This is a thriller, but I'd say it's a mild thriller. It didn't really grip me like other thrillers have, and the characters were not likable.
Trigger warnings - infertility, child death.
Gossipy neighbors, secrets behind closed doors, that wrapped up in the end.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this e-ARC.

A mesmerizing and suspenseful journey into the darkest corners of family secrets. This domestic thriller is sure to keep you up all night

I received an advance copy of The Garden Party by Wendy Clarke from NetGalley.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I don’t know if it’s because I related to the main character with her infertility struggles or just the writing that had me so hooked.

I was not expecting the twist in this one at all, and was flabbergasted to be honest!

Rachel and Owen both had their moments where the characters were frustrating and almost annoyed me to read their inner thoughts…but their character development was insane.

I would definitely recommend The Garden Party!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced reading copy of this book. My honest review is below:

Wow 5/5. Absolutely brilliant and I could not put this book down. Started out fine, but quickly became a gripping, suspenseful story. The characters all seemed one dimensional at first, but I was quickly proven wrong. The end was completely not what I predicted. I loved all the twists throughout the story. Best thriller I’ve read in a long time! Cannot wait to read more of Wendy Clarke’s books.

Another great read from Wendy Clarke. This was a fantastic story as we've come to expect from this author who never disappoints full of drama and twists that keep you wanting to read more. It holds your interest from the beginning some really interesting and quite disturbing characters and I loved the setting it made the book more dramatic but also added to the mystery. A great physiological thriller

Wow!... I was sitting there in complete surprise with a wide-open mouth! If you like a good thriller with lots of twists, you need look no further!

It's so kind of our neighbours to throw this party welcoming us to our new home. My husband and I finally moved to the right place. A happy, safe street where nobody knows about my mistakes. But I soon realise their smiling faces hide even deadlier secrets.

Rachel and Owen move into Pond Close, where there are only five houses. Rachel quickly finds out that a young child died who had lived in their house decades ago. Both Rachel and Owen have reasons for needing a fresh start. But their new neighbours all have secrets of their own.

This story is told from multiple perspectives. It's quite a complex read, and It's full of misleading twists. The characters are a mixed bunch. I like the writing flows over the pages. This is a tale of intrigue and suspense. At times, I was on the edge of my seat. I could not put this book down.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #WendyClarke for my ARC of #TheGardenParty in exchange for an honest review.

A gripping, chilling domestic thriller that I read in a day. A pacy plot line that unfolds with each chapter and short chapters that completely draw you in to keep reading to the dramatic conclusion. Highly recommended, I would rate this book 5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.

rachel and owen move to pond close to start a new chapter, and quickly learn of the unsettling past surrounding the neighborhood. rachel sets out to put the pieces together, while owen fears she may spiral. this book took a bit to get into but really picked up about halfway through. i wasn’t rachel’s biggest fan until the plot started to unravel. the story line took its time coming together, as with any good thriller and i was thoroughly shocked at the outcome. thank you bookouture and netgalley for this arc.

I’m still processing what I just read. The beginning was a little slow for me but it was needed because we had to become familiar with everyone in the Close. I did not see the ending coming. I kept guessing who done what and why. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen I was wrong, but that ending jaw dropped on the floor. Loved that AH-HA moment too with the main character & her “lover”, then it just all fell into place for me & the story really picked up. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, read it in one day. Definitely looking forward to other books from this author. Need an easy thriller read, this is it!

Thank you, NetGalley & Bookouture for sending me this book to read it was enjoyed to the fullest :)

Having just finished reading this book, I have divided feelings about it.

It was very easy to get straight into the book, and the narrative flowed well between the two main characters, and it was definitely a page turner. I read it very quickly by my standards, which is always a good indicator of how much I've enjoyed a book.

However, I'm not sure if enjoy is quite the right word. None of the characters were particularly likeable, which doesn't really matter, but it felt akin to being stuck in a room full of undesirable people.

The twist revealing the perpetrator was a complete surprise, but it was also rather bizarre. The outcome was a good twist, but it didn't quite feel seemless and realistic.

Putting my negative points to one side, this story ticked every box on the psychological thriller checklist.

"The Garden Party" is a riveting thriller that delves into the dark secrets lurking beneath the surface of suburban bliss. As the protagonist settles into her new home, she soon discovers that her neighbours' smiling facades conceal sinister truths.

The author skilfully weaves a tale of deception and betrayal, drawing readers into a web of intrigue and suspense. From whispered gossip to chilling threats, the tension escalates as the protagonist uncovers disturbing behaviour within her seemingly idyllic neighbourhood.

With finely drawn characters and a plot filled with unexpected twists, "The garden party" keeps readers guessing until the final page. The protagonist's struggle to navigate her past and protect those she cares about adds depth to the narrative, making for a gripping and emotionally resonant read.

Fans of Lisa Jewell and K.L. Slater will find themselves captivated by this twisty and utterly unputdownable thriller. A must-read for anyone who enjoys a gripping tale of secrets and lies hidden behind closed doors.

A great read from this author, full of twists and turns that kept me involved in the storyline.

The characters were mainly interesting although I didn't like one of them from the beginning.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC which I can thoroughly recommend.

3 stars

Rachel and Owen are a married couple intent on pulling a geographic (i.e., moving away from their troubles while forgetting that pesky detail that you can, in fact, NOT move away from yourself) by moving to a creepy little association of only five homes: Pond Close. Small neighborhood? Great. Required association meetings? Sounds like a hellscape to me.

Readers learn early in the novel that this couple has been struggling with fertility issues, and that is why the neighbors' kids and the ongoing lore about a small child who used to live there and drowned at some point make this place the actual worst for getting away from their specific traumas. But they persist, and Owen creepily works on his novel upstairs while Rachel cares for the neighbors' children, and they all learn or keep trying to hide weird secrets in the process.

This is not a bad book, but as thrillers go, it can be much more compelling. It's hard to latch on to the characters, who are noticeably unlikeable. On a minor but relevant note, the title is confounding. There is a garden party, but there are so many other options that would make for a more engaging (and relevant) hook than this. In some ways, the title does do the content justice: not wrong but not the most striking either.

I'd give this author another shot, but this one left me wanting more.

I came here to say that I really enjoyed" The Garden Party" by, new to me author, Wendy Clarke. The storyline kept me interested and I was surprised by the twists I didn't see coming the further it unfolded! I will definitely revisit this author at a future time. Thank-you @Net Galley for letting me read and review this book.

Exciting!!! Hooked!!! Impressed!!!

This was such a fun read. The story begins with Rachel and Owen moving into a new neighborhood for a new start. Both have previous baggages that come to light eventually and that gets triggered when Rachel hears about a toddler's death in the house she now lives.

The story is told from Owen's and Rachel's POV. The alternating angles reveal a lot about the characters and their past. Neither character is perfect but I liked how the author made you believe one angle and does a 360 later.

The interactions between the neighbours, the sudden jumps in the story all made sense as the book reached its climax. The writing kept me engaged throughout.

I am going to now explore other books of this author. I give this book 5 stars. Highly recommended!

I thank NetGalley for providing me with the E-Arc and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

I always enjoy a good domestic thriller and this one pulled me in right away. A troubled couple moving into a new neighborhood, a dead child that everyone refuses to talk about, and nothing is quite what it seems to be. What’s not to like? This is my first book by Wendy Clarke but it definitely won’t be my last. I really enjoyed her writing style!

This is an OK book.

If you are searching for unreliable narrators albeit unlikeable, this is for you.

Reading different perspectives of both characters is fun, one couldn't really anticipate what happens next. The twists and revelations are a bit interesting and really added more spice to the slightly misleading events.

For a domestic thriller. This is fairly decent.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC!

Not my favourite from this author. Rather annoying and unrealistic characters especially the main one's. I am sure some will enjoy this neighbourhood drama but i found it very frustrating and sadly it was not for me. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

This was a fantastic book! I was gripped from the beginning, and twists and turns throughout kept me hooked until the very end. The ending was really great, and I enjoyed this book immensely. I would definitely recommend!