Member Reviews
I enjoyed this. Although I saw a few of the plot points coming, I didn't guess the main one--which was unusual and one I don't believe I've seen before. It's pretty unsettling, but I would still recommend the book for thriller fans.
Decent novel though I figured out the 'bad guy' pretty early. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Oh, twists and turns, unlike most books! This is a real original. Alexis convinced her husband Sam to buy a house in a very upscale neighborhood, despite its shabby condition. As it turns out, the neighborhood might have appeared upscale but had a seething underbelly.
Alexis had to deal with her 2 small children, odd frightening neighbors and difficult husband while trying to make the house safe and livable.
I enjoyed the story and honestly didn’t guess the ending. Yet, it all fit together perfectly. So, I certainly recommend this book and I admire both the unpredictability and the author’s ability to bring all the strands together and produce a believable (not happy or likable) ending.
I recommend this different read. Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC.
This book gave me some Agatha Christie vibes as it was something of a closed mystery.
Full of colorful, misfit characters all living on the same block, I was enchanted from the first page and couldn't wait to find out who the murderer was.
I read it in one day it was so good!
Sam and Alexis and their growing family move from their cramped duplex to a mansion in need of some TLC into what they believe is the suburban dream.
Reality checks in as they are still emptying boxes from the move. The house is turning into a money pit and a death that is beginning to look like a murder.
The shoe drops are paced out perfectly, I found myself doubling back to make sure I read it correctly. Alexis a mother, a wife, who still has a career is trying to manage her family and all that entails while falling into the rabbit hole of what really happened to her murdered neighbor and who is responsible for his death. This neighborhood was no Xanadu it was more like Peyton Place everyone was hiding something. The best was the finale I have to say I did not see that one coming or at the very least the author did a great job hiding that nugget.
#Minotaur
I loved all the twist and turns in this book. Just when you thought you had it all figured out something new happened. I loved how you think you have this idea that nothing happens in well to do neighborhoods BUT.... there is always something beneath the surface of all neighborhoods. Just because someone looks one way doesn't always mean that they are perfect.
I found this book to be a rather slow read. At times rather wordy without much being said. Not much suspense and I ended up not even caring to find out who the murderer was.
Great read that kept me guessing up until the very end. Full of interesting characters and surprises. Was a bit difficult to keep track of the couples at times, and who was narrating but all in all, it was top notch!
The premise of the book is good. A neighborhood is full of misfit people. Something terrible happens, and now it's a whodunit story. All the characters were unique in their own ways. Some are fully developed, and some aren't, especially those that are more of a supporting role, such as Emily and Dylan. I think that the author held back when she wrote this book. I find that Alexis's back story could have been bigger. Somehow, in the end, it fell flat. The build-up to her background was intriguing until the end, where everything was revealed, and I thought, that's it? It's very anticlimactic. The same with Blair. She's one of the main characters, yet the ending left me unsatisfied. Blair's demeanor does not match that of the storyline. She was very much a robot in the emotional aspect. I couldn't connect with her at all. Perhaps it's the wording that left me without emotions throughout the whole story. It was okay overall.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for letting me read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really tried to like this book because I generally love books in a neighborhood setting. I had to stop reading around 50% in. Just didn’t care. Even the murder mystery didn’t interest me.
I received a free copy from NetGalley. Characters that were hard to like. They all were just missing a little something to make them complete. A slowly building plot that kind of feels unfinished at the end. It had a lot of potential that just seemed to putter out, kind of like their hopes for their house and new neighborhood.
3.5 - slow burn of a book - unlikeable characters in a snobby neighborhood - I read this straight through. Another good book to enjoy while I'm stuck at home :)
What the Neighbors Saw is described as Desperate Housewives meet The Couple Next Door, and I'd say that's a fairly accurate description. Alexis and Sam move into the exclusive neighborhood of their dreams and, shortly thereafter, a neighbor is murdered. Alexis and Sam soon learn that the people in this picture-perfect neighborhood have a lot of secrets and drama despite their great wealth, and Alexis and Sam have some secrets of their own. What the Neighbors Saw is a lot darker than I thought it would be and touches on some difficult subjects, such as eating disorders, emotional abuse, infidelity, which made it difficult to read in parts for me personally. But that being said, I did enjoy the book, and I did not guess who the killer was at all. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the ARC.
