Review
Ooh what a story.

I found the first part of the book was really slow and hard to get into but from part 2 to the end, I flew through it. I found it so addictive and was so pleased I stuck with it.

There are parts in the book that completely broke me but I really loved how the book ended, it was the perfect ending and I'm so excited to read more of Mel's work.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

After the tragic death of their young daughter Emily, Juliette and Danny leave behind London and buy a cottage in the country. They hope to leave behind the sad memories, create new ones and move on from their loss.

New neighbours, Richard and Sarah, appear charming at first but things change once Juliette believes she has seen a young girl in their garden after being told they don’t have children. Juliette begins to think she is losing her mind and this is not helped by Richard manipulating her. With Danny still working in London during the week she is left alone and vulnerable.


The Life She Wants is certainly a twisted tale and I felt so anxious about how far Richard would go to convince Juliette and those around her that she had lost the plot. She was trying so hard to build herself back up and here he was intent on breaking her down.

Richard is high up on the list of fictional characters I would like to punch in the face! His partner Sarah isn’t much better, appearing cowed and subservient but in turn also using her neighbours to escape from the situation she has found herself in.


A fantastic read – five stars!

This was really addictive - . I just went for it and just read it in one day

Where did the story come from? It was so amazing and convoluted but believable - just what you expect from this author. I wasn't sure where the story was going with most times, thought I did but boy was I surprised, so then I had to keep on listening. Given how many books I read/listen to that is hard to do.

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

The Life She Wants is Mel Sherratt's tense and twisty psychological thriller set in Stoke, England. Sarah and Richard Sykes-Morgan live in a two-storey stone cottage set on six acres. Juliette and Danny move in next door - Abbey Cottage in the village of Mapleton; they've relocated from London for a fresh start following the death of their young daughter though Danny has to commute to London during the week. Though a little odd, Sarah and Richard are friendly to the newcomers, but then Juliette thinks she sees a little girl in the garden...

Gritty and compulsive, this thought-provoking thriller contains several interesting twists. The story moves along at a nimble pace and the characters are superbly drawn by the author. I like Mel Sherratt's flowing writing and the tale is told across two timelines and from the perspectives of Sarah, Juliette and Louisa. The suspense and drama are maximised to full effect and I was floored throughout the book, as nothing I suspected was true. This story of coerciveness, control, domestic abuse and sibling rivalry definitely had me wanting to read just one more chapter. The Life She Wants is a book that you should certainly add to your reading list!

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

EXCERPT: We stand together in the silence of the night, in the clearing in the woods. Our breathing is the only thing I can hear.

We are as one, but only because we've agreed to cover up what's happened.

It wasn't supposed to end like this. When is killing someone ever a satisfactory solution? This was just a momentary lapse of concentration. A burst of anger. A fist of infuriation. Hands squeezing something they shouldn't have.

But now the body is buried. We've hidden the crime. If anyone finds out, we'll make up lies and pretend it never happened. No one will ever know the truth.

Because I won't let them find out.

ABOUT 'THE LIFE SHE WANTS': From behind the curtains, Sarah spotted the man coming out of the house, followed by the woman. It would be strange seeing people in the property. She wondered how much it would change their lives. For now, she would bide her time and hopefully get to know them better. She needed to gain their trust.

When I met Richard, I fell for him instantly. He was able to give me everything I had always wanted, the dream house, security and above all, love like I’d never known. We lived a quiet life in the middle of nowhere; we didn’t need anyone else.

So, when the empty house next door is sold, I am wary. Will our neighbours invade the perfect life Richard has built for us? As soon as I meet Juliette and Danny, I am reassured. Overwhelmed by grief after the death of their young daughter, they have moved in search of a quiet life and a chance to start again. Over dinner one evening, we hit it off instantly and I know they are just the neighbours we need.

All is well until Juliette spots a young girl in our garden. Richard convinces her that she is seeing things, that it’s the grief taking over. But Juliette won’t let it go. She is sure she saw a child. She believes that Richard is threatening her. She starts to think that I’m not safe.

I need to convince Juliette that she’s imagining it. I need to keep Richard happy. If I am to protect everything I have built for myself, she must never find out the truth.

