i was excited about reading this new one — i haven’t read a great thriller in a while! but the formatting and typos through the ARC made it impossible to get into the story, and when rape was mentioned several times in the first chapter, triggering me, i had to call this one over, unfortunately.

Lisa Unger does it again! A twisty thriller with a satisfying end. I would recommend to fans of Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewell.

Creepy and claustrophobic with gothic vibes this horror inspired read was a good one. It drug a bit through the middle but overall a fun thriller.

The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger is a chilling psychological thriller that blends domestic suspense with a touch of the supernatural. When a couple moves into an old apartment building with a dark past, they quickly realize that some secrets refuse to stay buried.

Unger masterfully builds tension, creating an eerie atmosphere that keeps you on edge. The twists are well-timed, the pacing is fast, and the blend of mystery and psychological drama makes it hard to put down. While a few plot points stretch believability, the gripping story and unsettling vibes more than make up for it.

4 stars — a dark, twisty thriller packed with suspense and a haunting setting that lingers long after the final page. Perfect for fans of slow-burn mysteries with a sinister edge.

The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger is a chilling psychological thriller that explores the secrets lurking behind seemingly perfect facades. The story follows a couple who moves into a new apartment building and quickly becomes entangled with their mysterious neighbors. As tension builds and dark secrets are revealed, the line between trust and suspicion blurs. Unger's sharp writing, suspenseful pacing, and complex characters make this a gripping read that keeps you guessing until the very end. Perfect for fans of psychological suspense and domestic thrillers.

I have read many Lisa Unger books before so my bar is pretty high for what I am expecting. She is definitely one of the top thriller writers I can think of. The New Couple in 5B definitely did not disappoint me.

The story follows Rosie and Chad as they move into the new apartment they inherited from a late uncle of the Chad. There is a ridiculous amount of drama surrounding that, which is great for a page-turner. Right away I had a bit of deja vu. This reminded me of another book I read that I cannot put my finger on. It was a story of a girl house-sitting in an apartment building in New York (I think) and they were bringing in young people to take their body parts to save the older, rich people in the building. The general story line reminded me of this book a lot. That was not what was happening in this book but overall it had the same vibe.

Unger wrote so many suspense-building, crazy twists in this that I was suspicious of everyone. To be honest, I probably never would have moved into that apartment based on the immense number of red-flags, but it wasn’t me. Rosie was my favorite character and I loved how alert she was. She was trying to figure out what was happening and I appreciated that. Chad was suspicious from the start and I just didn’t like him at all. I felt he was gaslighting her at all times. The side characters, such as the door man, neighbors, etc were all weird, but fun additions to the story.

Ungers writing style keeps you on the edge of your seat and constantly guessing. Just as I would have a suspicion on what the final outcome would be, something would happen to keep me guessing. Then at the end there were so many twists that I just did not suspect any of it. Unger really threw me and made the book interesting. The only reason I didn’t give 5-stars is because at times I felt it was just too much and all the terrible things that could happen did.

Lisa Unger is a thriller queen, and I will definitely be picking up more of her books. If you love really crazy neighbors, suspicious characters, and a book to keep you jumping from one idea to the next, pick up The New Couple in 5B.

This book will grab in the first 60ish pages. I felt at first it was a slow burn, but then it catches up. I highly recommend!

Lisa Unger creates a twisty tale with The New Couple in 5B, where nothing is quite what it seems. Rosie and Chad are a young married couple, a writer and actor respectively, struggling to make ends meet. When Chad's uncle dies and leaves him his expensive apartment, they think their troubles are over. Little do they know, their troubles are only beginning.

There is a darkness to the building, which only grows the longer Rosie and Chad live there. While everyone seems friendly and welcoming, they soon realize that something sinister is lurking around every corner.

