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The Woman Next Door
Two neighbours struggle with envy of each other’s lives—and as their friendship grows, their questions do too . . .
Sophie is a happily married mum of two who considers herself lucky—until her beautiful and highly successful new neighbour Angie moves in along with her charming husband and four talented children. The two women couldn’t be more different, but after a storm brings them together, an unlikely friendship develops. As their children grow closer, so does their bond.
But the alliance between the families is a wake-up call for both women. Angie’s success makes Sophie consider whether she really is as satisfied as she makes out. And Sophie’s uncomplicated marriage forces Angie to look at her own and accept that it’s not as perfect as it seems. Both women vow to change.
But their decisions may not lead where they expect, in this absorbing novel about risks and relationships by the author of The Missing Husband that explores whether the grass is always greener on the other side of the garden fence . . .
Sophie is a happily married mum of two who considers herself lucky—until her beautiful and highly successful new neighbour Angie moves in along with her charming husband and four talented children. The two women couldn’t be more different, but after a storm brings them together, an unlikely friendship develops. As their children grow closer, so does their bond.
But the alliance between the families is a wake-up call for both women. Angie’s success makes Sophie consider whether she really is as satisfied as she makes out. And Sophie’s uncomplicated marriage forces Angie to look at her own and accept that it’s not as perfect as it seems. Both women vow to change.
But their decisions may not lead where they expect, in this absorbing novel about risks and relationships by the author of The Missing Husband that explores whether the grass is always greener on the other side of the garden fence . . .
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2021
247 people are currently reading
629 people want to read
About the author
Natasha Boydell
21 books228 followersNatasha is an internationally bestselling author of psychological thrillers. Her books have featured in the top 100 charts in the UK, Canada and Australia, and include the top 10 bestseller The Fortune Teller.
Natasha's novels are available around the world in ebook, paperback and audiobook and have been translated into several languages. She lives in North London with her husband, two daughters and two rescue cats.
Natasha's novels are available around the world in ebook, paperback and audiobook and have been translated into several languages. She lives in North London with her husband, two daughters and two rescue cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
April 19, 2022
This book is definitely not a thriller. There was not a big twist and hardly any mystery. This is a story about how secrets and lies test family dynamics. It also shows the complexity of friendships, loyalty and forgiveness. Does one bad decision have the power to destroy lives forever? The audiobook kept me entertained and interested in the outcome. If you’re looking for a thriller, keep on looking. If you’re wanting a compelling family drama, this is the book for you. Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my audiobook.
May 10, 2023
3.5⭐
Publication date ~ book ~ September 29, 2021, audio ~ February 1, 2022
Page Count ~ 292
Audio length ~ 8 hours 24 minutes
Narrator ~ Mhairi Morrison
Featuring ~ cheating, secrets, lies
Is the grass always greener on the other side of the garden fence?
The Woman Next Door follows 2 couples living next door to each other in London ~ Sophie & Alan and Angie & Jack. 6 kids between them and a broken fence help them form a bond. Soon they’re walking to school together, vacationing together, walking into each other’s houses without knocking…among other extra curricular activities.
It took me a bit to get accustomed to the narrator and I do wish it was 2 different narrators since the story is told by both Sophie and Angie's perspective. There was a bit of a twist I didn’t see coming, which always thrills me ~ however, I didn’t really get “thriller” vibes with this one.
I was very pleased with how the whole story wrapped up 10 years in the future.
*Thanks Netgalley, Dreamscape Media LLC and Natasha Boydell for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
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Publication date ~ book ~ September 29, 2021, audio ~ February 1, 2022
Page Count ~ 292
Audio length ~ 8 hours 24 minutes
Narrator ~ Mhairi Morrison
Featuring ~ cheating, secrets, lies
Is the grass always greener on the other side of the garden fence?
