I requested this ARC after devouring the author's previous book, Next of Kin. Unfortunately this one didn't quite work for me. I had trouble connecting with the characters and the plot felt a little off to me. It seemed like characters were under reacting to certain events and overreacting to others. With two many perspectives, I also struggled to get in a rhythm while reading this book.

Another Riveting, Emotionally-Charged,Thought-Provoking Thriller…But Not As Good As Her 3 Previous Books!

Having read and loved Kia Abdullah’s 3 most recent books — Take It Back, Truth Be Told and Next Of Kin — I was anxious to read her new book, Perfectly Nice Neighbors. I did so, however, with some concern that it wouldn’t live up to my high expectations for it. My concern was unnecessary but I didn’t care for Perfectly Nice Neighbors quite as much as her other books. Part of this is due to all of her plots being somewhat formulaic, in that they follow a similar writing style. That is, they involve a very topical crime, followed by a gripping, edge-of-the-seat legal trial, concluding with an ending filled with surprising twists and turns that make readers rethink everything they thought they knew. As a result, as a loyal Abdullah reader, I’ve become preconditioned to expect that dramatic plot twists will come about after the conclusion of the trial, which tends to detract a bit from its shock value.

I won’t say much about the plot of Next Of Kin other that what is provided from its advertisement, which asks the question: When your dream home comes with nightmare neighbors, how far will you go to keep your family safe?

I found Abdullah’s latest — and I think you will too — to be a very riveting, powerful, thought-provoking, compelling and “unputdowbale” book, especially once the courtroom trial commences. Beyond that, it is filled with very credible, well-developed, albeit, flawed characters that you might not like but will remind you of people you’ve likely come across more than once in your own life. Further, without being preachy, Abdullah delivers a highly insightful, well-balanced narrative that examines some highly charged emotional and topical issues, such as racism, that will definitely upset some readers and challenge all readers to carefully think about them.

Perfectly Nice Neighbors is definitely worthy your consideration but, as mentioned earlier, my enjoyment of this book, while high, was a notch below her other books. This is due in part to my finding the trial to be less gripping and the plot seeming to be contrived at times and the twists at the end to be less exciting and credible. Further, I found that, unlike in her previous books, Abdullah left several “threads untied”, making me wonder if she has a sequel in mind.

4 1/2 stars rounded up to 5.

#Perfectly Nice Neighbors #Net Galley

This got off to a very slow start and seemed to be more about miscommunication than actual suspense. That said, the twist at the end was something I definitely didn’t see coming. Overall, I enjoyed the book and the author’s writing style, even if it wasn’t the type of thriller I’d usually want to read.

Salma and Bil Khatun move to Blenheim, what they deem as a safe place to live with their son, Zain. This will hopefully be a fresh start for all of them. Not long after they've moved in, Salma witness her neighbor, Tom, forcefully removing Zain's anti-racist banner from the yard. This is just the beginning of a long and seemingly unending dispute between the neighbors, until tragedy strikes.

The events in the first part of this book just seemed to get worse and worse with no sign of resolution. I definitely wasn't expecting what happened next. The second part of the book seemed to move much quicker. The courtroom scenes were well written. I really didn't like any of the characters very much and the constant conflicts and back and forth between the neighbors became annoying. I definitely did not expect the twist at the end. This book touches on racism and preconceived notions within it. It was a heartbreaking and impact impactful story, the very end was a bit much in my opinion.
Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a lot different from the thrillers I normally read and am used to reading. Abdullah's character development had me drawn in from the very first page. The diversity represented in this book was also something I never experience in books I tend to gravitate towards. I loved the diversity and the realness of the characters within this book.
Although, at first I struggled to see the "thrilling" part of this book. I was dying to see where the twist would come, so I carried on and was NOT disappointed by any means. By the end of the book I wanted Salma's story to continue.

Salma Khatun and her family has moved to a small community following the pandemic. Their finances are in a very fragile spot due to the failure of their restaurant, but they are hopeful that this move will bring a new start for their son. Very quickly microaggressions set a foreboding tone and series of events causes a domino effect that you will simply not be able to predict.

You are likely to stay up all night! Up to the very last page you will be dying to know who is right, and wonder if anyone is at all! If you love domestic thrillers, this is one to top all of them! Kia Abdullah has included a broad array of topics and painted the perfect thriller.
And someone is going to get hurt. #PerfectlyNIceNeighbors #kiaAbdullah #Penguin

I am always so excited when I see that Kia Abdullah has a new book out because she writes such interesting characters, great legal courtroom scenes, and heartbreaking twists that I never see coming.

