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The Trivia Night
'Unputdownable . . . spookily familiar, funny, and darkly captivating. I loved it'
Sally Hepworth
How long does it take to tear someone's life apart?
Sometimes just one night.
From the outside the parents of the kindergarten class at Darley Heights primary school seem to have it all. Living in the wealthy Sydney suburbs, it's a community where everyone knows each other - and secrets don't stay secret for long.
The big date in the calendar is the school's annual fundraising trivia night, but when the evening gets raucously out of hand, talk turns to partner-swapping. Initially scandalised, it's not long before a group of parents make a reckless one-night-only pact.
But in the harsh light of day, those involved must face the fallout of their behaviour. As they begin to navigate the shady aftermath of their wild night, the truth threatens to rip their perfect lives apart - and revenge turns fatal.
THE TRIVIA NIGHT is a gripping, domestic page-turner full of shocking reveals, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.
Sally Hepworth
How long does it take to tear someone's life apart?
Sometimes just one night.
From the outside the parents of the kindergarten class at Darley Heights primary school seem to have it all. Living in the wealthy Sydney suburbs, it's a community where everyone knows each other - and secrets don't stay secret for long.
The big date in the calendar is the school's annual fundraising trivia night, but when the evening gets raucously out of hand, talk turns to partner-swapping. Initially scandalised, it's not long before a group of parents make a reckless one-night-only pact.
But in the harsh light of day, those involved must face the fallout of their behaviour. As they begin to navigate the shady aftermath of their wild night, the truth threatens to rip their perfect lives apart - and revenge turns fatal.
THE TRIVIA NIGHT is a gripping, domestic page-turner full of shocking reveals, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.
368 pages, Paperback
First published February 22, 2022
482 people are currently reading
2961 people want to read
About the author
Ali Lowe
5 books303 followersAli Lowe is the author of bestselling novels The Trivia Night, The Running Club, The School Run and The Private Island. Ali is a journalist by profession: she was Features Editor at OK! in London and has written widely for magazines, websites and newspapers. She has dual Australian and British citizenship and lives in Sydney with her family. Follow Ali on Instagram @ali_lowe_author
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 436 reviews
February 9, 2022
At first Ali Lowe’s debut novel feels a little reminiscent of Leanne Moriarty’s Big Little Lies, but it’s not long until the Darley Public School trivia quiz turns into a very different type of trivia night with a unique and original take.
The novel is mostly told through the recollections of three of the women involved. Amanda who is new to the school and has a history of drinking and bad behaviour, her friend Alice the events co-ordinator via meetings with her psychologist and Zoe in letters to her sister. Along with their husbands, their table of eight is completed by another couple new to the school, the Hampsons, Luke a plastic surgeon with film star looks and his gorgeous wife Lara. With alcohol flowing freely, a daring suggestion results in some of them behaving very badly and will have major repercussions for all the couples. All might have been fine if it hadn’t been for another new parent who has an axe to grind with Amanda and will take any opportunity for revenge.
This is a very entertaining novel with a lively pace and a more than a touch of humour. The dialogue was often very funny and the characters are so well drawn that they feel like real people who might be found at any primary school fundraiser. The novel also touches on some serious subjects such as alcoholism, domestic abuse, suicide and infertility so there are some sad moments which were all dealt with well. I loved the direction the novel took after the trivia night and the unexpected twists towards the end making this excellent debut a real page turner.
With thanks to Hodder & Stoughton via Netgalley for a copy to read
The novel is mostly told through the recollections of three of the women involved. Amanda who is new to the school and has a history of drinking and bad behaviour, her friend Alice the events co-ordinator via meetings with her psychologist and Zoe in letters to her sister. Along with their husbands, their table of eight is completed by another couple new to the school, the Hampsons, Luke a plastic surgeon with film star looks and his gorgeous wife Lara. With alcohol flowing freely, a daring suggestion results in some of them behaving very badly and will have major repercussions for all the couples. All might have been fine if it hadn’t been for another new parent who has an axe to grind with Amanda and will take any opportunity for revenge.
This is a very entertaining novel with a lively pace and a more than a touch of humour. The dialogue was often very funny and the characters are so well drawn that they feel like real people who might be found at any primary school fundraiser. The novel also touches on some serious subjects such as alcoholism, domestic abuse, suicide and infertility so there are some sad moments which were all dealt with well. I loved the direction the novel took after the trivia night and the unexpected twists towards the end making this excellent debut a real page turner.
With thanks to Hodder & Stoughton via Netgalley for a copy to read
September 13, 2022
I am ind ian outlier on this one just couldn’t get into A group of parents hold a trivia night at Darley Heights public school in an elite area but things go pear shaped when something unthinkable happens& the parents are forced to face the consequences.
I went into this blind but for me personally I am not into wife swapping or things associated with it, I know a lot of people rated it four or 5 stars but this wasn’t for me.
I went into this blind but for me personally I am not into wife swapping or things associated with it, I know a lot of people rated it four or 5 stars but this wasn’t for me.
March 11, 2022
I gladly give a round of applause to Ali Lowe on this smashing debut! You captured my attention from beginning to end! A fresh look at adults behaving badly and the consequences that come from it. I enjoyed the laugh out loud moments along with the battle for revenge.
February 10, 2022
Roll up anyone who loves school gate Mum’s stories with gossip/scandal aplenty with a host of neighbours in an exclusive town, you know the score and you know if you love and enjoy these ingredients 🤗
I do, and expected this to be a book I could pretty much fathom out quickly and not reading much blurb about it guessed it was going to be based around a ‘Trivia Night’ where jealousies abounded and oneupmanship ruled the roost….and it kinda was BUT sooooo much more, what happens at this ‘Trivia Night’ to various folk on table 6 is ( no exaggeration ) life shattering and changing and well, unorthodox in their lives to say the least
Told by various characters in different ways, one speaking to us the reader, one to their therapist and one to their Sister it spans from events leading up to, including and after that fateful night and does include triggers re domestic abuse, suicide and alcoholism but all dealt with really well
Some of the characters are revoltingly likeable ( you can’t help but love a good old snob ) and some tedious ( but need to be ) and for me they all worked and formed a good solid group of reprehensible at times and at others kind and caring people
I loved it, just the right read at the right time and would be fab as a Netflix series
10/10
5 Stars
I do, and expected this to be a book I could pretty much fathom out quickly and not reading much blurb about it guessed it was going to be based around a ‘Trivia Night’ where jealousies abounded and oneupmanship ruled the roost….and it kinda was BUT sooooo much more, what happens at this ‘Trivia Night’ to various folk on table 6 is ( no exaggeration ) life shattering and changing and well, unorthodox in their lives to say the least
Told by various characters in different ways, one speaking to us the reader, one to their therapist and one to their Sister it spans from events leading up to, including and after that fateful night and does include triggers re domestic abuse, suicide and alcoholism but all dealt with really well
Some of the characters are revoltingly likeable ( you can’t help but love a good old snob ) and some tedious ( but need to be ) and for me they all worked and formed a good solid group of reprehensible at times and at others kind and caring people
I loved it, just the right read at the right time and would be fab as a Netflix series
10/10
5 Stars
January 2, 2022
This was almost unputdownable! But I had to…
It begins at a trivia night at the local public school, Darley Heights (but clearly an affluent area). Amanda Blackland’s daughter Evie is just starting year1 after Amanda has been bullied out of the local private school by evil mother Victoria (now also at the public, Amanda’s friend Alice tells her just at the start of the evening.) This doesn’t help Amanda, whose coping mechanism is alcohol.
So this was a ripping read for me. I enjoyed all the gossip and nastiness and flirting and posturing and just general community stuff. The story is told from three points of view, Amanda, Alice and Zoe(another mother). These three women are at the same trivia night table with their partners as well as Lara and Luke Hampson (hot parents who it turns out are swingers!). Gradually the back story is revealed and the pace never really slows down. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It begins at a trivia night at the local public school, Darley Heights (but clearly an affluent area). Amanda Blackland’s daughter Evie is just starting year1 after Amanda has been bullied out of the local private school by evil mother Victoria (now also at the public, Amanda’s friend Alice tells her just at the start of the evening.) This doesn’t help Amanda, whose coping mechanism is alcohol.
So this was a ripping read for me. I enjoyed all the gossip and nastiness and flirting and posturing and just general community stuff. The story is told from three points of view, Amanda, Alice and Zoe(another mother). These three women are at the same trivia night table with their partners as well as Lara and Luke Hampson (hot parents who it turns out are swingers!). Gradually the back story is revealed and the pace never really slows down. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
April 22, 2022
This novel is a textbook example of how not to plot a novel. The first half is a bunch of drunk, unhappy couples doing naughty things at a school trivia night and then regretting it. The second half is a domestic thriller with no connection to the plot of the first half. The integration of these two storylines is sloppy; at the beginning we're told that maybe if they hadn't done such bad things at trivia night then there wouldn't have been children standing by a coffin later… but, by the end of the novel, it's obvious the death of that parent has nothing whatsoever to do with what happened at trivia night. Both of the plotlines are completely predictable, and I could see the "twist" final chapter coming a mile off (seriously, when a police officer says, "We're not gonna do an autopsy because it's obviously suicide" you know it was definitely murder).
