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Party of a Lifetime
Welcome to Hell :)
You don’t deserve to be here.
For Becca Longford, prom was supposed to be the best night of her life, and in a way…it was. Despite parental meltdowns, “mean girl” machinations, and a fire, Becca and her friends forged an unbreakable bond.
Now, one year later, Becca looks to recreate the night that could’ve been.
Too bad someone else has other plans.
In the bowels of an unholy church, a deal has been struck. One which will drag the four friends to Monotony, a hellish town full of depraved demons. Forced to fight for their lives, the friends must rely on each other to survive. But the longer they stay, the more Monotony twists them into horrific abominations.
Will Becca and her friends make it home alive?
Will any of them still be human if they do?
You don’t deserve to be here.
For Becca Longford, prom was supposed to be the best night of her life, and in a way…it was. Despite parental meltdowns, “mean girl” machinations, and a fire, Becca and her friends forged an unbreakable bond.
Now, one year later, Becca looks to recreate the night that could’ve been.
Too bad someone else has other plans.
In the bowels of an unholy church, a deal has been struck. One which will drag the four friends to Monotony, a hellish town full of depraved demons. Forced to fight for their lives, the friends must rely on each other to survive. But the longer they stay, the more Monotony twists them into horrific abominations.
Will Becca and her friends make it home alive?
Will any of them still be human if they do?
- GenresHorror
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 22, 2026
I have a question for author Henry Corrigan, when exactly was it that you met my mother? And also, can I leave her where Becca left hers, pretty please?
Becca and her friends had a night to remember a year ago at prom. Too bad it was for ALL the wrong reasons. In an attempt to rewrite history, Becca invites her friends over while they’re on break from college to give it another shot. Planning on a fun day at the beach followed by a small party, everything was going according to plan. Until it didn’t.
After a stress-inducing meet up with her mother before her friends arrive, Becca is determined to have a good time. When they find themselves on a strange, desolate road going nowhere with almost no gas, a good time is definitely not happening. What unravels from there is nothing short of surreal, violent, and inexplicable. Trapped in a Stepford wife town named Monotany, things are not what they seem. Horror after horror tests their friendship, their sanity, and their ability to continue functioning. Desperate to find a way back home, they have to figure out how to get out, no matter what it takes.
Party of a Lifetime is a wild, horrific ride. I don’t know that I’d have the strength these kids do to get out of a hellacious situation the same way they did. Corrigan writes with compassion along with horror, you can’t help but get attached.
Grab this one when it hits shelves on June 8. I guarantee you won’t want to put it down! (Seriously tho, exactly HOW do you know my mom??!?)
Huge thank you to Henry Corrigan for the gifted eARC. All opinions are my own.
Becca and her friends had a night to remember a year ago at prom. Too bad it was for ALL the wrong reasons. In an attempt to rewrite history, Becca invites her friends over while they’re on break from college to give it another shot. Planning on a fun day at the beach followed by a small party, everything was going according to plan. Until it didn’t.
After a stress-inducing meet up with her mother before her friends arrive, Becca is determined to have a good time. When they find themselves on a strange, desolate road going nowhere with almost no gas, a good time is definitely not happening. What unravels from there is nothing short of surreal, violent, and inexplicable. Trapped in a Stepford wife town named Monotany, things are not what they seem. Horror after horror tests their friendship, their sanity, and their ability to continue functioning. Desperate to find a way back home, they have to figure out how to get out, no matter what it takes.
Party of a Lifetime is a wild, horrific ride. I don’t know that I’d have the strength these kids do to get out of a hellacious situation the same way they did. Corrigan writes with compassion along with horror, you can’t help but get attached.
Grab this one when it hits shelves on June 8. I guarantee you won’t want to put it down! (Seriously tho, exactly HOW do you know my mom??!?)
Huge thank you to Henry Corrigan for the gifted eARC. All opinions are my own.
June 8, 2026
The blurb for this book is honestly what grabbed my attention first. A group of friends accidentally ending up in Hell while trying to recreate a memorable night from the year before? Sign me up 😄
And I have to say, the depiction of Hell was probably my favorite part of the entire book.
One year after a disastrous prom night, Becca and her friends set out on a trip hoping to create better memories together. Instead, they end up in Monotony, a hellish town filled with weird things, grotesque creatures and dangers around every corner and bush.
The horror elements were definitely effective. Between the monsters, the unsettling atmosphere, the burning water and the body horror, this place felt exactly like the kind of nightmare you'd expect Hell to be. Some of the descriptions genuinely made my skin crawl. There was also Clowny that gave me Pennywise-ish vibes, which certainly didn't help... or maybe it did, lol. :D
The mystery of how the friends ended up there kept me reading, and I enjoyed finally learning the truth toward the end of the book. Let's just say Becca's mother earned a spot on my list of fictional parents I'd happily avoid forever. The level of narcissism on display was honestly impressive in the worst possible way.
That said, I think my biggest struggle was with the characters themselves.
I didn't dislike them, but I never really connected with any of them either. They felt more like a group moving through the story than people I became emotionally invested in. Because of that, I never found myself particularly rooting for one character over another, which lessened some of the tension.
I also had mixed feelings about the ending. While it definitely hints at more story to come, I wasn't sure whether I was reading a standalone or the beginning of a series. I don't mind cliffhangers when I know another book is coming, but here the ending felt a little too open-ended for my personal taste.
Overall, I think this book had a creative premise, some memorable horror imagery, and a genuinely creepy version of Hell. I just wish I had connected more strongly with the characters, and I would've preferred a more complete ending.
⭐⭐⭐ 3.25*
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
And I have to say, the depiction of Hell was probably my favorite part of the entire book.
One year after a disastrous prom night, Becca and her friends set out on a trip hoping to create better memories together. Instead, they end up in Monotony, a hellish town filled with weird things, grotesque creatures and dangers around every corner and bush.
The horror elements were definitely effective. Between the monsters, the unsettling atmosphere, the burning water and the body horror, this place felt exactly like the kind of nightmare you'd expect Hell to be. Some of the descriptions genuinely made my skin crawl. There was also Clowny that gave me Pennywise-ish vibes, which certainly didn't help... or maybe it did, lol. :D
The mystery of how the friends ended up there kept me reading, and I enjoyed finally learning the truth toward the end of the book. Let's just say Becca's mother earned a spot on my list of fictional parents I'd happily avoid forever. The level of narcissism on display was honestly impressive in the worst possible way.
That said, I think my biggest struggle was with the characters themselves.
I didn't dislike them, but I never really connected with any of them either. They felt more like a group moving through the story than people I became emotionally invested in. Because of that, I never found myself particularly rooting for one character over another, which lessened some of the tension.
I also had mixed feelings about the ending. While it definitely hints at more story to come, I wasn't sure whether I was reading a standalone or the beginning of a series. I don't mind cliffhangers when I know another book is coming, but here the ending felt a little too open-ended for my personal taste.
Overall, I think this book had a creative premise, some memorable horror imagery, and a genuinely creepy version of Hell. I just wish I had connected more strongly with the characters, and I would've preferred a more complete ending.
⭐⭐⭐ 3.25*
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
Did Not Finish
June 17, 2026I am pausing on this for the time being. Not because of the book at all. More to do with I wasn't feeling the story at this time. Call it a soft DNF because I would like to come back to this at a later date.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.25⭐️ - First things first, how cool is that cover?! Between the cover and the premise alone, I was completely sold. A group of queer friends trapped in Hell? Say less.
The story follows Becca, who is desperate to make up for a prom night that went horribly wrong a year earlier. With everyone home from college for the holidays, she plans a beach trip and small get-together with her friends in the hope of creating some better memories. Instead, they find themselves stranded on a strange road with almost no fuel, eventually ending up in a bizarre town called Monotony, where absolutely nothing is right.
This book was SO much fun!!
I will say it’s a bit of a slow burn at the beginning, which sounds ridiculous considering how wild this story eventually becomes, but trust me, it pays off. Taking the time to establish the characters and their relationships got me completely invested and I genuinely cared about what happened to them.
I loved the friendship group and really enjoyed watching the dynamics shift as the pressure continued to build. The characters felt like real people reacting to an impossible situation in different ways and I desperately wanted them to make it out alive.
The horror itself was fantastic. Creepy townsfolk, monsters, body horror and violence. I loved the gradual changes within the group and the way their sanity slowly began to unravel as their situation became increasingly hopeless.
What surprised me most was how much heart this story has. The relationships are just as important as the horror, and that’s a huge part of why it worked so well for me. It explores some genuinely heavy topics, including abusive and dysfunctional family dynamics, identity, grief, self-worth and coming to terms with your sexuality.
There’s plenty here for horror fans to enjoy, including suspense, body horror, monsters and some genuinely nightmare-fuel moments. The queer representation was also fantastic!
Huge thank you to @henrycorrigan08 for the gifted eARC! I can’t wait to read more of your work! 🫶🏼
The story follows Becca, who is desperate to make up for a prom night that went horribly wrong a year earlier. With everyone home from college for the holidays, she plans a beach trip and small get-together with her friends in the hope of creating some better memories. Instead, they find themselves stranded on a strange road with almost no fuel, eventually ending up in a bizarre town called Monotony, where absolutely nothing is right.
This book was SO much fun!!
I will say it’s a bit of a slow burn at the beginning, which sounds ridiculous considering how wild this story eventually becomes, but trust me, it pays off. Taking the time to establish the characters and their relationships got me completely invested and I genuinely cared about what happened to them.
I loved the friendship group and really enjoyed watching the dynamics shift as the pressure continued to build. The characters felt like real people reacting to an impossible situation in different ways and I desperately wanted them to make it out alive.
The horror itself was fantastic. Creepy townsfolk, monsters, body horror and violence. I loved the gradual changes within the group and the way their sanity slowly began to unravel as their situation became increasingly hopeless.
What surprised me most was how much heart this story has. The relationships are just as important as the horror, and that’s a huge part of why it worked so well for me. It explores some genuinely heavy topics, including abusive and dysfunctional family dynamics, identity, grief, self-worth and coming to terms with your sexuality.
There’s plenty here for horror fans to enjoy, including suspense, body horror, monsters and some genuinely nightmare-fuel moments. The queer representation was also fantastic!
