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The Good Neighbour
Everyone has secrets. How far will you go to protect yours?
After living next to the neighbours from hell, Minette is overjoyed when Cath and her two children move in next door. Cath soon becomes her confidante, a kindred spirit, even her daughter’s babysitter.
But Cath keeps herself unusually guarded and is reluctant to speak of her past. And when Minette witnesses something unspeakable, she begins to question whether she really knows her new friend at all…
An addictive and gripping novel, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Daughter
After living next to the neighbours from hell, Minette is overjoyed when Cath and her two children move in next door. Cath soon becomes her confidante, a kindred spirit, even her daughter’s babysitter.
But Cath keeps herself unusually guarded and is reluctant to speak of her past. And when Minette witnesses something unspeakable, she begins to question whether she really knows her new friend at all…
An addictive and gripping novel, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Daughter
464 pages, Paperback
First published March 26, 2015
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2004 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
June 7, 2016
“Good neighbors always spy on you to make sure you are doing well.”
----Pawan Mishra
Beth Miller, an English author, has penned a heart-touching yet intriguing part-thriller-part-contemporary fiction in her latest book, The Good Neighbour that unfolds the story of two women who are neighbors to one another and each have children of their own, and their bond of trust grew with each passing day, but did they know everything about each other's secrets that can destroy the lives of both these women?
Synopsis:
Everyone has secrets. How far will you go to protect yours?
After living next to the neighbors from hell, Minette is overjoyed when Cath and her two children move in next door. Cath soon becomes her confidante, a kindred spirit, even her daughter’s babysitter.
But Cath keeps herself unusually guarded and is reluctant to speak of her past. And when Minette witnesses something unspeakable, she begins to question whether she really knows her new friend at all…
Minette, the newbie mom of a little angel, is finally glad and satisfied that the nosy and terrible couple from the next door has moved out. And now the new occupants of that house will be much more understanding, as her new neighbor is a single mother, Cath, with two little kids, Lola and Davey, among whom one is suffering from allergies whereas the other one is permanently wheelchair-bound. Soon Minette and Cath becomes close as they share about their daily lives while Cath opening up about the fact that she is also glad to move away from "Trouble-town" and her husband is travelling due to work, hence can't give them company. In fact, Cath is around Minette whenever she needs help managing her little new-born baby. Their bond of friendship as well as trust start to deepen eventually, but Minette can sense something is wrong or the fact that Cath is lying about her past as well as about her present. And then Minette discovers the truth, that has a power to destroy both Cath and Minette. What is the secret that Cath is hiding about her life?
This is no the first time that I'm reading any book by this author, having read her previous book, I had an advantage on knowing about the author's writing style, prose and other such stuffs. The writing is bold and articulate with an emphatic narrative that is shifting among a string of characters, hence the readers are in for a treat when they can view this story from so many various perspectives. The story is arresting from the very first page itself and doesn't let go of the readers' attention until the very end. The pacing is slow in the beginning but later catches up with speed when the author begins to unravel the key twists in her story.
The mystery part is well concocted by the author as she depicts the secrecy thing with lots of twists and turns. In the first half of the story, the readers might feel a bit restless to know about what might go wrong, as the sense of "something is terribly wrong" is very evident from the beginning of the story itself. Minette's relationship with a good looking neighbor might distract the readers from Cath's life, but in the background, the author has skillfully projected the mysteries related to Cath's life, that keeps the readers on their edges till the very end. As for regular thriller fans, this story might sound a bit foreseeable, as some of the twists are easy to anticipate.
The characters are real, honest and flawed, and yes, the author has successfully portrayed them with their psychological defects that will grip the readers with their individual narrative, which shifts from Minette's to Cath's to Davey's. Yes of course, when it comes to which narrative is the best one, then the answer will have to go to Davey's which the author has strikingly captured through his innocence and thoughtful demeanor. Minette is brave but her curious minds will keep the readers guessing till the very end. Cath, on the other hand, is secretive yet determined and strong to protect the kids as well as the secrets from her past.
But the disappointing part of this story would be the author leaving out some of the key questions unanswered those arose in the book and also played a key role in building up the mystery.
In a nutshell, this is an interesting story that has so many layers like relationships, medical health problems, trust etc and each layer has been unwrapped with great care to ensure that the readers can easily comprehend with the complexity of the plot thus making them engrossed and captivated with the story.
Verdict: A domestic drama with a flair of psychological thrill that will keep the readers on the edge of their seats.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Beth Miller, for providing me with a copy of her book, in return for an honest review.
----Pawan Mishra
Beth Miller, an English author, has penned a heart-touching yet intriguing part-thriller-part-contemporary fiction in her latest book, The Good Neighbour that unfolds the story of two women who are neighbors to one another and each have children of their own, and their bond of trust grew with each passing day, but did they know everything about each other's secrets that can destroy the lives of both these women?
Synopsis:
Everyone has secrets. How far will you go to protect yours?
After living next to the neighbors from hell, Minette is overjoyed when Cath and her two children move in next door. Cath soon becomes her confidante, a kindred spirit, even her daughter’s babysitter.
But Cath keeps herself unusually guarded and is reluctant to speak of her past. And when Minette witnesses something unspeakable, she begins to question whether she really knows her new friend at all…
Minette, the newbie mom of a little angel, is finally glad and satisfied that the nosy and terrible couple from the next door has moved out. And now the new occupants of that house will be much more understanding, as her new neighbor is a single mother, Cath, with two little kids, Lola and Davey, among whom one is suffering from allergies whereas the other one is permanently wheelchair-bound. Soon Minette and Cath becomes close as they share about their daily lives while Cath opening up about the fact that she is also glad to move away from "Trouble-town" and her husband is travelling due to work, hence can't give them company. In fact, Cath is around Minette whenever she needs help managing her little new-born baby. Their bond of friendship as well as trust start to deepen eventually, but Minette can sense something is wrong or the fact that Cath is lying about her past as well as about her present. And then Minette discovers the truth, that has a power to destroy both Cath and Minette. What is the secret that Cath is hiding about her life?
This is no the first time that I'm reading any book by this author, having read her previous book, I had an advantage on knowing about the author's writing style, prose and other such stuffs. The writing is bold and articulate with an emphatic narrative that is shifting among a string of characters, hence the readers are in for a treat when they can view this story from so many various perspectives. The story is arresting from the very first page itself and doesn't let go of the readers' attention until the very end. The pacing is slow in the beginning but later catches up with speed when the author begins to unravel the key twists in her story.
The mystery part is well concocted by the author as she depicts the secrecy thing with lots of twists and turns. In the first half of the story, the readers might feel a bit restless to know about what might go wrong, as the sense of "something is terribly wrong" is very evident from the beginning of the story itself. Minette's relationship with a good looking neighbor might distract the readers from Cath's life, but in the background, the author has skillfully projected the mysteries related to Cath's life, that keeps the readers on their edges till the very end. As for regular thriller fans, this story might sound a bit foreseeable, as some of the twists are easy to anticipate.
The characters are real, honest and flawed, and yes, the author has successfully portrayed them with their psychological defects that will grip the readers with their individual narrative, which shifts from Minette's to Cath's to Davey's. Yes of course, when it comes to which narrative is the best one, then the answer will have to go to Davey's which the author has strikingly captured through his innocence and thoughtful demeanor. Minette is brave but her curious minds will keep the readers guessing till the very end. Cath, on the other hand, is secretive yet determined and strong to protect the kids as well as the secrets from her past.
But the disappointing part of this story would be the author leaving out some of the key questions unanswered those arose in the book and also played a key role in building up the mystery.
In a nutshell, this is an interesting story that has so many layers like relationships, medical health problems, trust etc and each layer has been unwrapped with great care to ensure that the readers can easily comprehend with the complexity of the plot thus making them engrossed and captivated with the story.
Verdict: A domestic drama with a flair of psychological thrill that will keep the readers on the edge of their seats.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Beth Miller, for providing me with a copy of her book, in return for an honest review.
February 18, 2016
3.5 stars
The plot is amazing, it immediately grabs your attention and you can't put the book down.
Minette and Cath are great characters, complex and mysterious in their own way. Davey, Cath's son, is adorable and you feel from the beginning that he's going to have a big part on the plot.
BUT (always a but...) the last pages made me angry, I felt the end was too perfectly wrapped-up, too simple, and it really let me down.
The plot is amazing, it immediately grabs your attention and you can't put the book down.
Minette and Cath are great characters, complex and mysterious in their own way. Davey, Cath's son, is adorable and you feel from the beginning that he's going to have a big part on the plot.
BUT (always a but...) the last pages made me angry, I felt the end was too perfectly wrapped-up, too simple, and it really let me down.
July 21, 2019
Oh my gosh! The Good Neighbour is so addictive I couldn't let go of this book. A real must buy, must read!
Minette's neighbour's from hell have just moved out. Cath has just moved in with her son, Davey who is in a wheelchair and her daughter Lola who has a milk allergy.
Minette and Cath seem to have different types of parenting styles, but both have their flaws.
Davey has Muscular dystrophy that effects the muscles, causing weakness, that is why Davey is in a wheelchair as he can't walk Cath tells her new neighbour and everyone.
Cath has Munchausen by proxy syndrome a rare form of child abuse that involves the exaggeration or fabrication of illness or symptoms in a child. MBPS is a in a mental illness and requires treatment.
Cath has left her husband and changed their identity. Minette was naive to trust Cath.
While Minette is in Cath's house she witnesses something that she shouldn't have. When Minettte confronts Cath about what she see Cath blackmails Minette as she has found out something about her. Everyone has secrets.
I loved this novel so much. Beth Miller I can't wait until your next book is out.
