The Neighbour is an interesting psychological thriller that weaves a gripping tale of mystery, tension, and paranoia. The novel follows the story of a mother, her daughter, and their quest for a fresh start after enduring two difficult years. But as they settle into their new home in the seemingly idyllic Beech Close, the fresh start they hoped for quickly takes a dark turn.

This is an absorbing read that will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers. Gemma Rogers effectively taps into the fear of the unknown—what happens when you move into a perfect community, only to discover the sinister secrets lurking beneath its surface. With its powerful sense of suspense, relatable characters, and well-crafted twists, this novel keeps readers turning pages late into the night.

This is a domestic thriller. The characters are all unlikeable and unreliable. The narrative was too slow for my taste. There were many twists and turns. The ending was full of tension

At first I found this to be far too descriptive which was grating. However, I liked the story and the way it unfolded. I didn't really see the ending coming until I was right on top of it. I could really see this being turned into a film, particularly because of the descriptive element.

It wasn't until around 85% that it really took a turn but then I raced towards the end, wanting to find out how it would end.

I would definitely read others by this author.

This was a bit slow moving at first and it took me a bit to get all the neighbors and their houses straight. Once I did though I was really intrigued by how they were all connected and what their real motives for befriending Shelly were. I really enjoyed Josh and Shelly's relationship and thought this added some much needed levity to the story. Josh's mom was exactly what the story needed at the end too. My pulse was really racing at the climax and I thought the ending was very justified and reasonable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Shelley has moved house with her daughter Lauren aged 10 to Beech Close to start again.

She had been looking after her sick mother for the last 2 years, so this is a fresh start for them both.

However Valerie is not so welcoming to her new neighbours and had history with the previous tenant who left so suddenly.

This is such a great read, full of secrets and suspense. Who can you trust?

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

I liked this book but not enough because it felt incredibly slow and the plot development too obvious. It was only the last quarter that I got truly invested but even then, I could foresee how the novel would conclude.

It appears that Shelly has landed on her feet with her new rental property. The greenery of Beech Close is idyllic, the identical homes look charming and the neighbours are, well, rather friendly. Even Shelly sees the irony that the women are more like 'Desperate Housewives' than they realise, and I think this was one of the reasons why Shelly tries to maintain a bit of a distance – coupled with the fact that she is a single mother too.

However, despite trying to keep away from her new neighbours (which I wasn’t quite convinced was the right thing to do), events unfold that leave Shelly questioning their personalities. The previous tenant of her home has been reported missing, her immediate neighbour seems to want to terrorise her, and the saccharine nature of the neighbourhood seems too good to be true. Shelly can’t help but ask questions, especially when she uncovers a disturbing message inside her house. What really happened to Danielle? Are her new neighbours what they seem?

Rogers is very keen for readers to judge particular characters. Shelly has moved after her mother’s recent passing and it is evident that both she and Lauren, her daughter, are still very traumatised by seeing Shelly’s mother suffering from severe dementia. This is more prevalent because Valerie, Shelly’s new neighbour, is also declining into this state. She sympathises with Valerie’s son, especially when Valerie has “Jekyll and Hyde” tendencies, leaving Shelly particularly disturbed. Yet, I did not get a sense of this, feeling this aspect of the plot too convenient to distract readers. Furthermore, it felt like it was leaning towards the unrealistic, especially considering how much Valerie is clearly suffering from the disease. I would have expected social services or doctors to be more involved in Valerie’s treatment, especially when her safety is clearly a cause for concern.

The other wives are portrayed as quite glamourous, leaving Shelly constantly feeling like an outsider. I disliked this aspect of her personality, feeling like she always had to prove herself, and I was irritated by her need to please these new acquaintances. It didn’t feel like she was being true to herself and hid frequently behind her daughter or dog as an excuse, or consuming copious amounts of alcohol. On the other hand, I admired her grit and determination to ensure she and Lauren have a better quality of life, especially when it is revealed how difficult things became with Shelly’s mother.

