The Dinner List

I was expecting more out of this. I feel like the revelation that Tobias was dead happened too soon. I can't keep rooting for a couple if one of them is dead, especially if they aren't really that great of a couple to begin with. I think if this book wasn't marketed as romance, I would have liked it more. The setting of the dinner with the 5 different people was interesting. The little sister's letters and deciding to have a relationship with her at the end was the only redeeming plot point. I just didn't like much else.

Another unexpected story set out in such an interesting way. Although i find the layout of the past/present to be slow moving, i deeply enjoyed this book. The focus on loss/grief in it's many different forms is presented so well. Rebecca Serle always has me tearing up

I don't usually enjoy the typical romance genre, but then again maybe this wasn't typical. I liked the use of the somewhat familiar concept of the five people (dead or alive) one would like to have dinner with and I thought it was a great way to have the main character work out her life relationships.

Sabrina is likable, relatable, and capable of admitting faults and growing.

I found the situation with her and Tobias almost too relatable with me and my guy but know we'll make it through.


Listened to via Hoopla

Where to start, where to start ..

I heard a lot about this one over the years and managed to snag a copy from a used bookstore about two years ago. It's since been sitting on my BOTM bookshelf and I finally decided to pick it up.

In the beginning, I was really loving this one. I was so caught up in everything Sabby and Tobias. It seemed like the perfect love story and maybe a chance dinner to try and rekindle their lost connection.

Over time, however, it started becoming more of a this may not really be a “meant-to-be” love story and the dinner became sad and sometimes redundant. As the evening progresses I started to care less and less about where Sabby and Tobias would actually end up.

I did love the overall theme of the book, and also loved the game that they played with each other. The game of ‘five'. Five words to say what they were feeling at that exact moment, always ending with the word love.

I am sure a lot of readers will, or have, enjoyed this one. Overall, it was an enjoyable read but nothing to rave about.

The writing was interesting, but the plotline was pretty boring and lacking. The only reason I made it through was it threw a sad twist in the middle of the book, but still never really did anything interesting with it.

This was pretty good. Definitely an interesting idea. I didn't really care for Sabrina though, and only kept reading because I wanted to know what happened, which I guess means I liked it? I know not everyone has to be likeable, but... she seemed very young and trying too hard for someone turning thirty.