Bad Manners
by Amy Beashel
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Pub Date 27 Mar 2025 | Archive Date 27 Mar 2025
Description
A men-only charity dinner. A clutch of young waitresses.
The jokes are uncomfortable. The hands linger. The collars loosen.
Behind closed doors, the wine flows.
The night is dark. The faces blur. The memories warp.
Behind closed doors, the money flows.
But revenge is sweet and justice is a burning flame.
Behind closed doors, the blood flows…
A fierce and addictive read about lust and power, the love we want versus the love we take, and the tinderbox secrets that hide so well in the heart of families, this is the searing new novel from the author of Spilt Milk.
Available Editions
EDITION | Ebook |
ISBN | 9780008526481 |
PRICE | £7.99 (GBP) |
PAGES | 320 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
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A book that depicts a woman’s life in a world made for and by men.
Such an emotive and inspirational read, that deals with such heavy topics in a light way.
It’s written in three different p.o.v’s: a mother, a daughter and a father. And we learn how each deal with the same issue in different ways.
It also depicts the problems of lack of communication. Especially between the character of daughter and father.
Themes: Body image; sexuality; sex; family; women in man’s world
This is just a book that everyone should read, men, women, teenagers. It’s a recurring problem that has yet to be dealt with.
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Powerful, important and difficult to read at points. Beashel doesn't shy away from the truth however ugly it is. I loved Spilt Milk and I loved this.
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"Bad Manners" by Amy Beashel follows the intertwining narratives of a British family and their relationship with sexism, violence, and activism. Cassandra, the 18-year-old daughter, has experienced her life falling apart after a night acting as a waitress at a dinner for privileged men. Eve, her mother, is grappling with her past and seeing her daughter in similar circumstances. Harry, the father, is faced with the harrowing realization that he is not, in fact, such a "nice guy".
This novel centers around sexism and many narratives parallel real-world events. Andrew Tate is explicitly mentioned. Cassandra mentions a court case that mirrors Depp vs Heart. The novel mentions two missing women, mirroring Sarah Everard and countless others. Something I appreciated about this novel is that Beashel takes an intersectional look at these issues. She understands how these experiences manifest differently for people of color.
While it does come as a gut-punch, I think the final page of this novel was a necessary addition, as it accurately reflects the fact that men often get away with their transgressions.
Overall, I found this to be a very well-written and realistic novel.
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I have loved her previous books, *Spilt Milk* and *We Are All Constellations*, and this one is just as great. It tackles important, timely issues, a great and gripping feminist book. The story is tense, emotional, and full of diverse characters with different perspectives. Definitely recommend!