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His New Girlfriend
8 hours, 39 minutes
My husband’s new girlfriend is perfect. And so is the game she’s playing…
When my ex-husband moves in with his new girlfriend Sadie – all smiles, smooth skin and flawless hair – in the house across the street, I try to swallow my pride. It’s good for our daughter Grace to have him living so close.
Then Grace comes to me in tears. She saw Sadie attacking our sweet, elderly neighbour. And she’s terrified nobody will believe her.
I knew Sadie was a homewrecker. I never suspected she was a killer…
I didn’t tell anyone that Sadie arrived in town with secrets to hide. I gritted my teeth when she stole my husband. But now my daughter is in danger.
So I slip into their house. I tiptoe through the pristine rooms, knowing Sadie would spot a speck of dust out of place.
But even I couldn’t have imagined what Sadie’s been hiding, carefully locked away in the attic. Her perfect life is about to become a perfect nightmare… and ours along with it.
My husband’s new girlfriend is perfect. And so is the game she’s playing…
When my ex-husband moves in with his new girlfriend Sadie – all smiles, smooth skin and flawless hair – in the house across the street, I try to swallow my pride. It’s good for our daughter Grace to have him living so close.
Then Grace comes to me in tears. She saw Sadie attacking our sweet, elderly neighbour. And she’s terrified nobody will believe her.
I knew Sadie was a homewrecker. I never suspected she was a killer…
I didn’t tell anyone that Sadie arrived in town with secrets to hide. I gritted my teeth when she stole my husband. But now my daughter is in danger.
So I slip into their house. I tiptoe through the pristine rooms, knowing Sadie would spot a speck of dust out of place.
But even I couldn’t have imagined what Sadie’s been hiding, carefully locked away in the attic. Her perfect life is about to become a perfect nightmare… and ours along with it.
Audiobook
Published October 7, 2026
About the author
Lauren North
16 books562 followersLauren writes psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships and families. She has a lifelong passion for writing, reading, and all things books. Lauren’s love of psychological suspense has grown since childhood and her dark imagination of always wondering what’s the worst thing that could happen in every situation.
Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside. Readers can follow Lauren on Twitter @Lauren_C_North and Facebook @LaurenNorthAuthor
Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside. Readers can follow Lauren on Twitter @Lauren_C_North and Facebook @LaurenNorthAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Laura’s husband James has an affair with Sadie, which is bad enough, but then James moves in with his new girlfriend in the house opposite Laura. Yes, you read that right — the house opposite. Because apparently having an affair wasn’t quite awkward enough, they decided to make sure Laura had a front-row seat to their new life.
Their daughter Grace is left pinballing between one home and the other each week, trying to cope with everything that’s going on. Then Grace tells Laura that she has seen Sadie attacking their elderly neighbour.
Laura knows something isn’t right with Sadie, but what exactly is she hiding?
I really enjoyed how this story slowly builds the tension. Sadie seems to have the perfect life and appears to have everything together. Laura, understandably, isn’t exactly rushing over to borrow a cup of sugar.
As Laura starts looking into Sadie’s past, more secrets begin to come out, and I found myself questioning everyone. There were plenty of moments when I was thinking, “What on earth is going on here?” and I had plenty of theories along the way.
I particularly enjoyed the family side of the story and how Grace is caught in the middle. You can really feel the tension between Laura, James and Sadie, and having James and Sadie living directly opposite Laura makes the whole situation even more uncomfortable.
Lauren North’s writing is easy to get into and keeps the story moving along nicely. She gives you enough to keep you interested without giving everything away, and I enjoyed the way the suspense gradually builds.
I also enjoyed the dry humour running through the story. I mean, your husband cheats on you, leaves you for another woman and then moves her into the house opposite. At that point, I think I’d be looking at estate agents before I’d be looking for answers.
Overall, His New Girlfriend is an entertaining psychological thriller with plenty of family drama, secrets, betrayal and suspicion. I enjoyed trying to work out what was really going on, and there were enough twists and turns to keep me interested.
Lauren North has written a gripping story with some very uncomfortable situations and a new girlfriend I certainly wouldn’t be inviting round for coffee.
A really enjoyable read — although after this, I might think twice about who moves into the house opposite!
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Lauren North for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing date: 7 October 2026
Their daughter Grace is left pinballing between one home and the other each week, trying to cope with everything that’s going on. Then Grace tells Laura that she has seen Sadie attacking their elderly neighbour.
Laura knows something isn’t right with Sadie, but what exactly is she hiding?
I really enjoyed how this story slowly builds the tension. Sadie seems to have the perfect life and appears to have everything together. Laura, understandably, isn’t exactly rushing over to borrow a cup of sugar.
As Laura starts looking into Sadie’s past, more secrets begin to come out, and I found myself questioning everyone. There were plenty of moments when I was thinking, “What on earth is going on here?” and I had plenty of theories along the way.
I particularly enjoyed the family side of the story and how Grace is caught in the middle. You can really feel the tension between Laura, James and Sadie, and having James and Sadie living directly opposite Laura makes the whole situation even more uncomfortable.
Lauren North’s writing is easy to get into and keeps the story moving along nicely. She gives you enough to keep you interested without giving everything away, and I enjoyed the way the suspense gradually builds.
I also enjoyed the dry humour running through the story. I mean, your husband cheats on you, leaves you for another woman and then moves her into the house opposite. At that point, I think I’d be looking at estate agents before I’d be looking for answers.
Overall, His New Girlfriend is an entertaining psychological thriller with plenty of family drama, secrets, betrayal and suspicion. I enjoyed trying to work out what was really going on, and there were enough twists and turns to keep me interested.
Lauren North has written a gripping story with some very uncomfortable situations and a new girlfriend I certainly wouldn’t be inviting round for coffee.
A really enjoyable read — although after this, I might think twice about who moves into the house opposite!
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Lauren North for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing date: 7 October 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sadie was Laura’s best friend, until the day Laura’s husband, James, announced he was moving out, just across the road into Sadie’s house!
It turns out they’d been having an affair for many months. Laura can’t believe how they both betrayed her, but her daughter Grace needs some stability, so they arrange that Laura will have her for a week, followed by James doing the same. That is until Grace tells Laura that she’s seen Sadie attacking their sweet elderly neighbour, Patricia, and funnily enough, Laura hasn’t seen Patricia for a day or two, despite knocking on her door.
Laura knows what a home wrecker Sadie is, but a killer? That’s something else! However, Grace’s knowledge puts her very much in danger, and when Laura starts looking into Sadie’s past, what follows is utter chaos!
Gosh, the tension and deceit by certain characters made this a page turner for me, and with a humdinger of a twist towards the end, I found it a very enjoyable read!
