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.

Thank you Park Row/Netgalley, #partner, for the advanced copy of The New Couple in 5B in exchange for my honest review.

I have long been a fan of Lisa Unger, ever since reading Fragile a few years back. I love that her books are dark and twisty and that you think you know what it going on, but you could not be more wrong.

This book oozed gothic vibes and even had some supernatural elements that just enhanced the overall story. It made it just creepy enough without being too crazy. I love books set in old buildings in New York City, so of course I was already a fan, but little did I know just how much this one would get under my skin. We get such great descriptions of the building and its history, both of which play so nicely into the story.

This book kept me fully engaged from the get-go. From the doorman of the Windermere that always seems to be on duty to the strange happenings, I found myself on edge and wondering what would happen next. There is a cult-like atmosphere in the building and as the story moves back and forth in time, we start to uncover some of the secrets the building. I also loved the way Unger writes the characters, where you are never quite sure if they are reliable or not.

If you love atmospheric, dark reads, this one is for you!

This was a good read with predictable parts but also great twists. It’s a neutral read for me- it didn’t thrill as I wanted it to but it didn’t bore me either. It’s up to you if you enjoy this!

This had all the ingredients for one of my fav books but it felt so slow and over the top ridiculous.

I’d still recommend it. It’s a creepy thriller with twists. But I won’t remember much about the details in this one.

I wish the book would have been able to stay string like the beginning of it.

There was a lot to enjoy with this new thriller from Lisa Unger. First of all, it really kept me reading right up until the end. I looked forward to going home and trying to figure out what was actually going on with Rosie and Chad. There is a lot in the book Based around ghosts, spirits, and the afterlife in the spiritual world, etc. If these topics aren’t your cup of tea, you might not like this book as much as others. Although those topics aren’t my usual cup of tea, I didn’t mind it in this book, almost until the end.

I was really enjoying trying to figure out who was or wasn’t trustworthy in Rosie‘s life. Rosie is a happily married Author when the book opens. She is married to Chad and she’s head over heels in love with him. He is an actor looking for his first big break in New York City. They unexpectedly inherit an apartment from a distant relative. This apartment is worth millions of dollars. Rosie, upon moving into the apartment begins to see what she thinks could be ghosts or spirits.

This takes her to an uncomfortable place as she grew up in a family that was highly religious- almost to the point of being cultlike, and they definitely believe in things like psychic powers. Rosie has turned her back on all of that and her family. When they move into the Windermere, things start to unravel in their lives. I enjoyed not knowing who was or wasn’t trustworthy in Rosie‘s life. Is Max as great as he seems? Is Chad the loving husband that we think he is? Are Charles and Ella their new neighbors as friendly and harmless as they seem? And what’s up with Olivia the lawyer or the detective… are they trustworthy?

There was a lot to ponder, but the book started to fall apart for me at about 85% of the way in. The ending just started to seem preposterous, and like it was kind of sloppily thrown together. At that point, I was really disappointed in the book. The epilogue did bring it around a bit for me, but overall for a book that I was really enjoying the ending wound up being very disappointing. Hence my three star rating. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this as an advanced reader copy.

What a haunting, gothic type of story this one was! I really enjoyed the premise and storyline. The characters were just attractive enough to enjoy, but yet creepy enough to wonder if their experiences were real or a dream. The mystery unravels page by page, in such a taunting way that you have to know if your instincts are right or if you might have been reading into a clue that wasn't meant for you. It was so hard to trust any of the characters until the bitter end, but all I can say is if it's too good to be true, it just might be, but I found myself taken by this story hook, line and sinker!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for providing me this Digital Advanced Readers Copy of the book!

I LOVE BOOKS IN NYC!!! However, I did feel that this book was kind of slow and took a while for me to get into it. I was hoping for more twists that weren't predictable, but this fell short. It was enjoyable overall, but I was hoping for more.

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!

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.

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.

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?

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

"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!

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

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

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!