Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

From the first chapter, Jamie Day had me hooked. I love a twisty thriller and this one delivered. It was face-paced and the character development was there.

Good neighborhood mystery with lots of mayhem, interesting characters, and twists and turns, kind of a modern version of Desperate Housewives. Narration alternates between Alex who knows everyone in the neighborhood and Lexie, her goth high school student. Most of the characters grow and learn something from all the drama. The writing is good, added bonus, I always give props to an author who know how to use the word nonplussed. Can't wait to read her next book.

The Block Party by Jamie Day takes us to the bougee Alton Lane where there is an annual Memorial Day block party. This year the party ends with a band when someone is murdered. Who could have committed such a heinous act? The story is told from Alex, a divorce mediator who overindulges in alcohol and has too much time on her hands, and her seventeen-year-old daughter, Lettie who supports all causes that save the planet (she also dresses in black and wears Doc Martens). Neither character is likeable. Lettie is extremely annoying. She is constantly explaining her behavior and actions (she wants one thing, then changes her mind once it is too late, and then wants to fix it). We get to meet the various residents of Alton Road (a troubled teen, a controlling spouse, a cheating spouse, a sexy widow whose husband died under mysterious circumstances, a vengeful young man, a worried wife). Secrets and lies abound on this street (it is worse than Wisteria Lane). The characters lacked development and their complaints became annoying (the same thing over and over). The story not only alternates POV it also goes between this year’s block party and last year’s block party. There are also chapters that take place in fall, winter, and spring. In addition, there is a Facebook community chat of residents who live on streets near Alton Lane. I did not feel that the chats added anything to the story (people who were jealous because they could not live on Alton Lane, felt snubbed because they are not invited to the annual party, wanting to know the reason for the police presence at the party, etc.). The Block Party is not what I expected. I expected drama, suspense, some humor, and mystery. I wanted to be in on the juicy secrets. The story moved at a snail’s pace and the book is also way too long. None of the characters are likeable. I kept reading because I wanted to see if I correctly guessed the identity of the killer. I did find myself skimming through the middle (I did not need to read Lettie’s reasons for her various actions or why Alex felt the need to overindulge in alcohol). The residents of Alton Lane needed hobbies instead of being occupied with their neighbors’ activities (these people are beyond nosy). The story lacked action and suspense. I was very happy when I turned the final page. Everything is neatly wrapped up at the end with some interesting secrets being brought to light. The Block Party is one event that I will be happy to decline.

This was a really well written family drama/thriller. The multiple POVs made you think that you had a the whole story, but did you? Although there were a lot of characters to keep track of, it was not a chore. Everyone seemed to fit perfectly in their places and confusion of keeping everyone straight was definitely a minimum. This was a slow burn in a way that you weren't sure how reliable everyone was at telling the accurate story. Even though there was scandal, betrayals, stalkers, murder, this is still a neighborhood I would want to live in. I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of their lives for the short time I was reading this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This book started with a bang and caught my attention right away. Current day Memorial Day block party in an exclusive cul de sac and sudenyl there is reports of a death. Finding out who, if anyone, is dead takes the remainder of the book and a lot of back and forth from current day to the goings on of the previous year. It seems like all of the residents of Alton Road have something to hide and unravelling the lies somehow dragged a little in the middle of the book. The character's lives made me start to lose interest as it felt like there was too much going on at once, sometimes. Overall, I thought the storyline was good with lots of twists and a few red herrings, maybe a few too many though.

This book was a lot of fun to read. Told in two viewpoints (mother Alex and daughter Lettie), in alternating chapters, the format was easy to handle, given there were several characters in the story. Taking place over a year, from one neighborhood summer block party to the next, there is a lot of drama to unpack. Lettie, a high school senior, is smarter, wiser and kinder than some of the adults in the neighborhood. I enjoyed watching the story unfold through her eyes. Her mother, Alex, is at most times quite tipsy, although well-meaning and even entertaining.

The story? Someone on the block has been murdered! But who was murdered, by whom, and why? As the book progresses, the members of the neighborhood slowly reveal their characters, thereby providing pieces to the puzzle. I didn't have it fully put together until the end, although I had my suspicions! Recommended.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the complimentary e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Alton Road’s residents have their fair share of secrets that they’ve kept from each other and from everyone else. One secret entwined with another or about another. . .

