This novel was floating along at about 3 stars for me for most, despite a slow start, but the ending was very disappointing. It left plot holes and unsatisfactory answers. Yes, it was pure fiction, but there were still things that just didn't make sense or were unnecessary. The characters are semi-likable, but in a book like this, you really want to be able to root for the characters. Having said that, thank you for allowing me this copy!

DNF @ 57%.

I tried to give this book a chance. I was super interested and I love a good teenage party turn murderhouse, but I just was not interested at all. The 'horror' was trying too hard to be scary that it wasn't at all. I know it was probably supposed to be camp-y and obviously YA, but this just was not for me at this moment. Maybe I'll come back and finish, but I don't think I'll be picking it up soon if I do...

A party to die for!

When Arden's parents go behind her back and purchase a decrepit, supposedly haunted, mansion using her college tuition, she loses all hope. There goes her future career. There goes her dreams. She'll be stuck in this podunk little town forever. But one of her friends has an idea. It's graduation, and a ton of kids are about to be rolling in cash. Why not throw a party and give their classmates somewhere to spend their new green? And Arden knows exactly where to have the party. The one place every in town is dying to get inside: the Deinhart mansion.

What teenager hasn't wanted to have a party in a haunted house? So Arden and her friends spread the word, collect the cash, and throw a party to remember... That is, until a few of their classmates are murdered, the walls begin to bleed, and it becomes clear that someone or something doesn't want them to leave. Can Arden and her friends figure out how to escape the mansion before it's too late? Or are they doomed to become just another chapter in this house's haunted history?

Killer House Party was such an enjoyable read. I couldn't put this one down! I loved the witty and sarcastic dialogue. I thought the premise of this horror story was particularly good as well. The way legends about the house became reality was particularly intriguing. I wouldn't say this book was particularly scary, but it was thrilling. I found myself constantly desperate to find out what would happen next.

Ms. Anderson certainly has a way of eliciting emotion, at least for me. The rage I felt when Arden found out her parents had spent her college tuition was palpable. I could really picture myself in her shoes, desperate to do whatever it took to still be able to attend her desired school in the fall. It's easy to see why Arden was so hopeless. An eighteen year old needs to make $15,000 in a few months in order to make her tuition back? Nigh on impossible!

Overall, I thought this was an excellent YA horror and would definitely recommend it to others. I need to seek out more by Ms. Anderson!

Book Review of Killer House Party by Lily Anderson

Cover Story: Montell Jordan
BFF Charm: Peas in a Pod
Talky Talk: Spooky Silly
Bonus Factors: Haunted Houses
Factor: Gore
Relationship Status: Stay Cool

Cover Story: Montell Jordan
This cover is the perfect mix of unserious and spooky and gives off a vibe similar to those old timey movie trailers (?) where phrases would splash across the screen in a “thrillery” style font. (There’s likely an official term for those, but I have no idea what it is.) My only complaint? The stuff in the cup looks more like a thick chocolate ganache than it does blood.

The Deal:
Arden Lozano Flack used to have everything planned out. She’d graduate high school—as valedictorian—and then go off to a fancy university to study medicine. Eventually, she’d become Dr. Arden Lozano Flack, and she’d be happy.

But then her parents, Bucktown’s premiere realtors, buy the Deinhart Manor. With Arden’s college fund. And they make a plan for her to join them in their realty business, even though she has no interest in doing so. And then they split up, unable to collaboratively decide on what to do with the supposedly haunted mansion.

So Arden does what any just-graduated young adult needing to make money so her future won’t be completely ruined would do: Hold a graduation party in the mansion, and charge people for entry. Little does she know that the house has more in mind for the teens than just a wild night of celebration.

BFF Charms: Peas in a Pod
I get Arden. She’s envisioned a life for herself that takes hard work and a lot of sacrifice, and she’s well on her way to making it happen. But when a setback happens, she practically falls apart. She can’t see a way out of the mess, and so creates an even bigger mess by trying to force her path back onto the track she’d been going down. I was a lot like her coming out of high school. I had big aspirations and the overconfidence to think it was what I wanted. But once I got into college, I realized it was OK to fail. It was OK not to be the best at everything. And it was OK to lean into strengths, even if they might not be the ones you thought you needed/wanted. Arden has to experience something massively traumatic to come to this realization while I just had to squeak my way through a computer programming class. But she gets it in the end, and her life will be all the better for it.

Swoonworthy Scale: 2
Arden runs into her old makeout partner Nathaniel, whom she doesn’t really like. And not in an enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers sort of way; his need to constantly correct everyone and one-up everyone in conversation is annoying, to say the least. The two work together to beat the house, but reluctant friendship is as far as Arden’s willing to take things. (There’s a bit of romance from secondary characters, which is why I scaled it to a 2, rather than a zero.)

Talky Talk: Spooky Silly
Anderson has a great comedic wit that shines, even through a novel about gruesome murders and paranormal frights. Her characters always seem very real, and complex, with dialogue that’s as quippy—though not as unrealistic—as the Gilmore Girls.