Huge thank you to @henrycorrigan08 for the gifted eARC! I can’t wait to read more of your work! 🫶🏼
May 6, 2026
I was immediately drawn in by that gorgeous cover and the premise… a group of teens trapped in hell? Sign me up!
It was initially a slow paced start but once we got down to the nitty and gritty it was non stop until the very end!
I loved the slow decline of sanity in this and how the changes within the teens (without giving spoilers) were embedded with horror elements.
It was interesting to see the friendship dynamics shifting and changing and how the characters each handled the pressure of their situation. The characters were fleshed out and I was definitely rooting for them the entire way through.
This was my first read from this author but I’m looking forward to reading more from them in the future!
Release date: 08.06.2026
June 20, 2026
Four college friends (Becca, Kyle, Toby and Gabby) reunite for the beach trip they never got to take for prom, the "party of a lifetime" of the title. There's much to love here: the friendship dynamics are warm and lived-in, Toby is an absolute chaos gremlin in the best way, and Becca's dad might be one of my favourite parental characters in YA-adjacent horror this year; he fumbles his way through pronouns for Toby with so much love and so little judgement that it's genuinely moving.
Once the road trip takes its sharp left into horror territory, the book properly comes alive. The second half is a fun, twisty romp full of chills, thrills and jumps, featuring a properly unsettling town that doesn't add up. It's clear Corrigan knows how to deliver a set piece.
A few things kept tugging me out of the story, though. Are they college students in present-day America? When is this happening? Some of the cultural references, such as The Twilight Zone, The NeverEnding Story, and a soundtrack built on Prince, Fleetwood Mac and Linkin Park, read like they belong to people twice their age. Add to that a cast who still primarily communicate via Facebook, and I was left with a persistent sense of what decade am I in? that never fully resolved.
The prose has a similar tension: outside the swearing and some surprisingly explicit moments, it frequently reads younger than expected for a novel about college students. That made the more adult content feel like it was wearing someone else's coat. Some of the dialogue doesn't help either; certain exchanges feel clunky or overwritten, not quite how people actually talk, which made the characters come across as slightly odd rather than fully believable.
The tonal inconsistency also made it difficult to fully connect with the cast, who never felt as fully developed as I wanted them to. Some elements are foreshadowed so heavily that, once the clues begin to accumulate, there is really only one plausible candidate for the villain. The reveal mostly works, but by the time it lands it tips into a bit much territory.
What I keep coming back to, though, is the queer representation: it's woven into the friendships with total warmth and normalcy, with no Big Drama, just people being people. That, together with the genuinely strong horror elements in the back half, makes this an easy book to root for despite its rough edges.
This is a book with real heart and a strong horror back half, slightly tripped up by an identity crisis in its tone and characterisation. Readers who enjoy horror with a deliberately nostalgic, retro sensibility may find some of these elements more charming than distracting. Personally, I think Corrigan might find an even better home for this kind of voice with a slightly younger audience, where it would land more naturally.
Many thanks to Henry Corrigan for providing a review copy.
Once the road trip takes its sharp left into horror territory, the book properly comes alive. The second half is a fun, twisty romp full of chills, thrills and jumps, featuring a properly unsettling town that doesn't add up. It's clear Corrigan knows how to deliver a set piece.
A few things kept tugging me out of the story, though. Are they college students in present-day America? When is this happening? Some of the cultural references, such as The Twilight Zone, The NeverEnding Story, and a soundtrack built on Prince, Fleetwood Mac and Linkin Park, read like they belong to people twice their age. Add to that a cast who still primarily communicate via Facebook, and I was left with a persistent sense of what decade am I in? that never fully resolved.
The prose has a similar tension: outside the swearing and some surprisingly explicit moments, it frequently reads younger than expected for a novel about college students. That made the more adult content feel like it was wearing someone else's coat. Some of the dialogue doesn't help either; certain exchanges feel clunky or overwritten, not quite how people actually talk, which made the characters come across as slightly odd rather than fully believable.
The tonal inconsistency also made it difficult to fully connect with the cast, who never felt as fully developed as I wanted them to. Some elements are foreshadowed so heavily that, once the clues begin to accumulate, there is really only one plausible candidate for the villain. The reveal mostly works, but by the time it lands it tips into a bit much territory.
What I keep coming back to, though, is the queer representation: it's woven into the friendships with total warmth and normalcy, with no Big Drama, just people being people. That, together with the genuinely strong horror elements in the back half, makes this an easy book to root for despite its rough edges.
This is a book with real heart and a strong horror back half, slightly tripped up by an identity crisis in its tone and characterisation. Readers who enjoy horror with a deliberately nostalgic, retro sensibility may find some of these elements more charming than distracting. Personally, I think Corrigan might find an even better home for this kind of voice with a slightly younger audience, where it would land more naturally.
Many thanks to Henry Corrigan for providing a review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Utterly Disgusting LGBT Stephen King x Jeremy Robinson Cross. If you're familiar with the works of King (specifically Carrie and/ or his more.. *ahem* out there *ahem*... takes) or Jeremy Robinson (TORMENT specifically), those alone will give you a fairly solid idea what to expect as an overall story here. Throw in heavy and explicit LGBT elements (including *technically* closed door, yet still well-heard "spice") of a variety of sexualities, and now you've got an even better idea what to expect here.
