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The Neighbor
In a taut psychological thriller filled with breathtaking twists, Joseph Souza explores the tangle of betrayal and deception between two neighboring couples, and asks how well we can really know others—or ourselves.
It all seems so promising at the start . . .
When Leah and her husband, Clay, move from Seattle to Maine, she envisions a vibrant new neighborhood packed with families—playmates for her twins, new friends she can confide in and bond with. But while Clay works long hours to establish his brewery, Leah is left alone each day in a nearly deserted housing development where the only other occupants are aloof and standoffish.
Bored and adrift, Leah finds herself watching Clarissa and Russell Gaines next door, envying their stylishly decorated home and their university careers. But Leah’s obsession with the intriguing, elegant Clarissa grows until she’s not just spying from afar but sneaking into their house, taking small objects . . . reading Clarissa’s diary. It contains clues to a hidden turmoil Leah never guessed at—and a connection to a local college girl who’s disappeared.
The more Leah learns about Clarissa, the more questions emerge. Because behind every neighbor’s door there are secrets that could shatter lives forever . . .
“The Neighbor is like watching a chain-reaction car wreck happening in slow motion. Scary and disturbing with dark psychological twists and turns, it horrifies while it fascinates. I couldn’t turn away!”
—Lisa Jackson, # 1 New York Times bestselling author
It all seems so promising at the start . . .
When Leah and her husband, Clay, move from Seattle to Maine, she envisions a vibrant new neighborhood packed with families—playmates for her twins, new friends she can confide in and bond with. But while Clay works long hours to establish his brewery, Leah is left alone each day in a nearly deserted housing development where the only other occupants are aloof and standoffish.
Bored and adrift, Leah finds herself watching Clarissa and Russell Gaines next door, envying their stylishly decorated home and their university careers. But Leah’s obsession with the intriguing, elegant Clarissa grows until she’s not just spying from afar but sneaking into their house, taking small objects . . . reading Clarissa’s diary. It contains clues to a hidden turmoil Leah never guessed at—and a connection to a local college girl who’s disappeared.
The more Leah learns about Clarissa, the more questions emerge. Because behind every neighbor’s door there are secrets that could shatter lives forever . . .
“The Neighbor is like watching a chain-reaction car wreck happening in slow motion. Scary and disturbing with dark psychological twists and turns, it horrifies while it fascinates. I couldn’t turn away!”
—Lisa Jackson, # 1 New York Times bestselling author
480 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 24, 2018
168 people are currently reading
1759 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Souza
16 books88 followersJoseph Souza's award-winning short stories have been published in various literary journals throughout the country. Winner of the Andre Dubus Award for short fiction, he also won Honorable Mention for the Al Blanchard Award and the 2013 Maine Literary Award. His mystery, UNPAVED SURFACES, was published by Kindle Press in 2015 and was an Amazon bestseller. NEED TO FIND YOU, his crime thriller set in Portland, was the first novel to go direct-to-publish by Kindle Press. His new domestic thriller, THE NEIGHBOR (Kensington) will be published April 24, 2018. Visit josephsouza.net for more information about his work.
He lives near Portland, Maine with his wife and two children and enjoys running, cooking and playing golf when not writing.
Joseph can be contacted at souzajf@hotmail.com and on Twitter @josephsouza3. You can also visit his website to read more about Joseph. www.josephsouza.net.
He lives near Portland, Maine with his wife and two children and enjoys running, cooking and playing golf when not writing.
Joseph can be contacted at souzajf@hotmail.com and on Twitter @josephsouza3. You can also visit his website to read more about Joseph. www.josephsouza.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
April 24, 2018
4WTH Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Two houses... four adults... four extremely screwed up people.... I can’t remember a book with a group of more unlikable characters... with no morals or scruples or the capability to think things through.... I wanted to swoop in and take their kids out of this extremely unhealthy situation.... not sure how all these people had all this time for all the shenanigans when both couples had two kids? Going to be completely honest there were a lot of things that happened in this book that I’m not sure about... you really have to suspend belief quite a bit.... but these people really were so whacked out that it kept me so engrossed... that I just let some things go... and enjoyed the crazy ride!
This book also addressed the racial tensions in our country... not really sure if this was the ideal platform for this, but that’s not for me to judge.... and I’m not going to lie it did make me uncomfortable at times.... as someone who lives on the complete opposite side of the country in a very liberal Southern California I sometimes forget that there are still racial tensions... additionally I have absolutely no idea what the situation is like in the state of Maine.... I just know that where I live nobody would look twice if a mixed couple were dining at a restaurant, it probably wouldn’t even register with me at all.... I think this book would have been just fine without the discussion of race, but if that is something that will make you uncomfortable you are forewarned....
Now back to this crazy plot... first we have Leah... Leah is so bored with her life that she is breaking into her neighbors house taking items and reading her journal.... Leah here’s an idea talk to your 11-year-old son about what is going on with him, because believe me something is going on.... Clay you are a disaster, go check yourself into rehab or attend some AA meetings already.... Clarissa are you brillian and super manipulative or what... and you shocked me more than anybody.... WowwowWow..... Russell I don’t even know what to think, but anything you get you definitely deserve....
See what I’m saying a whole cluster of unlikable characters.... doing all kinds of things they shouldn’t be doing... but for me it worked, it kept me engrossed throughout the entire book... I just could not wait to see what was going to happen next!
Strongly recommend two fans of psychological thrillers... but be sure you are able to suspend belief for this one and enjoy the crazy ride...
*** thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this book ***
Two houses... four adults... four extremely screwed up people.... I can’t remember a book with a group of more unlikable characters... with no morals or scruples or the capability to think things through.... I wanted to swoop in and take their kids out of this extremely unhealthy situation.... not sure how all these people had all this time for all the shenanigans when both couples had two kids? Going to be completely honest there were a lot of things that happened in this book that I’m not sure about... you really have to suspend belief quite a bit.... but these people really were so whacked out that it kept me so engrossed... that I just let some things go... and enjoyed the crazy ride!
This book also addressed the racial tensions in our country... not really sure if this was the ideal platform for this, but that’s not for me to judge.... and I’m not going to lie it did make me uncomfortable at times.... as someone who lives on the complete opposite side of the country in a very liberal Southern California I sometimes forget that there are still racial tensions... additionally I have absolutely no idea what the situation is like in the state of Maine.... I just know that where I live nobody would look twice if a mixed couple were dining at a restaurant, it probably wouldn’t even register with me at all.... I think this book would have been just fine without the discussion of race, but if that is something that will make you uncomfortable you are forewarned....
Now back to this crazy plot... first we have Leah... Leah is so bored with her life that she is breaking into her neighbors house taking items and reading her journal.... Leah here’s an idea talk to your 11-year-old son about what is going on with him, because believe me something is going on.... Clay you are a disaster, go check yourself into rehab or attend some AA meetings already.... Clarissa are you brillian and super manipulative or what... and you shocked me more than anybody.... WowwowWow..... Russell I don’t even know what to think, but anything you get you definitely deserve....
See what I’m saying a whole cluster of unlikable characters.... doing all kinds of things they shouldn’t be doing... but for me it worked, it kept me engrossed throughout the entire book... I just could not wait to see what was going to happen next!
