Lydia’s Party is the 3rd book by Margaret Hawkins. Its about a middle-aged woman who hosts a belated holiday party every year at the end of January and invites the same group of 7 female friends. No men allowed! Lydia’s been hosting her Bleak Midwinter Bash for 20 years, but this year, she’s going to break some serious news that could break her friends’ hearts.
The majority of the book takes place over the course of a single weekend when Lydia throws the party. Lydia’s party preparation scene at the beginning reminded me a lot of Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. Most of the book is told from Lydia’s point of view, but some chapters are told from the perspectives of Lydia’s party guests.
As each of the women prepare for Lydia’s Party, we learn all about their respective reflections, regrets, and relationships.
Lydia’s Party is difficult to get through, as it is extremely slow-moving. Also, several characters are introduced to the story all at the same time, which makes it a bit hard to remember who is who. I had to flip back to the beginning of the book a few times and take notes about who the characters were. I’m not always a big fan of books that require me to do that because I get lost and lose interest too easily.
Reading about how each character tediously prepares for the party is a bit much. There’s a lot going on and not enough going on at the same time in this one, and I felt no sympathy or empathy for any of the characters.
The ending of Lydia’s Party was the clincher. It was a bit unrealistic and didn’t match up with the rest of the book’s tone.
Other books by Margaret Hawkins include A Year of Cats and Dogs and How To Survive a Natural Disaster.
What did you think about this book?
Last Updated on November 25, 2025 by Sarah Ann
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