Overall
The Mother Next Door is a great Halloween thriller that brings a perfectly picturesque and eerie neighborhood, and secrets galore. It’s all about Halloween, past and present, and how the past, present, and future collide. While I found it to be a bit predictable and the characterizations lackluster, I adored Ivy Woods and enjoyed the slow peeling back to expose the various secrets of many of the characters. I really liked that The Mother Next Door focuses on a group of mothers who seem to rule Ivy Woods, and just how exclusive the group really is. Overall, this is a fun thriller perfect for Halloween.

Extended Thoughts
Years ago, Theresa was a college student on the periphery of Ivy Woods, a highly desirable street to live on. Now, she’s the wife of the high school’s new principal and the mother of a high school freshman. Now, she’s desperate to fit in, to be noticed by the Ivy Five, which has really been four for years, but she’s perfect for the last spot.

The Ivy Five is a group of four mothers led by Kendra, the one who has it all together and plans the most amazing Halloween party ever every year. They’re an exclusive group bound by motherhood and secrets, the kind of group you want to join. But, this Halloween, secrets are about to be unraveled, the past is about to come back, and Theresa might not be an entirely new and innocent face on Ivy Woods.

The Mother Next Door is a fun, eerie Halloween thriller. Set during the month of October, both in the present day and some years in the past, everything in and around Ivy Woods is centered around the incredible Halloween street party the Ivy Five plans and hosts every year. It’s the place to be, the thing to take part in. But something terrible happened years ago, an accident or a murder, who knows, but the legend of the Ghost Girl lives on, and someone has an idea of what might have actually happened.

As a thriller set during the Halloween season, I was a little hesitant to pick up this one, but I’m really loving books about moms and motherhood, so I decided to close one eye and jump. Ultimately, there’s a real creepy vibe throughout the book, one that might just make you think someone’s peeking in on you, but it was also a bit predictable to me.

Ivy Woods felt like the quintessential autumnal street. A cul-de-sac bordered by woods where there’s a creepy bridge and the story of a girl who died after being jilted, I could practically hear the dry leaves skittering around and wanted nothing more than to pull my sweater tighter around me. The autumn vibes were amazing and really made me believe I was there. The descriptions were spot on and kept me immersed in this little street. It also expanded to the high school and a university, but neither felt particularly fleshed out. Everything went into Ivy Woods, which was fun, but made the outside world a bit dull.

The story, too, was just a little too predictable to me. I felt the one behind it all was a little too obvious, even though a few small paths opened up and made wonder a little. Still, it was fun to find out more of their motivations and their story. Overall, there was a nice unfolding of the story, like pulling back layer after layer. I did feel it took a little too long and sometimes the story got a little hung up on some details, repeating them to keep the story going a little longer, but it was kind of fun to shuffle along and find out the big picture little by little. Even if it was a little predictable. And even though I felt like all the characters were forever hung up on another one to the point where it was boring and repetitive and I just wanted someone to jump out and say, “Boo!”

The Mother Next Door follows three people: Theresa, Kendra, and an unknown third who is telling about a Halloween. I enjoyed all three of them, but, between them and the rest of the Ivy Five, there didn’t seem to be a whole lot of personality going on. One of the Ivy Five was a Southern sweetheart who only seemed to exist in one way and the other two were continually getting scrambled in my head. Since Kendra is really the only one of the original Ivy Five who gets to tell her story, it was easier to get to know her, but she’s so polished and put together that I felt like everything she gave was just a front. Theresa was fun as the outsider trying so hard, but she also lacked personality. It was hard to tell what was her and what was her trying to be one of the Ivy Five. It didn’t help she had so many secrets of her own that she took pains to hide from the reader, so it was really difficult to get to know her, too. The only truly interesting perspective was the unknown third narrator’s. For a while, I couldn’t quite tell if it was set in the future or the past, but it slowly came to light in a most chilling way. Even though I had no clue whose story it was, the whole thing gave me the shivers. It was dripping with hate and derision and said so much about the person behind it. I couldn’t quite tell if it was fictionalized or factual, which made me all the more desperate to find out what really happened.

Overall, though, the characters were lackluster. They never seemed to changed, never showed any growth. Most of the minor characters felt like cut outs. All the men behaved the same way, the children were just kind of wild, and even Theresa’s husband seemed perpetually in a good, clueless mood. Some felt a little too off-hand about things and some refused to take accountability for their actions. It was sometimes annoying and baffling at how they managed to get so far.

