I know books don't have to have a point, but for me I find I enjoy them more if they do. What was Hadley trying to do - what was she trying say or emotion was she trying to evoke in the reader? It didn't shock me, surprise me, make me laugh, make me cry, make me angry, teach me something new, or make me consider a different viewpoint. It's quite possible for a shorter length of story to do that, although harder than in a novel, but this one doesn't.

It's possible that it is very deep, or allegorical, and I have missed the double meaning. But somehow I don't feel as though it is. I didn't mind reading it, but I don't feel like I took anything away from it and I doubt I'll remember I read it at all a year from now. If you prefer books that don't mess with your emotions, it might be a good choice, but if you like your fiction to have an impact, it's not the best choice.

A short novella following the night of two sisters who attend a party, this story started out strong. The writing was rich and atmospheric and I enjoyed the cast of characters. The second half of the book, however, is what let me down. The sisters visit a mansion, owned by men they met at the initial party, and chaos ensues. There wasn’t much in terms of plot or characterisation, and where the writing was rich in the first half, it was a little underdone in the second half. Still, a quick and entertaining read.