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The Girl Upstairs
How well do you know your neighbour?
Would you trust them with your life?
I heard Emily before I saw her. The harsh smack of heels against cheap wooden floorboards. The loud phone calls. The incessant music.
I knew Emily before I met her. Discarded receipts in our communal hallway. Sticky leftovers in the shared food waste bin. Wine shop vouchers in the letterbox.
Now she’s gone missing, and I’m the only one who can find her. The only one who can save her.
Because I know her best, and I heard everything.
The Girl Upstairs is a spine-tingling psychological thriller of grief and obsession that explores how lonely London can be and how sometimes it’s our neighbours who see us most, who know us best…
A must-read for fans of Lisa Jewell and Sarah Pinborough.
Would you trust them with your life?
I heard Emily before I saw her. The harsh smack of heels against cheap wooden floorboards. The loud phone calls. The incessant music.
I knew Emily before I met her. Discarded receipts in our communal hallway. Sticky leftovers in the shared food waste bin. Wine shop vouchers in the letterbox.
Now she’s gone missing, and I’m the only one who can find her. The only one who can save her.
Because I know her best, and I heard everything.
The Girl Upstairs is a spine-tingling psychological thriller of grief and obsession that explores how lonely London can be and how sometimes it’s our neighbours who see us most, who know us best…
A must-read for fans of Lisa Jewell and Sarah Pinborough.
384 pages, ebook
First published December 9, 2021
603 people are currently reading
7888 people want to read
About the author
Georgina Lees
5 books104 followersGeorgina studied creative writing and film at university and has since pursued a career in video-games journalism, covering some of the most popular games in the world. Her psychological thrillers are inspired by her surroundings, from the congested London streets to the raw English countryside. She can be found playing games, writing stories, and reading anything from fantasy to crime fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 723 reviews
June 30, 2021
Claustrophobic, intense, psychological mystery with Woman in the window meets You vibes!
It is mostly sad, depressing, slow burn thriller gripping your attention from the beginning and you’re trapped inside Suzie’s blurry, unreliable, struggling head! There’s something amiss about Suzie : she keeps drinking, spiraling into pessimism, holding on to memories with some man: a husband, lover, what happened to him?
Why is she having so hard time to move properly? Why is she drinking too much? And why her family members keep worrying about her and insisting her to come home?
Yes, it seems like Suzzie suffers from trauma, she’s not reliable narrator and she is obsessed with her upstairs neighbor Emily a lot. Actually her upstairs neighbor seems like her only distraction and a way of coping mechanism for her to get up from her bed and move on her life.
She knows routines, eating habits so well. She hears her harsh smack hills against cheap wooden floors. She knows so well her meaningless playlist insisted of blazing, ear bleeding pop song choices she truly detest and Emily keeps playing them after 11 p.m. till Suzy attacks back by hitting her broomstick to the ceiling to stop her.
Of course Suzy keeps making complaints about the noise to her landlord, informing the housing council and showing at her door to confront her!
A few days of silence later, Emily starts her noise torture again and again!
But one day she really stops! Actually she has never stopped for one week before which makes Suzy frustrated. And when a package arrives for Emily, as a responsible, helpful neighbor Suzzie wants to deliver the package by finding herself inside abandoned house of Emily. Actually not abandoned: it’s dirty, everything strewn around and messy but Emily is not there!
Of course she gets worried about her neighbor but she is also scared to lose her main focusing subject help her to get through her days.
She warns her landlord Mike and Mike informs Emily’s parents. It seems like she has lost her job. There’s a chance she ghosted her parents. She did it before. She’s a portrait of little erratic, irresponsible and unpredictable young woman.
But Suzy feels in her guts something is up and her neighbor is in great danger. Even digging through her disappearance means she has to confront her own secrets she keeps, she’s stubborn enough to find Emily! But it also means crossing some lines and put a target on her head! Oh Suzy what have you done to yourself?
It was quick, engrossing, intriguing reading! I love damaged,flawed characters and obsession stories! It was also reflects dark face of grief so naturally!
Twists are not so surprising. You may guess them miles away. The conclusion is satisfying and saddening!
Overall: well character driven, psychological, slow burn thriller keeps you on your toes. I’m rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 bleakly, stalkerish, painful, full of grief stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK and One More Chapter for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
It is mostly sad, depressing, slow burn thriller gripping your attention from the beginning and you’re trapped inside Suzie’s blurry, unreliable, struggling head! There’s something amiss about Suzie : she keeps drinking, spiraling into pessimism, holding on to memories with some man: a husband, lover, what happened to him?
Why is she having so hard time to move properly? Why is she drinking too much? And why her family members keep worrying about her and insisting her to come home?
Yes, it seems like Suzzie suffers from trauma, she’s not reliable narrator and she is obsessed with her upstairs neighbor Emily a lot. Actually her upstairs neighbor seems like her only distraction and a way of coping mechanism for her to get up from her bed and move on her life.
She knows routines, eating habits so well. She hears her harsh smack hills against cheap wooden floors. She knows so well her meaningless playlist insisted of blazing, ear bleeding pop song choices she truly detest and Emily keeps playing them after 11 p.m. till Suzy attacks back by hitting her broomstick to the ceiling to stop her.
Of course Suzy keeps making complaints about the noise to her landlord, informing the housing council and showing at her door to confront her!
A few days of silence later, Emily starts her noise torture again and again!
But one day she really stops! Actually she has never stopped for one week before which makes Suzy frustrated. And when a package arrives for Emily, as a responsible, helpful neighbor Suzzie wants to deliver the package by finding herself inside abandoned house of Emily. Actually not abandoned: it’s dirty, everything strewn around and messy but Emily is not there!
Of course she gets worried about her neighbor but she is also scared to lose her main focusing subject help her to get through her days.
She warns her landlord Mike and Mike informs Emily’s parents. It seems like she has lost her job. There’s a chance she ghosted her parents. She did it before. She’s a portrait of little erratic, irresponsible and unpredictable young woman.
But Suzy feels in her guts something is up and her neighbor is in great danger. Even digging through her disappearance means she has to confront her own secrets she keeps, she’s stubborn enough to find Emily! But it also means crossing some lines and put a target on her head! Oh Suzy what have you done to yourself?
It was quick, engrossing, intriguing reading! I love damaged,flawed characters and obsession stories! It was also reflects dark face of grief so naturally!
Twists are not so surprising. You may guess them miles away. The conclusion is satisfying and saddening!
