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The House Party
When a house party goes terribly wrong, a suburban town fractures, exposing disturbing truths about the community.
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 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.
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 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.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 13, 2022
About the author
Rita Cameron
6 books133 followersRita Cameron is the author of two novels, The House Party and Ophelia's Muse. She grew up in Philadelphia and Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and currently lives in San Jose, California, with her husband and two children. She enjoys hiking, reading, visiting wineries, and throwing overly-ambitious theme parties.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 364 reviews
September 3, 2022
Maja Jensen is a brilliant and well-put-together New Yorker who along with her husband, is building their dream home in the suburbs of Philadelphia. But when a group of privileged teenagers throws a party inside Mana’s newly constructed home, her dreams are shattered.
This group of teens whom the small town locals claim are “good kids” are on track to graduate high school and then attend Ivy League universities. The repercussions of the party will alter not only Maja’s life and marriage but the future of the teens as the small town divides over questions of privilege and responsibility.
I immediately became fully absorbed in this story. The House Party is set in 2008 before the economic recession when so many families ended up losing their homes. The characters are so well developed that I ended up sympathizing with both the teenagers and Maja. The lose-lose situation that both parties were in gave me so many conflicted feelings. But either way, I love a thought provoking read and The House Party delivered.
The House Party is a slow-burn literary suspense that explores how easily friendships, careers, communities, and marriages can upend when differences in wealth and power are forced to the surface. Readers who enjoy stories of where crimes of the privileged that are typically just swept under the rug are brought to light. This book would make a perfect book club pick since there are so many discussable topics. If you enjoyed When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff and/or Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, then you would definitely enjoy The House Party.
This group of teens whom the small town locals claim are “good kids” are on track to graduate high school and then attend Ivy League universities. The repercussions of the party will alter not only Maja’s life and marriage but the future of the teens as the small town divides over questions of privilege and responsibility.
I immediately became fully absorbed in this story. The House Party is set in 2008 before the economic recession when so many families ended up losing their homes. The characters are so well developed that I ended up sympathizing with both the teenagers and Maja. The lose-lose situation that both parties were in gave me so many conflicted feelings. But either way, I love a thought provoking read and The House Party delivered.
The House Party is a slow-burn literary suspense that explores how easily friendships, careers, communities, and marriages can upend when differences in wealth and power are forced to the surface. Readers who enjoy stories of where crimes of the privileged that are typically just swept under the rug are brought to light. This book would make a perfect book club pick since there are so many discussable topics. If you enjoyed When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff and/or Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, then you would definitely enjoy The House Party.
April 19, 2023
Drug use a rape then these privileged rich kids break into a women’s house ecstasy is used which I am not into& consequences are rife very slow burn just was not for me
October 27, 2022
This isn't a thriller but is excellent.
My only complaint would be that this doesn't explore class divides in the US as promised; this explores 'class' amongst a largely white, small suburban town and only amongst those that own land & businesses. The 'poorest' amongst this group own land and in some cases businesses, struggling but still. So this isn't a class statement as this is between the solidly, comfortably middle class and the wealthy.
No one in this book has ever dealt with food or housing insecurity. There's no poverty, just wealthy by birth and comfortable by birth. The comfortable never seem to notice or acknowledge how very lucky they are compared to the actual food & housing insecure.
That's important because when you look at the 'tragedy' element of this story with the consequences ultimately paid by the participants and then compare it to how the US justice system hunts and enslaves Black & Brown kids like, Kalief Browder, the idea that this is a look at different classes falls extremely flat. Look up sentences for very minor crimes for Black folks, most especially in small all white affluent communities like the one in this story and you might find that in that same little town actual injustice was likely taking place, it just wasn't included in this story or even acknowledged.
In order to discuss 'class' in the US race has to be at the center, not the periphery of the story. To tackle 'class', the story would need to feature actual poverty not the threat of losing property ownership.
I grew up in Detroit in the 80's. I know folks who did more than 10 yrs in prison for less than an oz of cannabis.
Nothing that happened in this novel wasn't wildly privileged for ALL parties involved from my Black ass perspective.
It's so interesting to me how white folks in the US seem to almost live in an altered version of reality in which this is a tragedy because from my perspective these are major wins for everyone compared to what I've experienced and seen those around me experience when dealing with the justice system.
My daughter got a yr probation over a fucking speeding ticket, in a fully insured legal car, no drugs, no alcohol, no weapons, not even a reckless driving charge, no driving while under the influence, no accident, no one harmed; just a cop who saw a young Black girl in an all white area and a judge that decided she 'looked' like she wasn't taking her speeding ticket seriously enough. It was a fucking nightmare.
So these kids causing half a million dollars worth of damage while committing a crime and the way this worked out was a gift and everyone involved was unbelievably fucking privileged and a bunch of whiners to boot.
Whew.
