How many love stories can play out over the course of a single house party? Find out in this vibrant collaborative novel from ten bestselling and critically acclaimed authors: Angeline Boulley • Jerry Craft • Natasha Díaz • Lamar Giles • Christina Hammonds Reed • Ryan La Sala • Yamile Saied Méndez • justin a. reynolds • Randy Ribay • Jasmine Warga “An entertaining romp through a night of chaotic celebration and a bittersweet snapshot of teenagers transitioning from adolescence to adulthood.” —Shelf Awareness The biggest event of the year is happening, and you’re invited! Join us for Florence Hills High School seniors’ last hurrah before graduation. THE LOCATION: A megamansion in one of Chicago’s wealthiest suburban enclaves THE HOST: DeAndre Dixon, aka FHHS’s golden boy THE GUESTS: The populars, the jocks, the artists, and heck, even that one kid Over a few wild, transformative hours, all the drama ensues. Kisses are swapped between old friends, new friends, and could’ve-sworn-they-were-enemies kind of friends. Relationships get tested. Animals roam free. Secrets are spilled. Add dope music that’s thumping, and there’s a good chance the whole neighborhood will be disrupted. Told from interwoven perspectives, House Party offers a delightful snapshot of young adults getting ready to say goodbye to high school and hello to the next chapter in their lives—but not before they make their final night together one they’ll never forget! ★ "This book is the perfect tool for harnessing empathy. It shows the world that no matter your identity or culture, you are still worthy of love, hope, and the promise of a good time ." — Booklist , starred review “A lively narrative that shows the power of friendship and connection.” — Kirkus Reviews "This energizing collaboration hits every plot beat without pause, skillfully capturing the thrill and possibility of an all-out house party populated by teens on the brink of big life changes." — Publishers Weekly "An entertaining romp through a night of chaotic celebration and a bittersweet snapshot of teenagers transitioning from adolescence to adulthood." —Shelf Awareness justin a. reynolds has always wanted to be a writer. Opposite of Always , his debut YA novel, was an Indies Introduce Top Ten Debut Title and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, was translated into nineteen languages, is being developed for film by Paramount Players, and was recently adapted into a popular Webtoon. His second YA novel, Early Departures , published to critical acclaim and was a Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of the Year. His Marvel graphic novel debut, Miles Morales: Shock Waves , featuring Brooklyn’s Spider-Man, was an ABA Indie Bestseller. justin is also the cofounder of the CLE Reads Book Festival, a Cleveland Book Festival for middle-grade and young adult writers. PART I It’s Friday, and your boy’s on a mission. Our main objectives, in no particular order, are as follows: PREPARTY □ Get invited to DeAndre’s house party. □ Convince Sadie to go to said party. AT THE PARTY □ Confess feelings to Mia. □ Maybe make out with Mia? □ Secure GOAT status. ACTION ITEM #1: Convince Sadie to go to the party. Trap sprung, I throw the kitchen island spotlight onto the intruder and yell, “Yo, you jacking my strudel?!” “Dude, no,” Sadie says, shielding her eyes from the accusatory halogen. “Just no.” I grab a rolling pin from the nearest drawer and slap it into my palm a few times, like a nightstick. Except this nightstick is still caked with dough. Man, our dishwasher sucks. Me, I suck. I’m the dishwasher. I scowl at my best friend since second grade. “What, you think you can just waltz into my home, broad daylight, and cherry strudel jack me with impunity, Sadie Bernbaum?” Sadie cuts her eyes, unfazed. “Ha, you wish I’d jack your little nonpopped cherry strudel, but I’m on a strict no-corny-dude diet, sorry.” “Wooow, for real?” I put the dirty rolling pin back, then pluck the last frozen pastry from the box. “And you didn’t put the box back in the freezer? You’re savage.” She winks at me, smushing her last bite of my all-time favorite breakfast treat into her mouth with the ferocity of a world-champion eater. “So they say.” Except her mouth’s full so it sounds more like: Schlo dey shay. “Hmph,” I say, locking my Trust me, you don’t want this smoke eyes onto hers as I rip open the last packet of strudels with my bare hands. “Hmph,” I say again, eyes still locked, as I . . . as I . . . Damn you, kidproof packaging! Sadie holds out her hand. “Need an adult?” she asks, reading my mind when I wish she’d mind her own. “Why, you know one?” I elevate my package-ripping mission to my mouth, setting the plastic onto my canines to open it with my teeth, but there’s a gap between my top and bottom teeth from not wearing my retainer back in middle school, so yes, my parents paid thousands for an under-overbite,