I really thought I’d love this book…unfortunately I was wrong. One of my all time favorite books is Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty and even though this book follows a very similar formula, The Block Party falls short. The reader is privy to the information that someone was killed at the block party in the beginning of the story but unlike BLL, the plot/writing didn’t have the momentum to keep me interested in who did it. I pushed myself to finish it but considered DNFing the story several times. The resolution was decent but not jaw dropping. Overall, this just wasn’t the book for me.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

One of my favorite thrillers of the summer! So many twists and turns, secrets and lies, character reveals, and revelations. The pages just flew by as each subsequent disclosure dropped.

I have issues with these kind of “communities”. I’m all about being neighborly: helping out each other when in need, look out for each other’s safety. But that doesn’t mean that you should be in each other’s business. Don’t try to provide free therapy. Don’t over analyze how people live their lives. Unfortunately people in this community were taking living on the same road little too seriously

Everyone in this community were somehow related: there are sisters. One sister’s husband was childhood friends with other sister’s neighbor. Same sister’s son was dating other sister’s daughter’s best friend, New comers? Sure, we can make some connections too. Do you see what I’m saying when I said everyone was in each other’s life! I have never seen a case where that type of situation ended well.

They had a block party every Memorial Day. Between two Memorial Days, lives of the people living on Alton Road changed drastically. There was murder, assault, and many more triggering events won’t be listed here. It was a good page turner if you need palate cleanser, but it wasn’t an “OMG” book

This kinda reminded me a bit of the tv show Desperate Housewives, following all the gossip, lies and deceptions of families who live on the same street in the suburbs. I loved the family dynamics and how it was told from the mothers and daughters POV. There was so much drama and secrets I was so invested! The only thing I found a bit weird was that the mother’s perspective was in third person and the daughters chapters were first person. Once I got used to it though it started to bother me less.

Really enjoyed this book! I loved the drama surrounding the neighborhood, and the back and forth chapters between mother and daughter point of view. Would certainly recommend for a quick, mystery/drama read!

🌟🌟🌟🌟 'The Block Party' takes you on a whirlwind journey through the lives of the residents in an exclusive cul-de-sac on Alton Road. It's the kind of place where everything seems picture-perfect on the surface, but beneath that lies a tangled web of secrets and scandals that even the neighbors are unaware of.

The story kicks off with a bang, quite literally, as a murder occurs during the annual summer block party. It's a gripping start that immediately draws you in, and you can't help but wonder who did it and why. But here's the twist – the narrative takes you back one year earlier, unveiling the various rivalries and betrayals that set the stage for this shocking event. This dual timeline structure adds depth and intrigue, allowing you to connect the dots as you delve deeper into the characters' lives.

Each resident has their own secrets, motivations, and hidden agendas. You'll find yourself trying to decipher the true nature of their relationships and guessing what lies beneath their polished exteriors.

In a nutshell, if you're into mysteries with a side of suburban intrigue, 'The Block Party' is worth a read. It's a rollercoaster of secrets and scandals that keeps you engaged, even if you occasionally find yourself navigating through a maze of complexities. 🏡📚🤫 #BookReview #TheBlockParty

How well do you really know your neighbors? This is a book about the families that live on an exclusive cul-de-sac called Alton Road. They all have secrets they would rather stay hidden. You also get the gossip from an online "chat group" that is the rest of the town speculating about the families that live on Alton Road. Over the course of a year, you learn about the secrets and lies. During the annual summer block party tempers and secrets come to light and someone is murdered. Jamie Day does a great job of building suspense. There are many people that could be the murderer and many motives for murder. Who will be the victim and what will be the reason? This book kept me guessing until the surprising ending.

I loved the Block Party! There were plenty of characters with all of their own issues going on between them but not so many that I couldn't keep track which means there was plenty to keep me in suspense for the duration of the book

I enjoyed this neighborhood suspense from Jamie Day. This book was set on Alton Lane over the course of one year from Memorial Day to the next. I enjoyed the neighborhood setting and the block party element. The story is told between the perspective of Lettie and her mother Alex. I liked having both an adult and teen perspective of events. The story is paced well and kept me wanting to read. I also enjoyed the community chat discussions interspersed throughout the story. I would recommend this to any suspense readers as well as those that enjoy books set in neighborhoods or amongst friends!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the advanced copy of The Block Party. I was drawn to the book solely on the cover and the title. (It happens to the best of us.) It is always a red flag for me when I start a book and find that I have no desire to pick it back up. This is usually due to a lack of connection with the characters and/or a dull, confusing plot. This book had all of those things. Eventually, I stopped reading because life is short and there's no reason to waste time on a book that just isn't working for you. But personally, stories about people with a drinking problem are huge triggers for me which made putting this one down for good guilt-free.

