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When The Party's Over
Natalie knows her life looks perfect from the Three young children, a loving husband, the tastefully renovated Eastern Suburbs cottage. So why does she feel so suffocated?
On her 36th birthday, all Natalie wants is to gather her two best friends and leave their responsibilities behind just for one night. But when the party's over, she finds eighteen-month-old Toby clutching an unmistakable colourful tablet - with a quarter missing.
What kind of mother could let this happen?
But even as Toby recovers and returns home safely, the fallout is only just beginning. Each of these three women has their own truth about that night - and when it all comes to light, will any of their friendships survive?
When the Party's Over is the page-turning debut novel by Katie Hoskins, for readers of Liane Moriarty, Holly Wainwright and The Slap.
Praise for When the Party's Over
'A slick and polished debut that kept me hooked from one tension-laden chapter to the next' - Ali Lowe
On her 36th birthday, all Natalie wants is to gather her two best friends and leave their responsibilities behind just for one night. But when the party's over, she finds eighteen-month-old Toby clutching an unmistakable colourful tablet - with a quarter missing.
What kind of mother could let this happen?
But even as Toby recovers and returns home safely, the fallout is only just beginning. Each of these three women has their own truth about that night - and when it all comes to light, will any of their friendships survive?
When the Party's Over is the page-turning debut novel by Katie Hoskins, for readers of Liane Moriarty, Holly Wainwright and The Slap.
Praise for When the Party's Over
'A slick and polished debut that kept me hooked from one tension-laden chapter to the next' - Ali Lowe
- GenresFiction
397 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
April 11, 2026
I met Katie Hoskins at a book event last year and we bonded over our love of Kylie Minogue. I love that she got her into her debut novel, When The Party’s Over as well!! When she told me about her book I was so excited to read it. A massive thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for sending me this ARC, I am thrilled to be an early reviewer for this talented lady.
I could definitely relate to the main character of this book Natalie. She is turning 36 and has 3 young children. She feels like she is losing her fun side, her sense of adventure and fun so she throws herself a party in her newly renovated Eastern Suburbs home. The party gets wild, lots of alcohol and the drugs come out soon enough. Severely hungover the next day, she is faced with any parent’s worse nightmare when her youngest child appears holding only part of a very identifiable tablet, and it is not Panadol. Fear not, the child is fine, but her life as she knew it will never be the same again.
This is a fantastic domestic drama, set in Sydney so I could picture it all happening in places that I know well. A story of friendship and family. Of jealousy and love and deceit. Nothing is ever what it appears on the outside and as you get older, your priorities change. I loved Natalie’s circle of friends, all going through something big in their lives and struggling to talk about it.
I had to sit on my review for a while, wanting to do the shorty and Katie the justice that they deserve. I can’t wait for everyone to read this and I am excited for what comes next from Katie.
I could definitely relate to the main character of this book Natalie. She is turning 36 and has 3 young children. She feels like she is losing her fun side, her sense of adventure and fun so she throws herself a party in her newly renovated Eastern Suburbs home. The party gets wild, lots of alcohol and the drugs come out soon enough. Severely hungover the next day, she is faced with any parent’s worse nightmare when her youngest child appears holding only part of a very identifiable tablet, and it is not Panadol. Fear not, the child is fine, but her life as she knew it will never be the same again.
This is a fantastic domestic drama, set in Sydney so I could picture it all happening in places that I know well. A story of friendship and family. Of jealousy and love and deceit. Nothing is ever what it appears on the outside and as you get older, your priorities change. I loved Natalie’s circle of friends, all going through something big in their lives and struggling to talk about it.
I had to sit on my review for a while, wanting to do the shorty and Katie the justice that they deserve. I can’t wait for everyone to read this and I am excited for what comes next from Katie.
April 14, 2026
This is a book about cover ups, motherhood, drugs, alcohol, relationships and the value of friendships.
This is one of those books that is thought provoking. What would you do in Natalie's circumstance? There was so much drama going on in this book with other people it was hard to keep up with it. I will tell you one thing; it was addictive and I couldn't stop reading it. It's all about the who.
What I loved about this book was the guessing game of whose tablet it was , and who the father of the baby was. What a great debut.
This is one of those books that is thought provoking. What would you do in Natalie's circumstance? There was so much drama going on in this book with other people it was hard to keep up with it. I will tell you one thing; it was addictive and I couldn't stop reading it. It's all about the who.
What I loved about this book was the guessing game of whose tablet it was , and who the father of the baby was. What a great debut.
January 17, 2026
I could not put When the Party’s Over down!!!! Talk about domestic noir!!!!!! So compulsive, such meaty themes to get stuck into, such fun real friendships that were completely wanted to be a part of (maybe..)
I loved it all SO much!!! The Sydney setting was next level too, I could see it all so clearly!!! Couldn’t recommend it more, it’s for fans of Sally Hepworth/ Cassie Hamer/ Ali Lowe/ lLiane Moriarty…gosh I can’t believe it was a debut!!!!!
Your going to love it when it’s out in March! Thanks so much for my arc Macmillan!!!!!!!!!!
I loved it all SO much!!! The Sydney setting was next level too, I could see it all so clearly!!! Couldn’t recommend it more, it’s for fans of Sally Hepworth/ Cassie Hamer/ Ali Lowe/ lLiane Moriarty…gosh I can’t believe it was a debut!!!!!
Your going to love it when it’s out in March! Thanks so much for my arc Macmillan!!!!!!!!!!
April 8, 2026
Raced through this in less than 48 hours! It was juicy, gripping and filled with so much simmering tension that it was impossible to put down. What happens when a party gets out of control? What happens when the aftershocks affect your kid? A fresh and enthralling domestic drama in the vein of The Slap, Sally Hepworth and Liane Moriarty!
April 23, 2026
Eastern suburbs mums with baby issues. I didn't really warm to any of them.
April 13, 2026
WOW. I honestly did not expect to be this blown away by a debut, but When The Party’s Over completely exceeded every expectation I had going in. This was layered, nuanced, and so incredibly well-crafted that I found myself constantly in awe of how everything unfolded.
