Neighbor Caroline is busy watching a well dressed mother and her two young children move into the smallest house on the street. "Where is her husband?" she ponders. Because how can a woman with children live alone? [clutches pearls]

Caroline is nothing if not polite and thinks is it important to be neighborly. She also HAS to know what is going on with this new gal and her kids. So as the moving truck across the street is being unloaded, Caroline bakes a cake. Caroline notices the new neighbor's smile as she accepts the cake is not quite all there. Caroline thinks this new gal must have a secret. Caroline does too.

Amanda, the well dressed mother and new neighbor, is unpacking boxes and is finally feeling safe. Her son is being belligerent and her daughter is unhappy, but they are safe. As she tries to unpack, on move in day at her new to her home, Caroline comes over with a cake and a welcoming smile. She seems nosy, but Amanda realizes it may just be her. After all, this move comes from a place of trauma.

Right off the bat, Caroline had my hackles up. If I'm moving and unpacking THE DAY OF, the last thing I want is someone being neighborly. Give me a second Caroline! Caroline is nosy. I felt like she was in my business and she's a fictional character.

This book gave me anxiety, in a good way. Amanda frustrates me in her naivete about how the world works and the actions she has taken.

I thought I had this figured out early on, but while I was on the right track, I was ultimately wrong.

I may change my rating, but 4 stars. I was sooo frustrated with the stupid thoughts Amanda had and the stupid things she did. Like was she living under a rock? However, I recognize this is a sign of how well she was written.

Narration was spot on. This narrator altered her pitch, tone or inflection changed depending on who she was narrating and it made the characters distinguishable. I will definitely be watching for this narrator on future books!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher and audio producer for a copy of this book in advance in exchange for a review.

I found this audio book to be only ok unfortunately, the narration was done well and especially between the pics but I kept expecting and wanting more. It started off really well and went down hill from there. I still stuck with it and kept going it's more of a suspence drama I found but would still check out more from the author to compare. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this audio arc.

A solid psychological thriller with an intriguing setup: a quiet street, a mysterious new neighbor, and secrets bubbling under every doorstep. I liked the suburban drama and the slow-burning tension, but overall it didn’t quite hook me the way I hoped. The twists were decent, though somewhat predictable, and the characters leaned toward the stereotypical at times.

Still, it’s an easy, fast-paced read—good for when you're in the mood for something suspenseful but not too intense. A fine pick for fans of domestic thrillers looking for a quick escape.

Eh, this was an ok audiobook. The “twist” was anticlimactic, I was expecting so much more. It took forever to get into any action. It was just a lot of back and forth perspectives in which did not offer a lot of information.

The narrator was good, but I would have personally enjoyed separate narrators for each perspective. This sometimes made it a bit confusing as to whose perspective I was on.

All in all, I listened to and finished the whole audiobook which means it was entertaining enough to get through.

This most definitely made reading Welcome to West Street even better! The narrator was pretty good and kept me wanting to keep listening. The story itself was what you'd expect from Nicole Trope, twisty and suspenseful, another hit.

Welcome to West Street will suck you in right away. Amanda is our FMC and she just moved to West Street with her children to get away from her abusive husband. To greet Amanda is Caroline. West Street's unofficial welcome wagon who is definitely a little noisy. This becomes a thrilling ride with secrets all around. The suspense will keep you turning those pages. Who is hiding what? The neighborhood drama each character goes through keeps you engaged for those face paced plot twists. Will definitely be purchasing the physical copy when it releases.

Nicole Trope’s Welcome to West Street is a gripping exploration of survival, secrets, and the illusions of safety behind suburban doors.
The story follows Amanda, a mother who has fled an abusive relationship with her two children, hoping to start anew in a seemingly quiet neighbourhood. However, her son Jordan, grappling with the upheaval and loss of his former life, directs his anger toward her in ways that are both heartbreaking and unsettling.
Told through multiple first-person perspectives, the narrative provides an intimate view into not only Amanda's struggles but also the hidden lives of the other West Street residents. Each character is layered and distinct, their flaws making them all the more compelling. While not every character is traditionally likeable, their complexity adds depth to the unfolding story.
The tension builds steadily, with the medium-paced plot allowing for a slow unraveling of the dark undercurrents beneath West Street’s friendly facade. The portrayal of Jordan is particularly chilling; his verbal aggression towards Amanda reflects the cycle of abuse he has witnessed, raising disturbing questions about the legacy of trauma. Yet, chillingly, Jordan is not the most dangerous secret lurking in the neighborhood.
Taryn Ryan’s narration captures the emotional intensity of the story, especially in the more volatile moments, enhancing the overall atmosphere of unease. Welcome to West Street is a thought-provoking and unsettling read that keeps you hooked, and it’s a strong reminder that even the most ordinary places can hide extraordinary darkness. Fans of psychological dramas and domestic thrillers will find much to appreciate here, in this emotional, character-driven suspense story.

The audiobook narration is deftly handled by Taryn Ryan, who brings the characters to life, and an air of tension to proceedings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the advanced copy.

Welcome to the Neighborhood! Amanda takes her 2 children and leaves her abusive husband for what she thinks is a safer place. She goes from designer brand names to bare bone necessities. Nobody hates it more than 11 year old Jordan who has a budding temper that is starting to match dear old dad. It soon becomes clear that not everyone in this little cul-de-sac is as they first appear! As the story is told from multiple POV you get a glimpse into all the secrets little by little behind each closed door. And just when you think you know who all the players are and the roles they have play, you find out just how wrong you are! Sometimes quiet and unassuming can be hiding a darker side than you want to know. Even more chilling is be careful what you wish for and who you make it to.

Some people will go to great lengths for peace and quiet. How far would YOU go?

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC of this book! I absolutely loved this!
Amanda thinks she’s escaping a traumatic and scary life to protect her kids and herself. When she moves onto what seems to be the perfect cul de sac little does she know that what awaits her may be far more dangerous than the life she left behind. I loved the narrators take on these characters! Wow! Just wow!
Perfect example of keep your enemies close!

Thank you Netgalley, Nicole Trope and Bookouture Audio for the Arc of Welcome to West Street.
Narrated by Taryn Ryan

I've read a few of Nicole Trope's books and I have really enjoyed her domestic psychological thrillers. This one is no exception as we follow our MC, Amanda who has moved to West Street. It becomes apparent that she has escaped an abusive relationship with her children. They both miss their dad but Jordan blames his Mum and shows her, like teens do, how. unhappy he is Until, he goes missing..

This book is a multi POV book in 1st person which works really well, given a deep insight of what's unfolding on West Street. Not only do we have Amanda and her struggles but other members of the street have secrets. I found that the characters are well built and maybe not as likeable as some. But that's what makes it interesting for me. I found them all engaging and different. The pacing of the book was medium with a great narrator, Taryn Ryan. I really enjoyable read so I'll be continuing to look forward to more from Nicola Trope.

4.25 stars for Storygraph, 4 stars for other review sites.

I wasn’t sure what to think in the beginning. A woman and her children escape her abusive husband and ends up living on a small cul de sac with some quirky neighbors. They’s quite a group of characters. They want to help Amanda, but part of them doesn’t want her and her children there disturbing their peace either. The thriller part comes later when Amanda’s son goes missing. The ladies hate when the cops are crawling all over their street, but why?

I liked that this book takes place in Australia, I don’t read many books that are set there.

I enjoyed listening to the audio of this one. Taryn did a great job distinguishing between the ladies, and Amanda’s son.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copies of this book.

I wanted to enjoy this one, but the narration just did not work for me. It felt very robotic, the accent didn't work for me and it just felt very bland. I could not get into it. I might have to try reading it with my eyes. I had to DNF unfortunately.

Audiobook Review: Welcome to West Street by Nicole Trope

I received this audiobook from NetGalley, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to discover new authors and share my thoughts.​

This was my first book by Nicole Trope, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Welcome to West Street is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of starting over and the secrets that neighbors might harbor. The story follows Amanda, who, along with her two children, Jordan and Kiera, moves to West Street seeking safety and anonymity after escaping an abusive marriage. However, the seemingly peaceful neighborhood holds its own secrets, and Amanda soon realizes that her past isn't the only one that could threaten her family's new beginning. ​

The narration by Taryn Ryan was exceptional. Her ability to convey the emotional depth of the characters, especially Amanda's turmoil and resilience, added a profound layer to the listening experience. I particularly appreciated her portrayal of the children's voices, which, while not performed by a male voice, were distinct and believable, making it easy to follow along.​

The twists and turns in the plot were masterfully executed. Just when I thought I had figured out the direction of the story, a new revelation would emerge, keeping me engaged and eager to continue listening. The ending was particularly shocking and left me reflecting on the narrative long after it concluded.​

Thank you again, NetGalley, for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. I'm excited to explore more works by Nicole Trope in the future!