The Woman Next Door follows 2 couples living next door to each other in London ~ Sophie & Alan and Angie & Jack. 6 kids between them and a broken fence help them form a bond. Soon they’re walking to school together, vacationing together, walking into each other’s houses without knocking…among other extra curricular activities.
It took me a bit to get accustomed to the narrator and I do wish it was 2 different narrators since the story is told by both Sophie and Angie's perspective. There was a bit of a twist I didn’t see coming, which always thrills me ~ however, I didn’t really get “thriller” vibes with this one.
I was very pleased with how the whole story wrapped up 10 years in the future.
*Thanks Netgalley, Dreamscape Media LLC and Natasha Boydell for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
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September 29, 2021
The grass is always greener ....
New neighbors have moved in next door. Angie and her husband and 2 kids ... Sophie and her husband and 4 kids. They say opposites attract.. and these women each want what the other seems to have. An unlikely friendship develops.
BOOK BLURB: Angie’s success makes Sophie consider whether she really is as satisfied as she makes out. And Sophie’s uncomplicated marriage forces Angie to look at her own and accept that it’s not as perfect as it seems. Both women vow to change.
Change is always a risk ..sometimes that is what is needed. Sometimes change leads to unexpected consequences. What will these families discover .. especially the women? More importantly, as the years pass, how do the children see their parents?
This is a thought-provoking look at relationships ... wives and husbands, children and parents, and friends. The characters are finely drawn, each with his or her flaws and/or issues out there for all to see. What suspense there is, is low key. It's like watching a pot boil .. it does very little until it starts bubbling, not roiling, just simmering.
Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books for the digital copy of this psychological drama. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
June 7, 2022
Another great book!! Review to come!!
January 23, 2022
I really enjoy Natasha Boydell's storytelling and I look forward to more in the future.
In this story Angie moves her family, to be closer to her ailing mother, but in reality to try and salvage her marriage. From the outside, her life is perfect but in reality she is fraying from everything she is trying to hold together, marriage, four children and a career as an attorney.
Sophie is the mother of two children, close in age to Angie's younger two. Sophie's life is steady. She gave up her career in journalism to raise her family, but she feels like she hasn't done much with her life.
They two families really begin to develope a close friendship, after a storm damages the fence between their backyards. The younger children excitedly push to be able to play together and in the end the parents agree and put a gate on the fence between their home for the children's easy access. Angie and Sophie soon become very close friends.
Then the entire thing is destroyed by a moment of bad decision making and no impulse control. The friendship and both families suffer. This story is the telling of just ordinary lives of everyday people, mistakes, betrayals and ultimately forgiveness.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to enjoy this great Audio-ARC.
In this story Angie moves her family, to be closer to her ailing mother, but in reality to try and salvage her marriage. From the outside, her life is perfect but in reality she is fraying from everything she is trying to hold together, marriage, four children and a career as an attorney.
Sophie is the mother of two children, close in age to Angie's younger two. Sophie's life is steady. She gave up her career in journalism to raise her family, but she feels like she hasn't done much with her life.
They two families really begin to develope a close friendship, after a storm damages the fence between their backyards. The younger children excitedly push to be able to play together and in the end the parents agree and put a gate on the fence between their home for the children's easy access. Angie and Sophie soon become very close friends.
Then the entire thing is destroyed by a moment of bad decision making and no impulse control. The friendship and both families suffer. This story is the telling of just ordinary lives of everyday people, mistakes, betrayals and ultimately forgiveness.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to enjoy this great Audio-ARC.
October 1, 2021
There are so many books that have the title the 'The Woman Next Door'. Do a quick search and you'll find 100s of books with this generic title. I was bored and scrolling through Amazon for a book to read and on a whim I decided to download this book, unknowing that it had been published two days ago.
I thought it would be a psychological thriller, or have a murder, a mystery, a disappearance, something!
What I got was a domestic drama. I was disappointed. Perhaps it was my fault because they didn't make any mention of a murder, a mystery or a disappearance in the blurb!