August 18, 2015
An absolutely amazing book! I read and loved this author's debut, 'When We Were Sisters' and this one is even better. I was right inside the story from the very first page and could not put this wonderful book down. I read a lot of psychological thrillers and most are predictable but not this one. With many twists and turns, this story kept me guessing, made me wanting to turn the pages. I was finding ways to return to the book, and thinking about the story even while I was doing other things. The book's strength lies in its wonderful, believable characters. Absolutely LOVED Davey. Wanted to reach out and give him a hug. Adored Minette too, an unlikely yet very likeable heroine. The author is very skilled at getting inside the characters' heads, so that, even when we don't necessarily like them, we know why they are doing what they are doing. This book is a story of families and relationships and yet it is so much more. A story, and characters, that will stay with me for a very long time. A wonderful read. Can't wait for what Beth Miller has in store next.
October 4, 2015
The Good Neighbour is a multi layered family drama with a dark underbelly, looking at one little street community and focusing on the new arrival and her relationship with those around her.
Minette is extraordinarily happy to have a new next door neighbour – her relationship with the previous occupants had been fraught and confrontational and as a new Mum, Minette already had enough on her plate. At first Cath seems like the perfect replacement, friendly, willing to help with the baby and someone Minette can rely on. But as time goes on, she realises that something is not QUITE right about Cath…
It was very easy to get drawn in to this story – two equally fascinating but very different women, both of whom annoyed the heck out of me at times, Minette especially in the beginning when she is accepting everything Cath says and does at face value. At the same time she is drawn into a situation that could destroy her own family, seriously there were times when I wanted to slap her.
We hear from both Cath and Minette and it quickly becomes clear that Cath is, well to put it mildly, a bit odd and definitely hiding secrets. In the midst of all this we also hear from Davey, Cath’ s son who is disabled – he too knows that there is something wrong with his Mum and his situation but struggles to know what to do as he is so young. This made up some of the most compelling parts of the tale, especially the relationship he has with both his Mum and his younger sister.
As things come to a head this is very addictive reading – I loved how Beth Miller managed the layers of the story especially the friendship between Min and Cath as it begins to break down, Min realising that there really is something very wrong here. There is a lovely depth to the characters and some terrific writing that puts you right on the spot.
The ultimate resolution is one that opens up debate – and whilst some suspension of disbelief is required in the things that Cath gets away with, it is a very authentic look at mental disorder and the masking of true character – how well after all do we really know those closest to us. A very enjoyable and thought provoking read.
Minette is extraordinarily happy to have a new next door neighbour – her relationship with the previous occupants had been fraught and confrontational and as a new Mum, Minette already had enough on her plate. At first Cath seems like the perfect replacement, friendly, willing to help with the baby and someone Minette can rely on. But as time goes on, she realises that something is not QUITE right about Cath…
It was very easy to get drawn in to this story – two equally fascinating but very different women, both of whom annoyed the heck out of me at times, Minette especially in the beginning when she is accepting everything Cath says and does at face value. At the same time she is drawn into a situation that could destroy her own family, seriously there were times when I wanted to slap her.
We hear from both Cath and Minette and it quickly becomes clear that Cath is, well to put it mildly, a bit odd and definitely hiding secrets. In the midst of all this we also hear from Davey, Cath’ s son who is disabled – he too knows that there is something wrong with his Mum and his situation but struggles to know what to do as he is so young. This made up some of the most compelling parts of the tale, especially the relationship he has with both his Mum and his younger sister.
As things come to a head this is very addictive reading – I loved how Beth Miller managed the layers of the story especially the friendship between Min and Cath as it begins to break down, Min realising that there really is something very wrong here. There is a lovely depth to the characters and some terrific writing that puts you right on the spot.
The ultimate resolution is one that opens up debate – and whilst some suspension of disbelief is required in the things that Cath gets away with, it is a very authentic look at mental disorder and the masking of true character – how well after all do we really know those closest to us. A very enjoyable and thought provoking read.
November 5, 2015
Minette was overjoyed when the 'neighbors from hell' moved out at last and Cath and her family moved in.
Now Minette would have a neighbor that she could get along with, so she thought.
I thought that too, but not long into the read you get an eerie feeling that all is not as it should be.
This and many more things keep you on your toes throughout this book.
Its not many books I have read that I so eagerly want to return to as soon as possible, and its not many reads that I have read where no matter what I am doing I think about this book.
It trouble gets into your inner being.
I read a lot of psychological thrillers and I have to say, this one took me by surprise. I LOVED IT.
I would like to thank Random House UK, Ebury Publishing for my copy via Net Galley
September 13, 2015
If you've ever lived next door to the neighbours from hell who complain about every little noise, then you would understand Minette’s joy at discovering that her obnoxious neighbours had moved away and a new family had moved in – Cath, her absent husband and her two young children.
Cath seemed very friendly and Minette was so bored and lonely being at home with a young baby and a boyfriend who didn’t pay much attention to her that she was more than happy to be friends and gratefully accepted Cath's offers to babysit. Feeling vulnerable, Minette does something completely out of character and confides her secret to Cath. Little does she know that Cath has her own secrets and may not turn out to be such a good neighbour as she had thought.
From the very beginning I felt that something wasn’t right about Cath, I didn’t trust her and I didn't have to get too far into the book before I realised where the story was heading. Cath has two young children; Davey aged 8 and his younger sister Lola. Davey suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy and is in a wheelchair whilst Lola has multiple food allergies so Cath has her hands full trying to look after them both as well as doing her charity fundraising which included training for a triathlon. The closer Minette gets to Cath, the more she is drawn into her life; however the reader can see what Minette can’t.
The story is told from the three viewpoints of Cath, Minette and young Davey. It was Davey's voice that I found the most poignant - he is wise enough to realise that things are not right but too young to know what it is that's wrong. The story kept me gripped all the way through. The deceit and the betrayal make for a very disturbing read and as the layers to the story are gradually revealed by the author I wanted to shake both Cath and Minette - for different reasons. There were some parts that had me shaking my head in disbelief and which I didn't feel were realistic however to say any more would spoil the story.
This is quite a difficult book to categorise. Its not a thriller but it is a bit darker than an ordinary family drama. It will however keep your attention with the flawed characters and disturbing storyline. Much like real life, there were certain people that I took an instant dislike to. People only let you see what they want you to and it does beg the question can we really ever trust our neighbours, however friendly they may appear to be. Looking back at Minette’s neighbours - I wouldn't want any of them living near me. This is the first house I have lived in where I have trusted a neighbour with a house key, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that mine are good ones!
August 13, 2016
I devoured this book in 24 hours. A complete page-turner from the start. Loved it so much. Great characters and an intriguing plot. When done right, British psychological thrillers are my absolute favorite. 5 stars.
June 2, 2015
I was totally hooked by this book from the very first page and read it in less than 24 hours. Minette is overjoyed after suffering from the neighbours from hell when Cathy and her two children move in next door. Cathy seems very friendly and her two children - Davey and Lola are delightful. Davey has Muscular Dystrophy and is confined to a wheelchair and Cathy spends a lot of her time raising funds for charity.
Minette is at home with Tilly her nine month old daughter and is starting to go a little crazy without adult company and conversation so she is probably more ready to be friendly with Cathy than perhaps she would have been normally and she is also just so glad not to have to creep around to avoid offending her previous neighbours.
It is difficult to say much more about this book without giving away the plot but the reader will have no difficulty spotting there is something not quite right about Cathy, though Minette and other neighbours are less observant.
Gradually the tension builds and details of Cathy's past emerge, but not before Minette is embroiled in something that she wishes she had never got involved with in the first place. The chapters are told from the point of view of the different characters - Cathy, Minette and Davey and gradually the reader can piece everything together.
I found I just had to keep reading to find out what happened in the end. It is a real roller coaster of a book with the tension building piece by piece. It will make you wonder about your own neighbours for a while - how well do you know them? Is what they tell you the truth? Should you trust them with as much information as you do? Highly recommended - especially for book-clubs as there are lots of potential discussion points. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
Minette is at home with Tilly her nine month old daughter and is starting to go a little crazy without adult company and conversation so she is probably more ready to be friendly with Cathy than perhaps she would have been normally and she is also just so glad not to have to creep around to avoid offending her previous neighbours.
It is difficult to say much more about this book without giving away the plot but the reader will have no difficulty spotting there is something not quite right about Cathy, though Minette and other neighbours are less observant.
Gradually the tension builds and details of Cathy's past emerge, but not before Minette is embroiled in something that she wishes she had never got involved with in the first place. The chapters are told from the point of view of the different characters - Cathy, Minette and Davey and gradually the reader can piece everything together.
I found I just had to keep reading to find out what happened in the end. It is a real roller coaster of a book with the tension building piece by piece. It will make you wonder about your own neighbours for a while - how well do you know them? Is what they tell you the truth? Should you trust them with as much information as you do? Highly recommended - especially for book-clubs as there are lots of potential discussion points. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
August 29, 2017
This is the second book I have read by Beth Miller and I'm already looking forward to any she plans to write it the future! Her books have mysteries and are quite engaging, but not grim or violent, which makes for a nice change after the rather grim stack of murder mysteries I've been binging on...
"The Good Neighbor" is a story that could be very ordinary, it's set in a normal neighborhood with characters, who, on the surface appear quite average. Yet Miller has a clever way of slowly peeling back the curtains and revealing the mess inside. This was a very fast-paced, gripping read and I can highly recommend it to fans of Liane Moriarty or Louise Candlish!
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
"The Good Neighbor" is a story that could be very ordinary, it's set in a normal neighborhood with characters, who, on the surface appear quite average. Yet Miller has a clever way of slowly peeling back the curtains and revealing the mess inside. This was a very fast-paced, gripping read and I can highly recommend it to fans of Liane Moriarty or Louise Candlish!
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
September 29, 2016
This dark, psychological thriller tells the story of Minette, a new mother who has lived next to nightmare neighbours until Cath and her family move in. Told from Minette, Cath and Davey (Cath's 8 year old disabled son) point of view this is an uncomfortable read. Do you ever really know what goes on behind closed doors? Not an easy read due to the subject matter but definitely gripping and tense.
