Laura escapes to Pine Lake when her fiancé cheats on her with her best friend on her wedding day.
The first half of the book had me roped in. It was a face paced read. However, the second part of the book was a little unrealistic. Like why didn’t the police interview Laura when her neighbor/best friend is murdered. And when she found all of the hidden cameras at her house she had enough evidence to go to the police. Why wouldn’t see? Those little things bugged me. Overall, I enjoyed the book.
Thank you

Laura is reeling from the devastation of finding out that her fiance - Tony, and her best friend - Mary are having an affair. After finding them making love on her wedding day, and on her wedding dress, she decides to move to a small mountain town to escape.
She has been trying to work on herself and opening up to new relationships in her life, possibly a new love interest. But with the sudden death of her neighbor, Laura finds out that the new tenants are her old foes Tony and Mary. How have they found her, and why are they there? Laura needs to find out what is going on in her new town and what brought the two people who she hates the most.
Overall rating 4 /5
Another quick and thrilling read by Baxter. I like the sly breaking of the 4th wall in this book, having the characters being proactive in such precarious situations (such as recording conversations). I feel like all mystery readers have these thoughts and I love that he includes this in his writings. His approach to adding the dynamic of mental health and receiving help in such situations was also refreshing.

*Thank you to Theo Baxter, Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

I received an early edition of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an open and honest review.

The story follows Laura as she picks up the pieces of her life following both a nasty breakup and a nasty end to a friendship after catching her husband-to-be and her MOH doing the dirty on top of her Vera Wang wedding gown. Laura takes us to a small town on the lakes edge, and life seems to be going so well for her…until her neighbor dies suddenly and a “new couple” moves in rather quickly…just take a guess at who the new neighbors could be!

I absolutely devoured this book. I loved the whole mastermind plot behind everything, and the way it all tied together so seamlessly. The characters were so well written that it was easy to be swayed one way or another on how to feel about them.

Theo Baxter is a phenomenal writer, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more books!

My unrestrained thoughts: LOVE IT. Absolutely LOVE IT. NEED A SEQUEL OR SOMETHING… Please, Theo…
Now, onto a little sophisticated review – it may contain tiny spoilers!

Theo Baxter’s The Lake House is advertised as a gripping psychological thriller… and it is, to some extent! Our protagonist, Laura, witnesses her fiancé in the middle of coughs doing it coughs with Mary. Who is Mary? Her maid of honor! And what day did he choose to cheat on her? Their wedding day! Somehow, over the course of days, everyone supports the devil couple and Laura is left to pick up pieces of her heart, stuff them in a suitcase along with her clothes, and move to a town called Pine Lake.
Living in a lake-front house in a quiet town has its own perks for a novelist and columnist like her and she takes full advantage of it. But everything goes South when she finds out her neighbor has died… and – Tony and Mary move in there. Suddenly, chaos reigns over Laura’s mind as stranger things take place around her, culminating in Mary’s murder. Laura has no choice but to find out what is happening before this chaos takes her life too.
I am obsessed with the way the book is written! There’s this simple feel to the story that very much resembles the simplicity of the life Laura is living (well, outside all the Tony-Mary drama). The flow of the story was steady, complete with a relatable and funny protagonist, her band of supportive people, and a not-so-average small town.
There is only one complaint I have and that is calling the book a psychological thriller. There was nothing in there I lost my sleep on; in fact, I was able to forget about the mystery pretty quickly. It was the setting and the protagonist who hooked me in and made me stay till the end. Just imagine if the whole reveal was even more impactful… this book would’ve been unstoppable!