Ultimately, even though the characters lacked personality and the story was predictable, the peeling back of layers and secrets and watching the past and present collide really was worth it. I loved the Halloween vibes The Mother Next Door provided, and I’ll be looking at mother groups with a different eye. It was so much fun to read about all their secrets and the way they impacted their lives and decisions.

Thank you to Justine Sha for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book wasn't what I was expecting, at all, but I really enjoyed it. Throw a Halloween party into some neighborhood drama and I am sold! I especially liked the author's writing style, so I will look for future books by her. Great read for Spooky Season.

I am a sucker for a good little neighborhood conspiracy, especially when it involves murder, cast out friends, affairs, and so much more. I especially love when these things are happening during the spooky time of year, and especially when I'm getting more than one point of view.

Sounds like all the makings for a really great novel, right?

Here's the thing - this novel is listed as a thriller. But it takes a lot to thrill me. Maybe drama is a better word for it, and even then, the characters felt ever so slightly one dimensional to me. I wanted to know the whys and the whats, but I didn't really get those.

I will say this bit of mystery involved in this novel was fun, and I loved the idea of a block party Halloween gettogether. Despite its shortcomings, this book kept me entertained, which is pretty much the point of reading, right?

Is it the best novel I've ever read? No. But was it a perfectly decent read with a fun ending? Absolutely!

I'm a sucker for a cul-de-sac mystery! This one really had it all--big Halloween event, paternity surprises, reporters, alpha moms. My minor quibble is that I didn't think we needed the "lurking in the bushes" sections. While there was a culminating event, I didn't feel like they added much. I get it, you're a creepster watching soccer moms.

I also felt like the book was paced a little oddly, it kept hinting at bigger reveals that turned out not to be much of anything--whoa, the main character went to college nearby. Obviously she was the babysitter the woman was worried about, we knew she had an affair. Some of the details were new but it wasn't as surprising as they were set up to be. I did enjoy the urban legion aspect (although it seemed like quick turn around for a legion to develop when some of the high school aged kids were pre-school aged when the event occurred) and the asides. I did find the timeline a little confusing, the Ivy Four were so obsessed with the previous tenant but it didn't even seem like she lived there that long or even possibly that recently?

All in all, I enjoyed the characters and the set up but the details were a little hazy for me.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC copy of The Mother Next Door!

This was a great book to read at Halloween time, as the story unravels leading up to the neighborhood Halloween party hosted by the Ivy Five. I absolutely love domestic thrillers that take place in seemingly-perfect neighborhoods where everyone has a secret.

Multiple POVs, short chapters and an unknown "bad guy" narrating some, I was constantly kept on my toes and there were twists that I absolutely didn't see coming! Very well done Tara Laskowski. I look forward to reading more from this author. Creepy, highly entertaining and filled with juicy drama, lies and secrets - be sure to pick this one up if you're looking for a fall or Halloween thriller. 🎃💀👻🔪

This book was delicious and reminded me of Desperate Housewives, with all the catty and gossipy women in a close knit neighborhood. I kept flipping the pages eagerly wanting to know the ending.

The annual Halloween block party in Ivy Woods Drive is the highlight of the year! It is always headed up by the Ive Five, even though they have been four for quite some time now. When a new mother moves into the neighborhood, the women have their sights on her to complete their group. However when secrets start to come out leading up to the party and the women begin getting anonymous messages, they wonder who they can trust. Then a huge secret is revealed and twist after twist come out and you realize you have no idea if anyone is who they really say they are.

This was a perfect book for my spooky October reads. Based around Halloween, with some falls festivities. I enjoyed this book, it wasn’t too deep, and the characters were so awful sometimes. But I do think that is the point! It had some vibes of Big, Little, Lies, which I did love! Overall, I think it was a great seasonal read!

I love a good seasonal read! This title came out just at the right time -- the best prep for the spooky season. The Mother Next Door takes place during the month leading up to Halloween, with the large Halloween block party bash the culminating event. The petty mothers with frenemy relationships and dark pits full of secrets will keep readers turning pages and wondering just what everyone is hiding. I do wish there was a bit more suspense with the first half of the plot, but Laskowski makes up for it as the book continues and more twisted secrets are revealed. Great for getting in the Halloween mood!

The Mother Next Door is the latest thriller that I dove into, written by Tara Laskowski. If you're looking for a novel to keep you busy on a fine fall evening, this one might be worth checking out – especially if you're looking for some thrills and chills.

