The Dinner List, Rebecca Searle
Hardcover, 288 pages
Expected publication: September 11th 2018 by Flatiron Books
Source: ARC from Shelf Awareness
When Sabrina Nielsen arrives at her thirtieth birthday dinner she finds at the table not just her best friend, but also her favorite professor from college, her father, her ex-fiance, Tobias, and Audrey Hepburn.
At one point or another, we’ve all been asked to name five people, living or dead, with whom we’d like to have dinner. Why do we choose the people we do? And what if that dinner was to actually happen? These are the questions Sabrina contends with in Rebecca Serle’s utterly captivating novel, The Dinner List, a story imbued with the same delightful magical realism as Sliding Doors, and The Rosie Project.
As the appetizers are served, wine poured, and dinner table conversation begins, it becomes clear that there’s a reason these six people have been gathered together, and as Rebecca Serle masterfully traces Sabrina’s love affair with Tobias and her coming of age in New York City, The Dinner List grapples with the definition of romance, the expectations of love, and how we navigate our way through it to happiness. Oh, and of course, wisdom from Audrey Hepburn.
Who among us would pass up dinner with Audrey Hepburn? I know I could not miss that chance, so I was ready for this book the minute I read the description. I was expecting a fluffier more “chick lit” book than this really was. I found The Dinner List to be a book about love and loss, about growing up and friendship, and about what we learn to love from our parents. I loved this book so much. I laughed, I cried – I actually ignored my kid while I was riding the train with her so I could read it – something that has never happened.
Even though the night was of course magical – hello Audrey – it didn’t have so much whimsy as magical realism can. Not like reading Sarah Addison Allen for example. If magical realism isn’t your jam I wouldn’t let that steer you away. We move back and forth from the dinner party to Sabrina’s time with each guest. We see her falling in love, realizing she’s an adult and learning to say goodbye. I really did cry when the party ended and this will be a book I read again.
Listing the guests at my fantasy dinner party is a favorite game of mine. My husband and I fight about who would be worth the invitation or not. As of right now my fantasy dinner party guests are: Lucrezia Borgia, Madeleine Albright, Neil Gaiman and my dad. Fascinating conversation all around I am sure! I’d bring my husband as an honorable mention. Tell me who you’d invite to your party?
Thank you Shelf Awareness and Flatiron Books for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest opinion!
Gun In Act One 
I am never good at these types of hypothetical dinner parties, mostly because the idea of a dinner party sends my social anxiety into overdrive. Have dinner with at least one random stranger? No thanks!
I do have this one to read and am looking forward to reading it now more than ever!
What a great premise for a novel! Now to think about who my guests would be…
I have such a hard time with these dinner party questions! I know I’d want to invite Oscar Wilde, but once you’ve invited Oscar Wilde, you’ve basically got all the conversation taken care of for the night. So I think I’d invite Oscar Wilde and then those of my friends who I think would enjoy him. Don’t want to dilute the experience. :p
I love this premise! Adding this to my TBR for November.
As for my dinner party? That’s tough. I’d say Stephen Colbert (because he can talk to anyone), Stephen King, Cleopatra (so many questions), Elizabeth I, and Dorothy Parker (unless she’s a mean drunk).
I have expected fluffy things at times too and then it has not been. Which is good, (or bad if you really want fluff 😉