The primary issue with the novel is that the sort of secrets and naughtiness the parents get up to simply aren't interesting. Various "deep dark secrets" are teased early on, but when we find out what they are, they're pretty disappointing. While I admire Lowe's attempt to include challenging issues like alcoholism, suicide, and infertility, they're treated in a completely cliché and predictable manner. While some of the characters definitely had difficult things to deal with, there was very little in the way of actual intrigue. The tagline of the novel promises big things (people's lives being "torn apart") but in the end nothing bad happens other than some hangovers and general embarrassment.
My biggest frustration, however, is that the novel is simultaneously quite morally conservative (being faithful in marriage is consistently held up as really important) but also presents the "naughtiness" of the parents as titillating and erotic. It feels like the sort of novel a slightly discontented 30-something housewife might read in order to be teased by the delicious forbiddenness of infidelity, while she would never do something like that herself. It's a novel that delights in portraying people doing bad things. As readers, we're expected both to condemn what they're doing, but also enjoy watching them. I know I'm probably in the minority here, but I just can't get behind the idea of "people behaving badly" as a type of entertainment.
Ultimately, I just don't understand all the positive reviews on this one. It's not well-written, the characters all sound identical (honestly, I can't remember how many times I had to flick back to the beginning of the chapter because I couldn't remember which character's perspective it was), the plotting is clumsy, and the secrets are just dull. THE TRIVIA NIGHT is a quick, easy read, I'll give it that, but for the rest I'd only recommend it as a masterclass in how not to put a novel together.
The primary issue with the novel is that the sort of secrets and naughtiness the parents get up to simply aren't interesting. Various "deep dark secrets" are teased early on, but when we find out what they are, they're pretty disappointing. While I admire Lowe's attempt to include challenging issues like alcoholism, suicide, and infertility, they're treated in a completely cliché and predictable manner. While some of the characters definitely had difficult things to deal with, there was very little in the way of actual intrigue. The tagline of the novel promises big things (people's lives being "torn apart") but in the end nothing bad happens other than some hangovers and general embarrassment.
My biggest frustration, however, is that the novel is simultaneously quite morally conservative (being faithful in marriage is consistently held up as really important) but also presents the "naughtiness" of the parents as titillating and erotic. It feels like the sort of novel a slightly discontented 30-something housewife might read in order to be teased by the delicious forbiddenness of infidelity, while she would never do something like that herself. It's a novel that delights in portraying people doing bad things. As readers, we're expected both to condemn what they're doing, but also enjoy watching them. I know I'm probably in the minority here, but I just can't get behind the idea of "people behaving badly" as a type of entertainment.
Ultimately, I just don't understand all the positive reviews on this one. It's not well-written, the characters all sound identical (honestly, I can't remember how many times I had to flick back to the beginning of the chapter because I couldn't remember which character's perspective it was), the plotting is clumsy, and the secrets are just dull. THE TRIVIA NIGHT is a quick, easy read, I'll give it that, but for the rest I'd only recommend it as a masterclass in how not to put a novel together.
February 13, 2022
Oh wow, Ali Lowe, way to knock it out of the park with your debut novel! I had been hearing about Trivia Night everywhere and I was so desperate to get my hands on it! There was much happiness when I finally did and I devoured it straight away.
There was so much to love about this The Trivia Night, with it's Big Little Lie's vibes. As you know I love a book set in my hometown of Sydney so immediately it had that going for it. A domestic drama/thriller about a boozy trivia night at the local primary school, where things get taken further than any of them would imagine. And then the consequences of their actions, not only for them but for those around them. These women were all so different but this night would bond them forever.
As you would expect with a story about women, there is jealousy, backstabbing, gossip, rivalry and so much more. Money was divider here in Darley Heights - some had it, some wanted it. It was emotional as you get to know each woman., and the secrets that they were hiding. While I probably wouldn't want to be friends with them, they all touched my heart at one time or another throughout the story.
I will never look at a Trivia Night the same way again! You can find out what happened on February 22nd.
Thanks for Hachette Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read.
There was so much to love about this The Trivia Night, with it's Big Little Lie's vibes. As you know I love a book set in my hometown of Sydney so immediately it had that going for it. A domestic drama/thriller about a boozy trivia night at the local primary school, where things get taken further than any of them would imagine. And then the consequences of their actions, not only for them but for those around them. These women were all so different but this night would bond them forever.
As you would expect with a story about women, there is jealousy, backstabbing, gossip, rivalry and so much more. Money was divider here in Darley Heights - some had it, some wanted it. It was emotional as you get to know each woman., and the secrets that they were hiding. While I probably wouldn't want to be friends with them, they all touched my heart at one time or another throughout the story.
I will never look at a Trivia Night the same way again! You can find out what happened on February 22nd.
Thanks for Hachette Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read.
March 20, 2022
OMG this funny, addicting, fascinating yet
deeply accurate portrait of women's realm
got me entertained and laughing out loud,
waking up earlier and going to sleep later,
just to get to the end as soon as I could. :)
deeply accurate portrait of women's realm
got me entertained and laughing out loud,
waking up earlier and going to sleep later,
just to get to the end as soon as I could. :)
June 23, 2022
Several couples attend a fundraising event for their children's public school in Sydney's affluent northern beaches. In the stifling heat of the January evening, things are said, decisions are made and events occur that will reveal the fault lines in each of their marriages, and ultimately prove deadly for someone...
Sound familiar? That's because it is. I spent about the first third of The Trivia Night trying to get Liane Moriarty's bestseller Big Little Lies (since adapted for television using a Californian setting) out of my head.
However, from about that point, The Trivia Night gathered momentum and a life of its own, a twisty domestic/social drama told from three female perspectives - a fourth chiming in for the rather mind-blowing epilogue.
Amanda Blackland, along with her husband Ted, is a newcomer to the Darley Heights Public School community, her daughter Evie having moved from the exclusive nearby private school after an embarrassingly public scandal. Amanda is a successful photographer, working for a Darley real estate agency capturing images of the local million-dollar real estate when it comes onto the market. However, she comes from a deprived background, and is struggling with her need to belong and a worsening problem with alcohol abuse. Amanda's perspective is told through a straightforward first-person narrative.
Amanda's longtime best friend, Alice Daniels, is the events co-ordinator for the P&F committee at Darley Heights Public School. She's helped Amanda in securing a place for Evie in the Grade 1 class, as Darley Heights is high-performing and thus over-subscribed. She's also in charge of organising the school's Trivia Night fundraiser, with the objective of installing much-needed air conditioning in the school hall. While popular and outwardly successful, Alice is feeling unfulfilled in both her career and her marriage. Alice's perspective is presented in the form of a stream of consciousness directed to her therapist.
Zoe Makin attends the Trivia Night with her husband Miles. The Makins aren't in the same financial stratosphere as most other parents at Darley Heights, living in a block of flats, rather than a palatial home. Their marriage is also showing significant signs of strain, as they struggle with the inability to conceive a second child, a sibling for their adored six-year-old Freddie. For Zoe, this grief and frustration compounds an earlier trauma three years ago, the nature of which we don't become aware until later in the story. Her perspective is related via long emails to her absent sister, Phoebe.
The final couple at the table for trivia night are Luke and Lara Hampson, the beautiful "IT" couple at Darley Heights. Luke is a cosmetic surgeon, beloved of the local middle-aged women, while Lara is a charming and stunningly-beautiful bohemian type. While we don't hear either of their perspectives directly, they're important characters in the story, as events unfold.
Finally, we have Amazonian Alpha-woman Victoria Day. Victoria's somewhat unexpectedly found herself plonked into the Darley Heights Public School community, after her financial whiz husband Nico suffers some major losses and they're obliged to move their two youngest daughters from the nearby private school. The trouble is, Victoria is none other than Amanda's nemesis, the woman who engineered Amanda's (and her daughter's) ejection from the privileged halls of St. Cecilia's. And her thirst for revenge for past offences seemingly knows no bounds...
All five couples are drawn into the maelstrom at Trivia Night, and must face the ructions in their marriages and lives in the fallout. New alliances are formed, priorities become clear as their comfortable existences are threatened, and each woman finds a new resolve in facing towards the future.
Ali Lowe explores a range of pertinent social issues, including internalised trauma, loss and grief, substance abuse, marital challenges, the search for identity after becoming a mother, infertility, sexual identity, infidelity, domestic violence, social façades, and the manipulation and hierarchies that exist within social groups. Most readers will find resonances with one or more of the challenges faced by the main characters, as many of these issues are common amongst the mothers of school-aged children. That said, some of the behaviour is pretty outrageous and had me shaking my head at some of the decisions these people were making.
