I received an e-ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. (Just wish I could have read before publication.)

Desperate Housewives and Cruel Summer collide in this suspicious popcorn thriller. Suburban drama is my jam (perhaps because I live in the country🤪) and this is chalk full of it! Dual narrators, Alex (mom) and (daughter) Letti, tell the story of how one small street filled with families, can have so many secrets and lies that it winds up with 2 of them dead at a Memorial Day block party. Who moved into the house next door? Is somebody being unfaithful? Rumors are floating everywhere and also nowhere but in their minds.

It’s easy turning the pages when you have a fun, juicy storyline. I’ve seen the characters before but I didn’t mind. It was a fresh plot with enough visual stimulation that it kept it moving without getting caught in a circle.

4.5⭐️ rounded up for this debut!
Posted to Goodreads and Instagram

"I think there's been enough secrets for a lifetime - maybe two." Welcome to the Annual Alton Road Block Party where you can enjoy a cold drink, hotdog, yard games, and dance along to the DJ. You will meet all of the neighbors! Every household has its secrets, but this year they all seem to come out in the open at this block party.

Wow! This book! Alex and her daughter Lettie are our narrators to this tale. Alex gives us the adult point of view while Lettie keeps us up to date on all the neighborhood kids. This works really well for this story as literally EVERYBODY has a secret!

4.5 stars!! The only reason it is not a 5 star book for me is there were a few times at the beginning that were a little slow, but otherwise it was a great book. This is definitely for readers that enjoy mystery/thriller works without being dark and heavy. I will definitely be recommending this one to all my thriller-loving friends!

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the ARC. I ended up DNF'ing this one right around the halfway mark. It may be a case of bad timing/perhaps I just wasn't in the mood for a thriller.

Take the following with a grain a salt given I don't know how it ends, it felt like the author was a little heavy handed with false trails and red herring suspects. In an effort to not be predictable, it almost got over the top with different plots and events that would try and make you believe various people were suspects. If I'm incorrect then this may be a little too guessable.

"The Block Party" by Jamie Day is a compelling and immersive novel that explores the complexities of friendship, secrets, and the impact of our past on the present. Set against the backdrop of a close-knit neighborhood, the story follows a group of neighbors whose lives become entwined in unexpected and sometimes tumultuous ways.

"The Block Party" is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged novel that explores the intricacies of human relationships with depth and sensitivity. Jamie Day's ability to capture the essence of community and the bonds that tie us together is commendable. If you enjoy character-driven stories that delve into the complexities of human emotions, "The Block Party" is a compelling read that will stay with you long after the final page. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a touching and resonant novel that will leave them reflecting on the power of compassion and the strength of human connections.

The Block Party is a suspenseful domestic thriller centering around a posh neighborhood with some bad neighbors. The narrators are a mother and her daughter, neither of whom I thought were very interesting. The story deals with a murder that occurs during a neighborhood block party, and the reader is taken back to a year before to see the events that culminate in this murder. There are chapters dealing with a neighborhood posting forum which I found silly and not relative to the story. The plot itself dragged and the characters were neither likeable nor well developed. Certain characters seemed like they had the potential to be interesting, but unfortunately we didn't get to know them very well even though they seemed to play a large part in the story. Although the plot dragged, I was vested and curious to see how it all ended, and was glad I did - the story had a twist that I couldn't have guessed, redeeming it somewhat for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

The Block Party by Jamie Day was a fun read. The secrets and drama in this neighborhood made it a place I wouldn’t want to live but a place I loved reading about. This has great suspense.

Thanks NetGalley and St Martins Press for my copy!

Please note, there are lots of trigger warnings associated with some of the characters stories. I have included what is listed on StoryGraph, but please proceed with this one at your own discretion.

I loved this one. This book was everything I needed in a summer mystery book (although it takes place over the course of the year). This story has amusing characters, an engaging plot, and lots of moments to keep you guessing.

