The New Year’s Party
The annual New Year's Eve bash used to be a cornerstone of Olivia’s friend group—until the messy reality of their thirties got in the way. After years of drifting apart amidst marriage troubles, mounting debt, and quiet addictions, the old crew is finally reuniting. They’ve promised to leave their baggage at the door for one perfect night. But you can't outrun the past. Every single guest is hiding a dark secret, and it only takes one slip of the tongue to shatter their fragile reunion. When the truth finally spills, these lifelong friends are about to discover that some secrets are worth killing for.
- Olivia - Bennett’s wife
- Bennett - Olivia’s husband
- Will - Jenn’s husband
- Jenn - Will’s wife
- Doug - Hellie’s husband
- Nellie - Doug’s wife
- Phelps - Party host
- Allie - Phelps's date, Oscar's sister
- Leigh - Allie’s girlfriend
- Bunny - Phelps's ex-fiancée
- Ted - Drug dealer
- Oscar - Jenn’s college boyfriend, deceased
- Professor Larkin - Olivia's college professor
- Part 1 The Invitation
- Bunny’s grandfather dies and, instead of leaving her his house like he promised, leaves her nothing after finding out she once had an abortion.
- Jenn notices a search on Will’s computer for divorce lawyers.
- Doug gets fired after an anonymous person sends his employer information about his criminal background.
- Part 2 The Party
- Olivia admits to Bennett that she slept with Phelps at the New Year's Eve party five years earlier.
- Bennett admits he already knew because someone had told him via several anonymous texts.
- Before the last party, Phelps planned to buy Rock the Clock, but the restaurant burned down.
- Ted accuses Jenn of asking him to burn down Rock the Clock.
- Someone named Eddie died in the fire.
- A friend named Oscar attended the first New Year's party but killed himself several months later.
- Bunny tells Phelps that she was pregnant with his child when he walked out on her years ago and she got an abortion.
- Olivia was raped by Professor Larkin in college.
- Oscar kissed Will at the first New Year’s party.
- Phelps tells Bennett that he didn’t have sex with Olivia. After she fell asleep, he went to the bathroom and pleasured himself.
- Jenn physically abuses Will.
- Jenn is behind everything - the fax, revealing Bunny's secret, the anonymous texts to Bennett, the fire at Rock the Clock and outing Oscar in college, which led to his suicide.
- Olivia finds Jenn's body in the basement.
- Police arrive and Doug falsely confesses to killing Jenn because he believes Hellie did it.
- Will thinks he killed Jenn - he went to the basement to tell her he wanted a divorce, she flew into a rage, chased him up the stairs and he pushed her back down them.
- Allie mixed drugs into the Jell-O shots she served Jenn, which would have killed her even if Will had not pushed her down the stairs.
- Allie killed Jenn because she blames her for Oscar committing suicide.
- Olivia reports Professor Larkin to the HR department for grooming and rape.
The New Year's Party by Jenna Satterthwaite starts off slow to focus heavily on deep character development and filling in past events. I found the narrative is driven much more by the characters' internal thoughts about their history and current situation than by active dialogue or present-day action. However, I really enjoyed how heavily it leans into the New Year's theme to set a great atmosphere, and the short chapters are a huge plus that keeps the pages moving.
While there are plenty of secrets and messy drama to dig into, the twists were pretty easy to guess. The ending also felt a bit drawn out, and I prefer a punchier conclusion. If you love introspective, slow-burn suspense with bite-sized chapters and a strong holiday setting, this one might be right up your alley.
- Eddie - Dead - Killed in the fire Jenn started at Rock the Clock
- Jenn - Dead - Killed by Allie and Will
- Bunny - Alive - Ready to get back to writing songs
- Hellie - Alive - Driving to Montana for a fresh start
- Olivia - Alive - Ready to heal from her past trauma
- Suicidal ideations
- Miscarriage
- Drug use
- Alcoholism
- Abortion
- Rape
- Domestic violence
- Homophobia
ISBN: 9780778368687
Publication Date: November 4, 2025
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.
