Absolutely gripping.

From the first page to the last, it was impossible to put down. Cox's writing style is engaging and comfortable, it shows you the world you're entering and people you're meeting rather than just telling you everything. The characters are all someone that you could know so it is easy to immerse yourself in the story, and this town and society too read like something the author herself knows well.

This locked-room who-dunnit is told from multiple POVs and keeps you guessing. There was two things that heavily reminded me of other domestic thrillers I've read and I don't say that as a negative, it took me about 75% in to even clock it, it got me even more excited to finish the book!

I would absolutely read this book again and look forward to more from this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Great debut!
The story had a slow start, but the pacing improved quickly and I couldn’t wait to pick it back up. The short chapters made it a fast, engaging read. I found the setting to be fun and almost over-the-top, but it worked.

I loved the main characters and how they grew throughout the story, despite everything going on around them. There were some pieces of the ending that I didn’t see coming, and it left me satisfied.

I’m so glad that Cox chose to open a new document—don’t miss the author’s note! 🙂 Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a widget of this locked-room(mansion?) mystery. Out July 1st!

As Sophie Matthew’s lavish sweet sixteen is at its height, a body falls from the balcony.

I was not expecting to enjoy this one as much as I did, simply because I’m not a huge fan of locked room whodunnits but this book is a lot more than that. It’s multiple POVs but is never confusing. We have multiple people we are unsure of who to trust, and it gets more and more interesting as it goes on and more is revealed. It’s also Big Little Lies style, in the sense that you don’t know who died until the end when it all comes together.

“I hadn’t thought about how a doorway allows people in as easily as it allows the out. I hadn’t thought about what might reach back.”

Party of Liars comes out 7/1.

A sweet sixteen with a bunch of liquor for both the teens and the adults; what could go wrong?

This was a fun read. I liked the multiple points of view and the sense of doubt. Though I don’t necessarily feel we needed Oriath’s point of view, it helped to create doubt for the reader. While I don’t feel this was a thriller, I enjoyed trying to untangle the web. Overall, a fun read.

Party of Liars is an engaging and emotionally nuanced story that explores the complexity of friendships tested by secrets and betrayal. Set against the backdrop of a seemingly perfect birthday party, tension builds as the narrative peels back layers to reveal the hidden truths each character is guarding. The dialogue is sharp and realistic, and the relationships feel authentic. The pacing keeps the stakes high without ever feeling rushed, and the twists land with emotional impact rather than cheap shock value. Although admittedly, I read to enjoy the "whodunit" instead of trying to immediately determine the villain or antagonist!

What really elevates this book is its emotional honesty. The author delves into how lies—even those told with good intentions—can ripple outward and fracture trust. The characters are flawed yet relatable; you’ll find yourself rooting for the ones whose mistakes feel most human, even when they hurt those they care about most. While the conclusion wraps up the main plot threads well, I would have appreciated a slightly deeper dive into the long‑term consequences of their choices. That said, the book ends on a hopeful note, reminding us that repair and growth are possible even after deception.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read to this advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

4 stars for this book. I am not familiar with this author but will be looking for more books. You should add this to your TBR!

ARC REVIEW. Publish Date July 1, 2025.

Party of Liars is about Sophie Matthews and her 16th birthday party in a house that is "haunted." When someone is murdered, the whole guest list could be a suspect.

I really wanted to enjoy this but I didn't. I did not care for the characters and the twists are not twists when you see them coming. I also don't understand the whole house is haunted premise since that goes no where.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advance copy in exchange for a honest review.

DNF. This book is such a slog, and the characters were all so unlikable. Also, the flashbacks were annoying.

This story is told by multiple points of view on the day of Sophie's 16th birthday party and after the party. I truly enjoyed all of the characters and how well the author wrote about each one. You actually start to like or hate the character as the story evolves.

