My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Her’ by Mira V Shah.

This was a domestic noir/psychological thriller that covers familiar territory for enthusiasts of the sub-genre. It is set in Highgate, a posh area of North London and focuses on a friendship between two women living across the street from one another.

Natalie appears to have the perfect life, she is a lawyer and recently married. She and husband, Charles, have just moved into one of Highgate’s elegant Victorian houses.

Meanwhile, Rani lives across the street in a small flat with her partner, Joel, and their twin daughters. When she became pregnant Rani gave up her fledgling career in journalism. She is rather frustrated and would love to return to work. Rani has long been fascinated by the house across the street and seeks to befriend Natalie.

It transpires that Natalie is harbouring secrets, possibly even from herself given that she has patchy memories of her earlier life. Rani becomes determined to help Natalie uncover them, despite the fact that it might well prove dangerous.

I initially found this a compelling psychological thriller that explored aspects of female friendship. However, as it progressed I felt that the plot became increasingly melodramatic and rather muddled. As a result, by time I reached the end I was less interested in the outcome and the fates of the characters.

Overall, I feel that ‘Her’ was an okay domestic thriller though the plot went a bit too ‘over the top’ for me making it difficult to remain engaged.

An unreliable narrator with tales to tell and themes of obsession and trauma swelling in the shadows, this heartpoundingly tense debut unfolds like grains of shifting sand. With shocking revelations and unforseen twists, the keen narrative brews consequences of choices made by flawed women whose secrets play an intricate dance.

This story starts with a discontented Rani looking round a house she can never afford. She is taken with the new neighbour, Natalie, and envies her her perfect life. But this is where the story takes a turn and becomes quite creepy. All is not as it seems and soon Rani and Natalie become friends and the intensity of the story increases.
As the characters develop and more information is given the story changes yet again. Well drawn characters; a clear hint as to what has happened and a tense ending.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Mira V Shah/Hodder & Stoughton for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

A very interesting and thought provoking psychological thriller.
Rani, her husband Joel and two children live in a cramped flat across the street from number 11 and when Natalie and her husband Charles move in Rani is fascinated by Natalie and everything she has.
As they get to know each other Rani realised that Natalie is holding back.
But what secrets do they hide?
The being of the book had me hooked but it did go off slightly towards the middle of the book.

Rani lives in a flat with her husband and two children , across the road is Rani’s dream home and it’s for sale .
A new couple move in to the house and on the surface it looks like it’s the perfect life , Natalie the wife has a high powered job and the husband Charles is a wealthy man .
Rani befriends Natalie and when she’s scratches below the surface the perfect life begins to seem more than a little tarnished .
This is a slow burn psychological thriller and left me wondering who was telling the truth and who to believe.
A solid debut .
Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder& Stoughton .

Her follows the story of Rani, a busy Mum living in a tiny, rented flat. When Natalie moves into the huge house over the road, Rani is drawn to her and tries to get to know her. The two neighbours soon become friends and their lives become interlinked, but not all is as it seems.

This book was fairly slow paced and I found that I didn't particularly like either of the main characters. It kept me interested and I wanted to know what happened, but I wasn't desperate to read 'just one more chapter.'

My thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.

The short chapters and the two different POV made this an interesting read and I soon got involved in the story. The two women living contrasting lifestyles were well described and likeable although Natalie's flashbacks became a little more perplexing.
There was an under current of menace developing throughout the book which was pitched at the right level and not overdone.
My only negative is that I felt the ending was a bit rushed and confusing and left me with questions. That said I would read more by this author.

This is a brilliant debut which looks at hard hitting themes as well as providing all the necessary ingredients for a highly commercial, twisty, physiological thriller. the writing was great and the pace spot on. I won't go into a detailed plot review because I don't want to spoil it but I loved these two characters and their authentic voices and interweaving stories. The dialogue was so believable and so on point. Mira is so talented and I can't wait to read her next one.

Although I’m only giving this book a 3 star rating I have already put Mira V Shah on my authors to watch out for list. I’m not going to do a plot reconstruction but just launch into my thoughts. I enjoyed the premise of two diverse women becoming friends and liked the different chapters written from Natalie’s and Rani’s pov. However I didn’t feel their characters were sufficiently explored and so especially Rani’s motivations were somewhat suspect for a very transient relationship. Really? I would be incredibly annoyed if someone tried to contact ex partners or estranged family members having met me a handful of times! The story progressed well but I felt the ending was too rushed and too easy to work out. Having said all that, I did enjoy the book and look forward to reading more from this author.

