This book was one that had me gripped right away, it was such an intense and exhilarating and twisty read overall.

It was an easy read, with relatively simple language, but I did also notice a number of editing errors which wasn't ideal. I didn't particularly like the characters or relationships and overall this book felt a bit nothing to me. Overall 3 stars

Thank you NetGalley! I loved the premise of this book. It started out great. But I kind if became bored with the storyline and the characters and couldn’t finish it

This book fell short for me. I had anticipated a psychological thriller, but it didn’t truly become one until about 60% of the way through, and even then, it didn’t have the excitement I had anticipated. While I appreciated the underlying concept of the story, its execution left me unengaged and uninterested. The writing style lacked the smooth flow I prefer, instead feeling choppy and forced.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own!

Very twisty interesting fast paced book however I kinda struggled with the disconnects and also the frustration I had with most of these characters kept me on edge.

The Menu meets Revenge with a sprinkle of Harry Potter/Malfoy rivalry. Fast-paced thriller that highlights trauma and human desire for emotions so strong, they could often blind the person and who they truly are or could have been.

I've enjoyed reading the story between Lily and Stig that started as a failing marriage, attempting to find a spark again. What I truly enjoyed is author's ability to shift perspective on character building and how we feel about their motives. What started out as a simple want to make her husband happy, spiraled into a timeline shifts - exposing us to the past and present's consequences.

Overall, a great read for fans of domestic thrillers and although I wish there could have been a little more common sense in our main characters and frustrating moments of their decisions, I'm glad I had more exposure into the author's mind.

Positives
Plot: Premise is great. Love the idea of the chef inserting himself into various parts of the plot and scenes.
Characters: They are written in a way that the reader understands motivations and decisions.
Food scene!

Could be Improved
I thought it was just the beginning of the book, but there is a consistent issue of disconnect between events. While character motivations are clear, there isn't an intrinsic "why" and the continuity is disjointed.

The book does keep the reader through the thriller concept.

Lily is so excited as she has a table at the restaurant of a famous celebrity chef, Hector. Stig her husband doesn’t want to go, he hates going to fancy places. When Hector invites them to the open table seating Lily is so happy. This was a fast paced thriller, a bit slow at the start, but when you start the back story it’s fun. Didn’t see that coming. The lies that were told in this book was huge. I liked the twists. A chilling 4 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

The premise attracted me - a disconnected couple go to a dinner at a famous chef's restaurant to celebrate their anniversary. The chef inserts himself into their lives in various ways.

I think the problem for me was the plot became disjointed about 70 percent in. The viewpoints changed and I think maybe Lily should have been the singular viewpoint. It became confusing after a while and I lost interest.

All of the characters are unlikeable, which was okay, but I really wasn't rooting for anyone by the time the action started.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an e-copy of THE DINNER PARTY to review.

I rate THE DINNER PARTY three out of five stars.

The Dinner Party hooks you from the start with the tension in Stig and Lily’s marriage, keeping you eager to see where their story will go. As suspicion and secrets build, Stig remains a mystery, making you question everything right along with Lily. The deeper she digs, the faster her past mistakes start catching up with her.

Lily isn’t always the easiest character to root for, but you can definitely understand her choices. It’s easy to see why she was drawn to Hector’s charm and wealth, but she also ignored the warning signs for far too long. When she finally faces reality, you can’t help but wish she had seen the truth sooner.

The story keeps you hooked with short, bingeable chapters, and while the ending wasn’t exactly what I hoped for, it still offered a sense of closure. The journey itself made it a worthwhile read!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’m fresh off a Freida McFadden binge and love reading fast-paced domestic thrillers to unwind after work, so The Dinner Party caught my eye because it seemed reminiscent of The Menu. Tbh, throw a bold, basic typeface in all caps on the cover with a simple graphic behind it, and color me intrigued.

The Dinner Party book starts with Lily and her husband Stig celebrating their anniversary at the exclusive restaurant of celebrity chef Hector Bolson-Woods. As Lily becomes more intrigued by Hector, her relationship with Stig starts to unravel.

While I found the story engaging and it kept me turning pages, it felt a bit stretched in parts, and the writing could be tightened up to make it more gripping. However, just like Freida’s books, I had to keep reading until I found out ***The Big Thing.*** Ultimately, it fell a little flat for me but was an escape from The Horrors nonetheless.

