Review of Lunch Tales

[Steeve Bowen]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Lunch Tales" by Lucille Guarino.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Lunch Tales: Suellen is a modern fiction novel by Lucille Guarino that tells the story of Suellen, a striving young attorney, and her fellows working at a law firm in New Jersey. Acceptance, coping, and self-realization are notable for the characters and highlighted in the lunch break mid-narrative discussions. Suellen’s life appears to be very busy balancing professional work as a lawyer, a destructive partnership with a manipulative male partner, and conflicts within her family. A significant portion of the novel is concerned with Suellen’s commitment to the pro bono case of a young foster kid while making her deal with the psychological spectrum of the topic of domestic violence. The novel deems spikes of comedy and heartbreak in the working relationship between a group of colleagues who try to cope with their concerns and battles during their staking job.

When I first began reading this book, I fell in love with the realism of the characters and the juicy aggression of their punch lines. The blend of humorous and touching elements felt very natural and provided a very clear insight into the world of Suellen and her co-workers. That’s perhaps why Guarino can discuss toxic relationships and domestic violence while navigating moments of humor and friendship. However, I think Suellen’s character development was the most well done here—it was very believable, and the ending for her was powerful without being repetitive of common tropes. The author’s writing style is lively, and the different scenes all contribute to the depth and complexity of the story. On my part, I can say that the book was inspiring and rather cheerful, filled with rather inspiring ideas on human endurance and the benefits of people’s support.

Guarino presents characterization in a very realistic way and has a wonderful array of characters. A detailed discussion of how the author employs dialogue and internal monologues to give insight into characters—the case of Suellen. For example, the reader will feel empowered by Suellen’s stream of consciousness when it comes to a toxic relationship with Steve and her memories of a painful childhood. The characters that exist on the periphery of the story are developed, such as Edwina and Teagan, and have their personalities, which makes the setting of the story quite realistic. The book’s strength certainly lies in the openness of the dialogue. It is very organic and genuine to everybody, and sometimes even sarcastic or tends to show feelings.

The talk that the characters engage in during the lunch intervals, as a way of creating the story, throws light on issues to do with friendship, hardships, and the relationships people have at the workplace. These interactions relieve Suellen’s personal and working conflicts and give comic undertones to sultry scenes. In conclusion, I would like to give this book 5 out of 5 stars. I have no complaints; this book was completely to my taste, and I have not noticed any grammar mistakes either. I like the author’s mastery in narrating stories, as she shows great mastery in using literary elements in the storytelling of the book.

Lunch Tales: Suellen can be of great benefit to any woman in her debut, middle, or late 20s; the thirties, and even the 40s with issues to do with relationships, career, and discovering life. It retains the reader's interest in character-based stories while also addressing topical issues such as the ability of women and children, hope, and recovery. It is strictly a blend of humor and touching drama and would perhaps interest those readers who love watching and reading a combination of love and true-life comedy. Thematically, therefore, it is possible to view the work as a legal and personal one properly situated within the background of a highly pressured law firm, which makes the novel interesting to readers who appreciate professional fiction.

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Lunch Tales
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[Uchenna Precious]

The issue of domestic violence cannot be overemphasized and I'm glad it's one of the themes explored in this book. I love the infusion of humour amidst all the chaos.
A great writeup indeed.

[Naimah Agboluaje]

Based on the review, "Lunch Tales: Suellen" by Lucille Guarino seems to be a highly enjoyable and well-written book. The realistic characters, engaging dialogue, and balanced mix of humor and touching moments make it a good read. The author's storytelling skills and character development, particularly of the protagonist Suellen, are commendable. The book tackles important themes like toxic relationships and domestic violence while also highlighting the power of friendship and support. With a lively writing style and relatable characters, this book has the potential to resonate with readers of various ages, especially women facing similar issues. Overall, I would give "Lunch Tales: Suellen" a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. Gripping suspense, kept me eagerly turning pages.

[Joe Alex 2]

From the review, this novel seems to offer a balanced mix of humor and emotional depth, with a focus on Suellen’s journey through personal and professional challenges. The blend of light-hearted moments and serious issues like domestic violence and toxic relationships is intriguing, and it appears that the author creates well-developed characters that add richness to the story. I’m particularly drawn to how the characters’ lunchtime discussions not only bring humor to the plot but also reveal insights into their lives and struggles. It sounds like a great read for anyone interested in character-driven stories with real-life issues and a touch of humor.