That my perfect life is built on the deadliest lie.

MY THOUGHTS: This is a book that you really need to concentrate on as you read because it is not always obvious just whose point of view you are reading. There is also a fair bit of jumping about in the timeline, also not always apparent. I think that had I listened to the entire audiobook instead of reading the first 80% and listening to the last 20%, it may have been a little clearer. But, in the end, it all makes sense. It's just a little frustrating getting to that point.

Although The Life She Wants packs a punch, I didn't find it a particularly enjoyable experience. There are characters that I absolutely hated; sly, nasty and manipulative. They left a nasty taste in my mouth. I really found it difficult to connect with any of the characters other than Juliette and her husband. And I found the child totally unbelievable, although very little is seen and absolutely nothing heard from her. So very wrong on all levels.

The book reminds me a little in format of the old western movies, where you have the good guys and the bad guys. The good guys are really, really good, and the bad guys are really, really bad. There's a whole heap of tussling and wrangling and jostling for position going on, and the good guys appear to be coming off worst until the very end, when justice prevails, albeit usually with a few bodies strewn about along the way. But did justice prevail here? I'll let you make up your own mind.

⭐⭐⭐.5

#TheLifeSheWants #NetGalley

I: @mel_sherratt @bookouture

T: @writermels @Bookouture

#contemporaryfiction #domesticdrama #mystery #psychologicalthriller

THE AUTHOR: write police procedurals, psychological suspense and women's fiction with a punch - or grit-lit, as I call it.

I live in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, with my husband and terrier, Dexter (named after the TV serial killer) and makes liberal use of my hometown as a backdrop for some of my books.

I also write women's fiction under the pen name of Marcie Steele.

DISCLOSURE:Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC and an audio ARC of The Life She Wants by Mel Sherratt and narrated by Emma Gregory, for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

I do love all of Mel’s books but I do have a real soft spot for her stand-alone psychological thrillers! The Life She Wants is a super twisty read that will have you doubting yourself throughout-just the way I love it! I really did think I knew where the storyline was going but Mel being Mel wasn’t going to make it that easy for me!

When we first meet Juliette and Danny, they are a couple searching for a new start after the death of their daughter. Their grief is authentically raw and I immediately felt drawn to them. When they move into their dream home, Danny still works away until they make the final decision on where their future lies. But Juliette has the next door neighbours to rely on…or does she? The couple seem to be hiding something and Richard appears to be a controlling partner but when Juliette sees a young girl in their garden is her grief playing tricks on her?

I absolutely loved this book! The twists and turns of the plot kept me reading long into the night as I just couldn’t work out who was playing who and why! The dialogue felt so authentic that I felt as though the action were happening in MY village and these couples were MY neighbours-although I’m really glad that they aren’t! Neighbourhood disputes can escalate quickly and the cosy dinner parties can seem like a distant memory once relationships start to breakdown but combine this with a hefty dose of gaslighting and you just know it’s all going to end in tears!

Mel Sherratt is a fantastic author and The Life She Wants is a gripping but thoughtful thriller with characters that you really care about. I loved it!

This was a book that I couldn't get through fast enough, the characters were pretty well developed to the point that you immediately hated one in particular. The story of Louisa dealing with domestic and mental abuse was enraging to the point that I couldn't wait to see if the perpetrator got his due. I was totally invested in most of the storyline but some parts did get a bit OTT but overall, I was all in on this domestic thriller!

Juliette and Danny move away from City life after the death of their young daughter. A nice quiet life just what the Doctor ordered, but things don’t turn out as peaceful as it first looked. What is happening next door? Are things quiet as they seem. This is a creepy psychological thriller with lots of twists and turns along the way. Who is manipulating who and what’s really happening next door. Another great read from Mel.

Danny and Juliette move to a quiet town to start afresh after losing their daughter the year before. They meet Sarah and Richard-the couple next door and begin to realise everything is not as it seems. When Juliette sees a young child in Sarah and Richard's yard and they deny having any children there, she questions her sanity and begins investigating when Sarah comes to her with a confession.

