A body found (in that house across the street) triggers a string of events that leaves you guessing and speculating all the way to the end. Just my kind of story. Maybe the twists weren't mind-blowing but actually refreshingly realistic. I thought the characters and dialogue were well-developed and interesting. The narrator is one I've listened to before and found she adds to the action of the story, rather than detracting from it. That's crucial in a domestic thriller for me.
Childs has written more psychological thrillers and I will head to those next.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

A whodunnit combined with a domestic feel… until the end, and it was very dark. I’m not saying it as a bad thing, but I would have definitely preferred to have this dark, more sinister vibe throughout the book rather than just a small part in the end. 

Anna finds Lily’s father dead while a party is going on. Police ask her routine questions at first, but then they start investigating her as an actual suspect, so she decides to prove her innocence until someone starts leaving threatening notes on her door and her daughter’s wellbeing is tested because Anna has another secret (she just has like a tonne of secrets). So, is the same person who is trying to shed light on Ana’s secrets the same person that killed Lily’s father? Is she being framed? What is going on?

As I said before, this is a good story. The characters are good; I actually connected with Anna, especially in the last chapters. 

I loved the family dynamic in this whole book—not just the blood family but the chosen one as well. 

The book was really slow, though; it wasn’t quite the page-turner, but I found it interesting how the author wrapped it up. I don’t know; I would have been more satisfied with a focus more on Anna as a whole as a person, seeing a bit more of her personal story rather than the story being plot-driven. Had the writing been more focused on Ana herself a bit more in the earlier chapters to give the actual punch for the final ones and get the book moving a little bit more, I potentially would have liked the book more.

3 stars from me means that I enjoyed this novel and it’s a good book, but that personally I didn’t fall in love with it.

I downloaded it from NetGalley and found it to be a good accompaniment to admin. The characters just weren’t my kind of people, so I didn’t feel as invested in them as I otherwise would. I think that’s down to me rather than the author - I’m sure lots of people would like them, especially Anna and Lilly. And I’m sure that those who do will find this a 4- or 5-star read.

The book deals with some pretty dark concepts but in a way that introduces them naturally within the storyline. In the main I’d say it’s an examination of the power of female friendship, even when it goes sour.

Three Word Review: street of death.

The ending of this book completely took me by surprise. As much as I love an unpredictable ending, I didn't necessarily love this book like I was hoping I would. It was ok, a solids 3 stars, but I found it hard to connect to the lot and characters. I listened to the audio version, which was pleasant to listen to, but I often had to double checked to see which point of view the narrator was speaking as. I love audio books, but I think I may have enjoyed readying the actual book for this one.

Thank you o NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley, Jill Childs and Bookouture Audio for the Arc of The House Across the Street.
Narrated by Kristin Atherton

The House Across The Street follows two lifelong friends , Anna and Lily who have grown up and have families of their own. The uniqueness is that they live across the street from each other. They have been there for each other through life tragedies but they hold secrets of their own too. One night, Anna finds out that Lily's Father was found dead and soon after Anna starts receiving threatening notes. Who is suddenly trying to destroy yhr peace on the street?

The House Across the Street is a good, all round, medium paced domestic thriller. The twists and turns are well executed and shows that we can be so close to someone and we may never know all the skeletons in the closet. This book is mainly plot driven told as a POV of Anna. The characters are fleshed out but would have liked to have seen more so they pop out of the book. Jill Child's writing style kept me engaged so listened to this book pretty much in 2 sittings.

Kristin Atherton did a wonderful job in narrating this book. I'll be looking forward to seeing both of them in future books.

3.5 stars, rounded to 4 for Netgalley, Goodreads and Amazon

Oh gosh… the atmosphere of the story is such a sad one. I’ve had to take multiple breaks between listening to the narration because it would put a damper on my mood. The book is very well written, and the narrator does a great job of projecting the pains and traumas of the characters. Two best friends and their families are going through a long period of downfalls… traumatic experiences and lots and lots of pain. Anna and Lily are close friends and neighbours and their turbulent past and present kept me engaged and curious about solving the mystery. As the “life spool” kept unravelling I felt sorry for Anna and Cassie and their circumstances. The male characters, Tim and Geroge, are going through their own personal turbulences and harbour their own secrets that affect their judgment at times. Overall, the story is heartwarming, thought-provoking and very, very sad…

I want to thank Jill Childs, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for accepting my request for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Reading challenge category - 2024 Flourish and Blotts NEWTs RC - Herbology - Greenhouse: Includes a character with a plant or flower related name ("Lily")

Thanks to #Netgalley for the ARC of this work.