The characters? Messy. Complicated. Sometimes frustrating. But also deeply human. Their choices and reactions felt so raw and visceral, driven by emotion in a way that felt uncomfortably real at times. I know a lot of readers in our buddy read struggled to connect with the characters, but I had the complete opposite experience. I was fully invested in every single one of them and genuinely cared about what would happen to them by the end.
And that ending… I did NOT see that twist coming. Not even slightly. It completely recontextualised everything and made the reading experience even more satisfying in hindsight.
Reading this with the Bookish Bandits Book Club made it even more special. The discussions, the differing perspectives, and unpacking all those layered dynamics added so much to the experience.
For a debut, this is seriously impressive. Katie Hoskins has absolutely delivered something special here, and I’ll be recommending this one for a long time.
Also, I get to attend her author talk this week AND meet her at our in-person book club catch-up which makes this all even more exciting. If you can get your hands on this book please do!! I also read the book as an immersive reading experience so i had the audiobook going at the same time. Narrator Ashleigh Redmond did an amazing job as well on the audiobook. It was very engaging and I loved how she easily transitioned into all the different character voices!
A top tier book and I will be singing the praises until my lungs give out!
The characters? Messy. Complicated. Sometimes frustrating. But also deeply human. Their choices and reactions felt so raw and visceral, driven by emotion in a way that felt uncomfortably real at times. I know a lot of readers in our buddy read struggled to connect with the characters, but I had the complete opposite experience. I was fully invested in every single one of them and genuinely cared about what would happen to them by the end.
And that ending… I did NOT see that twist coming. Not even slightly. It completely recontextualised everything and made the reading experience even more satisfying in hindsight.
Reading this with the Bookish Bandits Book Club made it even more special. The discussions, the differing perspectives, and unpacking all those layered dynamics added so much to the experience.
For a debut, this is seriously impressive. Katie Hoskins has absolutely delivered something special here, and I’ll be recommending this one for a long time.
Also, I get to attend her author talk this week AND meet her at our in-person book club catch-up which makes this all even more exciting. If you can get your hands on this book please do!! I also read the book as an immersive reading experience so i had the audiobook going at the same time. Narrator Ashleigh Redmond did an amazing job as well on the audiobook. It was very engaging and I loved how she easily transitioned into all the different character voices!
A top tier book and I will be singing the praises until my lungs give out!
April 13, 2026
I absolutely inhaled this book!
So well written, I was hooked and the twists were so clever. The characters felt so real…will be keeping my eyes peeled for Katie’s next novel.
So well written, I was hooked and the twists were so clever. The characters felt so real…will be keeping my eyes peeled for Katie’s next novel.
April 1, 2026
When the Party's Over is a brilliant debut novel from Katie Hoskins.
It was such a fantastic surprise to receive an unexpected ARC of this and I found that once I started reading this book, that I couldn't stop turning the pages in order to find more pieces of the puzzle to reveal the whole story.
Natalie is a wife to a doting husband, a mother to three children and is fortunate enough to live in the Eastern suburbs. To all those around her, her world seems perfect, but Natalie is yearning for some excitement, so decides to throw a party for her 36th birthday that will take her back to her life before she became a wife and a mother. The party is wild with alcohol and drugs flowing, the only problem is, that once the Party's over, she has to return to her normal life... or can she? Or has this one night changed not only her life, but the lives of those around her?
Told from three POV's, I loved how each chapter was told from a different point of view and how each narrator added a different perspective of the night, the events that happened on that night and how it impacted those that attended. The characters were so real and relatable, written with great authenticity. There were a lot of twists and turns within the pages of this book that I definitely didn't see coming.
What really came through to me is the reality of how decisions hold consequences not only to the individuals that make them, but often to those around them. It also depicts the frailty of the reality of what we hold valuable in our lives - including relationships. This was such an interesting and compelling read that you will not want to miss!
It was such a fantastic surprise to receive an unexpected ARC of this and I found that once I started reading this book, that I couldn't stop turning the pages in order to find more pieces of the puzzle to reveal the whole story.
Natalie is a wife to a doting husband, a mother to three children and is fortunate enough to live in the Eastern suburbs. To all those around her, her world seems perfect, but Natalie is yearning for some excitement, so decides to throw a party for her 36th birthday that will take her back to her life before she became a wife and a mother. The party is wild with alcohol and drugs flowing, the only problem is, that once the Party's over, she has to return to her normal life... or can she? Or has this one night changed not only her life, but the lives of those around her?
Told from three POV's, I loved how each chapter was told from a different point of view and how each narrator added a different perspective of the night, the events that happened on that night and how it impacted those that attended. The characters were so real and relatable, written with great authenticity. There were a lot of twists and turns within the pages of this book that I definitely didn't see coming.
What really came through to me is the reality of how decisions hold consequences not only to the individuals that make them, but often to those around them. It also depicts the frailty of the reality of what we hold valuable in our lives - including relationships. This was such an interesting and compelling read that you will not want to miss!
April 12, 2026
It’s a debut and I’m already such a fan of Katie Hoskins’ writing.
I read this as a buddy read with The Bookish Bandits book club, and despite starting the three day buddy read a day late, I still devoured it in about 24 hours. Honestly, if life hadn’t gotten in the way I could easily have read this in one sitting.
On the surface the premise is gripping. A birthday party spirals out of control and the fallout begins when Natalie’s toddler is found the next morning holding a pill with a quarter missing. But what really hooked me was how layered and authentic the writing felt.
Told through three POVs, Natalie, Amanda and Lisa, the story explores friendship, identity, relationships and motherhood from very different perspectives. As a woman in my thirties myself, I found these characters incredibly relatable. The pressures, expectations and life stages each of them are navigating felt very real and thoughtfully written.
Hoskins weaves in themes like the marriage equality plebiscite, infidelity, work life balance, social expectations and shifting family dynamics with real care. The characters feel flawed, human and believable, and the tension quietly builds as secrets begin to surface and the ripple effects of that night unfold.
