A harrowing subject. A child is missing, presumed dead. Her mother blames herself. The subject of every parent’s nightmare. But is all it seems? A well written and suspenseful book. My only criticism is I found it a little repetitive at the beginning and took a while for the story to get going. However an excellent read

This book was brilliant! It had me hooked from page one. Each character was relatable which always makes the story flow. I felt sorry for each of them in their own way. Would highly recommend.

A gripping novel from start to finish, a girl goes missing and her mother never stops thinking about the details of that day.

I love the way this book is written, especially in the chapters from Ava's point of view. It feels fast-paced and immediate when we're in her head. We, the reader, discover things at the same time as Ava, which is a really effective way to portray her emotional and physical reactions to her missing daughter.

There were enough secrets and lies to keep me reading to the end and each played out at the right time. The only issue I had, without giving too much away, was with the series of very samey twists/actions that led to the disappearance of Abi.

I usually adore Susie Lynes’ books but this one really wasn’t my cup of tea. I found it terribly depressing and repetitive. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters but appreciate that that isn’t the point of the book. However I will continue to search out further books by Ms Lynes as I think this one wasn’t typical.

Found this to be quite a suspense building, tension filled read! Well written, thrilling, chilling, and shocking book, which will absolutely fill you full of tension! Highly recommend to those looking for some which thrills and chills, and of course shocks! Lynes definitely has figured out a great formula for writing some fun, chilling, and riveting reads! Do not miss this one!

Oh my goodness, I really enjoyed this book and I loved how the intensity grows as you near the end. What happens is every parents worst nightmare, the not knowing the distressing part, so the build up to what really happened and even then the twists and turns has you gripped and wanting answers for the characters.
Thanks to the publisher and author for my arc.

I loved The Housewarming! It's a smart and suspenseful British thriller that follows a woman suffering from the tragic loss of her 2 year old daughter. The timeline switches between the day she disappeared and present day (one are after the tragic event) in a dissociative and wandering way that adds to the atmosphere. Although I predicted one of the major twists, there were plenty more at the end that caught me by surprise and left me shocked. Additionally, I love when a thriller has a message, and this one definitely does. Yes, the drama, intrigue and twists are all accounted for… but themes of grief, forgiveness, family and morals are also explored in a meaningful and authentic way. Overall, 4 stars for a suspenseful and true to life thriller!

The beginning of this book had my heart beating as quickly as the metronome and ticking of the clock described in that first chapter. I felt as if I was right there with the mother, running through the house, checking every room, racing down the street looking for her daughter. What an emotional ride this was as she grappled with what happened to her little girl and how she may be the one to blame. Excellent writing and an emotional tug of a story describing the loss and guilt and heartache between a husband and wife, plus the increasing suspicions of the neighbors. I highly recommend this read!

Two year old Abi disappears from her home one morning and is not seen again. A year later her desperate parents have a new baby but their life is still haunted by their guilt about their lost daughter. A housewarming party at their neighbours is the last place they want to go but the night dredges up secrets that could solve the mystery of Abi's disappearance...
The Housewarming is a very tense and gripping psychological drama. It is often uncomfortable to read as the emotion is palpable for all characters. As a parent, the thought of losing a child especially when you could be to blame, is absolutely unbearable.
Tension is there from the very start as Ava discovers the open front door and empty pushchair. I have panicked losing my kids for a few seconds during soft play or in a shop so I can imagine the fear.
The narrative style was a little tricky for me to engage with at times as the perspective moves from present to past and back again. I would have preferred a whole chapter of flashback but this way represented the churning emotional viewpoint of the characters so I understand why it was used.
We see multiple perspectives which allows us to witness the effect of the child's disappearance on Ava and Matt's friends and neighbours. This gives clues to their behaviour and hint that something sinister may have occurred. The conclusion to The Housewarming was heartbreaking for all of the characters but as a reader left me satisfied that the loose ends had all been resolved.

This domestic thriller opens with a moment of sheer panic. While her daughter was occupied in her stroller, Ava took a brief moment for herself. The strap was buckled, the door was locked, she'd easily hear if her little one needed her.... But that brief moment stretched just a bit too long and the door to the front of the house wasn't locked. Ava's panic and growing despair quickly pulled me into this one. It's not always clear whether she's in the moment when her child disappeared or looking back from a year later, but that's okay because Ava is a mess and sometimes seems not quite sure herself. She's barely holding herself together. I loved this one, but it's heartbreaking to find out what happened that morning.

I usually tend to avoid books about missing children as there are so many but I'd heard such great things about this one I wanted to give it a go. And I'm so glad I did! It manages to be both a slow-burn and a page-turner at the same time where almost no one can be trusted. Read in a few days. Excellent.

This book had me hooked from the very first few pages! It was so well written that I found myself feeling as though I was experiencing and picturing what each main character was going through; their panic, distress, uncertainty and heartbreak. This was the first book for me by this author but will not be the last. I really enjoyed the pace and suspense throughout the whole book and found this to be a really great thriller. The fact that the author kept me guessing throughout was also amazing as I don't enjoy predictable thrillers. Thanks so much to NetGalley, the Author and Publisher for allowing me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ahhh y'all!!! After reading this book it almost makes me not want to go to a house party! But in all honesty this novel was fantastic and truly captured my attention. Very suspenseful and a great thriller!

This story have that whodunnit and what is going on kind of storyline, characters are mysterious and intriguing. Gripping and hair-raising! Highly recommended!