*My thanks to Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
It turns out they’d been having an affair for many months. Laura can’t believe how they both betrayed her, but her daughter Grace needs some stability, so they arrange that Laura will have her for a week, followed by James doing the same. That is until Grace tells Laura that she’s seen Sadie attacking their sweet elderly neighbour, Patricia, and funnily enough, Laura hasn’t seen Patricia for a day or two, despite knocking on her door.
Laura knows what a home wrecker Sadie is, but a killer? That’s something else! However, Grace’s knowledge puts her very much in danger, and when Laura starts looking into Sadie’s past, what follows is utter chaos!
Gosh, the tension and deceit by certain characters made this a page turner for me, and with a humdinger of a twist towards the end, I found it a very enjoyable read!
*My thanks to Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
➡️ Meet my new favorite Lauren North book.
➡️ Did a mother's mendacious daughter witness the murder of a beloved elderly neighbor?
Did the teen's father's new girlfriend push the neighbor down the stairs and kill her? Or was the teen lying AGAIN?
Buckle your seatbelts for a fast-paced, twisty, and tumultuous ride.
➡️ Sooo many unreliable narrators.
Which unreliable narrator is telling the truth?
➡️ I dare you to guess the ending. I didn't.
Beyond the central domestic thriller storyline, the book also offered a sharp, relatable, and troubling look at the challenges of parenting a teen girl following a contentious divorce.
As always, I especially enjoyed author Lauren North's heartfelt author's note at the EOB.
➡️ Perfect choice for audiobook lovers.
Expertly narrated by Camilla Rockley, the narrator's fabulous performance brought every nuance of the characters to life.
➡️ Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
➡️ All the stars!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
One of my besties of 2026!
👏👏👏👏👏
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What an devilish, enticing read this was. I was chilled to my bones when it finished.
There was a lot of suspense keeping the plot alive. A perfect way to show how far a mother will go to discover the truth. I loved her grit and determination, and felt anxious about how it would all turn out.
Very satisfying reading!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
There was a lot of suspense keeping the plot alive. A perfect way to show how far a mother will go to discover the truth. I loved her grit and determination, and felt anxious about how it would all turn out.
Very satisfying reading!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This thriller was suspenseful and entertaining. I was intrigued by the mystery and eager to see how the plot would unfold. Is it a case of murder or is something more unspeakable at play? Deception and desperation prove to be powerful motives as truths are revealed and lives are changed forever. The twisted conclusion raised my rating because I never saw it coming. To say it was shocking is an understatement. I look forward to reading upcoming books by Lauren North. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.
October 19, 2026
The plot setup is super intriguing. It definitely hits a few predictable thriller beats, but the pacing stays pretty solid, and the ending really pays off. The final reveal delivers that satisfying twist you want from a book like this.
✧ I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am leaving an honest review.
✧ I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am leaving an honest review.
October 9, 2026
This is a story that is driven by plot, and is pretty straightforward.
The story is told from Laura's perspective. Her boyfriend of 20 years, James, had an affair and left her for her best friend, Sophie. This has fractured the family. The nail in the coffin? The best friend lives across the street from Lauren, and she is forced to see them in their new life every day.
Meanwhile, Lauren and James daughter, Grace, has been having some issues, one of them being lying a lot. So when Grace claims to have witnessed Sophie pushing their elderly neighbor, Patricia. Then the neighbor goes missing. What is happening in the neighborhood?
I struggled a bit with this one. It mostly takes place in the neighborhood, so that adds a closed in feeling. The "friends" that Lauren had come across as toxic and shallow. I really struggled to connect to any character as it seemed like there really wasn't any depth in even one. Laura made questionable decisions. She also seems to not be as invested in discovering whether Grace is really lying or not. I felt there were so many opportunities for her to delve deep, and she simply did not. But I wanted to know the ending so I continued.
James. just, UGGHH!
There seemed to be a lot of repetition in the story. We knew what was happening, and I felt other characters that were introduced should have had a bigger role to add "suspense". And then that ending! Although it is a twist, and kind of a big one, all the information for the culmination are given at the time of the reveal. These things should have been woven throughout the entire story so that it did not seem so abrupt. Then it simply ends.
I feel that the story had so much potential, but the execution fell flat for me. It was a quick read, with some good elements.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
The story is told from Laura's perspective. Her boyfriend of 20 years, James, had an affair and left her for her best friend, Sophie. This has fractured the family. The nail in the coffin? The best friend lives across the street from Lauren, and she is forced to see them in their new life every day.
Meanwhile, Lauren and James daughter, Grace, has been having some issues, one of them being lying a lot. So when Grace claims to have witnessed Sophie pushing their elderly neighbor, Patricia. Then the neighbor goes missing. What is happening in the neighborhood?
I struggled a bit with this one. It mostly takes place in the neighborhood, so that adds a closed in feeling. The "friends" that Lauren had come across as toxic and shallow. I really struggled to connect to any character as it seemed like there really wasn't any depth in even one. Laura made questionable decisions. She also seems to not be as invested in discovering whether Grace is really lying or not. I felt there were so many opportunities for her to delve deep, and she simply did not. But I wanted to know the ending so I continued.
James. just, UGGHH!
There seemed to be a lot of repetition in the story. We knew what was happening, and I felt other characters that were introduced should have had a bigger role to add "suspense". And then that ending! Although it is a twist, and kind of a big one, all the information for the culmination are given at the time of the reveal. These things should have been woven throughout the entire story so that it did not seem so abrupt. Then it simply ends.
I feel that the story had so much potential, but the execution fell flat for me. It was a quick read, with some good elements.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗞
When her ex moves in across the street with his new girlfriend Sadie, Laura tries to accept it for their daughter’s sake. But when her daughter says she saw Sadie attacking their elderly neighbor, Laura starts digging into Sadie’s past and discovers she’s hiding something much darker.
𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
This was a straightforward audiobook with a new-to-me narrator, and she did a great job, especially during the final showdown. There were moments where it genuinely sounded like four people were talking at once, and I was thoroughly impressed.
𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
This is a straightforward, accessible domestic thriller that’s plot driven rather than particularly layered or complex. As a fan of Lauren North, I was surprised by its simplicity.
There’s a slow, fairly long build towards the big reveal, and not gonna lie, I struggled with the Cassandra Truth and gaslighting. I find it really hard when no one believes the FMC because, as the reader, we know she’s right. I get super frustrated watching everyone dismiss her and don’t appreciate the ‘told you so’ moment that maybe a lot of other readers enjoy.
However, I loved the turning point where Laura and Grace connect and really enjoyed their go-team vibe.
The last couple of hours sped up, and we finally find out WTF is going on. The ending didn’t go where I expected, which is always welcome, and turned this into a much more memorable, twisty read.
𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
This isn’t as layered as some of Lauren North’s other books, but it’s an easy, accessible domestic thriller that really picks up towards the end. The final stretch definitely made up for my frustrations along the way!
Thank you Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for this gifted ARC.
🎧 Narrated by Camilla Rockley
📖 Release 10•07•26 | 307 pages | 8h 39m
When her ex moves in across the street with his new girlfriend Sadie, Laura tries to accept it for their daughter’s sake. But when her daughter says she saw Sadie attacking their elderly neighbor, Laura starts digging into Sadie’s past and discovers she’s hiding something much darker.
𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
This was a straightforward audiobook with a new-to-me narrator, and she did a great job, especially during the final showdown. There were moments where it genuinely sounded like four people were talking at once, and I was thoroughly impressed.
𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
This is a straightforward, accessible domestic thriller that’s plot driven rather than particularly layered or complex. As a fan of Lauren North, I was surprised by its simplicity.
There’s a slow, fairly long build towards the big reveal, and not gonna lie, I struggled with the Cassandra Truth and gaslighting. I find it really hard when no one believes the FMC because, as the reader, we know she’s right. I get super frustrated watching everyone dismiss her and don’t appreciate the ‘told you so’ moment that maybe a lot of other readers enjoy.
However, I loved the turning point where Laura and Grace connect and really enjoyed their go-team vibe.
The last couple of hours sped up, and we finally find out WTF is going on. The ending didn’t go where I expected, which is always welcome, and turned this into a much more memorable, twisty read.
𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
This isn’t as layered as some of Lauren North’s other books, but it’s an easy, accessible domestic thriller that really picks up towards the end. The final stretch definitely made up for my frustrations along the way!
Thank you Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for this gifted ARC.
🎧 Narrated by Camilla Rockley
📖 Release 10•07•26 | 307 pages | 8h 39m
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Lauren North and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook of this novel.
4.25 Stars
A great domestic thriller with lots of twists and turns. Also, the mother in this novel really highlights some of the issues women with children going through seperation have to face. That intense loneliness when you feel like no one is around anymore and you have no one who is loyal or that you can trust. I felt so frustrated for her by the end.
The narration performance was great. The narrator has a English accent but it is clear and easy to understand.
I kind of predicted the ending, probably because I read too many thrillers but I really enjoyed how the author wrote the story.
Good read.
4.25 Stars
A great domestic thriller with lots of twists and turns. Also, the mother in this novel really highlights some of the issues women with children going through seperation have to face. That intense loneliness when you feel like no one is around anymore and you have no one who is loyal or that you can trust. I felt so frustrated for her by the end.
The narration performance was great. The narrator has a English accent but it is clear and easy to understand.
I kind of predicted the ending, probably because I read too many thrillers but I really enjoyed how the author wrote the story.
Good read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love a good psychological thriller, but His New Girlfriend by Lauren North was just okay for me. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t dislike it either.
The prologue had a great hook and immediately made me want to keep reading. I also really liked the mother-daughter relationship between Laura and Grace. Their relationship felt realistic, especially considering everything that can come with a divorce and changing family dynamics.
My biggest issue was the pacing. At times, the story would tell us what happened and then spend quite a bit of time going over Laura’s thoughts about what had just happened. After a while, it started to feel repetitive and slowed the story down for me.
Some of the characters also frustrated me, and a few of their actions felt a little outlandish. That said, there was a good twist toward the end that I didn’t see coming, which definitely helped finish the book on a stronger note.
Overall, His New Girlfriend was an entertaining enough read, but it didn’t completely grab me the way I was hoping.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Lauren North for my free ARC of this book. This is my honest opinion.
The prologue had a great hook and immediately made me want to keep reading. I also really liked the mother-daughter relationship between Laura and Grace. Their relationship felt realistic, especially considering everything that can come with a divorce and changing family dynamics.
My biggest issue was the pacing. At times, the story would tell us what happened and then spend quite a bit of time going over Laura’s thoughts about what had just happened. After a while, it started to feel repetitive and slowed the story down for me.
Some of the characters also frustrated me, and a few of their actions felt a little outlandish. That said, there was a good twist toward the end that I didn’t see coming, which definitely helped finish the book on a stronger note.
Overall, His New Girlfriend was an entertaining enough read, but it didn’t completely grab me the way I was hoping.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Lauren North for my free ARC of this book. This is my honest opinion.
October 20, 2026
This is my 2nd book by Lauren North that I devoured in a single day!!! His New Girlfriend starts out with James who is married to Laura yet he has an affair with the neighbor across the street, Sadie. Sadie comes with tricks up her sleeve and Laura tries to solve it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release. I could not put it down! Out in publication now.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh Lordy lord, Lauren North has done it again. A dark twisty mysterious thriller that I actually was deceived by, which I love.
Great storyline. Characters that resonate. Twist after twist that has me feeling.
Brilliant! I enjoyed the audio narration a lot.
Huge thanks to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
Great storyline. Characters that resonate. Twist after twist that has me feeling.
Brilliant! I enjoyed the audio narration a lot.
Huge thanks to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
RATING: 5 ⭐
BINGE FACTOR: 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
TWIST FACTOR: 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
Laura is thrown into a nightmare situation while struggling to move on after her relationship abruptly ends. James, her partner of 20 years, has committed the ultimate betrayal and left her for her best friend, Sadie. To add insult to injury, James moves into Sadie’s house which just happens to be directly across the street from Laura’s. What initially seems as an extremely awkward and humiliating scenario quickly turns dark and disturbing. Her fourteen-year-old daughter Grace is forced to shuffle between houses every week and her recent habit of lying as a coping mechanism has reached a new extreme: she claims that Sadie is not what she seems and has done something terrible. Desperate to help her troubled daughter while holding onto her own sanity, Laura takes it upon herself to uncover the truth. Who is to be trusted?
🥳 What worked for me
Premise: Imagine your life being turned upside down and flipped sideways. Being jilted by your partner who shacks up with your seemingly flawless ex-best friend. And they live across the street from you… and your teen daughter is collateral damage… and you’re having trouble making ends meet…AND you suspect things are not what they seem in that house across the road…Did I forget the gaslighting and emotional trauma?
Protagonist: Laura’s heartbreak, not only from James’ and Sadie’s betrayal, but from the isolation she experiences when her group of friends cast her aside is palpable. Her ex is antagonistic and dismissive, she has nobody to turn to, but her sheer determination to get to the bottom of things makes you root for her as she starts to spiral.
Antagonist: Sadie is PERFECTION. Her character is expertly written. Is she the sweet, perfect and misunderstood girlfriend everyone except Laura believes? Or sinister, unhinged and dangerous?
