Adam is new to the stay-at-home-dad life and, as his relationship with his wife starts to unravel, he becomes obsessed with his neighbor Ali across the street. One night, through his window he sees something that makes him question if Ali might be in danger and starts to seek out answers.

Ooooof, THE NEIGHBORS WE WANT by Tim Lane was not the story we (I) want 🙃

Rereading the synopsis after reading this book made me question who was responsible for hooking me into this weird, dysfunctional book with that blurb!

This one is very much a domestic suspense (hold the suspense) with a lot of odd sexual encounters and relationships that happen and are then never explained.

I didn’t feel any connection to the characters and am, overall, feeling very hung up on the story and the elements that came into play.

This one, unfortunately, didn’t do a whole lot for me, but thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me a chance to read this one early!

Publication Date: September 5

🏠 The Neighbors We Want - Tim Lane

2 ⭐️ - Ugh I hate to do this but this one just wasn’t for me. Also, why does the book cover match my house? That scares me. I hardly ever give low star reviews, but I also want to be honest with all of you. Please keep in mind that just because it’s not for me, doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy it! I thought the synopsis sounded great for fall/spooky season and the book was, just wasn’t for me.

This was not what I was expecting. I thought I was getting a domestic thriller about creepy neighbors. Instead I got a story about a creepy peeping tom neighbor who can’t control his hormones. The main couple doesn’t like each other, they both have weird connected affairs, and a child they don’t really care about? Overall this whole book was a miss for me and just felt so empty. It was definitely a miss and not what I thought I was getting.

🙂 The good 🙂
Domestic drama
Neighborhood full of nosy Nellies
Multiple POV - one of which is done as the person being interviewed by the police
Several intersecting relationships
I want more info about the can collector & why he has that nickname for Sarah lmao

😕 The not-so-good 😕
It was hard to care about any of the characters bc they were selfish, awful people for the most part
Very slow burn
I did expect more suspense and shocks from a ‘psychological page-turner’

Rating: 4 stars, rounded up from 3.5

Thank you @Netgalley and @crookedlanebooks for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Posted to Instagram: 08/24/23
Posted to GoodReads: 08/28/23

This was a thriller for the ages! Kept me on the edge of my seat. I love a book that keeps me turning the pages! Highly recommend.

So, there's this neighborhood, right? And man, it's got secrets—more than you'd expect. And guess what? The whole deal turns into this home detective story that's a total rollercoaster. But here's the thing, it's not one of those jaw-dropping, mind-blowing rides. Nope, it's more like a wild yet sad and real journey. Think less heart-pounding thriller, more like domestic suspense.

Picture this: you're chilling in this normal neighborhood, but bam, there's a hidden world of secrets waiting to be cracked open. The story takes you on this wild ride that keeps you hooked, even if it's not trying to blow your socks off. It's like you're right there with the characters, feeling what they feel.

Oh, and speaking of characters, they're dealing with some heavy stuff. It's not your typical shock-value drama—it's all about those raw, real emotions. You're not gonna get jump scares; you'll get a punch in the feels instead.

Now, this ain't your high-octane thriller. Nah, it's more about peeking behind the curtain of everyday life and seeing the messiness that's hidden there. Relationships get all tangled up, secrets come out, and it's not some big, flashy showdown. It's like you're in on the inside scoop of your neighbor's lives.

So, all in all, this home detective story in a secret-laden neighborhood is one heck of a ride.

The Neighbors we Want was a good book. It took a little bit to get into but got me hooked after a while. What made it difficult for me to really get into this book was that when there were flashbacks, I couldn't tell right away and the story would seem jumbled. Other than that, great read!

Getting straight to the point with this one - there were some elements of a good story in this BUT I could not bring myself to like any of the characters in this book. The plot is based on a multiple, weird and intersecting relationships that were hard to believe. A husband and wife, Adam and Sarah, having secret affair/liaisons with a younger couple one of whom is their neighbour, Ali, and the other who is the son, Kemp, of the strange principal, Evie, at the school in which Sarah is a teacher.
The story is told from the perspective of each of these quite selfish and unlikeable characters. In the midst of this is a baby, Maddie, for whom Adam is a resentful stay at home Dad, who has been fired after getting caught masturbating in his office at work.
I could go on, but I won't. Being a middle aged working mother, I am probably in the wrong demographic for this book and others may quite enjoy it. I, however, am unable to recommend the book.
Thank you Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

The story follows Adam, a once-successful professional who finds himself navigating the challenges of stay-at-home fatherhood after losing his job. As he grapples with sleepless nights and the overwhelming responsibilities of caring for his baby, Adam also begins to witness the unraveling of his marriage to his wife, Sarah. Amidst the turmoil, one person captures Adam's attention—the enigmatic and alluring neighbor, Ali.

Lane expertly navigates the complexities of Adam's growing obsession with Ali, drawing readers into a web of desire, secrets, and unspoken longings. Adam's seemingly innocent fixation takes a dark turn when he witnesses Ali's ex-boyfriend, Crispin, acting suspiciously near her home. When Ali goes missing and fails to show up for work, Adam's fear deepens, leading him down a treacherous path of deception and deceit as he becomes determined to uncover the truth.

