Reviewed for www.chicklitclub.com - IF you love chick lit join the club!
By Invitation Only is a wonderfully written novel by Jodi Della Femina, who presents life on the Hamptons as it is seen from the inside. Della Femina knows this area well - and it shows - her father, Jerry Della Femina owns a famous East Hampton Restaurant called Della Femina's. By Invitation Only brings to life the trials and tribulations of Toni Fratelli, a high strung caterer who can never sit still and has a mile long to do list attached to her hip every waking moment. Toni is a bit frazzled most of the time, but likeable and relatable when she calms down. After attempting to open her own restaurant in New York City, she inevitably returns home to the Hamptons when everything doesn't work out. She begins working at her Father's restaurant once again and trys to get some buzz for the new catering business she is starting. An extremely talented chef, Toni is nothing but a thorn in the side of the local catering company La Dolce Vita foods. In the meantime, Toni's best friend, Layla, is getting married to the son of a wealthy family that comes from "old money". Didi, the mother of the groom is hardly happy that her son is marrying a local girl. Despite Laylas effortless beauty, Didi would rather her son be with someone who runs in the same social circles as her family.
Toni has such a busy summer ahead of her - between catering Layla's wedding, making an appearance on local channel PlumTv to showcase her cooking skills, working at the restaurant and trying to get her catering gig off the ground - she never expects to meet someone special. But that happens when she crosses paths with Chris, a man like no one she's ever met before. He's not like the New York City types she's dated in the past
and she likes that about him. But Chris is harboring some secrets that he's not sure Toni will like. Before the summer is out, Toni has to learn to move on and forget her past and ultimately forgiving becomes her biggest challenge of all. Can Toni survive summer in the Hamptons? You'll have to read By Invitation Only to find out. It is a lovely summertime beach read that you won't want to put down.
By Invitation Only is a wonderfully written novel by Jodi Della Femina, who presents life on the Hamptons as it is seen from the inside. Della Femina knows this area well - and it shows - her father, Jerry Della Femina owns a famous East Hampton Restaurant called Della Femina's. By Invitation Only brings to life the trials and tribulations of Toni Fratelli, a high strung caterer who can never sit still and has a mile long to do list attached to her hip every waking moment. Toni is a bit frazzled most of the time, but likeable and relatable when she calms down. After attempting to open her own restaurant in New York City, she inevitably returns home to the Hamptons when everything doesn't work out. She begins working at her Father's restaurant once again and trys to get some buzz for the new catering business she is starting. An extremely talented chef, Toni is nothing but a thorn in the side of the local catering company La Dolce Vita foods. In the meantime, Toni's best friend, Layla, is getting married to the son of a wealthy family that comes from "old money". Didi, the mother of the groom is hardly happy that her son is marrying a local girl. Despite Laylas effortless beauty, Didi would rather her son be with someone who runs in the same social circles as her family.
Toni has such a busy summer ahead of her - between catering Layla's wedding, making an appearance on local channel PlumTv to showcase her cooking skills, working at the restaurant and trying to get her catering gig off the ground - she never expects to meet someone special. But that happens when she crosses paths with Chris, a man like no one she's ever met before. He's not like the New York City types she's dated in the past
and she likes that about him. But Chris is harboring some secrets that he's not sure Toni will like. Before the summer is out, Toni has to learn to move on and forget her past and ultimately forgiving becomes her biggest challenge of all. Can Toni survive summer in the Hamptons? You'll have to read By Invitation Only to find out. It is a lovely summertime beach read that you won't want to put down.
