Wow I love this author!

This is a great standalone psychological Thriller.

The writing is fast paced which sets up the suspense really well.

The characters are fleshed out really well. The atmosphere during the whole book is thrilling and exciting.

Highly recommend

The Couple Upstairs by Shalini Boland. Nina and her boyfriend Zac move into their dream home on Mistletoe Lane. It is a large house separated into two flats. While Nina and Chris live downstairs, there is a couple living upstairs Vanessa and her husband Chris. Nina tries everything in her power to be friendly towards the neighbours but they are blowing hot and cold and seem a bit strange. Nina also hears raised voices and furniture being moved around in the middle of the night!. Zac seems to think they are okay - he is out working all day while Nina works from home on her online fashion business.

Everything starts to go wrong for Nina to the point where her business and relationship are falling apart!

In true Shalini Boland style, the story picks up and the reader is taken on such a thrilling ride, always left wondering what is going to happen next! I really enjoyed this book but I felt a bit let down at the end. 3.5 stars rounded up to four.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. .

Nina and Zac move into a lovely two-flat and they have their entire future ahead of them. Their eagerness and excitement about the move soon begins to fade, especially for Nina as she quickly becomes concerned about the actions of her neighbors upstairs. The wife, Vanessa, is pregnant and more than a bit quiet, but Nina still holds out hope that they will become friends. However, Nina doesn't like the husband, Chris. Something about him rubs her the wrong way. What is more is that Nina often hears arguments, as well as furniture being tossed about at all hours. What is going on upstairs?

Meanwhile, Nina has a business that she is struggling to get off the ground. When she hosts a dinner for Vanessa and Chris that does not go well, she offers Vanessa a part-time job performing clerical duties. Nina hopes that by working together that Vanessa will be comfortable confiding in her. Nina knows things are not right upstairs and she hopes to do something about it.

Meanwhile, her business is hitting the wall. One neighbor complains about deliveries. Some customers are complaining. Other things go wrong. Nina's partner Zac is completely unconcerned. However, Nina starts to query as to all of these things happening at the same time and if there could be any possible connection.

As this is a psychological thriller, we can expect there to be at least one nefarious character. I was more than drawn into the story the more it progressed, and found myself quite surprised as to who that individual was. I loved being on the edge of my seat while struggling to work things out, especially as Nina's frustrations were so utterly palpable.

If you are looking for a thrilling story that will garner you attention from beginning to end, then this is the book for you. Shalini Boland never disappoints, and The Couple Upstairs most certainly proves that.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Another great thriller from Shalini! Her stories are always wonderfully fast-paced with a twist you can't see coming. This one deals with a couple who move into a new flat only to have strange goings on upstairs. Just when you think you can guess the twist, something new happens. Great read!

I am a long-time reader of this author and I have found her books to be fairly consistent. This one is no exception.
Nina and Zac are excited to have bought their first flat together, but quickly find out that homeowning bliss isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. You can get more details on the plot from the blurb.
I thought the author did a fine job of creating tension and directing suspicion. There were just enough secondary and tangential characters to keep the reader wondering who was responsible for what events.
It didn’t seem like Nina and Zac were a terrific match for each other, as even by Nina’s admission, they both had different interests and perspectives on their life paths. Even though this was by design to further Nina’s story, it made later events a little less realistic.
However, in thinking about it some more, maybe that was exactly the point. Nina was so wrapped up in trying to make her business work that she was blind to just about everything else. So, if Zac saw that, it would have been easier to believe what he was told about her.
How’s that for not giving away a plot point? 😊
I wasn’t sure what to make of Nina. She seemed flighty and spontaneous, but not necessarily in a good way. There were times that I felt that she was extremely self-centered (like when Zac came home, and she harangued him. That was annoying). I suppose this played into the plot since she had almost zero awareness and couldn’t see anything coming.
Nina’s business was also little bit of a puzzle to me. It seemed as if it was just picked out of thin air and that she didn’t have a lot of background to actually make it work. But again, that might have been by design, because her lack of knowledge would have contributed to the ease with which everything went wrong.
Speaking of things going wrong, I thought this is where the author excelled. The little things that Nina kept hearing and finding out about built the tension nicely, and (with her being distracted) played into the whole question of what was really going on. Each time she heard something or found something odd, the tension ratcheted up.
Interspersed among the chapters are flashbacks. But the reader doesn’t find out who those belong to until late in the book. And it’s as that is revealed that picture begins to clear up as to who is behind everything.
I did have a suspicion that turned out to be correct but there were several other revelations in the “big reveal” that I did not guess, so that was well done even as some of it seemed a bit too convenient. I think a bit more background on the motivations would have made all of the ending more plausible. But it all made sense and there were surprises.
This was a good book that I read in pretty much one sitting. I would recommend it for the way the tension builds and some twists you won’t see coming. 3.5 stars

