I thought this book was great. It reminded me in many ways of Liane Moriarty's work, with the combination of well-developed characters, intricate relationships, interesting domestic details, and a mild, yet intriguing mystery. And of course, the Australian setting just adds an extra element of delight!

Since I don't often have time to read large chunks of a book at once, I was concerned that there were almost too many characters to keep track of, but I found that the author very adeptly included enough information about each character each time it was that character's turn in the spotlight so that I was very quickly back up to speed on each subplot. The resolution of the "mystery'--what was the agenda of the new woman on the block, who didn't seem to fit in--was resolved in a very satisfying way, as were all the other storylines.

I very much look forward to reading other books by Sally Hepworth and highly recommend this book. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this book.

3+ stars

Very readable but likely not particularly memorable.

The Family Next Door focuses on three neighbours on a suburban street in Melbourne, Australia. Each woman is in the relatively early years of parenting, each is struggling with being a mother and wife, and each one has a secret. One day, Isabelle moves in next door and slowly the the facades are unraveled. It’s not quite a domestic thriller, but it certainly has twists and turns and the odd bit of suspense.

It was an easy read and it kept my attention, but it didn’t feel particularly original or remarkable. I enjoy this kind of book in small doses, but there seem to be many Big Little Lies wannabes floating around — this one probably fits into that category.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.

It took me a bit, but I did indeed become engrossed in the book, in the characters, in their relationships

The Family Next Door is the story of Essie and her neighbors who all appear on the outside to have perfect lives...but who knows what goes on behind closed doors? Essie is the mother of two small girls. She has always wanted to be a mother, after all, she had an excellent example in her mother. All of her neighbors are also young mothers with happy marriages, or are they? And the new neighbor Isabelle, why would she move to their quiet, family neighborhood as a single woman with no children? The Family Next Door keeps you enthralled until the last page...nothing is ever what it seems!

The Family Next Door
Sally Hepworth
Available: March 6, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley.com for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I have adored Sally Hepworth’s books in the past – usually I have raced through them. This one…it took me a little while to warm up to the characters; there were a few times in the first 2-3 chapters that I wasn’t feeling it and contemplated putting it aside for another book. I persisted – and I’m glad I did as I had an opportunity to read a part suspense/part chick lit book that had some strong female characters with a few red herrings, and one terrific plot twist.
What I loved: Each woman faced a demon of their own in the book – Ange it was her marriage; Fran – a unanswered question with lingering doubt, Essie – proving to herself she could overcome the past this time. They were at least upfront with the problem with themselves – if not anyone else at first but then their friendship grows deeper as they learn to trust each other just a little more.
What I didn’t love: I wish there a little more attention given to post-partum depression – particularly how it can creep up months after birth as hormones are still trying to return to previous levels and women may think they have a handle on one stage and be completely overwhelmed a few months down the road.
What I learned: The concept of family has been expanded to someone you care about on a daily basis.
Overall Grade: B

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Four women wonder who the presumably single woman is who moves onto their family-oriented Pleasant Court street. And why does she feel comfortable speaking to them so familiarly almost immediately, as though she’s known them all for years? Perplexed, they watch Isabelle, wondering what her intentions are. Essie’s mother has misgivings about the mysterious neighbor from the start. She’s different from their little clan, and vague about her background, so why did she move from Sydney to Melbourne and into their neighborhood?

Each of the three families on Pleasant Court has its own secrets and insecurities that tidily remain hidden within the confines of their own homes, while outside appearances paint a very different, more pristine picture. They’re keeping secrets from each other within their families, and secrets from their neighbors. The women are slowly becoming unhinged by the various complexities affecting their lives. Fran is trying to run from her problems—literally; subconsciously burning through the fear and regret that prods her every day. Essie is detaching from her familial obligations; her husband and mother worrying about her, especially since her frightful episode a few years back. In their minds she’s fragile and unstable. Ange’s guilty conscience is eating her alive, even though she is the one everybody envies; the one with the great career, gorgeous husband, immaculate home and well-mannered kids. Little do they all know that Ange is insecure about said husband whom she can never seem to track down, and who gives her a niggling feeling about his activities when he’s not at home. What is everyone hiding, and who is the stranger on Pleasant Court?

I like the way The Family Next Door starts out mellow, builds, and then reaches a crescendo. But after that it ends rather abruptly. The psychological buildup was intense, but the end result was tamer than I’d anticipated for some of the situations. Specifically when it came to the enigmatic neighbor. I think there could have been a little bit more dramatic effect in some instances. However, the story advanced forward easily, and I was eager to turn pages. But in the end I wanted just a bit more. Other than that it really was a great read. The way and time in which secrets were revealed was excellent. Each revelation came at a time I wasn’t expecting it and I was blown away by how the author executed those parts. It was very well done. I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an E-ARC of this book, in exchange I have provided an honest review.

My Review: 3.5 stars
Once again, Sally Hepworth has brought the secrets of families, neighbors and friends under her realistic lens in The Family Next Door. This is the third book I’ve read of Hepworth’s and I still would rate The Things We Keep as my favorite of hers. I enjoyed understanding the puzzling behaviors of these characters that were slowly unraveled to the reader.

It’s quite true that no one’s life is what it seems, especially if it looks absolutely perfect. This book unleashes the stereotypical, as well as some off the chart secrets that people keep. I had never heard of GSA (not going to disclose the meaning of this acronym to avoid spoilers) and it was very interesting. There was an unknown narrator, which reminded me of the omniscient voice on Desperate Housewives. Of course that led me to the similarities of their one word street names: Wysteria and Pleasant.

