The Party

A Novel

By: Robyn Harding

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

In this stunning and provocative domestic drama about a sweet 16 birthday party that goes horribly awry, a wealthy family in San Francisco finds their picture-perfect life unraveling, their darkest secrets revealed, and their friends turned to enemies.

One invitation. A lifetime of regrets.

Sweet 16. 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. After a tragic accident occurs, 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, Hannah, is exposed.

Harkening to Herman Koch's The Dinner, Christos Tsiolkas' The Slap, and Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies, The Party takes us behind the façade of the picture-perfect family, exposing the lies, betrayals, and moral lapses that neighbors don't see - and the secrets that children and parents keep from themselves and each other.

©2017 Robyn Harding (P)2017 Simon & Schuster Audio

Had five-star moments

How overproduction can go badly. Add group-pressure and U..S.-suing.policy ad welcome to the party. This story would have been better structured for audio with a different narrator for each character.

The book's last third should have been a beginning on a second book. Instead it is hurriedly crafted. I said. "another great book ruined."

Delicious novel

Expert narration and a non-stop plot that thoughtfully considers what’s at stake in protecting ourselves

Great writing but horribly depressing story

The story was so depressing because it depicted characters who unfortunately are realistic and so self centered w a lack of empathy

Two of the teenagers at the end redeem themselves. I had to skip chapters and move to to the end because it was so depressing
I won’t be able to read this author again

Interesting storyline

I liked this story a lot, interesting characters and unique storyline. It has you rooting for certain characters throughout the novel.

The ending just died

Held my attention at first but about 3/4 through I was ready for it to be over. And nothing happened like you wanted it too, at the end it’s like WTH? Seriously! WHY did no one tell on the stupid boys and why in the hell did Hannah not tell the truth about Lauren pushing Ronnie!? 🤬

No Redeeming Qualities

One too many stars on Overall. I kept waiting for everyone , or even a few of the people in this novel to wake up and become decent human beings but no such luck. I don’t understand why someone would sit down and write this story.

long boring drive??? this audiobook is solution

awful drive on i 80. found myself listening in the hotel room!!!!! so much for preparing for my meeting tomorrow.

Good but narration was difficult

I liked this story, my only issue was that sometimes it was hard to tell apart the characters based on the narrators shift in tone of voice... or lack thereof.

Not my favorite

I wanted to love it..... but it was too predictable and no twists. it was easy to see where it was headed and ended as I thought.

Better than the reviews.....

Not bad at all, saw some not great reviews but this was a solid book. Being parent to a 13 yr old makes books like this one a must listen.