Super quick read. The ending was a little bit of a stretch for me, but that’s how this genre goes sometimes. I couldn’t put this one down. I think thriller lovers will enjoy this one!

Thank you to Gallery Books and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I really liked the premise of this one, anything with a possible creepy kid appeals to me in a weird way and then throw in a mother who is fragile and it leaves you with a whole lot of questions and head scratching moments. This one was unsettling and slightly sinister and despite some minor issues I can see how it would appeal to many.

What worked for me was the great sense of place the author created, it was atmospheric and there were a few times where I got goosebumps because of the great scene she set. Wondering if Cody really met someone in the park or if he was just using his imagination kept me on my toes but it did feel kinda draggy at times. This was definitely a slow burn and I lost my patience with the pacing a few times. It had so much potential for me at the start and then things didn’t really pick up for me until the very end and that just wasn’t quite enough for me to truly enjoy this one. It didn’t feel like a true thriller, maybe a domestic drama with some suspenseful moments? But definitely not an exciting and fast paced thriller for me. If you enjoy a well written, atmospheric light style suspense novel you’ll like this more than I did.

This was a intense psychological thriller that you won’t be able to put down! It was a quick book, mainly because you’re turning the pages as fast as you can so you  can find out what happens. Wow! What a story! 
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC of The Woman Outside My Door 
I can’t remember reading a book based in Ireland so this was intriguing to me. This book kept me guessing I went back and forth on is new Granny real or is Cody just lonely for the Grandma he lost ? His Mom is grieving the loss of her mother also so is she thinking straight ?  Is their mental illness involved?  Then you have her husband with his own secrets so this book is a page turner. I would definitely recommend.

This was a very entertaining debut novel that held my interest and had a very interesting storyline. I suspected every single character and did not expect the ending at all! I read so many books set in England so it’s fun to read something set in Ireland! I definitely recommend it! 

Thanks so much to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in advance for my review!

When Georgina’s son comes home talking about “New Granny”, Georgina reminder’s herself that many kids have imaginary friends, and New Granny may be her son’s way of dealing with the loss of his real grandmother.  However, when strange tags start happening, Georgina starts to wonder if there is something more sinister at play.  She fights to put the pieces together  before it is too late. 
Quick moving plot and great character development.  Highly recommended. 

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

at first, i went into this book not really expecting anything. adult mystery/thrillers sometimes don’t really work with me, but in here really worked. like as i read this story, i completely loved the whole mystery element, and also how Georgina and Bren not really working together really made me like this even more, since it showed that every couple had their ups and downs. but, i did find the ending to be kind of predictable, since as soon as they mentioned Anne, it was kind of a gimme.

The beginning of this book had some rough writing, but I read an arc and there are some things that may be addressed/polished prior to publication. Without going into spoilers there were a few things that began happening that made me really concerned about where the book was going. But as I progressed through the book I really wanted to know what was going to happen and it did keep me guessing!

I really liked this. It was mysterious and it was a wild ride. I was glad to have read this early. I was not expecting that ending. Love when that happens.

Nice, creepy read but I felt like there was too much going on and it felt kind of jumbled. It played out well enough though

I am super glad I read this. There’s something to be said for a creepy read! Special thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy! This gem comes out on January 5, 2021 and I highly recommend it!

Cody begins telling his Mom about his “new granny” after a day at the park. Apparently his new granny gives him toffee candy but, that can’t be right because Cody’s grandma’s are both dead. Soon, Georgina is experiencing more occasions of “hauntings” and “stalking”, who is it who wants to be her sons grandma so desperately?

I really enjoyed this! And with the days being shorter, it’s the perfect read for before bedtime..of you dare! Do yourself a favor and preorder it!

I’m working hard on getting my @netgalley under control (it’s so hard!) and so I started a new on over the weekend and finished in 2 days! The Woman Outside My Door was an amazing suspense thriller set in Dublin! 

Georgina’s 7 yr old son starts a friendship with an imaginary grandma after her mother passes away. Her husband Bren assures her that its natural after the death of a loved one, but Georgina’s maternal instincts tell her otherwise. She starts to see shadows and hear things and she is always on high alert straining her relationship with Bren. 

I don’t want to give too much away, but this book is very fast paced and has a twist I didn’t see coming. It’s also a shorter one at just 288 pages. I am very impressed by this debut novel and I can’t wait for more!

