I really enjoyed this book, far more than I was expecting to.

What struck me the most was the author’s ability to weave together a cast of characters that were likable and unlikeable in equal measure.

While I had some ideas about where things were headed and who/what might bring the next surprise, the plot was nicely woven in a way that kept up the surprises until the very end.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.

I have mixed feelings about “Party of Liars.” I really liked the writing. I liked the different view points from each of the main characters. We were able to learn who they were and their feelings with things happening. There are so many situations in this book that are relatable to things going on with people today. Postpartum depression, alcoholism, leaving a marriage or person. There was the main situation with two of the characters that I felt could have been different. I know it’s real stuff but it’s not something I want to read about. Overall, I enjoyed this book and the mystery aspect. I will definitely read future books by this author.

I love a full cast thriller and this was a great who done it. I also loved the Texas luxury element; very reminiscent of the Hunting Wives. Kept me on my toes throughout!

This book is a fantastic mix of mystery, suspense, and just the right touch of creepiness! The multiple narrators each add a piece to the puzzle, pulling you deeper with every chapter. The characters felt so real—like neighbors I’d know in my own town. The ending totally surprised me and left me feeling completely satisfied! Beyond the mystery, it’s also a heartfelt tribute to Texas and a beautiful celebration of women and mothers at every stage. I absolutely loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.
This was a very good book. Told from several viewpoints, this novel was hard to put down. Highly recommend.

I loved this book by debut author Kelsey Cox! It was such a fun beach/pool read and a great psych thriller. We meet new mom Dani who is navigating a new baby and her stepdaughter's sweet 16. Someone dies at the party, but told in flashbacks, you don't know who, why, or how. Even though there were a bunch of viewpoints/timelines it was easy to keep straight. So twisty and fun! Def recommend!

Sophie's 16th birthday party is the talk of the town. Everyone wants an invite. This will be the first unveiling of the newly renovated mansion on the hill. Most of the guests are adults-her father's friends and clients. There is a small group of Sophie's friends. Some party goers get along, some don't. Gossip abounds as people keep drinking. When a dead body splats onto the concrete from a balcony, the police quickly come to investigate the events of the party. As the guests are interviewed can YOU tell who is telling the truth, who is lying and who is doing the gaslighting? These questions won't be answered until the end of the book. This book is written with lots of tension. Good look to YOU, the reader, putting the book aside when household duties call.
Thank you to Minotaur and NetGalley for the complementary digital ARC. This review is my own opinion and not coerced in any way.

Just finished this one! Formal review to be posted on Instagram…but my quick thoughts are
• so many potential suspects
• loved thet there were multiple unreliable narrators
• kind of wish we had gotten more of Ethan’s perspective
• Great debut!
• Good thriller beach/vacation read - fast, short chapters

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox. This was a wonderful debut for Kelsey Cox. Who doesn't love a who-done-it, with a Victorian house and a ghost of a woman who's child had died. So many characters in this book, would keep you guessing. It was the daughters sweet sixteen birthday! Everyone was having a wonderful time. The adults all drinking and the teens, well doing what all teens do! Drinking, swimming and horsing around. The party is in full swing when all of a sudden a body falls from a balcony, overlooking the pool and in front of all the party guests. So this is where everything gets interesting. Now we find out just who all these people are. Why there is so much turmoil around this family? Who was the Nanny for the baby? And why was the person murdered? And who committed the murder and why? So many secrets and what happened in the past within that house? Enjoy! I give this book a 3.5 out of 5.

I really enjoyed the setting of Party of Liars, being from Central Texas myself. The creepy elements also gave this book a vibe that kept me wanting to read. Ultimately, I felt like most of the characters were a little flat, and the “incident” referred to throughout most of the book seemed out of left field. I’m honestly not sure how I felt about this one, but it was an enjoyable and fast read.

[Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC with honesty.]


First, I want to say that I did enjoy this. At first, I was waiting to be hooked and once I was it was hard to stop reading. This book has a surprising element of paranormal or not question that weeds its way through each POV that you meet. You are dealing with multiples and with each person’s perspective. In that light, you almost feel like you’re getting a little bit of an unreliable narrator which is always fun in a thriller because it causes you to question everything the person says and does. It makes you look for more meaning behind what was or wasn’t said.

That being said, I felt the book had its lagging moments with some of the POVs. I still had a good time but there were moments in the book that were not exactly necessary or were too vague with no tie to the ending. A couple of the characters I felt had literally no ending to them, no introspective of the conclusions or what changed for them since the final act (I won’t state who as it could be a spoiler) that felt too abrupt. It wasn’t even an open ending or up to interpretation. It was like a hole just glaringly forgotten. It didn’t hurt the story but I didn’t feel completely satisfied with how much of that person we kept going back to, to leave it like that. Or the interactions that person had. It was almost unnecessary. I get the not wanting to show all your cards yet thought and keeping the mystery alive but it needed more to it to find it relatable to the story.

