The Party: A Novel
Robyn Harding's domestic drama, hailed as "tense and riveting" by Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls, explores the aftermath of a sweet sixteen birthday party that goes horribly awry, as the members of a wealthy family in San Francisco find their picture-perfect life unraveling, their darkest secrets revealed, and their friends turned to enemies. One invitation. A lifetime of regrets. Sweet sixteen. It's an exciting coming-of-age, a milestone, and a rite of passage. Jeff and Kim Sanders plan on throwing a party for their daughter, Hannah--a sweet girl with good grades and nice friends. Rather than an extravagant, indulgent affair, they invite four girls over for pizza, cake, movies, and a sleepover. What could possibly go wrong? But things do go wrong, horrifically so, and Jeff and Kim's flawless life in a wealthy San Francisco suburb suddenly begins to come apart. In the ugly aftermath, friends become enemies, dark secrets are revealed in the Sanders' marriage, and the truth about their perfect daughter is exposed. Perfect for fans of Big Little Lies, this is a white-knuckled and "riveting tale that is impossible to put down" (Bill Clegg, New York Times bestselling author of Did You Ever Have a Family).
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Community Reviews
Reading this book was like being involved in the best gossip circle of your life. I was LIVING for the drama. The contempt yet pity I felt for Kim, the hatred yet sympathy I had for Liz, and the ultimate disappointment I experienced with Hannah. It wasn't a stereotypical "thriller" but it had just enough tense scenes that would drive anyone's adrenaline if they experienced it in real life. I could actually imagine this book as a Lifetime movie. I feel like I've probably even seen something similar before. The book is related to "Big Little Lies," so I wouldn't be surprised if it would be picked up to be adapted within the next couple years (if it hasn't already). I don't think I would enjoy watching it as much as I did reading it, only because I know how much can get lost in translation when adapting.
In the end this book was a indulging read. It ended in a satisfying way, it was brutal, it was realistic, and it was fun.
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