Scan barcode
emzbooklife's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
kebmonty's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sharonleavy's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Set in contemporary London (2018), this story follows the Maguire family after a bombshell threatens to tear them apart.
Gerry and Linda are splitting up after raising two children to adulthood together.
Daughter Nicole is in contact with an ex and using alcohol as a crutch.
Son Jamie is due to marry his partner Lucy but has developed a crush on a work colleague.
The book is mainly set around different food or drink occasions when one or more family members are together (hence the title). My favourite character was Linda, I thought she was so real and lovely and I liked the parts that made her so human - the perfume, the baby toy. I felt for her.
I also liked Priya - the author could've easily made her so unlikeable but she didn't, and the story was the better for it. It's not a drama-filled action-packed novel - it's a slow, but engaging family drama. I liked it a lot.
Thank you to the publisher for the Netgalley arc.
Gerry and Linda are splitting up after raising two children to adulthood together.
Daughter Nicole is in contact with an ex and using alcohol as a crutch.
Son Jamie is due to marry his partner Lucy but has developed a crush on a work colleague.
The book is mainly set around different food or drink occasions when one or more family members are together (hence the title). My favourite character was Linda, I thought she was so real and lovely and I liked the parts that made her so human - the perfume, the baby toy. I felt for her.
I also liked Priya - the author could've easily made her so unlikeable but she didn't, and the story was the better for it. It's not a drama-filled action-packed novel - it's a slow, but engaging family drama. I liked it a lot.
Thank you to the publisher for the Netgalley arc.
barbarabarbara's review against another edition
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
isabelle's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Any way to describe the premise of this book makes it sound boring but it really wasn't! It's so well written, I finished it all in one go.
kayleighroxanne's review against another edition
4.25
I really enjoyed this book. It starts off fairly light-hearted but gradually becomes heavier as you follow the characters and discover that not only is there family drama but each character also has their own personal struggles.
I particularly liked that the book is split into seasons and follows the family over the course of the year, with each chapter focussing on a different family member. The author does a great job with character development and reflecting a realistic (albeit dysfunctional) family dynamic.
I particularly liked that the book is split into seasons and follows the family over the course of the year, with each chapter focussing on a different family member. The author does a great job with character development and reflecting a realistic (albeit dysfunctional) family dynamic.
mrsbookburnee's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I loved this dysfunctional, but endearing family, I hope we get to see more of the Maguire’s.
I really enjoyed how we saw the characters come together and dealt with all of the family drama! It gave an insight to their dynamics.
I found that I wanted to know more about all aspects of their lives, tho my favourite was Jamie! Such a sweetheart ❤️.
This is a fantastic debut, I love the authors writing style and I’m looking forward to reading her future work.
I also need to shout out the front cover! How fantastic! But also a waste of cake
I really enjoyed how we saw the characters come together and dealt with all of the family drama! It gave an insight to their dynamics.
I found that I wanted to know more about all aspects of their lives, tho my favourite was Jamie! Such a sweetheart ❤️.
This is a fantastic debut, I love the authors writing style and I’m looking forward to reading her future work.
I also need to shout out the front cover! How fantastic! But also a waste of cake
sadgrrrlreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
muriel_pritchett's review against another edition
4.0
This is the debut novel from Claire Powell and what an assured and excellently written debut it is.
Gerry and Linda Maguire are married and have two thirty something children. Nicole is a hard working, functional alcoholic, who never shies from giving her opinion, while Jamie is reticent and prone to people pleasing. When Linda and Gerry announce their separation after decades of marriage, Nicole and Jamie are stunned. We follow each of the equally flawed characters over the course of the year after the announcement and see how it affects them all.
This is a beautifully written, well paced story of a family, trying their best to cope after a life changing event. The details of the reason for the separation are drip fed to us, as all four lives continue against the backdrop of Brexit (one of reasons people suspect as the cause of the break up) and the run up to Jamie's wedding. I felt for and was frustrated by all of them, which is a testament to how good the writing is. It's full of dry humour and wit, as well as astute psychological observations of what it is to be human. Spoiler: we're a mess.
I'm already looking forward to see what Powell does next.
(Mild CW for ED and pregnancy loss)
Thanks to the author Claire Powell, the publisher @littlebrownbookgroup_uk for the digital ARC via @netgalley in exchange for an honest review. At the Table is available to buy now.
Gerry and Linda Maguire are married and have two thirty something children. Nicole is a hard working, functional alcoholic, who never shies from giving her opinion, while Jamie is reticent and prone to people pleasing. When Linda and Gerry announce their separation after decades of marriage, Nicole and Jamie are stunned. We follow each of the equally flawed characters over the course of the year after the announcement and see how it affects them all.
This is a beautifully written, well paced story of a family, trying their best to cope after a life changing event. The details of the reason for the separation are drip fed to us, as all four lives continue against the backdrop of Brexit (one of reasons people suspect as the cause of the break up) and the run up to Jamie's wedding. I felt for and was frustrated by all of them, which is a testament to how good the writing is. It's full of dry humour and wit, as well as astute psychological observations of what it is to be human. Spoiler: we're a mess.
I'm already looking forward to see what Powell does next.
(Mild CW for ED and pregnancy loss)
Thanks to the author Claire Powell, the publisher @littlebrownbookgroup_uk for the digital ARC via @netgalley in exchange for an honest review. At the Table is available to buy now.
becca_thegrimreader's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Set over the course of one year, “At The Table” tells the story of the Maguire family, parents Gerry and Linda and their adult children Nicole and Jamie. When Gerry and Linda announce their separation after over thirty years of marriage the family are plunged into turmoil. Nicole immediately takes her father’s side and refuses to speak to Linda, while her hard-partying and drinking start to catch up with her. Jamie starts to question everything about himself, especially his upcoming marriage.
This is definitely about family drama in all it’s messiness. Powell creates vivid and shockingly real characters, with each suffering their own set of problems. Each chapter is told from a different member of the family’s point of view, and helps to create these wonderful fleshed out characters. Although I did come to love each of the characters, my heart went out to Jamie while reading this. To watch a character to begin to suffer with depression and anxiety is tough, but when no one in the book seems to notice his mental health deteriorating is incredible hard. I felt that his storyline was very well written and I would read a book through his POV in a heartbeat. Though there are some funny moments in the book, the emotional and mental issues the characters go through far outweighs anything humorous. This book portrays its characters experiencing their toughest moments and the emotional depth of these characters is truly stunning.
This is definitely about family drama in all it’s messiness. Powell creates vivid and shockingly real characters, with each suffering their own set of problems. Each chapter is told from a different member of the family’s point of view, and helps to create these wonderful fleshed out characters. Although I did come to love each of the characters, my heart went out to Jamie while reading this. To watch a character to begin to suffer with depression and anxiety is tough, but when no one in the book seems to notice his mental health deteriorating is incredible hard. I felt that his storyline was very well written and I would read a book through his POV in a heartbeat. Though there are some funny moments in the book, the emotional and mental issues the characters go through far outweighs anything humorous. This book portrays its characters experiencing their toughest moments and the emotional depth of these characters is truly stunning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Mental illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts