*Many thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for my gifted eARC. Publication date 6/20/23*

This was a slow burn domestic thriller that I really enjoyed. I like slow burns and getting to know the characters and their pasts and this book did a great job with that. I also love books about houses, so buying, renovating the house and all the details I loved. The only negative thing I would say is there are a bunch of neighbors in the neighborhood so I had to keep track of them all, but it wasn't to hard.

Alexis and her husband Sam find the perfect fixer upper house in a beautiful, high class neighborhood at a very good price. After they move in, a body is found by the walking trail by their house and it is one of their neighbors, Teddy. This perfect neighborhood is not so perfect anymore!

First let me say that this book was very well written and well plotted. I seriously did not see it ending the way that it did. I thought the author did an excellent job laying out the story and creating the suspense. The drawback for me was that none of the characters was likeable or even sympathetic. From the very start Sam and Alexis do nothing but complain about and to each other and in a particularly nasty way. My overriding emotion was what on earth are these two people doing married to each other? Sam was a complete misogynistic nightmare of a husband, and Alexis just couldn’t seem to find the self-worth to stand up for herself. The fact that they had a second child in the midst of all the mutual hostility was baffling to me. But others might find this compelling.

That being said, I think the book worked on a few levels. First the plot was well done and the characters were well developed. The suspense was good and not obvious. I wish I had been able to relate to the characters more.
I will give this author a second chance.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

Man oh man this one started off so strongly, slowed a bit in the middle and then had a dud ending. Being from the DC area I LOVE when a book is “local” because it just feels like I can connect more but this book could have honestly been set anywhere. I feel like the author missed out on an opportunity to take advantage of the DC area in terms of scenes etc. The storyline related to Alexis and her upbringing to me felt like it was trying too hard to add another dimension to the character that was not needed. As related to the main arc regarding the death of Teddy toward the end of the book it felt like more of an afterthought to resolve and instead became a bit lost. Overall this book just felt very long and while it had a strong premise fell a bit short for me.

The Couple Next Door is one of my favourite thrillers and I am a huge Real Housewives of Potomac fan so when I saw the description mentioning it's a cross I couldn't wait to read it! I pictured Alexis and Blair and their community just like Real Housewives of Potomac is which really helped me see the scene. I had a few theories on what Alexis's secret is but I never saw it coming. I also wanted to see what the neighbourhood was divided on. I couldn't put this book down because it was very fast paced and I wanted to see what Blair and Alexis secrets are. I will for sure read another book by this author!

A strong 3 star rating 3/out of 5 for the writing ability. Never having read this author I wasn't sure what to expect. I found I liked her style and the novel kept me interested enough to keep reading. This was written from 2 points of view. Two women, one rich, one not (Alexis) who live across the street from each other in an uber wealthy community.

Personally, I didn't find any of the characters likable. Even the main one, Alexis who is married to a jackass and just had a baby when they move into this house badly in need of renovation. She is a woman of color, the only one in this new neighborhood and is apprehensive about meeting her neighbors. She is used to just scraping by, but evidently they still qualified for a 7 figure house, go figure. The jackass husband is named Sam, a lawyer who insists on a new BMW to keep up with the Joneses, while she drives around in a beat up old Honda. I fluctuated between wanting to slap either one of them or both upside the head several times.

When an unexpected tragedy happens in the neighborhood these odd people get better acquainted by necessity, but boy, be careful what you wish for. What secrets are they hiding?

The ending left me feeling uneasy about everything and everyone. My digital review copy was provided by the publishers via NetGalley. I thank them for allowing me to read this and post my honest opinions of this work. This novel will be available at your favorite retailers on June 20, 2023.

Neighborhood thrillers with deep lurking secrets are usually my jam - unfortunately this one was really hard to get through . The drama was non existent in this ultimately super slow burn that never actually picked up and the characters were just to flat and unlikeable for me to invest into .
A good many plots that come around in this book never seem to be explained either - so I feel alot of questions are still up in the air .
The title itself didn't seem to make sense after reading this book .. and the ending seemed predictable. .
I did like the writing style and I would try another by this author . But this one wasn't for me .

This book had its ups and dows for me. It started strong, but then there was too much and nothing going on at the same time. I did like how it ended, a little twisted and messed up in a good way.

Thanks for this ARC!

Alexis and her husband Sam have just bought a new home. The historic home at 51 Shadow Road is being sold “As Is” and calling it a fixer upper would be putting it lightly. However, it is in a terrific and exclusive neighborhood. Homes in this area are almost never put up for sale and never at the price Alexis and Sam paid. Alexis thinks it really is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The family moves in and are warmly welcomed by the neighborhood. But the unexpected death of one of their neighbors has Alexis wondering if she may have made a big mistake moving her family into the home on Shadow Road. And as more neighborhood secrets are revealed we will see just how far some people will go to maintain the status quo. For some people it’s all about keeping up appearances.

