I received a free ARC of this book and then was never in the mood to read it. I saw a review saying how good it was and I wanted to give it a try before its’ publication day, so I decided to make it my next read.

This book was not at all what I was expecting! I thought it would have more of a YA feel to it, and I’m glad it didn’t. It gets dark, FYI. I really enjoyed the multiple perspectives and the twists in this one.

More like a 3.5. Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this book. The story had a decent plot line and some good mystery woven in. I definitely was interested in what was going to happen. The story felt a little long for me especially in the middle...there was a lot of alluding to people keeping secrets but not telling you anything until the end. Overall it was still a decent read.

Such a great thriller!! I loved the short chapters and all the different POVs.
I couldn’t put it down. Definitely did not expect the ending — such an unexpected twist!! Will definitely recommend!!

P. S. Loved the Ulta reference - I work for Ulta Beauty, it’s always fun when books mention us!!

My 2025 Reading 📚

52) Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox (ARC)

Publication date: July 1st, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to @netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC. And Congrats to @kelseycoxwriter on this banger of a debut!

This was such a fun and twisty psychological thriller. I always know a book is going to be good when I can see it playing out like a movie in my head while reading. The atmosphere and setting were nailed from the first chapter, so it was easy to feel fully immersed. The different perspectives had me hooked and constantly questioning what the heck was going on, who was crazy, and who wasn’t. There were so many ways this could have played out, and I was not disappointed. This really checked all the boxes for me as a thriller addict. Highly recommend!

Summary: A Sweet Sixteen party at a remote Texas mansion spirals into chaos when a body falls from the balcony before the birthday candles are even blown out. As the night unfolds, buried secrets emerge among the guests, including a troubled stepmother, a superstitious nanny, a loyal best friend, and a bitter ex-wife. With one guest dead, long-held grudges and hidden motives come to light.

A provocative and pulse pounding thriller that stacks up with the best of them! The author deftly utilizes common tropes including gaslighting and the unreliable narrator to bring this novel to life. It was at the front of mind and I wanted to know what happens next. Told through many POVs, the story is fully fleshed out and you can definitely sink your teeth into it.

If you love a twisty thriller, Party of Liars is definitely the book for you! Everyone wants an invite to Sophie’s lavish Sweet Sixteen party…but someone won’t leave the party alive. Secrets, lies, and drama abound as the characters are forced to question who they really trust.

The multiple POVs of this book were a definite highlight for me! Readers get to hear from 4 very different, yet equally compelling, characters. There’s Dani, Sophie’s stepmother who’s feeling overwhelmed after the birth of her new baby girl; Orlaith, the suspicious Irish nanny who fears there’s danger lurking in the possibly-haunted house; Mikayla, Sophie’s best friend who just might have some secrets hiding under the surface; and Kim, the ex-wife who’s struggling with her past mistakes and navigating a messy, complicated connection to the family. Kelsey Cox does a great job of developing each character and their distinct perspective! You may not love every character, but you’ll be completely absorbed in the story nonetheless.

The pacing of the book was also really well-done! I was constantly on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next, and the many twists kept me guessing throughout. Party of Liars would be the perfect book for thriller fans to bring to the beach this summer, but its hints of mystery and spookiness also make it a great fit for fall TBRs. Either way, you won’t want to miss this read! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the ARC.

Well paced, with an effective mix of POV characters to convey the various sides of the story. The overhanging shadow of a possible haunting brings a gothic aspect to what might have otherwise been a fairly standard domestic suspense story. We know that something tragic happened at this big party, but we don't know exactly what or to whom until the very end. There're enough mysterious threads spun to keep you guessing throughout and willing to accept whatever direction the story wants to go. I was certainly satisfied with the resolution.