As an Aussie reader I also loved the Sydney setting and how recognisably Australian this story feels, right down to the token random Souths supporter in the mix.
For a debut novel, this feels incredibly confident and emotionally layered. I’ll absolutely be reading whatever Katie Hoskins writes next.
I read this as a buddy read with The Bookish Bandits book club, and despite starting the three day buddy read a day late, I still devoured it in about 24 hours. Honestly, if life hadn’t gotten in the way I could easily have read this in one sitting.
On the surface the premise is gripping. A birthday party spirals out of control and the fallout begins when Natalie’s toddler is found the next morning holding a pill with a quarter missing. But what really hooked me was how layered and authentic the writing felt.
Told through three POVs, Natalie, Amanda and Lisa, the story explores friendship, identity, relationships and motherhood from very different perspectives. As a woman in my thirties myself, I found these characters incredibly relatable. The pressures, expectations and life stages each of them are navigating felt very real and thoughtfully written.
Hoskins weaves in themes like the marriage equality plebiscite, infidelity, work life balance, social expectations and shifting family dynamics with real care. The characters feel flawed, human and believable, and the tension quietly builds as secrets begin to surface and the ripple effects of that night unfold.
As an Aussie reader I also loved the Sydney setting and how recognisably Australian this story feels, right down to the token random Souths supporter in the mix.
For a debut novel, this feels incredibly confident and emotionally layered. I’ll absolutely be reading whatever Katie Hoskins writes next.
April 4, 2026
I absolutely inhaled this book and can't recommend it highly enough. I still find it hard to believe this was written be a debut author. Everything about this book is a masterpiece. The characters are so real, and humanly flawed and they feel like people we all know, and so relatable. It is a thought provoking book that will appeal to so many people from every walk of life. Katie's insight into human motivation, insights into their behaviour and relationships is so exquisite, it kept me wanting more. I don't want to give spoilers, but each page presented you with a twist and turn you didn't see coming. Katie has not shied away from controversy, moral and ethical dilemmas and challenges we all face, but they are dealt with such grace, humility and respect. As soon as I finished it, I wanted to read it again immediately I loved it that much! There were tears, laughter and clutching my pearls. Well done on a brilliant debut book, Katie Hoskins is one to watch. This is a real page turner and an absolute must read 🩷
April 6, 2026
I recently read Katie Hoskins’ brilliant and thought provoking debut novel When the Party’s Over.
To celebrate her 36th birthday, Natalie plans a party at home. Her three children are staying with their grandparents and Natalie and her husband Ben can finally let their hair down. However, the next day when her children return she finds her 18 month old son Tony holding a blue tablet with a quarter missing. How could this have happened and who dropped what is surely an ecstasy tablet in her home? With a terrifying rush to hospital the repercussions of this mistake begin. Will any of Natalie’s friendships survive when the truth about that night is revealed?
The incident at the centre of this book was every parent’s worst nightmare and the guilt and blame that followed was so realistic and relatable. I could completely understand Natalie wanting to find out who had brought the tablet just to have someone to blame and relieve the awful guilt she was feeling.
I enjoyed getting the POVs of Natalie’s two oldest friends Lisa and Amanda and their stories were equally as intriguing as the main storyline. It’s a book filled with real and fallible characters that could be someone you know and I found myself thinking about how I would react in any of their situations.
Katie has crafted a stunning portrayal of motherhood, female friendships and family life and I was driven to keep turning the pages to uncover the full story. Congratulations on a fabulous debut! I cannot wait to read whatever comes next.
To celebrate her 36th birthday, Natalie plans a party at home. Her three children are staying with their grandparents and Natalie and her husband Ben can finally let their hair down. However, the next day when her children return she finds her 18 month old son Tony holding a blue tablet with a quarter missing. How could this have happened and who dropped what is surely an ecstasy tablet in her home? With a terrifying rush to hospital the repercussions of this mistake begin. Will any of Natalie’s friendships survive when the truth about that night is revealed?
The incident at the centre of this book was every parent’s worst nightmare and the guilt and blame that followed was so realistic and relatable. I could completely understand Natalie wanting to find out who had brought the tablet just to have someone to blame and relieve the awful guilt she was feeling.
I enjoyed getting the POVs of Natalie’s two oldest friends Lisa and Amanda and their stories were equally as intriguing as the main storyline. It’s a book filled with real and fallible characters that could be someone you know and I found myself thinking about how I would react in any of their situations.
Katie has crafted a stunning portrayal of motherhood, female friendships and family life and I was driven to keep turning the pages to uncover the full story. Congratulations on a fabulous debut! I cannot wait to read whatever comes next.
May 15, 2026
I read this is one sitting!
I could not put this book down - it was so relatable and well paced! Highly recommend and can’t wait for the next book.
I could not put this book down - it was so relatable and well paced! Highly recommend and can’t wait for the next book.
April 20, 2026
When the Party’s Over debut novel by English author Katie Hoskins is an emotionally moving story exploring friendship, ambition, identity, and the quiet unravelling that can happen behind closed doors.
The novel begins by immersing the reader into Natalie’s seemingly perfect world, she has a loving husband Ben, a successful part time career, three young children, including 18 month old Toby, and a tastefully renovated cottage in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. Beneath her polished exterior, Natalie feels suffocated as her days are consumed by childcare, domestic routines, and the invisible labour of keeping everything running.
Desperate for a moment that belongs only to her she decides to have a party at home with her closest friends Amanda and Sammy to celebrate her 36th birthday and let her hair. Her parents agree to take the children overnight, giving her a brief window of freedom. The women drink, talk, and let their guard down with conversations of marriage, motherhood, ambition, and envy.
The next day what should have been a quiet, hungover morning, the children are returned early, Natalie discovers her 18 month old son holding a coloured pill with a quarter missing. He is rushed to hospital, but the damage is already done, the women are forced to confront what the night really meant. Everyone involved is a suspect of the pill, and who is to blame?