I stopped reading this book at around page 110 of 293. The set up was interesting. New privileged middle-class family moves next door to "humble" working class family. Two different mothers: one a highflying lawyer, the other a struggling out of work freelance writer. A storm which destroys their garden fence, allowing everyone to mingle. Not everything is perfect in each of their families. Betrayal is inevitable on both sides.
The characters seemed convincing at the beginning and, even though the writing was unremarkable and a tad predictable, I could understand each of the characters' varying degrees of desperation as told by flashbacks and scenes in the present. I was even enjoying it up to a point. However, I stopped. Where was this story heading?
Having skipped forward, I was thoroughly disappointed to discover the direction the writer decided to take this novel. Basically, look away now, because I'll be spoiling a significant portion of the novel.
One of the husbands has an affair with his neighbour. The reason being that she is unhappy with her marriage. Her daughter finds out. The families are broken by this. One of them decides to move away from the street to start afresh and many years later, when the children are grown, two of them from the two families meet up at university. The families reconnect and the cheater wife reveals she has cancer.
I was left feeling cheated. I knew that an affair would occur, but it was such a lazy plot device which didn't feel true to the characters in that moment (granted I skim read after a certain point, so I may have missed information). Ultimately, this is a story that has been done a hundred times, much like its generic title. The author could have added a worthy twist or put a unique spin on this silly, plain tale of suburban infidelity. Instead, it was rushed and I ended up disliking all of the characters. What was the actual point of this story?
It was like the writer was too afraid to tackle her topic head on. There was no sexiness, no tension, no lead up to this affair to suggest these particular characters would risk their marriages for a quick fumble in the kitchen. Neither was there any sign of thoughtful writing if she was trying to go for the serious approach. It was laughable.
The author completely lost the plot along with my respect. This is in no way a thriller as well. It's women's fiction. And I'm sick of publisher's trying to market such books as thrillers!
The author needs to work on her craft. I'm afraid that she will not be a writer I'll look out for.
I thought it would be a psychological thriller, or have a murder, a mystery, a disappearance, something!
What I got was a domestic drama. I was disappointed. Perhaps it was my fault because they didn't make any mention of a murder, a mystery or a disappearance in the blurb!
I stopped reading this book at around page 110 of 293. The set up was interesting. New privileged middle-class family moves next door to "humble" working class family. Two different mothers: one a highflying lawyer, the other a struggling out of work freelance writer. A storm which destroys their garden fence, allowing everyone to mingle. Not everything is perfect in each of their families. Betrayal is inevitable on both sides.
The characters seemed convincing at the beginning and, even though the writing was unremarkable and a tad predictable, I could understand each of the characters' varying degrees of desperation as told by flashbacks and scenes in the present. I was even enjoying it up to a point. However, I stopped. Where was this story heading?
Having skipped forward, I was thoroughly disappointed to discover the direction the writer decided to take this novel. Basically, look away now, because I'll be spoiling a significant portion of the novel.
One of the husbands has an affair with his neighbour. The reason being that she is unhappy with her marriage. Her daughter finds out. The families are broken by this. One of them decides to move away from the street to start afresh and many years later, when the children are grown, two of them from the two families meet up at university. The families reconnect and the cheater wife reveals she has cancer.
I was left feeling cheated. I knew that an affair would occur, but it was such a lazy plot device which didn't feel true to the characters in that moment (granted I skim read after a certain point, so I may have missed information). Ultimately, this is a story that has been done a hundred times, much like its generic title. The author could have added a worthy twist or put a unique spin on this silly, plain tale of suburban infidelity. Instead, it was rushed and I ended up disliking all of the characters. What was the actual point of this story?
It was like the writer was too afraid to tackle her topic head on. There was no sexiness, no tension, no lead up to this affair to suggest these particular characters would risk their marriages for a quick fumble in the kitchen. Neither was there any sign of thoughtful writing if she was trying to go for the serious approach. It was laughable.
