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This book primarily evokes life on campus in the 70s and the repercussions that spiralled out following a tragic event.

It's not necessarily a bad book, but it completely failed to seduce me. The characters bored me stiff and I didn't like any of them.

Not for me, sadly.
⭐⭐ 2 stars

#pop22 - featuring a party
@Cinfhen @Megabooks @KarenUK @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @jenniferw88 @Cortg @Laughterhp @4thhouseontheleft

Not sure if this will be completed bk for 21 as I am now in my annual end of yr chunkster. A story abt a girl who goes to university in the early 70s and the friends she meets, the opinions clothes and behaviours she adopts. A dramatic event then shapes the rest of her life and we follow both the uni years and the subsequent life she leads. An interesting reflection on how influential those 3 years become and an enjoyable read.

A number of friends on GR gave this 4 or 5 stars so take my comments with a grain of salt! Part 1 of this book - 150 pages - I really liked. The protagonist Adele‘s childhood through to university years told with interesting details. In Part 2 of 80 pages it‘s pretty much a rush from 21yo to late 50s and mostly summarised - Part 3 is a late 50s revisit to university and investigating an incident that had happened. ⬇️

“I should not underestimate the power of women‘s friendship, even when the lipstick bled into the lines around their mouths and their face powder stood in dusty crevices around their noses.”

🙌 This is a teenagers realisation. I‘d add in the wisdom amongst older women too - while so frequently cast as invisible and purposeless in the Western world.

A well written quick read providing an intelligent reflection of women's friendship, secrecy, deceit and lies in recent history. I give "Upstairs at the Party" a positive 4 stars.

My full review is up on my blog, check it out to read more! ?

A blast from the past to read about university life in the 70s. The author‘s use of description was evocative for me. The author‘s development of the narrative as her protagonist delves into her past and comes to realise how incompetently mental health issues were dealt with is structured well and poignantly. A very good read.

Holiday Reading: review on Instagram! ☀️📚