The author structures the novel through multiple viewpoints, allowing readers to see how each woman interprets the same event differently. One of the strongest aspects of the novel is how relatable it feels, every line carries weight and builds up the deeper you read on. I appreciated how the novel refuses easy answers and leaves you guessing.
The dynamics between the characters are skilfully established, adding depth to their interactions. Hoskins knack for capturing the mood and setting of the scenes evocatively had me feeling as if I was in the middle of all the chaos and feeling the resentments of the women. Each has her own truth about the night, and none of those truths fully align, I constantly questioned whether they could rebuild something so precious as friendship, or whether the truth had broken them beyond repair.
When the Party’s Over is written with warmth and insight, capturing the subtle dynamics of female friendship the competition that isn’t spoken about, the comparisons that creep in, and the deep history that binds people together even when they’re drifting apart. She makes you think twice about the true meaning of friendship, how fragile trust can be and how quickly friendships can shift when children are involved.
Readers who enjoy character-driven psychological fiction, stories about complicated female bonds, and novels that explore the thin line between truth and assumptions will find this novel compelling. I highly recommend.
Thank you, Beauty & Lace and Macmillan Australia, for the opportunity to read and review.
The novel begins by immersing the reader into Natalie’s seemingly perfect world, she has a loving husband Ben, a successful part time career, three young children, including 18 month old Toby, and a tastefully renovated cottage in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. Beneath her polished exterior, Natalie feels suffocated as her days are consumed by childcare, domestic routines, and the invisible labour of keeping everything running.
Desperate for a moment that belongs only to her she decides to have a party at home with her closest friends Amanda and Sammy to celebrate her 36th birthday and let her hair. Her parents agree to take the children overnight, giving her a brief window of freedom. The women drink, talk, and let their guard down with conversations of marriage, motherhood, ambition, and envy.
The next day what should have been a quiet, hungover morning, the children are returned early, Natalie discovers her 18 month old son holding a coloured pill with a quarter missing. He is rushed to hospital, but the damage is already done, the women are forced to confront what the night really meant. Everyone involved is a suspect of the pill, and who is to blame?
The author structures the novel through multiple viewpoints, allowing readers to see how each woman interprets the same event differently. One of the strongest aspects of the novel is how relatable it feels, every line carries weight and builds up the deeper you read on. I appreciated how the novel refuses easy answers and leaves you guessing.
The dynamics between the characters are skilfully established, adding depth to their interactions. Hoskins knack for capturing the mood and setting of the scenes evocatively had me feeling as if I was in the middle of all the chaos and feeling the resentments of the women. Each has her own truth about the night, and none of those truths fully align, I constantly questioned whether they could rebuild something so precious as friendship, or whether the truth had broken them beyond repair.
When the Party’s Over is written with warmth and insight, capturing the subtle dynamics of female friendship the competition that isn’t spoken about, the comparisons that creep in, and the deep history that binds people together even when they’re drifting apart. She makes you think twice about the true meaning of friendship, how fragile trust can be and how quickly friendships can shift when children are involved.
Readers who enjoy character-driven psychological fiction, stories about complicated female bonds, and novels that explore the thin line between truth and assumptions will find this novel compelling. I highly recommend.
Thank you, Beauty & Lace and Macmillan Australia, for the opportunity to read and review.
May 7, 2026
This book was provided courtesy of Pan Macmillan Australia, with an accompanying interview with Katie Hoskins featured on the literary podcast Date With A Debut in April 2026. All views and opinions are of my own, the reviewer.
Mild spoilers below.
Motherhood, friendship, identity, the consequences of lying and the challenges and pressures placed on women are front and centre in an astonishing debut from Katie Hoskins - one of my favourite books of the year.
Told from three different perspectives in Amanda, Natalie and Lisa, a group of friends get together for a fun birthday party at Natalie’s house - a party that rapidly gets out of control.
However, the following day, Natalie’s toddler Toby is found clutching a tablet, with a quarter of it missing. After a traumatic experience at the hospital, the fallout begins from this party, with the community turning on Natalie, social services on her back, and Amanda and Lisa also dealing with repercussions of their own from this party.
Whose pill was it? And what else occurred that night?
This book is a loaded, stunning, domestic noir, brilliantly capturing life in your thirties as children, careers and more get in the way. Natalie goes through a lot in this story, and the challenges of motherhood really bring this home in her interactions with her husband Ben, who is also trying his best.
Amanda and her partner Sammy are dealing with challenges of their own, with both trying for children and facing difficult dynamics between the two of them. That does come with a trigger warning for anyone who has encountered fertility issues; the scenes involving them can be very challenging.
As for Lisa… the less said the better. The only single one in this friendship group, she is watching her friends start to settle out and put their lives together, and she starts to wonder what choices she has.
I cannot stress this enough: avoid spoilers for this book. Just read it. A phenomenal deep dive into the challenges of domestic life, filled with tension and dread. This book will hook you and will stay with you long after the final page is turned.
5/5
Booktopia: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/DWV5xn
Date With A Debut Podcast episode: https://dwad.podpixels.com/ep/series-...
Mild spoilers below.
Motherhood, friendship, identity, the consequences of lying and the challenges and pressures placed on women are front and centre in an astonishing debut from Katie Hoskins - one of my favourite books of the year.
Told from three different perspectives in Amanda, Natalie and Lisa, a group of friends get together for a fun birthday party at Natalie’s house - a party that rapidly gets out of control.
However, the following day, Natalie’s toddler Toby is found clutching a tablet, with a quarter of it missing. After a traumatic experience at the hospital, the fallout begins from this party, with the community turning on Natalie, social services on her back, and Amanda and Lisa also dealing with repercussions of their own from this party.
Whose pill was it? And what else occurred that night?
This book is a loaded, stunning, domestic noir, brilliantly capturing life in your thirties as children, careers and more get in the way. Natalie goes through a lot in this story, and the challenges of motherhood really bring this home in her interactions with her husband Ben, who is also trying his best.
