ha, does she think no one might notice or miss the woman that used to live in the house she now suddenly is doing so in? how would this play out? who would get away with what? who found out and will they expose the truth? this book had me guessing and i loved trying to do so. of course Kathryn did a wonderful job of taking me only where she wanted me to but with a story like this i was more than happy to be led any merry dance she wanted me too.
such a brilliant unique plot.
so you have a jealousy between friends(they aren't friends if this is the case just saying).
one has a perfect like(they never do just saying)
one has a son she will do anything to protect and who suffers with allergies so she is definitely a tiger mum
one day on a perfect street where perfection breeds this one mum sees a woman struggling. oooooh of course she will help her. and so she does. and so she is making this frail woman a drink. this woman tells her there is no one to help her(wink wink side eye)
this helper brings in the drinks. uh oh the frail lady is dead.
so what does she do? what you say? you think there is of course only one option of what one would do!? call for help duh....orrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr move in tell no one and get everything you every dreamed of?????/ ahaha and what a tale we weave when we led to deceive...
brilliant. read this book. from the plot alone you will be hooked and Kathryn writes it to the paced,tension, unease that we love. but also with the heartfuk moment and somehow some nice depth to it.

This is the story of Iris, a wife and mother who is completely devoted to her husband and teenage son. She’s especially devoted to her son because he suffers from allergies, which can have serious consequences. Since he was born, she made it her goal to protect him from everything that could harm him. Now he’s fifteen years old, and she wonders why he is not so close with her anymore. Her husband is often away for work, and so Iris has time on her hands to work and socialise. Except that’s not what she does. All she does is worry about her son and the state of her home. She doesn't like to meet new people; having someone over unexpectedly is absolute horror, and going out with friends is too much of a nuisance.
You get it. Iris is not a very likeable character. Still, she has one good friend by the name of Laura. Laura and her husband have good jobs, lots of money, a wonderful son, and a beautiful home. Luckily the boys are good friends too, but this is all about to change when Laura and her husband buy a home in a much better neighbourhood so their son can attend a very good school. Iris wants that too. And she gets what she wants in this story, although not everything is as she hoped it would be.
From the moment Iris and her family move into the house on No. 23, we can see things spiralling out of control. Iris is a mess most of the time; her son doesn’t do so well at his new school, and her husband is always angry. Even the friendship between Iris and Laura is deteriorating because Iris is terribly afraid her secret as to why she suddenly can afford the house will be discovered, and Laura is in fact not such a good friend after all but uses Iris mainly to brag about her own good luck.
There is tension, drama, and some unexpected twists. It was a quick read, but it lacked a bit of depth and characterisation.
Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this review copy.

“Today a new family has moved into number twenty-three. A family who shouldn’t be there.

But someone knows Iris’ secret and what she did to get her dream home… Would she kill to keep it?”

This was alright! It had a very original concept and a strong start which I really liked, I just wish it leaned more into that part of the story. I enjoyed reading what happened in both Iris and Laura's lives in the middle part, but I felt like it missed having that mounting pressure and tension that a thriller would have. I think it would have been better to get inside Iris' head and really feel her paranoia - or have more external pressures mounting on her than there was in the book, to drive the story forwards. I did quite like the end twist and it wasn't bad overall, so it gets 3.5 stars from me.

This was very disappointing.

The plot points were obvious and there was no true character development, which I could look over for the sake of the drama if either the writing, the stakes, or the twists had been particularly great. Bearing in mind my knowledge is limited to the first page of google results in a different country, the potential consequences for what the main character has done are...minimal. Even dismissing that as potentially faulty research, none of the actions of these characters make sense: the entire relationship between the two FMC is estranged and all we see of it is how jealously obsessed they are with one another until it gets to a point they're so fixated on themselves they seem to forget the other exists. The alternating POV allows for reprieve from one by immersing in the other until she also becomes unbearable. These characters are wholly reactive, making decisions before having any information and then responding in ways that prove their guilt. There are ultimately no consequences for any of their actions, and ultimately there was no development--the story could have ended the sentence after it began

Iris and Laura might be friends, but their lives couldn’t be more different. Iris is stuck in the wrong postcode, struggling to make ends meet and constantly feeling like she’s getting everything wrong—especially when it comes to her son’s future. Laura, on the other hand, seems to have it all: the right house, the right school, and a life Iris quietly envies.