All of the women on the Pleasant Circle had to deal with their own demons, but I would’ve liked some of the subplots mentioned earlier to have finished what was started. For example, the one that most stood out was the start of a Neighborhood Watch group. I definitely thought that would lead to some kind of “wow” or “ah hah” moment, yet it read as a dead end.

Nonetheless, even with my few issues, I still gobbled this book up as I sat at by the pool while on vacation. Reminded me of a B version of Little Big Lies.

A small town where everyone seems to know everyone. Three friends, Fran, Ange and Essie seem to live fairly normal lives, but each have their secrets. They are married and live in a family friendly neighborhood, but then Isabelle moves in next door to Essie and she is single with no kids and just doesn't seem to fit in. Why is she there? Questions start to arise when they find out what Isabelle does for a living and slowly we learn secrets about the 3 friends which they would rather have kept to themselves.
A good mystery book, which keeps you guessing.

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC. This has never happened before. I received 3 ARC and all 3 were terrible. I couldn't get into the characters. Too slow paced for me and it didn't hold my interest.

Gripping from the first page. This story reminded me of Alfred Hitchcock's movie "Rear Window" where you sit on the sidelines and get to peak into the intricacies of your neighbors daily life.

So many secrets. Lots of intrigue. A touch of mental illness. Manipulation. A sleepy little town. Real life drama. You never know what happens under someone else's roof. Why do people do the things they do? Why do we hurt the ones we love? You'll get some answers by the end of the book.

The story is told in chapters, each chapter told by a key player; Essie, Fran, Isabelle, Ange and Barbara. I really enjoy reading books where many perspectives tell the story, as I relate to each character, I experience different feelings reading each chapter depending on how I feel about that particular character. All characters were well defined with very human flaws.

I thought I had the story figured out and then it went in an entirely different direction. Loved that Ms. Hepworth didn't take the expected route.

I really enjoyed this story, I power read long into the night to finish. Take yourself on a little sabbatical and hunker down with a copy of this book. Kudos Ms. Hepworth, well done.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. I enjoyed this story, however, it was confusing when in the middle of a section, there was a flashback that was totally irrelevant to what I was reading. Towards the end of the book, when the mystery was revealed and explained, the flashbacks made sense. The story centers around three families who live near each other and are all hiding secrets behind closed doors . A stranger moves into the neighborhood and disrupts everything. Essie becomes fixated on the new friend she’s made , while her mother , husband and others are suspicious of the budding relationship. Others are hiding secrets and infidelities. I enjoyed this interesting story, but, didn’t like the flashbacks interjected where they were placed in the story. The characters were developed nicely and kept my attention.

Pleasant Court is a family neighborhood where everyone seems to be hiding something. When Isabelle moves into the neighborhood, things change, as she's not the "typical" neighbor- single, no children, and apparently no job. Why is she there? And what secrets do everyone seem to be hiding? A well written story that makes you realize you never really know your neighbors, do you?

Basically, everyone has a secret. But who can you share your secrets with? And should you? Definitely some twists and totally enjoyable

This book involves five women who live in the upscale neighborhood known as Pleasant Court, where families mingle but also cherish and protect their privacy. Three – Ange, Fran, and Essie – are married with young children. The new neighbor, Isabelle, is single and childless. Barbara is Essie’s single mom and grandmother to Essie’s little girls. All five women have their secrets and their frustrations, and we get to know them well as they take turns telling this story from their individual points of view.

Sally Hepworth brings all of it together in an ending I didn’t see coming. Throughout the story, we’re aware of each woman’s struggles with motherhood, marriage, and men who disappoint in one way or another. We know about their psychological breakdowns, their mistakes, and what wears them out by the end of the day. We watch them grapple with personal demons that require difficult decisions. And running throughout is the question, who is the anonymous, mentally disturbed narrator who has taken someone else’s baby from the hospital?

All in all, it’s an interesting look at the face we put on for others and leaves you wondering what you don’t know about that nice family down the block.

I am a longtime fan of Sally’s books and The Family Next Door does not disappoint. A tale of the families of Pleasant Court, Hepworth lets you in to the seemingly ‘pleasant’ lives of all its residents. Essie and Fran have new babies, Ange is sharing her picture perfect life with each upload to Instagram, and the husbands are all good looking and wonderful. Even Essie’s mum moved in next door. Then solitary Isabelle moves into this family friendly neighborhood and sparks the curiosity of everyone. Where’d she come from? Why Pleasant Court? As friendships made and betrayals revealed, it just goes to show, you never really know what’s going on behind the closed doors of the family next door.

I received an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

This is not what I expected. I thought for sure I knew where this was going but I missed it. The heart of this story is Essie but this novel also involves her neighbors and their lives and the plot alternates between them. I’m awful with names so it was confusing for me until I had all of the characters figured out. Each woman is going through something different but at the center of it are their relationships, especially with their husbands. This is a very compelling read that you won’t want to put down. It’s not action packed but very real glimpses behind closed doors into other people’s lives.

I thought I was reading about the lives of a group of women who lived in the same neighborhood. Then the story took a twist that I didn't see coming. Great book!

A page-turning look at the lives behind the facades of our neighbors' lives.

I tried to find something positive to say about some aspect of the book like maybe at least it portrayed a post partum depression in
comic book form, actually the whole novel was revised in my mind to the comic book as nothing about the characters or plot was
anything but far fetched.. By the end of the book I felt like I had spent the day eating truly bad junk food, Not sure if it helps
to know that the amazing writer Ashley Hay sets perfectly written stories in Melbourne. This book was a real time waster, do your self
a favor and spend a good 20 minutes reading the new Jumpha Lahiri short story in the New Yorker to remind yourself that good writing
is one of the true pleasures of life.