Bonus Factor: Haunted Houses
I enjoy reading about haunted houses. Houses that are home to things “other.” Houses that cause people to do crimes. Houses that give off certain sinister vibes. Do I want to actually go into one of said houses? Absolutely not. But, like I said, they’re really fun to read about.

Factor: Gore
While I don’t have a problem stomaching paranormal violence and blood, and the gory scenes definitely add to the ambiance of the story, it might be too much for some folks. So this is a not exactly (content) warning. More of just a heads up!

Relationship Status: Stay Cool
While I would likely have chosen to go to Sober Grad Night at the high school over a party in the utterly frightening (even before knowing it was haunted) Deinhart Manor, Book, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy our time together. From behind the Kindle app. From the very safe comfort of my well-lit own home.

Like someone sitting in a movie theater yelling at the girl in the horror movie, I kept wanting to yell at this book with "Why? Why are you girls doing this?!" Of course throwing a graduation party in a notoriously haunted, abandoned how is a terrible idea. Of course, it's all going to go horribly wrong. And, of course, it makes for a great YA horror read. The reason I only gave it three stars is because YA horror is having an amazing moment. Compared to some of the other novels I've read recently, KILLER HOUSE PARTY didn't have the character depth and societal commentary that has made of the other stories feel more propulsive.

I was intrigued by the title, the cover, and the description of this book. The plot was actually very good. I love a spooky haunted house novel where teens throw a party and spooky stuff starts to happen. If you're looking for that, this is the book for you. Blood raining down from the ceilings, hands coming out of the walls and floors. Yup, this has it all. Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt Co Publishing as well as Lily Anderson for the advanced copy!

My first horror YA book! Twas a good one at that! Definitely kept my on my toes but was definitely a YA book. I'm not real good on adult horror so this was definitely in my alley. These get harder to review because you don't want to spoil anything. It was very inform jammed at first but 40% through it was more enjoyable! Perfect read for the spooky season!

A fun, entertaining YA horror. An interesting story centered around the Deinhart family and their haunted manor. Ardie's parents were totally selfish spending her college fund on a real estate investment. Ardie needing to raise money decides to throw a rager at said investment the infamous haunted Deinhart Manor. I liked the different myths, rumors, versions of what happened to the Deinharts and Deinhart Manor as told by different characters throughout the story. "What Happened to the Deinhart Family" are the only named chapters in the book which was a nice add to the main twist of the story. Realizing how the mystery was coming together was thrilling. I enjoyed how bright, intelligent and clever Ardie was. The scientific reasoning behind the haunting was nicely done. The banter among the characters was great. Ardie's sarcasm. Nathaniel was funny af. A great, supportive friend group. I spent a lot of the book being like omg, what is happening and where tf is Maddie? Bloody, satirical, funny, with diverse characters. I enjoyed Arden's body positivity but could have had less negative woe is me self talk. The life lesson was a bit cheesy at the end. Overall a solid, engaging YA horror for spooky szn with some fun laugh out loud moments.

This is a great book for spooky season. This is a YA horror novel that takes place in a haunted manor and it was a totally thrilling read.

I really enjoyed the diversity of the characters in the book and how they were unlikely allies against the house.

There were several different stories going on and I loved it. The horror plot line was so good. I’m a sucker for haunted house novels and this was full of terrifying ghosts and bloodshed.

I definitely plan to read more from this author.

This was a wild ride. What do you do when you're furious with your parents because they did a really crappy thing at your expense? You throw a house party in one of their empty properties for your entire senior class, of course! I suppose that tragedy shouldn't have been the farthest thought from their minds, considering the house they are throwing the party at is well known for its eventful and horrible past. They definitely were not expecting to die!!!

This killer party is just that, as the house and the ghosts that live inside begin holding hostage the party-goers, and worse... Now Arden is faced with saving herself and the lives of her friends when the house is out for blood.

This was such a fun time. I love how this mostly just focuses on the one night, the one party. There is A LOT that happens inside The Deinhart Manor and Arden is at the heart of all of it. This was fun and spooky, perfect for the Halloween season.

Honestly, if you're looking for a cute YA haunted house story with mild horror and teen related humor, this is a great fit for you.
It was a 3⭐️story for me. Something I enjoyed and appreciated for it's light hearted spooky fun and a nice palette cleanser between heavier books.
As always, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had a super fun time reading this haunted house story!
Some things are going on in Arden's life, mostly with her parents, that make her decide to throw an epic house party at a place everyone wants to get into. Deinhart Manor. A place that has been shut from the public ever since the Deinharts died.

As soon as the party gets underway the crazy things start happening. At first, Arden thinks there's a logical explanation.. at least until one of her friends almost gets sucked into a wall. That evidence definitely pushes Arden to believe in the ghosts haunting the manor, and now it's up to her and her friends to figure out what the ghost wants, and how they will escape.

