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R J Gould
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The Engagement Party: A wry family satire Kindle Edition

by R J Gould (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 237 ratings
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When eight parents, step-parents and partners are invited to Wayne and Clarissa’s engagement party a catastrophe is on the cards.

With one week to go before their families are to meet for the first time, making the celebration a pleasant experience for all is going to be tricky. In fact, the obstacles seem insurmountable. Number One: the two families are from vastly different social backgrounds. Number Two: there are severe tensions between the exes. Number Three: some of the new relationships are falling apart.

During the week leading up to the party things are going from bad to worse as events unroll and histories are unearthed. Doubts, lies and misunderstandings abound and the stress of it all is threatening Wayne and Clarissa's relationship.

This satirical dive into family life, laced with wry British humour, will help the reader appreciate that however bad things are in their own family, it could be a lot worse!

“A brilliant and original plot idea. It’s creative, fresh and oh-so-exciting.”

“A wonderful collection of character studies.”

“A shrewd and enjoyable sideswipe at the English class system and all its snobberies and ridiculousness.”

“A fabulous book that made me laugh out loud.”
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  1. Print length
    330 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    February 13, 2012
  4. File size
    742 KB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0079JRBXO
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (February 13, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 13, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 742 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 330 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 237 ratings

About the author

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R J Gould

R J Gould

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R J Gould is a rare male member of the UK Romantic Novelists’ Association, writing contemporary fiction about relationships using a mix of wry humour and pathos to describe the tragi-comic life journeys of his protagonists. He has been published by Headline Accent and Lume Books and also self-publishes.

Before becoming a full-time author he worked in the educational and charity sectors. In addition to his addiction to telling stories, he has somewhat milder addictions to playing tennis, watching film noir cinema, completing Wordle and eating dried mango slices.

R J Gould lives in Cambridge, England.

You can connect with him at www.rjgould.info, on twitter and Instagram @rjgould_author, and on Facebook at RJGouldauthor

Customer reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars
237 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable. They appreciate the witty writing style and the interesting character studies that provide insight into human nature. The story is engrossing from start to finish, making it a good beach read.

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ReadabilityWitCharacter studyStory pace
7 customers mention "Readability"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They appreciate the engaging writing style and find it a good beach read that holds their interest.

"...But all in all in all the story is a fun way to spend an afternoon." Read more

"This is a delightful story. Interesting, funny, sad, and so very enjoyable. Lovely writing style. Just brilliant!..." Read more

"...It’s a good beach read. The writing isn’t very compelling but the story moves along." Read more

"...Cleverly done, this is a humorous and engaging book you'll want to read straight through from beginning to end." Read more

5 customers mention "Wit"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's wit. They find it light, funny, and enjoyable. The writing style is described as lovely.

"...Interesting, funny, sad, and so very enjoyable. Lovely writing style. Just brilliant! Look forward to reading more by this author." Read more

"...The characters are each introduced through a witty series of vignettes in which their personal thoughts and unique perspectives are revealed...." Read more

"Well written, but nothing funny about it. Too realistic to be satire and it reads more like a dysfunctional family casebook." Read more

"...]This is a book that is light and witty (a very original wit) whilst at the same time showing an incredible..." Read more

4 customers mention "Character study"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's character studies entertaining, though some are not likable. They say it provides an insightful look into human nature, including the less pleasant aspects.

"...The characters are entertaining, though many are not likable. It’s a good beach read...." Read more

"...The Engagement Party is different. This wonderful collection of character studies offers a fun diversion alright, but like Fitzgerald manages in The..." Read more

"...The characters were very interesting and mostly likeable, and made me want to follow what was going to happen next in their lives...." Read more

"...whilst at the same time showing an incredible insight into the different dimensions of human nature - including the less pleasant ones - of..." Read more

4 customers mention "Story pace"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's engrossing story pace. They find it captivating from start to finish and cannot put it down.

"...It's more a slice of life tale akin to stories by Rosamund Pilcher and John Greene...." Read more

"This is a delightful story. Interesting, funny, sad, and so very enjoyable. Lovely writing style. Just brilliant!..." Read more

"...It’s a good beach read. The writing isn’t very compelling but the story moves along." Read more

"...The story is engrossing from beginning to end - I could not put the book down. Can't wait to read the author's next book!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Denise D.
    4.0 out of 5 stars A funny, intriguing look at how love starts, continues, and ends
    Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    With so many couples in various moments of their lives, this book is more than a simple love story. It's more a slice of life tale akin to stories by Rosamund Pilcher and John Greene. The characters swing from sweet to annoying, believable to absurd. But all in all in all the story is a fun way to spend an afternoon.
    One person found this helpful
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  • mary robinson
    5.0 out of 5 stars AvidReader
    Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is a delightful story. Interesting, funny, sad, and so very enjoyable. Lovely writing style. Just brilliant! Look forward to reading more by this author.
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  • Laura S. Minor
    3.0 out of 5 stars Easy, light read
    Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is a fun story about an extremely dysfunctional family in the week leading up to an engagement party. The characters are entertaining, though many are not likable.

