Book Review: The Block Party by Jamie Day

 GOODREADS SUMMARY:

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.

TEE'S THOUGHTS:

Murder, secrets, betrayals...oh, and plenty of DRAMA, Block Party by Jamie Day has all this and more!

The story begins at the annual neighborhood Memorial Day block party and before it ends, someone dies.

Alton Road may be the best Cul-de-Sac in town but the residents are all a hot mess. They cheat on, and with each other, some are addicts, and one might just be a murderer. All this makes this novel such a good read, I mean, who doesn't love to watch the perfect stumble and fall? I am certainly not going to turn it down!

I listened to Block Party on audio and enjoyed it, the narration was clear and added plenty to the story. When I could not listen I also had a copy of the book, which I will say the story is well written and executed. It has plenty of drama and twists that propel the reader along quickly to the end.

Told in two POVs, Alex and her daughter Lettie, who is in her last year of High School. I appreciated the author's choice of giving the book only two narrators, as there were plenty of characters she could have added, but I also seem to have a hard time keeping them separated when there are too many, so perfect editing on her part. I did not find any of the characters practically likable, but that just made the reading all the better.

The story also has two timelines, the present and a year ago when the party and murder actually happened, the events of the night unfold as you read. I also found it interesting that the author included a Facebook Community in the storyline, where you will get the thoughts and opinions of the residents as they discuss and argue about the who and what of the murder and each other.

All in all the Block Party was entertaining, it wasn't a literary marvel but it was a juicy little book that will give you Desperate Housewife vibes. If that is your type of thing, then The Block Party is a must read for you.