Overall: well character driven, psychological, slow burn thriller keeps you on your toes. I’m rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 bleakly, stalkerish, painful, full of grief stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK and One More Chapter for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
July 21, 2021
Suzie Arlington can hear everything that goes on in the flat upstairs-she knows when the latest tenant, Emily eats, sleeps, has sex, and uses the toilet. She knows what music she likes, the food she prefers and the wine she drinks.
Creepy, huh?
Well, it COULD have been but all of this was just recited to the reader in a dispassionate fashion, from Suzie’s POV (ie: I did this and she did that)
We were told of conflict but shown very little.
For some reason, this makes Suzie think that she knows her neighbor better than anyone else, so when Emily goes missing, she becomes convinced that she is the only one who can find her.
Even though she actually didn’t know her well at all.
But, WHY would she bother? She has filed a formal complaint against her neighbor for excessive noise and should have simply been relieved if she had moved out.
Eventually we will hear from Emily as well-but although these chapters tell us why Emily moved to London, the things shared don’t have much bearing on what transpired after, and we didn’t need several chapters to explain this choice.
And, the final revelation-I didn’t feel as if there was anything in the plot to support it.
The motivations of every character just seem contrived.
I just didn’t find this to be the spine-tingling psychological thriller described in the synopsis. In fact I felt very little tension or suspense at all.
A buddy read with DeAnn, Ceecee and Pat. Be sure to check out their amazing reviews as well to find out if I am the only outlier!
Thank You to ONE MORE CHAPTER for inviting me to read a gifted copy. It was my pleasure to offer a CANDID review! Publication date currently scheduled for December 9, 2021.
Creepy, huh?
Well, it COULD have been but all of this was just recited to the reader in a dispassionate fashion, from Suzie’s POV (ie: I did this and she did that)
We were told of conflict but shown very little.
For some reason, this makes Suzie think that she knows her neighbor better than anyone else, so when Emily goes missing, she becomes convinced that she is the only one who can find her.
Even though she actually didn’t know her well at all.
But, WHY would she bother? She has filed a formal complaint against her neighbor for excessive noise and should have simply been relieved if she had moved out.
Eventually we will hear from Emily as well-but although these chapters tell us why Emily moved to London, the things shared don’t have much bearing on what transpired after, and we didn’t need several chapters to explain this choice.
And, the final revelation-I didn’t feel as if there was anything in the plot to support it.
The motivations of every character just seem contrived.
I just didn’t find this to be the spine-tingling psychological thriller described in the synopsis. In fact I felt very little tension or suspense at all.
A buddy read with DeAnn, Ceecee and Pat. Be sure to check out their amazing reviews as well to find out if I am the only outlier!
Thank You to ONE MORE CHAPTER for inviting me to read a gifted copy. It was my pleasure to offer a CANDID review! Publication date currently scheduled for December 9, 2021.
April 10, 2023
EXCERPT: I heard Emily before I met her. The harsh smack of heels against cheap wooden floorboards. The gentle buzz of a phone followed by a surge of high-pitched notes, sometimes angry, sometimes excited, rarely sad. The sadness came through the slim pipes in the bathroom, the soft gurgles that slipped down the plumbing and escaped through my extractor fan. The incessant music thrumming through the ceiling, invading my space. Emily has terrible taste, mostly new tracks, screeching pop singers holding long, high notes, the same beat in every song.
I knew Emily before I met her. Italian food on Mondays, meatballs rich and smothered in tomato sauce. Tuesdays, something eggy. Wednesdays, something meaty. Thursdays and Fridays, mostly wine. A takeaway on Saturdays, usually Chinese, the sticky leftover noodles escaping through the shared food waste bin like silky worms breaking through soil. Sometimes I could smell the food and other times I knew from a discarded receipt in our communal hallway.
On Sundays the shake of bottles being emptied into the recycling bin outside from her weekly wine shop. A crate of six, always. They sound lovely from the tasting notes I found clinging to the letter box. A malbec, blackberry and vanilla notes with a finish of chocolate and nutmeg, soft and warm.
I've been in London over ten years now and I haven't found a quiet place. I live in Angel, Islington. The nice part, with the grand white townhouses, the ones advertised as being on tree-lined streets. I can't see any trees, just blunt shavings in the ground, weeds rising and arching over the stubs like gravestones. I'm on the ground floor of a two-storey house and Emily is above me. She moved in over six months ago and I thought she might leave, as people do here. People Emily's age, early twenties, they come and go like the seasons, and it's spring now. Time for Emily to leave.
ABOUT 'THE GIRL UPSTAIRS': How well do you know your neighbour?
Would you trust them with your life?
I heard Emily before I saw her. The harsh smack of heels against cheap wooden floorboards. The loud phone calls. The incessant music.
I knew Emily before I met her. Discarded receipts in our communal hallway. Sticky leftovers in the shared food waste bin. Wine shop vouchers in the letterbox.
Now she’s gone missing, and I’m the only one who can find her. The only one who can save her.
Because I know her best, and I heard everything.
The Girl Upstairs is a spine-tingling psychological thriller of grief and obsession that explores how lonely London can be and how sometimes it’s our neighbours who see us most, who know us best…
MY THOUGHTS: While I didn't find this to be an absolutely gripping psychological thriller, it is an interesting and compelling debut novel that I would put firmly into the domestic thriller camp.
It's funny the things that you miss when they're gone. Suzy has a noisy, inconsiderate neighbour upstairs, but when she hasn't heard any noise for a few days, she becomes concerned and raises the alarm because, strange as it may seem, no one else is remotely worried about where Emily might be. This lack of concern worries Suzy, and it becomes her purpose in life to find the missing woman.
I enjoyed this debut novel. It's realistic, sympathetic and utterly believable. It doesn't set out to shock, or apall; the author just goes quietly about her business of telling an intriguing story with just a soupçon of lingering menace to entice the reader onwards.
Both Emily and Suzy are interesting characters. Emily is an aspiring writer, shunted off to London by her parents while they endeavour to repair their fractured relationship. Suzy lost her husband suddenly and tragically and is struggling to cope. Both women are emotionally fragile and vulnerable, and have far more in common than either realise.
I really enjoyed the subtlety of the writing, and I will definitely be lining up for this author's next offering.
I read/listened to The Girl Upstairs and enjoyed the narration as delivered by Meg Travers.
