I really enjoyed this novel, a story driven by two female characters both envious of the life the other one leads Natalie feeling like she is faking her perfect life, dealing with terrifying nightmares and newly wed to a husband who seems to be changing from the perfect man to a controlling one and Rani who grew up feeling like an outsider as the only Asian girl in her village, whose dreams of being a journalist are snatched away when she finds herself pregnant just as she finishes her masters. Some characters like Natalie’s husband and mother feel a little two dimensional but Natalie and Rani are the reason you can’t help turning pages with increasing speed.
I was desperate to know the truth behind Natalie’s nightmares and what had really happened in her past and felt the book was reaching an exciting climax when *meh* the ending when it came was rushed, felt contrived and for me was a total let down. I’m gutted and I feel that Mira V Shah rushed it for some reason. What could have been another fifty pages about characters I’d grown to really care about was reduced to a few lines in an epilogue. Sadly this took the 5 stars I was planning to give this novel down to a 3.
As a last note, why was a character named Niaomi??

Rani admires the big house across the street from the flat she shares with her husband. She watches through the windows as the newly married couple, Natalie and Charles, move in. And now, Rani has a new obsession.

This book dwells heavily on the racism and classicism that Rani has experienced. When she's with her successful college friends, they support her emotionally and pay for her meals. When she tries to get a job, she finds that being a stay-at-home mom has left her technologically behind and unprepared to re-enter the workforce. And when she meets Charles, she definitely gets the vibe that he doesn't think she's good enough for his wife.

But Natalie treats her like a friend, and sensing it's because Natalie needs one, Rani goes into overdrive to protect Natalie from perceived threats.

I had a hard time with Natalie's flashbacks . We don't know for a while if they are memories of actual events, or dreams that are created from stress. Even though this was a deliberate and essential plot technique, I think perhaps it was overdone. Having said that, I think this is a good and unique debut novel from Mira V. Shah.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an advance reader's copy.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Her by Mira V. Shah, published by Hodder & Stoughton
I enjoyed this novel. Main character Rani and partner Joel, have two young daughters, Rani is currently looking for work. The house across the street from their rental has gone up for sale, nothing they could ever afford, but she needs to take a peek. Not long after the new couple move in, and Rani gets to know them, mostly Natalie the wife. Something isn't quite right, and although Rani's husband and her friends tell her not to get involved, she does! Natalie is beautiful, a successful lawyer, and married to an older man Charles who dotes on her, but is she happy? The two are so different and an unlikely friendship develops.
This novel is told by two characters, Rani and Natalie, the plot is good, character introduction is well timed and they are likeable (or not when they aren't supposed to be). I liked the ending and the twist. I felt this was a great first novel by this author and will gladly read more of her work

What a fantastic debut novel by Mira V Shah. I found the storyline gripping and I couldnt put it down as I wanted everything to be revealed!
Thank you to Mira V Shah and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I finished this book last night and I’m still thinking about it! The slow unravelling of the truth is so cleverly done in this debut, and I found myself racing through the final chapters to uncover all the secrets.
Easy 5 stars!!

Her is a debut novel from Mira V Shah. The central character is Rani who is lives with her husband and primary age children. She had her children very young and is now struggling to get herself back into work so that her family improve their lives, rather than barely existing in a tiny apartment in North London. When a prosperous couple move into the luxurious house opposite Rani becomes fixated on the wife, Natalie, and goes out of her why to befriend her. However, Natalie’s gilded life is not all that it seems and Rani is dragged into a very dangerous situation.
I really struggled with this novel, it has far too many themes and plot lines and just becomes muddled and totally unbelievable in places. It is overwritten and the author can’t resist a metaphor or adjective when often it’s really not needed. The main character is often pretty unlikeable, obsessive and needy.
However, she knows how to write a page turning thriller and the opening is certainly very strong. I’ll be interested to see what she writes next.

When Rani meets Natalie and her husband Charles for the first time after they move to no.11 she envies them, she wonders how Natalie is always so well put together all the time.
Being a mom of 2 and looking for a job which seems to be never coming in Rani is really not having a good time. But as she gets to know more about Natalie and her family something seems to be off and there’s a terrible secret Natalie and her mom seem to be hiding.
This was an ok book for me, not everything had a closure – there was a time when I thought Charles and Natalie’s relationship was the center of the story and the “supposed twist” in the end was not a huge surprise.

Thanks to Netgalley, Mira V Shah & Hodder and Stoughton for sending the widget in exchange for an honest review.

