I could not put this book down! This was told from 4 different points of view. Of course they all start out likable and slowly as the story unfolds you start to see cracks in each of their stories. I liked that there was a mystery of not only who pushes the person at the party, but who the person pushed was. The paranormal element was fun and I liked how it all tied into the whole story. Such a fun bingeable read and the ending wrapped up perfectly!

I technically read if the ARC of this but it came out while I was reading! Oops! This was a debut and it was a really solid one at that! Told from the 4 POVs (there is a 5th snuck in there for one chapter), this story really unfolded as a sow burn. At first, I didn’t like any of the narrators. By the end, my viewpoint changed. The twist at the very end was also a nice touch. There is a ghost element that, for me, didn’t really play out, so if that’s not your thing, no worries, read the book! This was definitely a fun summer read as well. I will definitely check out what @kelseycoxwriter comes out with next. Hope it’s as psychological as this one.

I thought I had the whole thing figured out (I was feeling so smart), and then BAM, plot twist out of nowhere. This book had me hooked from start to finish. I honestly can’t believe this is a debut. Easily one of the best thrillers I’ve read this year, and I’m still recovering.

From page one, you’re thrown headfirst into a multiple POV narrative so chilling and addicting I may have forgotten my actual responsibilities for about 48 hours (sorry to my laundry). The characters are deeply complicated, the kind of messy, flawed people we follow in Love Island or Real Housewives saga. Dani, Ethan, Kim, Sophie… each perspective is a heady mix of relatability and suspicion, keeping you guessing where their loyalties (and lies) truly lie.

And lemme talk about Dani for a second. Ethan’s new wife is an outright enigma, constantly swerving between gut-level instincts that make her seem almost psychic and paranoia so intense I wanted to send her a weighted blanket. Is she being gaslit into next week, or is she the problem? By the end, I was spiraling right along with her, questioning every truth I thought I had a grip on. And sweet Kim. Her quiet existential crisis hit so close to home that I almost called a therapist mid-chapter. The emotional depth here? Chef’s kiss. The kind of depth most thrillers only dream of but never quite reach.

Beyond the eerie mystery, this book is a sharp commentary on identity, shame, and the dynamics of family. Cox dives into the unspoken tensions lurking behind every curtain and underneath every "perfect" facade. Whether it’s Kim’s struggle with feeling out-of-place in her own life or Dani’s fear of her seemingly picture-perfect marriage crumbling, there’s emotional depth amidst the twists and thrills. Cox’s writing is abundantly talented at capturing those tiny moments of human disconnection that stick with you long after the final page.

Now, fair warning, if fragmented narratives and extra unreliable narrators make your brain twitch, you might have a love-hate relationship with this one. It’s messy, it’s tangled, it’s not clean-cut in the slightest. There are a LOT of different narrators, that shift chapter by chapter and the chapters are SHORT. But if you’re the kind of reader who thrives on morally questionable characters and slowly losing your mind alongside them (cough hi, fellow Sharp Objects fans), you’re going to love this.

Thank you to St-Martin's Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review. This book was published on July 1st, 2025.

I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book where I’ve hated every single character… until now. I’m really struggling to rate it, because, while it was a great book, I hated it. However, my best friend loved this book, so you really can’t go based on my review.

I understand why the author doesn’t tell us who dies until the end (it gives away MAJOR information), but at the same time it feels like a plot device to take away from our ability to solve the mystery. Like, she didn’t want to give us the opportunity to work through it or didn’t know how to hide the truth well enough to do it any other way. I fully admit I might be being too critical. I was so annoyed by our lack of knowledge of anything I tried to look up spoilers. The Internet spoiled nothing, so I asked chatGPT and it gave me 100% incorrect information, which, once I found out, I found hilarious.

I had major anxiety by every character’s actions by the end (I saw no escape, you’ll see what I mean). Possible spoilers: Kim’s lack of accountability, Orlaith’s suspicious ulterior motives, Dani’s naivity, Sophie’s selfishness, Ethan’s abuse of power, Mikayla’s erratic behavior. Some of it ultimately worked, but having it all be a negative for 95% of the book did this book no favors.

Well written, creative, and strong character voices with each character being very distinct. I just didn’t like it. 2.75 I guess?

