Thank you Nettgalley & HTP Books, Park Row, for an eARC of The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger! Unger is one of my favorite thriller authors - so I quite literally drop anything I am doing when I get my hands on her latest novels and dive in immediately. As always with her stories, this book sucks you in from the very beginning and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last page is finished.

The book follows a couple, Rosie and Chad, who've inherited an apartment from his late uncle - Much needed, because they're barely making ends meet. It sounds too good to be true, and maybe it is. The historic Windermere building is glamorous, but has a very dark history that can't be escaped.

Definitely pay attention to the trigger warnings with this one, there are a few things that some may find unsettling/hard to read in this one. I usually am not a fan of the books in which a building or setting is a character of the book, but Unger executes this one perfectly in a creepy way that isn't cheesy in the slighest. Buckle up, I picture this one being a popular thriller of 2024!

This was such a page turner and I was honestly hooked from the very beginning. This is a classic “who done it” and you never really know where the story is going to take you until the last few chapters. I couldn’t put it down and excited to read more from this author.
4/5 stars

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed the setting of this book, the old apartment building sounded fascinating. At the beginning of the story I was hooked, but then I feel like the middle lagged a bit. There were flashbacks as well but they didn't move the story forward like I would have liked. I also was challenged by the main character, Rosie, and her lack of trusting her instinct at time or paying attention to red flags (which is ironic because it talks about it in the book). There are fun neighbors in the apartment building and a doorman and it could be haunted! I This was a good book overall and I'll continue to read books by this author. I loved the cover too!

The New Couple in 5B was a spooky thriller that kept me up far too late trying to solve the mystery! This book reminds me of Rosemary’s Baby even though the plot isn’t really like that film, but the NYC setting in a high end apartment with a questionable cast of characters drew parallels. Much like that well loved film, this is one that will undoubtedly draw in readers interested in a book that draws on elements that aren’t of this world.

Rosie and Chad inherit his uncle Ivan’s apartment on Park Avenue, and while it’s a godsend, it quickly becomes the source of disquiet for the couple. They try to unravel the mystery of the apartment while Willa, in a different timeline, also lives in The Windermere, the haunted apartment building, battling her own demons. Filled with suspense and spooky twists, this book is a must read for anyone who loves mysteries and doesn’t mind a dose of the paranormal.

Short synopsis: Rosie and her husband Chad inherit a luxury apartment in a fancy part of New York, but they don’t anticipate it’s dark past.

My thoughts: I’m going to keep this somewhat vague so I don’t spoil anything. What a fun “locked room” type thriller. This was twisty and haunting.

The apartment setting was so well done. The neighbors, mysterious doorman, and camera everywhere were such a fun addition.

Read if you love:
- Apartments with a past
- Friendly doormen
- Locked room settings
- Gothic novels

The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger is a super twisty suspense novel about a married couple who inherit a beautiful apartment in a possibly haunted building.
After Rosie and Chad move into the building, they are immediately welcomed by their neighbors, but it doesn't take long for Rosie to realize that something isn't quite right. Rosie is in the process of writing a book about the history of the building and the many deaths that took place there. However, there seem to be a lot of questions that no one wants to answer.
This had so many twists it was hard to keep up. The author did a great job of throwing in a lot of different elements without making the reader feel overwhelmed.

A fun escapist read, full of shady characters and plot twists, read The New Couple in 5B if you like thrillers that make you feel like you don't know who to trust!

I love the premise of an elitist apartment complex with lots of colorful characters, both likeable and unlikeable. This book was fun, it was on the light side, but I enjoyed it. I don't know how long it ill stay with me, it wasn't very deep, but entertaining.

I received a free digital copy from the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Taut and luxe, The New Couple in 5B is an interesting addition to this year's suspense offerings (which, frankly has largely become overdone). When her perfect, handsome, actor husband inherits his uncle's fancy apartment in a rarified building in NYC, Rosie thinks that her life will finally be completely fulfilling. A writer, Rosie takes a huge interest in their new building, the Windermere, which has a troubled history.

Soon after moving in, however, Rosie begins to wonder if it's only the Windermere's past that is dark. With a history of anxiety, she has to wonder if the things that she's seeing and not-quite-seeing are only in her head. But as she spirals, it becomes evident that someone is hiding things at the Windermere, and that digging too far could be dangerous.