The annual summer block party ends with a murder. Rewind a year and follow the residents of Alton Road through a series of events to find out who had motive and who is responsible.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #TheBlockParty

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. I love good thrillers and this story was well crafted with lots of different characters. Some you'd love and other you'd detest. Surprisingly enough I didn't expect the end that way. A must read I highly recommend

What do you get when you mix neighborhood busybodies, family dramas, teenage angst and romance with alcohol and drugs? You get a bunches of stories that add up to a sort of closed room (neighborhood in this case) who did what to whom mystery. Our characters learn from their mistakes, wise up, reconcile and recommit to themselves and their families. The book doesn’t leave you hanging and kept my attention throughout even though I didn’t like all the characters. Good escapist fiction

An uneven domestic thriller. It is fast paced until it is not. The ending was somewhat telegraphed and the characters aren’t the most likable. All in all a decent summer read.

On the night of the annual block party on Alton road, there has been a murder. This is an exclusive neighborhood. This is not supposed to happen on this street at all! But, then the secrets start to come out and things are not as they seem!

Ok…this is just my opinion. This story is a mess…or maybe it is just too soap opera for me. So, this maybe your type of read. I just felt like there were too many story lines, too many characters and not enough connections and a lot of gossip. Plus, it has quite a few repetitions. Just got on my nerves more than it should.

It did keep me entertained all the way through. It was just a tale that I didn’t much care about.

The narrator, Megan Tusing and Suzy Jackson did a pretty bang up job. I do love a tag team!

Need a soap opera type read…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Although I do like books with multiple POVs, the plot of this book was wholeheartedly underwhelming. I found myself speed reading to get through it.

This was a fun book to listen to! In the vein of "Bad Summer People" by Emma Rosenblum (which I loved) and "Cul-de-Sac" by Joy Fielding (which I DNF'd) this was a solid middle-of-the-road thriller. Filled with neighborhood drama and adults acting like children, this is a quick summer read.

Every summer, Alton Road throws a block party before the kids go back to school. This year's party, however, is ushered in with new neighbors who are unfriendly and don't seem to fit the street's vibe. The new neighbors aren't the only ones hiding things, however... From infidelity to blackmail to substance abuse, this is one messed up community.

Juicy, Solid, and a Quick read, you won't want to live on Alton Road after reading this.

Man, I love a twisty thriller and this one delivered. So many timelines and voices in this story along with being fast-paced made it a win for me! I guessed a few of the twists but not all and I loved the use of the social media to transition between timelines. Everyone loves to speculate on neighborhood drama so it was fun to feel like I was right there with the adjoining neighborhoods.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

"The Block Party" is a gripping novel that delves into the lives of the residents living in an exclusive cul-de-sac on Alton Road. Set against the backdrop of a seemingly idyllic suburban neighborhood, the book unravels a complex web of secrets, rivalries, and scandals that are hidden from both the outside world and each other. The story reaches its peak during the annual Summer block party when a murder takes place, leading readers on a suspenseful journey to uncover the truth.

One of the standout features of this novel is its intricate and well-crafted plot. The narrative structure, which takes readers back one year earlier, provides a tantalizing glimpse into the rivalries and betrayals that eventually culminate in the shocking murder. The gradual unveiling of secrets and the gradual escalation of tension keep the reader engrossed and eager to discover the motives behind the crime. Also, the different relationships filled with secrets and betrayal make it hard to pinpoint who has been killed and who is the killer.

Jamie Day excels in creating multifaceted characters, each with their own flaws and hidden agendas. As the layers of their personalities are peeled away, it becomes evident that nobody in this seemingly perfect neighborhood is as they initially appear. The depth of character development adds richness to the story and makes it easy for readers to become emotionally invested in their fates.

The portrayal of the suburban setting is vivid and immersive, painting a picture of a community where appearances can be deceiving. The sense of isolation within the cul-de-sac heightens the atmosphere of intrigue and suspicion, making it a perfect backdrop for a murder mystery.

While "The Block Party" is a thrilling and engaging read, it falls just shy of a perfect rating due to a few minor pacing issues. Some sections of the novel may feel slower in comparison to the more intense moments, but these lulls are relatively brief and do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the story.

