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Ralph's Party #1
Ralph's Party
Meet the residents of 31 Almanac Road in a romantic, engrossing novel that takes you up the garden path, through the front door and into the most intimate parts of other people's lives.
Ralph and Smith are best friends. Until they fall for Jemima, their new flatmate. Jem knows one of them's the man for her - but which one?
Karl and Siobhan live in the flat above. Happily unmarried for fifteen years, it looks as if nothing can spoil their domestic idyll.
Except maybe Cheri, the femme fatale in the top flat. She's got her eye on Karl and she isn't about to let his fat girlfriend stand in the way...
Sooner or later it's all got to come to a head - and what better place for tears and laughter, break ups and make ups than Ralph's party?
Ralph and Smith are best friends. Until they fall for Jemima, their new flatmate. Jem knows one of them's the man for her - but which one?
Karl and Siobhan live in the flat above. Happily unmarried for fifteen years, it looks as if nothing can spoil their domestic idyll.
Except maybe Cheri, the femme fatale in the top flat. She's got her eye on Karl and she isn't about to let his fat girlfriend stand in the way...
Sooner or later it's all got to come to a head - and what better place for tears and laughter, break ups and make ups than Ralph's party?
368 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 1999
583 people are currently reading
14114 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Jewell
43 books87.1k followersLISA JEWELL was born in London in 1968.
Her first novel, Ralph's Party, was the best- selling debut novel of 1999. Since then she has written another twenty novels, most recently a number of dark psychological thrillers, including The Girls, Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs and The Night She Disappeared.
Lisa is a New York Times and Sunday Times number one bestselling author who has been published worldwide in over twenty-five languages. She lives in north London with her husband, two teenage daughters and the best dog in the world.
Lisa's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/LisaJewelloff...
Her first novel, Ralph's Party, was the best- selling debut novel of 1999. Since then she has written another twenty novels, most recently a number of dark psychological thrillers, including The Girls, Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs and The Night She Disappeared.
Lisa is a New York Times and Sunday Times number one bestselling author who has been published worldwide in over twenty-five languages. She lives in north London with her husband, two teenage daughters and the best dog in the world.
Lisa's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/LisaJewelloff...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 750 reviews
October 10, 2019
EXCERPT: Ralph barely noticed Jem the first time he saw her. He was arguing with his girlfriend, Claudia, sitting at his desk, cradling the phone under his chin as he carelessly pulled elastic bands into tight ligatures around his wrists in an apparently subconscious attempt to cut off his blood supply and end the painful predictability of it all.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Meet the residents of the London brownstone on 31 Almanac Road who together weave a tangled web of romance. Ralph, a ne'er-do-well artist, suddenly realizes he's head over heels in love with his new flatmate Jem, the most fun and sensible girl he's ever encountered. Unfortunately, Ralph's best friend, Smith, has already won Jem's affections, although Smith has not entirely given up his passion for the femme fatale, Cheri, who lives upstairs. Across the hall, Karl and Siobhan have been happily unmarried for years, until Karl gets a smashing job as a London rush-hour DJ and momentarily gets tempted into Cheri's cozy lair.
These six star-crossed tenants become more enamored, and more confused, as the story progresses-until their true destinies are revealed on one crucial night-the evening of the extravaganza that is . . . Ralph's party.
MY THOUGHTS: Light, fluffy, funny but with hidden depths, Ralph's Party is reminiscent of the Oscar Wilde classic The Importance of Being Ernest. I enjoyed this comedic romp, Lisa Jewell's first novel which she wrote as the result of a dare. There are a few cringeworthy moments, but nothing out of character. Though I must admit that Ralph's character could be extremely irritating at times.
Jewell's ability to round her characters out is already in evidence here, as is her ability to think outside the box. Not everything went as I expected, she has thrown a few surprises in the mix.
I enjoyed Imogen Church's narrative style, and I will be either reading or listening to the follow up, After the Party, which picks up the story eleven years from where Ralph's Party ends.
