If you ever get to missing the ladies of Wisteria Lane, this may be the book for you. Pleasant Court is a quiet, peaceful area, where people are neighborly though not necessarily friends. They certainly don't share their secrets, of which there are many. Some are hiding their secrets not only from the world, but also from themselves.
This was a quick read and a real page turner, with more juicy secrets than any prime time soap.
4 out of 5 stars

Wow, Sally Hepworth has officially secured her spot as one of my "must read" authors. This book was fantastic; I devoured it in just a couple of days. The Family Next Door was suspenseful and heartfelt, It kept me turning the pages and I couldn't read it fast enough. It reminded me very much of a Liane Moriarty book. As you read you may think you know how it will end but let me assure you, you have no idea! I absolutely loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Family Next Door is your next beach read! Fans of Liane Moriarty will love this super juicy, fun page turner. I was completely absorbed in this compelling story of the neighbors of Pleasant Court. And when Pleasant Court turns out to be not so pleasant, well, the drama ratchets up. The women are in the drivers' seats here, the men all but afterthoughts. What unfolds will make you question whether you really know your neighbors (or if you want to!)...

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR by Sally Hepworth in exchange for my honest review.***

How well do we really know our neighbors? What secrets do they hide, behind closed? The mums of Pleasant Court aren’t what they seem. Everyone knows three years ago, Essie purposely left her daughter in the park, but nobody talks about it. Then Isabelle moves in. Why would a single woman move to Pleasant Court, the mums wonder. Isabelle has a secret of her own that will change lives forever.

The third person points of view of Essie, Isabelle, Ange, Fran and Barbara fill the chapters of THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR. Essie’s story interested me most and I sometimes skimmed the Ange’s and Fran’s, because I didn’t feel a connection to the characters. Essie, Isabelle and Barbara’s sections kept me invested in the book. If Hepworth had kept the focus of those three women I would have rated THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR higher.

I wanted more of Essie’s story, when begins with her leaving baby Mia in the park then skipped to three years later in the first chapter. While mental illness and postpartum depression were important components, Hepworth glossed over what I felt was interesting and central to the story.

THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR is a good beach or blizzard read.

A wickedly engrossing memoir about a girl in France who is kept at home by her mother and father. Here is the set up that is told in the prologue: A man in his early thirties comes across a poor family with many children. The man offers to take the 6 year old and give her the best life with the best education etc. The family obliges and so the man takes the girl and when she's 28 he says it's time for her to have a baby and she does. That baby is the narrator of the book and the weirdness has only just begun. The girl, Maude is subjected to the most awful things, these tests that are supposed to grow her into the most powerful person ever. She's punished and left in the basement for tests, she's made to be homeschooled by her love-withholding mother, made to play musical instruments but when the teacher suggests she go to a special school she's pulled out. It's head shakingly awful but it's written with short chapters and makes for an easy read- as far as length hoes.
What's most interesting is the epilogue, how the events shook out in the end and how to book came to be. This poor poor traumatized, brainwashed, abused woman.
Thank you Netgalley-although this was read very late. It's already published. Highly recommend.

Sally Hepworth creates quite the neighborhood scene throughout these pages. She allows the readers to peek behind those drawn kitchen curtains in order to get an eye-full. And an eye-full is what we get here. We will meet husbands who go through the motions, challenging children, and untruths that ooze onto kitchen floors. Hepworth keeps you turning pages in order to get a glimpse of the spider's crouching position. Quite the read, folks. Quite the read.

How well do you know the people closest to you? Are they who you think they are? Is anyone?

These are the questions at the heart of Sally Hepworth’s new novel “The Family Next Door.” It is a phenomenal novel that delves into the minds of several families and specifically five complicated women. Some are mothers and daughters; others friends or neighbors. The only thing I can tell you is that nothing is as it seems.

Difficult to put down once you start!

This was my first Sally Hepworth book and it won't be my last. Thank you Netgalley and Secret Ninja Reviews for the ARC

5 Big, brilliant, beautiful stars!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Sally Hepworth, sure can write a book! The question is why have I not read anything from this author before? This book checked off all my musts for a fabulous book.... wonderful characters... fabulous relationships... perfect pacing... some fun twists and turns....

This book focused on the relationship between five very well developed and relatable females... their relationships with their significant others... their relationships with their children... their relationships with one another... I always love reading about positive female friendships.... these ladies had a few bumps along the way, but they really were truly there for one another....

The book grab me from the very beginning and never let go..... it started with Essie struggling with postpartum depression and leaving her newborn at the park.... and then just took you on a crazy twisty ride.... I really was certain we were headed in a particular direction, and then we took a big turn into something I did not see coming.... well done Miss Hepworth....

Strongly recommend! for fans of books with well develop characters.... entertaining Dramma filled plotlines... brilliant relationship Dynamics... and just plain old fun!

PS: pack some tissue for this crazy ride, you might need it!

Great Read!! I highly recommend this book! It reminded me of "The Husband's Secret" but instead of one secret, there are multiple ones. Each family on this perfect cul-de-sac has a secret and are trying hard to keep it hidden.

<b>4 entertaining, dramatic, neighborly stars to The Family Next Door!</b>🏠 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I’ve learned I can rely on Sally Hepworth for a well-written, entertainingly indulgent read. Some of my friends have mentioned that The Family Next Door has a Desperate Housewives feel, and it most definitely does. That angle makes it a little dramatic at times, and some of the things that happened were a bit of a stretch; however, there is an emotionality to Hepworth’s writing that I find exceptionally endearing. You have to keep the tissues handy.

The Family Next Door also had a Liane Moriarty Big Little Lies feel to it because it was a little twisty and kept me on my toes. Who are your neighbors? What <i>really</i> happens behind closed doors? What secrets does a family hold? Even when I thought I had this story figured out, I was wrong.

An intricate web of plot with well-developed characters, I enjoyed every minute I spent reading this indulgence!

Thank you to Sally Hepworth, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for the complimentary, most entertaining ARC.

<b>The Family Next Door will be released on March 6, 2018.</b>

An exclusive neighborhood, a safe neighborhood, a neighborhood with couples and children. Added to this perfect place came a single woman who didn't really fit it, but wanted to get to know everyone.

Who could Isabelle be, and why would she move into this neighborhood that she really didn't fit into?

Each of the five main character s tried to be friends, but each has something to hide or something they aren't happy about.

I also questioned if the husbands had something to hide as well.

Ange always has to be in control, but we don't know why.

Essie has problems being a mother.

Fran has a secret she finally reveals to her husband.

Barbara is Essie's mother and a perfect mother and grandmother.

Isabelle is the questionable one.

Lucas seems to be a lady's man.

Ben does seem sweet, but withdrawn.

Nigel seems clueless about everything even though he is brilliant.

THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR doesn't refer to one family but to all the families in the neighborhood. They all seem to have access to each other's homes and all seem to be involved in each other's lives, except for the secrets.

At the beginning it seems like a soap opera, but don't be fooled. It is marvelous and heartwarming.

The ending is a marvelous revelation of a lot of secrets and a lot of love.

ENJOY when you read Ms. Hepworth's newest gem. 4/5

This is the first Sally Hepworth novel I've read and overall I really enjoyed her style and the storyline! Initially I was confused starting the book out, but don't let that scare you away! Once I realized what was going on I got sucked in! I really enjoyed how Sally had several families who's profile we got right up front - it was interesting to "meet" all the neighbors. From there it's just a matter of time (and circumstance) until we see the layers peeled back in each family life. While the wives share many characteristics, they also are wildly different. The details and sub-stories were all well done and played out, I felt like a fly on the wall of the homes in this neighborhood!

The storyline was well-paced and I like that it was a plausible story. I especially liked the ending - I felt like it was very honest and raw and probably an accurate portrayal of a real-world ending. To really consider the situation and the lives involved to come to this end, it wasn't as clear-cut as maybe readers want it to be. And I appreciate that honesty.

This was my first read of 2018 and if it's any indication of what's to come - I am looking forward to my line up this year!

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for my Kindle and thanks to Goodreads for the ARC paperback!
I have read all 4 of her books and have copies of all of them. Every one is a good one, and this one is no exception.
"The Family Next Door" is about several "normal" families and what goes on behind closed doors. I knew what was going on with Ange's family, I thought I knew what was going on with Fran's family, but I was completely surprised with what was going on with Essie's family.
If you enjoy reading about families and relationships, you'll enjoy this book.
Looking forward to more book by Sally Hepworth who has become one of my favorite authors!

I fully expected to enjoy this book, and thankfully, I was not disappointed. Although it was categorized as a mystery, I think the actual "mystery" part was secondary to the plot. That said, I absolutely, 100%, was not expecting the outcome of "mystery" part, the twist, which was nice, because I can typically see where a story is heading very early on.
The main plot revolves are several women at critical turning points in their lives and relationships. I enjoyed the fact that while the women were facing their own tragedies, none were painted as damsels in distress or weak minded. They all had a very strong sense of intuition, which they heavily relied on, and because of that the characters were all very relatable. I found myself rooting for each character, hoping they'd get the "happy ending" I felt they deserved. I found myself staying up hours after my bedtime, trying to discover exactly why Isabelle had taken such a liking to Essie so quickly, and vice versa; why was Ange's husband always wandering off, or in possession of a secret cell phone; what decisions Nigel and Fran would make regarding their marriage.... I found each character's arc extremely engrossing.
This book was well written and so enjoyable that I finished it in several days-- despite my own busy life with three small children. I absolutely intend to recommend this, both socially and professionally. I could see a sequel to this, and would love to find out how the characters fare down the line with both the decisions they made and the decisions that were made for them. I am grateful for the opportunity to have read an advance copy, and fully intend on purchasing this book once it is officially released.

Every mother's worst fears are laid bare on the counter in this novel by Sally Hepworth. A woman leaves her baby behind at the park. Another guards the secrets of her child's paternity. Another worries that her handsome husband is straying again. And yet another woman, the newest neighbor on a quiet cul-de-sac, is keeping an eye on everyone, waiting for her chance to take back what was once hers. In Hepworth's story, nothing is as it seems, and no one is as she appears. Well-written glimpse into the secrets that surround us.

This is an uncommon tale of families who live in a neighborhood together and who all have real family secrets that they are keeping from each other, and sometimes even spouses. Essie is married to Ben and her mother Barbara lives next door. Essie has been known to forget that she has young children, but the new baby and Mia cannot be forgotten, so her mom watches over her care-taking. Ange is married to Lucas and they have two sons, Will and Ollie. All seems okay in their house, but Ange suspects that Lucas is stepping out on her again, but she isn’t sure that she wants to know the truth. Fran and Nigel seem to be a perfect couple, but one of their two children may not belong to Nigel. And, finally, there is Isabelle, a single lady who suddenly appeared in the neighborhood and who is watching everyone and trying to discover their secrets. What is her goal? Why is she there? This book is more entertaining than a soap opera and more dramatic, too! Lots of secrets that push the characters headlong into a multi-faceted surprise ending. Reading this book reminded me of reading “Peyton Place” many years ago, but this one is much better written and rated for all readers who enjoy finding out facts about new characters and cheering for the good guys to win! .

I'd like to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an E-ARC of this book. I am not married, and I am not a mother - yet I found every families' story relatable. I enjoyed this book immensely. #TheFamilyNextDoor #NetGalley

Truly loved this story and the mystery of who Isabelle was. The looks at the different families was also a great point of this story,

I’m very torn in how to rate this book. It completely reminds me of Desperate Housewives but that made it somewhat predictable.
I thought that the characters were fun and well developed. The storyline progressed at a good rate and I never had the desire to stop reading it.
All in all, I did really enjoy it and thought that it had just enough plot twists to keep me entertained.

I really enjoyed this book. Each chapter revealed more about each character. The premise of the story is that there is a child that was kidnapped and a nephew neighbor, Isabelle, a single fortyish woman shows up to a neighborhood. A nice, friendly but not too friendly neighborhood. At first glance, we have the first impressions that each of the main households is under the control. The only anomaly is simply that Essie suffered a post partum episode after the birth of her first child. Yet as the story unfolds, the reader discovers that each family has deep struggles. The book concentrates on telling the stories through the women and touches on what women seem to struggle with the most; motherhood, life balance, and impression management.

As crises occur, however, the women slowly break down barriers and discover good friends and support systems where they didn’t expect. Their original opinions of the family next door, whoever they may be, shifts.

The author paces the novel very well. She explores the subjects of marriage, motherhood, friendship, as well as infidelity, rebuilding after a crisis, or choosing not to include people after crisis. The reader doesn’t know who the abductor of the child is and, although there are arguments for each of the households highlighted, the child abduction is really just the catalyst for the houses of cards to fall and personas to slip.

I really enjoyed the book. I found it intriguing but also deeper than what I expected.