With Halloween right around the corner, one neighborhood is going all out in preparations. Or, more accurately, four influential moms are pushing the rest of the neighborhood to do so. This group of moms is known as the Ivy Five, and they have been missing a fifth member for far too long.

Until now. Only will the Ivy Five get what they want? Or will their dark secrets be put out on display, alongside all of the Halloween decor and party prep? Either way, one this is certain: the Ivy Five is going to change after this Halloween.

"Ladies and gentlemen, skulls and boys: by the time our Halloween block party is over tonight, one of us will be dead..."

Who doesn't love a good, seasonally appropriate read? Personally, once the leaves start changing colors, I can't get enough spook in my life. I want to read it all, from thrillers to horror and everything in between. So when I saw that The Mother Next Door was set during Halloween, I just knew I had to read it.

If you love a book with secrets on top of secrets, you'll probably enjoy The Mother Next Door. There is so much to unravel as far as that is concerned! It took me a while to finally sort out all of the secrets, which allowed me to guess who the killer was.

Unfortunately, I'll confess that I didn't really care for any of the characters in this book. Arguably, that was the point. I never expected to like them, even from the description. But I'll admit that it made it harder to care about the situations they were in. Or even to care about their secrets, to a certain extent.

Overall, I would say that The Mother Next Door is a perfect book for a quick autumn read. It'll keep you captivated for a night but won't distract you from all of the festivities happening around you.

The Mother Next Door is a suburban neighborhood thriller involving a group of mpothers who harbor a secret. Theresa is the new mom on the street and the moms want her on their side. She is the new principal's wife after all. As Theresa settles in, she realizes she will do whatever it takes to be a part of the "in crowd".

I actually ended up really enjoying this one. There were several times that I was surprised or I thought I had it figured out, but ended up being wrong. It's full of twists and turns. The story is told through alternating perspectives of Theresa, Kendra and "Ghost Girl". I did guess the identity of Ghost girl pretty early on, but that is only one of the surprises. While none of the characters were very likable, I found I didn't mind so much. The mystery had me sucked in enough to let that go. As a former PTA member, I will say that I am thankful I wasn't part of a group of women like the ones in this book. I definitely recommend this, it's dark and twisty and one worth trying out.

This book was all the things i like. Rich people having secrets, mothers doing crazy thing. Just to name some things. I loved the start of this book and was completely engrossed during the whole book. I don’t think their was one character that i didn’t like, which a lot of the time is really rare in most books. I will definitely read more from this author in the future.

Desperate Housewives meets Big Little Lies in Ivy Woods, an exclusive cul-de-sac where the Ivy Five reign supreme… especially around Halloween, which is the event of the year in Ivy Woods. Newcomer Theresa is eager to fit in, hopeful of being accepted by the Ivy Five… even if she is utterly confused by the fact that there seem to be only four of them. There’s some secret regarding the absent fifth, and nobody seems to want to talk about it. Theresa’s got her own secrets, though, and she doesn’t dare probe too deeply, or queen bee Kendra will cut her dead. Possibly literally…

Told in alternating POV chapters from Theresa and Kendra, with a third intermittent point of view from the antagonist who wants to see the Ivy Five brought low, this takes a while to get going. The secret the Ivy Hive are protecting is fifteen years old, and it takes a long time for it to be revealed that there’s a dead body in their wake, and then even longer to reveal the victim’s connection to Theresa.

I suspected fairly early on who the antagonist would turn out to be, though I didn’t understand all the connections until late on; it’s a pretty complicated tangled web of illicit affairs and uncertain parentage. I felt a little let down by Theresa who seemed to be building herself up as someone with Deep Dark Secrets in her past, all of which were very much the kind of things thousands of other people have in their pasts. Kendra was a lot more interesting, and I wanted more of the backstory which led her to act in the way she did; that felt skimped on. We were only told about her reactions and a very brief glimpse of her feelings, but there must have been more that led up to the tragedy and I felt like we missed out on that.

An intriguing read, but it is slow to start and then rushed over some of the parts I was most interested in. I’ll give it four stars.

***I received an ebook copy from the publisher at no cost***

I'm gravitating between 3.5-4 stars on this one. 

I was pretty pumped to read this after I checked out the blurb. The book itself flowed well and is written in such a way that it's quick and simple to read. It was easy to follow what was going on, and I liked that the story was told from different POVs. The characters wee fun, though I would have liked to see a bit more development with them, especially Theresa, since she really felt like the main character to me.