September 3, 2015
Even though I'm mostly a crime fiction lover, every now and then I find it refreshing to read a book not involving murders, blood or gore. This book was very different from what I usually read but I found it equally enjoyable and very absorbing.
'The Good Neighbour' is a story about families, relationships, lies and secrets. At its centre lie the mystery and complexity of human behaviour.
How well do we really know our neighbours? How much can we trust them? What secrets lie hidden behind their closed doors?
"All families have their secrets."
Having finally got rid of her neighbours from hell, Minette is excited to meet and welcome the new occupiers of the house next door - Cath and her two kids, Davey and Lola. Cath is friendly and helpful and soon Minette begins to feel at ease with her, however over time Cath's behaviour begins to make Minette wonder just how well she really knew her neighbour. We know that Cath is escaping from a place she refers to as 'Troubletown'. Why? What had happened there? Her past and secrets are uncovered little by little.
Never in a million years could Minette have known of the tangled web of lies and deceit she will eventually find herself in.
Chapters are written from the pov of Cath, Minette and Davey. All characters are realistic and very 'human' with strengths and weaknesses. I think there are no 'good' or 'bad' characters in this book, because like in real life, they all live in their own individual situations and have different aspects to their personalities.
My heart went out for Davey, I really wanted to help this young brave boy. I particularly liked Minette with all her flaws, naivity and fears. Though she takes irrational decisions, she shows great sensitivity and a big heart. However, undoubtedly the star of the book is Cath. She must be one of the smartest, determined and strongest-willed female characters I've ever read about. Though I didn't find myself emotionally attached to her and didn't like her behaviour at all, I admired her courage, resilience and intelligence.
With a very clever, well-written plot, I think this book is brilliant. I really enjoyed it and will surely be reading other books by this author.
With thanks to the author, Random House UK, Ebury Publishing and NetGalley for approving my request to read this book.
'The Good Neighbour' is a story about families, relationships, lies and secrets. At its centre lie the mystery and complexity of human behaviour.
How well do we really know our neighbours? How much can we trust them? What secrets lie hidden behind their closed doors?
"All families have their secrets."
Having finally got rid of her neighbours from hell, Minette is excited to meet and welcome the new occupiers of the house next door - Cath and her two kids, Davey and Lola. Cath is friendly and helpful and soon Minette begins to feel at ease with her, however over time Cath's behaviour begins to make Minette wonder just how well she really knew her neighbour. We know that Cath is escaping from a place she refers to as 'Troubletown'. Why? What had happened there? Her past and secrets are uncovered little by little.
Never in a million years could Minette have known of the tangled web of lies and deceit she will eventually find herself in.
Chapters are written from the pov of Cath, Minette and Davey. All characters are realistic and very 'human' with strengths and weaknesses. I think there are no 'good' or 'bad' characters in this book, because like in real life, they all live in their own individual situations and have different aspects to their personalities.
My heart went out for Davey, I really wanted to help this young brave boy. I particularly liked Minette with all her flaws, naivity and fears. Though she takes irrational decisions, she shows great sensitivity and a big heart. However, undoubtedly the star of the book is Cath. She must be one of the smartest, determined and strongest-willed female characters I've ever read about. Though I didn't find myself emotionally attached to her and didn't like her behaviour at all, I admired her courage, resilience and intelligence.
With a very clever, well-written plot, I think this book is brilliant. I really enjoyed it and will surely be reading other books by this author.
With thanks to the author, Random House UK, Ebury Publishing and NetGalley for approving my request to read this book.
September 7, 2015
Minette is a young mother, her daughter Tilly keeps her busy but she has struggled with motherhood and the challenges and changes that it has brought to her life. One of her biggest challenges has been the elderly couple who used to live next door. Their constant complaints about the noise have worn her down, tiptoeing about the house, trying to keep Tilly quiet, constantly on her guard. This, coupled with the seemingly endless days filled with trips to the toyshop, and no adult conversation has made her tired and desperate for something more in her life.
When Cath and her two young children move in next door after the departure of the neighbours from hell, Minette is overjoyed. Cath appears to be a breath of fresh air, someone who will be a friend, someone to admire and who inspires her. Cath's children have multiple medical problems, yet she seems to cope so well. She makes friends easily, soon becoming a central part of the neighbourhood, throwing parties, finding out about everyone, making introductions and pulling the neighbours together. She also manages to care for her son Davey who is in a wheelchair whilst ensuring that her daughter Lola avoids the many things that she is allergic too. Oh, and she's training for a fundraising triathalon at the same time.
Cath becomes the centre of Minette's world. After all, her relationship with her partner Abe is not at it's best at the moment. He works hard, he's tired, their sex life is non-existent. Cath makes Minette feel alive again.
I have so many things that I want to discuss about The Good Neighbour and I'm looking forward to talking to my friends who have also read it. It's difficult to address my questions in a review, as by doing so, I would give too many things away about the characters and about the plot.
I can say that The Good Neighbour is set on a street that seems to be populated by the weirdest bunch of people I've ever come across in one novel. Minette is a complex character, who appears to be quite meek and mild, downtrodden and struggling, yet at times she makes some mind-boggling decisions that don't seem to fit in with what we have learnt about her. Whilst she does defend her thought processes with brief glimpses into her past, I really wanted to know more about her, pre-baby.
Cath. Where to start? I didn't like her at all, even when the reader learns her full back story, I still didn't like her. She's an extraordinary character who is quite frankly, fucked up. She also succeeds in fucking up most of the people that she meets. She speaks in a dialect that seems to be a cross between London and Yorkshire and refers to herself as Cathykins. She's dangerous, manipulative, and I really couldn't warm to her at all. There is so much more about Cath and her past that I wanted to know in detail. Again, like Minette, the reader is treated to brief snapshots of the past, but I need to know more. I need to be able to find my empathy for Cath, I want to understand her, but I really can't.
The Good Neighbour is a puzzling, yet intriguing look at life behind the front doors on a typically average street in an English town. I must admit that I had worked out what Cath was up to fairly early on in the story. I put that down to having worked in a very famous high-security forensic psychiatric hospital, and I think this proves that Beth Miller writes with authority and authenticity about issues that are complex and difficult to understand.
The Good Neighbour is a page turner and despite my loathing, yes loathing, of most of the characters, I found myself turning the pages so quickly, desperate to see how things would turn out. The ending is quite unexpected I'm happy to say, but again, has left me with so many questions that I am desperate to discuss with other readers.
When Cath and her two young children move in next door after the departure of the neighbours from hell, Minette is overjoyed. Cath appears to be a breath of fresh air, someone who will be a friend, someone to admire and who inspires her. Cath's children have multiple medical problems, yet she seems to cope so well. She makes friends easily, soon becoming a central part of the neighbourhood, throwing parties, finding out about everyone, making introductions and pulling the neighbours together. She also manages to care for her son Davey who is in a wheelchair whilst ensuring that her daughter Lola avoids the many things that she is allergic too. Oh, and she's training for a fundraising triathalon at the same time.
Cath becomes the centre of Minette's world. After all, her relationship with her partner Abe is not at it's best at the moment. He works hard, he's tired, their sex life is non-existent. Cath makes Minette feel alive again.
I have so many things that I want to discuss about The Good Neighbour and I'm looking forward to talking to my friends who have also read it. It's difficult to address my questions in a review, as by doing so, I would give too many things away about the characters and about the plot.
I can say that The Good Neighbour is set on a street that seems to be populated by the weirdest bunch of people I've ever come across in one novel. Minette is a complex character, who appears to be quite meek and mild, downtrodden and struggling, yet at times she makes some mind-boggling decisions that don't seem to fit in with what we have learnt about her. Whilst she does defend her thought processes with brief glimpses into her past, I really wanted to know more about her, pre-baby.
Cath. Where to start? I didn't like her at all, even when the reader learns her full back story, I still didn't like her. She's an extraordinary character who is quite frankly, fucked up. She also succeeds in fucking up most of the people that she meets. She speaks in a dialect that seems to be a cross between London and Yorkshire and refers to herself as Cathykins. She's dangerous, manipulative, and I really couldn't warm to her at all. There is so much more about Cath and her past that I wanted to know in detail. Again, like Minette, the reader is treated to brief snapshots of the past, but I need to know more. I need to be able to find my empathy for Cath, I want to understand her, but I really can't.
The Good Neighbour is a puzzling, yet intriguing look at life behind the front doors on a typically average street in an English town. I must admit that I had worked out what Cath was up to fairly early on in the story. I put that down to having worked in a very famous high-security forensic psychiatric hospital, and I think this proves that Beth Miller writes with authority and authenticity about issues that are complex and difficult to understand.
The Good Neighbour is a page turner and despite my loathing, yes loathing, of most of the characters, I found myself turning the pages so quickly, desperate to see how things would turn out. The ending is quite unexpected I'm happy to say, but again, has left me with so many questions that I am desperate to discuss with other readers.
September 17, 2015
The Good Neighbour is a great book that makes you think what really goes on behind your own neighbours doors and do we really know our neighbours that well at all?
To be honest apart from saying hello or the odd pleasantry that's about as much as I have to do with my neighbours. Busy lifestyles don't give many of us the chance to get to know our neighbours, which, after reading this book I actually think that it may be for the best to keep it that way!
Minette is just getting over the last neighbours from hell so when she meets Cath, mother of two, who seems quite friendly and laid back, a drastic change from the last ones, she is more than happy to get to know and befriend her.
As the story goes along, we soon realise that something is not quite right. Even though Cath seems like a lovely friend and mother, along with Minette, we start to see cracks appearing in Caths seemingly perfect life.
I have to say as the story goes along I found myself disliking Cath more and more. To be fair there isn't many likeable characters in this story. The only people I did like was Minette and Davey, Caths son. Minettes husband Abe I had mixed feelings for, he was to much of a door mat and I wanted him to grow a back bone, though by the end I did start to think he was actually a lovely guy though still very much a door mat.
The Good Neighbour really makes for an intriguing read. I felt like a nosy neighbour peeking through the curtains whilst having a good old gaup at what was going on. With quite a few surprises, The Good Neighbour certainly makes for a memorable read and a must read for anyone with neighbours!