When Iris crosses paths with elderly Rosemary after a fall, she's struck by the beauty—and emptiness—of Rosemary’s home. It’s everything Iris dreams of. So when Rosemary suddenly passes away, Iris is faced with a huge decision: seize an opportunity to finally live the life she’s always wanted… or walk away. But secrets have a way of catching up, and soon Iris finds herself entangled in consequences she never saw coming.

This book had me hooked with its intriguing premise and moral dilemmas. It’s a thought-provoking look at envy, friendship, and the lengths some will go to for a better life. That said, it does require a bit of suspended disbelief. Some plot points, like the lack of questions around Rosemary’s disappearance and the ease of Iris taking over her home, stretch credibility.

I also found Iris a challenging character to connect with—her behaviour toward others can be cold and erratic, particularly when defending her son. Her friendship with Laura felt a little unlikely at times, though Laura's support toward the end offered a nice touch of warmth. There's also a subplot involving Iris’ son that hints at something more dramatic but ultimately resolves in a surprisingly simple way, leaving it feeling slightly under-developed.

The ending ties things up, but perhaps a bit too neatly. It’s not the most realistic conclusion, but if you're willing to go along for the ride, it’s an engaging story.

I did enjoy this book and found at parts I couldn't put it down. The storyline had potential but the ending was unbelievable and ruined the book for me. Not one of the authors best books.
The characters were a bit of a marmite effect of love or hate. Alot of unanswered questions at the end, maybe a follow on in the future?

I had mixed thoughts on the storyline but sadly it was very slow in places and failed to deliver and at times I felt bored. I am sorry to say that I could not engage with the characters. I know others thought it was a fantastic wow debut so maybe I missed something or they had more time to engage with it. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this.

For me personally I found it hard to get into the storyline and I didn't particularly engage with the characters.

I kept thinking it would get better but unfortunately for me it didn't and wasn't really keen on the ending.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC I just wished I could have enjoyed it more

An enjoyable read - I didn't find either of the two main protagonists particularly likeable but sympathised more and more with each of them in different ways as the book progressed. It was a difficult book to pick up at times - not because it wasn't excellently written, far from it, I just found the plot slightly challenging in places - the type of book where you can see a character becoming more and more embroiled in an awful situation but not knowing how to extract themselves from it! It was testament to Kathryn Sharman's skill that I did continue reading - I had to know what was going to happen next, and despite predicting a number of moments that happened, the ending did come as a shock!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing an advanced copy of this book, which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The first part of this book drug with a really unlikeable main character in Iris. Her best friend who she aspired to be like, was also unlikeable. The book picked up in the middle, with the introduction of a few other characters, but the main characters didn't get any more likeable. This was just an ok read. I don't think I've ever read a book where so many of the characters are not likeable.

This was a quick read that I did enjoy but I do have to say the plot seemed to be one of those over-the-top situations that the author has then based a decent book around. When I read a domestic thriller, I am usually drawn in by the inner workings of the plot but with this story it was the characterization which made it a successful book.

The differences between Iris and her friend Laura were interesting as apart from their sons they do not have a lot in common and lead very different lives. This shows us what friendship can be based on; we do not always have to be the same type of people to be drawn to each other and then be there for each other when times are hard.

Laura is portrayed as a bit of a superficial person, interested mainly in her looks and her wealth but there really was a lot more to her and she was my favourite character in the book. The situation that results from Iris’s actions is where Laura then shines, being there for her friend even though she has her own issues which are significant. I had not read a book from this author before, but I will look out for others in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed thoughts when reading this book. Initially it started of strong, but then went down hill from there. I didn’t like how the first BIG thing that happened was given away too soon. I would have thought there could have been a more thrilling factor to it. As for the story, I wasn’t really into it. I guessed the other twists and the writing style I wasn’t a fan of.

In her chilling and atmospheric debut novel, The Family at No 23, K. Sharman weaves a web of envy, suspicion, and the dark undercurrents beneath the surface of suburbia.

At the heart of the story are Iris and Laura, neighbours whose friendship has grown over the years. But when Laura suddenly moves to a more affluent neighbourhood and enrols her child in a prestigious school, the bond is cruelly severed, and Iris is left crippled with envy and self-doubt. The author paints Iris not as a villain, but as a deeply human character caught in the undertow of jealousy, longing and resentment. The descriptions of her slow unravelling is both heart-wrenching and believable.

When Iris is offered the chance to move her own family into a coveted address in a better part of town, the ethical boundaries blur and the stakes multiply. The question of how far she will go to secure a brighter future for herself and her family propels the narrative towards a shocking decision.

