A huge thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ooof. I initially picked up this book because of the reading rainbow challenge. This book was just not for me at all. I love mystery novels but this book was everything I disliked about mystery novels. There are a lot of reviews comparing this to Big Little Lies and (at least for the tv show, since I haven't read the book) I personally don't get that comparison. This book had way too many things going on, bad metaphors and similes, a boring plot and boring characters. The characters were flat and annoying.

The main mystery of this book I really didn't care for because it was not presented in a smart way. With too many side characters all having a motive for what went down at the block party, did nothing for me or for the "big reveal" at the end chapters. The fact that there were a lot of side characters with their own motives was too chaotic for me. I felt like I was reading three books in one (and not in a good way). It was also too long, almost 400 pages for something that should have been 300 pages or less.

Don't let this review stop you though! Definitely pick up this book if you like mystery, gossip and Big Little Lies (the tv show).

If Desperate Housewives was a book, this would be it! This story was a dual POV (in third person) of mother and daughter, with split timelines. It showed current day and leading up to it with gunshots at the local neighborhood block party, while we try to figure out who was shot.

I read a few reviews on this book prior to release raving about it, and I just HAD to have it. Unfortunately, this one was just not for me. Though I love the chaos and the drama that comes with the neighborhood, this was a little too much. With dual POV, multiple times lines and SO many characters, it was really hard to not only keep up, but really to remember what the overall plot was. There were too many storylines with each character, and though the FMC ties it all together being the “drunk busybody” of the neighborhood, all up in everyone’s business-as the reader it was still hard to keep up.

The ending wrapped up okay where all the missing pieces were filled in, but for me the slow burn and the fast paced wrap up just didn’t hit the bar.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The his was just an okay read for me. I feel like the author was trying too hard at times l. For example, Alex’s drinking problem. There are more subtle ways she could have woven it into the story. And Leddy’s “conservationist” ideas. It was like there was a formula of “trendy” characters that needed to be followed. I did like the aspect of starting with the crime and working from the back to that day. I didn’t like the other neighborhood’s message board.

(I was requested by NetGalley and St Martin's Press to review the ARC for The Block Party. This is my honest review)

The annual block party on Alton Road is one that all the neighbors plan for. However, this year the Block Party is different when it results in murder.

The residents of Alton Road are quite upscale in style and presence and there are plenty of neighbors that The Block Party describes however there are two main narrators: Lettie and her mom Alex.

On the first block party new neighbors move in that send ripples of concern for various reasons amongst the 'Altonites' from Lettie taking notice of the college aged Jay, his beautiful mom Mandy and her surly husband.

However as the party ends and life continues on Alton Road the chain of events goes in a direction that no one anticipates. From secrets exposed, to a past that results in revenge plots , and ending in a pivotal point of obsession and divorce. This suspense thriller has it all when it comes to Alton Road.

The characters all have their own challenges and flaws that make them all the more interesting. While the story could have used some greater explanation towards the end it was regardless an enjoyable read. Until next time, happy reading

One of my favorite genres is the neighborhood drama. You just never know what might happen, and Jamie Day mixes together all the crucial ingredients to come up with a twisty, suspenseful not only what happened, with some heavy foreshadowing, but also who is the victim and who is the murderer. I especially enjoyed that not only are the moms in The Block Party all hiding something, but so are the dads and kids. The return to Alton Road over a three-year period really works in this one. I wouldn't change a thing.

Pub: July 18 - out now!

Thank you @stmartinspress & NetGalley for the gifted arc to read and review.

The Block Party is part domestic suspense, part soap opera and all kinds of fun.

Everything explodes at the yearly Alton Road Memorial Day party. If my extensive reading and TV watching has taught me anything, it's that if there is an important party, things are going down. Day doesn't disappoint and this party is one for the books. It provides a great framework for the story: it opens with literal shots fired, and then takes us back a year to the events leading up to the party. Everyone is a potential suspect or victim …

Jamie Day strikes a balance between serious topics like alcoholism and abuse and smaller dramas like a first kiss and an ongoing vendetta against "The Bug Man."

If you need an escape, or want to find out more about "The Bug Man,” head over to The Block Party on Alton Road. Just try to make it out alive.

Were you a fan of Desperate Housewives, Dynasty or Knots Landing? Like a little neighborhood intrigue with a side of murder? If so, pick up this twisty domestic drama. There are secrets galore, dysfunctional relationships, lies, cheating and much more to discover. The author does a great job of taking all the separate strands of this neighborhood’s story and ties everything together into its climactic conclusion. After reading this book you may never look at your neighbors quite the same.