Also I worked in sales outside of Detroit, MI in 2008. I watched that financial crisis happen in real time and many of my contemporaries lost their homes.
Some were able to pick up cheap homes during this time.
No one I know has recovered financially.
The impact was unbelievable.
I worked in a very affluent and wealthy area and it was unsettling to watch how families were impacted.
To have adults begging me to let them out of contracts.
I had folks with Phd's applying for part time stock positions.
It was harrowing and brutal.
Our company downsized and I barely made the cut.
Shortly thereafter I became too disabled to work but many of my Black Gen X contemporaries were wiped out financially with no retirement to speak of.
It was awful.
I remarried in 2010 and left the US.
I don't know what happened as I haven't much kept in contact but I heard that covid shenanigans by the company were brutal for employees. I was in sales management.
2008 was a stressful awful year and I was employed. I can remember a company we did business with laying off their whole staff before Thanksgiving. Everyone was in tears, the company was being liquidated. It was just a brutal time.
I don't want to spoil the details but I like the way the story was handled.
It reminded me of a limited series Law & Order spin off. I don't watch anymore but I used to watch pretty much every spin off and the original.
Now I want police abolished and prison ended so I tend to stay away from cop propaganda TV.
Still this reminded me in the best ways of that show.
Though the cops are relatively minor characters.
I will definitely read another novel by this author.
My only complaint would be that this doesn't explore class divides in the US as promised; this explores 'class' amongst a largely white, small suburban town and only amongst those that own land & businesses. The 'poorest' amongst this group own land and in some cases businesses, struggling but still. So this isn't a class statement as this is between the solidly, comfortably middle class and the wealthy.
No one in this book has ever dealt with food or housing insecurity. There's no poverty, just wealthy by birth and comfortable by birth. The comfortable never seem to notice or acknowledge how very lucky they are compared to the actual food & housing insecure.
That's important because when you look at the 'tragedy' element of this story with the consequences ultimately paid by the participants and then compare it to how the US justice system hunts and enslaves Black & Brown kids like, Kalief Browder, the idea that this is a look at different classes falls extremely flat. Look up sentences for very minor crimes for Black folks, most especially in small all white affluent communities like the one in this story and you might find that in that same little town actual injustice was likely taking place, it just wasn't included in this story or even acknowledged.
In order to discuss 'class' in the US race has to be at the center, not the periphery of the story. To tackle 'class', the story would need to feature actual poverty not the threat of losing property ownership.
I grew up in Detroit in the 80's. I know folks who did more than 10 yrs in prison for less than an oz of cannabis.
Nothing that happened in this novel wasn't wildly privileged for ALL parties involved from my Black ass perspective.
It's so interesting to me how white folks in the US seem to almost live in an altered version of reality in which this is a tragedy because from my perspective these are major wins for everyone compared to what I've experienced and seen those around me experience when dealing with the justice system.
My daughter got a yr probation over a fucking speeding ticket, in a fully insured legal car, no drugs, no alcohol, no weapons, not even a reckless driving charge, no driving while under the influence, no accident, no one harmed; just a cop who saw a young Black girl in an all white area and a judge that decided she 'looked' like she wasn't taking her speeding ticket seriously enough. It was a fucking nightmare.
So these kids causing half a million dollars worth of damage while committing a crime and the way this worked out was a gift and everyone involved was unbelievably fucking privileged and a bunch of whiners to boot.
Whew.
Also I worked in sales outside of Detroit, MI in 2008. I watched that financial crisis happen in real time and many of my contemporaries lost their homes.
Some were able to pick up cheap homes during this time.
No one I know has recovered financially.
The impact was unbelievable.
I worked in a very affluent and wealthy area and it was unsettling to watch how families were impacted.
To have adults begging me to let them out of contracts.
I had folks with Phd's applying for part time stock positions.
It was harrowing and brutal.
Our company downsized and I barely made the cut.
Shortly thereafter I became too disabled to work but many of my Black Gen X contemporaries were wiped out financially with no retirement to speak of.
It was awful.
I remarried in 2010 and left the US.
I don't know what happened as I haven't much kept in contact but I heard that covid shenanigans by the company were brutal for employees. I was in sales management.
2008 was a stressful awful year and I was employed. I can remember a company we did business with laying off their whole staff before Thanksgiving. Everyone was in tears, the company was being liquidated. It was just a brutal time.
I don't want to spoil the details but I like the way the story was handled.
It reminded me of a limited series Law & Order spin off. I don't watch anymore but I used to watch pretty much every spin off and the original.
Now I want police abolished and prison ended so I tend to stay away from cop propaganda TV.
Still this reminded me in the best ways of that show.
Though the cops are relatively minor characters.
I will definitely read another novel by this author.