“Doing what looks good and making sure everyone walks away with the right impression.”

The story is told from the two main characters, Alexis and Blair’s point of view. There is a lot going on with many of the characters and at times I had a hard time keep all of the couples (and their issues) straight. But the plot was intriguing and I was excited to read what would happen next. There was lots of foreshadowing and red Herrings. At times I found the direction a bit hard to follow. However, I enjoyed the twists and liked how things came together in the end. Overall, it was an enjoyable read. A very good debut novel.

I look forward to reading more from Melissa Adelman.



I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

neighborhood thrillers with catty rich moms and their first world problems are usually my jam - just a fun, bingeable time, and not too serious, so I thought this would be right up my alley. unfortunately this one was a slog to get through, the drama was barely existent and the characters were too flat for me to get invested in anything happening. for a book like this i want to have FUN and this just wasn’t

Alexis and her husband, Sam, purchased a fixer upper house in an exclusive suburb. The story was told alternately between Alexis and her neighbor, Blair. Alexis was envious of the lives her neighbors’s lived. The only character that I really liked, was Elena ~ nanny to Alexis and Sam’s children. I don’t think anyone in the book was happy.
I felt that “the twist” that came about ¾ of the way in the book was strange and came out of left field.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you netgalley for the chance to read WHAT THE NEIGHBORS SAW in advance.

great murder mystery read set in a high end dc neighborhood. I will definitely be read this again doing it on audiobook.

Alexis and Sam purchase a fixer-upper in a "nice" neighborhood. They make a few updates and move in after the birth of their second child. Shortly thereafter, a neighbor meets an unfortunate end. The police seem to have no leads. With nerves on end, Alexis begins to question what she sees and what she knows to be true.

I loved this book. I felt for Alexis. She was so worried about appearances and fitting in that she forgot about loving herself. Her childhood was a factor in how she saw herself, but she is bright and capable. I'm not sure how she put up with Sam and his nonsense. Laughing at her injury when she thought he would be upset about it was a clear indicator of his callousness. Blair seemed to adopt Alexis as a friend, but Blair's inner thoughts seemed quite at odds with true friendship. The neighbors in this nicer area were something else, but then you really cannot judge books by their covers. When some of their pasts were revealed, you start to understand the idea of live and let live.
I recommend this book wholeheartedly. It's thought-provoking. It's heartwarming. It's maddening. I had no idea of the ending. So, yes, great job on this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for an e-arc of this book for an honest review.

⭐️: 3.5/5

After moving into a fixer-upper in an exclusive neighborhood in the suburbs of DC, Alexis and her husband are determined to make the most of their future. When their neighbor Blair’s husband, Teddy, is found dead nearby, the whole neighborhood is shaken as the police try to find the killer. As Alexis and Blair grow closer and secrets and the truth about Teddy’s murder begin to come out, both women are confronted with the lengths to which they’ll go to preserve their carefully cultivated lives.

The cover of this one really drew me in, since I think the color and overall theme of it remind me of some thrillers that I really enjoyed. This one was a relatively quick read, that was overall good, but not great. One of my favorite things about it was the setting, since it was set in a Northern VA, DC suburb community, and that area (and those type of people) is what I grew up in and went to school around, so it was entertaining to read about. I had trouble staying interested in the book though because both Alexis and her husband Sam were just so annoying, unlikeable, and nonsensical that it was hard to empathize with anything they were going through. They just seemed to ~want~ everything so badly, and it kind of gave me the ick. Alexis is constantly complaining in a “whyyy does everything bad always happen to meeee” type of way, and Sam was just a verified asshole that it was hard to understand anything about them as a couple or family. The book as a whole ended up going in a little bit of a different direction than I initially thought, and while I enjoyed the surprise, it still didn’t fully make up for the things I didn’t like about the book.

Thank you to @netgalley and @minotaur_books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I found this on a Minotaur Sampler and definitely agree that this is a cross between Desperate Housewives and the Couple Next Door. A successful young couple with 1 child and another on the way purchase a fixer upper in a very exclusive neighborhood. With great career ambitions, both Sam and Alexis see this home, while a bit of a financial stretch for them, as their forever, impressive home. However, one of their 7 neighbors is found murdered on the trail that runs through the neighborhood.