⭐⭐⭐.6
#TheGirlUpstairs #NetGalley
I: #georginaleesauthor @onemorechapterhc
T: @GLees_author @OneMoreChapter_
#contemporaryfiction #domesticdram #mystery
THE AUTHOR: Georgina studied creative writing and film at university and has since pursued a career in video-games journalism, covering some of the most popular games in the world. Her psychological thrillers are inspired by her surroundings, from the congested London streets to the raw English countryside. She can be found playing games, writing stories, and reading anything from fantasy to crime fiction.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, via Netgalley for providing both a digital and audio ARC of The Girl Upstairs by Georgina Lees for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
I knew Emily before I met her. Italian food on Mondays, meatballs rich and smothered in tomato sauce. Tuesdays, something eggy. Wednesdays, something meaty. Thursdays and Fridays, mostly wine. A takeaway on Saturdays, usually Chinese, the sticky leftover noodles escaping through the shared food waste bin like silky worms breaking through soil. Sometimes I could smell the food and other times I knew from a discarded receipt in our communal hallway.
On Sundays the shake of bottles being emptied into the recycling bin outside from her weekly wine shop. A crate of six, always. They sound lovely from the tasting notes I found clinging to the letter box. A malbec, blackberry and vanilla notes with a finish of chocolate and nutmeg, soft and warm.
I've been in London over ten years now and I haven't found a quiet place. I live in Angel, Islington. The nice part, with the grand white townhouses, the ones advertised as being on tree-lined streets. I can't see any trees, just blunt shavings in the ground, weeds rising and arching over the stubs like gravestones. I'm on the ground floor of a two-storey house and Emily is above me. She moved in over six months ago and I thought she might leave, as people do here. People Emily's age, early twenties, they come and go like the seasons, and it's spring now. Time for Emily to leave.
ABOUT 'THE GIRL UPSTAIRS': How well do you know your neighbour?
Would you trust them with your life?
I heard Emily before I saw her. The harsh smack of heels against cheap wooden floorboards. The loud phone calls. The incessant music.
I knew Emily before I met her. Discarded receipts in our communal hallway. Sticky leftovers in the shared food waste bin. Wine shop vouchers in the letterbox.
Now she’s gone missing, and I’m the only one who can find her. The only one who can save her.
Because I know her best, and I heard everything.
The Girl Upstairs is a spine-tingling psychological thriller of grief and obsession that explores how lonely London can be and how sometimes it’s our neighbours who see us most, who know us best…
MY THOUGHTS: While I didn't find this to be an absolutely gripping psychological thriller, it is an interesting and compelling debut novel that I would put firmly into the domestic thriller camp.
It's funny the things that you miss when they're gone. Suzy has a noisy, inconsiderate neighbour upstairs, but when she hasn't heard any noise for a few days, she becomes concerned and raises the alarm because, strange as it may seem, no one else is remotely worried about where Emily might be. This lack of concern worries Suzy, and it becomes her purpose in life to find the missing woman.
I enjoyed this debut novel. It's realistic, sympathetic and utterly believable. It doesn't set out to shock, or apall; the author just goes quietly about her business of telling an intriguing story with just a soupçon of lingering menace to entice the reader onwards.
Both Emily and Suzy are interesting characters. Emily is an aspiring writer, shunted off to London by her parents while they endeavour to repair their fractured relationship. Suzy lost her husband suddenly and tragically and is struggling to cope. Both women are emotionally fragile and vulnerable, and have far more in common than either realise.
I really enjoyed the subtlety of the writing, and I will definitely be lining up for this author's next offering.
I read/listened to The Girl Upstairs and enjoyed the narration as delivered by Meg Travers.
⭐⭐⭐.6
#TheGirlUpstairs #NetGalley
I: #georginaleesauthor @onemorechapterhc
T: @GLees_author @OneMoreChapter_
#contemporaryfiction #domesticdram #mystery
THE AUTHOR: Georgina studied creative writing and film at university and has since pursued a career in video-games journalism, covering some of the most popular games in the world. Her psychological thrillers are inspired by her surroundings, from the congested London streets to the raw English countryside. She can be found playing games, writing stories, and reading anything from fantasy to crime fiction.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, via Netgalley for providing both a digital and audio ARC of The Girl Upstairs by Georgina Lees for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
July 22, 2021
2.5 stars
Emily is the girl who moves in upstairs, she’s loud, heavy footed, plays music at full volume and by all appearances is happy. Downstairs is Suzie, full of sadness, life in stasis, stuck in her life and her flat, the apparent polar opposite to Emily who seems to be living her life. Noise complaints are made and after a while it all goes quiet upstairs..... too quiet. Where is Emily?
Emily must be a nightmare neighbour and you can feel Suzie’s tension, she’s so taut she could snap and Emily seems to be the catalyst that stirs and awakens something in her and she becomes obsessed and obsessive about her neighbour. That’s the good part!
Unfortunately, the pacing of this novel is just so slow and Suzie just isn’t interesting enough to pull you in and sustain you in the unfolding storyline. There’s not sufficient personality on display or emotions conveyed powerfully enough for you to care very much and so it just feel rather flat and monotone. The same thoughts go round and round Suzie’s head so that it becomes tedious. It’s certainly character driven but they aren’t characters that I can relate to. I can’t get my head around why Suzie would get so involved in Emily’s life to the extent she does when she had been in conflict with her?? She doesn’t know her at all so wouldn’t she just report and walk away? The police investigation and the behaviour of the police officers doesn’t strike an authentic note as in some places Suzie is allowed way more latitude than would actually happen. Suzie also makes convenient discoveries that the police overlook. Really? Some of the dialogue in weak which is especially apparent in the police investigation. There’s a lot of clipped underdeveloped dialogue that doesn’t feel true to life. This is very evident with less than pleasant characters who then feel somewhat stereotypical. The ending after a slow build up feels rushed and I have to say, it’s a surprise! Maybe too much is a surprise!
Overall, I’m sure others will enjoy this more than me but it’s too slow for me and I don’t make the emotional response I’m sure I’m meant to feel.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, One More Chapter for the arc in return for an honest review.
Emily is the girl who moves in upstairs, she’s loud, heavy footed, plays music at full volume and by all appearances is happy. Downstairs is Suzie, full of sadness, life in stasis, stuck in her life and her flat, the apparent polar opposite to Emily who seems to be living her life. Noise complaints are made and after a while it all goes quiet upstairs..... too quiet. Where is Emily?
Emily must be a nightmare neighbour and you can feel Suzie’s tension, she’s so taut she could snap and Emily seems to be the catalyst that stirs and awakens something in her and she becomes obsessed and obsessive about her neighbour. That’s the good part!
