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La coppia del numero 9
Quando Gav e Lou si trasferiscono nella villetta di fianco, Sara passa le giornate a cercare il coraggio di farsi avanti e dare loro il benvenuto. I nuovi vicini sono creativi, eccentrici, così speciali che un po' la intimidiscono. Guadagnarsi la loro amicizia è tutt'altro che scontato, e quando accade Sara ne è ovviamente lusingata. Ma la cosa più incredibile è che a loro volta Gav e Lou vedono qualcosa di straordinario in lei e in suo marito Neil, qualcosa di autentico e che vale la pena di coltivare. In un attimo i quattro diventano amici per la pelle, organizzano spuntini di mezzanotte innaffiati da buon vino, si danno una mano con i bambini e condividono storie e segreti fino a tarda notte.
Ispirata e incoraggiata dai nuovi amici, Sara inizia ad apportare dei cambiamenti alla propria vita, lascia il lavoro che detesta, abbandona i vecchi, noiosissimi amici, si convince a ritirare i bambini dalla scuola per dare loro lezioni a casa. Ma questi cambiamenti hanno un prezzo, e ben presto Gav e Lou iniziano a pretendere cose che non hanno il diritto di chiedere, con conseguenze disastrose per tutti loro...
Un romanzo dark e affascinante sull'amicizia, l'invidia e il tradimento, che spinge a chiedersi fino a che punto si è disposti a tradire se stessi e quanto si è pronti a perdonare.
Ispirata e incoraggiata dai nuovi amici, Sara inizia ad apportare dei cambiamenti alla propria vita, lascia il lavoro che detesta, abbandona i vecchi, noiosissimi amici, si convince a ritirare i bambini dalla scuola per dare loro lezioni a casa. Ma questi cambiamenti hanno un prezzo, e ben presto Gav e Lou iniziano a pretendere cose che non hanno il diritto di chiedere, con conseguenze disastrose per tutti loro...
Un romanzo dark e affascinante sull'amicizia, l'invidia e il tradimento, che spinge a chiedersi fino a che punto si è disposti a tradire se stessi e quanto si è pronti a perdonare.
259 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 6, 2017
183 people are currently reading
2302 people want to read
About the author
Felicity Everett
42 books54 followersFelicity Everett grew up in Manchester and studied English Literature at Sussex University. She worked in children's publishing in London, whilst raising a family and is the author of more than twenty works of children's fiction and non-fiction. After a short career break, Felicity returned to writing adult fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 423 reviews
October 22, 2024
Oh Lord. This dragged on and on and on. I so wanted this book to go somewhere, anywhere. I was bored as a banana! Each page had me feeling like it was disjointed from the last. No flow.
I found every character flat and one-dimensional. Just blobs on a page. Personality not! It was literally half a book I managed where absolutely diddly-squat happened. I kid you not. I was waiting for some amazing reveal or twist. I sadly could not cope with one more page and gave up on this.
I believe if a book has nothing of interest by 50% in that it's an issue, as that rarely happens and I read a lot. This seemed to have no plot, no point and I felt all over the place trying to follow.. nothing. I tried my hardest but was ready to throw the book against the wall in frustration.
I'm keen to see more reviews on this one. One of the dullest novels I've picked up in a long time. Bloody shame. A generous 2 stars.
I received a copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and totally unbiased.
Thanks so much for reading my review! If you’d like to connect you can follow me or please send me a friend request. 🐱I love to read other reviews and talk about books we are reading.
If you are an Author and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book please just message me.
I found every character flat and one-dimensional. Just blobs on a page. Personality not! It was literally half a book I managed where absolutely diddly-squat happened. I kid you not. I was waiting for some amazing reveal or twist. I sadly could not cope with one more page and gave up on this.
I believe if a book has nothing of interest by 50% in that it's an issue, as that rarely happens and I read a lot. This seemed to have no plot, no point and I felt all over the place trying to follow.. nothing. I tried my hardest but was ready to throw the book against the wall in frustration.
I'm keen to see more reviews on this one. One of the dullest novels I've picked up in a long time. Bloody shame. A generous 2 stars.
I received a copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and totally unbiased.
Thanks so much for reading my review! If you’d like to connect you can follow me or please send me a friend request. 🐱I love to read other reviews and talk about books we are reading.
If you are an Author and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book please just message me.
January 8, 2017
**4.5 stars**
This one is not out for a while so this is a small review I shall talk about it more nearer the time.
The People at Number 9 surprised me - I was expecting another of your usual psychological thriller reads - not that this would be a bad thing but The People At Number 9 has a different vibe to it. The tale of an intense friendship that turns toxic, it was compelling and hugely character driven with Sara at the helm telling the story.
So Gav and Lou move in next door to Sara and Neil - Sara is dazzled by their bohemian and loose arty lifestyle and basically inserts herself into their lives to the detriment of her other friendships and relationships. But are the two couples really that well suited? What follows is the rise and fall of that friendship and it is really well written, insightful and gripping.
The proof I am reading asks "Whose side are you on?" - Well I think with due consideration I came down on the side of Gav and Lou - I can't tell you why for reasons of spoilers but when a lot of people have read this it will make for interesting discussions. It is a PERFECT book club read and one of those books you sink into.
I maybe would have liked a less abrupt ending but that is a tiny tiny bugbear in what was a really terrific and thought provoking read - How much can you forgive, where do you draw a line in the sand, can expectations be too high, all of that comes into play here and it was fascinating, highly readable stuff with truly divisive and captivating characters.
Definitely recommended.
This one is not out for a while so this is a small review I shall talk about it more nearer the time.
The People at Number 9 surprised me - I was expecting another of your usual psychological thriller reads - not that this would be a bad thing but The People At Number 9 has a different vibe to it. The tale of an intense friendship that turns toxic, it was compelling and hugely character driven with Sara at the helm telling the story.
So Gav and Lou move in next door to Sara and Neil - Sara is dazzled by their bohemian and loose arty lifestyle and basically inserts herself into their lives to the detriment of her other friendships and relationships. But are the two couples really that well suited? What follows is the rise and fall of that friendship and it is really well written, insightful and gripping.
The proof I am reading asks "Whose side are you on?" - Well I think with due consideration I came down on the side of Gav and Lou - I can't tell you why for reasons of spoilers but when a lot of people have read this it will make for interesting discussions. It is a PERFECT book club read and one of those books you sink into.
I maybe would have liked a less abrupt ending but that is a tiny tiny bugbear in what was a really terrific and thought provoking read - How much can you forgive, where do you draw a line in the sand, can expectations be too high, all of that comes into play here and it was fascinating, highly readable stuff with truly divisive and captivating characters.
Definitely recommended.
August 19, 2017
I live in number 9 but we are nothing like this family I hasten to add lol
The people at number 9 were an intriguing couple.
The suburban families this book touches are sometimes confusing. I've tossed between a 3 or 4 star rating for me personally. Some I'm going to sit on the fence with a 3.5.
The first half of the book was getting to know the characters. That was fine.
Gavin and Lou has just taken up residence next door to Sara. Sara wants to introduce herself but holds back while she finds courage to do this.
Gavin and Lou are eccentric exciting and at times plain weird.
But Sara finds them interesting intriguing and beguiling.
