Cooking in the Wrong Century by Teresa Praauer

In her stylish apartment, the hostess is hard at work. She folds linen napkins, arranges wildflowers and cues up algorithmically chosen soft jazz to project an effortless cool.

Every detail is chosen with care, which makes it all the more galling when her guests arrive late and already drunk.

As small talk becomes slurred confessions and lost inhibitions, the hostess struggles to maintain control over an evening far beyond her wildest imaginings.