Many thanks to Beth Miller and Ebury Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
To be honest apart from saying hello or the odd pleasantry that's about as much as I have to do with my neighbours. Busy lifestyles don't give many of us the chance to get to know our neighbours, which, after reading this book I actually think that it may be for the best to keep it that way!
Minette is just getting over the last neighbours from hell so when she meets Cath, mother of two, who seems quite friendly and laid back, a drastic change from the last ones, she is more than happy to get to know and befriend her.
As the story goes along, we soon realise that something is not quite right. Even though Cath seems like a lovely friend and mother, along with Minette, we start to see cracks appearing in Caths seemingly perfect life.
I have to say as the story goes along I found myself disliking Cath more and more. To be fair there isn't many likeable characters in this story. The only people I did like was Minette and Davey, Caths son. Minettes husband Abe I had mixed feelings for, he was to much of a door mat and I wanted him to grow a back bone, though by the end I did start to think he was actually a lovely guy though still very much a door mat.
The Good Neighbour really makes for an intriguing read. I felt like a nosy neighbour peeking through the curtains whilst having a good old gaup at what was going on. With quite a few surprises, The Good Neighbour certainly makes for a memorable read and a must read for anyone with neighbours!
Many thanks to Beth Miller and Ebury Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 8, 2015
"The Good Neighbour" is Beth Miller's second novel, and as soon as I've read the blurb, I was sure that I want to read this book. It sounds so intriguing and hooking, and well, my gut feeling was again right, as I enjoyed this book immensely. It was mind blowing and though - provoking, full of surprises, twists and turns, and not predictable. It is going to keep you guessing and ask many questions and I'm sure you won't be able to put it down - just like I couldn't.
At the beginning I had a feeling that the book drags on a little, and I was also a little confused, because according to the blurb I was expecting much more about Cath herself, Cath and her secrets, and what I mostly got was a story of Minette, her private life and her affairs. But! That move was so, so clever! How inventive it was to start the novel this way! There wouldn't be such a gripping story without this introduction, and soon my patience paid off, because after Minette's digging around, it was a real U - turn. It was truly amazing and I felt as if I was watching a thriller. Yes, watching, because this book was written in a truly incredible, vivid way, when reading feels like watching a film, when the scenes move in front of your eyes. The writing style was so lively, brilliant and easy to follow and I didn't notice the time passing by when I came out for a breath.
There were many secrets and uncertainty and eventually I truly wasn't sure whom should I trust, who's telling lies and who's telling truth. Actually, after some time it was clear that there is something wrong, that one of the characters lies, blackmails others and there is something wrong with her, yet I was all the time waiting that perhaps there is going to be some kind of explanation, that maybe there is going to be the biggest twist ever that's going to surprise me. Well, no, and it ended as I expected but nevertheless, the book truly blow my mind and I can't forget the thrill, disbelief and fear that I felt while reading the story of Cath and her children.
The author has this incredible talent to get into her characters' heads and thanks to this I had a feeling that I am also in their heads, and even though I might not support their decisions I could understand why they are proceeding and behaving like this. They were all totally different, and all totally believable, and all their actions, the way they behaved were like in a real life. What the author did with the characters was really incredible. I don't remember me changing my opinion about a character so radically. At the beginning I was so bored with Minette, always whingeing and unhappy with her own life, spending time with her little daughter Tilly, bored and going slowly crazy without adult company, and every time she knocked on Cath's doors I was thinking, sheesh, poor Cath, Minette is visiting her again. She was like an ivy twining around a person for me, while Cath seemed to be so friendly, open and so greatly coping with her difficult life: a single mother of two children, both of whom were handicapped: Davey had Muscular Dystrophy and was in a wheelchair, and Lola was suffering with allergies, and Cath spends her time training for a thriatlon to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy charity. But then soon it turned out that white is not always white and our lovely, friendly Cath is in fact awful. From the beginning, there was something cold in her, she was like a snake finding her way everywhere and poisoning everything on he way, and soon it turned out that she was a manipulative woman who wasn't afraid of blackmail.
The book is told in chapters alternating between Minette, Cath and Davey's point of views and slowly the story begins to complicate, and also the secrets start to arise and to unravel and the author gives us a chance to think and to spot things that are really not all right. The tension is building and you start to wonder, and Beth Miller strikes a lot of doubts in us and it was so brilliantly and cleverly organized and written, I am really in awe how intelligent read this book makes. It starts off so innocent and so neighbourly, and then it turns out into a real thriller, as more and more secrets start to appear on the pages.
Beth Miller fills the pages of her book not only with incredibly interesting plot and characters, but also with many interesting and sensitive issues, such as children with handicaps and coping with their diseases, with domestic abuse, mental health, lies, trust and people manipulating other people.
There are some things that I missed a closure to, I missed some kind of a wrap up. Cath left her freezer by Gina - I didn't find any information what was inside (although I am of course guessing what it was). There was also the thing with those two children that died in the hospital where Cath has been working - it was also left open. Also, Cath's illness was, too, a big question mark, I assume that Minette and Cath's husband were right about it, yet we didn't get any certain answer that would assure us in our beliefs. But - as much as I like my books neatly wrapped up - I truly appreciate the fact that the author let us guess, that she left the end so open and allowed us to write our own end, to assume, to guess. Yes, it would be great if Cath were to be punished, to get some answers from her and hear her explanation, and I missed it really in this book, but nevertheless, the book left me satisfied, and I whole -heartedly believe that it truly deserves 5 stars. It was amazing read that I couldn't put down for a single second.
"The Good Neighbour" was a truly terrific, compelling read and I will be looking for more from Beth Miller - I haven't read her debut novel yet, so am going to make up for it as soon as possible, and will be keeping my eye on her in the future. I truly liked this novel and will be recommending it now to everyone.
Copy received from publisher in exchange for a review.
June 2, 2016
For the first three quarters this was a four-star book. The characters are compelling, and the story is paced well. But the ending just strained credibility to a ridiculous extent.
SPOILERS AHEAD.
These characters seem to live in some sort of pre-Victorian Ayn-Randian utopia where government and all its authority and power just DOESN'T. EXIST. It's like these people have NEVER HEARD OF the police, the courts, or Social Services.
A few points:
1. In order for there to be tension, the author has to make Minette the main investigator, to the point where Ruby/Cath threatens her, thus creating the moral dilemma of the photos. However, that requires the reader to believe that any sane person would, upon realising that her neighbour had Munchausen's by proxy and was SERIOUSLY ENDANGERING HER KIDS' LIVES, go over there with a voice recorder and confront her directly, rather than, say, calling the kids' schools and comparing notes, calling the NSPCC hotline, calling Social Services and making an anonymous report, or ANY NUMBER OF THINGS THAT NORMAL PEOPLE WOULD DO. So the MAIN dilemma - "do I pursue Ruby/Cath or not?" feels SO contrived that the author just lost me from this point on.
2. The other person who seems to just ignore anything other than their own investigative skills is Andy.
Why the hell didn't Andy report the kids as kidnapped, and get the police involved in trying to trace them? It's like that option just DOESN'T EXIST - it's never even MENTIONED. A parent taking kids away from a non-abusive parent is NOT LEGAL (okay, yes, Ruby claimed he was abusive - more on that later), and any change in the children's living arrangements that led to Andy having to make MAINTENANCE payments, as he is said to do, would have to go through the COURTS. During which, oh, maybe, things like abuse allegations and diagnoses of Munchausen's by proxy might be RAISED BY THE LAWYERS ON EACH SIDE. Andy has apparently NEVER thought of getting lawyers, police, social workers, or psychologists involved in trying to find his wife and kids, and get his wife help. He just meekly pays his maintenance payments through some weird, non-court-sanctioned private arrangement.
3. Okay, you might say, Ruby's claiming he hit her, and that's why he doesn't go to the authorities. But at the same time, we're told he has a MOUNTAIN OF PAPERWORK from the hospital about a DISCIPLINARY HEARING regarding Munchausen's by proxy regarding Darren, while Ruby was nursing. With that and a statement from Adam, who actually WITNESSED the so-called abuse, Andy would have a DAMN good chance of getting custody in court, and if not, at least of getting Ruby to have mandated treatment for the Munchausen's. But this is never considered. He has DOCUMENTATION of the behaviour that led to the fight, and an EYEWITNESS, but that apparently doesn't matter. Never mind the fact that there's also incontrovertible evidence that she's guilty of FRAUD, to the tune of at least £25,000, and that gives him a DAMN good chance of gaining custody.
4. Ruby claims she changed all their names by deed poll, and got new passports. Pretty sure you need permission from BOTH PARENTS to do that for minors. You can run away and start using fake names if you like, but to change them on PAPER can't just be a unilateral act. And it also makes you TRACEABLE ... see all the above points about police, social services, etc. We're supposed to believe that Ruby/Cath is able to fly SO EASILY under the radar, but changing your name by deed poll is a traceable, above-board act, that leaves you easily found by anyone with the authority to really look. Same with using a mobile - once Minette or Andy had the number of any phone Ruby/Cath was using, the police could be on her in a heartbeat.
5. Also, you can't take a child out of the country, in the absence of a parent, without SIGNED AND NOTARIZED DOCUMENTATION FROM THAT PARENT that you've been given permission to do so. Ruby CAN'T just get on a plane to America with the kids, without Andy knowing about it. She'd be stopped at the border. And again, if ANYBODY had remembered the EXISTENCE OF THE POLICE and reported an INTERNATIONAL KIDNAPPING by a woman UNDER INVESTIGATION BY A HOSPITAL FOR CHILD ABUSE, then a) their new names would have been easily discovered because it was CHANGED BY DEED POLL, and even if they HAD managed to get on the plane without a letter from Andy, the police would have been able to a) check their landing cards to see what USA address they put down as their destination, and, if they'd lied on those, b) been able to discover the address of any family in the USA, up to and including Verna, as well as c) do their damnedest to get into any email accounts Ruby had, since I think she left the laptop behind when they fled.
