𝓃𝓎𝒶 ✨🎄

hahah I was feeling inspired 💖 thank you to my biggest supporter always 🪄

(and you give the best treats 😏🤭)

Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake synopsis: Good girls deserve a treat. Every member of The House, the most exclusive sorority on campus, and all its alumni, are beautiful, high-achieving, and universally respected. After a freshman year she would rather forget, sophomore Nina Kaur knows being one of the chosen few accepted into The House is the first step in her path to the brightest possible future. Once she's taken into their fold, the House will surely ease her fears of failure and protect her from those who see a young woman on her own as easy prey. Meanwhile, adjunct professor Dr. Sloane Hartley is struggling to return to work after accepting a demotion to support her partner's new position at the cutthroat University. After 18 months at home with her newborn daughter, Sloane's clothes don’t fit right, her girl-dad husband isn’t as present as he thinks he is, and even the few hours a day she's apart from her child fill her psyche with paralyzing ennui. When invited to be The House’s academic liaison, Sloane enviously drinks in the way the alumnae seem to have it all, achieving a level of collective perfection that Sloane so desperately craves. As Nina and Sloane each get drawn deeper into the arcane rituals of the sisterhood, they learn that living well comes with bloody costs. And when they are finally invited to the table, they will have to decide just how much they can stomach in the name of solidarity and power.

Girl Dinner is a dark satire, far from a typical horror read, about an elite sorority built on perfection and one horrific secret, told through two women in beautifully distinct POVs as they confront how much they’ll “consume” to fit in.
I’m starting this review a little differently, by telling you who this book is not for: if you thought Alone with You in the Ether was boring (where that one was philosophical, this one is political and feminist) and if you need a more traditional plot arc to stay engaged. And definitely not for anyone who jumps straight to “not all men".
Fifty percent into the book and it still felt mostly like commentary and definitely not a standard narrative. I kind of loved that, but I get why it might feel misleading for some people or just not everyone’s cup of tea. The “horror” label especially feels like a trap. Sure, the core concept is shocking, but the book doesn’t lean into horror in the traditional sense. And just to be clear, plenty of metaphorical or literary horror novels still get graphic. This one simply chooses not to. Blake keeps the horror symbolic, so if you want something with a strong message and real horror vibes or graphic moments, there are better picks. Despite the amount of dialogue that digs into reflecting and exposing the issues, I never once felt like Blake was preaching.
In the end, I ended up loving this book, even though it’s not easy to read or digest (pun fully intended). It’s heavy on commentary and light on plot, yet it still manages to surprise you (that ending!?) and make you reflect. The messaging isn’t subtle and the metaphors aren’t obscure, and it’s guaranteed to make you feel something without leaving everything wide open to interpretation. So it’s not the kind of book where you’re left decoding hidden meanings or overthinking every metaphor. But if you’re going in expecting a typical horror tale, you’ll probably end up disappointed, and maybe even a little "hungry" for more.

#23 - "Girl Dinner" by Olivie Blake

Satire / "Horror" / Social Commentary

★★★★☆ (4/5)

loved it, but if you’re going in expecting a typical horror tale, you’ll probably end up disappointed, and maybe even a little "hungry" for more.

↓ review below

(or here: www.goodreads.com/review/show/...)

Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake synopsis: Good girls deserve a treat. Every member of The House, the most exclusive sorority on campus, and all its alumni, are beautiful, high-achieving, and universally respected. After a freshman year she would rather forget, sophomore Nina Kaur knows being one of the chosen few accepted into The House is the first step in her path to the brightest possible future. Once she's taken into their fold, the House will surely ease her fears of failure and protect her from those who see a young woman on her own as easy prey. Meanwhile, adjunct professor Dr. Sloane Hartley is struggling to return to work after accepting a demotion to support her partner's new position at the cutthroat University. After 18 months at home with her newborn daughter, Sloane's clothes don’t fit right, her girl-dad husband isn’t as present as he thinks he is, and even the few hours a day she's apart from her child fill her psyche with paralyzing ennui. When invited to be The House’s academic liaison, Sloane enviously drinks in the way the alumnae seem to have it all, achieving a level of collective perfection that Sloane so desperately craves. As Nina and Sloane each get drawn deeper into the arcane rituals of the sisterhood, they learn that living well comes with bloody costs. And when they are finally invited to the table, they will have to decide just how much they can stomach in the name of solidarity and power.

Girl Dinner is a dark satire, far from a typical horror read, about an elite sorority built on perfection and one horrific secret, told through two women in beautifully distinct POVs as they confront how much they’ll “consume” to fit in.
I’m starting this review a little differently, by telling you who this book is not for: if you thought Alone with You in the Ether was boring (where that one was philosophical, this one is political and feminist) and if you need a more traditional plot arc to stay engaged. And definitely not for anyone who jumps straight to “not all men".
Fifty percent into the book and it still felt mostly like commentary and definitely not a standard narrative. I kind of loved that, but I get why it might feel misleading for some people or just not everyone’s cup of tea. The “horror” label especially feels like a trap. Sure, the core concept is shocking, but the book doesn’t lean into horror in the traditional sense. And just to be clear, plenty of metaphorical or literary horror novels still get graphic. This one simply chooses not to. Blake keeps the horror symbolic, so if you want something with a strong message and real horror vibes or graphic moments, there are better picks. Despite the amount of dialogue that digs into reflecting and exposing the issues, I never once felt like Blake was preaching.
In the end, I ended up loving this book, even though it’s not easy to read or digest (pun fully intended). It’s heavy on commentary and light on plot, yet it still manages to surprise you (that ending!?) and make you reflect. The messaging isn’t subtle and the metaphors aren’t obscure, and it’s guaranteed to make you feel something without leaving everything wide open to interpretation. So it’s not the kind of book where you’re left decoding hidden meanings or overthinking every metaphor. But if you’re going in expecting a typical horror tale, you’ll probably end up disappointed, and maybe even a little "hungry" for more.