😊😂🤣😊
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of Ralph's Party by Lisa Jewell, narrated by Imogen Church and published by Penguin, via Overdrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Meet the residents of the London brownstone on 31 Almanac Road who together weave a tangled web of romance. Ralph, a ne'er-do-well artist, suddenly realizes he's head over heels in love with his new flatmate Jem, the most fun and sensible girl he's ever encountered. Unfortunately, Ralph's best friend, Smith, has already won Jem's affections, although Smith has not entirely given up his passion for the femme fatale, Cheri, who lives upstairs. Across the hall, Karl and Siobhan have been happily unmarried for years, until Karl gets a smashing job as a London rush-hour DJ and momentarily gets tempted into Cheri's cozy lair.
These six star-crossed tenants become more enamored, and more confused, as the story progresses-until their true destinies are revealed on one crucial night-the evening of the extravaganza that is . . . Ralph's party.
MY THOUGHTS: Light, fluffy, funny but with hidden depths, Ralph's Party is reminiscent of the Oscar Wilde classic The Importance of Being Ernest. I enjoyed this comedic romp, Lisa Jewell's first novel which she wrote as the result of a dare. There are a few cringeworthy moments, but nothing out of character. Though I must admit that Ralph's character could be extremely irritating at times.
Jewell's ability to round her characters out is already in evidence here, as is her ability to think outside the box. Not everything went as I expected, she has thrown a few surprises in the mix.
I enjoyed Imogen Church's narrative style, and I will be either reading or listening to the follow up, After the Party, which picks up the story eleven years from where Ralph's Party ends.
😊😂🤣😊
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of Ralph's Party by Lisa Jewell, narrated by Imogen Church and published by Penguin, via Overdrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
October 14, 2018
OMG... OMG these characters are REVOLTING PEOPLE ... the lot of them ... I’d like to have them all written into a serial killer book and have them all done away with by chapter 2 !!! There isn’t one I’d save .. not even the simpering twit Jen .
October 23, 2012
What was I thinking? Aaagh!
I should have read the signs!
Warning Sign no. 1: the price dropped from about two pounds to about one.
Warning Sign no. 2: the ‘chick-lit’ label on the cover.
But instead I decided to trust the facts.
Fact In My Defence no. 1: the price dropped from about two pounds to about one.
Fact In My Defence no. 2: good reviews on Goodreads.
So I ended up reading the type of book I hate: ‘Let’s Describe Everything and Everyone in Detail as Directly as to Leave no Doubt What is Meant.’ The book is packed with straightforward descriptions of characters and scenes that read like script (something like ‘She stood up, went up to the cupboard, took a glass of wine, had a sip, put the glass away, looked into the mirror, and sighed.’ [disclaimer: this is not a quote]). Forcing the characters to use taboo words doesn’t make them any less paper or wooden. Setting the events in London doesn’t make the book attractive. Ridiculing M&S products repeatedly doesn’t make the narrative witty. Cliché situation and the predictable turn of events were the last straw to me.
Compared with this novel, Bridget Jones’s Diary is a masterpiece of the highest writing and creative skills.
I should have read the signs!
Warning Sign no. 1: the price dropped from about two pounds to about one.
Warning Sign no. 2: the ‘chick-lit’ label on the cover.
But instead I decided to trust the facts.
Fact In My Defence no. 1: the price dropped from about two pounds to about one.
Fact In My Defence no. 2: good reviews on Goodreads.
So I ended up reading the type of book I hate: ‘Let’s Describe Everything and Everyone in Detail as Directly as to Leave no Doubt What is Meant.’ The book is packed with straightforward descriptions of characters and scenes that read like script (something like ‘She stood up, went up to the cupboard, took a glass of wine, had a sip, put the glass away, looked into the mirror, and sighed.’ [disclaimer: this is not a quote]). Forcing the characters to use taboo words doesn’t make them any less paper or wooden. Setting the events in London doesn’t make the book attractive. Ridiculing M&S products repeatedly doesn’t make the narrative witty. Cliché situation and the predictable turn of events were the last straw to me.