This is horror more of the revolting/ disgusting form than of the actually terrifying form, with a touch of The Devil Went Down To Georgia (while staying completely in the Northeast coastal regions) or perhaps the first Nic Cage Ghost Rider movie thrown in.
At a touch under 300 pages, it is a quick read... if you have a strong stomach. Seriously y'all, I've read some *very* wild shit over the years, stuff that truly few can handle at all... and this was pushing it even for me.
Going in, I knew this was explicitly an LGBT story and that a church would be in play, and honestly, I had fears about how that would play out. But I can tell you straight up that in this case, the church is more used as a set piece from Ye Olden Times that would still be there in this type of situation than as some anti-Christian diatribe that I had feared. Indeed, those types of issues don't really come to bear at all, and instead the book focuses more on familial relationships specifically than any religious aspects, even as it uses different Christian-based (yet generic American/ Western European cultural versions of them) concepts within the tale.
Truly a solid LGBT based horror tale, again, of the more revolting/ disgusting side of horror than the actual straight up nightmares for years side.
Very much recommended. If you have a strong enough stomach. ;)
This is horror more of the revolting/ disgusting form than of the actually terrifying form, with a touch of The Devil Went Down To Georgia (while staying completely in the Northeast coastal regions) or perhaps the first Nic Cage Ghost Rider movie thrown in.
At a touch under 300 pages, it is a quick read... if you have a strong stomach. Seriously y'all, I've read some *very* wild shit over the years, stuff that truly few can handle at all... and this was pushing it even for me.
Going in, I knew this was explicitly an LGBT story and that a church would be in play, and honestly, I had fears about how that would play out. But I can tell you straight up that in this case, the church is more used as a set piece from Ye Olden Times that would still be there in this type of situation than as some anti-Christian diatribe that I had feared. Indeed, those types of issues don't really come to bear at all, and instead the book focuses more on familial relationships specifically than any religious aspects, even as it uses different Christian-based (yet generic American/ Western European cultural versions of them) concepts within the tale.
Truly a solid LGBT based horror tale, again, of the more revolting/ disgusting side of horror than the actual straight up nightmares for years side.
Very much recommended. If you have a strong enough stomach. ;)
June 15, 2026
3.5 ⭐ ARC Review - Not my jam but a great body horror about a LGBTQIA group of 19 year olds going to hell and back.
🚙 For Fans of a:
- body horror
- road trip gone wrong
- new adult (freshman in college)
- queer representation
- hell and back
- monsters
- body horror
- slow burn suspense
- queer romance subplot
- high school friends
- third person POV
- shitty parents
✏️ Spoiler-Free ARC Review
Becca gets her high school friends one year after graduation to try and rewrite history. She just wants a fun beach day with her friends but instead they somehow drove into their own personal hell, complete with mechanical monsters, gore, and insane scenarios. Will they get out alive with all their limbs intact and who made the deal to put them there?
I’m beginning to realize that “to hell and back” books just aren’t for me, especially when it’s college kids. There’s action but in between, it’s a lot of young adults questioning themselves and learning about who they are. Katabasis was similar in that and although highly regarded, I didn’t love it. This one felt similarly “just okay “ for me, probably because I’m 30 and know who I am now.
Also, many of the analogies felt like AI because they made no sense? Maybe that’s just me?
That said, it was a pretty good book and displayed great queer representation through queer relationships, sexual orientation exploration and discovery, and difficult family dynamics.
I think if I was still in the new adult phase of life (aka college age), this book would’ve spoken to me more.
🖤 Thank you to author Henry Corrigan for the digital advanced reader copy (ARC).
As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!
📚 Book: Party of a Lifetime by Henry Corrigan
📅 Release Date: OUT NOW (2026)
⭐ Rating: 3 out of 5
🚙 For Fans of a:
- body horror
- road trip gone wrong
- new adult (freshman in college)
- queer representation
- hell and back
- monsters
- body horror
- slow burn suspense
- queer romance subplot
- high school friends
- third person POV
- shitty parents
✏️ Spoiler-Free ARC Review
Becca gets her high school friends one year after graduation to try and rewrite history. She just wants a fun beach day with her friends but instead they somehow drove into their own personal hell, complete with mechanical monsters, gore, and insane scenarios. Will they get out alive with all their limbs intact and who made the deal to put them there?
I’m beginning to realize that “to hell and back” books just aren’t for me, especially when it’s college kids. There’s action but in between, it’s a lot of young adults questioning themselves and learning about who they are. Katabasis was similar in that and although highly regarded, I didn’t love it. This one felt similarly “just okay “ for me, probably because I’m 30 and know who I am now.
Also, many of the analogies felt like AI because they made no sense? Maybe that’s just me?
That said, it was a pretty good book and displayed great queer representation through queer relationships, sexual orientation exploration and discovery, and difficult family dynamics.
I think if I was still in the new adult phase of life (aka college age), this book would’ve spoken to me more.