Salma and her husband Bil move into a new house in a new neighborhood with their teenage son Zain, who has recently had to leave school because of an unfortunate misunderstanding. They are hoping for a fresh start. Their next door neighbors, Willa and Tom also have a son around Zain’s age, and the boys become friends. However Salma and Tom instantly take a disliking to one another, instigated by Tom’s racism and attempts to needle the Khatun family by removing the anti-racism flag they have hanging in their yard on a HOA violation. Tom and Salma begin retaliating against one another, with each incident increasing in magnitude, viciousness and violence until truly horrible things are happening to both families, with devastating consequences. There is a court case, as there is in all of KA’s books, and as always a juicy twist (several!) that I did not predict. Another well written psychological drama/legal thriller from Kia Abdullah that asks lots of good questions.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from Penguin, Putnam and Sons, and NetGalley for review purposes.

Perfectly Nice Neighbors was a book that encompassed numerous important and tough topics such as racism and oppression, as well as sorting through your own biases. This book makes you think about how you perceive daily experiences, are they truly what they seem? I was unable to find any characters throughout the story that I found likable, and due to not feeling like I could connect to any of them, it left me not loving the book as a whole. I did not expect the ending and could never have envisioned who the ones at fault truly were - which kept me interested.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Needing a fresh start, a Bangladeshi family move into a new home when they immediately clash with their white next door neighbor. The dispute dramatically escalates, as the Perfectly Nice Neighbors prove to be anything but. This racially charged novel pits neighbor against neighbor, as the homeowners dig in their heels, with tensions spreading, drawing the couples’ teenage children into the fray, until things explode. Some of the scenes are a little over the top, but the author makes her point clear in this riveting drama, and the courtroom battle blurs the racist lines, leaving no clear winners in this war, and providing book club readers with plenty to discuss in this thought provoking novel. I received an arc from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

After finishing the final pages of “Perfectly Good Neighbors” by Kia Abdullah, I found myself experiencing a mixture of emotions. I was amazed an the incredible thriller I had just read. I was surprised and shocked at the final twists at the end, and I found myself sad, because although this book is fiction, it’s plot-line is all too current and relevant in today’s society. It completely rings true and sounds like something that would, and probably has happened.
The book centers around Samal, a high-school geography teacher, her husband Bilal and their teenage son Zain who have recently moved into a new house in a upscale neighborhood. They moved to give Zain a new beginning after previous troubles at his old school. Samal meets her new neighbors, Tom and Willa (like the writer) at a May Day barbeque. They get off to a amicable, if a bit uncomfortable start. Days later trouble erupts when Samal sees Tom deliberately knock down a “Black Lives Matter” flag that Zain has put on her lawn. What ensues is a frenzy of misunderstandings, retaliations and eventually physical violence between the families. The sons Zain and Jaime, who is partially deaf have become friends and partners in a start-up app for Deaf people. They agree to stay out of the fracas between their parents and work together in secret. Eventually one pays the price for the strife between families
I loved this book, because I found myself unsure of who to root for, and who to believe. All of the parties involved show both positive and negative sides. As in real life, no one is perfect and all eventually show various prejudices. There were many plot twists that I did not see coming, and the ending was a fitting finale of this tale of tormented neighbors. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a edge-of-your-seat, blazingly fast read. Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced copy for review.

An okay thriller. Took me a few chapters to get into the story but when I did it was pleasant. When the story got going for me it was an easy read. If you enjoy a good thriller this one might be for you.

Perfectly Nice Neighbors - Kia Abdullah

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher of this book for providing me a copy of this eARC.

This is the most important psychological thriller of the year so far (at least) as well as writing a highly engaging novel, this author also sounds an important warning concerning how rapidly we can "lose our way" and progress rapidly toward a path of destruction (for ourselves as well as others) when we refuse to respect each other's differences.

What more can one hope to do than remind us of such an important thing while providing us with such an entertaining novel that we cannot bear to put it down (even at 3:30 AM on a workday)? Yes, I found I myself was up all night reading this novel in one-sitting as I HAD to find out what would happen next.

This novel chronicles a new couple moving into an already established community of individuals, a few of who chose to see differences rather than the much larger similarities of the newcomers, a trait that eventually bleeds through to others, regardless if they are conservative or liberal.

This thriller shows us how rapidly average (and likeable) individuals and couples, who, have reached the apex of stress in their lives, can find themselves tumbling towards a predictable path towards ruin, with no functional "emergency brake" left to pull to stop or slow their descent.

The skilled writing in this novel describes answers the question "how can they find themselves in such a situation?" When it comes to "Nightmare Next Door" type of scenarios.

I hope that this author continues in this vein, there us so much hatred and vilification that occurs, and in recent years, so much has occured to show how very far apart we all are. Kudos to the author's talent, skill, and the heart.

Until next time, I hope this review helps intrigue you enough to pick up a copy of this novel.

Wow, what a perfectly twisty book this was. I did not see that coming at all!