Whilst the twist was predictable it was a fun easy to read thriller - very fast paced and easy to devour in one sitting.
4 stars.

Nina and Zac move into a downstairs flat. It is just what Nina wanted.
Their upstairs neighbors, Vanessa and Chris, seemed ok at first. Vanessa made them a chocolate cake to say hi. Was it a coincidence they became ill right after or is there something going around.
Nina has her own business and works from home and things are going great. Then all of a sudden things are not so great for her and her business isn't doing so well.
Vanessa is quiet and Nina can hardly get her out of her own apartment and when she does Vanessa is very quiet.
Chris on the other hand cant seem to mind his own business and rubs Nina the wrong way.
Slamming noises at night and fights during the day worries Nina, but Zac doesn't seem to believe her.
Shalini Boland one of those authors that I must read and this book is just as good as her other books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boookouture for th book to review.

Meet Zac Ainsworth and Nina Davenport who buy a beautiful flat; 15A Mistletoe Lane in Dorset. They soon catch the eye of the married couple who live upstairs from them in 15B- Vanessa and Chris Jackson who bring homemade chocolate cake and a bottle of wine. Pregnant Vanessa doesn't have much to say but Nina hopes they will become pals. Chris is standoffish and unresponsive to Nina, despite Nina always being friendly and welcoming, and what is the cause of the shouting and the strange noises that go on upstairs at night that create such concern for her?

This is my sixth novel penned by Shalini Boland and I enjoyed it as much as the others. The author wowed me with her engrossing writing and perfectly executed plot, and the characters were spot on in their respective roles - good or bad. I grappled to work out what was happening in this riveting, tense tale, enjoying every moment. This is one very happy reader and The Couple Upstairs is certainly worth picking up.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

I believe this is my 3rd novel from Shalini and with every new book I become a bigger fan. She has a way of drawing you in and not letting go.

That’s exactly what happened in “The Couple Upstairs”, from the first page to the last I was intrigued and without a doubt invested in the story of Nina and Zac and their new home. A home that someone is determined to get them out of. A home that has loads of history that the couple are unaware of. A drafty but cute home by the sea with a little garden shed perfect for Nina’s online clothing business.

It had the perfect mix of mystery, suspense and even thriller towards the end. I can honestly say, it was a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley and Shalini for the review copy! Giving this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and wishing you all would go purchase and read!

Wow, what a superbly written book with a storyline that makes you keep reading long into the night!
The characters and suspense is truly unbelievable, this book just keeps on giving!

Thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley and the very talented Shalini Boland, she sure knows how to write a thriller!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own,

Nina and her boyfriend, Zac, have purchased the downstairs flat of a house. It’s close to the beach and in the summer will be so nice. Right now, it’s a bit chilly and drafty.

Zac runs a plumbing and heating business and Nina owns an online fashion store called Mistletoe Lane named after the street they now live on. Nina will use the small outbuilding in their garden for her office.

Chris and Vanessa live in the upstairs flat of the house. Vanessa is 5 months pregnant and very quiet. Chris is boisterous and tends to rudely ignore Nina when she speaks to him. However, they welcome the newcomers with a bottle of wine and a chocolate cake that Vanessa has made. Unfortunately, Nina and Zac get violently sick after eating some of the cake. They’re certain that it has to be a stomach bug that’s going around and not the cake.

