Too Close to Home

by Seraphina Nova Glass

From the two-time Edgar Award–nominated author of ON A QUIET STREET and THE VACANCY IN ROOM 10...

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES meets FINLAY DONOVAN in this darkly humorous thriller about three women's lives colliding around an explosive murder, a bizarre cover-up, and a riveting search for the truth.

"Explosive, addictive, and impossible to put down."
—Noelle Ihli, bestselling author of Such Quiet Girls

Those lucky enough to live in the elite lakefront community of Cloverhill Lakes are drawn to it for its safety and top-notch school district. The moms meet for coffee at the park while their kids play, they’re heavily involved in the PTA, and the summers are filled with chardonnay, brunch, sundresses, and backyard bonfires.

But everything changes when Regan Hoffman’s car explodes at the annual Labor Day party. The wrong person is killed, but it was meant for her. As the carefully crafted walls of her community begin to crumble, Regan tries to keep it together—something made infinitely harder when she sees her dead husband…alive.

When a Cloverhill Lakes resident suddenly goes missing, dark secrets begin to surface from underneath the idyllic veneer of their beautiful community—and the truth threatens to destroy them all as Regan finds herself in a fight for her life.

For readers who love:
• Small lakeside community vibes
• Twists that will leave you breathless
• Dark humor and wild antics
• Dramatic domestic suspense
• Multiple POVs
• Desperate Housewives meets Finlay Donovan

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Adult

299 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 14, 2026

About the author

Seraphina Nova Glass is a two-time EDGAR AWARD nominated author. Hew novel, On A Quiet Street, was a New York Times Summer Read, a #1 Amazon Bestseller, and Editor’s Pick. It was also featured in the Boston Globe and Bustle.

Publisher’s Weekly has named her “a writer to watch.” She’s also an award-winning playwright and holds an MFA degree in
Dramatic Writing from Smith College, and a second MFA in Directing from the University of Idaho in Directing (theatre.)
 
She is a proud dog mom to Boston Terrier Spaghetti, and loves to travel the world with her husband, Mark. She resides in Dallas, TX.

​

​

Reviews

[Holly B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this author's style of writing.

She has a way of hooking me into the plot with her clever twists, blend of suspense and mystery and cliff hanger chapters that just beg you to read on! There is a bit of a desperate housewifes vibe going on and I also felt a bit of Finlay Donavan as well.

If you enjoy a good neighborhood thriller with some spicy moms with secrets and agendas, you may enjoy this one as much as I did! One of the ladies was really good at keeping secrets and had me holding my breath at times. Not sure how she could compose herself. Grab your popcorn its a rollercoaster at times.

Thanks to NG for my ARC. This one is out April 14, 2026

[suspenseisthrillingme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seraphina Nova Glass has done it yet again with her newest popcorn thriller, Too Close to Home. From the explosive start to the adrenaline-fueled second half, there wasn’t a moment of downtime in this intense, palpable, eye-popping novel. With multiple interconnected plot lines that came together with utter precision and a handful of characters who were believably flawed, I quickly got pulled into the propulsive storyline and found that I couldn’t put the book down. After all, the onion-like plot kept me happily guessing as the cat-and-mouse antics and flipped-script personas required my sleuthing hat to get pulled tightly on. You see, the series of jaw-dropping twists shocked me but good and had me whispering “No f***ing way!” all while I tried—and just barely succeeded—to figure out the whos, whats, and whys a bit early.

All in all, it’s no big surprise that my colleagues with Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse have been raving about this one ever since we got our hands on our exclusive early copies. Already one of my favorite authors, Glass expertly utilized plenty of teasing plot twists and perfectly timed reveals as we raced towards the deliciously unhinged climax and equally on-point ending. Coming a close second to On a Quiet Street despite the need to suspend all disbelief, it was clear that a master was at work as dark secrets were spilled and shocking betrayals were exposed. With addictive cliffhanger chapters and one heck of a complex mystery to solve, I was over the moon as I inhaled this drama-filled novel in one single sitting. Ultimately, the only thing left to say is that you should definitely pre-order it right now. Go on. I’m waiting. Rating of 4.5 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

Those lucky enough to live in the elite lakefront community of Cloverhill Lakes are drawn to it for its safety and top-notch school district. The moms meet for coffee at the park while their kids play, they’re heavily involved in the PTA, and the summers are filled with chardonnay, brunch, sundresses, and backyard bonfires.