Amanda and her partner Sammy are dealing with challenges of their own, with both trying for children and facing difficult dynamics between the two of them. That does come with a trigger warning for anyone who has encountered fertility issues; the scenes involving them can be very challenging.
As for Lisa… the less said the better. The only single one in this friendship group, she is watching her friends start to settle out and put their lives together, and she starts to wonder what choices she has.
I cannot stress this enough: avoid spoilers for this book. Just read it. A phenomenal deep dive into the challenges of domestic life, filled with tension and dread. This book will hook you and will stay with you long after the final page is turned.
5/5
Booktopia: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/DWV5xn
Date With A Debut Podcast episode: https://dwad.podpixels.com/ep/series-...
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Big thanks to Pan Macmillan for sending us a copy to read and review.
The alumni of the 2026 Debut Crew are rocking the book world with their high quality reads.
Katie Hoskins is a part of that group and her upcoming release is going to knock your socks off.
When The Party’s Over is sleek, fresh, addictive, compelling, razor sharp, so damn interesting and oh so bloody good.
Get ready to not move from your seat cause this unputdownable read is going to wow you.
Natalie has the most incredible life.
Three young children, a successful part time career, a loving husband and a beautiful home.
But Natalie feels like she’s missing out on something.
So when her 36th birthday approaches, she decides to have a party and let her hair down as it’s long overdue.
The children are away for the night and her bff’s, friends and colleagues gather for the bash.
The next morning after letting loose, her eighteen month old finds a pill with a quarter missing.
As Toby is rushed to the hospital and recovers, everyone involved is a suspect of the pill and very soon there’s more to the night that they all could have imagined…….
A suburban melodrama with domestic noir vibes and some slight psychological thriller moments.
A story about fractured friendships, weighty issues, family dynamics, secrets, deception, lies and the party that changes everything.
I was holding my breath wondering what was going to happen next.
If you want a great entertaining read then go no further.
The 31st March is fast approaching so I suggest you go and pre order a copy because this book is going to fly off the shelves.
The alumni of the 2026 Debut Crew are rocking the book world with their high quality reads.
Katie Hoskins is a part of that group and her upcoming release is going to knock your socks off.
When The Party’s Over is sleek, fresh, addictive, compelling, razor sharp, so damn interesting and oh so bloody good.
Get ready to not move from your seat cause this unputdownable read is going to wow you.
Natalie has the most incredible life.
Three young children, a successful part time career, a loving husband and a beautiful home.
But Natalie feels like she’s missing out on something.
So when her 36th birthday approaches, she decides to have a party and let her hair down as it’s long overdue.
The children are away for the night and her bff’s, friends and colleagues gather for the bash.
The next morning after letting loose, her eighteen month old finds a pill with a quarter missing.
As Toby is rushed to the hospital and recovers, everyone involved is a suspect of the pill and very soon there’s more to the night that they all could have imagined…….
A suburban melodrama with domestic noir vibes and some slight psychological thriller moments.
A story about fractured friendships, weighty issues, family dynamics, secrets, deception, lies and the party that changes everything.
I was holding my breath wondering what was going to happen next.
If you want a great entertaining read then go no further.
The 31st March is fast approaching so I suggest you go and pre order a copy because this book is going to fly off the shelves.
May 1, 2026
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book. Absolutely loved it!
It's a highly relatable story of an exhausted mother of three who celebrates her 36th birthday...and what happens afterwards when her 18-month-old son finds a colourful tablet left behind by a party-goer.
With a lie in the first line, the story grips from the off! The author weaves a cleverly constructed story about relationships, friendships, family, motherhood (or not), choices and consequences. About life, basically. She handles some huge themes with depth and warmth. I was amazed to see she's one of SIX siblings and 30 first cousins. I guess that's why she has such a great eye for family dynamics and relationships.
Thought-provoking, emotional and oh-so-relatable, this book reminds us how easily lives can be shattered. Which makes it sound sad but it's not - there's some great humour and some truly hilarious moments - along with lots of surprises and some fantastic twists.
The story centres around three very different female characters: mother-of-3 Natalie and her best friends Lisa who is currently childless, and Mandy who lives with her female partner and their young daughter. The author cleverly raises questions about whether society judge women in different way to how they judge men - and whether in fact it might be other women doing much of the harshest judging.
Katie Hoskins is an exciting new voice in Australian fiction. I can't wait to see what she writes next!
This book is perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.
It's a highly relatable story of an exhausted mother of three who celebrates her 36th birthday...and what happens afterwards when her 18-month-old son finds a colourful tablet left behind by a party-goer.
With a lie in the first line, the story grips from the off! The author weaves a cleverly constructed story about relationships, friendships, family, motherhood (or not), choices and consequences. About life, basically. She handles some huge themes with depth and warmth. I was amazed to see she's one of SIX siblings and 30 first cousins. I guess that's why she has such a great eye for family dynamics and relationships.
Thought-provoking, emotional and oh-so-relatable, this book reminds us how easily lives can be shattered. Which makes it sound sad but it's not - there's some great humour and some truly hilarious moments - along with lots of surprises and some fantastic twists.
The story centres around three very different female characters: mother-of-3 Natalie and her best friends Lisa who is currently childless, and Mandy who lives with her female partner and their young daughter. The author cleverly raises questions about whether society judge women in different way to how they judge men - and whether in fact it might be other women doing much of the harshest judging.
Katie Hoskins is an exciting new voice in Australian fiction. I can't wait to see what she writes next!
This book is perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.
May 2, 2026
Natalie’s life in her renovated Eastern Suburbs cottage looks perfect, but she feels suffocated by the pressures of motherhood. On her 36th birthday, a night out with her two best friends ends in horror when she finds her toddler has swallowed part of an illicit tablet. While her son recovers, the fallout is only just beginning. As secrets about that night emerge, the three women must face their own truths and wonder if their friendships can survive the scandal.
Gosh, this was every parent’s nightmare coming true! What exhausted parent hasn’t wished they could have a ‘break’ night just to enjoy themselves? I totally understood Natalie’s state of mind in this story.
