The New Couple starts off a little on the slow side. Richard and Stephanie won a house in a lottery drawing. They move into the neighborhood and a neighbor, Jane, immediately suspects that something is off about the new couple. The first part of the book is told by Jane. Then the story for the same time period is told by Stephanie and then Richard. While I would not have characterized this as a thriller, you do have a lot of questions as you are reading the book and wonder what will happen next. This is not an edge of your seat thriller but will keep your attention.

A new couple and their baby move into a fancy neighborhood after winning a home in a raffle. As the neighbors get to know them, it comes to light that this couple aren’t who they said they were, and more and more secrets come to light.

THE NEW COUPLE by Alison James was a fun and twisty domestic drama turned thriller.

The first portion of this book was filled with tons of neighbor drama (which I LOVED), and then segued into what the rest of the story would become - a quite slow-paced thriller - as you’re trying to piece everything together.

That’s not to say I didn’t LIKE the book when it got to that point (because I did), but I found myself wanting things to wrap up quicker than they actually did. Everything felt a bit drawn out and pandering, and the ending left me wanting for a little more.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an eArc in exchange for an honest review!

Publication Date: September 27

This book was a slow burn, but it was twisty. The plot was very unique and unexpected and kept me turning the pages. It’s told in multiple sections and each a new viewpoint, which I really enjoyed. The characters are a variety of likable and those you’ll hate. Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the eARC copy to read and review. This one comes out September 26th. If you enjoy some neighborhood drama mixed with some thrills mixed in pick this one up.

When I first read the blurb for this novel, I was captivated, and eager to dive right on into it. This book is divided into parts and we see the entire story from three different points of view.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a thriller. The suspense and plot twists were gripping and jaw-dropping, as was the author's ability to keep you interested throughout the book. Once I started I couldn't put it down.

This novel makes you question everything you believe you know about the people you interact with on a daily basis. But how well do we really know our next-door neighbours, coworkers, or even friends?

The only thing that kept this from being a five-star read was the fast-paced ending, which I thought could have been slowed down and explained more thoroughly.

Thank you to Bookouture, Netgalley and the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ / 5

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would when I read the blurb. It was OK,not that great.

Thanks NetGalley and Allison James for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis:
Richard and Stephanie win a luxurious house in a raffle. But, things aren’t what they seem. Richard and Stephanie aren’t the only neighbors with secrets.

The story was broken up into four parts and told from multiple viewpoints. The New Couple promised a suspenseful story with a shocking twist. As part two started, I thought this cannot be the twist. Unfortunately, it was. It was too easy to figure out. The twist also seemed very unlikely.

In my opinion the storyline had multiple holes. Information seemed to fall into the noisy neighbors hands. People who did not know her were very willing to part with information about their friend and coworker.

The story kept me interested, but I wanted more.

The story was twisted and fast paced which I really enjoyed but with the three POVs I found some elements of the story repeating but not so much to be a major issue. During the first POV the plot twists were very gripping and I liked seeing how the whole story fitted together by the end.

Thank you to Alison James and NetGalley for a copy of "The New Couple".

Sadly, I found the start of the book really interesting and loved how quickly it was moving and everything that was observed by the narrator but unfortunately this lead to not finding the other two narrators as good and didn't feel as invested.

Wow!! Loved this book and will definitely seek out more books by this author. I loved the alternate points of view and storylines. I read this so fast, but didn’t want it to end!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was well-written, the characters are likable, the twists and turns come just at the right time, and it is well-paced. What more could you ask for in a thriller? I prefer thrillers that have alternating POVs, so that was a huge plus for me when reading this.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Allison James for gifting me this ARC for an honest review.

Sometimes when reviewing I'm uncertain if I want to review the book of characters and the way it played out vs the authors writing style or both. This one is no different.
British tv shows are so good. They're suspenseful and take you on a ride that truly ha you guessing as to what happens and whodunnit. Books written by British authors are no different. This book was to me well paced, while keeping you guessing to a point at the story opens up with a very specific and telling scene. You already know what's happened you just need to know how it got there and this is journey of this story. Just like the tv shows, which admittedly I'm obsessed with this book keeps you wondering a bit of the how but the ending seemed a bit rushed to me and not well planned out.

I detest weak female characters but understand it plays a part in the story telling but my goodness this particular female character was (as the Brits say) doing my head in. She's easily led astray and by someone that has absolutely no redeeming qualities. Most times because of the villains back story I almost root for them to succeed in their wrong doings, I want them to have a HEA. This character however is so entitled that I want him to be found out so badly.

