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junjun10's review against another edition
3.0
The After Party is a page-turner in the purest sense, but it may leave something to be desired. For me, this was the case. I burned through the book, excited to see what happened next, but the reveal happens in a way that isn't fun for the reader, and seemed there just because it had to be. I guess that's how the two Joans interact for most of this book - in hindsight, everything seemed to be stringing along because of a few events in the past, and not in a moving way. If you're looking for a book of an old friendship in a realistic historical setting, then this is an alright read.
babayagareads's review against another edition
3.0
I would have given this book a solid 3.5 if the option was available. I do feel that the style is far above average, but there's simply too much woman on woman hate. It's reflective of the times, but personally, it did not hook me. I never went to bed pining to read just one more chapter, and the characters were neither people I loved nor people I loved to hate. However, I recommended it to my grandmother, and she loved it so much that she asked for other things by this author. Definitely worth reading, but not the top of my spring reading list. I received this book in a goodreads giveaway ARC from the publishing agency and loved having the opportunity to read it before it's official release.
audiobook_addict's review against another edition
4.0
This was one of those books that gradually pulls you in. Very much like Joan Fortier herself, this book has an ever-growing mangetism that slowly pulls you to the very climactic center. But the resolve is beautiful in it's glory like the time and era this book takes place in. It reminds me at times of Gone With the Wind in it's sweeping majesty and writing, and at times, the Help in how even the smallest characters interact with each other. This one will stick with me for a while. It also has that Grat Gadsby feel, in it's almost surreal at times atmosphere with the Shamrock Hotel and all the ambiance that had. The narrator here, Dorothy Dillingham Blue did an amazing job. She became Joan as much as she epitomized Cece Buchanan. I enjoyed this and have recommended and sent it to patrons, and told friends about this one since I picked it up. Read it, you won't regret it. Now, I'm off to find another, as they say here in Alabama, "good un." Happy reading yall.
jenrazzle's review against another edition
2.0
This book is well written but not particularly engrossing.
spookybookwitch's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
Kind of slow. I liked it for the glamour of high society in the 50s but it just was...anticlimactic. Meh.
Kind of slow. I liked it for the glamour of high society in the 50s but it just was...anticlimactic. Meh.
missamandamae's review against another edition
3.0
I definitely got engrossed in the idea of this book, as I always perk up at 1950s relationship stories. But as I got past the halfway mark, it seemed off. I was invested in these characters, but suddenly I could predict what was going to happen and it was a letdown to be proven right. Joan - the mysterious and worshipped friend in the story - seemed like a twist on a John Green novel, with the protagonist narrator borderline obsessed with the idea of the 1950s Texas version of a manic pixie dream girl, only to have illusions squashed during the course of the story. It was a little annoying, frankly. I did LOVE reading about the lives of these rich women, who weren't turned into caricatures. But ultimately the build up did not quite match the denouement.
meggya's review
2.0
This book was so disappointing! The description promises glittering 1950s Texas glamour, following two friends as the navigate life, love, marriage and motherhood together. I was hoping for a story as good as The Help. Instead I got one woman's account of a troubled friend that she is co-dependent on and a lot of whining about why that friend doesn't notice heeeeerrrr. I read it to the end hoping that the story picked up eventually. It didn't.
plaidpladd's review
3.0
The premise of this book was better than the execution. I would have rated it lower, but I liked that it was set in Houston. It was fun to read about places I'm familiar with.
site63seer's review
4.0
Good summer read
Book was good and interesting so I read it fairly fast. Houston socialites in the 1950’s. Enjoyed this story of friends.
Book was good and interesting so I read it fairly fast. Houston socialites in the 1950’s. Enjoyed this story of friends.