I hate to say it, but I was kind of disappointed with this book. I liked it but also didn’t…? I don’t know. There was a lot that was missing for me.

A murder happens within the first few chapters, and then there’s almost nothing related to it for the next three quarters of the book. It went from potential thriller to a ton of drama from a bunch of rich neighbours that I didn’t like.

The reveals near the end were pretty cool concepts, but the execution was lacking. And by that point, I just really wanted to be finished with the book and I didn’t really care what happened.

I also felt that the writing was…strange. I liked it overall, but I felt that the author went off on random side plots with no warning and it made for a bit of a confusing reading experience. But that could just be me.

I would still recommend this if you’re in the mood for a light thriller/drama, but I wouldn’t jump up and down over it.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy!

If the author's mission was to write a book where not one single character was likeable, she has succeeded. I could not come close to finding any redeeming qualities for any of them. Alexis, the main character was what I consider to be some kind of a reverse snob. I finished the book, but would not recommend it to anyone. Thanks NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this early.

Alexis is a new mom who decides to move into a fixer-upper in a nice neighborhood. Shortly, after moving in one of her neighbors husband gets murdered. Quickly this widow, Blair, befriends Alexis. Soon Alexis realizes everyone is suspect…

I did not like how Alexis’ husband treated her and she still kept swearing they were a team…. Like, don’t call me old lady. 🫰🏽🫰🏽🫰🏽Don’t be rude after I just had your child. The author kept hinted she wasn’t rich and white and she didn’t look like everyone else… fine. But if someone is looking at me sideways because of my skin, I don’t need them near me or my house. So basically I didn’t like the main character, she had no backbone… and I’m not about that life. The rest of the story was pretty wild. Just when you think you can trust someone… they fold.

thrillers/mysteries are some of my favorite books. they’re not always done right for various reasons like premise or ending or even the journey to the end but this book has be on the edge of my seat turning the page in search of answers. really enjoyed this one!

WHAT THE NEIGHBOR’S SAW is a domestic suspense novel about a couple that buys a rundown house in an affluent DC neighborhood, the death of one of the residents and the drama surrounding that. This debut novel was full of unlikeable characters and nosy neighbors. Everyone was unreliable and I didn’t figure out the twists before they happened or anything. I found it to be a slow burn in the middle and just thought it was fine overall.

If you like books that involve neighborhood drama, you will love this book. You get to meet a cast of characters that live on a swanky street together. There is a mysterious death. There are lots of secrets. People feel like they don’t fit in. Everyone seems guilty. And then the plot twists occur. I would have given the book 5 stars, but there were parts about the ending that just didn’t fit for me. Otherwise, a great, enjoyable read that will keep you guessing!

Thank you so much to Net Galley and Minotaur books for the gifted e-copy of this book!

What The Neighbors Saw by Melissa Adelman

My rating:
4/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Alexis and her husband Sam recently purchased a fixer upper in a small affluent neighborhood. What they did not expect, was for a man to be murdered in said neighborhood, or the other things that start to happen after this event.

This book was quite a ride. I really enjoyed it! I did think at times the pace was a little slow, but I was so invested around halfway through, I ended up reading it in 24 hours.

Told in both Alexis and Blair, a neighbor Alexis meets when they were looking at the house initially, you get to see the story told from two totally different perspectives. I actually enjoyed Blair’s character & loved her parts of the book!

I did figure out a few things that were going on but I did not expect the huge twist in this book 👀 I don’t think anyone could guess that one 😅

This was Melissa Adelman’s debut novel. I would definitely give it a read if you liked the show Desperate Housewives. At times this book reminded me of The Hunting Wives by May Cobb and Just The Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica.

Thanks netgalley for the ARC! You can read this one now!

What the Neighbors Saw, by Melissa Adelman, is a slow-burn domestic thriller rife with unlikable, badly behaved characters and dark secrets, all set behind a prestigious facade. The story begins by introducing us to Sam and Alexis who have just toured, and then impulse-purchased a million dollar fixer-upper home in a highly sought after neighborhood. Alexis is pregnant with her second child and things seem to be ideal for the couple, but behind closed doors, things are far from perfect.

As an escape from her domestic trouble and financial worries over their money-pit home, Alexis watches the neighbors who seem to have it all. Blair, her husband and teenage kids seem to have the safe, secure, serene life that Alexis craves, but when Blair’s husband is found dead on a neighborhood trail, that illusion vanishes. In the aftermath, Alexis and Blair form a close friendship and resolve to find answers where the police have come up empty. But while Alexis is up through the night with her newborn, she sees shocking, disturbing things out her bedroom window; things that obliterate her notion of the perfect neighborhood.

What the Neighbors Saw is a neighborhood suspense story filled with self-serving, gossipy, rather detestable characters. The unreliable narrators keep you guessing, and though its a slow burn, it ends with a twisty, shocking conclusion. I could have done without some of the coarse, crude descriptions, but I guess it suited the tone of the story. Though not my favorite, this darkly dramatic thriller will appeal to many.