The author completely lost the plot along with my respect. This is in no way a thriller as well. It's women's fiction. And I'm sick of publisher's trying to market such books as thrillers!
The author needs to work on her craft. I'm afraid that she will not be a writer I'll look out for.
February 23, 2022
Like her last book, I kept waiting and looking for the twist - but it never came. Natasha Boydell's books could stand on their own two feet as women's fiction, without trying to force them into the mystery/thriller niche. It does the books an injustice and leaves the reader left a bit wanting and a bit confused.
This is a solid story about families, decisions, regrets, love and forgiveness. The characters are well-developed and the plot is engrossing and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. The narration was excellent.
(NETGALLEY AUDIOBOOK – I RECEIVED A COMPLIMENTARY ADVANCED READER COPY OF THIS BOOK THROUGH NETGALLEY. OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS REVIEW ARE COMPLETELY MY OWN.)
This is a solid story about families, decisions, regrets, love and forgiveness. The characters are well-developed and the plot is engrossing and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. The narration was excellent.
(NETGALLEY AUDIOBOOK – I RECEIVED A COMPLIMENTARY ADVANCED READER COPY OF THIS BOOK THROUGH NETGALLEY. OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS REVIEW ARE COMPLETELY MY OWN.)
February 26, 2023
So…the old saying about never judging a book by its cover rings loudly and true for me with this book. I assumed I was going to be listening to a domestic thriller / mystery / suspense type novel with The Woman Next Door by new to me author Natasha Boydell. Maybe my subconscious craves this genre and I just can’t get enough of them. Instead, I got a women’s fiction story about the various relationships we embark on in our lives and what betrayal, lies, secrets and forgiveness does to those relationships.
Once I got over my initial shock and yes, disappointment, that there would not be anyone lurking in the darkened shadows wielding a butcher knife and the only spilled blood would likely be from a skinned knee or two, I got busy getting to know the numerous characters in this story.
First up is Sophie Brennan, her husband Allan (not sure how the author spelled it as I listened to the audiobook) and their two children Tom and Katie. Sophie is a stay-at-home mother and though she gave up a career in journalism to raise her children, she longs to have a career or something to call her own.
Angie Taylor is Sophie’s new neighbor who has moved in next door with her husband Jack and their four children Benji, Indie, Freddie and Ellie. Angie is a lawyer and very career oriented and has major trust issues with her husband, who she suspects of having a wandering eye.
Angie’s youngest two children are around the same age as Sophie’s children, so it’s really the children who bring the families together as they want to hang out and play. As you would expect, the families spend loads of time together, barbecues, picnics, school events and even go on vacation together. Sophie and Angie develop a deep friendship that I thought was typical of women who have things in common, but I sensed early on that they envied each other. Sophie envied Angie’s independence and successful career. Angie envied Sophie’s perfect marriage and the tight-knit bond she has with her husband and children.
Everything seems to be going well until it isn’t. Life throws these families a major curveball that sets them all on a course that drives them apart. Nobody gets murdered or goes missing, but the loss of the friendship felt like a death to me.
Where this story got really interesting for me is that the author didn’t let it end there. She fast forwards the story ten years later with the children all grown and the youngest of Sophie and Angie’s children find themselves crossing paths at Oxford. Will old resentments, bitterness and pain reappear or will there be healing and forgiveness?
Despite my initial remorse over the lack of suspense, I found this story to be very engaging and it held my attention quite well. I found the characters to be well written and engaging and easy to relate to. I thought a few of the characters were overly shallow and selfish, but my opinion changed as I got more into the story. The audio narration by Mhairi Morrison was performed very well and kept me plugged into the story.
My Final Verdict: Overall, I am quite glad I stuck with this story and was pleased with how it all played out. I don’t recommend it to readers who like the thrill of suspense, but readers who enjoy family drama and relationship driven stories should give this one a look.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Woman Next Door from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Once I got over my initial shock and yes, disappointment, that there would not be anyone lurking in the darkened shadows wielding a butcher knife and the only spilled blood would likely be from a skinned knee or two, I got busy getting to know the numerous characters in this story.
