If you're a sucker for minimalist design, you'll wish you could live at One Folgate Street. The house at the center of this novel is a model of modern minimalist perfection, but the architect's rules for living there prove impossible. For example, you'd have to leave your books behind. Snuggle up with a throw pillow? No way. But these are sacrifices Emma and Jane are willing to make to start afresh and live in their dream home. But the house is not without tragedy. Who is responsible for the death of the architect's wife and child? And who is watching? A gloriously suspenseful read that kept me guessing until the very end.

I loved parts of this book, but not all of it. The mystery of the house, the similar looking women, and the deaths were good. I could almost feel what it would be like like to live in that modern yet creepy abode! However, the over the top sex was not my bag after tea.

Publishers... STOP USING GIRL IN YOUR TITLES. Seriously. At this point, it's a disservice to the author and the story.

I wanted to like this, I really did. My suspension of disbelief ran out early though. A cold, sterile house rented out by an "eccentric" landlord that requires you to divulge what is basically a psychological map of how to control you just to move in? And then everything in said house is "smart" - no door key, no thermostat, no light switches. Ummmmm... No. All that screams ready made prison to me and I could not believe someone would agree to any of this just for cheap rent, let alone multiple people.

I like the trend of alternating viewpoints but it missed it's mark here simply due to the protagonists being so similarly written. And oh boy are those characters super unlikeable. Everyone in this book is super unlikeable actually. I didn't buy the Fifty Shades stuff, especially when using the term "Daddy". Hey, everyone has their thing and what works for some does not for others. I guess for me it was the combination of extreme control coupled with the Daddy reference.

The twists weren't so twisty and the ending was meh. Not so bad that I wouldn't give the author a second go though. 2.5 stars for second chances.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC!

I had a difficult time putting this book down. I enjoyed how it went back and forth from the past to the present to create the storyline. It had mystery, romance, suspense, and was still realistic. I would definitely recommend this book for adults.

I was given this book for an honest review.

This was definitely a page turner similar to "Gone Girl" and "Girl on the Train" for me. I love how suspenseful the book was and how it really kept you guessing until the end about who the killer was! LOVED it!!!

The review will also be posted soon on my blog.

marysreadallaboutit.wordpress.com

One Folgate Street was designed by a architect with a strong focus on perfection and technology. The architect, Edward, has a very long questionnaire to be answered before you can be considered as a tenant of One Folgate Street. You will become a better person just by living at One Folgate Street. The Girl Before by JP Delaney is told in alternating storylines of Then and Now. Then – Emma lived at One Folgate Street and dies under suspicious circumstances. Now – Jane is the current tenant of One Folgate Street and has questions about the strange circumstances surrounding her new home.

Are you ready to be swept away by a faced paced read that will keep you guessing? Anytime someone asks for a book recommendation, The Girl Before pops into my mind first. It is spring break and snowing here in Minnesota. What better time to get swept away by the suspense of The Girl Before by JP Delaney. Many have compared The Girl Before to The Girl on the Train. Honestly, for me The Girl Before is on a totally different level for me. The story unravels at the perfect pace, with twists and turns throughout the story, keeping you guessing until the very end! Yes, this book kept me awake into the late hours of the night!

So find some time like I did to neglect your family, your chores and quickly read The Girl Before by JP Delaney. The Girl Before is a story of secrets, lies and manipulation that occur around a house which comes alive through it’s technology and the owners expectation for perfection. The Girl Before is a 4 star read for me!

“Imagine a hospital where the structure itself becomes part of the healing process, or a home for dementia sufferers that actually helps them to remember. This house might be simple, but it’s ambition is extraordinary.”

A fantastic psychological thriller that I could not put down!! Would you be willing to give up almost all of your worldly possessions for a chance live in a stunning home for very little rent? That is the fascinating premise of this book by JP Delaney, a pseudonym for a well-known writer. I read that the author did not want to reveal his/her gender because the book is told from a female point of view. I did not know this when I first read a sample, and the author succeeded in making me feel as though I was inside the narrators’ minds.

The brilliant architect Edward Monkford has designed One Folgate Street in London, a high-tech house with cutting edge design. Edward is a follower of minimalism to the extreme, so much so that the tenants must agree to abide by his extreme de-cluttering rules and regulations. But he sees his rules as so much more than control and firmly believes that a house really can change you from within. If you have to de-clutter your life, then you will begin to see what is truly important in life, and you will free your mind to become a better person.

Emma and Jane are both looking for a fresh start. They are required to fill out a stringent and lengthy application in order to pass on to the final level of approval, which is a very brief meeting with the owner and designer of One Folgate Street. The rent is low and the house is located in a beautiful and quiet neighborhood.

Edward is difficult, mysterious, brilliant, moody…but the chance to live in the magnificent home is so tempting, the women overlook all of this in order for a chance to live at One Folgate Street. The home is equipped with the latest high-tech gadgets, and the tenants must answer periodic questionnaires in order to continue living in the house. The evaluations test their ethics, their physical well-being and their state of mind and are quite literally crucial to continues living in the house.

“That’s all anyone’s looking for really, isn’t it? Someone to take care of the mess inside our heads?”