All in all, I found The Trivia Night a relatively undemanding and entertaining read. I'd recommend it to readers who enjoy suburban drama-thrillers with plenty of unexpected twists and turns and several "OMG" moments.
Sound familiar? That's because it is. I spent about the first third of The Trivia Night trying to get Liane Moriarty's bestseller Big Little Lies (since adapted for television using a Californian setting) out of my head.
However, from about that point, The Trivia Night gathered momentum and a life of its own, a twisty domestic/social drama told from three female perspectives - a fourth chiming in for the rather mind-blowing epilogue.
Amanda Blackland, along with her husband Ted, is a newcomer to the Darley Heights Public School community, her daughter Evie having moved from the exclusive nearby private school after an embarrassingly public scandal. Amanda is a successful photographer, working for a Darley real estate agency capturing images of the local million-dollar real estate when it comes onto the market. However, she comes from a deprived background, and is struggling with her need to belong and a worsening problem with alcohol abuse. Amanda's perspective is told through a straightforward first-person narrative.
Amanda's longtime best friend, Alice Daniels, is the events co-ordinator for the P&F committee at Darley Heights Public School. She's helped Amanda in securing a place for Evie in the Grade 1 class, as Darley Heights is high-performing and thus over-subscribed. She's also in charge of organising the school's Trivia Night fundraiser, with the objective of installing much-needed air conditioning in the school hall. While popular and outwardly successful, Alice is feeling unfulfilled in both her career and her marriage. Alice's perspective is presented in the form of a stream of consciousness directed to her therapist.
Zoe Makin attends the Trivia Night with her husband Miles. The Makins aren't in the same financial stratosphere as most other parents at Darley Heights, living in a block of flats, rather than a palatial home. Their marriage is also showing significant signs of strain, as they struggle with the inability to conceive a second child, a sibling for their adored six-year-old Freddie. For Zoe, this grief and frustration compounds an earlier trauma three years ago, the nature of which we don't become aware until later in the story. Her perspective is related via long emails to her absent sister, Phoebe.
The final couple at the table for trivia night are Luke and Lara Hampson, the beautiful "IT" couple at Darley Heights. Luke is a cosmetic surgeon, beloved of the local middle-aged women, while Lara is a charming and stunningly-beautiful bohemian type. While we don't hear either of their perspectives directly, they're important characters in the story, as events unfold.
Finally, we have Amazonian Alpha-woman Victoria Day. Victoria's somewhat unexpectedly found herself plonked into the Darley Heights Public School community, after her financial whiz husband Nico suffers some major losses and they're obliged to move their two youngest daughters from the nearby private school. The trouble is, Victoria is none other than Amanda's nemesis, the woman who engineered Amanda's (and her daughter's) ejection from the privileged halls of St. Cecilia's. And her thirst for revenge for past offences seemingly knows no bounds...
All five couples are drawn into the maelstrom at Trivia Night, and must face the ructions in their marriages and lives in the fallout. New alliances are formed, priorities become clear as their comfortable existences are threatened, and each woman finds a new resolve in facing towards the future.
Ali Lowe explores a range of pertinent social issues, including internalised trauma, loss and grief, substance abuse, marital challenges, the search for identity after becoming a mother, infertility, sexual identity, infidelity, domestic violence, social façades, and the manipulation and hierarchies that exist within social groups. Most readers will find resonances with one or more of the challenges faced by the main characters, as many of these issues are common amongst the mothers of school-aged children. That said, some of the behaviour is pretty outrageous and had me shaking my head at some of the decisions these people were making.
All in all, I found The Trivia Night a relatively undemanding and entertaining read. I'd recommend it to readers who enjoy suburban drama-thrillers with plenty of unexpected twists and turns and several "OMG" moments.
May 9, 2022
The Trivia Night by Ali Lowe
Synopsis /
Question: How long does it take to tear someone's life apart?
Answer: Sometimes just one night.
From the outside the parents of the kindergarten class at Darley Heights primary school seem to have it all. Living in the wealthy Sydney suburbs, it's a community where everyone knows each other - and secrets don't stay secret for long.
The big date in the calendar is the school's annual fundraising trivia night, but when the evening gets raucously out of hand, talk turns to partner-swapping. Initially scandalised, it's not long before a group of parents make a reckless one-night-only pact.
But in the harsh light of day, those involved must face the fallout of their behaviour. As they begin to navigate the shady aftermath of their wild night, the truth threatens to rip their perfect lives apart - and revenge turns fatal.
My Thoughts /
I know what you're thinking…..oh, a trivia night at the local primary school, that might be a fun evening. It will get us out of the house for a few hours, away from the kids, we get to socialise and have adult conversation, as well as raise some much needed money for the local school.
But then you read Aussie author, Ali Lowe's debut novel, The Trivia Night and, well, that just pops your nice little naïve suburban school family bubble!
A primary school trivia night. One table. Four couples. How much trouble could that be????? Well, as it turns out, hella trouble!!!
'You reap what you sow'. I kept coming back to this time and time again as I was reading this book.
So let's have a look at the main 'players'.
Amanda Blackland and her husband, Ted. Amanda is a new parent to Darley Heights Public School, having moved her daughter Evie across from the nearby private school (after an embarrassing fallout from a different social event). Amanda works for the local real estate agency as its photographer, capturing images of the local real estate when it comes onto the market. A bit of background about Amanda? She struggles with a need to belong and, has a pretty big problem with alcohol abuse.
Next is Alice Daniels and her hubby, Pete. Not newcomers to the school, but rather, Alice is the school's events co-ordinator on the P&F committee, and, was the one to organise the trivia night. What you might like to know here is that Alice and Amanda are besties. Which is how, Amanda's daughter Evie, managed to secure a place in the over-subscribed Grade 1 class at Darley Heights Public School.
So who's next? Ah, the Makins. Zoe Makin and her husband, Miles, together with their son, Freddie. The Makins aren't as financially well off as some of the other parents at the school. Unlike most other families, the Makins live in a block of flats, rather than a large home. Their marriage is also showing significant signs of strain, as they struggle with the inability to conceive a second child, a sibling for their adored six-year-old Freddie. They would like for Freddie to have a sibling, but unfortunately that is not going as planned and the marriage is under strain because of it.
Last, but by no means least are the Hampsons. Luke and Lara. Luke is a cosmetic surgeon and has recently set up a new practice right here in Darley Heights. As you can imagine, this has set all the hearts a-twitter and tongues a-wagging with most of the mums in the suburb. And Lara? Well, Lara is as charming as she is stunningly-beautiful. But appearances can be deceiving, and assumptions can be dangerous.
The story is told through the POVs of Amanda, Alice and Zoe. While Amanda's perspective is told from the first person; Alice's perspective is presented in the form of a thought narrative which is directed to her therapist. While we see Zoe's perspective in the form of long written emails to her sister, Phoebe.
I don't want to give too much away, so I'll just say - there is plenty of humour, suspense and, alcohol involved in the build up to what exactly is going to happen. When it eventually does, it's like watching a train wreck in slow motion; with your hand covering your eyes, but you have to peek through your fingers because you can't look away! And in the morning after, in the (harsh) light of day, they are all faced with the consequences (I want to say 'fallout') of their behaviour. As they begin to look at their wild night with clearer heads, the truth of what has gone on threatens to rip their lives apart. There are some surprises and plot turnarounds, the results of which are as nerve-wracking as any full-on murder mystery.
Lowe's writing is read easy, it flows just like conversation. The characterisations are realistic and believable. While the plot, for the most part, is (somewhat) believable. Once you've got to the end of the book you may well tell yourself - holy crap, I hope that never happens to me!
And the next time you get the chance to attend a school fundraising event, take care that you are not seated at table number six!!!
Synopsis /
Question: How long does it take to tear someone's life apart?
Answer: Sometimes just one night.
From the outside the parents of the kindergarten class at Darley Heights primary school seem to have it all. Living in the wealthy Sydney suburbs, it's a community where everyone knows each other - and secrets don't stay secret for long.
The big date in the calendar is the school's annual fundraising trivia night, but when the evening gets raucously out of hand, talk turns to partner-swapping. Initially scandalised, it's not long before a group of parents make a reckless one-night-only pact.
But in the harsh light of day, those involved must face the fallout of their behaviour. As they begin to navigate the shady aftermath of their wild night, the truth threatens to rip their perfect lives apart - and revenge turns fatal.
My Thoughts /
I know what you're thinking…..oh, a trivia night at the local primary school, that might be a fun evening. It will get us out of the house for a few hours, away from the kids, we get to socialise and have adult conversation, as well as raise some much needed money for the local school.
But then you read Aussie author, Ali Lowe's debut novel, The Trivia Night and, well, that just pops your nice little naïve suburban school family bubble!
A primary school trivia night. One table. Four couples. How much trouble could that be????? Well, as it turns out, hella trouble!!!
