The Dinner Party

One of Lit Hub’s Most Anticipated Books of 2025
 
“Raw, compassionate, and compelling—what a beautiful world we live in where a book can be messy and tender all at once."—Lit Hub

“[A] powerful story of a woman’s suppressed rage that manifests over the course of one disastrous evening. . . . Raw emotion and legitimate anger . . . Van de Sandt’s exploration of the countless ways women diminish themselves so that the men in the room can take up space remains urgent, and Franca’s story, terrifyingly real.”—New York Times Book Review

“A vivid portrait of a woman’s trauma and recovery . . . As alcohol flows and tensions rise, Franca’s mental state unravels, and the narrative reaches a devastating climax. Van de Sandt weaves together Franca’s fragmented, often gruesome memories with a nuanced exploration of sexual violence. . . . Leaves readers with much to chew on.” 
 
 —Publishers Weekly

"Elegant . . . insightful prose."—Kirkus Reviews

"A slow-burn, time-shifting, suspenseful thriller . . . Tense and compelling."—Booklist

"[A] propulsive debut . . . With sharp prose and emotional clarity, The Dinner Party is the tale of one woman coming to know about herself and about life, a breathtaking, fast-paced tale of a woman's hurt and rage and anger and despair. . . A propulsive tale of female rage and becoming."—Shelf Awareness

"This formidable debut offers plenty to savor. . . . There are echoes here of Natasha Brown's astonishing debut Assembly, as well as Olivia Sudjic's Asylum Road.” 

“A diabolical twist is delivered on a silver platter. In conversation with Ottessa Moshfegh, Mona Awad, and Han Kang, Viola Van de Sandt's The Dinner Party is an interrogation of class, consent, and gender roles that’ll have you asking for seconds.”—Marie Claire

"What could have operated as a simple comedy of errors full of broken fridges, pompous guests and a wayward kitten, is revealed as something both far darker and more deeply emotionally compelling. A blistering debut.”—Marie Claire (UK)

"Beautifully written and brilliant on loneliness, grief and violence. Compelling.”—Daily Mail (UK)

“A can’t-put-down tale of female rage and body autonomy.”—Town & Country

"A tense, provocative debut.” —Mail on Sunday (UK)

"An unflinching read.” —The Mirror (UK)

"A powerful, provocative study of female rage unleashed. Franca's intoxicating tale is often darkly funny despite the subject matter.” 

“Mesmerizing . . . A visceral, powerful novel about grief and trauma and identity; it will make you cringe and flinch, laugh and cry.” —Naomi Kelsey, author of The Burnings

"Relentlessly engrossing and seething with suspense from the first to the very last word." —Charlotte Paradise, author of Overspill