Not funny, exactly and often wrenching. This is a tale of one really really unhappy privileged and artistic family and the toxic relationships created in large part by the patriarch Ray. He's awful to his daughters Jess and Leah and to his step son Patrick but most of all to his wife Leah who has breast cancer. This takes place in 2010- just before Ray's first exhibition in years but Leah's got some surprises for everyone. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. It might well be a love it or hate it proposition but Mendelson has a nice way of telling a story about awful people (there is no one who should find Ray sympathetic).

Ray Hanrahan is a once-famous painter now looking to have an exhibit of new work and hopefully reviving his fame. Ray is not a nice man. He's a narcissist who loves to make his family miserable. His favorite target is his wife, Lucia. She's an artist herself and she's been getting more attention and accolades than Ray. Her art isn't the only way she defies her husband - she's having an affair with a local female politician, Priya.
Ray and Lucia's children are not immune to Ray's behavior, though the oldest daughter, Leah, fiercely protects her dad and his interests. Son, Patrick, is perhaps overly sensitive and spends his time looking to get away from the house, and Jess, the younger daughter who did manage to escape the disfunction of home but is in a relationship with Martyn who happens to be obsessed with Ray and his work and would love to live in the Hanrahan home.

The action of the book takes place over the course of two days as Ray plans a privately funded art exhibit of his work. It's the first in a long time and he's more uptight and assholery than usual, and he calls all the family in to help him get the exhibit ready. Bringing this family into this much contact with one another is a recipe for fights, angst, breakdowns, accusations, and admissions. All the things needed for a good comic drama.

Where to start with a book like this?

I did not find this funny or humorous (it's been called a 'comedy' and "furiously funny"). I guess I just don't find abusive personalities redeeming or funny or worthy of my time. Those who change are perhaps at least interesting or offer up some kind of hope, but Ray's personality is long-standing and absolute. Lucia was the most interesting - seeing how she's coped and dealt with Ray's behavior and how she uses it as motivation for her own work. But even this is a bit off-kilter - is she masochistic in using Ray's behavior to spur her?

The kids ... my god. There's no hope here. Even Jess can't seem to escape the family when her partner drags her back in.

Honestly, given the tight sequence of events and the over-the-top character types presented here, I think this would make a much better stage play. Actually seeing the people, and hopefully in the hands of a skilled director, we could at least see and empathize with, laugh with or at, and come to understand them a little bit better.

I really wouldn't recommend this to anyone.

Looking for a good book? If narcissistic behavior and cruel characters are your thing, you might enjoy The Exhibitionist by Charlotte Mendelson, but even then I wouldn't bet on it.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 stars / This review will be posted on goodreads.com today.


Lucia has secrets. Secrets that she can’t let anyone know about. Especially her husband Ray. Ray was Lucia’s teacher at one time. Ray was also a semi-important artist. But more recently, he blames his lack of artistry on Lucia. It’s clearly her fault that no one will book him. No galleries will carry his work. Lucia has made it all about her.

I believe that Lucia would roll her eyes at this, but for the sake of her marriage and her children, Lucia does everything she can to not upset Ray. Leah, their daughter, dotes on Ray as though she was his partner. Leah blames everyone for Ray’s state, after all, can’t they tell what an artistic genius he is? He never gets credit for anything.

Jess lives and teaches in Scotland. She knows she is not Ray’s favorite daughter, and she worries about her brother Patrick and her mother, but it is best she is in Scotland. Her partner Martyn is as taken with Ray as Leah. And is there something between Leah & Martyn, because when they’re together, they’re thick as thieves.

So when Ray decides he’s going to put on an exhibition of his latest work, the whole family convenes at the house in London. Leah throws her life into making this a festive and serious occasion for Ray to be proud. She will do all the work and all Ray has to do is show up and preen. Only the plans don’t quite go as planned.

What a fun and frantic novel. The contrast between each of the characters is clear, and at times, over the top. They are each so wrapped up in themselves and their appearances, except for Jess. Jess is the only sane one in the bunch, or so it appears. I can see why this book has won awards already. It is fabulously written, right up until the very end. Highly recommend this weekend in the lives of the Hanraham clan.

