This was such a thrilling book, I definitely did not expect the ending.

I can’t believe Rachel tried to conceal what happened and the boys almost got framed for the crime.

The characters were well written and I loved the twists!

The mom was resilient and I am so glad she stuck up for Jacob

Girl Next Door
By: Karen King
Stars: 4
Synopsis: The Girl Next Door is a psychological thriller that follows two neighbors trying to understand how and why a catastrophic accident possibly involving both families has occurred. Vanessa's seemingly perfect family is thrown into turmoil when their son Jacob is suspected of being involved in a tragic event involving their neighbor's daughter, Rachel. Despite his mother's firm belief in his innocence, she discovers Jacob and possibly others are hiding secrets.
Format: Audiobook
Review: This is my first Karen King, and I am pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed this "page-turner," and I gobbled this up in one sitting. There is just something about a good psychological thriller that gets you overthinking everything. I think the pacing is great, and all the little tidbits being dropped by each character had me guessing and second-guessing non-stop. There are so many secrets to uncover, and it's always the happy families with so many swept under the rug. Eeeeek! Love it!!!! AND…LOVE A TWISTY TWIST!!!!!!!!
Pros: I love a good twist! The multiple POVs help keep the pacing up, and I love it when chapters end on a cliffhanger. I will be adding Karen King to my list of authors to watch!
Cons: I felt like Vanessa was a bit repetitive at times…but I guess I can see how a mother can ruminate on everything regarding their children. And there was a brief section at around 75% slowed down, but it didn’t last too long--the ending made up for it.
Recommend (Yes/No/Maybe): Yes! Absolutely!
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio, for allowing me to review the title.

I really enjoyed the suspense in this book. All the characters are suspicious and have secrets, which makes it hard for the main character, Vanessa, to know who or what to trust. Vanessa's peaceful family life is disrupted when a new neighbor, Rachael, moves in and captures the attention of Vanessa's son and stepson.

Tension rises when Rachael is hurt, threatening to tear their family apart. Although I enjoyed the book overall, I was disappointed with the ending, as everything fell into place too perfectly. However, I appreciated that the ending wasn't predictable, and the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. The use of multiple perspectives also added depth to the story.

A full review will be coming soon.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the advanced listening copy of this book.

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


✨ Family Drama
✨ Secrets
✨ Suspense



✨ The story starts with Vanessa who’s excited to meet their new neighbours. They do have a daughter name Rachel who’s gotten so close with Vanessa’s step son (Lucas ) and son (Jacob).
Everything was absolutely great, up until the incident that Rachel fell from the window. With lots of secrets to uncover of who did it? Is it a suicide?


✨ I thought the story has a predictable plot and ending but I was wrong . This is a great writing especially the narrated version of Tamsin. (Fan here)
Fast paced too and easy to the eyes .
The feeling of the ending was great and not questionable. Definitely worth the read.


✨ to the audiobook narrator Tamsin, everything you are doing the story . I knew that I was amazing. Well done.



✨ Thankyou bookouture for the opportunity to have this arc for a honest review.




🫶🏼shaye.reads

Things are not as they appear in this edge-of-your-seat thriller. I suspected every character at one point or another and boy, was I wrong every time. Fast-paced, engaging and full of twists. Binged it in two days. This was my first Karen King book but it won’t be my last. A near perfect thriller. Highly recommend.

3.9 rounded up to 4.

In love with this audiobook: Multiple POVs in 1st person was amazing for this story. The book is filled with lots of characters but it’s so easy to follow them all. Even though throughout the book I was guessing the whole time who did it, at the end I guessed it right and I was so proud of myself. The story is filled with twists and I think this is perfect easy summer read for the thriller readers and amazing pick for someone who wants to try this genre for the first time. Highly recommend!

Book Title: Girl Next Door
Author: Karen King
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Tamsin Kennard
Publisher: Bookouture Audio
Genre: Mystery/Thriller- Domestic Drama
Pub Date: July 9, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages 357

Story is told from the POV of Vanessa, Aaron and Susie.
Vanessa and Aaron have a blended family. Aaron’s wife Amanda lied of cancer- they had a son Lucas who is now fourteen. Vanessa was married to Rickie who was abusive, at which time they had a young son Jacob and Vanessa worries Rickie will soon be abusive to their son so divorces Jacob is now fourteen and he and Lucas are best friends. Vanessa and Aaron have Chloe together. The boys love their new little sister; they are a happy family and everything seems to be perfect.