Lily and Anna have been neighbors and best friends their entire lives. When Lily's father is murdered and Anna is the one to find his body, old secrets will be revealed that will send many lives into an upheavel.

I think that I've watched too much Law and Order: SVU lately because within the first 2-3 chapters, I figured out one of the big twists. I will say that the last few pages were a twist that I didn't expect, but they did set it up nicely earlier in the book.

It wasn't really anything new. It felt a lot like "The Woman in the Window" with a couple extra twists and secrets thrown in. 3/5 stars.

I was shocked at the the turns USA Today bestseller, Jill Childs, took me on as the end drew near in her latest psychological thriller!

She’s a truly gifted thriller writer, & I’ve loved everything I’ve read by her! I highly recommend adding her books to your TBR pile! Start with this one & you won’t be disappointed at the twists that keep coming at the end!

I loved the narration Kristin Atherton gave this psychological suspense with the perfect pace it needed!

Thank you, Jill Childs, Bookouture, Bookouture Audio, & Netgalley for my early copy & audiobook! All opinions are my own.

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!!!! Firstly, I want to give a huge thank you to Net Galley and Bookoture for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 Stars

I absolutely loved this book! I enjoyed the twists, the characters, and the writing. The narrator was great, and I loved how it kept me guessing until the literal last page. I love classic whodunnits and this book had you questioning everyone.

The twist this took was crazy and completely unexpected! I really loved it and highly recommend it to other thriller lovers. I started and finished this in one day.

"The House Across the Street" by Jill Childs is an enthralling psychological thriller that keeps you hooked from the first page to the last. Set in a picturesque neighborhood, the story centers around the mysterious murder of Lily Taylor's father and the ensuing chaos that disrupts the seemingly perfect lives of the residents on Riverside Road.

Childs masterfully weaves a tale of suspense and tension, with the protagonist finding herself entangled in a web of secrets and danger after witnessing a stranger in the house across the street. The characters are well-developed, particularly the close-knit bond between the protagonist and Lily, which adds emotional depth to the narrative. The author's skillful portrayal of a mother's fierce determination to protect her daughter amidst escalating threats is both gripping and heart-wrenching.

The novel excels in building an atmosphere of fear and paranoia, with unexpected twists that keep the reader guessing until the very end. However, some plot points feel slightly predictable, and a few characters could have been fleshed out more to enhance the story further.

Overall, "The House Across the Street" is a compelling read with a truly shocking twist that will leave you questioning the nature of trust and the lengths one will go to protect their loved ones. Fans of Sally Hepworth, The Woman in the Window, or Liane Moriarty will find this thriller to be a satisfying and addictive addition to their collection.

Thank you NetGalley and Jill Childs for the ARC read
***All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone***

this book had so many twists and turns and i loved it. everytime i thought i had something figured out, something else happened and changed my mind, i was not a fan of how it ended. but that could just be a me issue and it didn't take away from the book, this is a classic who done it and then the why.

Anna is the sole witness to her best friend Lily's father's murder - one night when all the neighbors are in a party Anna notices a light on in Lily's house and it's odd because everyone is supposed to be at the party!
She almost comes face to face with the killer, and once she starts receiving the threatening notes and someone breaks her daughter's room window causing bodily harm she is really petrified. She is afraid that some of her past will come out once the police starts investigating - right when she herself might be the main accused someone else comes forward and accepts the killing. But on deeper investigation the cops realize not all is what it seems to being shown as to them.

The end of this book left me spiraling - I was definitely not expecting that twist!!

Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture Audio and Jill Childs for the audio ARC in exchange for honest review.

This was so good! I was hooked from the start! I read it in one sitting so so good! The way this kept me guessing I wanted to know how it ended!