Welcome To West Street - Nicole Trope 💙

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @netgalley, @bookouture & @nicoletropeauthor for my #gifted copy of Welcome To West Street! This is my first audiobook and I devoured it!!! 🩶 🎶

Spoilers 🚩🚩🚩

🩶 Caroline - It is only as time has gone on people have decided that children don't benefit from a short sharp smack, from a little deprivation, from an understanding that they are not the ones running the house. I am certain that Amanda has never used proper disapline for her son, she probably thought putting him in a timeout was extreme and look what he has become. Janine is a successful physiotherapist with a lovely husband, because she was raised the right way. I didn't get to attend her wedding, I wasn't invited but I saw the pictures on Facebook 🩶

Wowsers!! What a thriller with many twists and turns!!! I loved this, it was so easy to follow and kept me listening. Amanda escapes her abusive husband taking with her their two children, they move to a cul-de-sac full of secrets and prying neighbours! I had no idea about Caroline until things started to become obvious, particularly in the paragraph above!

Give this one a read or a listen to 🎶 if you enjoy a fast paced, gripping thriller!!

I'll be keeping my eye out for more by @nicoletropeauthor

I’ve read other books by Nicola Trope and really enjoyed them so I was looking forward to getting stuck into this one. The first 70% of the listen was engaging if a little slow paced. It did feel like the blurb didn’t quite match the storyline but I was invested to see where it would go and I was hoping for something different to a storyline that has been done before. Unfortunately the last 30% was a bit of a car crash to the point of unbelievable and it didn’t really gel with the first 70%. I can’t say I found any of the characters likeable and I just found Caroline beyond irritating. It started well but didn’t follow through with the outcome.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen and review #WelcomeToWestStreet

A fast paced, twisty domestic thriller which drew me in from the very start.
In an attempt to flee from her abusive husband Amanda takes her son and daughter and rents a house in a quiet cul de sac in a different neighbourhood whilst her wealthy husband Mike is on a business trip to China. Greeted warmly by elderly neighbours Caroline and Mary, Amanda hopes this will be the fresh start she needs. Little does she know she may have just come out of the frying pan and into the fire as the residents on the street aren't quite as innocent as they first appear. What exactly is going on behind the closed doors of the cosy street and how will they link in to Amanda's story?

The plot is told through three different points of view (Amanda's, her son Jordan's and nosy neighbour Caroline's) which builds the back story well and creates a good degree of mystery and suspense.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced listener copy of this well narrated audiobook.

I love the narration by Taryn Ryan and I do so enjoy books about new neighborhoods and escaping men. This was okay. t was not a life changing read but it was entertaining.

I love a good neighborhood and family drama and this definitely hit the mark. Something that mad it stand out from others (besides being Australian ) was the demeanor of the twelve-year-old boy; the character of Jordan made me cringe and just uncomfortable. I wanted to slap and hug him throughout- what a unique and terrifying young man. The plot seems the typical wife-leaves-abusive-husband trope, but is revealed to be much more complex, which resulted in a higher rating from me. I disliked almost every character, which generally means the author does a good job at character development. This is the first of many books by this author that I plan to read. Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book follows Amanda as she moves to West Street with her two children to escape from her past. You meet some nosy neighbors and learn more about why Amanda is really there as the book goes on. Fast-paced and told in multiple POVs, this book kept me guessing and was a quick read! I would give it 3.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the early audiobook. If you are a fan of domestic thrillers, definitely check this one out!

Amanda, having endured years of domestic abuse, has finally decided to leave her husband. She has gathered her two children, packed up everything she can and fled to West Street, hoping that her husband won’t find them.

From the moment they arrive, one of the neighbors, Caroline, is on the watch. Under the guise of being welcoming, Caroline wants to know why they have moved there. Amanda can’t help but feel a bit put off by Caroline’s pushy nature, but she also has other worries and these are of great concern.

Amanda also meets Gemma, and the two hit it off right away. However, Amanda’s son Jordan’s behavior really has her worried, so she strives to strike a balance between her determination and the struggles she has with him.

What a thrilling domestic drama! Nicole Trope’s latest book is a gripping and entertaining read. Amanda’s fears were palpable and Caroline’s nosiness was with intent, and I loved watching the drama unfold. There were more than a few surprises in this story, and it was a book that I couldn’t put down.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.