Welcome to West Street by Nicole Trope is an engaging psychological thriller that, while not quite as gripping as some of her previous works, still managed to keep me turning the pages.

The pacing is solid, and while I found certain twists predictable, Trope still manages to create moments that caught me off guard. The character development is somewhat uneven, and while there are characters you feel for, there’s also a bit of emotional distance, which makes it harder to become fully invested in their fates.

That being said, Welcome to West Street still has enough suspense to keep you hooked, and the sense of mystery unfolds well throughout the novel. It may not have the same lasting impact as her other works, but it’s still a worthwhile read for fans of psychological thrillers looking for a quick and suspenseful story.

Nicole Trope has done it again! This was a fast paced, full of twists thriller. This book roped me in from beginning to end. Some of the characters were pretty creepy, but interesting. I just wanted to keep reading to find out how it was going to end. The ending was not what I was expecting!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

*3.5 stars*

The very old saying “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts” seems to be what the following was created for!

Amanda was welcomed to West Street with a gracious smile and a freshly baked Chocolate cake. Behind the gracious smile was Caroline, an elderly woman who thought it her duty to welcome new comers. However, Caroline, (curtain twitcher extraordinaire) isn’t quite what she appears to be, and Amanda will have reason to wish she’d never set foot in West Street.

Amanda doesn’t really want to be in West Street at all, she’s walked out on her abusive husband Mike, while he was away on business in China. The home she left was beautiful. West Street is a dump, destined to be razed to the ground in six months, but it’ll do for now. Her kids, Jordan and Kiera can’t understand why they’ve had to leave their home and friends behind, and 11 year old Jordan takes it particularly badly, venting his anger towards his mum. However, no one knows about an anonymous text Amanda received, you know the kind “You don’t know me but”…….

The characters in West Street evoke little sympathy, they’re a strange bunch, and have some serious problems, not to mention dark secrets. However, I did enjoy the crazy journey, wondering exactly where it was going.

This is an engrossing page turner with striking imagery and breakneck twists. The author has a crisp writing style which guides readers through this layered and innovative thriller. It was a treat to read.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow! The amazing Nicole Trope does it again! I totally enjoyed this creepy, addictive thriller. The characters were fantastic and kept me flipping pages long past my bedtime. I literally felt like a part of this story. A thrill ride from beginning to end. What a creep fest!! Big 5 stars from me.
Thank you NetGalley, Nicole Trope and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC. It was my first one and it didn't disappoint.

I read it from start to finish in less than 24 hours!! It had me gripped. I always love a twist or 3 and this didn't fail on that front. Although I did suspect one of the twists fairly early on, I was still shocked when the truth came to light.

I will definitely be reading more by this author.

I would like to thank the publisher, author and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of*Welcome to West Street*:

This story is full of intrigue and kept me interested with the twists and turns so much that i read it all in one night! The book tells the story of Amanda, Caroline, and Amanda's children. Amanda is a mother who moves to West Street with her two children, seeking safety and anonymity. She has a mysterious past and is very protective of her children. Amanda is trying to start fresh but is haunted by her secrets. Caroline is Amanda's nosy neighbour who is very curious about the new family on the street. She likes to keep an eye on everything happening in the neighbourhood and is determined to uncover Amanda's secrets. Caroline appears friendly but has her own hidden motives.

- **Amanda has a son and a daughter. The son is struggling with the move and refuses to speak, which indicates he might be dealing with trauma or emotional issues, her daughter is trying to adapt to the move and new environment while missing her friends. These are the characters that drive the plot forward, creating tension and intrigue as their secrets and true intentions are gradually revealed. Amanda has her secrets and her past catches up with her, revealing why she moved to West Street and what she is running from; Caroline's secrets and motives for her character are gradually uncovered as the story progresses

This story has so much intrigue and the story runs around the following plot; someone in the neighbourhood goes missing, creating tension and suspicion among the residents. A character is taken away in handcuffs, which adds to the mystery and drama. The story culminates in a shocking death, which ties together the various secrets and plotlines which kept me intrigued and up reading the book until i finished it. It was a thrilling read and very unpredictable which kept me guessing and reading to the very end. I highly recommend this book!

The first 70% was great. I was gripped and could not put the book down. The last 30% was a ridiculous car crash of an ending. I couldn't believe what I was reading. Ok, I realise this is a story, and anything can happen, but this wasn't believable in any way. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.

women. I would have liked to see more involvement with Mike. The author made him out to be so bad and threaten her but he really didn’t do much in the present of the book. It was a short, quick read though.

Another great read from this author, full of suspense and lies with interesting characters.

It was extremely well written with an intriguing storyline that held my interest from the beginning until the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC with a surprisingly great end and I can thoroughly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

West Street is a quiet, peaceful cul-de-sac in an Australian suburb. Unfortunately it doesn't stay like that for very long after Amanda moves into a run-down six-months let with her young children Kiera and Jordan. She is on the run from her abusive husband Mike but Jordan is very unhappy about the situation and behaves like a little monster, shouting and swearing all day long, even during late-night video gaming sessions.

Her curtain-twitching neighbours Caroline, Gemma and Mary who have welcomed her with cake, are not happy about the situation. While they understand Amanda's position, they have all escaped domestic abuse themselves and just want to live a quiet life with nice neighbours, protecting their carefully guarded secrets. So they take drastic measures and life on West Street will never be the same again.

The story is told in three POVs: Amanda, Caroline, and, interestingly, 11 year old Jordan. The action in this female-driven domestic suspense thriller is fast-paced and there are plenty of twists to keep the reader occupied. The moral of the story is: choose your neighbours carefully! If you liked Desperate Housewives, you'll love this. But next time, don't end the actual book at 84%, please!

