WOW! The Housewarming, by S.E. Lynes, is definitely a 5 star must read book! Each page pulls you in deeper and deeper until you become suspicious of everyone and everything! S.E. Lynes brilliantly lays a foundation that lets your mind wander through all the scenarios of what could’ve happened, cleverly disguises secrets, and keeps you guessing who was the most desperate to make sure the truth was never revealed. While reading The Housewarming, I made a million guesses about what happened and who was responsible, but the ending was so shocking that I most certainly didn’t seen it coming! The Housewarming is a powerhouse read! Filled with raw emotions and realistic relationships, The Housewarming is full of mind-blowing secrets and unnerving twists that will keep you hanging onto every word! Many times I felt both outraged and understanding, and am impressed that S.E. Lynes was able to make me feel such a rush of conflicting emotions..

I loved how S.E. Lynes randomly threw in cliffhangers throughout the book because each time it changed my perspective. The Housewarming was very unique in how S.E. Lynes depicted Ava’s current daily life and how she also felt trapped reliving the day Abi disappeared. The agony of a mother trying to move forward but still clinging to the past felt so real! S.E. Lynes did an amazing job writing about the emotional and conversational undertones between Ava and Matt too. Many times Ava said one thing but her mind was screaming another, and knowing both sides added so much depth to the story!

Ava’s and Matt’s daughter Abi was a toddler when she disappeared. One minute she was safely inside her home, and the next minute she was gone. Noticing that the door was slightly ajar, Ava’s heart sank when she realized the door hadn’t closed all the way when she shut it. Abi was a bright and outgoing child so Ava rushed outside and searched all the places where she thought Abi might have ventured off to. Seconds turned to minutes, minutes turned to hours, hours turned to days, and hope of finding Abi began to dwindle. One year later Ava still feels like she’s watching herself relive that day and make the same mistakes. She forces herself to manage things one day at a time because she knows she has to for Fred’s sake at least. Born a few months after Abi’s disappearance, Fred is Ava’s reason to grasp at sanity and stability. She has severed ties with all of her friends from her previous life, and her wittiness has turned to bitterness. She isn’t even close to Abi’s Godparents, Bella and Neil, anymore. Matt is also struggling, but he feels like accepting the most likely possibility is the only way they can move forward. Although the police never officially closed the investigation, at this point it’s hard to believe that Abi’s alive.

When Ava and Matt receive an invitation to their neighbors housewarming party, Matt is the one who suggests they attend. Their neighbors, the Lovegoods, have been the talk of the town. Johnnie is known for his flashy lifestyle, home, and car and people can hardly wait for a chance to gawk at their recent renovations. Despite her reluctance, Ava agrees to go. In the midst of the party, the secrets slowly start to slip out until Ava begins to wonder if she is losing her mind or if there is more to the story about Abi’s disappearance.

Thank you S.E. Lynes, Bookouture, and Netgalley for allowing me to read The Housewarming. My feedback is voluntary and expresses my honest review.

I love a good psychological thriller and this fit the bill perfectly.

Kept me hooked and I didn’t see the ending coming which is unusual in these books a lot of the time.

Quick and enjoyable read.

I am a fan of S.E Lynes so I was excited to get The Housewarming. I was glued to my kindle from the very first page and couldn't put it down until the amazing ending. S.E wrote a brilliant story that was completely heartbreaking and terrifying as a parent. The story was also filled with a lot of twists and turns that some I saw coming and others left my jaw on the floor.

Title: The Housewarming
Author: S.E. Lynes
Publication Day: Oct 23rd 2020

Description:

Everyone is going to the housewarming party.
All the same people who lived on the street the day Abi vanished…
Will her mother finally learn the truth?

Ava only left her daughter in the pushchair for five minutes. The buckle was fastened, and she was sure it was safe. But when she came downstairs, the door was open and Abi was gone – she walked down the road, past the Lovegoods’ house, and was never seen again.