'You reap what you sow'. I kept coming back to this time and time again as I was reading this book.
So let's have a look at the main 'players'.
Amanda Blackland and her husband, Ted. Amanda is a new parent to Darley Heights Public School, having moved her daughter Evie across from the nearby private school (after an embarrassing fallout from a different social event). Amanda works for the local real estate agency as its photographer, capturing images of the local real estate when it comes onto the market. A bit of background about Amanda? She struggles with a need to belong and, has a pretty big problem with alcohol abuse.
Next is Alice Daniels and her hubby, Pete. Not newcomers to the school, but rather, Alice is the school's events co-ordinator on the P&F committee, and, was the one to organise the trivia night. What you might like to know here is that Alice and Amanda are besties. Which is how, Amanda's daughter Evie, managed to secure a place in the over-subscribed Grade 1 class at Darley Heights Public School.
So who's next? Ah, the Makins. Zoe Makin and her husband, Miles, together with their son, Freddie. The Makins aren't as financially well off as some of the other parents at the school. Unlike most other families, the Makins live in a block of flats, rather than a large home. Their marriage is also showing significant signs of strain, as they struggle with the inability to conceive a second child, a sibling for their adored six-year-old Freddie. They would like for Freddie to have a sibling, but unfortunately that is not going as planned and the marriage is under strain because of it.
Last, but by no means least are the Hampsons. Luke and Lara. Luke is a cosmetic surgeon and has recently set up a new practice right here in Darley Heights. As you can imagine, this has set all the hearts a-twitter and tongues a-wagging with most of the mums in the suburb. And Lara? Well, Lara is as charming as she is stunningly-beautiful. But appearances can be deceiving, and assumptions can be dangerous.
The story is told through the POVs of Amanda, Alice and Zoe. While Amanda's perspective is told from the first person; Alice's perspective is presented in the form of a thought narrative which is directed to her therapist. While we see Zoe's perspective in the form of long written emails to her sister, Phoebe.
I don't want to give too much away, so I'll just say - there is plenty of humour, suspense and, alcohol involved in the build up to what exactly is going to happen. When it eventually does, it's like watching a train wreck in slow motion; with your hand covering your eyes, but you have to peek through your fingers because you can't look away! And in the morning after, in the (harsh) light of day, they are all faced with the consequences (I want to say 'fallout') of their behaviour. As they begin to look at their wild night with clearer heads, the truth of what has gone on threatens to rip their lives apart. There are some surprises and plot turnarounds, the results of which are as nerve-wracking as any full-on murder mystery.
Lowe's writing is read easy, it flows just like conversation. The characterisations are realistic and believable. While the plot, for the most part, is (somewhat) believable. Once you've got to the end of the book you may well tell yourself - holy crap, I hope that never happens to me!
And the next time you get the chance to attend a school fundraising event, take care that you are not seated at table number six!!!
March 3, 2022
⭐️5 Stars⭐️
Goodness me what a strong debut Ali Lowe
The Trivia Night was an absolute winner for me! If you want a binge worthy and witty domestic suspense thriller, go and grab yourself a copy!
Picture this at the beginning of school term year ….mums and dads in fancy dress at a boozy, flirty school Trivia Night fundraiser where things go way off the edge! I devoured this book and loved the clever humour throughout.
Darley Heights is a wealthy suburb of Sydney where the community all know each other and secrets abound. We watch four couples tear up their lives because of an impulsive group pact to swing.
The day after Trivia night those involved face the fall out of their bad behaviour and revenge is sought, turning deadly. Sometimes your fantasies should just stay in your head!
Along with the delicious entertainment our main characters fight some serious and everyday personal issues that were cleverly woven into the plot. This was such an engaging story and I loved the realistic characters! That twisty ending….!
This book will be such a popular read and I can’t wait to see what Ali brings us next!
Publication date 22 February 2022
Thank you so much Hachette Australia for a copy of the book.
Goodness me what a strong debut Ali Lowe
The Trivia Night was an absolute winner for me! If you want a binge worthy and witty domestic suspense thriller, go and grab yourself a copy!
Picture this at the beginning of school term year ….mums and dads in fancy dress at a boozy, flirty school Trivia Night fundraiser where things go way off the edge! I devoured this book and loved the clever humour throughout.
Darley Heights is a wealthy suburb of Sydney where the community all know each other and secrets abound. We watch four couples tear up their lives because of an impulsive group pact to swing.
The day after Trivia night those involved face the fall out of their bad behaviour and revenge is sought, turning deadly. Sometimes your fantasies should just stay in your head!
Along with the delicious entertainment our main characters fight some serious and everyday personal issues that were cleverly woven into the plot. This was such an engaging story and I loved the realistic characters! That twisty ending….!
This book will be such a popular read and I can’t wait to see what Ali brings us next!
Publication date 22 February 2022
Thank you so much Hachette Australia for a copy of the book.
March 8, 2022
Thank you to Hachette Australia for sending me a copy of this book.
Are you on your child's school committee?
Outstanding debut Ali Lowe. I really hope you write another one. No pressure !! I loved it so much.
This book is escapism at its best. There was so much laughter coming from me , the hubby ( non reader) asked me, What are you reading? When I would tell him parts , he was asking did this really happen?
The plot grabbed me from the first moment I saw it on Instagram. Ali Lowe, I love your sense of humour and its shines through your book.
This book has 3 different narrators, Amanda, Zoe and Alice. All three have different issues going on and that really made the book as you got to read about each situation.
I could picture the scenery in Northern Beaches and the beautiful houses and restaurants.
This was compulsive , addictive and I couldn't stop flipping the pages.
I loved the ending , how it threw a bit of thriller moments in.
I will never stop recommending this book , one of my favourite books of all time.
Are you on your child's school committee?
Outstanding debut Ali Lowe. I really hope you write another one. No pressure !! I loved it so much.
This book is escapism at its best. There was so much laughter coming from me , the hubby ( non reader) asked me, What are you reading? When I would tell him parts , he was asking did this really happen?
The plot grabbed me from the first moment I saw it on Instagram. Ali Lowe, I love your sense of humour and its shines through your book.
This book has 3 different narrators, Amanda, Zoe and Alice. All three have different issues going on and that really made the book as you got to read about each situation.
I could picture the scenery in Northern Beaches and the beautiful houses and restaurants.
This was compulsive , addictive and I couldn't stop flipping the pages.
I loved the ending , how it threw a bit of thriller moments in.
I will never stop recommending this book , one of my favourite books of all time.
September 16, 2022
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The Trivia Night by Ali Lowe. (2022).
From the outside, the parents of the upcoming year one class at Darley Heights primary seem to have it all. In the wealthy suburb everyone knows each other and secrets don't stay secret for long. The big date is the school's annual fundraising trivia night but when the evening gets out of hand, talk turns to partner-swapping. Initially scandalised, a group of parents make a reckless one-night-only pact. But in the harsh light of day, those involved must face the fallout of their behaviour... and the truth threatens to rip their perfect lives apart.
What a great debut for the author! I've seen this novel marketed as a mix of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth - I can see why there is this comparison as the storyline makes for compulsive reading. What could possibly go wrong with a group of drunk adults who have decided to partner swap? As you can imagine...a lot! The narrative is primarily narrated by three women - Alice, Zoe and Amanda. The three women need to deal with the fallout after the night of partner swapping with the aftereffects being different for each woman and her marriage. There's quite a few serious concepts covered in this story and yet it is quite the entertaining read with its drama. With a fast pace, readers will be racing to find out the outcome for this little community.
Overall: highly recommend this novel for those that enjoy an engrossing and entertaining drama.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
The Trivia Night by Ali Lowe. (2022).
From the outside, the parents of the upcoming year one class at Darley Heights primary seem to have it all. In the wealthy suburb everyone knows each other and secrets don't stay secret for long. The big date is the school's annual fundraising trivia night but when the evening gets out of hand, talk turns to partner-swapping. Initially scandalised, a group of parents make a reckless one-night-only pact. But in the harsh light of day, those involved must face the fallout of their behaviour... and the truth threatens to rip their perfect lives apart.
What a great debut for the author! I've seen this novel marketed as a mix of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth - I can see why there is this comparison as the storyline makes for compulsive reading. What could possibly go wrong with a group of drunk adults who have decided to partner swap? As you can imagine...a lot! The narrative is primarily narrated by three women - Alice, Zoe and Amanda. The three women need to deal with the fallout after the night of partner swapping with the aftereffects being different for each woman and her marriage. There's quite a few serious concepts covered in this story and yet it is quite the entertaining read with its drama. With a fast pace, readers will be racing to find out the outcome for this little community.
Overall: highly recommend this novel for those that enjoy an engrossing and entertaining drama.
February 27, 2022
What a fabulous debut, this is a story that will keep you turning the pages, a compelling read, set in the beach side suburb of Sydney, Darley Heights it tells the story of four families whose children go to Darley Heights Public school and what happens when they attend the schools biggest fund raiser event the trivia night, I recommend you pick this one up if you enjoy a great domestic thriller.