Pacing: Short chapters that invariably ended on cliff hangers kept me flipping the pages and eager to read JUST ONE MORE.
Ending: Damn that was brilliant! Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor!
🤔 What Didn't Work
There is nothing that I can say that didn’t work for me, but here’s one caveat:
Emotional Triggers: I would be remiss if I didn’t include some content warnings. If you are triggered by themes of emotional abuse, gaslighting, grief and trauma, steer clear of this one.
Final Verdict
This is my first foray into the work of Lauren North and I fell for it hook, line and sinker! This was a dark, deeply disturbing thriller that North knocked out of the park. You can bet I will be checking out her backlist now (oh boy my poor TBR list!!)
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookcouture and Lauren North for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
BINGE FACTOR: 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
TWIST FACTOR: 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
Laura is thrown into a nightmare situation while struggling to move on after her relationship abruptly ends. James, her partner of 20 years, has committed the ultimate betrayal and left her for her best friend, Sadie. To add insult to injury, James moves into Sadie’s house which just happens to be directly across the street from Laura’s. What initially seems as an extremely awkward and humiliating scenario quickly turns dark and disturbing. Her fourteen-year-old daughter Grace is forced to shuffle between houses every week and her recent habit of lying as a coping mechanism has reached a new extreme: she claims that Sadie is not what she seems and has done something terrible. Desperate to help her troubled daughter while holding onto her own sanity, Laura takes it upon herself to uncover the truth. Who is to be trusted?
🥳 What worked for me
Premise: Imagine your life being turned upside down and flipped sideways. Being jilted by your partner who shacks up with your seemingly flawless ex-best friend. And they live across the street from you… and your teen daughter is collateral damage… and you’re having trouble making ends meet…AND you suspect things are not what they seem in that house across the road…Did I forget the gaslighting and emotional trauma?
Protagonist: Laura’s heartbreak, not only from James’ and Sadie’s betrayal, but from the isolation she experiences when her group of friends cast her aside is palpable. Her ex is antagonistic and dismissive, she has nobody to turn to, but her sheer determination to get to the bottom of things makes you root for her as she starts to spiral.
Antagonist: Sadie is PERFECTION. Her character is expertly written. Is she the sweet, perfect and misunderstood girlfriend everyone except Laura believes? Or sinister, unhinged and dangerous?
Pacing: Short chapters that invariably ended on cliff hangers kept me flipping the pages and eager to read JUST ONE MORE.
Ending: Damn that was brilliant! Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor!
🤔 What Didn't Work
There is nothing that I can say that didn’t work for me, but here’s one caveat:
Emotional Triggers: I would be remiss if I didn’t include some content warnings. If you are triggered by themes of emotional abuse, gaslighting, grief and trauma, steer clear of this one.
Final Verdict
This is my first foray into the work of Lauren North and I fell for it hook, line and sinker! This was a dark, deeply disturbing thriller that North knocked out of the park. You can bet I will be checking out her backlist now (oh boy my poor TBR list!!)
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookcouture and Lauren North for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
September 11, 2026
His New Girlfriend was a fast-paced psychological thriller that kept me guessing! I really enjoyed the storyline and the way the tension slowly built as Sadie’s secrets started to come to light. The characters were frustrating at times, but that definitely added to the suspense and made me want to keep reading to find out what was really going on.
There were plenty of twists and turns, and I especially enjoyed the darker secrets that were revealed at the end! I would have never guessed
Overall, a suspenseful and entertaining read with enough surprises to keep me turning the pages. Definitely one for fans of domestic and psychological thrillers!
There were plenty of twists and turns, and I especially enjoyed the darker secrets that were revealed at the end! I would have never guessed
Overall, a suspenseful and entertaining read with enough surprises to keep me turning the pages. Definitely one for fans of domestic and psychological thrillers!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fast-Paced with a Twist I Never Saw Coming!
I love a good psychological thriller, and His New Girlfriend definitely delivered! The story grabs you right from the start with a super fast-paced opening that pulls you straight into the drama. The setup of the ex-husband moving into the house right across the street with his seemingly "flawless" new partner instantly builds that uneasy, uncomfortable tension that keeps you flipping pages.
It did hit a bit of a slow patch in the middle where the momentum lagged for a few chapters, but stick with it—the payoff is so worth it. The plot twist at the end was brilliant and completely caught me off guard. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story flipped the script on me.
If you're a fan of domestic suspense and love a good, shocking final reveal, this is definitely worth picking up. A solid 4.25 star read!
I love a good psychological thriller, and His New Girlfriend definitely delivered! The story grabs you right from the start with a super fast-paced opening that pulls you straight into the drama. The setup of the ex-husband moving into the house right across the street with his seemingly "flawless" new partner instantly builds that uneasy, uncomfortable tension that keeps you flipping pages.
It did hit a bit of a slow patch in the middle where the momentum lagged for a few chapters, but stick with it—the payoff is so worth it. The plot twist at the end was brilliant and completely caught me off guard. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story flipped the script on me.
If you're a fan of domestic suspense and love a good, shocking final reveal, this is definitely worth picking up. A solid 4.25 star read!
October 10, 2026
Okay, I was sitting comfortably at a solid 4 stars with this one… **AND THEN THAT ENDING HAPPENED.** 😳🤯
This is a FANTASTIC psychological thriller! When your ex-husband moves in with his seemingly perfect new girlfriend across the street, you try to keep the peace for your daughter’s sake. But when your daughter witnesses something terrifying and becomes afraid nobody will believe her, suddenly that perfect girlfriend doesn't seem quite so perfect anymore. And the more you start questioning things, the harder it gets to know who you can trust!
The twists, the turns, the questions, the accusations… I was doing it ALL. 😂 I kept trying to connect the dots and figure out what was really going on. You think you might have things figured out, but do you REALLY?! I was enjoying the ride throughout, but **THAT ENDING?! OH. HELL. NAW.** 🤯 I genuinely did NOT see that coming. I went from thinking I had a pretty good handle on things to sitting there with my jaw on the floor going, “Oh, WAIT. SNAP. NO WAY!”
I thought I was heading toward a nice little slow-clap ending, and instead, I got a **WHAT IN THE ACTUAL WORLD JUST HAPPENED?!** ending. 😂😈
If you're picking this one up, buckle up and enjoy the ride. And when you think you've got it figured out? Maybe don't get too comfortable. That's all I'm saying. 👀
**That extra star? EARNED.** ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is a FANTASTIC psychological thriller! When your ex-husband moves in with his seemingly perfect new girlfriend across the street, you try to keep the peace for your daughter’s sake. But when your daughter witnesses something terrifying and becomes afraid nobody will believe her, suddenly that perfect girlfriend doesn't seem quite so perfect anymore. And the more you start questioning things, the harder it gets to know who you can trust!