Compared with this novel, Bridget Jones’s Diary is a masterpiece of the highest writing and creative skills.
January 18, 2024
A promising book that ends bad and more than chaotic.
We have some un-expected philosophy, some well-constructed characters, some style too, but the level decreases dramatically, culminating with the eponymous party...
We have some un-expected philosophy, some well-constructed characters, some style too, but the level decreases dramatically, culminating with the eponymous party...
November 21, 2022
If I took a shot for every time a fatphobic comment was made then I’d be the most shitfaced at ralphs party
November 11, 2022
I’m just going to pretend that this wasn’t written by Lisa Jewell because It’s the first book by her that I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed. This story is clearly written last century. The men are all entitled and mysoginistic; one who doesn’t view women as real people (Ralph) and one who cheats on his wife and when the women he’s sleeping with gets an abortion he says she’s murdered his baby and he will ‘get his revenge’. He also seems to feel entitled to cheat on his wife and he mentions her being infertile; whilst it is never explicitly said that this is why, it seems implied. I felt pity for his wife till she used a homophobic slur when talking about how women where she lived were worried about any sort of body hair showing. She seemed to be terrified that if she didn’t get rid of all her body hair people would think she was a lesbian, as if a) that was at all true and b) people thinking that would be horrible. She also used an ableist slur.
There was some weird descriptions of the fact she’d put on weight and her husband liked it because she ‘felt like a chubby school girl’ and he’d never gotten to sleep with a chubby school girl.
Ralph, one of the flat mates in the apartment where the story is focused, goes into his new flatmate’s room and reads her diary. Then he smells her bra and talks in detail about how she was hiding her cup size well. And all of this is just in the first 10% of the book.
Without going into more detail, there are also Trigger warnings for sexual assault and rape.
I won’t continue with what happens through the book as I don’t want to spoil it if you are thinking of reading, but all I will say is I don’t recommend and if you want to read Lisa Jewell, I would recommend these by her instead as they are all a thousand times better:
- The Family Upstairs
- Then She Was Gone
- Invisible Girl
- The Girls
- Watching You
- The Night She Disappeared
There was some weird descriptions of the fact she’d put on weight and her husband liked it because she ‘felt like a chubby school girl’ and he’d never gotten to sleep with a chubby school girl.
Ralph, one of the flat mates in the apartment where the story is focused, goes into his new flatmate’s room and reads her diary. Then he smells her bra and talks in detail about how she was hiding her cup size well. And all of this is just in the first 10% of the book.
Without going into more detail, there are also Trigger warnings for sexual assault and rape.
I won’t continue with what happens through the book as I don’t want to spoil it if you are thinking of reading, but all I will say is I don’t recommend and if you want to read Lisa Jewell, I would recommend these by her instead as they are all a thousand times better:
- The Family Upstairs
- Then She Was Gone
- Invisible Girl
- The Girls
- Watching You
- The Night She Disappeared
August 28, 2024
Started off really well, and is told from the alternating point of view of several of the dwellers in a set of flats in South London.
I listened to the audiobook, which was the only available version of this book at my local library. The narrator, Imogen Church, did an exceptional job in voicing the various characters. I had to laugh out loud more than once at her impersonations!
If she narrated the second book in this series, I might give it a shot!
I listened to the audiobook, which was the only available version of this book at my local library. The narrator, Imogen Church, did an exceptional job in voicing the various characters. I had to laugh out loud more than once at her impersonations!
If she narrated the second book in this series, I might give it a shot!
December 16, 2021
I am still wondering why I thought this might be a good book. Absolutely horrible. Horrible characters, I couldn't like any of them, horrible plot.