The cover was good, but once I got past that, the book fell flat for me. Every single character was unlikeable, and not even in a fun love to hate them way. The situations didn't come across as realistic, and nothing really happened until the very end. I expected more of a reeling in but was kept at arms length the whole time until we got dropped in the deep end, which I unfortunately anticipated about halfway through. I think there was promise that just wasn't realized, and am disappointed.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, the author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I should have DNFed this, but I didn’t. Admittedly, it was just chaotic enough that I wanted to at least find out what the big reveal was. It was ok but nothing to write home about.

I get that maybe the characters were all supposed to be unlikeable, but omg. Blair was a judgmental Karen, Sam was a toxic asshole, Alexis was always playing the victim, and the rest of the neighbors we met all had issues. And that would be ok, if there was something I was rooting for. But I literally could not care less about these people’s lives. Idk if Alexis was supposed to be at least a little sympathetic, but she was not. I didn’t agree with how Sam treated her, but she would wax on and on about her problems and her difficult childhood, yet she had done nothing to help herself or communicate that to anyone. It seemed like it was easier for her to blame her mom for all her problems rather than working on herself.

I feel like the meat of this story could have been really juicy, but it was weighed down by bad characters and boring details.

What the Neighbors saw was a crazy story about a posh and desirable neighborhood, a murder a new mother . There’s definitely some desperate housewives vibes in this story. A seemly idyllic neighborhood for new parents becomes a nightmare with a money pit house and a murder not long after they arrive. Most of the neighbors have secrets and some are deadly. I enjoyed this book some of the characters are liable and some not so much. A fantastic summer read!

Well, these are the neighbors from hell. Seriously, they’re all messed up. While I would never want to live here, it made for a great domestic suspense thriller.

Our MCs have overextended themselves financially to buy into an amazing house by buying a property that needs tons of work. Alexis and Sam think they now live in the perfect DC neighborhood. But soon after moving in, someone is murdered and it soon becomes apparent that several of the neighbors have dark secrets (extramarital affairs, histories of sexual abuse and even more disturbing family secrets). Alexis is recovering from her second baby, attempting to restore her house & return to work but her marriage seems to be on the rocks. The other wives befriending her in the neighborhood appear to have ulterior motives.

This was a fast-paced story. And I didn’t piece together what was really happening (though I feel I should have).

Trigger warnings: infidelity, sexual coercion, sexual abuse, murder, manipulative behaviors

"What the Neighbors Saw" by Melissa Adelman is a juicy, suspenseful, and engaging novel about a young couple, buying a home they cannot afford in an upscale neighborhood, where unlikely events and many turns in the plots occur. Great characters and interesting twists, fast paced and current. Thank you to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

This story was interesting but it didn’t draw me in as much as i would have liked.

Creepy suburbs filled with wealthy people who literally get away with any and everything because of their wealth.

I did like the main character Alexis and felt bad for her a lot of the time with the way her relationship with her husband progressed, especially after having just had a baby.

There were some really good parts that left me creeped out and I loved that but the whole plot line that forms at the end, with Teddy and Blair was bizarre and I definitely didn’t see it coming.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

This debut novel by Melissa Adelman knocked it out of the park!!!! Domestic thrillers will always be one of my favorite genres and this book had all the twists I needed to keep me intrigued! I am giving this book 5 stars and highly recommend you check it out!

A gritty, intense, fast-paced, riveting, artful melding of stunning psychological thrills and nail-biting suspense. Edgy, atmospheric and full of dark secrets, shocking plot twists and pulse-pounding, palpable tension. A MUST for fans who thrive on superbly-written, unputdownable thrillers!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked how this story took turns I didn’t see coming! It’s about a young couple moving into a new house and neighborhood where all the neighbors know each other and have plenty of money. After a murder occurs everyone starts watching their neighbors more closely and question each others motives. It kept me entertained and I would definitely recommend to anyone who like psychological thrillers and unreliable narrators.

What the Neighbors Saw is Melissa Adelman’s debut novel. . A suburbia themed domestic thriller, say less. It’s narrated in alternating POV’s, say less. Neighborhood drama, secrets and lies, again, say less. I was here for it ALL.

It was quite an entertaining listen. The narrators kept the story moving along. I will say for being this author’s debut novel, I did really enjoy it. It was fast pace once you got passed the set up which was a tad too long during such a very SLOW start. But overall I did like it the end. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author in the future.

AVAILABLE NOW.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Minotaur Books and Netgalley for this ALC and e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion. Both narrators delivered an exception listening experience. Their performances were great. Thank you again.

Loved this domestic drama! With fascinating characters and twists, this book kept me engaged to the very end. Very much Desperate Housewives meets Couple Next Door. This was an enjoyable read about neighborhood drama and secrets.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Alexis and her husband find a fixer upper in DC among an exclusive group of people. She is pregnant with their 2nd child. All is going well, until one of the neighborhood men is found dead on the river. The police are baffled as to what happened and no one is coming forward.

As things unfold, secrets are starting to come to the surface. Even Alexis is holding on to her own secrets.

Will the group in the neighborhood be able to salvage their friendships?

I enjoyed this one but it was not a favorite.