The Housewife Next Door

by LynDee Walker

I thought she was perfect. Until her daughter told me about the little girl in the garden…

I was jealous of my perfect new neighbor SarahBeth. Six tow-headed children, blackberry pies bubbling in the oven, married to and still holding hands with her high-school sweetheart Burt. She was the perfect housewife, the best mom.

Until I found out the truth. When tragedy strikes and SarahBeth’s dying daughter tells me about the little girl buried in their garden my heart freezes. Now I understand why SarahBeth has been so unfriendly to me. Why her kids have been kept out of school. Why nobody has seen the family in town for two years.

I must learn the truth, to keep her children safe. But I’ve met people like SarahBeth in my own dark past. I’ve told lies, kept secrets, buried bodies. And I know SarahBeth will do whatever it takes to keep her secret hidden…

A completely addictive and unputdownable read that will have you turning pages late into the night. Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Jeneva Rose and Gone Girl.

What everyone is saying about LynDee

“EXCUSE MEEEE??????? Absolutely insane in the best way possible… Had me in a chokehold from the very first chapter, I could NOT put it down… My jaw was basically living on the floor the whole time… Brilliant… Unreal.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“My brain was spinning… I was left crying ‘what the actual?’ on repeat, right up to the very end… More twists and turns than a bowl of spaghetti, and I ate it right up!… A rollercoaster of a read… I devoured it.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Jaw-dropping… Addictive… My eyes were glued to the pages, until I finished the last word at 5.30 AM (but it was WORTH the lost hours of sleep)!… I LOVED it… Addictive… WOW!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“All I can say is WOW… had me hooked from page one and did not let go… an absolute page-turner… had me second-guessing everyone and devouring chapters late into the night. A must-read.” Reading by the Pool, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“WOW… I honestly could NOT put it down and read it in one evening… Outstanding!!!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“SO GOOD!! Twists and turns started being thrown at me, and I couldn't keep up… truly fantastic… I definitely recommend!!” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I am blown away… Turning pages late into the night. I didn’t need sleep, I needed answers.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“My jaw dropped so many times reading this, I lost count… so good! Highly recommend!” Sleuthingthroughthestacks, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Wow!… fantastic</

Genres: Audiobook, Thriller

401 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 7, 2026

About the author

LynDee Walker writes about strong women who can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Her books have appeared on finalist lists for the Agatha and International Thriller awards—and once, on the weekly Amazon Charts US national bestsellers list smack in between two of her writing heroes.

LynDee is a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime. Before she started writing fiction, LynDee was an award-winning journalist who covered everything from ribbon cuttings and high school football to capital murder trials and high level police corruption. Her work has appeared in newspapers and magazines across the United States. She has written more than 20 novels and feels lucky every day to get to play with her imaginary friends for a living.

LynDee's favorite things are family, hydrangeas, porches, beaches, and books. She lives in Richmond, Virginia, where she is working on her next novel when she's not juggling laundry, children's sports schedules, and two very happily spoiled rescue dogs.

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐
Genre ~ domestic mystery
Setting ~ Kansas
Publication date ~ January 7, 2026
Publisher ~ Bookouture
Est Page Count ~ 401 (p+ 54 chapters)
Audio length ~ 11 hours 10 minutes
Narrators ~ Madeline Pell, Amelia Sciandra, Katie Beudert
POV ~ multiple 1st
Featuring ~ 3 parts, secrets, multiple timelines, animal death (possum), child death, miscarriage

The prologue is intriguing with claims of a dead girl buried nearby as Ainsley takes her last breath.

Single mom Meg has purchased the farm next to Ainsley (18), and her family, with her baby, Corey. They hit it off right away and become best friends despite the difference in their age and Ainsley's naivety. I liked the friendship they had. Might be my favorite part of the book.

SarahBeth is Ainsley, and her 5 siblings, mom. A mom that has a dark secret hidden in the backyard. So dark that she made the kids stop going to school and just learn what she can teach them about farm life and making a husband happy. They don't have internet, isolating them from the world. I'm surprised they had electric. You might picture Little House on the Prairie while reading.