Childhood best friends, Anna and Lily, are shattered when Dr. Taylor, Lily's father, is found murdered. As their families cling to each other amidst the chaos, unsettling secrets bubble up, threatening to tear everything apart. When Anna's daughter whispers of a stalker and chilling notes arrive, the line between past and present blurs. Can Anna unravel the truth before it's too late? Atherton's masterful twist-laden narrative will keep you guessing until the shocking, gut-wrenching reveal. (4.5 stars)

Thank you NetGalley for the Audio ARC of The House Across the Street by Jill Childs

This audio production was well done and the narrator did a good job with the reading and transitions. The overall story was good and at times really kept me wanting to know more but I also felt it dragged a little bit.

Every childhood has that perceived unbreakable friendship and Lily and Ava have a bond that goes beyond childhood and into their adult lives despite tragedy and loss. They neighbors and best friends who’s brothers were ultimately the same until the loss of Lily’s mother shook the town and the family’s bonds.

After Ava’s brother returns home another tragedy strikes and Lily loses her father the beloved town physician. Ava has seen the killer and is now the only witness which jeopardizes herself and her 10yo daughter.

Will there be justice not just for this loss but the loss from years past. Can these friends survive another tragedy and the unearthing of family secrets?

Audio Pub Date: July 15, 2024
🌟🌟🌟

I received the audio version of this book via early access. The author was new to me and the writing was fluid and easy to follow. Narration did a great job with production and it was easy to listen to.

The story starts off with high impact events that lead to the plot swiftly unfolding. readers are pulled into the suspense of the story as you navigate multiple povs. This book provided an ample amount of twists that I didn’t expect. With all that being said, I can’t say that any parts of the story really wowed me. It was a solid book and I would recommend it to fans of the genre, however it wasn’t a stand out read for the year.

Book 72 of 2024
[Thriller]
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read this book if you grew up with friend’s parents that were your second parents, you spent more time outside than inside, & you know children are to be trusted more than adults.

A twisty domestic thriller based around two women, Anna and Lily, who grew up as neighbours and best friends, and their families.

When Anna discovers Lily’s father, Dr Taylor, murdered in his bed, the two families turn to each other for support and answers. But there are secrets and history between them and when Anna’s daughter, Cassie, tells Anna she is being watched, and Anna starts receiving threatening notes, the chilling tension really ramps up!

The twists come thick and fast and I really had no idea who the killer was, so the revelation was like a punch to the gut!

I was amazed when I realised there was just one narrator for all of the characters. Kristin Atherton did a brilliant job of differentiating between the characters, especially the three female narrators of Anna, Lily and Cassie.

4.5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Jill Childs and Bookouture, for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookcouture Audio for this ARC! It’s my first one and I am grateful for the opportunity. My opinions are honest and my own.

The House Across the Street - Jill Childs
3/5 star
 
Anna and Lily have been best friends since they were children. Their close knit families live across the street from each other on a quiet street, and have always supported each other in times of need despite some drama and misunderstandings. However, there are secrets between them that start tumbling out when a recent tragedy befalls Lily’s family.

----

This was fast paced, easy to get sucked into, and contains several twists! The ending was unexpected!

I enjoyed how the drama and secrets enfolded between AND within the two families, despite the families (specifically Anna and Lily) seeming to be close. The reader is constantly torn between whether or not to believe the characters are as close as they seem and if the characters can trust each other.

The chapters sometimes would end on a cliffhanger and the following chapter would not necessarily pick up immediately afterwards, sometimes switching to a different character’s POV. I thought this was well implemented and did not feel overdone! Made me want to keep listening!

However, I think there is an issue with one of the twists. After the revelation of the twist, I couldn’t imagine why a certain character would continue to be around another character. It’s hard to describe without spoiling so if still interested, check out my full Goodreads review.

Narration was great except when the narrator had to whisper. It was honestly too quiet to hear properly, but thankfully that didn’t happen too frequently.

Key Elements:
Multiple POV
Popcorn Thriller
Family Drama
Childhood Friends

I really enjoy a good popcorn thriller. This book fit the bill, but was also more neighborhood drama, family drama, crime suspense.

There were a couple twists throughout! I will admit the reveal of Dr. Taylor’s murderer did surprise me. The other couple twists, not so much, but still added to the story.

Without giving any spoilers: one of the “twists” didn’t sit well with me, even though I saw it coming. The reason I hated it most was because of Cassie, and her relationship with this character despite her mom Anna’s relationship with this character. That makes NO sense, and I would’ve kept Cassie far, far away.

All said, I was invested throughout, and the narrator did a great job.

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