I was so scared the incident would have irreversible repercussions, and I felt anxious alongside Natalie and Ben the entire time. Their struggles - and the judgments from other parents - felt incredibly realistic. I actually appreciated that the plot didn’t make the other parents overly villainous. Their concerns, quick judgments, and lack of compassion felt like a true reflection of reality.
I pretty much guessed who brought the pills early on, but I still managed to enjoy all the side stories and subplot twists. I’d recommend this to any domestic thriller fans!
(Thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
Gosh, this was every parent’s nightmare coming true! What exhausted parent hasn’t wished they could have a ‘break’ night just to enjoy themselves? I totally understood Natalie’s state of mind in this story.
I was so scared the incident would have irreversible repercussions, and I felt anxious alongside Natalie and Ben the entire time. Their struggles - and the judgments from other parents - felt incredibly realistic. I actually appreciated that the plot didn’t make the other parents overly villainous. Their concerns, quick judgments, and lack of compassion felt like a true reflection of reality.
I pretty much guessed who brought the pills early on, but I still managed to enjoy all the side stories and subplot twists. I’d recommend this to any domestic thriller fans!
(Thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
March 30, 2026
There is a line in this book which says it all: “Knowing they had so much, yet unable to bear not having more”.
Natalie has a husband, Ben, and three small children, the youngest being Toby who is eighteen months old. Natalie is having a party at home for her 36th birthday, her parents will be keeping the children at their home and Natalie is looking forward to a child-free night among friends. It is, however, the morning after when disaster strikes, and Natalie’s world starts to fall apart.
Meanwhile Natalie’s friends, Amanda and Sammy, have troubles of their own, Amanda being happy with what they have, and Sammy wanting more. Although the quote above was written about them, it applies pretty much to everyone in the book.
Another friend, Lisa, single and gorgeous, also hankers for what she can’t have. I must admit I didn’t twig to who was the cause of Lisa’s problem until just a few pages before it was revealed. I must also admit to being stunned by the revelation regarding Natalie and her family. I’m not giving anything away here, though.
This is definitely a book about First World problems, but that label is not meant to diminish their importance. I liked Katie Hoskins’ writing very much, and I hope she is planning to come up with more thought-provoking books in the future.
Natalie has a husband, Ben, and three small children, the youngest being Toby who is eighteen months old. Natalie is having a party at home for her 36th birthday, her parents will be keeping the children at their home and Natalie is looking forward to a child-free night among friends. It is, however, the morning after when disaster strikes, and Natalie’s world starts to fall apart.
Meanwhile Natalie’s friends, Amanda and Sammy, have troubles of their own, Amanda being happy with what they have, and Sammy wanting more. Although the quote above was written about them, it applies pretty much to everyone in the book.
Another friend, Lisa, single and gorgeous, also hankers for what she can’t have. I must admit I didn’t twig to who was the cause of Lisa’s problem until just a few pages before it was revealed. I must also admit to being stunned by the revelation regarding Natalie and her family. I’m not giving anything away here, though.
This is definitely a book about First World problems, but that label is not meant to diminish their importance. I liked Katie Hoskins’ writing very much, and I hope she is planning to come up with more thought-provoking books in the future.
March 30, 2026
What a debut novel by Katie Hoskins. I devoured this story and didn’t want to put it down. It’s one of those reads where any interruption feels like an inconvenience because you just want to stay with these three best friends.
I really enjoyed following all three women. They are flawed but written in such a way that you can’t help but feel empathy for them. Their imperfections aren’t there to make you judge them, but to understand them, which I thought was done brilliantly.
The side characters felt just as important as the main three women, Natalie, Lisa and Amanda, which added a lot of depth to the story.
The way the story unfolds kept me completely hooked. It gently pulls you in different directions and keeps you thinking without giving too much away.
I’m a huge fan of Katie Hoskins already and I’m calling it early. She is an incredibly talented Australian author to watch (yep, she’s been here long enough to claim as ours!!).
My biggest takeaway from this book is that every woman is carrying more than you realise.
Thank you to Macmillan Australia for the advanced copy.
I really enjoyed following all three women. They are flawed but written in such a way that you can’t help but feel empathy for them. Their imperfections aren’t there to make you judge them, but to understand them, which I thought was done brilliantly.
The side characters felt just as important as the main three women, Natalie, Lisa and Amanda, which added a lot of depth to the story.
The way the story unfolds kept me completely hooked. It gently pulls you in different directions and keeps you thinking without giving too much away.
I’m a huge fan of Katie Hoskins already and I’m calling it early. She is an incredibly talented Australian author to watch (yep, she’s been here long enough to claim as ours!!).
My biggest takeaway from this book is that every woman is carrying more than you realise.
Thank you to Macmillan Australia for the advanced copy.
May 1, 2026
Wow. Just wow. This is a SIX STAR debut for me ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I don’t think I’ve ever flown through an audiobook this quickly in my life. Kate Hoskins delivers an absolutely gripping story that had me hooked from the very first chapter.
We follow Natalie, who is celebrating her 36th birthday with what’s meant to be a carefree, kid-free night at home. But everything takes a terrifying turn when her youngest son accidentally ingests part of an ecstasy tablet the day after the party.
What follows is a complete domino effect — a chain reaction of events that spirals long after her son returns home from hospital. The tension doesn’t let up. The fallout is messy, emotional, and incredibly real.
As the story unfolds, you can’t help but wonder… will any of these friendships or family relationships survive what’s happened?
This book is intense, addictive, and completely unforgettable.
If you love fast-paced, character-driven dramas that explore the fragility of relationships under pressure — this one is a must-read. 💥📚
Well done Katie on an unforgettable debut.
I don’t think I’ve ever flown through an audiobook this quickly in my life. Kate Hoskins delivers an absolutely gripping story that had me hooked from the very first chapter.
We follow Natalie, who is celebrating her 36th birthday with what’s meant to be a carefree, kid-free night at home. But everything takes a terrifying turn when her youngest son accidentally ingests part of an ecstasy tablet the day after the party.