But everything changes when Regan Hoffman’s car explodes at the annual Labor Day party. The wrong person is killed, but it was meant for her. As the carefully crafted walls of her community begin to crumble, Regan tries to keep it together—something made infinitely harder when she sees her dead husband…alive.

When a Cloverhill Lakes resident suddenly goes missing, dark secrets begin to surface from underneath the idyllic veneer of their beautiful community—and the truth threatens to destroy them all as Regan finds herself in a fight for her life.

Thank you to Seraphina Nova Glass, Park Row Books, HTP Books, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: April 14, 2026

Content warning: message me for my list if you don’t mind a potential spoiler

[Liana Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

4! Review to follow!

A Labor Day party goes wrong and a neighbor goes missing. Three women find themselves in a web of secrets, lies and frequent questioning. As their community falls apart, it becomes apparent that everyone is hiding something and someone will have to pay for it.

292 pages, cliffhanger chapters, heart pounding--check, check, check

[Noelle Ihli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew and WOW!! This book was explosive, addictive, and impossible to put down—Glass just raised the bar for domestic thrillers. This book has kept me company on these early fall evenings for the past couple of weeks, and I'm not going to lie: I'm pretty devastated I don't have any pages left to read. This book sucked me in from the very beginning and was one of those thrillers where every short, snappy chapter ended on just the right note to keep me saying “just one more”—until suddenly it was getting dark outside and I could barely see the book. The lakefront community setting seemed like a classic domestic scene at first—gossiping moms, picturesque summers, a Labor Day picnic. I thought I knew what I was getting myself into. But then the first bomb hit (literally ...) and the stakes and suspense racheted up faster than I could turn the pages. Seraphina is already an author whose work I admire, and this might be my new favorite of hers. Do not miss it when it comes out next year! It'll be out April 14, 2026 :) Big thanks to @parkrowbooks for this early copy!

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐
Genre ~ domestic fiction
Setting ~ Connecticut
Publication date ~ April 14, 2026
Est Page Count ~ 299
Audio length ~ 7 hours 53 minutes
Narrators ~ Brittany Pressley, Rebecca Lowman, Karissa Vacker
POV ~ single 1st, dual 3rd
Featuring ~ car bomb, murder

Regan is a single mom after her husband suddenly died while away on business 2 years ago. Her car explodes during a neighborhood party, killing a neighbor. Is this a prank or was someone targeting her?

Andi is always fighting with her ex-husband's new wife, Tia. She was quite the pill if I'm honest. When Tia goes missing people wonder if Andi might somehow be involved.

Sasha is new to the hood and trying to fit in. However, she has a teenage son who she's worried about that's keeping her on her toes.

If you like neighborhood dramas with crazy decisions made then you'll probably like this one. Nothing exciting ever really happens in my neighborhood. It's mostly people complaining about cars speeding, kids playing in the middle of the street and loose dogs. I suppose I really wouldn't want a murder to happen in my back yard, so I guess I'm lucky.

Overall, I found it fast paced with a couple of nice twists. I had guessed one, but am still pleased with how everything was woven together. It made the 10 hours car ride more enjoyable.

Narration notes:
Pleased as punch there were 3. They all did a fabulous job.

Road trip listen with the fam 🚙😎🏖️
Hubs in depth review:
Good book, interesting twist.

Daughters in depth review:
I don't remember anything about the book. (guess I waited too long to ask her for her thoughts 😂)

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this Desperate Housewives meets The Last Thing He Told Me-vibed pilot! The gripping pacing of this mystery-thriller hooks you right from the opening scene — the shocking bomb incident at the party. From there, it’s impossible to look away.

