Life of the Party [Paperback]

Life of the Party is one of those books. You know the type...it makes you think, and I mean really think; it sticks with you long after you have finished because you have become invested in the characters; it makes you cry. I hate it when books make me cry.

Mac and Riley are best friends. Their favorite pastime is to get drunk and high. Hey, they're young, why not? Everything is great until Riley decided he needs to get clean. Mac, feeling abandoned by her best friend, delves deeper into the world of drugs, trying to forget Riley and everything that is wrong with her life.

I loved, loved, loved the characters in this book (which I guess is why I felt so much for them that I was bawling my eyes out by the end). The author let us get into Mac's head and really enjoy being there. Mac, though young and stupid and obviously making mistake after mistake, was real. She had real problems and real choices and real feelings. And Grey...I so love Grey. It is obvious from the way he treats her that he loves Mac, but he is young and free and has the world ahead of him, so of course he makes mistakes, too. When he realizes, however, that things have gone too far he does the only thing he can think of to fix it, even if it is the wrong thing. We do not see much of Riley for most of the story and mostly get to know him through Mac's feelings and memories of him. Though Mac feels he abandoned her, he had always been there just waiting for the right time.

I think the thing I really loved about this story was about how realistic it is. From Mac's mom and dad (just ignore the problem, it will go away) to her sister and Mac's feelings of inferiority around her (which I can relate to having two perfect older sisters myself) to the drug use. The author did an exceptional job (in my humble opinion) of detailing and describing Mac's drug use and feelings. I did find myself thinking a few times, can someone really use that much cocaine and still be alive/walking/standing/coherent? But, I have absolutely no first-hand knowledge of the subject so it could be true. Even if it's not accurate, the author did a great job faking it and making me believe it was real.

I sincerely hope this author writes more books in the future. I loved everything about this story from the characters to the story to the writing style. She is an amazing storyteller and I thank her for sharing her story with us.  

Note: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I thought I would like this book with all of the other fab reviews. I was also intrigued by the summary description but it just wasn't for me. The cover just did nothing for me.

Mackenzie got to me right away, she seemed extremely spoiled and self absorbed. She never got better for me through the whole entire story, I just really didn't like her. Grey seemed horrible, I didn't get the appeal at all. I do have to say that the interaction between the characters was great. Riley was my favorite character out of all of them. He seemed to be the most sincere and most humane, always protecting and trying to do the right thing.

Overall the story was well written even though I had a hard time finishing it to the end.

This was a story that will stay with me for a very long time, Or maybe forever!! The read was very real, and very intense at many parts of the story. I was so truly moved to tears!! Wow, just wow!! I just finished the book and I feel happy yet so sad, there is a HEA but not quite the one you may think or maybe it is what you may think.
I officially know now what everyone says when they get a book hangover!!
The relationships between Ry and Mac and Mac and Grey and even Mac and Charlie they all had levels of fun, discovery, angst and just pure heart ache!!! I absolutely loved, loved this story!! Three days later and I'm still thinking about the characters!!! It was so real!! It reads like you were really there and you can feel everything Mac feels!! It's insane how you can get into the story, I'm still blown away!! Christine Anderson will be one of my favorites for life!!!