When Amber makes Junior Partner at her law firm, she has her eye on jumping the next step, whoever she needs to shove out of the way. She starts to get threatening emails and bad events happen to her. She is a very unlikeable character, both to the reader and the people around her. As such, she doesn't invite your sympathy and you can watch the events unfurl without being overly upset for her! The title had me wondering where the plot twists would take us and just what else she had in store for her.

I disliked the main character Amber so then of course the problem for me was feeling even remotely bothered about he4 stalker.
I think I may have gone more off the title than the blurb but whatever I can’t say I liked much about this book.

⭐⭐

Amber Dennis, at age 36, is both the youngest ever junior partner at her firm and a robot. She exists only to work and move higher in her organization at the cost of whoever and whatever is in the way. While Amber is not technically a robot, that would make her more interesting. Instead she is flat and unlikable.

Amber attracts the attention of a stalker who continues to escalate in behavior. It begins with threatening emails and intensifies into psychological warfare that takes away everything that she holds dear. Despite all this, Amber remains the same awful person who stops only because she is warned that it will happen again.

I wanted so hard to like this book, but unfortunately I just did not. It started off with promise with an allusion to Animal Farm in chapter one; but that was really the end of that spark. Even the title of the book is a misnomer.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the advanced copy of this book

BLOG TOUR REVIEW



Review for 'The Couple Next Door' by Cole Baxter.



Read and reviewed for ZooLoos Book Tours, Cole Baxter and Inkubator Books.



Publication date 28th May 2023.



This is the third book I have read by this author. I have also read 'The Perfect Suitor' and 'The Doppelganger' which I would highly recommend.



I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching and unique cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. I am a huge fan of Cole and if this is half as good as his 'The Perfect Suitor' and 'The Doppelganger' then it is guaranteed to be a page turner!! I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Inkubator Books. I have yet to read a book published by Inkubator Books that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).



This novel consists of 40 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!



This book is based Los Angeles, California ,USA 🇺🇸.




This book is written in first person perspective and the main protagonist is Amber Dennis. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them.


WOW!!! I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT TWIST!!!



This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that really set the scene and put you in the storyline. The cover and synopsis suit the book perfectly.



Another fantastic read by this brilliant author!!!The storyline was captivating from the first page until the last and I was completely invested in it. It was absolutely rammed full of drama, shocks, tension, twists, suspense and everything you could ask for in a page turning psychological thriller. I just could not put this book down and finished it in one sitting. We are sucked straight into Amber's story through first person perspective which Cole ensures the reader feels like Amber is speaking to the directly. Amber is a hotshot defence lawyer that seems to have everything in life. She has a fantastic successful career, a brilliant relationship with the gorgeous and charming David Grant and a stunningly luxurious condo!!! What's not to love about her life??? How about the threatening emails she starts to receive that start to escalate from bad to worse? Amber isn't concerned at first as she knows she has made plenty of enemies being a lawyer, I mean what lawyer hasn't?? They wouldn't be a very good one if they didn't have several angry enemies. However when they become more threatening she realises it's more serious than she first thought and she can no longer ignore them. She knows someone is out to destroy her but she won't go down that easy and is determined to find out who is stalking her and why. Will she find them before they get her? What has she done to cause all this hate? Will her world come crumbling down around her? Well, I could tell you, but what would be the point in that? However, grab your copy today and find out all this and much more in this gripping and addictive psychological thriller today!!! This book has me on the edge of mt seat and guessing throughout. Did I work out what was going on? That I am happy to say (but don't tell my partner) I didn't have an absolute clue!!! I absolutely loved the twists and turns this book took me on and loved being absolutely gobsmacked!!! I have read many books and it gets harder and harder to shock me but Cole managed it hook, line and sinker so a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS Cole!!! This is one of those books that regardless how many times I promised myself just one more chapter I just had to keep going until I found out the truth and before I knew it I had devoured it in one sitting!!! An absolutely gripping, nail biting and addictive psychological thriller that will keep you addicted from the first page to the last!!

Do not start this book until you have cleared your schedules as you will not be able to put it down!!


This is one of those very rare books where I actually did not like the main protagonist very much at all yet it didn't put me off the book. Usually any dislike towards the main characters and I struggle with a book but in this case that didn't happen which just goes to show how talented Cole is to keep me invested in characters I do not like!!! They were all realistic and strong but Amber was not very likeable at all!! I struggled to conjure up much sympathy for her especially when she still didn't seem to come away with any lessons from what had been done!! I found her to be rude, abrupt and contradictory. She annoyed me on several occasions and it actually got to the point where I was shouting at my kindle which seemed to get me a few strange looks 😂!!!
Unfortunately I am unable to say anything on how I feel about any of them without giving any of the storyline away. Regardless of what I thought about who, each character worked perfectly to make this page turning psychological thriller!!!


Congratulations Cole on yet another huge success. This is EXACTLY why you are one of my favourite male authors!! Here's to your next success 🥂!!

Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the prologue and the first chapter of Cole's absolutely addictive 'The Perfect Suitor' which is another explosive page turner and one I have read myself and would highly recommend!!

