Sally Royer-Derr’s The Secrets Next Door may not break new ground in the thriller genre, but it’s certainly an enjoyable read that delivers on its promise of suspense and intrigue. For anyone who enjoys the layered dynamic of twin relationships, this book is a treat. Royer-Derr’s portrayal of the bond between the sisters is compelling, showcasing both the closeness and underlying complexities that often accompany twin dynamics. This connection between them drives the narrative forward, making it easy to stay invested in their story.

The novel is fast-paced and sprinkled with enough twists to keep readers guessing. While I managed to predict a few of the twists, it didn’t detract from the overall experience—if anything, it added to the fun of seeing how the story would unfold. Royer-Derr’s skill lies in her ability to craft characters who feel familiar yet keep you wondering, and that’s what makes this book hard to put down.

In all, The Secrets Next Door is a satisfying, quick read that should appeal to fans of suspense and family mysteries. If you love stories about siblings, hidden secrets, and unraveling the past, this book is a perfect pick for a cozy weekend escape.

This book follows twins Taila and Tabitha who live next door to each other and own a bakery together. When well known author Anne moves in beside Talia, both sisters become increasingly suspicious of her.

I found the first few chapters of this book quite slow paced however it soon picked up speed meaning I couldn’t put it down😂 I felt myself needing to know more. I did find myself getting mixed up with the sisters quite often and had to go back and forth to work out who was who. Overall I did enjoy this book and loved the twist at the end- I did not see that coming.

This is certainly a thriller of a read and a book that brought many twists and turns. A short quick read but one that will keep you on the edge of your seat and keep you guessing. Loved that characters, especially Anne. Love all the secrets and the neighbourhood. Makes you wonder about your own neighbourhood sometimes!

A great, enjoyable and entertaining read. It down have a few minor downfalls and a bit slow at times but being such a short book it read quite quickly. It's a 3 1/2 stars from me.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

A thrilling story of twins and their choices as individuals. Talia and Tabitha are neighbors in a small town when Anne, an author, rents the house next to them. One twin is immediately suspicious of Anne the other tries to befriend her.
So many shocking revelations are exposed not just from these three women but from the twins husbands too. The story will keep you captive until the end. Really enjoyed it.

I found The Secrets Next Door to be a captivating and intriguing read, deserving of a solid 3.5 stars. The novel centers around a seemingly idyllic neighborhood that harbors dark secrets, and Royer-Derr does an excellent job of building suspense and weaving a web of mystery.

The characters are well-developed, each with their own quirks and hidden agendas, which kept me guessing until the very end. The protagonist, in particular, is relatable and flawed, making her journey all the more engaging. The pacing is steady, with just enough twists and turns to keep the reader hooked without feeling overwhelmed.

However, there were a few aspects that held me back from giving it a higher rating. At times, the plot felt a bit predictable, and some of the reveals were not as shocking as I had hoped. Additionally, I felt that the conclusion wrapped up a little too neatly, leaving me wanting more depth and complexity in the resolution.

Overall, "The Secrets Next Door" is an enjoyable and satisfying read for fans of domestic thrillers. Sally Royer-Derr has crafted a compelling story that, despite a few shortcomings, kept me entertained and eager to see what would happen next. If you're looking for a book that offers a mix of suspense, drama, and a touch of intrigue, this one is definitely worth picking up.

I love a good domestic thriller and unreliable narrator. This book kept me wondering if I had it figured out. I was wrong. 3.5 stars!

DNF. Felt like I was reading something written by a child. I really wish I could've finished this, but the story just kept dragging because the author felt the need to keep adding in the most mundane and unnecessary things that added nothing to the plot. There was nothing to look forward to, and I had already forgotten who Anne was a few pages after I'd read about her. This might be me nitpicking but I didn't understand why the author had to go with most boring names for all the characters. I mean Tabitha and Talia? Really? There was nothing defining about either of them them for the reader to tell them apart, so why not give them more unique names? This book had the potential t0 be so good, but ended up just being a flop.

The Secrets Next Door by Sally Royer-Derr is a compelling domestic thriller that explores the intricacies of suburban life and the hidden truths that lie beneath the surface. The story revolves around main character Sophie Kent, who moves into a seemingly perfect neighborhood only to uncover that her new community is rife with secrets and intrigue.