The twists, the turns, the questions, the accusations… I was doing it ALL. 😂 I kept trying to connect the dots and figure out what was really going on. You think you might have things figured out, but do you REALLY?! I was enjoying the ride throughout, but **THAT ENDING?! OH. HELL. NAW.** 🤯 I genuinely did NOT see that coming. I went from thinking I had a pretty good handle on things to sitting there with my jaw on the floor going, “Oh, WAIT. SNAP. NO WAY!”
I thought I was heading toward a nice little slow-clap ending, and instead, I got a **WHAT IN THE ACTUAL WORLD JUST HAPPENED?!** ending. 😂😈
If you're picking this one up, buckle up and enjoy the ride. And when you think you've got it figured out? Maybe don't get too comfortable. That's all I'm saying. 👀
**That extra star? EARNED.** ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This psychological thriller had me wondering if I was reading fiction or someone’s real life nightmare. It made me feel paranoid at times questioning alongside with Laura, and rooting for her. The story is easy to follow and completely pulled me. I finished this the same day. Listen at the gym, car, or at home on 10 / 08 / 2026.
Laura thought she had the perfect life for 20 years happily married to James living with their daughter Grace, until she discovered her husband in bed with her best friend Sadie. After a devastating nine-month affair, the betrayal cuts even deeper when James packs his bags, leaves Laura for Sadie, and moves in with her right across the street. That's ballsy and pathetic!
Laura navigating single mom life working part-time at a café so she can be there for Grace, while every other week she has to watch her daughter go to the home across the street to stay with James and the woman who stole her husband.
Grace tells her mom she saw Sadie hurt someone so Laura tries to make sense of what happened. There's secrets and murder, so suspicion begins swirling through the neighborhood. And with Sadie seemingly living the perfect life after stealing her husband, Laura has plenty of reasons to wonder just how far the truth goes.
Listen & Read on 10 / 08 / 2026.
Thank you Netgalley and Bolinda Audio for the ALC.
September 12, 2026
*ARC Review*
This was a great psychological thriller with plenty of twists and reveals that kept me guessing. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story shifted again and made me question everyone. The family drama, secrets, and mounting tension made it an incredibly bingeable listen. The narration was excellent and brought the characters and unsettling moments to life, while the polished production made it easy to get completely lost in the story. A gripping, fast-paced thriller with a clever plot and a satisfying payoff!
October 11, 2026
Whenever I settle down with a Lauren North book, I know I will get a brilliant read that will keep me gripped throughout.
This latest novel quickly proved this again, with the opening chapter truly shocking me and seriously piquing my interest. I loved the pacing of this book, North expertly drops clues to keep us reading.
The ending was fantastic, and there was a 'jaw- dropping' moment that deserved another half star!
This latest novel quickly proved this again, with the opening chapter truly shocking me and seriously piquing my interest. I loved the pacing of this book, North expertly drops clues to keep us reading.
The ending was fantastic, and there was a 'jaw- dropping' moment that deserved another half star!
October 7, 2026
A rather simple, straightforward domestic mystery; nothing ground breaking, but definitely still worth the time if you like the genre, and want something easy. I will admit I was particularly frustrated at every character basically the entire time, but I always do expect something of the kind when going into these types of books, so I am not incredibly mad about it or anything like that. I think my main issue would be the pacing, which felt weird and all over the place at times, and really took me out of the story, but this is where the audio really helped, I think. Honestly, the narration was incredible, and I really had a blast listening to it.
Biggest thanks to Libro.fm & Bolinda for the ALC; all opinions are my own.
Biggest thanks to Libro.fm & Bolinda for the ALC; all opinions are my own.
September 10, 2026
As soon as I started this book, I was hooked! His New Girlfriend is a fast-paced thriller that will have you questioning whether you're reading a novel or someone's personal diary.
The audiobook narration by Camilla Rockley is outstanding. She brought the book to life in such a way that I forgot it was a story.
The audiobook narration by Camilla Rockley is outstanding. She brought the book to life in such a way that I forgot it was a story.
October 18, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
This book had me hooked because I was constantly trying to figure out what was really going on and who could actually be trusted. The whole idea of someone seeming so perfect while hiding dark secrets made the story even more intriguing, and the tension kept building as more things came to light.
The truth genuinely shocked me! The way everything turned out was so chilling and unexpected, especially because the person who was actually guilty wasn’t the one I suspected at all. I love when a thriller manages to make you question your own theories and then completely catches you off guard.
There were so many secrets and twists that made the story really gripping, and I loved how everything came together in the end. Definitely a great read if you enjoy psychological thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end!
This book had me hooked because I was constantly trying to figure out what was really going on and who could actually be trusted. The whole idea of someone seeming so perfect while hiding dark secrets made the story even more intriguing, and the tension kept building as more things came to light.
The truth genuinely shocked me! The way everything turned out was so chilling and unexpected, especially because the person who was actually guilty wasn’t the one I suspected at all. I love when a thriller manages to make you question your own theories and then completely catches you off guard.
There were so many secrets and twists that made the story really gripping, and I loved how everything came together in the end. Definitely a great read if you enjoy psychological thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Title: His New Girlfriend
Author: Lauren North
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Camilla Rockley
Publisher: Bolinda Audio/Bookouture
Genre: Psychological/Domestic Thriller
Pub Date: October 7, 2026
My Rating: 5 stars
Pages: 307
Story is told from the POV of Laura.
Starts when Laura Bennett discovers that her twenty-year relationship with partner James is abruptly ending. Even worse, he is leaving her for her best friend, Sadie Peters- who just happens to live across the street.
In addition to Laura feeling betrayed she is also humiliated.
James and Laura have a beautiful fourteen daughter Grace who is also a typical teenager. Grace has gotten herself ‘grounded’ a few times for lying. Grace is forced to shuffle between her mother’s house as well as with her father who is now living with Sadie in her home.
One day after Grace was staying with her father and Sadie she goes to her mother in tears and says she saw Sadie do something bad to Patricia, their seventy-five-year-old neighbor. Grace loves Patricia and feels she is like her grandmother so is deeply disturbed by what Sadie did. Grace is a sweet girl but does lie which Laura feels is a coping mechanism.
Laura isn’t sure if Grace is lying. In fact, Grace feels no one will believe her as they will think she is lying. But Grace is fearful Sadie knows that she saw what she did to Patricia and doesn’t feel safe.
Sadie has been Laura best friend for several years but now is not sure if Sadie is a changed person or is Grace is once again lying.
Laura wants to help her and takes it upon herself to uncover the truth.
When the subject of Patricia comes up Sadie said she saw her leave Monday morning with her suitcase so figured she went out of town to visit her sister June.
