This is a fun thriller that kept me engaged, although it didn't blow me away. Some of the foreshadowing was a little bit too heavy headed, making the twists less surprising. I very much enjoyed the New York setting and the way it fit into the story.

Lisa Unger’s latest is a creepy, gothic ghost story that left me feeling unsettled. Rosie and Chad Lowan inherit an apartment from Chad’s uncle in the prestigious Windermere apartment building. At first their luck seems to be changing as they both make career advancements and are welcomed by their neighbors. But as Rosie works to uncover the secrets of the building and the horrors that happened within it, she begins to questions everything about her life and her husband. The New Couple in 5B is a solid ghost story with character that you can never quite get a handle on. I do think it would have benefited from more editing in the middle. I also think Rosie’s naïveté and blunders about her husband were too unrealistic. Overall this was a solid ghost story/mystery that fans of gothic novels or zingers previous books will enjoy.

Double, double toil and trouble: Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes. ~ From Macbeth

The Windermere casts a shadow over all who dwell there. Rosie and Chad move in hoping for good things. The other residents see them as fresh blood. Anyone else feeling that 'Rosemary's Baby' vibe? My GR friends know I am a fan of books where a building is a main character. This one delivered above and beyond my expectations. Lisa Under has delivered a thriller with a pinch of the paranormal and kept me riveted. Loved all the Shakespeare bits, too.

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

A spooky 4 star book to add to your TBR!

One sentence summary: Rosie and Chad inherit a gorgeous apartment in a building with some sinister history.

This story was quite the ride and had quite a lot going on- domestic thriller aspects, the paranormal, past/present timeline, I really enjoyed how Unger included the 60's timeline with the present day timeline. It added extra intrigue throughout the story!

While the story is a slow burn mystery, I really wanted to know how it would all play out and there was just enough to suspense to keep me interested in wanting more.

This was my first of Unger's work but will not be my last! I recommend this for anyone who likes:

- slow burn mystery
- historical spooky locations
- paranormal elements
- fans of Simone St. James
- true crime (the main character is a true crime writer!)

Huge thank you to the author, Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy! I really enjoyed this one for 60% of the story, however, started to get lost when things took some turns that were a bit strange. I kept feeling like the story was ending & then it kept going as well. I love Lisa Unger, but this one wasn’t my favorite of her unfortunately! I have seen some great reviews for this one though so definitely worth checking out! 3⭐️

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
First off, I loved the fact that this book takes place in a creepy old building in New York and has some supernatural elements weaved throughout! This one gave me vibes of a cross between Simone St. James books and Riley Sager (think Lock Every Door), and I was all here for it🙌🏻 This is a definite slow burn, but the pacing worked as the supernatural elements and gothic atmospheric vibes sucked me in. Unger did a fantastic job with the detailed and descriptive writing throughout this as it painted the perfect picture in my head of the eerie and creepy Windermere building and creating an unsettling vibe and atmosphere. Although I was able to guess the ending early on, I still felt satisfied after finishing this one and thoroughly enjoyed it.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦Supernatural elements
✦Creepy and eerie old buildings
✦Riley Sager’s Lock Every Door
✦Simone St. James’ books
✦A good slow burn
✦A book that would make for a perfect book club read and discussion


𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced readers copy! I enjoyed this story. The ghost and haunted elements mixed with all the surprises and twists. Kept my attention the whole time!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing (HTP), Lisa Unger, and NetGalley for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this book 95% blind only knowing the author and that it was about an apartment building in NYC. While unique from other things I have read nothing in this book really stood out to me in a way that will make me remember or think about this book. The plot did have a few solid twists and I did not expect the ending, overall I wasn’t invested and towards the end it started to feel long. Many of the characters have suspicions undertones which was fun but I never found myself that connected to them. I was a bit surprised by the supernatural elements that came up within the story and understand why the author added that in but it didn’t add to the story in a positive or negative way. It’s hard to say if I’d recommend this because while I see the appeal for some just wasn’t the book for me.


3.5/5 Stars

The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger

The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger is a thriller about a couple moving into a new apartment where everyone in the building seems to hide something.

This book reminded me often of Rosemary's Baby in a lot of ways - especially the occult bits.

The book is a thriller centered around a building - and that focus brings a lot of good suspenseful elements.

I loved that the characters had good back stories but some of the decisions they were making seemed a bit rushed.

All in all this is a good thriller for anybody that loves New York and occult thrillers.