November 22, 2022
House Party is a small town drama spotlighting a suburban life, wealth and power, teenage recklessness, and consequences (or lack of). Set in a Pennsylvania town and on the cusp of the housing mortgage bubble burst in 2008, the storyline is focused on the days after a group of high school kids partying in an empty, newly constructed house. Several things go wrong that night, and the story follows a police investigation after the party, piecing things together and figuring out who is responsible for what.
This is a good quick read. The small town setting, the Pennsylvania nature backdrop, and the relationship dynamics among the local kids appeal the most to me. The alternating POV between chapter fits with the story, although it could be executed better. Some of the characters and their underlying conflicts are only mentioned in passing and not that well developed.
Many thanks for the free ARC that I received in a Goodreads giveaway. Publication date: September 2022.
This is a good quick read. The small town setting, the Pennsylvania nature backdrop, and the relationship dynamics among the local kids appeal the most to me. The alternating POV between chapter fits with the story, although it could be executed better. Some of the characters and their underlying conflicts are only mentioned in passing and not that well developed.
Many thanks for the free ARC that I received in a Goodreads giveaway. Publication date: September 2022.
August 30, 2022
Rita Cameron's upcoming novel, THE HOUSE PARTY, is a fast and furious representation of privilege in suburban America. I read this book in one sitting and it ultimately is everything the synopsis speaks to—an uninvited house party in a New York transplant couple's new home in the suburbs of Philadelphia throws the local town into a tailspin. The teenagers who threw the party are "good kids" with tracks for success and college. When the repercussions of this party begin to affect the town's notable families and the newcomers in different ways, this book explores how money and privilege can affect outcomes for everybody.
I am purposely not mentioning names or any further details because the book's official synopsis reveals too much to the reader. It's honestly one of the only reasons this book wasn't a five star read for me. I knew too much and wasn't surprised. Everything plays out exactly how you'd envision it, but that isn't the author's fault for the leaked plot. This book reminded me so much of the town I grew up in before college and the ways in which teenagers there could get away with cruel and unimaginable things because of the privilege they had. This book deals with some deep topics such as sexual assault, violence, drug use, and vandalism; but if you liked Jillian Mendoff's When We Were Bright and Beautiful, I would urge you to pick this book up. These types of stories are scary, because they are real. It can and has happened to many families and Rita Cameron is shining a light on these topics and themes that have been long ignored. I can't wait to read what's next by this author.
I am purposely not mentioning names or any further details because the book's official synopsis reveals too much to the reader. It's honestly one of the only reasons this book wasn't a five star read for me. I knew too much and wasn't surprised. Everything plays out exactly how you'd envision it, but that isn't the author's fault for the leaked plot. This book reminded me so much of the town I grew up in before college and the ways in which teenagers there could get away with cruel and unimaginable things because of the privilege they had. This book deals with some deep topics such as sexual assault, violence, drug use, and vandalism; but if you liked Jillian Mendoff's When We Were Bright and Beautiful, I would urge you to pick this book up. These types of stories are scary, because they are real. It can and has happened to many families and Rita Cameron is shining a light on these topics and themes that have been long ignored. I can't wait to read what's next by this author.
September 17, 2022
It’s important to note that this takes place in 2008. I was curious why it was chosen specifically until I realized the backdrop of this entire story was the financial crisis of 2008. I found that to be really original and interesting. After that, you could cut the tension with a knife. It made it very foreboding.
Maja and Ted, city dwellers, are building their dream home in a small town and trying to start a family. The kids from that town decide to have a big blowout party for the end of the school year. It gets out of hand and the house is damaged badly.
The problem is they’re operating under the “good ole’ boy” system here and these good kids just made a little oopsie! There are mistakes and there is handing out drugs, witnessing an assault, and causing hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage to a home. Someone has to pay for this, so let’s lean hard on the working class kids!
Most of these people are living on loans, have their money tied up in stocks, and/or are living somewhat above their means. You can see the signs of the coming collapse of the housing bubble as people are attempting more loans, having their balloon loans burst, and seeing some of their investments go up in flames. It seems that everyone here is affected in some way. It was so stressful! This was messy as hell, and I love that.
I didn’t get all of the closure that I wanted but that's the reality of things like this. Also, I’m just going to say it.. Maja was a naive Karen! I'm joking! I loved the complexity of her character and all of the others. As far as the assault, that's how seriously they took things in 2008.
This was great. I really liked it. I liked the added economic aspect but it wasn’t something that would confuse the story if you weren’t interested.
Maja and Ted, city dwellers, are building their dream home in a small town and trying to start a family. The kids from that town decide to have a big blowout party for the end of the school year. It gets out of hand and the house is damaged badly.
The problem is they’re operating under the “good ole’ boy” system here and these good kids just made a little oopsie! There are mistakes and there is handing out drugs, witnessing an assault, and causing hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage to a home. Someone has to pay for this, so let’s lean hard on the working class kids!
