Just brilliant! I love a good suburban noir, is that even a term? But suburban noir is the best way I can describe this one. The author captures the absolute terror that ensues when a mother discovers her child has gone missing, the total blind panic that thankfully usually dissipates within a few minutes when the child is found innocently wandering in the next shop or street. This scenario was so well portrayed that I felt I was living every minute with the mother Ava.
Without regurgitating the plot, all I will say is that friendships and relationships are examined and dissected here and found to be wanting! The author writes sublimely, all her books are just wonderful. Her message is that society should be as one in looking out for each other, but sometimes, selfish motivations can cloud the judgement of the individual. If you are new to this author, I would urge you to give her books a go.

I was really looking forward to reading this as I am a huge fan of the author's previous novels. My favourite thing about the author is that she comes up with concepts that I've never read about before and explores themes that I'd never really considered until reading her books. This is why I liked this one but did not love it. The writing was absolutely fantastic, as always, but it was just a missing child book in a market that is saturated with books with similar plots. It was a very good one, and better than quite a few similar books I have read, but the fact remains that it didn't really break any new ground.

Yet another new author to me and one I intend to read much more of. When I first started this book I wasn't quite sure whether I was going to like it but the more I read the more I enjoyed it.
Everyone is invited to the housewarming party for a cosy get together but it was only twelve months ago that that the lives of all the people invited was hit by tragedy. None more than Ava who left her daughter for five minutes strapped in her pushchair downstairs. Ava was convinced she had locked the front door but when she came down the stairs the door was open and Abi was gone. Neighbours the Lovegoods are throwing a housewarming party to show their friends the results of the renovation. Ava is reluctant to go, her life has changed so much since that day and she doesn't want to spend time with people who don’t share her grief. Husband Matt persuades her to go and as her friends and neighbours chat, and the drink and gossip flows, Ava learns something new about the day she has re-lived a thousand times. A throwaway comment which could change everything that Ava had thought.
I am so glad I carried on through the start of the book because it got so much better. This heart breaking story is a great read that twists and turns to the very end. Highly recommended.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A heartbreaking tale! What a tangled web of lies! Not a thrill ride, but a slow, aching burn. What really happened to Ava and Matt’s darling daughter? Who is at fault? A series of missteps that lead to tradegedy.

This is a stunning read; a stand out Psychological thriller in a genre that is already heavily saturated. Superb writing, excellent characterisation and plot lines just adds to this sublime piece of writing.

One day I am going to run out of words as I try to convey to others just how utterly beautiful SE Lynes’ writing is. I have no words that could ever do her justice but once again I will try my best.
I open up a book by SE Lynes knowing that I am going to be lost inside the world she has created, a long time after I turn the last page and The Housewarming was no different. I can’t get Ava and Matt and their story out of my head or out of my heart.
The blurb tells you all you need to know about the story so let’s talk about all the feels and feels is something this book will give you in shed loads!
Right from the outset a rawness dripped from the page as I was immediately immersed inside the character of Ava; it wasn’t the easiest space to occupy as I found myself in the bitter truth of what “just one more minute” can mean, the devastating consequences it can have. The guilt suffocated me as I crawled around inside of her head, replaying with her, each moment of the day her daughter went missing. The panic turned to terror, to guilt, to a strange kind of “no man’s land” state of grieving as her little girl disappears never to be seen again.
It explored everything associated with the loss of a child; a process of grieving where nobody knows what to say, where your daily grief is cruelly laced with hope and guilt at the same time. I can’t for the life of me explain the gut wrenching feelings I had reading this. I felt everything that both Matt and Ava were feeling.
We meet neighbours and friends of Matt and Ava and watching friendships develop, destruct and wither as the impact of a child’s disappearance hits hard. The housewarming party, held by the Lovegoods was a masterpiece in tension and release as one throwaway comment served as the tipping point of what was about to be uncovered. There are beautiful scenes with the Lovegood’s daughter Jasmine that really touched my heart. When you read the book and the acknowledgments you will understand why this is.
I still find myself thinking about Matt and Ava, I wonder where they are now and I hope they are happy. I think they will stay with me for a very long time.
The Housewarming explores so many themes, grief, loss, isolation, responsibility and community. It scratches away at the surface and provides not just food for thought, but a whole damn feast! By the end of this you will be thinking, what if…if only…what would I do?
The writing is sharp, it’s edgy and at the same time it is beautiful and poignant. She creates a frenetic energy by placing the reader in the head of the characters but at the same time can bring you down to slow motion giving you time to explore the thoughts and the themes that emerge as you read.
But while The Housewarming is emotional, and if you are anything like me you will be ugly crying when reading this, there is a very real message of hope. In amongst the isolation of grief, the fear that you will infect others with your emotions; the guilt and the mistrust; there is also a very strong message of hope, kindness and community.
I don’t even know if I’ve reviewed this book properly, I’ve told you nothing of the story line and talked about all the emotions. I can’t help myself, I’m sorry but SE Lynes is one of the most exquisite writers I have ever read, she draws out all the feels every time and at the same time uses her writing to deliver messages that are oh so relevant. I swear her books speak to me. Anyone who knows how much I love SE Lynes books and the admiration I have for her, knows how I’ll finish this review off. Susie Lynes, you’re a genius hen!

