Scan barcode
dottydilemma's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug use, and Eating disorder
daniellemclough's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
beckyjc's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
A friend told me this book was like Fight Club but instead of frustrated men living out their violent urges through secret fighting, it's frustrated women living out their consumption urges through secret feasting. I can see the comparison and as a woman I found this more relatable than Fight Club (though I also enjoyed that film).
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.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.
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.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Drug use
thedreamstar's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Drug use, and Sexual violence
earlgrey_rainbow's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
graceve's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
In the vein of My Year of Rest and Relaxation, Supper Club explores lost women in their twenties. The book is well paced and well-written although I felt I'd read similar stories before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Vomit
greydaze's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Incredible descriptions of food, fat liberation message and a grey-area friendship between two women.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence
More...