Most of these people are living on loans, have their money tied up in stocks, and/or are living somewhat above their means. You can see the signs of the coming collapse of the housing bubble as people are attempting more loans, having their balloon loans burst, and seeing some of their investments go up in flames. It seems that everyone here is affected in some way. It was so stressful! This was messy as hell, and I love that.
I didn’t get all of the closure that I wanted but that's the reality of things like this. Also, I’m just going to say it.. Maja was a naive Karen! I'm joking! I loved the complexity of her character and all of the others. As far as the assault, that's how seriously they took things in 2008.
This was great. I really liked it. I liked the added economic aspect but it wasn’t something that would confuse the story if you weren’t interested.
January 17, 2023
The House Party is based on the destruction of a house located in a Philadelphia Suburb, during the beginning of the 2008 recession. When things get majorly out of hand who will be the one held responsible? We follow some of the key players in the party as they handle the aftermath, as well as the investigative team, and the homeowners. In a case where nothing seems simple, money seems to be the key component of everyone's story.
July 28, 2022
Sooooo I did enjoy this, but I would still say that tonally, it's a bit confusing? Like, with that cover, I was expecting a thriller of sorts, and this was definitely not that, which I'm actually alright with because I'd take a slow burn domestic drama over sloppy twists any day of the week. But also, I can't bring myself to go the extra mile of calling it literary either, despite the themes it's dealing with. There was just something lacking in the execution that's kind of condemned it to a grey space for me; it felt a bit like reading a soap opera.
April 1, 2022
Rita Cameron’s THE HOUSE PARTY explores how a night of seemingly innocent fun can lay bare the class and moral fault lines of one tight-knit community. What struck me most about Cameron’s confident and absorbing novel was the empathy she bestows on her characters, making it difficult for the reader to cast blame on some while vindicating others. A fresh take on privilege and entitlement, THE HOUSE PARTY is exactly the kind of thought-provoking and highly readable novel I love.
Shelved as 'dnf'
October 3, 2022yeah no thank you dnf @ 35%
skimmed through and absolutely nothing happened after chapter 15
skimmed through and absolutely nothing happened after chapter 15
October 1, 2022
Thanks to @williammorrowbooks and @ritacameron_author for a copy of #TheHouseParty.
I went into 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗬 by Rita Cameron with few expectations, and I was very pleasantly surprised. I knew it was a story about one of anyone’s worst nightmares: your home being completely destroyed. In this case it was the dream home of Maja and Ted Jensen, a New York power couple, whose dream home in a small Pennsylvania town was almost completely finished being built. That was until it became the site of a wildly out of control high school party. From there, the book went on to examine the crime(s) from all angles.
Cameron wisely chose to tell the story from many different perspectives including that of Maja, several of the students, parents, the police investigator and the assistant district attorney. This worked well because it pushed and pulled at your sympathies as you got to know more about each character. Cameron's story also examined how privilege and responsibility often undermine each other. The story was set against the backdrop of the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008, adding some historical context.
For me, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘺 was a very fun, very fast read. The chapters were short, but filled with more and more clues toward the story’s resolution. I’ve heard some call it a thriller, but make no mistake about it, this is 𝘕𝘖𝘛 a thriller. It’s contemporary fiction with a little legal drama thrown in. However, the genre doesn’t really matter because no matter what you call it, the story was great! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
I went into 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗬 by Rita Cameron with few expectations, and I was very pleasantly surprised. I knew it was a story about one of anyone’s worst nightmares: your home being completely destroyed. In this case it was the dream home of Maja and Ted Jensen, a New York power couple, whose dream home in a small Pennsylvania town was almost completely finished being built. That was until it became the site of a wildly out of control high school party. From there, the book went on to examine the crime(s) from all angles.
Cameron wisely chose to tell the story from many different perspectives including that of Maja, several of the students, parents, the police investigator and the assistant district attorney. This worked well because it pushed and pulled at your sympathies as you got to know more about each character. Cameron's story also examined how privilege and responsibility often undermine each other. The story was set against the backdrop of the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008, adding some historical context.
For me, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘺 was a very fun, very fast read. The chapters were short, but filled with more and more clues toward the story’s resolution. I’ve heard some call it a thriller, but make no mistake about it, this is 𝘕𝘖𝘛 a thriller. It’s contemporary fiction with a little legal drama thrown in. However, the genre doesn’t really matter because no matter what you call it, the story was great! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
November 17, 2022
This book isn’t worthy of any stars IMO.
I’m pretty confident I have never read anything as mediocre as this book. I found myself rushing through it simply to get it over with.
None of the characters were likable. NONE. I could rant about every one of them but I don’t even think this book is worth another second of my time.
I particularly want to call out Maja. She is one of those people that thinks having a baby or buying a house is going to save her marriage. She is dedicated… I��ll give her that.
