Bunco: A Comedy About the Drama of Friendship

**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. **

By: Robin Delnoce

5/5 Dice

Synopsis (as stated by the publisher)

We all have “those” friends.  Maybe you’ve known them since childhood, or met in college, or while waiting for a child’s practice to end. Maybe you found yourself living on the same street. There’s no single path to friendship. Relationships don’t

follow a script and neither do the lives of smart, funny, complicated suburban

women.

Jill, Anne, Mary, and Rachel met years ago through a neighborhood group that regularly got together to play a dice game called bunco. Although players have come

and gone, they continue to use bunco as an excuse to abandon their day-to-day

responsibilities and enjoy food, drinks, and the company of their best friends. 

When new neighbors move in under the cover of night, the foursome sees an

opportunity to expand their bunco circle. But within hours, suspicions run rampant

as the odd behaviors of the newest residents are interpreted differently. Are they

quirky, or kinky? Diabolical, or misunderstood? Time after time, as the truth sheds

light on some secrets, more emerge. Each woman finds herself shocked by the

friends she thought she knew.

Through the friendly banter, intimate confessions, and tongue-twisting insults, you

may see yourself or your friends in these characters. Wipe away tears of laughter

and loss as you join the four metaphorical rounds of bunco, and feel part of the

conversation. Whether engaging in playful exploits, providing unconditional

support, making uncomfortable sacrifices, or winding up in handcuffs again, these

ladies are those rarest of friends who become true family. Of course, families don’t

follow a script either, unless it is a plot-twisting, slightly off-color comedy about the

drama of friendship. And bunco, sort of.

I will preface this review by saying I am a HUGE Real Housewives fan, and in The Real Housewives of Orange County, they play a game called Bunco. When I received the email regarding a free copy, I didn't even check to see if it was related, I just knew I had to have it! It's not related, and I should be more embarrassed about my guilty pleasure, but I find it hard to be because this book was so wonderful! I am so thankful I started this gem today because I got the call that my school was yet again transitioning to e-learning and Delnoce's engaging writing was enough to keep me from having a stress breakdown! I completely lost myself in the lives of these four women!

Normally, a screenplay style that switches focus would drive me insane; however, it works well with this storyline. The way this book was written allows for an even more vivid movie to play in my head than what normally happens, yet the writing style still left room for creativity regarding the visuals. The character development also exceeded the expectations I formed upon seeing this was a screenplay. Even the character I despised (Rachel) still had a spot in my heart. I couldn't stand her actions and verbal attacks, and yet... I still related to her and understood her pain.

I also assumed this book would be some housewives talking over wine, but it was so much more! There was murder, cops, FBI, hospitals and love in this thrilling and suspenseful read. Each round began like an ordinary story in a suburb, but each ended with my heart pounding and me wanting more! This book was a pleasant surprise and I would recommend it for people who loved Happy and You Know It and Big Little Lies.