What I liked:
Simple and realistic narrative: Have I talked about this above? If yes, I’m still gonna talk about it! The book had a simple flow that was seamlessly rooted in realism. However, being realistic also leads the narrative to be a little slow, with a good chunk of the book being Laura’s nervous, panicked overthinking. This also resulted in the mystery taking the primary place in the story way later than I was thinking, but somehow, it still made sense to me.
Laura: Laura was so relatable – her reaction to the cheating, her subsequent move, her way of living, everything was really amazing to see. Her panicked session with Dr. Delgado, her quiet day outs with Celene, her way of interacting with everyone around her, even Tony and Mary, and her and Graham’s cute dates… it felt like she is a living, breathing person, someone I’d pass by in my town. I especially loved how she was a writer and had moved somewhere that’ll help boost her skill (what I’ve been wishing to do, basically). Brownie points for all the times she made me laugh (more than five times, mind you). She just really impressed me!
Pine Lake: There are many small-town settings I’ve come across, but this one felt better than the rest. More focus was put on how the town is actually than the people who live there and their lives. I was totally invested in knowing about the hiking trails, the houses on the lake, the boardwalk, the florist, the mail office, and the coffee shop – it was even easier to imagine these. Gossip was definitely a big factor, but that didn’t manifest as people stage whispering to each other – it was more subtle, the way rumors and gossip circle around in a community. In simpler words, I loved it.

What I wasn’t impressed with:
The first thing I couldn’t wrap my head around was the way the reveal and the subsequent drama were written off hastily. The mystery was there, but it was barely a thriller, more of a household suspense. There was no substantial evidence – apart from town gossip and Graham’s ramblings – about the said mystery nor did I feel like exclaiming what the hell when Laura puts the blame on the wrong person (when the obvious choice was like right there!).
Expanding more on that, I was also disappointed to see how abruptly and quickly Brian was gotten rid of. It’s like the author didn’t know how to explain the motivations behind his actions and just killed him off instead of giving us the reasons.
And that’s sad because I wanna know how insane Brian is – I wanna hear his plans, how he blackmailed Shelly to get her hands dirty, what he wanted to gain, and like, what started all this in the first place? We just get to know he MIGHT be pulling all the strings (thanks Graham, I love you) but that was almost a conspiracy till the last chapters of the book. I would’ve loved it if he was alive and we got to hear about his backstory from his own mouth (prequel with Brian… haha… unless?)

My final thoughts?
The Lake House is totally a fun read – I can see myself buying the book somewhere down the line and rereading it whenever I feel like escaping reality to go to a peaceful lake house in an idyllic small town!

Thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
#netgalley #arcreview

Thankyou to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.
I really enjoy Theo Baxters books and have read a few so far.
I really enjoyed this book and I will for sure suggest this book to others looking for a domestic thriller.
I did am discover what was going on before the plot reached boiling point but I was still very much enjoyable.
5/5 stars Thankyou

📚 Book Review 📚

Firstly, the cover of this book definitely seduced me into choosing this along with the ‘killer psychological thriller’ tagline. It looks stunning.

Secondly, the book started really well. The leading female character Laura, starts by discovering her best friend and future husband in a very compromising position, in top of her wedding dress no less, on the morning of her wedding. Suffice to say, the wedding doesn’t go ahead and heartbroken Laura moves away to a beautiful lake house in a quiet community. Everything runs pretty smoothly until her neighbour dies and her new neighbours turn out to be … her ex fiancé and his girlfriend, aka Laura’s ex best friend.

From here it gets a bit daft. Another reviewer wrote that it felt like the author ran out of time when writing and I can understand that thought. The murder occurs 72% of the way through and the characters become a bit strange. The number of characters banging on Laura’s front door day and night and fighting on her front lawn is no odds to anyone and I was getting a little bemused with the number of characters ‘hitting on’ Laura as the story progresses. They needed to form a queue.

It’s a shame because I had high hopes for this one. I would try another by this author but this was really cliche and predictable.

I’d like to thank Inkubator Books, NetGalley and the author for the arc and the fantastic opportunity, in exchange for my honest feedback 😊

⭐️⭐️

I love a good suspense/thriller and the premise of this was great. The MC leaves her life behind looking for a change after she finds her fiance cheating on her the day of their wedding with her best friend. She finds a quaint lakeside town and fast forward three years and her ex-fiance and the ex-best friend move into the house next door.

