This was an interesting read for me (at least, when it comes to how I feel about this book).

I found this to be super slow and it took me quite a while to care about what was going on. It does feel very formulaic in a sense.

I only started to care at the very end of the story when the big thing was revealed. That made me look back at the story and go "oh cool, yeah, I can see that." But it should not take a reader until the big reveal at the end to think a book is interesting. It was quite bland until that point.

And the other characters that just did not care or believe the main character, Naomi, were kind of irritating. That was too expected and cliché and just makes me think that everyone in Naomi's life is a turd and a horrible person. Even if your friend is sounding a little bizarre and acting strange, you ask them what's wrong and you believe them. You don't immediately start gaslighting and telling them they are crazy right off the bat. You're supposed to be on her side?? So basically, I have beef with the side characters.

The ending reveal was fun, just not as satisfying as it could have been given how flat and repetitive the rest of the book felt. Sorry, I'm starting to think I'm really particular about mysteries/thrillers.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

I was enthralled by this book from the start. It made me so uncomfortable, but in a good way! It was tense and twisty, with some really unlikeable characters. I really loved it.

<b>More cliquey than <i>Gossip Girl</i>...</b>

2.5 stars rounded up.

When Naomi sells her flat to Summer so she can move with her family to a house in the neighborhood, she thinks she's hit the jackpot. And beautiful Summer seems delightful. But then Summer starts copying Naomi's style, enrolls her daughter in the same school as Naomi's youngest, and slowly inserts herself into her friend group. Is her creepy behavior really just in Naomi's head, as everyone else seems to think? Or is Summer obsessed with Naomi?

This was a quick read with short chapters, and a decent, if somewhat unsurprising, thriller.

However, I got completely distracted from the ostensibly suspenseful plot by the parents' horribly childish, cliquey behavior. Everyone in that school group of (mostly mom) friends acts like they're on "Gossip Girl", but even worse. Their behavior towards one another is horrendous and changes at the drop of a hat, and they are even more interested than their bullying kids in excluding others. Naomi herself is no better, and so horribly insecure that it made me cringe. There honestly wouldn't even be much of a story here if everyone just acted like grownups and actually talked to one another instead of just about each other behind everyone else's backs. Overall it was hard to be emotionally invested in the outcome when it mostly felt like a group of teenagers fighting, which also made the book much less suspenseful than it could have been otherwise.

This was a nice palate cleanser, but nothing more than that.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"The Doll's House" is slated to be released on January 13, 2025.</i>

It's difficult to talk about this book because I don't want to give anything away. Go in blind without knowing what to expect and let Naomi and Summer reveal themselves to you. The story is haunting and mysterious and atmospheric. It's the best kind of psychological thriller with twists and turns that make you doubt everything. What is really going on? I couldn't wait to find out!

Wow ! I don’t want to be spoiler by any means but this book put me off the heels ! 👠 I haven’t read such a tense book for a long time and above all, it made me sleepless and excited … keeping me away from work which is not good 😱 I love it ! She nailed it! All fears, doubts, convictions, thoughts … at the moment you think you know everything but suddenly is plot lost and you start from the beginning to trace and doubts . Two half- sisters or just one sister who happened to be alive … but for how long? Could you imagine psycho being there and following you , copying your life style ? I can … the writer expressed our worst nightmares ! Bravo !

If you are looking for a quick paced stalker novel with a good twist in the end you will really enjoy this one. You can kinda guess the end but it has an interesting twist that you don’t really see coming. It’s pretty easy and a fast read I’m sure you will will enjoy

This book was amazing. Twisted ! I stayed up way past my bedtime binging this one. Absolute edge of my seat book. I cant wait to read more by this Author.

Well I wasn’t expecting that!! I thoroughly enjoyed this psychological thriller. It had me totally gripped from the first chapter, very well written indeed. The characters were so believable. The main women in the story worked so well together, i was constantly wondering who to believe. It was so intriguing, full of suspense with many twists and turns. This was the first book I have read by this author but I shall definitely be reading her others.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy to read in exchange for my open and honest review. As always, my reviews will also be posted on Amazon, Goodreads and Waterstones and interaction on Facebook and instagram where possible.

5 stars. OK guys. This is one of the best books I've read this year. I was hooked from page 1. Haunting, creepy, suspenseful, twisty... it had it all. So Naomi and her husband, Oliver, sell their small home to Summer and her daughter Lunda. Naomi and Oliver have 2 girls, Bella and Freya. Naomi is thrilled they are finally moving to a large house. Summer seems nice enough and since Summer's daughter, Luna, will be attending the same school as Freya, Naomi and Summer begin a friendship. However, cracks soon appear to Naomi. Summer gets her hair cut exactly like Naomi. Then she buys the same dress Naomi has. Naomi keeps getting the feeling she's being watched and she sees someone outside her house in the dark multiple times. Her friends think she's losing the plot and they don't understand why Naomi doesn't like Summer. Even Naomi's husband is beginning to question what's going on with Naomi. And this is the start of the whirlwind. You will be twisted and turned and not know who is right or wrong. I loved this book. The twists at the end were incredible. All I can say is read it !!

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC. I greatly appreciate it. I highly highly recommend this book.

Well what a fantastic thriller this was it had me gripped from start to finish I could not put it down. It had a very tense atmosphere throughout with so many twists and turns I could did not see the final twist coming it was definitely a jaw dropping ending. I loved the writing style and how well the characters were written I could really feel for the character Naomi when nobody would believe her. Overall I loved this and can’t wait to recommend it to everyone. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this great thriller.