The New Couple in 5B weaves together stories from the past and present, with a variety of characters who initially seem independent of each other but we come to learn that they are more related than they initially appear. I found it a little slow in some places, but ultimately really enjoyed the novel. There were some twists and while some were predictable, there were a couple that I didn't see coming.

I'd recommend this novel to anyone who likes psychological suspense and thrillers.

Thank you to the publisher and #NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

“𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞.”

Lisa Unger's latest is a mysterious thrill-ride, in the vein of Riley Sager's Lock Every Door and the one-and-done series 666 Park Ave!

Unger always has a way of sucking you immediately in as a reader; this book opens with main character Rosie witnessing an accident and questioning the idea of luck, a parallel that reminds me of Colleen Hoover's Verity. What follows is a suspenseful ride as Rosie and her husband, Chad inherit an apartment in the glamorous and exclusive building, the Windermere, in New York City. Ghosts of the past, mysterious deaths, watchful surveillance, and characters who all seem to be hiding something increase the paranoia that Rosie feels, especially that her life is being plagued by bad luck. The Windermere with all its elegance, old New York charm, and seemingly tragic past is like a character itself. The residents all seem to know Rosie and Chad's business, and are unique characters that add to the page-turning atmosphere. Rosie and Chad are easily likeable, even as Unger casts doubt surrounding some of Chad's actions, but also how reliable Rosie is as a narrator; I rooted for them as a couple throughout the story. I did feel like the final few chapters were unneeded; it threw the story into unnecessary twist territory that didn't quite payoff (partly due to that final reveal).

The New Couple in 5B is a pure popcorn thriller that overall is another solid entry in Unger's catalogue. Thank you to Harlequin, Park Row Books & NetGalley for the ARC!

The power of good writing and a well-structured plot. It stands as a testament to the author's talent and dedication to their craft, providing readers with an enjoyable and thought-provoking experience. Whether you're a casual reader or a literature enthusiast, this book is sure to leave you with a sense of fulfillment and a desire to explore more of the author's works. So, for anyone looking to delve into a captivating story, I wholeheartedly recommend picking up this gem—it may just become one of your favorites, too.

Lisa Unger’s The New Couple in 5B offers a suspenseful peek into the world of seemingly perfect neighbors who may or may not be hiding something dark behind their shiny exteriors. The story follows Amelia and Nate, a couple who move into an upscale apartment building, only to be drawn into the lives of their enigmatic neighbors, Lenora and Calvin. At first, it seems like a friendly exchange of casseroles and wine, but soon enough, the cracks in the perfect façade begin to show.

The pacing of the book is steady, with a creeping sense of unease that builds slowly. The multiple perspectives provide insight into the characters’ motivations and add depth to the mystery. But while the suspense is there, it sometimes feels like a slow burn with a few too many red herrings thrown in, making you wonder if things will ever fully ignite. The twists are interesting, but not as shocking as they could be—more of a flicker than a bang.

Overall, The New Couple in 5B is a solid, if not entirely groundbreaking, psychological thriller. If you enjoy a good “who’s hiding what” story and don’t mind a slow unraveling, this one will keep you entertained. Just don’t expect to be knocked off your feet.

Holy moly twists!! This book took me awhile to get over after reading it.

That ending. THAT ending!!! I was not expecting this at all. I honestly think I will re read this book because I feel like there was so much to take in that I didn’t fully process it while reading.

Definitely a book to add to your collection if you are into mysteries/thrillers with an amazing storyline and twists that keep on giving.

The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger is a psychological thriller that explores the unsettling nature of new neighbors, secrets, and the tension that builds in close-knit communities. While the premise seemed promising, I found the execution lacking in several key areas, which ultimately left me disappointed with the overall experience.

The story revolves around a couple, Liv and Jack, who move into an apartment building and begin to notice some peculiarities about their new neighbors in 5B. The mystery quickly escalates, and it becomes clear that something is not quite right with the seemingly perfect new couple. As the plot unfolds, it delves into themes of voyeurism, trust, and the dangers of becoming too involved in the lives of those around you.

