Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Ava and Lena are the main characters who have been through a lot. Especially 13 years ago.

The black roses on the anniversary of that night added extra creep factor. See every year on that day, Ana receives a black rose which brings her back to that night. In order to get away, Ava is moving. She claims she's moving away to be with her boyfriend, but I truly don't think thats the point. There's a lot of mind f*(*ing in it.

Its told in two different timelines and isn't too hard to follow.

Thank you again NetGalley

2 POV and 2 friends and the dark secrets between them was the premise of this book.

Lena and Ava were two best friends since school. Something happened in a party attended by them which cast a dark shadow even in the present time lines. Ava threw a party when Lena was leaving her job, but there was something she was running from in reality.

My first book by author Lesley Sanderson, the premise was great. The story had different plot lines of lies and betrayal along with revenge. Lena was being tormented by someone for the past 13 years and that person was at the party. I liked how the author managed to get the past and present moving together.

The story was slow paced and suspense was low, it was not an atmospheric read that I expected. But it still managed to entertain me as I wanted to know who the culprit was.

Overall, a good read.

The Leaving Party is about Ava and Lena, two best friends living in a flat together. Ava is about to leave to go to the US with her boyfriend, Ben. Even though Lena is not happy about it, she has planned what is going to be a fantastic farewell party for Ava. Ava, however, has been keeping a huge secret from Lena. Every year, on the anniversary of an event which affected them both, Ava receives a black rose which makes her relive that fateful night all over again.

The plot sounded interesting and I was quite fascinated to find out what exactly had happened to them both thirteen years ago. However, I did not like either Ava or Lena at all. They both were quite needy and melodramatic in my opinion. This made it incredibly hard to get into the book.

The entire book happens during the farewell party. For people who drank such a strong rum punch, the partygoers were remarkably sober. But maybe they could hold their liquor better than mine. I also could not help wondering if they were having any fun between Ava's and Lena's antics. 

One detail that stood out for me was the fact that throughout the story Ava could not find her phone and so was unable to contact Ben. I don't know about other people but generally if you are in a relationship with someone, especially if you know them well enough to move in with them, you would be able to contact him/her without your phone. But maybe that's just me. 

The story did not really have a climax in my opinion. When the most traumatic event of the book happened, I do not even think my heart rate changed. It felt like just another part of the party. And when the villain was revealed, honestly I was not that surprised.

Violence: Moderate
Sexual Content: Sexual harassment is mentioned but it is not graphic
Profanity: A little swearing
Religious Themes: None
Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: Some mention of social smoking and drinking. Underage drinking

Ava is moving to be with her boyfriend-not a minor change, but leaving the country. She's escaping, but first she has to get through her leaving party. When another black rose arrives on her doorstep the morning of the party, an anonymous reminder that 13 years later someone knows what she did and won't let her forget, Ava fears the sender may be a guest and how they want the night to end.

The Leaving Party is a fun, quick read about secrets and obsession, and what happens when they collide. The story is told in two timelines, both present day and a different party in 2005. Everything happens in the course of one night.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own. #TheLeavingParty #suspense

Ava is leaving her life to move to New York and marry Ben
Lena is her bezzy and lets just say she Isn’t that keen on Ava going, whatever she may be saying outwardly
But still she arranges a ‘leaving party’ full of surprises and wants to make it a night Ava wont forget, she succeeds!

Of course there is a back story that intermingles with Ava and Lena’s chapters so it goes present ( at the party ) and past ( at another party) between them both, the other party is where something happens that comes back to haunt them both at this party! Not as confusing as I have made it seem 😃

There is a good mix of unwelcome guests at the leaving party including estranged sisters, ‘handy’ ex bosses and other folk who really shouldn’t be there

I wasn’t over keen on either Ava or Lena, both needy in different ways and the party itself in its description of being so great and wonderful felt anything but tbh ( not quite sure how people in books drink so much and mix everything for hours and literally usually just stagger a bit )

My main bugbear was Ava waiting for Ben to turn up from America for the party ( he is late ) and cant contact him as she doesn’t have his mobile number ‘to hand’ only her Mum does and she’s out having dinner and cant get it, a bit un surreal ( or surreal ) to me

But it was a viable psychological thriller that did beg lots of questions from the reader, read well and easy and was a quick, non threatening read of at times suspense and at other times a look at obsessive friendship

6/10
3 Stars

“Every year on the same day, on the anniversary, I receive a single black rose. Thirteen years of dark petals, jagged thorns, dredging up memories I’ve tried to forget”

Just these words in the blurb grabbed my attention so I jumped in.