A year later, the Lovegoods are planning their long-anticipated housewarming party. Ava doesn’t want to go. She can’t bear to look down that end of the road, to see the place where Abi vanished, and she doesn’t want to spend time with people who don’t share her grief. Her husband Matt persuades her: he’s worried about her. A night out might do her good.

But as her friends and neighbours chat, and the drink and gossip flows, Ava learns something new about the day she has re-lived a thousand times. A throwaway comment which could change everything.

Ava thought she knew every last detail of that day.

She’s about to find out she was wrong…

Brilliantly dark and moving suspense fiction for fans of Gillian Flynn, Claire McGowan and Lisa Jewell, The Housewarming will have your pulse racing and your heart in your mouth from start to finish.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Housewarming' by S.E. Lynes.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 26th October 2020

This is the second book that I have read by this author.

I was originally drawn to this book by its bold cover and intriguing sounding blurb. The blurb also suggests that this book will have fans of Lisa Jewell pulse racing. I am a big fan of Lisa Jewell so am intrigued to see if this book lives up to thay statement. I have also previously read a book by this author which I enjoyed so am looking forward to this one. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 48 chapters. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in London, UK 🇬🇧 . I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times.

This book is written in first person and third person perspective with the main protagonists being Ava (first) and Matt (third) I enjoy books written in first person perspective as as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. It's even more enjoyable when there are 2 main protagonists as you get to see even more of what is going on and how they are feeling about everything. It's unusual for a book to use both first and third person perspectives but when it works it works great as it gives a much larger picture of everything going on.

This book is very well written and the descriptions are fantastic. The first chapter is captivating and really pulls you in. The cover and blog really suit the storyline.

THE storyline is absolutely heartbreaking especially for a parent which I am, it really sets your heart pacing. It is more of a slow burning psychological drama rather than a thriller. Packed full of loss, deceit, secrets and lies. The end has several shocking twists which I didn't see coming so well done to the author there!! I have read many psychological books and it's getting harder and harder to shock me but I didn't see them twists coming!! There are several changes in time lines throughout the book and these did confuse me at times. The past storylines were slightly repetitive at points but I think this was more so to see the reality of how Ava was coping, or more so not coping. Congratulations for bringing Angelman syndrome into the book. This is a disability that is not very well heard of and I encountered a young adult with it while working in care many years ago so it was nice too see awareness being made in a book as prior to working in the care home I had never heard of it either.

The characters all have different personalities and are very strong and believable. I enjoyed reading how the relationships changed throughout the book and I think these changes were realistic to the storyline also.

Overall an emotional filled family drama that will keep you guessing and hoping throughout.

Genres covered in this novel include Suspense, Mystery and Psychological Fiction among others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of drama and S. E. Lynes

350 pages.

This book is 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 4/5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews

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Author Bio:

Former BBC Producer, S.E. Lynes is the Amazon best selling author of 'intelligent and haunting', 'beautifully written' psychological thrillers, VALENTINA, MOTHER, THE PACT, THE PROPOSAL, THE WOMEN, THE LIES WE HIDE, CAN YOU SEE HER? and her latest novel, THE HOUSEWARMING, available for pre-order NOW.

After completing her MA, Lynes taught creative writing at Richmond Adult Community College for over ten years. She now combines writing, mentoring and lecturing.

She has also published three children's books in Italy: IL LEOPARDO LAMPO, LA COCCODRILLA INGAMBA, and the bilingual LA SCIMMIA SPIRITOSA/THE FUNNY MONKEY, all available at Amazon.it

Author Social Media Links:

Facebook: S E Lynes Author
Twitter: @SELynesAuthor
Instagram: @S E Lynes Author


BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B08F273DPRSocial

Apple: http://ow.ly/31x350AQ3EL

Kobo: http://ow.ly/Xo0h50AQ3CV

Google: http://ow.ly/gIK950AQ3Hg

Ava is devastated when her young daughter, Abi, goes missing from their home. Nearly a year later she is struggling to come to terms with her grief, not least because she still has no answers. Was Abi taken? Did she wander off? Is she still alive? Who has her? Where is she? Will she come home?

