Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox is a juicy thriller set at a lavish Sweet Sixteen in the Texas Hill Country, where secrets simmer just beneath the surface of every perfectly curated detail. When a body plummets from the balcony during the party, the night unravels fast—and through alternating POVs, we get a front row seat to the drama. From the superstitious nanny to the tense stepmom, the jealous best friend to the bitter ex wife—everyone has something to hide.

I read this during Texas spring, and wow—it felt like I was right there. The setting, the La Llorona vibe, the tension—it all pulled me in and emphasized that sometimes, the scariest monsters are human.. The multi POV was easy to follow, and I was pointing fingers at everyone. So many perfect facades that you just know are going to crack. Because let’s be honest—the people who look like they have it all together? Usually the ones hiding the biggest secrets. This one was definitely a page turner, and I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

As someone who’s lived near San Antonio, Texas, I can’t express enough how much I enjoyed reading this gripping mystery novel. I’ve never come across a book set in my own area, so that in itself was a unique and exciting experience. The author did an excellent job of capturing the essence of the landscape, the culture, and the atmosphere that made me feel right at home. The setting near San Antonio was more than just a backdrop—it felt alive, with the city and surrounding areas adding an extra layer of authenticity to the narrative.

What truly stood out to me was the story’s structure. The twists and turns were expertly crafted, leaving me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the plot would take another unexpected turn, keeping me guessing and reevaluating my theories. The pacing was spot on—just when I needed a break from the suspense, the author would pull me back in with a new clue or a shocking revelation.

The characters were another highlight. The author masterfully made me question each one, never quite sure who to trust. One moment I was sympathetic to a character, and the next, I was suspicious of their every move. This constant shifting of perspectives added to the suspense, and I found myself constantly changing my mind about who was guilty, who was innocent, and who might be hiding something.

And the ending? It was one of those rare moments where I truly did not see it coming. Just when I thought the mystery had been solved, a final twist left me speechless. It was the kind of ending that makes you want to flip back through the pages and catch the clues you missed along the way.

Overall, this mystery novel was an absolute thrill ride. The combination of an engaging, local setting, unpredictable twists, and well-developed characters made it a book I couldn’t put down. If you enjoy mysteries that keep you on your toes and leave you questioning everything, this one is a must-read!

What an appropriate title! Dani is throwing a party for her stepΦaughter's 16th birthday, and it seems that everyone has a secret they've been keeping. The nanny, the ex-wife, the stepdaughter's best friend all are harboring dark thoughts, and the story is unraveled through all their points of view. The reader knows tragedy strikes, but it takes a while before exactly what happened is revealed. I did find myself wishing the plot would hurry along at times, but the twist was definitely worth the wait. Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC.

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox is expected to be published in July of 2025 and I was lucky enough to grab an advanced copy. I wasn’t expecting much, I’ve never read anything by her and I believe it is YA, which is not a usual genre for me, but I enjoyed it a lot and read it very quickly.
It is a multi pov story with a number of sides, which can be confusing but is not, so kudos to this author. Each story had a very distinct voice and there is a central mystery that’s hinted at in the beginning and everything unravels around it. There is even a hint of supernatural, which was interesting and didn’t pull attention from the main story.
There is a lot of suspense, and everyone has a little something to hide. The story comes together in a very satisfying way and it was a quick, smart read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of Party of Liars.

This was entertaining. Lots of viewpoints, but they are not hard to follow. You find out someone is dead at the start and then you follow the party to the end to find out what happens. But some twists you see coming. All in all, a quick read.

This book was electric and I absolutely inhaled it! Following four different women and their intertwining paths leading up to and during the night of Sophie's lavish 16th birthday party, Party of Liars explores themes of obsession, jealousy, addiction, and motherhood. It is an explosive and dark thriller, told in alternative POV's and full of twists I was not expecting.

Have you ever looked at the illustrious house on the hill and wondered what’s it’s like to live there, who does and how glamorous it is? Well we all know that illusions are just that…. And what if they all came crashing down on what was to be the pinnacle of every girls dreams… her sweet 16.
In a book of lies, wrapped up in mystery of a death that haunts a house…or is it just the idea of Mother that haunts us and we make her out to be the cause of the real problem rather then see who is the master behind the curtain?

It’s Sophie’s Sweet Sixteen party and it’s being held at her psychiatrist dad Ethan’s house, a renovated suburban San Antonio mansion reportedly haunted by “The Mother.” Real people in attendance include her stepmom, Dani (much closer in age ro her than her real mother), a baking influencer and mom to 5 months old Charlotte; her mother Kim, a bitter alcoholic divorcee who did a lot of the renovation on the party house before being replaced by trophy wife, Dani; Sophie’s less wealthy friend Mikayla; Sophie’s ex-boyfriend football star Mason; Órlaith, the Irish nanny; and various gossipy neighbors and business associates, so many unknown to Dani.

We don’t hear directly from Sophie, but we get the POVs of Dani (who has had postpartum issues but is really getting threatening notes), Kim, extremely jealous of Dani, slipping into an alcoholic delirium and who previously encountered “the ghost”; Mikayla, amazed by Sophie’s good family circumstances; Órlaith, definitely hiding some secrets; and occasionally Ethan, who seems to be a good father but is oblivious to the needs of his current wife Dani.

