8/17/11

GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: After the Party by Lisa Jewell

Description

Eleven years ago, Jem Catterick and Ralph McLeary fell deeply in love. They thought it would be forever, that they’d found their happy ending. As everyone agreed, they were the perfect couple. Then two became four, and an apartment became a house. Romantic nights out became sleepless nights in. And they soon found that life wasn’t quite so simple anymore. But through it all, Jem and Ralph still loved each other. Of course they did.
Now Jem is back at work part-time as a talent agent. Ralph, a successful painter, is struggling to come up with new, hopefully groundbreaking, work for his upcoming show. But the unimaginable has happened. Two people who were so right together are starting to drift apart And in the chaos of family life, Jem feels like she’s losing herself, while Ralph, stuck on the sidelines, feels like he’s lost his muse altogether. Something has to change. As they try to find a way back to each other, back to what they once had, they both become momentarily distracted—but maybe it’s not too late to recapture happily ever after…

About the Author

Lisa Jewell is the international bestselling author of nine novels, including Ralph's Party, Thirtynothing, and One-Hit Wonder. She was born and raised in north London, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. Visit her website at www.lisa-jewell.co.uk.

Details

  • Paperback: 464 pages
  • Publisher: Atria Books; Original edition (August 16, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1451609108
  • ISBN-13: 978-1451609103
SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Lisa Jewell's latest book, After the Party picks up about 10 years after Ralph's Party ended.  You don't necessarily have to read that one first, but it helps set the stage.  Jem and Ralph now have a boy and a girl after several miscarriages and they should be happy, but both of them find the spark is gone and something is not quite right in their relationship.  Jem never did get a proper wedding since Ralph never believed in a big production to define their relationship which is a sore point for Jem.  The story is told be each character with their own insecurities shining through and coloring each chapter.  So one day, Ralph decides he need to go capture his artistic spirit, leaves his family and runs away to Los Angeles to visit Smith, his and Jem's old flatmate.  Jem is left in turmoil, questions her very existence and has her own mini mid life crisis.  Ralph has a spiritual awakening while Jem finds strength.  They both meet a member of the opposite sex that either help or hinder the situation.  The main questions is:   will they work it out without these outside forces?

I talk to my books when I read.  I yell at the characters, I cry with them, I laugh with them.  You don't want to be around me when I read since when I like a book, I have noisy conversations with them. I had several yelling sessions while reading After the Party, telling Ralph and Jem to just grow up and behave since they are now parents. Every time the couple was just about to be on the same page, there would be a misunderstanding and causes them both to soar out of control.  I kept thinking "this is so real - I know couples who have had these same issues".   This is just a wonderfully written story full of emotions that is perfect for this time of year!  If you enjoy Madeleine Wickham, Harriet Evans or Hester Browne, you are going to adore this author as well. 

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK? 

Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a reliable  US mailing address (no PO Boxes, sorry)
Contest ends on 9.2.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 9.3.11
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email (from BookHounds@hotmail.com) or a new winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is sponsored by Atria books and ONE copy is available.

Complete the below form
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64 comments:

  1. Thanks for the giveaway. I hate being the first to leave a comment.

    musicalfrog at comcast.net

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  2. Tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/103927831947517952
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

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  3. Oh I just love the sound of this!! Thank you for the giveaway!
    -Carly Waid
    carlymartellowaid(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well, I enjoy all three of those authors now, so I would love to win and read this! You rarely steer me wrong! Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  5. Thanks for the giveaway!! This book sounds awesome!

    teddybrgrrl@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks! Awesome giveaway
    I shared it!
    FB: http://www.facebook.com/groups/255214604488573/?view=permalink&id=267205623289471
    Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/LzzMrtnz/status/103963398592667648

    Lissette_125(AT)hotmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great review. I will add this to my TBR list.

    lag110 at mchsi dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hope I win this!
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Tweetie:
    https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/104004327038918656
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sounds good - adding to the TBR list. Thanks for the giveaway!

    kacbooks(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/104186223052062720
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

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  12. Awesome giveaway! I loved Ralph's Party, so it would be great to win this one and pick up where the last book left off. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  13. https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/104357047960735745

    Today on the Tweeter!
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  14. Daily e:
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  15. This sounds like a good read. Thanks for the giveaway!!

    nineteen19 at blackfoot dot net

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  16. Tweet
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    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

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  17. Thanks for the giveaway!

    mary_reiss @ hotmail.com

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  18. Daily e:
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  19. https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/104741461358161920
    daily tweet!
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  20. Tweet
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  21. Daily entry 8/21. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Love the new background and color!

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  22. Tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/105353279214596096
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

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  23. Love your review Mary...and the new look, awesome...now I want to read the book!!
    Clio

    ReplyDelete
  24. Today's tweet:
    https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/105422111627153408
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  25. Daily entry 8-21

    Lizzi0915 at aol dot com

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  26. i didn't know the book, it sounds interesting. thanks

    ReplyDelete
  27. Daily entry 8/22. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  28. Tweet
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    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

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  29. Daily Entry 8/22

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

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  30. Tweetie:
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    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  31. Daily entry 8/23. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  32. Tweet
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  33. Daily e
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  34. Today's tweetie:
    https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/106196718743339008
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  35. Daily entry 8/24. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  36. Tweet
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    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

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  37. Tweeted:
    https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/106547624026456064
    patricia dot mariani dot esq @gmail.com

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  38. daily e:
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  39. Daily entry 8/25. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  40. Tweet
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  41. Daily entry 8/25

    Lizzi0915 at aol dot com

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  42. Tweet
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  43. Thanks for the giveaway!
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

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  44. today's tweetie: https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/107280816148725760
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  45. Tweet
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  46. Tweetie for today:

    https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/107653366703861760

    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  47. Daily entry 8/28. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  48. Daily t:
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    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  49. daily e
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  50. Daily entry 8/29. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  51. Tweet
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  52. Daily entry... Thanks for the giveaway!
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

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  53. Daily entry 8/31. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  54. Tweet
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  55. Daily entry 9/1. Thanks!
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  56. Daily entry 9-1

    Lizzi0915 at aol dot com

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  57. Tweet
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  58. Today's tweetie:
    https://twitter.com/#!/CapitalismRox/status/109439203321978880
    patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

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  59. Daily entry 9/2. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  60. Thanks for the giveaway :)
    I really enjoy books about marital/family dynamics

    monagargATyahooDOTcom

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  61. Tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/Kulmona/status/109624240885612544

    monagargATyahooDOTcom

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  62. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Tweet! Link:
    http://twitter.com/#!/NancyeDavis/status/109834779154841600

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  63. CLIO --

    An email has been sent to the lucky people named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam). The winner(s) has 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

    Thanks to all who entered.

    PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!

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