Enjoyed this sample of the book, though do not generally like this genre. Writing was pacey and the plot intriguing enough for me to consider reading the whole book later

I received just a sampler of this book which consisted of just a few chapters.
Emma and her boyfriend are looking for a new flat. She hasn't felt secure in their present home since a break-in . Unfortunately she can see security flaws in all of the flats that they visit until the estate agent shows them a house. A very unusual house with lots of clauses on the lease. They take it.
Jane is another woman in a later time to Emma. We are not given the details of how long later. She too is looking for a flat following the loss of her baby. She too is shown the unusual house.
I very much enjoyed the few chapters which I was sent to read via Netgalley. The similarities between the two women are obvious but there is no real idea as to where the story is going. We are given a hint that something happened to Emma but that is all. I would certainly consider reading the rest of this book at a later date.
I was sent a sample of this book via Netgalley but am unable to post a review on any external sites due to there only being a sample and not the entire book.

A good premise for a thriller, but contrived and unrealistic

Whilst searching for a place to live in London, Jane Cavendish stumbles upon an offer that seems too good to be true. One Folgate Street, a minimalist house designed by a famous architect, is available to rent for a ridiculously low price. However, there are conditions – the inhabitants must agree to live by a set of controlling rules set by the building’s designer, the enigmatic Edward Monkford, which include sacrificing most of their personal possessions and allowing their daily lives to be monitored whilst in the house. Whilst Jane agrees to this and moves in, she soon discovers that the previous tenant, Emma, mysteriously died in One Folgate Street and as she begins to investigate, discovers some unnerving similarities between herself and ‘the girl before’.

Whilst the initial idea of the story seemed like it would make for a thrilling read, I found that the plot became a bit ridiculous right from the start. The narrative switches between the perspectives of Jane and the previous tenant Emma, and we learn how both of them have suffered recent traumas (Emma had a home break-in and Jane lost her baby) and are looking for a ‘new start’ when they stumble across One Folgate Street. Despite this attempt to provide some sort of justification behind their choices, I just couldn’t see how anyone would willingly give up the majority of their possessions and agree to such a privacy-free lifestyle, with rules so stringent and pedantic that no sane person would accept them (examples include no books and no pictures). Jane and Emma also both have to undergo constant monitoring of everything they do and frequent questionnaires assessing how residents are ‘progressing’ in the house, which seem more like psychometric tests. It all felt completely intrusive and bizarre and I simply couldn’t understand why they were going along with it.

Unfortunately, things get even worse when we are introduced to Edward, the architect who designed the house. Both women enter into a relationship with him because he is ‘handsome’ and ‘mysterious’, yet he is also obsessive, aggressive and downright creepy. His controlling nature and desire to regulate every aspect of his partners’ lives (including recommending changes to their diet, lifestyle and exercise regime) reminded me horribly of the male lead in Fifty Shades of Grey, which is without a doubt the worst book I have ever read. I fail to see what either woman would see in a man who wants to control their every move, never mind the fact that in Jane’s case the suspicious circumstances surrounding Emma’s death all seem to point to him. The romantic element of the story was completely incomprehensible and seemed to just be an attempt to mimic the popularity of these abysmal romance novels to win over a few extra readers.

As well as the faults in the plot, I thought that the entire book felt a little rushed and unfinished. Quite a few of the characters and plotlines seemed irrelevant to the story and were only included to fill pages and elongate the list of suspects. Both women were fairly flat characters with a few quirks and personality traits thrown in to make them seem different from each other (although this didn’t work well as I often had to double check whose perspective I was reading). The ending also felt a little anticlimactic and didn’t come as a surprise to me at all. I never felt as if the characters were in any real danger, as the supposedly unsettling atmosphere of the house that the author tried to create never really resonated with me.

Overall, whilst the concept of ‘The Girl Before’ showed promise and the book was definitely readable, the controlling-relationship element of the plot felt too contrived to be believable and the story itself needed a bit of focussing and refinement. Whilst it was entertaining, this book was also incredibly frustrating and I found almost all the characters unsympathetic and unlikeable. For these reasons, I have only given it two stars.

Daenerys

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.

This book was spine tingling and the plot line was one that keeps you hooked. Jane is looking for somewhere to live but her specs are very detailed, having been burgaled previously while she was in the house she doesn't want anywhere that someone can access from the outside but surely that is impossible. The estate agent tells her there is only one other property to see and this is where she meets the house, the landlord has specific requirements for tenants and she has to pas a stringent questionaire and interview. The book runs along two different timelines Jane's and Emma a previous tenant. I can't say much more without giving spoilers which I don't do but suffice it to say this is full of suspense and surprises and it had me captive too.
Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of the book.

