st3jam 's review for:

The Party Upstairs by Lee Conell

3.0

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[b:The Party Upstairs|51620186|The Party Upstairs|Lee Conell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1594330735l/51620186._SY75_.jpg|70682391] is—complete with an art shot with a rhino head, pigeon angst, quests for self-discovery, and family struggles, all set against the weirdly glorious and harsh backdrop of the NYC elite—equal parts poignant, funny, relevant and reasonable. I rooted for Ruby (despite her weirdly proximal relationship to wealth), and prison librarian Debra, and salt-of-the-earth Martin, and delightfully marxist Lily. At the heart of [a:Lee Conell|16761402|Lee Conell|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/f_50x66-6a03a5c12233c941481992b82eea8d23.png]'s debut is Martin and Ruby's wholesome father-daughter bond—love that is clumsy and messy and heartbreakingly real.