Overall, this tried to hard to be suspenseful and went into a super slow burn mystery for me. It took too long to find out what SarahBeth was trying to hide and why Beth was on the run making me not really care much about the why.

Side note ~ in reading other reviews it seems like The Pastor's Wife should have been read before this one to get more info on Beth. This was not mentioned anywhere that this one ties into this one, and that really bugs me. Could I have enjoyed this one more had I read that one first? Maybe, maybe not, but I'll never know now.

Narration notes:
Pleased as punch there were 3. They all did an alright job in their normal voice...kinda, too Southern~ish sounding, maybe. Ainsley sounded age appropriate. Oof, I wasn't feeling their male tones one bit.

[Tini · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

Appearances can be deceiving - especially when your neighbors seem a little too perfect.

When Meg and her her young son move to a plot of land in rural Kansas, she soon meets one of her new neighbors, naïve eighteen-year-old Ainsley, and Ainsley's family, including her mother SarahBeth - picture-perfect, constantly baking, surrounded by six angelic blond children, and still holding hands with her high school sweetheart, Burt. But when tragedy strikes the family, SarahBeth's dying daughter whispers a horrifying secret and Meg begins to realize that the idyllic house next door hides something much darker.

The story in "The Housewife Next Door" doesn't quite unfold the way the blurb suggests. SarahBeth herself is obviously inspired by the viral "tradwife" phenomenon, though she's less divine, and more deranged. But even though she is one of the narrators, LynDee Walker’s latest thriller focuses less on SarahBeth and more on her teenage daughter, Ainsley, and especially on Meg, with the young women's friendship in their isolated environment becoming the novel's emotional and narrative core. The result is a story that’s less about the "perfect housewife" herself and more about the generational fallout of control, secrecy, and performative perfection.

I really enjoy Lyndee Walker's books and her writing style, though with the sometimes outlandish developments in this story that required serious suspension of disbelief, "The Housewife Next Door" is not my favorite. Still, fans of domestic or suburban thrillers - and especially readers who enjoyed Walker's last novel, "The Pastor's Wife" - should definitely pick up her latest thriller, as Walker's writing remains sharp and compulsively readable, with short, punchy chapters and her signature Southern noir tone.

Many thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

"The Housewife Next Door" is slated to be released on January 7, 2026.

[BookishKB · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book tried to do too much. By the end, it felt like the first half was almost unnecessary to the overall story. I spent a good portion of the book confused about where it was going, and when everything was finally revealed, it felt like a lot and honestly pretty unbelievable.

The family reveal pushed things over the edge for me, and the very end leaned hard into cheesiness 🤦🏽‍♀️
On top of that, the writing was overly descriptive about the most random details.

That said, the audiobook narration was excellent and is the only reason I’m scoring this book 3 stars!
_ _ _

🎧 Audio Score: 4 stars
📖 Final Score: 3 stars
🎙️ Narration Style: Full Cast
📝 Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Jo Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

At no point in this book did it click with me that this title is a sequel to The Pastors Wife, which it is. It wasn’t even until it was recommended at the end that I remembered I had read it. So, I suppose that’s to say that while the stories are linked the book works as a standalone perfectly well.

The story starts with intrigue, we know that Ainsley has died, we know that she’s shared a huge family secret with Meg, who also has plenty of her own secrets, and the story works backwards from there. We discover why Ainsley’s family have isolated themselves to their farm, and also why Meg has chosen the remote location of the neighbouring farm.

Well written, interesting and intriguing, I enjoyed this title well enough but it wasn’t a massive hit for me.

The three narrators actually kept me with the story, each done a brilliant job.