What follows is a complete domino effect — a chain reaction of events that spirals long after her son returns home from hospital. The tension doesn’t let up. The fallout is messy, emotional, and incredibly real.
As the story unfolds, you can’t help but wonder… will any of these friendships or family relationships survive what’s happened?
This book is intense, addictive, and completely unforgettable.
If you love fast-paced, character-driven dramas that explore the fragility of relationships under pressure — this one is a must-read. 💥📚
Well done Katie on an unforgettable debut.
April 17, 2026
I picked this up at the Avid Reader launch event in Brisbane and I've been anxiously awaiting it's release. Congratulations Katie.
This is a warm, engaging story that really leans into the complexities of relationships and how people navigate life’s more personal challenges.
I really enjoyed how the different perspectives were woven together, giving a broader view of the characters’ lives and how their experiences intersect. The story explores themes of communication, identity, and moving forward in a way that feels thoughtful and relatable.
It’s very much a character-driven read, and I appreciated the focus on the emotional journeys and connections between the characters. There’s a sense of honesty in how those relationships are portrayed, along with an underlying feeling of hope.
Overall, this is a heartfelt contemporary novel that will resonate with readers who enjoy stories centred on relationships, personal growth, and the ties that connect us.
This is a warm, engaging story that really leans into the complexities of relationships and how people navigate life’s more personal challenges.
I really enjoyed how the different perspectives were woven together, giving a broader view of the characters’ lives and how their experiences intersect. The story explores themes of communication, identity, and moving forward in a way that feels thoughtful and relatable.
It’s very much a character-driven read, and I appreciated the focus on the emotional journeys and connections between the characters. There’s a sense of honesty in how those relationships are portrayed, along with an underlying feeling of hope.
Overall, this is a heartfelt contemporary novel that will resonate with readers who enjoy stories centred on relationships, personal growth, and the ties that connect us.
May 11, 2026
Flavours of the Christos Tsiolkas' "The Slap" (which I had rated 4 stars). In fact, I am quite certain, Hoskins was inspired by this excellent novel, although hers greatly falls short of it. The premise is a jaded mother hosts a birthday party at her house, her baby ingests an ecstasy tablet, and this supposedly leads to a domino effect of relationship breakdowns and emotional turmoil. This is essentially a trouble-in-suburbia kind of narrative. The key problem with this story is although Hoskins clearly intended for the narratives of various individuals/ characters to link up to the tragic event, the connections are thin, and often entirely unrelated. Characters other than the family central to the ecstasy debacle often felt like space-fillers, and annoyingly detracted from what was meant to be the centre-point of the narrative i.e. the slap (or the ecstasy ingestion) of the story. There were two twist-endings in this narrative. One, was great (surprising and relevant), the other rather silly. Overall, I felt Hoskins' intentions with this narrative, but she didn't quite hit the mark.
April 17, 2026
This book was well written and very easy to read, but I just hated the characters so much that this was a big miss for me.
When the party is over follows three best friends, who apparently are all really shit at communicating with each other, as they deal with the aftermath of a birthday party that puts not only a child in danger but also their friendships.
The hypocrisy of these people. The gall. The level of selfishness disguised as martyrdom. I just hated them. This book could have been 200 pages shorter if they had just had an honest conversation.
I also don’t think anything actually happened in this book… everything was just anxiety about the bad thing happening and then zero follow through.
This one wasn’t for me. If the writing wasn’t as easy and fluid, this would have had a much lower rating.
When the party is over follows three best friends, who apparently are all really shit at communicating with each other, as they deal with the aftermath of a birthday party that puts not only a child in danger but also their friendships.
The hypocrisy of these people. The gall. The level of selfishness disguised as martyrdom. I just hated them. This book could have been 200 pages shorter if they had just had an honest conversation.
I also don’t think anything actually happened in this book… everything was just anxiety about the bad thing happening and then zero follow through.
This one wasn’t for me. If the writing wasn’t as easy and fluid, this would have had a much lower rating.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
When The Party’s Over is an engaging contemporary debut novel from Katie Hoskins.
The day after her 36th birthday party, Natalie is nursing a hangover when her daughter calls out to say 18 month-old Toby has a tablet in his mouth. Natalie and her husband Ben are terrified when they realise it’s some type of party drug and make a frantic dash to the hospital. Ultimately Toby recovers, but the crisis rocks the foundation of Natalie and Ben’s marriage as well as Natalie’s longstanding relationships with her closest friends, Amanda and Lisa.
Told from the alternating perspectives of Natalie, Amanda, and Lisa, Hoskins explores themes of family, identity, friendship, and forgiveness, as each woman grapples not only with the fallout from the party but also with her own personal struggles.
I found the characters to be authentic portrayed and I liked the complexity of their dynamic. Their individual conflicts are also broadly relatable: Natalie questions why a life that looks perfect on paper still feels lacking; Amanda wrestles with her inability to give her partner what she wants; and Lisa, longing for something she can’t have, is faced with a life-changing decision.
While a couple of minor plot points gave me pause, I was invested in the unfolding drama. The story maintains good momentum, offering tension and a few well-placed surprises.
A thought-provoking examination of modern motherhood and relationships, When The Party’s Over marks Katie Hoskins as an author to watch.
The day after her 36th birthday party, Natalie is nursing a hangover when her daughter calls out to say 18 month-old Toby has a tablet in his mouth. Natalie and her husband Ben are terrified when they realise it’s some type of party drug and make a frantic dash to the hospital. Ultimately Toby recovers, but the crisis rocks the foundation of Natalie and Ben’s marriage as well as Natalie’s longstanding relationships with her closest friends, Amanda and Lisa.
Told from the alternating perspectives of Natalie, Amanda, and Lisa, Hoskins explores themes of family, identity, friendship, and forgiveness, as each woman grapples not only with the fallout from the party but also with her own personal struggles.
I found the characters to be authentic portrayed and I liked the complexity of their dynamic. Their individual conflicts are also broadly relatable: Natalie questions why a life that looks perfect on paper still feels lacking; Amanda wrestles with her inability to give her partner what she wants; and Lisa, longing for something she can’t have, is faced with a life-changing decision.