Sara's friendship with another neighbor she was close to wanes because of the attraction she has for her new neighbors.
Her husband Neil also spends time with them. They have children in common, school runs and Gary and Lou seem to be attracted to Sara and Neil for some reason too.
At times, I need to say I got lost in the haze of it all. The author had a struggle to find me again and pull me in to continue to read.
I stuck with it. For me it's an ok book verging on interesting and couldn't put down.
Like one of those films you need to watch until the end but don't know why!
My thanks to HQ on Net Galley for my early copy I volunteered to read.
I predict this is going to be a controversial book in likes.
The people at number 9 were an intriguing couple.
The suburban families this book touches are sometimes confusing. I've tossed between a 3 or 4 star rating for me personally. Some I'm going to sit on the fence with a 3.5.
The first half of the book was getting to know the characters. That was fine.
Gavin and Lou has just taken up residence next door to Sara. Sara wants to introduce herself but holds back while she finds courage to do this.
Gavin and Lou are eccentric exciting and at times plain weird.
But Sara finds them interesting intriguing and beguiling.
Sara's friendship with another neighbor she was close to wanes because of the attraction she has for her new neighbors.
Her husband Neil also spends time with them. They have children in common, school runs and Gary and Lou seem to be attracted to Sara and Neil for some reason too.
At times, I need to say I got lost in the haze of it all. The author had a struggle to find me again and pull me in to continue to read.
I stuck with it. For me it's an ok book verging on interesting and couldn't put down.
Like one of those films you need to watch until the end but don't know why!
My thanks to HQ on Net Galley for my early copy I volunteered to read.
I predict this is going to be a controversial book in likes.
June 2, 2022
Was hoping for a great twist at the end so that it would have made reading it worthwhile but sadly no!!
April 18, 2017
From this synopsis of this book, you imagine this is going to be a bit dark and a bit twisty, but it’s not. It’s simply a domestic thriller about people with a lot of money and connections in high up places flirting, changing life paths and having resentments. I understand that this was a novel about middle-class suburban life, which can be dull, but why did nothing happen? “But those changes will come at a price." I’m sorry, but I must have missed something… What changes? What price?
I didn’t like the way this was set out, and maybe that’s because it was an ARC copy, but this was really choppy and changey, with no indication that a longish time period (a few hours to a whole afternoon) had passed. The writing was fine, I have no faults with that, but it wasn’t anything special.
There are four main characters in this book. Sara and Neil and Lou and Gavin. While each of the characters were well developed and in depth, it didn’t stop them from being lacklustre and 2D. I couldn’t connect with any of them on a personal level. Even though I would get annoyed at certain things Lou said or did, I wasn’t getting annoyed on Sara’s behalf, because I thought Sara was whiny and she got on my nerves too.
One of my issues with this book, other than it being boring as heck, was the pretentious conversations going on, all the time. I know this book was a satire piece on the middle class, I get it, but don’t bore us to death with long conversations that are eye rollingly posh and uninteresting. You can create a satire piece without making your readers fall asleep. There is very little description in this book, you’ll find that 80% of all the writing is speech, so it really did my head in after a while.
Now, this point is completely down to personal preference, but another reason I couldn’t get on with this book was because of all the out-of-marriage flirting. It makes me really uncomfortable and squirmy reading that kind of stuff, so, since it was heavily featured in this, I disliked the book even more.
This is going to be a controversial book in terms of opinions, most definitely, and it would probably be a great book to read for a discussion, because you’d have lots of differing opinions on the characters, but, here’s my two-cents:
Ultimately, this novel is a story about over indulged middle class suburban families doing things a little bit “risky” like sex in a tent or smoking weed, and worrying about things only unrealistic well-off people could worry about, like home-schooling and arts and crafts. Not worth the time it takes to read.
Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
I didn’t like the way this was set out, and maybe that’s because it was an ARC copy, but this was really choppy and changey, with no indication that a longish time period (a few hours to a whole afternoon) had passed. The writing was fine, I have no faults with that, but it wasn’t anything special.
There are four main characters in this book. Sara and Neil and Lou and Gavin. While each of the characters were well developed and in depth, it didn’t stop them from being lacklustre and 2D. I couldn’t connect with any of them on a personal level. Even though I would get annoyed at certain things Lou said or did, I wasn’t getting annoyed on Sara’s behalf, because I thought Sara was whiny and she got on my nerves too.
One of my issues with this book, other than it being boring as heck, was the pretentious conversations going on, all the time. I know this book was a satire piece on the middle class, I get it, but don’t bore us to death with long conversations that are eye rollingly posh and uninteresting. You can create a satire piece without making your readers fall asleep. There is very little description in this book, you’ll find that 80% of all the writing is speech, so it really did my head in after a while.
Now, this point is completely down to personal preference, but another reason I couldn’t get on with this book was because of all the out-of-marriage flirting. It makes me really uncomfortable and squirmy reading that kind of stuff, so, since it was heavily featured in this, I disliked the book even more.
This is going to be a controversial book in terms of opinions, most definitely, and it would probably be a great book to read for a discussion, because you’d have lots of differing opinions on the characters, but, here’s my two-cents:
Ultimately, this novel is a story about over indulged middle class suburban families doing things a little bit “risky” like sex in a tent or smoking weed, and worrying about things only unrealistic well-off people could worry about, like home-schooling and arts and crafts. Not worth the time it takes to read.
Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2017
When I read the blurb of this one I was very keen to read it due to having had a very similar experience a long time ago. So I was interested to see how far this author would take this domestic drama and what twists she would add to a very recognisable “school gate”situation.
I have to admit to not particularly liking either of the couples here so I wasn’t on anyone’s “side” but it was rather fun being a fly on the wall for this particular friendship. I found this to be very much a strong, character driven domestic Noir that gradually gets under your skin until you physically can’t tear your eyes away from the “car crash” finale you know must be coming.
Sara really seems to come into her element when she falls under the spell of first Lou and then Gav. Her new neighbours are very cool and hip, casually name dropping as they settle into their new life in suburbia. Their bohemian lifestyle seems to stretch to their parenting skills as well and Sara finds herself with Lou’s children far more than is reciprocated but still basks in her new friendships to the detriment of her old ones. I would normally have got very frustrated by now with Sara but I was actually very happy to stand back and wait for that inevitable moment when it all came crashing down!
I found this absolutely enthralling from start to finish. It’s one of the better examples of this genre that I’ve read recently, perfectly portraying the pretentious middle class values with a deliciously dark and slyly humorous observation. Don’t go in expecting lots of dramatic action or an intensely climatic finale, it’s not a psychological thriller but an intriguing insightful look at the social dilemma that is our neighbourhood. Fans of writers such as Louise Candlish will lap this up with relish!
I have to admit to not particularly liking either of the couples here so I wasn’t on anyone’s “side” but it was rather fun being a fly on the wall for this particular friendship. I found this to be very much a strong, character driven domestic Noir that gradually gets under your skin until you physically can’t tear your eyes away from the “car crash” finale you know must be coming.
Sara really seems to come into her element when she falls under the spell of first Lou and then Gav. Her new neighbours are very cool and hip, casually name dropping as they settle into their new life in suburbia. Their bohemian lifestyle seems to stretch to their parenting skills as well and Sara finds herself with Lou’s children far more than is reciprocated but still basks in her new friendships to the detriment of her old ones. I would normally have got very frustrated by now with Sara but I was actually very happy to stand back and wait for that inevitable moment when it all came crashing down!
