This week’s Top Ten Tuesday at This Artsy Reader Girl, Things I’d Have at My Bookish Party, would have exhausted me in a pre-pandemic world. But right now? Can’t even begin to contemplate. So, I’m going with a variation on a theme (this was also my approach in college, when I couldn’t answer an essay question on an exam: answer a related question instead of the one actually assigned): Ten Books I’ve Read with Parties That Sound Fun:

1. Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia: The costumed, funeral party on Boston Commons
2. Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory: Christmas tea for the royal family’s staff
3. Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston: The royal wedding at the beginning, at least until the wedding cake crashes to the floor
4. P.S., I Still Love You by Jenny Han: The dance Lara Jean throws at the retirement home
5. Caraval by Stephanie Garber: I think it would be fun to observe Caraval (half Amazing Race, half Carnival, but I don’t know that I’d want to take part
6. Geekerella by Ashley Poston: I’ve never been to a Comic Con-like event, so this one is tempting
7. Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone by J.K. Rowling: Harry’s first Christmas at Hogwarts (I thought about making it Harry’s birthday/Bill and Fleur’s wedding in Deathly Hallows, but that does end with Death Eaters, so in the end, I’d probably rather not… And the Yule Ball in Goblet of Fire was also a consideration…)
8. Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli: Their prom involved way more walkways through trees and fairy lights than mine did
9. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein: The library’s opening night
10. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: The Netherfield ball

Come tomorrow I’ll remember a half dozen village fêtes, masquerades, and beach parties that I should have included, but this works for a start.

Have you ever wanted to attend a party you read about in a book?