Any book set in Ireland is dear to my heart, but this one actually took place close to wear I used to live in northern county Dublin. The author describes places I could actually picture in my head! 

Thank you to @rachelryanwriter @gallerybooks and @netgalley for my advanced reader copy. This book will release on January 5! 

4.5 stars

I find it hard to believe this is the author's first published book.  The writing was fantastic.  This was suspenseful and ominous in a way that had me not trusting anyone, even the main character Georgina.  Little things that escalated into even bigger problems kept me up at night.  First because I didn't want to stop reading, and then because I was scared and had trouble sleeping.

It was a fully fleshed out story, too.  Not only is there the creepy factor of some old woman trying to connect with Georgina's young child, but her marriage is on the rocks, her dad is recently widowed, her neighbors are interesting.    And the ending- it was shocking and had my heart rate up!  I definitely want to read whatever Rachel Ryan comes up with next, as this was a total hit for me.

The Woman Outside My Door by Rachel Ryan was a delightful domestic thriller set in Dublin. Our story centers around Georgina, a young mother who leads a busy life going to school and working. She is grieving the loss of her beloved mother and is having some martial issues with her husband, Bren. In the midst of this emotional time period, Georgina’s son Cody begins speaking about his “New Granny” who has given him candy at the park. Is New Granny a real person or is she an imaginary friend created by a 7 year old boy who is grieving the loss of his grandmother in his own way?
This was a very fast paced story that I read almost in one sitting. Rachel Ryan does an excellent job at telling an entertaining story full of mystery and intrigue. I enjoyed the story despite it containing many of the usual tropes found in modern thrillers: an unreliable narrator, is the mystery real or a sign of a mental illness, and of course some red herrings thrown in just to try to confuse the reader. All in all, I found The Woman Outside My Window to be a fun light read that provides a nice escape from the daily grind.

3.5 stars

A Child with an imaginary friend...Imagine that!

But what if you have doubts, what if there is something a little off about your child's imaginary friend, what if "New Granny" is real, what if????

Seven-year-old Cody has been having conversations and receiving gifts from his "New Granny".  Is his imaginary Granny the result of his young mind attempting to cope with the recent death of his grandmother?  Or is someone really talking to Cody and giving him treats?

Georgina is worried for her son. She KNOWS that New Granny is real, even if her husband, Bren does not believe her. Bren believes their son when he says he made New Granny up.  Grieving the loss of her mother, Georgina is also reeling from Bren's confession.

But what if she is wrong? What if New Granny is really an imaginary friend?  What if????

You will have to read to find out!

This proved to be fast read which had me guessing, incorrectly, as to what was going on. My initial theory was so far off base and I do not think anyone will see the revelation coming. I thought the author did a great job showing Georgina's fear and concern for her son.  

This was an enjoyable book which shows a woman coping with grief, while balancing work, family life and studying. When her son begins talking to his imaginary friend, we see her question many things as those in her life begin to question her sanity.  There are a couple of subplots going on in this book as well, I felt many where cleverly used to throw the reader off and to cast doubt. 

Entertaining, a tense whodunit which does not disappoint.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow! What a great first novel from Rachel Ryan! 

The author does such a fine job of throwing up red herrings - you will suspect everyone and everything of being the "New Granny" Georgina's son keeps talking about and you will try to figure out who is gaslighting her, because surely it couldn't be a relapse of her earlier mental illness! Throw in a little marital infidelity and it's the perfect recipe for paranoia. 

The book raises the question of when do you believe yourself and when, especially as a mom with every instinct to protect your child, do you raise the alarm? And if there is mental illness in your past, and your husband doesn't believe you, why would the police?

The story was fast paced and the ending so tense that I had tears in my eyes (I'm not crying, YOU'RE crying!). I'm so glad I decided to read this book as my holiday treat, because it was perfect!

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery books for an advance reader's copy for review.

The Woman outside my door was a quick read that made you want to keep reading until the end. Located in a town in Ireland, a husband and wife live together with their young son. The obstacles parents face in today's world are plentiful, but when Georgina and Bren start questioning whether their son's imaginary friend is really imaginary, the situation becomes dire. 