It is a dark story of violence, jealousy and control. I would highly recommend it.

(I've just saw this was published today)
I am 77% way through Mel Sheratt's "The Life She Wants" - so I will leave a review for where I am up to you with yourselves on Netgalley now and then leave a proper review everywhere else as soon as I finish up in the next day or so.

I absolutely LOVE the storyline, it's suspenseful and I love that it's following two completely different storylines!! Whilst reading about Louisa and Sarah I completely forget about Juliette and Danny. But when we then go back to Juliette's storyline I get excited as I remember that it's all going to tie in with I'm guessing an amazing plot twist come the end!! I can't wait to see what happens come the end of the book and will leave reviews elsewhere once finished!!

30/11/2021 **Revised Review**
This was my first time reading a thriller by Mel Sheratt.
I absolutely LOVED the storyline, it was suspenseful and I loved that it's following two completely different storylines!! Whilst reading about Louisa and Sarah I completely forget about Juliette and Danny. But when we then go back to Juliette's storyline I got excited to find out what would be happening in her life.

The last few chapters dropped this down from a 5 star to a 3.5 star for me, there wasn't the big plot twist I was expecting, it merely played out as we'd all expect it to, and for me this kind of let the whole book down.

It's still worth a read and of probably read another book by this author in future.

Mel Sherratt has written another cracking domestic/psychological thriller about family, grief, coercive control, domestic violence, envy and revenge.

It is a compelling story with well drawn characters who you will love and hate, short chapters and a plot that will keep you hooked to the end. There was one part that had me a bit confused but it all fell into place shortly afterwards so stick with it if you feel the same.

A solid four star rating from me.

The life she wants by Mel Sherratt.
From behind the curtains, Sarah spotted the man coming out of the house, followed by the woman. It would be strange seeing people in the property. She wondered how much it would change their lives. For now, she would bide her time and hopefully get to know them better. She needed to gain their trust.
Omg a brilliant read. I love mels books. This had mystery suspicion secrets. I didn't know how I felt about Richard or Sarah. But I liked Juliette and Danny. I didn't expect that twist. 5*.

What a great listen/read. This book was such an easy book to listen to. The story was intreguing and had me wondering all the way through just how things were going to turn out. Some great twists really kept me guessing.
What appears to be a perfect life may not be the life you want.
Two couples leading very different lives become neighbours. As they get to know each other it becomes apparent that the grass isn't alway greener on the other side.



Suspicions start to grow when what seem like innocent things soon escalete


I absolutly love all books from this author and this one was again another great read. Any Sherratt fans out there will enjoy this.

I read this book and when i was busy having to do other things i listened to the audio of it. It was great being able to flip between each one as I didn't want to stop reading once I started, but that thing called the real world keeps interupting, so having the audio was brilliant. I love listening to a good audio book while cleaning, ironing or out walking .

I really enjoyed this book.

More twists and turns than a rollercoaster and they kept on coming with surprise after surprise.

Really connected with the characters and their stories.

Wound myself tighter than a spring trying get to the end.

Fast paced and thrilling to the end

Highly recommended 5 stars from me.

Sarah and Richard appear to have the perfect life, they live in a secluded cottage in the village of Mapleton, Stoke with no neighbours to interfere, but all that changes when the house next door is sold to Juliette and Danny, a young couple moving from London, desperate for some peace and tranquillity after the death of their daughter, Emily. After meeting them, they are certain that they'll not be any bother and actually get along quite well, that is until Juliette spots a young girl playing in their garden. Richard convinces her that it was grief playing tricks on her mind, but alarm bells start ringing for Juliette after a conversation with one of the villagers and she believes Sarah is in danger. What can Sarah do to stop Juliette discovering her secret and shattering the 'perfect' life she has built for herself?

