As a fan of Lily Anderson, I knew I had to read Killer House Party. I forced my whole friend group to listen to it on our road trip. I’m sure they loved it. Keep reading this book review of Killer House Party for my full thoughts.
Summary
Red Solo cups? Check. Snacks? Check. Abandoned mansion full of countless horrors that won’t let you leave? Check.
The Deinhart Manor has been a looming shadow over town for as long as anyone can remember, and it’s been abandoned for even longer. When the final Deinhart descendent passes, the huge gothic manor is up for sale for the first time ever. Which means Arden can steal the keys from her mom’s real estate office…
It’s time for a graduation party that no one will ever forget. Arden and her best friends each have different reasons for wanting to throw the party to end all parties. But when the manor doors bar everyone inside and the walls begin to bleed, all anyone wants to do is make it out alive.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Killer House Party had me on the fence. In some ways, I related to Arden and her frustration. She’s been breaking herself in two to be the perfect, to do everything by the book. And when her parents have gambled her future away, she feels deeply betrayed by not only them, but sort of the world. I deeply related to this betrayal and this idea that we can work so hard to do things what we think of as according to the book and find out everyone’s had a different book. Additionally, she’s so focused on the ‘one way’ out, the vision of her future, so now she has to mourn what she lost and find a new way.
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Part of her drive is her dream to be a doctor and protect other fat people from the medical system and the discrimination. I also loved the ways in which Killer House Party examines the myths of what happened and the stories we’re founded on. But I had some issues with the plot of the actual horror component and some of the decision. Not majorly, but things where I kind of cocked my head and thought, “huh”. I listened to Killer House Party on audiobook and enjoyed Soler’s narration as it really infuses the story with emotion. You can feel Arden’s frustration in a way that I think is best in audio, not text version!
Find Killer House Party on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Audible.