Can somebody please tell me what I just read?! I literally jumped at the chance to read this book as I have loved James Frey’s previous novels, and I mean look at this cover! Whoever designed this cover should win an award. The storyline however, now that’s a different story…

This story takes place in the town of New Bethlehem, Connecticut. New Bethlehem is one of the nicest, richest towns in the state. Best houses, schools, restaurants, you name it. Everyone is rich and unlikable. Murders don’t happen in New Bethlehem, until they do…

To tell you about each character in this story would be a waste. However, I will give you a very brief description of what this story is about: unlikable characters (except Teddy, Grace, & Katy), infidelity (lots of it), swingers parties (okay, only one), erectile dysfunction, bad, bad men, and women prevailing.
As you can probably guess, this story wasn’t really for me.
The cover is the only thing saving this book. I also felt the ending was predictable, and in my opinion- a total flop.

This book was not my cup of tea, and not one that I would recommend unfortunately. I think maybe a younger generation might enjoy this book more. I am a bit disappointed as I was expecting more from this author.
(2.5 stars)

Many thanks to NetGalley, Author’s Equity, and the author for a DRC of this book. This book has already been released for publication.
Publication date: June 17, 2025
Genre~ Mystery & Thrillers, General Fiction (adult)

Something about this was just off for me. I kept anticipating some interesting action, but it never came. The ending could have been ‘okay’ but, by the time I got to that point in the book I just wanted it to be done.
Not something I would recommend. A lot of repetitive descriptions that I found unnecessary.

I loved My Friend Leonard and A Million Little Pieces when I read them as a teen. I picked up My Friend Leonard first because one of my best friends at the time was named Leonard, and I don't remember whether or not I expected an addiction story, but I can still remember the strong bond between James and Leonard. I don't think I knew it was a memoir back then, and did not learn about the controversy until much later. Personally, I see nothing wrong with embellishment, so long as it is advertised as such; the mistake was marketing the books as a memoir.

Controversy aside, I did not enjoy this read. It tries too hard to be White Lotus without capturing what made it such a compelling show, i.e., how it relies more on subtle facial expressions and character actions to drive the story. Frey instead thinks that the appeal comes from seeing rich people suffer and also murder. The characters are descriptions and not allowed to exist in their own lives. The inciting incident (the murder itself) does not happen until three-quarters of the way in, but Frey makes sure we stick around by announcing in the second chapter that we are to expect a murder at some point. That is lazy. This book is lazy. Sad, because I wanted it to stand out from the reactive comments about it, but in the end, the haters were right.

The pacing of the book didn't work for me and it felt off. To me the plot was like a big chill reunion or a slow paced mystery. the murder fell way to late for me.

I had hope but but like my own reunion hopes it fell flat and I was left wondering if this was the best use of my time.

Thank you yo netgalley for the arc of next to heaven in exchange for my honest review. I heard a lot of negative chatter about the author of this book saying that he uses ai in order to write his novels. I am not quite sure why an author would take this stance but I decided to read this book with an open mind and ignore all the chatter and negative reviews,
This book is about a group of extremely wealthy and poorly behaved rich people. There are certain parts of the book where the writing did seem to change in style from other parts which is always an interesting move. There is a ling description of the town of New Bethlehem and the history of this area of Connecticut and how it became a Playground for the 1%. After some discontent in their marriages for different reasons the ladies Devon and Belle decide to have a swingers party. They set up who is going to be with who and pretend that it was random. Billy (Devons husband) ends up losing it and verbally going after the guys that his wife has slept with. Violence ensues and someone ends up dead. Who did it? A lot happens in this book. Four stars.

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley.
I really wanted to give this zero stars, but there were parts of the story that interested me. It's been rumored that Frey used AI to create this and I hope it's wrong because this is the worst written book I've ever read. It could easily have been 200 pages less. If you like reading the same thing over and over again, then you will enjoy it. I hated reading the same sentence 10 times over every few pages. The characters also weren't developed and there wasn't a murder or mystery until the VERY end of the book. Don't recommend.

PSA!!
I read this WHILE I *listened* to this, and I have to preface this BECAUSE I DON'T think I would have enjoyed this AS MUCH if I physically read it. I'm also here for the vibes, and I enjoyed this 😂

I liked this because it reminds me of home and all of the wacky drama that surrounds that lifestyle (minus the murders). There is SO MUCH petty drama, but I love it when the women STICK it to the men.

This book finished with good winning and the perks losing hard; which I loved. If you love petty, rich people, and drama, you have to listen to this!

I have never read a book with as many lists! I almost stopped reading because of this. & the repetition. This book could be half in length.

It has some intriguing elements which is why I kept reading. The ending was good if you make it. But I will not be recommending this book.



Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

I saw this as a BoTM pick from an unfamiliar author so I had to check it out! I had just finished watching the White Lotus TV series and this book gave me a bit of that feel. There was a lot of background building for the first 2/3 of the book where we got to know the characters (flaws and all!), knowing somebody was going to die, but not who yet. It also had a Desperate Housewives/reality show feel. I honestly think this may have played better as a movie than reading as a book. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, which I did have a hard time with in the beginning. Overall, it was just okay. I didn't love or connect with many of the characters and the pacing was just too slow.