Laura is even more confused about who to believe. But when she sees a strange man stop by Sadie’s after James leaves for work – Laura knows there are secrets!
The ending was WOW.
My first thought after I stopped scaring into space was ‘This would make a great one for Book Club to discuss’!
I want to thank NetGalley, Bolinda Audio and Bookouture Books for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 7, 2026.
Author: Lauren North
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Camilla Rockley
Publisher: Bolinda Audio/Bookouture
Genre: Psychological/Domestic Thriller
Pub Date: October 7, 2026
My Rating: 5 stars
Pages: 307
Story is told from the POV of Laura.
Starts when Laura Bennett discovers that her twenty-year relationship with partner James is abruptly ending. Even worse, he is leaving her for her best friend, Sadie Peters- who just happens to live across the street.
In addition to Laura feeling betrayed she is also humiliated.
James and Laura have a beautiful fourteen daughter Grace who is also a typical teenager. Grace has gotten herself ‘grounded’ a few times for lying. Grace is forced to shuffle between her mother’s house as well as with her father who is now living with Sadie in her home.
One day after Grace was staying with her father and Sadie she goes to her mother in tears and says she saw Sadie do something bad to Patricia, their seventy-five-year-old neighbor. Grace loves Patricia and feels she is like her grandmother so is deeply disturbed by what Sadie did. Grace is a sweet girl but does lie which Laura feels is a coping mechanism.
Laura isn’t sure if Grace is lying. In fact, Grace feels no one will believe her as they will think she is lying. But Grace is fearful Sadie knows that she saw what she did to Patricia and doesn’t feel safe.
Sadie has been Laura best friend for several years but now is not sure if Sadie is a changed person or is Grace is once again lying.
Laura wants to help her and takes it upon herself to uncover the truth.
When the subject of Patricia comes up Sadie said she saw her leave Monday morning with her suitcase so figured she went out of town to visit her sister June.
Laura is even more confused about who to believe. But when she sees a strange man stop by Sadie’s after James leaves for work – Laura knows there are secrets!
The ending was WOW.
My first thought after I stopped scaring into space was ‘This would make a great one for Book Club to discuss’!
I want to thank NetGalley, Bolinda Audio and Bookouture Books for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 7, 2026.
October 10, 2026
If you want to read a book that has a detailed, and superbly executed plot, there are plenty of crime and psychological fiction authors whom you can be confident will satisfy you. Gillian McAllister comes to mind, as does A A Chaudhuri. Equally, there will be times – usually in the middle, or at the end of an exhausting week – when this matters less, and you just want something that has you turning the pages without effort. In this instance, you can’t normally go wrong with the psychological thrillers by Shalini Boland or Emily Shiner, or the action thrillers by Stuart Field.
Lauren North, however, is one of only a handful of authors – others being Agatha Christie and Angela Marsons – who can write books that do both of these things at once. And in her latest, His New Girlfriend, she excels at it.
The opening chapter is just utterly fabulous. In only a few pages, Lauren manages to introduce enough suspense to have my eyes staring wide open at the pages of my kindle, and for me to realise that I was actually holding my breath. Only for the second chapter to take us back to four days earlier. If I wanted to know the climax to that opening – and I did. I really, really did – I was going to have to keep on reading.
It’s a good thing that that first chapter is there because in those that followed, there was a time, briefly, when I wondered whether this book was going to do it for me. There’s nothing really wrong with the portrayal of the recently-separated Laura – who is the sole narrator – or her philandering husband James, her sulky teenage daughter Grace or her superficially gorgeous neighbour Sadie. But at the same time, they felt like variations on characters that I had read in other novels. On top of that, I found Grace particularly unlikeable, to the point where Laura’s attempts to coax and soothe her quickly became tiresome and I wished that she would lose her cool and just slap the horrible little brat. And whilst the revelation that Grace supposedly witnessed Sadie harming their elderly neighbour Patricia – not a spoiler if you’ve read the blurb – was enough to keep me turning the pages, I wondered at this point if the story would have worked better had Grace been younger.
I may have wondered, but I was wrong. And Lauren North was right. Without giving away any spoilers, there’s a reason why Grace is the age she is, and why she behaves in the way she does. And all becomes clear in a fantastically, perfectly explosive ending that includes a superb twist, and that had me changing my perceptions of more than one character, but in which every single piece of a mystery slid beautifully into place.
The only, ever-so-slight criticism I can think to make is that, as a male reader, it would be nice just once in a while to read about a man that I didn’t end up utterly despising. But since this is a common factor in a whole host of otherwise wonderful psychological thrillers by female authors, it’s really quite unfair of me to pick on Lauren North here.
But provided that this almost microscopically small niggle doesn’t bother you – and just to be clear, it shouldn’t – His New Girlfriend is a book that really does offer the best of both worlds. It’s easy enough to read that it has you turning the pages when you’re feeling tired, yet plotted well enough that you can appreciate the details when you’re paying attention. All of which means that there’s only one rating that I can award.
My thanks to Bookouture for including me on the blog tour for this book, which was published in the UK on 7th October. My review is also published on my blog at www.mycosybooknook.wordpress.com, with links shared on my social media pages.
Lauren North, however, is one of only a handful of authors – others being Agatha Christie and Angela Marsons – who can write books that do both of these things at once. And in her latest, His New Girlfriend, she excels at it.
The opening chapter is just utterly fabulous. In only a few pages, Lauren manages to introduce enough suspense to have my eyes staring wide open at the pages of my kindle, and for me to realise that I was actually holding my breath. Only for the second chapter to take us back to four days earlier. If I wanted to know the climax to that opening – and I did. I really, really did – I was going to have to keep on reading.
It’s a good thing that that first chapter is there because in those that followed, there was a time, briefly, when I wondered whether this book was going to do it for me. There’s nothing really wrong with the portrayal of the recently-separated Laura – who is the sole narrator – or her philandering husband James, her sulky teenage daughter Grace or her superficially gorgeous neighbour Sadie. But at the same time, they felt like variations on characters that I had read in other novels. On top of that, I found Grace particularly unlikeable, to the point where Laura’s attempts to coax and soothe her quickly became tiresome and I wished that she would lose her cool and just slap the horrible little brat. And whilst the revelation that Grace supposedly witnessed Sadie harming their elderly neighbour Patricia – not a spoiler if you’ve read the blurb – was enough to keep me turning the pages, I wondered at this point if the story would have worked better had Grace been younger.
I may have wondered, but I was wrong. And Lauren North was right. Without giving away any spoilers, there’s a reason why Grace is the age she is, and why she behaves in the way she does. And all becomes clear in a fantastically, perfectly explosive ending that includes a superb twist, and that had me changing my perceptions of more than one character, but in which every single piece of a mystery slid beautifully into place.