While a couple of minor plot points gave me pause, I was invested in the unfolding drama. The story maintains good momentum, offering tension and a few well-placed surprises.
A thought-provoking examination of modern motherhood and relationships, When The Party’s Over marks Katie Hoskins as an author to watch.
May 12, 2026
Motherhood isn't the easiest of rides - those children just don't go away once you've got them. They want 24 hour attention and sometimes it becomes a little too much juggling parenthood, household demands as well as work leaving very little time for a personal life.
Natalie loves her three children, but she is very excited to be having a grown-up party sans little people. Turning 36 she is celebrating with her husband, friends and work colleagues while her parents take on babysitting duties. What could possibly go wrong? Nothing actually until the next day when her youngest child, Toby, swallows part of a blue tablet and has to be rushed to hospital. Who at the party may have had drugs? How could this happen?
This debut novel by Katie Hoskins is an absolute cracker of a story where friendships, relationships and the responsibility of motherhood are explored and even challenged. Natalie finds herself wondering exactly where it went wrong and who can she really rely on. Told from three different point of views Natalie and her two best friends Amanda and Lisa there are constant shifts in how I felt as reader about the circumstances that had befallen Natalie. Most of the time I was quite sympathetic and just wanted to shield her from the fall out including one particularly brutal school mum. It was clear that no one's life is perfect and there can be a great deal going on under the surface of someone's existence. Facebook and Instagram might share those shiny moments but none of it is really real.
There were interesting twists and turns across the whole story - definitely a book for someone who likes strong characters and great social commentary with a slice of drama. I really loved it - devouring in a day. Bring on the next book please.
Natalie loves her three children, but she is very excited to be having a grown-up party sans little people. Turning 36 she is celebrating with her husband, friends and work colleagues while her parents take on babysitting duties. What could possibly go wrong? Nothing actually until the next day when her youngest child, Toby, swallows part of a blue tablet and has to be rushed to hospital. Who at the party may have had drugs? How could this happen?
This debut novel by Katie Hoskins is an absolute cracker of a story where friendships, relationships and the responsibility of motherhood are explored and even challenged. Natalie finds herself wondering exactly where it went wrong and who can she really rely on. Told from three different point of views Natalie and her two best friends Amanda and Lisa there are constant shifts in how I felt as reader about the circumstances that had befallen Natalie. Most of the time I was quite sympathetic and just wanted to shield her from the fall out including one particularly brutal school mum. It was clear that no one's life is perfect and there can be a great deal going on under the surface of someone's existence. Facebook and Instagram might share those shiny moments but none of it is really real.
There were interesting twists and turns across the whole story - definitely a book for someone who likes strong characters and great social commentary with a slice of drama. I really loved it - devouring in a day. Bring on the next book please.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a pacey read that will have you laughing, gasping, and turning pages far too late into the night.
The characters are messy, but not in an eye-rolling-why-the-hell-did-they-do-that way, but in ways that feel so true to life.
The writing itself is elevated, but doesn't try too hard, and there are many sharp social observations and discussion points that will make this a perfect read for bookclubs.
It's a stunning debut and I can't wait to see what drama the next stories from Katie Hoskins hold!
10/10 from me!
The characters are messy, but not in an eye-rolling-why-the-hell-did-they-do-that way, but in ways that feel so true to life.
The writing itself is elevated, but doesn't try too hard, and there are many sharp social observations and discussion points that will make this a perfect read for bookclubs.
It's a stunning debut and I can't wait to see what drama the next stories from Katie Hoskins hold!
10/10 from me!
April 17, 2026
A true standout debut — I was completely hooked from the very first line right through to the final page. This is a gripping, emotionally rich novel about friendship and the families we build for ourselves, motherhood and marriage, love and loss. It’s laugh-out-loud relatable (wine at the P&C meeting, anyone?), yet deeply affecting. The characters are so vividly and beautifully drawn that by the end they felt like friends. Set against a wonderful, almost love‑letter backdrop to Sydney, this is chick lit at its best. I can’t recommend it highly enough to anyone looking for an addictive read.
April 27, 2026
A light and enjoyable read. I did pick up on both “twists” about midway through the book so perhaps a little predictable, but I also enjoyed that it all felt very realistic and not too far fetched, that it could be anyone’s circle of friends and dramas. I liked a lot of the smaller details relating to how the girls felt in their respective friendships with one another, and how easily things can be misinterpreted or perceived differently. Being Australian I did love the Aussie take on this style of book, the lingo and locations all felt familiar.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Taking the idea of every parent's worst nightmare and exploring what might happen next, this is an incredibly compelling and relatable read. When The Party's Over has a searing plot and well-drawn characters that drew me in from the first page. As the story unfolded my heart was in my mouth and I had to race to the end. This was such an engrossing debut novel about family and friendship - I loved it so much. Can't wait to read more from Katie Hoskins.
April 13, 2026
This is the kind of book that reels you in & keeps your attention. I was so engrossed in these people's lives that I needed to know EVERYTHING. The characters were so well formed, real & relatable.
It was a great insight into human behaviour & highlighted how different people navigate difficult situations. It was really thought provoking in the way that I kept asking myself "How would I have handled that?" "Would I have told my friends?" "Could I forgive someone doing that?"
If you thought MAFS has chaotic dinner parties, this book has them covered!! 😂 jaw was on the FLOOR
If you are a fan of Sally Hepworth then you need to add When the Party's Over to your tbr!!
4.5 ⭐️'s
It was a great insight into human behaviour & highlighted how different people navigate difficult situations. It was really thought provoking in the way that I kept asking myself "How would I have handled that?" "Would I have told my friends?" "Could I forgive someone doing that?"
If you thought MAFS has chaotic dinner parties, this book has them covered!! 😂 jaw was on the FLOOR
If you are a fan of Sally Hepworth then you need to add When the Party's Over to your tbr!!
4.5 ⭐️'s
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