Okay, so I just finished 'The Briar Club' and wow – this book is something else! The whole 'house as narrator' thing? Genius. It's like the walls are whispering secrets to you while you read.

The characters feel so real I kept forgetting they weren't actual people. Mrs. Nilsson especially – she's complicated in that way where you want to shake her but also give her a hug? And Grace! Don't even get me started on Grace.

What I loved most was how all these different lives weave together through food (yes, with actual recipes included!). It's like a literary potluck where everyone brings their emotional baggage as a side dish.

The historical backdrop of 1950s America adds this rich texture – McCarthyism, women's baseball leagues, post-war trauma – but never feels like a history lesson. More like you're time-traveling through someone's memories.

Fair warning: You'll hit a point where putting the book down becomes physically impossible. I may have neglected some responsibilities to finish it... totally worth it though!