Another twisty psychological thriller from Natasha Boydell!
This has you questioning which characters you can believe, which ones are losing touch with reality, and whether you can ever really trust those closest to you!
Gripping, claustrophobic and full of suspense!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC

What a pleasant discovery. It is my first reading from the author and won't be the last.

Boydell masterfully weaves a tale of tension, mystery, and unexpected twists. I was unable to stop myself from reading. I was caught between the palpable dread and the tantalizing clues that unfold throughout the narrative.

Thanks to NetGalley & Boldwook Books to allow me to read this, (now in my 2024 top 10), book.

After years of saving for a new home, Naomi and her husband Oliver are finally prepared to transition their daughters from their cramped house to their dream residence. Summer, the buyer of their old flat, appears to be the ideal addition to the neighborhood, but soon everything takes a dramatic turn!

The Doll's House was an exhilarating and unpredictable journey! It kept me engaged, with a well-paced plot full of unexpected twists, and I couldn’t help but empathize with Naomi as she navigates her new neighbor!

The Doll’s House:
Summer lives in Naomi’s old home. She dresses like her, looks like her, and wants to be her!
What could she be up to? Naomi also notices that Summer has a cute little doll house that looks just like her new home!
How far would Summer go to take everything from Naomi?
This twisted thriller had my heart racing non-stop!
5 stars

Naomi has the perfect picked fence live. Happily married with two kids and are about to move into her dream house. Everything could be just perfect , if there wasn't some evil showing up on her doorstep.
An intriguing read that stays with you, 5 stars.
Blurb: She lives in my old home, she looks like me, she dresses like me… And now she wants my life.
Naomi is devastated when the sale of the apartment falls through, her dreams of moving to an amazing ‘forever home’ nearby with her family are momentarily dashed.
But then a sweet-natured single mother named Summer appears, announcing her intention to buy Naomi’s old apartment. And all of a sudden, it looks like Naomi might get her new house after all.
At first, it feels like Summer’s saved her life. But as soon as the sale goes through, Summer starts turning up at Naomi’s new house. She’s enrolled her child in Naomi’s daughter’s class. She’s dressing like Naomi. She’s suddenly best friends with all her friends… And then Naomi discovers she’s got a pretty little doll’s house. One that looks just like Naomi’s new home.
Naomi wants to believe she’s just imagining things. What could Summer possibly want? And how far will she go to take everything that Naomi has?

The Doll’s House by Natasha Boydell is a hauntingly beautiful tale that weaves together family secrets, loss, and the healing power of self-discovery. Set against the backdrop of a mysterious family estate, Boydell masterfully crafts a dual timeline narrative that keeps the reader gripped from the first page to the last.

The story follows two women, separated by decades, whose lives are intricately tied to the titular doll’s house—a relic of the past that holds more than just memories within its delicate walls. Boydell's writing is atmospheric and immersive, bringing the eerie charm of the doll’s house and its surroundings to life. The characters, especially the modern-day protagonist, are relatable and deeply layered, making their emotional journeys all the more impactful.

While the pacing occasionally lagged in the middle, the twists and emotional revelations were well worth the wait. The themes of grief, resilience, and the complexities of family dynamics are handled with sensitivity and depth.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book. The Doll’s House is a must-read for fans of psychological dramas with a touch of gothic intrigue. I look forward to reading more from Natasha Boydell in the future!

Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an early copy of The Doll’s House. This was a FANTASTIC book!!! Each chapter brought me anxiety, I understood Naomi’s feelings so strongly. Such a good, good, good novel. I felt part of the group and I wanted to yell so many times, soooo many emotions I had while reading. I don’t know which was worse the kids or the adults in their behavior but it was bullying on both groups. The ending was a total Shocker! LOVED, LOVED, LOVED THIS BOOK!

Naomi is excited for her and her family to move out of their small apartment into their forever home. When the sale fall throughs, she is devastated. However, to Naomi's excitement, the apartment is soon swept up by Summer. Summer, new to town, is a single mother. She is super kind. It seems like Naomi might have a new friend on top of selling the apartment! Summer also enrols her daughter in Naomi's daughter's class, so their girls might be friends too.

However, things start going sideways, It's little things, such as Summer copying Naomi's haircut or buying the same dress as Naomi. Then, she steals all of Naomi's friends. And Summer has a doll house for her daughter that looks exactly like Naomi's home. Things keep getting stranger and stranger. But nobody believe Naomi. Everybody loves Summer, leaving Naomi looking like the crazy one.

This is a quick and twisted read. I really related with Naomi, sharing her frustrations. I felt kinda angry at times reading this, because things felt so unfair for Naomi! Natasha Boydell did an excellent job at creating characters that you can love and hate - she really developed them! The plot kept developing all the way until the very end, with twist after twist. It was really hard to put this one down, as I had to know what was going to happen.

This was my first read by Natasha Boydell. I really definitely be reading more of her books now!

Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow… The BEST read of the year so far!
An incredible and chilling story of obsession, secrets and deception.
This book has everything and it was impossible to put down such was the terrifying and addictive nature of the creepy tale.
The ENDING.. Intense, shocking and completely un-guessable.
I cannot recommend this BRILLIANT thriller enough.
5 Stars with no hesitation.

This book was truly amazing. I refused to go to sleep until I had finished it. Each chapter left me wanting more. The twists and turns were amazing! I wish there could be a part 2 of this book!