Many thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

[Maryann Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is if you enjoyed The Pastor's Wife is that you will love The Housewife Next Door by LynDee Walker. If you didn't read The Pastor's Wife you will still love The Housewife Next Door as it certainly can be read as a standalone. I would suggest reading The Pastor'Wife first as it is a great book and will provide some additional insights. As the first sentence informs us Ainsley Godfrey died a week before her twenty second birthday. Ainsley was a beautiful, kind and very talented artist living on the family farm, Firefly Grove, with her very large and reclusive family in rural and isolated Southern Kansas. Ainsley had to drop out of school to help run the househol and take care of the children after her mother had an accident. Her painting is her private pleasure as her mother finds it too frivolous, and pleasing her "loving" parents is paramount to her. Ainsley is lonely; she has no friends, and she dreams of moving to New York City where she can become a respected artist. One day as she is walking, she sees a young woman and her baby extremely close to being attacked by a copperhead. That is the beginning of a friendship between Ainsley and Meg Whitley and her baby Cory. Meg and Ainsley had been living on the farm across the way from each other for months, however they had not seen each other. Ainsley is interested in what brought Meg to such an isolated place on her own. Eventually Meg tells her that she was driving and saw the For Sale sign, and was simply drawn to the place, and that she is a widow. Hold onto your seats as it is quite a twisty ride from there. You have heard of dysfunctional families- the Godfreys exemplify dysfunctional! The Housewife Next Door is a suspense-filled book that will have you at the edge of your seat trying to guess what will happen next. The conclusion is a jaw dropper. I can't help wonder if we will see Meg again; I hope so. In the event you want to start 2026 with an exhilarating and compelling thriller I recommend The Housewife Next Door. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and LynDee Walker for the opportunity to read an ARC; my review reflects my candid opinion. 5 stars.

[Josephine Jarman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right from the first word I knew this was going to be so much more especially as it was told from strong women point of view who were each carrying a secret and were damaged . A family that appears to be perfect is usually far from it and in case it went to some really dark places . It was enggaing without distracting with good sold well narrated characters. On first glance it would appear to be at the reality of life in the rural outback and its destruction of normality within a family that holds secrets. A multiple non linear approach had me listening long into the night by the time the secrets were revealed I was too invested in the lives of the characters to stop. This was full of twists and red herrings and lead me to believe it was about the neightbor with the baby when really it was about the family and their dark disturbing secrets. I was blown away by the final reveal as i was not expecting that and that made it stand out. It felt long in places but this is a complete tale mainly dark and sad but the love and friednship shinned throuhtout the story. Thank you netgallery, publisher, author and narrator

[Kim McFall · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook! My attention was grabbed from the beginning, the storyline and character buildup was amazing! The ending was fast paced and twisty!

The middle got a little slow, but still good!

[Rachel the Page-Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book begins with a young woman named Ainsley dying. She’d been having headaches and was hysterical at the end; the doctor said her brain was ravaged by encephalitis caused by the measles she’d had as a child. When Ainsley tells her best friend Meg that she has to get the cold girl who is under the garden, Meg isn’t sure what to think as she watches her friend take her final breath. Is there really a girl buried in the garden, or was this all some kind of dying hallucination?

That’s when the book goes back to two years ago, when Meg and Ainsley met (it does bounce around in time a lot). Meg had recently bought a farm in the literal middle of nowhere, and she lives there with her infant son. While out picking blackberries, she almost steps on a snake, but Ainsley, not knowing anyone had moved into the house, was also there to pick blackberries, and saved her. After accepting an invitation to dinner, they both finally had a friend.

Ainsley lives in a very different family who at first didn’t know what to think of their new neighbor, but soon Meg and her son are always coming and going. The book never explained why (or I missed it), but they live almost like pioneers. Ainsley has five younger siblings, four of them girls, and they and their mother all wear long skirts and sleeves, even in the summer. They don’t have internet, don’t go to school, they make their own bread and churn their own butter, but they aren’t especially religious. Ainsley’s mom was being a Trad Wife before it was cool, I guess!