I found this absolutely enthralling from start to finish. It’s one of the better examples of this genre that I’ve read recently, perfectly portraying the pretentious middle class values with a deliciously dark and slyly humorous observation. Don’t go in expecting lots of dramatic action or an intensely climatic finale, it’s not a psychological thriller but an intriguing insightful look at the social dilemma that is our neighbourhood. Fans of writers such as Louise Candlish will lap this up with relish!
June 23, 2017
Life's too short. Don't go wasting it reading this book. I gave up at page 138 because NOTHING HAPPENS!! The characters are despicable, the plot is slow and dull. You'd get more out of looking out your front window and rifling through your neighbour's trash.
May 31, 2018
I’ve read a lot of this types of books lately, where a contented woman meets a new friend and starts to covet their life because they’re rich or cool or beautiful or just... different. That is the case with The people at no.9, Sara wants to be more like Lou, who she sees as a glamorous bohemian and because she falls for her Artist husband, Gav.
I usually love this premise, but the book falls down a little for me because Lou and Gav aren’t covetable in the slightest. Of course, I’m sure this is down to personal preference and some people may well find this couple to have an enviable lifestyle, but I’m not buying it.
Ohhh, Lou and Gav live in filth, they can’t be bothered to clean up after themselves or decorate their home, how cool! No it isn’t, it’s disgusting. Ohhh, Lou and Gav don’t look after their children and let their 3 year old run around the street unaware that she’s missing, how funny! No it’s not, it’s neglect, you idiots. Ohhh Lou and Gav let one child bully the other because the bully is their favourite and the other one is geeky, how novel! No it’s not, it’s twatish.
I spent the entire time being exasperated with Sara, whose husband and children are lovely but too boring for her, who lives a comfortable, happy life, but is bored. She turns her back on her friends and everyone who enabled her lifestyle because she envies the fecklessness of the couple next door and I found that faintly ludicrous. The grass isn’t always greener as Sara finds out, but by this time I’ve lost all sympathy and respect for her.
Reading this back, it appears that I didn’t enjoy the book, but I did! It was well written and plotted, it was just the believability of the characters that threw it off for me. Also, it was my birthday recently so I’m grumpy and old.
And a little hungover.
I usually love this premise, but the book falls down a little for me because Lou and Gav aren’t covetable in the slightest. Of course, I’m sure this is down to personal preference and some people may well find this couple to have an enviable lifestyle, but I’m not buying it.
Ohhh, Lou and Gav live in filth, they can’t be bothered to clean up after themselves or decorate their home, how cool! No it isn’t, it’s disgusting. Ohhh, Lou and Gav don’t look after their children and let their 3 year old run around the street unaware that she’s missing, how funny! No it’s not, it’s neglect, you idiots. Ohhh Lou and Gav let one child bully the other because the bully is their favourite and the other one is geeky, how novel! No it’s not, it’s twatish.
I spent the entire time being exasperated with Sara, whose husband and children are lovely but too boring for her, who lives a comfortable, happy life, but is bored. She turns her back on her friends and everyone who enabled her lifestyle because she envies the fecklessness of the couple next door and I found that faintly ludicrous. The grass isn’t always greener as Sara finds out, but by this time I’ve lost all sympathy and respect for her.
Reading this back, it appears that I didn’t enjoy the book, but I did! It was well written and plotted, it was just the believability of the characters that threw it off for me. Also, it was my birthday recently so I’m grumpy and old.
And a little hungover.
May 12, 2020
I really enjoyed 'The People at Number 9.' The main problem I had with it was that it was marketed more as a thriller when actually in my opinion it was a psychological drama. Because of expecting a thriller, nothing thrilling particularly happens, but reading it as a slow build up of emotional tension and kitchen sink drama it becomes something very different.
The story revolves around 2 sets of neighbours. One set, Sara and Neil rigidly stick to the rules of life and parenting and are comfortable with their lot. There isn't much excitement in their home, but they don't mind. The second set are newly moved in next door. Gav and Lou have a completely different attitude and outlook on life. They are casual about being parents, bohemian in their work, and think nothing of their house resembling a bomb site.
Sara is utterly entranced by Lou. She's everything that Sara now realises she wants to be. But some friendships are not made to be manipulated, and Sara is soon going to be far out of her depth.
I'm hoping to read Felicity Everett's 'The Move' next. This woman is brilliant at writing about obsessive friendships.
The story revolves around 2 sets of neighbours. One set, Sara and Neil rigidly stick to the rules of life and parenting and are comfortable with their lot. There isn't much excitement in their home, but they don't mind. The second set are newly moved in next door. Gav and Lou have a completely different attitude and outlook on life. They are casual about being parents, bohemian in their work, and think nothing of their house resembling a bomb site.
Sara is utterly entranced by Lou. She's everything that Sara now realises she wants to be. But some friendships are not made to be manipulated, and Sara is soon going to be far out of her depth.
I'm hoping to read Felicity Everett's 'The Move' next. This woman is brilliant at writing about obsessive friendships.
December 24, 2022
The People at Number 9 is a slow-burning, character-driven story about the dynamics of friendship. Sara and Neil have new neighbours move in next door and over a period of time, they become very close to the quirky Lou and Gav.
As the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that Sara's outlook on life is being subtly manipulated by this new friendship. The two couples' children become close, and it slowly evolves into something Sara thought was for the greater good.
Lou is an up and coming screenwriter and Gav is a sculptor, they have hardly any house rules and seem to have the perfect marriage. Their lifestyle is carefree and fun, and soon Sara and Neil spend every spare moment with them, making their own lives a little less mundane and regimental.
As the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that Sara's outlook on life is being subtly manipulated by this new friendship. The two couples' children become close, and it slowly evolves into something Sara thought was for the greater good.
Lou is an up and coming screenwriter and Gav is a sculptor, they have hardly any house rules and seem to have the perfect marriage. Their lifestyle is carefree and fun, and soon Sara and Neil spend every spare moment with them, making their own lives a little less mundane and regimental.
November 29, 2017
The People at Number 9 is a slow-burning, character-driven story about the dynamics of friendship. Sara and Neil have new neighbours move in next door and over a period of time, they become very close to the quirky Lou and Gav.
As the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that Sara's outlook on life is being subtly manipulated by this new friendship. The two couples' children become close, and it slowly evolves into something Sara thought was for the greater good.
Lou is an up and coming screenwriter and Gav is a sculptor, they have hardly any house rules and seem to have the perfect marriage. Their lifestyle is carefree and fun, and soon Sara and Neil spend every spare moment with them, making their own lives a little less mundane and regimental.
This was an unusual read for me, I was up and down with it like a yo-yo. What I thought was going to be a slightly dark, twisty character study, actually turned out to be an extremely slow moving, intense look at how people interact with one another. It was ultimately about how changing attitudes and decisions can have an adverse impact on life, family and future.
If you're looking for a story with lots of psychological thrills and plot twists, choose something else. However, if you enjoy reading about how relationships stand the test of time, and don't mind feeling uncomfortably up close and personal with the protagonists, I'd recommend this.