Unfortunately, despite an intriguing premise, The New Couple in 5B never quite delivers on its potential. The pacing is uneven, with the first half of the novel dragging as the author takes too long to develop the central mystery. I found myself losing interest as the story moved in circles, and the tension that is expected in a thriller never quite builds to the level I had hoped for. The plot twists, when they did come, felt forced and predictable rather than shocking, which left me feeling unsatisfied.

The characters, particularly Liv and Jack, never truly came to life for me. I found it difficult to connect with them or care about their fates. They felt flat and one-dimensional, lacking the complexity that would make them compelling protagonists in a psychological thriller. The secondary characters, especially the residents of the building, were equally underdeveloped, and the lack of emotional depth made it hard for me to engage with the story on a deeper level.

Additionally, the writing style itself felt repetitive at times, and I found myself skimming sections in order to move the story along. There was an overuse of description and introspection that weighed down the narrative and detracted from the sense of urgency that I expect in thrillers.

While the book does have some interesting moments, particularly in its exploration of how closely people watch each other in apartment settings, the overall experience fell flat. The ending, which I had hoped would bring the payoff the story needed, felt rushed and lacked the emotional impact that I was hoping for.

Overall, The New Couple in 5B has an interesting premise, but it ultimately didn't live up to expectations. With underdeveloped characters, a slow plot, and predictable twists, it failed to captivate me in the way I hoped. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy a more leisurely-paced mystery, but for those looking for a gripping psychological thriller, this one might not be for you.

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

"The Watchful Eye" (TV show) meets "it's always the husband" trope. Surprisingly great thriller that kept me engaged throughout! 4/5

2 Stars
Disappointing and Predictable
I had high hopes for The Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger, but it fell flat for me. While the premise was intriguing, the story felt slow and lacked suspense. The characters were underdeveloped, making it hard to connect with their struggles or care about their outcomes.
Unfortunately. the 'twists' were so predictable, leaving little to be excited about.
If you are a die hard Lisa Unger fan, you may still enjoy it, but for me, it was a let down.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and the Author for a copy of this book.
All opinions are my own.

I was expecting a little bit more of a domestic thriller not a ghost and horror novel so I had a bit of a harder time getting into it as that is not my typical genre of choice. The book was definitely suspenseful and will keep you page turning but a little too much horror for me.

I enjoy LIsa Ungers books, but this one seemed rushed and a little shallow. The writing was just not as great as er previous books, and there were parts that really just didn't need to be included. I enjoyed reading it, and would be happy to read while on holiday.

A solid setting, creepy vibes with lots of twists! 👀

This was such an enjoyable thriller! I loved the flow and although it is a slower burn, the twists are perfectly placed to keep you reading & guessing.

I don’t typically love ghosty vibes, but thought it added to the vibes of this book. The characters had depth, & the apartment complex had a captivating story packed with a dark history.

The past & present timelines really helped bring this story together and my only big complaint was the length of the chapters (short chapter girl over here)

I just couldn’t get through this. It was so cheesy and popcorn thrillery. Not for me. Wanted way for depth.

Lisa Unger delivers another compelling psychological thriller in The New Couple in 5B. This novel keeps you hooked with its layered characters, eerie atmosphere, and unexpected twists.

The story centers around secrets and suspicions in a close-knit apartment building, focusing on Rosie and Chad, who inherit his uncle’s luxury apartment. When a neighbor turns up dead, Rosie decides to figure out the mysteries of the Windermere.

Unger does a fantastic job weaving suspense through dual timelines and flashbacks of a previous tenant in the building. Her exploration of trust, betrayal, and the darkness lurking beneath seemingly ordinary lives is top-notch. I felt this book had similarities to some other books set in a creepy apartment building, and I did want there to be a more supernatural aspect to it. I found the ending kind of predictable, but I still enjoyed some of the twists.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.