Unfortunately, the pacing of this novel is just so slow and Suzie just isn’t interesting enough to pull you in and sustain you in the unfolding storyline. There’s not sufficient personality on display or emotions conveyed powerfully enough for you to care very much and so it just feel rather flat and monotone. The same thoughts go round and round Suzie’s head so that it becomes tedious. It’s certainly character driven but they aren’t characters that I can relate to. I can’t get my head around why Suzie would get so involved in Emily’s life to the extent she does when she had been in conflict with her?? She doesn’t know her at all so wouldn’t she just report and walk away? The police investigation and the behaviour of the police officers doesn’t strike an authentic note as in some places Suzie is allowed way more latitude than would actually happen. Suzie also makes convenient discoveries that the police overlook. Really? Some of the dialogue in weak which is especially apparent in the police investigation. There’s a lot of clipped underdeveloped dialogue that doesn’t feel true to life. This is very evident with less than pleasant characters who then feel somewhat stereotypical. The ending after a slow build up feels rushed and I have to say, it’s a surprise! Maybe too much is a surprise!
Overall, I’m sure others will enjoy this more than me but it’s too slow for me and I don’t make the emotional response I’m sure I’m meant to feel.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, One More Chapter for the arc in return for an honest review.
July 22, 2021
I’m not going to sugarcoat this. I didn’t like this book at all! Two women live in one house. Suzie owns the ground floor flat, has lived there for five years. Emily rents the upstairs flat and is quite a noisy neighbour. Suzie can hear everything - from Emily’s heels clomping around, water gurgling in the bathroom to the bed springs in the bedroom. And the music, oh dear it is always so loud. Until suddenly it goes quiet. Suzie goes upstairs to check on her neighbour and finds the door on the latch, the place looks like a tornado hit it but there is no sign of Emily.
Suzie reports this to the owner who informs Emily’s parents and the police. But Suzie thinks she knows Emily best (but why?) because she could hear everything going on up there. So she undertakes her own half baked investigation (but why?). That’s the story. The rest is padding.
Yes I know Suzie suffered from depression and anxiety and probably a host of other ailments but I really didn’t want to keep reading about her weeping and wilting into her chair as her legs gave out. It may have been well portrayed, I don’t really know, but it certainly has no entertainment value. And I know Emily’s family was a bit strange and she had bad luck with men but honestly, her story was just one big cliche!
The one word I would use to describe this book is boring. I know that’s harsh but that’s my honest assessment. This was a buddy read with DeAnn, Ceecee and Jayme so check out their reviews as well! I appreciate the free copy from Netgalley which I have reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
Suzie reports this to the owner who informs Emily’s parents and the police. But Suzie thinks she knows Emily best (but why?) because she could hear everything going on up there. So she undertakes her own half baked investigation (but why?). That’s the story. The rest is padding.
Yes I know Suzie suffered from depression and anxiety and probably a host of other ailments but I really didn’t want to keep reading about her weeping and wilting into her chair as her legs gave out. It may have been well portrayed, I don’t really know, but it certainly has no entertainment value. And I know Emily’s family was a bit strange and she had bad luck with men but honestly, her story was just one big cliche!
The one word I would use to describe this book is boring. I know that’s harsh but that’s my honest assessment. This was a buddy read with DeAnn, Ceecee and Jayme so check out their reviews as well! I appreciate the free copy from Netgalley which I have reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
July 23, 2021
2.5 neighbor stars
Suzie lives in the downstairs flat and life is a struggle. She’s depressed, not going to work, and her upstairs neighbor plays the music too loud every night. In fact, Suzie can hear just about everything happening when her neighbor is upstairs.
Emily is trying to make a go of a new life in London away from her family. She’s got a new job and maybe even a new love interest. She is getting annoyed at her downstairs neighbor though, complaining to her directly and now through the council.
Then one day it is strangely quiet upstairs, what has happened to Emily? Suzie decides to try to find out and reaches out to her landlord. The police get involved, but Suzie feels that they aren’t doing enough.
This one has a good premise, but I’m afraid the writing just wasn’t optimal and the story seemed implausible at times. The police work did not seem up to par when a layperson gets more clues than the police! I didn’t really get connected to the characters, this one was too slow a read for me.
This one made a good buddy read, do check out what Jayme, Ceecee, and Pat had to say in their reviews.
Thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley for the early copy of this one to read. Scheduled to publish 12.9.2021
Suzie lives in the downstairs flat and life is a struggle. She’s depressed, not going to work, and her upstairs neighbor plays the music too loud every night. In fact, Suzie can hear just about everything happening when her neighbor is upstairs.
Emily is trying to make a go of a new life in London away from her family. She’s got a new job and maybe even a new love interest. She is getting annoyed at her downstairs neighbor though, complaining to her directly and now through the council.
Then one day it is strangely quiet upstairs, what has happened to Emily? Suzie decides to try to find out and reaches out to her landlord. The police get involved, but Suzie feels that they aren’t doing enough.
This one has a good premise, but I’m afraid the writing just wasn’t optimal and the story seemed implausible at times. The police work did not seem up to par when a layperson gets more clues than the police! I didn’t really get connected to the characters, this one was too slow a read for me.
This one made a good buddy read, do check out what Jayme, Ceecee, and Pat had to say in their reviews.
Thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley for the early copy of this one to read. Scheduled to publish 12.9.2021
June 3, 2022
On the face of it, this should have been a fabulous read. It definitely had all the ingredients for it.
Emily lives upstairs and Suzie below her.
Suzie can hear everything, yes absolutely everything that happens upstairs, from visitors to her neighbor Emily using the toilet.
From her having sex to post dropping through her mailbox.
If she sneezes, Suzie hears it.
So things weren’t well between them. Plus they didn’t know each other well.
So why? Why, why, WHY does Suzie take it upon herself to want to find Emily when she goes missing?
If anything, when my horrible neighbors go out or don’t come back for a few days, I’m not worried, it’s sheer bliss.
Seeing Suzie filed a complaint against her neighbor for excessive noise, wouldn’t you be relieved that she’s missing?
I would…..breath…..sigh…enjoy it as long as it lasts.
Nope. Suzie thinks she’s the only one to find her noisy neighbor who she dislikes!
To me, this didn’t make sense.
There was also mention of conflict between them both.
Where was that?
The writing itself I enjoyed. I’m not sure if it’s the author or editor that let this premise down.
I’d still try another book by this author though. I’d like to see if another book will be more promising.
It’s a shame. It really does have potential as a great thriller.
Other may have enjoyed this and that’s good, just a thriller has to be realistic right?
Emily lives upstairs and Suzie below her.
Suzie can hear everything, yes absolutely everything that happens upstairs, from visitors to her neighbor Emily using the toilet.
From her having sex to post dropping through her mailbox.
If she sneezes, Suzie hears it.
So things weren’t well between them. Plus they didn’t know each other well.
So why? Why, why, WHY does Suzie take it upon herself to want to find Emily when she goes missing?
If anything, when my horrible neighbors go out or don’t come back for a few days, I’m not worried, it’s sheer bliss.