The descriptions of the home are absolutely enthralling. I am still thinking about this book weeks after finishing! The idea of extreme de-cluttering is very thought-provoking and is woven inextricably into this intriguing story. Is Edward as dangerous and unhinged as everyone seems to think he is? This is a classic tale where NOTHING is as it seems. I literally read this book over the course of 2 days and was shocked by the surprising conclusion.

The story is told from the point of view of Emma, who is seeking a safe neighborhood and a secure home after a recent break-in, and Jane, who has suffered a tragic loss and is seeking a new beginning. Their stories converge in a creative way and I loved how the author kept me guessing until the very last page. The house literally plays a central role in this book and to me is one of the main characters in this story. If you are looking for a thrilling read that will challenge you and your boundaries, then “The Girl Before’ is for you!! I LOVED it and highly recommend it for all fans of domestic thrillers.

Ballantine Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Girl Before. This is my honest opinion of the book.

The Girl Before is a psychological thriller, written in the dual perspectives of Emma and Jane. From two different timelines, the main thing that the women have in common is One Folgate Street.

Emma, a woman seeking the comfort of a secure environment after a break-in at her apartment, finds the rigid rules and stark living atmosphere appealing. The architect and owner of the house pique Emma's interest, making the situation that much more inviting to her.

Years after Emma, Jane seeks the honesty and anonymity of the living environment, after a personal tragedy leaves her reeling. The strange rules and mysterious owner are intriguing to Jane, but will her questions of the past cause her more stress and threaten her delicate peace?

As Jane's story unfolds, readers are pulled back into the past to uncover how Emma fits into the current plot. Despite the eventual outcome in Emma's situation, I found it difficult to sympathize with her. Jane was definitely more likeable and I connected more on an emotional level with her. I am not usually a fan of dual perspective novels, but author J.P. Delaney did a good job of using the format to build suspense. Readers who like psychological thrillers will enjoy The Girl Before and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

Great horror story! I enjoyed this theme of what a house can do to its occupants. I move quite a bit and have experienced "good" houses and "not good" houses. The author uses another strategy of deception of people and inanimate objects--what looks good may be only surface or fleeting. Starting with the second occupant, then floating back and forth in time with the first occupant was helpful to understanding details of each person's experience with the house. I may not ever view a house again as passive. The past surrounds the house and influences the present and the future. Highly recommend to any audience.

Great book that really held my attention. It was a quick read that was enjoyable.

This was one of the best thrillers I've read. I truly did not guess the ending like I have with some others. And the tie in between the two women was done superbly.. This was an all-nighter kind of book.

Thank you for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a psychological thriller centering around two women -- Jane in the present and Emma from the past (the girl before)., with One Folgate Street as the backdrop. This edgy and creepy storyline is full of characters' lies, deceipt, and instability. There are numerous twists and turns throughout the story. It had me hooked at the beginning, but at about 25% I lost some interest in the storyline threads. It was just okay -- maybe a bit too bizarre for me.

In the immortal words of Elmer Fudd, this book was "wery, wery, cweepy." The writing was wonderful, detailed, and suspenseful. The pacing leaned on fast, but when it had its slow points, I would get frustrated and put it down. In the beginning, I had a hard time distinguishing the POVs between Emma and Jane, but towards the middle, I knew what story went with which woman. I can't even put into words what I found most frightening about the tale without revealing so much. There was not one likeable character--not even Jane could get me to feel sorry for her because she was completely comfortable with her choices, even if they weren't mine. I thought that every character had a fitting end based on their decisions to obtain their desires. I would recommend this book to readers of Psychological Thrillers and Mysteries.

The Girl Before was the perfect psychological thriller to keep you guessing and anxious with the turn of every page. Delaney seamlessly transitioned between time periods and the point of view with every other chapter, and just when you thought you had figured out the ending you learn more from the characters. The focus on architecture and minimalism also added a unique twist on the story that helped separate it from other suspense novels.

“THE GIRL BEFORE is the first novel of psychological suspense from JP Delaney, a pseudonym for a writer who has previously written best-selling fiction under other names.” I’d love to know what other books this author has written.

J P Delaney does a spectacular job of building suspense in this carefully crafted book. I appreciated how the book went from the past to the present; most of the story is told from the perspective of two women.. As it progresses, you can see how easy it was for these women who had recently suffered through painful circumstances to be misled. The house itself was definitely an original idea, and yet, with so many advances in technology, it isn’t exactly out of the realm of future possibility.

The book has many sexual scenes. If that is something that you dislike in a book, this one would not be a good choice.

Overall, I thought the book had an original plot, and it definitely was difficult to put down.

"The Girl Before" has been chosen as The Marvelous Site's Marvelous Novel of the Month for March 2017. The following review is a reviewaka, which is based on an ancient Japanese poetry poem.

The Girl Before /
by JP Delaney /
c2017 //

ultra modern house /
of deadly duplicity /
looking for order //

imposed minimalism adds /
to multi-layered deceit //

MM

A fun ride, but I didn't feel that it quite lived up to the hype I'd seen.

Two women, one house. Emma and Jane have much more in common than what they think. As they rent an apartment that makes them feel safe they are in for some life changing moments. I will say that I did not figure out who the "bad" guy was. That in itself makes this a good read. The dual POV made this story. Each chapter allowed you to get into each girl emotions, feelings and lives.

A thriller that has you guessing until the end.