Thank you Henry Holt and NetGalley for the eARC of Killer House Party! All opinions in this review are my own.

Honestly, this was the haunted house book I was looking for this spooky season! I like how the house used the rumors about it for inspiration. However, I didn't love the actual story. I'm not quite sure if it were the characters or if it is because I am not the targeted age group, but I found them to be annoying most of the time. Overall, I stayed for the haunted house details and probably would have dnfed otherwise.

The Deinhart Manor has been abandoned for years and now that the last owner has passed it would make the perfect place for a graduation party. Arden's mom is the real estate agent tasked with selling the.house so Arden steals the keys from her mom. Each member of the group who has come to party has reason why they want to do so and each reason is different. When the party begins and the doors are barred keeping the party goers from getting out things immediately changed. Who barred the doors and why? Will they be able to find a way to escape? Will someone end up dead? Follow along to find out what happens to these teens and why they were chosen to be locked in!

A quick read, but lacking in depth of characters and plot. The humor felt extremely forced all the way through. The exposition was clunky and I didn’t really care too much about anyone when they were in danger because the character development was so weak. The twist was kind of a let down and not as exciting as I was expecting it to be, and the ending was almost nonexistent; the book kind of just stopped, with no closure with Arden’s parents. There were some interesting concepts with the ghosts and possession that kept me engaged, but overall this wasn’t enjoyable. My review for Twin Cities Geek is linked below.

This book just didn’t do it for me. The characters were annoying and the plot felt thin. There have been several similar books that have offered a much better read.

The plot feel a little flat for me. I was intrigued by the paranormal and spooky aspect of the plot, but it ended up feeling less spooky and more contrived than I would have liked. I enjoyed reading it and would still recommend to others. I can see why others would like it, it just didn’t hit for me.

Take a thrill ride this Spooky season with Killer House Party by Lily Anderson, a young adult thriller. Arden and her three best friends as they embark on what they hope will be the ultimate graduation celebration at the infamous Deinhart Manor, a place all the locals know as a haunted house with a very dark history. The setup is classic yet refreshing: a group of friends, an abandoned mansion, and the promise of a night filled with drinking and fun. The playful banter between the friends adds a touch that most can relate to, making them feel that genuine friends. The anticipation builds as they prepare for the party, complete with the famous red Solo cups and snacks, but as the Manor begins to reveal its sinister secrets and the terror begins. The Deinhart Manor is a character of its own right, the way Lily Anderson describes it with vivid imagery that crafts an environment that is eerie and bone chilling scary, making you feel right there with Arden and her friends. As the doors of the mansion lock and the walls begin to bleed, the story shifts from lighthearted party to a fight for survival. As a first-time reader of Lily Anderson, I was pleasantly surprised by her ability to balance the excitement of a graduation party with the chilling atmosphere of a haunted mansion. Killer House Party is a great read that will keep you reading way past dark (if you dare)!

The Deinhart Manor has been looming over the town, full of rumors and eerie legends. Arden’s parents now own the manor as part of their real estate business, which means Arden can finally let loose and throw the biggest party the teens in town have ever been to. Which is going great…until the walls start to bleed.

This was a creepy book, perfect for spooky season. The manor is scaarrryyy, not just the blood from the walls, but all the other things it can do. Once the blood appears, the book does not let up. I would recommend this book.

Lily Anderson’s young adult haunted house novel "Killer House Party" is a delightful blend of humor, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural.

Set against the backdrop of a graduation party gone awry, the novel quickly transitions from fun to fearful as strange occurrences begin plaguing the guests. Although it doesn’t quite reach the heights of her previous works, Anderson’s signature wit shines through, crafting a story that is both clever and engaging.

The plot is well-constructed with a compelling buildup, skillfully layering clues and red herrings. Despite occasional pacing issues, the narrative will keep readers intrigued. Anderson excels in characterization, presenting a vibrant cast with distinct voices and relatable quirks. Arden - the MC - was not a favorite, but her emotional journey adds depth, grounding the story amidst the chaos of the haunted house.

Anderson effectively balances suspense and humor, with the mystery elements keeping readers hooked. While the supernatural aspects add an enjoyable twist, they were not as deeply explored as they could have been and therefore lack great impact. Overall, "Killer House Party" is a fun, low-stakes YA thriller that offers a cozy, entertaining read with a bit of lighthearted suspense.

