Sally Hepworth has become a must read author for me. The Family Next Door, her latest novel, has solidified this fact. The characters of this suburban neighborhood, although close friends, all have secrets that they can’t share. That is, until a single woman moves in to Pleasant Court and befriends her married neighbors. What are her motives for moving into this “family” neighborhood??? Told from the points of view of each neighbor, we learn about their secrets, their dreams, and their fears. Bottom line: No one knows what goes on behind closed doors. This was an excellent story that made me stay up until the wee hours to finish. I’m so glad I did.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Intriguing novel of the interwoven lives of small town residents and how they can unravel because of lies and indiscretions.

This is the first Sally Hepworth book I’ve read and while I know it’s different than her others, I’ll be reading her other books. I have always said that you don’t know what goes on behind closed doors of our friends, let alone your neighbors.

Each of the women is dealing with her own secret that could shatter their worlds. Some of it their own making, some of it is from outside sources. Each of them changes and become stronger. Ms. Hepworth sets it up so that you think one thing and then it turns out to be very different. I love when authors do that and can keep you guessing. Also, I appreciated that it made sense and wasn’t a 180 from where I originally thought it was going.

As noted in the synopsis for <I>The Family Next Door</I>, the writing is quite similar to that of Liane Moriarty's. A desirable family-friendly neighborhood known for it's large houses and quiet street has a lot more dark secrets than you would expect at first glance.

The story intertwines the lives of 3 young mothers struggling to balance family life, work life and all the other responsibilities in between. This all sounds like normal motherhood, until the new, single neighbor moves in. Things start to spiral out of control. Secrets are unearthed and confidences are broken.

I admit that this book had me guessing throughout. I thought I had it figured out until I didn't and had to keep reading until I knew what was happening. It was definitely a page turner and kept my interest throughout. I will be keeping my eyes out for more books by Sally Hepworth.

Note to self: Don’t read any more books categorized as “Women’s Fiction”. Boring and so not important.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I read this book in one day! It is a gripping blend between upmarket women's fiction and domestic suspense. Hepworth does a brilliant job of propelling the story forward, while allowing us to feel the full emotion of each scene. Highly recommend!

It is hard to keep secrets in a small, close neighborhood. Everyone knows everyone else's business. People are always looking out windows and doors, watching their neighbors as they go about their day. When Isabelle moves into the neighborhood, she is immediately the new topic of conversation. She is single and secretive about herself, where all the other ladies are married with kids and their lives seem to be an open book. When it becomes apparent to some that she moved to the neighborhood with ulterior motives, secrets threaten to become unveiled and marriages threaten to unravel.
This book was riveting...... I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this book.

Desperate Housewives meets Big Little Lies in this page turning domestic suspense drama! This is my first time reading Sally Hepworth but it definitely won't be my last as I enjoyed every last page of this book. I have to say, I wonder if I enjoyed it so much because she tapped into the underlying thoughts I have as I take long nighttime walks in my neighborhood....what's really going on inside all these houses? I can't be the only one out there who waves at my neighbors, says hi here and there, gets together on each other's patios in the summer but occasionally wonders how well I really know them.

Sally Hepworth has done a magnificent job of deconstructing the idiosyncrasies of suburban living and families, especially the lives of mothers with young children. Although my kids are older, I can remember those days so clearly and the way she weaved those details in with the secrets and drama of each family was perfection. The story revolves around the lives of four women - Essie, Ange, Fran, and Isabelle- and boy are they keeping secrets...big ones, little ones, and bombshells!

I had no idea what was happening and at one point I realized I needed to stop trying to figure it all out and just enjoy the drama. This book was so well paced that I felt like I flew through the pages, staying up late into the night to find out how it would all unfold. No spoilers here but I will say there were surprises galore!! Were a couple of them a little predictable, yes, but the others were superb...I love it when I can say I didn't see that coming...or that. This would make a perfect book club book as well as a fantastic must read for your summer TBRs...if you can wait that long to read it that is:)

I requested this book from NetGalley, because I loved The Things We Keep by he same author which I rated with 5 stars.
Well, this one was completely different. The community in Pleasant Court in Melbourne, Australia is a suburban community of young families. Essie and Ben, Ange and Lucas, and Fran and Nigel. Each family has two children and lots of secrets. Barbara, Essie’s mom lives next door and is very helpful taking care of Essie’s children. The young families all try to cope with raising young children and marital issues. Into this neighborhood moves Isabel a young unmarried ( or is she) childless woman. I found there was entirely too much going on unrelated to the main story. Lots of loose ends also, not followed up on, and some ridiculous decisions. Without giving away the very convoluted plot, 5 months in a mental hospital for kidnapping?? I am amazed at all the 4 and 5 star reviews, but I guess, everyone’s taste is different. I can only give two stars, and that is because I finished the book instead of giving up half way. Sorry, I can’t give it a better review.
Thanks NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the author Sally Hepworth for the advanced copy.