Overall, I still liked the writer’s choice of setting and the back and forth of the timeline as it did keep putting you on the edge of your seat. I think this story might have just needed more time in editing to tidy up the loose ends or unneeded things that could drag a story longer than needed.

My Rating: 3.5 (rounded up)

It's Sophie's sweet sixteen party at her father’s newly renovated cliffside mansion. The celebration takes a dark turn when a body falls from the balcony, transforming the event into a murder mystery.
This book had a large cast of charracters. The story unravels secrets, betrayals and deep emotional wounds. Each character has something to hide from that night and it is hard to figure out who is telling the truth and who is lying. The book was filled with complex group dynamics and memorable characters, you’re going to want to grab this book ASAP. I can say I was pleasantly surprised at the end. I didn't see the final twist coming.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the advanced copy. It was a thrilling read.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

This was an enjoyable read. I've read a bunch of cookie-cutter thrillers lately, and this break of predictability was a nice treat. Would recommend.

This one started at a slow pace but suddenly revved up as the party started. As Sophie's 16th birthday party evolved, all the characters and their dynamics came to view. The depth in each chapter left me wanting more of the puzzle. I was intrigued by where the nanny comes in and how she plays a part in this party gone wrong. I loved the subtle clues given in each chapter just enough to keep you going. With an ending I did not see coming, as I was unsure who was the one left dead. Kelsy Cox created a subtle, alluring novel with rich characters and a fabulous plot. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fast-paced, suspenseful novel.

Who needs a fun super entertaining thriller?! ⁣
⁣⁣
⁣I really enjoyed Party of Liars! An over the top, lavish sweet sixteen turns into a nightmare when a body falls from the balcony onto the dance floor! This book takes you through the entire party- revealing a whole set of wicked characters. It’s full of lies, tension and drama! I couldn’t put it down! ⁣
⁣⁣
⁣I almost rated this one five stars because I enjoyed the twists so much. The vibes are definitely vibing, but ultimately I’m rating it a very solid thriller! Four stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ And I think I might even remember this one in three months! ⁣
⁣⁣
⁣Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of Party of Liars. It’s out now!

But this book!

Whatttttt?

No really. What. The. Heck.

I loved it so much but the twists were twisting and turns were turning.

The connections. The relationships. The issues.

Here for it. Edge of my seat.

He did what? She could not have? No. Absolutely no. He didn’t?! He definitely did. How could she? No really. Ew. Ew. Seriously she did that? Why? Why? Why?
-my internal (and mostly external) thoughts

But Órlaith! Okay. Okay. I see you.

Read this if you like messy, drama, scandal, and more from how the other half live.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

Thank you for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.
Wow, I absolutely loved this book. Not only did I enjoy the setting being in TX (I also live in TX), I have seen these extravagant sweet 16 parties...way too much spent imo for a 16th birthday! I loved how the story changed to different points of view for each chapter. I loved how everything came together and yet, gave a 'shocking' totally unexpected turn at the end. The different points of view show how each person was thinking and what was going on in their lives. It was great to build the book up like that and build the storyline accordingly.
It was a joy to read and I flew through it as I wanted to know what was happening next! Great job!

This is a quick, bingeable thriller that was hard to put down.

Sophie is celebrating her 16th birthday with a huge bash thrown by her dad and stepmom. Everyone is invited. It’s the party of the year—the drinks are flowing, secrets emerge…and then there’s a scream and someone falls to their death by the end of the night. But who?

The story alternates between a whole cast of characters told during the party leading up to the dramatic end. All of these character are unreliable, which adds to the intrigue and suspense. There are flashbacks that help fill in the past and help understand the intricate, complicated web. There were some surprising twists and the chapters were short, which is always a win.

This is definitely a thriller worth picking up!

Thanks to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for this honest review!

Ooh, this was a good domestic thrillery debut novel. I love rich people behaving badly, and this is very Big Little Lies but set in Texas, surrounding a 16 year olds birthday party bash, which is the event of the season. The book begins in the aftermath of the party with a dead body, and then bounces back to the day of the party, from various perspectives. There is the mom of the birthday girl, bitter about going to the house she built with her new ex husband, who got himself a younger, shinier model. There is the new wife, who is also a new mother dealing with post-partum stresses, the best friend of the birthday girl, and the nanny from Ireland. Everyone is hiding something. But who is dead? And is there a killer at the party?

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the ARC for my honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this book. A lavish sweet 16 party for Sophie at a hilltop mansion in Texas. Everyone in town is invited and want to see the renovated home of Ethan and his new wife Dani. Ex wife Kim is an alcoholic with a grudge. And Orlaith is the nanny who sees all and know all. This is a twisty and intense story with short chapters that keep the story moving. With alcohol freely flowing, jealousy rampant and notes left on mirrors it's a very gripping story that's very hard to put down. The house was designed by the ex-wife and features a glass back wall with wrap around balconies. Its sure death if anyone goes over the railing. No one is telling the truth and it's hard to know who to trust. The twists will surprise you and the final twist will shock you. If you like a good mysterious psychological thriller this is the one to read.