Kelsey Cox's Party of Liars promises a tantalizing "locked-room whodunnit" set against the backdrop of a lavish Texas Sweet Sixteen, and it certainly delivers on the premise of a body dropping into the festivities. The setup is undeniably intriguing: a renovated, supposedly haunted mansion, a high-stakes party, and a classic "killer guest list" of suspects, each with their own baggage and secrets.
The novel kicks off with a bang (or rather, a thud), immediately grabbing your attention as a body interrupts Sophie Matthews's extravagant sixteenth birthday. The introduction of characters like Dani, the self-doubting stepmother; Órlaith, the superstitious nanny; Mikayla, the seemingly meek best friend; and Kim, the grudge-holding ex-wife, creates a rich pool of potential motives and red herrings. This is where Party of Liars shines – in crafting a diverse ensemble of individuals whose interwoven relationships and hidden agendas drive the plot.
However, while the ingredients for a truly gripping mystery are all there, the execution sometimes falls a bit flat. The "pulse-pounding" aspect felt more like a steady beat than a race against time. The twists, while present, didn't always land with the shocking impact I'd hoped for, occasionally feeling a bit telegraphed. Some of the character development, particularly for the suspects, could have been more deeply explored to truly make them leap off the page. We get glimpses of their inner turmoil, but at times, it felt like the narrative skimmed the surface rather than delving into the emotional complexities that would make their motivations truly compelling.
Ultimately, Party of Liars is a perfectly decent read if you're looking for a quick and easy whodunnit. It's got a fun premise and a good cast of characters, but it doesn't quite reach the heights of truly nail-biting suspense or unforgettable character work. It's a party you wouldn't regret attending, but you might not be talking about it for years to come.

This novel surprised me! It was written really well! It was fast paced with short chapters! So many characters are suspects. Who pushed the party guest over the balcony?! EEEEKKK! It was full of chaos! Definitely pick up this YA novel, even if you don’t normally read this genre! The suspense is worth it!

This fast paced, jaw dropping, gripping thriller was one of the most entertaining books I’ve read in awhile! And to be a debut book by this author! Beyond impressive. I was a little nervous at first going into this one, thinking it might be a bit too YA for me, with it being based at a sweet-sixteen birthday party, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. This one had me hooked from page one and I could not wait to find out how it would end! Will 100% be recommending this to everyone coming through my store!

Thanks for the arc! This book was fun - there were a lot of good POV stories and I liked how the stories intertwined at the end. I was actually surprised - good job! Thinking back, the foreshadowing seemed a little heavy at first, and then I realized I had no idea what I was trying to predict. Good story - although the ending did feel mildly unsatisfying. But overall, a good and easy quick read!

This book was compelling, it's characters sympathetic, and it's supernatural undercurrent, and whether that is real or not, give it an interesting enemy.

I didn't love how the character of Mikayla was handled. At first she seemed in love with Sophie, and I was disappointed when that wasn't the story they were telling. Farther in the novel, it became clear why it had to be the way it was, but still I thought she wasn't given enough respect as a victim. She was almost portrayed as a perpetrator herself, when, though she was emotionally confused, she was fully a victim.

It was almost too neat as well, when the body turns out to be the one who wronged everyone. I'd recommend The Guest List over this novel, but it's an okay read-a-like if you're looking for one!

Holy cow, Party of Liars was INTENSE. There were so many moments in this book that I was sure that I knew what was coming next, and I was proven wrong almost every single time!

The characters, the different points of view and the storyline were all incredible. There were so many moments that felt like big A-HA scenes and then it quickly turned into jaw dropping reveals.

HIGHLY recommend for psychological thriller fans. This one is a huge rollercoaster!

Party of Liars is a great title for this book! The setting is a girl’s elaborate 16th birthday party, and the characters are so secretive! This seemed like a good YA story to me, but was a fun, quick read.

I really enjoyed this book. The way events are uncovered through dual timeline and connections are made throughout the story was very well done. I really liked the writing style of this author. The character development was great, and the story itself was interesting. The author did a great job of providing backstory to explain all the various sources of tension at the party and how the characters related to each other. Highly recommend!

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox is a thriller set against the backdrop of a sweet sixteen party in Texas. Told through multiple perspectives, the book opens with a shocking incident that shatters the celebration, then rewinds to earlier in the day as the events gradually unfold.
The plot held my attention and offered enough twists to keep me curious about what would happen next.

My Sweet Sixteen Birthday Party was NOTHING like this...

Sophie Matthews’s Sweet Sixteen Birthday Party is a black-tie affair hosted by her dad, Ethan, and her stepmom, Dani, in their beautiful cliffside mansion in the Texas Hill Country. It's gorgeous, lavishly renovated, and rumored to be haunted.

The party is wall to wall people inside, overflowing to the yard and the pool. Drinks pour, glasses never empty, the noise level escalates, and the atmosphere gets wilder. It feels like the whole town was invited, but before the cake is cut, someone will be dead...

"Party of Liars" is written in alternating perspectives of four women, each sheltering a secret, hidden desire, or grudge. Most of these characters aren't easy to like or even tolerate. They can be mean-spirited, vulgar, or something other than what they seem. This is fast and twisty fun; you think you know where it's going, and then you don't. Over and over again.

I received two gifted copies, one to read and one to listen to, making this a satisfying immersion experience. The audiobook has a multi-cast of five narrators, which helps the listener easily differentiate between the main characters. It's my preferred format for this story.

"Party of Liars" was quite the party. I don't read many thrillers as they feel too similar. This one felt unique, and the short chapters kept me reading long into the night. What an impressive debut!