It's a night - and a party - that won't soon be forgotten

The mansion that sits atop a cliff in Texas Hill Country was built over a hundred years ago for a beautiful young woman who died from an accidental fall soon after the building's completion. Her husband moved away, the house was neglected and became more and more dilapidated, but the whispers about what happened there continued on through the years. It is, many have come to believe, haunted. It was recently bought and completely renovated by someone new and the people of Comal County watched the goings on from afar, their curiosity only whetted when the entire back wall of the house was replaced with glass. At long last the full scope of the renovations will be visible to the party; Sophie Matthews, the teenaged daughter of the owner of the house, is turning sixteen and her Texas-sized Sweet Sixteen party will double as the mansion's coming-out celebration. Over the top decorations, elaborate displays of food, a DJ, and a three-tier cake baked and decorated by Sophie's stepmother Dani compete for attention with the elegant clothes and big hair sported by the attendees...but a body falling to its death trumps all. Has history repeated itself? Is the mansion truly haunted, or is this death the result of all-too-human emotions?
Party of Liars is a borderline gothic novel of suspense that weaves multiple themes through the story as it unfolds. Chapters are narrated by different characters, mostly a group of four women who each have a connection to the house on the cliff, its owner Ethan Matthews and his daughter Sophie. There is Dani, Ethan's young new wife, who recently gave birth to daughter Charlotte and is struggling with what appears to be postpartum depression; Kim, Ethan's ex-wife and Sophie's mother, who is bitter about her new circumstances and likely has a problem with alcohol: Órlaith, the older woman who is serving as nanny to Charlotte and who has brought old world superstitious beliefs with her; and Mikayla, Sophie's. quiet longtime best friend who is tolerated if not accepted by Sophie's new circle of cooler friends. Dani's self-confidence has been shaken by the unsettling thoughts in her mind, and those around her watch her nervously for signs of mental illness...is she careening out of control, or is she being gaslit by someone? The identity of just who fell to their death remains a question until very late in the book, which adds to the mystery of what is going on in this privileged home. Its an intriguing premise, although I found the number of different narrating voices a bit of a distraction and I was able to accurately guess many of the plot twists that cropped up throughout the book (always a danger when one has read as many novels of suspense as.I have). I found it to be an entertaining read overall, a solid 3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4, which will appeal to readers of Vi Keeland, Sarah Pekkanen and Rachel Hawkins. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me access to a copy of the novel in exchange for my honest review.

Reading challenge category – 2025 Flourish and Blotts: Headmaster – Harry Potter: A book that mentions Harry Potter (cat is named Mad Eye Moody)

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. As a debut novel, I wasn't sure what to expect, but Kelsey Cox did a great job with her storytelling. Party of Liars is told from multiple points of view and not in chronological time. We have way before, before, during, and after the party. In the same vein as Big Little Lies, someone at the party dies, but we don't know who it is until the end of the book.

I did see the "twist" coming, but it didn't change the enjoyment level of the book for me. 4/5 stars. Thanks to #Netgalley for the ARC copy.

I really enjoyed this! I think it's a fast, fun read with great pacing. I loved the tension, the twists, and the themes. It's full of discussions about family, motherhood, friendships, etc. The story is told through multiple perspectives and it worked so well here. All of the characters had a very distinct voice, personality, and depth. I was a little concerned about it reading a little young for me based on the story surrounding a sweet sixteen party, but YA didn't cross my mind one time. I'm very excited to recommend this book to library patrons and to read more from this author in the future!

Overdramatic but not always in the best way. Told in multiple point of views, we set the scene with younger wife Dani the new stepmom ready to celebrate her husbands daughters sweet 16 from his first marriage and Kim, the first wife, the one still holding onto her daughter but almost the one society has left behind. Also the point of views of best friend forever to daughter Sophie, Mikayla, and lastly that of Orlaith, the nanny - so four point of views introduced at like 6% in was unnecessary. In a very SLOWLY reveal of secrets and revelations, not everyone makes it out of the sweet 16 party alive.

This is a story that loves its descriptions, details in the setting and for the most part, was enjoyable to the attention to details the author created. This is very much a red herring build up type of thriller. Because of so many point of views and quick switches I never felt attached to any of the characters. Kim and Dani were definitely the two most intriguing point of views- Kim displaying the way people feel sorry for the ex, the way you don’t really split friends after a breakup. And new mom Dani really portraying the way society can judge mothers and intrusive thoughts, constantly making her feel like she must not be a good mother.

This was probably a little too long and too slow- like the story just had too many parts that the story progression was stalled. At times the gaslighting was too much and unbelievable which I think some editing down would help. The story goes very twisty, character developments feel contradictory in places, particularly Mikayla, but not a bad thriller if you want a full cast of un rootable characters. But what can you expect from a book called Party of Liars? I am interested to see what this author does next.

I enjoyed this thriller. Everyone is seemingly perfect at a sweet 16 party but then a death and subsequent mystery surrounding it have you questioning all the characters. Love a rich people behaving badly, multiple POVs, unreliable witness, and a not too scary thriller. This was a fun ride and I devoured it in 2 days. Great for the beach.

Thank you Netgalley & St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the advanced reader copy.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced copy of “Party of Liars” in exchange for a review.

