Olivie books and I had our differences before Girl Dinner, but this book may be the best modern day fiction I've ever read? Olivie gives us a "day in the life of a modern woman" with a horrific twist and I ate it up. Give me what life as a woman is actually like, and make it girly pop with a little bit of murder and cannabilism!

Read all the content warnings and be warned about what kind of themes are in the book, but I ate this up, because it was literally the perfect Girl Dinner!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

"Girl Dinner" by Olivie Blake is a captivating read that truly deserves 5 stars. The narrative is engaging, the characters are well-developed, and the writing style is immersive. Blake's storytelling keeps you hooked from start to finish, making it a delightful book that’s hard to put down. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an enjoyable and thought-provoking read.

Olivie Blake’s Girl Dinner is a sharp, intimate exploration of feminine hunger—emotional, physical, and existential. Known for her lyrical prose and deeply introspective characters, Blake delivers a novel that feels both deliciously surreal and brutally honest. Through fragmented storytelling and a haunting inner monologue, she captures the quiet chaos of a woman grappling with identity, consumption, and control.

The book doesn’t follow a traditional narrative arc, which may not work for everyone. But for readers who enjoy introspective, character-driven fiction with a touch of the uncanny, Girl Dinner serves a potent dish. Blake’s talent for turning internal disarray into something strangely beautiful is on full display here.

It loses a star for occasionally overindulging in abstraction—some passages feel a bit too esoteric or repetitive—but overall, it’s a thought-provoking read that lingers long after the final page.

“Girl Dinner” is a satirical and quirky story of sorority sisters with unusual appetites and strange rituals. This book isn’t meant to be read with too critical of a lense as far as the writing and execution, but unfortunately I couldn’t look past some of the glaring issues that made this book totally miss the mark for me.
I’m always excited for a new addition to the “good for her” genre, especially with some cannibalism sprinkled in. Given the title, I knew this book would be somewhat satirical. The issue lies in the author trying to blend quirky dialogue between characters with extremely lengthy, run on monologues about hot topic issues, the current political climate, and the oppression and exploitation of women. While I appreciate the message being conveyed and think they are important and worthwhile to discuss in media and literature, these run on paragraphs took me out of the story and were too on the nose. It felt like I was being repeatedly hit over the head with a baseball bat by the author who *really* needed me to know her stance on these issues. Add into the mix internet and gen z slang, which further took me out of the actual story and made the entire thing feel clunky and disjointed.
The plotting was lacking in direction and execution, leaving me confused at times where we were and where we were going. The plot didn’t feel like it truly picked up until the 60% mark, causing me to lose interest. I feel the plot and characterization were overlooked and ultimately sacrificed so that the author could go on a tangent for multiple pages. There was so much potential for this book to get intense and go off the rails in a way that a lot of readers like myself enjoy, and I wish it had. A huge miss for me, but hopefully it will work for others.

I devoured this book and it was *delicious*, with absolutely all the puns intended. The dark humor was impeccable. I wasn't sure if I would love a book about rich moms, sorority girls, and wellness trends, but man, I really did love this!

I don't usually (ever) read or enjoy horror, but this was different. The sense of unease about it all fit perfectly for the horror genre without being "scary". This is "I love women's rights and women's wrongs" at its finest. Olivie Blake is a must-buy for me, but Girl Dinner stands apart from her other work for me.

If you want Barbie meets cannibalism, try a bite of Girl Dinner. If you like female rage and sharp wit, this is for you. I loved it!

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake. It was truly a wonderful read. I would re-read this and recommend it to every woman I know and/or encounter. It's a 5/5 from me! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Blog post goes live Oct 21st
Imgur link goes to instagram post scheduled for Oct 21st (possibly earlier depending on scheduling)
Will be discussed in Friday Reads for May 2nd and October Releases
Amazon & Barnes & Noble reviews will go live when avaliable

**TL;DR**: I’m not sure that this went as far as it could have.
**Source**: Netgalley - Thank you so much to the publisher!

**Plot**: A young woman joins a sorority with secrets while a professor is caught in the mix.
**Characters**: Absolutely no one here is a good person. It’s interesting, I’ll give it that.
**Setting:** The setting was probably the weakest part of this. That is especially sad considering the idea of the ‘The House’.
**Satire/Horror**: It could have been darker and I think it would have had more impact.

**Thoughts**:

Perhaps satire isn’t for me, or perhaps I like it a bit more intense than this but Girl Dinner didn’t quote satiate me like I hoped it would. A critique of the societal expectations of women, girls, moms, etc was what I was expecting. Instead it felt as if we were sunk into the psyche of two women who were drowning, a feeling I know but don’t want to read about.

Ultimately for me this book lacked the absurdity or truly off the wall ending you’d want to gain catharsis from. We spend the entire book following Nina, naïve and excited who is facing the world and The House. We also follow Sloane who honestly just read as a depressed woman struggling in a bad marriage. The two of them are each in their own way grappling with ‘womanhood’ and I would argue ‘personhood’.

