I tried to get into this book, but it just wasn’t for me. The flashbacks and the parallelism seemed a tad too unbelievable. The main character’s insecurities were frustrating, and I did not enjoy it. I appreciate the ARC, courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.

Many thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

I tried a few times to get into this but unfortunately, it was not for me. I really enjoy the author but this fell short of my expectations. I encourage others to try it for themselves!

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

This is my third Lisa Unger book and by far my favorite of hers. This gave me major Rosemary's Baby vibes. I ate it up.

I LOVE a locked-room mystery, especially one based in New York, so I was super excited to read this. From the very beginning you can feel a sense of unease and tension between Rosie and her new neighbors, (and the creepy doorman -who’s always there and always watching!) even though her husband thinks of them as great friends. Rosie doesn’t quite trust them, but Chad convinces her she’s being ridiculous. There’s also a supernatural element to the story when ghosts try to warn Rosie she’s in danger, but exactly who is she in danger from? While reading this book I kept thinking about the catch phrase from a 1930’s radio show my mom used to talk about. "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!" *Insert evil laugh* It had everything you want in a good mystery and kept me on the edge of my seat until the end. Highly recommend!

Rosie and Chad inherit a beautiful apartment in a coveted NYC neighborhood upon the death of his uncle, one of his only living relatives who they have been caring for. But the building has a history of death - suicides and murders - and Rosie, a true crime author, is inspired to write about it. All that would be one thing if Rosie doesn't feel an unnatural presence in the building and strange things start to happen. “There’s a lot to like here” - as said by Rosie's editor and the reader will feel the same way.

Creepy, psychological, cliff hanger with so many twists and turns. Some likable characters (Rosie, Max), but many not so likable (Rosie’s husband Chad, the next-door neighbors and the door man, Abi). The setting is in New York City in an old historic apartment building.
Rosie and Chad inherit his uncle’s luxury apartment in the Windermere on Park Avenue. They consider themselves so lucky, since they are barely keeping their heads above water. Rosie is an author, researching and writing with the help of her editor Max. Chad is an actor, waiting for his big break. After moving into the Windermere, many creepy things begin to happen. Ghosts, deaths, secrets…
The author keeps lots of secrets that get revealed slowly throughout the novel. It is hard to know who to believe and who not to believe. Rosie learns from her neighbor that the “building is a dream maker, only a certain type of person should be allowed to live there, otherwise it loses its energy, becomes less.”
Can Rosie and Chad be happy here? Will their marriage survive all the ghostly adventures that this novel presents? Once again, Lisa Unger proves that she is a master at writing suspense-filled novels.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to read the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Published on March 5, 2024.

A married couple hoping to conceive yet struggling with affording housing in New York unexpectedly inherit an apartment in a sought-after luxurious building, after their uncle passes away. While the couple is excited to move in, there are strange things happening in the complex, particularly with their neighbors and doorman. Not to mention, her husband has been acting strange too. What secrets are hiding within the walls of this complex and why has her husband suddenly been acting strange? The truth is uncovered through a series of twists and turns.

Thank you to HTP and Park Row for my copy of THE NEW COUPLE IN 3B by Lisa Unger. This one is out now!

Lisa Unger knows what we want and she just continues to deliver it. The atmosphere in this one was my favorite part. If you like your thrillers with a slight touch of the supernatural, this one is worth checking out. The ending left me a little lost and I still need to discuss this one. If you're read it, or plan to, let me know so we can chat about it. I definitely recommend this one.

4⭐️

A twisty thriller.

In this thriller we follow Rosie and her husband who are two struggling artists that are down in their luck when it all changes and they inherit a luxury apartment at the Windermere. There are rumors of it being haunted and soon Rosie starts to realize there is more than meets the eye.

I had a great time reading this I was truly hooked from the first chapter. There were so many twist and turns and while I guessed some I didn’t guess them all.

Something was missing for me to call this a 5⭐️ but I would still highly recommend.

This arc was gifted to me in exchange for my honesty review.

Review of The New Couple in 5B

I am obsessed with Lisa Unger. So I was thrilled to get this book and I read it very quickly. I absolutely adored the setting of New York City. The creepy apartment building with the creepy neighbors was perfection. It gave me serious rosemary’s baby vibes. I definitely didn’t see a lot of the twist and turns or the ending coming. I seriously disliked many of the characters and found myself very, very slightly disappointed in the ending. But it’s still a phenomenal book and I’m a fan of this author for life.

