Welcome to Litsy!

Ok, so the title is misleading: there's not much partying and there are no infants, just toddlers. And there's not really a plot, just a bunch of separate stories tied up together. But still, I enjoyed it. It was really funny but not only that. There were moments of true vulnerability in these stories which weren't lessened by the humor and I appreciated that.

Occasionally laugh-out-loud funny; occasionally cringe-worthy. I wouldn't recommend it, but it was entertaining enough as I didn't have any expectations about it.

I hated everyone in this and so nearly bailed on it. Only the fact that I‘d had it on my tbr wish list for years kept me reading tonthe end. I should have given up.

This has been on my to read list for ages, and now the library means I can finally read it. Distinctly underwhelmed so far though.

It‘s Day 1 of #Riotgrams! “A shelfie for #riotgrams! Note, this is only a selected piece of the chaotic shelving, edited to hide the stacks sitting here deep on the floor! Oh, for nice new shelving!” -Book Riot Insider @BeckyLeJ

A shelfie for #riotgrams! Note, this is only a selected piece of the chaotic shelving, edited to hide the stacks sitting three deep on the floor! Oh, for nice new shelving! @bookriot

Loved this! I rarely read adult books, but this one came recommended from a coworker at the bookstore. It follows Mele who lives in San Francisco and has an almost 3-year-old daughter with a guy who happened to be engaged when she got pregnant. She's got a great group of friends in a mommy group, and asks for stories about her their lives that she turns into recipes. It's interesting, fresh, and totally relatable!

Believe it or not, this was the result of me showing great restraint at a used book sale.

This book had some very funny moments that rang true to life if you have ever raised an infant. However, I felt like the voice changed from 1st person to 3rd person at times and it became a little distracting. The funny parts were VERY funny though (like when the main character describes her first Brazilian wax).

“We take turns bringing a snack for the class,” the director said. “But we‘re a nut -free facility.” I looked around the room. One of the volunteer moms was dancing in the playroom to “Beat It.” Nut-free? Sure you are.

"Secrets and lies, so healthy sometimes."

"Ellie, a wonderful mistake, is two and a half years old. Amazing. Mele remembers bringing her home from the hospital, her little head not yet fitting in the support cushion of the car seat. Mele kept looking back in disbelief. Two days prior she had left her apartment without a baby and now she was returning with one."

Mele is a single mom dealing with heartbreak, finding her parent friend group and all the fun and unglamorous moments that come with being a parent. As with most of her books funny and sad, all of the bittersweet feels! Also recommend her YA book Juniors, about a girl living in Hawaii. Simple but lovely.

MELE AND HENRY

#upnext one of my favorite authors!

Captures life with very young kids but in a pathetic way. Interesting but not particularly well written.

First line captures motherhood perfectly.

"The afternoon holds the beautiful promise that it will soon be over."

I just couldn't engage. I've liked her other novels so I honestly don't know if it's the book or just the place I'm in right now. Moving on

Almost a pick. I needed a short break & this one fit the bill. For about the first 1/3 of the book, I was literally cackling with laughter (in public, no less) and thought I had found an heir to Where'd You Go, Bernadette? But then the pacing startled to fizzle a bit and I got more and more annoyed with the main character's totally unbelievable life. Generally a really fun, but inconsistent, read. Recommended despite the so-so decision.

There were a couple of lol moments and I wish there were more listserv entries. But, Mele's friends' stories just weren't interesting and Mele herself was an oversharer of nothing. Meh.

How to Party With an Infant is one of the titles that chef and single mom Mele Bart considers for her entry in the San Francisco Mothers‘ Club cookbook-writing contest. It‘s also the title that Kaui Hart Hemmings (The Descendants) has given this novel of friendship and parenthood in the Bay Area. There are no recipes in this novel built around writing a cookbook, but it has plenty of humor, heart and true-to-life dialogue.

I haven‘t laughed this much while reading a book in a long time. Seriously, I‘m not just saying that like I chuckled underneath my breath. I‘m talking full blown cracking up laughter. Mele is not afraid to air her dirty laundry or the dirty laundry of her friends and this makes for some highly entertaining and hysterical scenes.

Full review on www.novelgossip.com

Hilarious in the way Where'd You Go, Bernadette? was.

Mele is a single mom filling out a questionnaire for a contest w/ a possible cookbook deal. Except, her answers are her airing all her dirty laundry and venting out hilarious stories--including the recipes she creates out of these life events.

Perfect choice if you're looking for a funny, entertaining novel, with some ridiculous behavior balanced with real life.

Cooking while reading. I live on the edge. (No really there's a good chance I'll burn something.)

I really loved the new Kaui Hart Hemmings. It was charming, funny, and made me want to cook more.