Synopsis:
The residents of the exclusive cul-de-sac on Alton Road are entangled in a web of secrets and scandal utterly unknown to the outside world, and even to each other. On the night of the annual Summer block party, there has been a murder. But, who did it and why takes readers back one year earlier, as rivalries and betrayals unfold—discovering that the real danger lies within their own block and nothing—and no one—is ever as it seems.

For me this book felt like it was a bit of a slow burn as the big mystery didn't start coming to light until the end, but it was still very amusing the entire way through. The characters all had their own things they were dealing with and it was so fun to wonder how/if it was all tied together.

This story id perfect if you are looking for a neighborhood drama with multiple POVs and lots of interesting pieces.

This domestic thriller is a frothy domestic mystery that exuded "Desperate Housewives" to me. It's set in a well-to-do neighborhood where secrets, infidelities, and blackmail eventually turn into murder. The story starts at the annual Memorial Day block party and then flashes back to last year's block party where the drama started to unfold. The reader gets to hear what's going on in the neighborhood from the adults' point of view through Alex, a couples counselor, and the younger generation's point of view through Lettie, Alex's daughter who is a Senior at the local HS,
The premise was a good one, although it took a little while to build up to. There was a little too much concentration on how many glasses of wine that Alex was drinking to insinuate that it was becoming a problem which took away from the storytelling. Once I made it to the halfway point, things really picked up and I was invested in what was going to happen.
I recommend it to those who love reading domestic popcorn mystery/thrillers. Throw it into your beach bag and immerse yourself into this dysfunctional neighborhood.
Thanks to #StMartinsPress for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Jamie Day for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Man this book is so good!!! This domestic thriller was the perfect summer read. Neighborhood murder, stalker, handsome boy next boy, cheating scandal and all. This book is definitely on my top 5 books of all time. It had one moment where I literally gasped out loud. I highly recommend this book. Going to be checking out this authors work!!!

▪️REVIEW▪️

The Block Party ~ Jamie Day

A year of neighborhood drama culminates in tragedy at their annual block party…

The neighbors on Alton Road love a good block party, especially Alex Fox who is charged with doing much of the planning with her husband Nick. In between cocktails, she engages with her neighbors, including her sister and brother-in-law, all the while keeping tabs on her daughter Lettie who has grown reserved and distant. When the block party ends in murder, the secrets on Alton Road that have been bubbling for the last year are revealed and no one will be the same.

So I have been disappointed with thriller reads this year - they’re all the same and just kind of missing the mark for me so when I found myself unable to put this one down, I was pleasantly surprised. More of a domestic drama with some soap opera-esque personalities, I did have to do some re-reading in the beginning to keep track of who was who but it never got too deep where I was thrown off my reading game. The pace quickly picks up and then it’s on!

Speaking of not too deep, most will figure out the twist at the end but I didn’t mind reading about the devious acts of all the characters who seriously need to do some major growing up while their kids watch and try to make sense of it all. This didn’t necessarily change my life but I sure enjoyed the ride. A good summer pick between cocktails and dips in the pool!

Mary's review Jul 04, 2023 ·
it was amazing

A truly wonderful book told through multiple view points. I really enjoyed the characters and the twists and turns that the story took. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my complimentary copy!

Ok so I am really on the fence about this book! I do really enjoy the story itself (for the most part) but I felt like it took me forever to finish this book. I wasn’t drawn in like I wanted to be. There are definitely things that I liked about this book, but so much that I didn't. AND I know I am in the minority here.

I loved the Desperate housewives vibe! I used to watch that show all of the time so I did have a visual going on in my head. That being said, I felt like there were too many characters to keep track of, too many secrets, too much going on in this one book - too much drama (and I really hate saying that). I didn’t feel like I could connect with any of these characters.

I did not like Alex AT ALL. Her denial of her drinking problem and not willing to hear her loved ones out was annoying. She just cared about herself and as a mom, this bothers me. My heart went out to Lettie (until she became overly annoying too). I really felt that her mom's drinking issues really put her on the back burner. I could definitely relate her school issues to those that my own children went through.

