Girl Dinner follows two women whose lives slowly begin to intertwine within the unsettling world of an elite sorority. Nina is a second-year college student desperate to put a messy freshman year behind her. She’s ambitious, laser-focused on getting into a top 20 law school, and believes that joining The House - an exclusive, secretive sorority known for producing high-achieving women - is her golden ticket.

Sloan, on the other hand, is navigating a very different chapter of life. After relocating for her husband Max’s new university job, she’s taken a position at the same college that’s more symbolic than meaningful. Stuck in a dingy basement office, she’s trying to prove her worth in hopes of landing a permanent tenured role. At the same time, she’s raising their toddler, Isla, who seems to survive on a diet of spaghetti when she actually decides to eat, and grappling with the creeping feeling that motherhood has made her invisible and dulled her once-sharp mind.

Both women eventually find themselves entangled in The House’s eerie, cult-like world of power, privilege… and cannibalism.

This was definitely a book of two halves. The first half was a slow burn, I liked the writing and characters but found it hard to build momentum or feel excited to pick it up. The second half, however, completely hooked me. Blake’s writing shines as the plot picks up speed, and the twisted connections between Nina and Sloan begin to unravel. I devoured it (pun intended). Blake crafts complex, flawed women and makes you care deeply about their fates, even as the story veers into dark and disturbing territory.

Strange, smart, and surprisingly emotional, Girl Dinner is a sharp look at ambition, identity, and what it costs to belong.

The first half is a very different book than the second. I don’t know how to explain it but the first half reads as a woke/ pop culture/ current event overwhelm. The amount of things thrown at you is strange because it has nothing to do with the cannibalism.

If anything the cannibalism is barely a part of the book! I wanted a full deep dive into why, how, and more around the ritual. Instead I got the struggles of motherhood.

I just feel like this as it stands reminds me a lot of Bunny, this could just be due the women in the story and the setting.

I feel like with a better round of edits and rewrites this could have been a better story.

I really connected with Girl Dinner. It is a clever and emotional read that dives deep into what it means to grow up and figure out who you are. The main character, Liv, is raw and real, with all her flaws and struggles laid bare, which made her feel so relatable. I loved how the story explores her messy relationships and the way she’s trying to find her own path amidst the chaos.
What stood out most was how Blake balances the heavier themes with sharp humour and moments of tenderness. Liv’s journey isn’t neat or perfect, but it feels honest and unfiltered, which I really appreciated.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc.
I have a few thoughts on this book. First of all the writing style : absolutely exceptional, I read this book in one day it was very immersive.. the character were messy but somehow still loveable. The ending wrapped up too fast I feel like it could have been extended for maybe 2-3 chapters. Now the actual ending had me in the what the actual f mode. I personally don’t read horror and was a bit hesitant going into this but it turned out fine. I think this book makes a great introduction to the horror genre . Furthermore Olivie Blake raises continually slathered question on what makes a great woman, what is acceptable in a woman , what makes the ideal woman and if there even is such a thing . This book dwells into themes from motherhood to girlhood and if women are ever good enough. I really enjoyed the book but the ending was honestly a little of a letdown. Regardless the book gets 5 stars from me.

Thank you so much for sending me a copy of this book.
I really wanted to love this one and I thought I would. The premise sounds so unique and something that I would love. But I just couldn’t absorb myself into it. I did finish as the plot did have me wanting to know the conclusion but it started to feel more like chore the further I got. There seemed to be a lull in the middle which completely threw me and any connections I had built with the characters I seemed to have lost. I did enjoy the character development and wanting to know the outcome for Sloane and Nina really kept me going! I think this book would be very good to discuss with other readers.

This was a super fun take on the "supporting women's rights and women's wrongs" phenomenon. Seeing how Sloane and Nina's perceptions of womanhood and girlhood intertwined within the same scenarios experienced at different ages was really interesting, particularly Sloane's ongoing struggles with the pressures of motherhood and the disparity between expectations of mothers vs fathers.