I found at times, I was wondering if anything was ever going to happen. Did this even have a plot?! At half way through, I was contemplating calling it a day, but something was driving me on. When I got to around 70%, and still nothing in particular was going on, it dawned on me that this wasn't the kind of book I thought it would be. What I did realise though was that I was so intrigued by the two couples relationships, I absolutely needed a conclusion.
Felicity Everett's writing was a bit hit and miss. It was easy to read with a slow but steady flow, but occasionally I felt that the use of flowery language didn't belong. I would be in mid-sentence and then some obscure word would be thrown in purely to try and impress the reader. Instead of adding a bit of intellect, it stuck out like a sore thumb, screaming 'here's a good word for you, I'm such a wordy author'. For example, when the word 'nascent' cropped up, I'd not heard of it and looked it up in the dictionary. When it appeared again a few chapters later, I rolled my eyes I'm afraid. Some stories suit a bit of arty-farty language, it didn't do this one any favours.
And while I'm on the subject of the writing style, some of the descriptions made me cringe! I'm not squeamish by a long chalk, but up close and personal it definitely was.
'....relishing the ripe, mushroom-y scent of him'.
'....with her husband’s semen coagulating on her inner thigh..'
Urgh! No! Too much, too much! If my other half had a ripe, mushroom-y scent, I'd be suggesting a bath, or a trip to the doctor. And I really don't want to think about coagulation of bodily fluids thanks.
Aside from my gripes, The People at Number 9 was different and I was surprised, intrigued, and irritated by it's style. I was glad I kept at it as the conclusion was satisfying. What kept me going was the tiniest hint all the way through that some serious shit was going to hit the fan. It just took an eternity to get to there.
This story wasn't about getting to the conclusion, it was about the journey. I can see Everetts vision with this, and she did a good job at keeping me ticking over. This book is for patient readers who don't mind waiting for something to happen. It simmers with very little mystery, but for me, there was something that hooked me, but I've no idea what.
I'd like to thank the publisher, HQ, the author, Felicity Everett and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
As the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that Sara's outlook on life is being subtly manipulated by this new friendship. The two couples' children become close, and it slowly evolves into something Sara thought was for the greater good.
Lou is an up and coming screenwriter and Gav is a sculptor, they have hardly any house rules and seem to have the perfect marriage. Their lifestyle is carefree and fun, and soon Sara and Neil spend every spare moment with them, making their own lives a little less mundane and regimental.
This was an unusual read for me, I was up and down with it like a yo-yo. What I thought was going to be a slightly dark, twisty character study, actually turned out to be an extremely slow moving, intense look at how people interact with one another. It was ultimately about how changing attitudes and decisions can have an adverse impact on life, family and future.
If you're looking for a story with lots of psychological thrills and plot twists, choose something else. However, if you enjoy reading about how relationships stand the test of time, and don't mind feeling uncomfortably up close and personal with the protagonists, I'd recommend this.
I found at times, I was wondering if anything was ever going to happen. Did this even have a plot?! At half way through, I was contemplating calling it a day, but something was driving me on. When I got to around 70%, and still nothing in particular was going on, it dawned on me that this wasn't the kind of book I thought it would be. What I did realise though was that I was so intrigued by the two couples relationships, I absolutely needed a conclusion.
Felicity Everett's writing was a bit hit and miss. It was easy to read with a slow but steady flow, but occasionally I felt that the use of flowery language didn't belong. I would be in mid-sentence and then some obscure word would be thrown in purely to try and impress the reader. Instead of adding a bit of intellect, it stuck out like a sore thumb, screaming 'here's a good word for you, I'm such a wordy author'. For example, when the word 'nascent' cropped up, I'd not heard of it and looked it up in the dictionary. When it appeared again a few chapters later, I rolled my eyes I'm afraid. Some stories suit a bit of arty-farty language, it didn't do this one any favours.
And while I'm on the subject of the writing style, some of the descriptions made me cringe! I'm not squeamish by a long chalk, but up close and personal it definitely was.
'....relishing the ripe, mushroom-y scent of him'.
'....with her husband’s semen coagulating on her inner thigh..'
Urgh! No! Too much, too much! If my other half had a ripe, mushroom-y scent, I'd be suggesting a bath, or a trip to the doctor. And I really don't want to think about coagulation of bodily fluids thanks.
Aside from my gripes, The People at Number 9 was different and I was surprised, intrigued, and irritated by it's style. I was glad I kept at it as the conclusion was satisfying. What kept me going was the tiniest hint all the way through that some serious shit was going to hit the fan. It just took an eternity to get to there.
This story wasn't about getting to the conclusion, it was about the journey. I can see Everetts vision with this, and she did a good job at keeping me ticking over. This book is for patient readers who don't mind waiting for something to happen. It simmers with very little mystery, but for me, there was something that hooked me, but I've no idea what.
I'd like to thank the publisher, HQ, the author, Felicity Everett and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2017
Thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin Uk ltd and Felicity Everett for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance reader copy of this book.
You can find my review on both Goodreads and Amazon. On Goodreads from today under Karen Whittard and on Amazon under k.e.whittard from publication date.
There is just something off for me about this book. I just felt a sense of unease and felt a bit uncomfortable reading this book. But I think that might be intentional by the writer please let me know what you think.
I found this book compelling, I was hooked on the writing the style as soon as I picked this book up. But something just didn't click into place for me which made me not feel comfortable. I'm not sure what it is.
This book isn't out for ages yet and I don't want to give anything away with my review. I am certain that everyone will be raving about this book and I am certain it will be on every book clubs to read pile across the world. Which I really really great because the author deserves it. But I'm really conflicted over this book which is why it has the 3 star review.
Reading this book is like looking through Sarah's world from the view point of a window. It is compelling and you can't look away.
If you are a people watcher and if you like psychological thriller books then I think that you should read this book. As it's completely different from the norm.
This book is again so perfect for book club discussions.
Whose side are you on?
How much can you forgive?
Where do you draw the line?
Can we place too high expectations on people?
Who is right and who is wrong?
Or is it that simple?
What are your first impressions of the family at number 9?
Ect
Fascinating, confusing, uncomfortable, intriguing, captivating, frustrating, conflicting and unputdownable.
Please let me know what you think of this book.
Happy reading everyone
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance reader copy of this book.
You can find my review on both Goodreads and Amazon. On Goodreads from today under Karen Whittard and on Amazon under k.e.whittard from publication date.
There is just something off for me about this book. I just felt a sense of unease and felt a bit uncomfortable reading this book. But I think that might be intentional by the writer please let me know what you think.
I found this book compelling, I was hooked on the writing the style as soon as I picked this book up. But something just didn't click into place for me which made me not feel comfortable. I'm not sure what it is.
This book isn't out for ages yet and I don't want to give anything away with my review. I am certain that everyone will be raving about this book and I am certain it will be on every book clubs to read pile across the world. Which I really really great because the author deserves it. But I'm really conflicted over this book which is why it has the 3 star review.
Reading this book is like looking through Sarah's world from the view point of a window. It is compelling and you can't look away.
If you are a people watcher and if you like psychological thriller books then I think that you should read this book. As it's completely different from the norm.
This book is again so perfect for book club discussions.
Whose side are you on?
How much can you forgive?