Regan, Sasha, and Andi are all deeply engaging POVs, each with their own flaws, fears, and fierce determination to protect their families — to survive. The novel’s perfect pacing, complex twists, and surprising revelations that intertwine these three close friends are so well executed. Not a single plot thread is left hanging, and honestly, I could easily see this becoming a hit series on any major streaming platform.

When that happens, I’ll be ready with my popcorn and a glass of Cabernet, happily watching every episode. Oh, and yes — I already have my dream casting: Tia Hansley should definitely be played by Blake Lively. She’d absolutely nail that perfectly hateable, beautiful, manipulative energy the character radiates.

Now, let’s talk about the plot — come take a stroll through Cloverhill Lakes, a seemingly perfect, picturesque small town. It’s the kind of place with great schools, manicured parks, and Lululemon-clad moms sipping coffee while their kids play on the grass. It’s the picture of safety and privilege... until a celebratory neighborhood party ends in disaster — a car explodes, killing one of their own.

Regan Hoffman believes she was the intended target. After all, it was her car that exploded — though her late friend Ally Whitlock had borrowed it to fetch ice for the party. Regan, secretly struggling with antidepressants and the trauma of her husband Jack’s death, can’t shake the feeling that something darker is at play. But authorities call it a prank gone wrong.

Meanwhile, Andi is battling her controlling ex-husband Ray, who’s trying to gain full custody of their child. His new trophy wife, Tia, is determined to prove Andi unfit — stalking her, manipulating situations, and flaunting her giant diamond ring at every chance just to get under her skin. When Andi’s new boyfriend Carson insists on teaching her how to use a gun for protection, one night spirals out of control — setting off a chain of events that could destroy her life.

And then there’s Sasha, who senses something is terribly wrong with her teenage son. He’s been meeting a mysterious man in the middle of the night — a man who might be connected to the so-called “school prank” that caused the explosion. Torn between protecting her child and keeping her family together, Sasha hides her visits (and financial support) to her unstable ex from her current husband, Tom. But in Cloverhill Lakes, secrets have a way of surfacing.

As tensions rise, Regan swears she’s seen her supposedly dead husband at her daughter’s school recital, and Sasha can’t shake the eerie feeling she’s met Jack before — long before his death. The deeper they dig, the clearer it becomes: something sinister is festering beneath Cloverhill’s perfect façade, and these three women are at the heart of it all. Their friendship — and their lives — are about to be tested in ways they never imagined.

🌟 Overall Thoughts:

A captivating, twisty, and propulsive read that I devoured from start to finish. I enjoyed it just as much as I adored the author’s previous works. With its blend of domestic suspense, sharp dialogue, and emotional undercurrents, this is a thriller I’ll be recommending often.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing / Park Row for providing me with a digital reviewer’s copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. I’m already looking forward to what this author does next!

medium blog
instagram
facebook

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a really suspenseful story, packed with layered subplots and more complex themes than I expected! There were definitely a lot of characters to keep track of, but once I finally had everyone sorted out, I felt much more immersed—and it helped that nearly all of them played a meaningful role. I was genuinely intrigued the entire time and found myself wanting to keep reading just to see how everything would unfold. This was refreshingly unpredictable! Andi’s POV was easily my favorite; her storyline grabbed me the most, and I loved the direction it ultimately took.

If anything, the epilogue leaned a little over-dramatic and didn’t feel entirely necessary, but it didn’t detract from my overall reading experience. All in all, this was a solid domestic thriller with more than enough twists and depth to keep me fully engaged!

** I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher! **

[~ Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ & semicolons ~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

~2.5~

This book was fine, good even, until the last 30% when the whole thing went off the rails. The epilogue was especially OTT and ridiculous.

The author, showing a complete lack of restraint, introduced far too many dramatic plot elements (mobsters, murder, prison, adultery, addiction) and twists, but didn't develop her characters beyond caricatures.

The story is told from the POV of three women: Sasha, Andi, and Regan. They have children, husbands, ex-husbands, late husbands. For the life of me, I couldn't keep them all straight.

