The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger was a suspenseful and gripping mystery thriller. As in many of Lisa Unger’s novels, there were creepy and haunting scenes that portrayed elements of the supernatural. The New Couple in 5B took place in New York City in an exclusive apartment building on Park Avenue. It was told mostly in present day but there were flashbacks to 1963 when a married couple named Willa and Paul resided in apartment 5B. I listened to the audiobook that was well narrated by Vivienne Leheny. She did a good job of distinguishing between the characters. I also read parts of the book on my kindle.

Chad and Rosie Lowan had only been married for a short time when they learned that Chad’s Uncle Ivan was dying. He was one of Chad’s only remaining relatives. Rosie had met Uncle Ivan on several occasions and liked him very much. Chad and Rosie both wanted to help with Uncle Ivan’s care as his condition worsened. Chad’s uncle lived in the notorious Windermere building on Park Avenue. The building itself was a prewar building that boasted a doorman and elevator operator. Uncle Ivan’s apartment was spectacular and quite large. Rosie and Chad could only dream of living in such a building like the Windermere. They were having a hard time making ends meet. Presently, Chad and Rosie lived in a walk up apartment building. Chad was an inspiring actor and Rosie was an author. She had written one book so far and was hoping to write another one.

Then the unexpected occurred. Uncle Ivan had recently died and had left his five million dollar apartment in the Windermere to Chad and Rosie. This was a complete surprise and shock to Rosie. She had assumed that Uncle Ivan would be leaving his apartment to his daughter, Dana. Rosie knew that Dana and Ivan had been estranged for years but she was his daughter. Chad reminded Rosie that they had been there for Ivan during his last few months. Dana had not come to see him and had not even called during his illness. Rosie was still in disbelief, though.

Rosie and Chad made arrangements to move into the apartment they had inherited in the Windermere. There were lots of stories that had circulated about the Windermere over the years. Rosie had decided to write her next true crime novel about the rumors of the strange occurrences that had taken place at the Windermere over the years. It would make it easier to do her research now that she and Chad were living there. From the minute Rosie entered the Windermere, she felt uncomfortable. Were Rosie’s uncomfortable feelings and suspicions justified? Was she just overreacting? Why were so many unexplained things happening? Was Rosie in danger?

The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger was well written and paced just right. I really enjoyed engaging with the characters that Lisa Unger had developed for this book. There was just the right amount of spookiness and mystique in this book to keep me engaged and focused on the plot. Be aware that there were several suspicious deaths, possible murders, suicides, sightings of ghosts, a miscarriage, hidden cameras and numerous secrets throughout the book. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger and highly recommend it.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This title contains plot lines related to and descriptions of the following: mental illness, gaslighting, religious abuse, suicide, death (including that of a child), pregnancy, infertility, and miscarriages.

After providing that disclaimer, it feels weird to say this book is fun, but it actually is! I flew through The New Couple in 5B and was desperate to find out what would happen next. I loved the flashbacks and dual timelines. Perfect for fans of Riley Sager and Rosemary’s Baby!

I recently had the pleasure of diving into The New Couple in 5B, a gripping thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The author's skillful storytelling and ability to create tension and suspense had me hooked from the very first page.

What I particularly enjoyed about this book was the unpredictable twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. The pacing was perfect, making it hard to put the book down once I started reading. Overall, I highly recommend The New Couple in 5B to anyone who loves a thrilling ride filled with suspense, mystery, and unexpected surprises. It's a must-read for fans of the genre!

Unfortunately this book dragged and I just could not get involved enough in the story to finish it.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

When Rosie and Chad inherit a pricey NYC apartment, they thought they hit the good luck lottery! But Windermere (the apartment building) holds more than just tenants. There are SO many secrets!

Thank you @htpbooks for the opportunity to read #TheNewCouplein5B via @netgalley. This is the perfect mix of a thriller with just a bit of the supernatural- enough to create an eerie atmosphere, but not over done. I felt protective of Rosie as she was trying to make sense of what was going on. From the all-knowing building manager who seemed to always be on duty, to the neighboring tenants to her husband- there were red flags everywhere!

This was a fantastic thriller! I liked how it was mostly set in the present time but would also occasionally go back into the past. I thought Rosie and Chad were really compelling and complicated characters. The twists & turns were also really well done.

Apartment 5B is located in a tony Park Avenue building in one of Manhattan's most desirable neighborhoods. Throughout the years, all of it occupants have had unique talents and led interesting lives, yet some have met tragically untimely, suspicious deaths on the premises. When Chad and Rosie inherit Chad's uncle's apartment, Chad is thrilled at the opportunity to leave their dilapidated walk-up digs in lower Manhattan, but Rosie has reservations.

As the couple settle in, they encounter extremely odd behavior and strange happenings. Chad takes it all in stride, but Rosie is quite uncomfortable and senses perilous undercurrents afoot. Is she being too sensitive or are they really in danger? Is Apartment 5B their dream home or their worst nightmare come true?