While I enjoyed the dual timeliness, I did not like the different POVs. There was some content in this book that I was not fond of - this book was loaded with heavy topics. While this debut was not my cup of tea, I would definitely read more of this author's work in the future.

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞…
Neighborhood Drama (LOTS)
Thriller/Suspense
Who Done it?
Gossip (LOTS)
Lots of Trauma
Dual Timeline

CW: Alcoholism, miscarriage, rape, attempted suicide, murder, inappropriate relationships, death of a child

𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: July 18, 2023
𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 384

Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress & Jamie Day the Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my honest review!

Neighborhood scandal and I am here for it. Someone is murdered at the annual block party and everything starts to unravel. Told from the perspective of a mother and daughter along with flashbacks to the previous year, the story unfolds as secrets come to light. The beginning was slightly slow, but the mystery kept me intrigued. This is an entertaining summer read. Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my copy.

This is the first book by Jamie Day. The Block Party tackles one of those upper class neighborhoods where everyone has problems. The story starts at the block’s Memorial Day party. By the end of the night, someone has been murdered. The only reason this is a mystery is because it starts with present day and a murder happening at the block party and then goes back a year prior to telling you who was killed. At its core, this is a domestic, contemporary drama focusing on an elite neighborhood that is full of family, friends, and secrets. The drama itself is juicy and the players are morally deficient. I felt towards the middle it slows down too much and it was hard for me to stay focused to continue reading. The names come fast and furious in the initial chapters, but soon you settle in with the assortment of main characters and their individual dramas. The majority of the storylines involve the adults, though a few involve their children, all the plots come crashing together at the present-day Alton Road Block Party.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Jamie Day

DNF at 20%
Unfortunately, this book was just not catching my attention the way it should and I was already mixing up the characters early on. I'm sure if you like the neighborhood wives and moms type thrillers, this will be right up your alley, but I think it is just not a story I'm as interested in as I originally thought I would be.

A fun neighborhood suspense story that felt a bit "Big Little Lies."

Alton Court is a tony cul-de-sac known for expensive houses and a blowout summer party. This year, someone is murdered. Who is it? Who did it?

I enjoyed the family ties and the intergenerational aspects of this one, which I think worked well.

Suspenseful summer fun!

It's always a good time when a bunch of wealthy neighbors, each with their own drama and secrets, get together for an alcohol-fueled block party. The narration switches back and forth between characters in this one, and many of the characters are unreliable and/or hiding something. The story was fast-paced, keeping readers guessing as to what happened at the block party that would cause police and crime scene units to arrive. The book starts with the party in question and then goes back in time to where all the tension began. Well-crafted and satisfying.

The layout of The Block Party is different, and I didn’t think I was going to like it, but by the end, I changed my mind. It starts off with an annual block party for the residents of a cul-de-sac, and someone is murdered, but the victim is a mystery until the end of the book. After the murder, it goes back a year to the previous block party and covers the lives of the screwed-up residents for the entire year.

It’s funny how an initial impression of characters can be so wrong! Part of the story is told by Lettie, and the rest of it is mostly about her mother, Alex. At the present block party, the reader sees a glimpse of the characters, but without the perspective of the previous year, they’re not quite what they seem.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers, so I’ll just say that there are so many surprises and secrets! Every one of the neighbors has their own secret, and they will all come to light within the year between block parties. It’s one of those books that you can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next!

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. This book received great reviews so I was anxious to read it. However, it was just okay for me until the end. It didn't feel like a psychological thriller until the very end with secrets revealed. The main character, Alex, was really annoying to me through the whole book. She complained to her husband about all the neighbors coming to her with their problems when she was actually the nosy one going to them. We also constantly heard about her drinking wine too. The ending allowed me to give this a higher rating. Otherwise, it was just a typical neighborhood with gossip.

All of the juicy details and scandal of Desperate Housewives mixed with blackmail, murder, and deceit. Alton Rd. will never be the same!

This was an amazing domestic thriller that had everything that made me want more!! Definitely pick up a copy!

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