Strongly recommend two fans of psychological thrillers... but be sure you are able to suspend belief for this one and enjoy the crazy ride...
*** thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this book ***
May 8, 2018
EXCERPT: That I didn't intend it to happen says nothing about my moral culpability. I screwed up and make no excuse for my behavior.
For that reason, I can't be totally honest with her.
I need to make sure that Leah never finds out. . . .
That the girl I had an affair with is the same girl that went missing.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: In a taut psychological thriller filled with breathtaking twists, Joseph Souza explores the tangle of betrayal and deception between two neighboring couples, and asks how well we can really know others--or ourselves.
It all seems so promising at the start . . .
When Leah and her husband, Clay, move from Seattle to Maine, she envisions a vibrant new neighborhood packed with families--playmates for her twins, new friends she can confide in and bond with. But while Clay works long hours to establish his brewery, Leah is left alone each day in a nearly deserted housing development where the only other occupants are aloof and standoffish.
Bored and adrift, Leah finds herself watching Clarissa and Russell Gaines next door, envying their stylishly decorated home and their university careers. But Leah's obsession with the intriguing, elegant Clarissa grows until she's not just spying from afar but sneaking into their house, taking small objects . . . reading Clarissa's diary. It contains clues to a hidden turmoil Leah never guessed at--and a connection to a local college girl who's disappeared.
The more Leah learns about Clarissa, the more questions emerge. Because behind every neighbor's door there are secrets that could shatter lives forever . . .
MY THOUGHTS: It all seems so promising at the start . . .
But by 37%, which was where I abandoned this read and I am going to paraphrase a sentence from the book here, 'I am practically losing my mind from the extreme boredom. . .'
The Neighbor started out with promise, but deteriorated into angst-ridden monologues by two self-absorbed people who winge and whine about their own and their partner's behaviour, but change nothing. Endlessly. Over and over the same old ground. Again and again.
No suspense. No interest in the fates of the characters. No reason to keep reading. A good indication of my increasing lack of interest is that it took me 4 days to get 37% through this 352 page book! I can normally read two books in that time. My first dnf for 2018 😧
Just because I found this to be an unsatisfying read doesn't mean that you won't love it. This is my personal opinion, my reaction to the book. Most reviews for this book are positive, so if you enjoyed the excerpt and like the summary of the plot, please go ahead and read The Neighbor by Joseph Souza. You may be one of the many who enjoy this book.
Thank you to Kensington Books via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Neighbor by Joseph Souza for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
For that reason, I can't be totally honest with her.
I need to make sure that Leah never finds out. . . .
That the girl I had an affair with is the same girl that went missing.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: In a taut psychological thriller filled with breathtaking twists, Joseph Souza explores the tangle of betrayal and deception between two neighboring couples, and asks how well we can really know others--or ourselves.
It all seems so promising at the start . . .
When Leah and her husband, Clay, move from Seattle to Maine, she envisions a vibrant new neighborhood packed with families--playmates for her twins, new friends she can confide in and bond with. But while Clay works long hours to establish his brewery, Leah is left alone each day in a nearly deserted housing development where the only other occupants are aloof and standoffish.
Bored and adrift, Leah finds herself watching Clarissa and Russell Gaines next door, envying their stylishly decorated home and their university careers. But Leah's obsession with the intriguing, elegant Clarissa grows until she's not just spying from afar but sneaking into their house, taking small objects . . . reading Clarissa's diary. It contains clues to a hidden turmoil Leah never guessed at--and a connection to a local college girl who's disappeared.
The more Leah learns about Clarissa, the more questions emerge. Because behind every neighbor's door there are secrets that could shatter lives forever . . .
MY THOUGHTS: It all seems so promising at the start . . .
But by 37%, which was where I abandoned this read and I am going to paraphrase a sentence from the book here, 'I am practically losing my mind from the extreme boredom. . .'
The Neighbor started out with promise, but deteriorated into angst-ridden monologues by two self-absorbed people who winge and whine about their own and their partner's behaviour, but change nothing. Endlessly. Over and over the same old ground. Again and again.
No suspense. No interest in the fates of the characters. No reason to keep reading. A good indication of my increasing lack of interest is that it took me 4 days to get 37% through this 352 page book! I can normally read two books in that time. My first dnf for 2018 😧
Just because I found this to be an unsatisfying read doesn't mean that you won't love it. This is my personal opinion, my reaction to the book. Most reviews for this book are positive, so if you enjoyed the excerpt and like the summary of the plot, please go ahead and read The Neighbor by Joseph Souza. You may be one of the many who enjoy this book.
Thank you to Kensington Books via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Neighbor by Joseph Souza for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
April 15, 2018
The Neighbor by Joseph Souza is a psychological thriller that to be brutally honest was full of unlikable characters doing unlikable things. The very strange part is I found myself actually liking it’s twisted mess.
The story is told by Leah and Clay switching the point of view between them. The two are a married couple that moved from Seattle to Maine and took up residence in a quiet neighborhood that no one else seemed to want to live in other than one other home.
Leah is a stay at home mom with way too much time on her hands to the point she has a few obsessions like what happened to a girl that had disappeared from the local college and getting to know her only neighbors better. Clay on the other hand is trying to run his own business and has little time for his wife, he did however have time to have an affair he doesn’t want her to find out about.
Toss in a bunch of other crazy twists and turns along the way with this pair and somehow this one became quite addictive despite thinking everyone in here was a little off their rockers. I did need to suspend my disbelief of how some things worked in the story but I think the crazier it got the faster the pages turned. This one may not be for everyone but it certainly was an entertaining read for me and in the end I can only think gee my neighbors aren’t so bad after all….
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
The story is told by Leah and Clay switching the point of view between them. The two are a married couple that moved from Seattle to Maine and took up residence in a quiet neighborhood that no one else seemed to want to live in other than one other home.
Leah is a stay at home mom with way too much time on her hands to the point she has a few obsessions like what happened to a girl that had disappeared from the local college and getting to know her only neighbors better. Clay on the other hand is trying to run his own business and has little time for his wife, he did however have time to have an affair he doesn’t want her to find out about.
Toss in a bunch of other crazy twists and turns along the way with this pair and somehow this one became quite addictive despite thinking everyone in here was a little off their rockers. I did need to suspend my disbelief of how some things worked in the story but I think the crazier it got the faster the pages turned. This one may not be for everyone but it certainly was an entertaining read for me and in the end I can only think gee my neighbors aren’t so bad after all….
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
April 24, 2018
Wow!!! Wtf but wow!!! 4.5 Stars!
The Neighbors by Joseph Souza just really took me on a ride! This is absolutely a suspense/psychological thriller with some domestic noir and neighborhood noir thrown in the mix. I have seen this book compared to a mix of The Couple Next Door and Gone Girl, but it really is more than that (and different). I can understand why they marketed it that way, but there is a whole extra plotline not captured by those comparisons.
I have seen mixed reviews, and so I want to state upfront that this book is a psychological thriller with an element of racial issues in this country. I don’t say this to spoil (this, I promise you, is not a spoiler), but I do want readers to be aware of that because it can be a controversial topic that some readers love, and others dislike.
