The Dinner Party

Van de Sandt debuts with a vivid portrait of a woman’s trauma and recovery. The narrative unfolds as a therapy exercise written by Franca, a 27-year-old struggling writer from the Netherlands who has spent four years in the U.K. after abandoning her comp lit degree in Utrecht to live with her wealthy English fiancé, Andrew. Following his lucrative sale of an app, Franca has become fully dependent on Andrew, giving up on job-hunting and numbing her unhappiness with drinking and TV. She’s tasked with cooking dinner for Andrew and his colleagues to celebrate the team’s latest venture, but the evening begins with him raping her in the kitchen shortly before their guests arrive, leaving her reeling and trying to make sense of what just happened. The night takes another turn with the unexpected arrival of Franca’s former best friend Harry, whose abrupt departure from Utrecht ended their relationship years ago. As alcohol flows and tensions rise, Franca’s mental state unravels, and the narrative reaches a devastating climax. Van de Sandt weaves together Franca’s fragmented, often gruesome memories with a nuanced exploration of sexual violence within intimate relationships. This leaves readers with much to chew on. Agent: Millie Hoskins, United Agents. (Nov.)