Although I have heard a lot of good reviews on this book, I really struggled getting involved in it. There are quite a few characters to keep track of. It took me about midway to really connect. Much like Knot's Landing or Desprate Housewives - there are a lot of secrets on Alton Road. On the night of the annual summer block party there is a murder and we go back one year to get some answers. The author does a nice job of tying up all the loose ends of the many storylines.

This is a tough one for me to review; in many respects, I found it a bit cheesy and stereotypical - you have the neighborhood drunk, the neighborhood tramp, the neighborhood cheater, the neighborhood dysfunctional couple. I also struggled to connect or relate to any of the characters, which I really need to do if I'm going to fully immerse myself into the story. But on the plus side, it was a twisty storyline that kind of flitted all over the place to keep you guessing throughout the entire story, which was fun - every time I thought I knew where it was going, it did an about face and I was in the dark and guessing again. And the author did a great job of weaving multiple, seemingly unrelated storylines and wrapping them up into a nice package by the end. So overall, a decent debut by an author that has potential to be great. Looking forward to what she might write next!

Do you know your Neighbors? After reading this book, you may decide not to!

Block Parties sound fun don't they? Food, fun, festivities, and frosty beverages. What's not to like? The residents of Alton Road gather once a year for a totally wicked time, their Block Party. Little did they know someone has murder on their minds.

Going back in time we learn about the families, friends, and enemies who live in this neighborhood and we discover all the reasons why.

A domestic drama that was entertaining though it felt a little soap-opera-ish to me.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio.

The Block Party by Jamie Day is her debut novel.

The Block Party is based over two time periods and two point of views between the mom, Alex and her daughter, Lettie. I was not a big fan of Lettie throughout the book but felt she redeemed herself towards the end.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the neighborhood online chat. It is so relatable to how you see them online. I also really liked the ending and how all the loose ends came together.

One con is that there are several additional characters/neighbors to keep up with. I think the author did a fairly decent job with them though. it was a bit confusing at times and took me a bit to remember who everyone was.

I enjoyed this book overall but did find some parts slow and drawn out. If you like drama, mystery or trying to find out the ending you would like this!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Block Party
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Author: Jamie Day

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: On the night of the annual Summer block party, the Meadowbrook community Facebook page lights up with posts reporting sirens descending on the desirable and exclusive cul-de-sac neighborhood on Alton Road. Bit by bit, the comments trickle in, some taking pleasure in their neighbors’ misfortune and others showing concern. The truth eventually comes out. It's not an accident, or a drowning, or a fire, as some had predicted. For the first time in forty years, there's been a murder in Meadowbrook.

The residents of Alton Road—The Fox family, the core of the neighborhood but each with secrets of their own; the Adair Family, the seemingly perfect all-American family; the Thompson Family, on the brink of an explosive divorce; The Kumars, the mysterious "new neighbors"; Brooke Bailey, the "Black Widow"; and Gus Fisher, the quirky salesman— are entangled in a web of secrets and scandal unbeknownst to the outside world and even each other.

Who was murdered at the block party? Who committed the murder? And why? As the night unfolds, the residents will discover that the real danger lies within their own block and nothing—and no one—is ever as it seems.

My Thoughts: The residents of Alton Road are a memorable bunch. Each has a secret or two. There is betrayal, lies, manipulation, and a web of secrets. The story opens with a bang of a murder and slowly builds backwards with secret upon secret mixed with betrayal and whoa. There are a plethora of characters to sort through, but it is worth it once you get it down.

Mandy and Samir Kumar are the newest residents with adult son Jay. The Fox family consisting of Alex and Nick with daughter Lettie. The Adair family consisting of Emily and Ken with sons Logan and Dylan. The Thompson family consisting of Willow and Evan with daughter Riley. Brooke Bailey stands on her own, losing her husband when he went overboard during a cruise. Alex drinks too much and her sister, Emily is the local real estate agent. Emily’s trust in her husband to remain faithful is being tested when he shows interest in Mandy. Lettie and Riley are enemies. Riley was dating Dylan. Lettie teams up with Jay to get “revenge” on Riley for ratting her out at school. The story is narrated by Alex and Lettie, in their POV, with a little social media transcripts sprinkled in. The story opens up in present day Memorial Day and builds backwards over the last year with the incidents and building of the characters. The characters were well developed with depth, banter, mystery, and creatively built. The author’s writing style was complex, twisty, suspenseful, and engaging. The author does a great job with the flow and pace of the book, building the plot with secret unraveling and twisty layers, and the ending was whoa when all of the secrets came tumbling down.

The frog and the scorpion story is a classic and likely my favorite scene from the book. This was more of a neighborhood/domestic thriller. It is a Desperate Housewives vibe mixed with deception, betrayal, and a plethora of secrets. I had the pleasure of having both the digital and audiobook arc of this novel. I preferred the audiobook. I would recommend picking up this novel. For a debut novel, it was entertaining and fun to read at the same time.

