I found this book entertaining, especially since I grew up in the DC suburbs. I enjoyed the multiple POV and the unreliable narrators. I look forward to reading what Melissa Adelman writes next. A fun, quick summer thriller.

Read If You Enjoy:
- Neighborhood Drama
- Messy Marriages
- Dual POV
- Unlikeable Characters

Overall Thoughts:
This book is rich people problems at it's finest. It has a Desperate Housewives feel to it. Not everything is as shiny as it seems on the outside. Behind closed doors, its slowly revealed that all the marriages in this book are downright messy and there are plenty of secrets to go around. This makes the majority of the characters very unlikeable. We hear from two different wives, Alexis and Blair.

Alexis is new to the neighborhood and had grown up in poverty. She has had a long goal of living in an upscale neighborhood to feel like she has "made it" in life. When she and her husband take on a fixer upper of a home, she quickly finds out that the grass may not always be greener on the other side. The house turns out to be a total money pit. She finds herself juggling renovations, a new born baby, and attempting to fit in with her new neighbors. All of this just seems to be causing increasing strain on her marriage to Sam. Shortly after moving in, one of the neighbors is found murdered. Alexis begins to foster a friendship with the widow, Blair, who provides our second point of view. Though different, they also have similar qualities. At some point in the story, Alexis finds out some information and begins to put pieces together leading to a few major twists in the story (don't worry, no spoilers here!)

I grew to really dislike Alexis' husband. They mutually agreed to purchase their home and when the stress piles on with renovations, he is very disrespectful about it. Alexis certainly is not perfect herself, but I didn't think she was deserving of that POS husband that she has.

Alexis is my favorite character by far - all the other women in this book I found to be rather deplorable. Proof that money doesn't buy good character! Alexis does remain flawed with her desperation to put on appearances to fit in and borderline starving herself (with what sounded like an eating disorder),

The big reveal of the murderer wasn't a shock and awe moment, but there was still another twist I had seen going a very different direction than it did.

I think overall as a debut novel from this author, it was enjoyable. I would consider picking up another novel of hers in the future if I were to come across one.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This was a pretty quick thriller, but none of the characters are likeable, and the premise seemed unrealistic.

It took me a little while to get into this one, especially with how many characters there were to keep track of. Once I got them all straight I really enjoyed this. I love the dynamic of the neighborhood and thought the drama between them was entertaining. I was definitely surprised by the twists at the end and didn't see them coming at all. Although looking back maybe I should have. I would have liked a bit more development of the characters, but overall they were pretty entertaining and intriguing. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Minotaur and NetGalley for the eARC of What the Neighbors Saw. All opinions in this review are my own.

There will be spoilers in this review because I don't know how to explain why I didn't like this book without giving away one of the larger plot points at the end. You have been warned.

Alexis and her husband decide to buy a crumbling house in an affluent neighbor. All seems well until one of their neighbors is found murdered. Between the stress of home renovations and the more and more horrifying actions of their neighbors, Alexis is struggling.

I thought the set up with Teddy's murder and the concerning actions of other neighbors kept you reading because you weren't quite sure who could be responsible for the murder. While this was definitely slower paced than other thrillers, there was enough happening to keep the story (and suspicion) moving.

I was really enjoying this sinster domestic thriller (even though I was hating Alexis's husband more and more as the story went on) until the big reveal. I appreciate how difficult it is to make an exciting twist in a thriller, but making one of the married couples half-siblings at 80% of the book seemed so far out of left field I thought Alexis's suspicions would be laughed at by the other character. The last 20% flew through the explanation of how this happened and why this character was actually the murderer. While it was supposed to draw comparisons between Alexis and this character, both their mothers had been put in a position by powerful men and resented their daughters for it, it just made the story completely abandon the first 80% of the story.

All this being said, What the Neighbors Saw is the author's first book and since I enjoyed such a large chunk of the story, I would be interested in reading her next book. Hopefully it doesn't involve any incest plotlines.

This is my first read from this author and I'm looking forward to her other books. it's a slow burn thriller filled with marriage nd neighbor drama. it's a pretty fast read and you won't be able to put it down. I highly recommend it.

2.5 stars (rounded down).