At first I was really into the book, and looked forward to reading it any chance I got and then it hit a point in the book where it felt like the author was done writing and just rushed the rest of the story. At that point I felt like I just needed to skim it to get to the end to review it because it didn't feel like the author cared that much about the ending, so why should I? It felt more wattpadd book towards the end which was disappointing. I think there was more that could have been explored to make it feel more complete.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the free eArc copy in exchange for my review.

This book was a page turner from beginning to end.. Definitely was action packed towards the end with some twists I didn’t see coming. Would highly recommend. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I wanna thank Net Galley for giving me a copy of this book to review! I finished this book in basically one sitting and while it kept me engaged, I could not get behind the characters and their stories. I hated how so many people just kept showing up at the main character’s door and I feel like there was a lack of description about what the characters looked like

Overall I liked the concept but some of the details were lacking

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6435673259

I had a really hard time with this book. The story was a good idea but the writing felt very juvenile and over dramatic, almost like a high schoolers essay piece for a class. Over all I enjoyed the plot, the events at the end of the book were quite enjoyable and I liked where it went.

Who doesn't like a good thriller/mystery?
I really liked the scenery depicted in this story. It was a small, lakefront, foresty town. It reminded me of being up at a cottage. I could easily imagine myself sitting on the deck of the MC's home, sipping wine, and enjoying the lake view. It was a great scene for a thriller!
I also liked the mental health representation. It definitely showed the importance of getting help if you need it!
This was a medium paced thriller, I felt. It was a bit slower to start, though the beginning was filled with enjoyable drama, but then picked up near the end.
I didn't really like the FMC, but i liked a lot of the other characters.
One thing I would have liked was to see this in the villain's POV. A dual POV would have made it a lot more interesting.
Overall, this was a great read, and I would definitely recommend it!

The lake house by Theo Baxter
⭐⭐⭐

Laura's retreat to Pine Lake after her devastating breakup sets the stage for Theo Baxter's "The Lake House." In this serene haven, she encounters tragedy when her neighbor dies unexpectedly, leaving behind a house that soon falls into the hands of none other than her ex-fiancé and his mistress. As Laura grapples with the discomfort of their proximity and the eerie occurrences that plague her, she becomes convinced of a sinister presence watching her every move.

While "The Lake House" held my interest with its tantalizing mysteries, I found it to be more of a contemplative drama than a gripping psychological thriller. The plot unfolds steadily, though it takes nearly three-quarters of the book to build momentum. Nevertheless, I was drawn to uncover the motives behind the orchestrated placement of Laura's former lover right next door.

As the narrative reaches its climax, the tension heightens, yet the final revelation feels somewhat abrupt, leaving me slightly detached from the overall experience. Despite this, Baxter crafts a compelling tale that delves into themes of betrayal, resilience, and the haunting specter of the past.

Overall, "The Lake House" is a worthwhile read, though readers expecting a heart-pounding thriller may find it falls short of expectations. Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#netgalley #inkubator #honestreview #bookstagrammer #theobaxter #thriller #drama #booklovers

Laura thought fiancé Tony was ‘the one’ – until she caught him cheating with her best friend and maid of honor, Mary.

Devastated, Laura moved away and settled in idyllic Pine Lake, where she is just beginning to date again.

But her new life is turned upside down when her next-door neighbor dies in a freak accident . . . and Tony and Mary move in beside her.

Things go downhill fast...

Mary is convinced that Tony orchestrated the move so he could live near Laura and cheat with her. Tony suspects that Mary moved them here so she could stalk Laura, with whom she’s totally obsessed.

For her part, Laura is increasingly uncomfortable with both. Strange things keep happening and she is convinced that someone is watching her.

Then this small community is rocked by a murder, and Laura begins to worry that her very life might be on the line.

And she’s right, she’s in terrible danger. Because this little town is home to a mind that is truly evil…

As an avid reader, I was drawn in from the beginning, and the story did not disappoint at all. Once again Theo Baxter has crafted an amazing psychological thriller that will hook you from the start. Will recommend to others.

This was an interesting, entertaining book.
Laura was jilted at the alter, when she discovered her fiancé with her best friend!
Now living in an idyllic community, on a lake. However, her peaceful life is in chaos after new neighbors move in next door. To her horror, the couple is the same pair that ruined her life!

The book proceeds to unravel multiple schemes, including several murders, love triangles and deceptions.

Thanks to Inkubator books and NetGalley for the ARC.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to Net Galley and Inkubator books for the e copy of this book to review.

While it was a decent thriller to read to see what would happen next, by the half way point, it seemed to become more and more far fetched, and the characters got more annoying the more I kept reading. But I think most of all, the pacing and writing of the book, I thought could use a few more rough edits and revisions.

The lake house by Theo Baxter that was published April 28th 2024 by incubator Books.

We meet bride to be Laura who walks into her bridal suite to find her fiancé Tony on top of her Vera Wong wedding dress screwing her best friend Mary needless to say it's devastating and this is why Laura packs up and moves hours away to a quiet Lakeside neighborhood where she can recover and recoup. It has been two years and she loves sitting on her deck watching the lake and has even become friends with Brandy the quiet hermit next door. It is when Brandy is found dead that Laura's life becomes a crazy mess. Brian owns most of the homes in the neighborhood and after the death of Brandy he buys her home as well and tells Laura she will soon have a new neighbor something Laura isn't happy to hear in any happiness she had soon vanishes when she sees the new couple next-door is Tony and Mary. Laura is so freaked out by having them as her neighbor she doesn't even stop to think what are the chances that these two would find the house right next to her hours away from their hometown and by the time she does stop to think about it someone will be dead and her new boyfriend will be a suspect.

I’ve never read anthing from this author but it will definitely not be my last !!

I was so excited to check out The Lake House by Theo Baxter. I had never read any of his books previously, and I love a good suspense novel, so I couldn’t wait to dig in.

The premise of the story was unique and had so much promise, but unfortunately, that was the extent of it for me. The characters were not really likable, even Laura being the main character. I did love the small town backdrop, but the overall writing felt very flat and rushed. I’m not sure if this is the Authors general writing style, or maybe just this particular novel.

Sadly, I just didn’t enjoy this book that much. Thank you so much to NetGalley & Inkubator Books for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book was so good! I was addicted to it instantly! Immediately in the prologue it sets up for such a great psychological thriller! This book has a little romance, gaslighting, great banter, and so many twists and turns! It starts with Laura on her wedding day walking in on her best friend and maid of honor sleeping with her fiance. So Laura uproots her life to move to a quiet, serene mountain town and live on lake to find some peace to heal from her trauma. Three years later her ex-fiance and friend move in next door after the mysterious death of her neighbor. It clear both have become a little unhinged since Laura has last talked to them. Then more and more crazy events start happening. Laura is convinced someone is out to get her and confides in her friend Celene and landlord/love interest Brian. Initially she is suspicious of Graham who was hanging around her dead neighbor's house and grave, but it turns out he is just grieving his friend and joins her to help figure out what is happening. Laura instantly starts to feel comforted by Graham and that he is more trustworthy than Brian. As things evolve Laura isn't sure where to turn or what to do and leads to an explosive ending! I loved it all so much! It felt like a really good lifetime movie storyline! I did predict the ending but it didn't change the fun of reading this book and I would definitely recommend it!

It was a good read, this is my first time reading a book from this author. I kept me entertained and the plot was good,

After Laura catches her fiancé Tony cheating on her (on her wedding day to make things even worse), she flees to the idyllic Pine Lake. Her life is peaceful and calm. Until her ex fiancé and girlfriend move in next door.

This was a really interesting read with twists and turns galore. I could see what was happening from quite early on in the book (well I had a hunch anyway), but in a way it almost added to the drama. I grew to really hate a few of the characters and was praying for Laura to quickly work out what was going on. I love a book that gets me invested in the characters.

Would highly recommend!