Plot Teaser
Leah Daniels and her husband Clay have moved their family across country from Seattle to Maine. Clay has pursued his dream of owning a brewery, and Leah is a stay-at-home mom with elementary-aged twins. Every day, as soon as the twins leave for school, Leah finds herself incredibly lonely. The neighborhood they moved to sounded like a dream—all of the houses are new and there was a promise of new families populating the neighborhood with mom groups, friends for their kids, and activity all day long.
However, after the Daniels move in they learn that there were problems with the contractors, and the other houses have remained uninhabited. In fact, the only occupants in the neighborhood are the Daniels and their next door neighbors—Clarissa and Russell Gaines. The Gaines are black and wealthier than the Daniels—they both work for Chadwick University and are attractive, respected, and successful. But Leah finds them stand-offish for reasons she can’t understand. She just wants to be friends with them.
Leah starts to think that if she could just know more about them, she could find a way to befriend them…
Leah begins to watch Clarissa and wait for her to leave the house. She knows their schedule, she peeks in their windows, and eventually, begins entering their home. Sure, the house is unlocked, but Leah knows she shouldn’t be doing this. But Leah can’t help herself. She begins to take small items, and grab a glass of wine.
And then one day while peeking around their home, Leah finds Clarissa’s diary, and nothing will ever be the same…
Reflection
The racial tension in this book was handled well, but it was uncomfortable at times to read about. This, I imagine, was Joseph Souza’s point. All of the racial tension was important and useful to the plot, but the plot could have existed with any mix or non-mix of race. The story is actually about people, and the impact of our actions and thoughts on our future. These themes know no racial boundaries. The book could have had no racial implications and the story would have held.
But, Joseph Souza chose to put them in there, and I think his point was that judging people on their surface attributes—whether it be race, socioeconomic status, career, age, gender, handicap, or behavior—these don’t tell the full story of that individual’s thoughts, emotions, suffering, or experience. People are so much more dynamic than their race. But maybe, race is an easy thing to categorize because it can (sometimes) be seen on a person. And yet, even that Souza calls into question.
I suspect this will be a very polarizing book. There are many scenes that you can feel the discomfort in, even as an outside reader. These scenes are important though. There are also so many things in this book. The description of the plot from the teaser is covered in the first few chapters, and from there you should expect a wild ride!
There were so many times while reading this book where I’d think “Well that certainly took a turn…” This is partially what I enjoyed though! There is absolutely no way that I could have predicted where the book would end up from the first quarter of the book. This is a book where I liked almost none of the characters, but I loved the story. There were so many themes—racial tensions in this country; the way people change from when they meet and how that impacts a marriage; missing people, deaths, and murder; the fine line between interest and obsession; moral grey areas; pushing your personal boundaries; secrets upon secrets upon lies.
How well do we ever know our neighbors? How well can we know the person sleeping beside us? And most important…how well do we ever know ourselves?
Thank you so much to Kensington Books, Joseph Souza, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Neighbors by Joseph Souza just really took me on a ride! This is absolutely a suspense/psychological thriller with some domestic noir and neighborhood noir thrown in the mix. I have seen this book compared to a mix of The Couple Next Door and Gone Girl, but it really is more than that (and different). I can understand why they marketed it that way, but there is a whole extra plotline not captured by those comparisons.
I have seen mixed reviews, and so I want to state upfront that this book is a psychological thriller with an element of racial issues in this country. I don’t say this to spoil (this, I promise you, is not a spoiler), but I do want readers to be aware of that because it can be a controversial topic that some readers love, and others dislike.
Plot Teaser
Leah Daniels and her husband Clay have moved their family across country from Seattle to Maine. Clay has pursued his dream of owning a brewery, and Leah is a stay-at-home mom with elementary-aged twins. Every day, as soon as the twins leave for school, Leah finds herself incredibly lonely. The neighborhood they moved to sounded like a dream—all of the houses are new and there was a promise of new families populating the neighborhood with mom groups, friends for their kids, and activity all day long.
However, after the Daniels move in they learn that there were problems with the contractors, and the other houses have remained uninhabited. In fact, the only occupants in the neighborhood are the Daniels and their next door neighbors—Clarissa and Russell Gaines. The Gaines are black and wealthier than the Daniels—they both work for Chadwick University and are attractive, respected, and successful. But Leah finds them stand-offish for reasons she can’t understand. She just wants to be friends with them.
Leah starts to think that if she could just know more about them, she could find a way to befriend them…
Leah begins to watch Clarissa and wait for her to leave the house. She knows their schedule, she peeks in their windows, and eventually, begins entering their home. Sure, the house is unlocked, but Leah knows she shouldn’t be doing this. But Leah can’t help herself. She begins to take small items, and grab a glass of wine.
And then one day while peeking around their home, Leah finds Clarissa’s diary, and nothing will ever be the same…
Reflection
The racial tension in this book was handled well, but it was uncomfortable at times to read about. This, I imagine, was Joseph Souza’s point. All of the racial tension was important and useful to the plot, but the plot could have existed with any mix or non-mix of race. The story is actually about people, and the impact of our actions and thoughts on our future. These themes know no racial boundaries. The book could have had no racial implications and the story would have held.
But, Joseph Souza chose to put them in there, and I think his point was that judging people on their surface attributes—whether it be race, socioeconomic status, career, age, gender, handicap, or behavior—these don’t tell the full story of that individual’s thoughts, emotions, suffering, or experience. People are so much more dynamic than their race. But maybe, race is an easy thing to categorize because it can (sometimes) be seen on a person. And yet, even that Souza calls into question.
I suspect this will be a very polarizing book. There are many scenes that you can feel the discomfort in, even as an outside reader. These scenes are important though. There are also so many things in this book. The description of the plot from the teaser is covered in the first few chapters, and from there you should expect a wild ride!
There were so many times while reading this book where I’d think “Well that certainly took a turn…” This is partially what I enjoyed though! There is absolutely no way that I could have predicted where the book would end up from the first quarter of the book. This is a book where I liked almost none of the characters, but I loved the story. There were so many themes—racial tensions in this country; the way people change from when they meet and how that impacts a marriage; missing people, deaths, and murder; the fine line between interest and obsession; moral grey areas; pushing your personal boundaries; secrets upon secrets upon lies.
How well do we ever know our neighbors? How well can we know the person sleeping beside us? And most important…how well do we ever know ourselves?
Thank you so much to Kensington Books, Joseph Souza, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2018
The Neighbor by Joseph Souza takes a different spin on the psychological thriller which I thought held wonderful potential. This book bubbles with racial tension which is something I was not expecting at all. Certainly relevant in today's America with the Black Lives Matter movement being a hot button topic. The thing is that while this did hold so much potential I can't help but feel that it didn't do the subject matter justice. That being said I still couldn't stop flipping the pages.
Leah and Clay move from Seattle to Maine so that Clay can follow his dream of opening a brewery. Starting a business is time consuming which keeps Clay away from home for very long hours. Leah spends most of her days alone with several bottles of wine to keep her company. A local college student has gone missing and Leah, with nothing else to do, decides she's going to do her own investigation into the case.