🖤 Thank you to author Henry Corrigan for the digital advanced reader copy (ARC).
As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!
📚 Book: Party of a Lifetime by Henry Corrigan
📅 Release Date: OUT NOW (2026)
⭐ Rating: 3 out of 5
July 8, 2026
I got this book as an ARC off BookSirens and I am 100% giving my honest opinion: THIS BOOK WAS A TRIP.
I do not want to spoil this; but this was a bizarre; but oddly accurate vibe of arcane. I probably sound a little crazy, but I CANNOT SPOIL. I lied, I’m spoiling, I can’t hold it in.
Okay, head on straight. The characters are messy in a very good way. I felt myself becoming conflicted with ALL of them, while also STILL loving them. Becca is my favorite even though she’s a shut down queen; Gabby was peak, even when she ate a man; Toby was the one who I flip-flopped on the most; and Kyle needed to have that final sacrifice bc home boy was LOSING ME.
The plot was actually really cool AND OUR VILLAIN YES. I am what I am and my issues run deep, so the ending to ME was good; but I can also sit down and very honestly say that the mom “makes no sense” if you didn’t grow up with that exact brand of mom.
The brand that tried to impersonate you because she hated she had you young and pretends to be you and goes to your events to take attention. That, I will spoil. The mom IS a piece of shit. 100%. And like my own, it felt real good at the end to watch her eat crow. So, to me, the mom was peak villainy, when your OG bully is your mom, you gotta find ways to get catharsis while keeping your own radioactive spawn maker away.
I think the lore concept is also just amazing. The fact that hell varies and it’s this nonsensical place that tortures you independently of its denizens is fucking peak. Tbh, I would say that’s my favorite part. The fact that the hell depicted was so INSANE. I’m not a very “fire and brimstone” girly, so the unique variants tickle me good.
TBH, this book is a representation of what it felt like to live with my mom; and yeah, I do assume she also has my name written down in some hell book, too.
Solidarity, Becca. Shitty Moms Club.
I do not want to spoil this; but this was a bizarre; but oddly accurate vibe of arcane. I probably sound a little crazy, but I CANNOT SPOIL. I lied, I’m spoiling, I can’t hold it in.
Okay, head on straight. The characters are messy in a very good way. I felt myself becoming conflicted with ALL of them, while also STILL loving them. Becca is my favorite even though she’s a shut down queen; Gabby was peak, even when she ate a man; Toby was the one who I flip-flopped on the most; and Kyle needed to have that final sacrifice bc home boy was LOSING ME.
The plot was actually really cool AND OUR VILLAIN YES. I am what I am and my issues run deep, so the ending to ME was good; but I can also sit down and very honestly say that the mom “makes no sense” if you didn’t grow up with that exact brand of mom.
The brand that tried to impersonate you because she hated she had you young and pretends to be you and goes to your events to take attention. That, I will spoil. The mom IS a piece of shit. 100%. And like my own, it felt real good at the end to watch her eat crow. So, to me, the mom was peak villainy, when your OG bully is your mom, you gotta find ways to get catharsis while keeping your own radioactive spawn maker away.
I think the lore concept is also just amazing. The fact that hell varies and it’s this nonsensical place that tortures you independently of its denizens is fucking peak. Tbh, I would say that’s my favorite part. The fact that the hell depicted was so INSANE. I’m not a very “fire and brimstone” girly, so the unique variants tickle me good.
TBH, this book is a representation of what it felt like to live with my mom; and yeah, I do assume she also has my name written down in some hell book, too.
Solidarity, Becca. Shitty Moms Club.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book starts cozy and sweet, lots of family drama around Becca, whose boyfriend has just come out and she's crushing on Gabby, her best friend; plus, she has a toxic mother working as a brand ambassador on top of everything else - but her dad is gold, strong and supportive! However, when she arranges a trip to the beach to reconnect with her old friends, little does she know that someone is watching, someone with a sinister agenda - and a deep knowledge of demonic rituals and Satanic bargains. Becca and her friends soon find themselves stuck in Monotony, a small suburban town growing literally out of the grounds of Hell! What follows is fast-paced mayhem, as the group is caught totally unawares and has no idea how they'll make it out of the town nor who's behind the whole thing!
The ending surprised me. So much hatred! Thankfully, it's all balanced out by the terrific friendships between Becca and her people: her friends really care for her, and this feels genuine and comes clearly through the page. In fact, the writing is so good, it's easy to relate to everyone, even Becca's mum and her borderline personality! The book has heart, and in spite of all the threatening complications - monsters, wolfmen, murderous Stepford Wives - the confident writing style never allows one to lose hope or direction. So even though there's some gore included, I think the story would work for upper YA readers too!
I really enjoy horror that keeps me wondering what is next for characters I can easily care about. This is a great read for that reason. Highly recommended!
The ending surprised me. So much hatred! Thankfully, it's all balanced out by the terrific friendships between Becca and her people: her friends really care for her, and this feels genuine and comes clearly through the page. In fact, the writing is so good, it's easy to relate to everyone, even Becca's mum and her borderline personality! The book has heart, and in spite of all the threatening complications - monsters, wolfmen, murderous Stepford Wives - the confident writing style never allows one to lose hope or direction. So even though there's some gore included, I think the story would work for upper YA readers too!