Seeing Suzie filed a complaint against her neighbor for excessive noise, wouldn’t you be relieved that she’s missing?
I would…..breath…..sigh…enjoy it as long as it lasts.
Nope. Suzie thinks she’s the only one to find her noisy neighbor who she dislikes!
To me, this didn’t make sense.
There was also mention of conflict between them both.
Where was that?
The writing itself I enjoyed. I’m not sure if it’s the author or editor that let this premise down.
I’d still try another book by this author though. I’d like to see if another book will be more promising.
It’s a shame. It really does have potential as a great thriller.
Other may have enjoyed this and that’s good, just a thriller has to be realistic right?
December 27, 2022
I found this one to be a bit boring. A classic "girl upstairs go missing" book with mystery surrounding her disappearance. The MC annoyed me so much with her grieve and self pitying. The only good part was the twist at the end. This one was just not for me.
April 1, 2022
There is nothing worse than a bad, noisy neighbor, especially if they live upstairs. Suzie is tormented constantly by her upstairs neighbor, Emily. Suzie hears everything, and I mean everything that happens in the flat upstairs. She knows when Emily eats, sleeps, has friends over and even when she uses the bathroom. To say Suzie is slightly obsessed with Emily’s life is putting it mildly. When Emily goes missing, Suzie becomes a detective determined to unlock the secrets behind Emily’s sudden departure. This sounds like an interesting premise, but the thrills were few and far between. Meg Travers’ narration did however move the plot along with a dash of suspense. Most of the action occurs in the last ten percent of the book. For me that is too long to wait for the plot to pull me in. Unfortunately this was a disappointment. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins Audio, One More Chapter for my audiobook.
December 5, 2021
I took a gamble when requesting this book, because I’m living between ‘the neighbours from hell’. And no, for several reasons I cannot move. So, when I read about a young widow (to be clear: I’m happily married so that’s not why I speak of ‘a gamble’) who is slowly getting crazy about the noises she hears from her upstairs neighbour, my interest was piqued. Luckily there were enough differences between the horrible Emily upstairs and my living situation to enjoy this book. Although ‘enjoy’ may sound strange here, because Suzie is such a tragic figure with such a complicated back story. I could really relate to her feelings and her way of living, although it’s a bit difficult to believe she really wanted to find Emily – unless there’s a complicated psychological background that I don’t understand. Anyway, although not as exciting as the blurb would like the reader to believe (but that’s hardly ever the case), it’s an interesting story where there’s happening more than you think – it is all revealed in good time. The solution to the mystery is a bit cut short; I could have done with a little more background here. This was a fast read and I think I would like to read more by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley for this review copy.
Thanks to NetGalley for this review copy.
December 3, 2021
Mmmmmm, another one that was ok, certainly did not deliver a ‘jaw dropping twist’ as was promised and left me underwhelmed if anything, tepid characters with at times peculiar dialogues and a story that did hold my attention enough to want to finish the book but only just
A story of a mysterious neighbour in the flat above and once disappeared a hunt to find out what happened to her, nothing seemed to gel though to bring the various sub stories together
Not going to string it out as all can think to say was as started with, it was ok
5/10
2.5 Stars
A story of a mysterious neighbour in the flat above and once disappeared a hunt to find out what happened to her, nothing seemed to gel though to bring the various sub stories together
Not going to string it out as all can think to say was as started with, it was ok
5/10
2.5 Stars
December 5, 2021
I heard Emily before I saw her. The harsh smack of her heels against cheap wooden floorboards. The loud phone calls. The incessant music. I knew Emily before I met her. Discarded receipts in our communal hallway. Sticky leftovers in the shared food waste bin. Wine shop vouchers in the letterbox. Now she's gone missing, and I'm the only one who can find her. The only one who can save her. Because I know her best, and I heard everything.
This is quite a slow burning read. It centres around Suzie Arlington, a widow in her depths of depression. She's become fixated on her new neighbour Emily who seems to lead an exciting life. There's a bit of mystery and suspense surrounding this book. I wasn't really gripped by this story but I was still intrigued to know what had happened. There's a lot of little twists throughout.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #GeorginaLees for my ARC of #TheGirlUpstairs in exchange for an honest review.
This is quite a slow burning read. It centres around Suzie Arlington, a widow in her depths of depression. She's become fixated on her new neighbour Emily who seems to lead an exciting life. There's a bit of mystery and suspense surrounding this book. I wasn't really gripped by this story but I was still intrigued to know what had happened. There's a lot of little twists throughout.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #GeorginaLees for my ARC of #TheGirlUpstairs in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2021
Suzie is always complaining about the noise her upstairs neighbour Emily makes and they have words but when Emily goes missing Suzie feels upset and reports this to the landlord.
I really enjoyed the first part of this book and read it in one sitting. I found the second part of the book slow and disjointed after Emily begins to tell her story.
I found the ending predictable.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for my e-copy in exchange review.
I really enjoyed the first part of this book and read it in one sitting. I found the second part of the book slow and disjointed after Emily begins to tell her story.
I found the ending predictable.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for my e-copy in exchange review.
January 6, 2022
From the start, I just knew that this would be an absorbing read. The protagonist, Suzie Arlington is a sad and lonely woman of thirty-five. She works 'in marketing' and owns the ground floor flat of a house in Islington, London. She longs to return to her family home in Hove, Sussex. However, her attachment to the memories of her husband Ben, in the flat where she lives, override her longing for home.
Still grieving the loss of her husband, she refuses to enter her bedroom since he left. She sleeps on the sofa, or in a chair in her living room. SHE IS NOT COPING! She seems absolutely overwhelmed by the sensory overload that is London life. The noise, the smells, the light, the people. This is exacerbated by her upstairs neighbour Emily, who selfishly plays her music too loud, and generally seems to make as much noise as is physically possible. This in a house where sound travels effortlessly so that everything from opening drawers to going to the bathroom is clearly audible.
The book has a sad, but immensely creepy vibe. Sad because both women seemed so lonely, yet they were immersed in a highly populated urban center. They might have been friends if they could have looked past their differences. One needed quiet, the other needed noise to stave off her loneliness. Creepy because Suzie had an aura of 'unreliable narrator' about her... For the first half of the book I was all the time wondering if she was a narrator that I could trust.
When I found out what happened to Emily at the end, I was surprised (though perhaps I shouldn't have been?) Suzie's story ended in a most satisfactory way.
The writing kept me engaged throughout the book. I could easily visualize the house, the flats, and the occupants. The setting was a major force in the narrative. With overriding themes of grief, loss, and loneliness, this book cast a lingering look at lives of single women in the big city.