"What the Neighbors Saw" by Melissa Adelman is a short book with a couple of well-done plot points, but it feels like the story goes on forrrreeeeeevvvverrrrrr, which brought my opinion of it down quite a bit. This book feels like the tale of two stories, neither of which are resoundingly compelling. There is a relatively successful domestic drama portion and the murder-y mystery portion with a twist ending that left me annoyed because of how quickly and randomly it wraps up. This book is eerily similar to myriad other titles that have been released in the last few years involving awful wealthy people doing increasingly horrendous things to their family members, friends, and neighbors. The market for this kind of book is horribly oversaturated right now, so Adelman needed to do something unique and bold to differentiate her novel from the pack. Unfortunately, that just doesn't happen here. The first half is more engaging than the last half, but there is a woeful lack of character development throughout. I hated all of the characters here, and not just because they were rude or mean people. They are just so unlikable that it's hard to sympathize with any of them for anything. I have a feeling most wealthy people are like this in real life. It feels like some parts of the story drag on and on and on for little to no purpose other than filling a word count. I will admit, I thought the ending was fine, but it felt so abrupt and out of nowhere that I didn't have time to savor and enjoy the reveal. All in all, I wouldn't recommend this book and didn't love it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Melissa Adelman, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

The majority of the characters in this book were easy to dislike. I have to admit, at the beginning of this book, I really struggled with the character of Alexis. I wanted to like her so badly, but she started out being so negative about herself that I had a really hard time wanting to continue reading her parts. However, as the story progressed and her relationship with Blair grew, I found myself liking her more, but it was hard for me to continue because the pace of the book was moving so slow. The last several chapters finally picked up, and I was able to finish, but if you struggle with books that are a slow burn, I wouldn't recommend this book. While it wasn't my style, it did have some interesting plot twists and surprises towards the end, and I'm glad I finished it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback. This was an enjoyable thriller, perfect for fans of Desperate Housewives

Alexis, along with her husband and two young children, moves into a rundown house in an upscale neighborhood where she quickly finds herself enmeshed in murder and other mayhem.
This was pretty good; engaging enough, even though it seemed to take a long time to get to the point.
Thanks to #netgalley and #minotaurbooks for this #arc of #whattheneighborssaw in exchange for an honest review.

- Murder Mystery
- Gossipy Neighbors

While I am not a huge thriller reader, I do enjoy one occasionally. I came across this one on NetGalley and was immediately interested after reading the Desperate Housewives comparison in the blurb (I used to be obsessed with that show). I felt those vibes with all the gossipy neighbors wanting to know everyone's business.
While I did enjoy the overall murder mystery plotline, I am rating four stars as I felt like the story moved slowly and I was extremely annoyed by Alexis's constant whining.
This is the authors debut novel and I hope to read more by her in the future.

Well, I don't know what I was expecting from What the Neighbors Saw by Melissa Adelman, but I certainly wasn't expecting that wild ending! The road to get there is a bit of a slow burn, but between the viewpoint switches with Alexis and Blair and all the neighbor drama and cattiness, it goes by quickly. Each POV gives you something different, and while I suspected certain things, I never in a million years would have guessed where this was going. Adelman initially sneaks in the fact that Alexis is black, but once you know that, you can definitely see the ways in which she is treated differently by everyone including her own neighbors. That added an interesting element to the story, and while I still wouldn't say I liked her all that much, I was mad for her at the same time. And it didn't help at all that her husband Sam is clearly a tool.

The audiobook has a narrator for each viewpoint (yay!), and I was very excited that Hillary Huber was the narrator for Blair. She is amazing and one of my favorites, and she was certainly fitting to be the voice of the prim and proper but slightly obnoxious Blair. Sarah Hollis narrates Alexis, and I honestly loved her just as much. These women nailed their characters, and it was a joy to listen to them. I was extremely satisfied with the way the book concluded and I was able to fully immerse myself in Adelman's writing which was a huge plus! We basically fall into the lives and marriages of the two women, and while I would have enjoyed a bit more character development, they all provided for interesting reading all the same. I would recommend What the Neighbors Saw (on audio) if you enjoy slow-burn thrillers and plenty of neighbor/marriage drama.

There are a lot of neighborhood noir psychological thrillers out there and they range from the popcorn-thriller variety, to heart-pounding terror, and everything in between. The best ones for my personal tastes are the ones that engross the reader so deeply into the dynamics among the neighbors that I forget for just a moment that there is a broader mystery going on.