Another “Girl” book with promises of Gone Girl that I just couldn’t help but read!
The Girl Before is a book told in alternating chapters between Emma (in the past) and Jane (the present). Both are young women who have suffered a tragedy – one a burglary at knife point and possible sex attack, the other a recent stillbirth – and both are looking for somewhere new, secure and safe to live in London on a budget. Shown a smart home of the future designed by architect Edward Monkford that’s minimalist to the extreme and comes with a set of restricting rules longer than your arm (right from no pets to no pictures on the walls and no books), they jump at the chance but first need to pass the landlord’s test – a psycho-analysis style questionnaire to question their morality and a face to face interview.
From the very beginning, we know that “the girl before” died in the house, and Jane, the current tenant, sets out to find out just how it happened in case she suffers the same fate.
This was a really good read that kept you guessing – I thought I’d figured something out but turned out to be wrong, and I love when a book proves me wrong! The idea of the house itself was fascinating and I thought the characters were brilliant, plus the storyline on top of it was gripping too. With the Gone Girl parallels being drawn already, it’s bound to do well in 2017 but it deserves to stand on its on feet too. Plus they’ve already got movie rights for it, so keep an eye out!

Amazing. This book was so good. A complete page-turner that had me staring at it wondering what the next words were whenever I put it down for a break.

The characters were brilliant and I loved the plot and setting. A setting so minimalistic yet so full of imagination. It was so easy to put yourself in the characters shoes and actually feel what they were feeling. And the TWIST. I know some people would say it was predictable but I honestly didn't see it coming! Such a fab book! Would definitely recommend.

What I read of this book just wowed me, told with two people, Then Emma and Now Jane it made a very fascinating read. An house like no other, bland but everything you could ever need or want, tranquility, low running costs and a set of rules and regulations that would fill a book and a chance of living there only if you passed the interview. This was a house of the future but definitely neither child or pet friendly. If something seems to be too good to be true then it normally is. Everything comes at a price. I would have loved to have read more of this book, which left me with the most uneasy feeling.

Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus for this book sample

I really loved this sampler. I can't wait to read more. I hope I am approved for the full galley.

If you can accept the basic premise of this book then you might really like it. The story covers two young women (each recently having a tragedy) who agree to the EXTREME restrictions imposed by the owner/designer of a beautiful house to live there at a very reasonable rate. The restrictions include the house (in a program called Housekeeping) monitoring your every action. You can't have anything on the floors or counters for example.

I couldn't quite understand why either of these women wanted that house so badly. They have to complete a lengthy questionnaire on their values, submit to an interview, and provide three photos. It is framed as a social experiment.

And then every now and then the Housekeeping program sends more questions and until the occupant answers them, certain functions of the house are shut down.

The story is cleverly told and for a while the reader can't tell if the "girl before" is Emma or Jane. I don't usually like alternating chapter voices, but this is well done.

As the story unfolds, the reader learns more about Emma and Jane. Neither has been quite honest.

I'm not usually able to guess who "did it" but I did in this case. For me, the key emotion was obsession.

Didn't realise this was just a sample, not a full blown book when I requested it.

This started off well, and the story had good potential, however I just found it all a little obvious. Still a worthwhile read though.

Sampler file - not reviewing as it's not the full story.

This excerpt was exactly what I expected - good and fast paced writing with obviously great storytelling. This is one of my most anticipated books of the month and this bit just made me put it in my 'must read' section of books.

I did add a goodreads status update (as it is not the full book), but can't give the link to it, here's what it said:

I would like to thank Netgalley for providing me with excerpt of this book. It is an easy read and just as exciting as I expected. I will be definitely reading the whole thing. Very, very excited to see how events will turn out.

I received a sampler of his book- it's fairly safe to say I'll be looking for the whole book!

Emma and Jane are linked, both by separate personal tragedies and by heir physical location, albeit in different times. Even with the short sampler, I feel compassion for both characters and want to know the rest of the story.

I like that there's a flow between Emma's story and Jane's- you couldn't read one without the other, they're linked, just as the story is.

I think this book has potential to have more than the 4 stars I've awarded the sampler!

This being a sampler I enjoyed I desperately want to read the rest of the book

Thanks for the sample - really enjoyed it and will be looking forward to publication on the 2nd February!

When I first read this synopsis in the summer I was so intrigued and I was so excited for it to come out. I was only approved for a sampler on net galley so I was able to read the first few chapters a few months ago. It released for me in Canada yesterday so I was up all night reading this. This story alternates between Emma (past) and Jane (present). Both have decided to move into an ultra clean, modern and minimalist apartment. Jane has learned that the previous tenant, Emma has died under mysterious circumstances. Both Jane and Emma had previous traumatic events that lead them to One Folgate Street. The details are slowly revealed until the shocking finale. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy psychological thrillers.

I read a sampler of this book and it looks incredible! I can't wait to read the whole thing.

What a cliff hanger sample. I couldn't tell where it was going although the title gave me a clue. Now I shall need to wait for clarification when it's published. The project was certainly unusual - like a Big Brother set up I thought initially. Monkton seemed as though he had galloping OCD and I'd say all of the characters were damaged by life one way or another which made it fascinating reading. I can't picture myself living in such a sterile environment in a regimented way. It all felt chilly to me.

I only received a sample of the book, but it grabbed and held my attention. The story is told by two women, then and now. What they have in common is renting the same place. I will read this book in it's entirety when available. Great sample, it did it's job, to make one want to read the full book. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced sample of this book in return for my honest review.