Oh how I love juicy dramas about suburban housewives. I initially went in thinking this sounds a bit like Big, Little, Lies. But I was surprisingly satisfied with these evil women and their secrets. I’d give this book a solid 4 stars, only because at some points I felt dragged on.

Absolutely loved this book. If you like dark, twisty, atmospheric edgy women’s fiction in the vein of Liane Moriarty, this is the book for you. The characters are totally unlikeable—which I loved! And the creepy suburban setting is fabulously done, with great writing and a fast pace. Easily a 5 star read!

I'm a sucker for suburban dramas with unlikable characters, so when I read the premise for this one, I was excited to get my hands on it. This is out in October, but I've had a string of serious, heavy reads and was looking for something a little lighter.

When Theresa's husband takes a new job and the family move to Ivy Woods Drive, she has no idea what she's in for. As the annual Halloween party approaches, Theresa is pulled into the layered drama of the Ivy Five, the most influential, powerful wives in the neighborhood. But someone is watching, someone who knows their secrets threatens to tell the truth.

I really enjoyed this book.

First, I think this will be a fun, entertaining read in the fall. Laskowski does a superb job establishing the autumnal atmosphere, and it made me want a cozy knit and pumpkin picking so bad. That being said, I didn't mind the seasonality of the plot, and I was interested in the development of the suspense and the relationships on Ivy Woods Drive.

Told in alternating perspectives, the voices worked well. I never felt like they were muddled, which can be a huge issue with multiple first POV, but Theresa and Kendra's voices felt individual and developed. This definitely felt like a modern take on Desperate Housewives, and I think anyone who loves the deliciously gossip-prone nature of that show will loves this.

I will say the women gave me Mean Girls vibes at times. For the age range, it was a lot of jealous women doing backhanded in things in order to achieve their goals. Because of that, this read felt a little indulgent, so I can see this making a good beach read, as well.

I figured out most of the twists early on, but there are several pivots that are enjoyable and executed well which was enough to keep the suspense quick-moving and riveting to the last page. I did find myself wishing for a little more communication, as most of the problems could've been solved easily if the characters had chosen to have honest discussions with each other, but I loved the flashbacks and the final chapters.

Overall, The Mother Next Door was an entertaining, fast-paced, indulgent read with a cast of unlikable characters, unreliable narrators, and twists that will leave you guessing. For fans of Desperate Housewives, Mean Girls, Pretty Little Liars, or anyone looking for a suburban suspense with family secrets.

Thank you to Graydon House and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

A solid 3 stars. It just didn’t delve into feelings, get very deep at all. A good little mystery but I prefer more background & substance.

A fun filled thriller that will keep you guessing! Rich well developed characters drive a tale of secrets and what we will do to keep them hidden. The setting, an idyllic suburban neighborhood during the spookiest time of year. The cast of characters, the Ivy Five, their families and a supporting cast of neighbors and one nosy reporter. A quick read, perfect for Halloween season! This would make a wonderful spooky movie!

When everyone has secrets, how can you tell who is running from her past and who is running from her guilt? Theresa just moved into a nice new neighborhood with her nice new husband and meets a bunch of nice new neighbors. All, of course, is not as it seems as she gets in with the popular moms and begins to wonder what happened to the woman whose place she has taken. The two main characters are pretty well-realized, but the other characters could have been built out more. I had trouble keeping track of which one was Pia and which one was Bettina. Recommended for fans of Louise Candlish

I really loved the Halloween setting for this one. Hated most of the women but that's okay! Story was a little unbelievable in the end but still a fun read.

Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc. Tara Laskowski’s bowel is compelling as it is twisted. With characters I hated but I guess that speaks to how well they’re written. Definitely some triggering things for some readers but I enjoyed nonetheless

This was a juicy one! I really enjoyed this story filled with hidden secrets and agendas. A very addictive page turner. Highly recommend!

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 4.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

Tara Maslowski is on her way to being a name on all mystery fans' minds and lips. The fact that her debut novel was a big prize winner was no fluke, as she has proven with this, her second novel. She is here to stay. I, for one, an going to enjoy watching while gobbling up her next book, and the next, and the next. The Mother Next Door grabbed me on page one and held me until the very end. Suspenseful, mesmerizing and pitch perfect.

Ivy Woods Drive is an exclusive enclave presided over by the “Ivy Five”, a group of women who take their place in the community very seriously. Their meticulously planned Halloween block party is the culmination of months worth of planning. Sadly, the Five is now down to four and they’re on the hunt for a new member. When a new woman moves in, the group sees her as the perfect replacement, but they’re dead wrong. Ivy Woods Drive has plenty of dark and ugly secrets and someone is going to make sure all those secrets see the light of day. For fans of Big Little Lies