The story follows young couple Nina Davenport and her boyfriend Zac Ainsworth and begins as they move into (beautifully named) 15a Mistletoe Lane.

It is Nina who has pushed for the move and Zac goes willingly but it always felt like he was only ever 75% as keen. For me, this added a little sprinkling of unease from the start.

This flat with a garden is just perfect as the two are self employed, Zac is a self-employed plumber and heating engineer, and Nina has created an online fashion store which she brands as 'Mistletoe Lane'.

There are some weird family dynamics at play (aren't there always!) and Nina's sister in law runs a high street fashion boutique which seems to be the root of ongoing tensions.

When Zac and Nina meet their neighbours, 'The Couple Upstairs' they seem to be potential new friends... Chris is outgoing and charming and and although Vanessa is quiet she gifts them a handmade cake.

Nina has almost immediate doubts about Vanessa and Chris and an impromptu dinner party does little to allay her concerns - despite Vanessa's assurances that her pregnancy is making her feel unwell, Nina has doubts that Chris is as nice as he seems.

The book promises to share a tale of a sweet and idyllic life for the central characters who appear to have it all - Nina has found an investor to help her get the business up and running and they live in a beautiful home near the sea.

It doesn't take long however for a creeping feeling of uncertainty and an air of unease to waft from the the pages and seemingly inconsequential little 'issues' start to build up and take over Nina's life.

I really enjoyed the way the drama built in innocuous waves as the story progressed and the climactic elements had added atmospheric triggers.

For me this was pure entertainment with an edge of peril and I greatly enjoyed it - towards the end of the book as the edges unravel around Zac and Nina you will need to brace yourself for a fast paced rocky ride! You were warned...

What will happen when you move into your dream house and instead ends up having a series of problems and troubles???

That's what's happening in this book.

Nina and Zac move into their new dream house and were greeted by a couple, Vanessa and Chris who live upstairs on the same house. As soon as they moved in, both Nina and Zac had bouts of food poisoning which signals a bad omen as many pointed out. As it turned out, it sort of did--Nina's business turned downhill with people commenting and rating her business as one star, her products seemed to be awful on the night of the event, a power cut ruins her event. And someone was trying to break her relationship with Zac by saying that Nina was cheating behind Zac's back. Is someone trying to sabotage Nina's career and life? And why?

I must say, I was literally hooked into the story. Suspense was definitely there and though not much twists and turns, the book was fast paced as something on the other is happening to Nina, threatening to ruin her. Shalini Boland has done a good job drawing the reader into the story. The ending was a bit odd and I felt rushed and I kind of expected who the person might be who would ruin Nina's life. Overall, I would say it was a gripping thriller that will keep you up all night and quiet unputdownable too!

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

I really enjoyed Shalini Boland's 'The Couple Upstairs'.
I found the writing style was once again what I really loved when I first started out reading Shalini's books, it had a solid storyline that I could keep going back to, it had me guessing, and it made me want to read on.
It was quite fast paced, I read it whenever I could get a spare 10 minutes in.
I'm pleased that this storyline has made me want to read thrillers by Shalini again, after failing to get into the last 2 by the author.
Would recommend!

A new author for me and I really enjoyed this book, hooked from the first page it was a well written storyline made more intriguing by the flashbacks and some of the characters were not very likeable but that all added to the mystery. A good solid psychological thriller I would recommend. I will look to read more by this author.

Another fantastic read by Shalini Boland that kept me on the edge of my seat! Zac Ainsworth and his live-in girlfriend Nina Davenport move into a duplex on Mistletoe Lane to begin a new chapter in their life. Zac is a plumber and Nina is in the process of getting her mail order clothing store going. The couple in the upstairs flat, Chris and Vanessa Jackson are strange from the beginning. Strange things start happening from the beginning and keep on until the end of the book. I really enjoyed this book but I found most of the characters to be very unlikeable, which I like!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this very intriguing story.

