It would seem like a fairytale to go from your ordinary life of low income and daily to struggles to living on a country estate with a charming man who has you all to himself. But what happens when you realize the fairytale was an illusion? Louisa and Sarah both find out a bit too late that things aren’t always what they seem. With Juliette and Danny moving in next door, hope is resurrected. A thoroughly enjoyable read! I enjoyed the alternating storylines.

This is my first time reading this author so I cannot gush over her latest novel. After reading the premise I thought this was going to suspenseful and twisted and it was for the most part. However, it did become predictable, which I dislike in any book but mostly with thrillers/suspense. Yes, Juliette and Richard have some traumatic events and a character that has been stalking them to gain what she wants, seems like a book right up alley, but figuring out Sarah's goal was predictable as well as Juliette and Richard being so dumb and too trusting to figure it.

This may be an unpopular opinion but I did not like this book at all. I give one star for the cover and premise. The other star is that the book ended. Glad I did not spend money on this! Cannot recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley, Mel Sherratt, and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 11/30/21

Are you losing your mind? Juliette & Danny have decided to move away from London to a smaller village as they both need a new start after the death of their daughter. They have found the perfect house to start over but everything isn't as it seems. Their neighbours Richard & Sarah are a strange couple as she is so much younger than him. Juiiette knows that something is going on but is she imaging everything? She is too scared to tell Danny about what has been going on next door as she is afraid of what Richard will do next. Sarah hopes that she can get away from Richard before something bad happens. But will Juliette believe her story as she needs someone on her side as she has to escape as she knows that Richard is up to his old tricks again. Sarah thought that she got everything that she wanted but she realizes that the price wasn't worth it. Will Juliette be able to find the strength to help Sarah escape? A good interesting read. I was lucky enough to receive a copy from Netgalley & the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

I've never read this author before, but clearly she has a gift! From the very first chapter I was sucked into the vortex of this crazy thriller! A new twist on domestic thrillers - one I gobbled up quickly & happily. I felt every emotion for each character and the constant reveals to keep my appetite wet was incredible! The ending blew me away. Fantasticly done!

After the death of their daughter Emily, Juliette and Danny decide to live the busy London and life and buy a cottage in the country. The village they move too is idyllic village and a far cry from their London life.
The meet their new neighbours Sarah and Richard an odd couple and Juliette can straight way sense that something is not right with the couple. They are both hiding something. She wants to find out that that is.
Thanks once again Bookoutre for a copy of the latest book from Mel Sherratt. This is slightly different from her other books but still a great thrilling read.
Set in two timelines, this is the story the charming Richard and how he coerced and manipulated Louise and Sarah and tortured them mentally to do his bidding. This has realistic storyline and was quite twisted at times which made me a bit squeamish and also wondering why Sarah was putting up with Richard and not just leave and get away from him. This is great read 4 stars from me.

You meet the most handsome and charming man you have ever seen and it seems like he is interested in you too! Well, of course you want to be with him because he makes you feel like the most important person in the world…

The world turns around you two. You don’t need anybody else, do you…

They say love is blind and yes, I believe sometimes that so true. You are so high on cloud nine. You don’t really see or realise what is happening. One day you wake up, you look around you and you don’t how you came from A to Z without noticing where all the other letters went to.

How could you have been so in love, so naïve, so stupid? Once you saw the world through the biggest rose tinted glasses money can buy. Now the only colour you see is black.

The person you loved with all your heart is the same person you now hate with a vengeance. He seemed like Prince Charming, but in fact you ended up with the devil in disguise.

A great book. 5 stars.

Thank you

What an amazing read, I could not put my kindle down it was such a gripping read, the characters were so well developed, a highly recommended read.

A solid four star read. Great premise. Well written. Good characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing .A twist at the end that I did not see coming.
Definitely would read the next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Wow, this is the book I could not stop to put down. Intriguing even thought the plot wasn't moving to fast. I would recommend this book to anyone.

A dark and twisted book that I couldn't stop reading! Thank you to Netgallery and Mel Sherratt for the opportunity to read and review this.

I had never read Mel Sherratt’s books before, the synopsis sounded like a story I could dig my teeth into!
I was not disappointed.
You are taken on a topsy turvy adventure discovering the life of two people, Richard and Sarah. How their world gets turned upside down when Danny and Juliette move in next door. Richard is beyond annoyed, now he has to deal with nosey neighbours. Trying to keep his past a secret is challenging. The novel takes you back in time to try and figure out what happened in Richard and Sarah’s past.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Life She Wants. So well written it kept me guessing all the way until the end, I was so invested half of my day could just fly by in a wink.

