Thank you to Sally Royer-Derr, Dreamscape media and NetGalley

Lies and Secrets.
Another great read from the Netgalley shelf. First time reading this author.
Kept me engaged the whole way thru

This book was ok but not the best. It's a slow burn, without interesting plot and quite 'flat' characters. I wouldn't call it 'thriller' but domestic drama.

The writing style did not work for me unfortunately, but the premise is very interesting. I wish I could have connected with the characters more, but overall a good read; just not my favourite!

This book was enjoyable for the most part. I felt as thought the story line could have been paced a bit better when it came to the ending. I did enjoy the drama within the storyline, and felt drawn into it as I read. It was a quick read for me as the book isn't very long.

This was quite a disappointing read for me unfortunately. Whilst the writing was great, and the overline storyline, I think what really lets it down is both the length of the book and the pacing. It's less than 300 pages, which is a little shorter than average thrillers. But the pacing is all wrong. I felt like the climax of the book was so rushed and just dotted in. We didn't get any slow build, it was just bam, this is the end. I think the main bulk of the book dragged on too long, which made the end seem even more rushed than it would have. Overall not for me, but the authors writing was wonderful so I'll definitely look out for more books by this author

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Secrets we Keep by Sally Royer-Derr in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting small-town thriller full of ‘rich people drama’ which always entertains me. I liked the mystery and slow burn of the plot unravelling and I enjoyed getting Tabitha’s point of view every so often; it was intriguing to see the differences in such similar-seeming twins.

I loved how twisted and shocking this was and would definitely recommend to psychological thriller lovers.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped and found it boring g. So, I'm only giving it 2 stars. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Twins Tabitha and Talia seem to have perfect lives but their new neighbor Anne knows better. They don't know what to think of Anne but both have their suspicions about her. Tabitha thinks she is protecting Talia but Talia likes Anne but continues to be cautious around her. Then someone breaks in to Tabitha's guest house and things take a turn for the worse.
The story flows so fast that you read a bit faster to find out what comes next. I enjoyed it but found it started the suspicions of Anne after only one meeting, it felt too much too fast.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"The Secrets Next Door" by Sally Royer-Derr is a psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of suburban life, where every house has its story and every smile hides a secret. The novel is a compelling exploration of the facades people construct and the lengths they will go to protect their carefully curated lives.

Set against the backdrop of a seemingly idyllic neighborhood, the story follows Anne, the new resident with a past she's determined to keep hidden. Her arrival stirs the curiosity of her neighbors, particularly the twins Talia and Tabitha, who are the epitome of suburban perfection. But as Anne quickly learns, beneath their polished exterior lies a web of deceit and rivalry.

Royer-Derr masterfully crafts a narrative that is both intimate and suspenseful. The story is told through multiple perspectives, primarily the twins', whose competitive nature drives much of the tension. The author uses this device to peel back layers of each character, revealing their insecurities, desires, and the secrets they harbor.

The pacing of the novel is deliberate, with the tension simmering just below the surface, building to a crescendo that promises a heart-stopping twist. The prose is sharp, with a focus on the internal dialogues of the characters, which adds depth to the psychological aspect of the thriller.

One of the strengths of the book is its portrayal of the characters' psychological states. The unreliable narration keeps readers guessing, blurring the lines between truth and perception. This, coupled with the theme of revenge, creates a gripping read that challenges the reader to consider the consequences of our actions and the masks we wear.

The climax of the story delivers on its promise, providing a satisfying resolution that ties together the intricate plot threads. The twist is well-executed, leaving readers to reflect on the nature of truth and the cost of secrets.

"The Secrets Next Door" is a thought-provoking and engaging read that will appeal to mystery fans.

The writing style was not for me. This felt totally YA or NA for some reason. I also did not find the while twin plot believable. It was rather far fetched. I love a good family drama/neighborhood drama plot, but I just could not with this one. 2 stars.

This was an intense and fast paced thriller that kept me guessing with each chapter read. This domestic thriller focused on a set of twins and kept me on my toes. I kept trying to figure out who the actual bad guy was and every time I thought I had something figured out, a new event or twist would come out of nowhere completely changing the path the story took! This is the first book I read by this author, but it won t be the last!

Thank you Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Fast, twisted and wow! This was an unexpected delight! Fantastic surprise! 4 Stars! This was my first but definately not my last from this Author.