The story line was so bland I wanted to pull my hair out. Where is the action? Where is the suspense? I read for entertainment. If I wanted to be this bored, I would have stared at a blank wall for days.
And then of course, there is the misleading cover. This is not a mystery/thriller. This is a story about some spoiled kids who lack discipline and a woman who is unable to give up on a relationship that is in shambles. That is all.
I’m done with this book. I regret wasting my time. Do yourself a favor and learn from my mistakes.
I’m pretty confident I have never read anything as mediocre as this book. I found myself rushing through it simply to get it over with.
None of the characters were likable. NONE. I could rant about every one of them but I don’t even think this book is worth another second of my time.
I particularly want to call out Maja. She is one of those people that thinks having a baby or buying a house is going to save her marriage. She is dedicated… I��ll give her that.
The story line was so bland I wanted to pull my hair out. Where is the action? Where is the suspense? I read for entertainment. If I wanted to be this bored, I would have stared at a blank wall for days.
And then of course, there is the misleading cover. This is not a mystery/thriller. This is a story about some spoiled kids who lack discipline and a woman who is unable to give up on a relationship that is in shambles. That is all.
I’m done with this book. I regret wasting my time. Do yourself a favor and learn from my mistakes.
August 26, 2022
The House Party by Rita Cameron. Thanks to @williammorrow and @netgalley for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Jensens are building their dream house in a suburban town new to them. When the town’s teenagers throw a party at their home while it’s under construction, the home is ruined.
After reading the synopsis I thought there had to be more to it than that; just a party and the aftermath? But that’s exactly what it is. I kept waiting for something to happen. I was still able to appreciate it for what it was and I did enjoy it; it’s just not a thriller.. really. It’s more a commentary about privilege in small towns. There’s investigation, police procedural, and small town politics, but don’t expect heavy suspense. If you go in knowing that, I think you’ll enjoy it more.
“This case - these kids - they’re like a tornado, picking up everything in their path, smashing it up and spitting it back out.”
The House Party comes out 9/13.
The Jensens are building their dream house in a suburban town new to them. When the town’s teenagers throw a party at their home while it’s under construction, the home is ruined.
After reading the synopsis I thought there had to be more to it than that; just a party and the aftermath? But that’s exactly what it is. I kept waiting for something to happen. I was still able to appreciate it for what it was and I did enjoy it; it’s just not a thriller.. really. It’s more a commentary about privilege in small towns. There’s investigation, police procedural, and small town politics, but don’t expect heavy suspense. If you go in knowing that, I think you’ll enjoy it more.
“This case - these kids - they’re like a tornado, picking up everything in their path, smashing it up and spitting it back out.”
The House Party comes out 9/13.
May 21, 2022
I was fortunate to read an advance copy of this superb book. I can't tell you how much I loved it! This was right in my wheelhouse: a novel about small towns and the lingering and pervasive consequences of spontaneous, poor decisions. Rita Cameron writes with mastery, and this was a complex novel I just tore through. One of my favorites this year!
May 31, 2023
An emotionally charged contemporary piece about families, parenting, and that all actions have consequences.
Raising one’s children to be moral, upstanding and responsible adults and that not everything can be bought.
The story begins with an epic end of the year party for a group of underaged and over privileged teens.
Trespassing, and destruction of property of epic proportions are just a few of the problems at the beginning.
Lying, sexual assault and covering one’s tracks to avoid persecution are just a few of the situations that fracture and divide a small town, in this story.
Eye opening with delicate subject matter made this an intriguing read.
Raising one’s children to be moral, upstanding and responsible adults and that not everything can be bought.
The story begins with an epic end of the year party for a group of underaged and over privileged teens.
Trespassing, and destruction of property of epic proportions are just a few of the problems at the beginning.
Lying, sexual assault and covering one’s tracks to avoid persecution are just a few of the situations that fracture and divide a small town, in this story.
Eye opening with delicate subject matter made this an intriguing read.
December 6, 2022
Sadly, this was a DNF for me. I love the premise, but it is just moving so slow and not holding my interest like I had hoped it would. Maybe this is a me thing and I wasn’t in the mood for a slow burn. Maybe I will pick it up again another time.
I stopped around 30% in. I have found I have zero guilt this past year not finishing books and it is liberating not feeling tied down with a book that just isn’t doing it for me!
I stopped around 30% in. I have found I have zero guilt this past year not finishing books and it is liberating not feeling tied down with a book that just isn’t doing it for me!
September 5, 2022
The House Party
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 9/13/22
Author: Rita Cameron
Publisher: William Morrow and Company
Pages: 320
Goodreads Rating: 3.56
TW ⚠️: Sexual Assault and Violence
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and William Morrow and Company and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: An uninvited house party in the suburbs causes a grenade in this small town. When a group of reckless teenagers trash the newly built home just weeks before the family moves in, the family’s plans are shattered. Those teenagers are the "good kids"-- privileged kids who face no real consequences. This book explores how these actions affect known families and newcomers and how money, power, and privilege can affect different outcomes.