It lost me a liiiiitle bit towards the end because I wasn't sure where it was really going and I'm still trying to decide if I liked the ending, but overall it was a good read and I can definitely see this being popular when it comes out!

4.5 stars

I think this might be my favourite Olivie Blake book!!

The story follows two different characters: Sloane, an academic who recently had a child and is struggling with keeping up with her life before, and after, the birth of her baby (and her husband that just refuses to be of any actual help, whatsoever), as well as Nina, a sophomore at the same University, trying to redeem herself by getting into the infamous sorority, The House.

I particularly enjoyed the writing in this one. The stream of consciousness and overly descriptive writing that Blake uses in their other books - sometimes successfully, sometimes less so - really fit into this story quite well.

The two main characters are connected by The House - Nina, as the pledge, and Sloane as the adviser, as well as by their desperation, rage, and the longing to belong. I loved the satirical commentary on elitism, white feminism and the idea of what a Good Woman is. Repetitive at times, but not overly so that it lessened my enjoyment.

The cannibalism part was obvious from the beginning, but it did feel underdeveloped, and revealed too late, and the ending was quite rushed. There was just that tiny bit missing. However, overall, a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free digital copy of this book!

While I didn’t finish this (I DNF’d at 30%), I still recognise the craft behind it and appreciate the chance to read an early copy. I really wanted to love this – the blurb had me salivating! A degustation menu of feminine rage, subversive themes, and sorority house tension, all things I usually polish off in one sitting and ask for seconds. Unfortunately, this one left me hangry and hankering for a halloumi kebab.

The narrative voice felt a little heavy-handed, with the social commentary leaning more toward telling than showing. You need to feed me first before presenting the bill. I struggled to engage with the plot; the overt messaging weighed me down, and the repetition was, well, repeating on me. I felt disconnected around the 20% mark, but I held on – hoping for dessert – only to find myself calling a taxi by 30%. No doggy bag required.

I know I'm likely in the minority here, but for me this felt like an ambitious concept that never got out of the kitchen. It promised something dark and decadent, but I was left with the kind of disappointment you get when you order Bundy and get served a Bundt cake.

This was my first Olivie Blake, and although this novel wasn’t to my taste, I remain curious about her other work – so many readers clearly leave her table satisfied. I guess there’s always one picky eater, sorry!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this advance copy in exchange for my honest opinions (which are all my own).

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC of this book. I love all things Olivie Blake and this book was no exception. A first glance a typical girl sorority in a privileged university. But how wrong can you be. There is nothing typical about this house, this one bites back!

Thank you to Olivia Blake, Pan Macmillan | Mantle, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you also to Olivia Maher for the title!

Girl Dinner is a literary fiction following both Nina (a student) and Sloane (faculty and new mum) as they become more involved with a sorority at university. Cannibalism happens.

I can’t help feeling evermore disappointed with each Olivie Blake book I read. They all have excellent premises and bad execution. Each one had extremely pretentious writing, very little plot, and bad pacing.

The pretentious writing did seem to be a little more toned down in this book and also fit the context better. I’m now half way into the book and feel as if everything so far could’ve have been written within 50 pages. It’s too drawn out and character-driven to the point that nothing happens for almost 200 pages. The pay off doesn’t seem to be worth it either. I’m dnfing.

This book was not what I expected at all. I was looking forward to a light hearted read about academic life and a sorority. I was not expecting a complex dissection of all the facets of feminism, and the reincarnations of systemic inequalities within a system made to uphold equity.

From discussions of first-wave feminism, girl-bossing, she-EOs and empowerment, to a serious evaluation of radical feminism, organised activism, and the meaning of agency, choice and power. I hear Blake’s voice loud and clear, and I can feel her dragging out my inner-most thoughts from my throat — ones I only ever confide in with my closest friends. Seeing my frustrations reflected back on the pages was like a weight being lifted off my chest.