I was curious to see how this story would conclude but I was disappointed how obvious this ending became. There were certainly some tense moments but I thought this was a long time coming. Instead, the majority of the book felt like a character assassination of new acquaintances, with the protagonist coming across a bit patronising as a result.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of The Neighbour by Gemma Rogers from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and opinion. HOLY COW! This book has it all and will pull you in from the firest page. It's fast paced and OMG the ending will take your breath away. You need to do yourself a big favor and read this the first chance you get.

You will never look at your neighbours in the same way again after reading Gemma Rogers’ nerve-jolting new novel.

No. 3 Beech Close represents a fresh start for Shelly and her daughter Lauren. After two difficult years spent nursing her mother, Shelly is looking forward to a new beginning and to building a future with her daughter. Shelly is optimistic about the move and her new home, however, not everyone is as keen as she is about moving into the neighbourhood. Next door neighbour Valerie makes it clear from the off that she is not best pleased about Shelley coming to Beech Close and it quickly transpires that she might have had something to do with the previous owner of No. 3 vanishing off the face of the earth. Has Shelly made the biggest mistake of her life by moving into the neighbourhood?

Shelly’s apprehension intensifies when she discovers that the house’s previous owner had disappeared without a trace. What really happened to the previous occupant? Could Valerie have been involved in their disappearance? And has moving to Beech Close put Shelly and her daughter in danger? Not sure whom she can trust, Shelly must tread carefully and keep her wits about her because nobody knows what lengths Valerie will go to to get her way…

Gemma Rogers has written an electrifying thriller you will struggle to put down. A dark, terrifying and chilling tale about secrets, vengeance and lies that is brilliantly constructed, good neighbours certainly do not become good friends in this tense and taut page-turner that had me chewing my nails to the elbow.

A top-notch thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, The Neighbour is the brilliant new novel by Gemma Rogers.

I'm glad I finally got to read a book with a first person POV. Shelly moves to a new neighborhood with her daugher Lauren. She needed a new start after taking care of her mom the past few years.
Her new neighborhood isnt as perfect as she thought/hoped it would be. There are a lot of secrets and she cant trust anyone.
This took me on a great thrilling read with a twist. My favorite kind of book.

Shelly and her daughter Lauren have had a bad few years and want to make a fresh start. They move to beach close, the small cul-de-sac of six houses around a green. There's a mixture of very well created characters, amongst them is Valerie.

The writing is very well paced. Will Shelley and Lauren stay or go? Why did others leave the close? Not even Teddy their dog is as safe as they thought....

Is this the right place for a fresh start after all?

The Neighbour will send shivers down your spine, as it did for me. Gemma Rogers has created an amazingly real yet creepy atmosphere. I started to question whether her neighbours were really trustworthy, just as she did.

I feared for hers, Lauren's and Teddy's safety. I even hoped Josh was trustworthy. I liked him, but the plot's twists and turns were so clever it made me suspicious of everyone. There are likeable and unlikeable characters. Once the book starts, it reels you in and keeps you there.

The Neighbour is one to keep you up at night.

Thanks to Gemma Rogers, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

5 stars

There's nothing worse than being able to figure out the ending of a thriller, and this one kept me guessing. A wonderful and incredibly rich novel . . . Powerful writing and a wonderful premise make this a novel you’ll simultaneously want to savour and race through.

Lets just start with the ending. What a superb ending. It also started all on the first page. The characters were all interesting and had me turning those pages. Look forward to reading more of her books.

I just finished reading "The Neighbour", by Gemma Rogers. Thanks you to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
I enjoyed the mystery in this book which began with a bang and continued throughout the entire book. The characters were mishievious and interesting and unique and mysterious. They added drama and intrigue to the story and we follow a mother and a daughter move to a small town in search of a new beginning and find themselves among very unwelcoming and odd strange neighbours.
Shelly (the main character) starts investigating the disappearance of a previous tenant finds herself in a little bit of trouble as she has bitten off more than she can chew.
Overall, this book by Gemma Rogers is a well-paced somewhat thrilling ride that is worth the read.
Happy Reading.

