The Sunday Lunch Club

By: Juliet Ashton

Narrated by: Karen Cass

The first rule of Sunday Lunch Club is … don't make any afternoon plans.

Every few Sundays, Anna and her extended family and friends get together for lunch. They talk, they laugh, they bicker, they eat too much. Sometimes the important stuff is left unsaid, other times it's said in the wrong way.

Sitting between her ex-husband and her new lover, Anna is coming to terms with an unexpected pregnancy at the age of forty. Also at the table are her ageing grandmother, her promiscuous sister, her flamboyantly gay brother and a memory too terrible to contemplate.

Until, that is, a letter arrives from the person Anna scarred all those years ago. Can Anna reconcile her painful past with her uncertain future?

Juliet Ashton weaves a story of love, friendship and community that will move you to laughter and to tears. Think Cold Feet meets David Nicholls, with a dash of the joy of Jill Mansell added for good measure.

Critic reviews

‘A warming testament to the elasticity and enduring love of true family bonds. I adored this book' (Penny Parkes, author of Best Practice)

'Fresh, funny and utterly fabulous, it’s the perfect holiday read'

‘I love Juliet's writing and this book featured so many wonderful characters. I was left wanting to join the family at one of their Sunday lunches’ (Samantha, Netgalley reviewer)

‘A joy from start to finish. The relationships within the family ring so true. And the twists kept me guessing. A beautiful book’ (Laura Kemp, author of The Year of Surprising Acts of Kindness)

‘Romantic and gentle, and in places really funny, but it has pace and a couple of twists which kept me reading. The author is good with characters, each with a clear 'voice'’ (Penny, Netgalley reviewer)

‘All the characters have their own strong storyline and I enjoyed finding out how their lives unfolded’ (Sarah, Netgalley reviewer)

‘A very enjoyable and entertaining book with an interesting plot, complex characters and some food for thought. Recommended’ (Anna, Netgalley reviewer)

‘Absolutely loved this joyful, entertaining, and fabulously funny book’ (Karen, Netgalley reviewer)

What a story!

I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful tale of the Piper family. As the story went on, I felt a part of each Sunday lunch, each triumph and each tiff. I loved they way they protected one another from pain or the onset of, but were still able to be truth tellers. Each character held their own, carrying a strong presence throughout the entire read. It was a relief to see a happy ending at every angle of Anna's life. The love that Neil and Santi had for each other, although it took a minute for Neil to find the love within himself, for himself. The free spirited Mayve brought laughter and sometimes warm sentiment towards the results of her life's choices, then Finally, peace for Josh/Thea and Dinky being the matriarch that she was.
I'm so glad I chose this read, as I listened constantly for an entire day. A good day it was.

Sweet and shallow

A light read without much plot. The main character somewhat immature and less interesting than the others.

Yaya sisterhood meets modern family British style

I enjoyed this book for many reasons. I liked Anna a lot. I really enjoyed the narrator. and I felt like all the family characters were well-developed. I wanted to be invited to one of their Sunday brunches.

Ending Dragged On

Good story but the ending seemed to drag on. Got bored towards the end. The author got too preachy.

Glad I took a chance on this one!

Great character development, especially for a book with so many different and diverse characters. I felt the story line was relevant for the times and while I saw some of what was coming there were still many surprises! I thought the narrator did a great job as well.