This story is a dark, immersive tale that will have you questioning the lengths to which envy can drive even the most ordinary people. With its tense moments and unforgettable characters, K. Sharman’s debut novel is a must-read for fans of psychological suspense who relish a glimpse into the shadows behind the curtains of suburban life.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

2.5 stars

The Family at No.23 by Kathryn Sharman is a domestic thriller that deals with secrets, lies, tenuous friendships, and social climbing.

The story is told from the POV of two friends, Iris and Laura. When Laura's family moves to the posh part of town and enrols their son in the local prestigious school, Iris feels pressure to keep up even though, financially, her and her husband are in no position to compete. However, wanting the same opportunities for her own son, she takes drastic measures to move into number 23 Riddleston Road - a road with status, where the well-to-do live, where those who can afford to send their children to private schools live. A house that holds secrets that will struggle to stay buried.

This was a quick read (less than 300 pages) and had some potential, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me. I found the story to be basic, and it felt more like domestic drama between two families rather than a psychological thriller. I found the characters very unlikeable (although that possibly was deliberate) and one dimensional. I couldn't sympathise or root for any of them, and the plot twists were easily guessed.

On the plus side, it did keep me engaged enough to finish it, and I think the premise was there. It just wasn't executed quite right for me. I believe this is Sharman's debut novel, and I do feel there is potential, so I would definitely read another in the future.

Thank you to Kathryn Sharman, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and opportunity to honestly review this book.

I have to admit that I wasn’t overly impressed. It’s a short read but highly predictable. Both FMC are not likeable and just annoying. The MMC’s are also obnoxious and hard to like.

The storyline was okay…had a bit of a twist but really just a bunch of jealousy and drama.

This one just wasn’t what I had hoped it would be.

3⭐️⭐️⭐️

A most excellent book which I devoured in one sitting! I look forward to more by Kathryn Sharman and will definitely be recommending this author.

A nice quick read, very twisty right until the end! Enjoyed it a lot and will be recommending it, thank you for the ARC

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC read. If you are a fan of Frieda McFadden this is a must read. This book was hard to put down. Many twists and turns to keep you interested.

Iris was your typical loving and devoted mother and wife. She worshiped the ground her son Ben walked on. She catered to her husband Steve's and Ben every need. She loved making them happy and keeping Ben safe from harm.

Iris is envious of her best friend Laura's life. Laura has money, the perfect house, the perfect husband and son in the perfect neighborhood. Living the life that she can only dream of until one day Iris comes across a women named Rosemary. As Iris was on her way home after meeting up for coffee with Laura she sees an elderly women Rosemary take a fall. The woman had hitbher head and was bleeding. Iris insisted on doing the only honorable thing, to help Rosemary make it home safely.
Once they made it to Rosemary's home Iris
couldn't help but admire the home. It definitely was a home that had been neglected but Rosemary was no spring chicken so she understood. Iris imagined what a person could do to bring this home back to life. It not only had great potential but the home was in the perfect neighborhood close to the best school for Ben to attend. All the things she wanted for her family. Rosemary decided the best thing to do was to rest in her front room while Iris made her some tea. While getting the tea ready the ladies shared conversation between the rooms. Iris inquired as to whom she can call to help Rosemary the women explaned she had no one. Iris brought the tea to Rosemary but only to find her unresponsive and not breathing. She had passed on and had no one to miss her.

Iris was toying with two options to leave and get help or take the opportunity to give her family everything she has wanted. A beautiful home, in the perfect neighborhood, with the perfect school. What will Iris choose the right and moral choice or to sieze a life she has always wanted.

An interesting premise, but a mixed reading experience for me. The Family at No. 23 is told from the dual perspectives of Iris and Laura, longtime friends whose sons are entering high school. When Laura’s financial situation improves, she moves into an upscale neighborhood with a top-tier school, sparking jealousy in Iris.
The story had the potential for a gripping domestic thriller. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with the characters and found it hard to stay fully engaged.

I appreciate the ARC

An addictive, smart domestic thriller that you’ll finish in one (or two) late-night sittings.

Kathryn Sharman delivers a confident, gripping debut. The domestic setting—pristine homes hiding dirty secrets—is a genre favorite, and she executes it well. Iris’s drive to claw her way into privilege, the simmering envy toward her more affluent friend, the psychological manipulation… it all feels raw and cleverly rendered.

The pacing keeps the suspense high, and while certain plot elements require a leap of faith, the intrigue is strong enough to carry you through. By the final chapters, you're fully invested—rooting for Iris, questioning loyalties, and getting hit with that twist.