I have enjoyed Chelsea Fagan's two fictional novels so I was excited to get a copy of her book "Having People Over." First off love the cover. The graphics and overall design of this book is lovely. I liked the tips and recommendations a lot and look forward to getting a physical copy of this book for my collection to refer back to.

3.5/5. I found the premise of this book to be immense intriguing with so many conversations and arguments online over what it means to be a good host. The book is thoughtful and well-written. Fagan has a strong, clear voice and concise advice. What stands out about this book is that it considers what it takes within us to be a good host. It is a holistic approach to entertaining rather than a simple how-to. I think for those new to hosting this would be a very informative read.

This was lovely! As someone who has been wanting to get into hosting small gatherings more often - a couple of friends here and there, maybe a board games night or two - this was the perfect book for me! Full of practical advice, and gentle reminders that you dont need a 100k salary to be a great host and have some fun aperitifs with your friends, this is a great book to get for yourself or a friend.

This is more than just a book about having parities. This is the guide for building community and restoring decorum in the modern world. I love Chelsea Fagan and will read everything she writes.

While an interesting concept, press materials might make one think this is more of a cookbook than it is.

Light, informative and fun. Would be good to have on hand as a guide or refresher when you need if you don't regularly entertain or want to do something a bit different or elevated the next time. Little sketches throughout are cute and some photos of recipes. Personally, I like a photo for every recipe but that's me. Parts could have been more simplified in the writing but all in all not bad at all.

This was a warm, practical read that helped me rethink what it means to host. Chelsea Fagan makes a strong case for imperfection: that hosting isn’t about having the perfect home or meal, but about showing up and creating connection. It’s full of thoughtful suggestions, especially for people who’ve felt intimidated by entertaining. I do wish it had more recipes or concrete menus. Still, it made me want to invite people over, and that’s a win.

I’m not ashamed to admit that I was first drawn to this book by its cover. It’s absolutely beautiful and would look right at home on any coffee table or at any soirée.

What surprised me, though, was just how relevant and useful the content turned out to be. The older I get, the more I find myself wondering: Am I a good guest? And more hopefully… am I a good host?

Having People Over is filled with thoughtful, relatable advice that feels both fresh and timeless. It’s approachable, stylish, and, most importantly, not about the expense. It’s about the experience. The book emphasizes that anyone can host a meaningful gathering, regardless of budget. That message really resonated with me.

Whether it’s an impromptu drop-in or a planned overnight stay, this book covers a wide range of hosting situations and how to handle them with grace.

Thank you to NetGalley, Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press, and Chelsea Fagan for the privilege of receiving this gorgeous ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Overall I enjoyed reading the tips & tricks for hosting guests, being a guest yourself, and cultivating community. I wish this would have included more actual recipes that I could utilize, instead of so many tips. It made this feel more theoretical and less practical.

As someone who has routinely shied away from hosting (for a myriad of reasons), Chelsea Fagan provides a much-needed nudge that hosting doesn't have to be perfect -- it just needs to be a reflection of ourselves and more importantly, connecting and maintaining our relationships with others.

This small volume is packed with practical advice from how to curate your home, create menus that give you more times with guests, as well as understanding the importance that hosting (and being hosted) fosters our connection to those around us -- something that tends to get overlooked in this age of technology.

A quick and informative read and one that has boosted my confidence level. Thank you to #ClarksonPotter and #NetGalley for this electronic ARC of #HavingPeopleOver.

The core of this book is about mindfulness in creating and maintaining your space, your friendships, and ultimately curating a sense of community. The advice is hugely practical, only occasionally (and forgivably) sounding preachy when discussing the theory behind intentional community.

Fagan starts out explaining that she’s covering the basics of entertaining that can be done with any budget and scaled up accordingly. Lots of good, practical advice about menus, arranging for drinks, and creating timelines and checklists, as well as how to attend different parties. I certainly appreciate her dedication to pointing out where things can be modified to accommodate different guests (dietary needs, sobriety, parents vs child-free friends, etc). It’s interspersed with fun historical tidbits and interesting recipes.

Interestingly, there’s a whole section on what amounts to housekeeping: cleaning schedules, what to buy in bulk (when feasible), and keeping your space habitable for yourself—thus making it much easier to host gatherings or one-on-one lunches. Overall, this is a great book to gift to anyone just starting out in their own.

As someone who truly enjoys entertaining, I really appreciated this book. What stood out most to me was the author’s reminder that hosting isn’t about money or extravagance bur rather about the personal touches, thoughtfulness, and genuine effort to bring people together. I found the tips incredibly helpful for my own hosting endeavors, and the recipes were a great bonus! I’m excited to try some of them out at my next gathering.

Having People Over by Chelsea Fagan is the modern guide to hosting with or without a budget and a refresher on how to be a guest who will be welcomed back.

As someone with a small space & at times a limited budget, I really appreciated the chapters that helped you elevate & open up your space to be the most welcoming and how some ambience factors are free. There are so many things to juggle & plan for when hosting, and Fagan does a wonderful job breaking down everything into bite sized manageable pieces.

The images are beautiful and I cant wait to try a few of the cocktail recipes.

Overall, this book will benefit just about any adult!

Thank you NetGalley & Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love to host and have many parties throughout the year. Found many great tips in this book. The recipes all look amazing! I really enjoyed the chapter on platonic sleepovers.