#23 - "Girl Dinner" by Olivie Blake

Satire / "Horror" / Social Commentary

★★★★☆ (4/5)

loved it, but if you’re going in expecting a typical horror tale, you’ll probably end up disappointed, and maybe even a little "hungry" for more.

↓ review below

(or here: www.goodreads.com/review/show/...)

some Xmas spirit 🤭💖

it doesn’t feel Friday at all at work today 💀 lmao. I’m dead but still much loooking forward to our cosy time 🥹💖🪄

thank you so much 🥹 appreciate this 🫂

ofc, you deserve to be in full control of your happiness. and you know you can talk to me any time you need. Appreciate you too 💕

have a lovely morning 🥰

You have my full support 🫂 you need to do what makes sense for you, nobody deserves to feel like their choices are being taken away because of pressure from what others think 💗 Honestly people are still going to judge no matter what we do, but in the end, it’s your happiness, not theirs.

🥰 oo🫠
I love that it’s also *your* book of the year 🥹💖🪄

moonlit reads's review of The Compound 4/5: At first glance, The Compound feels deceptively simple, and that’s what makes it so disturbing. It doesn’t “shock” you all at once, but becomes more unsettling with every chapter. The narrator’s ...

my review #2

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

moonlit reads's review of Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil 5/5: This book was a whole experience, and a beautifully written one at that. An epic balance between the human and the monster within. Never has a tale of vampires (“or do you prefer the metaphor of ...

my review #1

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab

The Compound By Aisling Rawle

I don’t always vibe with the Goodreads Choice Awards picks, but these two books really stood out for me year 😍

I think we’re almost at the end so I’m gonna rant a little more why not 🤭 first of all, if I’m still not “powerful enough” to open some chests, when will I be, not this lifetime that’s for sure

which one, ni no kuni? It’s quite nice and I love the vibes 🤩 but I have some minor annoyances with the mechanics & the remastered didn’t seem to improve on that

a man in a green elf costume is dancing in a room with his mouth open . Alt: can’t wait for magical Holidays 🥹💖🪄

look at all that hky math 😝 and also 2 week-ish until my Christmas break 💖🎉

thank you for existing and being perfect 💖

a couple sitting on a bed looking out a window with the name mienar on the bottom Alt: it is us, when in the UK 😝 💖

I mean, I wouldn't go as far as to label it as "perfect" overall, just perfect for this specific activity 😝 but tbf, any day is perfect with you 💖🪄

exactly 🫂 that’s what friends do, they trust your decisions and they’ll be there afterwards even if you mess up 🫶 I support your decisions always too bestie. Appreciate you ✨

thank you Rohan, same to you 🫶

idk I guess I never thought I was worthy of this kind of trust and love. After being manipulated for so long and feeling like my choices belonged to someone else, I’m so grateful. Maybe this is what healing looks like 💖 knowing I’m allowed to make wrong choices and learn from them

I want to add that we all make “wrong decisions” sometimes, but having people who support you & let you feel in control makes all the difference.

Recently hearing things like “yes, you can do whatever it takes to heal, I’ll support you always,” even when I have the most ridiculous ideas 💖

hope everyone’s having a lovely week. It’s the perfect rainy, cosy day for me to get into some gaming after work. I’m still playing Ni no Kuni and Little Witch in the Woods. Gosh, that one feels way longer than I imagined it would be for a cute, cosy little game haha

you don’t 🫂 but it’s okay, because as the cliche goes, we can only regret the things we never done / never tried

you’re so funny 😏💖

still influenced you 🤭💖

can’t believe you’re secretly 56 🤭💖 (I called it!!)

though I was still able to influence you some 🪄

a couple of teddy bears are dancing in front of a stage . Alt: it is us 😝💖🪄

now who’s obsessed with who 🤭😏

I can’t wait to do the Wrapped Party with you 💖🪄

I’m so happy too 🥰 you’re always such an inspiring and lovely presence on the TL & a joy to interact with

falling in love deeper every day 💖🪄

no lies detected 🤭 💖🪄
(also not my fault that even 1 year later, everything you say is interesting and fascinating to me 😍🫠)

one of our many songs 😭 I love you 💖🪄

I mean, right???? 🤭🤭🤭 and it also knows I’m only 21 😇

also look who made it to one of my top songs 🥹🥹🥹💖🪄

🎶 I DON’T WANNA DON’T WANNA I DON’T WANNA STOP breathing you iiiin I DON’T WANNA STOP