The Girl Beyond the Gate is a gritty and compulsive thriller which keeps you on your toes and turning the pages to experience the next twist.

*4.5 Stars*

Copy kindly received via NetGalley for an honest review.

This was an interesting book. Wondering what was going to happen next with all the secrets. What would Jodie do, and what was going to happen with Lacey and Norah? Lots of gossip and mystery involved. I wasn't expecting that ending.

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to review on netgalley. Wow what a debut!

I absolutely raced through this! Addictive and gripping writing had me hooked.

Disturbing and thought provoking thriller.

Is all as it seems in this gated community? Who can be trusted and do you ever really know what goes on behind closed doors?

Complex and chilling insight into a mother and daughter relationship that raises suspicions.

Published 22nd March and I look forward to reading more from this author.

A mystery set in a gated community where many of the residents have secrets. The story was fast paced and twisted but with the exception of Toby the cat and Lacey, the young girl the main protagonist becomes obsessed, most characters were dislikeable. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

A real page turner which was beautifully written. It had many twists and turns which made for a really absorbing read. I enjoyed how the story flowed and how the plot evolved. I am looking forward to Ms Day's next offering.

Love a story that I gobble up like ice cream. So twisty! Believable characters that keep you on the edge of your seat. A really good escape from reality book.

A very good book
Will have you gripped from the first page till the last
And beware for the very big twist
Thanks NetGalley

This one never really got out of the starting gate for me. You know you are in trouble when you find yourself glancing down at that little counter in the corner of your NetGalley read telling you how many hours left until you finish the book

Jodie has moved to The Grove, a gated community where she can escape her past and make a fresh start. Although she tries to fit in while at the same time keeping a healthy distance from her neighbours, she becomes drawn to the young teenage girl Lacey, living next door with her mother Nora.

The community have rallied around terminally ill Lacey, helping support her and her mother as best they can through fundraisers and awareness campaigns to help make her life a little easier.

It’s clear however that things aren’t quite right at The Grove, they are full of secrets and some of them more sinister than others.

Unfortunately, I just didn’t really care what happened to anybody by the time I’d reached the halfway mark. As Jodie’s past was revealed I barely skipped a beat, I’d pretty much worked it out anyway, as Nora’s past was revealed, I found I cared even less, and by the time the ending arrived, aside from wanting to possibly throw my ipad against a wall screaming “seriously!!! Is that how this thing ends???” I was done.

Don’t worry, I didn’t throw my ipad, I promise. I certainly can’t afford a new one, so I gently put it down with slight frustration – lol

Look, it wasn’t a terrible read, it wasn’t even a bad read I suppose, it was just meh, and on the positive side, it was actually quite well written, I think that’s what kept me going to the end…..argh…..the ending…..okay, don’t get me started again.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this one, even if it didn’t quite live up to what I hoped.

Whoa! What a ride. It was very fast-paced. The writing style kept me hooked and I didn't find myself losing any interest. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters and how real the story felt. The author did a great job painting the setting, so it was easy for me to visualize the scene played out before me. I recommend giving this one a chance!

The Girl Beyond the Gate by Becca Day

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Embla Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Welcome to Kensington Grove, the safest place to call home....

Jodie Madison can't think of a better place for a fresh start than the exclusive, gated community of The Grove. But from the moment she passes through the wrought iron gates, she starts to suspect she's made a mistake.

Despite her vow to keep apart from the other residents, Jodie can't help but feel drawn to her unnerving neighbour Norah Williams and terminally ill daughter, Lacey. Jodie knows she should stay away, but something draws her in.

This is a twisty story with a very creepy feel, something that I thought I would love but unfortunately this was not the case. I was drawn in by the first few chapters but very quickly it began to feel like there was just something missing. An interesting debut novel that just needed a little something to bring the plot together at the end.

Rating 3/5

Oh my! With two unreliable narrators, this story will take you for a loop de loop! Secrets never stay a secret & drama is everywhere.. Even in a prestigious gated community.. 3.5 stars! great read

Atmospheric and full of characters with secrets, this psychological suspense has a few surprises. I liked the claustrophobic setting and the way the unreliable protagonist realises the reclusive location she seeks has inherent dangers for her. There is a poignant quality to the story that contrasts nicely with the intensity and suspense.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Jodie Madison is looking for privacy and a fresh start when she moves to Kensington Grove, a private, gated estate with rules, resident committees and most importantly, no one she knows. Everything is going smoothly until she meets her next door neighbors, a sickly girl named Lacey and her protective mother Norah. Soon, Lacey becomes enamored with Jodie and wants to open up to her. But the more Jodie learns, the more she begins to believe that Norah is less a long-suffering mother and more a calculating, controlling presence. But with no evidence and no one who believes her, Jodie feels powerless to help the one girl who may need it most.