The story is divided into “before” and “after” the party — after a body falls from somewhere (there is a balcony overlooking the swimming pool). There’s obviously much more “before” as the story unspools and a sense of dread begins to grow (and as more alcohol is increasingly consumed by adults and teenagers). Will Kim do something to mortify her daughter? Is Dani imagining a stalker? Will some teenage angst moment come between Mikayla and Sophie? What’s Órlaith’s hiding? Everyone, including the various partygoers, appears to be lying about something.

Author Cox has constructed a brilliant storyline that allows us to get to know the psyches of various characters as we wait for the climax of the party and the reveal of the “incident.” I was totally entranced. The audiobook has a full cast — the varying voices give a multilayered performance that kept me riveted even further. There’s an Irish accented Órlaith and the Texas teenage accent of Mikayla. This is an amazing debut — I hope Kelsey Cox continues to write more thrillers like this! 5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Mikayla has green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO The Texas wildflowers are blooming, bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes covering the hillsides.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for advanced copies!

What a thrilling ride this novel was! Being a Texas resident and having a daughter that just graduated from Kelsey Cox’s Alma mater ( Ax ‘em) made me especially excited to read this book and I’ve already added it to our list of book club reads for August! A twisty story told from multiple points of view of a family that is dealing with some pretty heavy issues. This book kept me guessing all the way up to the end!

Everything is bigger in Texas, including the drama! It’s Sophie Matthews’ Sweet 16 birthday party and while many are invited, not all will leave alive.

Told from multiple POVs, Party of Liars is a fast, fun read about a Sweet 16 party gone wrong! I went through several theories about what might happen to who while reading this and definitely enjoyed the story.

This book takes a new mom, the nanny, her husband, the ex wife, the teenage daughter, and the daughter’s friend and throws them all together for a sweet 16 party. What role do all of these play people? Not ones you would expect. This is a great book with lots of thrilling twists.

It is Sophie Matthew's 16th birthday party where secrets abound. The lavish party is held at her father's hillside mansion. Just as the candles are about to be blown out, a body falls from the balcony onto the dance floor. The guest list is long and so is the list of suspects. This will have you guessing as it is filled with twists and turns and a surprise ending. . Set in the Texas hill country.

Sophie’s Sweet 16 turns deadly when a guest falls from the balcony. Told through multiple POVs, the story is engaging but filled with unlikable characters, making it hard to connect. While the ending delivers unexpected twists, Mikayla’s unresolved storyline was a loose end that I felt wasn’t resolved . Overall a quick beach read

I would like to thank St. Martin's Press , Minotaur Books & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review

A Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox is packed with family drama, teenage tension, scandalous secrets, and murder. Sophie’s extravagant Sweet 16 at her father’s grand estate takes a deadly turn when a body falls from the balcony, turning the celebration into a nightmare.

Told through multiple POVs and timelines, the story follows Sophie, her divorced parents, her young stepmother, her best friend Mikayla, and the enigmatic nanny. Despite the large cast, the story is easy to follow, and the drama keeps it engaging.

The book starts strong and ends with satisfying twists, though the middle drags. The characters are largely unlikable, but it works for the story. More of a domestic drama than a psychological thriller, I’d rate it a solid 3.5 stars.

I would like to thank St. Martin's Press , Minotaur Books & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review

Loved it! Unreliable voices, a great twisty plot, a beautiful setting and an ending that is the chef’s kiss! Themes of psychological abuse and gaslighting. I would love to see this get a Netflix deal! Bravo!

The plot is entertaining and captivating. I loved the aspect of an unreliable narrator. Some of the characters were easier to like than others, which made the story even better. Tons of family drama, and I wasn't sure who to trust. The twist at the end was completely unexpected and enjoyable. Party of Liars is sure to be a big hit!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A blended family comes together for a party, as a young mother is struggling with postpartum anxiety. She worries for what is happening for her family and it all falls apart in one night. Well-written with strong themes.

received this book as an ARC. I’m usually pretty good at figuring out the plots of books but this one had me guessing right until the end. I thought some of it was fluffed up but for the most part I really enjoyed the characters and the women that one man controlled to fit his narrative. Definitely recommend.

I loved everything about this book!
Multiple POVs, short chapters, reality tv housewives-like drama. A surprising twist at the end that I didn’t see coming is what really made me love this book.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast paced, suspenseful, eerie, twisty thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the arc.

If you are looking for a messy, fun read to take to the beach this summer, reach for Party of Liars. This book follows multiple POVs throughout the day of a sweet sixteen birthday party (which for some reason the adults all go to but somehow it works) leading up to someone’s death. We have messy adults, messy teenagers, maybe ghosts, creepy nannies… you name it. I liked the rotation of character’s but I did find I was more invested in Dani’s story line, and least interested in Orlaith’s. All of these characters are misunderstood to some degree and have secrets, and while some may feel stereotypical they also felt flushed out and, need I say it again, just fun! This was an easy and entertaining read that is perfect for porch sitting with a glass of wine.