For the most part, this is what the book centers on – the what ifs. The what if you’d done things differently? What if you had paid more attention? What if you’d got off your phone sooner? What if you were a better person?

I was immediately gripped reading this – the way Ava’s fear/grief/agony is portrayed is very real, and I confess, at times I felt sick rather than entertained. I mean that in a good way as I could feel myself in that situation, and know how quickly my blood would run cold if I couldn’t find my child.

However, for me, it quickly became tedious as the same thoughts/issues were repeated throughout. It felt like an awful lot was said, without anything new being said at all. As a result, there was limited character development, and there wasn’t a single person I actually liked. I found myself having to skip-read large chunks of internal monologue and descriptions of people’s houses because it just slowed the story down too much.

That said, it did eventually pick up again at about half way through, though, lacked the same spark I’ve seen in previous writing from this author. For me, the ending felt a little too contrived, a determination to put twists in the tail to make up for a very slow pace of book.

Sadly, this just didn’t really work for me.

Lynes so aptly captures the anguish of parents whose little girl has gone missing and all the guilt that goes along with that. This book will make any parent of young kids think twice before clicking on that "one more link" or taking that extra minute of me time.

I had a bit of trouble getting into the beginning of the book which replays, over and over, the minutes leading up to and just after Abi goes missing, But it was an effective literary technique that showed Ava's devolution from hope, to self-blame, to an inability to acknowledge what might have happened. To play out different scenarios in her head.

While most of her friends, including her husband's best friend and his wife, have pulled away from them, Ava makes a decision almost a year after Abi has gone to attend their neighbor's open house. All of her other neighbors will be there, curious to see the big, expensive renovation. After the party, things kick into high gear. Ava learns that the community that she thought would gather and protect their own, a neighborhood that was so safe a missing hat would be placed on a wall for the owner to retrieve, has those among it who are only looking out for themselves.

The author will have you so invested in finding out what happened to Abi you will be holding your breath hoping that the inevitable ending doesn't happen. And then when you find out what really happened, the ending will stay with you. So, go now - to your bookseller, your eBook provider or your library - and get this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced reader's copy for review.

I need just a few minutes...
That's what Ava thought that morning. She left Abi strapped in her stroller, ready for a morning walk and run upstairs. But when she came back down later, the front door was open and her beautiful two years old girl was gone.
Everyone knows the biggest tragedy in life is the loss of a child. How to go on, how to still live, how to manage the guilt. Would the couple survive? Would they find peace? Would they be able to forgive?
This story is brilliant from beginning to end. The characters are incredibly developed and the pace is calm, but at the same time brutal.
The author worked from different angles and the result is magnificent. Because it's not just the mystery, but the character's feelings about the mystery what brings all together in the end
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I powered through The Housewarming by S.E. Lynes quickly because I just had to know what was going to happen. Ava left her daughter in a stroller inside for a second. When she comes back, her daughter is gone. Where did she go? Did someone take her?

Ava struggles with the disappearance of her daughter and one year later finds her still upset, rightfully so. How can a mother move past such a nightmare? Upon attending a housewarming party for new neighbors, a comment is made that changes what happened on Ava’s worst day.

I can’t tell you any more than that because it will ruin the story but trust me, you will want to read this suspenseful story!

Premise:

Ava only left her daughter in the pushchair for five minutes. The buckle was fastened, and she was sure it was safe. But when she came downstairs, the door was open and Abi was gone – she walked down the road, past the Lovegoods’ house, and was never seen again.

A year later, the Lovegoods throw a housewarming party, showing off the results of their renovation. Ava doesn’t want to go. She can’t bear to look down that end of the road, to see the place where Abi vanished, and she doesn’t want to spend time with people who don’t share her grief. Her husband Matt persuades her: he’s worried about her. A night out might do her good.