First up is Sophie Brennan, her husband Allan (not sure how the author spelled it as I listened to the audiobook) and their two children Tom and Katie. Sophie is a stay-at-home mother and though she gave up a career in journalism to raise her children, she longs to have a career or something to call her own.
Angie Taylor is Sophie’s new neighbor who has moved in next door with her husband Jack and their four children Benji, Indie, Freddie and Ellie. Angie is a lawyer and very career oriented and has major trust issues with her husband, who she suspects of having a wandering eye.
Angie’s youngest two children are around the same age as Sophie’s children, so it’s really the children who bring the families together as they want to hang out and play. As you would expect, the families spend loads of time together, barbecues, picnics, school events and even go on vacation together. Sophie and Angie develop a deep friendship that I thought was typical of women who have things in common, but I sensed early on that they envied each other. Sophie envied Angie’s independence and successful career. Angie envied Sophie’s perfect marriage and the tight-knit bond she has with her husband and children.
Everything seems to be going well until it isn’t. Life throws these families a major curveball that sets them all on a course that drives them apart. Nobody gets murdered or goes missing, but the loss of the friendship felt like a death to me.
Where this story got really interesting for me is that the author didn’t let it end there. She fast forwards the story ten years later with the children all grown and the youngest of Sophie and Angie’s children find themselves crossing paths at Oxford. Will old resentments, bitterness and pain reappear or will there be healing and forgiveness?
Despite my initial remorse over the lack of suspense, I found this story to be very engaging and it held my attention quite well. I found the characters to be well written and engaging and easy to relate to. I thought a few of the characters were overly shallow and selfish, but my opinion changed as I got more into the story. The audio narration by Mhairi Morrison was performed very well and kept me plugged into the story.
My Final Verdict: Overall, I am quite glad I stuck with this story and was pleased with how it all played out. I don’t recommend it to readers who like the thrill of suspense, but readers who enjoy family drama and relationship driven stories should give this one a look.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Woman Next Door from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2022
Neighbours Sophie and Angie form an unlikely close friendship after their shared backyard fence blows over during a storm. Quick hellos from their driveways turn into BBQ dinners in the backyard, celebrating holidays together, and their children walking into the other's home as though if it were there own.
As both families spend more time together, Sophie and Angie look at each other's lives and self-reflect on their own situations: Angie's success in her career motivates Sophie to persue her passion and Sophie's uncomplicated marriage makes Angie worried that hers isn't as perfect as it seems.
Their story is proof that the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence (or in this case, backyard gate).
Opphh this book is real. It touches on situations, drama and the horrors that families are known to face. It's not overly dramatic and the pace of the book fits perfectly with the story. When the book reached the pivotal point of the story, I was expecting it to end not too long after that. Unlike most novels with this type of story, it carried on to show the fallout and where the characters ended up. It's as though the second half of the book is one long epilogue and I really enjoyed it!
The narrator of the audiobook has a lovely voice, however, the way she speaks makes her sound oddly robotic when the narration speed is increased. I definitely would have been able to fly through this book if I was able to listen to it at 1.75x without cringing.
Pick this one up if you enjoy a familial/friendship drama that interweaves multiple POVs spanning over a decade. The conflicts may not shock you to the core, but its realness will take hold of you and keep you reading until the end.
As both families spend more time together, Sophie and Angie look at each other's lives and self-reflect on their own situations: Angie's success in her career motivates Sophie to persue her passion and Sophie's uncomplicated marriage makes Angie worried that hers isn't as perfect as it seems.
Their story is proof that the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence (or in this case, backyard gate).
Opphh this book is real. It touches on situations, drama and the horrors that families are known to face. It's not overly dramatic and the pace of the book fits perfectly with the story. When the book reached the pivotal point of the story, I was expecting it to end not too long after that. Unlike most novels with this type of story, it carried on to show the fallout and where the characters ended up. It's as though the second half of the book is one long epilogue and I really enjoyed it!