I just read a book by Shari Lapena with twelve distinct POVs I had no trouble distinguishing between. But the female MCs here thought, acted, and sounded so similar, they blended into one person.

I have questions: In what universe are teenagers this damn clever and altruistic? And where the hell did they get the money for their little project? Also, why did everyone cry over Tia who was a homewrecker and sociopath? Good riddance, I say.

[Dee (in the Desert) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 pretty "meh" stars - very unoriginal and derivative, if you ask me - I swear I saw the whole thing before on TV. Still open to the author's next for one more try....

[megs_bookrack · Rating 3 out of 5]

**3.5-stars**

Too Close to Home is set in the affluent lakefront community of Clover Lakes. And like many communities of this type, people seem to care a lot about everyone else's business, and trust when I say, I do too. I'm here for it.

I love a juicy and twisted neighborhood drama, so I was all aboard in the beginning. We follow multiple-POVs and the drama kicks off at the annual Labor Day party, when a car explodes and someone is killed.



We follow three women directly tied to the individual who is killed, and through them we learn how the community, in general, is responding in the aftermath of the incident. It seems so out of the ordinary for Clover Lakes. This isn't the kind of place where stuff like that happens.

But other strange things are happening in the community too, bomb threats at the school, and people who are supposed to be dead being spotted in a crowd, to name a couple of examples.

When a Clover Lakes resident goes missing shortly thereafter, the community is motivated and they pull together to search. Secrets are bound to be uncovered and it leaves some residents quaking in their heels.



I'm a huge Seraphina Nova Glass fan and love picking up her latest works. While this wasn't my favorite from her, it's still fast-paced, twisty and interesting.

I rated this one in comparison to her other novels that I've read. This is the 7th I've read from her, and I actually think content-wise, it's my least favorite. It's still good, don't get me wrong, I just enjoyed her other stories more.

This did feel a little different in tone for me, very action-based, versus more psychological. I respect her continuing to bring different ideas to the table though, and this is a good story, just not a perfect fit for my taste.



There's a lot of drama in this one for all three women, but it ultimately ended up going in a direction I wasn't crazy about. I wanted neighborhood drama, not all the other stuff we ended up getting.

There was also a character, I won't say who, that just made a series of ridiculous choices. I'm all for making mistakes and doing stupid stuff in fiction, it's a great way to progress a story, but in this case, it didn't make sense at all.

She ended up getting deeper than was ever necessary into the weeds and she just kept doing it over and over and over. It bordered on the ridiculous, that's for sure. I think her entire perspective could have been done differently and still kept intensity and mystery.



At the end of the day though, this is strictly personal taste and I'm no expert, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. Even though this wasn't my favorite of her works, I still love Seraphina Nova Glass, and will continue to pick up every book she releases.

I would highly recommend the audiobook if you're planning to pick this one up. It is voiced by three of my favorite narrators, Karissa Vacker, Brittany Pressley and Rebecca Lowman, so you can't go wrong with that. They definitely succeeded in bringing the story to life.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Park Row and Harlequin Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. This was entertaining and I can't wait to see what SNG is going to come up with next!

[niki ౨ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

౨ৎꨄ︎ 3.5 stars

this definitely is an interesting thriller! it starts really strong and you are pretty quickly hooked in. sadly the final 30% is not as exciting and i was kind of glad it was nearing the end…

what’s good about this story is that there is always something happening. especially the first half of the book before you really get into the plot, the twists and discoveries are really crazy and you just want to know what will happen in the next chapter!!

as mentioned, the final part is not as good. not that i did see it coming, the major plot twist is insane!!! but it was just dragging and what even was that epilogue? talk about being over the top…

on the plus side, i really enjoyed the audiobook production! the narrators were really great and fit the story well.

────୨ৎ────

౨ৎꨄ︎ pre-read: already about 20% in and there is soo much happening i actually love it. hope it stays being good!!!

[Sheyla ✎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A captivating neighborhood thriller!

Too Close to Home stars three main female characters: Regan Hoffman, Sasha, and Andi.

