Control and envy are the themes I got from this book!
The story is told alternating between Rani and Natalie's perspective. Each characters narrative was equally interesting; focusing on how their relationships are impacted by death, abuse and infidelity.  I found that the reference to each of these areas was too brief (hence the 4⭐)- but then perhaps it would have been an entirely different book!
The last part of the book, quite quickly covered a lot in terms of revelations, but I did really like the ending.
Thanks NetGalley for an advance copy 😊

Mira Shah gives us a really strong opening to her novel about two women living on opposite sides of a street. They have wildly different lives but a connection is made that gives both women a much needed outlet.

Before Rani had her two daughters she dreamt of being a journalist but it wasn't to be and now she can't even get an interview for routine admin roles. Natalie is a lawyer and newly married when she moves into her luxurious house.

The opening really did grab me and the book held my interest for quite some time, but then sadly I got lost. For me it was a combination between taking me outside the reach of believability and events being wrapped up with no real build up. This was a shame as the author obviously has lots of talent.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC of this book.
It started very well and I was intrigued by the two different characters becoming such close friends so quickly.
Rani/Serena and as we found out Natalie/Naomi went on a real journey of discovery together very very quickly. A lot of ancillary characters were mentioned but did very little. (Gerald, Amber and to a certain extent Jemima). Natalie’s father made a fleeting appearance and a faster exit unfortunately.
For me, the story was building quite nicely and then it finished very abruptly with no real explanations. I am sure this author can, and will, do better and look forward to reading ore books from her.

Rani longs for a better life much like many of then Natalie moves in opposite who appears to have it all.

Things are never a they send and you never know what's going on behind others curtains and this is a journey into the life of both Ladies and neither have what they thought let alone what they thought the other had. As Rani and Natalie get closer the staines strains of their own lives come to light and they need each other so much more than either could imagine.

This is a great thriller I was last in it totally waiting for the next twist the reveals as different characters show their true colours. No one is ever who you truly think they are but how can people get it so wrong, whatever the reason it makes for a great thriller in this case. I loved it the horror of certain characters and the slowly falling for others.

I do recommend this, as stated I enjoyed it and hope you do as well.

This is a fab psychological thriller with lots of different threads. It is quite difficult to review without giving spoilers. Central to the whole story is Natalie who appears to be married to a man who is trying to control her. Her mother also had a hand in their relationship and tries to cajole Natalie into staying in an abusive marriage.

Rani, her neighbour from across the road also becomes a big part of Natalie’s life and is trying to get her to leave the abusive relationship whilst trying to mend her own fractured relationship.

This builds and builds from the first page to a fabulous climax.

This is such a phenomenal debut and from beginning to end I was hooked! It’s definitely a book I could have read in one sitting but I managed to savour it over two days, even though I never once wanted to put it down!

Rani, one of our two main characters, has always felt like an outsider. Firstly when she was growing up among her white, wealthy peers and now when she compares herself to her successful, child-free friends. Looking out from their tiny rented flat she lives in with her partner Joel and their two children in Highgate, London she can only imagine being the kind of woman who has just moved in to the beautiful grand house across the street.

Natalie represents everything Rani dreams of. With her expensive clothes, adoring husband Charles and her high-powered job, Rani can't help but find herself drawn to her new neighbour. But as these two women strike up an unlikely friendship, and begin to open up to one another, Rani wonders if Natalie’s seemingly perfect life could actually be too good to be true...

I really liked the alternating chapter perspectives of Rani and Natalie, and was invested in both of their lives. I found myself racing through the pages, eager to get back to each character’s perspective again to see what would happen next. It was so brilliantly paced with punchy chapters and I really enjoyed seeing the journey Rani and Natalie went on over the course of the book. It so cleverly explores how a seemingly perfect life from the outside can be very different in reality!

There was so much intrigue too about the dreams/nightmares Natalie was having and I can’t believe what revelations this lead to in the final part of the book. I had a few thoughts about what this could mean as I was reading (which turned out to be completely wrong!) and it only dawned on me what had happened shortly before it was revealed. It was absolutely incredible and I know that this book will definitely stay with me as a result!

I honestly cannot recommend this book highly enough and it deserves to be a huge success in 2023! It is such a clever and thrilling story and I loved every second! I’m excited to see what Mira writes in the future!

Everybody knows HER. She seems to have it all and more and never has a Mis-step. And yet we all hate her yet want to have some of what she has got. You have to be careful what you wish for Loved this book and enjoyed it. Went a bit slow in places but picked up at the end. Well worth reading

I really enjoyed the first 80% of this book. Lots of intrigue and engaging characters. Told from two view points I guessed some, but not all, of the twists to the story line. Unfortunately for me the ending felt rushed with huge disclosures and events given little explanation. Still a good story and would definitely like to read more from this author.