Give me all the neighborhood drama stories. The Block Party was a great summer read that I enjoyed poolside. This was a fun read that kept me entertained. and one I would recommend adding to your TBR.

On the night of the annual summer block party, there has been a murder. Who did it and why? This book takes readers back one year earlier and no one and nothing is as it seems.

I had high hopes for a neighborhood drama thriller, but it didn’t end up being the page turner that I was itching for.

I liked the dual mother/daughter POV, but the plot was a bit slow for me. I almost wish it jumped between the past and present throughout the book to keep the pace of the hook up, but the present was only at the beginning and then abruptly at the end.

Not my personal pick for a thriller, but kept me distracted while on the Peloton.

If you like snooping on your neighborhood’s NextDoor page, this is for you! It’s a juicy neighborhood drama, and I will say the neighborhood chats were by far my favorite part. 🤣

That being said, if you like scandalous neighborhood dramas, I think you’ll like this one! If you are hanging on to that last bit of summer this year, pick this one up before diving into spooky season reads. It’s one of those scandalous dramas where everyone has a secret. And can I say the neighbor with an OnlyFans account was the most grounded!? 🤣

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the copy in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars
Block Party is a scandalous summer neighborhood thriller. This story has a whole host of interesting characters, intertwining relationships, and a lot of shocking, even lurid backstories. It’s full of dark secrets and a whole lot of enticingly good fun! This rich neighborhood showcases families behaving badly, though they are somehow redeemable and sympathetic for the most part. Everyone is shocked, but no one is really surprised when the worst happens.

Our story starts at a Memorial Day block party in the present day, while the majority of the story reflects back on the block party from last year, and the events leading up to the present day. When a person ends up dead, the story takes off and boy are there a lot of twists, turns and potential victims.

The characters in this story, admittedly, have a lot of secrets to keep buried, but somehow the author makes you feel for them, at least to an extent. They certainly have issues, but the women of the block are also quite close to one another and seem to truly care. Jamie Day seems to strike the right balance of grey characters full of shady choices who somehow aren’t wholly reprehensible, but oddly understandable.

Block Party is a juicy, dark drama that also strikes a deeper note that feels important to ponder. It’s a lot of twisted, toxic fun, but it’s also a contemplative and satisfying thriller. I’m thoroughly impressed with the debut novel!

Thank you to Jamie, St. Martin’s, and Netgalley for an advance copy of The Block Party.


Alton Road is a cul-de-sac of secrets with it’s wealthy residents proving that money can’t buy class. The annual block party kicks off with booze and fake smiles but ends in murder. Told from multiple points of view in the year leading up to the murder, we get a glimpse into this posh world where nothing as it seems and many neighbors have secrets worth killing for.

This was a fantastic summer read, perfect for devouring poolside while sipping on white claws.
An entire cast of unlikable characters makes for a fun ride when you’re trying to figure out who dies and who committed the murder, anyone can go and I’m cheering for all of them to fail! I know there are readers who don’t enjoy those types of books, but I love a roster of ‘love to hate’ characters as long as they’re entertaining.

I loved the comic relief of the neighborhood facebook group comments in between chapters.

The pacing was good, I enjoyed the short chapters and the story moving along quickly leading to quite the reveal at the ending tying up all of the loose ends that were introduced throughout the pages.

I love a good neighborhood thriller, so I was excited to get my hands on this one.

The Alton Road Memorial Day block party is the event to be at each year, but this one’s different – someone is dead.

Rewind a year and we meet the cast of characters. There’s Alex Fox, the queen bee of the neighborhood, and her husband Nick and daughter Lettie. There’s Alex’s sister, Emily Adair, and her philandering husband Ken, and two sons. There’s young widow, Brooke Bailey, who’s rumored to have killed her husband. There’s divorcing Willow and Evan Thompson, and their daughter, Riley. And then there’s new neighbors Samir and Mandy Kumar, and their delinquent son, Jay, who come to the street and set in motion a year no one will soon forget.

Told through dual points of view, we follow the goings-on on Alton Road that lead up to the fateful block party murder and whodunit.

For fans of Desperate Housewives and Big Little Lies, this delicious drama was full of twists and turns that made for one satisfying beach read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jamie Day and St. Martin’s Press for an early copy of this book for an honest review.

This must be the most dysfunctional group of neighbors! Each year the street holds a block party, which becomes deadly. Gun shots are fired and the police arrive. But who is dead? We are taken back to the year before where we learn about all the crazy things going on. Many, many secrets are revealed. Many are really bad, but also some positive things happen in some of the relationships.

I really enjoyed this book. The different POVs and how it went from the past up to the present. So much drama from beginning to end., I couldn’t stop reading.