Meanwhile, Leah has also tried to engage with her neighbors, a black family next door, but is always given the cold shoulder in return. Leah becomes obsessed with them to the point of even breaking into their house during the day and going through all their things. One day she comes across the diary of Clarissa Gaines and here she begins to wonder if the missing girl and her neighbors have a link in some way. We then follow Leah as she conducts her investigation.
While the book is highly readable I just couldn't help rolling my eyes along the way. There were so many instances that were so unbelievable and down right ridiculous. I could nit pick it all and spoiler tag it but I'm not going to bother. Instead I'm going to wait to see what others think once more folks have written their reviews. I'll be very curious to see what others take away from this novel. 2.5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Leah and Clay move from Seattle to Maine so that Clay can follow his dream of opening a brewery. Starting a business is time consuming which keeps Clay away from home for very long hours. Leah spends most of her days alone with several bottles of wine to keep her company. A local college student has gone missing and Leah, with nothing else to do, decides she's going to do her own investigation into the case.
Meanwhile, Leah has also tried to engage with her neighbors, a black family next door, but is always given the cold shoulder in return. Leah becomes obsessed with them to the point of even breaking into their house during the day and going through all their things. One day she comes across the diary of Clarissa Gaines and here she begins to wonder if the missing girl and her neighbors have a link in some way. We then follow Leah as she conducts her investigation.
While the book is highly readable I just couldn't help rolling my eyes along the way. There were so many instances that were so unbelievable and down right ridiculous. I could nit pick it all and spoiler tag it but I'm not going to bother. Instead I'm going to wait to see what others think once more folks have written their reviews. I'll be very curious to see what others take away from this novel. 2.5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 31, 2018
⭐️All the Stars⭐️ But I’m adding in this..All The Secrets! All of them!!!! 🤫Secrets! Secrets!
I’m so into psychological thrillers about Neighbors and this was all That and more. A creepy thriller about psycho neighbors? Yes please! Ohhhh and let’s just say #BadNeighbors. Written in chapters alternating between Leah and her husband Clay, we watch their marriage take a BIG fall while neither knows about the others SECRETS.
Then there’s the neighbors...more SECRETS.
No one is a reliable narrator and no one deserves our trust. The twists are heart pounding but the secrets are mind blowing and will make you drink your wine a lot faster than you planned 🍷
Cheers to the author for making this saga really easy to follow without giving anything away! Well the AFFAIRS...omg!!! I might have blushed a few times 😌
Oh and they drink A LOT...and they are the worst parents. I cringed so many times at the parenting going on here. But, it makes it even more twisty. And the SECRETS 🙊
I highly recommend opening this book without knowing more than the book’s description tells us. Like I did. There are too many twists and WTF moments!
April 24th!!!! Mark your calendars...reserve this book now on your library hold! You will miss your life for 24 hours, that I guarantee so be prepared!
Thank you #NetGalley, the Publisher and #JosephSouza for my early and very much appreciated free ARC for my honest review. I am SO thankful I got to experience #TheNeighbor
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
APRIL24
I’m so into psychological thrillers about Neighbors and this was all That and more. A creepy thriller about psycho neighbors? Yes please! Ohhhh and let’s just say #BadNeighbors. Written in chapters alternating between Leah and her husband Clay, we watch their marriage take a BIG fall while neither knows about the others SECRETS.
Then there’s the neighbors...more SECRETS.
No one is a reliable narrator and no one deserves our trust. The twists are heart pounding but the secrets are mind blowing and will make you drink your wine a lot faster than you planned 🍷
Cheers to the author for making this saga really easy to follow without giving anything away! Well the AFFAIRS...omg!!! I might have blushed a few times 😌
Oh and they drink A LOT...and they are the worst parents. I cringed so many times at the parenting going on here. But, it makes it even more twisty. And the SECRETS 🙊
I highly recommend opening this book without knowing more than the book’s description tells us. Like I did. There are too many twists and WTF moments!
April 24th!!!! Mark your calendars...reserve this book now on your library hold! You will miss your life for 24 hours, that I guarantee so be prepared!
Thank you #NetGalley, the Publisher and #JosephSouza for my early and very much appreciated free ARC for my honest review. I am SO thankful I got to experience #TheNeighbor
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
APRIL24
April 12, 2018
1 star--I didn't like it.
Shallow characters (more caricatures) who act in inconsistent, puzzling ways. A plot that makes no logical sense. Absolutely no one likable or with an ounce of charisma or morality. Mediocre writing. Women are called bitches or whores by everyone, and black women are called exotic. The author decided to introduce politics to the plot, either to be edgy or be current, but since it's so shallowly treated, it comes off as cringeworthy instead (and unfair to both sides of the political spectrum). Just all around unpleasant.
I like reading suspense novels as a fun escape, but this one merely annoyed me! I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!
Shallow characters (more caricatures) who act in inconsistent, puzzling ways. A plot that makes no logical sense. Absolutely no one likable or with an ounce of charisma or morality. Mediocre writing. Women are called bitches or whores by everyone, and black women are called exotic. The author decided to introduce politics to the plot, either to be edgy or be current, but since it's so shallowly treated, it comes off as cringeworthy instead (and unfair to both sides of the political spectrum). Just all around unpleasant.
I like reading suspense novels as a fun escape, but this one merely annoyed me! I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!
June 12, 2018
During the first few pages of this novel, there was already a shocking revelation. This book had a really strong start, and it's rare to find books like that. Usually thrillers tend to start slow in the beginning and speed up throughout. But its strong start didn't last very long and it let me down.
Leah Daniels is a newcomer in her town and she lives in a house with her husband and two kids. She wants to befriend her neighbor and becomes a bit obsessed with her as she starts to enter her house, drink her wine and read her diary. But what she finds is not what she expected.
This book is full of secrets. A secret here, a secret there. A lie here, a lie there. I did figure it out before the ending, but have to say that it did ruin the novel. Once you find it out, it will completely spoil the ending for you and it seems kind of pointless to continue reading.
The book had a lot going on, that's for sure. For me, it was kind of crowded. At times it just got repetitive with some characters. I felt like I was reading a reoccurring loop. But the novel did have its thrilling and twisting moments as a thriller novel usually does. It's a great book there are things that happen that simply just don't make sense.
The conclusion was a bit of a push for me. Overall the book was satisfying and a bit bumpy. Still enjoyable!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Leah Daniels is a newcomer in her town and she lives in a house with her husband and two kids. She wants to befriend her neighbor and becomes a bit obsessed with her as she starts to enter her house, drink her wine and read her diary. But what she finds is not what she expected.
This book is full of secrets. A secret here, a secret there. A lie here, a lie there. I did figure it out before the ending, but have to say that it did ruin the novel. Once you find it out, it will completely spoil the ending for you and it seems kind of pointless to continue reading.
The book had a lot going on, that's for sure. For me, it was kind of crowded. At times it just got repetitive with some characters. I felt like I was reading a reoccurring loop. But the novel did have its thrilling and twisting moments as a thriller novel usually does. It's a great book there are things that happen that simply just don't make sense.