Poor Rani can’t catch a break.
So when an intriguing new neighbor moves in, she’ll take all the thrills she can get.
But is this glamorous gal everything she seems?
Rani better figure it out quickly for her own good! Kooky and twisty – and exciting new author to watch

A really good start but then fades out about,some poor dialogue and needs more editing to make it the book it could be,it felt stilted at times and nit quite reaching its potential but as say a fantastic first chapter then reeled me in

2.5 Stars

I liked most of this book but felt the ending was disappointing and confusing, some things didn't make sense and I doubted myself on what I had read or understood. Reading other reviews I see I am not the only one. worth a read but don't expect too much from the conclusion.

End to end gripping read
Fast paced rollercoaster ride
Which is about two women who become friends
but when the surface begins to be scratched
things aren't what they seem

Thank you netgalley, Mira V Shah and Hodder and Stoughton

Her is a very well written story and I could not put this book down, even when it was well past midnight. I had to finish this!

Pick up this novel and you will find it hard to put it down again, and when you have read it, you will find it easy to believe that you have actually been there experiencing the story yourself.

I’m not really sure how to rate a book that you thoroughly enjoyed 85% of, but I’m giving this one 3 stars. It had so much promise, and for the first 85% I was SO impressed and just couldn’t put it down.
The story was told through two POVs – Natalie and Rani. There were times though when a chapter suddenly stopped being about Natalie and turned to Rani, or vice versa. I don’t know whether this was poor editing, but something went wrong somewhere and it spoiled the flow and caused a lot of confusion. I do not like having to re-read parts of a book to find out what’s going on and who’s saying what.
I loved the characters, the setting, the plot, the lot – until near the end. Sadly, I faced a ridiculous scenario where things happened without making any sense at all and I was left with so, so many unanswered questions. I won’t mention them here because it will spoil it for others. I was left feeling disappointed, and it’s a shame because it could have been so good. This author obviously has a lot of talent, but needs to make sure that the ending is as believable as the beginning. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the electronic copy.

Oooh I enjoyed this one!

Not sure what I enjoyed more, the really relatable characters or the mystery.

Rani is living with her husband and two children in a cramped flat. Struggling to get a job, she is feeling particularly unfulfilled when the glamorous and wealthy Natalie moves in to a beautiful, expensive property across the street.

We’ve all experienced that sense of envy looking at how the other half live and it was easy to identify with Rani's feelings of insecurity, curiosity and jealousy about Natalie and her husband.

I was fully prepared not to like Natalie and immediately took Rani's side but as the story develops and we get to know Natalie a bit more we see that she has her own struggles and self doubts and that the grass really isn’t always greener.

Lots of layers of intrigue in this one too as the two women become closer and Natalies past is slowly revealed.

A really strong debut and look forward to more from Mira

Thanks to Net Galley and Hodder & Stoughton for the chance to read an early copy

Rani lives with her partner and two children in a small flat. Her life is far from idyllic as she gave up a promising career to have her family. She’s always hoped for a different life, then Natalie moves into an impressive property across the street. The pair become unlikely friends but as Rani gets closer, she discovers Natalie also has secrets. After a really strong start that piqued my interest immediately, I found the intensity waned and pace slowed in the middle third of the book. Thankfully the final third picked up pace again. Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and the author for the chance to review.

Rani and Natalie are polar opposites. Rani, a stay at home mum who longs for the life she feels deprived of, and Natalie, beautiful, glamorous, successful. But things are not as they seem, and slowly secrets start to unfurl.

This book was an attention grabber, with a great first chapter. Sadly it did peak a too soon and I think most readers would have worked out the ending well before it arrived. There were superfluous characters who didn’t contribute anything, and at times events were a bit woolly. The book could do with a good edit as the chapters do not flow particularly well, and when reading a chapter dedicated to the POV of either Natalie or Rani, the other’s POV would appear. The ending was rushed and left some very loose ends.

An ok book that would be better with a thorough editing.

2.5*

Thank you NetGalley.

Rani, who resents her life as a stay at home mum befriends Natalie, her new wealthy neighbour. We follow this unlikely friendship, hearing both characters POV throughout the book. Is everything as it seems?

Throughout the story there is a sense of unease and hidden mystery. Many themes are included within this novel, including friendship, domestic abuse, insecurities and mental health. I think the author did a good job at exploring these and using these to help build the plot up to its finale.

Although the story had a lot of twists and turns, which I enjoyed, I found the pacing a bit slow. I never felt fully invested in the story or the characters. The ending also felt quite sudden.

Overall, I did have fun reading this novel and will be looking out for more books by this author. Thanks Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for my early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was fascinating and so full of twists. Yes there are a lot of sub plots and you have to concentrate whilst reading but it works and thoroughly enjoy it.

I didn't see the end.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.