Regan Hoffman is a widow. Her husband died recently, and she is still dealing with her grief while taking anti-anxiety medication for her panic attacks. At the annual Labor Day party thrown by the Cloverhill Lakes neighborhood, Regan’s car explodes when another neighbor offers to get ice from it, instantly killing him. The police think it was a prank gone wrong, but Regan feels she was the intended target of the bombing.

Andi is dealing with her ex-husband, Ray, and his new wife, Tia Hansley, who seems determined to torture her at every opportunity.

Sasha is new to the area and has become friends with Regan and Andi. She is worried about her son, who keeps lying to her. She fears he may have something to do with what is going on.

How are all these events connected to the three women? Who is behind them, and why?

Too Close to Home hooked me from the first chapter. The main characters were likable and relatable because of how flawed they were. I was rooting for them to survive. The novel was suspenseful and had the perfect amount of twists to make it a solid read.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Park Row via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

[Bo.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seraphina Nova Glass is very much an “if she writes it, I’ll read it” author for me, so the second I saw the cover reveal for Too Close To Home, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I always look forward to her atmospheric, immersive storytelling and the way she builds layered, character-driven mysteries, and this delivers on a lot of that.

This one opens with a literal bang, immediately setting the tone for what lies ahead. From there, there’s a lot to take in with the characters, their backstories, and how they all fit into this lakefront community. I liked how the connections slowly came together, and there are some great twists, foreshadowing, and red herrings that keep you questioning who’s hiding what and why.

As a setting-driven reader, the lakefront backdrop worked really well for me. It adds a strong sense of atmosphere and mystery, and I loved the contrast between the picturesque surface and what’s actually going on underneath.

That said, the story was fast-paced and easy to fly through, but somewhere along the way I found myself drifting in and out of it. I’m still trying to pinpoint why, but I think it may have felt a little too familiar at times. I was engaged throughout, but I didn’t always feel the level of thrill or excitement I was hoping for.

Overall, this is a twisty, layered thriller with an addictive premise and plenty to keep you guessing. It didn’t fully land for me, but I still enjoyed going along for the ride.

3.5⭐️

[GCR | Book Realm]

Too Close to Home was a quick, twisty audiobook with multiple storylines happening at once. At first, it took me a little bit to keep the three POVs straight while listening, but once the connections made sense, the twists and engagements started to all come together.

The story itself was entertaining, even if not everything felt completely believable to me. Some of the connections stretched reality a bit, but since it was short and kept moving, I was fine going with it.

The narration was easily the strongest part. I already knew I loved Rebecca Lowman, but this was my first time listening to Brittany Pressley and Karissa Vacker, and all three did a great job. Their performances helped separate the different perspectives and made the audiobook easy to follow once I got into the rhythm of it.

Overall, this was a solid, quick domestic thriller listen. I’d recommend it to listeners who enjoy multiple POVs, neighborhood secrets, messy connections, twisty reveals, and strong audio performances.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember that title, as it will have more meaning as you get further into the book!

I loved the focus on motherhood, deception, the multiple POV, and the anxiety/tension. Within a few pages, I knew that one of the characters was a ‘marked woman’ and the increasing tension added to the enjoyment of the mystery. As someone who likes to plan and have control over events, I easily identified with Andi, Regan and Sasha. All three found themselves in situations out of their control. I was spellbound watching chaos unravel and curious about how they’d react.

If you can overlook the implausibility, this book is full of all the ‘things’ that we love about SNG’s novels. Don’t miss it!