Meg doesn’t seem to mind, and is happy to have people to teach her about country living. Her sister is dead, as is the father of her child. She was an alcoholic but has been sober for over a year now, and she knows she can stay sober for her son. She’s pretty creeped out by Ainsley’s brother, Alexander, and feels badly about the power dynamics in her new friend’s family. This is all very entertaining, but I kept wondering where it was going…

Then at the end, it hit me - this is a sequel to the author’s book, “The Pastor’s Wife”, which I read this summer. Once I went back and reviewed my notes on that book, everything fell into place, and that made this book a lot better. The first book can of course be read on its own, but I’d recommend reading it before this one. I gave “The Pastor’s Wife” 4.5 stars, but I’m going with 3.5 on this one because of a couple unanswered questions I have. Both are great, and both got their star ratings rounded up!

(Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me on this book’s tour! “The Housewife Next Door” will be released on January 7, 2026.)

[Heidireadsitall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a true masterpiece of suspense that gripped me from the very first paragraph. Told through the distinct and haunting voices of Meg, Ainsley, and SarahBeth, the story unfolds in perfectly measured layers of mystery and tension. Each woman is complex and deeply human, carrying secrets that unravel in ways I never saw coming. I was completely captivated, racing through the pages as the web of deceit and buried truths tightened around them. It is chilling, emotional, and beautifully written, a powerful blend of heart and psychological intrigue. If you love a story that keeps you guessing until the very end, this is an absolute must-read.

[Hannah's Biblioblurbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love twists and family secrets, you're definitely going to want to pick this one up. 3.5 stars

LynDee Walker delivers page-turning dysfunction in the best way. In her early twenties, Meg is a single mom who finds herself settling down in small-town farm country, still a bit clueless and trying to find her footing. Her new neighbor - and soon-to-be best friend - Ainsley isn't even twenty yet, but she has far more experience with farm life and child-rearing than Meg ever expected.

Although the story is set in modern times, it quickly feels like you've stepped into a Little House on the Prairie-style world. Meg arrives hoping to escape a sketchy past, only to discover that Ainsley's family harbors secrets that far overshadow her own.

I really enjoyed the way Walker developed the characters. Everyone seemed to be holding their cards close to their chest, and I was never quite sure who could be trusted. The ominous, almost cult-like seclusion added a constant sense of unease. By the end, I was speeding through the audiobook and literally gasping out loud. Very well done.

I would recommend this to fans of Where the Crawdads Sing.

I listened to the audiobook and would give the narration 3 out of 5 stars. The accents were a bit difficult to listen to - not necessarily inaccurate (I am not from the area, so I can't really say) - but they became distracting after a few chapters. That said, the pacing and enunciation were well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, LynDee Walker, and Bookouture Audio for the ALC and the opportunity to give my honest opinion.

[Mary T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPOILER FREE

Meg, with her 8 month old baby, has just moved into a rural community in the middle of nowhere in Kansas. This single mother, who wanted to keep a low profile in this white neighborhood, didn’t expect to befriend the large family next door. Little does she know that Godfrees family runs on dark secrets, and that their perfect cover will soon come crashing down.

The housewife next door is a story full of secrets and turns, which makes you thirsty to know more. My only issue is that the author only escalated the story near the end of the book, with the beginning’s focus being on building the relationships between the individuals. I do admit that LynDee Walker did an amazing job at this, resulting in me feeling rather attached to the characters.

This book runs of 3 POVS; SarahBeth’s (a mother that would do anything for her family.. but to what extent?), Ainsley’s (a girl with big dreams and even bigger secrets) and Meg’s (a single mother with secrets of her own.) Each POV is explores the character’s personality in a way that lets you see what goes on inside their heads. I especially like SaraBeths, since some of her wild acts have you questioning what goes on in that mind of hers. Yet the author does a phenomenal job at explaining those intricate ideas.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ALC for The Housewife Next Door.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Housewife Next Door had all the right ingredients for a suburban thriller, but nothing about it felt particularly new or surprising. It’s a twisty psychological thriller about a woman who suspects her picture-perfect neighbor is hiding dark secrets—especially after the neighbor’s child mentions a buried girl. As she digs deeper, she realizes she has secrets of her own to protect.

