This book involves five women who live in the upscale neighborhood known as Pleasant Court, where families mingle but also cherish and protect their privacy. Three – Ange, Fran, and Essie – are married with young children. The new neighbor, Isabelle, is single and childless. Barbara is Essie’s single mom and grandmother to Essie’s little girls. All five women have their secrets and their frustrations, and we get to know them well as they take turns telling this story from their individual points of view.

Sally Hepworth brings all of it together in an ending I didn’t see coming. Throughout the story, we’re aware of each woman’s struggles with motherhood, marriage, and men who disappoint in one way or another. We know about their psychological breakdowns, their mistakes, and what wears them out by the end of the day. We watch them grapple with personal demons that require difficult decisions. And running throughout is the question, who is the anonymous, mentally disturbed narrator who has taken someone else’s baby from the hospital?

All in all, it’s an interesting look at the face we put on for others and leaves you wondering what you don’t know about that nice family down the block.

I am a longtime fan of Sally’s books and The Family Next Door does not disappoint. A tale of the families of Pleasant Court, Hepworth lets you in to the seemingly ‘pleasant’ lives of all its residents. Essie and Fran have new babies, Ange is sharing her picture perfect life with each upload to Instagram, and the husbands are all good looking and wonderful. Even Essie’s mum moved in next door. Then solitary Isabelle moves into this family friendly neighborhood and sparks the curiosity of everyone. Where’d she come from? Why Pleasant Court? As friendships made and betrayals revealed, it just goes to show, you never really know what’s going on behind the closed doors of the family next door.

I received an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

This is not what I expected. I thought for sure I knew where this was going but I missed it. The heart of this story is Essie but this novel also involves her neighbors and their lives and the plot alternates between them. I’m awful with names so it was confusing for me until I had all of the characters figured out. Each woman is going through something different but at the center of it are their relationships, especially with their husbands. This is a very compelling read that you won’t want to put down. It’s not action packed but very real glimpses behind closed doors into other people’s lives.

A beautifully written story of the inner lives of a group of neighborhood friends. Similar to Big Little lies, but with a much more relatable, down to earth plot. Highly recommend to those looking for a well-written drama, and a break from the current thriller inundation.

I thought I was reading about the lives of a group of women who lived in the same neighborhood. Then the story took a twist that I didn't see coming. Great book!

A page-turning look at the lives behind the facades of our neighbors' lives.

I tried to find something positive to say about some aspect of the book like maybe at least it portrayed a post partum depression in
comic book form, actually the whole novel was revised in my mind to the comic book as nothing about the characters or plot was
anything but far fetched.. By the end of the book I felt like I had spent the day eating truly bad junk food, Not sure if it helps
to know that the amazing writer Ashley Hay sets perfectly written stories in Melbourne. This book was a real time waster, do your self
a favor and spend a good 20 minutes reading the new Jumpha Lahiri short story in the New Yorker to remind yourself that good writing
is one of the true pleasures of life.

Excellent book by Sally Hepworth. Fans of Liane Moriarity will love this family drama, full of rich characters and deep connections.

When Isabelle Heatherington moves into Pleasant Court, her neighbors are intrigued. The area is filled with married people and children, and Isabelle doesn’t fit the bill. While Essie, Fran and Ange are all trying to figure out what brought Isabelle to their neighborhood, Isabelle seems to be on a mission of her own. Captivated by the new tenant, Essie tries to befriend her and ultimately opens the door for an unbelievable discovery.

“The Family Next Door” absolutely blew me away. Not only did I feel like I was a part of each woman’s life, but I also managed to be thoroughly shocked by the twist that Hepworth delivered. I loved that mental illness plays such a large role in the story, because I think it’s a misunderstood ailment that occurs more often than anyone is willing to admit. The way that it relates to Essie’s storyline is powerful and stunning, and it adds a depth to her story that makes everything that much more devastating.

Even though the main story revolves around Essie and Isabelle, Hepworth spared no effort in creating supporting characters with fully flushed out lives—and issues—of their own. Fran and Nigel have two daughters, but is one of those daughters embodying a secret that could tear the family apart? Ange and Lucas are both successful entrepreneurs, but is their marriage as solid as their friends think it is? I loved that both of these women owned up to the truth of what their marriage was, and they made the best choices for their particular situations.

I implore anyone who enjoys domestic fiction and mystery to read this book as soon as it is published. You will feel the characters, you will get personally involved in their lives, and you will be amazed when you learn Isabelle’s real reason for moving to Pleasant Court. Remember, though—not all is as it appears.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of The Family Next Door. In exchange I offer my unbiased review.

I thought I knew exactly what this book was about but, wow; was I taken for a ride on crazy train! Sally Hepworth really knows how to throw some wild curve balls.
Set in a small suburban Australian neighborhood, where neighbors prefer to wave hello then actually stop and chat, the arrival of single Isabelle to the family friendly block is quite a surprise. And when Isabelle starts getting friendly & personal the mommies get panicky. In this town nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors, and there is LOTS going on!!!
This book was fun & entertaining but it's not going to rock your world. Somewhat trite and cliche, this is best read with a cup of wine and the kids tucked in bed for the night.

Quite a page turner filled with so many secrets and family drama. The mystery involved really keeps you guessing. Very well written, and the women characters could be any of my friends. I will definitely be recommending this book to our library patrons. I look forward to reading more by this author. Thank you for the opportunity to read.

From the outside, Essie’s life looks idyllic: a loving husband, a beautiful house in a good neighborhood, and a nearby mother who dotes on her grandchildren. But few of Essie’s friends know her secret shame: that in a moment of maternal despair, she once walked away from her newborn, asleep in her carriage in a park. Disaster was avoided and Essie got better, but she still fears what lurks inside her, even as her daughter gets older and she has a second baby.

When a new woman named Isabelle moves in next door to Essie, she is an immediate object of curiosity in the neighborhood. Why single, when everyone else is married with children? Why renting, when everyone else owns? What mysterious job does she have? And why is she so fascinated with Essie? As the two women grow closer and Essie’s friends voice their disapproval, it starts to become clear that Isabelle’s choice of neighborhood was no accident. And that her presence threatens to bring shocking secrets to light.

5 OUTSTANDING STARS all the way!!! I loved Sally Hepworth’s The Family Next Door! This is an absolute must-read, I will be recommending this to friends and family the next time I am asked, “read anything good lately that I should read?”

The Family Next Door centers around five families who live in Melbourne, Australia on Pleasant Court, each of these families have hidden secrets inside their beautiful idyllic homes; some of these secrets are jaw dropping!

Essie is a stay-at-home-mother of two young girls. She is married to Ben who owns a successful fitness company. In the beginning of the book you learn that Essie had a difficult time after her first pregnancy and her husband Ben and her mother keep a watchful eye on her.

Barbara is Essie’s mother and moved next door to help Essie with her two children. She is the perfect doting mother and grandmother who is always taking any stresses and burdens off her daughter. I often found myself wishing she was my own mother.

Fran is the mother of two young girls who appears to have everything together and makes everything look easy without being boastful. Fran is married to Nigel and is currently on maternity leave from the law firm she works.

Ange is a successful realtor, the mother of two boys, and the wife of Lucas. She thrives on appearing like she has the idealt life and sets up photo opportunities to present her perfection on social media.

Isabelle is the newest resident on Pleasant Court and the street takes an immediate interest in the new, 40 something who is single and without children. She just doesn’t fit the mold of the street and all eyes are focused on her.

The Family Next Door gave me all the feels, I laughed, I cried, I loved. There wasn’t a single character I didn’t fall for despite their flaws and indiscretions. I often wanted to give the women in this book big hugs, an ear, or a shoulder to cry on. Sally Hepworth developed beautiful, unique, and real characters that were authentic and likable. I was engaged throughout this novel and wanted to know what was going on, I enjoyed how each chapter was told by a different female resident on the street and they each had their own dramas unfolding behind closed doors. My mind was BLOWN AWAY by the big reveal and I cannot stop thinking about it. This will not be the last read from Sally Hepworth, I really enjoyed her writing style.

***Will review on Amazon and Barnes & Nobel on March 6, 2018

You may think you know your neighbors and those around you, but this story shows that you never know what goes on behind close doors or what others are dealing about in their personal lives. A new neighbor moves in and her background and motives behind her move are a mystery to the other ladies. The main mystery starts to reveal itself in the story but all character are dealing with their own events in their lives.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the free review copy of this novel. All opinions are my own. 

This novel starts off in the middle of the action, which makes it easy to get engrossed right away. I think the idea of exploring what life is like for women that are starting their families and having the dream, is interesting. It begs the question that is everyone really satisfied or is there more going on underneath the surface? 

This novel shows the struggles that plague women as they go through different periods in their life. Each woman seems to have it all, but it just isn't so. Even though this novel is very straightforward about some of the issues that are plaguing the women, there is also a sense of mystery. This novel slowly builds, which will make you want to keep reading. As the story progressed, I thought I had the 'twist' figured out, and I was wrong. I love when I assume wrong. This means that the author did an excellent job crafting the plot. 

This book is out on March 6, and it's highly recommended. It's perfect for any woman, and I'm sure mothers may be able to relate to this novel even more deeply than I did. If your a fan of family dramas, this book is for you. 

Happy reading!

Caitlin

In a world of boasting life's accomplishments on Facebook, this is a very timely book, although I think the theme of "putting on a face for the neighbors" is a timeless theme. It's a very relatable book for anyone that doesn't feel like they can be their true self in front of people.

We interact with several different characters, each of which are hiding something from us. As the plot progresses, we slowly learn what's being hidden and the rationale for it. This book moves quick, and it never lost my interest. The characters, a group of neighborhood friends, are each flawed in a different way, which makes it interesting to watch their friendship play out.

The ending was a surprise to me, which I love!!! I have found lately that I'm able to predict outcomes but this one crept up on me and shocked me.

I received and Advance Review Copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

This was my first read by Sally Hepworth and won’t be the last! Fast paced and held my attention! I really enjoyed it.

This book is great for anyone that enjoys books told from multiple POVs, as I do. I was completely drawn into the story. The writing is beautiful and the women themselves are complicated and compelling. Definitely a must read for fans of intricately layered women's fiction.

I loved this book... It's seems like every neighbor had a secret... A juicy one!