The build and tension in the book culminated in a fairly lackluster peak with little to none of the biting satire I expected. While I didn’t hate the story I found myself more annoyed than anything and relishing the tiny crumbs of horror we got.

This one was a bit underwhelming, and for my first Olivie Blake it was fairly disappointing. I’ll continue trying her work as I know she dabbles in different genres and styles but this wasn’t it for me.

4.25!!
This was so good! I was hooked from page 1 and really enjoyed both points of views.
The 25%-50% mark did slow down a bit too much for me, but then it picked right back up around halfway.
I think if the pacing was a little more even it would’ve been better, but still really really good!
Definitely would read more horror from Olivie Blake.

Girl Dinner is a knife-sharp examination of what it means to be female. The juxtaposition of Nina's desperation to find sisterhood and belonging within The House (the elite sorority on campus) and Dr. Hartley's return to work as an adjunct professor after the birth of her daughter is excellent. Full of female rage and the contemplation of what it means to be a Good Woman, Blake's satirical examination of the cost of living well and feminine power strikes many thoughtful chords. There is something sinister lying beneath the surface of the perfection of The House, and Blake maintains the dread and tension skillfully throughout the entire book. Give to readers who enjoyed Bunny by Mona Awad.

Girl Dinner" felt like taking a bite out of a satirical feminist horror story. The concept was both unique and captivating, but unfortunately, the ending didn’t quite satisfy. It left me — no pun intended — craving more of the story’s substance. Overall, I really enjoyed the bold narrative, the powerhouse female characters, and the strong horror vibes. I just wish a few elements had played out differently to fully align with the empowering 'girl power' theme it set up.

4.5 stars

The House is the most exclusive sorority on campus and all of its alumnae are gorgeous, accomplished and highly respected.

Nina Kaur had a rough freshman year so she knows being accepted into The House will give her a second chance to reach her potential and achieve her goal of being admitted to a top twenty law school. And will give her power.

Meanwhile, adjunct professor (and not by choice) Dr. Sloane Hartley is struggling after accepting a demotion to support her husband’s career at the University. She’s spent the last eighteen months at home with her newborn daughter and now her life is both incredibly stressful and flat. She’s offered the position as The House’s academic liaison and she hopes some of the alumnae’s perfection rubs off.

Both Nina and Sloane are in for some unpleasant surprises as they are drawn deeper into the rituals of The House and as they determine how far they will go to get what they want.

This was a wonderful surprise. This satire won’t be for everyone, but, for me, a former sorority girl turned top twenty law school lawyer who spent years looking for extra hours in each day and was often mistaken for the court reporter when I showed up for depositions (Yep. You’ve come a long way, baby, now could you go a few steps further and get me some coffee?) so much of this, both from Nina’s perspective and from Sloane’s felt like the story of my younger days.

And Blake can write. “He smelled like fresh linen and a previous life.” Exactly. And she cuts, too…”She’s not changing anything…like, we lost abortion rights under her watch, you know?” Oof. That hurts. A lot.

Everyone here is selfish in his or her own way. Compare Alex’s idea of feminism to Sloane’s thoughts to whatever the hell is in the minds of the girls currently in The House (I don’t think that it is feminism any more, just WANTING, for themselves, and to hell with who gets hurt. Depressing, but likely largely true. I really enjoyed this a lot and would highly recommend.

A book by THE Olivie Blake titled 'Girl Dinner' was enough to have me sold... but feminine rage and dabbles in cannibalism? Absolutely SAT!

Girl Dinner whilst satire, is painfully relevant to today's perception and lived experience as women. We follow two perspectives through a sorority in a University. First we have Sloan, a new mother returning to teaching, isolated and finding her new identity and friends in this chapter of life. Sloan thinks her husband is a feminist and equal partner, until she self reflects deeper into the excuses and nuance she's allowing in the house. We also follow Nina, a sophomore desperate to find her place of belonging as she rushes with the sorority.

I can't even begin to explain the complexities in this book! It's one I'll be thinking about for a long while. The authors note at the end so perfectly explained the intentional use of privileged, educated mostly white passing women in this as well and the vapid reality we exist in. By the halfway mark I was starting to wonder how this would piece together with elements of horror, and what a delight it was when it all came together! I still can't quite make sense of the ending, and cannot wait to hear the discourse when this comes out in October. I love an unreliable narrator!

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group & NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Girl Dinner is risky, daring, and entirely in its own lane. I would describe this book as peak satirical women’s fiction with more grit than a southern diner. It feels reminiscent of Jennifer’s body in that dark and salacious way — but also evokes that underlying message in America Ferrera’s speech from the Barbie film to give it a little heart.