I enjoyed this fast paced read, and the mystery wasn't far fetched, but relatable, or something you might hear of happening - as scary as it seems.  The family drama that was thrown in made the mystery even more complicated. It touched on mental illness, and the importance of friendship But I felt like we were thrown on too many different paths to find out the ending. Not in a good way. As soon as the narrator decides that it's her mental illness playing ticks on her, the story line throws a 380 and decides it's not that at all. Her husband goes half the story not believing there is something going on with their son, and then one day he just believes her and the signs she has been showing him all along. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of suspense or thrillers, or even just a solid fiction book. The ending did surprise me and it took me on a fun ride all the way until the end. The ending was wrapped in a pretty bow, and all the issues were tied up nicely and their family was starting to heal. 

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I received a complimentary eARC copy of THE WOMAN OUTSIDE MY DOOR by Rachel Ryan. Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for the chance to read and review.

THE WOMAN OUTSIDE MY door follows Georgina, a woman who has a lot going on in her life. She lost her mother recently and her marriage is on the rocks. When Georgina’s son Cody begins talking about an imaginary friend, everyone is inclined to believe it is just a stage. Learning that this new friend is an older woman he calls “New Granny”, it seems logical to relate it to the loss of his grandmother. Still, Georgina isn’t sure.

As Georgina begins to see more and more signs that her son’s “imaginary friend” isn’t as imaginary as everyone thinks, she begins to look into it more. She doesn’t think she’s just being paranoid even if that is exactly what her husband claims. When other things begin to happen from noises outside to destruction of property, Georgina is determined to protect her son above everything else.

I was in the mood for a gripping thriller and this one was exactly what I needed. I stayed up reading this way too late, eager to find out what exactly was going on. Anytime a story centers on potential danger to a child it ups the ante and I could absolutely feel that here. I also really liked the premise of this “new granny” being a potential danger, sort of a new twist on the witch in the story of Hansel & Gretel, luring a child in with candy.

There was a lot going on in this one between Georgina’s mental health concerns, her marital difficulties and worries about what is going on with her husband and her pain over the loss of her mother and the potential loss of her son. The author did a good job of gradually bringing in secrets and questions to keep the reader and the protagonist guessing.

This was a fantastic debut by Rachel Ryan and I will look forward to seeing what she brings us in the future!

Wow! These short chapters were amazing... and it only took 2.5 pages (the first chapter) to absolutely suck me in! I probably shouldn't have read this so close to going to bed, but when do I every listen to intuition? I'm the blond girl running up the stairs in a horror flick... Rachel Ryan brilliantly tells a tale about a boy and his "imaginary friend"... but is he really imagining this woman or is she real?

Anyone looking for a good, haunting tale MUST read this one. Definitely going to be hard to top this one!

Thank you for allowing me to listen and give my honest opinion!

4.5 stars.

  The Woman Outside My Door by Rachel Ryan is a suspenseful domestic mystery.

  Georgina is still mourning the death of her beloved mom when her seven year old son Cody begins talking about New Granny. Georgina’s husband Bren is certain New Granny is an imaginary friend that is helping him cope with his grief. Georgina wants to believe Bren’s explanation but she cannot shake off the feeling New Granny is real. Even after a few unexpected discoveries and unexplained phone calls, Cody insists he made up New Granny.  Is Cody lying to them? Or is there a malevolent person threatening their son?

  Georgina is stressed as she attempts to juggle work, university and home life. She is exhausted and worried about Cody and she is angry with Bren for not taking her concerns more seriously. Georgina is also struggling with getting her marriage back on track but she is finding it difficult to prioritize their relationship.  She is not exactly open to some of Bren’s suggestions but she decides to give his advice a chance. But following an absolutely stunning discovery, Georgina does not know what or who to believe. Is she misinterpreting her recent findings?

  Cody is an energetic young boy with an active imagination. He and his grandmother were close so he misses her very much.  Initially open to discussing New Granny, he eventually becomes furtive and unwilling to talk about her with Georgina or Bren.  Is Bren correct in his assumption that New Granny is nothing to be concerned about?

  The Woman Outside My Door is a fast-paced and engrossing domestic mystery. Georgina’s doubts and suspicions ring true as she tries to make sense of Cody’s new “friend”. Bren’s comments and behavior add tension to the unfolding story. With unanticipated and jaw-dropping plot twists,  Rachel Ryan brings this spectacular mystery  to an action-packed, dramatic conclusions.  A riveting debut I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend to fans of the genre.