Fascinating novel about a group of neighbors who are "friendly" when newcomers Alexis and Sam move in with their children. But are things ever what they seem? Wealth, security, block parties, alcohol...what could be better? But when Blair's husband, Teddy is found murdered, of course there are many suspects but few clues. It's contemporary, it's binge-worthy, and just all-around a suspenseful read that has you guessing until the bitter end!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
What the Neighbors Saw is a twisty-turny delicious thriller that holds you until the very end. Just when you think you know where Melissa Adelman is going, you're surprised at what happens next. The story is told through progressive days and times, which helpful in the beginning, gets a bit tedious throughout the story. While the story had an interesting ending, the story did need some better development to edge up to the next star. Still a worthwhile interesting read. The price you can pay for living well above your means!
If you believe moving to an affluent neighborhood will solve all of your problems, think again. What the Neighbors Saw kept me on the edge of my seat. Everyone has a fantastic story, and it is dirty and needs to be aired. Which neighbor is cheating on their significant others. Whose kinks are getting them into trouble, but who cares they are loaded and have the contacts to bury whatever they do. They are rich, they are glamorous, and they have more gossip than any normal neighborhood, and I was there for it.
When Alexis and Sam take a tour of an older home in a prestigious neighborhood, they could not make an offer quick enough. They knew it needed work, have you seen the movie The Money Pit? Or am I just aging myself? The windows and doors need replacing, the kitchen and bathrooms need to be updated, and their list keeps growing. Sam is never at home, he claims he has a ton of work in order to make partner at his law firm, and Alexis wanted this house, didn't she? Alexis is home with their toddler and newborn, trying to have the house come together and make new friends. The neighbors across the street, affectionately known and Teddy Blair...cringe. Have welcomed the couple with open arms. Blair is intrigued by Alexis and feels an instant connection. When tragedy strikes this rich corner of the earth and Teddy is found murdered on their river side trail. The neighbors cannot help gossiping about what happened to him.
Melissa Adelman has written a neighborhood built on deception, lies, trust, betrayal, and money. The characters are fantastically written, and you want to know what else is going on in their lives. I was swinging back and forth between who did it. That final twist did it for me, wowza! This is a fast paced, fun read I recommend for all. Thank you to Melissa Adelman, and Minotaur Books for my gifted copy of this fantastic neighborhood showdown.
I enjoyed this premise and the writing was fantastic, it was just a bit too slow for me. But I would still recommend and read more by this author.
This story was unexpected and nothing like I thought it would be. There are some confusing parts, which had me rereading. There is also a story told by multiple points of view, that keeps you guessing and wondering where it is headed. It’s intriguing and is certainly and attention grabber. How well do you really know someone? What secrets lie beneath the surface? I will definitely be looking for more from this author.
There was so much I enjoyed about this book! I really loved the main character, but I felt like she was just accepting of her husband being pretty much the worst ever, I hated watching the manipulation, but it was unfortunately very realistic. I kept waiting for her past and her father to play a bigger part in the story but they never did, so it felt like a loose end. The neighbors were absolutely awful in all their different ways, and even though we didn’t see anyone’s viewpoint other than Alexis and Blair, they were well developed, I don’t know if the titles completely match, as the neighbors didn’t seem to “see” much of anything with the exception of Alexis, who still managed to miss the most important things. This was a quick read, and enjoyable!
What the Neighbors Saw was a housewives drama worth picking up! I didn't love Alexis, the main character or her husband, Sam, but still felt myself wanting to find out what happened next. I was intrigued by all of the people around them and the things that were happening to them. Definitely read this one if you're a fan of A. R. Torre or Jeneva Rose.