6. Everyone at the end seems perfectly happy to believe that Esmie's okay with Ruby because she's a "momma's girl" and apparently "doesn't mind" being used as a guinea pig/lab rat for her mother's disorder? Really? It's only Adam we care about now?
7. The wrapping up of the affair subplot was a giant damp squib. Abe's just perfectly okay to be cuckolded? Really? THAT'S what Minette was afraid of, so afraid that she spent ages agonising over whether to abandon the kids to save her own skin? It's pretty clear that the author just had no idea how to tie up this loose end and had to finish it off somehow.
SPOILERS AHEAD.
These characters seem to live in some sort of pre-Victorian Ayn-Randian utopia where government and all its authority and power just DOESN'T. EXIST. It's like these people have NEVER HEARD OF the police, the courts, or Social Services.
A few points:
1. In order for there to be tension, the author has to make Minette the main investigator, to the point where Ruby/Cath threatens her, thus creating the moral dilemma of the photos. However, that requires the reader to believe that any sane person would, upon realising that her neighbour had Munchausen's by proxy and was SERIOUSLY ENDANGERING HER KIDS' LIVES, go over there with a voice recorder and confront her directly, rather than, say, calling the kids' schools and comparing notes, calling the NSPCC hotline, calling Social Services and making an anonymous report, or ANY NUMBER OF THINGS THAT NORMAL PEOPLE WOULD DO. So the MAIN dilemma - "do I pursue Ruby/Cath or not?" feels SO contrived that the author just lost me from this point on.
2. The other person who seems to just ignore anything other than their own investigative skills is Andy.
Why the hell didn't Andy report the kids as kidnapped, and get the police involved in trying to trace them? It's like that option just DOESN'T EXIST - it's never even MENTIONED. A parent taking kids away from a non-abusive parent is NOT LEGAL (okay, yes, Ruby claimed he was abusive - more on that later), and any change in the children's living arrangements that led to Andy having to make MAINTENANCE payments, as he is said to do, would have to go through the COURTS. During which, oh, maybe, things like abuse allegations and diagnoses of Munchausen's by proxy might be RAISED BY THE LAWYERS ON EACH SIDE. Andy has apparently NEVER thought of getting lawyers, police, social workers, or psychologists involved in trying to find his wife and kids, and get his wife help. He just meekly pays his maintenance payments through some weird, non-court-sanctioned private arrangement.
3. Okay, you might say, Ruby's claiming he hit her, and that's why he doesn't go to the authorities. But at the same time, we're told he has a MOUNTAIN OF PAPERWORK from the hospital about a DISCIPLINARY HEARING regarding Munchausen's by proxy regarding Darren, while Ruby was nursing. With that and a statement from Adam, who actually WITNESSED the so-called abuse, Andy would have a DAMN good chance of getting custody in court, and if not, at least of getting Ruby to have mandated treatment for the Munchausen's. But this is never considered. He has DOCUMENTATION of the behaviour that led to the fight, and an EYEWITNESS, but that apparently doesn't matter. Never mind the fact that there's also incontrovertible evidence that she's guilty of FRAUD, to the tune of at least £25,000, and that gives him a DAMN good chance of gaining custody.
4. Ruby claims she changed all their names by deed poll, and got new passports. Pretty sure you need permission from BOTH PARENTS to do that for minors. You can run away and start using fake names if you like, but to change them on PAPER can't just be a unilateral act. And it also makes you TRACEABLE ... see all the above points about police, social services, etc. We're supposed to believe that Ruby/Cath is able to fly SO EASILY under the radar, but changing your name by deed poll is a traceable, above-board act, that leaves you easily found by anyone with the authority to really look. Same with using a mobile - once Minette or Andy had the number of any phone Ruby/Cath was using, the police could be on her in a heartbeat.
5. Also, you can't take a child out of the country, in the absence of a parent, without SIGNED AND NOTARIZED DOCUMENTATION FROM THAT PARENT that you've been given permission to do so. Ruby CAN'T just get on a plane to America with the kids, without Andy knowing about it. She'd be stopped at the border. And again, if ANYBODY had remembered the EXISTENCE OF THE POLICE and reported an INTERNATIONAL KIDNAPPING by a woman UNDER INVESTIGATION BY A HOSPITAL FOR CHILD ABUSE, then a) their new names would have been easily discovered because it was CHANGED BY DEED POLL, and even if they HAD managed to get on the plane without a letter from Andy, the police would have been able to a) check their landing cards to see what USA address they put down as their destination, and, if they'd lied on those, b) been able to discover the address of any family in the USA, up to and including Verna, as well as c) do their damnedest to get into any email accounts Ruby had, since I think she left the laptop behind when they fled.
6. Everyone at the end seems perfectly happy to believe that Esmie's okay with Ruby because she's a "momma's girl" and apparently "doesn't mind" being used as a guinea pig/lab rat for her mother's disorder? Really? It's only Adam we care about now?
7. The wrapping up of the affair subplot was a giant damp squib. Abe's just perfectly okay to be cuckolded? Really? THAT'S what Minette was afraid of, so afraid that she spent ages agonising over whether to abandon the kids to save her own skin? It's pretty clear that the author just had no idea how to tie up this loose end and had to finish it off somehow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2015
After hearing about this book through a fantastic Facebook group called Book Connectors, I was super excited to receive a review copy via NetGalley and wasted no time getting stuck in!
The Good Neighbour follows the lives of two women, Minette and Cath. Cath moves in to the house next door to Minette and they strike up a friendship that is based on a mutual need for companionship. Minette is a lonely new mother who spends her days with her young daughter, wondering if this is the life she really wants. Cath is a single mother with two children, her son unable to walk and wheelchair bound and her daughter with severe allergies. They begin a friendship that seems to fulfill the needs of both women and soon start sharing secrets with each other. Minette fancies Liam, the hunky man across the street and Cath is quick to encourage the desire. When Minette starts to find out more about Cath’s life however, she begins to wonder if the woman who moved in next door really is who she says she is.
This book was really compelling. It started off being pretty innocent and quite friendly in tone but as the plot progressed a whole host of quite frightening and sinister secrets started cascading from the pages turning the novel into something altogether more dark. I felt betrayed because characters who I placed trust in started to become characters I really didn’t like at all and it only got worse from there!
Minette was a very interesting protagonist, there were moments when I really felt for her but then equally moments where I wanted to shake some sense into her. Her actions sometimes felt a little incongruous but as the plot progressed I started to warm to her more and feel sympathy towards her. Cath on the other hand was a character I wanted to keep at arms length. From the misplaced trust I had in her at the beginning, I started to feel very angry and frustrated at the way she behaved. Even when we are given a reason, or reasoning behind her actions, I almost couldn’t garner any sympathy for her because her actions were just so vile and cruel.
Without giving too much of the plot away, Miller deals with some really interesting and sensitive issues surrounding mental health and physical health in The Good Neighbour, looking at the effects of both on a family. She also touches upon abuse, divorce, cheating and the true meaning of friendship.
The only issue I had with this book was the ending. It felt far too simple and ‘happy’. I’m all for a happy ending but the way Minette’s husband reacts to certain news was just almost unfathomable. I can’t think of anyone who would behave that way but maybe his character was just a whole lot more forgiving than I could ever be.
Miller’s writing style is really addictive and as mentioned before, the novel was completely compelling from the get go. I managed to read this book in just a few sittings and was a little gutted once I’d turned the final page, I almost wanted more from the characters.
It’s hard to place this book into a genre. It’s not quite a thriller but then it’s more than just a ‘contemporary novel’. It has been compared to books such as Daughter and has been pegged for fans of Liane Moriarty and I think I’d agree. Whatever genre it does or doesn’t fall into though, it’s the perfect book to snuggle up in bed with and lose yourself for a few hours. Definitely worth picking up!
The Good Neighbour follows the lives of two women, Minette and Cath. Cath moves in to the house next door to Minette and they strike up a friendship that is based on a mutual need for companionship. Minette is a lonely new mother who spends her days with her young daughter, wondering if this is the life she really wants. Cath is a single mother with two children, her son unable to walk and wheelchair bound and her daughter with severe allergies. They begin a friendship that seems to fulfill the needs of both women and soon start sharing secrets with each other. Minette fancies Liam, the hunky man across the street and Cath is quick to encourage the desire. When Minette starts to find out more about Cath’s life however, she begins to wonder if the woman who moved in next door really is who she says she is.
This book was really compelling. It started off being pretty innocent and quite friendly in tone but as the plot progressed a whole host of quite frightening and sinister secrets started cascading from the pages turning the novel into something altogether more dark. I felt betrayed because characters who I placed trust in started to become characters I really didn’t like at all and it only got worse from there!
Minette was a very interesting protagonist, there were moments when I really felt for her but then equally moments where I wanted to shake some sense into her. Her actions sometimes felt a little incongruous but as the plot progressed I started to warm to her more and feel sympathy towards her. Cath on the other hand was a character I wanted to keep at arms length. From the misplaced trust I had in her at the beginning, I started to feel very angry and frustrated at the way she behaved. Even when we are given a reason, or reasoning behind her actions, I almost couldn’t garner any sympathy for her because her actions were just so vile and cruel.
Without giving too much of the plot away, Miller deals with some really interesting and sensitive issues surrounding mental health and physical health in The Good Neighbour, looking at the effects of both on a family. She also touches upon abuse, divorce, cheating and the true meaning of friendship.
The only issue I had with this book was the ending. It felt far too simple and ‘happy’. I’m all for a happy ending but the way Minette’s husband reacts to certain news was just almost unfathomable. I can’t think of anyone who would behave that way but maybe his character was just a whole lot more forgiving than I could ever be.
Miller’s writing style is really addictive and as mentioned before, the novel was completely compelling from the get go. I managed to read this book in just a few sittings and was a little gutted once I’d turned the final page, I almost wanted more from the characters.