The book poked and pulled on all my own insecurities. Am I betraying feminism if I don’t shave my legs? If I go out with my natural legs, then is it a silent act of rebellion? Which one is comfort? My need to be a trail blazer for all women of the future, but also my desire to just be happy, give up constantly trying to earn the respect of men and leave. I do want a seat at the table, which happens to mostly be men, but what are the sacrifices I need to actually get there? Can I get there as an ‘authentic’ woman? What even is that anymore? Is there such a thing under the patriarchy — which has seemingly weaselled itself into every facet of my life? Do I even deserve to complain about these seemingly petty problems when people are dying in Gaza, in Congo, in Iran?

I saw my younger, teenage self in Nina. The naive girl, who sought inspiration from women around me, and didn’t consider their sacrifice, only their constant uplifting and empowerment. If I was confident enough, I’d make it. Then I became more of a Jas — there’s no point unless we organise and forfeit all comfort and completely decentralise the Western world. Then there’s the Alex (haha) inside me. The sacrifices I am willing to make to get a seat at the table. And then, there’s my guilty pleasure — Caroline, TheCountryWife (ie. Nara Smith).

Don’t get me wrong, Caroline is extremely successful. She built her own brand, she makes millions, she has everything she ever wanted. The catch? She plays to ‘traditional’ feminine values. A ‘trad wife’, if you will. Why do I feel guilty consuming her clean, cozy content? Is it just mindless escapism? I’m not her target audience, presumably those are republican, white men, but why do I keep coming back? Why don’t I swipe away when she comes up on my feed? And why is her brand considered less-than, even though she is so successful? Does being a woman providing for her family, starting a successful business, and nurturing ‘traditionally feminine’ skills make her less valuable to society than the women who wear a pant-suit and break into law or medicine or investment banking? Why are traditionally feminine skills, predominantly cooking in this case, considered considered less-than? Or is this because, like a man, she is profiting of patriarchy. But why isn’t this a subversion of patriarchal power? Earning your success from a system that’s trying to oppress you?

Power comes in many facets. Is power the ability to have agency, to make a choice? Is it having ability to make decisions, and have influence over others? The potential to change the future? Can a ‘traditional woman’ do those things as much as a ‘progressive woman’ can? Where is the woman who can do it all? Is this the epitome of equality, of what feminism is trying to achieve? Indeed, as Blake so aptly writes: ‘Femininity is an unsolvable curse’.

This is not something achievable. At the end of the day, it’s not even up to us. It’s up to the men who make space for women. Change needs to come from above, as well as the bottom. Unless we acknowledge this, everyone will judge each other against our own definitions of feminism, and inequality will continue to be recreated instead of quenched. But why would they compromise on their own comfort? Why would they make unnecessary sacrifice, that is not for their own good? So, this is where the book starts to deviate from reality — women shouldn’t compromise, instead, they should suck up as much of their power as they can.

And all these inequalities were rife within the cult of academia. The system becomes a snake eating its own tail — from seeking validation from men in power, women in power, professors in power. It all becomes one great big blur.

I audibly gasped at the ending. Y’all are in for a treat. I hope you eat it up just as much as I did.

An incisive exploration of feminism, capitalism, and patriarchy, asking what it means to have power and what it means to be feminist in today's society. I absolutely loved this and flew through it. I found both protagonist's storylines gripping and the format of alternating perspectives was effective. Some nice twists that I didn't see coming. A great addition to the contemporary cannibalism canon.

This was in fact, Girl Dinner.
The vibes hit and I can 100% see myself reading this while enjoying a nice girl dinner of assorted meats and cheeses (and a hot fictional boyfriend)

This book had some fun moments and a few lines that really hit, but overall it didn’t blow me away. It felt more like a vibe than a full story, and while I liked the themes, it didn’t fully come together for me. Not a bad read, just not super memorable. I didn’t hate it, but I wouldn’t rush to recommend it either.