The narrator of the audiobook has a lovely voice, however, the way she speaks makes her sound oddly robotic when the narration speed is increased. I definitely would have been able to fly through this book if I was able to listen to it at 1.75x without cringing.
Pick this one up if you enjoy a familial/friendship drama that interweaves multiple POVs spanning over a decade. The conflicts may not shock you to the core, but its realness will take hold of you and keep you reading until the end.
January 28, 2022
I struggled with this as an audiobook. I was not interested in the narrators voice and there was much going on between characters it was difficult to keep track of everyone.
Could see this being a book I’d enjoy actually reading, but the audiobook wasn’t for me.
Could see this being a book I’d enjoy actually reading, but the audiobook wasn’t for me.
February 1, 2022
This book is ok. It wasn’t horrible, but not overly memorable either.
It was listed on NetGalley as a mystery/thriller. I hung on until the very last page, but never found the mystery it thriller aspect. It was just a family drama type story turned love story.
The story is about neighbors and the secrets they keep. It then talks of how the secrets change their friend dynamic.
I think I would have rated this 3.5/3.75 stars if I knew it was just a light chick lit book. Like taking a drink, expecting sweet tea, but getting unsweet. Not awful, just different than expected.
I do appreciate the author sharing the audiobook with me on NetGalley to review. I will try another try this author.
It was listed on NetGalley as a mystery/thriller. I hung on until the very last page, but never found the mystery it thriller aspect. It was just a family drama type story turned love story.
The story is about neighbors and the secrets they keep. It then talks of how the secrets change their friend dynamic.
I think I would have rated this 3.5/3.75 stars if I knew it was just a light chick lit book. Like taking a drink, expecting sweet tea, but getting unsweet. Not awful, just different than expected.
I do appreciate the author sharing the audiobook with me on NetGalley to review. I will try another try this author.
February 4, 2022
**WORST THRILLER BOOK EVER**
This book was *classified* on netgalley as a mystery/thriller, so I went into it excited that I was going to listen to a thriller (and it was my first audiobook ever!). At times during this book I felt like maybe I requested the wrong book because the book itself (to me) absolutely did not belong in the mystery/thriller category.
Continuing along, hoping for like some good MURDER, or even just a stabby stab, it just was bleh. The plot was so predictable, SOOOO predictable - that figuring it out felt so easy. It's a family drama, there isn't a mystery/thriller aspect to it, if I'm honest.
Also some of the dialogue was so cringey. There was a moment where the two moms, who are in their 40's, are talking to each other and this was the conversation:
"I'm sorry for being a bitch" | "Well you're my bitch, so..."
wat.
Overall, I think this book is 100% mis-genred, this should be more in a drama/fiction setting because that's all it was.
To put my thoughts into perspective for my followers, I enjoyed and felt as though The Only Good Indians was a better thriller than this book....enough said.
*mic drop*
This book was *classified* on netgalley as a mystery/thriller, so I went into it excited that I was going to listen to a thriller (and it was my first audiobook ever!). At times during this book I felt like maybe I requested the wrong book because the book itself (to me) absolutely did not belong in the mystery/thriller category.
Continuing along, hoping for like some good MURDER, or even just a stabby stab, it just was bleh. The plot was so predictable, SOOOO predictable - that figuring it out felt so easy. It's a family drama, there isn't a mystery/thriller aspect to it, if I'm honest.
Also some of the dialogue was so cringey. There was a moment where the two moms, who are in their 40's, are talking to each other and this was the conversation:
"I'm sorry for being a bitch" | "Well you're my bitch, so..."
wat.
Overall, I think this book is 100% mis-genred, this should be more in a drama/fiction setting because that's all it was.
To put my thoughts into perspective for my followers, I enjoyed and felt as though The Only Good Indians was a better thriller than this book....enough said.