It's Sophie's 16th birthday and her father is throwing the party of the year for her. There is a mix of her friends and adults that are joining in for the festivities and things get really heated up as the drinking continues for hours. The ex-wife is an alcoholic that can't seem to stop drinking and then making a fool of herself and embarrassing Sophie. Sophie's best friend has some of her own secrets that start to unravel throughout the night and you are left slack jawed. The new wife thinks she is crazy with things that are happening to her but is she really or is someone out to get her? Then you have a weird nanny that seems to know things and you are constantly wondering where she is fitting into to this whole saga. Let's not forget about the super dad that threw the party, how great of a dad is he really?

Pick up the book and you will NOT be disappointed. It has an ending that I found to be perfect and loved how the author weaved it all together.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an ARC in response for a honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox is a twisty ride from beginning to end. There is quite a cast of characters to keep straight but it’s worth it to see how this drama plays out.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: July 01, 2025

#PartyofLiars #NetGalley

Sophie is celebrating her sixteenth birthday with a massive party thrown by her father and her step-mother at their literal castle on a hill above their small Texas town. Sophie's friends and much of the town have been invited to this ostentatious black-tie affair. But before the night is over, someone will be dead.

Everyone has something they are hiding and so many of the characters are questioning their own recollections that this makes for a truly head spinning story. I love the way the truth was revealed over time and it had me constantly questioning each of the characters. For a brief period of time in the middle it seemed like the story was leaning towards a supernatural explanation for the events, which disappointed me. But the story changed course and the ending was fabulous. It was so hard for me to put this book down. I absolutely had to know how it ended!

*Review to post @anythingnovel goes on June 18*

I am in shock that this is a debut! I went looking to see what other books by Kelsey I could add to my TBR and I was shocked that this is her first and what a first it is! Fast paced, I mean blow your hair back fast paced. A cast of characters who have more secrets than the CIA. The real story is so horrifying, so sickening, that my mind is reeling. I am still sitting with a lump of unease in my stomach and my mouth is still hanging open. Not only are there secrets. There is The Mother. The story that has been stitched into Bulverde, Texas landscape. The enormous mansion that is haunted, left to rot back into the ground. Until an ambitious young couple could see past the haunting story, the destruction the house has become, and could see their dream home. Perched on the hill overlooking the entire town.

Texas does sweet sixteen birthdays unlike anywhere else in the country. They are big, they start early, and the booze for the parents starts flowing early. Making the stories stream out of the guests' mouths. Sophie Matthew's is turning sixteen and she is having her birthday bash at her dad's house. With his new wife Dani and her 9-month-old stepsister. Dani has had a rough go with post-partum and has not seen many since Charlotte was born. Including her husband's ex, Kim. Whose house this was. Sophie is nervous that her mother will end up hammered like she usually does. Kim is going to prove her wrong and stay sober. We shall see what secrets tumble from her lips after she cannot handle being near her ex's new family. The book begins with the reader knowing that something has occurred at the party. But we do not know what. Everyone has their secrets and today is the day to let them be free!

The cast of characters is large; I did not have any issues following who was who. I loved the family drama that is going on. Dani is the main character, and she has had a rough go. Again, we are not given much information to begin with. Kelsey has a way of taking you in and building the story until it comes crashing down around you and the guests. Leaving everyone speechless and in shock. This is one thriller I will be recommending to everyone near and far. It is the perfect summertime read. Thank you to Kelsey Cox and Minotaur Books for this delicious read.

I flew through this book in just 24 hours—it was such a fun and exciting read! The mystery hooked me from the start, especially with the unique twist of not knowing who the dead body is until the very end, even though it’s introduced right away. The tense buildup and multiple POVs added layers of intrigue, with secrets piling up fast. The party setting—a creepy, fancy mansion on a cliff (I think it was on a cliff, right?)—was the perfect backdrop, and the included party invitation was a fun bonus (I used mine as a bookmark!). While the characters were mostly unlikeable and the haunted house subplot didn’t really go anywhere, the story was packed with twists that kept me turning the pages.
I didn’t love the teenage drama or the overdone “crazy drunk female” trope, but despite that, I really enjoyed this one—and the ending definitely delivered.

