Ralph's Party

This novel is very funny and makes you cringe several times with what the spanish call "verguenza ajena" (when you feel deeply embarrassed for the behavior of somebody else - I am sure all the teens will know all too well what I am talking about). The story and most of the characters are not believable at all, they work more like archetypes, but it's only fun fiction, right? So we do not expect the magnificient prose of Ian Mc Ewan here. I liked the more serious One Hit Wonder, was very disappointed by Thirty Nothing, but I am glad that I gave Lisa Jewell another shot with this one.

Ralph's party is a well-written, amusing, enjoyable story about a group of 20ish/30ish people who live near, or are somehow connected to, an apartment complex in London. Their stories are quite entertaining and told with a gentle wit. The main characters are Smith and Ralph, two roommates who add a third, Jem, a kooky and attractive young woman who believes that she is destined to marry one of them. This novel being a romantic comedy, she of course winds up with the wrong one at first, but ultimately sees the romantic truth (as do the other characters in the novel) at, you guessed it, Ralph's party. This book is a quick, non-taxing read, but I really enjoyed it. I kept thinking it would make a great movie, just as long as Hugh Grant somehow gets a part. If you are looking for a light, entertaining novel, Ralph's party is for you. Have fun.

For some reason I feel badly knocking this book because it is her first novel and she did write it because her friends encouraged her to follow her dream. For a first novel, it ain't bad. It doesn't have the same depth as the Shannon Olsen/Suzanne Finnamore/Anne Maxted novels of the world, but then I don't think it's supposed to (although that was my impression when I ordered it). It's a cute little tale about 6 twenty-something people in London who live in the same building whose lives only finally all intersect at the very end. It's sorta like Melrose place but with only one bad person (okay, maybe two), and not six. It's a quick read, there are some funny lines, and there are some cute little romances. One of my biggest irritations in novels is characters who do stupid things for no apparent reason and there is a little of that in this book, but I tend to attribute that more to Jewell's early development as a writer more than to anything else. It is a cute little story, I did enjoy it, but it's sorta intellectual cotton candy, if that makes sense- is great going down, but not terribly filling (but that's okay- cotton candy is still popular). I do think Jewell has great potential, and this really is a great first start. Keep it up!

Fun story, full of unique characters who are navigating the seas of romantic love. Highly recommend as a vacation book.

The people who live at [****] may not know each other personally but their lives intermingle through out this novel.Ralph and best friend Smith live in the basement flat and just got a new roommate Jemima. Ralph works from home and really doesn't have any kind ambition starts to snoop through Jemima room and reads her diaries. Upstairs from Ralph and Smith are Karl and Siobhan. They have been together for fifteen years. Karl is a dance instructor and just got a new job at the local radio station as a DJ. They seem happy on the outside of their relationship but on the inside they are keeping secrets from each other. Upstairs from Karl and Siobhan lives the very single Cheri. Smith has been seceretly in love with Cheri for the last five years. Yet he hasn't been able to utter a single word to her. Nine weeks after Christmas Ralph has invited all of them to his party. The night dosen't go as plan and secrets are being revealed.Ralph's Party is not a typical Lisa Jewell novel and was truely a fun and interesting read. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Atria Books for letting me read an advance copy of this novel.