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Brooke 𝜗𝜚 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 ☆

❝𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕, 𝒔𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒊𝒕. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒎 𝑰 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉? 𝑵𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘.❞

📖: 𝐓𝐨𝐨 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐚 𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬
📜: 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 𝟸𝟿𝟿
🏷️: 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝙳𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚌 𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛
📆: 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟿/𝟻/𝟸𝟼-𝟿/𝟿/𝟸𝟼
💬: 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
「 ”Those lucky enough to live in the elite lakefront community of Cloverhill Lakes are drawn to it for its safety and top notch school district. The moms meet for coffee at the park while their kids play, they're heavily involved in the PTA, and the summers are filled with chardonnay, brunch, sundresses, and backyard bonfires. But everything changes when Regan Hoffman's car explodes at the annual Labor Day party. The wrong person is killed, but it was meant for her. As the carefully crafted walls of her community begin to crumble, Regan tries to keep it together; something made infinitely harder when she sees her dead husband...alive. When a Cloverhill Lakes resident suddenly goes missing, dark secrets begin to surface from underneath the idyllic veneer of their beautiful community and the truth threatens to destroy them all as Regan finds herself in a fight for her life.”」

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · · · · ─ ·✶· ─ · · · · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

❝𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒔… 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒔𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍.❞

ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★
ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 𝟹.𝟽𝟸 ☆ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ʙʀɪꜱᴋᴇᴛ
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: 👎🏼

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
🏘️ ᴘᴏᴘᴄᴏʀɴ ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀꜱ
🏘️ ᴄʟɪꜰꜰʜᴀɴɢᴇʀ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀꜱ
🏘️ ᴅᴇꜱᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴇ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇᴡɪᴠᴇꜱ
🏘️ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴘʟᴏᴛ ʟɪɴᴇꜱ

❝𝑵𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇.❞

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · · · · ─ ·✶· ─ · · · · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

💭: 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
• Wow I haven’t written a “real” review in a while. I’m trying to be better, I promise! I just got so slumped out on reviews. 🫩
• I can see why a lot of people would like this book. It’s a suspenseful, entertaining, easy read. Maybe I’m becoming a brat when it comes to thrillers, but it just wasn’t something I loved or would rave about.
• The characters were so one dimensional, the twists were easy to figure out, the writing wasn’t the greatest, & several times I found myself not wanting to pick it back up. It felt more like a chore to finish it & I hate when books feel that way. It makes them so much less enjoyable.
• Again, this just could be a me thing. I read a lot of thrillers so I’m very particular with what I want to see in them & this just wasn’t it.

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · · · · ─ ·✶· ─ · · · · ─ ·✶· ─ · · · · ─ ·✶· ─ · · · · ─ ·✶· ─ ·

❝𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒚 𝒏𝒐𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑰𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉? 𝑶𝒓 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈?❞

[Cheryl Carey]

Just not feeling this. The conversation is just too loose for me.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ | Imagine being at a Labor Day neighborhood party, enjoying your friends - only for your car to explode k!lling your neighbor but you suspect it was meant for you. The fact that this occurred just minutes into the story was enough to draw me in.

Considering On a Quiet Street by this author made it into my top 5 of 2024, I immediately knew I wanted to read this one and Seraphina did not disappoint. This author has a way of teasing you just enough, and just when you think it’s over she drops another bomb (pun intended). This story brought domestic drama, danger, suspense, mystery and all elements to a good thriller!

Andi, Sasha & Regan weaved through their challenges the best they could. I do not feel they always made the best decisions, but who knows how someone will react if ever faced with something so challenging. All of these ladies were put in impossible situations, and it made me root for them the entire time! Hearing the story from all 3 of their POVs was an added bonus! Overall a solid & enjoyable ready that I would definitely recommend! Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing, THRILLER BOOK LOVERS: The Pulse and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Publication 🗓️ : 04.14.26

[Celeste | bookrecs_by_celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to The Hive for my gifted copy of Too Close to Home all opinions are my own.

I really was enjoying this one up until the 70% mark..it kind of lost me there. Some things just seemed a bit too far fetched. There were so many different plot lines and characters to keep up with I found myself slowly lose interest as I kept reading.

I’ve read this authors work before and have had 5 star reads! I will continue to read this authors work and I love her domestic thrillers the best but this one lost me by the end.

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too Close To Home might be her best one yet.

The multi POV story telling was propulsive, with nearly every chapter leaving you hanging, dying to learn more.

There is a complex mystery along with some crazy jaw dropping decisions made by one of the characters.

The last quarter of the book was intense and action packed. It was truly an adrenaline rush.