The only, ever-so-slight criticism I can think to make is that, as a male reader, it would be nice just once in a while to read about a man that I didn’t end up utterly despising. But since this is a common factor in a whole host of otherwise wonderful psychological thrillers by female authors, it’s really quite unfair of me to pick on Lauren North here.
But provided that this almost microscopically small niggle doesn’t bother you – and just to be clear, it shouldn’t – His New Girlfriend is a book that really does offer the best of both worlds. It’s easy enough to read that it has you turning the pages when you’re feeling tired, yet plotted well enough that you can appreciate the details when you’re paying attention. All of which means that there’s only one rating that I can award.
My thanks to Bookouture for including me on the blog tour for this book, which was published in the UK on 7th October. My review is also published on my blog at www.mycosybooknook.wordpress.com, with links shared on my social media pages.
October 2, 2026
Wow! Wow! Wow!
Where do I begin?
Laura and James have been together for quite some time. Not married, but happy. And, they have a beautiful teenaged daughter named Grace. All is well… or so it would appear.
Laura a meets Sadie at the gym and they hit it off right away. They quickly become best of friends. And, Laura introduces Sadie to all of her friends… and James.
Months later, James is leaving Laura. And guess who he’s with????
No, this is not a big reveal. It is only THE OPENING of this crazy, twisty, psychotic, unbelievable book!
And when I say you are in for a rollercoaster of a ride… I am not kidding one bit!
Naturally, Laura wants nothing to do with Sadie now. But… her husband is now living with her… ACROSS THE STREET, in Sadie’s home! So, Grace gets to see both her parents pretty often!
Luckily, Patricia, her elderly neighbor remained very friendly with her… and like a grandmother to Grace. Because all of their other friends sided with Laura and James! 😳😮. What?????
So now, Laura is trying to make ends meet. Where before they were a two income home, now it’s only her. And James is threatening to sell the home. And, he wants Grace with him all the time…
But Grace tells Laura she’s afraid of Sadie. That she hurt her!
There’s only one problem… Grace has been known to lie…
This one took so many crazy turns that I was getting whiplash! And just when I THOUGHT it was all wrapped up, well, I was totally wrong!
ALL THE STARS IN THE WORLD FOR ME ON THIS ONE!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨✨✨✨🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟💫💫💫💫💫
#HisNewGirlfriend by @LaurenNorth and narrated wonderfully by @CamillaRockley.
**** This one has not been released yet, but please look for it SOON on 10/7/26!! ****
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @BolindaAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷
Where do I begin?
Laura and James have been together for quite some time. Not married, but happy. And, they have a beautiful teenaged daughter named Grace. All is well… or so it would appear.
Laura a meets Sadie at the gym and they hit it off right away. They quickly become best of friends. And, Laura introduces Sadie to all of her friends… and James.
Months later, James is leaving Laura. And guess who he’s with????
No, this is not a big reveal. It is only THE OPENING of this crazy, twisty, psychotic, unbelievable book!
And when I say you are in for a rollercoaster of a ride… I am not kidding one bit!
Naturally, Laura wants nothing to do with Sadie now. But… her husband is now living with her… ACROSS THE STREET, in Sadie’s home! So, Grace gets to see both her parents pretty often!
Luckily, Patricia, her elderly neighbor remained very friendly with her… and like a grandmother to Grace. Because all of their other friends sided with Laura and James! 😳😮. What?????
So now, Laura is trying to make ends meet. Where before they were a two income home, now it’s only her. And James is threatening to sell the home. And, he wants Grace with him all the time…
But Grace tells Laura she’s afraid of Sadie. That she hurt her!
There’s only one problem… Grace has been known to lie…
This one took so many crazy turns that I was getting whiplash! And just when I THOUGHT it was all wrapped up, well, I was totally wrong!
ALL THE STARS IN THE WORLD FOR ME ON THIS ONE!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨✨✨✨🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟💫💫💫💫💫
#HisNewGirlfriend by @LaurenNorth and narrated wonderfully by @CamillaRockley.
**** This one has not been released yet, but please look for it SOON on 10/7/26!! ****
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @BolindaAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷
October 20, 2026
His New Girlfriend
By Lauren North
4 ⭐️
‘I’m not sure how much I can take or what I might do …’
When Laura’s ex-husband moves in with his beautiful new girlfriend, Sadie, in the house across the street, she tries to swallow her pride. It’s good for their teenage daughter, Grace, to have him living so close. But then Grace comes to Laura in tears. She tells her mum she saw Sadie push their older neighbour down the stairs. Grace is terrified that no one will believe her.
Laura and Sadie were friends. Best friends. So despite stealing her husband, Laura has kept the secrets Sadie brought to town with her. But as she worries about Graces safety, she decides it’s time to investigate some of the information she has, breaking into her home and finds the locked attic, a room she has never seen before.
Laura knew Sadie was a home wrecker, but she didn’t know she was a potential killer … and now Sadie’s perfect life is about to implode. But she won’t go down quietly and will take plenty of people down with her!
The character of Laura was so well developed and I loved her moral dilemmas. The complex domestic drama is interesting, with Grace central to the tension of the adults in her life’s. No wonder she is crying out for attention!
This is a slow-building, page-turning psychological popcorn thriller that I devoured! This was a great story, layered with suspense, secrets, unreliable characters, twists and a mother’s fight to protect her child. The ending was *chefs kiss*. I was speechless!👌
If you enjoy Shari Lapena’s writing, I would say this is the book for you! A weekend binge book, once you start this, you won’t stop so make sure you have the time! 🤩
With thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Lauren North for the ARC in return for an honest review.
By Lauren North
4 ⭐️
‘I’m not sure how much I can take or what I might do …’
When Laura’s ex-husband moves in with his beautiful new girlfriend, Sadie, in the house across the street, she tries to swallow her pride. It’s good for their teenage daughter, Grace, to have him living so close. But then Grace comes to Laura in tears. She tells her mum she saw Sadie push their older neighbour down the stairs. Grace is terrified that no one will believe her.
Laura and Sadie were friends. Best friends. So despite stealing her husband, Laura has kept the secrets Sadie brought to town with her. But as she worries about Graces safety, she decides it’s time to investigate some of the information she has, breaking into her home and finds the locked attic, a room she has never seen before.
Laura knew Sadie was a home wrecker, but she didn’t know she was a potential killer … and now Sadie’s perfect life is about to implode. But she won’t go down quietly and will take plenty of people down with her!
The character of Laura was so well developed and I loved her moral dilemmas. The complex domestic drama is interesting, with Grace central to the tension of the adults in her life’s. No wonder she is crying out for attention!
