Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The New Home by Chris Merritt
Freya and her husband Jack move to a new town, closer to his work, he is a doctor. Freya is a writer. They are so excited about this new home, it's a fixer upper, but totally doable, they are excited to also start a family when the reno's are done, they have neighbors on both sides, Cathy, and older woman who appears to live on her own and Michael and Emily  and their daughter Thea. Freya and Emily become good friends. When Emily and Thea disappear, Freya doesn't understand why more people aren't looking for them, why doesn't Michael seem to care. She sets up a Facebook book in the hopes that someone will find them. Freya is so distraught that she starts to believe Michael killed his wife and daughter
This is a very good novel, well written, loved the twists and turns and not knowing who did what until the end. There were some parts that I felt repetitive or dragged on. I would recommend to friends

Freya and her husband, Jack, are excited to move into their new home. It needs a lot of DIY but Freya is convinced it will be perfect. When meeting her neighbour Emily and her young daughter Thea, they quickly become good friends, but finds Emily’s husband Michael very cold and abrupt. Four months later Emily and Thea are reported missing by Michael. Freya quickly suspects that Michael is behind their disappearance and becomes obsessed in trying to find out what happened on the night they disappeared. Freya starts to question whether Emily and Jack knew each other as Freya was convinced that they looked as though they recognised each other when they first met. As the police don’t seem interested in the case, Freya sets up a social media page to see if she can glean any information on Emily but will this put her own life in danger? This book was a good read, with well developed characters and,plenty of twists and turns.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Read this within 24 hours. Great read with classic who-done-it theme. Kept me on the edge of my seat till the end with unexpected turns along the way.

This is the first book I read from this author and it really kept me hooked to the pages until the end. I would recommend it for thriller lovers.

This was a gripping thriller about newly engaged Jack and Freya, who move into a doer- upper, with great renovation plans. As Freya develops a friendship with Emily next door, the plot grows more sinister as it appears both Jack and Emily have secrets in their past. We're left guessing about the connections until the end, although parts of the denouement do seem a little far-fetched and we're left with an unanswered question about Jack.

*
I would give this less than 1 star if I could. I can’t believe this was written by the same author who gave me books I really enjoyed.

Terrible characters, entirely predictable and just sloppy.

I knew from the moment Freya got a therapist that he was Emily’s therapist, was the secondary creepy narrative, and had something to do with her disappearance. Then I had to sit through he entire story of Freya becoming unstable, accusing Emily’s husband of murdering her, hating him and never once looking at anything for a perspective where Michael was a grieving husband, doing incredibly dumb thing (breaking into people homes, stabbing people) with zero consequence,just to confirm that the therapist made Emily run away so he wouldn’t ruin her life. Also the addition that Michael was not Emily’s child’s father, and that she trapped him was completely stupid and unnecessary, it made Emily into a terrible character as well. Terrible characters, lazy writing.

Freya and her fiancé Jack have just moved into their new home – a dilapidated doer-upper in a quiet suburban street. Freya is excited for all the things she has imaged in the future, and even more so when she meets her beautiful neighbour Emily – the perfect best friend. But then one day her and her daughter go missing. Freya is suspicious and it set on believing that Michael, Freya’s husband had something to do with it. Yet, to her disbelief, the police don’t seem to be taking it very seriously or doing anything about it. So she decides the best thing to do it investigate herself…..but what will she find out and will she be putting herself in danger?

This definitely draws you in, keeps you turning the pages and keeps you guessing! There are so many bits throughout the book that get you thinking – some are relevant, some aren’t so you never know what’s true and what might happen next! The twists and turns will shock you and you won’t want to put it down!

Freya is an interesting character with a overactive imagination! At times she left me exasperated, but others she had me completely sucked into her way of thinking! Her search for Emily and her daughter will keep you intrigued and the suspense will drive you insane! The chapters that are from an unknown person will keep you guessing all the way through; this is definitely one of those books where you think you’ve cracked it and then couldn’t be more wrong!

The writing style is enjoyable and easy to read and follow. The storyline covers quite a few sensitive, important subjects such as mental health and miscarriage which add a level to the story. Having not read anything from Chris before I didn’t know what to expect, but what I got was a throughly enjoyable, gripping, twisty and suspenseful read. I’m looking froward to reading more from him!

I really enjoyed this book although was quite shocked by the ending and this really did not go the way I thought it would go. It’s an interesting story and I loved the development of Freya and loved her as a character.

A great book
Had me hooked from the start
A great twist at the end
Can’t wait for the next book
Thanks NetGalley

Title: The New Home
Author: Chris Merritt
Published: September 7, 2021
Psychological Trigger

Review:
Triggers: Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Miscarriage

A psychological thriller this novel revolves around Freya who has moved into their new home with her fiance a cardiologist to Surrey. She makes friends with Emily who suddenly vanishes with her daughter and Freya thinks that the police aren't doing much to locate or investigate her disappearance. She takes it upon herself to start investigating on her own and how/what she finds makes up this whole novel.
I didn't like this novel much though I did read the whole book. I deal with panic and anxiety attacks myself and didn't like the way Freya's mental illness issues were handled. Why is it that women sitting drinking wine and cooking up crazy theories in their mind a norm these days? Freya is a documentary maker and portraying her as this living in the head person doesn't make any sense. The issues raised in the book like trauma after miscarriage, abuse are really important and I just wish the author would have done justice to them. The ending though not farfetched seems too tidy at the end and a little hard to believe. I am giving it a 2.5 stars rounding it to 3.