I am giving The Life She Wants 5 stars out of 5.

It’s published on 29 November 2021, make sure you pre order your copy today! You will not regret it.

Good story. The book is a bit long but the story is solid. A bit twisty that keeps you guessing. Definitely a great weekend read that you can loose yourself in.

The Life She Wants
by Mel Sherratt
A good read. Some parts were a bit slow. It was a BIG read..I did finish and found it, as I said. Good. It lacked the pace of mystery.I would recommend the book. It just felt stunted of feeling for anyone.

This is a well-written book, but I just did not warm up to any of the characters in the book. I love Mel Sherratt's books, but this one did not hook me. I think it lacked the pace and tension I am used to, and I kept on waiting for the moment it would hook me. It is most definitely not a bad book by any means, but my expectations are high, and this one did not quite reach up to its potential.

London, and Juliette and Danny Ansell are making plans.
grieving for there beautiful daughter Emily after her sudden death to Meningitis, grief overwelmed them, everywhere there are reminders of their precious daughter, so they decide to move to the Midlands, a fresh start in the country it would take a few months to organise but they found the ideal place, Abbey Cottage in the village of Mapleton was just perfect, Danny still had to commute back to London during the week for the time been and Juliette is capable to look after things getting the cottage done and doing her work from home for the time been till he can work here for good. Richard Skyes-Morgan and Sarah are their neighbours and seem nice and neighbourly but there's just something not right as Juliette is to find out as you read on.
This is one gripping twisted story from the author that hard to put down.
A liar a controller, cheater and killer, WOW I loved it what a story there's always a twisted neighbour hiding something and this guy is bad real bad, page after page it's a blinder.

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I absolutely loved this book and was unable to put it down from the very first sentence. Lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end. I highly recommend this author and book! Thank you for the chance to read this early!

Juliette and Danny move into their dream home in an idyllic village. They meet their neighbours Richard and Sarah but straightaway Juliette feels that not all is OK in their relationship. But the truth is more perverse than that. Many secrets are behind the front door.
I've read many books by Mel and I really liked this one. It has everything you could wish for in a psychological thriller.
There may be some triggers that affect some readers as this book covers coercive control and domestic abuse and also sibling rivalry. Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

This is another cracking crime thriller from Mel. I have read each and every one of her books and thoroughly enjoyed them, and this one was no exception. I flew through it.

Despite it being a hard topic to stomach, especially coercive control, it came across well, and it goes to show you never know what happens to people behind closed doors.

I think I would have put powdered glass in Richards food or at least Epsom salts (they wouldn’t be traced)! What a despicable character he was, and sadly there’s always a reason why the partner/wife puts up with the abuse through fear, or just because there’s no money or anywhere to flee to. However, Sarah wasn’t entirely blameless as the reader will find out, there were issues from her childhood between her and the family.

I loved Juliette and Danny and their beautiful house, how peaceful living there and apart from the neighbours from hell, it was just perfect.

This is a brilliant book and Mel has captured the topic very well. I’m not going to divulge any more, in case I spoil it for other readers.

My thanks to Mel, the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.

Oh my gosh. What a fabulous book. This had my heart racing. I loved Juliette, I felt like we could be friends in real life being so down to earth, but I was so worried for her with the things she saw. Richard totally freaked me out and I was dying to find out what was going on. The cottages were lovely, the setting perfect and I almost wanted to live there! Many thanks to Bookouture for the review copy, I totally recommend this super suspenseful book.

Wow this is almost stranger than most fiction! Maybe truth? But could this be fact? Really , I found this to be a good read even IF true! Be careful what you wish for!

Woah....blown away by this one.

After experiencing great grief, Juliette and her husband decide to leave the hustle and bustle of the city and escape to the countryside for a new start. Everything is wonderful, except their rather weird neighbors. Not only are they a bit strange, Juliette knows they're hiding something...or someone.

This one left me guessing until the very end, and I loved it. The twists and turns were shocking yet realistic.
I enjoyed not being able to trust literally anyone the entire time. The back and forth between character POVs and timelines is usually jarring in other novels, but only added to the reading experience in this one.

The characters were fun to follow and interesting as they each had such harrowing backgrounds. The pacing kept things moving and interesting. I felt my own heart racing as I tried to crack the mystery with Juliette until the very end. Couldn't read this one fast enough.

Really enjoyed this one. One of the better thrillers I've read in a long while.