The Party
By Robyn Harding
Gallery/Scout Press, Hardcover, 9781501161247, June 2017, 352pp.
The Short of It:
After just a few paragraphs I found myself completely absorbed by this story of a sleepover gone wrong.
The Rest of It:
Jeff and Kim Sanders host a sweet sixteen party for their daughter Hannah. They open their beautiful home to Hannah’s closest friends, pick-up her favorite cake and make it clear that boys, drugs & alcohol will not be tolerated.
What do you think happens?
As you can guess, something horrible happens and now Jeff and Kim Sanders, perfect in every way, find themselves trying to prove their innocence to the police as well as the parents and children involved. This blemish on Kim’s otherwise perfect reputation is enough to do her in. Then there’s Jeff, who is keeping a secret from her. Hannah is no saint either and forced to choose between popularity and cruelty.
There is a lot going on in this story but it’s SO good. You’ve got the whole “perfect” thing going on with Kim and Jeff but they are far from perfect. The other parents have their issues too and the kids…oh, the kids… their loyalty to each other changes with the weather. People are in. People are out. There are lies and secrets and lots of self-analysis going on. Oh, not to mention the denial!! I could not turn the pages fast enough.
These characters are complex and very well-developed and even though some of them do horrible things, you still feel something for them because the author just pulls it out of you. This book was read while making spaghetti and doing laundry because putting it down wasn’t an option. Plus, the events detailed in this story could literally happen to anyone which makes it all the more readable.
If you want a fast-paced domestic drama then you can’t go wrong with The Party.
Source: Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.
Book Chatter 
You have totally sold me on this one.
It’s a really good read. Really kept me entertained. There was one moment at work where I seriously just wanted to read a few pages but had to wait for lunch.
I’ve read mixed reviews of this book but I think I’d like it.
I haven’t read the mixed reviews but they probably have to do with the choices the parents made. To me, their choices made it even more interesting. For readability and “cannot put down” reviews I’d say it’s pretty high up there.
I loved the torture of reading this book! Didn’t it just freak you out? Makes a parent not want to have a party! Ever!
I know!! I am a helicopter parent though so if we did throw a party like that, I’d be right there with them. LOL.
I saw this one at Target the other day and thought it looked good. I am so going to have to check it out. The TBR stacks never get any smaller!
You will enjoy it.
You got me! Must. Get. A. Copy.
Yes! Please do.
Ti, you make me want to read this ASAP! And you make me want to eat spaghetti while I’m reading it 🙂 This book sounds like the perfect summer read. I love all that drama!! I have it on my kindle and I am so excited to read it now.
Soooooo much drama both adult drama and teen drama. I ate it up.
Sold!! I think that’s two in a row for you.
And the one I just finished today is good too for totally different reasons (Small Hours). I am on a good reading streak!
I may have to stop reading your reviews, my tbr list just keeps getting longer and longer 🙂
I know. I am reading some good stuff this summer. I am about to review yet another win.
This sounds like the perfect read and since I have a 16-year-old I’ll probably freak out a little, too 🙂
It’s one of those moments where as a parent, you figure that laying down the law is enough. Not in this story! I had one sleepover moment of my own that made me question sleepovers ever since.
Sounds pretty captivating and like a story you can’t turn away from. Thx for the word on it!
I, for one, could not put it down. All these players, all these possible solutions but they are all in denial. Anyone on the outside looking in can say “Oh, I would have done such and such” but the way these people react is not so unusual either.
I love the title…it has so much potential of what could happen. 🙂
Sold!