When I started seeing this book creep into book club predictions for July, I moved it to the top of my TBR pile. It’s been a tough year for mystery/thrillers. There’s only been a few released this year that have wowed up, and this has now become one of them!

I thought the author handled a story with a lot of characters very well. I never felt lost on who was speaking or what perspective we were on. I really enjoyed the slow build (though the pacing still felt engaging), and the big reveal at the end was satisfying and well planned/executed.

I think this book is going to get a lot of hype when I releases, and I think it’ll be well deserved!

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox delivers a high-octane blend of scandal, suspense, and drama, all set against the glitzy backdrop of a Sweet 16 party gone terribly wrong. Told through multiple female POVs and bouncing between "before" and "after" timelines, the story keeps a tight grip on the reader with short, punchy chapters and a steady drip of secrets.

At its core, this is a book about pressure, societal, parental, and personal, and how far people will go to hide their truths. The characters, many morally grey, are compelling even when they’re not entirely likeable. Their voices feel distinct, and their motivations are messy in the best way. Whether it’s the “queen bee” hosting the party or the outsider with something to prove, each narrator adds a new layer to the mystery.

The atmosphere is rich, think locked-room thriller meets Southern gothic flair, with a supposedly haunted Texas mansion adding an extra chill. While the paranormal elements don’t quite land as solidly as the rest of the plot, they contribute to the book’s slightly over-the-top, popcorn-thriller appeal.

If you’re looking for subtlety, this may not be the story for you. But if you enjoy stories with fast pacing, layered secrets, and characters who aren’t afraid to get messy, Party of Liars is a wildly addictive ride.

A little over-the-top at times, but compulsively readable with a strong emotional current and a cast that keeps you guessing. A 4-star thrill for fans of Pretty Little Liars meets One of Us Is Lying.

📚 E-ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

Party of Liars By Kelsey Cox
Publication Date: July 1, 2025
Publisher: St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for this #gifted e-arc -- in exchange for my honest review! I'm so excited to be a new member of the SMP Early Readers program!

📚MY REVIEW:

Party of Liars has been one-to-watch on my TBR list for months! I kept reading about how much everybody LOVED it all over Bookstagram, and I couldn't wait to read it. And let me tell you, this debut thriller from Kelsey Cox had me hooked from the end of the first chapter.

Told in alternating short chapters from multiple POVs, this book started with a bang and never let up. Each chapter brought a deeper sense of foreboding as the eerie vibes compelled me through this unputdownable read.

This is a story about a house with a tragic history, rumored to be haunted, which has now been beautifully renovated and provides the perfect backdrop for Sophie's dad and stepmom to throw Sophie an over-the-top "everything is bigger in Texas" Sweet Sixteen Birthday Party. Throw in a bitter alcoholic ex-wife, unrequited teenage love, potential postpartum psychosis, a creepy Irish nanny, inexplicably creepy noises and shadows around the house, and hints about an unexpectedly tragic event at the party, and you've got a good sense of the nail-biting plotline of this book.

The twists in this one nearly knocked me out of my seat. WOW. WOW. WOW. I was completely captivated, waiting for the terrible thing to happen that I always expected to be coming on the next page. And when the terrible thing finally happened, it was not what I was expecting at all - it was SO MUCH better.

This book was tense, salacious, creepy, and captivating in every way. I couldn't wait to find out what was going on and yet I didn't want this book to come to an end. I am SHOOK that this was Cox's debut - her writing was phenomenal and kept me plugged into this story with the perfect balance of believable characters and underlying tension. There was even a paragraph near the end of the book that had me in tears, as her words gave me pause about a past situation in my life and caused me to reflect on it in a way I'd never considered before. And it's not often for a thriller to leave you with words that your heart needed to hear.

Party of Liars publishes July 1st, and trust me, this is one you DO NOT want to miss! You will find me at my indie bookstore on Pub Day, buying a copy for my bookshelves!

#PartyOfLiars #KelseyCox #StMartinsPress #MinotaurBooks #SMPEarlyReaders #gifted #eARCs #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #fivestarreads #mustreads #bookreviews #bookrecs #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #booklover #bookaddict

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox. This was a fast-paced, twisty read that kept me turning the pages. The setup, old friends reuniting with secrets bubbling just beneath the surface, immediately drew me in. Cox does a great job balancing suspense with character dynamics, and I liked how the tension built slowly before everything unraveled. Some of the twists were a little easy to guess, and a few characters could’ve used more depth, but overall, it was a fun, dramatic read with just the right amount of mystery. If you enjoy stories about messy friendships, secrets from the past, and unreliable narrators, Party of Liars will definitely scratch that itch.