A few days later, Nina and Zac have a flat warming party for their neighbors and some of their friends. It’s quite successful and everyone seems to have a good time.

Nina becomes quite concerned when she often hears Chris yelling upstairs and lots of bumps. She’s afraid that he’s bullying Vanessa.

As more problems occur for both Nina and Zac, they wonder if their move to their dream flat was a good decision. In addition, their relationship is now in jeopardy. Can it be saved?

This is a good book that has a lot of angst and scary events. I thought that Nina really worked hard to achieve her goal, but Zac seemed so immature most of the time. Kicking him to the curb would have been a good solution. However, I didn’t see the surprise ending coming so that was a plus. Another good book from a great author.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Life for Nina & Zac is good. Zac enjoys being a self-employed plumber & Nina has started up her own clothing company. Thanks to an investor they have been able to buy the bottom flat in Mistletoe Lane where there is space for Nina's business. From the start though the neighbours upstairs are a bit of a concern. The sounds of loud arguments & furniture being shoved about is a concern, especially as pregnant Vanessa seems so cowed & Chris is very rude. However Nina is intent on this being a success even though things soon start to go wrong & continue to go from bad to worse! Interspersed with Nina & Zach's stories are short extracts of an unhappy teenager.

This was a tale that led you along, letting you think you had it sorted in your mind only to make you realise it might not be that simple! It was an enjoyable read. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Zac and Nina have just moved into their new home and it seems like their life is on the right track!

They live in a shared two level house with neighbors (another married couple) directly above them and are hopeful they can all be friends. But Nina finds the husband a bit too intimidating toward his wife, who seems introverted and almost too scared to speak.

It is not too long before it becomes clear Zac and Nina are not welcome in their new home, but why?

While I found The Couple Upstairs predictable, it certainly kept me up late, just wanting to read “one more chapter.” Definitely an easy, enjoyable read that could easily be finished in just a day or two!

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review!

I was so excited to get this book and it was fantastic. I really enjoyed it and it kept me entertained for hours! I loved it and highly recommend it.

Nina and her boyfriend Zac have moved into a new home together, by the sea. It is their perfect home and they think they will be really happy there. They are thrilled to share a home together and things start off great for them. But soon weird things start to happen to them and it seems that someone is trying to destroy their lives. Could their neighbours be doing something to them, or could it be someone else? This is a gripping, suspenseful read which will keep you reading on and on to find out what happens next!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this book sounded super interesting: a couple moves into a beautiful flat and soon finds out that something's going on with the neighbours. I thought that it would be extremely thrilling and scary but unfortunately it turned out to be pretty predictable. I still don't know if the main character was insufferable or just being gaslighted - I think the story would've benefitted from being told in 3rd person narration. At first I thought that he book would be too short to tell the whole story but it turned out to have so many unnecessary sentences and descriptions that provided absolutely nothing to the story. The last 40% was when I started to skim because I just couldn't care about those long descriptions of friends, buildings or page-long dialogues that could've been shortened to a sentence. There was way too many added characters that didn't add anything to the story with their presence. I didn't like the main plot twist but it might be a personal preference because I just can't stand twists like this. The reason behind it all was absolutely ridiculous and I guessed it before it was revealed (it never happens to me so I guess it means that it was very obvious). It's a quick read but I don't think it's worth your time if you're looking for a good thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this book.

Nina is excited to move into the new home she just purchased with her boyfriend, Zac. Having spent a lot of money on the house and with the start of her new clothing business, there is no room for failure. When they meet the married neighbors upstairs, Chris and pregnant Vanessa, she assumes a friendship will blossom with this other young couple.

But there's something about Chris that puts her off. He doesn't seem friendly towards her and she hears him screaming at Vanessa through the ceiling. Being concerned for Vanessa's safety and feeling the stress of succeeding with her new business, her relationship with Zac begins to suffer. They seem to argue more and have disagreements about Chris, who Zac has managed to form a good friendship with. Their relationship is suddenly tested when accusations are made that eventually ruins her business. Nina is left trying to figure out how their lives have been turned upside down and why she feels it has something to do with couple upstairs.