This is a debut psychological thriller and one which I highly recommend. Georgina Lees is a talented author, and I plan to keep an eye out for her future titles.
Still grieving the loss of her husband, she refuses to enter her bedroom since he left. She sleeps on the sofa, or in a chair in her living room. SHE IS NOT COPING! She seems absolutely overwhelmed by the sensory overload that is London life. The noise, the smells, the light, the people. This is exacerbated by her upstairs neighbour Emily, who selfishly plays her music too loud, and generally seems to make as much noise as is physically possible. This in a house where sound travels effortlessly so that everything from opening drawers to going to the bathroom is clearly audible.
The book has a sad, but immensely creepy vibe. Sad because both women seemed so lonely, yet they were immersed in a highly populated urban center. They might have been friends if they could have looked past their differences. One needed quiet, the other needed noise to stave off her loneliness. Creepy because Suzie had an aura of 'unreliable narrator' about her... For the first half of the book I was all the time wondering if she was a narrator that I could trust.
When I found out what happened to Emily at the end, I was surprised (though perhaps I shouldn't have been?) Suzie's story ended in a most satisfactory way.
The writing kept me engaged throughout the book. I could easily visualize the house, the flats, and the occupants. The setting was a major force in the narrative. With overriding themes of grief, loss, and loneliness, this book cast a lingering look at lives of single women in the big city.
This is a debut psychological thriller and one which I highly recommend. Georgina Lees is a talented author, and I plan to keep an eye out for her future titles.
June 29, 2021
Fair warning: this is an incredibly sad book.
While still a successful suspense novel, the author gives us a portrait of a woman dealing with almost debilitating depression. There’s such hopelessness and despair about her that it hurts to read.
Our missing woman starts out as rather unlikable, but you soon see that there’s a certain sadness there as well and, if you’re just looking for an entertaining mystery, you might find yourself a bit more emotional than you hope.
Getting past the emotion, the mystery is a good one. I don’t think that everything truly adds up. The mysterious clues end up a bit more prosaic than expected in the end and I found myself just a tiny bit disappointed at the reason behind everything.
That being said, though, it’s a good book. The characterization of our main characters is so well done that I really felt like I knew these women and my heart broke for them time and again.
• ARC provided via Net Galley
While still a successful suspense novel, the author gives us a portrait of a woman dealing with almost debilitating depression. There’s such hopelessness and despair about her that it hurts to read.
Our missing woman starts out as rather unlikable, but you soon see that there’s a certain sadness there as well and, if you’re just looking for an entertaining mystery, you might find yourself a bit more emotional than you hope.
Getting past the emotion, the mystery is a good one. I don’t think that everything truly adds up. The mysterious clues end up a bit more prosaic than expected in the end and I found myself just a tiny bit disappointed at the reason behind everything.
That being said, though, it’s a good book. The characterization of our main characters is so well done that I really felt like I knew these women and my heart broke for them time and again.
• ARC provided via Net Galley
July 7, 2021
This was a unique play on the "something weird is going on with my neighbor" genre and I greatly enjoyed it. The story centers on Suzie, a young widow who is having trouble getting out there again and fixates on her upstairs neighbors, who come and go every 6 months. The newest one is a recent college grad named Emily,. who immediately gets on Suzie's nerves from being loud and inconsiderate. You also get alternating chapters from Emily's point of view, which is a clever way of garnering empathy for her when at first you only see her from Suzie's perspective.
One day, Emily doesn't come home and Suzie gets herself overly involved in trying to figure out what happened. These characters are real and likeable- they made mistakes and did silly things, but felt relatable. Even when Suzie went way above and beyond what I would do to investigate the disappearance on her own, I felt that I could empathize with her and didn't really have to suspend my disbelief.
The twist at the end is great- the villain literally turned out to be the one person I was sure it wasn't- I love when that happens! The book remained fast-paced throughout and left me turning pages well into the night.
Overall, this was a great read and I'd definitely recommend to those who like psychological thrillers. I am looking forward to more books by this author. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
One day, Emily doesn't come home and Suzie gets herself overly involved in trying to figure out what happened. These characters are real and likeable- they made mistakes and did silly things, but felt relatable. Even when Suzie went way above and beyond what I would do to investigate the disappearance on her own, I felt that I could empathize with her and didn't really have to suspend my disbelief.
The twist at the end is great- the villain literally turned out to be the one person I was sure it wasn't- I love when that happens! The book remained fast-paced throughout and left me turning pages well into the night.
Overall, this was a great read and I'd definitely recommend to those who like psychological thrillers. I am looking forward to more books by this author. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2022
This is a slow burn of a book, for sure, but it's a pace I enjoy when a story is well written. I did not manage to guess what was going on, there are a lot of twists and I probably suspected every possible scenario except the actual one. There's a lot of grief involved throughout the book, but I was satisfied with the outcome and liked the hopeful ending to the story. Meg Travers did an excellent job with the audiobook narration.
November 14, 2021
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:
Suzie Arlington quietly lived her day-to-day life in her lonely flat. Her only entertainment was listening to Emily Williams, the girl upstairs. When Emily went missing, Suzie was determined to find out what happened to the girl who she thought she knew.
For a short book, this story was quite slow for me. I was intrigued by what happened to both characters, but most of the time it felt too linear especially in Suzie’s POV. I needed more ups and down to keep my attention. I liked the overall storyline, but it just needed a little more punch.
The Girl Upstairs is a story of secrets and obsession. It might appeal to readers who enjoy a domestic Thriller/Mystery.
🏢❌🏢 . . . (F)BR With Twinsie CC . . . 🏢❌🏢
For more reviews/interviews/promo visit:
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Dual
Rating:
Suzie Arlington quietly lived her day-to-day life in her lonely flat. Her only entertainment was listening to Emily Williams, the girl upstairs. When Emily went missing, Suzie was determined to find out what happened to the girl who she thought she knew.
For a short book, this story was quite slow for me. I was intrigued by what happened to both characters, but most of the time it felt too linear especially in Suzie’s POV. I needed more ups and down to keep my attention. I liked the overall storyline, but it just needed a little more punch.
The Girl Upstairs is a story of secrets and obsession. It might appeal to readers who enjoy a domestic Thriller/Mystery.
🏢❌🏢 . . . (F)BR With Twinsie CC . . . 🏢❌🏢
For more reviews/interviews/promo visit:
December 11, 2021
This one was enjoyable; it was what I call a slow-burn thriller. It's definitely got the edge to be psychological and leaves you wondering what will happen but not in a way you feel panicked or on the edge. We also get a healthy look into how depression works and can fundamentally change pieces of you.
You see people every day, some you know and some you don't. Those who live next to you, how well do you actually know them?