The New Couple in 5B is tightly written with strong character development. The premise is exciting and nail-biting at the same time. There is a time-slip aspect and a ghost that maybe aren't essential, but they're also done well enough to seem nearly seamless. I wanted a bit more from the ending, but all in all, I would strongly recommend this book to fans of psychological suspense, domestic noir, and Darcy Coates-style novels.

I've been craving all the thrillers lately and this one did not disappoint! I loved the New York vibes and the crazy twists and turns!

I felt very unsettled the entire time. So many twist and turns and I was unsure of where it was going. I did enjoy the story, however the pacing was a bit slow for me! Lisa Unger is a solid thriller writer!

The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger. On sale March 5, 2024

When Rosie, an author and her husband, Chad, an actor, are left an apartment on Park Avenue worth millions, by Ivan, the recently deceased uncle of Chad, the only person who seems upset is Dana, Ivan’s estranged daughter.

So the couple moves into 5B at 55 Park Avenue and things start to become peculiar. Rose believes she has seen a small boy in the basement when she is told no children live there or are visiting, a box for Dana goes missing mysteriously, the doorman Abi seems to know too much about the occupants of the building as they start dying off…..

Can the new couple survive the building and the strange power it seems to have over them? Lisa Unger has a power like no other when it comes to enthralling her readers and THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B has you in a frenzy from page one.

This was my first read from the author. I love Psychological thrillers but had a hard time getting into this one. It started off off pretty slow and because of that I found It difficult to stay focused on the story. Thankfully the second half was much better and had be flying through it to try to figure out what happens. Overall I am going to give it four stars because the second half really redeemed the overall story. If you like psychological thrillers and get push through the slow start you’d enjoy it.

Thank you to @NetGalley, @launger, harlequin trade publishing @htpbooks, @htp_hive for my free advanced readers copy to read and review!

Lisa Unger has done it again, in my opinion! Another 5 star hit and probable top bestseller! I have yet to read “Last Cabin Sleeps Six”, but I did read ‘Christmas Presents’ and Last Girl Ghosted’. She is a brilliant writer! The research she puts into her books: backstory, theme, character development is unsurmountable and invaluable. I proclaim this as my new FAVORITE thriller of the year, beating ‘First Lie Wins'!

This had such ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ vibes, just so incredibly THRILLING, CULTISH, and an intense, surprising conclusion! Notes of spookiness, ghosts and paranormal embodiments throughout, made this book stand out among its competitors.

Any thriller or horror lover should not miss out on this awesome read! I can not say enough good things about this book. Just please go read it!

✨Release Day Review✨

The New Couple in 5B
Lisa Unger

Thank you Libro for the opportunity to listen and review this ALC. As well as @htphive and @netgalley for the advanced e-book!

Summary:
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.

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this story. It sucked me in and I didn’t want to put it down! The supernatural aspects to this book really creeped me out but made the story come to life!
The time jumps between past tenants and present was one of my favorite parts. I loved how the story unfolded and all connected. While one of the twists I wasn’t shocked about there were so many more that I never expected!

A great suspense filled story that I thoroughly enjoyed! The setting is an old apartment building in NYC. Rosie and Chad inherit an apartment from his uncle and after moving in Rosie begins to notice a lot of unsettling details and occurrences in the building. The Windermere is known for having had a lot of deaths and strange happenings over the years. And why is the same doorman always there? Also Rosie begins to notice some details about her husband that are causing concern. I recommend you read this one for a slower paced story with a lot of intrigue and suspense!

This is the second book I’ve read by Lisa Unger and it definitely won’t be my last!
The New Couple in 5B is a slow burn, suspense-driven novel with paranormal elements that will have you thinking everyone is a suspect. I was hooked from the very first page and completely invested in leaning more about the Windermere’s grisly past.
The Windermere was the perfect setting with its cult-like tenants.
It’s primarily through Rosie’s POV but there are flashbacks to Willa - a tenant from 1963. I loved learning more about the residents through the glimpses into the past. While there’s no shortage of creepy characters along with a few ghosts, the doorman, Abi, definitely creeped me out the most.
Unger did a wonderful job crafting an unsettling story!
If you enjoy thrillers with a dash of the paranormal or are a fan of books like Rosemary's Baby and Lock Every Door, I highly suggest picking this up!

One thing about Lisa Unger and her novels, you never know what to expect! THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B not only has her best cover yet, but it's her most suspense-oozed mystery/thriller I've read.

When Rosie and her husband Chad get news about Chad's uncle passing away and leaving them his luxury condominium in the historic Windermere—a pre-war building in Murray Hill, the couple sees the light at the end of the tunnel. They're both trying to survive in New York and Rosie is working on her next book in hopes that she can build upon her last book's success. Rosie and Chad jump at this opportunity, but Rosie can't help but wonder why they were given this home in his will and not his own daughter. Why does the Windermere have such an interesting cast of tenants? Why is the doorman constantly watching them? Rosie begins to suspect something more sinister could be at play...

THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B is the perfect cocktail of Simone St. James and Riley Sager's Lock Every Door. This suspense-driven novel is ghastly unique to Unger's previous novels, but still provides the bingeworthy adventures you've come to love from the author. Teetering between supernatural and thriller, you may just be surprised how this novel turns out. As usual, Lisa Unger's books will leave you wanting to discuss and debate—a perfect book club choice! As you may expect from the author, THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B will keep you talking.

Lastly, after reading the acknowledgements, I appreciated how close to the story that Lisa was and how the journey in crafting THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B came to be. I always pay attention to the afterword or acknowledgements section because you just never know what the author will divulge to readers! Lisa Unger continues to be a staple in my reading and I can't wait to see what she gives readers next!

“The New Couple in 5B” by Lisa Unger is a gripping thriller that weaves a tale of suspense and intrigue around the seemingly idyllic Windermere apartment building. Unger masterfully explores the dark secrets hidden behind its charming facade, creating a spine-tingling atmosphere that kept me on the edge of my seat. The narrative unfolds through Rosie and Chad Lowan, a couple facing life-changing revelations as they inherit a luxury apartment with a mysterious past.

Unger’s storytelling prowess shines as she introduces a colorful cast of characters, each adding layers to the complex narrative. The plot is both entertaining and haunting, filled with unexpected twists that make the story truly unpredictable. The author skillfully blends elements of old house stories with a modern and twisted edge, creating a page-turner that delves into the depths of the human psyche.

The Windermere’s dark history unfolds gradually, leaving readers questioning the motives of its enigmatic doorman and the constant surveillance. As the mysteries intensify, Unger expertly explores the sometimes tragic consequences of uncovering the truth. “The New Couple in 5B” is a must-read for thriller enthusiasts, offering a compelling mix of suspense, unexpected turns, and a dangerous allure that lingers even after the final page.
The audiobook was amazing and I loved how the cast narrators brought to life this novel.
Very grateful to @librofm and the publisher for this ALC and arc ecopy, opinions are my own.

I love her books, so I was so excited when The Hive sent me a copy. I put aside my weekend reading plans and jumped in. I’m so very glad I did.

Not sure if this is a domestic thriller or maybe a little light horror since there is a supernatural feel to it, but it asks the age old question of how well do you know the people around you. There is a dual timeline and an old apartment building at the center of this one. As I read, I couldn’t figure out who was trustworthy but the more I read, the more I thought it could be everyone, but I always think that.

It reminded me just a little of The Shining. No snowstorm, but an old building with an eerie atmosphere and a few spirits. Of course there was a creepy basement, my personal fear, and the devil's eye pendant to ward off bad luck.

The couple in the past timeline has a little bit of a parallel to the current couple and there was a feeling of something bigger as the story flipped back and forth. It added to the mood of the building and upped my interest. Throw in some increasingly creepy, unlikable neighbors and I needed to know what was happening.

The audiobook had one of my favorite narrators, Vivienne Leheny. She is great at making the gothic atmosphere come to life. I do wish there was a second narrator for the past timeline. With the similarities in the couples, I found on occasion I had to think hard about what timeline was playing. Even so, I liked the audiobook and was grateful I had it as backup for when life wouldn’t let me read.

Happy pub day!! I received this ARC and I’m so glad I did.
I have several of her books on my tbr but this is the first one I’ve actually read. Now I’m even more excited to read more of her books. This was an excellent, albeit slow, and very suspenseful thriller. Once things took off boy did they! I thoroughly enjoyed the paranormal aspect and I wish there would’ve been more of that. Even though I had figured it out, it wasn’t predictable, it was wild guesses that happened to be correct. I highly recommend this book!