4⭐

Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, and Kelsey Cox for the gifted DRC and ALC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

A Texas-sized Sweet Sixteen with a body count? Count me in. Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox is a fresh, twisty take on the locked-room whodunnit. The story kicks off at Sophie Matthews’s over-the-top birthday bash, hosted in her father’s newly renovated, maybe haunted, cliffside mansion in the Texas Hill Country. Just as the party reaches its peak, a body falls from the balcony, and what was meant to be a glittering night turns into a deadly unraveling. Told through the perspectives of several women: Dani, Sophie’s self-doubting stepmother; Órlaith, the superstitious Irish nanny; Mikayla, Sophie’s underestimated best friend; and Kim, the sharp and bitter ex-wife. This is a story thick with tension, secrets, and plenty of bad behavior.

This was a solid 4-star read for me. I really liked the multi-POV structure and how each character added another layer to the mystery. The way the storylines and motivations wove together kept me engaged, and I loved the subtle supernatural undercurrent, it never overtook the story but added the perfect eerie texture. There are a lot of unlikable characters here, and I genuinely never knew who I was supposed to be rooting for, which added to the fun, messy drama. Major Big Little Lies energy with a Southern Gothic twist.

And personally, I have to shout out the Bulverde setting. I grew up right off 1863, and it was so fun to recognize references and places. Very few books take place in this area, so seeing it used as the backdrop for a mystery like this was such a treat. That local familiarity gave the story a little extra magic for me.

I wasn’t totally shocked by the ending, but I still really enjoyed the way it all came together. A little wicked, a little wild, and a whole lot of drama, definitely recommend if you’re into character-driven mysteries with a luxe, dangerous vibe.


Party of Liars is out now. Huge thank you to Minotaur Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting myInstagram @speakingof.books.
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Most of Party of Liars takes place at one girl's big sweet 16 bash, which is also when her fancy house on the hill is opened to the neighbors and her dad’s guests - making it just as much about him, his new wife and their new baby girl as it is about the other daughter turning 16. Both the house and the party are extravagant, and there are so many secrets and lies in this family (and town) - and you know how secrets tend to come out and liars get caught when the booze is flowing freely…
This debut kept me on my toes while reading and listening (thanks to the publishers for both ARC and ALC copies through NetGalley in exchange for my opinions), and I was not at all expecting it to go how it did. I thought I had some ideas about what would happen but I was completely off, and I never would have predicted the ending. If you're looking for a mystery that will surprise you, check this one out. And if you've read it, let me know if you agree that it was unexpected!

Texas, where everything is BIG.
BIG party! It's Sophie's 16th birthday and her dad, Ethan, is lavishly throwing a party.
BIG house! An old mansion with secrets and possibly haunted is a great back drop.
BIG on drama! Ethan's ex-wife (Sophie's mom) shows up and stirs things up a bit.
BIG guest list! The cast of characters is many and I'm glad I knew this before going in to keep everyone in line.
BIG mystery! Before the candles are blown out, someone "falls" from the balcony.

With a huge list of characters, the suspects are many. I enjoyed the many points of view and red herrings thrown in to keep me guessing. This is a great debut and mystery fans will enjoy this party!

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advance copy.

This fictional book was really good! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this from beginning to end! It was well paced, easy to read and had a clear thesis! It was dark, mysterious and tense. It is in the thriller category and was really well executed! It is character driven, full of chaos and really dives deep into the complex relationships of family! This thriller book was engaging and had me wondering what was going to happen next! It’s full of twists that I did not see coming! Some of the themes expressed in this book are illusion versus reality, secrets and deception and consequences of actions. Everything is really bigger in Texas!

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox is a compulsively readable thriller with razor-sharp tension and an irresistible sense of dread. Centered around a glamorous gathering that unravels into a web of secrets, lies, and betrayal, this novel delivers the kind of suspense that keeps you flipping pages late into the night.

Cox has a knack for writing flawed, believable characters—each with their own motivations and murky pasts. The alternating perspectives and layered storytelling keep the narrative fresh and the reader constantly questioning who to trust. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, the story shifts, pulling the rug out from under you in the best way.

Fans of Big Little Lies, The Guest List, or The Hunting Wives will feel right at home in this glossy, dangerous world.

It’s glitz, it’s glam, it’s deadly.

Kelsey Cox’s Party of Liars is a slow-burn, high-stakes thriller that walks into the ballroom dripping in secrets and exits with a body count. Imagine a locked-room mystery wrapped in Texas heat, laced with scandal, layered in blood velvet cake — and you’ll still be unprepared.

Set in a once-haunted cliffside mansion in Texas Hill Country — now the site of Sophie Matthews' ultra-exclusive Sweet Sixteen — this story doesn’t ask if the party will turn deadly, it dares you to guess who pushed first.

Right before the birthday candles are blown out, a body falls from the balcony. And suddenly, every guest becomes a suspect. Every whisper hides a motive. And every woman in this house? Has a reason to want someone dead.

Locked room tension (think Agatha Christie style) with unreliable narrators galore.

I tore through this in one sitting, jaw clenched, annotating like I was trying to solve the case myself.

Buy the book, best advice I can give you.