The Family Next Door A Novel

I can't imagine this was the intention but this book really supported my choice to never have children.

I think in the last few months I have realized how much I’ve been sleeping on Sally Hepworth’s books. This is the third book of hers I have read, and I keep finding myself pulled into these stories where I know there are going to be twists and turns and I am still so surprised by the results. Her books are a human/funny/clever with just a bit of suspense. They would make perfect movies to watch on my iPhone when I’m travelling and/or ignoring others.

3.5

4 ⭐️

The question of how well you really know your neighbours or your own family is at the forefront of Sally Hepworth’s fantastic novel. Centred around three main women, all hiding secrets from their street, we are introduced to Isabelle, a stranger who has just moved to the area. Everyone is surprised at this woman who had no family and has decided to move to a very family orientated area. What is she doing here? Her appearance will affect them all in different ways... This book was really interesting and exciting. I found myself suspecting characters of certain things and being shocked at the reveals. It focuses on some very interesting sad and moving elements and I felt like Sally Hepworth had really fine her research about the topic. A really great book for fans of Liane Moriarty and stories like Big Little Lies. Loved it!

Love family and neighbor drama....just wish there was a little more....needed a few more twists IMO; a murder wouldn't hurt either, but that's just me 🤣🤣

A glimpse into a neighborhood of dysfunctional people - what other kind is there really? It was a nice escape and the mystery part kept me guessing though not on the edge of my seat. A few plot twists that I found to be stretches but overall an enjoyable book.

When I read the synopsis for The Family Next Door, I thought that this would be a quick read. Something that would be a light read. Yeah right. This book is anything but light. The Family Next Door has two major storylines and four sub-storylines. One of the major storylines was the mystery lady who is telling her daughter how thankful she was to have her. The other major storyline was about Isabelle and the reasons she moved to Pleasant Court. The sub-storylines center around Ange, Fran, and Essie. Each has a secret that no one knows about. Ange needs to control every aspect of her life. Fran will not let her husband come near their newborn daughter. Essie’s storyline is a bit more complex. It focuses on her leaving her then-newborn daughter to a park and leaving her. I loved how the author took each woman’s story and interwove it with Isabelle’s storyline. Each woman added depth to Isabelle’s storyline and they all interconnected. The mystery woman adds a bit of mystery that makes you want to know more about her and her situation. I am not going to get into each woman here. But I will say that I did enjoy each woman’s story. I also felt bad for each woman portrayed. Each woman had issues to overcome and each did it in their own way. I did predict what happened towards the end of the book. But I was not ready for the lengths that the person would go through. I actually felt bad for her. The trauma she endured was crippling. Doesn’t excuse what she did but still. The Family Next Door is a gripping drama that breaks your heart. The characters are fleshed out. The plot is great. This was a book that made me think at the end of it. Will I reread: Yes Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes Age range: Adult Why: Sex, language, and mild violence I would like to thank Sally Hepworth, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing to read and review The Family Next Door. All opinions stated in this review of The Family Next Door are mine. **I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**