3.75

This was a solid three right up until the end, which I honestly did not see coming. I think this would benefit from being a full length story, then the end would be a total gut punch.

Overall this was pretty fun, I would have liked even more 90’s nostalgia because I’m selfish.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book, while advertised as YA, probably seems more intended for a middle-grade audience. There was some true sparks of creativity here, including the sequence regarding the shopping catalog that scared a new spin on traditional demonic possession stories. The depth of character development was pretty thin, which probably seemed why this book should be targeted more towards the middle-grade audience. In the end, this book was more reminiscent of the quality of RL Stine books from the 1990s rather than Christoper Pike books, which tended to have more mature and developed themes. However, I can definitely see how 5th-8th graders looking for a horror novel that is not too frightening would enjoy this work.

I was an avid reader of Fear Street and Point Horror as a kid. I had high hopes for this book. It also came recommended from Cameron Chaney. Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. The character development was lacking and the plot was quite unbelievable. Therefore, I kept wanting more from the book. I believe this is going to be a series so hopefully the books will become more developed over time.

It’s crazy how much fun BIRTHDAY PARTY DEMON is! Teeming with 90’s nostalgia (video rental stores, clothing catalogs sprinkled with all of the hot new trends, beepers —), girl power & so much heart, BIRTHDAY PARTY DEMON is such a fast-paced blast that will keep you reading through all ~103 pages. I recommend this to all who’s looking for a silly & very campy coming-of-age possession horror tale!

This was a decently fun book. I found it trying a little too hard in some places with the nostalgia but overall I think it’s a fun book for people who like to read goosebumps.

This novella had so much 90's nostalgia, it was so much fun to read! VHS tapes, scrunchies, babydoll dresses, beepers, demons- what's not to love? Wendy did a phenomenal job peaking my interest and making me wonder what's going to happen next! I loved how Tina was worried about inviting her friends over for a slumber party because she hasn't been hanging out with them lately, when there are way worse things that will happen up ahead. I am hoping to see more books like this from Wendy because I will devour them ☺️

This was a short fun, cute, and creepy read, though it wasn’t quite at the level of R.L. Stine or the master of ’90s teen horror, Christopher Pike. It was nice to have a sapphic lead, something that was a rarity back in the day. I also loved the ending.

I would’ve liked more voice and fewer heavy-handed with the ’90s pop culture references (those of us who were teens back then didn’t ONLY talk about the latest trends and hits). The dELiA*s speak, though amusing, didn’t really make sense since you can’t hear capitalization, and there were a few texting abbreviations thrown in like G2G and BRB that threw me for a loop since they weren’t something ’90s teens would have known or said (O.M.G. was fine though).

I recommend it to readers looking for some Fear Street nostalgia.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.

This was a SUPER fast but fun nostalgic read. Everything about this book reminds me of my childhood and that alone just makes you feel good reading this. It was way more YA than I initially expected but it was still fun. Very “My Best Friend’s Exorcism” vs “Goosebumps”. Plus I’m obsessed with the cover!

'Birthday Party Demon' is a quick, campy, easy read for fans of Christopher Pike, RL Stine, etc., and evokes plenty of 90's nostalgia. It also captures the realistic feelings of growing up and growing apart from childhood friends, as well discovering identity, and those are the strongest parts of the book. The author does take a creative angle during the height of the supernatural events that was really fun at first, however, at a certain point the balance shifted too far into period-specific references that lessened the tension of the horror elements.

Perfect for 90's kids and fans of campy horror, and YA horror.

Renting videotapes, looking at fashion magazines, having a birthday party & accidentally summoning a demon. You know, girly things!
Three friends (shy Tina, sporty Lacey & goth girl Eve) try to have a normal & fun birthday party celebration, but one which instead descends into total demonic chaos. This short novel about strained friendships and battling demons is such a nostalgia-drenched read. There are 90s references everywhere, and it all culminates in my favorite part of the book (where two of the girls are trapped inside a fashion catalog...yes, you read that right).
What I wished was done better, was the characterization (for example, I thought Deon should have been more fleshed out) and the ending (the buildup to the cemetery battle is good, but everything wraps up/concludes just a little to quickly).
If you miss 90s shows like Goosebumps or Are You Afraid of the Dark, this short read has that aesthetic/vibe going.

