Party of a Lifetime - Henry Corrigan

Title: Party of a Lifetime

Author: Henry Corrigan
Genre: Horror, Dark Fantasy, Supernatural Horror
Format: eARC
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐¼ (3.25★)
Release Date: June 8, 2026

Synopsis

One year after a disastrous prom night, Becca Longford and her friends attempt to recreate what should have been one of the best nights of their lives.

Instead, they find themselves trapped in Monotony-a horrifying town deep in Hell, filled with grotesque creatures, impossible horrors and dangers lurking around every corner and every bush.

As the friends struggle to survive, Monotony begins changing them in terrifying ways. But escaping Hell may be the easy part. The real question is whether they'll still be human if they make it home.

My Thoughts

The blurb was what immediately caught my attention with this one. A group of friends accidentally ending up in Hell while trying to recreate a memorable night from the year before? That sounded like exactly the kind of chaotic horror premise I could get behind.

And TBH, the depiction of Hell ended up being my favorite part of the entire book.

Monotony is exactly the sort of place you'd expect from a nightmare. Between the grotesque creatures, the disturbing atmosphere, the body horror, and even things like burning water, the setting felt genuinely unsettling. There were several descriptions that made my skin crawl, which is always a good sign in a horror novel.

I also have to mention Clowny, who immediately gave me Pennywise-esque vibes. As someone who already finds clowns creepy-ish, that certainly added an extra layer of discomfort.

The mystery surrounding how Becca and her friends ended up in Monotony kept me invested throughout the story, and I enjoyed seeing the answers slowly unfold. By the end, certain revelations definitely put some earlier events into perspective.

And speaking of revelations...

Becca's mother was truly something else. There are plenty of awful fictional parents out there, but she managed to earn herself a place surprisingly high on that list. The narcissism was honestly impressive in the worst possible way.

Where the book lost me a little was with the characters themselves.

I didn't actively dislike any of them, but I never felt particularly connected to them either. They often felt more like a group moving through the plot than fully developed individuals I became emotionally attached to. Because of that, some of the tension didn't hit as hard as it could have.

I also had mixed feelings about the ending. While it clearly leaves room for more story, I wasn't entirely sure whether this was intended as 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 bit too open-ended for my personal preference.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Party of a Lifetime delivers a creative premise, some genuinely creepy horror imagery, and a memorable vision of Hell that was easily the standout element of the story.

While I wish I'd connected more strongly with the characters and found the ending a little more conclusive, I still enjoyed the journey and appreciated the author's imagination in bringing Monotony to life.

ARC Disclaimer

Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.