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The House Party: A Novel
The House Party: A Novel
The House Party: A Novel
Ebook380 pages6 hours

The House Party: A Novel

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

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About this ebook

When a house party goes terribly wrong, a suburban town fractures, exposing disturbing truths about the community—perfect for fans of Little Fires Everywhere and Ask Again, Yes.

The House Party will keep readers on the edge of their seats.”PopSugar

It’s the party of the year. Afterward, nothing will ever be the same.

Maja Jensen is smart, stylish, and careful, the type of woman who considers every detail when building her dream home in the suburbs of Philadelphia. The perfect house that would compensate for her failure to have a child, the house that was going to save her marriage. But when a group of reckless teenagers trash the newly built home just weeks before she moves in, her plans are shattered.

Those teenagers, two months away from graduating high school, are the “good kids”—the ones on track to go to college and move on to the next stage of their privileged lives. They have grown up in a protected bubble and are accustomed to getting by with just a slap on the wrist. Did they think they could just destroy property without facing punishment? Or was there something deeper, darker, at play that night? As the police close in on a list of suspects, the tight-knit community begins to fray as families attempt to protect themselves.

What should have been the party of the year will have repercussions that will put Maja’s marriage to the ultimate test, jeopardize the futures of those “good kids,” and divide the town over questions of privilege and responsibility.

An absorbing novel told through shifting perspectives, The House Party explores how easily friendships, careers, communities, and marriages can upend when differences in wealth and power are forced to the surface.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperCollins
Release dateSep 13, 2022
ISBN9780063218086
Author

Rita Cameron

Rita Cameron received her BA from Columbia University and JD from the University of Pennsylvania. She lives in San Jose, California, with her husband and two children. She is the author of Ophelia’s Muse.

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Reviews for The House Party

Rating: 3.7142856928571426 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

14 ratings3 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a fast paced book, showing how wealth and privilege can get you out of the most damning things and leave the working middle class near the fall.

    High school seniors went too far this time when a party, being laced with mdma and alcohol, becomes out of control and a new house becomes destroyed costing over half a million in repairs.

    It was important to note that it took place in 2008 when the housing market burst, the story shines a light on the upper class and the middle working class living in the same area.

  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This was an interesting story, I guess I would call it domestic suspense. It was good but not great - I wouldn't go out of my way to read it. Maja and Ted weren't particularly well developed or likeable, so it made it hard to sympathize with them. The students were overly entitled and didn't seem to suffer many consequences in the end. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I was looking forward to reading this, the cover led me to believe it would be a thriller. This more of a domestic drama. Although it kept my attention, it was a slow burn. Set in a suburban town between Philly and NYC, it shows a typical mix high school students who end up attending a party. Typical Friday night? Until a new home, under construction and close to being finished, is the stage. Things get out of hand quickly. Kids run and bumbling officers are quick to slap underage charges on those caught but don’t investigate further. The story then is told in different points of view from party attendees, their parents, investigators, and the homeowners. So much comes to light about the party, how much is on the line for the seniors and how far the parents will go thru to save their kids. Many underlying issues are brought to light also. While an easy, enjoyable read, it lacked the intensity and heat pounding moments of a real drama. But, I enjoyed the different points of view and all the underlying issues of all the families. I will say, the teenage dynamics are spot on. Ending was predictable. I would definitely give this author another!Thanks to William Marrow and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

Book preview

The House Party - Rita Cameron

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