This is your classic neighborhood drama. Everyone is intermingling and hiding secrets from each other. I love that it started with a bang (literally) and then took us back a year to see how we go to that fateful night.

I really liked how all the women in the story were very different and bonded over the end results.

Jamie Day’s The Block Party is a juicy, fast-paced domestic thriller that peels back the polished veneer of a wealthy neighborhood to reveal scandal, betrayal, and murder. Told through dual timelines and multiple POVs, the story builds suspense with every chapter, leading to a shocking climax.

Day’s characters are sharply drawn, and the social dynamics are deliciously messy. It’s a perfect blend of drama and mystery, with just the right amount of snark and heart. You’ll race through it—and then want to gossip about it.

Perfect for fans of:

Big Little Lies
Neighborhood thrillers
Twisty, binge-worthy reads

Honestly, this was right up my alley! I love the rich people doing bad things trope, and this was perfect. Would absolutely recommend to others!

This was a okay one but I feel a super long one.

The annual block party focuses on a few families who live on the same street who all have a story and a past. And while the bumps and loops that each one of them took to finally hit the culmination was entertaining, I feel like some of the stories just dragged on and were boring. Especially the whole “let’s get revenge” storylines that just kept going on throughout the book.

The adult sleeping with a teenager was really gross to me. And no trigger warning, even for an ARC, about the SA storyline was upsetting. I haven't seen a finished copy but I hope that those were included.

I liked this book a lot. I ended up listening to the audiobook from my library and liked the narrator. This book gave me desperate housewives vibes. The book kept me engaged, and I did not predict the ending. I would read more books by this author.

This book was absolutely incredible! I am a sucker for mysteries that take place in a small town or community. The title and description really drew me in. I would 100% reread this one. I loved not actually knowing what would happen next! 10/10

If you're looking for a fun domestic novel for summer, this one is fine. Readers learn early on that someone is murdered at the annual Memorial Day party, and then we have dual timelines to explain the neighborhood drama for background. The two narrators are Alex, a proto-typical wine-drinking HOA mom, and Lettie, her annoying, eye-rolling daughter, We have no one to root for, as their first-world problems don't garner much sympathy. It's odd, too, because there is a lot of bad behavior happening in this novel. The book is well-written in parts; the neighborhood politics are a little too authentic, right down to the Facebook chat group. I just didn't like the characters, and that made it hard to care about the identity of the victim or perpetrator. Jamie Day can write, though, and I'll definitely give them another read.

Excellent debut that kept me on my toes. I love neighborhood drama in suburban settings and this was exactly that!

This was an interesting book. It's the only one I've ever read where I had to write a list of the characters with a description about them in order to follow the story. My list has 16 characters, not counting Bug Man who shows up periodically (including at the block parties) trying to sell pest control services.

The families who live on the block have a custom of having a party every summer. This year they have a new family who have moved into one of the houses. And this year at the block party there is a death. I didn't figure out what was going on until the very end of the book.

I received an e-arc from publisher St. Martin's Press and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

A domestic suspense novel about neighborhood secrets, scandals, and a party that ends in murder. Twisty, juicy, and impossible to put down. Total beach read material.

I went into 'The Block Party' thinking, 'Ooh, juicy suburban drama! Perfect!' But honestly? It was a bit of a letdown. I really wanted to like these characters, you know? The whole 'neighbors with secrets' thing is right up my alley. But they just... rubbed me the wrong way. I kept thinking, 'Why are you acting like that?' and not in a good, 'I'm so intrigued' way, more of a 'please stop' way.
And the story? It kind of just... happened. Like, I kept waiting for something big to happen, but it just sort of shuffled along. I found myself checking how many pages I had left way too often. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't exactly a page-turner either.
I hate to be harsh, because I know authors put their hearts into their work, but 'The Block Party' just didn't click for me. If you're looking for a really gripping read, this might not be it. It's more of a 'meh, I guess I finished it' kind of book. 2 stars.

Everyone on Alton Road has secrets. What happens when they all start to come out during the annual block party? For fans of Desperate Housewives, this thriller will leave you wondering who is dead - and who committed murder.

This book started so strong but unfortunately fell a bit flat for me towards the middle and end. A very fluffy thriller that also deals with incredibly heavy subject matter.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for a fair review.

This was a deliciously crazy roller-coaster ride of a book!! The party of the year that everyone wants to be invited to, is it worth dying for? This book starts off with a bang! We know someone dies, but we don't know who. The rest of the book takes place between two block parties a year apart. In this build up we have lies, affairs, drugs, secrets, drinking problems, gossip, revenge plots, scandals, abusive husbands, and much much more juicier shenanigans! Think about Real Housewives on steroids!

This was just a fun, drama filled book to read. The author plants so many twists that you never know until the very end who gets killed amd who the murderer is.

My thanks to Jamie Day, St. Martin's Press publishing and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

*The Block Party* by Jamie Day is a gripping suburban thriller packed with secrets, scandals, and suspense. Set in the affluent neighborhood of Meadowbrook, the story unravels through the perspectives of a mother and daughter as their seemingly perfect community is rocked by a murder at the annual block party. With twists at every turn, tangled relationships, and hidden betrayals, Day keeps readers guessing until the final reveal. The mix of domestic drama and psychological intrigue makes this a compelling read for fans of *Big Little Lies* and *Desperate Housewives*. A juicy, binge-worthy thriller that will keep you hooked!

Great summer drama! A little difficult to keep up with the characters but overall great twist and turns.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

The Block Party by Jamie Day was a great read. It really kept me guessing and I did not want to put this book down until I finished! Full of secrets and twists, you will not be disappointed in this one!

The Block Party by Jamie Day is a fast-paced domestic thriller that peels back the polished facade of a picture-perfect neighborhood, revealing scandals, secrets, and simmering tensions. When a shocking crime disrupts the annual block party, everyone becomes a suspect, and the truth is far messier than it seems.

Day masterfully blends multiple perspectives with well-timed twists, creating a web of lies and betrayals that keeps the pages turning. The suburban drama is addictive, and the mix of mystery and character-driven storytelling strikes a great balance. While some plot points feel slightly over-the-top, the overall suspense and juicy reveals make it a highly entertaining read.

4 stars — a twisty, drama-filled whodunit that fans of Big Little Lies and neighborhood thrillers will devour. Perfect for readers who love messy secrets and surprising twists.

A fun little neighborhood drama. Reminiscent of Big Little Lies but not the same. Good pacing, lots of characters, but distinct storylines, kept the story moving. I appreciated the audiobook narration and enjoyed the listening experience. A juicy summer drama (read in the dead of winter by me, haha).

The Meadowbrook Online Community Page is glad to be announcing its annual block party. Will a good time be had by all, or will an unspeakable event truly rock the citizens of Alton Road?

Nick and Alex Fox, the organizers, are working hard to make the party a success. However, the story quickly shifts between the present and a year ago, revealing that things are not going well. In fact, a group of teens is playing a dangerous game of revenge. Alcohol, drugs, and other illegal activities are also involved.

One thing that caught my attention, especially considering the younger perspectives, was the mention of the fable, The Scorpion and the Frog. Just that brief reference hints at the underlying dynamics between a couple of characters. The unexpected twists and turns throughout the book make it a stellar read.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Unfortunately, I cannot say that this book was one of my favorites. It took me several times to pick up my Kindle and try again, and I found it an interesting read but definitely not the "omg I can't put it down!" type of book. I do like stories that start with an event and go back through and tell us how we arrived here.