Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this title.
Georgina's mother has recently passed when her 7 year old son Cody tells her about his new friend who gives him candy. He calls her his "new granny" which freaks Georgina out. Her husband doesn't think it's a big deal--don't all kids have an imaginary friend?
Trying to figure out what's really going on was a bit frustrating. The plot dragged in spots and the ending came out of nowhere which was somewhat unsatisfying.

The Woman Outside My Door is a really good thriller. Honestly couldn't stand the main characters which ended up being the only downside of this book. I get we're not supposed to like every character but making them at least somewhat likable is what makes the book even better.
The pacing is done really well and I wasn't expecting that ending at all. Overall I really liked the book!

A mother's worst nightmare becomes a reality for Georgina. Georgina's son Cody has what appears to be an imaginary friend. Cody slips and calls her "New Grandma" and says she is not real. But strange things begin to happen and Georgina is the only one who sees them. Is she being gaslighted by her husband or is it someone else closer. This is a really fast read, a real page turner. It will keep you guessing until the end.

I was given this book for an unbiased review.

The Woman Outside My Door by Rachel Ryan was a book that I had high expectations for, but it turned out to be just an OK read. The story is creepy and chilling, but it was a little slow. I also felt a bit let down when things were revealed and they seemed a bit unbelievable.. I look forward to see what the author writes next. Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

A woman is left to feel crazy after her son starts telling her he has a "new grandma", her mother died years ago. As things get more sinister and her son starts getting gifts, chocolates, candy, etc, her son tells her this grandma does not exist and it's a game. Things quickly become more sinister as things start happening around home, phone calls, notes, her flower pots smashed in her driveway. Her husband insists she needs to go to a psychiatrist and that's it's all in her head, but what he is really covering is his incomptence as a good husband and father. She finds an old photo of her dad with a woman she does not know, who is this person? And why does her dad all the sudden become mad at her and disappear after he signs himself out of the hospital? Things neatly tie themselves together at the end as her son is kidnapped and it's a race against time to figure out who his stalker is. It was very heart pounding in the end when she goes to save him from someone who will stop at nothing to become the perfect grandma. I really enjoyed this book and I once again thank NetGalley for such a fun, exciting read.

Georgina's mother has recently passed away. While still in the throws of her grief, Georgina realizes that her son, Cody, has a new imaginary friend that he calls "New Granny." But then Cody comes home with lollipops "New Granny" gave him. Then he says he is talking to "New Granny" on the phone. Is New Granny actually pretend.... or is she real?

This book was an excellent read. Georgina's character was believable, as was her husband and their marriage struggles, and Cody. I also loved the tie-in to Irish history. The ending was wild and terrifyingly believable.

Being a new mother myself I was especially excited for this one, as I remember having imaginary friends when I was a little girl, and I anticipate my little girl going through the same thing. The real kicker here being, what is imaginary and what is real and how do the two relate and perhaps overshadow one and other?

Georgina is concerned about her son. He has a friend, who, at first, seems possibly harmless but as the story continues to unfold you find yourself becoming worried for Cody and his blossoming friendship with New Granny. How sinister and unusual a circumstance; I love reading thrillers but I don't think I have read any other thriller or suspense novel with this same theme/plot line. With hints of similarity to the movie The Others, I fell into this tale full-force!

Rachel Ryan's writing is hauntingly beautiful and transports you on an adventure, one which, the lines between real and make believe are blended in such a believable way!

WOW! I didn't expect that! Creepy good and so many twists and turns that led to a eventful ending! I rate it a 4.4

Hard to review without giving away spoilers!
Set me on the edge of my seat a couple times. What a great psychological thriller! Can't wait until this is published.

Georgina is a happy but overly stressed mother of seven year old Cody while she is working part-time and also continuing her studies to get her art degree. Out of the blue one day Cody tells her about his new friend who he called Granny and Georgina is beside herself since Cody's grandmother had recently passed away and she thought this was odd behavior to have as an imaginary friend. As the days go on Georgina feels she is being watched and Cody's behavior worsens about his (New Granny) and she believes that someone is stalking and grooming her little boy but everyone else thinks she making mountains out of mole hills and then her own behavior starts getting out of control causing some rifts in her marriage. Could Georgina be having a mental breakdown due to losing her own beloved mother not that long ago or is there an imaginary friend that is harmless and normal for a young child to have or is there something else sinister happening that could have a devastating outcome if not uncovered before it is too late.

This was an enjoyable and fast paced domestic thriller that had some exciting moments and kept me continually guessing throughout the story. A nicely written book without any graphic violence or language and suitable for all readers.

I want to thank the publisher "Gallery Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and any thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone!

I have give this story 3 1/2 Mysterious 🌟🌟🌟🌠 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exhange for an honest review.
"The Woman Outside My Door" by Rachel Ryan was an unexpected surprise. This was the author's debut novel and I loved it.
It was a well written, original, addictive and suspenseful thriller.
I gobbled it up in just a few days.
I can't wait to read what this author writes next.