Set against the backdrop of a seemingly idyllic suburban town, "The Neighbors We Want" paints a chilling portrait of hidden lives and fractured relationships. Lane skillfully reveals the myriad secrets concealed behind closed doors, forcing Adam to confront uncomfortable truths about those around him—and himself. As he delves deeper into the mystery, Adam discovers that no one is truly what they seem, and the town's façade of normalcy hides a disturbing undercurrent of darkness.

Lane's narrative is a masterclass in suspense, deftly crafting a tension-filled atmosphere that keeps readers guessing until the very end. The author skillfully explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to protect their fragile realities. As Adam's pursuit of the truth intensifies, he grapples with the realization that he may not be able to trust even those closest to him.

"The Neighbors We Want" is a riveting exploration of human nature, desire, and the destructive power of secrets. Tim Lane's evocative prose and intricate storytelling create a psychological rollercoaster that will leave readers on the edge of their seats, questioning the motives and intentions of every character. This gripping thriller is a captivating exploration of the dark corners hidden beneath the façade of suburban life.

Adam, Sarah, Ali and Kemp (or, at times Crispin), Four people, lots of tangles, Adam's a stay at home dad who becomes obsessed with his neighbor Ali, whose ex Kemp is having an affair with his wife Sarah. Got that? All four of them tell this story but it's difficult, at times, to keep everyone straight, Adam's kind of stalking Ali and when she disappears, he's convinced Kemp had something to do with it, There are some chuckle worthy asides here but this isn't as suspenseful as I'd hoped and honestly, no one is really likable. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed this read but I wish that it hadn't taken so long for some thrilling to happen. The neighborhood itself was interesting as well as the people in it. I enjoyed the eclectic cast of characters The last 10% of the book was by far the most exciting.

After reading the description, I couldn't wait to read this book. However, this book fell flat for me. I didn't feel the suspense that this book was supposed to provide. I had a hard time maintaining interest in the book and had o read it over the course of multiple sessions with other books snuck in between.

Oh this one is weird... not in the best way but not in the worst? Just a little odd. Uncomfortable? I genuinely don't know how to talk about this.

This is a strange book. I don't know exactly how I'd even describe it other than that it is not for me.

I found the prose to be messy and the plot just couldn't keep me invested. I think it might need some more editing before release.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.

A neighborhood suspense novel centering around Adam, his wife Sarah, their neighbor Ali, and her ex Crispin.

My biggest problems with this is that it didn’t feel suspenseful. It was more the story of these relationships with forced suspense. I had a bigger problem though with some of the ways the female characters were written by the male author. None of the characters were really likable, which made the little suspense feel unimportant.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

This book has some twists that make you re-examine your own thoughts. Seeing the story through the eyes of different characters was interesting, and made you want to understand each one. I do wish there were more consequences for some of the characters. Overall, once you can get to the actual storyline (and not all of the background needed), you can't put it down! I do like how Evie changes throughout the book. Tim depicted postpartum depression in Sarah, which makes you feel for her.

This book was really fun to read! I enjoyed the writing and the storyline and can’t wait to read more from this author!

Lots of unsavory characters that I had a hard time following. This one was not for me . I was expecting a thriller but it was more about their lives.

This was right up my lane!!!! New parents Adam and Sarah are having a hard time adjusting. So0o--they each seek out distractions ion their lives. Adam is obsessed with the young lady next door and Sarah is distracting herself with. a racy affair. This all winds up tangles in a viscous knot!

It is a fun read--you won't like the characters but you will love the story!

Thank you for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.
I have not read anything by this author before but came to like the writing style! It took me a little bit to get into the story but once I was about 50% in, I thoroughly started enjoying it and couldn't put it down trying to figure out what was happening. While the protagonist was not a likeable character in my opinion, he still fit perfectly into the storyline and made the book interesting. I am assuming that we are not supposed to like him. Thinking about it, I have to say that I actually hated him! I also don't know if we are supposed to feel sorry for him or not like him? But, coming from a woman who has raised children, I would say, definitely no sympathy from my end!! He sounded like a 'whiny' man who only wants the joy of being around his child without any of the work that goes into taking care of the baby.
While I am sure some enjoyed the repetitiveness of thoughts going through the protagonist's mind, it actually annoyed me. I don't need to hear something over and over to understand what is going on.
I would also like to point out that this book by far is not a thriller nor can it qualify as a mystery. It definitely does not fit into either category.
Overall, I would give it 3 🌟 as it did keep my interest; however I don't see recommending it on to people that love a good nail-biting thriller or mystery.

I really struggled to stay engaged! The writing style was difficult and distracting and the plot seemed all over the place. I had such high hopes after reading the synopsis however the book fell flat. The suspense and tension felt a little too forced for me.

There was weird obsessions and the book just took a really strange turn. I felt slightly uncomfortable about the racism & didn't like how the author went about it.