This started off really good.I enjoyed the build-up, getting to know the characters and delving into their lives. I was hooked from the start and enjoyed watching it all play out. The ending was slightly disappointing because it felt rushed. But, on the whole, it was a decent read

I really enjoyed the setting of this book. As i read it, it was one of those books where I had a film playing in my head. However, it was also a book of two halves. The first part when the women characters were at home and getting to know one another, I found pretty dismal and I nearly gave up on it as it was making me rather depressed. Then suddenly there seemed to be a turn and it became a mystery novel with a hunt and real drama. Still pretty depressing stuff and rather far fetched but at least something happened, not just dialogue. I feel that this book could do with a review but overall it has potential.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

An intriguing psychological thriller that kept me guessing throughout the story. I quickly became invested in the mystery and felt quite compelled to find out what was happening.
The writing style is very good and some parts of the story were quite chilling, other quite emotional, I definitely experienced a good range of feelings while reading.

The only downside for me was that the ending was a bit anticlimactic for me. There was a big revelation (huge!!) that would have made a superb ending, but I felt it was brushed and closed way too quickly, I would have liked to see it expanded and explored a bit more.

Despite this, the book is a good thriller and I would recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a little different to the normal type of mystery/psychological thriller. When I first started reading it I wasn't sure whether it was about a haunted property, domestic abuse or repressed memories. As the story unfolds you become aware of what's happening but you're kept guessing about the full truth until almost the end of the book which I like. Great read.

Thanks to net galley for this free read. An interesting psychological thriller. It took me a while to get into it and I was a bit confused at times. However I thought that this added to the reading experience and made me think about how one of the main characters may be feeling during her times of confusion.
The reader follows a group of friends and explores the challenges of their roles - whether it is being a parent unable to get a job and not feeling emotionally fulfilled, an individual as a woman who has to work harder to be seen as an equal to men in her job role. Another is in an emotionally abusive relationship. The reader also has a glimpse into the past of one character and how that has shaped who they are in the present. There is a twist which I didn't see coming. Although it took me a while to get into the book I soon wanted to know what was happening and couldn't put the book down until I had finished it.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thanks again to net galley for the free read.

The writing style is engaging and evocative, with vivid descriptions and well-crafted dialogue that bring the characters and setting to life. The characters are complex and multi-dimensional, with their own unique personalities and struggles, and the relationships between them feel authentic and believable.

An intriguing psychological thriller, intertwining the stories of two very different women who help each other find their own way. I wish the ending wasn’t so rushed. I would’ve liked to see a confrontation or two, tbh!

(Review copy from NetGalley)

This book kept me guessing right till the end and gave one final twist that I didn't see coming but looking back I can see how I could have if I had paid attention to the right bits!

For me it was a domestic thriller about women finding their way in society today and in some ways wanting to 'have it all' The family, relationship, career as well as friends and a social life. Throw in the mysteries that surround Natalie and you have a really interesting twisty thriller where at each reveal you think you have an idea about what's going on but there was still an awful lot of book left until the final page!

The characters and settings were well drawn but I may be a little biased there as the secondary setting is a favourite place of mine to visit.

I really enjoyed this book and hope to read more from this author in future.

A complex thriller that contains many twists and turns. It certainly kept me guessing until towards the end of the book.

I felt the characterisation let the book down slightly - neither of the protagonists felt very ‘real’ to me.

Overall, it was a decent read but not one that I loved.

Rani lives in a flat opposite the house of her dreams. When a new couple buy the house and move in, Rani becomes a little obsessed with getting to know them and exploring their lives. However, all is not perfect with the new neighbours, and Natalie's life is far from picture perfect. This novel explores motherhood, marriage, career stress and toxic relationships. It is gripping and full of suspense.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for ARC.

Rani is feeling stuck in a rut and compares herself unfavourably to her more successful friends. With two small children at home, her career hasn't got off the ground, while others soar. She and her husband can barely afford their rental in fancy Hampstead, while others are buying multimillion pound dream homes. When a beautiful woman moves in across the road, Rani wants to get closer to her, to get a taste of the good life. Things take a very dark turn as Natalie seems to have burdens and regrets of her own, and the past crashes in on them both.
This ratchets up the tension well in the beginning, but doesn't fulfil its early promise, and the solid psychological thriller elements get a bit lost in the twist toward a gothic horror denouement. I accept I'm about 40 years too old to identify with the main characters though!

A cracking debut psychological thriller that had me racing through it.
Rani and Natalie are like chalk and cheese but seem to be drawn together and form a friendship.
Rani with her partner Joel and two daughters live in a flat opposite Natalie and her new husband Charles. Rani is dissatisfied with life and can't find a job.
Natalie and Charles are newlyweds and move into the big house in Highgate.
Natalie thinks she has it all, the perfect life. But cracks start to appear, and it's not all it seems behind the shiny blue door.
There are a few twists that I didn't guess. The ending was certainly a shock.
Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for the early ebook copy and Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed the first 80% or so of this book but found the last 20% a little confusing. It did feel rushed at the end and I think the book could have been better balanced instead of a long slow build up and then a whole host of revelations that came from nowhere. A good effort 3.5 stars