But as her friends and neighbours chat, and the drink and gossip flows, Ava learns something new about the day she has re-lived a thousand times. A throwaway comment which could change everything.

Ava thought she knew every last detail of that day. She’s about to find out she was wrong…

You really can’t trust anyone! A fun, quick read! Get it right now here.

Wow. This one had me gripped. How extremely heartbreaking, sad and emotional. Ava, Matt and 2 year old Abi are happy living their life until one ordinary day while Ava is upstairs doing household chores Abi disappears from the house. How can a little baby vanish from her pram. It is every mothers nightmare. With the help of their best friends and Abi's godparents Neil and Bella they search for the little girl but only find her toy teddy Mr Sloth. They rely so much on their friends and neighbours that they must go to a housewarming party months later to reconnect. It is there that they finally learn more about their daughter's disappearance. I devoured this book, totally unable to put it down. Now , I wish it wasn't over. Can't recommend enough

Ava and Matt's daughter disappears one day when Ava strapped he into her seat and ran upstairs for a few minutes and when she comes down the girl is gone and the door open. No one has seen her since. A year later Matt recommends they go to a housewarming party, Ava was still grieving, but they decided to go see all the new high end renovations. As everyone is chatting and the alcohol is flowing Ava picks up on talk about the day a year ago when her daughter disappeared and that sets off a chain of events. A thrilling read.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the advance ecopy.

Ava was only upstairs for a few minutes. That was all it took.

Abi was strapped securely in her pushchair waiting to go and feed the ducks but when Ava comes downstairs her 2-year-old daughter is gone and the front door is open.

A year later, at a housewarming party for their neighbours, Ava and husband Matt start to unpick further details of that fateful day when their daughter went missing.

My heart was in my mouth reading this book. I cuddled my toddler a bit tighter after reading this.

This book was so absorbing, I had to keep reading to find out what had happened as soon as I could. This is every parent’s worst nightmare, but I found myself absolutely engrossed in it.
Brilliant read!

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to review on netgalley . This is a new author to me however she has been on my radar and after devouring this ill be reading her other books!

This is amazing! You think you know the direction its going and boom it changes.

The sheer nightmare and horror these parents have gone through is terrifying. However as lies become exposed are people close to them as trustworthy as they thought. Is their nightmare really over?

A heartracing and breaking psychological thriller.

This is addictive and demands to be read !

This blew my mind and i loved it. I cant wait to read more from this author.

Published 23rd October

I really enjoyed this story and read it in one sitting.
Ava and Matt have two year old daughter Abi who is the centre of their world until the day she disappears and their world implodes. A year on Ava blames herself and Matt is trying to keep their grief from destroying their marriage. Ava believe herself to be unsafe as a mother which isn’t good for their new son.
Finally Matt persuades her to attend their neighbours housewarming and suddenly something said triggers Ava onto a new path to find out what happened to Abi.
The story is written from several POV’s as the truth begins to be revealed. I was hooked to find out what happened to Abi and the emotional rollercoaster Ava is on. I was not disappointed with the ending.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#TheHousewarming #NetGalley

I liked this book! The premise is engaging, the characters are interesting, and the twists and turns kept me on my toes. It’s more of a dark drama than I had been anticipating, but I didn’t mind that. What I did mind was the way that the perspective shifted from person to person. I love that we didn’t stay with Ava for the entire book, but switching from the first person to the third felt clunky and threw me out of the story nearly every chapter. I was a bit disappointed with the ending as well — I wish it hadn’t been wrapped up so nicely. The intended moral takeaways are handed to readers on a platter in very plain language — there’s no room for readers to come up with their own conclusions. Overall, though, this is a great pick for anyone looking for a quick, mysterious read!