The conclusion was a bit of a push for me. Overall the book was satisfying and a bit bumpy. Still enjoyable!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2018
Ummmm...I don't even know quite what to say about this book. I've got to stop requesting every random psychological thriller I see from NetGalley, but I can't resist anything about creepy neighbors. I almost gave this book one star, but I have to admit it was SUCH a page-turner. I could not stop reading even though I didn't think it was very good. The dialogue was heavy handed, the main character was too stupid to live, and the approach to racial issues in America was...weird. But I can't decide whether to recommend that you stay far far away from it or urge you to read it to experience the sheer bananas-ness of this book for yourself.
*I received a free pre-release copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*I received a free pre-release copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 8, 2018
Imagine moving cross country from Seattle, WA to Dearborn, Maine and discovering that the contractor of your new housing development, Deerfield Estates, has left town, and your new home is only one of two completed.
That is what happens to Leah, Clay and their two young children.
Leah is alone all day, with her husband trying to make a go of their new brewery, and the kids at school. Desperate for a friend, and rebuffed by her neighbor, Clarissa, Leah decides that perhaps if she “lets herself into” the Gaines home, she can learn some things that will help her to find some common ground with her new neighbor, and help their friendship along. Clarissa’s diary provides all she needs and more.
In fact, the diary reveals that her neighbors might know more about the beautiful college student that has just gone missing than they are letting on.
But who in this story is manipulating who?
Is Leah delusional or merely naive?
Leah and her husband Clay. Clarissa and her husband Russell.
All have secrets, and not a single one is a person you will like, or be able to root for.
Are any of the characters reliable? The author will keep you guessing...but warning!! There are a lot of distasteful subjects in this book which may be triggers for you, including explicit sexual scenes, sexual exploitation and racism.
A dark thriller, and a bit TOO graphic for MY tastes, but if those subjects don’t bother you, then find out what is really going on in Dearborn, Maine when this book is released on April 24th.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Kensington books and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my candid review!
That is what happens to Leah, Clay and their two young children.
Leah is alone all day, with her husband trying to make a go of their new brewery, and the kids at school. Desperate for a friend, and rebuffed by her neighbor, Clarissa, Leah decides that perhaps if she “lets herself into” the Gaines home, she can learn some things that will help her to find some common ground with her new neighbor, and help their friendship along. Clarissa’s diary provides all she needs and more.
In fact, the diary reveals that her neighbors might know more about the beautiful college student that has just gone missing than they are letting on.
But who in this story is manipulating who?
Is Leah delusional or merely naive?
Leah and her husband Clay. Clarissa and her husband Russell.
All have secrets, and not a single one is a person you will like, or be able to root for.
Are any of the characters reliable? The author will keep you guessing...but warning!! There are a lot of distasteful subjects in this book which may be triggers for you, including explicit sexual scenes, sexual exploitation and racism.
A dark thriller, and a bit TOO graphic for MY tastes, but if those subjects don’t bother you, then find out what is really going on in Dearborn, Maine when this book is released on April 24th.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Kensington books and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my candid review!
January 19, 2019
Wow...this was awful!
Great idea but everything else was horrible. Terrible. Stinky.
Awful annoying,unlikeable characters, a rambling plot so far beyond the realm of believability, and poor (so poor) writing.
I finished it out of sheer desperation it would somehow redeem itself. Spoiler, it did not.
Great idea but everything else was horrible. Terrible. Stinky.
Awful annoying,unlikeable characters, a rambling plot so far beyond the realm of believability, and poor (so poor) writing.
I finished it out of sheer desperation it would somehow redeem itself. Spoiler, it did not.
June 18, 2018
Leah, Clay, and their kids move from Seattle to Maine. They are the only people residing in their housing development, until a new family moves in next door. Leah becomes focused on befriending the new neighbors, and eventually crosses the line with getting to know them.
Told from alternating viewpoints of Leah and Clay. The main focus is Leah wanting to befriend her neighbors, but the small town where they live also has a mystery involving a missing co-ed. Leah is a bit obsessed with the missing girl, and starts looking into her disappearance. Clay is struggling with his brewery business, and not giving his wife and kids much of his time.
A psychological thriller with several stories happening at once. While a lot is happening, nothing is very engaging. In fact, much of the story is repetitive. Leah and Clay are both self-absorbed and not at all likable. The book touches on the topic of racial tension, but manages to be more awkward than interesting. On the plus side, this domestic thriller does contain some twists and is a fairly quick read.
I received a digital copy of this book from Kensington and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Told from alternating viewpoints of Leah and Clay. The main focus is Leah wanting to befriend her neighbors, but the small town where they live also has a mystery involving a missing co-ed. Leah is a bit obsessed with the missing girl, and starts looking into her disappearance. Clay is struggling with his brewery business, and not giving his wife and kids much of his time.
A psychological thriller with several stories happening at once. While a lot is happening, nothing is very engaging. In fact, much of the story is repetitive. Leah and Clay are both self-absorbed and not at all likable. The book touches on the topic of racial tension, but manages to be more awkward than interesting. On the plus side, this domestic thriller does contain some twists and is a fairly quick read.
I received a digital copy of this book from Kensington and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 8, 2018
This book is hard to put down. It is full of excitement, cheating, murder, deception, secrets and hard times. As the plot thickens it gets more and more interesting. The people you think you can trust are very deceitful and the people you think ae deceitful are the ones you can trust. There are a lot of secrets that come out as you read this book that will shock you. The ending was such a surprise to me. This is a thrilling book that keeps you guessing. A must read. Highly recommended.
April 6, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington for allowing me to read this thriller prior to publication later this month. Leah and Clay move from Seattle to Maine so he can open a brewery. They buy a home for their family of four in a development that the builder abandons after two completed houses are sold. That means the only other family living there is Clarissa and Russell and their children. Leah feels at loose ends and doesn’t know what to do with herself while her kids are at school so she takes to sneaking into Clarissa’s house, taking small items and making herself right at home.
The choppy, abrupt style of writing made me think this book would have a very unique ending. In fact, I wanted to skip ahead and read it before I was finished, but I didn’t. Besides the characters not ringing true, they were all unlikeable. The pacing is good and the book is very readable. Others have given it 5 stars, but I needed at least one character I could at least identify with a little.
The choppy, abrupt style of writing made me think this book would have a very unique ending. In fact, I wanted to skip ahead and read it before I was finished, but I didn’t. Besides the characters not ringing true, they were all unlikeable. The pacing is good and the book is very readable. Others have given it 5 stars, but I needed at least one character I could at least identify with a little.
April 6, 2018
‘It feels strange being one of only two families living in this abandoned development.’
Leah and Clay Daniels, with their twins Zack and Zadie, move from Seattle to Maine. The move is to enable Clay to follow his dream of establishing a craft beer brewery. But the neighbourhood is not what Leah expected: the housing development is almost abandoned. Their only neighbours, Clarissa and Russell Gaines seem aloof. Clay works long hours, and Leah is bored:
‘I need to find something more meaningful in my life besides being a wife and mother.’
So Leah starts watching Russell and Clarissa. She both envies and admires their home and their university careers. But watching quickly turns to obsession, with Leah sneaking into their home. In the meantime, a local college girl has gone missing…
The first part of the story unfolds over two weeks in October, with the final part unfolding over ten days the following August. Both Clay and Leah are the story’s unreliable narrators: both have secrets, each seems able to justify quite outrageous self-centred behaviour.
