Big Little Lies meets Desperate Housewives. I'm not the fastest reader and had to put the book down a few times due to life interruptions, but I'm glad I finished it. Interesting ensemble (though I did get confused with so many couples at first (but as I mentioned before, life interruptions...that could be why?). Really enjoyed how the story wrapped up. Can't wait to read more from this author!

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. This is one block party that I'd like to be an observer of. So much drama and secrets going on in this Cul de sac.

This was a great debut novel for Jamie Day! The Block Party is a thrilling story from start to finish. It is filled with betrayal, revenge, secrets and murder. I loved the story being told from multiple point of views and I had fun seeing how the plot played out. Great read!

This book started a bit slower and then I could not put it down! I was finishing this late into the night. The story is told with alternating POV between mother and daughter and their experiences within their worlds. The story starts with a murder but leads you back in time through the twists of a year and leaves you wondering... who was killed and why? Add into this the humor of a neighborhood messenging board between chapters and you will be hooked. This is family drama in multiple life stages to the extreme!

The Block Party is an unpredictable thriller with a cast of shady, catty characters. Every year the neighborhood on Alton Road has a block party. This year is full of red and blue lights and sirens. Through glimpses into the past the story unfolds in way that the reader has no idea who the lights are for but no there are plenty of suspects. Secrets, lies, manipulations, and revenge sprinkle a story that leaves you on the edge of your seat with unpredictable suspense. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

The residents of the exclusive cul-de-sac on Alton Road are entangled in a web of secrets and scandal utterly unknown to the outside world, and even to each other.

On the night of the annual Summer block party, there has been a murder.

But, who did it and why takes readers back one year earlier, as rivalries and betrayals unfold—discovering that the real danger lies within their own block and nothing—and no one—is ever as it seems.

The Block Party is a snarky thriller, Desperate Housewives meets Next Door. Thank you St. Martin's for the digital review copy!

What a wonderful debut novel for Jamie Day! The Block Party is a book of domestic suspense that seems to have a little bit of everything: love, betrayal, addictions, revenge, secrets, and even a stalker. Author Jamie Day takes all these components and wraps them into a novel that is difficult to put down.

The novel is well-written in two alternating viewpoints of a mother and her daughter. Alex, a divorce mediator, is the mother of Lexie, a high school student. They live in an upper class neighborhood, and the story begins with a murder at their neighborhood block party. The author then takes the reader back a year to explore what events led up to the mysterious murder.

I look forward to reading many more books from this author!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are my own.

It’s a quite a fast paced and a highly engaging read to get into. I really loved the pacing and word building in it. Plus, the writing style was easy to get into it too! Overall, I enjoyed it

thank you St. Martins Press and NetGalley for this e arc in exchange for my honest review!
this was such a fun fast paced thriller! i loved the dual timelines and loved reading up until the huge climax of the story. i liked that basically everything was right in front of you but you just didn’t wanna believe it so you tried to find other answers. at least that’s how i felt! i loved only seeing alex and lettie’s POV instead of adding a ton of other characters to the mix. they were both seeing different sides to the same story of what was going on but we’re oblivious to it. some of the twists were a little expected but i didn’t mind so much bc i was still super surprised! but then some other twists i was not expecting! it kept me on my toes and i love that in thriller books.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: July 18, 2023
Food, games, fun…..and murder. The Memorial Day block party on Alton Road is an annual tradition, allowing all of the neighbours in the cul-de-sac to socialize and unwind. But this year, tensions are running high, families are at each others’ throats, secrets are going to be unleashed, and someone is going to end up dead. Which family will suffer the loss? Which family is responsible?
Full of taut suspense and enticing family drama, debut author Jamie Day delivers with “The Block Party”. The six family units that make up Alton Road each have their own collection of suspicious, dishonest characters, and right from the jump it’s a guessing game as to who was killed, and who did it.
The story is told from multiple POV’s; Alex, the party organizer and alcoholic, and her daughter, Lettie, seventeen years old and preparing for college. The time frame of “Party” goes from one Memorial Day block party to the following one a year later, when the dead body is discovered, which not only adds to character development but also succeeds to build tension and add suspicion to already suspicious characters.
“The Block Party” is not unique in its plot or its premise. In fact, ‘murderous party’ tropes seem to be so plentiful, it may well get its own genre. That being said, “Party” is still one heck of a read! The characters are plentiful but unique and relatable, and the plot twists are engaging and even unexpected! Day takes a complex, complicated relationship between characters, adds a surprising twist or two, and turns it into a digestible page turner! If this is an indication of Day’s writing talent and ability, sign me up for whatever comes next!

I did not read The Block Party through an educator lens.

Jamie Day's The Block Party kept me wanting to read, although, I did not particularly care for the characters. Something seemed missing with their development for me, but the plot drove the story and I definitely was captivated in wanting to know who did what. I always love a varying POV book and Day did a great job alternating between characters. Other than a bit more of the development of the characters, I appreciated this quick read.

Secrets abound in the 'burbs!

This novel is a clever mash-up of domestic drama, mystery, and thriller.  Scandal has slowly burrowed its way into the esteemed homes of Alton Road. It seems that in just one year, the entire cul-de-sac becomes infested with deceit and damage . . . the Bug Man may not be the only exterminator lurking around.

Some will survive the calamity that is brewing, yet no one will be left untouched. You may not like all the players and you may squirm at some of the subject matter . . . but this intricately woven storyline is undeniably a hit!

I highly recommend this one for your next beach read.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Block Party for my unbiased evaluation.  5 stars

I couldn’t put this book down. It started out quickly and sucked me in from the first pages and twisted and turned all throughout. The Block Party is a mysterious book detailing the lives of one affluent block in a Massachusetts town and a tragedy that happens at their annual block party. Told from the perspectives of Alex and her daughter Lettie, the book really gives the reader a bird’s eye view into the mystery and scandal surrounding their neighborhood. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen it would twist or turn! Fingers crossed they will turn this book into a series. I would binge it in a day!