This is a slow burn, neighborhood drama, suspenseful story. I thought that the character development was very well done. I found Alexis very relatable but I did not really care for her as a person. I also did not like Blair, and Sam was a gross, waspy jerk. Despite not liking a lot of the characters, I did want to read on to figure out who killed Teddy and how it all played out.

I did enjoy the read! Highly recommend.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Publishers for this Arc of What the Neighbors Saw expected June 20,2023.

This novel did not disappoint. Imagine growing up neglected in a way that you never really understood but knew was happening. Now imagine you meet a man who shows you in that moment; you are worth the repair and dedication to start a family and a life you not only want but deserve.

Now imagine you move into a neighborhood filled with the elite. The home at its essence is you as a house. A neglected cape cod with the potential you also had but was back lit. These are your dreams and your future. You deserve this house, this life, this street…even if your dark skin, your nanny, and your beat up old car scream otherwise. You belong here among the elite.

Now imagine a murder and all the hidden secrets of your creepy old neighbor with a young girl fetish, your not so attractive neighbor with a very attractive wife, and your techie neighbors who are just a little unhinged. But most importantly the grieving widow who actually sees you for you and wants to be your friend.

A murder, friendships, deceit, money, failing marriages all around make this novel a total page turner. How much does it cost to fit in and is it worth it in the end?

Until the very last page this novel keeps you guessing and doesn’t disappoint. What’s more important love, status, or money? Maybe they are all the same ……

This is a a quick read with some drama around the gossipy lives of the wealthy and the secrets they keep. Just after a couple moves into an old fixer-upper in a wealthy neighborhood that the wife is desperate to be part of, a murder takes place. The neighbors have their suspicions and their true colors are revealed. I would not say this a "thriller" as in you will be on the edge of your seat but it is a bit of a mystery. There are times I felt it was predictable but at the same time, it was not. I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It's a quick and enjoyable read.

I received a digital advance copy of What the Neighbors Saw by Melissa Adelman via NetGalley. What the Neighbors Saw is scheduled for release on June 20, 2023.

Alexis has finally landed a spot in her dream neighborhood. It meant convincing her husband to purchase the very neglected and outdated house, but Alexis is convinced this glamorous and well-to-do location will be the perfect place to raise her two children and forget her troubled past. Initially, the couple is mostly embraced by the neighbors (except for a few who think Alexis’s skin tone indicates she is hired help rather than a home owner). But when one neighbor is found dead on the trail leading to the river, Alexis begins to question her choice to move.

This story is told from two points of view. We hear from both Alexis and Blair, the wife of the man who is found dead. These two women have very different perspectives on the neighborhood and its inhabitants, which works well for revealing some of the relationships. Both of the women are keeping secrets from each other, as well as from other characters. They are also keeping secrets from the reader in a way that felt a bit manipulative at times, as the author controlled what the characters shared. I also found some of the characters to be inconsistent, acting in ways that made the plot work, but didn’t necessarily fit with their previous behavior or motivations.

This novel takes place on a quiet cul-de-sac outside of DC. While I did buy the overall vibe of the neighborhood, some elements of the setting were unclear to me. In the midst of this enormous, fancy houses, there is a stretch of woods as well as a running path with steep drops to the river. I struggled to see how these pieces fit together, as most of the descriptions and scenes are spent inside the homes.

What the Neighbors Saw presents some of the darkness behind the scenes of the perfect facades in one wealthy neighborhood. While I would have liked more depth and consistency in the characters and the plot, the overall experience was a decent read.

This just didn’t do it for me. I didn’t connect with either main character, and the secondary characters weren’t developed enough for me to tell them apart. I generally love a domestic thriller, but this one missed the mark.

Thanks netgalley for a copy
What the neighbors saw was told from more than one point of view and the writer did a great job distinguishing between the two. New author for me , highly recommend.

This book was mysterious, driving, and fun to read! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book drew me in from the start, I had a really hard time putting it down and it made for the perfect travel companion during flights. I enjoyed the view that the author gave into the lives of the "rich and famous" via the neighborhood as a whole.

One of my favorite parts about this book was the long list of sketchy, ruthless, and unpredictable characters. Was some of it a little "too good to be true"? Yes- but that's kind of the point of it as a fiction book. I like a novel that takes me to another universe.

Some of the scenes bordered on salacious and I loved it, the ending especially so. I kind of saw it coming but also did not! The ending escalates to an extreme, but I think the building of the story and plot leading up to it made it work.

One last note: I would like to congratulate husband Sam for being one of my least favorite book characters of all time. That guy totally sucked! Gosh I was so angry at times reading how he spoke to and treated Alexis. I applaud Melissa Adelman for bringing such strong emotions out of me.