My review will be part of the blog tour

Wow. This book is really a physiological thriller you can’t put down.
It starts with the nightmare scenario, every parents dread, a child disappears. The way each character behaves and the descriptive way you are drawn into their pain is breathtaking. However if you think this book is just raw emotion you will be surprised.
After almost a year the parents attend their neighbours housewarming party. What happens there changes everything.....

I love this Author. She knows how to make a story interesting. Twists and turns with a climatic ending that I didn't see coming. What a fantastic read!

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.

An excellent read. Captured me right from the start, right up to the climactic ending and with more twists and turns than Spaghetti Junction. Cleverly written this is every parents worst nightmare and the reason we lock our doors and check our seat belts.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this Arc.
I am a fan of S. E. Lynes so was looking forward to reading this. I actually found it very slow and hard work for quite a bit of it. But then it really got going. I absolutely had to keep reading because it was essential to find out what happened. No way did I see that outcome. A heartbreaking story that once you get through the first bit will keep you enthralled.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I have been a huge fan of the author and have read many of her books. While I found this one a bit slow in the beginning, it was still a book I enjoyed. I wanted to find out with Ava what happened to Abi. An interesting setting, twisty plot, and filled out characters, this was an enjoyable read.

It’s extremely hard for me to review this book. There is nothing wrong with it per se. The writing is good, and it’s an easy read. I just did not click with the book. It’s like going on a first date with someone who seems perfectly fine, there are no big red flags, but you’re just not that into this guy.

I the case of this book I know what’s my main problem. I can’t stand whiny people, especially women who constantly whine about their lives and talk about nothing else than their kids. I fully get it that kids are the most important thing in life to parents. I also understand that the worst thing that can happen to you is losing your child. When you don’t know what happened to your child, it will mess you up. But, this book was just too much of a whiny mother type of book.

The first part of the book was just build up, whiny description about how hard life is. It was too much. A lot of repetition and first blaming yourself, then blaming everyone else. What happened is naturally something you will not get over easily, if ever, but it was boring to read about it.

What actually happened did not really hit home either. I’m sure there are a lot of women who will feel strongly and understand the main protagonist, but I am not one of them. Can’t explain it better than that this book just wasn’t written for me. I also find that the title ‘The Housewarming’ does not really fit. Sometimes even though the date went well, you just are not meant to go any further than that. 2,5 stars.

This book was fantastic! I absolutely loved every page. It was quite different to what I thought it would be, but that only made me enjoy it more.

There was amazing character development, and the plot was extremely interesting.

It was unpredictable at times, which is something I love in a book.

I definitely recommend giving this one a go.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this E-book to review via Netgalley.

#TheHousewarming#NetGalley
A nail biting psychological thriller.
Ava only left her daughter in the pushchair for five minutes. The buckle was fastened, and she was sure it was safe. But when she came downstairs, the door was open and Abi was gone.
A year later, the Lovegoods throw a housewarming party, showing off the results of their renovation. Ava doesn’t want to go. She can’t bear to look down that end of the road, to see the place where Abi vanished, and she doesn’t want to spend time with people who don’t share her grief. Her husband Matt persuades her: he’s worried about her.
Everything is as it seems, doesn't it?
I loved Matt to the bone. This psychological thriller made me shiver. I loved her writing style.
I'll do more promotion on its release date among my fellow Authors Bloggers Followers Friends and Family.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an advance copy of this nail biting psychological thriller.