My Thoughts: The story is narrated in alternating POVs. It is a slow burn novel that builds up into suspense. This was the perfect club pick for Book Club Girl! I took most of the synopsis out of my review because I felt it gave too much away, and it is better to experience the book without reading the synopsis. Immediately, I wanted to blame the kids, but it was hard, as Cameron’s spins the characters in such a way, that you felt empathy for everyone. The characters were well developed with depth, empathy, and even with the voluminous characters, I never felt confused, it flowed well. The author’s writing style was complex, thought provoking, detailed, and kept me engaged throughout the story. This book releases in about a week and half and I would recommend picking up. Know that this is not really a thriller, more a work of contemporary fiction.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 9/13/22
Author: Rita Cameron
Publisher: William Morrow and Company
Pages: 320
Goodreads Rating: 3.56
TW ⚠️: Sexual Assault and Violence
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and William Morrow and Company and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: An uninvited house party in the suburbs causes a grenade in this small town. When a group of reckless teenagers trash the newly built home just weeks before the family moves in, the family’s plans are shattered. Those teenagers are the "good kids"-- privileged kids who face no real consequences. This book explores how these actions affect known families and newcomers and how money, power, and privilege can affect different outcomes.
My Thoughts: The story is narrated in alternating POVs. It is a slow burn novel that builds up into suspense. This was the perfect club pick for Book Club Girl! I took most of the synopsis out of my review because I felt it gave too much away, and it is better to experience the book without reading the synopsis. Immediately, I wanted to blame the kids, but it was hard, as Cameron’s spins the characters in such a way, that you felt empathy for everyone. The characters were well developed with depth, empathy, and even with the voluminous characters, I never felt confused, it flowed well. The author’s writing style was complex, thought provoking, detailed, and kept me engaged throughout the story. This book releases in about a week and half and I would recommend picking up. Know that this is not really a thriller, more a work of contemporary fiction.
September 20, 2022
So, there is this really fancy riverfront house under construction in rural/suburban PA that a NYC couple is building. In my minds eye, I can see all the sharp, modern angles and glass.
Local kids get into the house, have a party and trash it. Trash as in break the appliances, tear down drywall, break glass and throw a toilet out of the window.
Will, a high school senior on his way to Princeton, apparently starts the mele when he breaks a glass door because he sees Maddie (his gf?) about to get sexually assaulted. (It’s unclear what actually happened and the handling of the assault and its aftermath isn’t very developed.). Maddie and her friends Rosie and Jade all took ecstasy with Hunter, the rich kid who is Will’s best friend. Will’s parents work on a farm, so he can only go to Princeton if his scholarship from the Union Club stays in place.
The whole book is about the police investigation into the vandalism and how the couple building the house (trying for a child) handle the crime.
I was bored and struggled to push through. None of the characters felt real and the book was just way to long. The ending made me roll my eyes.
⭐️⭐️ (only because I finished it).
Local kids get into the house, have a party and trash it. Trash as in break the appliances, tear down drywall, break glass and throw a toilet out of the window.
Will, a high school senior on his way to Princeton, apparently starts the mele when he breaks a glass door because he sees Maddie (his gf?) about to get sexually assaulted. (It’s unclear what actually happened and the handling of the assault and its aftermath isn’t very developed.). Maddie and her friends Rosie and Jade all took ecstasy with Hunter, the rich kid who is Will’s best friend. Will’s parents work on a farm, so he can only go to Princeton if his scholarship from the Union Club stays in place.
The whole book is about the police investigation into the vandalism and how the couple building the house (trying for a child) handle the crime.
I was bored and struggled to push through. None of the characters felt real and the book was just way to long. The ending made me roll my eyes.
⭐️⭐️ (only because I finished it).
September 13, 2022
I really got into this book. It hits on so many relevant themes and topics that occur daily.
One house party changes everything. A stressed out couple’s dream home is destroyed by a group of inebriated strung out brats. At first they close ranks, but then the always present one rat in the bunch leaks information. The trashed house of lies begins to fold.
I was indignant and mad for most of this book. The real victims got screwed and the elite got away with everything. Same ploy that replays over and over.
The author demonstrated the cracks and fissures in a community, but in the end, the rich still buy their way out of any scrape.
Thanks to William Morrow, Book Club Girl, and NetGalley for the advance read.
One house party changes everything. A stressed out couple’s dream home is destroyed by a group of inebriated strung out brats. At first they close ranks, but then the always present one rat in the bunch leaks information. The trashed house of lies begins to fold.
I was indignant and mad for most of this book. The real victims got screwed and the elite got away with everything. Same ploy that replays over and over.
