Nice neighborhood: Not so Nice People

It’s an incredible find, a fixer-upper, but it’s in a beautiful neighborhood just minutes from downtown Washington DC. It’s a stretch for Alexis and Sam, but it’s the chance of a lifetime. It could be their forever home.

Sam and Alexis are young and successful. He’s about to make partner in a law firm. She’s a business consultant. They have one child and another on the way. It seems like a dream come true, and at first it is. They meet the next door neighbors, Teddy and Blair. Teddy seems like a really nice guy and Blair and Alexis hit it off. Then the unthinkable happens. Teddy is found dead on the neighborhood path and the police don’t think it’s an accident.

The novel is not fast paced. It takes place over several years and is told in alternating chapters by Alexis and Blair. The perspectives of the two women are well done and make the ending much more realistic. I can’t say that I liked the main characters. Alexis seemed to have her insecurities close to the surface. Maybe she doesn’t really belong in this wealthy neighborhood. She’s a scholarship kid, raised by a single mother, and her skin color is dark. I couldn’t like Sam at all. He was mean to Alexis when there was no reason to be so hurtful. They went into the house together, but when the repairs mount up, he blames her.

This is a well done plot, but if you’re interested in murder mysteries, this one is more of a character study.

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for this book.

Alexis and Sam have an opportunity to move into a very ritzy neighborhood. The house is probably out of their price range. Plus, this house needs so much work! They bite the bullet and move in. They really believe they are in a very safe area until one of their neighbors dies under questionable circumstances. Then, there are more strange things that begin to occur!

I really did not like any of these characters. Sam is verbally abusive to his wife, Alexis. Alexis is an attorney but she acts dumber than dirt. And she really makes so many very questionable decisions. Now, that that is out of the way, I did enjoy this story though!

This mystery is a bit intricate but the further you go along the more you are questioning…WHO DID IT! I figured out who did it but I had no idea why until the end and BOY…what a twisted ending! You will have to read this to find out. But…it is not what you think!

Need a murder mystery that has a family twist….THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

In the thriller, What the Neighbors Saw, we meet Sam and Alexis, a young couple who are working hard to build their careers and their family. With a second baby on the way, they succumb to the allure of an upscale D.C. suburb with rich residents by purchasing a fixer upper as their ticket to join. It doesn't take long for a mysterious death and neighbors with secrets cause Alexis to wonder if they have made the right decision.

This book was like watching and episode of Desperate Housewives told in dual timelines by Alexis and her neighbor Blair. The twisted behavior of the neighbors, the level of betrayal that some people will go to and the final outcome surprised me. I enjoyed both the audio and print versions. There were a lot of characters to get straight in the beginning along with a few far fetched scenes, but overall it was a fast paced, entertaining, summer read.

Thanks to the Macmillan Audio Influencer Program, St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and the author for audio and digital ARC's in exchange for my honest opinion!

I had high hopes for this book after reading the preview. Rich neighborhood, secrets, affairs, death, trouble…. What could be better? Unfortunately, this one fell a bit short for me. It wasn’t the “I couldn’t put down page turner” that I wanted it to be. Overall an ok read good, but not great.

A slow burn domestic thriller that fell a bit short for me. The title and synopsis were enticing and the story had a promising start but once I got towards the middle of the book, it started to feel dragged on. It felt as if the story was going in so many directions and in the end they seemed irrelevant to have been brought up in the first place.

I did like the twists that came in the end but they unfortunately came too late and it wasn't too exciting to make up for the lackluster middle part, and it also felt rushed.

Decent but could have definitely been better.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the gifted eARC.

I was really looking forward to this one and I had not heard about this author before. The story centered around a wealthy neighborhood of people who were friends and one of them ended up dead at the bottom of a cliff on a trail near his house. There were plenty of people who could be suspect for the crime. The book dragged a bit for me and when it did pick up the big reveal was nothing I could have ever thought of. It was really out there, even for me. I did enjoy the setting of DC and could imagine those type of neighborhoods there. Overall, a three star read for me.

What the Neighbors Saw is a slow burn of a domestic drama. When Alexis and Sam move to an upscale neighborhood they imagine all their family dreams would come true. Instead resentment and neighborhood scandal becomes the norm. I struggled to get through this book. Not one likable character, all a bit underdeveloped and too many sub plots to care what happened to anybody. While the writing was good and the potential was there I just felt let down by the time I got to the end of the book. There are lots of other people out there though that enjoyed this book so I'd say give it a try. Just could be a me thing and not the book.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review honestly an advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own.