The Life She Wants is the latest thriller by Mel Sherratt and my word, she always knows how to keep a reader hooked. The story is told across two timelines and from the perspectives of Sarah, Juliette and Louisa, it's a tale of coercive control, domestic abuse, sibling rivalry and murder. Sherratt creates her characters so realistically that you either love them or loathe them, I adored Juliette and really wanted her and Danny to find happiness again, as for Richard, I just wanted to punch him in the face for his arrogance and demeanour. The plot is well laid out, with short chapters and enough intrigue to keep me on the edge of my seat and so invested that I didn't want to put it down, even though real life always gets in the way, I was picking my kindle up at every opportunity, even staying up late to read 'just one more chapter', and we all know how that goes, because it's never just one! I've loved all the books I've read by this author and this is no exception, I highly recommend it.

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

Sarah and Richard look like a normal couple at first glance. However, it does not take long for new neighbors Juliette and Danny to realize that things are not quite right. From the outset, when the story is coming from Sarah and Richard's point of view, it is clear that Richard is extremely controlling. When they spot their new neighbors, they do the neighborly thing. They invite them over for dinner. As Juliette and Danny sit at their table, they immediately see how Richard is towards Sarah. What is more is that Richard seems like a closed book, so why invite them over in the first place?

Meanwhile, Juliette and Danny have a reason tor moving into their new home. They suffered a tragedy and are trying to make a new start in life. Juliette is glad to have met Sarah and hopes the two will become great friends. One day, Julliette is sure she spotted a little girl in their garden. Richard convinces her that she is wrong, even to the point of trying to convince Danny of the same thing. However, Juliette knows her own mind, and thus the mystery truly begins.

What is it about Richard and Sarah? Why is Richard so controlling? How much will Sarah trust Juliette? Also, there is one factor that cannot be ignored. Not only does Sarah feel ill on many occasions, Juliette begins to feel a bit odd at times, even to the point of doubting certain things happening.

Why the title The Life She Wants? Well, in this thrilling story readers will see how covetousness is indeed a sin and how one little lie can start a roller coaster of events. It is a dark story of envy, drama, and also control mixed with gaslighting. As this story is told mostly from Juliette's point of view, it grew even more intriguing as we learn more about Sarah and how she came to be with Richard. I couldn't put this book down, especially as everything came together in breakneck speed. Kudos to Mel Sherratt for writing such an exciting book.

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

Juliette and Danny decide to move to Mapleton after the death of their little girl, they want to start anew. As soon as they arrive their neighbours, Sarah and Richard seem a bit odd. As the story progresses, we learn why they are both acting oddly, but something deeper runs there. As the truth unravelled, I was shocked but also so very sad, but I can’t tell you why as I will spoil it for you.

As the old saying goes, “be careful what you wish for”.
I have enjoyed all of the Mel Sherratt books I have read and The Life She Wants was a fantastic edition of her books. It was written so well and I was thoroughly gripped from start to finish.

This is my first read by Mel Sherratt but won't be the last! I was immediately drawn right into a place I couldn't leave. Beautifully written, easy to read, tense and thrilling!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

After tragedy shakes up Juliette and Danny's lives, they decide to pack up and move out to the countryside in the hopes of making a fresh start. Their new neighbours, Richard and Sarah seem friendly enough at first, but when Juliette tries to speak to Sarah on her own, Richard is reluctant raising all the red flags that all isn't right in that house.

Following two timelines, we are told the backstory of Richard and Sarah's relationship and find out what has led them to being so secretive. With lots of twists and secrets to be uncovered, this is a pretty dark domestic thriller.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

life has to start again for juliette and her husband danny after their daughter dies from an illness, so they start again in a new place, with the hopes that it will help them recover from their grief....to carry on

richard is an aspiring artist and he is use to the house next door to him being empty so when juliette and danny move in, he knows that things are going to change... his wife sarah is hopeful....

as the two couples get to know each other with invites to dinner, it becomes obvious that things are not right in their household and juliette and danny are concerned

as juliette looks out of her window one morning she sees a young girl running up and down next doors garden..when she enquires about the little girl richard and sarah deny a little girl had ever been there...

and so the games begin for juliette who gets up one morning to find her front and back door wide open, and she cant remember if she closed them or not and then how did one of her daughters toys end up on the new bench in their garden, is she losing her mind or is there more sinister things going on....

wow this one was right to the edge of mind games and violence, very well written with character that you begin to love and hate...