You can really tell what opinion the author had about blonde, slim, successful women (probably I missed the order of the adjectives). All the book is about love, relationship, infidelity, food, people getting drunk, and smoking weed.
Maybe the least despicable character is Siobhan, bus she also is not well written. Rick says she is wonderful, amazing, but the author does not provide evidence to support this.
And what the heck happened with Smith? He was an ok guy in the beginning, but by the end, he really lost it. Why did he become such a horrible person? We never know. Guess we really needed an antagonist. What about his friendship with Ralph? So many questions, so few answers.
You can tell this is the first book that Lisa wrote. Heard she did better with the next ones.
I gave it 2* instead of 1, because of Pete's speech describing how life should be lived.
You can really tell what opinion the author had about blonde, slim, successful women (probably I missed the order of the adjectives). All the book is about love, relationship, infidelity, food, people getting drunk, and smoking weed.
Maybe the least despicable character is Siobhan, bus she also is not well written. Rick says she is wonderful, amazing, but the author does not provide evidence to support this.
And what the heck happened with Smith? He was an ok guy in the beginning, but by the end, he really lost it. Why did he become such a horrible person? We never know. Guess we really needed an antagonist. What about his friendship with Ralph? So many questions, so few answers.
You can tell this is the first book that Lisa wrote. Heard she did better with the next ones.
I gave it 2* instead of 1, because of Pete's speech describing how life should be lived.
May 27, 2020
This was okay, but it seemed to take a hell of a long time to get through. I liked Ralph, Smith was a complete arse, and Jem was nice. I was wondering for 80% of the book when the party was going to happen though as it happened so late!
March 28, 2016
I really don't have much to say about this book, which is probably a good thing, because if I did it wouldn't be positive.
Jem was insipid, dull and had terrible taste in men.
Ralph had boundary issues that bordered on obsessive stalking.
Smith started out reasonable, and then turned into not just an asshole but a clingy asshole.
Cheri was a flat-out bitch.
Basically I found it to be a blah book full of horrible characters. I'm glad it wasn't my first experience with Lisa Jewell, because I've previously enjoyed a few of her books (Thirty-Nothing and One Hit Wonder), and if this had been the first book of hers that I'd picked up, I certainly wouldn't have read any others.
Ralph's Party left a really nasty taste in my mouth, and I won't read it again, though I may try other books by the author.
Jem was insipid, dull and had terrible taste in men.
Ralph had boundary issues that bordered on obsessive stalking.
Smith started out reasonable, and then turned into not just an asshole but a clingy asshole.
Cheri was a flat-out bitch.
Basically I found it to be a blah book full of horrible characters. I'm glad it wasn't my first experience with Lisa Jewell, because I've previously enjoyed a few of her books (Thirty-Nothing and One Hit Wonder), and if this had been the first book of hers that I'd picked up, I certainly wouldn't have read any others.
Ralph's Party left a really nasty taste in my mouth, and I won't read it again, though I may try other books by the author.
January 9, 2020
A reread that unfortunately didn’t stand the test of time!
Very outdated and uncomfortable in places
Very outdated and uncomfortable in places
May 29, 2011
Need to read the sequel to this for review, found this one languishing on the TBR shelves.
July 24, 2012
Lisa Jewell is a really good writer and I was surprised when I realised I hadn't read her first book, the cover is simple but perfect for the story behind it. Jem is the centre of attention in this book and I love that as she's such a lovely character she's someone you want as a friend as she's a good listener and counts everyone she has in her life as important. Ralph is a shy person to begin with but as the book went on he grew as a person and it was good to see his shy side firstly and then for him to come out of his shell put a smile on my face.Smith is a different person altogether, In my opinion he loves being the centre of attention and goes in sulks and moods if things don't go his way. I wasn't keen on at the beginning and still wasn't at the end.
Siobhan and Karl and Cheri are a different story entirely and this story makes you questions your morals and to be honest I wasn't keen on Cheri or Karl but did feel sorry for Siobhan, there was other characters in the book but not very often. The last part of the story was a bit slow for my liking but otherwise a great story.
