For all of the progress women have made in the last few decades, we aren’t quite there yet. There’s that infuriating—and too-frequently repeated—adage that “boys will be boys.” There are the perfectly-toned Instagram influencers who peddle thinly veiled weight-loss plans as “wellness programs.”
But then there’s Lara Williams’s debut novel, Supper Club, a big f*ck you to both of those things. It’s about women reclaiming their space and refusing to fit—literally and figuratively—into society's expectations. It's also a culinary love letter, and it's totally invigorating.
Supper Club tells the story of Roberta, a British woman in her late 20s whose life is best described as “fine.” She has a steady job at a fashion website, and spends most of her nights alone cooking for herself. It’s entirely routine and predictable, and on the verge of 30, she wants more.
Then she meets Stevie, an intern at her company who’s a free-spirited, aspiring artist. The two develop a quick and close friendship, and eventually become roommates. Finally, Roberta has someone to cook for, and the two relish in their meals together. That’s when they decide to open up their dinners to others, founding the titular Supper Club.