This was one of the slowest burn stories I have read in a very long time. It was an interesting juxtaposition, because at times it was very effective and at others it dragged the story down. It was almost like reading two different versions of the same story.
On the one hand, it was a fascinating look at the destruction of a family in the face of a terrible tragedy. Ava feels guilt for what she sees as her part in the disappearance of her daughter. No amount of time or events, including a newborn son, helps her get over the questions she has about the day everything changed.
The first half of the book belongs largely to her as she navigates trying to keep herself together. There are hints and clues along the way that not everything is as it seems, and by the time we get to the titular housewarming, it is obvious that there is a lot more to Abi’s disappearance.
The author is very methodical in plotting this first half out so that the facts of the day (or what Ava thinks are the facts) are clear in the reader’s mind. The claustrophobic feeling that people often experience after a tragedy is well-described and highly accurate. It’s important, because once the party happens, things get really topsy-turvy.
In the second half of the book, in spite of the new information that comes to light, there seemed to be a lot more passages of characters’ inner monologues. This is where I thought the plotting dragged a little bit. As Ava starts to put things together, I wanted there to be a bit more action.
For me, one of the things that kept it from completely flowing was that the action shifted back and forth between the day Abi disappeared and the present – but there were no signifiers like “Ava- Then” or “Matt-Now.” The shifts therefore took me some time to adjust and reset to which time period I was in.
By the time we get to the actual reveal, I had a suspicion as to what it would be. The author did a good job dropping a few red herrings that had me thinking other options (I like when an author guides that branching out of thinking). But kudos also, because just when I thought it was all wrapped up, there were second, third, and even fourth endings.
This was effective because even in the face of tragedy, things can always go even more sideways. And this story certainly did. I thought it got a little bit preachy at the end when Ava was realizing how much goes unnoticed in people’s lives, but in a way, it fit her overall realization of the truth.

📙 BOOK REVIEW 📙 The Housewarming - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)..

Reallllly enjoyed this book! - Every parents worst nightmare. Your child goes missing! You blame yourself over and over, again and again. How could you be so stupid. Question everything that happened. Go over every tiny detail. This is what happened to Ava. Was it her fault her daughter Abi went missing? A year later, still not knowing if she is dead or alive, a housewarming party next door makes her overthink every little detail all over again.

This had me gripped from the start (taken me longer to read than planned due to personal reasons, but managed 3 quarters of the book in one day and finished. I couldn't put it down). I love the plot twist, you think you have sussed out what happens and them BAM, you are hit with another shocker.
Highly recommended. Definitely add this to your wishlist! Thank you @netgalley and @susielynes for a free copy in exchange for an honest review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #bookstagramuk #book #ilovetoread #reading #bookstagram #instabook #kindlebooks #amazonfire #book #readingtime #newbook #prerelease #reviewer #bookreviewer #newbook #newrelease #published #paperback #netgalley #thehousewarming

Thank you to the publisher and Netgaley for the opportunity to read and review this book. The story starts out with the scary scenario of a missing child. The story ensues while keeping the reading wondering where the child is. Unfortunately, there wasnt much to keep the anticipation alive. It was just the normal emotions of the parents etc. About a quarter in you start to suspect other characters. At 80% in is when the story unravels and you cant turn the pages fast enough. Just when you thought you knew, you didnt.

A really well plotted story but just so incredibly sad with all of the "what ifs".
A great cover inviting you to come in for a very good read

One year ago your little girl seemingly walked out of your house and was never seen again. Not seen by a neighbour, not seen by anyone.

Seemingly normal conversations at a housewarming event leave Ava and Matt wondering what really happened to their little girl one year ago. Is someone covering up, does someone know more Han they originally let on.

I liked that this story was different than anything else I’ve read recently. A story of trying to move on after the loss of a child, when there aren’t real answers. A story of lies and how far someone will go to protect themselves and protect the people they love.

However, this story wasn’t for me. A little slow, and perhaps a little too sad overall. A very avoidable tragedy.

Ava was only upstairs for a few minutes when she left Abi downstairs strapped safely inside her pushchair. She swears it. When Ava realizes the front door is open and her daughter is missing, she immediately begins to look everywhere for her. She calls her husband, Matt, and they call the police together, realizing that they will not be able to find her alone. The search ensues, and everyone does what they can to find the missing child.

The problem is, Abi is never found. One year later, Ava is still completely distraught over what happened. She believes it is her fault and doesn't feel fit to be a mother. She has been hiding in their house, barely able to go out or socialize with others. However, when Ava and Matt's neighbors, the Lovegoods, throw a housewarming party in honor of their recently finished kitchen renovations, Ava is convinced that she should go. It is on this night that Ava begins to realize that not everyone is who they seem, and some of the people closest to Ava have been harboring secrets that change her knowledge of the day Abi disappeared.

First of all, I just want to mention that the cover of this book is absolutely stunning; a beautiful mix of elegance and mystery, it perfectly portrays the idea of everyone having secrets. I love a great slow-burn story, and this is exactly what The Housewarming was. Unfortunately, I found many parts of it to drag along a bit too slowly, and this is ultimately the reason that it was only an average read for me. The different perspectives woven throughout the book, especially at the end, were enjoyable, and I completely sympathized with both Ava and Matt. I can't imagine going through a situation even remotely similar to what they did, but I could relate on some level to their struggles. Although it took me awhile to get into the story, the last 40% or so had me hooked, and I finished the last part of the book in one sitting. For those who stories that lean more on the psychological side, I would recommend this book! Just buckle up and be prepared for a very slow burn.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an ARC of The Housewarming!