Rani is jealous of Natalie's seemingly perfect life. But she discovers it isnt quite so perfect after all. A good story from an author I will look out for in the future
Many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review

Dark secrets are slowly revealed in this thrilling story of lonely neighbours, envy and fear.
An envious neighbour finds out that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the road.

A late review from me due to events and circumstances outside of my professional life so apologies to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this, but also thank you for the opportunity to read the ARC for an honest review in return.

Mira Shah has woven a story of intrigue and mystery with the air of something sinister about to happen too! A good psychological thriller exploring topics such as mental health, abuse, race, social class...and the complex, intriguing relationship between two North London female neighbours (supposedly friends) whose lives couldn't be more different.

A good debut book and wishing Mira the best of luck with her next book too.

A rather unusual story of what appears to be house-envy then develops into an intense relationship with the house owner and the problems within her relationship. It is a bit gritty and quite absorbing.
A good read I enjoyed it.

Get ready for a white-knuckle ride of twists and turns in this edge-of-your-seat thriller that never lets up.

I'm sorry I took so long to review this book - I was sent it ages ago but lost the file! It was worth the wait though, and I read it quickly over just a couple fo days. It's a twisty book with plenty to keep the reader guessing and some great subplots build the characters well. Rani is Every Woman - envious of those around her and not seeing her own potential and achievements, and her silent delight in Natalie's downfall tips her into 'almost unlikeable' which in turn, made the initially aloof Natalie increasingly likeable as the story developed. Both characters hold their own as they take almost-alternate chapters in this discovery of Natalie's hidden past. At first, I wasn't sure if this was a thriller or a more gentle observation on life, but the pace upped as the secrets unfolded, layered up with so many different angles coming at Natalie that I couldn'g guess where it was going to end. I loved this book from Mira Shah, and her tackling of Rani's discomfort in being the only brown face in thr rural New Forest was particularly outstanding. A great read that I will happily recommend.

Rani, her husband Joel and their 2 children are living in a cramped flat. She is struggling to get a job and becomes obsessed with her glamorous new neighbours who are living in her dream home, living the life she has always wanted!!!

Natalie and her new husband Charles have just moved into the neighbourhood,, they arrive in a Maserati looking very loved up!!! They seem to have the perfect life but who knows what goes on behind their front door!!!

The chapters alternate between Rani and Natalie's POV as their life's become entwined and secrets are revealed.

I loved this book and I look forward to this authors next book.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

This novel looks at the different perspectives women have and raised issues on bad relationships, mental illness and other topics. It well paced with a few twists. Wasn’t anything I haven’t read before but wasn’t unenjoyable either!

A story told from two perspectives - Rani, a 29 year old mother of two, married way too young to Joel, who lives in a rented flat in Highgate, and Natalie, a 26 year old high-flying lawyer married to Charles in a £3 million house opposite Rani's flat.
When Natalie and Charles move in to Rani's Street, Rani is overcome with jealousy as what looks like the perfect life. They become friends and Rani soon learns that all is not what it seems with Natalie and her controlling husband, Charles.
Rani has problems of her own with Joel seemingly teetering on the brink of an affair with her best friend and things become tense between them.
Natalie seems to be having flashbacks but can't quite remember what she can't remember! Her mother seems to also be harbouring secrets from her and this is sending Natalie into a dark space.
I really enjoyed the style of writing and the difference in the two characters 5⭐️

This was a thrilling, gripping and ride of a thriller. It was suspenseful until the end and the characters written so well.

It kind of gave me ‘A Simple Favour’ vibes.

Rani is taken with her new wealthy and successful next door neighbour. She becomes infatuated with Natalie who Rani believes has everything. But, with Natalie all is not as it seems - she has her own past, demons and it haunts her.

These two ladies have their own secrets they’re hiding. The book has some very important topics throughout such as:

- Toxic relationships - surviving
- Careers
- Motherhood
- Mental Health

I enjoyed it. It was suspenseful I just wanted a little more to happen (but I can get greedy when I’m so into a book!) but i didn’t see the ending coming, and I really enjoyed it and would recommend!

Thank you to @netgalley and @shahvmira for allowing me access to this #e-arc!

A rollercoaster of a book, with such tension and twists that it was impossible to put down. Definitely recommend.