Siobhan and Karl and Cheri are a different story entirely and this story makes you questions your morals and to be honest I wasn't keen on Cheri or Karl but did feel sorry for Siobhan, there was other characters in the book but not very often. The last part of the story was a bit slow for my liking but otherwise a great story.
August 21, 2022
Re-read - not as good as the first time I read it a long time ago!
September 29, 2022
Update 9/2022:
I did a reread of this book after first having read it way back in the day when in first came out circa 2000. This is Lisa Jewell's first book and it totally turned me onto her writing and turned her into a must-read author.
While Lisa Jewell has moved into books with a hint (and in some cases more than a hint) of mystery to them her original contemporary novels explore the complications of relationships (romantic and platonic), figuring out your place in the world, coming to terms with loss/grief/hurt, betrayals and anger and love and redemption and comeuppance and the aftermath of poor choices and forgiveness and all the messy mixed up moments of life in your 20s and 30s.
I connected with her writing from the start and this book has always held a special sentimental space in my heart. I have to say the reread brought back all of that nostalgia and reminded me why I am such an avid fan of Lisa Jewell.
Focusing on the lives of six people who live at 31 Almanac Road we get new flatmates, unrequited loves, complicated relationships and so much humor, warmth and relatability. I loved every minute of being back in this world and was beyond excited to find out (because I maybe made a turn into the more dark and messed up books for a bit)....but excited to connect the dots that After the Party is a sequel to Ralph's Party. You know I rushed out to get it and can't wait to get caught up with all of these characters and find out what happened next.
Hugely recommend for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid and for those who are maybe later Lisa Jewell fans - so great to see where it all started for her. She also wrote this book on a dare from a friend of hers - a dare to follow a dream she had. Love it!
I did a reread of this book after first having read it way back in the day when in first came out circa 2000. This is Lisa Jewell's first book and it totally turned me onto her writing and turned her into a must-read author.
While Lisa Jewell has moved into books with a hint (and in some cases more than a hint) of mystery to them her original contemporary novels explore the complications of relationships (romantic and platonic), figuring out your place in the world, coming to terms with loss/grief/hurt, betrayals and anger and love and redemption and comeuppance and the aftermath of poor choices and forgiveness and all the messy mixed up moments of life in your 20s and 30s.
I connected with her writing from the start and this book has always held a special sentimental space in my heart. I have to say the reread brought back all of that nostalgia and reminded me why I am such an avid fan of Lisa Jewell.
Focusing on the lives of six people who live at 31 Almanac Road we get new flatmates, unrequited loves, complicated relationships and so much humor, warmth and relatability. I loved every minute of being back in this world and was beyond excited to find out (because I maybe made a turn into the more dark and messed up books for a bit)....but excited to connect the dots that After the Party is a sequel to Ralph's Party. You know I rushed out to get it and can't wait to get caught up with all of these characters and find out what happened next.
Hugely recommend for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid and for those who are maybe later Lisa Jewell fans - so great to see where it all started for her. She also wrote this book on a dare from a friend of hers - a dare to follow a dream she had. Love it!
March 13, 2009
I was amazed, I really enjoyed this book.
I am not a lover of "chicklit" at all but becuase of illness that means my attention span is small, memory terrible and anything that requires the least effort or thinking on my part, is just pointless for me to read becuase I completely lose track of,I am having to find effortless books to read as it is pointless to read my usual choice of a book that is either demanding or requires some thinking on my part, I picked up a load of books at a charity shop that were of the "fluffy" type, this one included.
Anyway, I really enjoyed it, read the book in two days, didn't find it an effort or demanding in any way, and I found the ending satisfying. So, I am giving it 5 stars - whether I would do this if I wasn't affected by this illness, is another thing entirely, maybe not, but as I am right now, this was perfect, loved it nad am looking for more by Lisa Jewell.
