Katie Sise has been an author I automatically pre-order now. Her domestic dramas are right up my alley. I didn't get as into this one as some of the others but I got the audio so I'm going to try again later.

You Must Be New Here has a gripping premise that pulled me in right away, a glamorous coastal town, a tight-knit clique, and a mysterious disappearance. I was ready for secrets, scandals, and some solid character drama. And while the plot had its moments of suspense, the story didn’t quite deliver the emotional punch I was hoping for.

The pacing is solid, and the setup has Big Little Lies vibes, but I struggled to connect with the characters. They felt a little underdeveloped, and at times it was hard to keep track of who was who. I wanted more depth, more tension, and sharper distinctions between the women at the heart of the story.

That said, this is a quick, popcorn-style thriller that doesn't ask too much of the reader. If you're in the mood for something light and twisty that you can breeze through in a weekend, it might hit the spot. Just temper expectations if you're looking for character-driven suspense.

This was a very good read it’s has plenty of twists and throughout that make you not want to put the book down.
The story itself was suspenseful and enjoyable. The characters were great and the style of writing was perfect.
Katie Sise masterfully creates an atmosphere of tension and unease, making you question everything and everyone. If you're a fan of twisty, edge-of-your-seat thrillers, this book is a must-read.

Katie Sise returns with another tightly-wound psychological suspense novel in You Must Be New Here, a chilling and sharply observant tale about friendship, trust, and the dark secrets lurking beneath suburban calm. Set in the seemingly idyllic community of Sycamore Glen, this story pulls readers into a web of tension that only grows tighter with each page.

At the heart of the novel is Sloane Thompson—a devoted mother navigating the familiar routines of school drop-offs, co-parenting with her ex, and trying to forge a meaningful connection in a town that has never quite felt like home. When Harper and her husband Ben move in next door, it feels like a long-overdue turning point. Harper is everything Sloane’s been missing in a friend: vibrant, curious, and seemingly open. Their friendship blossoms quickly, almost too quickly—and that intensity becomes one of the novel’s early unsettling beats.

The disappearance of Daisy’s usually reliable babysitter, Margaret, is where the story pivots from quiet suburban drama to chilling suspense. What begins as a routine missed appointment slowly morphs into something far more sinister. As the hours stretch into days, secrets begin to surface—some involving Margaret, and others that hint at deeper rot within the community itself. Sise’s pacing is masterful, letting the mystery unravel with just the right amount of dread, suspicion, and emotional nuance.

What sets You Must Be New Here apart from standard thrillers is its psychological depth. Sise doesn’t just explore what happens when someone disappears—she also explores the fragile alliances between women, the desire for belonging, and the deceptive masks people wear. The novel touches on themes of loneliness, manipulation, and the way trauma can be hidden in plain sight.

Final Thoughts:
Katie Sise delivers another page-turner that is as emotionally resonant as it is gripping. You Must Be New Here is ideal for fans of domestic suspense who enjoy twisty narratives grounded in real, complicated relationships. It’s a haunting reminder that behind every friendly smile might lie something far more dangerous.

📚: You Must Be New Here by Katie Sise
⭐️: 3.5/5 (rounding up on #goodreads)

Ben and Harper Wilson are new to the Sycamore Glen neighborhood. Sloane, their next door neighbor, instantly connects with them, thrilled to finally have friends — real friends — in her neighborhood. But when a girl close to the community goes missing after the Wilson’s moved in only a week before, secrets come unraveled showing that no one is quite as they seem.

This is a popcorn thriller done incredibly well. Tons of twists (my jaw quite literally dropped at 2 points), red herrings, and unreliable narrators had me guessing whodunnit until near the end.

Big thanks to Little A via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. You Must Be New Here is out tomorrow, 7/8!

In You Must Be New Here, Katie Sise delivers a sharply written domestic suspense novel steeped in secrets, lies, and the unsettling truths hidden behind perfectly curated lives. Set in a seemingly quiet neighborhood thrown into chaos after one of its own goes missing, the story unravels the dark undercurrents that run beneath the surface of suburban normalcy.