This is a slow-building, page-turning psychological popcorn thriller that I devoured! This was a great story, layered with suspense, secrets, unreliable characters, twists and a mother’s fight to protect her child. The ending was *chefs kiss*. I was speechless!👌
If you enjoy Shari Lapena’s writing, I would say this is the book for you! A weekend binge book, once you start this, you won’t stop so make sure you have the time! 🤩
With thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Lauren North for the ARC in return for an honest review.
October 29, 2026
I always tend to struggle slightly with unreliable narrators, and although Laura isn't unreliable, she is acting on the word of her daughter Grace, who has a proven track record as a liar. And then Laura's actions make her look just slightly unstable as a result.
But when Grace is convinced she has seen that her father's new girlfriend Sadie has done something truly horrific, she knows it will be a struggle to get her mum even to believe her. Laura does some questionable things, in order to try to prove that her daughter is in fact lying, as if it's true then it means someone she cares about a lot could be dead, and that her former best friend Sadie, now her husband's new girlfriend, is someone she knew even less than she thought she did.
I was never fully sure whether to trust Grace's observations or not, but it is clear she is terrified, and is relying on her mum to sort things for her. But everything Laura does, makes her seem unhinged. After all neither of them fancy straight communication, nor calling the police.
With complicated family dynamics, and a fair few unlikable characters, this was a bit tough to get into. But once I was in the flow of the story, I was eager to find out how it would turn out. Perhaps not my favourite from this author, but still a good book regardless.
Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
But when Grace is convinced she has seen that her father's new girlfriend Sadie has done something truly horrific, she knows it will be a struggle to get her mum even to believe her. Laura does some questionable things, in order to try to prove that her daughter is in fact lying, as if it's true then it means someone she cares about a lot could be dead, and that her former best friend Sadie, now her husband's new girlfriend, is someone she knew even less than she thought she did.
I was never fully sure whether to trust Grace's observations or not, but it is clear she is terrified, and is relying on her mum to sort things for her. But everything Laura does, makes her seem unhinged. After all neither of them fancy straight communication, nor calling the police.
With complicated family dynamics, and a fair few unlikable characters, this was a bit tough to get into. But once I was in the flow of the story, I was eager to find out how it would turn out. Perhaps not my favourite from this author, but still a good book regardless.
Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
October 29, 2026
Laura’s long term partner left her 6 months ago for her best friend Sadie. He now lives with her across the road from their family home.
Laura is struggling with the end of her relationship but trying to hold her head up high for the sake of their 13 year old daughter Grace. Grace spends half her time living over the road with her dad and Sadie and the other half at home with her mum.
Grace and Laura’s relationship is quite strained, typical teenage angst along with the breakdown of their family.
One day Grace returns home from her week with her dad in tears. She finally tells Laura that she saw Sadie push their elderly neighbour down the stairs. Grace has been known to tell far fetched lies in the past and a child psychologist suggested they don’t punish the lies but instead help her to see the truth. This results in Laura going to extreme lengths to prove their neighbour is ok and Sadie hasn’t done anything wrong. However in her search to uncover the truth Laura begins to think Grace may in fact be telling the truth and Sadie is dangerous.
The narrator brought this story to life and I was thoroughly invested. I couldn’t believe some of Laura’s actions but understood her desire to support her daughter the best she could.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this title
This is a review of the audiobook.
Laura is struggling with the end of her relationship but trying to hold her head up high for the sake of their 13 year old daughter Grace. Grace spends half her time living over the road with her dad and Sadie and the other half at home with her mum.
Grace and Laura’s relationship is quite strained, typical teenage angst along with the breakdown of their family.
One day Grace returns home from her week with her dad in tears. She finally tells Laura that she saw Sadie push their elderly neighbour down the stairs. Grace has been known to tell far fetched lies in the past and a child psychologist suggested they don’t punish the lies but instead help her to see the truth. This results in Laura going to extreme lengths to prove their neighbour is ok and Sadie hasn’t done anything wrong. However in her search to uncover the truth Laura begins to think Grace may in fact be telling the truth and Sadie is dangerous.
The narrator brought this story to life and I was thoroughly invested. I couldn’t believe some of Laura’s actions but understood her desire to support her daughter the best she could.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this title
This is a review of the audiobook.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
How would you cope if your partner moved in with your best friend, in the house right across the road?
I flew through this one. It's quick, and the pace never let me settle.
You'd watch their curtains twitch and their car pull in. You'd know when they're going to bed. Awkward doesn't cover it, and North makes the most of every uncomfortable moment.
What I loved most was how real the characters felt. Laura's anger at James is raw and relatable. The betrayal has knocked the stuffing out of her, and you feel it. Grace stayed with me even more. Her resentment of both her parents, as she gets pushed back and forth between two houses, is written so well it almost hurts to read.
Meanwhile, something about Sadie simmers in the background. The more Laura digs, the closer that pot gets to boiling over, and the tension builds beautifully as Grace's behaviour unravels.
It's a story of betrayal, fractured friendships, misplaced loyalty, secrets and lies, with a twisted finale I won't forget in a while. If you like domestic suspense, grab this one.
My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the early read. All views are my own.
I flew through this one. It's quick, and the pace never let me settle.
You'd watch their curtains twitch and their car pull in. You'd know when they're going to bed. Awkward doesn't cover it, and North makes the most of every uncomfortable moment.
What I loved most was how real the characters felt. Laura's anger at James is raw and relatable. The betrayal has knocked the stuffing out of her, and you feel it. Grace stayed with me even more. Her resentment of both her parents, as she gets pushed back and forth between two houses, is written so well it almost hurts to read.
Meanwhile, something about Sadie simmers in the background. The more Laura digs, the closer that pot gets to boiling over, and the tension builds beautifully as Grace's behaviour unravels.
It's a story of betrayal, fractured friendships, misplaced loyalty, secrets and lies, with a twisted finale I won't forget in a while. If you like domestic suspense, grab this one.
My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the early read. All views are my own.
September 12, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and The Publisher Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
From the beginning, there’s a sense that something isn’t quite right, and I liked how the story slowly revealed more about the people involved. The situation with the ex-husband moving across the street with his new girlfriend creates an uncomfortable dynamic right away, especially once Grace witnesses something she shouldn’t have.
I’ll admit, I didn’t particularly like most of the characters.
There were quite a few secrets being uncovered, and I enjoyed trying to piece everything together as the story progressed.
And that twist! I genuinely did not see it coming. I love when a psychological thriller can catch me completely off guard, and this one definitely did. Looking back, I can appreciate how the pieces were there without making the outcome obvious.
Overall, this was an entertaining and suspenseful read with plenty of secrets, complicated characters, and a twist that completely surprised me.
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