This was my first read by LynDee Walker, and I’m happy to have gotten the opportunity to give her a try. This was a familiar premise with common themes and plot twists often seen in the genre, but Walker’s sharp pacing, tense suburban setting, and emotional undercurrent still made it an engaging, fast read. The mix of secrets, guilt, and motherhood kept the story grounded even when the twists felt familiar. Although this book wasn’t a favorite of mine in the psychological suspense-thriller genre, you may like The Housewife Next Door if you enjoy fast-paced, twisty plots and are fans of Freida McFadden and Shari Lapena.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Stacey Reads It All · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fast, bingeable psychological thriller this was. The story unfolded with plenty of twists, and even when I thought I had things figured out, it still managed to surprise me. The tension built steadily, and the family secrets angle worked really well without feeling overdone.

The audiobook experience was a big plus. Madeline Pell, Katie Beudert, and Amelia Sciandra all did a great job bringing the different perspectives to life. Their performances helped keep the pacing tight and made the emotional moments land better, especially when the story started getting messy and dark.

Overall, it was a gripping listen that was easy to get lost in, with solid twists and strong narration. This was definitely worth the time if you like twisty domestic thrillers.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
Sometimes a thriller really earns the label “unputdownable”—and this one absolutely does.

This was a genuinely fun, engaging read that had me hooked from cover to cover without a single lull. Technically, it’s a follow-up to The Pastor’s Wife, which also features Beth as a central character. While this book does provide enough background to stand on its own, I actually think it works even better if you start here and then circle back to the first. These are truly interconnected standalones and can be read in either order.

I did read The Pastor’s Wife first, but enough time had passed that I didn’t make certain connections—and I’m so glad for that. Knowing details from book one would have spoiled a key twist in this installment. Going in blissfully unaware made the experience far more satisfying. There are multiple subplots at play, and while it’s a slow burn getting there, everything eventually weaves together seamlessly.

I listened to the audiobook, which was excellently narrated by Madeline Pell, Katie Beudert, and Amelia Sciandra. Each narrator felt age- and character-appropriate, and they handled secondary characters with ease, adding depth to an already compelling story.

I highly recommend this thriller. I usually roll my eyes at the word “unputdownable,” but in this case, it’s completely deserved.

I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Bookouture Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing beginning with a deathbed revelation! Ainsley, her mother SarahBeth and her best friend Meg, all have secrets that LynDee Walker unveils in cryptic little pieces until the explosive final reveal! The Godfrey’s seem like the perfect, loving family, but their reclusiveness hides dark secrets. They hide obsession, jealousy, lies and betrayal. The story is told from each of the three women’s point of view and over multiple timelines. There’s a slow burn increase in suspense and tension with a constant feeling of something just not being right. Not everything was tied up as much as I would have liked, but the overall storyline certainly kept things interesting.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one had a bit of a slow start, but it was absolutely worth sticking with. Once the story found its footing, the tension ramped up and never really let go. Just when I thought I had things figured out and there couldn’t possibly be a twist… bam. There it was.

I actually found this one different from most thrillers I read. As the layers peeled back, the story became more complex and unpredictable, with a steady sense of unease that kept me turning pages.

A solid psychological thriller that rewards patient readers and delivers twists right through the end.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Meg moves with her infant son to a rural Kansas farm, hoping for a peaceful life. She soon meets her neighbor, Ainsley, and her family. She is in awe of Ainsley’s parents’ loving relationship and the home they have made for their six children. It is almost as if the family is stuck in an earlier time, but she sees SarahBeth as the best mom. Meg and Ainsley quickly become best friends, and Meg finds herself spending a lot of time with the family.

When Ainsley becomes seriously ill, Meg spends her time at her side. Knowing death draws near, Ainsley tells Meg about a little girl buried at the back of the garden. Meg realizes she has missed some key clues about this unusual family. Worried for the remaining children, but nervous about her own past being revealed, Meg knows she must tread carefully so that her world doesn’t come crashing down around her.

