Member Reviews

I loved the setting for this one! This was a good, solid thriller with some definite spooky elements. I thought this would be more mystery/thriller than paranormal spooky, but it was fun!

Was this review helpful?

The New Couple in 5B was a suspenseful mystery with the angle of "Too Good To Be True" and "my crazy family". It was predictable yet vacation-mode entertaining. The concept of "too good to be true" is quite popular so it's in good company if you're interested in a similar book at another time i.e. First Lie Wins.

Was this review helpful?

This book reminded me of ROSEMARY'S BABY. It's about an apartment in an old NYC building that is inherited by a young couple. There are two timeframes, one is roughly in the present when the apartment is inherited, and the other is decades earlier when another young couple lives there. Some of the characters play a role in both timeframes. There's a supernatural element to the plot, as well as some very human evil. The book was entertaining and hard to put down. The writing style serves the purpose of a fast moving plot.

Was this review helpful?

The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger was published on March 5, 2024 and falls into the mystery and thriller genres. I was thrilled when I learned that I received an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) from NetGalley for free in exchange for my honest review. However, I wasn't able to read and review the novel until now.

This novel is reminiscent of the television show 666 Park Avenue and is definitely what I call a slow burn. With that being said, it had twists and turns that had me guessing to the very end. Although the book is told from Rosie Lowan's perspective, there are some flashbacks to a previous owner that adds some mystery to the storyline. The transitions between the two perspectives are done exceptionally well.

There are a mix of characters that are likable and unlikable. My favorite characters were Rosie and Max. Unfortunately, I didn't quite trust Rosie's husband Chad or the doorman named Abi.

Lisa Unger has become one of my favorite authors, and I wish I had started reading her books a long time ago. I'm looking forward to reading her new books as well as the ones I've missed out on.

Five out of five stars is what I give The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger. If you like suspense and mystery that has a sprinkling of paranormal elements, this is the novel for you!

Synopsis:
Chad and Rosie Lowan are living in New York City and are barely making ends meet when they find out that Chad's uncle Ivan left them his five million dollar apartment in his will. Upon moving in, Chad and Rosie feel so welcomed, but as the days go by, Rosie starts feeling uneasy with all the cameras and intercoms. Add in the sordid past of the building and seeing strange things, the uneasiness builds. Are things really as they seem?

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book - it very much reminded me of one of Riley Sager’s books. It’s very atmospheric and creepy! Def recommend.

Was this review helpful?

"Rosie and Chad Lowan are barely making ends meet in New York City when they receive life-changing news: Chad’s late uncle has left them his luxury apartment at the historic Windermere in glamorous Murray Hill. With its prewar elegance and impeccably uniformed doorman, the building is the epitome of old New York charm. One would almost never suspect the dark history lurking behind its perfectly maintained facade.

At first, the building and its eclectic tenants couldn’t feel more welcoming. But as the Lowans settle into their new home, Rosie starts to suspect that there’s more to the Windermere than meets the eye. Why is the doorman ever-present? Why are there cameras everywhere? And why have so many gruesome crimes occurred there throughout the years? When one of the neighbors turns up dead, Rosie must get to the truth about the Windermere before she, too, falls under its dangerous spell."
I really enjoyed this book. Lisa Unger's writing style is engaging and she is, as they say, a master of the page turner. She is a solid writer and I always enjoy her books. This one is no exception. I really liked the spooky, supernatural elements to this one. It reminded me of other books that I have read, but she put an original twist on the story. Lisa Unger never fails to write an entertaining thriller. I definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

Was this review helpful?

Lisa Unger has been one of my first and favorite authors since deciding to read out of my romance comfort zone and give thrillers a try.

THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B was such a great read, with suspense that kept me on edge, and a captivating storyline that drew me in right away. Once again, I was pulled into Unger’s layered and atmospheric writing, and loved the NYC setting.

*many thanks to Park Row books and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Was this review helpful?

Lisa Unger does it again. An luxury apartment with a dark past. Creepy happenings. what are the neighbors hidings?

Was this review helpful?

REVIEW: The New Couple in 5B

Lisa Unger's The New Couple in 5B is a captivating psychological thriller that delivers a haunting and suspenseful read. The novel follows Rosie and Chad, a young couple who inherit a luxurious apartment in a historic New York City building. As they settle into their new home, they uncover a disturbing history and experience strange occurrences that leave them questioning their sanity.

Unger's writing is atmospheric and immersive, creating a palpable sense of unease and dread. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to root for their survival and unravel the mysteries surrounding their new home. The plot is filled with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the end.

While the supernatural elements add a layer of intrigue, the story's strength lies in its psychological exploration of fear, paranoia, and the lengths people will go to protect what they love. The New Couple in 5B is a thrilling and thought-provoking read that captivates and disturbs you.

Thank you, Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

Was this review helpful?