The plot in What The Neighbors Saw moved along. There were lot of back stories that were revealed. And, of course, secrets, mayhem, mystery and.murder were present. The premise was interesting and it included the right elements but, for me, it was a good read, not a great one.

Love a domestic thriller and What The Neighbors Saw is a great addition to the subgenre.

A young family stretches their budget to buy the fixer-upper of their dreams, only to discover that one of their new neighbors was murdered. Will this new mom solve the case? Which of her neighbors did it?

This book will keep you guessing until the end!

3.75ish stars

Another fun, twisty domestic thriller set in a well-off neighbourhood where, as expected, something goes horribly wrong. I enjoyed my journey through the story and thought the ending was okay, if not super unexpected and surprising. It was a good one I’ve been thinking amont for quite a while, and I’m glad I had time to get into it now.

A neighborhood full of secrets, a perfect setting for murder. Lots of drama, twists and turns galore. I was hooked right to the end. Thanks to NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book.

Intriguing mystery and neighborhood drama.

When Alexis and her husband, Sam move to an exclusive neighborhood in a DC suburb, they think their biggest worry is remodeling the run down mini mansion. They have no idea that soon a neighborhood will show up dead and the focus on their neighborhood will suddenly blow up. When it does, you see how many of the neighbors aren't nice people and may even have something to hide. Meanwhile, Alexis is trying to settle into the new neighborhood after recently having their second child. She feels overwhelmed and insecure when dealing with some of these people. So, when one of the neighbors reaches out and befriends her, Alexis gobbles up the attention.

This was a well written story. Even though I suspected a few of the "twists," it still kept me turning the pages until the end.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: I was fortunate enough to also receive an early listening copy and that enabled me to bounce back and forth between the ebook and audiobook. With that ability, I breezed right through this book and when I reached the end, I found myself so disappointed in all the characters as they were selfish and unkind people for the most part. The narration in this audio was really good and kept me immersed in the storyline. 4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of both the ebook and audiobook. I voluntarily chose to review them and the opinions contained within are my own.

Would you live in a neighborhood where your neighbors see everything?
A New Neighborhood - Alexis and her family move into a little fixer upper in an exclusive Cape Cod neighborhood
Dead Husband - but when one of their neighbor’s husbands winds up dead, the police come up empty handed
Suspicions - There are a lot of suspicions from all involved, but it’s even more erie when it feels like the neighbors are watching and know everything. And they aren’t talking.

I received this book from Macmillan Audio to share with you. This book was a little bit twisted and definitely a domestic thriller. While there are definitely elements of creepiness in this book, the twist is actually quite a bit shocking because I really wasn’t looking for it. I was just reading along in this book where all the people have secrets or are involved with others. However, looking back I wouldn’t say it was the best thriller I have read this year, but if you like domestic thrillers, you might have a good time.

3.5 stars

.This twisty thriller takes place in an elite American neighbourhood. Alexis and her husband Sam have just moved into a fixer upper with their young child and another baby on the way. The house is old and in need of much repair but despite it being a money pit,, Alexis is thrilled to be living in this prestigious neighborhood. She is enamored by her new neighbour Blair's .glamerous life. Blair has it all with her husband Teddy until he turns up dead one day during his daily jog. Who could've done such a thing in this safe suburban environment? This whodunit alternates between Alexis and Blair's perspectives and introduces a cast of colorful characters living in the neighborhood. The ending surprised me.

Although the pacing was off in the first half and a little too much time was spent on Alexis ' childhood flashbacks, the second half made up for it. A gracious thank you to St. Martin's Press for an advanced e copy in exchange for an honest review.

What the Neighbors Saw was a complicated fiction. It had a bit of mystery and crime but to me it was mostly about the dynamics of a community or should I say neighborhood that were all kinds of screwed up. The writing was good and I couldn’t figure out who committed the murder. But in the end it felt like the author rushed the ending for me and I’m giving it a 3.5⭐️. I listen to most of this and read the rest. I loved the narrators! They were perfect in their roles and look forward to hearing more from them.
Thanks Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.

🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
Welcome to the Neighborhood!

