Book Blurb:
It’s been over two years since Effie’s beloved parents got divorced, destroying the image of the happy, loving childhood she thought she had. Since then, she’s become estranged from her father and embarked on a feud with his hot (and much younger) girlfriend, Krista. And now, more earth-shattering news: Greenoaks, the rambling Victorian country house Effie called home her whole life, has been sold. When Krista decides to throw a grand “house cooling” party, Effie is originally left off the guest list–and then receives a last-minute “anti-invitation” (maybe it’s because she called Krista a gold-digger, but Krista totally deserved it, and it was mostly a joke anyway). Effie declines, but then remembers a beloved childhood treasure is still hidden in the house. Her only chance to retrieve it is to break into Greenoaks while everyone is busy celebrating. As Effie sneaks around the house, hiding under tables and peeping through trapdoors, she realizes the secrets Greenoaks holds aren’t just in the dusty passageways and hidden attics she grew up exploring. Watching how her sister, brother, and dad behave when they think no one is looking, Effie overhears conversations, makes discoveries, and begins to see her family in a new light.
My Review: 3.5 stars
The Party Crasher by Sophie Kinsella is a light and entertaining read (listen) that kept me company while driving. This the first book I’ve read by Kinsella and was thrilled the Penguin Random House had it available for review.
Effie, the protagonist, is losing all her cornerstones, which is really messing with her well-being. Her parents’ divorce, the new woman in her dad’s life, her ex-boyfriend becoming uber famous and the selling of her beloved childhood home is too much to deal with. Her beloved stacking dolls are still in the house and it’s her mission to get them without being seen.
A lot of drama ensues as Effie sneaks into the “house-cooling” party that put her in many comical situations. Most of it was amusing, but equally predictable. There were some tender moments as Effie restores relations with many of the characters. I really enjoyed the theme of leaving your childhood home and the feelings that it elicits. So much of our life is tied to that structure and for many, it’s not easy to say goodbye.
Cute, easy book to listen to.
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