I have read and enjoyed several books written by LynDee Walker, and she is an incredible storyteller. In The Housewife Next Door, the story is told from the point of view of three very different and complex women: one, a tradwife to the nth degree trying to protect her family, keep them close by while educating them in their traditions, a woman with talent and dreams to go far out into the world, and finally, a woman hiding from her past and intent on burying her secrets.

The story has multiple timelines, but flows with ease, drawing the reader in as each layer is peeled away with twist after twist. A dark tale, much like Walker’s recent A Pastor’s Wife, everyone appears to be holding something back or has their own secret. The supporting cast is very well-crafted, playing integral roles and responsible for their own surprises.

I need to tell you, I found The Housewife Next Door impossible to put down. There is a final twist in the last chapter that I had talked myself out of earlier in the book. I shouted, “I knew it!” loud enough to wake my husband out of a sound sleep. After his “What?” he followed with, “Oh, you’re reading,” then he went back to sleep.

Complicated, dark, exciting, heartpounding, compelling, suspenseful, and thrilling with multiple twists and turns, The Housewife Next Door is a must-read for fans of this genre and this author. Be prepared for a late night of reading. It set the new year off to a grand start.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to LynDee Walker, Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how this kept me on edge from the very first chapter, not just with the twists but with the way this author plays with mood. One moment I was settled into the warm, familiar comfort of friendship and the simple happiness of a child’s smile, and the next I felt a shadow slip across the page, secrets lurking right at the edges. The constant shift between light and dark made me second-guess everyone, and I never knew whether the danger was coming from outside the characters or from within. It gave the whole story a deliciously uneasy pulse that kept me glued to the pages.






What struck me the most was how deeply I connected with the characters even as the tension kept rising. The emotional undercurrents, fear, hope, uncertainty, felt so real that every shift in the story landed with extra weight. I liked that the twists didn’t just shock me, they made me rethink the characters themselves. By the end, it felt like I’d taken a full emotional ride right alongside them.

Multi POV
Safety this has just a tad of romance
Triggers miscarriage, child illness, child death, child-related trauma, past child abuse, past neglect, psychological manipulation, violence, grief, emotional trauma

[Kerrie Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meg has just moved to an isolated farm in Kansas she has kept herself to herself for the last few months and is settled and happy for the first time in a long time. It is just her and her little boy and they do not need anyone else until one day one of the neighbours arrives.

18 year-old Ainsley lives on the neighbouring farm with her large family five sisters one brother her mum Sarah Beth and her dad but to all intense and purposes they are the perfect family high school lovers married with the perfect children very little house on the Prairie.

However, both Ainsley and Meg are keeping secrets despite this they soon become firm friends even if they do not tell each other everything.

That is until on her deathbed Ainsley reveals a secret a secret that Meg isn’t entirely sure she heard correctly but is determined to find out the truth. The truth that Sarah Beth is determined will not be revealed.

This story is told from the perspective of Meg Ainsley and Sarah Beth and over three periods of time and finally comes together in the present

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. The narrators did fantastic jobs of bringing all three characters to life. I found myself hooked and desperate to find out the truth and the secrets that the three women were hiding. There were a couple of in discrepancies with the retelling Ainsley‘s version of events did not quite match with Sarah Beth’s with regard to the birth of Francine and this did leave me a little bit confused however that aside, I loved the story.

[Ashlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novels opening had me immediately intrigued. Immediately curious. When a main character has a death bed confession right out the gate, I’m going to be hooked. For me though, the book never really hit that high again, and I was craving a big impact that never came.

I’m not sure I would say this was a full-on thriller. The first ¾ of the book were just there. I had a few questions, but nothing that really held me in. The last few chapters were the bulk of the “thrill” in this book. I know many other readers will say the last few chapters were amazing, however for me, I recall audibly saying, “finally.” I absolutely loved the characters. The author does an amazing job at giving us as the readers reasons to love (or hate) the characters. Just enough to keep us wanting for them. This is for sure what gripped me in this book and absolutely showed the author’s talent. My negative was the rush at the end. EVERYTHING came out like a rushing wave. I don’t love it when characters monologue the sins they’ve commit for the book to come full circle, and unfortunately that’s what happened.