I found it to be written with good details left behind like breadcrumbs. You can tell you are heading toward the answer but it's not spelled out quite yet. I like books like this because it forces your mind to slow down and enjoy the journey of the characters.
My only hang up was the end and the twist; it was a good shock factor but I like to have some solid reasoning behind some actions; senseless motivation isn't something that sits well.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK; One More Chapter for allowing me to review the ARC.
You see people every day, some you know and some you don't. Those who live next to you, how well do you actually know them?
I found it to be written with good details left behind like breadcrumbs. You can tell you are heading toward the answer but it's not spelled out quite yet. I like books like this because it forces your mind to slow down and enjoy the journey of the characters.
My only hang up was the end and the twist; it was a good shock factor but I like to have some solid reasoning behind some actions; senseless motivation isn't something that sits well.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK; One More Chapter for allowing me to review the ARC.
January 27, 2023
quick review because i just want to move on from this one if i'm honest
▪️i loved the two perspectives back and forth, makes it a much easier read and i generally like that in a book
▪️the references to wine continuously throughout this book is actual unbearable, at least every chapter had a mention of wine and it was so overdone
▪️the relationship between our main character and her husband was not built upon well enough, it felt very convenient to have that placed there for a reason for her to care about the neighbour - it didn't feel authentic to me at all
▪️the police officer falling in love with her!! come on it's literally beyond cheesy i can't stand how cliche it is
▪️lastly, imagine her brother in law kills a man and the police say they're not going to charge him as it was self defence?? there is a severe lack of understanding for the justice system in this book and it made me cringe
unfortunately this was a major flop for me
▪️i loved the two perspectives back and forth, makes it a much easier read and i generally like that in a book
▪️the references to wine continuously throughout this book is actual unbearable, at least every chapter had a mention of wine and it was so overdone
▪️the relationship between our main character and her husband was not built upon well enough, it felt very convenient to have that placed there for a reason for her to care about the neighbour - it didn't feel authentic to me at all
▪️the police officer falling in love with her!! come on it's literally beyond cheesy i can't stand how cliche it is
▪️lastly, imagine her brother in law kills a man and the police say they're not going to charge him as it was self defence?? there is a severe lack of understanding for the justice system in this book and it made me cringe
unfortunately this was a major flop for me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2021
We meet our protagonist, Suzie, a young woman who is living in a downstairs flat in a busy part of London. She has lost her husband when he died a couple of years before now and she has never fully healed. She has withdrawn from most aspects of life and seems anxious about interacting with outsiders, or even leaving her flat. She does hold down a job and has maintained her limited lifestyle in the flat the the couple purchased. She is stuck between needing to go home to Hove and her reluctance to leave the home that she and her deceased husband had together.
Then, a new neighbor, Emily, moves into the upstairs flat. Suzie does not interact with her directly but due to the construction, she is aware of all of the comings and goings of her upstairs neighbor. One night, on Emily's birthday, Emily has her work friends over to the flat for a party and Suzie gets drunk listening to the girls. Shortly following this event, Emily goes missing and Suzie, despite being an unreliable witness who barely knew Emily, is the only one who seems concerned for her whereabouts.
I found this story to be an interesting and twisting book with characters that were flawed but intriguing. The story is page-turning and keeps you paying attention right until the last page.
I found the back and forth between Emily and Suzie to be an interesting style choice. The only issue I had was that I found the ending somewhat difficult to follow. This may have been deliberate, or it may have been due to this being an eARC and therefore there were some issues with the text attributable to that. I look forward to seeing it in print to better judge this.
Overall, a great read for thriller lovers.
#TheGirlUpstairs #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter
Then, a new neighbor, Emily, moves into the upstairs flat. Suzie does not interact with her directly but due to the construction, she is aware of all of the comings and goings of her upstairs neighbor. One night, on Emily's birthday, Emily has her work friends over to the flat for a party and Suzie gets drunk listening to the girls. Shortly following this event, Emily goes missing and Suzie, despite being an unreliable witness who barely knew Emily, is the only one who seems concerned for her whereabouts.
I found this story to be an interesting and twisting book with characters that were flawed but intriguing. The story is page-turning and keeps you paying attention right until the last page.
I found the back and forth between Emily and Suzie to be an interesting style choice. The only issue I had was that I found the ending somewhat difficult to follow. This may have been deliberate, or it may have been due to this being an eARC and therefore there were some issues with the text attributable to that. I look forward to seeing it in print to better judge this.
Overall, a great read for thriller lovers.
#TheGirlUpstairs #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter
March 18, 2022
I’ve lived in apartments most of my life, including all of my adult life. I’m accustomed to the noise of apartment living. I’ve lived with fussy neighbors who aren’t as accepting and I’ve lived with neighbors who take the normal noise of apartment living to an undesirable extreme.
It’s hard to say if Suzie’s resentment toward her upstairs neighbor was founded or if she was just being too sensitive about Emily’s lifestyle, but I can easily say that Suzie’s strange obsession with Emily piqued my curiosity immediately.
When Emily stops being so noisy, Suzie is the only one who is genuinely concerned. Upon realizing no one can account for Emily’s whereabouts, Suzie is convinced something nefarious is at play. She pushes further than the police are willing to go to figure out the truth about Emily’s disappearance.
Although amateur sleuthing is a trope I dislike, I thought the author used it in a way that mostly worked here. Suzie’s choices weren’t wise, but understanding her history helped me, as the reader, comprehend the driving force behind her investigative tactics. It seemed fair that she’d choose to pursue the mystery when she realized no one else was going to. The reason Emily’s disappearance haunted her so deeply made complete sense.
Suzie’s tragic backstory was another engrossing element as a side mystery, not because it wasn’t solved, but because she only gave glimpses of it in her narrative for a good portion of the book. I wanted to know what had happened to her and how it affected who she was. I also think the author captured Suzie’s desperation and depression well.
I’d be lying if I didn’t say some of this was a little corny, but I appreciate what the author wanted to do for her character. I did find the ending to be anticlimactic, and it was disappointing in another way I can’t expound upon, as I don’t want to spoil the story. I just thought things were building up toward something different. I came to care about both Suzie and Emily, which made the abruptness of the conclusion rather jarring.
I’ve put this one off for a while, fearing I’d made a mistake by accepting the widget; fearing this wasn’t the type of story I’d enjoy. Since it proved to be more of a character study and less of a mindless thriller, I actually found myself pleasantly surprised by the content. While certain areas could have used more development, I enjoyed Georgina Lees’ writing style and found myself glued to the narrative. It’s not often that I finish a book in two days so, despite any complaints I might have, I’m grateful for the story’s immersive distraction from real life.