New neighbors Susie and Carl move in with their son Ben and teenage daughter Rachel. Rachel is pretty and bubbly and both Jacob and Lucas are interested is earning her affection. Rachel and Lucas seem to hit it off and Jacob is jealous.
When Rachel fall from her bedroom window and is in the hospital in a coma the boys are accused of having something to do with her fall as they often sit on Rachel’s bedroom window ledge – the very window in which Rachel fell.
Rachel’s parents Susie and Carl are quick to accuse the boys.

Story is rather slow with a lot of accusations – I am a big thriller fan and know to be suspicious of everyone – hmmm so how is it that I suspected everyone but missed one?

The Big reveals are a surprise. I did have a little suspicion about one but most I was totally clueless.
Story definitely left me with wanted to read another Karen King story.

I am an audiobook fan and Tamsin Kennard is one of my favorite audio performers.
Story turned out better than expected.

Want to thank Bookouture Audio/Hachette UK for this early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 9, 2024.

I absolutely loved 'Girl Next Door' by Karen King. I really thought I had it figured out. But I didn't! I love when it happens. This book kept me engaged and I listened through the audiobook narration in a few hours. I really love Tamsin Kennard, what a great choice of the narrator. I thought the book was entertaining and interesting. I will definitely read the rest of the books by this author that I can find!

Girl Next Door- Karen King
Rating: 4/5
Form: Audio

I really enjoyed this audiobook! It was very engaging and I ended up finishing it very quickly, The narrator was fabulous, keeping me wanting to finish the story as I ran my errands and encouraged me to clean just so I could find out what happens next. I will say, some of the characters got a little whiny and at one point, I got sick of the crying. I didn't predict the twist at the end, even though I thought I knew the culprit the entire time. Lots of red herrings and overall great writing!

Fast paced and would definitely recommend to readers to check this one out!

This narrator is becoming my "comfort" narrator. She could be talking about anything and I would calm down. She is just the best at this! She does all the voices. So, naturally I loved the narration. The story is twisty. We suspect anyone and then at the end it is a whole other issue.
The story was okay. I like it enough.

Wow!

I requested this audiobook without even having properly read the description because I really love diving in blindly into books simply based on the genre and the information one can gain from the cover.

But from the moment I started listening, I was HOOKED. The story was very well-paced, with no moment or scene feeling too stretched out or flat. The POVs of the other characters was an unexpected yet such a pleasant surprise! Having an inkling of the inner turmoil the characters are going through, yet not having a single solid idea of who to point the finger to because nothing seemed black and white was what I went through almost the entirety of the book!

I rarely listen to audiobooks apart from when I'm doing chores or something that doesn't need more than 30% of my attention, but this one had me using earphones (I rarely ever use earphones since I really want to be able to savour every beat of music even in old age) to listen to it just so I could get to the bottom of the story and find out what really 'happened'!

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a gripping thriller to mentally immerse themselves into!

P.S. The narration by Tamsin Kennard was just BRILLIANT and apt! I've impressed on the fact before that narration really plays a vital role in how a listener enjoys an audiobook and I'll stand by it! You just can't love a story with terrible narration, and sometimes even the dullest stories could sound interesting as hell with a talented narrator.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC audiobook. Girl Next Door is a pulse-pounding thriller that doesn't let up. I was on the edge of my seat and gripped in the story by the end of chapter 1. With a gripping plot and well-crafted suspense, it's a great thriller that kept me guessing.

[3.5 stars]

Thank you to NetGalley for the audible ARC! I enjoyed this book. I thought the characters were great and the family drama was fun. The narration is really good too. My complaint about this book is the ending. I think those who like Freida McFadden will like this book too.

This was a quick audiobook!

Everyone is a suspect in Rachel’s accident when she fell out of the window. I certainly wasn’t expecting that ending. Everyone has so many secrets.

I love when an author throws in a surprise in the epilogue!

One part of the ending I didn’t like was what Ness decided to do. Just forgive everyone for all of the lies. I thought this was so odd.

All in all, a decently entertaining listen.

Girl Next Door by Karen King – thank you to NetGalley for my audio ARC of this gripping thriller.

The narrator did a brilliant job in narrating the various voices.

Vanessa and her partner Aaron share a blended family. Jacob is her teenage son and Lucas is Aaron’s son, both boys being close in age. Vanessa and Aaron also have a daughter Erin who is only 3.