‘Every story has another side.’
There is more than one mystery in this novel, more than one truth to be uncovered. And, as I discovered, more than one twist in the tale.
But the truth is that while I enjoyed some aspects of this story, the characters were so shallow, so self-absorbed that I really didn’t much care what happened to them. I felt sorry for the children and the dog, but the adults were either deluded or manipulative (and sometimes both). As the story progresses, more questions emerge, but some of the twists (no spoilers here) had me rolling my eyes in disbelief. I couldn’t stop reading because I had to know how it would end. And the ending? Hmm. I think I’d have enjoyed the novel more if I’d liked one of the main characters better, had more interest in why some of the characters acted the way they did, or found some of the actions more believable.
Note: My thanks to Joseph Souza, NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Leah and Clay Daniels, with their twins Zack and Zadie, move from Seattle to Maine. The move is to enable Clay to follow his dream of establishing a craft beer brewery. But the neighbourhood is not what Leah expected: the housing development is almost abandoned. Their only neighbours, Clarissa and Russell Gaines seem aloof. Clay works long hours, and Leah is bored:
‘I need to find something more meaningful in my life besides being a wife and mother.’
So Leah starts watching Russell and Clarissa. She both envies and admires their home and their university careers. But watching quickly turns to obsession, with Leah sneaking into their home. In the meantime, a local college girl has gone missing…
The first part of the story unfolds over two weeks in October, with the final part unfolding over ten days the following August. Both Clay and Leah are the story’s unreliable narrators: both have secrets, each seems able to justify quite outrageous self-centred behaviour.
‘Every story has another side.’
There is more than one mystery in this novel, more than one truth to be uncovered. And, as I discovered, more than one twist in the tale.
But the truth is that while I enjoyed some aspects of this story, the characters were so shallow, so self-absorbed that I really didn’t much care what happened to them. I felt sorry for the children and the dog, but the adults were either deluded or manipulative (and sometimes both). As the story progresses, more questions emerge, but some of the twists (no spoilers here) had me rolling my eyes in disbelief. I couldn’t stop reading because I had to know how it would end. And the ending? Hmm. I think I’d have enjoyed the novel more if I’d liked one of the main characters better, had more interest in why some of the characters acted the way they did, or found some of the actions more believable.
Note: My thanks to Joseph Souza, NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
April 16, 2018
I devoured this book in literally one sitting. Once I got started, I couldn't stop. I'm not going to share its secrets, but this book has plenty! Enjoy!
Read
May 3, 2018"We all have secrets...Having secrets is a trait that all humans share."
But nobody has secrets like these neighbors -- a collection of seriously flawed, conniving psychopaths involved in a series of events that spiral out of control and escalate into murder.
Leah and Clay live with their 11-year-old twins next door to Clarissa and Russell and their two kids in an all but deserted cul-de-sac in Dearborn, Maine. The developer was a crook and skipped town before completing the rest of the subdivision and just those two families have homes. The Daniels are white and the Gaines family is black -- race is a huge issue in this psychological domestic drama/thriller. Clarissa and Russell have money and both are employed at nearby Chadwick College. Clay has started his own struggling brewery in town, works long hours, and Leah is a stay-at-home mom. Unfortunately for all, Leah is lonely and bored and curious. Leah is obsessive and gets sucked up into local drama especially with regard to the case of a missing female coed. She starts sneaking into the neighbor's house when they're at work -- and that's when she finds Clarissa's diary. Meanwhile, all sorts of other activities are going on behind the scenes. When the dust finally settles on all the lies and manipulative behavior, who will be left standing?
The reader is immediately engaged with this story despite finding it hard to believe that this much craziness can exist side by side in one little neighborhood. The relationships between all of the characters are so messed up that it almost defies belief. Add in extra-marital affairs, racial tension, secrets and lies and you get an explosive reaction. It is the kind of book that you just can't put down because you just can't imagine people acting like this and doing the things they do. I don't want to spoil the twists and turns for anyone, so I'll leave it here -- make sure you have some uninterupted time to get through this in one sitting. I really enjoyed it! Thank heavens I was able to catch my breath after its conclusion. The book is narrated by Leah and by Clay, but I daresay you won't be able to guess how it's all going to end! Who will you believe?
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for this e-book ARC to read and review. I definitely will read more by this author. The book was not what I expected, but that was all to the good.
But nobody has secrets like these neighbors -- a collection of seriously flawed, conniving psychopaths involved in a series of events that spiral out of control and escalate into murder.
Leah and Clay live with their 11-year-old twins next door to Clarissa and Russell and their two kids in an all but deserted cul-de-sac in Dearborn, Maine. The developer was a crook and skipped town before completing the rest of the subdivision and just those two families have homes. The Daniels are white and the Gaines family is black -- race is a huge issue in this psychological domestic drama/thriller. Clarissa and Russell have money and both are employed at nearby Chadwick College. Clay has started his own struggling brewery in town, works long hours, and Leah is a stay-at-home mom. Unfortunately for all, Leah is lonely and bored and curious. Leah is obsessive and gets sucked up into local drama especially with regard to the case of a missing female coed. She starts sneaking into the neighbor's house when they're at work -- and that's when she finds Clarissa's diary. Meanwhile, all sorts of other activities are going on behind the scenes. When the dust finally settles on all the lies and manipulative behavior, who will be left standing?
The reader is immediately engaged with this story despite finding it hard to believe that this much craziness can exist side by side in one little neighborhood. The relationships between all of the characters are so messed up that it almost defies belief. Add in extra-marital affairs, racial tension, secrets and lies and you get an explosive reaction. It is the kind of book that you just can't put down because you just can't imagine people acting like this and doing the things they do. I don't want to spoil the twists and turns for anyone, so I'll leave it here -- make sure you have some uninterupted time to get through this in one sitting. I really enjoyed it! Thank heavens I was able to catch my breath after its conclusion. The book is narrated by Leah and by Clay, but I daresay you won't be able to guess how it's all going to end! Who will you believe?
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for this e-book ARC to read and review. I definitely will read more by this author. The book was not what I expected, but that was all to the good.
March 29, 2018
The Neighbor by author Joseph Souza is a GREAT pyschological thriller! I started it on my Kindle and was finishes barely two days later. Being from Maine, that drew me into the description.. Then after reading what it was about, it had me 100 percent. I love nothing more than a good thriller, pyschological best.. Top it off it was a wife who became obsessed with her new neighbors (after moving to a small town in Maine to start new).. Everything about this book was everything I love in a pyschological thriller! So, definitely worth the ☆☆☆☆☆ stars and I'm happy to have been able to own an ARC on my Kindle of The Neighbor. Releases April 24th 2018 and you should be on the look out for it, it's not one to be missed!
October 29, 2018
1.5 stars!
Read my other reviews at: https://rishikaspeaks.wordpress.com/
The Bottom Line:
The Neighbor is made slightly interesting with a lot of layers, but they fail to hide the fact that the book is nothing more than the unpleasant story of two whiny, selfish, clueless adults who you just cannot like.