I am immensely grateful to One More Chapter for my digital review copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
3.5 stars
It’s hard to say if Suzie’s resentment toward her upstairs neighbor was founded or if she was just being too sensitive about Emily’s lifestyle, but I can easily say that Suzie’s strange obsession with Emily piqued my curiosity immediately.
When Emily stops being so noisy, Suzie is the only one who is genuinely concerned. Upon realizing no one can account for Emily’s whereabouts, Suzie is convinced something nefarious is at play. She pushes further than the police are willing to go to figure out the truth about Emily’s disappearance.
Although amateur sleuthing is a trope I dislike, I thought the author used it in a way that mostly worked here. Suzie’s choices weren’t wise, but understanding her history helped me, as the reader, comprehend the driving force behind her investigative tactics. It seemed fair that she’d choose to pursue the mystery when she realized no one else was going to. The reason Emily’s disappearance haunted her so deeply made complete sense.
Suzie’s tragic backstory was another engrossing element as a side mystery, not because it wasn’t solved, but because she only gave glimpses of it in her narrative for a good portion of the book. I wanted to know what had happened to her and how it affected who she was. I also think the author captured Suzie’s desperation and depression well.
I’d be lying if I didn’t say some of this was a little corny, but I appreciate what the author wanted to do for her character. I did find the ending to be anticlimactic, and it was disappointing in another way I can’t expound upon, as I don’t want to spoil the story. I just thought things were building up toward something different. I came to care about both Suzie and Emily, which made the abruptness of the conclusion rather jarring.
I’ve put this one off for a while, fearing I’d made a mistake by accepting the widget; fearing this wasn’t the type of story I’d enjoy. Since it proved to be more of a character study and less of a mindless thriller, I actually found myself pleasantly surprised by the content. While certain areas could have used more development, I enjoyed Georgina Lees’ writing style and found myself glued to the narrative. It’s not often that I finish a book in two days so, despite any complaints I might have, I’m grateful for the story’s immersive distraction from real life.
I am immensely grateful to One More Chapter for my digital review copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
3.5 stars
January 9, 2022
2⭐ - It was just ok
Meh. Boring book... 😒
Meh. Boring book... 😒
November 15, 2021
3.5 ★
Living alone in London, Suzie Arlington is acutely aware of every movement and noise made by her neighbor, Emily. However, when Suzie realizes it is suddenly too quiet in the upstairs flat, she cannot help but get answers to her neighbor’s mysterious disappearance.
From the beginning, Suzie appears to be an unreliable narrator and this element creates doubt as to what she observes. As more is revealed about Suzie and Emily, it becomes clear how each are desperate for meaningful interactions but both are in different places in their lives.
In this story, the pacing is a slow burn, and even when the pieces begin to click, it isn’t completely satisfying, as some critical character/plot points were left unresolved and seemed too easy to miss. That said, I was rooting for Suzie throughout her journey.
*An ARC was provided for a review*
*This was a (F)BR with Hawkey!*
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
Living alone in London, Suzie Arlington is acutely aware of every movement and noise made by her neighbor, Emily. However, when Suzie realizes it is suddenly too quiet in the upstairs flat, she cannot help but get answers to her neighbor’s mysterious disappearance.
“What would I say to you? That I’m doing this for you? Because that’s strictly not true. I’m also doing this for myself.”
From the beginning, Suzie appears to be an unreliable narrator and this element creates doubt as to what she observes. As more is revealed about Suzie and Emily, it becomes clear how each are desperate for meaningful interactions but both are in different places in their lives.
In this story, the pacing is a slow burn, and even when the pieces begin to click, it isn’t completely satisfying, as some critical character/plot points were left unresolved and seemed too easy to miss. That said, I was rooting for Suzie throughout her journey.
*An ARC was provided for a review*
*This was a (F)BR with Hawkey!*
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
May 18, 2022
This is not bad. Love how the author unravels the backstory slowly, inch by inch, making me as a reader dying to know what exactly happened to main character that made her in the situation she is currently in. Towards the end, the twist was kinda expected because I happened to read a lot of thrillers, but still it doesn’t make it less compelling. Finally knowing the past also help readers to understand the infatuation better.
July 5, 2021
The Girl Upstairs by Georgina Lees is a really good book - surprising, a bit twisted, and will keep readers up at night. Suzie has had a hard couple of years, her husband is gone (no spoilers), she can't bring herself to go back home to her parents' home, her job is mundane and her upstairs flat neighbor is a young woman, Emily, who is a bit loud. Suzie and Emily don't speak or interact, but Suzie hears her crying, knows what she likes to eat, hears her pacing and cooking. Knows Emily intimately in a strange way.
When Emily disappears, no one seems as upset about it as Suzie is. Her parents write it off as she has done this before, her job had let her go, the detectives think she's hiding out with friends but Suzie absolutely believes something is wrong and won't let it go. But she soon figures out that by looking for Emily she has put herself in real danger. Can she help Emily or is Suzie just a woman with too many problems who needs real help herself?
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Emily disappears, no one seems as upset about it as Suzie is. Her parents write it off as she has done this before, her job had let her go, the detectives think she's hiding out with friends but Suzie absolutely believes something is wrong and won't let it go. But she soon figures out that by looking for Emily she has put herself in real danger. Can she help Emily or is Suzie just a woman with too many problems who needs real help herself?
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 21, 2021
This is one of those books that I raced to get through because I couldn't wait to see what happened! When Emily moves in above Suzie things go from bad to worse. Suzie is annoyed by Emily's loud music and constant banging of pans as well as a party that keeps her up all night. So of course she complains to the landlord, but we also realize that Suzie has some problems of her own that are only compounded by Emily's noise. Things go downhill from there and Suzie reaches out to help when Emily goes missing. I appreciated the pacing as we get to the chilling conclusion. Looking forward to to more from Georgina Lees!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
June 15, 2023
Sigh! I just couldn’t get into this book and if it wasn’t for the fact I was listening to the audiobook I definitely would have DNF’d (I’ve never DNFd a book EVER). This should have been a sad, gritty, mystery thriller but I was so unfazed by it all! Maybe because I guessed the culprit a couple chapters in (I was correct) it all just felt long drawn and boring after that. The surprises didn’t surprise me, the emotions I should have felt were non existent and the ending was just… oh ok.
September 29, 2021
Well-written and very entertaining thriller. My favorite aspect was how well the author captured depression and grief in the main character. No particularly new ground covered here but on the whole a well done and engaging read. The narration of the audiobook was excellent.
November 16, 2022
I'll be perfectly honest and say this book sucks
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