You’re following two main interconnecting POV’s in this story: a student and sorority pledge named Nina, and a professor/new mother named Sloane. The contrast of their individual experiences on campus mixed with the inspired way Olivie Blake weaves their stories together (along with the side characters) is just flat-out cool.

I have read most — if not all of Blake’s published works, and this one did not disappoint. If anything, you are guaranteed a uniquely inspired plot with morally ambiguous characters when you pick up her books — which is exactly what I ordered.

Side note for those wondering: Blake somehow implemented pop culture references in a way that didn’t read cringey to me. Others should definitely take notes!

If you’re a fan of her other works — this one more-so fits the tone of Gifted & Talented than, say…the Atlas Trilogy.

The conflict in Girl Dinner was more of a slow burn (picks up around 50%), but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Highly recommend!

(Booktok Review coming)

In Girl Dinner, author Olivie Blake tackles themes like womanhood, motherhood, sisterhood,… oh, and cannibalism as a wellness trend. However, ever y time the characters debated those topics, it felt too intentional.
The main characters were Sloane and Nina. Sloane is an academic and mother who’s trying to be a good mother while also working at university. Nina is a student at the university who wants to get into a prestigious sorority. While I found Sloane to be an unlikeable character, I found Nina to be incredibly bland. She barely had any personality at all.
I could have enjoyed the book despite those two main characters had the story been great otherwise, but there was barely any plot and I myself bored rather early into the book.

Overall this one wasn’t for me.


Thank you to the publisher for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Compelling, consuming, and spine-chilling.

What is the secret to the perfection of all who graduate from The House? Dr. Sloan Hartley is desperate to be a good woman, a good mother for her baby, but is having it all a myth? Or does it just require a little morality shift? Deeply concerned with the contradictions of womanhood, Girl Dinner places wellness trends against their inherent cause: a yearn for power that women constantly fail to inherit. The most exciting thing about this cannibal sorority is the way the characters come to understand and accept it. Wicked and wonderful.

This book is deliciously dark and utterly intoxicating in the best way possible. The writing is sharp and sharp-tongued, weaving a sinister spell that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The themes of power, desire, and self-destruction are explored with a biting humor and an undercurrent of horror that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The way the book makes you question what you’re willing to do for belonging or success, it’s unsettling in the best possible way. It’s a critique of modern wellness culture wrapped in a twisted, deliciously dark bow. I couldn’t put it down. It’s one of those books that leaves you wondering, “How far would I go?” You won’t be able to look at girl dinner the same way again, and honestly, that’s the kind of wild ride I’m here for.

“Girl Dinner” by Olivie Blake is a satire women’s fiction book. It deals with what it’s like to be a woman in modern day society. It comes with horror, cannibalism and completely unhinged characters. It gave me the series Yellowjackets vibes, mixed with sisterhood and women’s lust for power. Be sure to read all of the content warnings on this book! I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys reading a great dark, feminism fiction book! Also, someone who is able to read about cannibalism. Overall, I rate this a solid 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Olivie Blake and Tor Publishing Group for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on October 21, 2025!

I picked up Girl Dinner because I’m a member of a sorority and love plots involving Greek Life, especially with the added dynamic of a dual narrative. As a mom, the idea of following both a college student/sorority member and a mom/sorority advisor really appealed to me. I’ve enjoyed Olivie Blake’s other writing, so choosing this book felt like a no-brainer. Unfortunately, I really struggled to connect with either of the main characters, which made it hard to stay invested. The premise had so much promise, but the emotional depth and character development just didn’t land for me. I wanted to give it more than two stars, but I honestly can’t.

Topical, attention-grabbing, a page turner. A satirical book about sororities, tradwives, the myth of "having it all", and the in-fighting within the feminist movement. And of course, cannibalism. I can see this being a popular booktok title.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Girl Dinner is a refreshing look at womanhood and how a certain group of women may take their power back. Focusing on two characters, Sloane, a doctoral professor with a new baby who is at a local university in a job her husband got her (after leaving her own tenure track position for him to pursue his) and Nina, a sophomore who is working towards being a lawyer and trying to get into a local sorority with high achieving woman. Both are struggling with defining who they are and will be, and both get caught up in The House and its secrets.

I found Sloane a bit pretentious to start in her thoughts (which seemed to be the point) but she grew on me. Meanwhile Nina endeared me from the start through her conversations with her sister Jas, though her motivation behind joining The House was a mystery that went nowhere for me. The two are in very different positions but their search for meaning in sisterhood and themselves was fascinating. More than that the mystery to The House and the girls and women in the sorority was fascinating and I loved the reveal there. A bit scattered maybe but a solid addition to the horror and mystery genre that appeals in these fraught time for all of us (and especially women).

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

This was hard for me, the concept sounded really engaging but I was just bogged down in the psychological debates between the characters, to the point where I was just begging for more plot. This felt more like a non fiction book that had the light set dressing of fiction.