The Family Next Door focuses on five women - Essie, Fran, Ange, Isabelle and Barbara - all living in a suburb of Melbourne called Pleasant Court. They all have their own domestic challenges yet they all assume the grass is greener next door and across the street.

This novel touches on a lot of serious issues yet I would not describe it as a heavy novel. I think the slightest hint of Desperate Housewives and the author’s wry sense of humor provided just the right amount of levity to the story. I frequently found myself pleasantly caught off guard by the insight on motherhood, marriage, family and friends throughout this novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would highly recommend it. Fans of Liane Moriarty would definitely love this one!

4.5 stars

I received an ARC of "The Family Next Door" from NetGalley for an honest review. I wish to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sally Hepworth for the opportunity to read this book.

This book took me a bit to fully get into as there were five main characters - it was confusing until I settled in with it all. It took a while to figure out who was who and what husband and kids belong to whom. But, I must say, once I started really reading this book, I couldn't put it down.

The storyline of the novel was incredible - I truly thought that it was going in one direction and it totally fooled me and went in a different direction.

The author writes so well! This is the third book of hers that I have read and it is by far the best of the four that she has written. I am looking forward to reading the missing book that the author has written.

This will definitely be a big selling book and will do very well via word of mouth. This will make a fantastic spring break read!!

DEFINITE recommend!!

3.5⭐️ Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Family Next Door surrounds three women who live in a very peaceful and happy neighborhood. Essie, mother of two and wife, had an episode years before where she left her daughter in the park. She now is trying to show that she can be the mom everyone wants her to be. Ange has a perfect life.... on instagram. And Fran is holding on to a secret. But with their busy lives these three women are still intrigued when Isabelle moves in on the street. Isabelle is kidless and husbandless. Why would she want to live here?

I found this book to be good but not great. I enjoyed it and will recommend it to others for sure. However, for me it just wasn’t a book that made me gasp or put the book down to say “What just happened?!?!” It just didn’t have that oomph for me because the ending fell a little flat. I enjoyed the characters and the relationship dynamics between all the characters.

I did enjoy the author’s writing and would like to back and read some of her other books.

Book sent to me to review.
I have read her previous books and enjoyed them.

The introduction hooked me- I have shared feelings of motherhood.

Pleasant Court
I could envision the neighborhood- seems like a lovely place to live.
True suburbia, neighbors coming together to form friendships and a neighborhood watch program.

Smiles on all the friendly faces around neighborhhod
Smiles masking the hidden secrets inside
Secrets come to light - pieces fall and come together
Answers question - perfect or real??

The multiple points of view gives the whole story.
You will want to know the whole story!

I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. I read it in under 24 hours, reading late into the night because it just kept getting better. I've read Sally Hepworth's previous books, and really enjoyed them, but The Family Next Door is a head above. Perhaps I'm just a sucker for a book about women who are in the same life stage as me, facing a combination of normal and extraordinary circumstances, but I was completely engrossed with the story of this neighborhood and these women, and an honest depiction of motherhood that neither demonize or glorify the experience. This book will be a great recommendation for readers of Liane Moriarty, Jane Green, and JoJo Moyes.

THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR
Sally Hepworth


MY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▫️
PUBLISHER St. Martin’s Press
PUBLISHED March 6, 2018

An intriguing novel that will leave you wondering - how well do you know your neighbors.

SUMMARY
Essie, had just had first baby and was experiencing postpartum depression. She was alway exhausted and had to keep Mia’s pram in constant motion so she wouldn’t cry. In an act of desperation, Essie left Mia at a park one day. Just left her there, so she could go have a cup of tea. While Mia was very soon rescued by Essie’s mom, the event was not soon forgotten. Essie’s nurturing mom moved in next door to keep an eye on Essie and help with Mia. Essie’s friends on the street Fran and Ange, never knew what had happened. Three years later, despite the postpartum risk, Essie was finally able to convince her husband Ben, a fitness studio owner, to have a second child. It was another baby girl, Polly. Everything seemed to be going fairly well, until a new neighbor moved in next door to Essie on Pleasant Court. Isabelle is single with no kids, and doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of the ponytailed moms on the street, but Essie really likes her, and is excited at the prospect of having a new friend. There is one thing that Isabelle, Essie and the other moms on the street all have in common, everyone has a secret.

REVIEW
The Family Next Door is an immensely satisfying book full of high drama. The adept writing is a careful ascent into the lives of five families on Pleasant Court and their secrets. The story shows just how destructive secrets can be. It’s a street where everyone keeps to themselves, and where appearances can be deceiving. There is a lot going on on Pleasant Court and this book captures it all. It’s a bit much to take in, but it’s definitely worth the effort. This book will have your head spinning. SALLY HEPWORTH’s character development was masterful and the plot was intriguing. Recommended for anyone who likes to get wrapped up in intricate family dramas such as Big Little Lies. Sally Hepworth is a writer based in Melbourne, Australia who has written three other novels: The Mother’s Promise (2017), The Things We Keep (2016), and The Secrets of Midwives (2015). Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Three married neighbors with children are somewhat in each other’s lives. When single woman Isabelle comes to live on their street, and problems occur in their marriages, they are forced to confront their family relationships, as well as their relationships with each other. A great woman’s read. I highly recommend.