It’s hard to place this book into a genre. It’s not quite a thriller but then it’s more than just a ‘contemporary novel’. It has been compared to books such as Daughter and has been pegged for fans of Liane Moriarty and I think I’d agree. Whatever genre it does or doesn’t fall into though, it’s the perfect book to snuggle up in bed with and lose yourself for a few hours. Definitely worth picking up!
September 7, 2015
I really enjoyed this book, but it's going to be really difficult to review! If I should share some of its secrets - secrets you really need to discover for yourself - I'd totally ruin it for you. The Good Neighbour is Beth Miller's second novel, and will be published in paperback and for kindle on 10th September by Ebury Press.
As well as being difficult to review, it's also really difficult to categorise. It's not really a thriller - but it's full of deception, twists and turns, things not being what they seem and overflows with tension. It's not really conventional family-based drama either - too many twists and oddities for that - but it's a fascinating study of relationships within families and within a small community. And if you're thinking of putting a bench in your front garden, you might want to reconsider. And as for that charity event your neighbour's organising....
If you look up the book on Amazon, it'll tell you it's perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Daughter. The Liane Moriarty comparison is quite perfect. Like the best of Liane Moriarty this book is very cleverly structured as the relationships between the characters develop while you watch. You know something's not quite right, but you'll struggle to put your finger on it. And, having looked on with mounting horror, when the big revelations come, you really want to close your eyes, not wanting to see the inevitable (metaphorical) car crash.
But Daughter - the Jane Shemilt book? Not at all, and I wonder if the publishers have used the wrong title. The one I'd compare it with is Dear Daughter by Elizabeth Little - Cathy is every bit as mesmerising in her own way as Janie was, and I could use the same words to describe her - you'll both love and hate her, but it's quite impossible to take your eyes off her.
The three central figures of Cathy, Minette and Davey - from whose perspectives the story is told, turn by turn - are vividly drawn. The others are a little one dimensional - but I think that works fine, and just helps to keep your focus on the main players. The only thing that didn't entirely work for me was Cathy's accent and the way she spoke - people from Harrogate really don't talk like that (honestly, they don't...), it was sometimes just a little clunky and leaked into the narrative (things like a transposed "was" and "were"). But that might have just been my advance reading copy, so I'll forgive it.
So overall then - a really good read, very different, very original (despite the comparisons), a gripping story full of surprises, great touches of humour and a guarantee that you'll never view your neighbours in quite the same way ever again. I really enjoyed it.
My thanks to netgalley and Ebury Press for my advance reading ecopy.
As well as being difficult to review, it's also really difficult to categorise. It's not really a thriller - but it's full of deception, twists and turns, things not being what they seem and overflows with tension. It's not really conventional family-based drama either - too many twists and oddities for that - but it's a fascinating study of relationships within families and within a small community. And if you're thinking of putting a bench in your front garden, you might want to reconsider. And as for that charity event your neighbour's organising....
If you look up the book on Amazon, it'll tell you it's perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Daughter. The Liane Moriarty comparison is quite perfect. Like the best of Liane Moriarty this book is very cleverly structured as the relationships between the characters develop while you watch. You know something's not quite right, but you'll struggle to put your finger on it. And, having looked on with mounting horror, when the big revelations come, you really want to close your eyes, not wanting to see the inevitable (metaphorical) car crash.
But Daughter - the Jane Shemilt book? Not at all, and I wonder if the publishers have used the wrong title. The one I'd compare it with is Dear Daughter by Elizabeth Little - Cathy is every bit as mesmerising in her own way as Janie was, and I could use the same words to describe her - you'll both love and hate her, but it's quite impossible to take your eyes off her.
The three central figures of Cathy, Minette and Davey - from whose perspectives the story is told, turn by turn - are vividly drawn. The others are a little one dimensional - but I think that works fine, and just helps to keep your focus on the main players. The only thing that didn't entirely work for me was Cathy's accent and the way she spoke - people from Harrogate really don't talk like that (honestly, they don't...), it was sometimes just a little clunky and leaked into the narrative (things like a transposed "was" and "were"). But that might have just been my advance reading copy, so I'll forgive it.
So overall then - a really good read, very different, very original (despite the comparisons), a gripping story full of surprises, great touches of humour and a guarantee that you'll never view your neighbours in quite the same way ever again. I really enjoyed it.
My thanks to netgalley and Ebury Press for my advance reading ecopy.
October 30, 2015
http://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/2015/1...
I was intrigued with Minette and Cath's story from the very beginning of The Good Neighbour. Cath's 8 year old son Davey has the opening chapter and I was left with questions. Why did they have no time to pack? Why did they leave so much behind? Why was he glad to leave Gina's? Why was Adam Purcell so important to him?
Minette has 9 month old Tilly and if you have children, you'll know just how much of a culture shock it is when your life tilts on its axis as a first time mother and nothing seems familiar anymore. She is vulnerable when Cath moves in next door.
Cath is tired and having to worry about everything. Her email gave me more questions ...
Davey, Cath and Minette continue narrating in the 3rd person throughout the story. Each of them have very distinctive voices and drew me in.
I liked Cath for the majority of the story. I did figure it out early on having come across this a few years ago now which (I think) enabled me to empathise with Cath. There was one scene though that caused me to open my eyes wider. I imagine that if you don't have any experience of this, as a reader, you would probably be shocked. To create a character that is so convincing and real with such flaws is a skill. Beth Miller has this exactly right.
What a dilemma for Minette! What was the right thing to do for her personally? I wasn't sure what she would decide to be honest. Safeguard or selfish? You could feel her angst. A lot of men would have done the same as her husband Abe.
Davey. What a situation to be in! The trust between himself and Minette gave me hope. I can't say too much without giving any spoilers. I wanted to hug him and explain everything so that he could try to understand and work on forgiveness!
Perfect ending for some of our characters. I do still wonder if there will be a resolution for one of them.
The Good Neighbour gives us a window into the lives of everyday people who happen to live on the same street. Incidentally, a couple of conversations at work arose about neighbours when I was reading this! Great timing. The characters are recognisable from people you probably know too. Although relatively rare, you just don't know what's hiding behind that facade. It might make you question your own neighbours as you pass the time of day with them or see them walking past the window.
I would like to thank the publishers for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was intrigued with Minette and Cath's story from the very beginning of The Good Neighbour. Cath's 8 year old son Davey has the opening chapter and I was left with questions. Why did they have no time to pack? Why did they leave so much behind? Why was he glad to leave Gina's? Why was Adam Purcell so important to him?
Minette has 9 month old Tilly and if you have children, you'll know just how much of a culture shock it is when your life tilts on its axis as a first time mother and nothing seems familiar anymore. She is vulnerable when Cath moves in next door.
Cath is tired and having to worry about everything. Her email gave me more questions ...
Davey, Cath and Minette continue narrating in the 3rd person throughout the story. Each of them have very distinctive voices and drew me in.
I liked Cath for the majority of the story. I did figure it out early on having come across this a few years ago now which (I think) enabled me to empathise with Cath. There was one scene though that caused me to open my eyes wider. I imagine that if you don't have any experience of this, as a reader, you would probably be shocked. To create a character that is so convincing and real with such flaws is a skill. Beth Miller has this exactly right.
What a dilemma for Minette! What was the right thing to do for her personally? I wasn't sure what she would decide to be honest. Safeguard or selfish? You could feel her angst. A lot of men would have done the same as her husband Abe.
Davey. What a situation to be in! The trust between himself and Minette gave me hope. I can't say too much without giving any spoilers. I wanted to hug him and explain everything so that he could try to understand and work on forgiveness!
Perfect ending for some of our characters. I do still wonder if there will be a resolution for one of them.
The Good Neighbour gives us a window into the lives of everyday people who happen to live on the same street. Incidentally, a couple of conversations at work arose about neighbours when I was reading this! Great timing. The characters are recognisable from people you probably know too. Although relatively rare, you just don't know what's hiding behind that facade. It might make you question your own neighbours as you pass the time of day with them or see them walking past the window.
I would like to thank the publishers for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2015
The Good Neighbour is a terrific book and one that I was reluctant to put down.
Minette lives with Abe and is a stay at home mum who is pleased when the neighbours from hell next door move out and Cath moves in with her two young children Davey and Lola. Grateful to at last have some adult company Minette quickly becomes friends with Cath but as the friendship grows it soon becomes clear that Cath isn't the person she makes out to be.
Cath is unwilling to reveal too much about her past and much prefers to find out everything about her neighbours instead and even has a secret notebook where she records her findings. The reasons for this are slowly uncovered as the story develops.
Minette trusts Cath a little bit too much and soon finds herself caught up in a nasty web of lies and deceit not knowing who to trust.
As much as I'd love to tell you more, I can't as I'd hate to ruin the story for you. What I will tell you is that this is an excellent read and Beth Miller has constructed an intricate story of friendship, trust, betrayal and reconciliation with truly believable characters, some of whom you'll love more than others at times. I loved the fact that the chapters were written from the point of view of three of the characters as it gives you the opportunity to really get inside their heads and discover things you might not normally have uncovered. It's difficult to determine a genre for this book as I feel it sits somewhere between contemporary and psychological thriller, but regardless of how you want to categorise it I think it's a enthralling read and well worth adding to your TBR when it's published on the 10th September.
With kind thanks to the author, Ebury Press and Penguin Random House UK for the review copy.
Minette lives with Abe and is a stay at home mum who is pleased when the neighbours from hell next door move out and Cath moves in with her two young children Davey and Lola. Grateful to at last have some adult company Minette quickly becomes friends with Cath but as the friendship grows it soon becomes clear that Cath isn't the person she makes out to be.
Cath is unwilling to reveal too much about her past and much prefers to find out everything about her neighbours instead and even has a secret notebook where she records her findings. The reasons for this are slowly uncovered as the story develops.
Minette trusts Cath a little bit too much and soon finds herself caught up in a nasty web of lies and deceit not knowing who to trust.