The New Couple in 5B is a heart-pounding tale of suspense filled with sinister characters and breathtaking twists and turns as secrets come to light and ulterior motives are revealed. In summary, it's a gripping page-turner from start to finish. Bravo, Lisa Unger!

Interesting and atmospheric story about a couple who move into a creepy apartment and the strange things that happen there. While I guessed the twist I think this was a great story with good pacing and execution.

Thank you so much to Lisa Unger and #NetGalley for my copy of this book. It seems to be a retelling of the old book, "Rosemary's Baby" and had my interest from the beginning. This story was about Rosie and Chad, a couple who is struggling to succeed in New York. Rosie is a writer and Chad is an actor, and they’ve just come into some luck. After Chad’s uncle passes away he is left with a luxury apartment in a historic building, complete with an old elevator and doorman. But there is a dark history of death surrounding the building, and Rosie wants to write about it.

Rosie starts seeing the ghosts of the building, in more ways than one. She starts to suspect that someone is listening to her and watching her every move. The new surveillance in the building does nothing to make her feel safe, and as she starts to learn of the crimes in the building’s history, she is afraid everything, and everyone, are not who they seem. But, she still wants to write about the building. (I would have probably left at this point.)

I loved the way Rosie’s past was revealed and the connections to mediums in the story. It was so hard to know who to trust, and I loved the chapters from the past and Willa’s perspective.

This story was a very slow burn and I felt an underlying chill the entire time. It felt like it could go supernatural, and I’m happy with the way it played out. The ending was so obvious and I knew where it was going from the middle of the book, but that didn’t ruin it for me. The ending just felt a bit lackluster, but the story was great. 4-stars for this eerie mystery. Some parts were definitely slow moving and seemed to drag but I am so glad I finished it. Great read.

Thanks to @htpbooks @launger and @netgalley for the advanced copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Chad, an actor, and Rosie, a writer, are both doing what they love but still waiting for their big break. When they inherit his Uncle Ivan’s five-million-dollar apartment in the Windermere building on Park Ave in NYC, they are shocked, assuming Ivan’s daughter would inherit, but they hope it signals a change in luck.

The Windermere is notorious - with accidents, violent deaths, and suspicious suicides in its past, and Rosie is writing a book about all of it. Soon after they move in, Chad gets his big break, and their hopes of starting a family are rising. After initially feeling warmly welcomed, the other residents begin to act strangely; everyone seems to know their business; an intercom monitors their conversations, and a doorman is omnipresent in a really creepy way. Then there’s the ghosts. Rosie has always been susceptible to the supernatural, something she’s tried to lock away for years. Now, they seem to be around every corner. Then people start turning up dead, and Rosie & Chad are caught in the middle. As Rosie begins questioning her memories and actions, the stakes keep increasing, and the danger grows exponentially.

There was a lot more to this book than a run-of-the-mill thriller, and many threads must be unraveled to understand what is happening and who is to blame. It gives definite Rosemary’s Baby vibes, and I loved that there is a dual timeline where you learn not only the current residents but also past tenants as the two storylines intersect to solve some of the plotlines in the book. Ultimately, this is a story of greed, betrayal, and control. There were a few characters that I wish we had the opportunity to explore more. Still, overall, this was a very fun read that brought together the murder mystery, psychological thriller, and paranormal suspense into one very entertaining book!

The other book I read while on vacation last week was the newest novel from @launger! Books set in NYC are always my favorite so I was especially excited to start this new thriller.

Lisa and Chad are newlyweds trying to make it in NYC. Chad’s elderly uncle passes away and leaves them his incredible apartment in a luxury building on Park Avenue. Even with this generous gift, the maintenance is expensive and they are the youngest residents of this fancy building. There is also the legacy of bad things occurring at the Windermere. To keep the residents safe, there’s cameras and an Alexa style intercom with the doorman that seems convenient, yet intrusive.

When one of the residents is found dead, suspicion arises again. Is someone targeting the residents? And if so, why them? There’s a small dual time line plot with the original owners of apartment 5B, which really added to the creepiness factor of this gothic story. I loved all the nosy neighbors knowing everyone’s business. It reminded me a lot of Only Murders in the Building.

Thank you Lisa Unger and @htpbooks for my gifted copy! The Couple in 5B is out now.

Rosie Lowan is an author. Her husband is an actor. They aren’t doing well financially when they get the news that they inherited a luxury apartment in the Windermere, a very exclusive building. Everyone is friendly and they are as happy as can be. Then, things change. They begin to learn about the horrific things that happened in the past at the Windermere. They wonder if they made the right decision to live there.

Strange things start to happen, and Rosie becomes more worried each day. She questions the odd events happening all around her. She’s not going to ignore this, and she’s determined to find out what’s really going on.

This one started off slowly for me as I was trying to keep all the different characters straight. There is a dual point of view between the present and 1963. It didn't take long for me to be enthralled with this book. I couldn’t put it down. It reminded me of TV shows like American Horror Story: Hotel and 666 Park Avenue.

This would have made an excellent movie. This story is under a dark cloud from page one and continues to the end. The reader never knows who to trust or what is going to happen next. It’s a gripping, edge-of-your seat novel. Just the way I like my thriller/suspense books.










FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I have read many of Lisa Unger's books and they are a lot of fun! I had a couple ideas for who was the villain in this story but still loved seeing it play out along with the general mystery of this apartment.

My Rating: 4.5

The Lowans, barely making ends meet in NYC, receive news that Chad’s late uncle has left them his luxury apartment at the historic Windermere. At first, the building and its eclectic tenants are welcoming. But then Rosie starts to suspect that there’s more than meets the eye. Why are there cameras everywhere? And why have so many gruesome crimes occurred there? When one of the neighbors turns up dead, Rosie must get to the truth before she, too, falls under its dangerous spell.

THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B is an unsettling story of a husband and wife who fall victim to Windermere’s haunting den of watchful eyes, greed, and hair-rising secrets. The Lowans, off the bat, aren't likable per se, or any character for that matter. I didn't mind Rosie as the narrator, but there was something about her stubbornness and gullibility that irked me. As for her husband, Chad, his “charm” that seemed off-putting. Nonetheless, Rosie still managed to pull me into this messy Windermere drama with its oddball tenants.

The eerieness behind Windermere’s deadly history and the whispers lurking in the halls chilled me to the bone. I mistakenly read before bedtime, which wasn't the best idea. That's the power of Unger’s writing; her words are factually impressive and hard-hitting. As the narrative unfolded in the past and present POVs, I encountered a few gasp-worthy twists that happily solidified my suspicion. Lisa masterfully mapped out the book's layout, leaving no room for uncertainty. Overall, THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B delivered a well-rounded plot and one spine-tingling journey I wasn't expecting!

Rosie and Chad inherit his uncles apartment in a building with a gruesome history. What unfolds is several layers of deaths both past and present, which are all connected in a crazy way. At the moment when I expected the story was all tied up, another twist was thrown our way. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC read of this mystery that will keep you guessing

Rosie and Chad are struggling financially when they find out Chad's late uncle has left them his apartment in the historic Windermere building in NYC. The building has a dark history but Rosie and Chad are trying to see the bright side of their new living arrangements. Things start to seem off immediately as the doorman is ever present, cameras are around every corner, and the neighbors are spreading gossip like wildfire. When death starts to follow Rosie and Chad everywhere they go, Rosie starts to wonder if their new apartment is more a curse than a stroke of good luck.

I enjoyed this one. The ending got a little more complicated than I think was necessary. My favorite part was that the building itself seemed to be a character in the book with it's history slowly revealing itself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of The New Couple in 5B.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Lisa Unger is one of the authors I met through NetGalley. She never falters and I am always reading her books in one giant gulp. Well, except that this was the last book I chose on Saturday night and at 71% my eyes were begging for a rest. But bright and early this morning( 7 a.m.) I was back at it.

The New Couple in 5B was deliciously good. When a true crime author(Rosie) and her handsome actor husband( Chad) inherit a beautiful apartment in a historic NYC building, it truly means all their dreams of a family can come true. But the other residents make Rosie unsettled and she begins to wonder if she truly wants to live at Windermere. As the story progresses we are given flashbacks of other characters that have lived in the 5B, a suffocating fear kept me on the edge of my seat.

Were there some predictable plot points? Well, I had the 1960s storyline with the dancer and her lover all figured out early on. But nothing could diminish my getting "into bed" with some of these characters until the wee hours of the morning.




Publication Date 05/03/24
Goodreads Review 24/03/24
#TheNewCouplein5B #NetGalley

The New Couple in 5B is a unique take on a story we’ve read before. An inherited apartment in NYC, with a cast of characters you aren’t sure if you can trust, and a narrator who you aren’t sure if you can rely on. But this story weaves a genius level of supernatural occult and true crime that keeps you guessing until the very last page.

I absolutely loved this one - I enjoyed how it reminded me of other books and tv shows I’ve read with a similar premise, while also bringing a fresh take to this specific thriller type. I loved the flashbacks that play out a parallel story, and the overlapping characters that make you pause and question what you can and can’t trust from the narrators POV. There were so many fun and quirky characters in the cast that you had to really piece together every detail to grasp the big picture, but the reveal at the end was still incredibly shocking and stunning.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of “The New Couple in 5B” in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, this one fell extremely flat for me. ALL of the characters were unlikable, and I found myself spacing out throughout most of the story. The plot feels predictable, and the characters lack depth, making it difficult for readers to invest in their journey. Overall, a forgettable read that falls short of its potential.

I really enjoyed this book!
It’s the 2nd Lisa Unger book I’ve read and I’m eager to read more of her work.
A little spooky/paranormal mixed with domestic suspense. I thought it was a bit predictable but still enjoyed the twists and turns along the way.
If you liked Riley Sager’s Lock Every Door, you’ll LOVE this book! I recommend it to anyone that loves a good domestic thriller with some paranormal aspects sprinkled into the mix.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this eARC!