The Couple Upstairs by Shalini Bolden is another hit by this amazing author. Nina and Zac have just moved into their beautiful new flat that is shared by another couple who has the upstairs flat. Nina is living her dream as she has also just started her own clothing business. Everything in Ninas idyllic world is starting to fall apart and she starts to question everything. Is going crazy? If someone trying to destroy her? Read this book to find out, you won’t be disappointed.

this author always keeps her readers gripped to her books and this one is so twisted .Nina has found her dream home and she has persuade her partner Zac its for them so they put full offer in and its there s 15 a Mistletoe lane a lovely spacious flat and the out building will be for her business that she has started up with a backing partner selling vintage clothes . the day has come to move in Nina is so excited then there above neighbors Chris and Vanessa Jackson they bring wine and homemade chocolate cake . they enjoy the cake but later both feel unwell but a stomach bug going around puts them behind on unpacking they meet all the neighbor s and get on well . but then things start to go out of control for Nina and Zac starts to pull away from her i so so recommend so dam utterly nasty and twisted

Zac and Nina have just bought their first home together – a downstairs flat on Mistletoe Lane. Things don’t exactly get off to a good start when they get food poisoning after the titular couple upstairs brings them a cake to welcome them to the neighborhood. Before long, other unpleasant things start happening, turning Zac and Nina’s dream home into more of a nightmare. Is Nina just unlucky? Paranoid? Or are her new neighbors out to get her?

Shalini Boland is a talented writer, ratcheting up a sense of dread and foreboding as things go from bad to worse in Nina’s personal and professional life. I really enjoyed this compellingly creepy read!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Readers will love Zac and Nina! I felt an instant bond with them and rooted for them and their success throughout their journey together in a new flat and new life adventures.

But like Nina, I also felt very suspicious of the neighbors upstairs! From the moment they introduced themselves to Vanessa and Chris… something just didn’t seem right.

In perfect Shalini Boland style, she made me question who to side with. Was Nina really off her rocker? Was Chris really an insensitive, overly suspicious boyfriend who favors his friends over Nina? Was Chris really an abusive woman hater with an agenda? Was Vanessa really a meek, soft spoken “afraid-of-her-own-shadow” neighbor to be worried about? Who are these neighbors who all seemingly have their own agendas? Oh let’s not forget about the flawed family members who also make you question everyone! Of course everyone has their secrets!

I loved the voice of the past that Shalini threw in every few chapters to keep you guessing about how the past and present are connected.

Another fabulous domestic thriller to add to your shelves by Shalini Boland! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I did struggle with this book, it was okay and worth a read but not fantastic. I cant really explain why I struggled as they are plot spoilers.

Loved the epilogue.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

The Couple upstairs follows the story of Nina and Zac as they move into their new apartment and settle in. The book starts off strongly with a mishap with the neighbors and their story unravels from there.
I felt that the character development was strong, however Nina’s business story dragged at times.
At the point where she starts fighting with Zac is when it gets interesting and the reveal of the person who was sabotaging her relationships is enough of a surprise. I feel like her friends and Zac’s were a bit difficult to remember as we had already met so many neighbors.
The ending was good, and is a sobering reminder of the toxicity of envy.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Expected release date September 13,2021

I’m a fan of Shalini Boland books and this did not disappoint.
Nina and Zac are a loved up couple moving into their first home purchased together. Zac is self employed and Nina is starting her own fashion business. When they meet Vanessa and Chris, their upstairs neighbours, Nina feels there is something wrong. What follows appears to be a slow disintegration of Nina’s life and relationship but why would anyone have a grudge against her?
The story is interspersed with a first person story of a child struggling to fit in at school and find friends. It’s only later that the writer reveals how this person links into the present story.
I liked the characters and how the story took you on a journey where even the reader isn’t quite sure what was going on. Great conclusion and we’ll worth reading.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#TheCoupleUpstairs #NetGalley

I am a fan of Ms. Boland and have read several of her books. She can really write a domestic thriller!
Nina and Zac have just bought the downstairs flat of a two-flat house. The couple upstairs are Chris and (the very pregnant) Vanessa. No spoilers. Recommended!

