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A review by nglofile
Battle Royal by Lucy Parker
3.0
2.5 stars. Parker releases are usually among my drop-everything-and-enjoy reads, but the new marketing direction of this one had me a little suspicious. It seemed designed to bandwagon with the recent flood of light contemporary rom-coms, which are one thing, but I've spent years enthusiastically suggesting the London Celebrities series as a cut above the rest. Perhaps it's the beating my reading life has taken in the last two years, but though this was fine-ish, my fears appear to have been justified.
This has lightness, even a bit of the zany, but it lacks the snap and crackle I find irresistible in my escapism choices. Many a reader will disagree, but blending Great British Bake Off satire, Hallmark movie templates, The Crown-style family and relationship baggage, and no fewer than seven additional storylines for major or secondary characters dilutes the sharpness, poignancy, and wit I personally had come to adore.
This has lightness, even a bit of the zany, but it lacks the snap and crackle I find irresistible in my escapism choices. Many a reader will disagree, but blending Great British Bake Off satire, Hallmark movie templates, The Crown-style family and relationship baggage, and no fewer than seven additional storylines for major or secondary characters dilutes the sharpness, poignancy, and wit I personally had come to adore.