4.25 stars
I'm always drawn to Daisy Buchanan's books and this was another great one, even if it was a bit different to what I usually read.
I do think you need to be in the right frame of mind to read this, as it could be quite upsetting if you're struggling with grief yourself. But I found it to feel really realistic, with the characters being flawed and real.
It struck the right balance between funnier moments and sadder/more poignant ones.
Pity Party has just cemented the fact that Daisy is an auto-buy kind of author for me and I can't wait to see what she does next.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As always a fantastic book by a consistently brilliant author. I always regret their ending and always look forward to the next book thanks

I adore Daisy Buchanan's writing- she gets under the skin of her characters in such a skilful way you see them through so many different angles and different lenses and she makes them utterly human.

Pity Party opens with Katherine attending her husband's funeral - Ben has died in a tragic boating accident and she suddenly has to navigate life as a young widow. As the story unfolds, we find out more about their marriage and where it was heading, as well as Katherine's conflicted feelings about every aspect of her life, past present and future.

Her wealthy mother-in-law sends Katherine to an exclusive retreat for a week of massage, primal screaming and so much more. Katherine starts the week as a buttoned up, uptight woman who just wants to get through it all and get back to work, too scared to face any of her feelings head on. She can't stand her room-mate at the retreat but buries those feelings deep too.

As the week goes on, Katherine's barriers start to come down and she can look at her life from a fresh perspective, working out a little more about who she is and what she deserves out of life.

I loved reading this, there was so much more to the plot than I first thought too which was a nice surprise. Katherine is a terrific character and I enjoyed following her through her grief experience and learning about her relationship with Ben as well as others around her. This has a lot of emotions in it and at times it was a difficult read but it all came together to make for a moving and entertaining read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little for an advance copy.

I liked this. Katherine was a cool character and she met quite a few eccentric people along the way. I wanted to wrap Katherine in a big hug for the things she went through but then in equal measures wanted to yell at her for the decisions she made. The reason I was drew it straight away was the cover. I love purple and automatically get drawn to covers with purple in it. I would’ve liked dates at the top of each chapter as it was hard to keep track of where in the story we were and what had happened so far. I wasn’t keen on the ending. However I’m looking forward to reading more books from Daisy.

Thanks goes to net galley and the publishers for proving me with copy in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyable read about complex grief. Katherine is grieving the death of her husband Ben. We are introduced to their relationship through dual timelines - the present where Katherine’s best friend and mother in law sign her up for a retreat to manage her grief; and the past where we learn how Katherine and Ben’s relationship developed and then deteriorated.

The present timeline reminded me in parts of Nine Perfect Strangers. At times, I wasn’t sure how much the introduction of the retreat added to the storyline. However, it did provide some interesting themes about the pressures on women, how stress builds up and the need to develop healthy releases.

The dual timelines were really effective in understanding why Ben’s death was having such a complex effect on Katherine.

I regularly listen to Daisy's podcast - 'You're booked' and I've also read one of her previous novels so I was intrigued when I saw this latest book and the title grabbed my attention.

In Pity Party, we meet Katherine. She is a young widow whose husband dies in an accident. Katherine's adorable mother-in-law and best friend decide the best course of action is to send her on a retreat to help her deal with what on the surface looks like the grief she's experiencing following the recent changes in her life. But is Katherine ready to let out all the emotions she's holding onto and share them with the other retreat participants? What unravels is a book about loss, grief, guilt, love, motherhood, family and the importance of belonging and being brave enough to let go and discover who you are and what you truly desire.

On the surface, the story is not a complex one, but like a swan swimming, there's lots going on underneath.

Daisy is a contemporary writer who creates engaging flawed characters that the reader can connect with and where we recognise pieces of ourselves in their psychological make-up. Big issues and themes are handled with a light touch and humour. There were real laugh out loud moments in this book especially when Katherine embarks on some primal screaming during the retreat. As well as connecting with her, I loved the other characters in particular her mother-in-law, the retreat room mate from hell that we've all met in real life as well as the retreat leader.

This book certainly made me laugh, but it also has some poignant moments.

4.5 stars

DNFd this halfway through because it was making me a bit too sad. Will pick it up again at another moment, since I did enjoy the writing and was curious to see where the story went.

My first book by Daisy Buchanan but it won’t be my last! I really enjoyed this. Funny but with some really touching, sad moments. I laughed and I even teared up a little. Also this was really well written, style wise. I didn’t love the retreat, if I’m being honest. Some aspects of it were a little cringe. But that’s easy to look past because the characters are just so relatable and full of depth. We all grieve differently, that’s one of the main messages I took from this. Thanks netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this.