Sise excels at crafting layered characters, each harboring secrets that gradually come to light as the tension escalates. The narrative unfolds with a strong sense of intrigue, keeping readers guessing as shifting perspectives and buried motives slowly converge. Every chapter offers a new revelation, adding to the suspense and deepening the mystery at the heart of the story.

What makes this novel particularly compelling is its ability to keep the reader constantly questioning who to trust. With its unique twists and a cast of suspicious, multi-dimensional characters, You Must Be New Here thrives on psychological tension and the unraveling of a community built on fragile facades.

Katie Sise delivers a smart and engaging thriller that keeps you on edge from beginning to end. It’s a must-read for fans of domestic dramas where appearances deceive and no one is quite who they seem.

This was a quick read and very enjoyable. With new neighbors, new friendships are bound to happen for Sloane, who longs for company. As a busy mom with a sick child, life has been difficult for Sloane. After the disappearance of her daughter's babysitter, many secrets are revealed. As this story is told from different points of view, one emerges in each character's mindset. As the twists in each chapter evolve, bringing the story to a climactic ending. I was expecting it to be a little fast-paced, but in the end it was an enjoyable novel. It just wasn't a page-turner. Thanks to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC.

I read Open House a few years ago by this author and didn't enjoy it, but I wanted to give her another chance. This one fell flat for me as well. It's about a mother named Sloan who becomes friends with a new neighbour named Harper. One day, Sloan's babysitter, Margaret, doesn't show up, and a search ensues, which causes everyone to become more suspicious of each other.

The lack of character development and individuality made it hard to follow. The pacing was so slow until about the halfway mark, and by then, I didn't care what happened. There are way too many characters to keep track of, and the storyline itself wasn't very engaging. The plot is a typical one, and I figured out the "who" before the big reveal. Once you've figured out the twist, a book becomes pretty boring, and I kept waiting for the main character to catch up. It certainly wasn't the "dark and twisty novel of suspense" (as stated in the blurb) it was made out to be.

This book builds slow-burning suspense in a picture-perfect suburb full of secrets. With messy friendships, buried histories, and the quiet unravelling of everything that once felt safe

Such a quick and enjoyable read while I was inflight on my way home from vacation. Takes places in Westchester so I could relate as I live in NYC. I also understand firsthand the loneliness that comes with a being a mom, esp with a child with medical issues. "A sick child is every child's nightmare."

At 35%, Margaret. The babysitter, and Cole's girlfriend goes missing. I must admit I'm automatically really suspicious of the new next door neighbor surgeon, Ben.

The book shows firsthand how deceiving appearances can be. "What must it be like for a man like Evan to have snagged a perfectly beautiful and appropriate wife like Clara. ...when I think of Evan & Clara, I think of prom queens and soap opera business men..."

Dave says, "Some is a bit of with Harper and Ben's marriage. Ben is 'too picture perfect like he's playacting the part of a big. Successful, yet caring surgeon and she's totally off. She's not like all the cookie-cutter suburban types."

The book is spot-ondepiction of real life. Ben doesn't like Harper's art dealer friend who "commented on our fruit bowl being inspired by the Dada era art in Paris and I'm pretty sure we got that bowl in TJMaxc."

I kept changing my mind who was guilty. Each suspect has excellent reasons for their motive and possible actions.

I don't want to give any spoilers for this thriller I have 5 stars to. Read it if you like domestic fiction thrillers. It has Lianne Moriarty vibes.

A shock is revealed at 72%.

Warning: triggers include: sexual assault. Death and mental health descriptions

No one is as they seem. I appr6how Harper doesn't take anyone's sh#t.

The book really picks up at 45% in.

You Must Be New Here by Katie Sise is a tense and suspenseful multiple-perspective thriller with a unique feel. Sloane and her young darling daughter Daisy meet their new neighbours, including Clara and Evan and their three teenagers. Other neighbours include Harper and Ben. There are typical school runs and work obligations as well as many relationships, some overt and others hidden. Even before the disappearance of Margaret, Daisy's babysitter, there are undercurrents of tension, mistrust and suspicion. But Margaret's disappearance ramps things up. Daisy has a serious illness so her mom and dad who lives nearby are understandably on high alert because of it. But there are several reasons to be anxious. Mistrust is rife.

