Yikes, this book was just not it for me. The premise is great but the execution is poor.

One of the big problems for me was the extremely unlikeable characters. I could not connect with anyone. The character development was poor, which fed into this. Coupled with this, the pacing was SO slow. This made for a really painful and boring read. I found myself skimming at times willing for it to be over. Surprised I did not give up, but I pushed through! For no good reason, I might add.

This book was super ridiculous and over the top at times. It had me rolling me eyes.

Shout out to Hades the dog!

(3.5 stars, rounded up to 4)

In this atmospheric psychological thriller, Rebecca Heath explores the haunting secrets of the Whitlam family through alternating timelines set in 2000 and 2019. Sixteen-year-old Lucy Ross witnesses a disturbing event at a party in the Whitlam mansion, setting off a chain of events that resurface twenty years later when a body is discovered on the shore. As Lucy grapples with whether to expose the truth or protect her loved ones, readers are taken on an emotional roller-coaster ride through the enigmatic Whitlam family's past and present.

Heath crafts a captivating journey filled with unpredictable twists and compelling characters, keeping readers engaged despite the narrative's back-and-forth structure. As Lucy delves deeper into the Whitlam family's secrets, the allure of their glamorous lifestyle clashes with the harsh reality of their hidden truths. With sublime writing and a gripping plot, "The Summer Party" delivers an immersive reading experience that leaves readers yearning for more, even as they reach the story's satisfying conclusion.

Despite not really liking any of the characters, I did like reading this.

The characters I did like were either already dead, or an animal! Ha ha

It was interesting to flit between the past and the present, and see that not a lot had changed in their personalities despite trying to better themselves, and that having money didn't make them a better person.

I would definitely read another by this author.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

This was a fun, look over your shoulder read! Love the cover, the unreliable narrator and the pacing!

This one just didn't work for me. The plot moved slow, the characters were not likable and the mystery felt very lackluster.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this digital copy!

While atmospheric and well-paced, I found most of the characters to be so unlikeable as to become frustrating. This is a good mystery that toes the feeling of a Lucy Foley in terms of setting building and complicated characters, but missed a bit of the charm for me.

Still enjoyed it and is a great middle of the road thriller.

Thank you very much for the ARC and sorry I didn't read this sooner. This book was so totally unexpected.

If you read this , you will wish you weren't invited to the party!
The book is a totally mindbending thriller that will keep you guessing. It is fast paced, with a good plot and characters.
Definitely recommend !

What a ride! This was such a fast and thrilling read. This book sure will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole way through.

This was just alright to me. I liked it, but wasn’t blown away. The atmosphere was great and it was an easy beach read, but I wanted more.

The Summer Party was just an average read for me, the prose got me in due to Hades the dog he gets into some situations but luckily comes out of this unscathed.
Then the characters well they were very unlikable not one character I wanted to root for, then comes Lucy Rosses relationship with the Whitlam’s escapees during this was totally OTT which is not my cup of tea ☕️ I like believable characters that I can sink my teeth into.

Although I found this book quite slow to start off, I’m glad I stuck with it. It’s told from two points, the past and the present. The characters very really well planned and had a lot of depth to them.
There was a few plot twists I didn't see coming. I enjoyed the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of The Summer Party by Rebecca Heath.

Lucy goes home to sort out her grandmother’s effects and gets involved again with the family in the “big” house. It all sounded very promising and eminently readable but when a book starts off as slowly as this one then I find it impossible to get invested later (much later!) when things get a bit more lively. That’s when I start skimming but the momentum is lost. I did like the Australian setting and descriptions but felt nothing for the characters apart from the dog - I liked him a lot!

Thank you so much @HeadofZeus for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 05 January 2023)

SYNOPSIS | As a teenager, Lucy spent one summer with her grandmother where she met & became enamored with her wealthy next door neighbours (the Whitlam family). Two decades later she returns to clear out her deceased grandmothers cottage and hopefully reconnect with the family whilst she is visiting.

WHAT I LIKED:
- Hades the dog
- that there was flashbacks to 16 year old Lucy

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- I don't feel like I really knew any of the characters or understood their motivations
- Lucy's obsession with the Whitlam family had me rolling my eyes on a number of occasions especially because she only interacted with them for one summer as a teenager. I could practically hear her begging "why aren't you friends with me?".
- Lucy in general came across as incredibly immature, shallow & self-absorbed (& I'm not entirely convinced she is supposed to be an unlikeable character)
- very slow paced especially in the first half
- I despise a long drawn-out villainous monologue

Can I just say that cover alone made me want to read this book! Set in Australia and parties are happening. The setting is glorious but the murder not so much.

This was a good mystery and fast paced read for me but a slow burn if that makes sense haha. I would say this is more mystery than thriller in my opinion. I love that this was told in present day and back in time to the party at the Whitmans. There are lots of secrets and lies, the Whitman family is very close. The main character Lucy has idolized their rich and elegant lifestyle ever since she spent a summer at her grandmothers house who lived next door to them. The mystery part of it is when a body is discovered and some find her arrival and this revelation suspicious.
Overall great read and thanks Netgalley for the ARC copy!

This was a quick, easy read. It held my interest enough for me to want to finish it. It wasn’t a bad read, but it also wasn’t an exceptional one.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity for me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

A satisfying murder mystery set in Australia. Lucy Ross saw something she shouldn't have seen in 2000. Now, 19 years later, she's back and ready to probe deeper into the mystery surrounding the gorgeous, rich and glamorous Whitham siblings, who are considered royalty in town.

I did like this novel and the mystery intrigued me overall. I would definitely read something by this author again.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ / 5

Lucy has been forced to return to her childhood summer home in Queens Point Australia to pack up her Grandmother's home after her death. She does not plan to stay long. But when a body is discovered on the beach it brings back memories from years ago of a party.

The story goes back nineteen years when she meets the glamorous, wealthy Whitlam siblings Harry and Annabelle. In this beautiful coastal town they are as good as royalty. They let Lucy into their inner circle and she was prepared to turn a blind eye to their secrets.

The story is told from Lucy's POV in the present day and in the past. There were plenty of twists to keep me engrossed.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.