What a fantastic read this is! Such a gripping thriller.

The author is really clever with this book as I didn’t guess where this was going at all.

Freya is in awe of her new neighbour, Emily when they first meet. She is everything she aspires to be. They become good friends before Emily suddenly disappears.

What Freya believed about her and Emily’s life is called in question, as everyone seems to have secrets. Or is Freya overreacting.

Brilliantly written and plotted, I read it in one sitting. Some many issues are dealt with whilst the tension gets ramped up throughout.

Highly recommended.

This story had a really engaging premise, unfortunately I just couldn’t get into it. Freya and her husband move into a new home where she befriends her neighbor Emily and Emily’s five year old daughter. After about four months, Emily and her daughter disappear. Freya jumps in with both feet looking into Emily’s disappearance and has decided the husband did it. This is where I started to have issues with Freya’s character. She is extremely noisy and crosses too many boundaries in my opinion. It made me too uncomfortable to really enjoy the story, although i know others who thoroughly enjoyed Freya's adventure.

Fantastic read, throughly enjoyed. First one from this author and won’t be the last. Thankyou for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars

Fans of a good psychological and/or domestic thriller will enjoy this book! A New Home centers on Freya and Emily, neighbors turned best friends. Freya loves her new house and street, and feels so lucky to have found the ideal best friend in Emily. One evening, something happens that makes Freya believe Emily may be hiding something...and then Emily and her daughter disappear. There were lots of twists throughout the story and while I was able to predict a few, there were definitely some surprises!

**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review**

📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚

The New Home By Chris Merritt - Publication Date 7th September - Bookouture

Freya & Jack have bought their first family house together. It need a lot of work done but they can wait!
They meet their neighbours, one side a couple with a young daughter. Freya and Emma become friends but one day, Emma and her daughter just disappear!! Freya seems to be the only person who cares about finding them!!

I enjoyed this...... kept me guessing, which is what I love. I hate when I guess correct 🤣!! I really like Freya as a character. She had a lot going on and also trying to cope with the new house as well. Jack starting work as a consultant meant he wasn’t home a lot. I found myself sympathetic towards her and the. Thinking ‘nooooo don’t do that Freya!

Great read!

Thanks #netgalley #bookouture #chrismerritt #thenewhome

https://www.instagram.com/Bookstagramshaz

This book really kept me on the edge of my seat! Unreliable narrator, secondary POV from mystery person, and so. many. jump. scares.

Freya and her husband Jack move into an old fixer upper and Freya quickly befriends her neighbor, Emily. But what Emily suddenly goes missing with her daughter, Freya is left to question anyone and everyone, including her own husband...

I would recommend for fans of The Woman in The Window.

Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this e-book in exchange for an honest review 📖

"Freya loves her new home on a quiet suburban street" Sounds like a great start to a Nicholas Sparks book, right? Oh you'd be so wrong. The New Home is full of shocking twists, dark secrets and terrifying truths that must come out, right? Right???

This book had me from page one, I could not turn the pages fast enough! A well thought out plot with complex and developed characters. A fast paced thriller with plenty of mystery, suspense, twists and turns.

A compelling good read that keeps you invested from start to finish. I would definitely recommend it.

This was a decent book. However I didn't really warm to the characters. Enjoyable read. Some of the story was a little bit crazy in places. Overall I did enjoy it from start to finish

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me an Arc in exchange for an honest review

Jack and his fiancee, Freya have moved to Sunningdale Road to Weybridge, a London suburb. They move to a house, which should have been wonderful. A new home also brings new neighbours to get to know. These are Emily and Michael and their daughter Thea. There is also Cathy to meet, along the way. Things seem like they could be okay, even though Emily and Michael's relationship have strains within it due to bereavement of a miscarriage, which Emily are trying to talk through with therapist, Laurence.
There is also control within relationships and delusion that are some of the other meaty themes dealt with in the threads of the book.

 Emily and Thea go missing and the search, reported on the news, is on. As time goes on, the mystery to the disappearance of them deepens, and also feels more sinister and at times, spine-tinglingly so. The quiet intensity also builds, that wraps around this psychological thriller that keeps you guessing to the end and leave you thinking about it for a while after, since what seems like a nice neighbourhood has darkness within it.

On another note, this book may be also good for book clubs as it holds plenty to discuss within the themes raised and character behaviours.

Read to the very end and find an author's note about the themes dealt with in this book and holds an important message for readers.

This is the author's first standalone novel. He is known more for writing series and it absolutely does not disappoint!