Thank you to Netgalley, James Frey and Authors Equity for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Next to Heaven was an entertaining train wreck for me. The premise of extremely rich couples living in New Bethlehem, CT was compelling as I lived in middle class CT bordering MA for 62 years. The characters were stereotypical with no one even likable - well with the exclusion of Teddy and Grace who were both so sweet. I do have to admit though that I kept avidly reading about these couples predicting there would be trouble in paradise. Loved the inclusion of the small town sports hero character as well as the billionaire character. I found the men much stronger in their characterizations.
I enjoyed the short chapters along with the titles for the chapters. He nailed the small town foibles.
Frey’s writing style skips around a bit too much for my personal liking. He also did several things that I found annoying. He frequently repeated things over and over… “Until he saw…Until he looked into…Until his heart skipped…Until his head hurt”. At times it was hard to determine who was talking during conversations. His strategy to make light of small town gossip was hysterical the first time he used it but then in subsequent uses grew redundant.
Many thanks to James Frey for an enjoyable pool read, Author’s Equity, and NetGalley for providing me with an archive of of this recently published book.

I loved this!

Very Desperate Housewives. But make it the East Coast elite. And racier. Much racier! The writing is quirky and repetitive but I liked those aspects. Besties. Billionaires. A golden boy. Countless unraveling marriages. And lots of hot sex...with anyone but their respective others. Secrets. Lies. Murder. And a happily ever after...depending on who you ask.

•Fast paced
•Third person POV
•Large cast of characters
•Swinger party
•Murder mystery
•Small town
•Spicy

I did a mix of ebook as well as audio and must say that Gina Gershon hit this one out of the park with her performance. The writing can be a bit jumbled with its lack of quotations and unconventional style, but her audio narration is five stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Audio, and Author's Equity for gratis copies in exchange for my honest review.

4 stars.

Thank you for the advance copy of this book, which I read and did not enjoy. The book was longwinded, slow paced and creepy.

If there is a book out there about privileged East Coasters behaving badly, I'm going to read it, even if it's written by an author with a scandalous past and present. Next To Heaven is a novel about a Connecticut enclave in which affairs are normal, money and drugs flow freely, and no one seems bothered by any of it. A swingers party brings out the best and worst of the New Bethlehem couples, culminating in a murder.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, but also found it extremely predictable. It flowed quickly, despite the over-the-top descriptions and background information. I also found it interesting that there was so much background information that the aforementioned murder took place more than two-thirds into the novel. Despite its flaws, I enjoyed the book, even if I don't agree with the author.

Next to Heaven is a wild and fun ride—beautiful settings multiple strange characters, and totally Frey. The writing is super raw and it really makes you feel things, even if you’re not exactly sure what’s happening all the time.

There were parts that felt a bit scattered or hard to follow between all the different characters but I still found myself really drawn in. It’s one of those books that you just can't put down. If you’re into unique style and a fun twisty plot, this one’s worth checking out.

Next to Heaven was unputdownable and unhinged in the best possible way. I read the book in two days and was mad when I had to put it down to handle other obligations. Taking place in a very rich ‘perfect’ town in Connecticut, couples who have it all on the outside participate in a swinger party that causes things to escalate very quickly – as someone is murdered. I liked some of the characters and hated others (as intended by the author), the pacing was good, and I was completely blown away by the ending. Thanks you NetGalley and Authors Equity for the eARC.

"Next to Heaven" follows two wealthy Connecticut wives who decide to shake up their monotonous lives by organizing a spouse-swapping party among their circle of affluent friends. What begins as bored experimentation spirals into chaos when the evening takes a deadly turn.

I requested the ARC because the premise intrigued me. Unfortunately, the book fell flat from the beginning and I couldn't force myself to finish it, particularly when there are so many more accomplished novels out this summer. I turned to Katy Waldman's scathingly excellent review in The New Yorker to understand whether I should push through, but it only cemented my decision. Waldman said it best when she wrote, "And it's true that, while reading 'Next to Heaven,' I sometimes thought I could feel individual cells in my body trying to die."

There are also rumors circulating on TikTok that Frey used AI to write parts of the book, which raises ethical questions for me, though the book's writing wasn't compelling enough to make me want to grapple with those concerns. Additionally, the constant name-dropping and prestige signaling was nauseating, even accounting for the book's premise about wealthy elites. Perhaps Frey thought this was effective "show don't tell," but it wasn't.

Thank you to Author's Equity and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Huge thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. I’m always grateful for the chance to try something new.

That said, this one just didn’t work for me. The pacing felt very slow, and I had a hard time connecting with the characters or staying invested in the story. I also struggled with how frequently the female characters were described in a way that felt more objectifying than insightful.

I really appreciate being considered for the ARC — even when a book isn’t my style, I’m always glad to have had the chance to read and reflect on it.

Included this title in the June edition of Novel Encounters, my column highlighting the month’s notable fiction for the Books section of Zoomer, Canada’s national lifestyle and culture magazine. (see column and mini-review at link)

Disappointed to say the least, I loved A Million Little Pieces it is one of my favorites so when I saw this up for grabs I grabbed it but man I wish I hadn't. But just because I didn't like it doesn't mean others will to each your own.

eview: Next To Heaven by James Frey

Next To Heaven is a bold, thought-provoking novel that explores life, loss, and the human search for meaning. James Frey’s writing is raw and unapologetic, blending poetic language with sharp insight. The story pulls you into an emotional journey that’s both intimate and universal, with characters that linger in your mind long after the final page.

Frey challenges readers to confront difficult questions about love, faith, and what it means to truly live. It’s not always an easy read — nor should it be — but it’s one that rewards those willing to sit with its uncomfortable truths.

A powerful, deeply affecting novel that will resonate with fans of literary fiction and introspective storytelling.