Where do you draw the line?
Can we place too high expectations on people?
Who is right and who is wrong?
Or is it that simple?
What are your first impressions of the family at number 9?
Ect
Fascinating, confusing, uncomfortable, intriguing, captivating, frustrating, conflicting and unputdownable.
Please let me know what you think of this book.
Happy reading everyone
August 5, 2017
Tried to start this 3 or 4 times and just couldn't get into it. It was so disjointed & awkward & none of the characters were likable at all. Ultimately, it was just boring.
I also ended up looking at non-spoiler reviews to see if the end was worth it but a lot of people said that there wasn't any big reveal or super twist so I gave it up. Another domestic thriller that has no thrill.
Thank you to Harper Collins for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
I also ended up looking at non-spoiler reviews to see if the end was worth it but a lot of people said that there wasn't any big reveal or super twist so I gave it up. Another domestic thriller that has no thrill.
Thank you to Harper Collins for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2017
Sometimes your expectation of what a book is going to be about can skew your experience of reading it. I think this is probably the case with The People At Number 9, being not at all what I was expecting and leaving me a little confused regarding my feelings towards it.
The People At Number 9 tells the story of two couples living in middle class suburbia. When Lou and Gav move in next door to Sara and Neil, Sara is dazzled. Creative, charismatic and cultured, they're everything she wants to be herself. When a friendship between the set of couples is established, they quickly start spending more and more time together, becoming increasingly intertwined with each others lives. But familiarity breeds contempt - right? And when the friendship begins to feel one-sided, jealousy and resentment starts to creep in.
I'll be honest, I was expecting more of a heart thumping, twisty psychological thriller style read when I started this. It is neither of those things. The darkness in this book is more subtle, it won't chill you or jump out at you, but rather cast a slow, uncomfortable realization of the less attractive qualities we all can be susceptible to now and then and like to keep hidden - envy, dissatisfaction, longing and insecurity. In Sara, those feeling are intensified, simmering resentments escalating to almost obsession. I didn't like her - she's a social climber, tries too hard to impress those she deems intelligent and admirable, making her unattractive to all around her. She's constantly trying to mold herself and her family into what she thinks they should be. Yet, I think if we're completely honest with ourselves, we can all recognise some of the thoughts and feelings she has, even if only fleeting. That's where the darkness lies in this book.
I didn't like Lou or Gav either, pretentious and manipulating that they are. Yet they were fascinatingly intriguing - in fact all of the characters were. There isn't one who I could say I liked (even the children if I'm allowed to say that!) yet they were realistic. Each one is so well observed, you'll be recognising people you know personally in them. The plot is far from gripping, it's a believably mundane story of domestic life and could be playing out between neighbours across the road as we speak. Yet it is at times utterly compelling. Felicity Everett's ability to capture human nature and traits is outstanding, and while I struggled to begin with due to taking a deep dislike to the characters, from around halfway through I couldn't stop reading.
Wrongly again, I expected a climatic or dramatic ending, waiting for it to happen and realising with only a couple of pages left that this wasn't going to happen. It's taken me a few days to write my review, as I needed time to process how I felt about this book. On reflection, having put aside any preconceptions I had about what this book was going to be, I can appreciate how well written and brilliantly observed it is. The People At Number 9 is probably going to divide opinion between readers, I know I'm not the only reviewer to find it completely different to expectations. Despite feeling a little disappointed that it wasn't the pacey thriller I wanted, I did find it compelling, intense and uncomfortably believable. A few days on I'm still thinking about it and recalling it vividly - it certainly made an impression on me despite my mixed feelings.
(I read an advanced copy courtesy of the publisher)
The People At Number 9 tells the story of two couples living in middle class suburbia. When Lou and Gav move in next door to Sara and Neil, Sara is dazzled. Creative, charismatic and cultured, they're everything she wants to be herself. When a friendship between the set of couples is established, they quickly start spending more and more time together, becoming increasingly intertwined with each others lives. But familiarity breeds contempt - right? And when the friendship begins to feel one-sided, jealousy and resentment starts to creep in.
I'll be honest, I was expecting more of a heart thumping, twisty psychological thriller style read when I started this. It is neither of those things. The darkness in this book is more subtle, it won't chill you or jump out at you, but rather cast a slow, uncomfortable realization of the less attractive qualities we all can be susceptible to now and then and like to keep hidden - envy, dissatisfaction, longing and insecurity. In Sara, those feeling are intensified, simmering resentments escalating to almost obsession. I didn't like her - she's a social climber, tries too hard to impress those she deems intelligent and admirable, making her unattractive to all around her. She's constantly trying to mold herself and her family into what she thinks they should be. Yet, I think if we're completely honest with ourselves, we can all recognise some of the thoughts and feelings she has, even if only fleeting. That's where the darkness lies in this book.
I didn't like Lou or Gav either, pretentious and manipulating that they are. Yet they were fascinatingly intriguing - in fact all of the characters were. There isn't one who I could say I liked (even the children if I'm allowed to say that!) yet they were realistic. Each one is so well observed, you'll be recognising people you know personally in them. The plot is far from gripping, it's a believably mundane story of domestic life and could be playing out between neighbours across the road as we speak. Yet it is at times utterly compelling. Felicity Everett's ability to capture human nature and traits is outstanding, and while I struggled to begin with due to taking a deep dislike to the characters, from around halfway through I couldn't stop reading.
Wrongly again, I expected a climatic or dramatic ending, waiting for it to happen and realising with only a couple of pages left that this wasn't going to happen. It's taken me a few days to write my review, as I needed time to process how I felt about this book. On reflection, having put aside any preconceptions I had about what this book was going to be, I can appreciate how well written and brilliantly observed it is. The People At Number 9 is probably going to divide opinion between readers, I know I'm not the only reviewer to find it completely different to expectations. Despite feeling a little disappointed that it wasn't the pacey thriller I wanted, I did find it compelling, intense and uncomfortably believable. A few days on I'm still thinking about it and recalling it vividly - it certainly made an impression on me despite my mixed feelings.
(I read an advanced copy courtesy of the publisher)
April 10, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Harper Collins UK in exchange for an honest review.
The People at Number 9 follows a middle-aged couple called Sara and Neil and their blossoming friendship with their new next-door neighbours Gav and Lou. While Sara and Neil are pretty ordinary, Gav and Lou are free-spirited and artistic and seem to live life a little on the wild. As Sara and Neil become enamoured by their neighbours, they soon come to realise that they might not be as great as they seem.
I thought this book was going to be a bit of a shocking thriller but unfortunately the story fell flat for me and i felt quite bored throughout. I immediately disliked Sara - she came off as a bit pretentious and snobby and then transformed to fake when she actually met Lou. I was mildly entertained by how quickly Sara became quite pathetic around Lou and Gav but I also just quite turned off. This is one of this ebook where no characters end up being likeable (except perhaps Carol who just got the bad end of the stick throughout) and while it works for some books, it didn’t quite work for me with this one.
I didn’t really buy Sara’s instant obsession with Gav. It was just too instant for me, considering she appeared to be a happily married woman before that. All it took was 5 minutes chat before she was fantasising about him while in bed with her husband. I would have like their relationship to be more developed before she decided she had feelings for him.