This was not my favorite book by Lisa Unger. First of all, it started off kind of slow, and I felt some of it was drug out a little too much. I also had a hard time with the supernatural aspect of the book because that normally isn’t my period.

3.5 stars! Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin trade publishing for the ARC ebook. The New Couple in 5B was a fun thriller with a touch of ghosts and paranormal activity. It follows Rosie, a true crime author writing her next book about the haunting and crimes that have occurred in a history New York City building. The same building she and her husband Chad just moved into. Tragedy strikes close to the couple and crimes continue to strike in the building.

I really enjoyed the characters and couldn’t put the book down while reading the last third of the book. The storyline kept me guessing until the very end. I did find the beginning to be a little more slow paced but it definitely picked up!

New Couple in 5B is my new favorite Lisa Unger book. There is something about creepy apartment buildings and sketchy residents that peak my interest.
Chad and Rosie have recently inherited apartment 5B in an upscale apartment building in New York. But after moving in, they find that this wonderful gift may have its drawbacks. For starters, it has a dark history. But then there’s cameras everyone and a weird intercom system. When more people start dying, Rosie goes searching for answers.
I loved all the elements of this story - the mysterious residents, an apartment with a history, the big brother vibe. Despite how much I enjoyed the ride, I felt that the book got a bit busy. There were a lot of elements going on at once.
I really enjoyed how the author did the ending. I wouldn't say I was surprised at the conclusion, but I still felt that it was interesting and well done.
This book includes a dual timeline with a previous guest, and I really like how that was included. It is one of my favorite formats.

Rosie and her husband inherit an amazing apartment. When they move in unexpected things begin. I really enjoyed this book. This book kept me guessing about what was really happening to Rosie. I enjoyed the supernatural twist on the story. The story had a little bit of a Rosemary’s Baby feel to it but it was also unique.

Oooooh this book had lots of surprises and I loved it. Couldn’t put it down! I’m highly recommending this one for sure!!

I first discovered Lisa Unger in 2006 when I read "Beautiful lies." I have read every one of her books since. This thriller has some of the usual tropes: a dual timeline, unreliable narrator, questionable characters, and a little toe dip in the supernatural. Great characters and a well paced plot had me reading late into the night. And as usual with her books, I didn't see the twist coming at all. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Park Row publisher for an advanced reader copy.

Something about an author complaining about capitalism and the traditional publishing industry, while taking our money via the traditional publishing industry, does not sit right with me. You don't sound edgy, Lisa. You sound ungrateful.

I have really mixed feelings about this one. While it’s a 5-star read for what it was, I think I formed my own opinion about what I expected early on and felt disappointed when it didn’t turn out that way. I feel that this could’ve gone so many different directions and all would’ve been enjoyable, but the direction it took wasn’t the one I would’ve enjoyed the most. Still worth a read or listen!

The New Couple in 5B is the first full novel I have read by LIsa Unger. I did read Christmas Presents last year and Now with this I can confidently say I am hooked!
Rosie is an author and lives with her aspiring actor husband Chad. They have been taking care of Chad’s uncle who has been going through a terminal Illiness. When he passes he ends up leaving them the apartment, that is worth $5 million. When his cousin ends up showing up on the same day the will is read. She is warned by her to get out now and that she should sign over the apartment to her as it should have been hers.
I felt kind of uneasy about the husband from the beginning. First I understood that he was more of an aspiring actor. That he took small parts and was hoping for bigger ones. And that they were struggling to get by.
I really ended up enjoying it over all. I felt some of the twists were predictable and some weren’t.. I will be going back and checking out the backlist Lisa Unger has written. I think “secluded cabin sleeps six” will be my next title.

Ooooo this was a good one. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! There was an occult element to it that I wasn't expecting, and I loved the flashbacks to prior tenants of the building. Some elements of this mystery were decently predictable, but there were plenty of surprises along the way. This was my first Lisa Unger, but it surely won't be my last!

Also, can anyone talk to me about that ending?? Still reeling!!

3.5 stars. I read this book in two days, which was pretty quick for me. I reallyyy loved it until about 100 pages to go. The twists and turns kept me reading, and I enjoyed the paranormal aspect (which I don't always like). Disappointingly, I felt the end was predictable. I didn't really buy into the motive, and I wished it hadn't been the characters that were being set up the whole time. I also felt like it stopped being believable when the lawyer didn’t lock her cell phone, but that's a small thing that irrationally bothered me. Overall I’d recommend this is a good thriller, but wished it ended differently.