Ava is about to leave for a new start with her boyfriend Ben. Her friend Lena throws her a leaving party. When spooky stuff starts to happen she’s afraid her past is coming back to haunt her.

This story took a bit of time to get into as we get two points of view as well as two different timelines.

Once I got used to the way the story is being told I enjoyed the story.

Can’t say I loved either of the characters but it’s got a good storyline.

Lena and Ava have been friends forever. But now Ava is leaving to trial to the US for a new life with her boyfriend Ben.
Something happened to Ava thirteen years ago that changed her life, and every year on the anniversary she receives a black rose, reminding her of what she has done.
Lena has organized a large going away party for Ava, and it becomes clear the the rose sender is at the party, and they want something.
A compelling story with a large cast of characters who could be the tormented, leaves no you guessing until the end.

1..5 stars rounded up

I'm torn between giving it one or two stars. Sure, I always rounded up the half star, but at least, I know the real value.
Anyway, The Leaving Party took a lot of pages before it formed a suspense. But honestly, there was zero suspense on the book and I could careless about the girls, Lena and Ava.
Ava is leaving to her new life and her past is catching up to her fast. It was supposed to be thrilling as everything (even the flashback) was told in the span of one night. But I couldn't feel the tension, the suspense, the mystery.
And the real culprit was just, meh.
It was a so-so book from the start to the end.

In order to understand the present, the author takes us back to the past and the two main characters Lena and Ava do the talking.

During the whole story there is an air of secrecy and creepiness. What makes it even more sinister is that you don't know where the danger is coming from. Who can you trust? Who has your best interests at heart? Who wishes you the best life you can get? Only one answer is possible, right? It has to be your best friend. 

But if she is your best friend, why do you want to go to the other end of the world? Is she for real or does she lead you on a merry dance?

Who is keeping secrets? Or do they all have things to hide?

A party is synonym to fun, but a leaving party unlocks a whole range of emotions.

I finished the book in a day. I just had to know how it would come together. A gripping story that I most certainly enjoyed. 4 stars.

Thank you, Lesley Sanderson and Bookouture

Ava is leaving to start a new life in New York with Ben. Lena her best friend and housemate is throwing on last party for her before she jets off. The day starts of badly. Ava receives a black rose. She’s been getting them for the last twelve years on the anniversary of an event we learn about during the course of the book.
During the night. More roses appear and strange things start happening. So the person Ava fears most must be one of her friends. But who?
The story is told during the evening by both Ava and Lena with flashbacks to 2005.
Started slowly then build up to a crescendo. I couldn’t stop turning the pages fast enough. High five for Lesley Sanderson. A thoroughly engaging read.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the arc in return for an honest review.
#theleavingparty. #lesleysanderson #bookouture

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review of it.

The story revolves around two main characters Ava and Lena. The story is told in the present day with every other chapter a flashback to 2005. The story gives a picture of an obsessive friendship, where one character will do anything in their power to stop the other one from leaving and moving on with their life. The story begins and ends with a party, the events of the first one overshadow the events at the second one.

When one of the women has no other friends beyond this one friendship, they try to hang on tooth and nail to the other one. They try to isolate them from other friends, from their family, layer lie upon lie, scare them with the past. They hide their things (cell phone, passport) in an effort to force them to stay. An interesting take on the word 'obsession'.

I sat down to read this book before dinner... and didn't put it down until I fell asleep that night. I mean... who needs to eat when there's a crazy psychopath taunting Ava about a tragic event from her past.

For years, Ava's received a black rose on the anniversary of the event she's tried so hard to forget. But now that she's leaving the UK for good to be with her handsome boyfriend Ben in the US, the taunts have increased. On the day of Ava's leaving party-- so perfectly planned by her best friend Lena-- black roses and a black cake are delivered and now Ava's passport is missing. Whoever has been torturing her for the past 13 years wants to make this leaving party a night to remember.

Ava's friends and co-workers are all at her house to wish her well... or are they? Is one of her friends responsible for the black roses? What exactly is their end game? You'll have to read the book to find out!

This story is told in two timelines. Past, present and between two characters, friends.

We learn that something happened years ago that overshadows them.
So when a leaving party is noted and strange things start to happen, it’s spooky and concerning.