    It’s a good beach read. The writing isn’t very compelling but the story moves along.
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  • revistar
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Engagement Party
    Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    The Engagement Party is a thoroughly delightful, lighthearted look at an extended family-to-be as they prepare and then meet for the first time at the engagement party of their children & stepchildren. The characters are each introduced through a witty series of vignettes in which their personal thoughts and unique perspectives are revealed. Cleverly done, this is a humorous and engaging book you'll want to read straight through from beginning to end.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Terumi
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a study of human nature!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Most of the fiction I come across is pure escapist entertainment. The Engagement Party is different. This wonderful collection of character studies offers a fun diversion alright, but like Fitzgerald manages in The Great Gatsby, somehow the quality of Gould's writing takes me to a place where the moral questions of right vs. wrong underlying each person's life choices encourages me to do some soul-searching of my own and possibly a bit of mid-life course correction. I would not be surprised if this book will have a similar effect on you.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Gpa & Gma Rodeman
    2.0 out of 5 stars Could not get into it
    Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This book received great reviews so I decided to purchase it..what a disappointment. The beginning of the book was slow and hard to get into. I was at about 46 percent completed before it caught my interest but then it started to get a little confusing. I doubt I will read anything else from this author.
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  • Belinda O
    3.0 out of 5 stars More like reality tv
    Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Well written, but nothing funny about it. Too realistic to be satire and it reads more like a dysfunctional family casebook.
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  • Jane Levene
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Modern life of "The Engagement Party" by RJ Gould
    Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I really loved this book! It completely held my interest, and I read it in just a day and a half. The characters were very interesting and mostly likeable, and made me want to follow what was going to happen next in their lives. I appeciated the well-written ending. I am a tough person to please in terms of books, and a pet peeve of mine is when a well-written book holds my interest only to run out of gas right before the end! Yours did not. I have the added benefit (and this added to the enjoyment of reading your book) of having lived the split/step/married/age difference life so I absolutely loved every page and character.
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • arrowboy
    4.0 out of 5 stars Tolle Charakterdarstellungen, aber nur bedingt komisch
    Reviewed in Germany on August 14, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Eins muss man dem Autor lassen, seine Charakterdarstellungen sind grandios. Inwieweit sie schon satirisch sind, ist Ansichtsache. Und ja, ich habe ein paar Mal gegrinst (vor allem beim Showdown im Hotel), aber von "hilarious" war mein Leseerlebnis weit entfernt. Warum? Weil die Charaktere zu nahe an der Wirklichkeit sind und ihre Probleme bei mir eher Teilnehme bis Frustration auslösten, als Lachtränen.

    Unter'm Strich fand ich, bis zum Finale, eigentlich nur ein Pärchen sympatisch (Thomas und Margaret) während mir diverse andere auf den Senkel gingen. Ich fand es irritierend, dass man bei einem Buch über eine Verlobungsparty über das Verlobungspärchen fast noch am wenigsten erfährt. Und das Ende war mir etwas zu glatt gestrickt! Alle haben etwas gelernt, sind bereit Änderungen in ihrem Leben vorzunehmen oder Versöhnungen. Wunderschön, aber etwas süßlich, vor allem im Vergleich mit dem restlichen Buch.

    Warum dann immer noch 4 Sterne? Weil mich das Buch trotzdem nicht kaltgelassen hat! Weil die Charakter- und Situationszeichnungen wirklich superb sind - und wegen Regis Rolle im Finale, dass meinen inneren Schweinehund ungemein befriedigte.
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  • Safari Plum
    2.0 out of 5 stars It wasn't funny
    Reviewed in Australia on July 10, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Described as 'A hilarious family satire', I only laughed once and it wasn't a full laugh. The story didn't get intriguing until the 65% mark. It was okay in terms of entertaining reading but the description was a straight up lie. The author writes well and it only had one error to report after the scene when a different person had to take over the driving. The next scene after contradicted what came before.
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  • S Palys
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Engagement Party by RJ Gould
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 6, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was well plotted, with a mounting sense of anticipation as the day of the party approached. The characters were very convincingly drawn and consistent, with realistic dialogue. It was also very funny and I laughed out loud and found the book very difficult to put down. A cracking read, and I have bought the latest RJ Gould book and can't wait to get started.
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  • Katie85
    4.0 out of 5 stars Decent read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 14, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This story was an interesting read, showing how weird and wonderful families can come together. This story is told from many sides and once you work out who is who (because the engaged couple both have parents who have split up and have new partners) then it is quite easy to understand and like, plus the ending helps bring it all together. Not all the characters are likeable, but at least they are all different and believable. Overall, it is probably not the best executed story out there, but it's good enough for some laughs and probably best to read when you want something light-hearted.
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  • Gudy Terenzio
    3.0 out of 5 stars I would have given 3.5 stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 17, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    The book features the engaged couple and their extended families: parents, stepparents, stepparents-to-be and so on but is far from the hilarious book as announced.

    The characters are quiet fun - some are worse than others but everybody is showing at one point or another their true colours.

    An easy ready.
    Report

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