What a great listen 🎧 this was! I enjoyed listening to the audio book mostly for the narration. I think the narrators did a great job bringing the two voices together for this story. I felt like I was watching a soap opera with my popcorn on the side. That twist at the end totally had me 🤯. I read the synopsis so I went in doubting every character we met, and I still did not guess that ending! Although the middle seemed to drag on a little and some details were a bit extra, it’s still a good story that I recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.75 from me!

Sam and Alexis have found their dream home on an elite cul-de-sac in the DC area. With Alexis on maternity leave after giving birth to their second child, things are a little tight and the repairs on their fixer upper are adding up. Sam is rarely home as he hopes to make partner soon at his law office and even with a nanny, Alexis is worn out. There are a lot of skeletons in the closet in this neighborhood and when one of the neighbors is murdered, they start to come out for all to see. With a cast of unlikable characters and a story that puts the murder on the back burner while focusing on the neighborhood drama instead, this book was a disappointment in the end, although the dual narrators did a great job! Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for an ALC of this book.

3.5⭐
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Publication date ~ June 20, 2023
Page Count ~ 291
Audio length ~ 8 hours 41 minutes
Narrators ~ Hillary Huber, Sarah Hollis
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ debut novel, dated chapters, murder, secrets, infidelity

Alexis & Sam buy a million dollar fixer up cuz they wanna feel fancy shmancy in this prestigious neighborhood. Blair & Teddy live across the street. When Teddy turns up dead Alexis reaches out to Blair and they form a friendship.

None of the characters were particularly likable. Sam was not a prize husband by any means. And Alexis putting up with him made me not feel any sympathy for her.

Overall, it was a decent~ish, slow moving debut. I gotta say I didn't see the twist coming, so that's always exciting, but I was not a fan and I don't think many would be.

I was fortunate enough to have a kindle and an audio copy. Both were perfectly acceptable.
Narration notes ~ Hillary is a well seasoned narrator and did a lovely job. I'm not sure if I've listened to Sarah before, but I thought she did a fine job too.

This "chilling story of murder and intrigue" failed to provide the "chills" that I was seeking and expecting.

I was intrigued by the book's "Just how well do we know our neighbors?" premise:

Who was responsible for a mysterious death in an affluent DC suburb?

Unfortunately, the book was waaay too slow and repetitive.

I listened to the full-cast audiobook read by Hillary Huber (one of my favorite narrators!) and Sarah Hollis.

I always enjoy full-cast audiobooks and both narrators did a superb job with the narration.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars rounded up.

4 ⭐️
This was a suspenseful read and had good lead-up. I did think there was a wow factor at the end, but I was hoping there would be something more to it. A few unlikeable characters that didn’t keep me super engaged, but fortunately two FMC were generally likable. Still a fun thriller, just was hoping for a few more twists throughout.

*Thank you to the publishers, the author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this*

I think the narrator did a great job reading this book. She had the write voice and emotions that made it pleasant to listen to If you like Desperate Housewives, then you will love this book. I feel the title doesn't quite match this book because it doesn't give a lot about what the neighbors saw. The book is a bit slow and doesn't quite move until about the last seven chapters. It started off well in the beginning then just was a really slow burn in the middle. I particularly didn't like the man character and she is very superficial. Was looking for a certain type of man to marry and she found him. He was obviously out of her league, and she was just a winer, complainer, and a soul sucker. Personally, I don't know how she kept him so long. I found some things hard to believe that were downright laughable, such as the like the main character, who is Black American having a Spanish maid. Most black mother do not use maids nor hire Spanish maids so that was pretty hard to believe. I am not the only one, I told it to my friends, coworkers, and school mates who are all of different races including black and laughable, and everyone found it laughable.
I did not like the ending. Basically, a housewife scorned whose husband is leaving her, so she takes him out of the equation. There is no way she would have gotten away with it when there is so much evidence and if the title is right, what the neighbors saw then why the neighbors didn't see what she did?
This book wasn't for me, but it may be for you if you are reading this. I will not be posting my review to my social media accounts. I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for this arc for my honest review

Thank you MacMillan Audio, Melissa Adelman, and Netgalley for this audio in exchange for an honest review. I loved the narration! This was a definite fast paced thriller. Even though I had a hint who did it, there was a twist at the end. 🌟🌟🌟🌟 solid stars for this baby!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t know what is going on with this trend in books lately where the husband is a complete (insert your favorite bad word here) and treats his wife like she is below him, but I’m getting over it. There is nothing more frustratingly annoying than this situation in books and unfortunately the husband in this novel, Sam, is the worst.

Not sure how the title ties into the story because nobody seemed to see anything so I was also confused about that.