“What The Neighbors Saw” is an outstanding and entertaining debut! I’ll be keeping my eyes open for more by Melissa Adelman. This psychological thriller had just enough trashy scenes to give it a “Desperate Housewife” vibe without going overboard. Dark and sexy fun with scandalous twists and unpredictable shocks!

I didn’t hesitate to download this ebook when I received a widget from St. Martin’s Publishing. Thank you so much! I started with the ebook but switched to the audiobook, which has two fantastic narrators. Audiobooks with multiple narrators are like ice cream with your favorite toppings! YUMMY!

Alexis and Sam have come across the opportunity of a lifetime. A big home in an affluent DC suburb at a steal. It’s priced so low (but still stretching their budget to the max) because it’s run down and needs major repairs. But Alexis is pregnant with their second child and they may never get a chance like this again.

Their neighbors—Teddy and Blair—have three children, but Teddy is murdered soon after they move in. Alexis is ecstatic when she becomes friends with Blair. Blair is accepting and friendly. Alexis feels so out of place in this flawless neighborhood. All the other families look so picture-perfect. Until Alexis starts to learn the dirty secrets they keep hidden behind closed doors! Have her and Sam bitten off more than they can chew?

Sincere thanks to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for providing these complimentary ARCs through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#WhatTheNeighborsSaw #MelissaAdelman #macmillanaudio #minotaurbooks #netgalley #GiftedARCs #StMartinsPublishing #debut #WashingtonDC #honestreview #thrillerfriendsunite #mysteryandthrills #thrillerobsessedbookishclub #justfinished #newrelease #igbookreels #thriller #suspense #mystery #lovetoread #bookworms #lovebooks #lovetoreadbooks #fortheloveofbooks #booknerd #bookreviewer #minotaurinfluencers #booksbooksandmorebooks #ad #instabook #readaholic

Alexis has a growing family and is excited they can move into an exclusive DC suburb. She meets the neighbors and is in love with the community. Soon a neighbor dies and is found on the banks of the Potomac River. It was lucky his body was found at all. Alexis has her second baby and her life seems to be unraveling. She wears the same clothes for a couple days in a row and isn't great at doing much then just being and being a mom. They hire help for their home and she tries to get out some to get some time with her neighbors. She becomes closest to Blair, the widow, of her neighbor who passed away on the trails. As they spend more time together Alexis begins to discover cracks in Blairs marriage and she discovers a huge secret the family was keeping. Things continue to unravel in both Blair and Alexis' lives. They navigate their own lives and their friendship but things are not looking great for the friendship after bombshells are revealed.

Definitely an interesting read I would highly recommend.

When trying to keep up with the Joneses you should always be careful what you wish for. That is exactly what happens with this book. I found this book to be engaging and a very easy read. I loved the characters and descriptions; excellent writing. I will say it's a bit of a slow burn, but worth it!

Middle of the road read. Pretty good for a debut author. All the boxes were clicked to enjoy as a thriller. Just really didn't care for the characters and couldn't get invested in their issues. The writing style is different and it took a few chapters to get n2. Once I did, I was able to quickly read.

#NETGALLEY
#WHATTHENEIGHBORSSAW
#MELISSAADELMAN

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
What the Neighbors Saw
Author: Melissa Adelman
Source: NetGalley
Published: June 20, 2023

What the Neighbors Saw by Melissa Adelman is a thriller with an interesting couple of twists. The book may start a little slow, but it’s the groundwork for the rest of the story. A young couple, Alexis and Sam, along with two very young children stretch their budget to buy a home in one of the nicest DC suburbs. Both are on successful career tracks but when the babies start arriving, Alexis get the brunt of the work and has to sacrifice for a husband who is physically and emotionally detaching from Alexis. From the outside, the neighbors and the homes in which they reside seem perfect. But after the first murder, you get the picture that all is certainly NOT as it seems. Like most of these stories, we have secrets, adultery, lies, murder, crime, lecherous old men, clueless cops. Alexis and Sam’s home’s is a fixer-upper as is the relationships of about every neighbor in this community. A good read with a better ending. My only comment is too many characters….so keeping notes will probably help you enjoy the book more. Published June 20th.  #WhatTheNeighborsSaw  @MelissaAdelman @NetGalley @MinotaurBooks #thriller #deadhusbands #fiction #mysteryThriller #suspense #oldHouses #crime #adultfiction #relationships
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I received a complimentary copy of this ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel. Pub. Date: June 20, 2023.
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