WELCOME TO WEST STREET BY NICOLE TROPE.
Release date set for the 22nd of April 2025.
This woman knows how to write amazing thrillers.
Page turner, suspenseful and intriguing.
Great characters.
I've read a fair few books by this author and she never disappoints.

This book was great! I did not expect that ending or the level of manipulation from Caroline and Gemma particularly. I also thought that the text message and following meant that it was known who the mistress was, but it didn't say that Amanda suspected or knew it was her so maybe there were multiple? I felt so sorry for the children though and thought this book was a great respresentation of how easy it is to manipute vulnerable people and my heart broke for all of them (except Caroline)

Another amazing read by Nicole Trope. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.

Welcome to West Street follows the lives of Amanda and her two children as they escape Amanda’s abusive husband. Moving to a quiet street, she is quickly befriended by the women in the neighbourhood - but the street isn’t as it seems.

The characters are portrayed well, hooking the reader into each individual personality. The storyline kept me wanting to know more and had me constantly guessing how it would end.

A must read for Nicole Trope fans. An amazing Aussie author!

Release: April 22, 2025
Author: Nicole Trope
Publisher: Bookouture

Rating: 3.75 ★ 

When Amanda moves into a small house on West Street with her two children, she hopes for a fresh start. She tells herself they’re safe now, away from the past. But her son refuses to speak, her daughter misses her old life, and their new neighbor, Caroline, seems a little too interested in their arrival.

Caroline prides herself on knowing everything about the neighborhood. Amanda and her children don’t seem like they belong in such a modest home, and the absence of a husband raises even more questions. Still, Caroline welcomes them with a smile—because she has secrets of her own.

As Amanda settles in, she starts to wonder if West Street is truly the peaceful escape she hoped for. Someone might already know who she is. And when the past catches up, she won’t be the only one in danger…

Welcome to West Street is a fast-paced domestic thriller packed with secrets, lies, and unexpected twists. From the moment Amanda and her two children move in, it’s clear that something isn’t quite right—both with her and with the quiet little street she’s chosen for their fresh start.

Amanda is escaping a troubled marriage, but her son resents leaving his father, making an already difficult transition even harder. Meanwhile, their new neighbor Caroline watches from behind her curtains, suspicious and overly interested in Amanda’s arrival. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that everyone on West Street has something to hide.

The tension builds beautifully, with secrets unraveling one by one in a way that keeps the pages turning. The characters are complex—some likable, others frustrating—but they all add to the intrigue. The ending took me by surprise, making the journey through Amanda’s struggles and the neighborhood’s mysteries even more satisfying.

If you enjoy domestic thrillers with plenty of twists, a gripping plot, and a bit of neighborhood drama, this one is worth picking up. Buckle up, because once you start, you won’t want to stop reading!

Favorite Quote:
"the world doesn't stop for you when you're broken, and neither does time."

West Street is a nice quiet friendly street in the ‘burbs thinks Caroline as she bakes a cake to welcome new neighbours in the rundown house at the top of the cul-de-sac. The people on this street are the sort to involve themselves in the lives of others but maybe Amanda, her children Jordan and Keira won’t want that. However, as we know appearances can be deceptive and who knows what goes on behind closed doors. Each one here has a secret which they’re desperate to keep and they’re big ones.

All about the choo-choo train to crazy town, or should that be to West Street where each female character is full of surprises. It’s fast paced with plenty of drama but I have trouble swallowing some of it as it’s just too OTT for my taste. On the plus side it’s a quick read and parts are definitely entertaining because it’s so out there! The characters are not likeable, especially nosy Caroline and I don’t find Jordan‘s point of view particularly believable as it just doesn’t ring true.

However, if you like pacey domestic dramas with a sprinkling or two of the bonkers then you’ll like this one!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Bookouture for the early copy in return for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

I think this was my first book by Nicole Trope and it was a good, solid domestic thriller with a steady pace and a lot of unexpected twists told in the POVs of both Amanda, who is new in West Street, and Caroline, the neighbour who wants to know about everything that is going on in the street, and then in-between of Jordan, who is her son and a real brat.

Reading about neighbours who wants to know everything about everyone once again makes me feeling sort of thankful it is not this way where I am living. Too much potential for drama no one does need. But it is always fun to read about and I can definitely recommend the book!

Caroline is a nosy neighbour and as she watches Amanda and her two children move into their new home, she already as questions about her.

Amanda has moved to escape her husband, her son is angry they have left the family home he wants to be with his dad, and her daughter also has issues

This is a pacy read and a brilliant domestic drama. Filled with secrets they unfold one at time beautifully and the ending is not what I expected.

This latest novel from Nicole Trope follows Amanda and her two children Jordan and Kiera as they move to a new street in Amanda's quest to escape her husband.
Caroline, an elderly neighbour welcomes her, but keeps an eye on her from behind her curtains, why is there distrust for someone she's just met.
As Amanda navigates single life, she struggles with the anger from her son who just wants to be with his dad. This anger comes from witnessing violence in the family home, but of course Jordan cannot understand, and blames his mum for everything.
This was a fast paced domestic thriller with secrets being withheld by almost everyone. I wouldn't necessarily say I was enamoured by the characters but it was the sort if read that pulls you in.

Really liked this psychological thriller. A small quiet street where people are hiding a lot of secrets. Quirky neighbors who observe everything and a new neighbor who is trying to start over but has no idea what’s in store for her.
Really enjoyed this book. It was well written and the characters were interesting and quirky at the same time.