To me, it felt like Dead To Me meets The Last Thing He Told Me.

[Heathers_readss · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a neighbour goes missing at a Labour Day party, chaos quickly descends in the small town, everybody is pointing fingers, secrets are surfacing and no body is safe from being a suspect.

You may think the plot sounds similar to other suburban thrillers, but Seraphinas writing just has an edge to it that others dont,

If you have read a seraphina book by now, ask yourself why? This author is an immediate AUTO BUY for me 😂 I love everything she writes and the threads palpable tension through the pages.

I really enjoyed this one, im all for the drama right now and this book ate. Have your popcorn ready,

Disclaimer: this book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good, twisty thriller that kept me guessing the whole time. A little far fetched, but that's why they call it fiction, right? Lots of action and frantic page turning. Check this one out!!

Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this one 3.75⭐️’s I don’t know, it’s every thing you want a thriller to be. I just had a hard time keeping up and remembering who everybody was and how it all connected! The storytelling was great, I just found myself lost a few times going wait who’s this person and why do they matter??? I did enjoy the rather bumpy ride and for what it’s worth this is a good one. I’m just gonna say it, I could take it or leave it.

If you are an avid thrill reader like myself and you are looking for a good twisty ride without a WOW factor between reads, check this out. It’s a really good read and for that, I say thank you!

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Release Date: 4/14/2026, 3.5 stars

This book was so twisty, addicting, and hard to put down. This story follows 3 different POVs of mothers in a wealthy lakefront town. I found this story to have a lot of characters but it was easy to follow! I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Julie (JuJu) · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review: TOO CLOSE TO HOME by Seraphina Nova Glass

Shoutout to Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse for sliding this ARC my way. They’re the reason Seraphina Nova Glass landed on my radar, and I’ve been hooked ever since. She always delivers, but she dialed it way up with this one.

That lakefront life? Sounds like paradise, right? Moms trading gossip on the patio, maybe sneaking in a few pages of a good book, wine in hand, kids running wild. Then Labor Day rolls around, and it’s chaos. Secrets spill, betrayals pop up, and suddenly the dream neighborhood isn’t so perfect.

I went in blind, seduced by the gorgeous cover and my trust in Seraphina. She totally delivered. The quick chapters and different points of view had me hooked. I finished the last page feeling like I’d just devoured a bowl of my favorite ice cream.

“Too Close To Home” is quick, twisty, and the right amount of messy. This is a juicy suburban suspense novel I highly recommend.

Thank you to the author and HTP Books/Park Row for the #giftedARC provided via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#TooCloseToHome #SeraphinaNovaGlass #HTPBooks

Capcut - Park Row Books - Dark Secrets - Multiple POVs - Who Can You Trust - Domestic Suspense - Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse - Suspense - Drama - Dead Husband

[Mo Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

‘Nothing in this idyllic community is quite what it seems…’

A bougie suburban neighborhood populated with helicopter mom’s donning Lululemon, Dior & Starbucks, sunk low and cool behind the wheels of their G Wagons. This scene set with the backdrop of seemingly proud husbands and mollycoddled children…

What could possibly go wrong?

Welp, you’d be surprised…

Enter - stage right: car bombs, drug mules & drug lords, frame-ups, mafia, deceit, betrayal, vendetta’s, murder and chaos…

I’ve read and enjoyed a couple previous books by SNG, so it pains me to say that Too Close to Home was not of the same caliber.

I typically love alternating POV’s, but in this case, they simply halted my pace every step of the way. I could not keep them clearly identifiable in my mind. It was ineffectual.

The implausibility & convolution… Oy, idk, it was all just wildly outlandish.

Overall, the entire novel felt like a monumental coincidence to me, which I simply could not excuse.

That said, this unfortunate experience will not put me off of her future works. I will read her again.

Thanks to NG and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for this arc in exchange for review. I am always grateful.

Pub: 4.14.2026.