There are a lot of other characters that and a few side stories that keeps you interested and they're tied back into the main storyline effortlessly and I loved that. There's only one character I wish I got more of and that's Oreo, I completely forgot he was even in there until the end..

All in all it's a decent, quick read. 3 stars from me..

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I seriously almost stopped reading this book at about 35% because the main character, Jane, was so annoying. She was such a nosy neighbor and was spying on her neighbors constantly. I decided to stick with it and it did end up being a decent read with some twists and I would recommend it.

My first read from Alison James and I found it a good read plenty to keep you engaged.
A story told by four different characters and a rollercoaster of a read.
Look forward to read more by this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC

Jane lives with her husband, Fergus in a solid upper middle class suburb in the London area. It's on the smaller side and the neighbors all know each other. One house in the neighborhood is involved in a lotter, which is won by a young couple, Richard and Stephanie Hamlin, who promptly move in with their baby daughter, Poppy.

Richard and Stephanie seem to be homebodies. They don't get out much and don't interact with the neighbors. Jane stops by to welcome them to the neighborhood and something feels off. Jane, who is definitely the Gladys Kravitz of the neighborhood, is suspicious of them and starts to wach them.
Out of the blue, Stephanie stops by and asks Jane to babysit Poppy. She balks when Jane suggests doing it at Stephanie's house and says her husband wouldn't like it, which only makes Jane more suspicious.

More strange things happen. Finally the house is sold, and Stephanie and Richard disappear into the night. But Jane isn't done investigating.

There's another couple in this story not from the neighborhood. Keren, a childcare worker, and her somewhat loser boyfriend, Liam. Their story carries on and you eventually find out how they fit into the story.

The twists and turns were crazy. Some of it was a little unbelievable, but I just rolled with it because I enjoyed the story.

Part two of the book is when things really take off, then it's a wild ride to the end!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a brilliant book , very tense throughout the first half till you discovered what the couple were up to . It was a great story that didn’t let up speed in the second half wondering how it would end . I’d highly recommend this book. 5 stars from me . Look forward to reading more from this author

Wow oh wow. This was edge of your seat from start to finish. Just from reading the prologue you know you are in for an exciting read.

The story is narrated by three people throughout the summer. Jane the neighbour turned detective, who watches the new couple move into their upmarket neighbourhood. Keren, the nursery worker and long suffering girlfriend of Liam and Liam the gambling addicted, violent tempered, deadbeat. This works really well, giving the reader an insight into the way all three main protagonists are thinking and why they acted the way they did. The three stories come together in a violent, tense climax.

The storyline is unique and clever. I would never have figured this for a plot and one thing is for sure. I will never enter another charity draw to win a luxury home!! Yet another winner from Alison James.

Set from March to August, The New Couple centre’s around Sycamore Gardens. A prestigious street in London where house prices now roll into the millions. When number 12 is won in a draw, and the new family moves in, Jane is sure that something isn’t quite right. And she’s not wrong.

What was different about The New Couple is that is it told from three different perspectives, one after another rather than jumping between different POV’s. This means that what really happened is unveiled in layers as each narrator gives their version of events.

A little slow to start, this had me completely hooked by around 30% in and I just couldn’t put it down. I can’t really say much more without giving it away, but this one is definitely worth a read!

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The New Couple’ by Alison James in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

A dream house, 12 Sycamore Gardens, is the prize in a lottery won by Richard and his wife Stephanie Hamlin. The couple move in with their baby daughter Poppy and the other residents of Sycamore Gardens welcome them by inviting them to barbecues, but no one is aware that they aren’t married and they aren’t the Hamlins.

‘The New Couple’ is an involving psychological thriller with a strong plot, suspense, twists and turns and heart-stopping moments that have kept me glued to my Kindle. It’s cleverly written and so enthralling that I’ve been gripped from start to finish, as each sinister and dramatic happening unfolds. There’s no guessing who the criminals are as we already know, but what we don’t know is how far they’ll take their plan before getting caught and eventually getting their comeuppance. This is an excellent novel written by a talented author that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading.

This follows a story of a new couple moving into a house in a very nice neighborhood. The book has three parts and tells the story from three different characters perspective…the “nosy” neighbor, the wife and the husband.

I felt that the book was a tad predictable and that made it not as interesting of a read to me. I did like the concept of seeing the story through the eyes of different characters, but I wish there was a little more depth to the story. Maybe I just have read too many thrillers and that’s why it was predictable. I could see new to this genre readers to really enjoy it.

Definitely a page turner. People to love and to hate. Great story idea and well executed to pull you In. First for me from this author but will be looking forward to reading more.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.