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theliterateleprechaun 's review for:
The Street Party
by Claire Seeber
What was meant to be a fun neighbourhood street party fund-raiser turns ugly when police are called and accusations and finger-pointing get out of control. Told in the first-person point of view from the three female party planners, readers soon realize that camaraderie and a sense of community are not within the grasp of those who live in Northgate Square. Ruby, Melissa and Nella are moms from very different backgrounds who struggle to keep the female bond intact while their children and husbands are actively applying pressure on it. Readers get to see the influence that 21st-century society has on these families. Things you read in supermarket magazines are played out in real-time at this party; harassment, sexting, alcohol abuse, drugs, and bullying. Readers also see anxious individuals who are willing to do whatever it takes to find their place and fit in. When we become aware that family takes a backseat to status and prestige, it becomes heartbreaking. The powerful influences of social media and brand name items mixed with secrets, lies, and scandal cause this already tension-filled event to explode.
I went into this read expecting a psychological thriller but got a character-driven, slow burn, women’s fiction read instead. It wasn’t a bad thing, just unexpected. Seeber explores the benefits of female friendship and the solidarity that many seek to achieve. On the flip side, she examines the characteristics of unforgiveness, jealousy and judgement that sometimes plague these friendships. We see how oftentimes women can be quick to judge one another and themselves and it’s to their detriment. I believe Seeber has put this neighbourhood under the spotlight to show (1) what we are capable of doing when we let our human nature go unchecked and (2) what is possible when we give each other opportunity for growth and redemption.
I was gifted this advance copy by Claire Seeber, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Publishes June 8, 2021.
I went into this read expecting a psychological thriller but got a character-driven, slow burn, women’s fiction read instead. It wasn’t a bad thing, just unexpected. Seeber explores the benefits of female friendship and the solidarity that many seek to achieve. On the flip side, she examines the characteristics of unforgiveness, jealousy and judgement that sometimes plague these friendships. We see how oftentimes women can be quick to judge one another and themselves and it’s to their detriment. I believe Seeber has put this neighbourhood under the spotlight to show (1) what we are capable of doing when we let our human nature go unchecked and (2) what is possible when we give each other opportunity for growth and redemption.
I was gifted this advance copy by Claire Seeber, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Publishes June 8, 2021.