I really enjoy horror that keeps me wondering what is next for characters I can easily care about. This is a great read for that reason. Highly recommended!
June 8, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up
Becca and her friends have reunited and are beachbound a year after all heading their separate ways following graduation. Well...at least they think they are. Unbeknownst to them, a deal of vengance has been struck naming them as the sacrifices. When they find themselves stranded in Monotony (I loved that so much), the name of the game is survive. Or melt trying.
This felt like reading a more mature Goosebumps book if it went on a date with an episode of Doctor Who in every way you'd imagine. Wild and weird things happen to bodies, there is absolutely CRAZY family drama, there are 50s housewife murder robots! The body horror was really well done, even if I wasn't quite sure why what was happening was happening sometimes.
I think the thing that held the book back for me was the pacing. It had a bit of slow start and dragged a few times in the middle. It's not a very long book, less than 300 pages, and you really have to make the pages count in those cases. While the ending was absolutely BONKERS, it felt a little rushed. But it does seem to be setting up a sequel and I will be coming back to find out what happens next.
I think the book has some really strong bones and might work better for someone that likes the high school/early college range of the YA genre.
I want to thank the author for reaching out and gifting me a copy! All my thoughts are my own.
Becca and her friends have reunited and are beachbound a year after all heading their separate ways following graduation. Well...at least they think they are. Unbeknownst to them, a deal of vengance has been struck naming them as the sacrifices. When they find themselves stranded in Monotony (I loved that so much), the name of the game is survive. Or melt trying.
This felt like reading a more mature Goosebumps book if it went on a date with an episode of Doctor Who in every way you'd imagine. Wild and weird things happen to bodies, there is absolutely CRAZY family drama, there are 50s housewife murder robots! The body horror was really well done, even if I wasn't quite sure why what was happening was happening sometimes.
I think the thing that held the book back for me was the pacing. It had a bit of slow start and dragged a few times in the middle. It's not a very long book, less than 300 pages, and you really have to make the pages count in those cases. While the ending was absolutely BONKERS, it felt a little rushed. But it does seem to be setting up a sequel and I will be coming back to find out what happens next.
I think the book has some really strong bones and might work better for someone that likes the high school/early college range of the YA genre.
I want to thank the author for reaching out and gifting me a copy! All my thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Okay so a party of a lifetime sounds great, no downsides here, unless you count someone who does not want the party to go well.
Becca just wants to throw a insanely cool party to remember forever, her home life is a bit of a mess, her friend life is getting complicated and her boyfriend, also complicated, so a cool party to escape that for a bit at the beach sounds perfect.
This shit goes sideways and we're stuck in a small weird town ( bad for them, great for me and my entertainment) it's called Monotony which cracks me up, being from a small town, I get it and the whole Stepfford Wife vibe has me giddy err I mean worried for them.
She had a not so wonderful Prom and you really wanted her to have a great party but all hell breaks loose, literally.
Trapped in this hell town and trying escape, it's a dark story but the Becca and her friends really make you hang in there, you need them to survive this and you WANT them to.
Somehow this was a bit of a slow burn, I know how can it be when things are going wild, but Henry does a great job of building the friends, the family the foundation that really made this book sing, fantastic. But trust me stick with it and it pays off.
This honestly was really good and up there with one of my favorites this year.
Becca just wants to throw a insanely cool party to remember forever, her home life is a bit of a mess, her friend life is getting complicated and her boyfriend, also complicated, so a cool party to escape that for a bit at the beach sounds perfect.
This shit goes sideways and we're stuck in a small weird town ( bad for them, great for me and my entertainment) it's called Monotony which cracks me up, being from a small town, I get it and the whole Stepfford Wife vibe has me giddy err I mean worried for them.
She had a not so wonderful Prom and you really wanted her to have a great party but all hell breaks loose, literally.
Trapped in this hell town and trying escape, it's a dark story but the Becca and her friends really make you hang in there, you need them to survive this and you WANT them to.
Somehow this was a bit of a slow burn, I know how can it be when things are going wild, but Henry does a great job of building the friends, the family the foundation that really made this book sing, fantastic. But trust me stick with it and it pays off.
This honestly was really good and up there with one of my favorites this year.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I went into this book kinda blind. This was a crazy trip. Becca and her friends survived a prom that went up in flames. They're reuniting a year later, to catch up and spend some time at the beach. Becca's ex boyfriend Kyle, her friend Gabby, and their friend Toby.
Kyle since then has come out, and is estranged from his family. He's crushing on their non binary friend Toby. They are all eager and happy to get away.
What transpire on the way to the beach is absolutely bonkers. They end up in hell, cursed by someone from last year's prom.
This hell is like a 1950's stepford era twisted landscape. I really don't want to give too much away. They're trying to stay alive and find a way out of this mess.
There is some body horror, so if that's an issue you may want to skip it. I was absolutely rooting for these characters. That latter third of the book comes at you in high speed. The inevitable twists are original. I'd definitely read more by this author. I walked away from this book with a twisted smirk on my face.
Tropes and triggers: body and supernatural horror, touch him or her and ☠️, found family, bi-awakening, group of misfits, revenge plot.