I am not a lover of "chicklit" at all but becuase of illness that means my attention span is small, memory terrible and anything that requires the least effort or thinking on my part, is just pointless for me to read becuase I completely lose track of,I am having to find effortless books to read as it is pointless to read my usual choice of a book that is either demanding or requires some thinking on my part, I picked up a load of books at a charity shop that were of the "fluffy" type, this one included.
Anyway, I really enjoyed it, read the book in two days, didn't find it an effort or demanding in any way, and I found the ending satisfying. So, I am giving it 5 stars - whether I would do this if I wasn't affected by this illness, is another thing entirely, maybe not, but as I am right now, this was perfect, loved it nad am looking for more by Lisa Jewell.
September 17, 2011
I have lost count how many times I have read 'Ralph's Party' (I am now on my third copy), its one of my favourite books. I love all the characters (apart from Smith), they are realistic and well written, I have always had a kinship with Siobhan for various reasons and I love how she changes in the book, its a positive change and its nice to read. Ralph and Jemima are both memorable characters, they are so similar in so many ways and they do not see it, you want them to be together. Smith is somewhat of an annoying character which I never liked but he plays his part in the book which leads to good things.
An excellent story of people and their lives, a nice, relaxing and fun read which you will read again and again.
An excellent story of people and their lives, a nice, relaxing and fun read which you will read again and again.
June 24, 2013
I made a bad mistake in buying (prompted by Amazon) and staring to read this book.I'd finished the first part of Parade's End, a wonderful but sometimes demanding read, and I thought that I'd quickly read this contemporary novel set in South London, where I live. But I've given up after reading 10%. It's shallow and uninteresting, driveling on about the lives of a tedious and predictable set of 30 year olds. I need perhaps to return to my maxim of not reading a book that is less than 30 years old.
April 30, 2020
Audiobook, v good narration, delightful story!
Read
August 10, 2024Ralph’s Party was originally published in 1999 and is the first novel from Lisa Jewell, now better known for her super twisty domestic noir thrillers. I spotted recently that Ralph’s Party was being reissued to celebrate its 25th anniversary, and I figured I’d read it now as it clearly passed 15 year old me by at the time!
Billed as a contemporary romance, we meet the young residents of a house in London. The eponymous Ralph and his bestie Smith share an apartment, and have just rented out their extra room to Jem, a beautiful and fun young woman who’s convinced she’s going to fall in love with one of these men, following a dream she had, which she believes foretold the future. A love triangle ensues.
Meanwhile, upstairs we find ice queen Cheri, the object of affection for several men in the building but with zero interest in any of them.
Lastly, we have long term couple Siobhán and Karl, going through some unexpected changes in their relationship, not helped by other residents in the house.
We follow all the characters as the book progresses until eventually, their stories entwine and the ultimate showdown happens at, you guessed it, Ralph’s party!
On the plus side, this book has serious 90’s vibes, which gave the story a cosy nostalgic feel throughout. Even for her first book, Jewell keeps the reader interested and certainly some of the narratives here were really engaging.
That said! As you might anticipate for a book of this genre, published in 1999, there’s just SO much discussion of weight. It was hard to see it when we were in the thick of it in the 90’s and 2000’s but it really did dominate so much discourse around women especially, and it’s incredibly noticeable now looking back. This has happened to me re-reading old Marian Keyes books too. It’s very much a product of its time but worth mentioning in case it’s something you would rather avoid.
This isn’t a genre I gravitate towards that much if I’m honest, but I did mostly like this book, even though it’s not really my thing!
I think I’ll stick to the Lisa Jewell I know better and return to my beloved thrillers though 😅
Have you read this one?
Billed as a contemporary romance, we meet the young residents of a house in London. The eponymous Ralph and his bestie Smith share an apartment, and have just rented out their extra room to Jem, a beautiful and fun young woman who’s convinced she’s going to fall in love with one of these men, following a dream she had, which she believes foretold the future. A love triangle ensues.