The cracks to their seemingly perfect relationship deepen as Chris and Vanessa infiltrate their life. So much was happening to Nina and I felt sorry for her, especially with the tension between her and Zac. I felt he could have really stepped up in a lot of scenarios to support her and be on her side and I didn't see much of that. Nina is strong and confident with her business but not with Zac, as she was always taking the blame for the arguments and chasing after him to grovel and apologize. I was guessing my way through everything and I found the book to be engaging and enjoyable. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

💭What I thought would happen:

I was expecting Woman in the Window, The Couple Next Door vibes. Didn’t disappoint

📖What actually happens:

Nina and Zac move into their dream home by the sea, on the quaintest road and neighbors appearing straight out of Pleasantville. Nina soon wonders if she committed an error, why does it seem as if she was giving off a bad vibe and receiving the same.

🗯Thoughts:

For the most part this was a quick read, but by the end I was rolling my eyes a little. The way everything ties together made me roll my eyes more than once.

I wanted to love this book more than I did but that being said I still very much enjoyed it! Just overall predictable and not a reread kind of thriller!

"A good neighbor is a priceless treasure." - Chinese Proverb

Home, it's where the heart is, right? How is where you are supposed to feel safe. It's a place to unwind, to reconnect, to entertain, and for some to work. But what happens when your home soon becomes none of those things????

15 Mistletoe Lane

Zac and Nina take the plunge and buy a beautiful flat. Zac would love to travel the world, but Nina wants a home, she runs an online clothing business and needs to have a home base to work. They find the perfect place and soon meet the couple upstairs, Vanessa and Chris. Nina doesn't quite get the warm and fuzzies from the couple. Nina hears things moving at all hours and hears the couple arguing. Heck, the other neighbors aren't too friendly either. But hey, their flat is amazing and they are happy.

From the title, I just knew there would be something about "The couple upstairs" but what???? This book is a fast read and follows the characters as the plot gets going and readers watch as things begin to fall apart and go from bad to worse.

This proved to be a fast paced, enjoyable book about couples, friends, and neighbors. I enjoyed watching as things unraveled and the book came to its thrilling conclusion. This was my first book by Shalini Boland, I know *gasp* but it won’t be my last. This was fun, entertaining, and kept me guessing!

If you are looking for a no nonsense read that is entertaining, well thought out and a quick read, this just may be the book for you!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Nina and Zac have just bought their first home, their dream home on Mistletoe Lane near the Bournemouth coast is a ground floor flat in a converted house. They are excited about it and Nina has even named her new fashion business after the street. Chris and Vanessa are the couple who live above them, pleasant at first but Nina is unsure of Chris, and concerned about Vanessa. When strange things start to happen Nina begins to think they've made a mistake moving there, is it all in her mind or is someone out to destroy them and the business?

The Couple Upstairs is told from Nina's perspective, with intermittent chapters in the past by an unknown person. It's a tense exhilarating read with short chapters that flow seamlessly throughout the book. The plot is well executed with characters that are, in the main, likeable, but I have to admit Chris gave me the creeps! This author creates fiction that reels you in from page one, keeps you hooked and then spits you out at the end, wondering just what the hell happened. She is one of a few authors whose books I will read without even looking at the blurb, because I just know it's going to be a great read, this one was no exception, I devoured it in less than 48 hours, and the final twist was superb. I've awarded this book 5 stars, not only because it's a great read, but also because it recovered my reading mojo, which has been missing in action recently, and that's always a welcome bonus, so thank you Shalini Boland!

I'd like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads and Amazon.

A dark twisted domestic drama that has you questioning everything!

Told between two timelines a challenging childhood to the here and now.

The author has a talent of building the suspense throughout to weave it all together to a satisfying ending.

This was a fast paced read that held my attention throughout.