*mic drop*
June 10, 2024
Oh boy... Let's unpack!
While the writer crafted a masterful setting that effortlessly draws readers(me) into the narrative, the plot ultimately fizzles out like a damp sparkler. Despite building up an engaging story with compelling tension, this book disappointingly squanders the intrigue by failing to follow through with a satisfying conclusion to the build up.
Advertised as a psychological thriller(it's not. At best this is super mild domestic fiction), this tale falls short, as the tension simmers without truly reaching a boil.
Score: Setting and Characterization – 4/5
Score: Everything Else – 2/5
Overall Score: 3/5
While the writer's flair for setting and characterization deserves high marks, the rest of the narrative falls short, lacking the depth and substance necessary for a truly riveting psychological thriller. The tension built in the earlier parts of the story fails to reach a satisfying climax, leaving little else disappointed. I hope the writer continues to write, but also dares to push boundaries and hits us with compelling stories in the future.
While the writer crafted a masterful setting that effortlessly draws readers(me) into the narrative, the plot ultimately fizzles out like a damp sparkler. Despite building up an engaging story with compelling tension, this book disappointingly squanders the intrigue by failing to follow through with a satisfying conclusion to the build up.
Advertised as a psychological thriller(it's not. At best this is super mild domestic fiction), this tale falls short, as the tension simmers without truly reaching a boil.
Score: Setting and Characterization – 4/5
Score: Everything Else – 2/5
Overall Score: 3/5
While the writer's flair for setting and characterization deserves high marks, the rest of the narrative falls short, lacking the depth and substance necessary for a truly riveting psychological thriller. The tension built in the earlier parts of the story fails to reach a satisfying climax, leaving little else disappointed. I hope the writer continues to write, but also dares to push boundaries and hits us with compelling stories in the future.
February 3, 2022
This book was not at all what I was expecting!! I went in thinking this would be a good British domestic suspense story but really it was more a story about the complicated friendship between two neighbors. Angie and Sophie are mothers, each struggling to balance motherhood and careers in their own ways. I related to a lot of each of their lives. However I found the middle of the story dragged a bit and then one of the women does something to irrevocably break up their friendship. Fast forward to when their children are grown and two of them meet and fall in love at college only to bring up all the bad memories of the past again, forcing the women to confront their painful past. Decent on audio but just an okay read for me. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy.
May 13, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Whilst it followed a typical theme and structure for the genre, there were some plot twists I did not see coming.
January 25, 2022
Friendship. Betrayal. Forgiveness. Compassion.
This book had so many layers. I loved the storyline and the unexpected twist midway through. The author quickly captured my attention and I flew through this book. I was on edge up to the end of the book. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
This book had so many layers. I loved the storyline and the unexpected twist midway through. The author quickly captured my attention and I flew through this book. I was on edge up to the end of the book. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
July 21, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this. It was my first book by this author, but it won't be my last.
February 12, 2022
This was a slog to finish and tbh that’s saying something as I will read any old crap.
I felt it was building and building but it never got anywhere. I was waiting the whole time for the big moment to happen and it just didn’t. Very disappointing and really, 3* is being generous.
I felt it was building and building but it never got anywhere. I was waiting the whole time for the big moment to happen and it just didn’t. Very disappointing and really, 3* is being generous.
January 19, 2022
Hmm, this was listed as mystery/thriller... it's actually relationship drama. The only mystery was a short-lived question of who was caught having an affair. The story follows two families living next to each other and points out how we can't assume what's happening with another's relationship, regardless of how it looks from the outside. I don't love when a major illness is thrown in seemingly to garner sympathy for a character. Maybe that wasn't the intent, but it felt that way to me. Overall, the story is fine, but not very memorable for me.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
April 5, 2022
Funny story... for some unknown reason I went into this book thinking it was a thriller. I kept listening to the story knowing that at any time someone was going to get killed or abducted or something else horrible along those lines. Spoiler alert: that NEVER happened! Because as it turned out, I was reading a pretty solid domestic drama and NOT a very slow thriller. DUH! LOL!