This is a book about a dysfunctional family, centered around the narcissistic father. It’s not very believable, nor is it interesting. The cover is great though. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This novel begins so ridiculously that I thought it must be a double-irony of some kind, as in: ha-ha, we are both in on the joke, this author and I, about how stupid this beginning is. But no. The author isn't in on the joke. As I read further I realized that I was meant to accept this ridiculous story as a frothy but nonetheless earnest take on ambition, family dysfunction, gender politics, the nature of art...and gosh, I just couldn't do it. The characters are frankensteinish grab-bags of traits that are tailor-made to set up the most obvious conflicts imaginable. The outcomes of these conflicts are flabby and predictable. II could go on and on about what I didn't like about this novel.

This is a case of wanted to love but didn't connect with the writing approach... it will work for many but I think this is intended to land as a dark comedy/satire and for some reason that's a genre/style that isn't for me. I do appreciate strong writing, a focus on family dysfunction and art, and interesting characters but the writing style for me worked more to keep me distant and disengaged from the characters, never feeling fully invested or interested in where their stories were going. The multiple POVs/many characters also made it hard for me to get into any one character/theme.

After several starts, I never really connected with the characters. I felt they were more like caricatures than characters with depth. I also felt the author overwhelmed me with too many characters at the start.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this novel.

This book was a bit hard to get through at times - the dysfunction was tough. But I loved the writing - rich description. It switches characters and time quite frequently which was a little challenging for before bed reading but I respected the style. I think I wanted a stronger ending, more rejection and comeuppance for this patriarch but such is life.

This was ultimately underwhelming. Despite the concept, Mendelson was fully unable to connect her story in a relevant fashion.

The Exhibitionist is a sad, convoluted novel about a toxic, self-centered family. What the novel shines light on is the neediness of the creative spirit looking for constant approval from a fickle public. Readers will need to be patience early on to sort all the personalities in this North London family who come together over one weekend for an art show. The story is filled with dark humor and satire.

DNF'd at a very low percentage -- unlikeable characters, writing choices that made it hard to connect with the story. Other readers may enjoy this one, but I did not.

I will buy The Exhibitionist for the library as I am a sure many of our patrons will enjoy it. I have to admit that I didn’t love it, the writing was not my favourite and the characters were all unlikable and I didn’t care for any of them, which of course may be the point!
I was disappointed to find absolutely no trace of the ‘furiously funny’ book mentioned in the write up.

The main character, Ray, is one of the most irritating and detestable characters I have come across in a book. He treats people in a most horrible way, he is nasty. He is a raging narcissist. Because he is such an awful character, I cannot recommend this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Two artists: husband and wife. Two egos. One stronger than the other one: the husband, of course.

It’s a story with dysfunctional family members – mainly the husband, Ray, a miserable, seriously maladjusted self-loving artist. It’s like watching the news with a full view of an anguished, troubled soul.

Ray feels entitled and tries his best to undermine anyone in his path. He refers to his kids with a nickname. His oldest stepchild, Patrick, or Patch is quiet and tries to ignore him. His daughter, Leah, adores everything about him. And the youngest, Jess, lives as far away with her husband as she can. Lucia, his wife, seems to worship Ray even though he wants nothing to do with her sexually after she had breast surgery.

Some may find this book entertaining thinking about all the people they know that may fit into this category where the husband is King and can do nothing wrong. Ray was constantly commenting on the way people looked. I smiled wondering what this meant: “menopause jewelry.” Seriously? I had a good image of the characters. However, I wish there was a little more discussed about the art.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with an expected release date of July 4, 2023.

loved this romance and finding oneself and the how the couple worked out their problems . loved all of the side characters and the friendships. Good book.

A wry and engaging tale of family dysfunction and art. A recommended purchase for collections where lit fic is popular.

Something about this deeply dysfunctional family drew me in to their story. It took some time to adjust to the writing style but once I got going I really enjoyed it and found myself looking forward to picking up the book. I almost decided to mark this one a DNF but I'm really glad I gave it a fair chance. Few likeable characters (and one in particular is extremely nasty) and some sad, depressing ones but the way the author writes and presents the story keeps the novel moving at a really good pace. I plan on reading more from this author in the future.

A family gathers for an art exposition for one of its members and secrets are uncovered. The writing here wasn’t my favorite.

This was a tough read for me. I normally like unlikeable characters, but this family just took it too far and not one of them made the story redeemable. The book was funny, yes, but sometimes the humour just bordered on cringey. This will be a book that others enjoy, but it just wasn't one that I did.

I don’t believe there are bad books; there are just books that aren’t meant for me. While this book wasn’t my cup of tea, readers who enjoy family drama may like it. I am so grateful to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review. I read till about 20% and decided to DNF. I wasn’t able to connect with any of the characters. I am truly sorry to have to DNF this book
as I take my role as a reviewer seriously.