I did like how all the weird things between Lou and Gav and Sara and Neil were dropped quite subtly into the narrative - such as the money Sara and Neil invested in the film. I liked picking up on all of this and starting to put my own spin on what game Lou and Gav were playing with their gullible neighbours.
The end was just disappointing for me. It was a really wet sizzler and wasn’t a big bang at all like I had been expecting. .
The People at Number 9 follows a middle-aged couple called Sara and Neil and their blossoming friendship with their new next-door neighbours Gav and Lou. While Sara and Neil are pretty ordinary, Gav and Lou are free-spirited and artistic and seem to live life a little on the wild. As Sara and Neil become enamoured by their neighbours, they soon come to realise that they might not be as great as they seem.
I thought this book was going to be a bit of a shocking thriller but unfortunately the story fell flat for me and i felt quite bored throughout. I immediately disliked Sara - she came off as a bit pretentious and snobby and then transformed to fake when she actually met Lou. I was mildly entertained by how quickly Sara became quite pathetic around Lou and Gav but I also just quite turned off. This is one of this ebook where no characters end up being likeable (except perhaps Carol who just got the bad end of the stick throughout) and while it works for some books, it didn’t quite work for me with this one.
I didn’t really buy Sara’s instant obsession with Gav. It was just too instant for me, considering she appeared to be a happily married woman before that. All it took was 5 minutes chat before she was fantasising about him while in bed with her husband. I would have like their relationship to be more developed before she decided she had feelings for him.
I did like how all the weird things between Lou and Gav and Sara and Neil were dropped quite subtly into the narrative - such as the money Sara and Neil invested in the film. I liked picking up on all of this and starting to put my own spin on what game Lou and Gav were playing with their gullible neighbours.
The end was just disappointing for me. It was a really wet sizzler and wasn’t a big bang at all like I had been expecting. .
August 28, 2017
A novel about neighbors that turn into closest friends, that turn into more than they bargained for.
Unfortunately this book just didn't work for me. I'm not sure if it's how I interpreted the synopsis or what it was exactly that just made my eyes glaze over a bit. "But those changes will come at a price..." and "shattering consequences" made me feel there was going to be some big revelation or something "dark and delicious"... and that just never happened.
Did not find this dark at all. Definitely not a domestic thriller or, in my opinion, suspenseful in the slightest. A domestic fiction depicting neighborhood couples and their place in their social circles. The note on the back of the book says it best, "...novel about envy, longing, and betrayal in the suburbs." Both couples are seemingly well off and I wish just one of their kids would have had some type of normal name (or is this satire based on *rich* people naming their kids something weird and "interesting" these days?). Unlikable characters at every turn. It was like watching a reality show but never needing to grab the popcorn.
I prefer to have a little more punch to my reads.. and the pace of this one was a tad bit too slow for me and felt very repetitive. I kept expecting something to happen and even at the end, I felt deflated. For those who like a bit of the manipulative middle-class family type, light on the drama, and don't need a lot of dramatic action or huge climax at the end, this would be more your type of read.
Unfortunately this book just didn't work for me. I'm not sure if it's how I interpreted the synopsis or what it was exactly that just made my eyes glaze over a bit. "But those changes will come at a price..." and "shattering consequences" made me feel there was going to be some big revelation or something "dark and delicious"... and that just never happened.
Did not find this dark at all. Definitely not a domestic thriller or, in my opinion, suspenseful in the slightest. A domestic fiction depicting neighborhood couples and their place in their social circles. The note on the back of the book says it best, "...novel about envy, longing, and betrayal in the suburbs." Both couples are seemingly well off and I wish just one of their kids would have had some type of normal name (or is this satire based on *rich* people naming their kids something weird and "interesting" these days?). Unlikable characters at every turn. It was like watching a reality show but never needing to grab the popcorn.
I prefer to have a little more punch to my reads.. and the pace of this one was a tad bit too slow for me and felt very repetitive. I kept expecting something to happen and even at the end, I felt deflated. For those who like a bit of the manipulative middle-class family type, light on the drama, and don't need a lot of dramatic action or huge climax at the end, this would be more your type of read.
August 21, 2018
Um livro que mostra como há vizinhos e amigos que não são verdadeiros e como somos levados a pensar em que tudo é perfeito quando na verdade não é. Um tema pessoal para a autora.
November 9, 2023
I think that I am being generous with a 2 Star. This book went NOWHERE! Boring characters, boring story. It drug on and on and on......
May 7, 2023
2.7/5 stars.
I feel like I was mislead from the jump. The book is advertised dark and twisted psychological thriller, but it’s not. It’s about middle-class suburban couples that honestly are just living, quite dull. The 4 main characters were somewhat developed, but I genuinely just found them all annoying, especially Sara, which made it difficult to connect and enjoy the book.
The writing lacked fluidity, making hard to get into. These couples are so very pretentious, and their conversations were a nightmare to continue reading. I feel like that was the point? However, you can write satire without it being painfully uninteresting.
There were so many moments that made it seem like the book was going to go in an intriguing direction, only for it to be nothing. Overall, I was kind of let down. In my opinion, this is a skip.
I feel like I was mislead from the jump. The book is advertised dark and twisted psychological thriller, but it’s not. It’s about middle-class suburban couples that honestly are just living, quite dull. The 4 main characters were somewhat developed, but I genuinely just found them all annoying, especially Sara, which made it difficult to connect and enjoy the book.
The writing lacked fluidity, making hard to get into. These couples are so very pretentious, and their conversations were a nightmare to continue reading. I feel like that was the point? However, you can write satire without it being painfully uninteresting.
There were so many moments that made it seem like the book was going to go in an intriguing direction, only for it to be nothing. Overall, I was kind of let down. In my opinion, this is a skip.
January 16, 2021
I really liked this book, in the sense that it was just a really easy to follow read with a lot of relatable parts. I'm pretty sure everyone has had someone at some point where you've offered friendship and done things for them out of kindness and they've took advantage of that kindness.
Sara I felt conflicted over. She was desperate for friendship but always wanting better. A better friend, a better husband etc. I was quite confused at the ending, how she was so broken over something she had wanted to do herself, had tried to do herself. Lou obviously took advantage of Sara over and over, constantly leaving the kids with her, using her and Neil to take money and have them pay for things (both Lou and Gav took advantage of that).
I'm confused at the part where Gav said sorry - I'm wondering if he found out and tried to get revenge by doing the same with Sara.
It's a good read, not overly twisty but it flows well and is enjoyable.
Sara I felt conflicted over. She was desperate for friendship but always wanting better. A better friend, a better husband etc. I was quite confused at the ending, how she was so broken over something she had wanted to do herself, had tried to do herself. Lou obviously took advantage of Sara over and over, constantly leaving the kids with her, using her and Neil to take money and have them pay for things (both Lou and Gav took advantage of that).
I'm confused at the part where Gav said sorry - I'm wondering if he found out and tried to get revenge by doing the same with Sara.
It's a good read, not overly twisty but it flows well and is enjoyable.