A fun nod to '90s nostalgia and the birthday parties every Millennial knows of along with fans of Fear Street, The Craft, and My Best Friend's Exorcism.

Book:
BIRTHDAY PARTY DEMON by Wendy Dalrymple
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the earc (Feb 18)

Review:
3.5⭐
I went back and forth on how to rate this, but I landed on a little under 4 stars bc I did enjoy it even though it was quite short---like unbelievably short---and there were points that were lacking.
It's Tina's 16th birthday and she and her friends are having a sleepover. When they use a Ouija board, followed by playing Light as a feather, they are drawn into a demonic game---one they so bad want to get out of.
BIRTHDAY PARTY DEMON was a quick and easy read that packed a punch. I was intrigued by this, starting with Tina's visions of shadows and the voices she heard---though this part did feel incomplete because why was she seeing and hearing things before the summons??? I wish that would have been touched on again. At least an explanation.
This book was fast-paced and with all the vibes of something out of Goosebump, which is probably why it felt a tad juvenile at times. I don't know how to explain it. Perhaps it's because the creepy factor wasn't as creepy as it could of been. Don't get me wrong, it had some factors that were creepy, bur with a cover and title like that, I was expecting more.

Picked this read up off Netgalley, so thank you for that.

This is centered around young teen girls, so if that's not your vibe, be-aware, but is written well, and despite being older, i enjoyed it.

This is what i would think, I would let my teen read, if i had one lol
But the nostalgia factor had me bent over a barrel, amazing.

Then they break my personal number one rule, fucking with Ouija Board, big no no.

This sleepover takes a big wrong turn and now everyone is in danger, and what happens when one of them is possessed by a demon ??

I'm not saying i believe in it, but i have read more then enough books. Its a bad idea, just in case lol .

Baffled by this and not entirely sure how to rate it. 3.7 stars? 3.5? I just don’t know what the point of it all was.

Sure, it’s an homage to 90s teen horror. But it’s not SAYING anything. There’s a frisson of lesbian romance and a demon and some slumber party antics that made me want to read The Sleepover Club again, but as a horror novel mainly aimed at adults it felt a bit random.

Liked the writing. Liked the theme. Just think more could have been done.

This is a rather short book, or a longer novella, if you will but it managed to actually keep me interested from the first page to the last. The story is fast paced and nostalgic, in a way, felt very 80-90s teenage film with that added horror flare.

We follow main character Tina and her two gbest friends getting together for Tina's 16th birthday party and things go very wrong.

I think it would work as a longer story too.

This novella was filled with 90s nostalgia, flavored liked a b-movie, and topped with some teenage anxieties. "Birthday party demon" is campy as well as fun. If you ever wondered if R. L. Stein dropped his pen, rest assured that Darlymple picked it right back up.

This is giving goosebumps but also babysitters club - I would have frothed this when I was younger and definitely I loved it now as an adult! It just radiates pink camp horror and to make it even better it was such a fun fast paced quick read.

I was hooked in by the description and I hoped it was going to be a super fun read and I was right - this was the perfect quick read!

The nostalgia I got from this book thinking about my old friends and the sleepovers we had was amazing. Am I ever glad, however, none of us ever got possessed. The blend of camp and horror was amazing. Very reminiscent of a R.L. Stine. It's such a fun book highly recommend.

Tina is lamenting the fact that she doesn't seem to have the relationship she used to have with her two best friends, Lacey and Eve. But when her mother suggests she invite them for a sleepover to celebrate her sixteenth birthday, much to Tina;s surprise, they're both excited to come over. When the girls resort to their old childhood games of playing with a Ouija board, then trying out a magic spell Eve learned from her new Goth friends, they unwittingly unleash a demon that possesses Lacey and creates a hellish nightmare for the trio.
The author says right up front that inspiration came from the likes of R.L. Stine, Christopher Pike, and others from her childhood, and it's apparent in the story. Chock full of 90s trends and imagery, it has a nostalgic feel to it. I'm not entirely sure who the right audience would be for it, as it's a little grown up for kids, but a bit on the childish side for teens. If you're a fan of Stine, Pike, et al, you'll probably find it amusing enough.

This was fun, easy to read and I found myself wishing it was longer. The idea of being stuck in a 90s teen magazine is a world I want to explore!!

In my opinion, for such a short novel, the sapphic thread was unrequited. We didn’t see it come to a conclusion however I’m guessing this is a set up for a full length.