The Housewarming was such an interesting novel. The book shifts from first and third perspective between the mother and father, respectively, of a child that's gone missing. I didn't quite get the connection to the title at the beginning of the novel as it lets you witness the mother's sheer terror of her daughter's disappearance. I was honestly concerned that the unreliable, distraught narrator would be the tone of the entire book but it wasn't and I'm so grateful. Once the initial madness started to lessen, the book became much more enticing and I needed to know what happened. I thought the resolution was well done for the most part and found the events leading to Abi's disappearance mostly realistic. I wasn't a fan of the very last few pages and Ava's conclusion because it felt too wrapped up, but overall I did really enjoy this book !

I was fortunate to receive a copy of this ARC from NetGalley.

I found this book a very slow burner. For me, it didn't pick up until about 50% in. The early part is heavily focused on the grief for the missing child and I thought it was interesting how certain sentences were repeated at the start of each chapter, to reflect the ongoing nature of the grief.

The book explores marriage, friendships and commuties and how well we really know people.

After about half way I started to question what might have happened and did Ava's actions lead to the tragic event?

My favourite quote:
"The bulbous bonnets of shiny cars curve hugely, their wheels enormous, their occupants like lords and ladies in horse drawn carriages."

The ending was excellent, but also heartbreaking.

Ava and Matt married, living happily with their 2-year-old daughter Abi. Until one day their whole life went upside down.

One day Abi went missing from their home after the front door was accidentally left open. After an immense search by the police and the locals, they could not find her. With no leads, the case went cold very quickly. A year went passed by and Ava & Matt spent their life full of heartache, guilt, despair, and loss, until one day one of their neighbors throws a housewarming party, showing off the results of their renovation.

Little that Ava knows that this party will change the whole truth and Ava learns something new about the day she has relived a thousand times. A throwaway comment which could change everything….

This was a slow-burning and slow-paced thriller full of emotions, guilt, and grieves. The story was from the POV of Ava, Matt, and their neighbors/Friends.

What I like most about this book is how the author describes the emotions of each character and paint them on readers mind. Also, the plot twists that happen in the book captured my attention from time to time.

But on the other hand, I found it far too wordy. I also found the writing style repetitive, at one point I felt was reading the same paragraphs/sentences and words over and over again, making the whole story less thriller and flat. The real action starts from the second half of the book.

As a thriller book reader, after seeing the cover and reading the description, I was ready for more mystery and suspense, but I found this book to be more of a dark family drama and it was nothing like what I had expected.

That been said, I'm satisfied with the overall reading and recommend to anyone who is looking for a good Thriller/mystery book.

Thank you to the Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
I Highly Appreciate it for giving me a chance to read The Housewarming.

#netgalleyreviewer #netgalleybooks #netgalley #thehousewarming #selynesauthor we are introduced to a couple. They have an adorable toddler. Mom goes upstairs to potty. Leaves the little ones strapped in her stroller. When she gets back downstairs her little girl is missing. The front door has been left open. The terrible journey this author takes us on is unbelievable of a search for a little girl. Learning who we can trust. Who our friends are. The twists and the turns you take are extraordinary. Pick this up and you won’t be let down. #mystery #missingtoddler #bookstagram #booklover #bookstagrammer

This book wasn't what I was expecting, but found it fairly entertaining. Not the most original story I've read but it definitely has its place

Thank you SE Lynes for once again making book reviewing easy!



Five glasses of bubbles for this tightly plotted taut thriller. I could stop there and say, just read it, but…



As soon as I see that SE Lynes has another book about to be published, I get all excited- for one thing I know that it’s going to be well written & for another, I have not yet been disappointed with a story which is always well structured and so hard to put down.



The first chapters of this novel are hard to read and distressing due to the subject matter, as over & over again Ava relives what happened on that terrible day when her young daughter disappeared. This is so realistic and credible, in a time of extreme tragedy this is what happens, as what ifs & blame continually go round in Ava’s head. The terrible guilt of a mother who has failed her daughter- or has she?



Around half way through the book, the pace changes, after the long anticipated party held by Ava's neighbours, and following that the twists are relentless. Characters unravel but ultimately all questions are satisfactorily answered and loose ends tied up.