They live a comfortable life and everyone gets on, even the two boys. That is until a new family moves in next door and both boys take a liking to Rachel.

Tension arises in the house as Rachel likes one of the boys more than the other and the boys start bickering and fighting.

Then tragedy strikes as Rachel falls out of the upstairs bedroom window and is in a coma.

While she is lying in hospital the police question Jacob and Lucas about their whereabouts on the day. One of the boys seem to be a suspect which creates tension with the parents and all sorts of secrets start creeping out – not just about the boys. Did one of the boys push Rachel or was it someone else?

Added to my Goodreads (cant copy link) and to Instagram under books.bubbles.beach

Thank you to Bookouture Audio/NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook early! I was so invested I finished it in 2 days! Vanessa and Aaron have a blended family with 2 teen boys and a little girl. When a new family with a teenage daughter moves in next door things start changing around the home. Suddenly, the girl next door is hospitalized after a fall from her 2nd story bedroom. You will be on the edge of your seat wondering who is to blame for the neighbor's fall. It was a twist I never saw coming, even though I was convinced I had figured it out a few times! Be prepared for a roller coaster ride!

Overall, the book was quite good, presenting an interesting storyline about the struggles and secrets within a blended family. However, I found the execution somewhat lacking. The multiple POV storytelling was well done; it kept you guessing about why we hear from some characters and not others, highlighted slight inconsistencies in perception, made everyone seem suspicious, and added a lot of depth.

In the middle, the story felt unnecessarily dragged out, whereas the ending seemed very rushed. The conclusion came very much out of left field. Ideally, I want twists and an ending I could not have guessed, but I cannot recall anything in the book indicating where we were headed.

Once revealed, everything fell neatly into place—too neatly, considering the reader just learned about something completely inconsistent with the rest of the story. The epilogue fully threw me.

I would recommend this to someone who enjoys domestic and popcorn thrillers.

The novel “Girl Next Door” skillfully explores the complexities and relationships of a blended family in a suburban setting, revealing how even the most idyllic households can harbor hidden secrets. The story unfolds with the arrival of new neighbors next door, disrupting the peace and uncovering buried tensions and darker truths.

One highlight of this novel is its clever incorporation of unexpected twists. Author Karen King expertly introduces plot twists that keep the story unpredictable and engaging, simultaneously adding depth to the characters and their relationships while building suspense. The element of surprise is complemented by a satisfying conclusion that neatly ties up all The novel “Girl Next Door” skillfully explores the complexities and relationships of a blended family in a suburban setting, revealing how even the most idyllic households can harbor hidden secrets. The story unfolds with the arrival of new neighbors next door, disrupting the peace and uncovering buried tensions and darker truths.

One highlight of this novel is its clever incorporation of unexpected twists. Author Karen King expertly introduces plot twists that keep the story unpredictable and engaging, simultaneously adding depth to the characters and their relationships while building suspense. The element of surprise is complemented by a satisfying conclusion that neatly ties up all storylines without feeling rushed.

Moreover, the narrative effectively depicts conflicts within families, showcasing authentic arguments, tension, and discord that illustrate the complex dynamics of familial relationships. Additionally, the focus on a blended family adds another layer to this depiction. The authenticity of the story enhances the characters and makes their struggles and motivations that much more relatable.

This novel is well-suited for fans of psychological thrillers with a nuanced approach to graphic content. By emphasizing the psychological elements of suspense as opposed to explicit content, it appeals to a wider audience within this genre.

However, there are areas in which this novel can be improved. The repetitive use of phrases such as “my son” and “precious child” was somewhat distracting and took away from my engagement with the story. This repetition was quite prevalent throughout the narrative. Additionally, there were pacing issues in certain parts of the book, particularly in the middle, where the plot slowed down, impacting the overall momentum and tension that had been established earlier.

The ending of the book was unexpectedly surprising and while it tied up loose ends neatly without feeling rushed, it left me feeling somewhat disoriented. The sudden revelation of certain details may require readers to take a moment to fully grasp the implications. Although this element of unpredictability adds to the novel, it could potentially disrupt the flow for those who were anticipating a more straightforward outcome.

I found great pleasure in listening to this novel, as narrator Tamsin Kennard demonstrated exceptional skill in providing distinct voices for each character. One challenge I sometimes encounter with narrators is their ability to voice both genders with equal proficiency. However, in this instance, I strongly feel she did an outstanding job in handling dialogue-heavy chapters involving both genders.