The narrators were excellent. Listed as Madeline Pell, Katie Beudert and Amelia Sciandra; they each were wonderful picks for their characters. I loved how much their voices added to the personality of each of the characters they read for.

This wasn’t necessarily a slam dunk for me; however it is so apparent why the author is as successful as she is. Great writing. Thank you NetGalley for the listen and ability to review an ARC.

[ꕥ duckie ꕥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

this book is a solid domestic thriller with a few limitations, but i enjoyed my time with it regardless.

despite the prologue immediately pulling me in, the first half was a little too slow for me.
the first part of the book is almost entirely used to set the scene and introduce the characters (which is done very in depth!), but the plot doesn't pick up until part three and by the time things finally get moving, the book is already almost over. still, i found myself intrigued and wanted to know more, especially about ainsley and her past.

this book also just made me so, SO sad at times. not because it's a tearjerker or anything like that, i just felt so sad and bummed out about some of the characters which i think just shows how well the author built and humanized her characters.

what bothered me, especially during the slower parts, was that the book felt a little... overwritten? the author goes VERY in depth with her descriptions and sometimes it just dragged on and on. there's almost so many times i need a detailed paragraph about how cute the baby's chubby cheeks are. this is probably also why it took me a few chapters to really get used to the writing style.

overall i'd recommend this book if you're looking for a slower, character driven thriller with plenty of family drama because oh boy is there a lot of family drama.

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this arc!!

[Shauntelle (shauntellereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐½

This one had me interested pretty quickly, mostly because the premise leans into that quiet, unsettling suburban energy where everyone looks perfect and you know it is absolutely a lie. I liked the slow burn approach and the way the tension simmered instead of exploding right away. It kept me turning pages even when I wasn’t fully sure where it was headed.

The multiple POVs were a strong choice and probably what kept this from falling flat for me. Seeing the same situation through different eyes made it clear that no one was telling the full truth, and I enjoyed piecing together what was being hidden versus what was being ignored. That said, some of the twists felt familiar, and a few moments landed more predictable than shocking.

Where this book really worked for me was atmosphere. The isolation, secrecy, and sense of control running through the story felt believable and uncomfortable in a way that fits this genre well. Where it lost me slightly was pacing in the middle. There were stretches where I wanted either a bit more urgency or a deeper emotional punch to fully commit.

Overall, this was a solid read. It didn’t completely blow me away, but it kept me engaged and gave me enough intrigue to finish feeling satisfied. If you enjoy domestic thrillers with a slow build, messy characters, and a focus on tension over action, this one is worth checking out.

[Kimberly Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this twisty tale set out on the Kansas prairies, seen through the eyes of three very different women.

Ainsley is a young woman, who is painfully naïve and cut off from broader society. She and her large family keep themselves to themselves, tending their farm and dividing work strictly between men and women, to an extent that wouldn’t be out of place back when the Ingalls family lived in these parts. As the oldest sister of a large brood, Ainsley must shoulder a huge burden that keeps her from school and the art classes she loves.

SarahBeth is the matriarch of the large family. She revels in keeping her family self-sufficient, teaching her daughters to be perfect wives and mothers one day who will serve their husbands, and ensuring the family stays entirely loyal and focused on the chores and duties at hand. Those objectives are easier to achieve once she pulls the kids out of school and ensures outsiders never come to their farm.

Meg, a single mother with a young son, is running from something. Buying the Kansas farm seems an easy way to hide away, but when she meets her next door neighbor, Ainsley, an instant friendship blossoms. And it immediately shakes up the dynamics of SarahBeth’s carefully controlled microcosm. The more Meg learns about the family, the more Meg realizes she isn’t the only one protecting dangerous secrets.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy - all thoughts are my own.

[Alison Andrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Any story that opens with a main character dying and an unhinged deathbed confession immediately has my attention.

The timeline is intentionally ambiguous—breadcrumbs suggest a more modern setting than some of the characters’ very trad-wife behavior would have you believe, which adds an extra layer of unease.