June 16, 2018
Sara lebt zusammen mit ihrem Mann und ihren Kindern ein einigermaßen gutes Leben. So wirklich zufrieden ist sie nicht, aber auch nicht wirklich unglücklich, so dass sie ein wenig im Trott vor sich hin lebt. Als nebenan ein neues Paar einzieht, ist Sara sofort von Lou und Gavin fasziniert, da diese all das zu verkörpern scheinen, was Sara sich wünscht. Die Familie von nebenan hält Sara all das vor Augen, von dem sie nicht mal wusste, dass sie es sich wünscht. Schnell freunden sich die beiden Paare an, und Sara löst sich immer mehr von ihren alten Freunden. Macht sie damit vielleicht einen großen Fehler?
In letzter Zeit scheine ich ein Händchen für Bücher zu haben, die laut Klappentext total spannend klingen, sich dann aber als total langweilige Stories entpuppen. Zuvor war ich bereits von "Truly Madly Guilty" von Liane Moriarty so enttäuscht. Und leider ging es mir nun auch mit "Das Paar aus Haus Nr. 9" so. Das Cover wirkte wunderbar düster und der Klappentext klang so ansprechend, dass ich sofort Feuer und Flamme war, das Buch zu lesen und in die Story einzutauchen.
Ich erwartete einen düsteren Roman über zwei Familien, die beide Geheimnisse voreinander haben und vielleicht auch die ein oder andere Leiche im Keller. Bekommen habe ich ein seichtes Familiendrama, aber so ist das wohl mit den Erwartungen. Manchmal klappt's und manchmal greift man eben voll daneben.
Glücklicherweise empfand ich jedoch den Schreibstil als sehr leicht und zugänglich, so dass ich mich nicht durch die Seten quälen musste. Man muss der Autorin also durchaus zugestehen, dass sie weiß wie man den Leser bei der Stange hält. Es war also durchaus Spannung vorhanden, so dass ich immer darauf wartete, dass nun der große Knall kommt. Er kam nicht. Dadurch war ich am Ende wirklich enttäuscht, da es im Grunde wieder mal viel Tam Tam um Nichts war.
Lobend erwähnen muss ich jedoch die Figurenzeichnung. Ich glaube jeder hat schon mal jemanden im Leben getroffen, der nach außen sehr viel faszinierender wirkte, als er letztlich ist und genau diese Charakterzüge hat die Autorin wirklich gut eingefangen. Auch die Dynamiken, die zwischen den Charakteren geschildert wurden, fand ich sehr authentisch. Trotzdem werde ich wohl bei weiteren Büchern der Autorin gut abwägen, ob ich nochmal dazu greifen werde.
In letzter Zeit scheine ich ein Händchen für Bücher zu haben, die laut Klappentext total spannend klingen, sich dann aber als total langweilige Stories entpuppen. Zuvor war ich bereits von "Truly Madly Guilty" von Liane Moriarty so enttäuscht. Und leider ging es mir nun auch mit "Das Paar aus Haus Nr. 9" so. Das Cover wirkte wunderbar düster und der Klappentext klang so ansprechend, dass ich sofort Feuer und Flamme war, das Buch zu lesen und in die Story einzutauchen.
Ich erwartete einen düsteren Roman über zwei Familien, die beide Geheimnisse voreinander haben und vielleicht auch die ein oder andere Leiche im Keller. Bekommen habe ich ein seichtes Familiendrama, aber so ist das wohl mit den Erwartungen. Manchmal klappt's und manchmal greift man eben voll daneben.
Glücklicherweise empfand ich jedoch den Schreibstil als sehr leicht und zugänglich, so dass ich mich nicht durch die Seten quälen musste. Man muss der Autorin also durchaus zugestehen, dass sie weiß wie man den Leser bei der Stange hält. Es war also durchaus Spannung vorhanden, so dass ich immer darauf wartete, dass nun der große Knall kommt. Er kam nicht. Dadurch war ich am Ende wirklich enttäuscht, da es im Grunde wieder mal viel Tam Tam um Nichts war.
Lobend erwähnen muss ich jedoch die Figurenzeichnung. Ich glaube jeder hat schon mal jemanden im Leben getroffen, der nach außen sehr viel faszinierender wirkte, als er letztlich ist und genau diese Charakterzüge hat die Autorin wirklich gut eingefangen. Auch die Dynamiken, die zwischen den Charakteren geschildert wurden, fand ich sehr authentisch. Trotzdem werde ich wohl bei weiteren Büchern der Autorin gut abwägen, ob ich nochmal dazu greifen werde.
April 14, 2017
All of my reviews can be found at: http://jacob-reviews-books.blogspot.c...
The People At Number 9 is a debut by Felicity Everett.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this book. From reading the blurb I was thinking that it would be a twisty psychological thriller, it wasn’t quite that, but I was very surprised by what I read and I found it an exciting and intriguing read.
When Gavin and Lou move next door to Sara and Neil, Sara is desperate to strike up a conversation with Lou. When she finally gets round to saying hello they soon develop a friendship and for Sara, in Lou, she has found a new best friend. But the relationship soon begins to turn toxic and leads to a devastating twist which will have consequences for them all. This novel had some great characterization which for me was one of the strong points of the story.
What I really loved about this book was the dialogue. This is where Felicity excelled in her writing which made the book engaging and kept me turning the pages. I could sense a time bomb ticking in the background as I read this book and I was waiting for that moment when one of the couples was going to snap and I loved how Felicity built up the tension. The twist at the end really did surprise me; I wasn’t expecting it to take that direction.
On the front cover of the novel, the publishers ask us: whose side are you on? For me I couldn’t really decide. I think I definitely preferred Sara over Lou however.
The book wasn’t quite what I expected but overall I really enjoyed this story. Felicity is a writer to watch and I will certainly be looking out for her next book. Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy to review.
The People At Number 9 is a debut by Felicity Everett.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this book. From reading the blurb I was thinking that it would be a twisty psychological thriller, it wasn’t quite that, but I was very surprised by what I read and I found it an exciting and intriguing read.
When Gavin and Lou move next door to Sara and Neil, Sara is desperate to strike up a conversation with Lou. When she finally gets round to saying hello they soon develop a friendship and for Sara, in Lou, she has found a new best friend. But the relationship soon begins to turn toxic and leads to a devastating twist which will have consequences for them all. This novel had some great characterization which for me was one of the strong points of the story.
What I really loved about this book was the dialogue. This is where Felicity excelled in her writing which made the book engaging and kept me turning the pages. I could sense a time bomb ticking in the background as I read this book and I was waiting for that moment when one of the couples was going to snap and I loved how Felicity built up the tension. The twist at the end really did surprise me; I wasn’t expecting it to take that direction.
On the front cover of the novel, the publishers ask us: whose side are you on? For me I couldn’t really decide. I think I definitely preferred Sara over Lou however.
The book wasn’t quite what I expected but overall I really enjoyed this story. Felicity is a writer to watch and I will certainly be looking out for her next book. Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy to review.
August 17, 2017
@#%@^%#$##@# are you kidding me!?!? This book is absolutely awful. This has cured my indulgence in Shopper's Drug Mart paperbacks that I've never heard of for good. This book is described as a thriller when not. one. single. thrilling. thing. happened!!! Long (and I mean painfully long) story short, this is the story of a basic middle age couple who have a couple move in next door who are super quirky and artistic. This makes basic couple feel young and cool to be their friends and they developed a total couple crush. Then they realize the artsy couple aren't really that cool, they are kind of selfish and lazy and flakey. The end. Seriously; that's it. When something is described as a thriller I thought someone was going to go crazy or murder someone or do something really crazy. The author just decided to write about every single mundane thing a middle class suburban family could struggle with and put it in book form. It makes Desperate Housewives look like Citizen Kane. I seriously have never been this let down by how pedestrian a book could be. Don't ever, ever, EVER read it. One star is too high.