I have to start this review with one big sigh. I'm really trying to like Olivie Blake and her concepts always appeal to me, but I seem to like every new book of hers less than the last. In theory "Girl Dinner" should suit Blake's style perfectly. All of her stories are kinda pretentious (which doesn't mean that they are not interesting or entertaining) and this time she tried to really lean into that. This is supposed to be a satirical story and Olivie Blake explains in the acknowledgements that she's purposefully focusing on a privileged group of women with limited views that are to be taken ironically. Along the way she addresses all kind of themes and modern "trends" regarding women: motherhood, sisterhood, feminism, female rage, female empowerment, trad wives - all in all the theme of how women are treated in society and how they may reclaim power. There are two main characters, both basically trapped in society and in the world views they've internalized. Sloane is a mother returning to her job after her maternity leave and she's struggling with leaving her daughter in daycare and with a husband who is just not as affected by having a child as she is. She's constantly telling herself that she's a bad mother and that she's underperforming in her mediocre adjunct university teacher job. Then there's Nina, a university student fixated on getting into a prestigious sorority, viewing it as the only way to achieve anything in life. Both women are defined by one single thing - motherhood and sorority, respectively - and they only ever talk about that one thing. Often in an exaggerated way, but never as absurd or totally over-the-top that would make for an intriguing read. The book was not a fun time whatsoever, because it was mostly a frustrating stream of toxic consciousness for me. Endless babbling without ever making a point. This might have been Blake's intention, but my question is: who wants to read that? It's so dry and boring when these characters go on and on about what a horrible mother they are or who they want to sleep with or how they get fully integrated into the sorority. The book never gripped me with all that, but cover and title promised me that the story would go someplace unhinged eventually, so I kept going. In the end it was a good 60% of the babbling and then … boom … cannibalism. It wasn't even an interesting depiction of how the sorority earns power through unhinged methods, it was a whole lot of nothing and then the supposedly shocking cannibalism that I expected way earlier. You know what actually would have shocked me at this point? The appearance of literally any plot. If you thought that Olivie Blake's "Gifted & Talented" had little plot this year, "Girl Dinner" has negative plot. This book is so big on telling and never showing that I'm actually wondering if anything happened at all in here. Girl, if you have a human-eating sorority of hot and successful women, I want to SEE that. If you were interested in the unhinged cannibal girl vibes, I would rather send you to one of the other (surprisingly plenty) releases this year. Maybe you can get something out of the social commentary in Girl Dinner, but I really couldn't and I must call it a big disappointment.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan / Tor for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

2.5/5
Considering the premise of this book, I was surprised to find myself frequently bored throughout this book.
The pacing was just off for me, and while parts of it were definitely unsettling and bizarre, others just dragged on.
Overall this book just ended up not appealing to me much at all.
Having said that, I would definitely read more from this author in the future, because I think just the overall subject and pacing didn't work for me here.

DNF This one just wasn’t for me. The narrative centers heavily on a mother’s reflections and complaints about motherhood, which I found hard to relate to. While Olivie Blake’s writing is always thoughtful, the themes didn’t resonate with me personally. That said, I’m sure it will strike a chord with readers who connect more deeply with the subject matter.

This book feels like AI looked at trending themes; female rage, cannibalism, TikTok horror and written a draft for the author to write.

This book is absolutely not for me and I hate reading things that are trendy for trendy sake, what did surprise me is how well Blake did write this. All of the satirical, quick and wittiness is exquisite and even I found myself nodding along at point. The author is hugely talented but the book and plot were way too silly to me.

This was a 3-star read for me for the following reasons: the pacing felt a bit slow, and I think the first 40% lacked any real tension build-up. The dual timelines were fine and offered a two-dimensional perspective on the sorority.

Cannibalism does feel like the trendy horror theme right now. And because it was combined with female rage, it seems written to appeal to a broad audience.

Personally, I was looking for more depth and stronger motivations for why they chose the men they did. I also wanted more exploration of what they thought they were gaining from it. As it is, it felt a bit generic, which made a number of the characters come across as pushovers. I mean, who just goes along with it when your friends ask if you want to join in, and the main course is your creepy, sexually inappropriate male professor?

Girl Dinner is a sharp, darkly witty exploration of identity, desire, and the quiet chaos beneath everyday life. Olivie Blake blends biting social commentary with her signature lyrical prose, crafting a story that's as unsettling as it is thought-provoking. A bold, genre-blurring read that lingers long after the last bite.