If you like neighborhood dramas, holidays and parties-this is a novel for you! Jamie Day's Block Party is a delicious twist of a book, centered around a murder that takes place during the annual Memorial Day party on an exclusive block in Meadowbrook, MA. The story centers around neighbors on the same street, many with scandalous secrets, and a glimpse into their private lives and how it comes to an explosive conclusion during the famous block party. The story is told in both the present day and the lead up to the party, connecting the dots and scandals along the way. The pace is quick and the suspense builds until the fireworks are lit. If you are looking for a fun, scandalous and twisty read-grab this book and settle in.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I received an ARC of this book from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
------------------------------------------------

This book was a literary, fast-version of 'days of our live's to me. Each character has their own trauma, trigger warnings, and drastic plot twists. This book follows five families, each of which have their own drama (but like soap opera drama on steroids.)

I did not think 'too much' existed in mystery/thriller books until I read this one. Listen, I love as twist as much as one can, but this book just had **too much** going on. One twist happens, but then two pages later another twist and another. It definitely kept me engaged, but I also think this book could have been crafted into like three books and been much more fulfilling. I found that I didn't really see growth/connect with any one character because there was just ~~too much happening~~.

I enjoyed this book, despite the rollercoaster pace twists, but felt it was missing some depth. I did enjoy the overarching concept that each family has "stuff" going on despite how it looks to the outside world/community. I also enjoyed the fun interjections from the community Facebook group, because well, I love stalking my own and the drama spilling it always encompasses.

********SPOILERS COMING**************

************************************************

Normally, I do not talk about spoilers in a review, but there are a few I feel like need to be addressed. For my own sake.

The Bug Man,,,, was he a red herring? I could have done without him.

Mandy and Samir just happened to be on the same cruise as Brooke and her late husband....and she just pushes him over??? This might have been the most disappointing plotline in my opinion. There was so much potential here, and it was wisped away from us in 10 lines.

The OnlyFans plotline? WHY.

******************************************************

The residents of Alton Road have an annual block party every summer, but at this year's party there has been a murder. As you discover all of the neighbor's are keeping secrets and they will reveal themselves as the story unfolds.

This is a fast paced story that has many twists and turns before you discover the truth at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

The Block Party by Jamie Day is a literary rollercoaster that immerses readers in the intricacies of suburban life with an irresistible blend of suspense and dark humor. Day's skillful storytelling weaves a web of secrets and hidden desires among the seemingly ordinary residents of Alton Road, where a seemingly innocent yearly neighborhood block party becomes a catalyst for uncovering long-buried truths and scandals. With sharp wit and vivid character development, Day expertly explores the complexities of human nature and the façades we wear in our day-to-day lives. This gripping novel will keep you guessing until the very end and leave you pondering the unexpected twists and turns that define both the narrative and the enigmatic souls inhabiting this captivating suburban enclave. A very entertaining read!

I like how this is told in a dual timeline. The main narrative goes back one year in the past follows the residents of Alton Road as we learn the different secrets each family is keeping and follow them right up to the present day block party. Sprinkled throughout the book are present day updates on a "next door"-type social platform of nearby neighbors trying to figure out what exactly just happened at the Alton Road Block Party which resulted in a murder. These present day social chats were spot on, it truly felt like you could be reading an active neighborhood board and not fiction.

I don't want to give away any details, but Alton Road is full of interesting characters, and there were a lot of surprises along the way. Definitely pick this one up for a fun read!

Great atmosphere. Great characters. Great pace. And great writing. I will definitely be reading Jamie Day’s future books!

This was a great book: suspenseful and nonstop. The only thing was -- there is a lot going on and a lot of characters so it can be hard to keep them all straight.

“The Block Party” had so much promise-a domestic fiction/thriller is typically right up my alley! However, something about the execution was a bit off. There was so much “telling” regarding side stories that the major plot became a bit lost to me. Perhaps there were just too many characters for me to follow, but by the last fifth of the book, I found the story to be dragging on. It was an okay read, but not the fun summer book I had been envisioning. 3 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.

Ooo, this was messy! This is the perfect example of a story that has not a single likeable character but it's written in such a way to add to the story and make it so intriguing and entertaining. This was a super quick read that just didn't stop. There was constantly something happening or being revealed. The only part that was a little much was the constant preachiness of Lettie. Otherwise, a really fun read.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Well, when I was offered this book, I was hoping I would enjoy it as much as Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. It’s got a similar vibe, but not quite the same.

At first, I was having a hard time keeping my characters straight. And there were def some characters I cared less about.



What I Liked:

The cover. Gonna be seeing this book on lots of summer reading lists because of the cover.

The setting. Books in a suburban type setting tend to have lots of juicy secrets.



Bottom line: While I was reading it, I did enjoy this book for the most part. There was a bit of “let’s get to the big reveal” from time to time. But if I’m being honest, a couple of months later, after reading the book and getting ready to write the review has made me glad I jotted down a few notes because it’s not sticking with me. Overall, good but not great.



*This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*