The author demonstrated the cracks and fissures in a community, but in the end, the rich still buy their way out of any scrape.
Thanks to William Morrow, Book Club Girl, and NetGalley for the advance read.
September 20, 2022
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.
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.
September 20, 2022
This was an incredibly thought provoking read that dives deep in to world of class and privilege.
Could the decision to attend a typical High School party alter the rest of your life? Cameron explores this concept through multiple points of view from a variety of realistic and relatable characters!
I went into this one pretty blindly and I have to admit it was not at all how I thought it would be, but I’m a totally good way! This is another one of those types of reviews where less is more in order to not give too much away. I’ll just say that I was totally engrossing in this quick and propulsive story and it’s definitely worth checking out!!
Could the decision to attend a typical High School party alter the rest of your life? Cameron explores this concept through multiple points of view from a variety of realistic and relatable characters!
I went into this one pretty blindly and I have to admit it was not at all how I thought it would be, but I’m a totally good way! This is another one of those types of reviews where less is more in order to not give too much away. I’ll just say that I was totally engrossing in this quick and propulsive story and it’s definitely worth checking out!!
September 26, 2022
i’m so sad i didn’t love this. judging by the synopsis i went in expecting something similar to The Neighbor’s Secret or a Robyn Harding book (which i loveeee). but while it started off strong it quickly became mundane and i really didn’t care at all about Maja’s character and found myself skimming her chapters. this is definitely a much more character driven story than i expected, and the reason i love the aforementioned novels is because even though they deal witb serious subjects there’s still a page-turning element to them and i think that’s what was missing for me here - i wasn’t expecting it to be so serious in tone
October 6, 2022
A thought-provoking domestic mystery/drama about the aftermath of a high school house party gone wild and the ripple effects it has on a town. Full of class drama, wall-street crash fall out, infertility struggles, strained friendships, drugs and sexual assault. There was a lot going on with this book but I thought the author did a good job layering the story and keeping the different POVs fresh and compelling. Great on audio narrated by Karissa Vacker (one of my fav narrators). I'll definitely be keeping an eye for what's next by new to me author Rita Cameron!
March 16, 2023
Strong hover between a 3 and 4. 3.6? Can I do that?
This book is set almost to the same time (2007-2008) as my Sarnia folks on here might remember a very infamous party happened that resulted in epic damages. This book reminds me of a dramatic retelling of THAT story, but everyone is way richer, the damages are heftier, and there is a much more extensive police investigation than the one I am assuming happened in our town. 😂
I liked this book! I liked it better after reading the author’s note (which is at the end) that gives context to what inspired the story.
Reading felt slow (clearly it wasn’t that slow because I finished in 4 days), but not going to lie, I thought I was reading it for twice as long. Overall, good story with several tiny twists and turns and bumps that kept me intrigued.
This book is set almost to the same time (2007-2008) as my Sarnia folks on here might remember a very infamous party happened that resulted in epic damages. This book reminds me of a dramatic retelling of THAT story, but everyone is way richer, the damages are heftier, and there is a much more extensive police investigation than the one I am assuming happened in our town. 😂
I liked this book! I liked it better after reading the author’s note (which is at the end) that gives context to what inspired the story.
Reading felt slow (clearly it wasn’t that slow because I finished in 4 days), but not going to lie, I thought I was reading it for twice as long. Overall, good story with several tiny twists and turns and bumps that kept me intrigued.
November 22, 2022
READ THE BOOK !!! I suggest this one for book clubs. It takes place in a suburban town between Philly and NYC in 2008 just before the housing mortgage bubble burst and the recession. My grandchildren and family will be reading it. I have ambivalent feelings about the ending. However, this is one of those books where you are not to skip (even though occasionally it repeats the house damages too often so you might feel you need to skim a little) and do not read the middle or the ending before you should--live it as they live it. The author delves deeply into the lives of the characters; Will really won my heart. We are individuals, but we are "the community" and what we do can have heartbreaking, far-reaching consequences, even for people we don't know. A rock gathers snow and momentum and becomes an avalanche; a wave becomes a tsunami; a wind becomes a tornado. We didn't set out to lose control and create chaos. It is "just business" or unwind and have a little fun as you near the end of the school year. Change is upon us. How do we cope? Is the solution business as usual? Nope. Not this time. I won this ARC via Goodreads drawing--thank you.
October 1, 2022
Pub date: 9/13/22
In one sentence: A quiet suburb full of "good kids" gets a lot more complicated after a party gone wrong destroys a house under construction.
I love books about town dynamics - friends can turn to enemies at the drop of a hat, and a town setting enables dissection of race, class, and power dynamics. I enjoyed the complexities of this story and all the different viewpoints of the town members. The writing flowed well and made for a quick read. However, the book never really progressed into the sharp commentary or suspense novel I think it could have been. There wasn't much of a payoff at the end, and I wanted something more that would differentiate this "book about a town" from the others I've read in the genre.