Sophie's move to this idyllic suburban area is prompted by a desire for a fresh start. She hopes to leave behind a troubled past and build a peaceful life for herself and her family. However, it doesn't take long for Sophie to realize that her new neighbors are not as perfect as they seem. As she becomes more involved in the community, she starts to notice odd behaviors and overhear snippets of conversations that hint at underlying tensions and concealed secrets.

One of the novel's strengths is its well-drawn characters. Each neighbor has a unique backstory and a hidden agenda, which Sophie gradually uncovers. These revelations add depth to the narrative and keep the reader engaged as they try to piece together the true nature of the secrets being kept.

The tension in the story builds steadily as Sophie digs deeper into her neighbors' lives. She discovers that behind the façade of happy families and immaculate homes lies a web of deception, betrayal, and even crime. The book expertly balances the suspense of a thriller with the emotional depth of a character-driven drama, making it a satisfying read on multiple levels.

One of the standout elements of The Secrets Next Door is the way it portrays the duality of suburban life. On the surface, everything appears perfect, but underneath, there is a constant undercurrent of dissatisfaction, fear, and mistrust. This theme resonates with readers who are familiar with the pressure to maintain appearances while grappling with personal struggles.

Spoiler Alert: As Sophie uncovers more about her neighbors, she finds herself in increasingly dangerous situations. The climax of the novel is both thrilling and unexpected, with Sophie facing a confrontation that forces her to confront her own past as well as the dark truths of her new community. The resolution ties together the various plot threads in a way that is both satisfying and thought-provoking.

In conclusion, The Secrets Next Door is a gripping and emotionally resonant thriller that delves into the hidden lives of suburban families. Sally Royer-Derr has crafted a story that is both suspenseful and deeply human, making it a must-read for fans of domestic thrillers.

Everyone had secrets, and I was most definitely along for the ride. And what a ride it was! I swear, I was on the edge of my seat for the last 20 pages! Ugh, this writer threw me for a loop!

Really enjoyed this book. The story is about twins Talia and Tabitha, who do everything together. They live next door to one another and own a business together. As you can imagine, they are best friends as well as sisters that tell each other everything. Or do they?
Without giving anything away the story of the twins is Talia is married to Zac and Tabitha is married to Grant. Tabitha is the mean twin and when Tabatha’s husband dies was it an accident or murder. Zac and Tabitha have always been infatuated with each other and Grant has had an affair and got the girl pregnant. Anne an author moves to the area and when Talia gets close to Anne Tabatha is very jealous.
The Characters were intriguing, and the plot is great with a good twist. This Book had high suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, gas-lighting, double-crossing, a great who done it. I highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A fast paced read. Talia and Tabitha are twins who are in their early 30's and live next door to each other as well as own a bakery together. The story is told from both twins point of view. I really enjoyed this read.

This book is incredible. It had me hook line and sinker from first chapter. I really liked the characters and got to know them well easily.

A captivating psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end. Anne's intriguing secrets and the suspenseful neighborhood dynamics make it a page-turner. Perfect for fans of gripping, twisty narratives.

A good thriller. The story was great, but the characters were a bit flattened. I did not expect the ending!

⭐️ 3.5 stars

This book was interesting but fell a little flat for me. The main characters names were so similar that I constantly had to remind myself who was who and that was tedious. The first 60% of the book was drawn out, but still interesting enough for me to keep reading.

The last 40% had a lot of twists and some good drama. What bothered me was that there were some things thrown in there at the end that left major plot holes.

I personally found this book jumped a little within the paragraphs and required me to re read a fair bit of it. I enjoyed the story and the ending was great.

The twin trope is something I am drawn to in a book, so I was really looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with the characters on this one so I didn't enjoy it.

This book is full of suspense and had me hooked by the first page! I haven't read a lot of thriller / mystery books but this one is one of my favourites by far!
The book is told by two point of views and the shorter chapters made for a faster read! thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!

I’m definitely a sucker for a domestic suspense book but this one was just sadly a miss for me.

The Secrets Next Door follows twins Talia and Tabitha who are suspicious of their new neighbor, Anne. Everyone has secrets that end up getting unraveled.

I didn’t care for any of the characters in the book to really keep my interest. It did a good job of building the suspense up but I ended up not loving the direction it ended up going in. It ended up being a decent, quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for my honest review.

While I did enjoy the storyline and the drama in the book, the pacing was a bit odd and I felt I couldn’t really keep engaged with the characters and at times the plot itself. I would read this author again and hope to see more from them.