When a new neighbour arrives next door to 30 something twins Thalia en Tabitha they are both very keen to welcome her with cupcakes from their own bakery. Anne is a famous author who writes well=loved mysteries. The twin sisters are also each-others neighbours because both families live in the same street.
Although the twins are very alike it soon turns out their characters are very different, as are their respective husbands. Soon after Anne has moved in next doors strange things start to happen and of-course the reader soon starts to suspect the newcomer. But is everything as it seems in this upmarket street in Little Beak, New York. Remember the saying: keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.
Developments soon lead to discord between the twins as Thalia becomes friends with Anne.

There are a lot of red herrings in this book but in the end all is explained in an interesting plot twist.
A fast paced, psychological thriller that will keep you interested until the very end.

Many thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

You never know who your new neighbor will be. Twins Tabitha and Talia live next door to each other. They also own a bakery, so it’s only natural that they introduce themselves to their new neighbor, Anne, with a basket of pastries. But, little do they know how Anne will turn their lives upside down.

The Secrets Next Door is an interesting book. The different viewpoints offer insight to the twins’ personalities and the on-going mystery surrounding the new neighbor adds to the overall suspense. The way the author describes the scenes is very well-done and added a great deal to my enjoyment of the book. The twists were unexpected but I found the pace to be somewhat erratic. Overall, I enjoyed The Secrets Next Door even though there were several times it felt as though it was taking too long to get to the crux of the story. NetGalley provided an advance copy.

First let me say that this book was a slow start and when I mean slow I mean it took about 50-70% of the book to be read to get to what I was thought was the better part. The main character was 100% a door mat and it bothered me continuously because I wanted them to stick up for themselves and actually contribute something. I was not a fan and it wasn't the worst book I have read but not the best either. It was just too slow and not as enjoyable.

This is one of those where I didn't exactly buy what was happening in the plot.

I didn't really like anything and I hate (hate, hate, hate) main characters who act like door mats. I mean, so much was obvious and she's just oblivious.

I will say that it was entertaining and it moved fast, but my logic sensors kept going off because nothing made any logical sense.

Brain candy, but that's okay.

* ARC via Publisher

This story started off slow but it had potential and I really wanted to find out what was going to happen! However, it took until about 75% through to finally pick up and only one of the twists was unexpected, everything else was pretty simple to figure out.

I was so bored and didn’t like how quickly the story jumped around. It’s like each paragraph jumped from a different location or time of day without warning. Also, parts that didn’t need any explanation or long winded descriptions went on for pages on end, but the parts that really mattered were over in a matter of a few sentences, like someone cheating. I really did not enjoy the small parts being so long winded and the important parts just getting blown over.

At least in the end it had a complete ending, no cliffhangers and it finished well. I just wish it focused more on important parts and it could have been shorter and get to the point faster. It was a good idea I just don’t think it was executed well, unfortunately.

My thanks to #StormPublishing #NetGalley and #SallyRoyer-Derr for the ARC of #SecretsNextdoor. How well do you know your neighbors? Hooked from the very first page, this quick read, summer beach book is an absolute page-turner. Twins Talia and Tabitha live next door to each other and own a cupcake shop together. One day a hugely popular mystery writer, Anne Gravely, rents the house next to Talia to have a quiet place to write her new books in peace. But questions soon arise – why is Anne creeping around at night? Tabitha concludes the woman is up to no good. The twins turn into amateur sleuths and uncover more than they were expecting. The twists in this book were pretty good. It’s a nice, tight read.

Very enjoyable read. Lots of gossip, sibling rivalry, secrets and drama between the pages of this book. The suburbs are calling...

Twin sisters, Talia and Tabitha, are neighbours. They also own and run a bakery together. Also, they are suburb royalty and when a new neighbour, Anne moves in, the drama begins.
Talia has the perfect husband and loves her colour co-ordinated sweater sets, while Tabitha is the queen bee and calls the shots, also in her sister's life. You quickly realise, their relationship is a bit too close for comfort with quite a few skeletons in the closet. And is Anne really who she says she is?

A twisty psychological thriller that will make you keep awake reading until late into the night. Domestic noir at its finest.

#netgalley #stormpublishers

This was just ok - I am unsure how I got through the book but it was fine enough that i have rated it 3 stars

I didnt really care much for any of the characters and didnt find the writing style worked a lot for me

Thanks for the copy

3 stars