This plot unraveled at a slow pace. The family was having issues and an imaginary friend caused problems for husband and wife. The husband and wife 's marital issues were causing and they were definitely on different pages regarding their son. Trust and communication were a theme throughout. The plot was twisty as the wife woked to find out the truth. An unexpected ending wasa great finale.

This fast-paced thriller follows a mom who is concerned with her seven year old son's fascination in "New Granny" after the death of his grandmother. The reader is left to guess if the boy has an imaginary granny or if someone is stalking him. This book kept me guessing until the end. I thought a few times I had it figured out, but the twists kept catching me by surprise. Very well-written plot! This is a very enjoyable read! Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for giving me early access!

This is a quick, easy read. It’s packed with tension and kept me turning the pages. The writing is a bit repetitive, and at times, a little gimmicky. I also thought that everything ends a little too neatly. However, this is a solid debut thriller, and I look forward to reading more by Rachel Ryan in the future.

3.4 stars rounded down to 3.

The Woman Outside My Door was on a few different lists of widely anticipated new release thrillers for winter, and I was really excited to have the opportunity to review an ARC from NetGalley.

It is a debut novel, and as such, I have given it slightly more grace with regards to my rating. Rachel Ryan writes with a distinct voice, and I loved imagining the characters speaking with a lilting Irish brogue.

I am a big fan of Thrillers, and domestic suspense in particular. The Woman Outside My Door starts out strong and despite meandering a bit about 3/4 of the way through, it is an impressive first offering.

When Georgina's 7-year old son, Cody, saunters back to her with a lollypop in his mouth after running into the bushes with his friends at the playground, she questions him about where it came from. When he answers "New Granny", she has to decide if he is using his imagination to heal his heart following the death of her mother, his beloved Granny...or if something more sinister is going on.

Georgina's husband doesn't help things by being stereotypically dismissive and disregards her concerns as exhaustion and gaslights her into wondering if she' herself is suffering an emotional breakdown. Add to their already strained situation her discovery of a past infidelity with a past girlfriend, and it leaves Georgina wondering not if someone is stalking her son, but who.

I devoured this book, even though I guessed the conclusion.

I'd definitely recommend it to fans of Domestic Suspense.

This was a good suspense. I enjoyed it. I think it was a little of a slow burn. Trying to figure out what was going on and then it ramped up quite a bit. As a mother, it sure had my heart racing! I didn’t anticipate the ending. It was a pretty solid read. I think there was several scapegoats and several aspects that made it well rounded but weren’t necessarily relevant.

**FULL REVIEW**

Super slow start...definitely a slow build...but the ending makes up for it when things just click into place.

I like being surprised at characters; when and how they're introduced, the significance the author determines of them...then you get these odd ones that are thrown in just to throw you off. That is the joy of a suspense read.

The Woman Outside My Door gives just enough clues to keep you turning pages (even if you skim over the filler) until about 70% in when we finally are gripped with some information that causes that signature *gasp*.

Following a mom in Dublin, Ireland who has lost her own mother, her husband not quite on the up and up...and a child who has made a new friend. A new friend that may or may not be real...but is quite possibly dangerous.

So, is Georgina losing her mind ever so slowly? Or is someone truly trying to scare her? That's the interesting question here...and with the introduction of side characters, I was kept guessing till just about the very end.

Although, saddened by how the author chose to resolve the conflict at the end...it did make it quite tidy. I would be curious to read other stories from this author, her Irish dialect shines through her story and I can honestly say, I kind of loved that.

As for the story, I almost DNF'd because it really did take a long time to fully grip me into the story and I felt I skimmed most of the first half of the book...which shouldn't be the case, but I am thankful to have stuck it out because the ending was worth the slow build.

**3.75 New Granny, Stars**

The Woman Outside My Door by Rachel Ryan
This book grabbed me from the start and really creeped me out, I even had a bad dream about this one night after reading before bed and that's unusual for me....would I recommend this book? Yes, yes I would! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book and letting me leave my opinion.

I don't usually go in for a psychological suspense. Especially when it involves families. It's not really my thing. That being said, this book was pretty well written. It was suspenseful and kept you guessing up until the end. The only thing I didn't like (Spoiler alert!) was the introduction of the person who would be the antagonist waiting until the last four chapters of the book. But it was well written into the story, I liked and hated characters here and there. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes psychological suspense.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Holy Domestic Thriller, Bookman!!

If you love some good old-fashioned suspense of the “I’m never trusting anyone again” variety, pick this one up. Immediately.

The Plot:
Georgina’s mother, who was “Granny” to her son, is recently dead. But then...someone claiming to be “New Granny” starts stalking her son, and no one except the son sees her.

Is New Granny real, or is she a coping mechanism for a boy grieving for his grandmother? If she’s real, does Georgina know her? And is there a single solitary dang person in Georgina’s life that she can trust?

Guys, I just wanted to peek inside this book for a second, but I read it all today. I didn’t even mean to. I just opened it, and poof, I was done. It’s page-turning goodness wrapped inside a wicked-looking cover!

I’d highly recommend it for fans of Shari Lapena.