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The Party's Over
Hallie Revness feels like she owns the world. Prom queen, cheerleader and half of what seems like the perfect couple, her senior year and the summer after it are perfect—filled with friends, parties and romance.
But then Hallie's friends leave to go to college and Hallie is left behind. For Hallie is seems that the party is over until things take an unexpected turn...
But then Hallie's friends leave to go to college and Hallie is left behind. For Hallie is seems that the party is over until things take an unexpected turn...
187 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
4 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
About the author
Caroline B. Cooney
129 books1,768 followersCaroline Cooney knew in sixth grade that she wanted to be a writer when "the best teacher I ever had in my life" made writing her main focus. "He used to rip off covers from The New Yorker and pass them around and make us write a short story on whichever cover we got. I started writing then and never stopped!"
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 30, 2024
Ex-library copy
Hallie is the top mover and shaker in her small, East Coast high school. She organizes the spirit club, and as senior year wraps up, is deeply involved in all of the banquets and celebrations. She's awarded for being such a good worker and given a huge bouquet of flowers. Because of her fondness for high school, despite the fact that she does not excel academically, she's trying hard not to think about what the future brings. All of her friends are going off to college and want to distance themselves from being "townies", and worry that if Hallie stays, that's what she will become. After a summer of partying and lazing about on the beach, despite her mother's nagging that she needs to go get a job, it's crushing when her friends all leave, especially the love of her life, Jaz, who gives her a roll of stamps in a ring box hoping she will write him letters. Her parents want to go on a cruise but don't want to leave her home alone with no job, so try to pack her off to her older brother's house, but she just isn't making any progress on "getting a life". By happenstance, she falls into a job at the marina as an office manager, using her rusty typing skills and love of organization. She enjoys the job, and is even offered a place to live in exchange for taking care of it while the owner is away. She feels good about her choices, but her friends aren't nice about them when they are home for Thanksgiving. Will Hallie be able to reconcile the reality of her adulthood with the glory of her high school past.
Strengths: This is certainly reflective of the time when I grew up; I graduated six years before Hallie. In my circle, it was assumed that you would go to college. I don't really know what everyone else did. I do know that several of my friends dropped out and went to a local college, and even that seemed pretty scandalous. Considering that only about 25% of the population graduates from college, this is very narrow thinking. There should be a lot more YA books about students in vocational schools or who are looking at technical schools or jobs right out of high school. Cooney is a great writer; Driver's Ed was a book I remember reading in graduate school. She captures a particular place and moment in time brilliantly. Parts of this do feel timeless to me, and Hallie's parents are particularly well drawn. Alarming, but well drawn. I enjoyed this.
Weaknesses: The world is such a different place now that it isn't very relevant any more.
What I really think: I feel like this should have been made into a television movie with Kristy McNichol. I could see it all unfolding in my mind. Meredith Baxter Birney would have played the fitness obsessed mother who wants Hallie out of the house so she can go on her cruise.
Hallie is the top mover and shaker in her small, East Coast high school. She organizes the spirit club, and as senior year wraps up, is deeply involved in all of the banquets and celebrations. She's awarded for being such a good worker and given a huge bouquet of flowers. Because of her fondness for high school, despite the fact that she does not excel academically, she's trying hard not to think about what the future brings. All of her friends are going off to college and want to distance themselves from being "townies", and worry that if Hallie stays, that's what she will become. After a summer of partying and lazing about on the beach, despite her mother's nagging that she needs to go get a job, it's crushing when her friends all leave, especially the love of her life, Jaz, who gives her a roll of stamps in a ring box hoping she will write him letters. Her parents want to go on a cruise but don't want to leave her home alone with no job, so try to pack her off to her older brother's house, but she just isn't making any progress on "getting a life". By happenstance, she falls into a job at the marina as an office manager, using her rusty typing skills and love of organization. She enjoys the job, and is even offered a place to live in exchange for taking care of it while the owner is away. She feels good about her choices, but her friends aren't nice about them when they are home for Thanksgiving. Will Hallie be able to reconcile the reality of her adulthood with the glory of her high school past.
Strengths: This is certainly reflective of the time when I grew up; I graduated six years before Hallie. In my circle, it was assumed that you would go to college. I don't really know what everyone else did. I do know that several of my friends dropped out and went to a local college, and even that seemed pretty scandalous. Considering that only about 25% of the population graduates from college, this is very narrow thinking. There should be a lot more YA books about students in vocational schools or who are looking at technical schools or jobs right out of high school. Cooney is a great writer; Driver's Ed was a book I remember reading in graduate school. She captures a particular place and moment in time brilliantly. Parts of this do feel timeless to me, and Hallie's parents are particularly well drawn. Alarming, but well drawn. I enjoyed this.
Weaknesses: The world is such a different place now that it isn't very relevant any more.