Synopsis:

A couple inherits an apartment with a spine-tingling past in this unputdownable thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six.

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.

This was my first read by this author and I will definitely be coming back for more! This was certainly a page turner and a true thriller. I wasn't sure how I would feel about the supernatural elements but I didn't think they were overdone! I also liked the main character but pretty much disliked or distrusted every other character. This made it hard for me to determine who the villain of the story was, which I liked. The storyline wasn't super predictable. I am really glad I got a copy of this book to read!

Thank you NetGally for an ARC for an honest review

***A couple inherits an apartment with a spine-tingling past in this unputdownable thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six.***

***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.
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.****

This is the first book that I have read by Lisa Unger and it did not disappoint. At first It gave off Rosmary's Baby vibes with the strange, over friendly neighbours. As an avid thriller reader I suspected everyone which Lisa does a great job of makimng everyone look suspicious when the tenants of the Windermere start to die.
I fount this book fairly fast placed, wanting to find out what the characters were hiding.
Overall I like Lisas writing style and would read more of her books.

This was a quick read - started off slowly and eventually became invested in the plot. I will say I was questioning for most of the book whether or not there were supernatural elements involved, which (in and of itself) was a worthwhile mystery.

Thank you to the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book. I enjoyed the mystery and it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat during a few scenes. I did feel the ending was a little rushed and tied up too easily, but I enjoyed the story leading up to it all. I just wish we found out what the deal was with the necklaces and the occult symbol. It felt a little like a plot hole. Overall fun, easy read that kept me intrigued. Four stars!

Lisa Unger is one of my favorite authors, and although I haven't been with her since the very beginning, I am very glad I found her and have had the chance to meet her! The New Couple in 5B has a lot of great creepy vibes including a doorman who is always there when you call, and even some supernatural suspense! I loved the addition of ghosts to the storyline, and also quite enjoyed the dual timelines between current-day Rosie and Willa in 1963. It took me a while to figure out how the two storylines were connected and once I figured it out 😲 my mind was blown!

Along with this being one of my favorite authors, Vivienne Leheny is one of my favorite narrators (!), and I was very pleased that she narrated The New Couple in 5B! She did such a great job with both of the FMCs that I didn't find myself wishing there were 2 narrators. This reminded me a tiny bit of The Paris Apartment and brings back that saying that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There are also quite a few random deaths that our poor Rosie has to experience, and every time one happens it is a little bit jarring and adds to that general sinister feeling. The New Couple in 5B is full of twists and turns, and if you enjoy Unger's novels, this should be another win for you! Especially with that always amazing NYC, upper class setting.

As an Ira Levin, Rosemary's Baby, and Lock Every Door fan, I was super excited for this book. Ultimately it ended up being good but not great. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the book and the story within a story element. The story within a story element actually made some things confusing to me (ie: which was real story and what was the book) but I actually liked that because it added to the unease and disorientation in the story. I liked the main character and her drive, but definitely got frustrated with some of her decisions. The gaslight triggering was strong in this one too! Lisa Unger always writes fun mysteries that are a solid and entertaining read.

I loved The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger. If you love NYC and historical buildings then this is the new mystery/thriller fiction for you. Rosie and Chad inherit a five million dollar apartment in a building that might be haunted by all of the tenants that died there. She is an author who escaped from a cultist family and he is an aspiring actor that might be up to no good. The ghosts seem helpful and the neighbors are maybe just a little too nice or maybe just hiding something... And, what lengths will they go to to protect their building?

This was a different style than I’m used to with Lisa Unger, and isn’t my usual cup of tea but this one did well. A couple inherit a posh apartment from a late family member, immediately people protest their right to the property and weird things start happening. While trying to figure out what is happening, the wife also feels like she is losing her mind. This story was crazy! Told from duel timelines and POV’s, you will want to keep reading to find out the truth!

Great twisty read that kept my attention throughout. I like the character development and the way the author paced the story. Another great thriller/mystery recommendation

The New Couple in 5B was a great psychological domestic thriller that left me guessing until the very end.

Rosie, and her husband Chad, are barely scraping by in NYC. But when a dear friend passes away and leaves them his apartment in his will, they think their luck will turn around. They quickly realize that this might not be as great as they think. The neighbours seem welcoming, but behind closed doors are acting weird. As things start to spiral out of control, Rosie needs figure out what’s going on before she falls into their trap.

Lisa Unger has a really great writing style that I can zoom through in a day. Definitely worth the read if you’re looking for a good domestic thriller!