angewilliamson's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Graphic: Sexual content, Addiction, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, Self harm, and Transphobia
Please never read this book. I’m so serious.freyanjani's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The book is wrapped as this female Fight Club-esque story, about women who made a Supper Club to eat (a lot) and take space. I do agree how the title misled what this book was about because the Supper Club itself only took up like probably 30% of the plot, and the rest focused on Roberta and the back and forth storytelling of her University times and current problems. But I didn’t mind it, to be honest. I think both aspects were perfectly balamced, but I do wish the Supper Club was more incorporated to Roberta’s plot.
My only strong feeling about this book is that it’s too relatable. Everything that Roberta narrates are so eerily… me. At times I keep thinking I hated the way she feels about certain things and I’m like “Wait, is it because I also think that way??”. Roberta’s so self-depricating and sad, and most of all she rarely believes in herself. Some parts of her thoughts are so embarrassing and negative and I keep realizing I’m only apalled because I am exactly the same. If this book makes you question Roberta’s personality and morals I think it might have hit you too close to home, at least it did with me.
Sometimes it’s also romanticizing a lot of harmful things, almost indulgent, like the part about self harm. But then again I think it does Roberta’s narrative some justice, after all the book Is from her pov. I do think if one was suicidal/actively SH, this would’ve been triggering.
Spoiler
There was a part where there’s a trans character as well but the author went back to using their old pronouns just to give this dramatic transformational effect that I thought wasn’t necessary but I digress because I don’t have a place to say whether that’s ethical or not as I am a cis woman.All in all, it was satisfying but there are too much ehhhh moments that didn’t make it spectacularly good. It’s a solid read and I think it gives a unique perspective on late adulthood coming of age, people in their 20s deserves more of these stories. If you liked Normal People, My Year of Rest and Relaxations, or any other book with a passive—almost unlikeable—female narrator and main character that’s deeply sad and more than a little fucked up; this is for you.
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
dottydilemma's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug use, and Eating disorder
daniellemclough's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
beckyjc's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Consumption is a key theme throughout: consuming food, consuming friendships, consuming desires. I found it an interesting conceit. Women are made to feel that public space isn't theirs, that their bodies are subject to others' wills, that their appetites aren't appropriate or decent. So the lead character decides, after a traumatic event, to start secret supper clubs where she and a select number of friends occupy empty spaces at night and gorge on skip-sourced food as a rebellious art project where they abandon all limits and quite literally eat until they are sick.
It's subversive and funny in parts, and the supper clubs themselves escalate in scale and debauchery through the book...though I have to admit not quite to the levels I expected.
Spoiler
Perhaps that's the point? That they can only ever bring temporary respite? I wasn't convinced the characters were any happier for them by the end.The central friendship is recognisable in all its complexity and insecurity. The interludes where the origin and techniques of certain dishes are described in loving detail are a genuine joy to read. Our relationship with food and its link with our society and culture is truly fascinating and this book explores this well.
It would be a good read for a open-minded book group I think. I would definitely recommend it.
Spoiler
Be aware that there are scenes in here of sexual violence, of self harm, of behaviour that verges on eating disorders which make for uncomfortable reading.Graphic: Rape, Self harm, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Drug use
thedreamstar's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Drug use, and Sexual violence
earlgrey_rainbow's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
graceve's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Eating disorder, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Vomit
greydaze's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence