This was a fast entertaining read. It would be good to read on a plane or the beach. Summer was quickly identified as questionable by me. Still some really well written parts throughout the middle. The resolution was satisfying and I like how it opened a segue to a sequel! Solid thriller.

First things first, thanks to Netgalley and Natasha Boydell for this ARC copy.

Moral of the story, be careful whom you sell your house (or apartment) to? I was suspicious of Summer from the beginning. But then, I might be suspicious of people who are social butterflies in general. But I could relate to Naomie and her habit to overthink everything and being paranoid all the time like, on a deeper level. I get you, girl.

I've read this on a train ride. Always told myself 'only one more chapter', but I flew through the pages the whole time. It just gripped me and refused to let go. And then the plot twist came and I had to finish it after being home again instead of doing my chores. I just needed to know the ending, and I knew I would not sleep until I did!!

This was my first book by this author, but will surely not be my last!

Hm. The prologue, though the intention was caught, was quite a weak segue into the book - though it did succeed in getting me interested. The rest of the book effectively met my expectations - it's a classic trope with a few twists that can be guessed if you read closely and carefully enough. However, this does not detract from the fact that this book is undeniably enjoyable. Naomi is desperate in the most relatable fashion, and I particularly was impressed with how the true fear (the thriller element, so to speak, was presented) - not being believed, being falsely accused. Not being able to even trust yourself. What a way to play into it. I found most of the characters to be unremarkable, with the exception of Summer herself, who, though villainous, was always entertaining. The prose also fails to be too impressive, but the plot is decent enough to compensate. I wouldn't pick this one back up, but it was certainly clever enough for me to recommend a try.

Naomi is devastated when the sale of the apartment falls through, her dreams of moving to an amazing ‘forever home’ nearby with her family are momentarily dashed.

But then a sweet-natured single mother named Summer appears, announcing her intention to buy Naomi’s old apartment. And all of a sudden, it looks like Naomi might get her new house after all.

At first, it feels like Summer’s saved her life. But as soon as the sale goes through, Summer starts turning up at Naomi’s new house. She’s enrolled her child in Naomi’s daughter’s class. She’s dressing like Naomi. She’s suddenly best friends with all her friends… And then Naomi discovers she’s got a pretty little doll’s house. One that looks just like Naomi’s new home.

Naomi wants to believe she’s just imagining things. What could Summer possibly want? And how far will she go to take everything that Naomi has?

Perfect thriller to read on a cold night. The twists and turns were perfectly executed. Cannot wait to read more from the author.

GREAT BOOK!!! Naomi is super excited when Summer buys their flat so they can move to the house of her dreams. Summer starts invading Naomi's personal life: looking like her, having her daughter be mean to hers, flirting with her husband, taking her friends etc. I have to say HOW ARE PEOPLE SO DUMB!?!? You have been friends with someone for years and soddenly turn on them because a stranger tells you to?? Lots of suspense and I powered through this book. You will not guess the ending!

Fantastic fast paced read! This was full of secrets and thrills and kept me reading "just a little more" every single time.

Naomi and Oliver are selling their flat in order to move to a house. The sale falls through, and at the last minute, an offer is made by Summer. Summer tries to befriend Naomi, but seems to be taking over Naomi's life. Her flat, her friends, and Naomi is uncomfortable.

This book kept me glued to the pages almost the whole night, and I woke up early to finish the end of the book!

It is creepy the way Summer shoulders her way into Naomi's life and just takes over. I wondered if Naomi wasn't imagining most of what went on.
I also can't believe adults acting the way Naomi's friends did. Just like the children they were taking to school! Shows how easily people are duped.

Twisty, creepy (I know I already said that), disturbing, addictive, obsessive and engrossing.
You think you have things worked out, but no, you haven't.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a gripping psychological thriller.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

Fantastic read!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, murder, mystery, and some really wild twists that I did not see coming! I highly recommend reading this book! It was well worth reading! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!

Wow where to even begin with the book it was full of suspense, doubt and it was highly addictive mixed with so many twists and turns that kept me gripped to my kindle!

There were many moments throughout the book where I thought I had got it right but I was so wrong I genuinely could never have predicted the outcome it was craaaaazy!

It was a thrilling read and a definitely a must read for 2025 without a doubt!

Naomi is devastated when the sale of her flat falls through, will be be able to move to her dream home with her husband girls? Then Summer buys the flat, she seems really nice and friendly at first but soon she is dressing like Naomi, having her hair cut the same way, befriending her friends and excluding her and her daughters. Is Naomi imagining all this or is Summer out to harm her and her family. A great read that keeps you hooked to the last page. I couldn't put it down once I started it. Another cracking book by Natasha Boydell.

What a fantastic twist!!!!!! This book was exceptional. We'll written and a story you can actually see happening, pettiness, friends, lies who doesn't love all that,! I enjoyed reading this one.

Thank to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.

this was one of the BEST books I’ve ever read whew. this is my first book from this author and holy crap she killed it.

the story started of with our protagonist nims (naomi) and her husband oliver who put their 2-bedroom house in the market up for sale because after all these years, they can now afford to buy a bigger place that is more spacious for their daughter bella & freya. the plot goes on when a buyer pulled out of sale and the couple lost hope but, the estate agent manages to offer the chance of a sale to the person who had bid second which is Summer-she did a house tour and fell in love with the house, and she proceeded to accept the sale. Summer is super friendly and Naomi likes her a lot not until she started finding her really odd and creepy. just when you thought how it is going and try to predict what's going to happen there is plot twist after plot twist, i have no idea how many times i said WTF cause of how crazy it turned out, it kept me totally hooked and that's one of the things i love about thriller books.

i enjoyed this so much and i will read more books by this author. i mean what a knockout.
thank you Boldwood Books for giving me an early copy.

if you like suspenseful thrillers that will mess up your head this is it. make sure you add it to your TBR cause it comes out in January!

This is absolutely gripping and so realistic. The tension leaps off the page as you want to scream at the protagonist, who seems to manage everything poorly! The truth comes out eventually in a mad rush and is satisfyingly wrapped up from both perspectives, which is really well done. The author writes children and adults well, which helps when building the tension of the various relationships. Reminiscent of Single White Female and The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, this is a really scary read.

Wow! A brilliant, gripping thriller that I just couldn't put down. Very tense and creepy, and full of shocking twists and turns. I absolutely loved it!

The plot of this novel is absolutely diabolical, I loved it!!

One of the best books I've read for a while.

A brilliant book and I didn’t see the end coming, kept me interested from start to finish, loved every minute of it

Well written storyline.
Had me reading until late into the night, a creepy tale which had me desperate for some good news!
Wonderfully written characters even if i didn't like them all.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

With such an appealing and inviting cover who wouldnt want to choose this book to read and you certainly wouldnt be disappointed. Well Natasha Boydell has actually killed it with this book. So in-depth and detailed in all aspects of this story and it is so real it's frightening. This is definitely a book that you can't put down and I finished it within 24 hours. Such a gripping storyline. Just as you think you know how it is going to conclude, there is plot twist after plot twist which I believe keeps you totally hooked. Naomi (Nims) and her husband Oliver are selling their two bedroom flat as after all these years, they can now afford to buy a 3 bedroom house with garden for the space for their two daughters, Bella and Freya. The story opens with the buyer for their flat pulling out of the sale. The estate agent manages to offer the chance of a sale to the person who had bid second. The new buyer, Summer comes to look at the flat, falls in love with it all over again and proceeds to accept the sale and has a new home for her and her young daughter Luna and buys Nims' and Oliver's flat. When Nims, Oliver and their daughters move into their new house, Nims appears very anxious and tetchy. The day after their move, Summer turns up at Nims' and Oliver's over not knowing how to work the cooker left in the flat. Nims draws her a diagram and after a coffee, Summer leaves so Nims can continue unpacking the house.
Then things start to happen - Nims senses someone following her home one morning after the school run, comes home to the front door ajar knowing full well she didn't leave it open, a figure loitering outside the house all dressed in black, her silk dressing gown that Oliver bought her for an anniversary goes missing too. The whole time Summer is pressing herself onto and into Nims' life. As things start to occur - some more than others, Nims knows there is something off with Summer but can't quite put her finger on it and then realises that how did Summer know where Nims, Oliver and the girls had moved to because Nims never told her. More weird things start to occur and it makes Nims look like she's losing the plot. Her friends at the school gates (Asha, Richard and Rachel) all start to doubt her and believe she just has it in for Summer but Summer is slowly manipulating them and making it look like Nims and her daughter Freya are victimising her and Luna when in actual fact its the reverse. Luna is in fact bullying Freya within the school but being as sly as her mother, nothing is said or done in front of the school staff. It appears everyone is turning against her and even Oliver shows his doubts that it could all be in Nims' head and all while Summer is throwing sneers and suggestive looks at Nims at every opportunity all when no one else is looking. Nims isn't having any of it. There was another mum at the school that the group kept at arms length who believes her and her son (Angela and Sebastian) are just too good for the school. In the end, she seems to be the only person that isn't ostracising Nims and Freya so Nims decides to properly befriend Angela and it turns out Angela believes Nims that something isn't right about Summer and Luna. Things then turn around and Luna becomes friends with Freya and them along with Asha's daughter Annya all become the best of friends again. On a school residential trip everything comes to a head. Nims has volunteered to accompany as a parent helper. At the last minute, Summer then ends up being a replacement parent volunteer too, much to Nims' disappointment. On the camping trip, after a very volatile day it comes to a head, with a very unexpected turn of events which ends up with Nims being enlightened of some life changing revelations and also fighting for her life. By the end of the story, there are some drastic turnarounds by all concerned and the real truth about Summer is not what you would expect for the conclusion.

I finished reading this book in 1 day! It was heart pounding and terrifying and I found myself holding my breath while reading.

I loved Naomi. I hate when everyone acts like the main character is crazy, and while most did in this book, her husband had her back which made me happy. Summer was awful and scary, and I found myself rooting against her immediately.

I’ve never read anything else by this author, but look forward to reading much more of her in the future.

This book was the perfect thriller, and I’m so happy I had the chance to read it.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC.
Naomi and her family are selling their flat and moving into their dream house. They sold the flat to Summer and her little daughter. Summer is super friendly and Naomi likes her a lot ... until she doesn't.
Naomi's life and that of her youngest daughter turns
nightmarish and I found the tension claustrophobic, making me read furiously so I could get quickly to a hopefully happy ending!
It's a good book, but it did make me feel a bit uneasy because of Summer's creepy behavior.