My favourite aspects of this novel are the piles of secrets and twistiness. Characters lack real depth which is unfortunate as there is potential for development. But then I'm a character-driven reader. I like the additional layer of teenage angst in thrillers. The writing style kept me riveted and interested throughout. This is my first novel by this author but I'm already hooked! All in all, this was very enjoyable.

Four and a half stars rounded up. I was hesitant to read Katie Sise’s “You Must Be New Here” because I thought it was going to be the typical domestic thriller. Thankfully, she had a slightly different take on the genre, which kept things interesting.

Sloane Thompson has lived in Sycamore Glen for about a decade. She shares her home with her daughter, Daisy, and her ex-husband lives nearby. Sloane is pleased when her new neighbors, Harper and Ben Wilson, arrive and they are close to her age and seem friendly. Sloane and Harper, in particular, quickly become friends.

Also in the mix is Clara, the mother of Margaret’s boyfriend, Cole. Margaret is Daisy’s babysitter and is about to graduate high school. Within a week or two of Harper and Ben’s arrival, Margaret disappears. Was there an accident? Why isn’t Margaret answering calls or returning text messages?

This story alternates initially between Sloane and Clara as the narrators. Then about mid-way through, the reader hears from Margaret in the days leading up to her disappearance. I did appreciate how the author ended the book.

Overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

YOU MUST BE NEW HERE is an exciting fast-paced novel with several questionable characters. There are several surprises throughout the book which made it hard to put down. Overall, this had everything I look for in a thriller. Highly recommend! T
Many thanks to NetGalley and Brillance Publishing for my #gifted ARC

This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me the chance to read an early digital copy of this book! This book is the perfect summer thriller. I really enjoyed this one from start to finish. It was an entertaining read; one that I would consider a popcorn thriller. As a mom, this definitely makes me think twice about babysitters! This is not the first book by Katie Sise that I have read, and it definitely won't be the last! This one is out in a little over a week, so make sure that you add it to your TBR if it's not on there already!

This was my first book from the author Katie Sise and I couldn’t put it down. From the first page I was hooked to the story. The chapters have dual POV, which I sometimes find it hard to follow, but with this story it was easy to follow each characters storyline. The author explored the different relationships between the multiple characters, which all interconnected with each other.

I really loved this book and highly recommend it to all psychological thrillers readers. I will definitely be checking the authors other books.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review - all opinions are my own.

Small town secrets, lies, and a missing babysitter. Sloane's little daughter Daisy is ill and she's always felt a bit apart from others in Sycamore Glen. But now Harper and Ben have moved in next door and she's got a pal. Until her sitter disappeared. This might seem like a familiar plot but Sise has gussied it up, telling the story from multiple POVs and with good twists. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a fast paced read that will be a good travel book.

If you’re looking for a holiday read this summer, make it this one! Complex characters, a beautiful location and so many twists & turns. When new neighbours, Ben & Harper, move in next door, Sloane is delighted. A perfect set of new friends to help her navigate through the intricacies of single parenthood, the PTA and her derailed career. When a young woman is killed all eyes turn to the most obvious suspect but all is not what it seems in this apparently sleepy, orderly town…

This novel was a perfect book for a summer Sunday. I couldn't put it down, and enjoyed moving through the POVs of these characters and unraveling the misdirects to discover what happened as the storytelling shifted one last time at the end of the story.

This book was just ok for me. I enjoyed the multiple POVs, but the story felt slow. I had a hard time staying entertained with all the different characters. Some of the twists were unexpected, but I guessed the ending pretty quickly. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

You Must Be New Here got me out of what I was feeling was a reading slump! I felt like nothing was keeping my attention or challenging me. This book made me think I knew “who did it” in one chapter but then had me questioning what I thought I knew in the next. I loved how each separate storyline was written and how each story, while unrelated, was intertwined. Great book. I would definitely recommend it