There's a Sweet 16 party at the house on the hill, the one everyone has claimed to be haunted and afraid of, but can't wait to go inside. It's a house full of secrets and doubts that come to a head in a tragic way.

I confess that I initially found the jumps between so many characters and the ominous crumbs Cox kept dropping a little annoying. I found it frustrating to get little pieces that were left hanging for several chapters. However, it eventually hit me that it's a slow build and reveal that clicks the second the big twist happens. It's once you get to the end that it makes sense why the story was told the way it was. I eventually understood the why of it, even if I didn't enjoy it, which is a shame because the story is solid and there's so much to unpack in it that I would have otherwise raved about it.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the twisty read!

Party of Liars is a domestic thriller that puts readers in the middle of a locked room mystery set during a Sweet Sixteen birthday party at a lavish house in Texas. We know from the start that there has been a death but who died? Through time frames before, during and after the party and multiple POVs, readers get a peek into the minds, motivations and emotional baggage of a few characters.

The multiple POV aspect was handled well - from the Irish nanny, new wife/new mom Dani, and her husband Ethan, to Ethan's ex-wife Kim, birthday girl Sophie and her BFF Mikayla ..., Cox gives her readers several potential culprits as she shares their backstories leading up to the death.

I had a few ideas of whose body it was and how it all happened, and I guessed a few twists correctly (but not the final one!). While not as creepy as I had expected with its tease of a haunting, I was impressed with this quiet suspense read that kept me guessing and successfully layered in complex family dynamics and social issues for an enjoyably unsettling and twisty read.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Minotaur Books for the complimentary digital advanced copy of this book that was given in exchange for my honest review.

Today is Sophie Matthews’s sixteenth birthday party, hosted by her father Ethan & his new wife Dani. It is an exclusive black-tie affair, with Sophie's friends, and Ethan's friends and associates. This is the first time people are going to get to see inside this huge cliffside mansion, and they are excited. The mansion is built like a dollhouse - the entire back of the house, facing out over the cliff is glass. Dani hates it. Ethan swears no one is able to see in, because they are too far away, but she still feels on display, since the bedroom, nursery, kitchen and living room all have the glass wall. It doesn't help that there is a rumor that someone died in the house that was originally on the property, and that woman, called "the mother" haunts the house. Nor does the fact that Dani keeps finding things missing, or moved around, when she knows she didn't do it, and the other day she found a note calling her "crazy" and saying she didn't deserve everything she had. Dani had a breakdown right after their baby Charlotte was born, and since then, everyone keeps tip-toeing around the word "crazy". But Dani is feeling better now, or at least she is trying to, and she is determined to help make Sophie's party a success. The party seems to go off without a hitch, then as all parties do there were a few little incidents but nothing major. Then, just before the candles on the three-tiered red velvet cake are blown out, a body falls from the balcony onto the starlit dance floor below.

This book was SO good. It is told in the alternating viewpoints of Dani, Kim (Ethan's ex-wife), Mikayla (Sophie's best friend), Orlaith (the nanny), as well as some that are just the day of the party or after the party. You find out from almost the beginning that detectives show up at the party, and there is a scene at the hospital, but you don't know who is in the hospital, and you don't know who died. They save all that until almost the very end. There is so much drama. Dani is looking suspiciously at every guest, especially after another incident happens to her during the party. Ethan & his partner at their psychiatry practice stand at the bar and leer at all of the teenage girls when they are dancing suggestively together, and then later when they are running around the pool in tiny bikinis. I mean,,,,, ewwwww! One of the teenage boys sneaks in some alcohol and pills for the others to pass around, which is a recipe for disaster. Kim drinks too much, as always, and embarrasses herself and Sophie with her behavior. There are so many ways the party could go wrong, so many dynamics in play. This book was juicy and addictive. I highly recommend it!

If you’re into locked room mysteries with a modern edge, Party of Liars is the kind of twisty, tension filled story you won’t want to put down. Set during a Sweet 16 birthday party at a house with a dark and haunting past, the story unfolds through multiple POVs from the women attending, keeping things fresh and full of suspicion. The eerie setting adds a chilling, supernatural vibe that heightens the suspense, and just when you think you’ve cracked it—another reveal hits. Secrets, lies, and drama for days… this one was an addictive, atmospheric ride.