This book revolves around writer Rosie Lowan, who is infatuated with her husband, Chad, an actor. When Chad's uncle passes away, they discover that he has left them his luxurious apartment on Murray Hill in New York. Rosie is stressed due to the uncertainty of her new life and the constant presence of people outside her new home. The book is confusing and lacks a clear plot, with the author dropping the ball on only showing one couple in the Windemere. The story is boring and doesn't leave much sympathy for the characters. The transition to present day with Rosie is confusing, and the author's attempt to combine thriller and fantasy elements didn't work well. The ending takes a long time to get going, leaving the reader feeling left disappointed with Rosie.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a free copy for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I love me a thriller that takes place in NYC. I thought this was a fun read, even though there were lulls at times.

Was this review helpful?

Super fun and full of twists and turns which I have come to expect from Unger!

This one wasn’t what I was expecting. There was a hit
More mysticism and ghostly presences than I expected. It was an interesting element and I wish we had learned more about Rosie’s childhood and background, I felt like that was such an interesting element I kept hoping would come up more.

It was salacious, well written, and mysterious. A solid read.

Thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This was my first Lisa Unger novel, and since then I have worked my way through her backlist of books. I really enjoyed the paranormal side to the story, and can't wait to recommend it to others.

Was this review helpful?

An enjoyable read that I would recommend. I did enjoy this one but it was a bit slower paced for me.

Was this review helpful?

What happens when a couple inherits an apartment with a spine-tingling past? There is more to the apartment than meets the eye...
The New Couple in 5B is an unputdownable thriller that will have you turning pages until the very end. In the book there is so many twist and turns that will keep you guessing. This author wrote this so well and is an amazing story teller. The book had interesting characters that were suspicious from the beginning which I liked a lot. I loved that the book had to do with a house or apartment building and how errie that atmosphere was with that. Overall this was a fun spooky thrillling read that I loved a lot and would recommend to any reader but especially to readers who love a good thriller. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this amazing read in exchange of my honest review of The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger.

Was this review helpful?

Give me all the Lisa Unger books! I always love her writing style and dive head first into the story. Loved this one too!

Was this review helpful?

This one was an “I can’t put it down” kind of read. Definitely shades of Rosemary’s Baby. I love Lisa Unger”s books and this is one of my favorites. At times it was difficult to keep up with the list of character, but a fun read.

Was this review helpful?

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝟓𝐁
𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐔𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐑𝐨𝐰 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬
𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰
𝟒.𝟓⭐️

Happy Wednesday! So far it’s been a good reading month and I’ve read a lot of four & five star reads! One of these great reads was 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝟓𝐁 by @launger! I’ve always enjoyed books by this author and as usual this one did not disappoint!

I really really loved the setting of this one- an old, gothic, apartment building, set in NYC. The vibes were dark and the author did a great job meticulously describing the building and all the history it entailed. I also loved the paranmoral aspect, @launger executed this so well as it was just the right amount of creepiness!

The plot flip flopped between past and present keeping the story at a fast pace. I was literally at the edge of my seat the whole time, and the tension continued to grow with each chapter. The past timeline was my favorite chapters to read, they were so twisty, and mind bending.

100% recommend this thriller! Thank you to @parkrowbooks and @netgalley for the early copy!

𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒: “ Rosie and Chad Lowan are barely making ends meet in New York City when they receive life-changing news: Chad’s late uncle has left them his luxury apartment at the historic Windermere in glamorous Murray Hill. With its prewar elegance and impeccably uniformed doorman, the building is the epitome of old New York charm. One would almost never suspect the dark history lurking behind its perfectly maintained facade.

At first, the building and its eclectic tenants couldn’t feel more welcoming. But as the Lowans settle into their new home, Rosie starts to suspect that there’s more to the Windermere than meets the eye. Why is the doorman ever-present? Why are there cameras everywhere? And why have so many gruesome crimes occurred there throughout the years? When one of the neighbors turns up dead, Rosie must get to the truth about the Windermere before she, too, falls under its dangerous spell.“



#thenewcouplein5b#lisaunger
#parkrowbooks#netgalley
#bookstagrammer#bookstagram
#bookclub#bookreview#bookish

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this book. It was a very slow read for me! I think I’m not a psychological thriller reader at heart!

Was this review helpful?

I just finished reading "The New Couple in 5B" by Lisa Unger. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the Advanced Copy in return for an honest review.

This story is about a yound couple who inherit an apartment in New York, in a beautiful part of town that is clearly out of their economic capability. When they move in, they discover that the apartment building has a rich history that is shrouded in mystery. There is a feeling of supernatural and scary vibes. Rose and Chad are awestruck in their new plae, but soon weird things start to happen thatn noone seems to be able to explain. Then someone is killed and the race to the truth leavers everyone shocked and surprised.

I felt uneasy while reading this book. I enjoyed it but it was a little too creepy for me. The characters were interesting and the back story of former residents was captivating. I am not a fan of horror or the supernatural, but if you are then this is defiinately the book for you

Happy Reading.

Was this review helpful?