Laskowski did an awesome job constructing the Ivy Woods neighborhood and the Ivy Five. It was easy for me to picture them while I was reading and each one just sort of fell into her place in the scheme of things. These five are at the top of the social ladder when it comes to the neighborhood, with their hands in everything and their noses in everybody's business. 

There were a few twists that surprised me along the way with this, especially as I got to the end. I wasn't expecting things to go the way they did in the last 25% of the book, but I found myself happy with how things ended and the drama seemed fitting when it came to the characters. 

Overall, I enjoyed this story and it was an easy read. 

Four stars to this novel!

The Mother Next Door by Tara Laskowski keeps me guessing until the end. I do not see the twist until it arrives, and then it makes perfect sense. The ending, though disturbing and "wrong" on so many levels, also makes sense. What makes this book is the ordinary suburban setting. The setup, the group, the situation, and the story rings true. As such, it reads more like drama than thriller but one that I eagerly follow along on until the last page.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2021/10/the-mother-next-door.html

Reviewed for NetGalley and the HTP book Fall 2021 Mystery & Thriller tour.

Theresa Pressley has just moved from Philadelphia to the Ivy Woods neighborhood, somewhere in suburban Virginia outside of Washington, D.C. Her husband, Adam Wallace, is the new principal at the local high school where their daughter also is attending. Their house is on Ivy Woods Lane in a coveted cul-de-sac, one where Theresa had always dreamed of living. It doesn’t take long for her to meet the women who are considered the “in crowd,” led by Kendra McCaul, the queen bee of the Ivy Five. But curiously there are only four and it feels like she’s being recruited to replace whoever used to be that fifth.

The story is told from the points of view of Theresa, Kendra and a third voice who isn’t revealed until late in the story. It didn’t take me long to question if my narrators were reliable. Kendra is famous for her annual big Halloween block party and everything is leading up to that event. You’re not sure what’s going to happen and that’s also part of the suspense build up. It’s clear early on that there’s more to Theresa than what you see on the surface and it’s a slow unraveling of her past that provides more insight into the dynamics of what’s to come. Kendra definitely has earned her position as leader of this suburban hive and she lives up to it in every moment. It’s also obvious that she and her posse are protecting a big secret.

There’s definitely a Big Little Lies vibe here but not quite as intricate. One event from the past is the driver of the story and it’s that unidentified narrator that provides the drama. I listened to the story and her cynicism and snark were pitch perfect, setting the right tone for this person. I was really happy that three separate narrators were used as it made it so much easier to identify who was speaking because of the many transitions. All delivered wonderful performances and made this story even better. I’d guessed a lot about Theresa and what happened in the past but there still were some interesting twists I didn’t foresee. I really enjoyed this creepy, meandering suburban drama that kept me guessing and trying to figure things out until the end. Perfect story for the Halloween season.

It’s October, which mean Halloween is almost here. The people living on Ivy Woods Drive love this time of year. They are in the midst of planning their annual Halloween block party. Leading the plans is a group of neighborhood mothers who call themselves the Ivy Five. However, they really are the Ivy Four since they’ve been down a member for a few years. Nobody talks about that.

When new neighbor, Theresa Pressley, moves into the area, she tries to fit in with the group. They are more than happy to welcome her in. Theresa is willing to do whatever the Ivy moms need her to do. Then, the group starts receiving anonymous threats to reveal their past. Theresa gets a few threats herself. Who could be out to destroy this group?

The story is told from two POVs - Theresa’s and Kendra (the head of the Ivy Five). Each woman of the group has their own secrets and they will go to great lengths to protect them. With each chapter, a new secret is revealed.

This book kept me in suspense from beginning to end. I love spooky books and what better time to read a Halloween-related book than October? It fits the mood to perfection. I had no idea who the good or bad guys were. I didn’t know who to be rooting for and I loved every minute of it. I do enjoy a book that keeps me guessing.

This would make a really good movie or TV series.




FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A perfect little tale for the Halloween season, the story takes us into the lives of a group of women who hold their secrets close to each other. When Theresa moves into the cul-de-sac with her newly hired principal husband, she wants to fit in with the Ivy Five. (Now four because of one mother leaving, big part of the story) She quickly becomes one of them and being one of them, has secrets of her own. While someone seems to be stalking them , things start to slowly unravel.

These women love Halloween! I would love to see a court filled with all the decorations that are described in the book.