Anyway, this is a novel about family and friendship and betrayal and forgiveness with flawed characters filled with insecurities placed in realistic and relatable situations. It was engaging and definitely kept me coming back.
Anyway, this is a novel about family and friendship and betrayal and forgiveness with flawed characters filled with insecurities placed in realistic and relatable situations. It was engaging and definitely kept me coming back.
February 3, 2022
This was an ARC from NetGalley.
For some reason I thought this was going to be a mystery-probably from the title…. But it wasn’t that at all. It was the story of two families-and betrayal and friendship and love and hatred. But most of all it’s about love and friendship. I must have listened to this book at just the right time because I listened to it in two days and loved every minute of it.
For some reason I thought this was going to be a mystery-probably from the title…. But it wasn’t that at all. It was the story of two families-and betrayal and friendship and love and hatred. But most of all it’s about love and friendship. I must have listened to this book at just the right time because I listened to it in two days and loved every minute of it.
March 27, 2022
The Woman Next Door is a captivating domestic drama about neighbours, Sophie and Angie who become friends, together with their families, after a storm damages their dividing backyard fence.
Each woman seems to want what the other has.
A dynamic study in character and motivation, truth and betrayal.
Loved that the story jumped 10 years - the dust had settled, the kids had grown up and a new set of dramas presented themselves. Excellent!
Each woman seems to want what the other has.
A dynamic study in character and motivation, truth and betrayal.
Loved that the story jumped 10 years - the dust had settled, the kids had grown up and a new set of dramas presented themselves. Excellent!
January 5, 2023
Shouldn't be listed as a mystery/thriller. More like family/domestic drama.
February 13, 2023
I loved the twists and turns in this story. Family relationships and the lengths spouses can endure take center stage in this novel.
The only thing that would have made it better was if the childhood story had been spliced in with the adulthood section to make it more of a mystery readers discovered along the way!
The only thing that would have made it better was if the childhood story had been spliced in with the adulthood section to make it more of a mystery readers discovered along the way!
January 15, 2025
Was sceptical when I realised it’s a family drama but found the last bit quite emotional. Very enjoyable book.
October 22, 2025
l was really pleasantly surprised how the author really showed some deeper themes like forgiveness, finding our purpose, self-confidence, and value of deeper friendships. I really appreciated the journey this book took me on and the wholesomeness of this book.
January 28, 2022
Thank you NetGalley for this arc !
drama/thriller about two neighbors. Is the grass greener on the other side? I totally recommend this book it was so good!!! Especially if you love this genre! I enjoyed the authors writing style. I would definitely read more from her.
drama/thriller about two neighbors. Is the grass greener on the other side? I totally recommend this book it was so good!!! Especially if you love this genre! I enjoyed the authors writing style. I would definitely read more from her.
February 2, 2022
Definitely don't consider the story a thriller. I give it a middle of the road review, didn't hate it, but won't be highly recommending it. Big thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this in audiobook format.
March 4, 2022
3.5 rounded up
Family drama, not thriller, thanks Hoopla 😂
Family drama, not thriller, thanks Hoopla 😂
January 20, 2022
I received this book for free from #Dreamscape Media from #NetGalley.
New neighbors next door. Angie and her husband and 2 kids. Sophie and her husband and 4 kids. These women each want what the other seems to have. An unlikely friendship develops.
It is a fast paced book, good story. There were times when I had to go back and read some pages because the story would move so fast because it was so easy to miss what just happened.
New neighbors next door. Angie and her husband and 2 kids. Sophie and her husband and 4 kids. These women each want what the other seems to have. An unlikely friendship develops.
It is a fast paced book, good story. There were times when I had to go back and read some pages because the story would move so fast because it was so easy to miss what just happened.
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