Is there any more critical time in a person’s life than that period between high school and whatever comes next, college, work, gap, when every decision seems to weigh heavily for the future? Arden is at that point but worse. A decision her now-divorcing parents made has seemingly wrecked her future plans leaving her lost, frustrated, angry. Their decision was the purchase of the town’s reputed haunted house, the Deinhart Manor, which wiped out her college fund. While brainstorming with her friends, Arden decides to make use of Deinhart’s reputation to throw a graduation party that might literally be the party to end all parties . . . at least for its attendees, in Lily Anderson’s Killer House Party.

Killer House Party is everything that a reader would like in a YA horror novel. Humor with fast-paced dialogue, horror that is not given anything other than a supernatural origin (huge nitpick about books that seem to be horror/supernatural but then end up being the kid down the street playing a prank ( 😉 ), and an introspection pointing toward self-aware characters.

While the cast of characters reads like a typical teen clique, it works. Arden learns a lot about herself through interacting with the groups and with her best friends plus Nathaniel.

Killer House Party is a quick, fun ride–you know, if you like your horror novels to actually be horror novels.

Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy.

A perfect read for spooky season, this book stands out as a must-read for YA fans. The characters were honestly themselves, and there is a great mix of creepy moments, moments of humor, and genuine emotion.

The brilliant cover art of a red Solo cup overflowing with a questionable liquid and the "R.S.V.P. to R.I.P." tag line alert readers to exactly what's inside; a clever spooky "we know better, but we're gonna do it anyway" haunted house story. When Arden sneaks her classmates into the local haunted house, it's to defy her parents who spent her tuition savings acquiring the property, and as a fundraiser to help fund her college ambitions. However, it rapidly becomes clear that something in the house views the party attendees as permanent unwilling residents, alive or otherwise.

A party perfect for spooky season, how could I not want to read? Did it live up to expectations? Sadly, not really.

First let me say, the hauntings were well done and not overplayed things you see in movies or horror reads - which was a huge plus. It did read pretty YA, which checks out being a YA read. I didn’t mind this too much, but some of the situations I was just like uhhh ok? Also felt like the character’s handled seeing others die/death very nonchalantly which felt strange especially since those dying were the classmates. Loved that there was both body positivity and LGBTQIA+ representation, but these were not the main focus.

Overall it felt like a typical YA horror with a unique and entertaining premise, it just wasn’t for me.

This goes from teen nerd rebellion to dangerous situation to I wanted to throw something because I was so angry with some of the things revealed in the end, even if it also brought a huge amount of resolution to the core group of friends - Arden, Remi, and Maddy May. Arden is the lead character but her partners in breaking and entering house party crime are just as important.

It was honestly scary in parts, and quite brutal, as well as having a fun twist to the haunting that was explored and resolved well. The mythology created is internally consistent and the resolution doesn't feel forced. It's emotional as well as befuddling the haunting itself.

I had a good time, there were both expected things and surprises, and I liked the characters enough by the end that I wished I could've seen a little bit more of what they did after the pages ran out.

This was a mixed bag for me. The premise of the book sounded like it would be a lot of fun, especially during the spooky season. The first part was promising, but it didn't really work for me once the spooky stuff started. The action just kind of felt flat.

I did like the characters for the most part though and the ghost story was intriguing, just not as interesting as I'd hoped.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

When I was in high school, I hosted way too many parties, so I was all in for this book. I mean the premise screams a high school graduation party gone wrong, and add in a haunted house. Sign me up! Sadly, though, this book didn’t work for me as much as I hoped it would. There are some spooky chapters but not as many scares as I hoped for!

🏚️ I loved the haunted house setting! If you want a creepy setting this one is on point. The house itself is a great character, probably the best part of the book if you’re looking for spookiness.
👻 The ghost story was really intriguing, and I loved how each story about the family that previously owned the house played into the book throughout.
👧🏾 I loved that there was a plus size, black female main character, and that’s all I can say about what I liked about Arden. She really ruined this book for me. From chapter one I really didn’t like her. She’s so narcissistic and doesn’t even realize how much her friends love her. She harped on her weight instead of being body positive. Plus, I thought Nathaniel was a really interesting character, and Arden couldn’t even see how much he loved her because she was so in her own head the entire book. I really wished she would realize the whole world didn’t revolve around her.
🎉 The party setting was set up for so much fun and drama, and I was here for it, but it got a bit overshadowed by Arden.
🏳️‍🌈 I have a huge heart for Remi and Hannah! Yay for LGBTQ rep! 💛
🩺 If I wanted a science lesson I would have stayed in science classes in high school. The medical jargon was overused, underwhelming, and unnecessary to the story.
🧑‍🧑‍🧒 While I was closer in age to Arden’s parents, I couldn’t relate to them spending all her college money on a dilapidated haunted house? Why would any parent do that?