This was an engaging story with so much going on, so many points of view that developed the full thriller aspect, yet still a quick read...likely because I wanted to figure out what in the heck was going on.

I liked Dani and was annoyed by the way she was treated from the start, which sometimes made this book a bit frustrating. Some of the drama was unnecessary, yes even in a thriller, but didn't bog down the book. The unexpected twists were great, and I was not disappointed by the ending.

I really wanted to love Party of Liars, but I couldn’t push past the 31% mark. The pacing is painfully slow, dragging through multiple backstories and inner thoughts that withheld any sense of plot progression. I kept waiting for something of value to happen, but by a third of the way through, it still felt like the story hadn’t started. The focus is heavily on the characters, but it comes at the expense of momentum. I need a thriller to grip me, not linger on every detail of everyone's life.

I did enjoy the multiple points of view, as they added some variety and depth to the narrative. However, the number of characters diluted any excitement. Every time a POV sparked a hint of intrigue, it was quickly buried under another character’s tangent. This book might work for readers who love character-driven stories and don’t mind a glacial pace, but it wasn’t for me. I’m disappointed to DNF, but I just couldn’t stay engaged. One star.

I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. This review is my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

3.5 ⭐️

going into Party of Liars, i honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. sometimes with thrillers, you wonder if it’s going to deliver the twists or just repackage familiar tropes, but surprisingly this one hooked me in its own way.

the story unfolds through multiple POVs, and i really enjoyed how each character’s perspective added a new layer. everyone’s got secrets, and the way those secrets slowly unravel made the experience feel like piecing together a puzzle. extra points for the short chapters 🙊

that said, there were moments where the narrative felt a bit stretched, almost like we were circling the same events from different angles a little too much. it kinda dragged, but i stuck with it, and i’m glad i did because the ending really landed for me. satisfying endings? count me in!

overall, Party of Liars is a fast-paced, bingeable YA thriller that knows how to keep you guessing. i recommend it.

big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

First off, a big thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Dani is a new mother with the perfect life. A gorgeous home, wealthy and caring husband, and a brand new baby daughter. What should be the happiest time of her life is anything but because of 'that night'. The trouble is, Dani can't remember that night but she knows that her life isn't perfect and she doesn't deserve it. But worse, her daughter isn't safe.

As Dani along with half the town celebrate her step-daughter's sweet sixteenth birthday at her magnificent and possibly haunted home, everything begins to unravel. Threatening notes, a suspicious nanny, troubled ex-wife, and secrets threaten everything and one person will not survive.

The story is told in a dual timeline between before the party and afterwards as we wait to discover who is lying under that sheet? Who took the horrible fall?

This one kept me guessing. Knowing that someone had died and how made every scene full of anxiety and had me asking "Is this it? Is this when it happens?" It was simply addictive and completely entertaining. I thought I had it figured out more times than I could count and still didn't expect the ending. Not completely.

“Party of Liars” is by Kelsey Cox. This book centers on Sophie’s very lavish Sweet Sixteen birthday party, thrown by her father (Ethan) and her step-mother (Dani). After a body falls from one of the balconies of the house, the rumor that the house is haunted return … along with putting suspicion on others at the house - Sophie’s mother (Kim) who crashed the party, best friend (Mikayla), and step-sister Charlotte’s nanny, Orlaith. The publisher’s summary for this book made it sound right up my alley. However, there were multiple POVs, that I think could’ve been cut down to just two, and time jumps that it made following a bit confusing - and the book mainly covers two days. Additionally, the pacing was a bit all over the place, which didn’t help much. I’d call this book more a psychological thriller. However, Ms. Cox did a great job with the characters - I didn’t like any of them and they all were, as the title of the book says, a party of liars.

I really enjoyed this book!! Literally nobody is who they seem to be, and i absolutely loved seeing the party and wealth play out over the months leading up to the party, and then having enough epilogue and follow up to see what the end results were. Scandal, so much scandal!

Suspense, rich people doing/hiding bad things, a cast of characters...this book had it all!
A fast-paced thriller.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.