Four couples sit at table number six, Amanda and Ted, Alice and Pete, Miles and Zoe and Luke and Lara all have their own issues and when alcohol is being drunk in copious amounts peoples thinking can change in an instant, someone brings up the topic of swingers this causes a lot of talk about partner-swapping and before you can click your fingers these couple have made a decision that will change lives forever.
The next day sees not only lots of blurry heads but lots hurt and anger from what had happened the night before and when there are threats to revel the truth of the night’s scandalous behaviour this brings the woman together to do what they can to keep their secret, but what they uncover will have you spinning as revenge changes everything again.
Getting to know the woman in this story was very interesting, they all have issues and problems that play a big part in who they are and the decisions they make along the way, these families are good families, helpful at schools and conscious about their children’s lives, it also shows how quickly things can change. Ali Lowe as written an engrossing book and so very well, huge congrats on such a wonderful debut, I Iook forward to many more books from you. I do highly recommend this one, you will not want to put it down once you pick it up, a must read.
My thanks to Hachette Australia for my copy to read and review
Four couples sit at table number six, Amanda and Ted, Alice and Pete, Miles and Zoe and Luke and Lara all have their own issues and when alcohol is being drunk in copious amounts peoples thinking can change in an instant, someone brings up the topic of swingers this causes a lot of talk about partner-swapping and before you can click your fingers these couple have made a decision that will change lives forever.
The next day sees not only lots of blurry heads but lots hurt and anger from what had happened the night before and when there are threats to revel the truth of the night’s scandalous behaviour this brings the woman together to do what they can to keep their secret, but what they uncover will have you spinning as revenge changes everything again.
Getting to know the woman in this story was very interesting, they all have issues and problems that play a big part in who they are and the decisions they make along the way, these families are good families, helpful at schools and conscious about their children’s lives, it also shows how quickly things can change. Ali Lowe as written an engrossing book and so very well, huge congrats on such a wonderful debut, I Iook forward to many more books from you. I do highly recommend this one, you will not want to put it down once you pick it up, a must read.
My thanks to Hachette Australia for my copy to read and review
March 22, 2022
REVIEW
⭐️⭐️
This is going to go against popular opinion, but I didn't like it.
It was a book of two halves, the first half I couldn't get through fast enough and then when I got to Part 2 I thought it had potential but not enough for me to enjoy it.
Comparing this to Liane Moriarty is a bit like buying a Kmart watch and expecting it to look like a Rolex. The only comparison is that Trivia Night is the poor little step brother of Big Little Lies.
The similarities to BLL were amazing, It had the same character traits, 2 rich best friends, 1 lower income ringin, 1 hippy and a wifebeater...just with different names, the same theme just a different topic, the same outcome, just a different ending.
Things that annoyed me:
- 36 pages for Chapter 1, the first chapter should be short and sharp to grab my attention
- Then in Chap 2 Alice talking to her therapist was a waste of 15 pages...I skipped through most of it as the color of her house had no impact on the story after that I skimmed most of the 1st part of the book til I got to the actual night
- multiple references to Willy Wonka and 50 shades of grey, one of each would've been sufficient
- 300gsm Egyptian Cotton Sheets which would be used by lower class not those of the Northern Beaches
The things I liked;
- Swingers theme, I haven't encountered this in other books
- Subject of Alcoholism and how destructive it is
- Cover
I may have rated it higher had I not read BLL, but the comparison was way too close.
Maybe it was the hype and SM presence surrounding this book that had the bar set high.
Sorry!
⭐️⭐️
This is going to go against popular opinion, but I didn't like it.
It was a book of two halves, the first half I couldn't get through fast enough and then when I got to Part 2 I thought it had potential but not enough for me to enjoy it.
Comparing this to Liane Moriarty is a bit like buying a Kmart watch and expecting it to look like a Rolex. The only comparison is that Trivia Night is the poor little step brother of Big Little Lies.
The similarities to BLL were amazing, It had the same character traits, 2 rich best friends, 1 lower income ringin, 1 hippy and a wifebeater...just with different names, the same theme just a different topic, the same outcome, just a different ending.
Things that annoyed me:
- 36 pages for Chapter 1, the first chapter should be short and sharp to grab my attention
- Then in Chap 2 Alice talking to her therapist was a waste of 15 pages...I skipped through most of it as the color of her house had no impact on the story after that I skimmed most of the 1st part of the book til I got to the actual night
- multiple references to Willy Wonka and 50 shades of grey, one of each would've been sufficient
- 300gsm Egyptian Cotton Sheets which would be used by lower class not those of the Northern Beaches
The things I liked;
- Swingers theme, I haven't encountered this in other books
- Subject of Alcoholism and how destructive it is
- Cover
I may have rated it higher had I not read BLL, but the comparison was way too close.
Maybe it was the hype and SM presence surrounding this book that had the bar set high.
Sorry!
December 20, 2022
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
The Trivia Night is the introductory novel from journalist Ali Lowe. An addictive read that can be easily devoured in just one sitting, The Trivia Night is a great new addition to the popular domestic noir category. A juicy drama filled with plenty of innuendo, audacious actions, rumour, suspicion and slander The Trivia Night is one consuming debut title.
A novel that takes the reader into a wealthy school community, The Trivia Night exposes the lives of the parents of this affluent Sydney establishment. But not everything is as it seems, especially when the school’s big main event, a trivia night, is a whitewash. With gossip, scandal and love swaps involved, Darley Heights Primary School’s trivia night becomes one evening to remember. But when the dust settles, those who made reckless choices must face up to the consequences.
Domestic noir queens Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth have paved the way for new authors in this genre to contribute to this flourishing category of fiction. Ali Lowe is a fresh voice in the Australian domestic area and Lowe’s first novel The Trivia Night is a sensational addition to this ever growing division of contemporary fiction. Risqué, exciting and tense, The Trivia Night was a real potboiler that I completely consumed.
Structurally, The Trivia Night is a well-placed tale. Divided into three different forms of narration which is shared across the novel, Ali Lowe’s debut title makes for a solid read. Moving deftly between keynote characters Amanda, Alice and Zoe, with a handy contents page and table plan, The Trivia Night knows how to place the reader in the thick of the action. The movement between one respective narrator to the next puts a varied perspective on the suggestive events of this tale. It was great to be directly involved in the antics of this school community from the start to the finish and then walk away! I can’t imagine how this partner swapping scenario would play out in my own school community and I don’t think I want to! What a tangled mess this situation presents! It is clear that the author has a strong writing background. Ali Lowe’s twenty-year strong career in journalism is very much evident in The Trivia Night. For a first-time novelist, I found Lowe’s writing to be polished, well structured and very readable. The book features a pitch perfect pace, which comes with some explosive twists, unexpected turns and shocking movements. Seasoned domestic drama readers will find that The Trivia Night is on par with other well received novels in this crowded market. I found much to enjoy in The Trivia Night. I highly recommend it and I’ll be watching out for Ali Lowe’s next release!
*Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Trivia Night is the introductory novel from journalist Ali Lowe. An addictive read that can be easily devoured in just one sitting, The Trivia Night is a great new addition to the popular domestic noir category. A juicy drama filled with plenty of innuendo, audacious actions, rumour, suspicion and slander The Trivia Night is one consuming debut title.
A novel that takes the reader into a wealthy school community, The Trivia Night exposes the lives of the parents of this affluent Sydney establishment. But not everything is as it seems, especially when the school’s big main event, a trivia night, is a whitewash. With gossip, scandal and love swaps involved, Darley Heights Primary School’s trivia night becomes one evening to remember. But when the dust settles, those who made reckless choices must face up to the consequences.
Domestic noir queens Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth have paved the way for new authors in this genre to contribute to this flourishing category of fiction. Ali Lowe is a fresh voice in the Australian domestic area and Lowe’s first novel The Trivia Night is a sensational addition to this ever growing division of contemporary fiction. Risqué, exciting and tense, The Trivia Night was a real potboiler that I completely consumed.
Structurally, The Trivia Night is a well-placed tale. Divided into three different forms of narration which is shared across the novel, Ali Lowe’s debut title makes for a solid read. Moving deftly between keynote characters Amanda, Alice and Zoe, with a handy contents page and table plan, The Trivia Night knows how to place the reader in the thick of the action. The movement between one respective narrator to the next puts a varied perspective on the suggestive events of this tale. It was great to be directly involved in the antics of this school community from the start to the finish and then walk away! I can’t imagine how this partner swapping scenario would play out in my own school community and I don’t think I want to! What a tangled mess this situation presents! It is clear that the author has a strong writing background. Ali Lowe’s twenty-year strong career in journalism is very much evident in The Trivia Night. For a first-time novelist, I found Lowe’s writing to be polished, well structured and very readable. The book features a pitch perfect pace, which comes with some explosive twists, unexpected turns and shocking movements. Seasoned domestic drama readers will find that The Trivia Night is on par with other well received novels in this crowded market. I found much to enjoy in The Trivia Night. I highly recommend it and I’ll be watching out for Ali Lowe’s next release!
*Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
January 11, 2022
The Trivia Night is the first novel by Australian author, Ali Lowe. A fancy-dress trivia night primary school fundraiser; a table of eight parents of year one pupils; marital tiffs; flirtatious partners; a rumour about a swinging couple; inhibitions loosened by way too much alcohol; deep, dark secrets; a tightly-held grudge and an iPhone camera. What could possibly go wrong? And when it does, who will be caught up in the aftermath?
Three main narrators carry the story: an alcoholic mother shares the series of events that precipitate the start of her journey to sobriety; a transcript of a closet lesbian’s sessions with her therapist offers her perspective on the events that lead her to find her true self; and a grieving woman’s emails to her far-away sister fill in the rest; the prologue and epilogue come from a fourth mother.
Australian author Ali Lowe’s debut novel definitely has shades of a certain Liane Moriarty novel, but sports an original plot, an easily recognisable setting, credible characters, plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and an excellent final twist. A brilliant read from an author to watch.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Better Reading Preview and Hodder & Stoughton/Hachette Australia.
Three main narrators carry the story: an alcoholic mother shares the series of events that precipitate the start of her journey to sobriety; a transcript of a closet lesbian’s sessions with her therapist offers her perspective on the events that lead her to find her true self; and a grieving woman’s emails to her far-away sister fill in the rest; the prologue and epilogue come from a fourth mother.
Australian author Ali Lowe’s debut novel definitely has shades of a certain Liane Moriarty novel, but sports an original plot, an easily recognisable setting, credible characters, plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and an excellent final twist. A brilliant read from an author to watch.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Better Reading Preview and Hodder & Stoughton/Hachette Australia.
March 22, 2022
This book turned out to be derivative, repetitive and ultimately boring. I thought it was never going to end as each character, and there are a lot, did naughty things and then rehashed them emotionally with each other until they found out they were basically good people. What's a little indiscretion between adults, right? These things happen IRL but when it's all said and done the way the book chops and changes between characters even the sad bad bits are drawn out and OTT. It would have been okay if the author had not plot-channelled top selling domestic drama authors, threw in too-obvious Australianism, brand names, woke attitudes and women who never really got over primary school hierarchy. Actually there's something for everyone in this book, you name it, it happens to each woman before the final pages. Great if you need a bit of fictional help with your family life, otherwise be prepared for Zoe Makin, Alice Daniels, Lara Hampson and Amanda Blackland to experience several mental cliff-hangers before they get their acts together. I hope you are more patient than me!
March 28, 2022
Based on reviews I’d read, I was expecting a bit more, or maybe it’s that I’m out of the school mum/school gate circle now.
The telling of the story was well done, although it nearly lost me in the first chapter (Amanda), as it dragged quite a bit.
Written around three characters Amanda - (loves a drinkypoo and has the drunk behaviour to match), Alice (through a report to a counsellor/psychologist, hyper-organised, life seems perfect), and Zoe (emails to her deceased sister), the action centres around the fundraising trivia night for the local school, the flirtations that go a bit too far, and the repercussions and consequences. It touches on marriages and relationships, especially friendships, the idea of mean girls even as adults, and questioning whether we really know anyone.
TW: domestic violence (although, saw that one coming a mile off. A woman with facial bruising who walked into something? Really???)
The telling of the story was well done, although it nearly lost me in the first chapter (Amanda), as it dragged quite a bit.
Written around three characters Amanda - (loves a drinkypoo and has the drunk behaviour to match), Alice (through a report to a counsellor/psychologist, hyper-organised, life seems perfect), and Zoe (emails to her deceased sister), the action centres around the fundraising trivia night for the local school, the flirtations that go a bit too far, and the repercussions and consequences. It touches on marriages and relationships, especially friendships, the idea of mean girls even as adults, and questioning whether we really know anyone.
TW: domestic violence (although, saw that one coming a mile off. A woman with facial bruising who walked into something? Really???)
April 21, 2023
Just the spicy little domestic drama my brain needed. There is a LOT going on here, and it moves quickly, which works if you’re looking for a popcorn-mode read. I wish the author hadn’t given 2 of the main characters A-names because I found that confusing for the first hundred pages. A decent holiday read.
February 22, 2022
The Trivia Night is the debut novel by Australian, Ali Lowe. She cleverly mixes together the fallout from a fancy-dress trivia night at a primary school fundraiser. When a table of four couples - bringing grudges, angst, flirtations, rumours and ‘swingers’ to the table - a little too much alcohol loosens lips (in more ways than one!)
‘Honestly, guys, trivia night is quite literally the best night of the school year. I promise you: it’s going to be a night to remember! ’
Ali takes the dramas of primary school parents from a rich beachside town and brings them to life. Classic set up so far …. everyone knowing everyone else’s business and how the actions from this one night will change lives forever. From playground politics to a pact that will witness friendships, marriages and indeed lives pushed to the brink.
The novel is told through the recollections of three of the women involved. First person narrative from Amanda who is new to the school; her friend Alice the events coordinator presented through the recorded notes from meetings with her psychologist; and Zoe in letters/emails penned to her sister. This provides the reader with a well rounded insight into each of the couple's lives - some you will like, some you definitely will not. This is what keeps it interesting throughout with highly engaging writing.
One of the outcomes I was not expecting was the humour. It was truly funny in parts. From the overall big picture of competitive parenting, down to the nitty gritty of interactions and associations. Ali has her dialogue right on point in places. In complete contrast to this, are the varied serious subjects touched on throughout, particularly towards the end - alcoholism, infertility, domestic abuse and suicide. Testament, I believe, to Ali’s craft in expertly combining the two.
‘I looked behind me at the group of aghast faces in a cluster on the bottom step. Heard a stifled giggle and then saw Victoria emerge from the middle of the group like Roald Dahl’s Grand Witch, her face white and her eyes like fire.’
My only issue surrounds the ending - it just didn't quite make the mark for me. I don’t want to spoil it but it fell into the underwhelming, easy out, predictable box that took away one star. All up, however, The Trivia Night goes from a start of frivolous fun, to a darker and far more poignant journey each of the women follow. All up a perfect balance of humour, intrigue and drama.
‘He was right, and we both knew it. Somewhere along the line we had become unstuck, I had become unstuck. But I wasn’t ready to talk to him about it. I wasn’t ready to own it.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
‘Honestly, guys, trivia night is quite literally the best night of the school year. I promise you: it’s going to be a night to remember! ’
Ali takes the dramas of primary school parents from a rich beachside town and brings them to life. Classic set up so far …. everyone knowing everyone else’s business and how the actions from this one night will change lives forever. From playground politics to a pact that will witness friendships, marriages and indeed lives pushed to the brink.
The novel is told through the recollections of three of the women involved. First person narrative from Amanda who is new to the school; her friend Alice the events coordinator presented through the recorded notes from meetings with her psychologist; and Zoe in letters/emails penned to her sister. This provides the reader with a well rounded insight into each of the couple's lives - some you will like, some you definitely will not. This is what keeps it interesting throughout with highly engaging writing.
One of the outcomes I was not expecting was the humour. It was truly funny in parts. From the overall big picture of competitive parenting, down to the nitty gritty of interactions and associations. Ali has her dialogue right on point in places. In complete contrast to this, are the varied serious subjects touched on throughout, particularly towards the end - alcoholism, infertility, domestic abuse and suicide. Testament, I believe, to Ali’s craft in expertly combining the two.
‘I looked behind me at the group of aghast faces in a cluster on the bottom step. Heard a stifled giggle and then saw Victoria emerge from the middle of the group like Roald Dahl’s Grand Witch, her face white and her eyes like fire.’
My only issue surrounds the ending - it just didn't quite make the mark for me. I don’t want to spoil it but it fell into the underwhelming, easy out, predictable box that took away one star. All up, however, The Trivia Night goes from a start of frivolous fun, to a darker and far more poignant journey each of the women follow. All up a perfect balance of humour, intrigue and drama.
‘He was right, and we both knew it. Somewhere along the line we had become unstuck, I had become unstuck. But I wasn’t ready to talk to him about it. I wasn’t ready to own it.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
February 14, 2022
Thank you Hachette and Ali for sending us a copy to read and review.
When four couples attend a fundraising Trivia night, things get heated and the evening will alter, complicate and reshape their existence forever.
The wealthy suburb of Darley Heights has a blend of parents.
A community where everyone knows each other, money talks and nobody can keep secrets.
The first big event of the season is The Trivia Night.
A night to get together, raise some money, have some fun and catch up with other parents.
Before the night is over, secrets will be revealed, partner swapping happens, too much alcohol will be consumed and a silent agreement will be made.
But when the sun rises, lies, revenge, consequences, betrayal and ultimately the truth is the order of the day.