Meanwhile, upstairs we find ice queen Cheri, the object of affection for several men in the building but with zero interest in any of them.
Lastly, we have long term couple Siobhán and Karl, going through some unexpected changes in their relationship, not helped by other residents in the house.
We follow all the characters as the book progresses until eventually, their stories entwine and the ultimate showdown happens at, you guessed it, Ralph’s party!
On the plus side, this book has serious 90’s vibes, which gave the story a cosy nostalgic feel throughout. Even for her first book, Jewell keeps the reader interested and certainly some of the narratives here were really engaging.
That said! As you might anticipate for a book of this genre, published in 1999, there’s just SO much discussion of weight. It was hard to see it when we were in the thick of it in the 90’s and 2000’s but it really did dominate so much discourse around women especially, and it’s incredibly noticeable now looking back. This has happened to me re-reading old Marian Keyes books too. It’s very much a product of its time but worth mentioning in case it’s something you would rather avoid.
This isn’t a genre I gravitate towards that much if I’m honest, but I did mostly like this book, even though it’s not really my thing!
I think I’ll stick to the Lisa Jewell I know better and return to my beloved thrillers though 😅
Have you read this one?
July 1, 2023
⭐️⭐️2.0
"The Ralph's Story" by Lisa Jewell presents a narrative that manages to keep the reader engaged, despite the presence of clichéd and stereotypical characters. While the book succeeds in maintaining interest, the lack of depth and originality in its character portrayals diminishes the overall impact of the story.
One of the main drawbacks of this book lies in its reliance on clichés and stereotypes for character development. The characters in "The Ralph's Story" feel like familiar archetypes, lacking the complexity and uniqueness that could have elevated the narrative. From the quirky best friend to the brooding love interest, the cast of characters embodies predictable roles that we have seen in countless stories before. This lack of originality makes it difficult to truly connect with and invest in the characters' journeys.
Additionally, the characters in "The Ralph's Story" often lack depth and nuance. They seem to exist solely to fulfill their assigned roles in the plot, rather than having fully fleshed-out personalities and motivations. This superficiality hinders the reader's ability to form genuine emotional connections with the characters and impedes their growth throughout the story.
Despite these shortcomings, the book manages to maintain a level of engagement. The pacing is generally well-maintained, and the author's writing style flows smoothly. The plot, while predictable at times, offers enough intrigue and momentum to keep the reader turning the pages. There is a sense of curiosity and desire to uncover the resolution of the central conflict, which contributes to the book's ability to hold the reader's attention.
However, it is unfortunate that "The Ralph's Story" falls short in creating truly memorable and authentic characters. The reliance on stereotypes and clichés undermines the potential impact of the story, leaving a sense of missed opportunities for deeper exploration and emotional resonance.
In conclusion, "The Ralph's Story" by Lisa Jewell is a book that manages to engage the reader, despite its use of clichéd and stereotypical characters. While the narrative may hold interest, the lack of originality and depth in character portrayals hinders the overall impact. This book may appeal to those seeking a light and easy read, but for readers looking for more substantial and well-developed characters, it may leave them wanting more.
"The Ralph's Story" by Lisa Jewell presents a narrative that manages to keep the reader engaged, despite the presence of clichéd and stereotypical characters. While the book succeeds in maintaining interest, the lack of depth and originality in its character portrayals diminishes the overall impact of the story.
One of the main drawbacks of this book lies in its reliance on clichés and stereotypes for character development. The characters in "The Ralph's Story" feel like familiar archetypes, lacking the complexity and uniqueness that could have elevated the narrative. From the quirky best friend to the brooding love interest, the cast of characters embodies predictable roles that we have seen in countless stories before. This lack of originality makes it difficult to truly connect with and invest in the characters' journeys.