The Couple Upstairs is yet another fabulous book by Shalini Boland. For me her books, her way of writing, have managed to fill in the void left behind by Mary Higgins Clark.

When Nina and Zac move into their own Flat, things start going downhill for the couple. What was to be a move to get them closer and help Nina kickstart her business, things soon unravel in their relationship.

The Couple upstairs, Vanessa and Chris, seem to be constantly fighting and Chris is a bully who keeps his pregnant wife Vanessa constantly away from everyone. As Nina tries to get her life and business back on track, there is someone from the paat who doesn't want Nina to succeed at any cost. Creepy in parts but rather suspenseful, a real page turner that got me out of my reading slump

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC

Zac and Nina move to a flat in Mistletoe Lane where they meet their neighbours who are perhaps not as welcoming as they might be. The neighbours, Chris and Vanessa give them a chocolate cake which soon has them throwing up at the side of the road. They put it down to a bug however. Nina is soon very wary of Chris but unfortunately he befriends Zac and before long is whispering poisonous things about Nina into his ear. As well as coping with Zac growing away from her, Nina's business starts going south. Poor reviews appear online and her best selling item has been dusted with itching powder. There's only one possible suspect but Nina perhaps still unwell from her bout of vomiting doesn't seem able to join the dots.

I'm afraid I didn't enjoy this book. The characters were one dimensional, the premise unbelievable and the twist unsurprising. It contains one of my pet hates, chapters written in italics by a character detailing their unhappy past which 'explains' their current actions. Please spare me from this. It's becoming more common in books and I can't be the only person who finds it much more intrusive than a simple chapter heading of 'now' and 'then'. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Zac and Nina move in to an idyllic house on Mistletoe Lane. Happy , they are, but there's something not quite right about Chris and Vamessa who live upstairs.
Nina has concerns about Vanessa after hearing regular banging and shouting particularly from Chris upstairs and is intent on befriending Vanessa and giving her someone to confide in.
The move to Mistletoe Lane doesn't run smoothly.and it soon becomes apparent that someone is willing to do anything to ruin things for Zac and Nina, both personally and professionally.
The story runs very smoothly and is very enjoyable. There are occasional chapters focused on one of the characters past and this builds up to a brilliant twist. . I'm happy to say I didn't work out who this was until very late on in the book.
I am a big fan of this author. I find her books are interesting, the plots are not too complicated and the ends are always nicely tied up.
Thanks for the opportunity to read an early copy of this fab book.

I can't thank Bookouture, NG and Author enough for this new Boland read!.

Quick paced and what a physiological thrillers this was. So many twists it has your head reeling.
Couldn't put this one down until I knew all that was going to happen.
Another top notch book from this author.! Just love her books!

This book by Shalini only took a few pages until I was quickly entranced in the story. She has this captivating, intriguing way as she tells her stories with plenty of twists and turns along the way to keep a reader guessing. And of course you never discover that last little twist until it’s all over!
This to me is a slow burn but an amazing one at that!

Again I can't thank y'all enough for the amazing opportunity to read and review this amazing novel!
I will post to all my platforms closer to pub date!

The Couple Upstairs
By Shalini Boland
⭐⭐⭐⭐

A page turning psychological thriller with a nice twist. It's kinda predictable because it keeps going back and fourth between now and then and as you read you can understand that it's talking about the past of one of them and you can predict the ending. But it was still a very good read and there was a few little twists that I didn't see coming and the way that it was written was very engaging. The fact that someone upstairs was watching Nina was creepy. I enjoyed this book. I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Couple Upstairs is a fun and quick psychological thriller perfect for a rainy day. I really liked the characters and the pacing of the novel. The flashbacks kept me guessing throughout the entire story. Although the characters made some questionable decisions, the final twist was well done. Definitely worth a read! Thank you Net Galley for an ARC!

Shalini never disappoints me with her books, I have read them all and this was just thrilling, so well written, full of twists and turns and I was gripped from the very first page, just brilliantly addictive.

All the characters were interesting and well developed with quite a few eye opening moments which made me gasp.

I can thoroughly recommend this book and thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this fantastic book.