By Invitation Only

A Novel

By: Dorothea Benton Frank

Narrated by: Susan Bennett, Courtney Patterson, Sarah Naughton

Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

The Lowcountry of South Carolina is where By Invitation Only begins, at a barbecue engagement party thrown by Diane English Stiftel, her brother Floyd, and her parents to celebrate her son’s engagement. On this gorgeous, magical night, the bride’s father, Alejandro Cambria, a wealthy power broker whose unbelievably successful career in private equity made him one of Chicago’s celebrated elite, discovers the limits and possibilities of cell phone range. While the mother of the bride, Susan Kennedy Cambria, who dabbles in the world of public relations and believes herself deserving of every square inch of her multimillion-dollar penthouse and imaginary carrara marble pedestal, learns about moonshine and dangerous liaisons.

Soon By Invitation Only zooms to Chicago, where the unraveling accelerates. Nearly a thousand miles away from her comfortable, familiar world, Diane is the antithesis of the bright lights and super-sophisticated guests attending her son Fred’s second engagement party. Why a second party? Maybe it had been assumed that the first one wouldn’t be up to snuff? Fred is marrying Shelby Cambria, also an only child. The Cambrias’ dearest wish is for their daughter to be happy. If Shelby wants to marry Frederick, aka Fred, they will not stand in her way - although Susan does hope her friends won’t think her daughter is marrying more than a few degrees beneath her socially. At the same time, Diane worries that her son will be lost to her forever.

By Invitation Only is a tale of two families, one struggling to do well, one well to do, and one young couple - the privileged daughter of Chicago’s crème de la crème and the son of hardworking Southern peach farmers.

Dorothea Benton Frank offers a funny, sharp, and deeply empathetic novel of two very different worlds - of limousines and pickup trucks, caviar and pigs, skyscrapers and ocean spray - filled with a delightful cast of characters who all have something to hide and a lot to learn. A difference in legal opinions, a headlong dive from grace, and an abrupt twist will reveal the truth of who they are and demonstrate, when it truly counts, what kind of grit they have. Are they living the lives they want, what regrets do they hold, and how would they remake their lives if they were given the invitation to do so?

By Invitation Only is classic Dorothea Benton Frank - a mesmerizing Lowcountry tale that roars with spirit, humor, and truth and forces us to reconsider our notions of what it means to be a Have or a Have Not.

©2018 Dorothea Benton Frank (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Pure Fluff!

This book is pure simple fluff and I loved it. Something sweet and simple was exactly what I needed. This is one of the few times where the narration made the book better than it might've been otherwise. If you're looking for something light hearted in the chic-lit genre then this is the book to listen to.

It's not Shakespeare but it's not nearly as terrible as the reviews seem to indicate.

Fun book / great narrator

Loved this narrator! The story is not deep but was just plain fun. Kind of like a little candy for the mind😊

Would like to listen to more from this narrator.

Lightfare with avoidable bumps

I enjoyed most of the book. The narration was very good. But, one plot point was ridiculously transparent and derivative. At one section I thought Target was paying for product placement.

Winner, winner....

Must admit, I do like everything low country, but this story was a wonderful blend of Carolina ease and Chicago complexity. Being a born and bred Chitown gal, I have lived the high energy pace that is Chicago and Dot has taken it to another level with the Cambria family, a sharp contrast to Diane English Stiftel and her hardworking family of farmers.

The story of the two different worlds and the blending of the occupants of each, will warm your heart and keep you reading for hours. Please do yourself a favor and accept the invitation to take the journey. Keep ‘em coming, Dot, loved it!

When Real Life Has Enough Drama, Seek Comfort Here

This is one of those books I turn to when I’m just looking for something to pass the time in a setting that I will find easy and enjoyable. There will be no big conflicts or villains and I’m okay with that. People will be nice to each other. Good times will be had by all. The biggest worry anyone will have to deal with is cow poo ruining dress shoes.
When my real life has more than enough drama and conflict for me to put in my own thrilling novel, I seek solace in a comforting book of this sort. If you need that, this is the book for you.

Truly captivating story!

I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. The characters are all so fun and interesting!

Loved this farm family story

Please don't read if you don't want to know anything. I won't tell any details but part of basis of storyline basis. The saying that "Karma is a b****" has a legs for a reason and this story is founded it. Ms. Frank took the Brexit story from the headlines and made it personal. We fall in love and hate with her characters. The from hate to admiration for one, at least for me. And serious dislike and disappointment for another. I don't sit in judgement on others as that's not my place but the good Lord's.
This is a wonderful story of family coming together and I am so glad to have found it. Highly recommend this book.

amazing! great narration and story!

loved the book! I'm quite sad that it came to an end really. the narration was excellent.

Enjoyable Characters

Really enjoyed the first part of the book and found myself laughing out loud a few times. However, the bank end of the book left me a little cold and the ending seemed almost too abrupt.

Where’s the beach

I enjoyed the book but was really looking forward to a more coastal summer read.