Additionally, the characters in "The Ralph's Story" often lack depth and nuance. They seem to exist solely to fulfill their assigned roles in the plot, rather than having fully fleshed-out personalities and motivations. This superficiality hinders the reader's ability to form genuine emotional connections with the characters and impedes their growth throughout the story.
Despite these shortcomings, the book manages to maintain a level of engagement. The pacing is generally well-maintained, and the author's writing style flows smoothly. The plot, while predictable at times, offers enough intrigue and momentum to keep the reader turning the pages. There is a sense of curiosity and desire to uncover the resolution of the central conflict, which contributes to the book's ability to hold the reader's attention.
However, it is unfortunate that "The Ralph's Story" falls short in creating truly memorable and authentic characters. The reliance on stereotypes and clichés undermines the potential impact of the story, leaving a sense of missed opportunities for deeper exploration and emotional resonance.
In conclusion, "The Ralph's Story" by Lisa Jewell is a book that manages to engage the reader, despite its use of clichéd and stereotypical characters. While the narrative may hold interest, the lack of originality and depth in character portrayals hinders the overall impact. This book may appeal to those seeking a light and easy read, but for readers looking for more substantial and well-developed characters, it may leave them wanting more.
September 17, 2025
This was amazing!!!! I literally lost count of how many times I had to pause so I could belly laugh but it’s actually a somber love story as well. Brilliant!
October 11, 2012
This was a brilliant debut novel which was written some years ago now, but still feels as fresh as the day it came out on to the market. It's strength is the fact that it's centered on the people who live in three, different apartments and their intertwining lives as it showcases all the signs of great things to come from this author. She captures not only the reader's full attention right to the end, but for delving into the ordinariness of various lost souls and exposing their quirky natures (good and bad) for all to see. It really was a lesson in character development for me and expressed how to piece together a simple story about relationships, whilst also making it both realistic and totally absorbing with a need to bring it all to a rightful conclusion. This proves that Lisa Jewell was meant to be a wonderful writer right from the start and it's my loss that I haven't read more of her books. So I really should do something about that and look out for more of her titles in the future. I know that my reading pleasure will be in safe hands if I do and I won't be disappointed, because she won't let me down.
January 19, 2016
LOVE THIS BOOK! It's funny, it's such an easy read and so quirky! Loved the characters, I found them delightful and so true to real life - refreshing.
December 30, 2021
I am so glad this is my last book of 2021 I have wanted to read this for so long and my hubby got it me for Christmas. I love jewell a d it was her first book so it was a must. Definately not of the same standard of her more current books but I really enjoyed it and I loved ralph contrary to some of the reviews of unlikeable characters
August 14, 2022
I definitely liked the sequel better, which I accidentally read first. Ralph and Jem develop more in it, especially Jem. However, I enjoyed reading the parts with Siobhan; I found her more realistic and endearing as a character. Carl is just a slime and Smith is not much better.
August 19, 2024
A very average book, I enjoyed some of it but the fairly regular fat comments made it less enjoyable. It was first published in 2000 and you can tell… very outdated. The story was fine and as soon as I started to like a character, I remembered one of the weird things they’d done earlier and instantly disliked them again
July 27, 2024
mediocre book but easy read and not short of ‘drama’. I was particularly frustrated by the narrative suggesting that women gaining weight leads to infidelity, which I found to be a problematic and outdated trope. That being said, Sionbhan (being frequently described as the fat one 🤮) was the only somewhat relatable character. The others were generally unlikeable and I couldn’t empathize with any of them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2025
Well this was certainly a book of its time. So many negative comments on body size. The men in this book all behave horribly. They live like students despite being in their late 20s, 30s. They are also all unfaithful, sneaky, unkind and just plain obnoxious. I listened to it on double speed to get through it quicker. I love Lisa Jewell's thrillers, they are brilliant so think will stick to them in future. Interestingly I did read this back when it was more recently published and I remember liking it. I am glad both my views and thankfully a good swathe of society's have changed.
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