I found this book to be compelling and kept me interested until the very end. The characters were well-developed and I felt them to be realistic. I appreciated that the author explored postpartum mood disorders, but I wish that she had explored them in a bit more depth, given that they were focal to the storyline. Overall, an enjoyable read.

What a fun read - filled with drama, wit and suspense. Every time you think you’ve figured it out you pretty quickly realize your wrong! Sometimes that happens in books because the author misleads the reader; not this time. Everything the author writes could lead you to figure out the mystery but I didn’t. Nothing is as it seems and it is a tremendous reminder that we usually truly do not know what is going on in other people’s lives. We all have issues. We all have drama. We all have secrets - some larger than others:) I also haven’t read many, if any, novels that take place in Australia so that added additional enjoyment to my read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an early release of this book in exchange for an honest review.

THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR by Sally Hepworth
I almost gave up on the book with the first three chapters. It seemed very disjointed. I did put it down for a few days and started in again....the stories really took off then. . Pleasant Court doesn't always live up it's name. There are many secrets, twists and a hint of suspense. Everyone has something they are hiding sometimes even from themselves.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

I've always enjoyed Sally Hepworth's books and this was no exception. It was very reminiscent of Big Little Lies - it's a group of neighborhood women who each have something to hide yet the others all think they have the ideal life. Each chapter is told from a different women's perspective and little by little each one's secret is revealed. It is well written and provided a good conclusion for every story.

Surprisingly light read about family dynamics and a kidnapped baby. Well done bits of mystery, good relationship story.

The best description I can provide as an introduction to this book is to tell you that the Family Next Door holds a candle to The Husband's Secret, a story I read and loved. This book held my attention, and I was intrigued to finish the book and find out how all the pieces of the puzzle finally came together. Once I was finished, I sat to parse out the story and share my thoughts. Essie's story was a bit unsettling, and by the end I was surprised at the turn that her plot line took. I didn't see the end with Barbara coming! Knowing the craziness a new mother can experience made sense, but there were many times that I felt the story was too far-fetched, even for fiction. Having been a mother myself, I can understand what that craziness can do to you, and could relate to Essie's post-partum error in judgment. She was the most likeable character in the entire book! Once Isabelle entered into the picture, my curiosity was piqued, and I was again surprised at the turn in the story line. Sally Hepworth expertly wove in two other stories that were equally intriguing, and the stories of all of the neighbors and their relationships were ones that added to the book, and the reader's interest. As with many books I have recently read, there is always a neighbor or two whose life seems to good to be true, and things end up awful for them! Fans of Liane Moriarty will enjoy Sally Hepworth's The Family Next Door.

This novel makes me wonder about my neighbors! You never know what really goes on behind closed doors. This novel delves into relationships and secrets. This is a new author for me and I can’t wait to read more of her books.

Another winner by Sally Hepworth...Her writing style, character development and imagination are first rate I loved this story...simple/yet complex. I have shared it w/ all of my reading friends Five stars.

This novel very well illustrates the axiom that "people are messy," and also proves that we should never envy anyone who appears to have the perfect marriage and/or family life.

Life on Pleasant Court seems to be idyllic but when Isabelle moves into the 'hood, she immediately shakes things up by being single AND childless. Why? is the question everyone is asking. And yes, turns out Isabelle has an agenda and something to hide, but then so do all three couples in the cul de sac. Hepworth expertly doles out the revelations throughout the narrative with developments I certainly didn't see coming.

This is perfect for anyone who has been yearning for a readalike to Liane Moriarty's domestic dramas, especially BIG LITTLE LIES and THE HUSBAND'S SECRET, and also for fans of Diane Chamberlain's books and Cynthia Sweeney's THE NEST. And if you haven't read Hepworth's THE THINGS WE KEEP, it is also excellent.

Thanks to the publisher for the advance digital copy.

How crazy is it that you can live next door to someone and not have a clue about their life!? This story is a perfect illustration of that as it is set on a neighborhood street filled with families each dealing with their own dramas while putting on a happy face for the world to see. I always enjoy Sally Hepworth’s writing and this was another great story.

The book was just ok for me. It kind of felt clunky a bit with trying to sort out each character when the story toggled back and forth. While I was interested and wanted to know the outcome...I think that there could have been a little bit more of character development and plot. Thank you for letting me read the book!

5 STARS!!! My new favorite author, I must say. My last read of hers I noted that I did love the writing style. I hadn't checked out any other books of her though. Until this one. I was in the mood for some good ol' neighborhood-style drama and this book went way above any expectations that I had!! I loved the characters, the story, the end- I have ZERO complaints with this book - what a rarity!! My mother is anxiously awaiting the publishing date and will purchase right away - I am recommending this book to several friends. Even people who typically like "deeper" stories - this book goes deep - just trust me on that. Its not surface level. It hits deep topics and the character depth is real.

The Family Next Door is a story about several couples who live in a neighborhood. Each has issues to deal with: new babies, infidelity, careers, and a twist in one story that broadsides readers. It was a decent read, but in come areas it dragged.