I was given an advanced copy, this is my honest and voluntary review.
Kyle since then has come out, and is estranged from his family. He's crushing on their non binary friend Toby. They are all eager and happy to get away.
What transpire on the way to the beach is absolutely bonkers. They end up in hell, cursed by someone from last year's prom.
This hell is like a 1950's stepford era twisted landscape. I really don't want to give too much away. They're trying to stay alive and find a way out of this mess.
There is some body horror, so if that's an issue you may want to skip it. I was absolutely rooting for these characters. That latter third of the book comes at you in high speed. The inevitable twists are original. I'd definitely read more by this author. I walked away from this book with a twisted smirk on my face.
Tropes and triggers: body and supernatural horror, touch him or her and ☠️, found family, bi-awakening, group of misfits, revenge plot.
I was given an advanced copy, this is my honest and voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Many thanks to the author for the gifted copy!
First thing I noticed about this book was the cover art. I really liked it! Then I read the blurb, and I was immediately intrigued because I enjoy horror stories about parties or vacations gone wrong. And everything went terribly wrong even before Becca and her friends reached the beach for the party of a lifetime. Well, they definitely had a party—but not the one they expected: a party filled with creatures, blood, and gore!
Reading this book reminded me of my favorite Goosebumps series, which brought back nostalgic memories. It was interesting to see how the gang handled one horrific event after another after suddenly ending up in the town of “Monotony.” These poor kids… They hid, they ran, but they just couldn’t seem to escape the horror they found themselves in.
The story starts off a bit slow, and there are moments when the pacing drags, but once things go wild, they really go wild.
The ending felt like it was setting up a sequel, so I’m curious to see what’s next for Becca and her friends.
I received a free copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
First thing I noticed about this book was the cover art. I really liked it! Then I read the blurb, and I was immediately intrigued because I enjoy horror stories about parties or vacations gone wrong. And everything went terribly wrong even before Becca and her friends reached the beach for the party of a lifetime. Well, they definitely had a party—but not the one they expected: a party filled with creatures, blood, and gore!
Reading this book reminded me of my favorite Goosebumps series, which brought back nostalgic memories. It was interesting to see how the gang handled one horrific event after another after suddenly ending up in the town of “Monotony.” These poor kids… They hid, they ran, but they just couldn’t seem to escape the horror they found themselves in.
The story starts off a bit slow, and there are moments when the pacing drags, but once things go wild, they really go wild.
The ending felt like it was setting up a sequel, so I’m curious to see what’s next for Becca and her friends.
I received a free copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 8, 2026
3.5 ⭐
No spice, lots of gore.
🫠 Queer friend group (19 yo)
⛪ Narcissistic mother
🫠 Hellish town
⛪ Body horror
🫠 3rd p. pov
Mind your triggers!
First of all, this story wins on grossness level. No notes, it was disgusting and I loved it. The story starts slow, with the 4 friends meeting to go relive their prom from the year before. By 30% it staets getting freaky and by 50% you're smackdab in the middle of it.
The end has a twist and it ends on kind of an 'it's not over' note.
The reason I'm giving this only 3.5 ⭐ is because of the writing. It was not my style (tho it might be yours) and I felt it lacked a certain natural flow and storytelling ability. Including things like 'later she would feel like that and it would make more sense, but right in this moment she felt like this'. Please have faith in your reader to deduce stuff, writing like this makes me feel treated like I'm stupid. The author also writes analogies that don't make much sense and just sounded weird 😅 even though it's a pretty short boon, it took me a while to get through it. And a book like this should grab you and not let go.
No spice, lots of gore.
🫠 Queer friend group (19 yo)
⛪ Narcissistic mother
🫠 Hellish town
⛪ Body horror
🫠 3rd p. pov
Mind your triggers!
First of all, this story wins on grossness level. No notes, it was disgusting and I loved it. The story starts slow, with the 4 friends meeting to go relive their prom from the year before. By 30% it staets getting freaky and by 50% you're smackdab in the middle of it.
The end has a twist and it ends on kind of an 'it's not over' note.
The reason I'm giving this only 3.5 ⭐ is because of the writing. It was not my style (tho it might be yours) and I felt it lacked a certain natural flow and storytelling ability. Including things like 'later she would feel like that and it would make more sense, but right in this moment she felt like this'. Please have faith in your reader to deduce stuff, writing like this makes me feel treated like I'm stupid. The author also writes analogies that don't make much sense and just sounded weird 😅 even though it's a pretty short boon, it took me a while to get through it. And a book like this should grab you and not let go.
June 19, 2026
This is the story of a group of college students who literally drive into Hell. It's a fundamentally pulpy premise that couldn't seem to decide if it wanted to be taken more seriously or not. Corrigan's conception of Hell -- Stepford under perpetual night -- was genuinely frightening and could easily have been up there with Nathan Ballingrud's
Wounds: Six Stories from the Border of Hell
as one of my favorite portrayals of the dreaded inferno. But the pacing was way off (the characters don't actually enter Hell until nearly halfway through), the writing was clunky, the dialogue stilted, and overall the whole thing just didn't land for me.