As much as I'd love to tell you more, I can't as I'd hate to ruin the story for you. What I will tell you is that this is an excellent read and Beth Miller has constructed an intricate story of friendship, trust, betrayal and reconciliation with truly believable characters, some of whom you'll love more than others at times. I loved the fact that the chapters were written from the point of view of three of the characters as it gives you the opportunity to really get inside their heads and discover things you might not normally have uncovered. It's difficult to determine a genre for this book as I feel it sits somewhere between contemporary and psychological thriller, but regardless of how you want to categorise it I think it's a enthralling read and well worth adding to your TBR when it's published on the 10th September.
With kind thanks to the author, Ebury Press and Penguin Random House UK for the review copy.
September 23, 2015
Time taken to read - 1 day
Publisher - Ebury Fiction
Pages - 424
Blurb from Goodreads
Everyone has secrets. How far will you go to protect yours?
After living next to the neighbours from hell, Minette is overjoyed when Cath and her two children move in next door. Cath soon becomes her confidante, a kindred spirit, even her daughter’s babysitter.
But Cath keeps herself unusually guarded and is reluctant to speak of her past. And when Minette witnesses something unspeakable, she begins to question whether she really knows her new friend at all…
My Review
Minette is delighted to have a new neighbour, more so when she actually meets her & her two children. Minette has a 9 month old Tilly & is fairly bored at home, Cathy brings a new lease of life and some unexpected adventure. Cathy has secrets, she keeps her past to herself and as she as Minette get closer they both share secrets as their friendship grows. However, Cathy isn't exactly as she seems and Minette learns that having someone like Cathy as a friend may be not be the blessing she thought.
The book is split into chapters, headed by which character it is that is talking. The start of the story introduces us to the main characters, the neighbours. Abe, Minette & baby Tilly, Cathy the newest neighbour and her two children Davey and little Lola, over the way is the unbelievably handsome Liam and his partner. There are a few other characters spread out however these are our key players. It is hard to review everything I would like to say as Cathys past and secrets play a big part in it and aren't revealed until you get further into the story. Needless to say there are twists and turns, secrets, lies, betrayals, friendship, family and love to name just some of the themes going on.
Some of the characters diaologue with each other and certain behaviours were a source of frustration for me however that is one of my small complaints. I felt like a nosey neighbour, watching the ongoings of my other neighbours and I think this will hold attraction for many readers. It kept my interest, I think it was quite well done and I would read this author again, 4/5 for me this time. Thanks so much to the author and publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher - Ebury Fiction
Pages - 424
Blurb from Goodreads
Everyone has secrets. How far will you go to protect yours?
After living next to the neighbours from hell, Minette is overjoyed when Cath and her two children move in next door. Cath soon becomes her confidante, a kindred spirit, even her daughter’s babysitter.
But Cath keeps herself unusually guarded and is reluctant to speak of her past. And when Minette witnesses something unspeakable, she begins to question whether she really knows her new friend at all…
My Review
Minette is delighted to have a new neighbour, more so when she actually meets her & her two children. Minette has a 9 month old Tilly & is fairly bored at home, Cathy brings a new lease of life and some unexpected adventure. Cathy has secrets, she keeps her past to herself and as she as Minette get closer they both share secrets as their friendship grows. However, Cathy isn't exactly as she seems and Minette learns that having someone like Cathy as a friend may be not be the blessing she thought.
The book is split into chapters, headed by which character it is that is talking. The start of the story introduces us to the main characters, the neighbours. Abe, Minette & baby Tilly, Cathy the newest neighbour and her two children Davey and little Lola, over the way is the unbelievably handsome Liam and his partner. There are a few other characters spread out however these are our key players. It is hard to review everything I would like to say as Cathys past and secrets play a big part in it and aren't revealed until you get further into the story. Needless to say there are twists and turns, secrets, lies, betrayals, friendship, family and love to name just some of the themes going on.
Some of the characters diaologue with each other and certain behaviours were a source of frustration for me however that is one of my small complaints. I felt like a nosey neighbour, watching the ongoings of my other neighbours and I think this will hold attraction for many readers. It kept my interest, I think it was quite well done and I would read this author again, 4/5 for me this time. Thanks so much to the author and publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2016
When Cath moves into the neighbourhood with her two children, neighbour Minette is convinced things can only improve after her strained relationship with the previous owners of the house, but their friendship develops into something quite sinister as Minette discovers nothing is as it seems where Cath is concerned.
At the start this psychological thriller seems quite innocuous and harmless as we see Cath move into the neighbourhood and settle down. We know she's moving away from something but what doesn't become clear until much later in the book. Minette is taking care of her first baby and seems overprotective and naive, which makes her easily fall prey to Cath's calculated machinations.
A story that turns dark and sinister without much warning, this thriller definitely keeps you guessing however, there was an element of textbook psychology to it, which was a little too obvious.
At the start this psychological thriller seems quite innocuous and harmless as we see Cath move into the neighbourhood and settle down. We know she's moving away from something but what doesn't become clear until much later in the book. Minette is taking care of her first baby and seems overprotective and naive, which makes her easily fall prey to Cath's calculated machinations.
A story that turns dark and sinister without much warning, this thriller definitely keeps you guessing however, there was an element of textbook psychology to it, which was a little too obvious.
February 4, 2017
4.5 stars. You immediately get the sense that something is seriously wrong with the "happy family" picture, and the book slowly reveals exactly what's going on under the surface. One of the best touches is that the antagonist does have some redeeming qualities, and the protagonist isn't perfect. There's a realism to the people in this novel (including the children), which I really appreciated. An excellent read!
March 20, 2016
I liked this but im still left with questions I need answered which I don't like after I finish after a book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters aren't necessarily all that relatable, but peeking into their lives is a great ride. The back cover proclaims fans of Liane Moriarty will like this, and Miller does have a similar style here.
I'm not sure this is in print in the US -- the new copy I bought from Amazon had the price in pounds on the back, and they had a shortage of new copies. It is available for Kindle, though. My library has zero copies (a US publisher needs to get on this stat!), otherwise I'd suggest this for my book group -- it's a page-turner with plenty of devilment to mull over.
I'm not sure this is in print in the US -- the new copy I bought from Amazon had the price in pounds on the back, and they had a shortage of new copies. It is available for Kindle, though. My library has zero copies (a US publisher needs to get on this stat!), otherwise I'd suggest this for my book group -- it's a page-turner with plenty of devilment to mull over.
September 12, 2015
Minette has been having a tough time with her neighbours so, when they move out, she’s delighted to find that the new family are immediately warm and friendly. Minette pops round to welcome them, and Cath asks her who else lives in the street. Although she’s been there for about a year, Minette’s knowledge is limited. Soon, though, Cath has networked her own way through the rest of the street, and is planning a housewarming party. Her energy seems limitless, even though she’s managing life with two children, one of them in a wheelchair, and no husband. He is, she says, a long-distance lorry driver working abroad. Her son, Davey, has a rare condition, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and his sister Lola suffers from multiple and severe allergies. But Cath doesn’t let this get her down. Instead, she runs marathons to raise money for research, and is in training for a triathlon. For Minette, stuck at home with baby Tilly and struggling to cope with the boredom, Cath is a lifesaver, especially when she offers to babysit from time to time. She encourages Minette to start running, giving her back some freedom and purpose. And she’s very understanding when it comes to Minette needing a bit of free time to… no, that would be saying.
The novel is told through the alternating and overlapping narratives of Minette, Cathy and Davey. Although I’ve never been even the littlest bit tempted to follow a Gina Ford schedule, there was a lot in Minette that I recognised, and I sympathised with her, shouted a bit, and sometimes cringed at her decisions. Davey is a triumph, his voice pitched to perfection. And Cath, with her relentless cheer and bulldozer approach, is compelling, even when… but that would be saying as well.
I loved Beth Miller’s previous book, When We Were Sisters, but I recently told someone that I loved this book even more. When they asked me why that was, I struggled for an answer. When We Were Sisters is big and warm and messy, with a wide cast and multiple time frames. The Good Neighbour has equally compelling, if fewer, characters, a restricted setting and and a tight timeline, all of which add to the tension. The voices are beautifully maintained, and the plotting is exquisite. It hooked me in, kept me reading, and left me with a big satisfied oof of enjoyment, a feeling intensified by the nicely judged loose ends I was left to fiddle with. Read them both, that’s my advice.
The novel is told through the alternating and overlapping narratives of Minette, Cathy and Davey. Although I’ve never been even the littlest bit tempted to follow a Gina Ford schedule, there was a lot in Minette that I recognised, and I sympathised with her, shouted a bit, and sometimes cringed at her decisions. Davey is a triumph, his voice pitched to perfection. And Cath, with her relentless cheer and bulldozer approach, is compelling, even when… but that would be saying as well.
I loved Beth Miller’s previous book, When We Were Sisters, but I recently told someone that I loved this book even more. When they asked me why that was, I struggled for an answer. When We Were Sisters is big and warm and messy, with a wide cast and multiple time frames. The Good Neighbour has equally compelling, if fewer, characters, a restricted setting and and a tight timeline, all of which add to the tension. The voices are beautifully maintained, and the plotting is exquisite. It hooked me in, kept me reading, and left me with a big satisfied oof of enjoyment, a feeling intensified by the nicely judged loose ends I was left to fiddle with. Read them both, that’s my advice.
September 15, 2015
When the neighbours from hell move out, Minette and her husband, Abe are delighted when new neighbours, single mum Cath, and her two children move into the house next door. Very soon, Cath and Minette become friends and start to share confidences, well, Minette is probably far more confiding than she should be, but Cath is so good at listening, and Minette is a little bit lonely and even as she loves her Abe and baby daughter Tilly, she's a just a little bit bored and craves excitement.