Psychological fiction with many plot twists. Read a like for fans of Girl on the Train

I have enjoyed the other books by Sally Hepworth so I was really excited to get my hands on an ARC for her new book out March 6! This is the story of Pleasant Lane and its inhabitants. Ange feels the need to control every aspect of her life. Fran is a compulsive runner who won't let her husband near their new baby. Essie took her first baby to the park and left her there three years ago in a postpartum depression haze, now all eyes are on her as she has her second baby. All of these friends have secrets, but what is it that they are hiding? This was a quick, easy read for me. I loved the different stories and mystery in these ladies lives. For me, this was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Thank you @stmartinspress for an advance reader in exchange for my honest review. This book will be out March 6, put it on your TBRs!

Gripping domestic thriller of page turning amazingness. The twists, oh and the turns in this intricate group of families in the quaint neighborhood. Sally Hepworth tells a lovely and intricate twisted tale that you'll be wanting to call her (I So wanted to but didn't of course want to be stalkerish, ha!) or your book BFF and say "OMG!!!" As I laid in bed until dark-thirty in the early hours, under quilts, flipping page after page and certainly gasping out loud on several occasions I have to say READ THIS BOOK! Sally is a genious storyteller that has this aspiring writer want to be near her so I learn by osmosis or the same kind of writing magic she possesses. Bravo! 5 big golden, twinkly stars!!

Fans of Liane Moriarity should enjoy this as well - entertaining.

5* “Pleasant Court Secret” Stars

The story takes place in a cul-de-sac street called Pleasant Court. As the heading suggests we delve into the lives of the Neighbors who all live next door to each other. The story is told in multiple voices and the chapters were relatively short which made for a quick page turning read. The characters were very addictive and relatable and they were the heart and sole of the story.

The story covers everything from love, secrets, lies forgiveness and family drama. There was even some suspense to it, which was unexpected.

I really loved this book as it was well written and realistic and these happenings could very well be occurring in my cul-de-sac!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this ARC.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for a copy of this novel. The Family Next Door is an entertaining novel reminiscent of Big Little Lies / Desperate Housewives. The story centers on three families (mainly the mother figures) of neighbors living on the aptly named Pleasant Court. However, nothing is a perfect as it seems from the outside, and each of their secrets are revealed throughout the novel. I was pleasantly surprised by Essie's secret---really did not see that one coming! This is a fun read with an ending that resolves in a way that seems to fit. This would be a great beach/ vacation read.

I had never read Sally Hepworth before and was interested when I saw her newest book available on NetGalley. I enjoyed the book! It was in the same vein as Big Little Lies. In this book there are three women who live in the same neighborhood. We know from the start, they all have secrets they are hiding that are dictating how they are living their lives. As the book moves along you get tastes of what each woman's secret is. There is also a new woman on the block with a secret of her own. How they all clash and intermingle and learn how to go on after the secrets are reveled is a great story!

This book is very reminiscent of Liane Moriarty with its family drama and being set in Australia. Overall, I found the plot twist boring and not properly flushed out. There were too many intersecting stories and they could have been better explored. While this book wasn't for me, someone who likes these family dramas would have appreciated it.

I've read two other novels (THE THINGS WE KEEP and A MOTHER'S PROMISE) by Sally Hepworth and THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR continues her tradition of well developed, very realistic characters but with a mystery as well. For an entertaining, satisfying read, this novel fits the bill. My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC...

It took a number of chapters to get me interested in this book. I kept thinking there was something very familiar about this book and then I realized it was just like watching episodes of Desperate Housewives including the author's mention of Wisteria Lane. There were some twists and turns in this book but to me it ended up being just an okay book.

Wow! The Family Next Door kept me up til late at night reading. I loved how the layers of each character was revealed as I read. This book dealt with a lot of different issues. Infidelity. Postpartum depression. And lots of secrets. I would love to see this book on the big screen!