This was such a slow book where nothing happened. I didn’t like the characters especially Sam who continues to treat his wife like garbage throughout the book by talking badly about her including her physical appearance even after she just had a baby.

I read this book because it was an arc and I do not like to rate a debut author badly but I could not get into this one even after approved for the audio since I could not get through the physical copy.

However, many other people have enjoyed this one so who knows what I was reading.

Thank you for allowing me to listen to this audiobook. I was intrigued by the beginning of the novel - the strife of the young couple to keep up with the neighbors. The grass is always greener, right? But after the death of a neighbor Alexis and Sam wonder if they made the right move.

As the plot thickens this just becomes a modern Peyton Place - full of rumors and love triangles. The police don't seem very anxious to find the killer so Alexis steps in and just about deputizes herself.

Unfortunately as the book progresses it becomes all rather humdrum.

What the Neighbors Saw focuses on the Alexis and her family as they move into a new wealthy neighborhood. Shortly after moving in, a neighbor "falls" over a cliffside and no one saw or knows anything.

Over time we are introduced to other neighbors all with their own drama keeping things interesting. This may be the first book I've read where all the characters were just unlikable. We definitely needed Alexis to see a therapist or at least acknowledge that she has alot to address.

The book was a bit more predictable than I would have liked but it still kept my attention. I would definitely read more from this author.

Thank you to @netgalley, @MacmillanAudio, and the author, #MelissaAdelman for the opportunity to read this #advancedlistenercopy of #WhattheNeighborsSaw.

I debated rating this lower solely because it was utterly predictable to me. The writing style was pretty good and the plot lines were easy to follow. I was never bored, just rarely surprised. The reason of WHY Teddy died was a surprise, so that helped being the rating up. I devoured it easily, so that helped, too.

Melissa Adelman made almost everyone unlikable and suspicious but I knew who the killer was and who they were connected to almost immediately. Hillary Huber and Sarah Hollis kept the narrating flowing pretty smoothly. They really made it easy to listen to.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the review copy!

WHAT THE NEIGHBORS SAW
Melissa Adelman


When I finished the book, I hated every character and felt lucky to have the neighbors I have. That is worth the price of this book alone.

WHAT THE NEIGHBORS SAW is a recently released neighborhood thriller by Melissa Adelman. Its stars Alexis and her husband Sam. After scraping together all the funds they could, they were able to purchase their dream home. A Cape Cod fixer-upper in an affluent suburb of DC.

All is not as it seems and shortly after moving in, their next-door neighbor Teddy is found dead. Putting an end to the dream of safety and security within the neighborhood. We follow along as Alexis tries to fit into their new neighborhood which includes, not surprisingly making friends with Teddy’s widow, Blair, and trying to solve the mystery surrounding Teddy’s death.

To make the neighborhood safer, of course!

WHAT THE NEIGHBORS SAW is basic with only the negative things to set it apart from the others. Months from now I likely won’t remember the specifics of the story, but I will remember that Alexis pissed me off.

As a reader, I feel that when you introduce a main character that is problematic you must correct that problematic behavior within the text. It’s not enough that I as the reader understand that the behavior is problematic, I need to know that the author understands that that character’s behavior is problematic as well. Otherwise, I’m left thinking this behavior is acceptable.

Unfortunately, with Alexis, she had a lot of thoughts about race and heritage and wealth and class, and none of those comments, interior or otherwise, were corrected. I understand it’s supposed to be part of the fun that these characters are so bad. It felt a lot more like unchecked racism than any fun I’ve had lately.

I might be the only reviewer that feels this way. For me, WHAT THE NEIGHBORS SAW is average and skippable, problematic, and forgettable.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies!

WHAT THE NEIGHBORS SAW…⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed every minute of What The Neighbors Saw, by Melissa Adelman, narrated by Hilary Huber & Sarah Hollis. It is a juicy, fast-paces, twisty novel told from two POVs. Two very different women who have become neighbors in a affluent DC suburb. I absolutely loved Alexis, the new mom/new neighbor and also Blair, the new widow/longtime resident who unexpectedly welcomes Alexis into her world. Highly recommend!

This was a fun book! I loved neighborhood thrillers. This book kept me guessing till the very end. I really liked the audiobook. The narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life.

Alexis and Sam, better off than either set of their parents, jump at the chance to purchase a fixer-upper in an exclusive DC suburb. They are elated to meet their new well-off neighbors and settle in.

But Alexis is expecting their second child. And the house needs so much more time, repairs, and money than they expected. Tempers grow short between them and when a neighbor is murdered, Alexis especially begins to question their choices. When news of the murder spreads and the police investigation begins, relationships among the seemingly model neighbors splinter and disputes arise. Alexis has befriended Blair, widow of the murder victim. As they grow closer and the truth about the murder is finally revealed, the two women are forced to redefine their lives, their choices, and their relationship.