Thank you so much, NetGalley, for allowing me to read this advanced copy. I will recommend this book from here on out!

The Block Party
by Jamie Day
Pub Date: July 18, 2023
St. Martin's Press
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
This summer, meet your neighbors.
The residents of the exclusive cul-de-sac on Alton Road are entangled in a web of secrets and scandal utterly unknown to the outside world, and even to each other.
On the night of the annual Summer block party, there has been a murder.
But, who did it and why takes readers back one year earlier, as rivalries and betrayals unfold—discovering that the real danger lies within their own block and nothing—and no one—is ever as it seems.
This one is good! The characters are exceptional! The secrets, twists are well crafted. I normally don't like long books but this one kept me reading.
This book should be turned into a series! 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

I agree with other reviewers: if you liked Big Little Lies, you will enjoy the book. There are multiple character lines (well done), neighborhood secrets, stalkers, murder, jealousy, revenge…it was great! A great mystery! I would definitely read this author again!

*I received a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

Residents of the exclusive Alton Road community of Meadowbrrok Mass. are gathering for their annual Memorial Day Block Party. Although their lives may appear perfect to the outside world, the people on Alton Road have secrets-- lots of secrets.

A mysterious new couple has moved in with their son, who has recently been kicked out of college. They don't decorate the inside of their house. They are rarely even seen outside. So why does Alex (short for Alexandria) see her brother-in-law sneaking away from their house late at night?

A mysterious stalker is tormenting another neighbor. (Why did her husband die so mysteriously?) Yet another neighbor is in a horrible marriage, held prisoner by a prenup she should never have signed.

A gun is missing and, before the block party is over, more than one person will be dead. Alton Road's residents are about to learn that secrets can be deadly.

Told in turns through the points of view of Alex (short for Alexandria) and her teen daughter, Lettie, the story takes the reader into the lives of this exclusive, wealthy neighborhood and its residents.

This is a swiftly moving no-holds-barred story. Full of twists and turns, it leads the reader into the privileged and messy lives of its many characters. I admit I got a few characters mixed up a couple times. Ken and Evan confused me because they were both a little one-dimensional, serving more as a backdrop to their wives. I think both could be drawn out a little more, considering their roles in the story. For the most part, all the male characters are more one-dimensional. An exception would be Jay, who plays more of a starring role. The females are more fully developed and carry the story. This is why the ending is a shocker. There is zero foreshadowing.

I enjoyed this story. It does move swiftly, without getting bogged down in detail. It moves back and forth in time, which was hard to follow in a couple of places. However, it didn't detract from the overall story.

Read this story if...
... you love small town- community stories
... you love mysteries

If you liked Big Little Lies this book is for you!!

The Block Party tells the story of multiple upper-class families living in a cul-de-sac (Alton Road) that opens up with a double homicide at annual Memorial Day block party. We do not know who has died. We then go back in time and read about events leading up to the block party.

There are several characters and plot lines and the author does a fantastic job at keeping the story moving this way. We find out that there are many deadly secrets in this neighborhood and it is very thrilling to discover.

Overall I very much enjoyed this authors writing style. The story was fast paced, exciting, and kept me engage from start to finish.

Alton Road is a neighborhood where you won't see a Honda Civic in one's driveway but Samir's Lexus, Brooke's Mercedes, and Riley's Beamer. Only 17-year-old Lettie drives a rusty Hyundai Santa Fe, but everybody knows she prefers her bike to reduce her carbon footprint. However, as much as the flashy cars are for everyone to see, the secrets of every family are carefully hidden. You may think you know when everybody is home, but discovering what happens behind the closed door is challenging.

"More is more and less is a bore" seems to be the motto for the plot. There is a double homicide, alcohol abuse, drugs, domestic violence, and sex with a minor. It turns out that beautiful wives can be tormented by their past traumas, and handsome husbands can use their good looks to cover their pathological psychological problems. Alex, the marriage counselor, and Nick's wife, clearly becomes an alcoholic, while her sister, Emily, who lives next door, tries to repair her marriage, but it seems impossible. A beautiful widow, Brooke, has her own secrets - and her own stalker. This is just the beginning.

The novel's timeline starts with the double murder at the Memorial Day block party, but we don't know who was killed. We go back one year and follow the story, starting when the new neighbors buy the house in this desirable community. I especially liked when the story was told from Lettie's perspective – she had a fresh, young voice and was probably the only person who cared about others.

"The Block Party" is a fast-paced thriller, and it will definitely be compared to "Big Little Lies" or "Truly Madly Guilty." It's less of a psychological thriller and more of a neighborhood drama. The author does not explore the characters' issues, just presents them, mainly through the eyes of Lettie and her mother. It would be interesting to bring other characters into focus.

On the other hand, this limited number of narrators – representing two generations – makes even more apparent how little the neighbors can know about each other and how difficult getting into other person's shoes can be. Too often, the best intentions to help someone in need don't evolve into real help. Crossing the street to a neighbor's house can be the longest journey.

This was my first book by this author and man was it a good one! This had just the right amount of suspense that kept me guessing the whole time. Every single time I thought I had it figured out, I'd be wrong again. The way that the author wove the characters stories together and managed a back and forth in the timeline was masterful.

This book is about a neighborhood full of secrets and lies that all comes to one big explosion during the annual block party. It keeps you guessing and coming back for more! I will definitely be watching for this author in the future.

Thank you to #netgally and #StMartin'sPress.

Be sure to check out this book this summer!!