Reviews

The After Party by Anton DiSclafani

caseysilk's review against another edition

4.0

This is a book that just stays with you long after the last page. Joan and CeCe are lifelong friends; Joan is the golden girl and CeCe is always in her shadow picking up the pieces. I loved the setting of this book - you could literally feel the Houston humidity when reading this book. The story goes in places I never saw coming and you will experience many different emotions along the way.

meghan111's review against another edition

2.0

Historical fiction about 1950s upper crust Houston society, focusing on two 25-year-old women who have been friends since early childhood. One is pretty, one is stunning. One is happy with her marriage and place in society, one hasn't married and longs to leave Houston society forever. Privileged lives make for sort of boring reading in this case - this book also doesn't handle race well, referring to archaic terms for black people but without ever exploring the issue, it's just sort of an aside. There are two African-American sisters who are nannies for the two main characters when they're children, and I would have loved for the book to be in whole or part about them.

kairwill's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lcannone's review against another edition

1.0

I hate to admit this...I borrowed this book from my local library because the cover caught my attention. (Bravo to the design team!). Based on the synopsis I thought I would like the setting: the era, Houston, etc. I absolutely could not find the main characters likeable. Joan was incredibly self-absorbed. The plot just did not capture my interest.

alethiologie's review against another edition

I can't rate this book because I spent the entire time reading it with the feeling I'd read this story before. Since it's a recent release I know I haven't.

absynthetix's review against another edition

4.0

I feel like this would have benefitted from another hundred or so pages to flesh out the ending. it felt rushed, with a huge amount of exposition that felt forced instead of earned. Great setting, though.

mariesreads's review against another edition

3.0

The setting and atmosphere are the best parts of this book--1950's Houston comes alive. I enjoyed that Cece might not be an entirely reliable narrator, as well. An entertaining novel with engaging characters.

msmullaney's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-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

4.0

thematinee's review against another edition

4.0

Starting this book during an all-too-short stay in Houston really helped me get a better appreciation of the setting. As for the picture it paints, one gets the sense that it was the sort of life Betty Draper and Joan Harris were aspiring to be a part of before the ground shifted under their feet.

A world where a secret like Joan Fortier's could be kept...before we felt the need to share every last detail of our own live...almost hard to fathom nowadays...

megancrusante's review against another edition

4.0

I am drawn to these stories of toxic friendships yet they make me uncomfortable, in a way of narrow escape that hits way too close.