It’s a good premise to the story and I enjoyed it, however, as the heat started and I was expecting kind kings of flame with pitch power and pace, it just didn’t happen.
I was trying to urge myself to get excited but it just kept the same momentum.

this book was just ok to me. the story of two friends and what bound them together. it was told in both their voices, the secret was fairly predictable. a bit slow going but ok

I didn't connect with this book at all since I found the plot unbelievable and predictable at the same time. I didn't relate to the characters or their lives ... just didn't do it for me.

Unfortunately I'm struggling to find anything I really liked about this book. The plot was relatively obvious from the first couple of chapters, the switched perspectives and parallel narratives of the two parties took me a while to get my head around, none of the characters were particularly likeable/relatable, and ultimately this just fell short for me. I basically only finished it to confirm what I thought I already knew.

At its core, this is very much a story about the toxicity of codependency.
The real intriguing in this one is the various relationships, particularly that of Lena and Ava. They have an unusual and smothering relationship, which Ava wants to break away from while Lena wants to continually cling to it. This showcases the difficulty in setting boundaries in an unhealthy codependent relationship.
Escapism is another running theme in this book. In Lena's case, pretending things aren't happening and hoping they will go away. In Ava's case, running away from problems and from the past and believing those things won't follow her. It stands to show how disillusioned our main characters really are.

As for the mystery at its center, it was bit of slow burn which I didn't mind. If you read these types of book often, you will figure it out fairly quickly, however, that didn't deter my enjoyment of the book. I enjoyed how things were slowly unraveled and came together in the end. Overall, I found the ending to be a satisfying one that continued the ongoing theme of codependency and escapism presented throughout the rest of the novel.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"The Leaving Party" is the story of Ava and Lena, best friends since they were young, and inseparable as adults. Until now: Ava is leaving to live in New York with her boyfriend, Ben, and Lena doesn't know what she's going to do without her. She can't let her best friend go without a send-off, so she arranges a surprise party in Ava's honour. But Ava may not be the only surprised by the party, and maybe Lena will have to say goodbye to more than just her friend...

The story zigzags between two timelines - a party attended by the two girls thirteen years before, and the titular leaving party set in the present day. At the former, we are aware that something terrible and tragic occurred, which is gradually revealed in flashbacks; at the former, things start unravelling for Ava as it appears someone is trying to sabotage her move to America. 

I enjoyed both storylines, and the author does a great job of slowly increasing the tension. There are plenty of twists and turns, and I genuinely couldn't decide who was responsible for Ava's misfortunes. I enjoyed trying to unpick the final twist, and also watching the friendship of Lena and Ava both form and unravel. 

A tense, well-paced thriller with some real surprises. I look forward to reading more from this author. 

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an intense read, I was captivated from the start. This book goes back and forth from what happened at the party back in 2005 when Ava and Lena were teenagers, to present-day at Ava’s leaving party, and Ava and Lena’s POV.
Ava is about to leave the country to live with her fiancé Ben, Ava and Lena have been inseparable since they were teens, and more so after events in 2005 when Lena saved Ava’s life, Lena wants to throw a leaving party that will be remembered, planning every last detail. But strange things happen during the party, black roses appearing, who is sending them? Everyone is under suspicion.
All of the time I was reading it I suspected one person, it had to be them surely, oh how wrong I was. It was full of twists and turns not just in the present but in the past too.
This is the first book I have read by Lesley Sanderson but wow, she wrote this so well and it flowed smoothly, I will be looking out for more of her books.

Ava is going to join Ben in New York. Her best friend Lena has organised a leaving party for her in the house they share. But what begins as a straightforward farewell attended by friends and work colleagues quickly descends into a nightmare for Ava.

The bulk of this story takes place during the party held in the house shared by Ava and Lena. In between there are glimpses of the girls' lives 15 years back and a tragic accident which has affected both of them. Each year on the anniversary of the accident Ava has received a black rose. She has no idea who is sending them, but feels they mean her harm. Tonight, as she looks forward to her new life with Ben in America, another rose arrives. As the guests join her Ava begins to analyse each of them, wondering if they could be behind the tormenting symbol she has received for the last 13 years. Could one of her close friends or work colleague want to do her harm? And if so, why?
Told from Ava and Lena's perspective this story is cleverly written so the deeper you get into it, the more suspects there are to choose from. Everyone, it appears, has a motive.

Highly recommended.