Ughhh well one thing this author is very good at is writing unlikeable characters. These were just bleh. I can deal with that but the story just didn’t work for me.

So the plot of this intrigued me the most. The narrator did a fabulous job as the characters as well. That’s one of the main things that make or break a audiobook in my opinion.
So this book took me by surprise quite a few times with the plot and where it went. Although some of the characters did irritate me quite a bit throughout the book.

I really struggle to get into this domestic thriller. The characters weren't very likable, which isn't a deal breaker, but the story has a whole just wasn't for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC.

I purchased a copy of "The Neighbors We Want" due to my fondness for books based in Portland, Oregon where I reside and take pleasure in. Although it is classified as a thriller, it is not entirely suspenseful. Instead, it is a story that unravels out of order, like pieces of a puzzle gradually coming together. Throughout the book, there is a sense of foreboding, and the conclusion delivers a pretty intense punch.

So, I recommend that you get comfortable, make your favorite cup of coffee, and grab a snack because this is a truly fascinating read!

Rather than the heart-pumping thrills that I initially expected, I was consumed in a captivating narrative that skillfully captures the eccentric charm of Portland. The lavish residential landscapes, nestled within a bustling creative hub and tech forest, provide a perfect canvas for the complex lives of the characters.

At first glance, the characters might seem like exaggerated portrayals of real individuals. However, the truth is that several Portland residents exhibit these very traits. In today's world, where social media dominates, I became so engrossed in the characters that I longed for a glimpse into their lives through their Instagram accounts, eager to witness the personas they chose to present to the world with their "curated" highlights.

Firstly, we have Sarah and Adam, a couple who were once in love but are now unhappily married, attempting to navigate the tumultuous waters of parenthood with their newborn baby, Maddie. Sarah manages the demands of her job as an elementary school teacher while managing her postpartum blues and pumping milk for their adorable daughter, Maddie. Sarah embodies the stereotype of a virtue-signaling Portlander. She outwardly aligns with progressive ideals, but she does not practice what she preaches.

Next, we have Ali, the young, insecure but outwardly “hip” and self-absorbed neighbor across the street who catches Adam's eye. As a relatively new Portland transplant, Ali is desperate to seamlessly blend into the unique and quirky cultural tapestry of Portland. Her commitment to conforming to a preconceived notion of cool, aloof, and eccentric even extends to her steadfast refusal to use umbrellas, even during heavy rain showers. In a city that celebrates individuality, Ali's earnest effort to fit a specific mold creates a facade.

Then there's Kemp, a conventionally attractive young man in his early 20s, similar to Ali. He rode the wave of the most recent tech bubble to accumulate a fortune and comes from an affluent background. Kemp comes across as someone who was obviously pampered by his mother growing up, and as an adult, he struggles with rejection and grapples with his emotions.

Lastly, there's Evie – a character who is quite overwhelming. She breaks free from the norms and follows her own path, entirely unique and eccentric - and not in a good way. Her presence injects an unexpected and captivating element into the narrative, leaving you both intrigued and perhaps grateful that you're not her friend!

"The Neighbors We Want" is a delightful exploration of marital and relationship intrigue that held my attention from beginning to end. The unexpected twists and turns had me eagerly turning the pages, even well into the early hours of the morning. If you're seeking a read that goes beyond the conventional thriller, "The Neighbors We Want" is a must-read. It offers a fresh perspective on a city and its inhabitants while weaving a tale of intrigue that will leave you yearning for a follow-up book!

I have a lot of feelings on this domestic thriller. Being that its my favorite genre, I was really excited to read this. It started off strong, with a decent plot to hook the reader, however I found it very hard to like any of the characters in this book. As the book went on, the plot just got weirder and weirder and less realistic with multiple intersecting relationships, but I suspended my disbelief to get through it and enjoy the rest of the book. The characters however never got more likable or relatable which made it hard to really connect to the story. Overall, this had the makings of a great story, but fell flat in a few areas. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy thrillers. Sometimes I get too inside my head when I read them. I think to myself, what would I do if I was in this situation? This is one of those books. The scenarios aren't too far out there, that you could see this happening. The cover of the book leads you to think this is a neighborly loving suburb. Not a thriller. Those are the best setups. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Ugh this just really wasn't the book for me. I do not need likable characters in order to be able to enjoy a book, but not only is The Neighbors We Want filled with unlikable characters, but I found the story to be slightly boring, not very believable, and confusing at points. I honestly had to keep rewinding because I was getting all of the characters and confused and who was cheating on whom and with whom. Ultimately, I found I just didn't really care and found myself waiting for the book to end.

Definitely read more reviews because lots of people really enjoyed this book and just because it wasn't the book for me, doesn't mean it won't be the book for you! I wonder if I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't listening?

The author’s writing style is very unique and it does take a bit to get into. Once you get into it, it flows easier. It’s about an exhausted stay at home dad and his exhausted new mom wife. A neighbor across the street goes missing and we don’t know who to trust

The multiple point of view storyline had me a bit confused at times-I am used to only one or two. But the quriky nuances of the Adam character were a hit with me!

**please note due to low rating I will not be leaving a public review for this book as I have not paid for it.**

Narrated by Cindy Kay ⭐⭐
I'm not a fan of this narrator. Her voice is nice but she seemed very over the top which became grating very quickly.

Story by Tim Lane ⭐⭐

Unfortunately for me I could not finish this story but it had everything to do with the narrator and not the author.
I think I will try it as a book from the kindle store.

This one was basically a case study of abnormal psychology. Each character could be diagnosed with something from the DSM-5. 😂 I saw some Obessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Bi-Polar Personality Disorder, and Sociopathy. Maybe more that I just didn't realize. The story did keep me completely interested, though. I enjoyed seeing where the story went. The ending kind of had me thinking "hmm, what?". Quite strange.

