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A review by book0logy
Supper Club by Lara Williams
4.0
When I first saw the acidic cover of Supper Club, I was immediately enticed. Focusing on a group of women in their late 20s and early 30s searching for liberation from the pressures of their lives, Supper Club has magic that captured me immediately.
Stand out features of the book include the initial paragraphs of each chapter indulgently guiding the reader through the process of preparing a certain dish. The descriptions of the aromas, the sizzle of the ingredients in the pan, and the unique appeal of each dish set you up for the following chapter, the dishes somehow reflecting the events that will happen. This immersive and sensual touchpoint created an emotional connection and tension about what was about to occur in a way I haven’t experienced before.
This was particularly noticeable during the narrative periods spent with the central character Roberta when she was at university. Williams captures the university experience in a raw and burning way, with such realism that I laugh at many moments as it felt like it could have been taken directly from my first year diary.
The body politics included in the narrative felt poignant, down to the discussion of taking up space. I felt empowered by their embracing of their bodies, and the way that they engaged with food as a nurturing and positive thing. Scenes when the Supper Clubs were taking place were really enjoyable, as there was something beautiful about the celebration of female joy.
Female friendship forms the core of this novel, in particular between Stevie and Roberta. Their intimacy and connection felt incredibly important, and I enjoyed their scenes together immensely. When juxtaposed with the isolation Roberta felt at University, their natural connection was even more noticeable. That said, the other female characters felt a lot more disposable, and when one became central to the plot I became a bit confused regarding who she was and why the dynamics were being affected. I also felt that the main conflict between Stevie and Roberta coming down to the resentment Stevie felt about being single in her late 20s was almost a disservice, and it felt dated in otherwise a very modern novel.
This element shone in the naturalness in which LGBT+ characters were woven through the plot. It really felt like a modern group of female friends.
I enjoyed the book so much, and could have just kept reading, page after page. Pace in this book was difficult to gauge, and the ending almost felt as though it came out of nowhere. The escalation was quick, in terms of the Supper Club turning south and the dissolution of the interpersonal relationships. I would have enjoyed maybe one more chapter sewing the seeds of the third act a little bit more.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone. It felt fresh and exciting, and more than anything it felt true to life as I have experienced it. I will be looking out for more from Lara Williams.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 4 Stars out of 5.
Stand out features of the book include the initial paragraphs of each chapter indulgently guiding the reader through the process of preparing a certain dish. The descriptions of the aromas, the sizzle of the ingredients in the pan, and the unique appeal of each dish set you up for the following chapter, the dishes somehow reflecting the events that will happen. This immersive and sensual touchpoint created an emotional connection and tension about what was about to occur in a way I haven’t experienced before.
This was particularly noticeable during the narrative periods spent with the central character Roberta when she was at university. Williams captures the university experience in a raw and burning way, with such realism that I laugh at many moments as it felt like it could have been taken directly from my first year diary.
The body politics included in the narrative felt poignant, down to the discussion of taking up space. I felt empowered by their embracing of their bodies, and the way that they engaged with food as a nurturing and positive thing. Scenes when the Supper Clubs were taking place were really enjoyable, as there was something beautiful about the celebration of female joy.
Female friendship forms the core of this novel, in particular between Stevie and Roberta. Their intimacy and connection felt incredibly important, and I enjoyed their scenes together immensely. When juxtaposed with the isolation Roberta felt at University, their natural connection was even more noticeable. That said, the other female characters felt a lot more disposable, and when one became central to the plot I became a bit confused regarding who she was and why the dynamics were being affected. I also felt that the main conflict between Stevie and Roberta coming down to the resentment Stevie felt about being single in her late 20s was almost a disservice, and it felt dated in otherwise a very modern novel.
This element shone in the naturalness in which LGBT+ characters were woven through the plot. It really felt like a modern group of female friends.
I enjoyed the book so much, and could have just kept reading, page after page. Pace in this book was difficult to gauge, and the ending almost felt as though it came out of nowhere. The escalation was quick, in terms of the Supper Club turning south and the dissolution of the interpersonal relationships. I would have enjoyed maybe one more chapter sewing the seeds of the third act a little bit more.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone. It felt fresh and exciting, and more than anything it felt true to life as I have experienced it. I will be looking out for more from Lara Williams.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 4 Stars out of 5.