My review:
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Psychological thriller. As riveting as Gone Girl. Twisted. Page-turner.
These are some of the terms you'd find associated with The Neighbor. I completely agree with the last one, but definitely not the others. In fact, my allegiance lies with those reviews and reviewers who chose to express themselves (while speaking about The Neighbor) with terms like illogical plot, shallow and unlikable characters, and unbelievable actions.
The Neighbor has a lot going on. There's a missing girl. There's a lonely housewife who wants some friends with whom she can connect. There's a murder. There are secrets. There are a whole lot of references to racism and discussion on the topic. There are marital concerns. There's alcoholism. And there is some BDSM-esque kinkiness tossed in too.
The problem is that all these aspects are just annoying.
To better explain, I need to mention that the book is written from the perspectives of Leah and Clay. And it starts with Leah, who is so dang annoying, saying that she gets "giddy with excitement" when she steps out of the house to good weather. It was actually difficult to continue reading after that start. But a twist thrown at you a couple of pages later gives you hope and keeps you going.
There are innumerable twists in The Neighbor. And that's the reason you want to know what happens next, the reason you turn page after page. There is a lot of stuff going on, most of which can add interesting elements. But what you can never get away from is the fact that, at its very essence, the story is about two incredibly selfish, annoying, and oddly stupid people - Leah and Clay.
These are two individuals who live life in their own bubble of misunderstanding (regarding each other). They are both alcoholics in denial who are quick to (hypocritically) blame each other. There are a few moments where they seem to show an inkling of self-awareness. Until it's drowned in their go-to habit of making excuses. All in all, they are incredibly unlikable as human beings, spouses, and parents.
As a result, you don't really care that anything is happening to them or that they're facing a problem. You're more interested in discovering which of the events is a lie, which isn't, and what's really going along. The only people you feel for in the book are Leah and Clay's kids and their dog, and that's mainly because they are stuck with terrible people for no fault of their own.
Leah and Clay's relationship and the way the book is told from their perspectives is what makes people draw the similarity to Gone Girl, I think. To be honest, similarities do exist. But the intentional, selfish twistedness of the characters in Gone Girl also made them associable. You could actually envision people like that - those who would do what it took to get what they wanted. It's what made the book uncomfortably good (check out my review of Gone Girl here for more deets on that!). In The Neighbor, the characters are selfish but too clueless. I mean, seriously - Leah's only goal in life is, "I want to be Clarissa's friend." These are selfish people who are too lost to actually do anything about what they want, except for crib when things do change. And that just makes them annoying, especially in their abrupt bipolarity (seriously, they keep contradicting themselves in consecutive sentences until their motivation, meaning, and drive is completely lost on the reader).
Putting the Gone Girl comparison aside, The Neighbor is just not a likable book. It's got some suspense and enough storytelling power to keep you turning the pages. But the many social problems it addresses seem to just be layers on an otherwise dry story of two not-nice people.
So should you read The Neighbor? I'd say give it a pass. There are other psychological thrillers out there that have real depth in their stories, that go deep into the chaos that is the human mind and what it can make one do. Try one of them instead. If you still want to give The Neighbor a shot - it releases on 24th April 2018.
Read my other reviews at: https://rishikaspeaks.wordpress.com/
The Bottom Line:
The Neighbor is made slightly interesting with a lot of layers, but they fail to hide the fact that the book is nothing more than the unpleasant story of two whiny, selfish, clueless adults who you just cannot like.
My review:
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Psychological thriller. As riveting as Gone Girl. Twisted. Page-turner.
These are some of the terms you'd find associated with The Neighbor. I completely agree with the last one, but definitely not the others. In fact, my allegiance lies with those reviews and reviewers who chose to express themselves (while speaking about The Neighbor) with terms like illogical plot, shallow and unlikable characters, and unbelievable actions.
The Neighbor has a lot going on. There's a missing girl. There's a lonely housewife who wants some friends with whom she can connect. There's a murder. There are secrets. There are a whole lot of references to racism and discussion on the topic. There are marital concerns. There's alcoholism. And there is some BDSM-esque kinkiness tossed in too.
The problem is that all these aspects are just annoying.
To better explain, I need to mention that the book is written from the perspectives of Leah and Clay. And it starts with Leah, who is so dang annoying, saying that she gets "giddy with excitement" when she steps out of the house to good weather. It was actually difficult to continue reading after that start. But a twist thrown at you a couple of pages later gives you hope and keeps you going.
There are innumerable twists in The Neighbor. And that's the reason you want to know what happens next, the reason you turn page after page. There is a lot of stuff going on, most of which can add interesting elements. But what you can never get away from is the fact that, at its very essence, the story is about two incredibly selfish, annoying, and oddly stupid people - Leah and Clay.
These are two individuals who live life in their own bubble of misunderstanding (regarding each other). They are both alcoholics in denial who are quick to (hypocritically) blame each other. There are a few moments where they seem to show an inkling of self-awareness. Until it's drowned in their go-to habit of making excuses. All in all, they are incredibly unlikable as human beings, spouses, and parents.
As a result, you don't really care that anything is happening to them or that they're facing a problem. You're more interested in discovering which of the events is a lie, which isn't, and what's really going along. The only people you feel for in the book are Leah and Clay's kids and their dog, and that's mainly because they are stuck with terrible people for no fault of their own.
Leah and Clay's relationship and the way the book is told from their perspectives is what makes people draw the similarity to Gone Girl, I think. To be honest, similarities do exist. But the intentional, selfish twistedness of the characters in Gone Girl also made them associable. You could actually envision people like that - those who would do what it took to get what they wanted. It's what made the book uncomfortably good (check out my review of Gone Girl here for more deets on that!). In The Neighbor, the characters are selfish but too clueless. I mean, seriously - Leah's only goal in life is, "I want to be Clarissa's friend." These are selfish people who are too lost to actually do anything about what they want, except for crib when things do change. And that just makes them annoying, especially in their abrupt bipolarity (seriously, they keep contradicting themselves in consecutive sentences until their motivation, meaning, and drive is completely lost on the reader).
Putting the Gone Girl comparison aside, The Neighbor is just not a likable book. It's got some suspense and enough storytelling power to keep you turning the pages. But the many social problems it addresses seem to just be layers on an otherwise dry story of two not-nice people.
So should you read The Neighbor? I'd say give it a pass. There are other psychological thrillers out there that have real depth in their stories, that go deep into the chaos that is the human mind and what it can make one do. Try one of them instead. If you still want to give The Neighbor a shot - it releases on 24th April 2018.
March 29, 2018
Extremely unlikeable characters, some strange turns in the book, a little unbelievable at times...this story was like a roller coaster ride--fun and exciting until it is over and then you just feel a little nauseous. I recommend this crazy tale to people who like to read thrillers with unreliable narrators. I think the author is a great writer and I would read his other books.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book.
July 19, 2018
I borrowed this audiobook from my local library website after being tempted by listening to a sampler of the wonderful narration that drew me in.
I'm so glad I did listen to the audiobook because it was a really good psychological thriller with many twists and turns.
Very well written and narrated. Recommended.