Overall an absolutely unputdownable psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat biting your nails!!!


Genres covered in this novel include Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Literary Fiction, Suspense Thriller, Psychological Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Domestic Thriller, Thriller, Mystery ,Thriller & Suspense Literary Fiction, Psychological Suspense, Domestic Fiction, Domestic Thriller, Suspense Thriller and Thriller amongst others.




I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'Gone Girl', 'The Wife Between Us', 'The Woman in the Window', 'The Girl on the Train', Lisa Jewell, ,Ruth Ware, Paula Hawkins, Gillian Flynn , Freida McFadden, K.L Slater, Daniel Hurst. Shari Lapeni, 'The Wife Between Us', 'The Housemaid' aand anyone who loves a book filled with suspense and surprises!!


356 pages.


This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £11.99 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!


Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.


Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews


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I LOVED this book! It was so tense and gripping I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! definetly going to be one of my recommendations this year!

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book! I really enjoyed this and couldn’t put it down! I’ve never read anything by this author but would definitely pick up more books!

Overall I enjoyed this book. It was a page-turner and I sped through it so that I could find out who Amber's stalker was, however, Amber the MC is not likable at all. She is a stuck-up egocentric narcissist and I could not sympathize with her at all. She just annoyed me. If you are willing to look past her annoying personality, give this book a go.

The Couple Next Door is a story about Amber Dennis, a defence lawyer, who recently gets promoted to junior partner. She has everything she could want - the perfect job, the perfect apartment, a boy toy. However, not everyone is happy about her "perfect" life. She begins to receive threatening e-mails and they quickly escalate to more sinister threats that she cannot ignore. Will she be able to figure out who is trying to destroy her before it's too late?

This was my first novel by this author. I'm on the fence about this book. While some aspects were absolutely amazing, I did find it a little slow to get into. The pace did pick up around 60 - 70% of the way through, though. There were a few great twists but I had it pretty well figured out long before the end. I did stick with it and did enjoy the ending but I wish there were a few more jaw-dropping twists.

I would really like to try another book by this author as I did enjoy the writing style.

This story is fast-paced and full of intense emotions that keep you on edge. Once it starts, it never slows down. The plot is full of secrets and mysteries that pull you in deeper with each chapter. You'll find it hard to stop reading because each chapter ends with an exciting cliffhanger.

It may take a few chapters to understand the plot fully, but once you do, you'll be captivated. The beginning sets the stage for the thrilling events that unfold. Just be patient and stick with it, and you'll be rewarded with a thrilling journey through a world of lies and deception.

One of the best parts of the book is the complex character, Amber. You'll have a love-hate relationship with her throughout the story. Sometimes she shows vulnerability and strength that make her relatable and likable. But there are also moments when her actions and decisions will frustrate and anger you.

"The Couple Next Door" keeps you on edge with its constant sense of unease and paranoia. The suspense and tension are present throughout the entire book, making you feel like you're always looking over your shoulder.

The Couple Next Door is a psychological thriller. Amber is an ambitious defence attorney and her job is her life. She starts receiving threating emails right after her big promotion in her law firm. She disregards them at first until they become more forceful and her car is vandalized. More things go wrong in Amber’s life as the threats and aggressive behaviours escalate. Amber is a completely unlikeable character so really anyone she knows could be responsible. This book was definitely suspenseful. It is also fast paced so the story moves along at a good pace. Who is threatening Amber and how will it end? Check this one out for the answers.

I really enjoyed this fast paced thriller. The main character was flawed but relatable.
She was a go getter and willing to do whatever it takes to make it to the top. However, being a defense attorney comes with challenges. She didn’t expect what could happen to her but in the end I guess she learned her lesson. I was disappointed with the ending because I thought it would end differently but overall a great read.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I just couldn't finish this one. The main character was so annoying and stuck on herself. Every page was about her good looks, figure, money. She even looked down on her mom because she was a stay at home mom.

Rating: 3.5 /5

Amber is a hot-shot, career driven lawyer. She was indeed a refreshing character, being a strong-headed and independent woman. That being said, however, she is not very likeable. She appears to a textbook narcissist, who is constantly praising herself. This makes it hard to feel much sympathy for her when things go wrong. I was hoping for more character development for Amber to show that she learnt something from the experience.

The story itself on the other hand, I thoroughly enjoyed. It was fast-paced with constant action. While it may get predictable a bit later, it was still exciting enough for me to stay hooked. It was undoubtedly a well written psychological thriller, which I loved reading to figure out if I was right.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This author never fails with an edge of your seat read. Such an intense book in the best way possible and one that does not disappoint.

ARC RATING: 3.5/5.0✨

The Couple Next Door is a Psychological Suspense Thriller, written by Cole Baxter

**Thank you, Netgalley and Inkubator Books for providing an ARC of this book**

Amber Dennis is a newly promoted junior associate lawyer at one of the biggest firms in LA. Everything about her life is going well as planned ~ a step closer to becoming senior partner in her firm, having her dream apartment, and all the best things life can bring, what else can possibly go wrong in her seemingly perfect life?