In conclusion, "The Block Party" is a solid four-star novel that delivers a compelling mystery within the confines of an apparently tranquil neighborhood. Jamie Day's skillful storytelling, well-drawn characters, and a cleverly structured plot make this book a must-read for fans of suspense and domestic thrillers. As the layers of secrets are peeled away, readers are left questioning their own assumptions about the residents and are sure to be captivated by the surprising revelations that lie within the pages of this novel.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Jaime Day, and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in return for an honest opinion.

I love stories involving neighborhood drama and this book delivered just that. This story follows 4 couples - Alex and Nick, Willow and Evan, Emily and Ken, Samir and Mandy - and 1 widow - Brooke. Alex and Nick have a daughter, Lettie, who is getting ready to leave for college. Willow and Evan have a daughter, Riley, who has her own problems that she’s keeping from her parents. Emily and Ken have 2 sons, one of which is away to college (Logan), and the other who is in High School (Dylan). Samir and Mandy just moved in to the neighborhood with their own set of issues. And Brooke is a gorgeous widow that all the men are drooling over.

To anyone looking in from the outside, their lives seem perfect. But they’re not. Welcome to Alton Road, where everyone has their secrets and scandals are taking over their cul-de-sac.

I was drawn in to this book from the beginning. Who doesn’t love a good block party that ends in some exciting fictional drama? I liked how the story started present day at the block party, then went back a year to explain everything that led up to that fateful Memorial Day.

I have to eat, at first I wanted more action. I wanted more scandal. I wanted all the juicy gossip. I didn’t get why scandals were insinuated, but there wasn’t a lot of detail. I understood it when I got to the end and realized that nothing was what it seemed. This was a story of revenge and the ending was satisfying. The turn of events was well written, although, I did see one of the plot twists coming early on (the identity of Umbrella man).

All in all, it was a fun juicy read that really gave off that suburban drama feel. It kept me hooked from the beginning and I would definitely recommend it. 4/5 stars.

The Block Party starts off with a bang when during the annual Alton Road block party a murder occurs. The plot then goes back in time, one year prior, which then sets the stage for the murder that occurs. The plot slowly builds as various elements come to light, intertwining each of the characters in various ways. Around the 50% mark, the story starts building at an alarming pace and it seems like in each chapter another twist reveals itself.

The ending was great. I definitely never saw it coming and thought Day did a wonderful job pulling the entire plot together.

Thank you, St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the eARC!

Not only is this a whodunit, it’s a whowasitdunto.

It’s time for the annual block party for the residents of Alton Road, but this year will have one less attendee than the last one.

Split between present day and the year before, we learn fairly early on that someone won't be at the next block party, but it takes quite some time to get to the who.

This is one exclusive block party that you don't want to attend. Or maybe you do? If you love drama fueled chaos, lies, cheating, revenge, and of course, a little murder, grab your invite.

There are a lot of characters to keep track of, which keeps it busy, but everything is told from the POV of Alex and her teenage daughter Lettie.

I really enjoy neighborhood thrillers where everyone is a suspect, and this did not disappoint.

The block party on Alton Street on Memorial Day always promises to be a major event. But this year, a murder tops the party. The story goes back almost a year to fill in all the events leading up to the murder. There are quite a few characters, but they are well developed and necessary to the story. Lettie, a senior in high school, starts her summer off after getting in trouble at school. She spends half the summer grounded until mysterious new neighbors move in. She is drawn to the older son of the new couple, Jay. Jay and Lettie set out on a dangerous mission together. Lettie’s mom, Alex, is struggling with alcohol addiction, and her parents are always fighting. Little do they know that the people in every house on the block are hiding something. As it gets closer to the fateful Memorial Day party, more and more secrets come out.

This book is intriguing and there are several twists and turns that will keep you guessing. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Secrets can be deadly, even in the most unassuming neighborhoods. The Block Party is set in a wealthy neighborhood. The homes are lovely, and everyone gets along, or so you'd think. At the annual Memorial Day block party, things come to a head. Then we flash back to the previous year's party, and follow the families of Alton Road as their secrets unfurl throughout that year. What a ride.

This is a great slow burn of a thriller. There are so many scandals and lies to keep up with, very engaging. I couldn't wait to see what would come out next, and to find out who the victim and murderer were. Tons of drama between all the characters. I was here for it! Would recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.