Katherine is grieving, her husband died unexpectedly and although she feels like she is coping, everybody around her is worried. It turns out she isn’t thriving at her job like she thought, and her bosses insist she takes some time off. Although she has no idea what to do with her time, her mother-in-law and best friend have suggestions, including a wellbeing retreat.
However, the retreat isn’t exactly what she was expecting and instead of having massages and down time, she is faced with scream therapy, a difficult roommate and activities for sexual awakening. Definitely not a pity party.

I read this after seeing @eloise.reads thoroughly enjoy it, I had never read anything by Daisy Buchanan and this seemed really refreshing. I really enjoyed the writing, and it was such a good exploration of grief and how we all manage it differently. However, if you sent me to that retreat I would cringe. I liked how the truth of Katherine’s relationship was slowly revealed and left us furious for more. I’ll definitely read something else by her.

Pity Party is a story of life after tragedy. I really enjoyed the now and then narrative which slowly built a picture of Katherine's complicated feelings about her husband, her identity and her future. The comedy perfectly offsets the dark moments. If you wanted the fourth episode of Fleabag season 1 to be over three hundred pages worth of reading, this books is absolutely the one for you!

Daisy Buchanan is always a good pick for me so I knew I had to read this one. I absolutely devowed it and could not put it down.

Welcome to reality where Katherine is as relatable as they come with her very own Pity Party. Hands up if you've been there.. where to you life is appearing a tad rubbish, it feels like nothing is going right but everything is going wrong and you kinda feel outta control.
🙌 Yes me!!

Daisy definitely has a way to turn what could completely be a tear jerker into something hilarious and full of wit. Not saying I didn't feel some emotion I did.. Katherine had a bit of a shi**y time really.

I loved the characters, Katherine was flawed, funny, endearing and generally a well built character. Constance was hilarious, what more could you want from a mother in law, supportive, bold, honest, and a bit damn chaotic 🤣

Overall a superb balance of happy and sad all in a well written and thought out storyline. Can't wait to read more by this author.

Well written, engaging, funny and oh so relatable - Pity Party is a one big satisfying read from the fabulous Daisy Buchanan. I especially enjoyed the narrative when Katherine goes into ‘heartbreak rehab’ - leading to some wonderful set piece comedy situations and memorable characters.

Highly recommended. Many thanks to everyone concerned for allowing me to read and review this terrific novel.

I love Daisy! All of her stories are always such a delight and this was unlike any of the others. Thank you for the arc! Will be recommending.

Daisy Buchanan's "Pity Party" is a compelling and raw exploration of the complexities of modern womanhood and the struggle for self-acceptance. Buchanan masterfully crafts the story of a protagonist who navigates her thirties with a mix of humor, vulnerability, and poignant introspection. The book delves into themes of mental health, societal expectations, and personal growth, making it resonate deeply with readers who have ever felt the pressures of fitting into a predefined mold.

Buchanan's writing is both sharp and empathetic, creating a narrative that is as engaging as it is reflective. The protagonist's journey is relatable, filled with moments of despair, joy, and self-discovery. The dialogue is witty, and the situations, though sometimes heart-wrenching, are depicted with a realism that captures the reader's heart.

"Pity Party" stands out for its honest portrayal of the ups and downs of life, offering a mirror to those who have faced similar struggles. It's a book that not only entertains but also provides solace, reminding readers that it’s okay to have a pity party once in a while, as long as it leads to personal growth and understanding.

In essence, "Pity Party" is a must-read for anyone looking for a story that combines humor with heart, delivering a powerful message about self-love and resilience. Daisy Buchanan has undoubtedly penned a novel that is both timely and timeless.

This is the second novel I’ve read by the author and I think I’ve realised now that her books aren’t for me.
Katherine is widowed young and Pity Party follows Katherine after the funeral as she attends a wellness retreat and begins to let go and live life in the moment.
I found it difficult to immerse myself in the style of writing and could not relate to the characters or the humour.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

This was the first book I have read by this author and it won't be the last. Katherine is our heroine and she is a young widow - this book sounds like it should be a weepy, but it will make you laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time! Katherine faces a world of feelings whilst being afraid to let anyone else know or see them and the book is how she manages life without her husband Ben and how their life together ended.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

This is Daisy's best book yet in my opinion. I was not a fan of Instatiable, but I quite enjoyed Careering and I was excited to get to read Pity Party ahead of its release. I found this book really funny and witty and relatable. The pacing is great and the characters are well written and interesting.

Oh I adored this novel. I laughed and cried and related so hard to so much of it and so many of the characters. This is a contemporary Rachels Holiday and a fabulous novel in its own right.