If you enjoy literary fiction, you may enjoy this one!
Thank you to William Morrow and Book Club Girl for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In one sentence: A quiet suburb full of "good kids" gets a lot more complicated after a party gone wrong destroys a house under construction.
I love books about town dynamics - friends can turn to enemies at the drop of a hat, and a town setting enables dissection of race, class, and power dynamics. I enjoyed the complexities of this story and all the different viewpoints of the town members. The writing flowed well and made for a quick read. However, the book never really progressed into the sharp commentary or suspense novel I think it could have been. There wasn't much of a payoff at the end, and I wanted something more that would differentiate this "book about a town" from the others I've read in the genre.
If you enjoy literary fiction, you may enjoy this one!
Thank you to William Morrow and Book Club Girl for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2022
I like the overall idea of seeing how one bad decision can affect many people's lives. However, this book bothered me.
I thought there would be murder. Instead, rich teens and a few working kids destroy a house during a party and lie about it. Most of the book is spent trying to catch them.
I think the issue is trying to compare millions of dollars in damage to kids trying to get into college. It just doesn't work.
There are also too many details at times that don't move the story forward. Throw in the story being told by so many characters doesn't help and makes the characters not likable. And in the end, they're back to drinking and taking drugs. So in a way, they learned nothing. But it all worked out.
https://theworldisabookandiamitsreade...
I thought there would be murder. Instead, rich teens and a few working kids destroy a house during a party and lie about it. Most of the book is spent trying to catch them.
I think the issue is trying to compare millions of dollars in damage to kids trying to get into college. It just doesn't work.
There are also too many details at times that don't move the story forward. Throw in the story being told by so many characters doesn't help and makes the characters not likable. And in the end, they're back to drinking and taking drugs. So in a way, they learned nothing. But it all worked out.
https://theworldisabookandiamitsreade...
January 21, 2023
More like 3.5 stars. // In the spring of 2008, a suburban house party of trespassing teenagers becomes violent and destructive. As the ADA and police try to figure out what happened the local community’s underlying divisions in class, privilege, and ethics comes bubbling to the surface. I thought this was going to be a quick thriller based on the cover, but it turned out to be a compelling meditation on how seemingly insignificant choices can have widespread consequences. The author does a great job of telling the story through multiple perspectives and creating enough tension to keep you invested. A solid choice if you’re looking for a book that handles some weighty issues with empathy and grace, but only takes a few hours to read.
November 3, 2022
3.5 rounded down. Def not a thriller.
September 23, 2022
I was expecting a little more from this book, thinking it would be a bit more fast paced and intense. Instead I got a more drawn out, slow burn drama. I put it down so many times that it was hard to get back into without encouraging myself.
Genuinely I was interested in the plot, the writing was good and it had such possibilities but it just took too many unnecessary turns that didn’t fit the storyline very well and I felt it just distracted from what could have been more of a thrill seeking read.
In a community where the kids are entitled and just a few must work to achieve the success of being able to attend their chosen University after graduation, there is an unspoken divide that they all pretend does not exist. Living harmoniously together, the town’s upper class have an unspoken authority over how their kids are protected; by the money and the power the parents hold in the careers.
So when a party for a bunch of reckless high school teenagers gets out of hand; the destruction to property, the misconduct and hidden secrets are vowed to be kept a secret. The owners of the property who were almost ready to move in, now have their life in shambles when they are hit with the repair expenses and the couple, Maja & Ted get other devastating news that questions the strength of the marriage.
As people begin to talk, lies are exposed, cover ups and scandals are just about everywhere in a community that was once a friendly town. It’s neighbor against neighbor and the corruption has sunk into the cracks so deep that their perfect bubbles have sprung a leak.
Genuinely I was interested in the plot, the writing was good and it had such possibilities but it just took too many unnecessary turns that didn’t fit the storyline very well and I felt it just distracted from what could have been more of a thrill seeking read.
In a community where the kids are entitled and just a few must work to achieve the success of being able to attend their chosen University after graduation, there is an unspoken divide that they all pretend does not exist. Living harmoniously together, the town’s upper class have an unspoken authority over how their kids are protected; by the money and the power the parents hold in the careers.
So when a party for a bunch of reckless high school teenagers gets out of hand; the destruction to property, the misconduct and hidden secrets are vowed to be kept a secret. The owners of the property who were almost ready to move in, now have their life in shambles when they are hit with the repair expenses and the couple, Maja & Ted get other devastating news that questions the strength of the marriage.
As people begin to talk, lies are exposed, cover ups and scandals are just about everywhere in a community that was once a friendly town. It’s neighbor against neighbor and the corruption has sunk into the cracks so deep that their perfect bubbles have sprung a leak.
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