WHAT I LIKE:
- Fast-paced story
- A very independent, self-made FMC.
- Contradicting personality and morals of the FMC. Sometimes you'll love her, even sympathize with her, other times you'll just hate her and simply think that she reaped what she sowed.
- FMC's intrusive thoughts and rationalizing thoughts
- Constant looking over your shoulder feels
- That subtle plot twist.

OTHER COMMENT/S:
While I do like a fast paced story, one element of a psychological thriller that is important for me is the edge of your seat feels that the story gives, unfortunately, this book lacks in that department, at least for me. It's just hard to emotionally connect with the FMC, but then again, maybe it was intended that way. While the story is fast-paced, it didnt start to get exciting until about 60%.

Nonetheless, I like being presented with a MC that has a very contradicting personality that really evoked feelings of anoyance. The book also provoked certain questions about morality ~ is everything in life really a tit for a tat? do people really deserve the bad things that happen to them or are they merely reaping what they have sowed?

RECOMMENDED FOR:
- People who likes 'looking over their shoulder' feels
- Individuals exploring the psychological suspense, mystery/thriller genre.

**The Couple Next Door is now available on Kindle Unlimited**

Hotshot lawyer, Amber Dennis, has worked hard to earn her spot as junior partner at her law firm, even if she has made enemies in the process. With a new job, luxurious new condo and a blossoming new relationship, what could go wrong? After receiving a few threatening emails, things take a turn and develop into a more serious state of affairs, Amber begins to worry that her career and picture perfect life are at jeopardy.

The Couple Next Door is an action-packed story that will keep you guessing as the story unfolds. Amber will do everything in her power to take down the person who is ruining her success and obstructing the path to her ultimate dream job as senior partner.

I enjoyed this fast-paced thriller and was eager to discover the identity of Amber's secret stalker with the wide variety of suspects. Thank you to Cole Baxter, Inkubator Books, and NetGalley for the ARC and opportunity to leave this review.

Amber Dennis has it all, well in her head she has it all. She's just been made Junior Partner at her law firm and has a fancy new apartment filled with expensive things. She also has an ego that has made her no real friends and many enemies.

This character ticked every box for narcissist, her dialogue from page to page was how beautiful she was, how smart, how intelligent, successful etc. She has no endearing or redeeming qualities and is incapable of forming relationships. Unfortunately this meant that when really horrible things happened to her I felt nothing as I had not connected with her on any level.

It was startlingly obvious who was doing all of it, the title pretty much gave it away. I really didn't enjoy it.

The Couple Next Door by Cole Baxter was such a delight to read. The author was able to create a main character that I not only hated, but I hoped and prayed for their demise to come after each page. It is not very often that I root for the bad guys, but Amber Dennis was such a spoiled and flawed human being that I wished it had happened to her sooner.

Now that you know that I am a bit of an asshole and sometimes I want the perceived good guys to lose, you should know that Amber Dennis is a ruthless and cutthroat defence lawyer in a firm trying to weasel her way up to that proverbial corner office. All that means is she will stop at nothing to get what she wants as long as she gets it, but there is one caveat. She has a stalker looking to destroy her life by any means necessary. Now does being an ambition human make you a terrible person, no. Does being a defence lawyer make you one, yes, but only until you need one do you actually like them.

What you may not like is that it is a slow burn that takes a few chapters to get into any actually important drama. Also, you may not like the title of the book as it may give away a little too much about the book and, in actuality, makes no sense for the book that was written. Still, to me that is excusable because most successful writers can't write titles for their own books.

If you can get past all that, then you are in for one hell of a ride and if you are like me, you can't wait to see them eat a piece of humble pie. What you get is a writer that makes you feel the anxiety of the characters that they write, so much so, that I will now have to go out and get another Cole Baxter book to see if they are able to get into the heads of their characters like they did here.

I promise you that if you are looking for something to read, you will not be disappointed with this masterfully written book. Just know that you will most like be rooting for the bad guys and I would have to ask the author if that is what they wanted, someday. A rollercoaster ride with a shitty human being, that ends with a bittersweet redemption of human growth, because despite what people think, people can change sometimes.

Keep reading and enjoy the rest of your day.

Chris Humphrey

This was an interesting story and character too follow reading it from her pov really madethis story interesting, and i enjoyed it though i fealt like the title gave away the plot as your waiting for the couple to show

Amber is a high powered, career driven defense lawyer. She will do whatever it takes to succeed and get what she wants. Then unpleasant things start happening and she feels like everyone is against her. Initially, she has trouble convincing the authorities that there is a problem. And then things escalate.
I don’t think I have ever encountered a more unpleasant main character. I’m not even sure how to feel about her. Bad things happened to her, and that was wrong, but it was very difficult to feel any sympathy for her. I could understand her protagonist’s viewpoint. It doesn’t make what happened right, but I could understand. And even after it’s all over, she really didn’t learn anything from it. Just when I thought she could be a better person, nope.
This was a well written psychological thriller and while I guessed part, I did not get it all. It kept me interested and I kept coming back to find out what was next. I would read more by this author, but not more of Amber. It’s great that she was a very strong character but she was too rude and abrasive.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.