In general, I found this book to be both enjoyable and engaging. It was a nice change of pace to read a book with a compelling plot that did not rely on excessive violence. Due to the challenges faced in the novel, it falls just short of a solid 4-star rating for me, but I would still rate it higher than 3 stars. Unfortunately, some review platforms do not allow for half-star ratings. Therefore, my official rating for this book is 3.5, but I am rounding up to a 4-star rating given that it aligns more with a 4-star than a 3-star rating.

I received a free advanced listeners copy of this book from Bookouture and NetGalley. I am voluntarily leaving my review; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
without feeling rushed.

Moreover, the narrative effectively depicts conflicts within families, showcasing authentic arguments, tension, and discord that illustrate the complex dynamics of familial relationships. Additionally, the focus on a blended family adds another layer to this depiction. The authenticity of the story enhances the characters and makes their struggles and motivations that much more relatable.

This novel is well-suited for fans of psychological thrillers with a nuanced approach to graphic content. By emphasizing the psychological elements of suspense as opposed to explicit content, it appeals to a wider audience within this genre.

However, there are areas in which this novel can be improved. The repetitive use of phrases such as “my son” and “precious child” was somewhat distracting and took away from my engagement with the story. This repetition was quite prevalent throughout the narrative. Additionally, there were pacing issues in certain parts of the book, particularly in the middle, where the plot slowed down, impacting the overall momentum and tension that had been established earlier.

The ending of the book was unexpectedly surprising and while it tied up loose ends neatly without feeling rushed, it left me feeling somewhat disoriented. The sudden revelation of certain details may require readers to take a moment to fully grasp the implications. Although this element of unpredictability adds to the novel, it could potentially disrupt the flow for those who were anticipating a more straightforward outcome.

I found great pleasure in listening to this novel, as narrator Tamsin Kennard demonstrated exceptional skill in providing distinct voices for each character. One challenge I sometimes encounter with narrators is their ability to voice both genders with equal proficiency. However, in this instance, I strongly feel she did an outstanding job in handling dialogue-heavy chapters involving both genders.

In general, I found this book to be both enjoyable and engaging. It was a nice change of pace to read a book with a compelling plot that did not rely on excessive violence. Due to the challenges faced in the novel, it falls just short of a solid 4-star rating for me, but I would still rate it higher than 3 stars. Unfortunately, some review platforms do not allow for half-star ratings. Therefore, my official rating for this book is 3.5, but I am rounding up to a 4-star rating given that it aligns more with a 4-star than a 3-star rating.

I received a free advanced listeners copy of this book from Bookouture and NetGalley. I am voluntarily leaving my review; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Girl Next Door is a domestic thriller about two neighboring families who start off as friends. Vanessa and Aaron live happily as a blended family. Suzy, Carl and their two children move in next door, and the families become fast friends. Suzy's teenage daughter, Rachel, falls from her bedroom window and winds up in a coma, and as the investigation develops, we discover that things are not as they first appeared. Vanessa's two boys quickly become suspects, but Vanessa is determined to prove to everyone that her boys are innocent.

The buildup in this story was great! I was fully engrossed in this one, wanting to know what was going to happen. This story was told from multiple POVs which I loved. The plot was great, but I did feel it fell a little flat with execution, mainly at the end. The ending was uneventful, and seemed unrelated to the rest of the story to me. I would've loved more background on what happened at the end. Overall, I really enjoyed the suspense, the drama, the lies and deceit, as well as the buildup. I was just a little let down with the ending.

I love Tamsin Kennard's narration. Her skill at bringing characters to life and allowing the reader to be able to decipher between various characters is *chef's kiss*! She has quickly become one of my favorite narrators.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Reading Between the Wines book review #65/130 for 2024:
Rating: 3 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: Girl Next Door
Author: Karen King
RELEASES on July 9, 2024!!!

Sipping thoughts: I was really enthralled in this mystery because I just had to find out who pushed Rachel out of the window or did she just fall or even worse, jump! I pegged how she “fell” out the window very early on and really felt confident when everyone gave their story about what they saw or was doing when she got hurt. I thought I was going to give this a 4-star review, but I did not like the additional element to Rachel’s story because I think it was just extra for no reason and a little unbelievable. Overall, this was a quick, easy, and interesting read.

Cheers and thank you to @BookoutureAudio and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @GirlNextDoor.

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