The latter type is what I found in Melissa Adelman’s debut novel, What the Neighbors Saw. Layered, well-crafted, and compelling, I was so immersed in the stories of the two leading female characters that I almost forgot the book started with a murder! This was without question one of the best books I’ve read in 2023. I didn’t want it to end, I obsessively marked passages I wanted to come back to, and I have thought about it nearly daily since I finished it. If you are a fan of well-developed characters and relationships, captivating settings, and complex layered stories, this book should be top of your to-be-read list.

About the Book

Alexis and her husband Sam are thrilled at the possibilities when they buy a fixer upper Cape Cod style house in one of the most exclusive suburbs of Washington D.C. Sam is close to making partner and Alexis is pregnant with their second child. This is a dream house, if only they can budget the money to make the necessary updates over time.

At first this is a dream come true. Their neighbors are all so glamorous and wealthy. But soon after moving in, Alexis and Sam realize the house needs more work than they thought and they are constantly fighting over where to spend their money on the house. Alexis sometimes wonders if they should have never left their downtown brownstone. She’s the only black resident on their block, and she never truly feels like she fits in. Add in the fighting with Sam…were they happier before?

The dream truly shatters when their neighbor Teddy Bard is murdered while out for a run. Teddy’s wife Blair is the reigning queen of the neighborhood, but in the wake of her husband’s sudden death, she doesn’t know where to turn. Appreciating Alexis’s humble kindness and distinct outside status to neighborhood gossip, Blair and Alexis form an unlikely friendship. But as the women grow closer, things in the neighborhood seem to grow darker.

After all, the most beautiful neighborhoods often hide the darkest secrets…

Why you should read it

At the forefront, What the Neighbors Saw is a gripping psychological thriller about a couple moving to an affluent neighborhood and finding themselves living with front row seats to a murder investigation that is exposing secrets previously hidden behind closed doors. The murder is more of the instigating factors for everything else that unfolds. It is both central to the plot and almost takes a backseat to the other dynamics within the block.

This is also a story about Alexis, a black woman who was raised by a distant mother with no family and very few friends. Alexis was alone from a young age and relied on her intelligence and hard work to create a life that couldn’t be more different from the one her mother led. As an adult, Alexis is constantly aware of being the “other” in a world populated by largely white men and affluent women who struggle to look past her surface characteristics and see her for who she is.

Blair, who is probably the most welcoming to Alexis once they form their friendship, often muses that Alexis seems terrified or skittish. Blair likes Alexis, but I question whether she really appreciates Alexis as anything other than a friend who is less glamorous or wealthy than her who she can feel superior to. I know this sounds harsh, I actually like Blair as a character and felt she also had way more depth to her than others think she has.

The twists and turns in this book are subtle but also shocking. The story starts about a couple moving to a new neighborhood and trying to fit in, then it is about a murder, and then it is about what is really going on behind the gorgeous facades of the neighborhood homes. The story weaves through different secrets and deception, exploring the lack of diversity in a neighborhood like this and how that can change someone’s role within the group depending on their past or race. It deeply explores the relationships among the characters, even the ones who are less prominent.

Alexis’s story was so compelling, I loved getting glimpses into her past. Her mother was cold, distant, and often punishing. And yet at times, though I never felt any of her actions we justified, I could feel her pain even through the second-hand account by Alexis. I thought the character of Alexis was the best part of the book, followed by the twisted ending that had me spinning.

Ooooh i love a good scandal, and this book certainly had a doozy! Thrilling and fast-paced, it kept me glued to my seat until the very end! A fun murder mystery with some jaw dropping moments. Great writing and such fun characters!

3.5 This was okay! It took me a long time to finish which is odd for me and an Audiobook but it did feel like it dragged on in some parts, and I went back and forth if I like Alexis’s or not but in the end I did like her! I thought Blair was an interesting character and I enjoyed her POV and I had my ideas of what the twist was and I was half right with it! And I was shocked at the other half! But I did feel like there was a lot filler with the neighbourhood and neighbours than needed to be! I listened to the audiobook and thought the narration was done well!