With plenty of drama, scandal, gossip, humour and reckless behaviour among the cast this addictive, entertaining and totally creative tale is going to be on everyone’s lips.
Told through three very different perspectives, one directly to the reader, one in session times to their therapist and finally one in email format to their sister.
This inventive writing formula works so well, I was very clearly impressed as it was distinctly original for the reading experience.
With domestic noir titles hitting the shelves quite frequently, Ali has given bookworms a unique, fresh twist on the genre that will catapult her to the top of the bestseller list.
Well written, gratifying characters, a compelling plot, satisfying ending and a compulsive read.
It will reel you in from the very first page through to the final paragraph.
Look out book world, Ali Lowe has arrived!
When four couples attend a fundraising Trivia night, things get heated and the evening will alter, complicate and reshape their existence forever.
The wealthy suburb of Darley Heights has a blend of parents.
A community where everyone knows each other, money talks and nobody can keep secrets.
The first big event of the season is The Trivia Night.
A night to get together, raise some money, have some fun and catch up with other parents.
Before the night is over, secrets will be revealed, partner swapping happens, too much alcohol will be consumed and a silent agreement will be made.
But when the sun rises, lies, revenge, consequences, betrayal and ultimately the truth is the order of the day.
With plenty of drama, scandal, gossip, humour and reckless behaviour among the cast this addictive, entertaining and totally creative tale is going to be on everyone’s lips.
Told through three very different perspectives, one directly to the reader, one in session times to their therapist and finally one in email format to their sister.
This inventive writing formula works so well, I was very clearly impressed as it was distinctly original for the reading experience.
With domestic noir titles hitting the shelves quite frequently, Ali has given bookworms a unique, fresh twist on the genre that will catapult her to the top of the bestseller list.
Well written, gratifying characters, a compelling plot, satisfying ending and a compulsive read.
It will reel you in from the very first page through to the final paragraph.
Look out book world, Ali Lowe has arrived!
February 11, 2022
I was interested in this book because I'm a sucker for domestic thrillers. Plus it's been compared to Big Little Lies, which I really enjoyed. I also like reading books written by Aussies, of course.
Unfortunately, the only comparison I agree with as far as BLL goes is that it's set in a rich coastal suburb, the kids are in primary, and there's a trivia night. The characters here are quite bland, sometimes even interchangeable. Their problems didn't affect me, so I didn't care one way or another. The twists (there are a few) weren't all that shocking or interesting.
It's a shame because it started off well. I was just expecting a thriller-ish tale with complications and intrigue, and instead got a drama full of mothers and fathers acting like fools. I know (from experience) that this mother-clique thing is very real when your kids start primary school, but this story took the concept to a whole new level of ridiculous.
I really wanted to like this book, but I couldn't connect with the characters or the story. It's a shame because the writing style was actually pretty good.
Unfortunately, the only comparison I agree with as far as BLL goes is that it's set in a rich coastal suburb, the kids are in primary, and there's a trivia night. The characters here are quite bland, sometimes even interchangeable. Their problems didn't affect me, so I didn't care one way or another. The twists (there are a few) weren't all that shocking or interesting.
It's a shame because it started off well. I was just expecting a thriller-ish tale with complications and intrigue, and instead got a drama full of mothers and fathers acting like fools. I know (from experience) that this mother-clique thing is very real when your kids start primary school, but this story took the concept to a whole new level of ridiculous.
I really wanted to like this book, but I couldn't connect with the characters or the story. It's a shame because the writing style was actually pretty good.
February 27, 2022
Wow, wow, wow. I have to come clean and say that I was in Ali Lowe's Faber Academy group and read the first iteration of a few chapters of this book. But it really was another book because when I got the published copy it was entirely different (proving that the book is really written in the edits). This book is RIVETING. I'm a slow reader and finished it in two days because i couldn't put it down. I understand why people say it's for lovers of Liane Moriarty novels, but tbh it's better than them. (sorry, Liane). This is because it has humour and multi-layered emotions (I've never found anyone else who describes grief so adequately) not just plot. In fact, it wasn't the twists and turns that I kept thinking about after I finished the book, but the people and their emotional baggage, much of which each of us carries. That's what makes me think this book will be a NYT best seller - because everyone who reads it will be able to relate to at least one of the characters. This is masterful storytelling at its best.
March 18, 2022
I paid for this book so this is my honest opinion – it could have been better. I guess when I read ‘perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty’ you expect something of the same quality, which it certainly isn’t. And as for Sally Hepworth saying it's 'unputdownable', I suggest she reads American Dirt, that is a book that is unputdownable, this is not.
It read like it was written in sections and put together into a novel. It just doesn’t flow properly and is full of mistakes and the last quarter seemed to drag on to a predictable ending. For this reader it was jumbled and kept repeating itself, jumping back and forward so many times you end up confused. It would have read better if it followed a timeline.
It describes Amanda’s house in the first chapter, then describes more of the house in another chapter, then more in another chapter - it would have been better to describe it in one (so the reader can ‘see’ it) rather than over multiple chapters.
It starts off ‘One Year Earlier’, but actually most of this section is NOT one year earlier.
In the second part of the book Amanda is worried about going to St Celilias, by this stage the kids are not even at this school. Then you realise she has gone back in time yet again.
It’s full of errors that should have been picked up in editing, and would have brought the pieces together. e.g. One chapter is Mrs Denner, next its Brigette Denner. You think, is this the same person. One chapter Amanda lives in a house with 5 bedrooms the next chapter its 4 bedrooms. How do you lose a bedroom on the north shore? Amanda’s son is a six-year-old high school student, (really! do you know any 6 year olds high school students? A six-year-old is barely in primary school!).
It supposed to be set on the wealthy north shore, yet these women talk and act like they belong as permanent residents in a caravan park in Ballina or in Western Sydney, they certainly don’t act or talk like the woman should or do on the north shore.
Two stars, I would have given it one but the design of the cover is the best thing about the book, so I’m giving it an extra star for that alone. Disappointed.
It read like it was written in sections and put together into a novel. It just doesn’t flow properly and is full of mistakes and the last quarter seemed to drag on to a predictable ending. For this reader it was jumbled and kept repeating itself, jumping back and forward so many times you end up confused. It would have read better if it followed a timeline.
It describes Amanda’s house in the first chapter, then describes more of the house in another chapter, then more in another chapter - it would have been better to describe it in one (so the reader can ‘see’ it) rather than over multiple chapters.
It starts off ‘One Year Earlier’, but actually most of this section is NOT one year earlier.
In the second part of the book Amanda is worried about going to St Celilias, by this stage the kids are not even at this school. Then you realise she has gone back in time yet again.
It’s full of errors that should have been picked up in editing, and would have brought the pieces together. e.g. One chapter is Mrs Denner, next its Brigette Denner. You think, is this the same person. One chapter Amanda lives in a house with 5 bedrooms the next chapter its 4 bedrooms. How do you lose a bedroom on the north shore? Amanda’s son is a six-year-old high school student, (really! do you know any 6 year olds high school students? A six-year-old is barely in primary school!).
It supposed to be set on the wealthy north shore, yet these women talk and act like they belong as permanent residents in a caravan park in Ballina or in Western Sydney, they certainly don’t act or talk like the woman should or do on the north shore.
Two stars, I would have given it one but the design of the cover is the best thing about the book, so I’m giving it an extra star for that alone. Disappointed.
January 20, 2022
So much more than a novel for fans of Liane Moriarty!
Yes, THE TRIVIA NIGHT is a strong domestic noir whose vivid characters become ensnared in one another's lives, and yes it strings you along from page 1, drip feeding delectable details which, for a time, only lead to more questions. And, yes, sometimes the suspenseful parts will have you checking that you locked the front door properly. But here's the thing that I wasn't expecting.... The humour! This book is funny. It's funny because the characters are so fully-formed. It's funny because life, and people, and the conversations we have are bloody hilarious at times! The spirit of that is so expertly captured here and that's why, for me, this is better than a Liane Moriarty book.
The story begins with us piecing together what happened on the fateful school trivia night when, for four couples, everything changed. Told via multiple POVs, we hear from some characters via email, letter and - my favourite - a phycologist's transcript! Each character has a distinctly unique voice. It reads as effortless but I suspect it was anything but effortless to create. Unexpected twists and heart jerkers are woven throughout, and the last chapter will have you turning back to the first!
Yes, THE TRIVIA NIGHT is a strong domestic noir whose vivid characters become ensnared in one another's lives, and yes it strings you along from page 1, drip feeding delectable details which, for a time, only lead to more questions. And, yes, sometimes the suspenseful parts will have you checking that you locked the front door properly. But here's the thing that I wasn't expecting.... The humour! This book is funny. It's funny because the characters are so fully-formed. It's funny because life, and people, and the conversations we have are bloody hilarious at times! The spirit of that is so expertly captured here and that's why, for me, this is better than a Liane Moriarty book.