I knew from the first page that I would enjoy this book. I really liked Arden her friends I didn't love them at the beginning, but definitely liked them more by the end. The atmosphere was top-notch, and the plot was fast-paced. I didn't want to put it down and read it in one sitting.
I think this is a great book to start off the spooky season, and I look forward to reading other books by this author.

I am not much of a horror reader, especially not at night but this story was cool, unique and scary! Maddy May, Remi and Arden decide to host a party at the deserted haunted mansion Arden’s parents just spent all her college money buying! They are hoping that charging and entrance fee will help her make enough money back, what they don’t anticipate is that the house might want some payment of its own. The rumors about what happened in the house hundreds of years before are multitudinous and all a bit different but as the night wears on they learn the reality might be even worse!

Although I really enjoyed the premise and absolutely enjoyed Arden as the main character I struggled to follow the plot of the third act and had to DNF the book.

This book was instant nostalgia for my middle/high school in the 90s heart. I was instantly transported back to the days when I would leave the library with a backpack full of Christopher Pike and R.L Stine books. It took me right back to my YA horror phase in the best ways.
The main character was super relatable to me being Latinx, academically focused, and plus sized in high school. The desire to blow off steam after being let down by her parents once again by throwing a blowout grad night party with her two best friends in the allegedly haunted mansion they spent her college fund on is a great setup for the mayhem that follows.
Overall I enjoyed this book. The setup with the different versions of the lore surrounding the mansion interspersed with the grad night party offer both an opportunity for great snark, and creepy ambiance. It’s a fun creepy read that is perfect for spooky season.
Thanks to Netgalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), and Lily Anderson for the ARC opportunity.

Thank you to NetGalley for this E-ARC.


This book was insane. It very quickly turned insane as well. I didn’t have to read half the book for the story to start. At 20% I was already uncomfortable.

Arden wants to be a doctor. Arden has done everything “right” her whole life. Gotten good grades, not gone to parties, had a plan for her life that she was following.

Until her parents buy a haunted house with her college fund. After that, she has to come up with 15000 so she can be a doctor.

The house is haunted. Why not throw a party in it? Everyone will pay to come to a haunted house party, right? Correct. What happens at the party though? There’s no amount of money I would pay to be a part of that. There are so many different aspects of this book.
Kept me guessing the whole time.
Great read.

What a fun YA horror book! I enjoyed this much more than I expected. I loved all of the characters and their sarcastic witty humor.

Thanks Netgalley for my copy of this book. My review is unbiased and my own.

Killer House Party by Lily Anderson was a fun YA horror story.
It is a wonderfully paced story that holds your attention from the very beginning. I can honestly say I was pleasantly surprised with how everything unfolded.
This is a perfect story for that time of year, spooky season. If you are looking for something fast paced and perfect for the season, pick up Killer House Party.

Thank You NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

3.75 rounded up, I really liked a lot about this despite it being a fairly typical YA haunted house horror. My biggest complaint is, as always: too abrupt of an ending. I would have loved an afterward showing a couple of the characters living in the aftermath. But overall i enjoyed the plot progression and the themes.

I will come back and attach my instagram post when I post it.

Edit: added my instagram post!

My thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt Books/Macmillan for the ARC of "Killer House Party" in exchange for an honest review.
Now here's a blood dripping heap of haunted house YA fun for the spooky season......(or any other random cold, dark night.).
A worthy, clever set-up premise for a night of non-stop screaming scares. High school senior Arden's seen her college dreams dissolved by her own parents. Not only are the two real estate agents divorcing, they've used their daughter's college fund to buy Deinhart Manor, the town's infamous, forbidding haunted house.
While her parents dream of turning the place into condos, Arden plots a way to recover her college money - swipe the keys to Deinhart Manor and charge her senior class members admission into a giant all-night haunted house party. There's only one problem facing Arden and her friends Maddie May, Remi, Hannah, and Arden's on-and-off boy-frenemy, Nathanial. The house is seriously haunted.......showers of blood, walls that come alive with grasping hands and the power to turn the hearty partygoers into zombie-fied, murdering fiends.. Oh my, what a fun night lies ahead......well at least for those who survive it, if any.
The festering, hungry evil that permeates the house then renders the doors and windows impervious to breakage, locking everyone in with the intention of adding to its growing list of dead residents. So it's up to Arden and her ragtag Scooby gang to rescue themselves and their classmates as they try to get to the heart of the house's attitude problem. And this place makes 'The Shining' hotel look like the Brady Bunch house.
To what I'm sure will be the readers' delight, Arden and company manage to navigate Deinhart Manor's endless array of pop-up horrors with a non-stop barrage of snarky repartee right out of 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer'. Even when they're waist deep in ghosts, gore and other assorted grisly stuff, they're never at a loss for an lol commentary. (Probably a little too much of it and some of the gags don't land,, but with this amount of overkill on display, let's not quibble....)
Anyone tired of watching 'Halloween' for the umpeenth time might want a grab a plastic pumpkin filled with candy corn and cuddle up with this one.