As we hear the story in the voices of Theresa and Kendra (the queen bee), we are also given an insight into whoever is scaring the group. I have to say, I kind of figured that out early on but it didn't distract from my enjoyment of the story at all. And the ending, hmmmmmm.

You will definitely become involved in the story right away and wait in anticipation for the climax and ending. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thanks to Graydon House and Netgalley for a copy of this book.

This book is the perfect match for the Fall season and invoking Halloween vibes 🎃! It's the ideal story to read curled up in your favorite comfy chair on a cold fall day, in front of a warm fire while sipping on a pumpkin spice latte or mulled cider.

This book transported me to a suburban enclave near Washington DC called Ivy Woods Drive - where the Halloween party invitation is exclusive, the cocktails are strong, the costumes are vampy, the people are beautiful, and the secrets are everywhere.

The Mother Next Door's tone and characters remind me of Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, with friendships, secrets, and lies between mothers. The main character is Theresa, the newest mom on Ivy Woods Drive. She is the wife of the new high school principal, and their family just moved into their dream house on that exclusive street. Theresa is on the outside looking in, and longing to fit in with the tight-knit, haughty Ivy Woods moms. No matter how old you are - whether you are in grade school or college-age or middle-aged - most of us want to be liked and accepted. Theresa is no exception.

To add to the mystery, an unknown person is sending sinister messages to the Ivy Woods women saying they know what the moms did in the past, a la "I Know What You Did Last Summer". Totally creepy! I was dying to know who this was.

This book is about secrets, betrayal, acceptance, marriage, family, perceptions, and power. It's highly entertaining and a super fun read that is an ideal way to pass the time on a cold Fall day. It's a great combination of Big Little Lies, Desparate Housewives, and The Hunting Wives all wrapped up in one delicious story. It will definitely put you in the mood for Halloween!

TW//CW cheating, death, murder

Sometimes it’s good to keep a secret. I mean, you never know when you might need to wield it, right?

This book is a fun entertaining suspense read. It has Desperate Housewives vibe, so it's definitely my cup of tea.
Love everything about this book. The neighborhood, the woods and the lake with the old bridge bring all those eerie feelings and it happens on Halloween so yeah, it has the perfect setting.
The story is my favorite obviously, full of drama, lies, and secrets. Through out the book the author keeps me guessing back and forth between the suspects. Love the multi POV, knowing what happened in the past from different perspectives and knowing what's on their minds.
It might be a bit predictable but it doesn't take away all the fun, I enjoy every second of it.

Great entertaining suspense read, a perfect Halloween read, a highly recommended for anyone who's looking for a page-turner suspense read.

"Ivy Woods Drive is an idyllic place to live - and the moms keep it that way."

The Mother Next Door begins seven weeks before Halloween. Theresa, the wife of the new principal, is the new mom to the neighbourhood. They have a teen named Lily. Ivy Woods Drive is the perfect place to live. Safe, friendly, put-together, just a dozen miles from DC. The popular moms of the block, nicknamed the "Ivy Five" are planning another blockbuster Halloween party and have invited Theresa to became their new fifth member after the previous fifth member moved away. The story is told from Theresa and Kendra's perspective ("Queen Bee" of the Ivy Five). Theresa is curious about what happened to the previous member, Jackie.

Legend has it Ghost Girl was killed on the bridge in the woods. When the Ivy Five starts receiving threatening messages from Ghost Girl, Kendra takes action to protect their secrets.

Characters: 6
Kendra and Theresa are the main characters and they are well-developed with distinct goals, strengths, flaws, external and internal conflict. However, for some reason their voice sounded the same for me and the side character development is lacking.

Atmosphere: 6
Great setting descriptions and world-building, but a lack of mood and emotion.

Writing Style: 6
I like the writing style and will definitely read Laskowski again, however, there are repetitiveness and cliche aspects.

Plot: 6
beginning 5
middle 6
end 7
Definitely a page-turner for me.

Intrigue: 7
Didn't want to put it down!

Logic: 8

Enjoyment: 6
overall experience

Average 6.4

1.1-2.2 = ★
2.3-4.5 = ★★
4.6-6.9 = ★★★
7-8.9 = ★★★★
9-10 = ★★★★★

My Rating ★★★

Final Thoughts
• The Mother Next Door is the PERFECT read for the Halloween season. It's all about mothers, and the lengths they will go to protect their families. It's about secrets, friendship, and the masks we wear. Really fun read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

*Quotes taken from an ARC copy and subject to change*