This debut novel will be enjoyed by mystery fans, fans of women's fiction, and those who enjoy an ending with a twist.

I listened to an audio ARC of this book. Narrators are veteran Hillary Huber and actress Sarah Hollis, who do justice to the main characters.

What the Neighbors Saw is Adelman’s debut domestic suspense novel set in the posh suburbs of D.C. Alexis and Sam can barely afford to move into the neighborhood until a dilapidated cape cod home becomes available. Despite the need of expensive renovations, the couple thinks they are on their way to living out their dream lives until a neighbor is found dead behind their house. Told between two POVs, Alexis and Blair, the deceased man’s widow, the two women begin to dig into the murder mystery. This slow-burn, page-turner thriller is executed with just enough paranoia and doubt to keep readers guessing until the end. The audiobook narration was executed with precision and kept my interest peaked and heart racing. Fans of domestic mysteries with deception, unfaithfulness, dark family secrets, and duplicity should pick this up as their next read! Congratulations to the author for a fantastic debut.

Alexis and Sam move into an aging house but is in the "right" neighborhood. Alexis is pregnant with their second child and her husband Sam is focused on making partner at the law firm he works at. Alexis also used to work a higher stress law job, but she settled for something with less of a commitment with their first child. While purging money to fix a house that always seems to be breaking, Alexis and Sam are growing apart.

Across the street Blair and Teddy appear to have the perfect life, a boatload of money and angelic children. When Teddy is found murdered in the neighborhood the squeaky clean facade of the neighborhood is peeled back bit by bit.

What the Neighbors Saw suffered from a lack of direction and too many side plots. Each time a new 'ah-ha' moment happened, it was quickly squashed and felt like a waste of time. There was no building suspense to the climax and the clues were so obvious I had it figured out pretty quickly. The final few chapters of the book had the most interesting action but at that point I would have killed off the entire cast. Even the newly widowed wife was obnoxious and Alexis was the absolute worst. The story gave me no one to root for and in a mystery/suspense, I need to want someone to win in the end.

I appreciate access to this ALC. I thought the narrator did a great job!

I was on the fence about reading this one for some time. I love neighborhood dramas, but for some reason I held back. Until I saw the audio with dual narrators! I figured this was the perfect opportunity to give it a go!

Alexis and Sam are busy living their new lives. Moving into a neighborhood of their dreams. Alex pregnant with their second child. Sam working all hours to make partner at his law firm.

Blair and Teddy are also residents, in their perfect home with the air of an elite. A perfect family.

But when a body is found, the idyllic neighborhood is turned upside down. Well, at least it should have been, you’d think. But nobody seemed overly concerned. It almost felt like the murder took a back seat. To what you ask!? I’m asking myself the same question.🤷🏻‍♀️

This read seemingly lacked direction. A slow bun that really never caught fire. Not until the final 10% or so that anything substantial happened (as bizarre as it was) and by then I had lost interest.

With a blurb describing the book as a mix of Desperate Housewives meet The Couple Next Door it should have been a five star read! But unfortunately it just didn’t deliver.

Every character was thoroughly unlikeable. With the abusive behaviors and sexual misconducts (among many other un-neighborly behavior) I’d be putting up my 'For Sale' sign and high tailing it out of this so called coveted neighborhood!

The plus for me was I listened to the audio and the narrators were amazing! Both women delivered superb performances!

Thank you to McMillan Audio 🎧

When I say this book shocked me, I mean it shocked me, I got to the last few chapters thinking I knew what had happened, who did what, and why but I was wrong on all accounts and loved the devious way this story came to a close.

Alexis and Sam are a couple looking for their forever home in one of those neighborhoods most people only dream of living in, you know the ones, with manicured lawns, tudors next to cape cods, and neighbors that are close enough to wave to as you drive by.

The only problem with getting your dream house is that those houses hold onto the nightmares of the people that were there before you.

Now that could be anything from a hole in the kitchen floor to a man with a checkered past living across the street that leads to.... um, interesting people showing up on your doorstep or even finding out murder happens even in the best of school districts.

This book is a stunning example of a twist-ending thriller and I can't wait to read more by this exceptional author.

Speaking of exceptional, the narrators Hillary Huber and Sarah Hollis are phenomenal and brought these characters to life in ways I couldn't have dreamed of with anyone else.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing a copy of this audiobook, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks NetGalley for another audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a decent story with believable characters living in their rich suburban neighborhood. Don’t get me wrong- the characters were not entirely likeable, but the author at least followed through with giving the main ones a few layers.

The plot wasn’t necessarily high in action but it worked and still kept me interested. The ending is partially expected and partially so completely left field that it was almost funny. I’m still not sure how I felt about it.