[BiblioPeeks (Katt) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this was lots of juicy fun! Widowed Regan is at the annual Labor Day party for her elite community, when her car explodes, killing a neighbor in the process. Was the bomb really meant for her, or someone who has a similar vehicle? Adding to Regan's confusion, she starts seeing glimpses of her husband around town—he's supposed to be dead.

Told from the perspectives of Regan and two other neighborhood women (who are all friends), each of them has a distinct and engaging narrative that held my interest. The all-star cast of 𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙮, 𝙍𝙚𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙘𝙖 𝙇𝙤𝙬𝙢𝙖𝙣, and 𝙆𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙖 𝙑𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙧 brought these women to life with their stellar audiobook performance, which I highly recommend!

Though some aspects of the story are a bit predictable, others have twisty reveals, even if they do come out of left-field. As long as you don't take things too seriously, this is a fast, easy-to-binge popcorn thriller. If you're a fan of rich people drama, hidden secrets, and a 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 atmosphere, then you'll have a good time with 𝗧𝗼𝗼 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗧𝗼 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲!
____

Thank you to The Hive, Park Row Books, HTP Books and HTP Audio for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

[Krista crone · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounding up to 5 stars on goodreads

I was HOOKED and this book never left go until the end! I am obsessed with Seraphina’s books and this one deserved lots of praise! You don’t want to miss this AMAZING thriller so make sure Too Close to Home is on your TBR!

****Many thanks to Thriller Book Lovers (The Pulse), Seraphina Nova Glass and HTP books for my gifted copy!

[_blondebooknerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Neighborhood Watch Turns Into A Full-Blown FBI Investigation 🏡🔪👀

Publication Date: 04/16/2026

Okay LISTEN. Too Close to Home by Seraphina Nova Glass? Yeah… I ate this book UP. And by “ate” I mean I literally ignored sleep, responsibilities, and my will to socialize because I needed ANSWERS. 😤📖

First: thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for the eARC in exchange for my honest review — but also? Thank you for the chaos.

✨ What’s It About?

Welcome to CloverHill Lakes — where the lawns are manicured, the HOA is watching, and literally EVERYONE is one bad day away from snapping.

We follow THREE POVs (and every single one has secrets that could feed an entire reality TV franchise):

👁️‍🗨️ Sasha — new to the neighborhood, juggling a troubled teenage son, a complicated ex, a Stepford zip code, and enough emotional damage to qualify for a therapy punch card.

🍷 Regan — grieving widow surviving on meds, exhaustion, and pure stubbornness. Suddenly feels like someone may be watching her… and honestly? In this neighborhood nothing would surprise me.

🔥 Andi — divorced, remarried to an actual supportive king, and STILL stuck in custody warfare with her ex and his new fiancée who is giving deranged villain energy.
Then the fiancée goes missing.
On the same night there’s a fight.
Andi: 👁️👁️
Me: Ohhhhh no oh no no no no ✨

🧠 Writing & Vibes

Seraphina Nova Glass remains THAT thriller author. The pacing? FAST.
The structure? Addicting.
The twists? Mmm… crunchy chef-kiss level betrayals. 🧂💋

I legit said “WAIT—WHAT?” out loud more than once like I was in the audience of a live Maury taping.

💀 Final Thoughts

This book is EXCEPTIONAL. It’s the kind of suspense that gets under your skin and makes you mutter “one more chapter” until suddenly it’s 1AM and you live in the dark timeline.

Don’t sleep on this one.
Actually… yeah. Good luck sleeping AFTER this one.

🔥 Highly recommended for fans of domestic thrillers, secrets, messy neighbors, and stories where EVERYONE is a suspect. 🔥

[Stephanielikesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seraphina Nova Glass is a favourite author of Thriller Books Lovers The Pulse members, so we were so excited to get to read her upcoming thriller early!

Too Close to Home was a fast-paced, intense popcorn thriller with twists, turns, reveals, and one explosive ending!!

Told from three POVs, at first I didn’t see how the storylines connected but they came together so well in a propulsive, action-packed build-up to the ending. And that epilogue! I tore through the pages during several intense scenes!!

Thriller lovers, be sure to check this one out when it pubs next year!