I'm so glad I did listen to the audiobook because it was a really good psychological thriller with many twists and turns.
Very well written and narrated. Recommended.
December 3, 2018
Oh, oh, ow. So so bad, so astonishingly bad that I cringe at recalling it. I’m not going to warn you of the spoilers that follow: you should thank me for sparing you the reading experience. The Neighbour in question is Clarissa, an African American professor living with her family next door to narrator Leah. Leah is a Lonely Friendless Mother and quickly becomes obsessed with Clarissa, to the point of sneaking into her house and reading her diary, which appears on the page for us to read along with her. Did nobody take Mr. Souza aside and tell him softly but firmly, “Do not attempt to write in first person as an African American female, Joe, for you are singularly Caucasian and male, in the 1950s sense of the word. By the way, this whole book is a disaster.” No, he was left to publish the most cringeworthy passages imaginable – not, actually, imaginable by me, until I had read them.
From the ‘diary’ - “I’m an intelligent black woman living in constant fear and there’s nothing I can do about it. Only Russell knows the truth about me. It’s why I need to be discreet…” (in Every. Segment. She. Appears. Clarissa’s skin colour is mentioned. As if we might have forgotten from the previous two pages ago, and two pages before that.)
But let’s jump to disgrace, shall we? Here is the bottom of the well: Leah is snooping in her neighbour’s bedroom when – oh no! – she must quickly hide under the bed when Clarissa comes home unexpectedly. What an impossible situation! And how awkward to lie under that bouncing mattress when Clarissa commences to masturbate, reaching beneath the bed for her vibrator! Leah helpfully nudges it into her hand. And then Clarissa really goes to town, getting off by yelling out that she’s a “nasty whore, a dirty ho” – and, deep breath, a “N. – bitch in need of a lesson”. Not kidding. Don’t look to me to have that N word spelled out, I don’t need to get fired from the job I don’t have. The author doesn’t seem to worry. Perhaps he thought he was writing something akin to Huckleberry Finn.
Months ago I read this,
Whilst lying sick in bed
But still the shame clings mightily –
Worst crap I’ve ever read.
From the ‘diary’ - “I’m an intelligent black woman living in constant fear and there’s nothing I can do about it. Only Russell knows the truth about me. It’s why I need to be discreet…” (in Every. Segment. She. Appears. Clarissa’s skin colour is mentioned. As if we might have forgotten from the previous two pages ago, and two pages before that.)
But let’s jump to disgrace, shall we? Here is the bottom of the well: Leah is snooping in her neighbour’s bedroom when – oh no! – she must quickly hide under the bed when Clarissa comes home unexpectedly. What an impossible situation! And how awkward to lie under that bouncing mattress when Clarissa commences to masturbate, reaching beneath the bed for her vibrator! Leah helpfully nudges it into her hand. And then Clarissa really goes to town, getting off by yelling out that she’s a “nasty whore, a dirty ho” – and, deep breath, a “N. – bitch in need of a lesson”. Not kidding. Don’t look to me to have that N word spelled out, I don’t need to get fired from the job I don’t have. The author doesn’t seem to worry. Perhaps he thought he was writing something akin to Huckleberry Finn.
Months ago I read this,
Whilst lying sick in bed
But still the shame clings mightily –
Worst crap I’ve ever read.
April 25, 2018
Joseph Souza's latest novel "The Neighbor" is an intricate puzzle box of a story and the epitome of what I consider bold writing. Up front, this is a novel people will either love or hate. It's story centers around people you will adamantly disagree with. And yet you won't be able to stop coming back for more.
Souza's real secret to this story is how he gets the reader to simultaneously abhor the characters yet feel so drawn to them and their plights. It's like watching a magician perform a sleight of hand trick but never being able to pinpoint how exactly the trick is being done. Despite the characters' immense flaws he allows for moments of vulnerability that make them surprisingly sympathetic and allow the reader to see themselves in the characters, something that--trust me--you won't want to happen.
This is compulsive reading at its best, and I felt completely swept away in the strong undertow of Souza's writing. Dark, disturbing, but completely captivating, this is the best form I've seen Souza in, which says a lot for this accomplished writer. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a different approach to your typical psychological thriller.
Souza's real secret to this story is how he gets the reader to simultaneously abhor the characters yet feel so drawn to them and their plights. It's like watching a magician perform a sleight of hand trick but never being able to pinpoint how exactly the trick is being done. Despite the characters' immense flaws he allows for moments of vulnerability that make them surprisingly sympathetic and allow the reader to see themselves in the characters, something that--trust me--you won't want to happen.
This is compulsive reading at its best, and I felt completely swept away in the strong undertow of Souza's writing. Dark, disturbing, but completely captivating, this is the best form I've seen Souza in, which says a lot for this accomplished writer. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a different approach to your typical psychological thriller.
April 22, 2018
As much as i wanted to know what happened that is the only reason i didn't give up on this one.
Wasn't drawing me in.. the racial issue i feel wasn't done justice. And this book just bored me.
Just wan't for me.
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an early release of this book
Wasn't drawing me in.. the racial issue i feel wasn't done justice. And this book just bored me.
Just wan't for me.
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an early release of this book
May 30, 2019
Soooo bad... honestly don't waste your money
I wish there was an option for negative stars but it seems you cannot warn people to avoid this one without a minimum of a one star rating. Awful, unbelievable, unrealistic, a waste of time.
I wish there was an option for negative stars but it seems you cannot warn people to avoid this one without a minimum of a one star rating. Awful, unbelievable, unrealistic, a waste of time.
August 6, 2019
Only because zero is not an option.
August 8, 2018
Totally implausible plot, but I couldn’t put it down!
First - a middle aged white guy shouldn’t try to write about two black women.
Second - the racial overtones were way over the top.
Third - so many pages on making craft beers I could do it myself by the end.
Fourth - I intensely disliked every character, including the dog.
Fifth - lots of inconsistencies and editing errors.
Sixth - I didn’t like the indication that Obama was an unfaithful husband.
Seventh - Clay was never sober and Leah wasn’t much better.
Eighth - the entire book didn’t make sense.
I finished it because I wanted to see how it all came together - it didn’t!!
First - a middle aged white guy shouldn’t try to write about two black women.
Second - the racial overtones were way over the top.
Third - so many pages on making craft beers I could do it myself by the end.
Fourth - I intensely disliked every character, including the dog.
Fifth - lots of inconsistencies and editing errors.
Sixth - I didn’t like the indication that Obama was an unfaithful husband.
Seventh - Clay was never sober and Leah wasn’t much better.
Eighth - the entire book didn’t make sense.
I finished it because I wanted to see how it all came together - it didn’t!!
March 31, 2018
Lots of twists and turns. A great psychological thriller.
April 24, 2018
This book had me hooked from the very first page. A thriller about what happens when neighbors get too close and housewives get bored. Will highly recommend this book to everyone!!!!!!!
April 25, 2018
This book was a hook from the first few pages for me. I don’t usually like when a book is written from a perspective of one character, then switches to the other character in the next chapter. But this book had a good base. It let the characters develop as each chapter went on. And I loved how much Clay began to hate his wife over time. Classic. Just classic.
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