This book was great at hiding the truth lurking in the background. Alexis and Sam have moved into a new house in a affluent neighborhood. They start to get to know their neighbors better and the secret dynamics come alive. Blair’s husband Teddy is found dead. Suspicions are mounting that he was murdered. Alexis goes to visit Blair and forms a friendship with her. I enjoyed the drama and the twists to the story.

I gave this book a chance. It was not for me. I will not be reviewing it on my bookstagram account or goodread page. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read it.

2.5 stars rounded up

What the Neighbors Saw is a dual POV told through the perspectives of new neighbour, Alexis, and established neighbour, Blair. After a death in the neighbourhood, secrets and drama come to light and leave Alexis wondering just what kind of neighbourhood she’s moved into.

The story reads quickly, but the plot progresses slowly. I didn’t feel any of the characters were well flushed out and a lot of time was spent on plot points that didn’t add to the story as a whole.

I do want to specifically say that I was not a fan of all the talk about losing baby weight. The constant weight related talk really bothered me and I wish it wasn’t so heavily focused on. I don’t know if it was to accentuate the superficiality of the neighbourhood, but I didn’t think it had any point.

Overall, this story was just fine for me. The ending was interesting but the journey there made it feel kind of weird and abrupt. I wish we had more background on Blair and Teddy.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, for the copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

WHAT THE NEIGHBORS SAW is a domestic thriller about an ambitious young couple who succumb to the lure of all the glitz and glamour of living in an upscale neighborhood alongside the wealthy. When the chance to buy a broken-down Cape Cod cottage at a deal presents itself, they jump at the chance knowing it's a fixer upper, but location is everything, right? In their eyes, they have finally moved up to take their place among the affluent. They settle in and begin meeting their wealthy neighbors and attending block parties while also starting renovations on their bottomless money pit of a house. Funds are tight, but Sam is expected to make partner at his law firm soon, and Alexis is preparing for the new baby. Just when it seems they are finally on the right track, a murder shatters their perfect illusions. A neighbor is found dead of suspicious causes. How does that happen in the middle of suburbia paradise?
WHAT THE NEIGHBORS SAW is a slow burn tale unfolding through dual points of view - that of Alexis and also Blair, an influential neighbor who appears to take Alexis under her wing guiding her through the long list of who's who including who's cheating on whom within the not nearly so perfect neighborhood. Before long, it's clear money cannot buy happiness, and after the birth of her child, Alexis tries to conceal her growing uneasiness that's fueled by spying on neighbors. The more she sees, the more she suspects all is not as it seems in the land of the affluent. Eventually, the long, sleepless nights with a crying newborn takes its' toll on her sanity, and those around her begin to question the validity of her sparsely shared observations. The story that unfolds is an intriguing domestic thriller where dark secrets begin surfacing and masks slipping amid a hunt for the killer living among them.

Melissa Adelman has penned an intriguing story with detailed descriptions of life among the wealthy and/or wanna be wealthy. The first half of the book plays out in slow motion with the author paying great attention to individual family dynamics within the community as she strips away layers and draws aside the curtains to reveal some ugly truths to readers. At times, it feels as though the murder investigation is secondary with more time and attention being paid to the daily lives and happenings within the community. In doing so, the author emphasizes that wealth does not buy happiness or loyalty, changing location does not assure bliss and the grass is not always greener elsewhere. Even though some may find the slow pace frustrating early on, I think they'll appreciate Adelman's attention to detail in setting and characterizations as much as I did. While most characters are certainly not very likeable, they do afford readers juicy entertainment as the gossip mill runs rampant and lies and secrets pile up. With the pace increasing in the latter half of the book, questions about loyalties and betrayals arise, and I suspect many will be shocked at the big reveal and climax.

WHAT THE NEIGHBORS SAW is a warning about the many dangers in trying to keep up with the Jones, of trying to fit in at all costs. Relationships become strained within families and friendships as people are often shocked at just how far they're willing to go to protect the lifestyle to which they've become accustomed. Fans of domestic thrillers will enjoy this one as will fans of suspense thrillers.

This ones for fans of the rich families and neighborhood drama thats devastating consequences. Alexis and her husband are getting ready to have their second child when they find out they can buy a house In an exclusive neighborhood. They thought it would be everything they wanted but it turned out to be so much worse. This was a fun quick read about the rich behaving badly. I enjoyed getting to know the histories of the neighbors and what they were hiding.






Thank you to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for my Gifted copy