Thanks to NetGalley and BoldWood Books for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nina Manning’s “The Dinner Party” sets out to be a gripping psychological thriller, but much like an overcooked meal, it fails to deliver a satisfying experience. While the premise is intriguing—a dinner party among friends that unravels into a night of secrets and suspense—the execution leaves much to be desired, particularly in one of the novel’s key moments: the restaurant Nina Manning’s The Dinner Party sets out to be a gripping psychological thriller, but much like an overcooked meal, it fails to deliver a satisfying experience. While the premise is intriguing—a dinner party among friends that unravels into a night of secrets and suspense—the execution leaves much to be desired, particularly in one of the novel’s key moments: the restaurant scene.

The table at the restaurant should have been the setting for a tense, pivotal moment. Instead, it feels flat, forced, and ultimately underwhelming. The interactions around the table lack the depth and natural tension that a scene like this demands. Rather than escalating suspense, the dialogue feels contrived, the conflicts predictable, and the pacing sluggish. What should be a claustrophobic, pressure-cooker moment of psychological unraveling instead feels like a series of surface-level exchanges with little emotional weight.

Beyond the weak execution of this scene, the novel as a whole suffers from uneven pacing and characters who struggle to break free from cliché. The twists are either telegraphed too early or land without enough build-up to be impactful. While Manning’s writing has potential, The Dinner Party ultimately fails to serve up the tension and intrigue it promises.

If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that truly grips you, there are far better options on the menu.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Lily Leonard and her husband Stig are celebrating a wedding anniversary. He surprises her with beautiful piece of jewelry and she in turn plans special dinner reservations at the posh restaurant of world renowned chef Hector Bolson-Woods. Lily is hoping to save their failing marriage with this surprise but she gets a reaction from her husband she did not expect. He is shocked and angered by her choice of restaurant and after dinner tells her he doesn’t want to ever dine here again. So when a private invitation to dine at the chef’s own home arrives, Lily is excited and tries to convince her husband to go. What is his aversion to Hector and what secrets is he hiding from her about his past and a possible link to the chef? Lily is attracted to and impressed by Hector..but does she really know this man and what lies behind his charming ways. This was a fast and very entertaining novel with lots of twists and a great ending!

Some interesting ideas, dark themes and despicably engaging characters make for a strong foundation. The strands are not always brought together in a way which allows the reader to really keep focused, which is a bit distracting.

I did not like one single character in this book. I couldn't stand any of those despicable folks and didn't really care about them. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

I enjoyed reading and it is a quick read that, while might be predictable, is entertaining. I wish the ended felt a little less rushed. It seemed as if the book went from “plot building” to “peak” in only a few chapters which made it feel like there were a few plot holes.


Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC read.

I quite liked this book at first but as it went on I found it a little scatty and all over the place. The past tense stuff was a bit far fetched but overall, it was interesting enough to keep me invested to the end. It's like a nightmare situation for Foodies! Bit far fetched but an OK read.

After reading my first Nina Manning book (The House Mate) and really enjoying it, I was so excited when I came across The Dinner Party!

The story follows Lily and husband Stig, who visited a popular restaurant for their anniversary, little did they know this visit would stir up a lot of secrets and surprises from the past.

It goes from Lily's to Lily and Stigs POV halfway through the book 👀

It seems that Lily is upset at Stig for the majority of the book for his own misgivings, despite Lily having a few of her own!

For me it was more of a domestic/family thriller than a psychological one

Overall, I was slightly underwhelmed by this book, despite not predicting the ending!

A good read, but not my favorite. While it had an interesting and intriguing premise… it just fell flat for me. I did finish the book and felt like it was pretty predictable.

The Dinner Party is an exceptional thriller that delves into the intricacies of human development, trauma, and the multifaceted nature of family dynamics. This narrative courageously addresses themes such as the formative years of a child, the enduring impact of trauma, the transition into adulthood, the often unspoken complexities within familial relationships, and the pursuit of individual achievements. It is a story that possesses the potential to be both polarizing and captivating.

As I immersed myself further in the narrative, I found my allegiance to the characters increasingly ambiguous. Each individual is portrayed with authentic flaws, prompting reflection on the universal truth that imperfection is inherent in all of us. This thriller focuses on depicting challenges and empathy.

This book may be easily overlooked by those without personal experience or sensitivity to the subjects of adolescent trauma. However, The Dinner Party offers a compelling and thought-provoking reading journey for readers attuned to these profound themes. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to those seeking a thriller that not only entertains but also deeply reflects the complexities of human nature and familial bonds.