I don’t want to say too much because I feel it would give it away, but this author knows how to write characters you want to both route for an sometimes punch in the face at the same time. Really makes you stop and think about your interactions with your neighbors 😬

This was my first book of Kia Abdullah’s and it certainly won’t be my last.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for this amazing ARC.

This banger of a contemporary thriller comes out September 12 2023 and it will not disappoint.

First half of the book is a suspenseful and topical story of two families. We get into the heads of most of them and I am in awe of the way Kia Abdullah told a story that captured the reality of things. The way that most of us are not ever entirely good or bad. The butterfly effect of all of our lives movements. About the duality of personalities.
Second half of book is a riveting courtroom drama! An absolute page turner.
Third half.
Holy twists!!!! I made audible noise(s) and my boyfriend had to ask what was happening 🤣 absolutely didn’t see a few things coming.
5 star thriller!

Yet again, Kia Abdullah has made me feel ALL the things with her phenomenal writing! She manages to take issues and make me see them from every angle and inside out and upside down and everything flipped. I still think all of the time about how she made me feel while reading each of her other books and I know that this one will also stay with me forever. I could not put this book down and it captivated me from the first page through to the very last word. I’m not sure how I feel about the ending but I do know that I loved it and I loved the entire book! I held my breath so many times while reading and sometimes I was afraid to find out what would happen next so I would reread the previous paragraph or page. I felt like I was reading through my fingers like 🫣 the entire book. It’s so provocative and intense. Hopeful and devastating all at once. What and who is right? What and who is wrong? What was the catalyst? And if it wasn’t one thing, would it have been something else? And as I’ve come to expect in her books, Kia shocks me over and over and over because even when expecting the unexpected, I still had absolutely no idea what was coming. Definitely a zillion stars are deserved here!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read this advance copy of Perfectly Nice Neighbors. With this story line, Kia Abdullah dove into many contemporary issues, including implicit bias, racism, and the impact of social media on our society. She also demonstrated how easily it is for actions to be misinterpreted and for how the best intentions can have negative impacts on those we are trying to protect.

I loved the way that Adbullah thoroughly developed each of the characters. She gave each of them depth, making no one one dimensional. There was no one character that I found myself not finding something redeeming.

This is the first novel of Abdullah's that I have read, but am eager to read other works by her, including one of her earlier novels being my next book club pick. If you are a fan of books with depth and a twist at the end, I highly recommend reading Perfectly Nice Neighbors.

I like this author a lot. I was a little unsure how the social issues would impact the plot but ended up appreciating the realistic portrayal of neighbors confronting their biases.

Kia Abdullah is the queen of thought-provoking, smart, and twisty domestic thrillers, as well as riveting legal thrillers. She creates remarkable, multilayered characters with unique voices, providing their different perspectives and directing us into their dramatic and traumatizing lives.

In this book, she explores themes such as racism, community, social media, class differences, hypocrisy, and violence that can tempt each person to cross the line for their righteous or distorted perspective.

The Khatun family decides to move to Blenheim for a fresh start, hoping to protect their son from the wrong crowd he was involved with in their old neighborhood, and to enjoy a more peaceful and civilized lifestyle, even though buying a new house may ruin them financially.

Salma Khatun, the mother of the family and a geography teacher, is a tough and smart woman who is determined to adjust to her new life in the neighborhood. However, everything can change with a small act of violence, such as ripping out a "Black Lives Matter" banner from a neighbor's front garden. When Salma notices her neighbor Tom doing this, she decides to put the banner in her window, but the next day, she finds her window smeared with white paint. She directly confronts Tom, but as you might imagine, the confrontation doesn't go well. One thing leads to another, and the neighbors find themselves in a destructive war that could lead to something more dangerous or even lethal.

The court part of the book takes up a little less space than in her previous books, but these parts are perfectly written, making you feel angry, agitated, confused, and eager to keep reading to find out how the big mystery will unfold.

The heart-wrenching revelations are extremely gut-punching and shocking, like the epic finales of her other books. I don't want to give too much away about the big mystery, but I have to admit that it's more effective than I expected. After finishing the last chapter, I just sat on my couch, looking at the wall, shell-shocked, numb, and shaken to the core. I couldn't even move!

This book is definitely a big winner, and I highly recommend that you read it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP PUTNAM/G.P. Putnam's Sons for sharing this amazing book's digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Salma, Bil, and Zain moved into a new house with hopes of a new start and a safer environment for their son. Quickly, they start to experience microaggressions, and each of the family member has a different approach to responding to the hate they are experiencing in their new neighborhood. We see this escalate into a dangerous situation.

It is hard for me to think of a book with more complicated and real characters. I enjoyed the way the story challenged me to avoid making assumptions about all of the characters we meet. This would make a great book club pick.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC is exchange for my honest feedback.

I would highly recommend this book. It was intense. This was very well written and sheds light on many things happening in our own society.