What then follows is a cleverly constructed novel which is told in three very different voices. Cath, the beleaguered mum of Davey and Lola, seems to have boundless energy, but sometimes there’s a sense that she’s struggling sometimes to cope. However, there’s no doubt that she is fiercely protective of her children, particularly her disabled son, Davey, and she guards all their privacy with something close to obsession. Minette, we learn very quickly is a little bit frustrated and craves excitement but at what cost to her own little family? And, then there's Davey, an enigmatic eight year old, who is wise beyond his years and who has a stoicism which is commendable.
It’s a carefully manipulated story about the minutiae of family life with lots of convoluted features and a good many surprises, and I think that the author does a good job in bringing all the multi layers of the story together. There��s lots to take in, and some, fairly interesting clues, which as the story moves on starts to make sense. I won’t reveal more as that would spoil things and this is one of those stories which is better revealed layer by tantalising layer. But what I will say is, that, regardless of how well we think we know someone, life has an uncanny knack of throwing a few spanners in the works, so that we never truly know what secrets are hidden behind closed doors.
It’s a good second novel and well worth a read if you like family dramas with a bit of a twist.
What then follows is a cleverly constructed novel which is told in three very different voices. Cath, the beleaguered mum of Davey and Lola, seems to have boundless energy, but sometimes there’s a sense that she’s struggling sometimes to cope. However, there’s no doubt that she is fiercely protective of her children, particularly her disabled son, Davey, and she guards all their privacy with something close to obsession. Minette, we learn very quickly is a little bit frustrated and craves excitement but at what cost to her own little family? And, then there's Davey, an enigmatic eight year old, who is wise beyond his years and who has a stoicism which is commendable.
It’s a carefully manipulated story about the minutiae of family life with lots of convoluted features and a good many surprises, and I think that the author does a good job in bringing all the multi layers of the story together. There��s lots to take in, and some, fairly interesting clues, which as the story moves on starts to make sense. I won’t reveal more as that would spoil things and this is one of those stories which is better revealed layer by tantalising layer. But what I will say is, that, regardless of how well we think we know someone, life has an uncanny knack of throwing a few spanners in the works, so that we never truly know what secrets are hidden behind closed doors.
It’s a good second novel and well worth a read if you like family dramas with a bit of a twist.
March 24, 2016
Minette, her husband Abe, and their nine month old daughter are overjoyed once their oldies neighbors move and Cath and he two children, Davey and Lola move in. Minette is this bubbly and chatty mom who has been staying at home alone with a boyfriend that dosen't give her enough attention since baby Tilly has been born.
This being said, once a new neighbor pops up Minette is quick to introduce herself and Tilly to the "lovely" neighbors.
Cath is kind of like a single mom. With her husband absent, an eight year old with Muscular Dystrophy, and a four year old with severe food allergies. Cath is quite the busy bee, with renovating the house, taking Davey to the doctors, and preparing for a triathlon.
After the house warming party hosted by Cath, Minette gets caught off guard when the neighborhood "hottie," Liam, notices her. Seeing as how they are both home alone during the afternoon, Lian suggests they spend some time together. Minette, being so mesmerized by Liam, agrees to this and so begins this twisted story.
This book had the perfect amount of suspense for me. It had me asking so many questions about Cath and her "unfortunate" children. I knew right from the start I wouldn't like Cath. Minette was so friendly to her and right off the bat she thought Minette was pathetic.
I had such a hard time putting the book down after Cath's accident and Minette had stayed at her home with the children. I was expecting some twists but I was not expecting that!
I am upset with how the book ended though, it was so early and abrupt I had to refrain myself from throwing it out of the window!
I have so many questions, more than I had when I started the book!
Other than the ending I did find myself having a hard time putting the book down, every page had a new mystery I wanted to figure out. I highly suggest this book to those who enjoy books that make you guess until the very end.
This being said, once a new neighbor pops up Minette is quick to introduce herself and Tilly to the "lovely" neighbors.
Cath is kind of like a single mom. With her husband absent, an eight year old with Muscular Dystrophy, and a four year old with severe food allergies. Cath is quite the busy bee, with renovating the house, taking Davey to the doctors, and preparing for a triathlon.
After the house warming party hosted by Cath, Minette gets caught off guard when the neighborhood "hottie," Liam, notices her. Seeing as how they are both home alone during the afternoon, Lian suggests they spend some time together. Minette, being so mesmerized by Liam, agrees to this and so begins this twisted story.
This book had the perfect amount of suspense for me. It had me asking so many questions about Cath and her "unfortunate" children. I knew right from the start I wouldn't like Cath. Minette was so friendly to her and right off the bat she thought Minette was pathetic.
I had such a hard time putting the book down after Cath's accident and Minette had stayed at her home with the children. I was expecting some twists but I was not expecting that!
I am upset with how the book ended though, it was so early and abrupt I had to refrain myself from throwing it out of the window!
I have so many questions, more than I had when I started the book!
Other than the ending I did find myself having a hard time putting the book down, every page had a new mystery I wanted to figure out. I highly suggest this book to those who enjoy books that make you guess until the very end.
August 31, 2015
Having lived next door to neighbours from hell I thought I would have more sympathy for Minette than I did, she was pretty annoying to be honest, in fact most of the characters were pretty flawed but that's what makes a book like this believable.
It's a story about lies, and motherhood, friendship and family and misplaced trust. Minette and husband Abe live with baby Tilly in a semi detached house where they have had to put up with neighbours they just don't get along with at all and who have made the first few months of young Tillys life a nightmare, always treading on eggshells trying not to annoy them and rock the boat by giving them cause to "go off on one".
When the neighbours move out and Minette discovers her new neighbour is a single Mum with 2 kids who is approachable and friendly, she begins to relax and the 2 women become friends. Minette is a typical bored, tired and lonely young Mum and is grateful to have a friend nearby. But when she makes an indiscreet decision and trusts Cath with her secrets she never expects to find that Cath has a secret of her own which is even more shocking and unexpected.
I'm trying not to give too much away as the story relies on the layers being peeled away gradually. If you enjoy family dramas with some tense nail biting moments and characters you'll love to hate, you'll probably love this one. It reminded me somewhat of The Playdate
The book has quite a few revelations and shocks and makes for gripping reading, some of it rather disturbing.
I kind of expected another great twist at the end which didn't really happen, the twists are mostly in the middle of the story, however the author ties up all the loose ends very neatly, keeping the reader entertained and satisfied throughout.
It's a story about lies, and motherhood, friendship and family and misplaced trust. Minette and husband Abe live with baby Tilly in a semi detached house where they have had to put up with neighbours they just don't get along with at all and who have made the first few months of young Tillys life a nightmare, always treading on eggshells trying not to annoy them and rock the boat by giving them cause to "go off on one".
When the neighbours move out and Minette discovers her new neighbour is a single Mum with 2 kids who is approachable and friendly, she begins to relax and the 2 women become friends. Minette is a typical bored, tired and lonely young Mum and is grateful to have a friend nearby. But when she makes an indiscreet decision and trusts Cath with her secrets she never expects to find that Cath has a secret of her own which is even more shocking and unexpected.
I'm trying not to give too much away as the story relies on the layers being peeled away gradually. If you enjoy family dramas with some tense nail biting moments and characters you'll love to hate, you'll probably love this one. It reminded me somewhat of The Playdate
The book has quite a few revelations and shocks and makes for gripping reading, some of it rather disturbing.
I kind of expected another great twist at the end which didn't really happen, the twists are mostly in the middle of the story, however the author ties up all the loose ends very neatly, keeping the reader entertained and satisfied throughout.
April 12, 2020
Reviews can also be found on my blog Escapades of a Bookworm
It was impossible not to get into the character’s heads, Beth Miller did an absolutely fantastic job of getting into each persons head, and their thought-processes. It was impossible to not be sucked into their views and opinions. To know what they are doing and why they are doing it.
It made it hard to question everyone’s motives, to work out who was the bad guy and what the correct story was. And with the extra twists and turns and the secrets being revealed bit by tiny bit it was impossible to work out everything.
Davey was my favourite character, I loved him and just wanted to give him a big hug, it was always quite frustrating that his chapters were so short compared to Cath’s and Minette’s. This was made reading Cath and Minette’s chapters harder, because I didn’t particularly like them and therefore did not care for the consequences they brought upon themselves.
But despite all this I was drawn in, I wanted to know more… I needed to know more. I felt like I was part of their group, whispering secrets to one another, sharing sly thoughts and making snide comments.
There was a couple of things for me, that were not fully tied up – like why is everyone super loyal to Cath? And other things that may be slightly spoilery, so I won’t say (worst thing ever to say in a review, but I hate reading spoilers myself so with not tempt others!). I guess I just wanted slightly more closure. Just a teeny tiny little bit.
This was addictive and compelling, in a sinister, kind of creepy way. It makes you wonder how well do we know our neighbours? And reinforces the message of being careful who to trust!
It was impossible not to get into the character’s heads, Beth Miller did an absolutely fantastic job of getting into each persons head, and their thought-processes. It was impossible to not be sucked into their views and opinions. To know what they are doing and why they are doing it.
It made it hard to question everyone’s motives, to work out who was the bad guy and what the correct story was. And with the extra twists and turns and the secrets being revealed bit by tiny bit it was impossible to work out everything.
Davey was my favourite character, I loved him and just wanted to give him a big hug, it was always quite frustrating that his chapters were so short compared to Cath’s and Minette’s. This was made reading Cath and Minette’s chapters harder, because I didn’t particularly like them and therefore did not care for the consequences they brought upon themselves.
But despite all this I was drawn in, I wanted to know more… I needed to know more. I felt like I was part of their group, whispering secrets to one another, sharing sly thoughts and making snide comments.
There was a couple of things for me, that were not fully tied up – like why is everyone super loyal to Cath? And other things that may be slightly spoilery, so I won’t say (worst thing ever to say in a review, but I hate reading spoilers myself so with not tempt others!). I guess I just wanted slightly more closure. Just a teeny tiny little bit.
This was addictive and compelling, in a sinister, kind of creepy way. It makes you wonder how well do we know our neighbours? And reinforces the message of being careful who to trust!
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