The story begins with us piecing together what happened on the fateful school trivia night when, for four couples, everything changed. Told via multiple POVs, we hear from some characters via email, letter and - my favourite - a phycologist's transcript! Each character has a distinctly unique voice. It reads as effortless but I suspect it was anything but effortless to create. Unexpected twists and heart jerkers are woven throughout, and the last chapter will have you turning back to the first!
March 6, 2022
The Trivia Night is an entertaining new addition to the Australian domestic noir genre from debut author Ali Lowe.
The first big fundraising event of the year for Darley Heights Public, a primary school in a wealthy beachside suburb of Sydney, is an adults-only fancy dress trivia night. Four couples take their place at table number six- Alice, the event organiser, and her husband Pete, Zoe and Miles, and newcomers Amanda and Ted, and Lara and Luke. As the drinks flow, conversation wanders from the benign to the risqué, and as inhibitions loosen, so too does the group’s behaviour. The morning after, a hangover is not the only consequence of the night, and the couples are left with more questions than answers.
Unfolding mainly from the alternating perspectives of Amanda in the present tense, Alice, as she speaks to her therapist, and Zoe through emails to her sister, the scandalous actions events that took place during the trivia night, and the aftermath are revealed. While each swore to never speak of the night again, when Amanda receives photographic evidence of their transgressions and a threat to release them, the women from table 6 are desperate to prevent their secrets being exposed.
Lowe explores a myriad of issues such as marital discord, alcoholism, domestic violence, infertility, sexual identity, grief, jealousy and schoolyard politics in The Trivia Night, affecting the characters and their relationships. The main characters are complex and largely credible, though Amanda’s nemesis is a bit of a stereotype.
There is plenty of addictive drama with partner swapping shenanigans, confessions, bitter betrayals and a shocking death. There’s well timed humour too amongst the tension and emotion, and I thought the writing and dialogue was strong and sharp. I found the plot to be fairly predictable though, expecting slightly higher stakes I think, though I enjoyed the final twist.
I think The Trivia Night will particularly appeal to those with children still in school, if only because at the next interminable fundraiser event it will be kind of fun to identify which couples resemble the characters. This is a strong debut, and I look forward to reading more from Lowe.
The first big fundraising event of the year for Darley Heights Public, a primary school in a wealthy beachside suburb of Sydney, is an adults-only fancy dress trivia night. Four couples take their place at table number six- Alice, the event organiser, and her husband Pete, Zoe and Miles, and newcomers Amanda and Ted, and Lara and Luke. As the drinks flow, conversation wanders from the benign to the risqué, and as inhibitions loosen, so too does the group’s behaviour. The morning after, a hangover is not the only consequence of the night, and the couples are left with more questions than answers.
Unfolding mainly from the alternating perspectives of Amanda in the present tense, Alice, as she speaks to her therapist, and Zoe through emails to her sister, the scandalous actions events that took place during the trivia night, and the aftermath are revealed. While each swore to never speak of the night again, when Amanda receives photographic evidence of their transgressions and a threat to release them, the women from table 6 are desperate to prevent their secrets being exposed.
Lowe explores a myriad of issues such as marital discord, alcoholism, domestic violence, infertility, sexual identity, grief, jealousy and schoolyard politics in The Trivia Night, affecting the characters and their relationships. The main characters are complex and largely credible, though Amanda’s nemesis is a bit of a stereotype.
There is plenty of addictive drama with partner swapping shenanigans, confessions, bitter betrayals and a shocking death. There’s well timed humour too amongst the tension and emotion, and I thought the writing and dialogue was strong and sharp. I found the plot to be fairly predictable though, expecting slightly higher stakes I think, though I enjoyed the final twist.
I think The Trivia Night will particularly appeal to those with children still in school, if only because at the next interminable fundraiser event it will be kind of fun to identify which couples resemble the characters. This is a strong debut, and I look forward to reading more from Lowe.
Read
February 18, 2022Featuring a swingers group, a school fundraiser and a woman hellbent on revenge, The Trivia Night delivers decadent insights into a traditionally taboo topic. The fresh premise of this novel had me hooked the moment I heard about it. Readers should bring the popcorn and enjoy the ride as the perfect storm builds in the idyllic suburb of Darley Heights. As well as humour and plenty of entertainment, this novel addresses darker social issues, with enough twists and turns to keep you gripped throughout and an alternating character perspective. Many thanks to Hachette for sending me an early copy of this fab debut.
July 9, 2022
Setting: Sydney, NSW, Australia.
As the book opens, Amanda's daughter Evie is just about to start at Darley Heights Primary School, located in a wealthy Sydney suburb. Amanda has had to relocate her daughter from a nearby private school after an unfortunate incident involving Amanda and Victoria, one of the school's leading parent fundraisers. Fortunately, Amanda's best friend since childhood, Alice, has secured a place at short notice for Evie. The first big fundraising event at Evie's new school is a Trivia Night - Alice has arranged for Amanda and her husband, Ted, to be on the same table as herself and her husband, Pete, together with two other couples, Lara with her cosmetic surgeon husband Luke and Zoe with her husband, Miles.
Amanda is already nervous about making a good impression at this first school event but is totally thrown when she discovers that one of the other 'new' mothers is her nemesis, Victoria. As usual in such circumstances, Amanda turns to alcohol in order to cope and, as the evening rumbles on, discussions at their table about relationships and 'swinging' turn to acting on those discussions in an evening that most of the group of eight will want to forget - but someone who was present at the event is threatening to expose their drunken capers...
In a story a bit reminiscent of Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies (as several reviewers have pointed out), this story still manages to create a unique 'vibe', due partly to the way the story is told. The three main narrators of the story are Amanda (who has a problem with alcohol going back to her childhood with her alcoholic mother), Amanda's best friend, Alice (whose story is told through a series of interviews with her therapist) and Zoe (who writes lengthy emails to her absent sister, Phoebe). The prologue and epilogue are written by a different character - the epilogue could be described as shocking although, to me, its contents didn't come as much of a surprise (I found myself thinking 'Um, i thought as much!'). I was also a bit puzzled by the revelation .
That being said, I still really enjoyed the book overall and would certainly look for more from this author. A worthy debut novel and I could see this one also making a good TV series, as did Big Little Lies - 8/10.
As the book opens, Amanda's daughter Evie is just about to start at Darley Heights Primary School, located in a wealthy Sydney suburb. Amanda has had to relocate her daughter from a nearby private school after an unfortunate incident involving Amanda and Victoria, one of the school's leading parent fundraisers. Fortunately, Amanda's best friend since childhood, Alice, has secured a place at short notice for Evie. The first big fundraising event at Evie's new school is a Trivia Night - Alice has arranged for Amanda and her husband, Ted, to be on the same table as herself and her husband, Pete, together with two other couples, Lara with her cosmetic surgeon husband Luke and Zoe with her husband, Miles.
Amanda is already nervous about making a good impression at this first school event but is totally thrown when she discovers that one of the other 'new' mothers is her nemesis, Victoria. As usual in such circumstances, Amanda turns to alcohol in order to cope and, as the evening rumbles on, discussions at their table about relationships and 'swinging' turn to acting on those discussions in an evening that most of the group of eight will want to forget - but someone who was present at the event is threatening to expose their drunken capers...
In a story a bit reminiscent of Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies (as several reviewers have pointed out), this story still manages to create a unique 'vibe', due partly to the way the story is told. The three main narrators of the story are Amanda (who has a problem with alcohol going back to her childhood with her alcoholic mother), Amanda's best friend, Alice (whose story is told through a series of interviews with her therapist) and Zoe (who writes lengthy emails to her absent sister, Phoebe). The prologue and epilogue are written by a different character - the epilogue could be described as shocking although, to me, its contents didn't come as much of a surprise (I found myself thinking 'Um, i thought as much!'). I was also a bit puzzled by the revelation .
That being said, I still really enjoyed the book overall and would certainly look for more from this author. A worthy debut novel and I could see this one also making a good TV series, as did Big Little Lies - 8/10.
April 12, 2022
Fun, fun, fun. This book was wildly entertaining and moved along at a great pace. Told in varying points of view from the women featured in the novel and in varied formats. Ie through emails to a sister, therapist and first person.
We all know that so many things are going to wrong if you participate in a swingers night at the elite school trivia night but there are few other twists and turns as well.
The dialogue and humour was terrific and a spotlight was shone on some serious issues such as fidelity, infertility, alcoholism, domestic violence, the importance of strong female friendships and so on.
Will certainly keep an eye out for future books by Ali Lowe. This is certainly a book for fans of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.
We all know that so many things are going to wrong if you participate in a swingers night at the elite school trivia night but there are few other twists and turns as well.
The dialogue and humour was terrific and a spotlight was shone on some serious issues such as fidelity, infertility, alcoholism, domestic violence, the importance of strong female friendships and so on.
Will certainly keep an eye out for future books by Ali Lowe. This is certainly a book for fans of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.
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