At the Table

To Nicole and Jamie Maguire, their parents seem the ideal couple - a suburban double act, happily married for more than thirty years. So when Linda and Gerry announce that they've decided to separate, the news sends shockwaves through the siblings' lives, forcing them to confront their own expectations and desires.Hardworking - and hard-drinking - Nicole pursues the ex she unceremoniously dumped six years ago, while people-pleasing Jamie fears he's sleepwalking into a marriage he doesn't actually want. But as the siblings grapple with the pressures of thirtysomething life, their parents struggle to protect the fragile façade of their own relationship, and the secrets they've both been keeping.Set in 2018, Claire Powell's beautifully observed debut novel follows each member of the Maguire family over a tumultuous year of lunches, dinners and drinks, as old conflicts arise and relationships are re-evaluated. A gripping yet tender depiction of family dynamics, love and disillusionment, At the Table is about what it means to grow up - both as an individual, and as a family. To Nicole and Jamie Maguire, their parents seem the ideal couple - a suburban double act, happily married for more than thirty years. So when Linda and Gerry announce that they've decided to separate, the news sends shockwaves through the siblings' lives, forcing them to confront their own expectations and desires. Hardworking - and hard-drinking - Nicole pursues the ex she unceremoniously dumped six years ago, while people-pleasing Jamie fears he's sleepwalking into a marriage he doesn't actually want. But as the siblings grapple with the pressures of thirtysomething life, their parents struggle to protect the fragile faade of their own relationship, and the secrets they've both been keeping. Set in 2018, Claire Powell's beautifully observed debut novel follows each member of the Maguire family over a tumultuous year of lunches, dinners and drinks, as old conflicts arise and relationships are re-evaluated. A gripping yet tender depiction of family dynamics, love and disillusionment, At the Table is about what it means to grow up - both as an individual, and as a family. To Nicole And Jamie Maguire, Their Parents Seem The Ideal Couple - A Suburban Double Act, Happily Married For More Than Thirty Years. So When Linda And Gerry Announce During A Mother's Day Lunch That They Have Decided To Separate, The Siblings Find Themselves Unexpectedly Forced To Confront Their Own Expectations And Desires. Hard-working - And Hard-drinking - Nicole Pursues The Ex She Unceremoniously Dumped Six Years Ago, While Jamie, Her People-pleasing Younger Brother, Fears He Is Sleepwalking Into A Marriage He Is Not Sure He Wants. And As The Siblings Grapple With Thirty-something London Life, Their Parents Struggle To Conceal A Secret That Could Fracture The Family Forever. Spanning A Year, The Novel Follows Each Member Of The Maguire Family As Long-simmering Conflicts Threaten To Boil Over. An Unsentimental Exploration Of Love And Disillusionment, At The Table Is About What It Means To Grow Up - Both As An Individual, And As A Family.