I would recommend this book, but probably on the lower side of recommend.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

I'm not quite sure what I listened to here... it wasn't bad, just kind of weird and twisty? I started getting into it more about half way through but didn't quite get drawn in enough to connect with the characters. The narrator was good though.

Just as there are good neighbors and bad neighbors, there are good books and bad books. This is firmly in the second category. I hate writing bad reviews but I will make an exception for this novel.

I found this novel to be incredibly long winded, boring, and unrealistic. The couples, none of which are even semi-likable, have relationships that overlap in the most convoluted way possible. One of the characters is a (resentful) stay-at-home father because he was caught masturbating at work. Despite knowing this, his wife is surprised that he's watching the neighbor while she undresses and puts on a show for him. But also the neighbor hates doing it?

There was no thrill in this thriller, instead I feel like I should be billing someone to listen to their long diatribe in therapy. The book was weird and uncomfortable. The biggest thrill came from ending the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

The neighbors in this quiet neighborhood are grossly intertwined and their secretive worlds are colliding. Adam is a sleep deprived new father resenting his stay-at-home dad position (he was rightly fired) and is once again up in the middle of the night with his crying baby. Standing in his front window he notices someone walking up to his neighbors house but its not the owner Ali, its her dysfunctional ex Crispin. When Ali fails to show up for work, Adam begins to suspect the worst. Adam's wife Sarah works at the local school with Crispin's bizarre mother and each character will tell you a piece of the story and how these just might not be the neighbors you want after all.

When you tout names like Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn in your description I expect a twisty psychological thriller... this is not that... this is a mess. It is said to be a thriller... it is not, mild suspense at best. I love a quirky multi pov voyeur story ala Rear Window... this is strange and multiple povs but Hitchcock has nothing to worry about. I don't mind a dark satire but this is political grandstanding, overtly sexual and unlikable boring characters. Solid pass.

I had the audio version read by Cindy Kay. I have to be honest I am having a hard time separating her performance from the material. I did not enjoy it but I can not say it was fully her fault.

The Neighbors We Want by Tim S. Lane

I want to start off by thanking the author, publishers, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my review.

Book review:

This book was weird in general but very descriptive. I did think it was well-written and enjoyable to read. I think this book is a slow burn and is worth reading. Everyone in the neighborhood has problems and is connected in a very twisted way. I’m
I'm not even sure what genre to even put this book into.

I was not too fond of the main character Sarah’s husband, Adam, he was very odd. He complained about being a stay-at-home father after being fired for watching porn at work… okay, weird flex, your wife stayed with you even though you're a dirtbag. He also made comments about how his daughter reminded him of the devil.


I think Sarah was fascinating. It was almost like she had two completely different personalities like she was wearing a mask for others to see but was being her completely honest self with Crispin. I think Sarah’s and Adam’s relationship was very intense, with many secrets and hate.

There were so many different personalities and characters in the book that it can become challenging to understand what was happening, but overall, I liked this book and would recommend reading.

This book unfortunately didn’t meet my expectations. Although it had an enjoyable plot, It isn’t exactly a thriller, but more a domestic suspense.. The characters actions most of the times were unbelievable. Adan is definitely the best character and a very well written narrator, The audiobook version is good, but sometimes hard to follow due to the constant change of point of view.

Thank you@netgalley for the ALC of The Neighbors we want. I felt this book had potential, but it fell flat for me. I liked the multiple POV, but none of the characters were likable. I didn't have any attachment to them. I also thought more side characters would help with the suspense. Although I liked the flip of the husband being the SAHP, i get frustrated at the portrayal of the working mom being a hands off parent. A lot of mothers work and are still attentive to their children.

Adam is a SAHP. He notices one night that his neighbor Crispin is lurking outside his neighbor, Ali's house at night. When Ali is missing, Adam tries to uncover what happens to her.

Whew, does this story ever keep you on your toes. Well narrated, well paced, and full of the good kind of cringey moments, it's definitely worth a listen!

This book had potential, but turned out to be quite strange throughout. Lacking suspense, a weird plot and with little character development, this was just not an enjoyable read for me. All of the characters were appalling and not relatable. This was a dual/listen, but I ended up not liking the narrator because of the storyline. Unfortunately, this is not a book that I will recommending. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an ARC and ALC of this book.

OK...so this was a very ODD read to say the least...but that being said, I did read it in one day!!
There are multiple crazy characters in this one, and one seems to be worse than the next...and no, I am not kidding.
Adam starts the group. He is NOW a stay at home Dad, after leaving his job under undesirable (to say the least) circumstances. He once had a pretty good job, making pretty good money...but no more.
He is married to Sarah, who is a teacher. Her principle (Kemp) is not a likable character at all...and you will see that throughout the book.
But wait, it gets better. She has a son! (Kemp Jr...lets say)...And in her eyes, he is perfection to the T. However, in my eyes, he is a total player and a creep....but again, that's my opinion. He is very good looking though...
Then we have Ali, a neighbor, who is also beautiful...but apparently, she likes to toy with guys minds...
We go thru multiple plots throughout the book, and I didn't really care for any of them, or any of the characters to tell the truth...but I will say that the author keeps you reading.
And being as the author is male, I will chalk up all the erotic scenes to a male fantasy scenario, as being a female, I do NOT see things in the same way... again, my opinion.
In any case, it was intriguing, and I did want to see what actually happens in the long run...so kudos to him for that!

Far fetched, yes. Crazy characters, yes. Plot twists, not really.

Overall though, 4 stars for me, so it was pretty good, even with all the crazy stuff going on.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for the ARC of the audiobook which I just received Monday, but was actually released on September 5th. So if this is up your alley, you can look for it now!