This is a fun, twisty domestic thriller where everyone is hiding something and willing to go to great lengths to protect both their secrets and their way of life. The story is packed with turns and carries a quiet sadness as you realize just how deep the lies run within this family.

I especially loved getting the perspective of each of the female main characters. It starts slow, but the payoff is absolutely worth it, with a deeply satisfying ending.

[Julie Lauwers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was a very enjoyable thriller. I liked the different points of view because it helped me understand what each character was thinking. Sometimes I could guess what was going to happen, but I still wanted to keep reading. For me, it was a fun and exciting book.

From the start, I wanted to know what was really going on. The twists were not all completely shocking to me, but they still made the story good. I think it’s a nice book if you enjoy mystery and suspense.

Everyone seemed to have something to hide, which made the story more interesting. I did feel like some parts were a bit slow, but the tension kept building.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read in another review that this book was connected to the authors other book, The Pastor’s Wife. I made no such connection which lets you know both books can be read and enjoyed as standalone stories.

This is not necessarily a fast moving thriller. It’s much more character than plot driven and I did enjoy getting to know the different characters. Some of the twists were clearer and some truly did come as a surprise.

I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more by this author.

[Claudia Aikman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow, the last few chapters of this book were amazing!! I really did enjoy this book but I did find it slow at times. I will definitely read more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me early access to this book.

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was different than I expected. A woman and her baby move in next to the farm of a family that is very old fashioned. Serving the men and wearing skirts and keeping away from other people. The story is told in multiple timelines and the timelines jump around which made it hard to keep up at times. It was a very interesting book but the jumping timelines kept me from enjoying it more.

[Kendra Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning really pulls you in! Love the multiple POV and the dual timeline helped keep a nice pace! The characters are what really suck you in and that’s all you can hope for in a book. Even after secrets are revealed and twists happen, I still binged the rest because I needed to know how the characters ended up! The narrators were all great too!

Thank you Bookouture Audio for an ALC!

[Sami · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Housewife Next Door has a compelling setup and moments of intrigue, but ultimately did not feel like a fully realized or complete story.

While the premise itself is familiar, the novel offers an interesting angle through its focus on an extremely traditional, insular “trad-wife” family in a remote rural Kansas community. This aspect of the book was one of its strongest elements. The rigid gender roles, isolation, and ideological control created an unsettling atmosphere and provided a solid foundation for psychological tension.

The story is structured across multiple timelines and told through three points of view — Meg, the mysterious newcomer; Ainsley, the eldest daughter of the neighboring family; and SarahBeth, Ainsley’s mother. The middle sections, particularly those exploring the family’s past and Sarah Beth’s motivations, were engaging and hinted at a much darker story beneath the surface.

However, the execution ultimately falls short. Despite being positioned as central to the plot, Meg remains significantly underdeveloped from beginning to end. Her backstory is largely withheld rather than gradually revealed, and even in the final chapters, major elements of her past are mentioned only briefly and without meaningful exploration. These late revelations felt confusing rather than suspenseful and read more like setup for a sequel than resolution within this book.

The ending also feels rushed and incomplete. After a long buildup, major truths are revealed quickly and largely off-page, without a fully realized confrontation or emotional reckoning. Consequences and outcomes for key characters are summarized or completely left out, which undercuts the impact of what should have been the story’s most powerful moments. The final relationship arc further contributes to this sense of imbalance, leaping from minimal interaction to a sudden, unearned emotional resolution.

I also struggled with the writing style throughout the novel. While the rural and insular setting allows for differences in speech and social structure, both the dialogue and the broader narrative often felt overly stylized. The town’s isolation and small-community dynamics are repeatedly emphasized rather than organically shown, which at times made the setting feel performative instead of immersive.

Overall, The Housewife Next Door was interesting enough to keep me reading and showed real potential in its themes and atmosphere. However, the lack of character development, narrative clarity, and an earned resolution left it feeling incomplete. While I didn’t regret reading it, I finished the book wishing it had trusted its premise more and pushed less overtly on signaling its setting.