I didn't realize until I was halfway through that I had previously read this book under the title 'Behind Closed Doors'. I really enjoy Kathryn Croft novels but typically this was my least favourite read probably why it took me so long to realize. This book is very repetitive and had a lot of unnecessary sex scenes.

This sounded good, but it’s just not the book for me. I also did not enjoy the second person narration.
Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for the opportunity to read this ARC.

What do you do when your neighbor…becomes a friend…becomes your husband…becomes your worst nightmare? Yeah. This book is incredible. Get ready for a rollercoaster ride that may make you think twice about what you think you know about the ones closest to you….highly recommend.

After a marriage breakdown, Olivia moves, with her young daughter, to an apartment block. The neighbour upstairs, Michael, is not what he appears to be, nor his sister!
The storyline is confronting, the characters and relationships are not totally believable and the emotional aspect is disturbing!
Michael brings a darkness into Olivia’s life, the suspense and tension continues to build, a thriller with a strong confronting aspect.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was so hooked on this book when I started reading it, but as I got further into the book nothing seemed to be happening it was so slow paced and none of the characters attracted me at all, it only started to pick up at the end. Overall, it was a good read,

Not my favourite Katherine Croft but I will still look out for future books from her. Olivia the lead character was so frustrating in the way she ignored every warning sign presented to her. The ending didn’t redeem it either.

This is a slow burn book, basically about a relationship with the man who lives upstairs. Unfortunately this was not for me. The 2nd person POV was quite jarring and there was not enough happening in the storyline to make up for it. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reading copy.

I didnt realise that this book was a reprint of Behind Closed Doors, which I had read earlier. I do like Kathryn Croft books but dont think this is one of her better ones.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC

Many thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller (apparently a republish of an older one that I didn't read!) by a favorite, Kathryn Croft - 4 stars!

Olivia and Carl are separated and Olivia is trying to forge out a new life for herself and their daughter, Ellie. She soon meets and becomes obsessed with the neighbor upstairs, Michael. Michael's sister, Chloe, is the biggest detriment to their new relationship but Olivia is determined to make things work, until everything goes very, very wrong.

The writing style was a bit difficult to get your brain around - there were sections where Olivia was talking to Michael - so it was Your hand, You did this. Not my favorite. There was some additional confusion as to where Olivia was physically located when she was writing this, but it becomes more clear as you go along. While it was a good thriller and I was anxious to read until the end, none of the characters were likable and you wanted to scream at Olivia for some of her choices! Croft's books are usually 5 star reads from me, so check out the rest of her books!

Thank you the publishers Canelo and Netgallex for this opportunity.

The book os written like a letter to a man from a woman. About how life went on afer she separed from the husband and meet him. How she developed a complete different personality and needs. For thriller was a very very steamy one. The characters were comunicating a very strange way and unfortunately that was crocial for one of them. I was sad and mad about some crazy decisions and actions, consequsnces. Just wanted a different end.

Kathryn Croft's THE NEIGHBOUR UPSTAIRS is a slow-burn, a dark, and twisted tale told in a second-person perspective from Olivia.

Olivia has left her husband, Carl of eleven years and is taking their daughter Ellie to Putney on the other side of London. She wants a fresh start.

However, her new start may be a nightmare and much worse than her current life.

Ellie is a gifted artist, even at nine years old. She is torn between her parent's separation. Ellie will plan on seeing her father on the weekend.

She moves to a Victorian house with other tenants. The realtor says the neighbor upstairs, Michael, seems nice. Olivia writes reviews for an online magazine and works from home.

Then Oliva meets Michael, the neighbor upstairs. She thinks an evening out will allow her to escape her mess. His flat does not seem lived in, with no artwork or nothing to showcase his personality. But perhaps he is a minimalist.

She thinks he is intelligent, and she does not know much about him except they are about the same age, he is a math teacher, and he has a sister.

Olivia becomes too focused on Michael and obsessed. She is ignoring all the red flags and warning signs of this guy. She thinks of him constantly, and they become sexually (freaky) active for the next three months.

She does not allow herself to be happily single and alone with her daughter. She feels there is something wrong, but she cannot walk away.

She finally meets his sister, Chloe, the blonde. Chloe seems very possessive of her brother and appears she does not like Olivia. There is something off about her, but again Olivia is in denial.

She finds this relationship is too much work. She is also neglecting her daughter. Then Chloe seems to always be around her brother with so much drama. Then he gets freaky, and Olivia seems to go along with it.

His manic sister Chloe moves in and out of the apt. The story takes a decidedly semi-sadistic sexual turn, and Olivia and her daughter end up moving in with him. BIG MISTAKE!

Carl is not happy. She should have stayed with Carl. At least he is better than Michael/Chloe!

WAKE UP!!!

Things start to fall apart. Ellie is not happy. The grandmother dies (Carl's mother, Barbara), and they were close.

From here, the book continues on a downward spiral. No likable characters, and everyone is MENTAL!

It appears Olivia is in some kind of mental institution or hospital, which is not clearly defined, speaking with someone named Henny.

Then the disaster...