💬 So overall, this book wasn’t for me. I didn’t love it, but I also didn’t hate it. I wanted more scares and less Arden. Ghost hands sucking people into floors and walls will give me nightmares, ghosts possessing people to dance will make me laugh and still be creepy, but give me more scares and less narcissistic main characters to hold my attention.

Thank you Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5, rounded up. 'Tis the season for a haunted house story, and this one starts off strong! I found Arden immensely likeable and particularly enjoyed her realistic relationships with her friends, her classmates, and her prior hook-up. The actual supernatural events are genuinely scary and creepy and kept me reading, so I was disappointed with the lack of payoff at the end of the book (so many dropped threads!). Regardless, it's a solid YA horror that I'd recommend for this month.

Lily Anderson’s Killer House Party offers a thrilling but somewhat uneven mix of teen drama and horror as Arden and her friends throw a graduation party in the eerie, abandoned Deinhart Manor. The novel has all the ingredients for a gripping YA horror: a creepy setting, a group of teens with secrets, and supernatural forces that turn the night into a bloody nightmare. The concept of an abandoned mansion with a dark past is engaging, and the party setting promises plenty of tension and scares.

The book starts strong, with Arden’s impulsive decision to throw a party in the mansion setting the stage for what could have been a great haunted house tale. The dynamics between the characters add a layer of intrigue, as each has personal reasons for attending the party, which slowly unravel as the night progresses. However, once the supernatural events begin—walls bleeding, doors locking, and terrifying apparitions—the pacing feels uneven. While there are some genuinely creepy moments, the horror often takes a backseat to the group’s interpersonal conflicts, making the story feel less urgent than it should be in a life-or-death scenario.

The main issue with Killer House Party is that it tries to balance too many elements—teen drama, horror, and mystery—which leaves the final act feeling a bit rushed and underdeveloped. Some of the scares are predictable, and the characters’ decisions at times seem questionable, which detracts from the suspense. That said, fans of teen horror will likely enjoy the book’s blend of slasher-style thrills and high school angst, but it may leave others wanting more depth in both the scares and the storyline.

Valedictorian Arden’s perfect future plan was a private college that guarantees medical school admission—is derailed because her feuding, divorced real estate agent parents spent the her tuition money on Bucktown’s notoriously haunted house, the Deinhart Manor, she’s devastated. Her two best friends, Remi and Maddy May, have a money-making plan to save her college dreams: charging admission for a graduation party at the spooky, abandoned manor. Her parents don’t even take her out to dinner after graduation. She gets the key to the Deinhart Manor so she can have a haunted house party and get it ready for the party. That way Arden will raise enough money to at least get through the first year of the private university. Her two friends arrive early as they plan to help the manor look perfect for a haunted house part. Unknown to them are terrifying ghosts and blood raining from the ceiling. Why are hands popping out from the floor? The party mood quickly changes once the teens realize the house won’t let anyone leave. Teaming up with her former fling, Nathaniel, Arden and her friends work together to figure out why the manor wants to keep them inside. Will they be able to figure out a way to leave the haunted house?

The author has written a classic horror novel. I enjoyed the haunted house “haunting” the party attendees. It’s creepy at times. The legends of the house that are. Given made the novel even better. It’s a perfect horror read.

This premise has all the makings of a good horror story. Unfortunately, it falls flat. Arden is a likeable character. The motivations of everyone involved works for me. I do like the twist in how to escape even if it’s a bit corny. I just wasn’t scared. The beginning starts off great and then I guess the fear factor fizzles. This isn’t to say that Anderson doesn’t have incidents happen throughout the book, there are plenty. I just wasn’t scared.

What could have been just fun dialogue between Arden and Nathaniel ended up with Arden always doubling down on how much she isn’t into him. It took away from the friendship factor. I liked Hannah, a secondary character in the cast. I just didn’t like Remi. As for Maddie May, I think because the author was trying to keep one secret about her, they ended up making Maddie May a bit surface level so that the reader isn’t that invested in her.

I was looking forward to a Killer House Party and instead it was a dud.

The premise was so unique and fun. Loved the idea of a grad party being thrown at an abandoned haunted house. Execution fell short for me.