Somewhere Quiet, Full of Light was a lot better. Not sure what happened with this one.
Somewhere Quiet, Full of Light was a lot better. Not sure what happened with this one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh I enjoyed this! The author has a very agile style of writing, sharp , quick, active! The initial build up is chill, mellow with a but bubbling under the surface with references to the past, desires for the future
But it explodes suddenly, very very well done on the world building, immersive story telling, moving at a fast clip.
The end left me feeling like the author has more in store and I’m really interested to read it.
All in all want a quick read with some familiar lore and some very unexpected plot twist that leaves you with creepy feeling shivering down your spine, definitely pick up this story.
But it explodes suddenly, very very well done on the world building, immersive story telling, moving at a fast clip.
The end left me feeling like the author has more in store and I’m really interested to read it.
All in all want a quick read with some familiar lore and some very unexpected plot twist that leaves you with creepy feeling shivering down your spine, definitely pick up this story.
July 6, 2026
This one was hooking! Starting the book with Becca’s relationship with her parents- and hardships- made it to where I had to keep reading; how close her and her friends were went so deep, and them reconnecting made this story so deep.
Once I got more into it, the plot got more eerie, off putting, suspenseful, mysterious- which was the goal I’m assuming lol. It was just creepy to see where they ended up, “what” was there and how they got there.
The overall book was so entertaining, but tragic! I really enjoyed this one!
I recommend if you love YA, close friends, LGBTQ+, paranormal/ scifi, adventure, high stakes, etc.!
Once I got more into it, the plot got more eerie, off putting, suspenseful, mysterious- which was the goal I’m assuming lol. It was just creepy to see where they ended up, “what” was there and how they got there.
The overall book was so entertaining, but tragic! I really enjoyed this one!
I recommend if you love YA, close friends, LGBTQ+, paranormal/ scifi, adventure, high stakes, etc.!
June 10, 2026
This was a fun, gory read, great for fans of queer body horror who also want some nostalgic vibes (group of friends heading out in a van definitely feels nostalgic). It started a bit slow, and the writing style is not for me personally. At times, it felt a bit awkward and clunky, especially the conversations. I did like the characters and the friend group, and that each one had their own story and development. The ending definitely feels set up for a sequel. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
So, this was weird but so good. Home from college after being separated for months, Becca & her friends are finally getting together. They all meet up at Becca's house & set off for the beach as planned. Something happens along the way & now they are in a place no-one can fathom what's happening to them. Intriguing throughout. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 29, 2026
Ingenious worldbuilding! I spent half the book thinking a certain person had cursed them, only to read the reveal and audibly gasp and scream, "WTF!" I loathe that person so much!!!!!! This story is incredible, unique, and deliciously grotesque. One of my top 5 favorite reads of 2026, so far!
For those dipping their toes in horror, this one probably won't scare you enough to give you nightmares, but it will totally gross you out. PLEASE give it a shot!
For those dipping their toes in horror, this one probably won't scare you enough to give you nightmares, but it will totally gross you out. PLEASE give it a shot!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is not my usual genre but the story was well paced and the character struggles compelling. The story became a bit nuts but was quite obvious who cursed them to hell. There are some brutal parts and vivid description of gore and gruesomeness but I liked the characters.
Thank you Henry Corrigan for reaching out and asking me to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Henry Corrigan for reaching out and asking me to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2026
It wasn't bad, I thought it was actually pretty well written and the story was interesting. Unfortunately I just couldn't get into it as much as I would've liked.
I do think I would've liked this book better if I'd read it when I was a little younger.
Still a fun light read :)
I do think I would've liked this book better if I'd read it when I was a little younger.
Still a fun light read :)
Review of advance copy
The story starts a little slow, but only because Corrigan takes his time introducing the four main characters. They are superbly written. The deep bond of their friendship is so wholesome. Their banter is so fun and lighthearted. I quickly came to care about them.
Their plan to relax at a beach turn into a terrifying trip to hell! I absolutely loved the depiction of hell here. Everything is old, unfinished, dusty, rotted out. I especially enjoyed the imagery of the weeping willows. There is plenty of dread, suspense, and body horror. A little something for everybody.
And don't forget the queer representation!
I received an advance review copy for free, via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Their plan to relax at a beach turn into a terrifying trip to hell! I absolutely loved the depiction of hell here. Everything is old, unfinished, dusty, rotted out. I especially enjoyed the imagery of the weeping willows. There is plenty of dread, suspense, and body horror. A little something for everybody.
And don't forget the queer representation!
I received an advance review copy for free, via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
You were literally on the highway to hell and this new release, Party of a Lifetime! A perfect release for Pride Month! 🌈 This queer horror story follows four road tripping friends that take a wrong turn to actual Hell. This one starts off with a slow burn with lots of strong dialogue that really helps you get to know the characters. And the next thing you know, we’re in the these weird and creepy situations with lots of monsters and mayhem. Now their friendships are really being put to the test. A fun ride with a really twisted ending!
I do think the author could have cut a lot of the character dialogue out in the beginning and replaced it with more spooky stuff later.
I do think the author could have cut a lot of the character dialogue out in the beginning and replaced it with more spooky stuff later.
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