The Block Party tells the story of the lives of a group of colorful characters who all live on the same street.

This book was less than stellar. All of the characters were over the top and cartoonish. The *mystery* was hard to follow because the reader isn't given enough facts to piece things together. It seemed like there was a big info dump at the end, which was very convenient in wrapping up the plot. I wasn't invested in the story.

I was given this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

The annual Memorial Day neighborhood block party is where it all begins. We get to know both new and old neighbors and the secrets they hide. The story alternates between the point of view of Alex, the wine drinking attorney and her teenaged daughter, Lettie. Dysfunctional families line the street and ultimately tragedy occurs. I didn't love the violence at the end, but I suppose it was a fitting way for The Block Party to end.

Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review The Block Party.

This book was full of drama and angst, secrets and lies, and so much cover-up! It was a fascinating tale that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the story. I couldn't put it down. So many twists and turns and such an unexpected ending! I got all stressed out along with the characters and yelled at them when they did something foolish. I definitely recommend The Block Party. You'll never look at your neighbors the same way again!

Everyone wants to live on Alton Road - a quiet cul-de-sac neighborhood with an annual Memorial Day block party....or do they? On this famous block party day, a murder occurs. Who did it? Why did they do it?

This was a fun, quick read. I kept trying to figure it out as we went, but couldn't quite get there. I love that the teenage daughter gets her own chapters in her narrative; it added something a little special to the clarity of events that were happening.

The Block Party would be a great book club summer read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book by Jamie Day. I enjoyed this book; it read like watching a soap opera unfold. There are several main characters, and it is told in alternating voices and time periods. It centers around a group of neighbors and events that happen at an annual Block Party and some history as to the characters.

Wow! This one is wild! It’s so well written and thought out. There is a lot going on, but it all fits together and thankfully all mysteries are resolved. The setting is great and the multi voice narrative really helps see two different points of view.

Loved this one! Reminded me of Big Little Lies mixed with Desperate Housewives! It kept me guessing to the very end.

What a dysfunctional neighborhood in all the devious ways that make for a good thriller!! Twists and turns that I didn’t see coming make this one a sure summer blockbuster. Bravo, Jamie Day! I loved it!

Immensely enjoyed The Block Party. There were multiple twists and turns which kept me guessing- you don’t find out the identity of the victim until almost the end of the book.

My only qualm with the book were the way the #MeToo movement and climate activism (and activism in general) were mentioned. The way they were introduced felt a little forced.

Genre: Domestic Suspense
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pub. Date: July 18, 2023

In "The Block Party," the dysfunctional residents of a posh neighborhood take center stage. When a murder occurs at their annual party, we rewind with flashbacks to the previous year and discover the secrets each neighbor is harboring that could make them suspects. What we get is a community thriller that is a “Big Little Lies” wannabe. Just as in Liane Moriarty’s novel, the reader gets a heavy dose of lies, infidelity, violence, and a murder mystery. This tale is not as well written as Moriarty’s. However, this may be because the narrative is often in a teenager’s voice, which reads too juvenile for me, probably because I don’t usually care for YA. Still, I found the ending clever, which is when the author finally won over. Though not for me, this sort of escapism novel is a good beach read.

Sadly, this one wasn’t for me. I felt zero connection with anyone in this book. This writing style was irksome and the dialogue was stiff & underwhelming.
Thanks to Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The Block Party is very well written, paced, and constructed, with interesting characters that give readers an inside look at their Alton Road community. Secrets, lies, and mystery surrounds each family in their intimate cul-de-sac until newcomers light the fuse that implodes their insular lives. The story is told from the POV of a mother and her teenage daughter, giving readers insight into the private, intersecting worlds of the adults and youth featured in the tale. An entertaining read! Recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for providing an ARC to read and review. This review will appear on Bayside Book Reviews at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

A fun muster read about an exclusive neighborhood with secrets. Started slow for me but definitely picked up! Overall I enjoyed this book!

As I read through this book, I initially was struggling to identify the main character in the book. SPOILER: there are multiple main characters, and it all is tied into a terrific solid, however surprising, ending. I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and could hardly put the book down, trying to figure out the main character; what a story! Alton Road will never be the same. Thank you #NetGalley, #StMartinsPress & #JamieDay for allowing me to read this thrilling ARC.

Desperate Housewives meets Gossip Girl with a murder mystery entwined. Every year the neighbors on Alton Road get together for a friendly neighborhood cookout celebrating Memorial Day weekend. This year is no different than any other year, as neighbors congregate to the block party no one suspects anything will be any different this year. They expect to eat great food, drink their favorite beer, and play some friendly games with their neighbors. But later that day, police sirens can be heard from all around and the Meadowbrook Online Community Page is hot with fresh chatter and gossip as people try to figure out what is going on over on Alton Road. It turns out this year won’t be like any before and by the end of the night someone will be dead. How much do you trust your neighbors?

This is a fast-paced thriller that was hard to put down. Led by dialogue, we are taken inside the lives of the people who live on Alton road. We learn their secrets, the things they don’t want anyone to ever find out about them. Family dynamics and friendships are put to the test and betrayals are exposed to all. We are taken back to the previous year where everything began. The drama will have you hooked; this is a real page-turner that will keep you guessing until the very end.

The writing is exceptional and the characters are so well developed that they come to life. Family and relationship dramas play out in a raw and natural way. I honestly loved everything about this book and plan on buying it myself when it’s released. Trust me; you’ll want to read this too! Definitely an author I will follow from now on.

I received an ARC of this book and leave this review of my own accord. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me the pleasure of reading this.
#NetGalley #TheBlockParty #KillerThriller #DomesticThriller

This book was amazing! Jamie Day really knows how to make her characters come alive. You will be wondering about Alex, Mandy, Brooke, Emily, Nick, Jay, Samir, Ken, and the rest throughout this whole book! What secrets are they hiding? Are they really as they appear? You will not want to stop reading so that you can find out! LOVED this book and the author’s style. I hope she writes another book ASAP!

Wow, this book grabbed me in from the start. I love the characters and how Jamie Day develops them. I thought I knew where the story was going, but it had some great twists, and I was surprised by the ending. Thank you to Netgalley and Martin's Press for giving me an ARC for my honest review.

A trip to the suburbs where all is not how it seems. Family and neighbors have plenty of secrets. Definitely kept me guessing.

Honestly, I really enjoyed this book. The twist at the end was definitely not quite what I expected, I felt really satisfied with the ending. I think it could have stood to have a few less characters, and I didn’t love the fact that Lettie’s chapters were written from a different POV.

Overall, a great story

The Block Party tells the story of a neighborhood block party gone wrong. At first, we are given snippets of gossip and present day happenings, but then the story goes back one year to lead up to the possible murders. The story is told by Lettie, a teen activist who doesn’t exactly fit in, and her mother, Alex, a divorce moderator with an alcohol dependance. The neighbors on the street are all hiding things, and secrets slowly come to light as it gets closer to the night of the fateful party.

I really enjoyed this book! It reminded me of Big Little Lies and Little Fires Everywhere in terms of the feel of the book and the dysfunction among neighbors, family, and friends. It is a story with a slow burn, and layers of secrets and scandal are slowly revealed. The drama and dysfunction added to the plot twists and everything came together at the end. I didn’t guess the major reveals and twists at all. There are some content warnings to be aware of, so be sure to check those if you might need to.

Thank you to Jamie Day, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.