This book was a bit of a wild ride - just when you think you have it all figured out, things take a turn and go in a different direction. I really enjoyed it. There's a lot going on with both Norah and Lacey and Jodie herself, which makes for a layered and complex plot that had me interested all the way until the very end. The fact that this was the author's debut novel shows how talented this writer is, as she certainly has the skills of a seasoned, veteran author!

The characters themselves are well drawn and interesting, with creative backstories that unfold slowly throughout the course of the book, creating a get atmosphere of suspense and healthy dose of suspicion. There's no telling who you can trust and who's telling the truth because everyone is deeply flawed in some way by their secrets and pasts. It's just a matter of who isn't able to overcome everything.

The ending was a stunner. I loved it and it felt perfect for the book as it was. I can't say much more, but it hit the right notes.

I highly recommend this book and look forward to more from this author in the future!

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

When I first opened this book I was immediately sucked in to the story and all the characters of Kensington Grove. I really enjoyed the authors writing style but at around 30 percent in, it just felt like the story was missing something to me. I was hoping it would pick up and not be nearly as predictable as I feared it was becoming, but unfortunately I could predict just about everything that happened in the second half of the book. The writing quality alone justified sticking with it and finishing the book.

I really liked this book, I liked the suspense, the not knowing. The whole storyline was very appealing to me and I thought the twist at the very end was good! I didn’t see a lot of things coming. I was however, disappointed with the ending. There were so many things left unanswered, and it really bothered me; I felt it could have been better

I worked out what was going on quite early on but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. That being said I don't think any of the characters were likeable, well perhaps Toby 😹, and although I liked the last big twist it felt rather rushed and a bit farfetched and all over the place. I would still say it was worth a read as I know some people will really enjoy this.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Embla Books and Becca Day for the copy of this book. All views are my own.*

I received an ARC from Embla books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. Overall, I enjoyed this book. There is definitely a sense of suspense building all throughout the novel. The characters were believable, and the little dramas within the gated community added a "Real Housewives" type of vibe. There were some twists I did not see coming, but there were also some that really did not make sense to me. In addition, the ending feel flat in my opinion. A lot of buildup for not a lot of reward. Some of the characters' actions at the end also did not seem to fit with what had previously occurred. It lost a star from me due to the ending.

Oooh- such an intriguing opening! Two murders in a gated community that gives access only to residents and a new resident: Jodie, who is running from something. It is a much sought after green space urban renewal project, moulded from a converted asylum
Whilst it is beautiful with luscious greenery and original features, there is "a strange unease in the air". I was sucked straight in! A thriller that ticks off all the essential components: atmospheric setting ✔️ beguiling central protagonists ✔️ a mysterious backstory ✔️ grizzly murders ✔️ a close-knit 'community with a perfect veneer ✔️ a rumbling undercurrent of toxicity and unease ✔️ multiple point of views and unreliable narration ✔️ twisty ending ✔️ You will not want to miss this read! #thegirlbeyondthegate #beccaday #netgalley #embla

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily.
The reader is given hints that there are secrets behind the facades of the homes within the gated community from the start of this novel. We are given lots of cues to ramp up the excitement and suspense, although I did get fed up reading about Jodie chewing her nails, fingers and lips until they bled. There are many hints and red herrings about what happened in the past for Jodie, Norah and Lacey but nothing is clear until the surprising ending. This is a cleverly-written debut novel but I didn't particularly like any of the characters so I've only given it a 3-star rating.

3.5 stars

Jodie Madison has moved to The Grove, a gated community she believes will be the fresh start she needs. But at closer look, it's not quite as perfect as it looks or rather the residents are as perfect as they look.


Jodie is drawn to her neighbor, Norah and her ill daughter, Lacey. She knows she should stay away but she can't. Then murder rocks the community and Jodie believes this is the time to get Lacey away from Norah.

Secrets are plenty in this book and everyone has a past. While you are busy spying on your neighbors, be careful, you might just find something - but will anyone find out about you?

I enjoyed how this book was set up in terms of how many days before, etc. Clever way to begin a chapter. If you have read this, you know what I mean. This one has nosey neighbors, not so perfect people (who is perfect), secrets and lies.

This was a fast read for me which had me going "Wait, What?" at the end. I enjoyed the drama and how thing unfolded. Not everything was tied up nicely or maybe I missed something - going back to my "wait, what?" moment at the end.

Either way, I enjoyed this and look forward to more books by this author.


Thank you to Embla 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.