May 8, 2017
This book is very Franzenian with brilliantly captured conversations between intelligently drawn characters. I loved it! Lou and Gav, the people at no 9 are otherworldly creatures. From a parallel universe. Same same but different. The good and bad in their complex relationships are revealed in a beautifully nuanced way. I'm now casting a more critical eye over my own friendships. Wish I could capture them as perfectly as the author.
August 13, 2018
La historia empieza cuando Lou y Gavin se mudan a vivir en la casa de al lado de Sara. Estos nuevos vecinos resultan ser de lo más exótico y glamuroso tanto para Sara como para su marido, Neil. Hasta el punto de que se van a olvidar de sus amigos desde hace nueve años.
Al principio, todo va a ser maravilloso pero, poco a poco, Sara va encontrar ciertos comportamientos que no le gustan en absoluto, y que poco a poco nos van a llevar al final de la historia. La cual, no es una historia como las demás, no tiene demasiada intriga, ni se busca un final en concreto, si no que es un libro que está hecho para entretener y, de alguna manera, que podamos ver como son las cosas muchas veces en la vida real.
La sinopsis nos ha llamado la atención desde que la hemos leído, y la historia nos ha sorprendido mucho. Nunca habíamos leído nada parecido, y esta historia nos ha llegado mucho. Hemos empatizado con todos los personajes, ya que todos tienen algo que aportar a la novela. Aún así, nos quedamos con Sara.
Al principio, todo va a ser maravilloso pero, poco a poco, Sara va encontrar ciertos comportamientos que no le gustan en absoluto, y que poco a poco nos van a llevar al final de la historia. La cual, no es una historia como las demás, no tiene demasiada intriga, ni se busca un final en concreto, si no que es un libro que está hecho para entretener y, de alguna manera, que podamos ver como son las cosas muchas veces en la vida real.
La sinopsis nos ha llamado la atención desde que la hemos leído, y la historia nos ha sorprendido mucho. Nunca habíamos leído nada parecido, y esta historia nos ha llegado mucho. Hemos empatizado con todos los personajes, ya que todos tienen algo que aportar a la novela. Aún así, nos quedamos con Sara.
August 28, 2017
Thanks to HQ Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
Have you ever been curious about the new neighbors that moved in? I know we all have had those nosy moments of looking out the windows to get a glimpse before finally meeting them. Well, THE PEOPLE AT NUMBER 9 is about just that. When Lou and Gavin move in next door, Sara is intrigued by how different they are an how they live that she reaches the point of obsession. Marketed as a thriller, I’d say it’s more of a domestic drama.
Sara, her husband Neil, and their two sons live in a nice neighborhood. Well-kept homes and friendly neighbors. One day, she notices that Number 9 is newly occupied. After a few days she gets up the courage to go and introduce herself. She is instantly intrigued with this new couple – Lou and Gavin. They’re eccentric, creative, and cultured – they live in a way that is much different than what Sara has become accustomed. Once they become close friends, they spend more and more time together, but after some time it begins to feel like a one-sided friendship. This is when the resentment and obsession begin to creep in.
This is incredibly different than what I was expecting from this book. I think that it was marketed wrong – this definitely isn’t a thriller. There’s a lot of character development within the events and there’s this darkness that begins to consume the story. Felicity Everett perfectly captured these characters and made them human – I can honestly say that I found myself thinking of people I knew reflected in some of these characters. By no means is this a gripping thrill ride, but it’s a very well-written story about the interactions between neighbors and the hostility that can build up.
So if you’re looking for an edge-of-your-seat thriller, then move along. But, if you want a domestic drama that has incredibly life like (and not always likeable) characters, then this is the book for you! Once I got over my anticipations for this novel, I was drawn in and couldn’t stop reading. I needed to know how this would play out between Sara, Neil, Lou, and Gavin. I can see this one being divided when it comes to readers that like and dislike it!
4/5 stars
Have you ever been curious about the new neighbors that moved in? I know we all have had those nosy moments of looking out the windows to get a glimpse before finally meeting them. Well, THE PEOPLE AT NUMBER 9 is about just that. When Lou and Gavin move in next door, Sara is intrigued by how different they are an how they live that she reaches the point of obsession. Marketed as a thriller, I’d say it’s more of a domestic drama.
Sara, her husband Neil, and their two sons live in a nice neighborhood. Well-kept homes and friendly neighbors. One day, she notices that Number 9 is newly occupied. After a few days she gets up the courage to go and introduce herself. She is instantly intrigued with this new couple – Lou and Gavin. They’re eccentric, creative, and cultured – they live in a way that is much different than what Sara has become accustomed. Once they become close friends, they spend more and more time together, but after some time it begins to feel like a one-sided friendship. This is when the resentment and obsession begin to creep in.
This is incredibly different than what I was expecting from this book. I think that it was marketed wrong – this definitely isn’t a thriller. There’s a lot of character development within the events and there’s this darkness that begins to consume the story. Felicity Everett perfectly captured these characters and made them human – I can honestly say that I found myself thinking of people I knew reflected in some of these characters. By no means is this a gripping thrill ride, but it’s a very well-written story about the interactions between neighbors and the hostility that can build up.
So if you’re looking for an edge-of-your-seat thriller, then move along. But, if you want a domestic drama that has incredibly life like (and not always likeable) characters, then this is the book for you! Once I got over my anticipations for this novel, I was drawn in and couldn’t stop reading. I needed to know how this would play out between Sara, Neil, Lou, and Gavin. I can see this one being divided when it comes to readers that like and dislike it!
4/5 stars
February 21, 2017
I really enjoyed No. 9. Lou reminded me of a person in my life. The more I read the more I drew comparisons and this kept me hooked. I did not want it to end and felt it ended quite quickly, I would have loved more detail. Nevertheless I will definitely give it 5 stars as I could not put it down and found the characters intriguing.
Thank you to Netgalley for having an early read of this book.
Thank you to Netgalley for having an early read of this book.
May 16, 2017
A great pacy read - beautifully written, funny and moving. The People at Number 9
I romped through this and then felt sad when it ended. It's beautifully written, funny and moving. A wonderfully honest and insightful exploration of friendship and aspiration, which also explores the mystique of 'creative' people and the price of their creativity.
Recommended.
I romped through this and then felt sad when it ended. It's beautifully written, funny and moving. A wonderfully honest and insightful exploration of friendship and aspiration, which also explores the mystique of 'creative' people and the price of their creativity.
Recommended.
May 23, 2018
Never has a book dragged so much. I thought I’d never get to the end. I kept reading in the hope that something would happen but instead it was 332 pages of nothing. Absolutely nothing.
I get what the theme was but it could have been made more interesting. The couple of hours that I spent reading it are a couple of hours I can’t get back!
I get what the theme was but it could have been made more interesting. The couple of hours that I spent reading it are a couple of hours I can’t get back!
January 30, 2017
Brilliant. Loved it. A little gem of a book
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