I could tell just by the title that I would absolutely be captivated by this novel. It was definitely similar to a few novels I have read but I loved every second of this book. I would recommend.

I love a juicy domestic thriller that is anything to do with neighbours, marriage, in laws, friendship.

The neighbour is a fast paced addictive thriller that will keep you on your toes until the very last page. What could be worse than moving into a home that you love, to realise that the neighbours around you aren't what they seem.

This was my first book that I've read from this author and I really enjoyed it, I couldn't put it down!

A truly compelling suspense thriller which keeps you second guessing and on the edge of your seat throughout.

Gemma Rogers has created an eclectic mix of characters residing in Beech Close. It should be an idyllic cul-de-sac and the perfect place for a fresh start for Shelly and her daughter Lauren.

But as the days unfold, and each of the neighbours seem to harbour their own secrets, Shelly begins to wonder whether she’s made the right decision.

Coupled with the disturbances from neighbour Valerie and the mysterious disappearance of the previous house tenant, Shelly is left understandably nervous and out of sorts.

The writing style makes it really easy to empathise with Shelly and makes you feel part of the tension and drama. I constantly found myself trying to work out what was going on as different parts of the story unfolded.

This is the first book I’ve read from this author, but I’ll be eagerly anticipating new releases from now on!

With thanks to the author and Rachel at Random Resources for the opportunity to participate in the tour.

A woman and her daughter are looking for a fresh start after caring for her aging mother but end of moving into the neighborhood from hell. Some of the developments are over the top but the mystery of the missing woman was interesting and overall this a was a fun read.

This was an amazing book to start the new year off. It was suspenseful from the get go, so I ended up finishing it in two days, as it was almost impossible to put it down.
Moving into a new neighbourhood and getting off to a bad start with your next door neighbour, isn't the ideal start for Shelly. Luckily she meets the other neighbours who welcome her with open arms. But can they all be trusted. Something is going on and Shelly is determined to find out what. I had 2 people in mind that was behind it all, and it was neither one of them, so the outcome really took me by suprise!

Shelly and her daughter Lauren move to a new home with their dog Teddy. Most of their neighbours are friendly but one is suffering from dementia and her behaviour is a little scary. Added to this, Shelly discovers that the previous tenant and her dog disappeared...
The Neighbour is a psychological thriller set in the south of England.
Shelly's first experience in her new home is a slightly scary one. Then she is welcomed by the other residents but feels uncomfortable, as if she'll never fit in. Things seem more sinister when she finds out that a young woman and her dog lived in the house previously but both vanished. Shelly starts to question her neighbours about Dannielle but is she just stirring up danger for herself?
The book is written from Shelly's first person perspective so we experience her niggling doubts and suspicions. We also get clues about her own past and the trauma she suffered during her childhood and in the recent past with her mother's violent outbursts, caused by dementia. As readers, we want Shelly to find happiness and share her fear as current events hint at a threat to her and her daughter.
There is plenty of tension and drama, especially towards the ending. Shelly's friendship with Josh offers some light relief and lets us see her at her best. When reflecting, Shelly describes her experiences in the street as far-fetched and I would agree that they are extreme but gripping. The mystery is sustained until the end and I enjoyed watching events unfold.
The Neighbour has emotion, drama, and an intriguing mystery of Dannielle's disappearance.

Phew, I had to remember to breathe each time I picked this book up. It was packed full of suspense and intrigue.

Shelly and her 10-year-old daughter rent one of the houses in a quiet pretty cul de sac, but all is not what it seems.
The neighbors are friendly enough but something sinister seems to be bubbling beneath the surface.

This book has plenty of secrets, twists, and turns to keep the pages spinning.

Gemma certainly knows how to keep her readers on their toes and interested.
Thank you so much, NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this excellent book.