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Dinner with the Schnabels

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( 1,860 ratings, 218 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Dinner with the Schnabels by Toni Jordan is a charming and humorous exploration of family dynamics and personal growth. The story follows protagonist Simon Larson, who is grappling with his career setbacks and the complex relationships within his wife’s eccentric family, the Schnabels. As Simon navigates a series of increasingly awkward situations leading up to a pivotal family dinner, he uncovers surprising truths and learns about resilience and forgiveness in the face of adversity.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate a heart-warming, humorous tale about family dynamics and life's unpredictable turns. It's ideal for those who like stories with quirky characters and relatable challenges, all wrapped up in a narrative that's both touching and entertaining.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
'I loved every page of this funny, warm, delightful novel!' LIANE MORIARTY 'Told with great humour and pathos. It is a tonic and a delight' PIP WILLIAMS

Things haven't gone well for Simon Larsen lately. He adores his wife and children, but since his business failed and he lost the family home, he can't seem to get off the couch. His larger-than-life in-laws, the Schnabels, won't get off his case. To keep everyone happy, Simon needs to do one little job: he has a week to landscape a friend's backyard for an important Schnabel family event.

But as the week progresses, Simon is derailed by an unexpected house guest. As his world spins out of control, who can Simon really count on when the chips are down?

'A smart, funny novel about love, marriage and family' Weekend Australian

'With sharply observed characters and comic set-pieces to make you laugh out loud, Dinner with the Schnabels is great fun to read and casts a more mature and acerbic eye on modern masculinity' Sydney Morning Herald

'Laughs all the way . . . a charmer of a book' Daily Telegraph

'Once again proving why Jordan is one of this country's most exceptional writers' Better Reading

Dinner with the Schnabels is a contemporary comic masterpiece. Practically every page boasts lines redolent of humour, wit and sarcasm that will make you snigger if not laugh out loud' ArtsHub

'A cheeky, fun read' Vogue Australia

'Hilarious' The Bookshelf (ABC Radio)

'Toni Jordan at her finest - brilliantly observed and highly entertaining. I inhaled her words then snorted them out laughing!' JOANNA NELL

'Terrific . . . Dinner with the Schnabels is warm and quintessentially Australian yet extensively engaging' Sydney Arts Guide

'Just delightful . . . a modern comedy of manners that pokes affectionate fun at contemporary Australia - all with Toni's trademark warmth, sensitivity and tenderness. I am pressing it into the hands of everyone I know' KATE FORSYTH

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Dinner with the Schnabels is praised for its wit and warmth, offering a touching exploration of family dynamics and personal growth. Reviewers appreciate Toni Jordan's skillful character development and engaging storytelling, highlighting the balance between humour and poignant moments. The book is noted for its relatable characters and settings, drawing readers into a charming and immersive narrative experience.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780733649462

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 March 2023

Country: Australia

Imprint: Hachette Australia

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 33.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 280g

Pages: 368

About the Author

Toni Jordan has worked as a molecular biologist, quality control chemist, TAB operator and door-to-door aluminium siding salesperson. She is the author of the international bestseller Addition, which was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award and has been adapted into a feature film, in cinemas in 2026. Her novel Nine Days was awarded Best Fiction at the 2012 Indie Awards and was named in Kirkus Reviews' top 10 Historical Novels of 2013; Our Tiny, Useless Hearts, was longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award; and her two Schnabel family novels, Dinner with the Schnabels and Prettier if She Smiled More, were critically acclaimed. Toni has been published widely in newspapers and magazines. She holds a Bachelor of Science in physiology and a PhD in Creative Arts and lives in Melbourne. Tenderfoot is her eighth novel.

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    Jordan is a kind of Australian Marian Keyes, combining pace and humour with a razor intelligence Sydney Morning Herald A funny and smart family drama Weekend Australian Taps into the humour and pathos of ordinary life in a way that has you nodding with recognition... while at the same time laughing out loud PIP WILLIAMS As the eldest child in...
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    I loved every page of this funny, warm, delightful novel! LIANE MORIARTY A smart, funny novel about love, marriage, and family. Weekend Australian With sharply observed characters and comic set-pieces to make you laugh out loud, Dinner with the Schnabels is great fun to read and casts a more mature and acerbic eye on modern masculinity. Sydney Morning Herald, Fiction...
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