The Dinner List

A Novel

By: Rebecca Serle

Narrated by: Rebecca Serle

Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's Summary

"With delicate intimacy, author Rebecca Serle narrates a story that involves a surrealist dinner party and reflections on a decade of love and heartache.... Magic and emotive undertones make this audiobook bewitching." (AudioFile Magazine)

This program is read by the author.

“We’ve been waiting for an hour.” That’s what Audrey says. She states it with a little bit of an edge, her words just bordering on cursive. That’s the thing I think first. Not: Audrey Hepburn is at my birthday dinner, but Audrey Hepburn is annoyed.

At one point or another, we’ve all been asked to name five people, living or dead, with whom we’d like to have dinner. Why do we choose the people we do? And what if that dinner was to actually happen? These are the questions Rebecca Serle contends with in her utterly captivating audiobook, The Dinner List.

When Sabrina arrives at her 30th birthday dinner she finds at the table not just her best friend, but also three significant people from her past, and, well, Audrey Hepburn. As the appetizers are served, wine poured, and dinner table conversation begins, it becomes clear that there’s a reason these six people have been gathered together.

Delicious but never indulgent, sweet with just the right amount of bitter, The Dinner List is a romance for our times. Bon appetit.

Praise for The Dinner List:

“It’s Serle’s unflinching investigation into the triumph and failings of love that makes this book one of a kind. A touch magic, a touch tragic, and absolutely compelling from beginning to end.” (Stephanie Danler, New York Times best-selling author of Sweetbitter)

©2018 Rebecca Serle (P)2018 Macmillan Audio

Critic Reviews

“It’s Serle’s unflinching investigation into the triumph and failings of love that makes this book one of a kind. A touch magic, a touch tragic, and absolutely compelling from beginning to end.” (Stephanie Danler, New York Times best-selling author of Sweetbitter)

"With delicate intimacy, author Rebecca Serle narrates a story that involves a surrealist dinner party and reflections on a decade of love and heartache...magic and emotive undertones make this audiobook bewitching." (AudioFile Magazine)

“I have five words for Rebecca Serle’s The Dinner List: wistful, delicious, romantic, magical, love.” (Gabrielle Zevin, New York Times best-selling author of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and Young Jane Young)

Hire a professional narrator

Author slurs her words. You should have hired a professional to dictate. I could barely focus

Amazing story, narration- not so much

R. Seems is a very talented writer, but she really should let someone else narrate her stories after she has brought them to life. She along with most authors, in my experience, is not able to bring the characters to life as they deserve. There is little differentiation between voices and she reads very quickly. There are breaks when it is clear it is a new session as her intonation and speed change quickly... I stuck with it because the story is wonderful....

Irritating

The authors voice is so off-putting, with its modern day voice burn, that it made it impossible for me to take the story seriously. I'm unhappy too because it was touted as a "long awaited" novel. I'm returning it unfinished.

Terrible Performance

Could have been a great story, however, the reader spoiled it for me. In my experienced authors should let the professionals read/perform their books.

Disappointed

It was an interesting storyline, but it didn't hold my attention. The narrator sounded like she was reading from the book instead of taking on the characters voices and personaliteis I felt like I was listening to a journal entry of someone trying to figure out their relationship problems - I didn't finish the book.

Not Every Author Should Read Out Loud

I can say that the story was lost to me, because of the annoying teenage, monotone that the author read the book in. I only stuck it out because it was a little over 5 hours. Rebecca Serle is a great story teller but next time- let someone else tell your story.

Not Worthy of Audible

So hard to enjoy this audiobook...it reminds me of being in a high school English class listening to a fellow student reading their essay out loud to the class. The story would probably be better if I didnt have to listen to it. Read it. Do not suffer through the audio!!!

Probably better to read this one

I learned something while attempting to listen to this book: not all books should be listened to. I’m giving up on this because the reading is distracting and annoying to me. But I suspect that if I get the book and read it myself, I’ll enjoy it more. Based on others’ reviews of the story, I’ll come back to this after some time and let my imagination do its work.

narration is poor

the narration is so unprofessional I could not get into the story. Had to turn it off before I could determine if it was a good book

JUST DONT!!!! Worst narration ever!!

Absolutely do not buy this book on audible. I listened to the sample and thought I could get past her voice, it only gets worse. I honestly can’t say if I was so irritated by the narration that I just found myself not enjoying the story. I also didn’t like the main character at all and found the story very immature. I’m also 45, married, and have three kids. Maybe if your in your 20’s this story will speak more towards you.

Great story bad narration

Beautiful story. Didn’t like the narrator. Think it would have worked better if read by an actor rather than the author.