This story was NOT for me! Totally disliked Olivia, Michael/Chloe. When someone does not like your child, this is a wake-up call - HELLO! I found myself skipping over parts to get to the end.

Published previously under another title, "Behind Closed Doors" (this is definitely not B. A. Paris's book).

Even though I have enjoyed Kathryn Croft's other books and will read more in the future, I cannot recommend this one even though I like the cover and the description. Totally weird.

Thank you, #NetGalley and #Canelo for a gifted e-ARC for an honest review.

Blog Review posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 3 Stars
Pub Date: Oct 6, 2022

A brilliant read, I could not leave this book down was a very interesting story , the few characters that were in the book were very well described that you felt you got to know them and could imagine their lives . It was very well written and a very interesting story , there was lots of twists and turns and a ending that left you stunned , would really recommend this book.

Thanks Netgalley and Kathryn Croft for giving me an early copy of this great book .
I loved it, it was original and well written story and very different to other books.
Olivia left her husband Carl after she found out he was having an affair, and walked out with her daughter Ellie to start a new life in an apartment In Putney.
Ellie loves drawing and as upset she was at leaving her father Olivia knew she would immerse herself in drawing .
Little did Olivia know when she met Michael, the guy who lives upstairs what he would bring into her life, and how it would affect her.
Great book loved it.

Although this was a slow burner for me, I was immediately sucked into the story and couldn't put it down.

Olivia has recently left her husband, Carl and is determined to start a new better life with her young daughter, Ellie. When she moves into a block of flats, she begins a friendship, then a passionate relationship with her upstairs neighbour, Michael. At first, despite his complex dramatic sister, Chloe, and his unorthodox behaviour, Michael seems ideal. It is only later that Olivia discovers that things are not what they seem....

This is so cleverly written, the plot meanders along, but all the time I was acutely aware of an insidious undercurrent, something sinister lurking and waiting to reveal itself. The story has an extremely dark side and, while my eventual guess as to what the outcome would be was correct, this in no way hindered my enjoyment. The characters are strong and, although not all likeable, all are vividly drawn.

I love the author's books and always look forward to her next one. This one was no exception.

Thanks to author, Kathryn Croft, publishers Canelo and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Croft has done it again: a creepily eerie story of misplaced love and schizophrenic relationships.
When Olivia's marriage breaks up she moves into an apt with her young daughter and finds herself falling into an extremely sexual relationship with her neighbor who lives upstairs. His manic sister Chloe moves in and out of the apt ,seemingly at will. The story takes a decidedly semi sadistic sexual turn when Olivia and her daughter end up moving in with him.
Too much back and forth between the real present, now, and how we got here. Confusing at times in discerning who was talking and what was really going on.
For my part, , I don't like to work this hard at following a storyline.

Good fences do not make good neighbors in this thriller. You will absolutely love this one!!! Highly recommend!

This story was repetitive and nothing much happened. There were some twists and intriguing parts but not enough to be called a thriller as it is. The "climax" was so disappointing.

This book was everything I wanted it to be. It had me turned pages without even realizing. It was so good!

After the breakup,of her marriage due to,infidelity, Olivia and her young daughter Ellie move into an apartment away from her husband.
Feeling desperately lonely and betrayed, she meets and begins a relationship with her school teacher neighbor upstairs, Michael.
Despite Olivia’s slow realization that the relationship isn’t healthy, she tries to make it work with Michael. There are several warning signs that Olivia ignores, including Ellie’s intense dislike,of both Michael and his volatile sister Chloe.
Olivia slowly realizes that Michael is keeping dangerous secrets from her and despite her feeling of dread, she doesn’t listen to her inner voice telling her something is very wrong.
Psychological, very dark, edgy and shocking, I couldn’t put this book down. However, Olivia’s continued insistence on giving Michael,the benefit of the doubt really grated on my nerves and made her such an unlikable main character. Get a grip, girl! Wonderfully written, this book was explosive and gave me a sense of impending doom like no other title I have read.
If you can get past hating virtually every character in this novel, you will enjoy this gem.

I’d like to thank Canelo and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Neighbour Upstairs’ by Kathryn Croft in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

When Olivia separates from her husband Carl, she and nine-year-old Ellie move into a flat in Putney where she forms a strange relationship with her upstairs neighbour Michael and his complicated sister Chloe. Michael is hard to live with but she loves him so makes allowances for his behaviour, but she has no idea how disastrous this will be on her life and Ellie’s.

I read ‘The Neighbour Upstairs’ in paperback many years ago when it was published under the title ‘Behind Closed Doors’ and I remember then how much I enjoyed it. Reading it for a second time my opinion hasn’t changed and after reading five more novels by this author I still think it’s an excellent psychological thriller that’s probably one of Ms Croft’s best. The story is narrated by Olivia and I’ve been so gripped by what’s happening to her and Ellie, and the unacceptable behaviour of Michael and Chloe, that I’ve been unable to stop reading and have finished it in a day. I don’t normally like novels that have been re-published but I’m so glad this one has been as it’s given me another chance to get involved with the characters and recommend it to other readers who are looking for an absorbing and unputdownable thriller to lose themselves in.