What I really think: I feel like this should have been made into a television movie with Kristy McNichol. I could see it all unfolding in my mind. Meredith Baxter Birney would have played the fitness obsessed mother who wants Hallie out of the house so she can go on her cruise.
April 28, 2024
I read this years ago, enjoyed it - Caroline Conney writes very readable tween/teen fiction- so when I saw that it was a Kindle bargain book of the day I snapped it up. Hallie, the most popular girl in her small town Maine school opts not to go to college and is forced to re-invent her life when her friends leave and she's suddenly a "nobody". Good coming of age story that still holds up
April 22, 2013
17th book read in 2013.
Number 291 out of 308 on my all time book list.
Follow the link below to see my video review:
http://youtu.be/8WGsQvC1UBA
Number 291 out of 308 on my all time book list.
Follow the link below to see my video review:
http://youtu.be/8WGsQvC1UBA
April 28, 2024
Sometimes dated books are nostalgic. Other times they’re just bad.
December 18, 2019
I first read this when I was either 12 or 13, and just recently found it while cleaning out my old bedroom, so I reread it.
Helen (or Hallie, depending on what chapter her name is different) is kind of unlikable at times. I still hated her "best friend", Flavia, who was a nasty, condescending piece of work, just as much as I did when I was in middle school. Re-reading it now, I also think it kind of glamorizes not getting an education, which is highly discouraged in today's day and age especially. I wonder, if this story were written today, how different it might be since more people attend college now than they did 20+ years ago, when this story was first written.
Helen (or Hallie, depending on what chapter her name is different) is kind of unlikable at times. I still hated her "best friend", Flavia, who was a nasty, condescending piece of work, just as much as I did when I was in middle school. Re-reading it now, I also think it kind of glamorizes not getting an education, which is highly discouraged in today's day and age especially. I wonder, if this story were written today, how different it might be since more people attend college now than they did 20+ years ago, when this story was first written.
October 14, 2021
It's just as I remember it. I remember thinking just how much I didn't like the main character until toward the end of the book. That still holds true - I think Hallie is rather pretentious, and sometimes whiny during the majority of the story. Then I found myself rooting for her and wanting all the best for a fictional character!
Overall, I enjoyed my time rereading this Caroline B Cooney book. I have a couple more of hers that I have read, plus one I haven't. She has a great writing style that still has me entranced into a story, even after so many years have passed.
Overall, I enjoyed my time rereading this Caroline B Cooney book. I have a couple more of hers that I have read, plus one I haven't. She has a great writing style that still has me entranced into a story, even after so many years have passed.
February 20, 2024
I've read this book three times; once while I was still in school, then when I had finished school and then when I was in college and each time enjoyed it and found different parts of the story hit home.
August 6, 2025
YA Good for the age it’s intended for. A girl who loved and lived high school decides not to go to college yet all her friends and boyfriend leave to go separate campuses. She has to build a whole new life.
February 16, 2018
Maybe one of the most boring books I have ever read. The lead character is not likable at any point.
December 11, 2018
I found this book, and Helen's story, quite affecting. Though written a couple of decades ago, I could see it still having a lot of appeal today.
July 31, 2019
13-year-old me would have loved this.
July 15, 2022
I loved this book! Hallie is queen of her small Maine high school and then everyone graduates and goes off to college except her. She struggles with depression and searching for herself. She wasn’t perfect and driven, but she was a realistic portrait of a young woman not wanting to grow up.
May 27, 2025
I'm not sure why I enjoyed this one so much as a teen. I can't even like the protagonist.
March 31, 2022
Read this from my stack of books of my youth as just wanted something I didn't have to think about. Not quite sure that's what I got, but it worked well enough. To start I thought oh my this didn't age well. The protagonist is so superficial- think like Cher in Clueless. However, similarly, she grows over time. Could be a good read for someone about to graduate high school as deals with that whole end of one stage of life and moving on.
November 27, 2007
Outstanding novel about a girl who doesn't want to rush off to college just because her friends are all going, so stays home and tries to create a viable place for herself as a high school graduate in her home town, only to find that she is both lonely and unfulfilled.
Cooney's books tend to be either potboilers or books of lasting appeal - this one is memorable.
Cooney's books tend to be either potboilers or books of lasting appeal - this one is memorable.
July 2, 2010
I really liked this book back in the day - I think I read it more than once. Now that I think about it, it slightly glamourizes not getting an education, but mostly I think it's about figuring out who you are and what you like, and feeling comfortable with it.
December 31, 2008
My favorite Caroline B. Cooney novel.
January 1, 2009
This is one of my favorite books. It is the lesson everybody wakes up to at one point.
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July 14, 2016comfort reading at its finest.
December 31, 2016
Oh god, I could not stand Hallie. That being said, I have a soft spot for senior year/we're going to college (or not) stories.
Lots of typos/formatting errors in the Kindle edition.
Lots of typos/formatting errors in the Kindle edition.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews