I am a sucker for a novel with an unreliable narrator as the main character. Although the writing at times was repetitive and everything seemed to resolve and wrap up quickly and easily, this was a quick paced, easy entertaining read. I look forward to reading the next novel by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing a digital copy in return for an honest, unbiased review.

When a couple's young son starts talking about "new granny" they assume she's an imaginary friend. But where did the chocolate they found in his room come from? And what about the note in his school bag? And the unsettling conversations he has on the phone?

It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out where this plot was going but it was still a decent thriller. Kept me invested and keen to know how it would end.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had been archived back in 2020 prior to me having a chance to download and read it (I was still learning about NetGalley then). I took it out from the library about a month ago so that I could read and review it to boost my rating on NetGalley, and ensure I don’t have any outstanding reviews / books one day.

The woman outside my door was not for me. It’s outside my normal reading genre and creeped the heck out of me. I ended up having to skim read part of the book because I wanted to avoid nightmares heh, especially since I now have my own child, and imaginary friends seem inevitable with kids! But I will say it was well written, fast paced, and I didn’t guess the ending which is nice, but I didn’t really enjoy the read.

Received an e-copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

I was first very hesitant in reading this book. But once I started reading it I was sucked in!
Fast paced, lots of shook moments and I was telling all family and friends, that read, that this is a much read for them!

I absolutely loved this book! I found it hard to put down. I highly recommend reading it! You won’t be disappointed.

This Irish thriller starts off feeling very somehow... familiar, but the ending definitely pays off. While it wasn't the best book that I've ever read, it was an enjoyable, immersive read that kept me turning pages. I am a little weary of every thriller being compared to Gone Girl, which although it was one of the first breakouts in this genre, wasn't really the best. I feel like the last ten books I've read have mentioned Gone Girl. Time to mix it up! I'd probably give this one 3.5 stars if it was an option. It' s a little "more of the same" but it definitely wasn't bad, so that opinion is probably pretty subjectively based on the number of Gone-Girl-esque books that have crossed my desk recently.

Clever psychological thriller where the reader is left wondering if the narrator, who has a history episodes with mental illness, is unreliable and over-reacting, or if there is in fact reason to be paranoid about her son's imaginary friend called "New Granny".

After the death of her mother, Georgina is having a hard time coping with the loss. Her son and her father are not faring well either. Then dealing with loss evolves into dealing with a mother's worst fear. Someone is messing with her son. From creepy hang-up phone calls, to gifts and treats that mom and dad definitely did not give her son Cody, Georgina is convinced that someone is doing this on purpose.

But as her husband tries to reassure her everything is okay, and things start to maybe not be as bad as they seem, I was starting to get convinced that maybe this was a case of another unreliable narrator. I really wanted so badly for the narrator to be the one in the right, as many books I've read lately had unreliable narrators. Don't get me wrong, I love a good thriller with twists that are brought on unreliable narrator, but for some reason I was just rooting for Georgina to be right.

I won't say how the mystery is eventually revealed. I will say though that the story did build up to this great finale that lasted for a few chapters. The story up until that point had been captivating, but once it hit that breaking point where everything was happening all at once, my heart was practically pounding and I was turning pages with desperation to find out how it ended. There were twists and turns, I was misled, and the ending was satisfying. Can't go wrong with a book like that! I would give this a solid four stars out of five. Fantastic debut novel for a new author to the mystery/thriller genre. I look forward to more books!

Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mystery: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ½
Writing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ½, rounded down

Extremely captivating read! Gets you hooked right from the start. Follow Georgina as she tries to protect her son, Cody, from a lady who wants to be his new Granny. Is it all in Georgina's mind, or is this really happening? You'll never know what's behind the next corner.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of The Woman Outside my Door. If you are looking for beach read with straightforward writing, this book may be for you. It is a psychological thriller in which a little boy has an “imaginary “ granny. Face with recent trauma and loss, his family is torn by Cody’s interactions with ‘new granny’.

The author adds the usual red herrings found in psychological thrillers, infidelity, mental illness, the creepy neighbour, and family secrets. A new twist was added though, the Magdalene Laundries. The ending is unbelievable and the premise of loss did not illicit an emotional response from me. The Woman Outside My Door was an acceptable read, but it certainly did not keep me on the edge of my seat. The writing itself is uncomplicated which is perfect for a beach read or if you want a less cerebral experience . If you want a quick, easy read then this may be the book for you. Be forewarned though, no real surprises ahead.

Thank you NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada for the opportunity to review.

The Woman Outside My Door is a psychological thriller and the debut novel by Rachel Ryan.

Seven-year-old Cody has an imaginary friend but, is his friend "New Granny" actually real? When Cody starts getting real treats and getting phone calls from his imaginary friend, his mother Georgina starts to worry. Is Cody's "New Granny" a result of him trying to cope with the recent death of his grandmother? Or is it something or someone dangerous?

This is a great read and a really good debut novel. I'm looking forward to Rachel Ryan's next novel.

Thank you Netgalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Rachel Ryan.
The debut novel by Irish author Rachel Ryan is well written, quick read.
During three quarter of the book I wasn't sure if seven-year-old Cody had an imaginary friend.
Was Bren, Georgina's husband, driving her crazy.
Great twist at the end.
Rachel Ryan, I will surely look forward to your next novel, wonderful job on this one.
Recommend

I enjoyed the physiological thriller, The Woman Outside My Door, by debut Irish author Rachel Ryan. Young Cody has an imaginary friend, but when he starts having actual treats and phone calls with his so-called imaginary friend, his mother Georgina starts to worry. Her husband Bren has secrets to hide and the reader is drawn in, desperate to connect the dots.

It isn't full of twists and turns, like many thrillers, but there is definitely a major one. However, I'm undecided on how I actually feel about it! On one hand I like that it was unpredictable, but I also feel mildly disappointed at the unusualness of it. All in all though, I recommend it.

3.5/5, rounded up

4.5 stars!

Captivating, intriguing, creepy, twisty, and eerie! This story was all that and more! I tried to guess multiple times how the ending would turn out, but failed every time! - this story KEEPS YOU GUESSING right up until the very end! It was a consistent and exciting page turner and I did not loose interest at any point in the story.

When Georgina’s seven-year-old son, Cody, tells her about New Granny, the new friend he’s met in the park, Georgina is instantly suspicious. Something—call it maternal instinct—tells her he isn’t making it up!

But maybe Georgina is losing her mind. It wouldn’t be the first time, after all. And with her own mother’s recent death leaving her trying to cope with life as a busy working mom, it’s no wonder she’s feeling paranoid that Cody has invented a “New Granny” to replace his beloved grandmother.

Her husband, Bren, assures her that it’s just a game, the product of their son’s overactive imagination. But what if Cody’s imaginary friend is not so imaginary after all?

Thank you to @netgalley for providing me with this ARC. The book was released on January 5, 2021.

I enjoyed this book. Good writing and story, but it just wasn't right to include in my subscription box.

Such a creepy premise about a family whose son has a new “imaginary” friend who may or may not turn out to be not so imaginary after all.

A very engaging story that will have you wondering what to do when your intuition is telling you one thing and everyone else is telling you another. Eerie and suspenseful throughout while you question who you believe, Georgina or Bren and what it means if Georgina is indeed correct.

A few trigger warnings (parental loss, miscarriage, mental health) that should be noted.

I can't believe this is a debut. So many twists!

Stories that involves children always captivate me. And this one is sooooo realistic that I felt I was going paranoid! The suspense is so intense, I kept questioning everything and everyone.

I really really loved this one.

Many thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was such a creepy and wonderful thriller ! Right from the start I was all spooked out and I knew I would love it !!
When a mom to a young boy loses her own mother she struggles to find her new normal without her mother !!
Her son starts saying that he has spoken to new granny and things just get creepy from then on !
As his parents try to make sense of what their son is claiming to be actual facts !
Who is losing their mind ? The son or the mom ? You won’t believe the twists and turns with this one - you won’t want to put it down - so grateful to have had the opportunity to read this one thanks to netgalley and the publisher !!!

3.5 STARS rounded up

All children have imaginary friends, Georgina tells herself. It’s perfectly normal, and they all grow out of it in the end. But when her seven-year-old son, Cody, tells her about New Granny, the new friend he’s met in the park, Georgina is instantly suspicious. Something—call it maternal instinct—tells her he isn’t making it up.

But maybe Georgina is losing her mind. It wouldn’t be the first time, after all . . .

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Rachel Ryan's debut was a quick, addicting read! You know how people say "I just couldn't put this book down" and its usually a bit of a hyperbole? Well, I'm not exaggerating when I say it about THE WOMAN OUTSIDE MY DOOR. I literally finished it in one sitting!

I had several theories about who/what "New Granny" was and I'm happy to say that I was completely wrong. Ryan also included just enough juicy domestic drama to the mix to keep me glued to the page. That said, it did leave me wanting just a bit more, so I couldn't give it a full 4 stars. However it is a fantastic debut and I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future!

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my ARC. THE WOMAN OUTSIDE MY DOOR is out now!

I found this book to be absolutely captivating. It is the stuff of nightmares and I could not put it down. I can not wait to read more from this debut author!

Children and their imaginary friends. What if you had a gut feeling that the imaginary friend is all too real? Definitely a mother's worst nightmare come true.
The Woman Outside My Window is psychological suspense and is a debut novel by Rachel Ryan. The story starts off very quickly and doesn't let up at all. I made the mistake of starting it in the evening and ended staying up very late because I could not put it down. The characters are all very well fleshed out and Georgina, in particular, was a very effective narrator. I went from wondering if it was all in her head to the ida that there was really something going on. There were so many twists and turns throughout the book that I wanted to continue reading. It is a simple storyline but the author manages to keep the momentum going very well. All in all, it is definitely a solid debut. I will definitely be looking forward to reading more by Rachel Ryan.