Narrated by the talented and flawless Gina Gershon, Next To Heaven is a delicious look into the lives of the 1% living in idyllic New Bethlehem, CT who somehow all have time to carry on many dark extracurricular activities in addition to their busy lives.
Pros:
- Narration kept me sucked in.
- Enough drama for an entire season of Real Housewives.
- An overarching mystery/ murder
- A salacious peek into the lives of the richest of the rich I now have no interest in being a part of

Cons:
- The female characters seemed two dimensional. I sometimes couldn't differentiate between them and couldn't quite believe how ruthless and sex- crazed they were.
- Overly crude, cheesy descriptions of sex and lust that didn't quite land for me.
- Writing style that while clever, fell flat and was choppy at times .

Thanks for the advanced copy!

I read James Frey's controversial first novel, and really enjoyed his snappy writing style and fast-paced writing. Since then, I haven't gotten around to reading any of his other novels, even if they're all fiction, not memoirs.

Anyway, I had high hopes for this novel, and was expecting it to meet the high standards after A Million Tiny Pieces. Alas, it did not. Looking through the ratings, this seems like the kind of book that you either love or don't.

I received an audiobook copy, narrated by Gina Gershon. Her smooth, nuanced, and enticing reading was the highlight of this book for me.

The rich, beautiful, elite group of friends that are featured in this story are among some of the most unlikable characters I've ever seen. There wasn't a single character that I felt any empathy for, and they were all such horrible people. When this happens, I usually tend to tune out a bit, and found myself having to listen to previous chapters two or three times.

Initially, we meet a few couples who live in a very wealthy suburb in Connecticut. To be honest, they all kind of merged together into one awful, stereotypical, wealthy caricature. I struggled to differentiate between the various characters (I think there were 4 or 5 couples, so 8-10 total).

Money doesn't stop you from having problems. As Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace said, "Mo' money, mo' problems," and these people really demonstrate the type of problems that the rich elite society is rife with. It read more like literary fiction, with 2 bored women deciding to have an exclusive party, where they will swap partners and hopefully add a new level of spice to their intimacy. Naturally, they weren't expecting a swingers party, but were too curious to pass it up.

The party itself is the shortest part of the story, even though the murder that occurs during said party rocks the world of everyone present. It turns out that everyone's dirty secrets come out in the wash. However, I really struggled to stay invested, since there wasn't one single character that I actually liked or felt connected to. While there was a hint of what is in the future for our characters, it happened a little too late for me, with the first half of the book going slowly and the last quarter going fast. Despite this just being an average read for me, I still plan to check out more of Frey's writing if/when a different one or two of his books if it crosses my path.

I kind of thought I'd get a kick out of a totally trashy novel involving swinging and death among wealthy people. But I hated everyone so much that I wish I hadn't listened to it. Writing was fine. Story had its moments. Characters are huge (curse words).

I went in with my eyes open and I believe there are people meant to read this book. I'm not a prude but my values about people being mean, corrupt and cruel as opposed to sexually nuts is what turned me off to this. The narrator was very good n the audio version

Wow. Totally not my genre. Trashy. Full of gossip. Hedonism at its finest. So many reasons to put this one down and walk away.
But it hooks you. Just enough of a mystery to keep going. Barely enough goodness in a character to want things to go their way. So much treachery in another character to yearn for their demise. And a storyline that doesn't bog down even the slightest bit.
This is a REAL book in the trash category. An outlier. One of the rare ones that rise from its peers.

DNF at 30%. normally i eat UP stories about the messy lives of rich families but there were too many characters to keep up with and we spend so much time on their backstories that i'm lost with what the actual plot is. the audiobook narrator did a fantastic job and capturing the different personalities though. overall the writing just wasn't for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ // rich people behaving badly? yes please. feeling anything about them? not so much.

Thank you to NetGalley and AE Titles / S&S Audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review!

The second I saw the premise of Next to Heaven, I was hooked. I’m an absolute sucker for books about super rich people being awful in beautiful places—and this one had the setting down perfectly. An idyllic, small town where only the ultra-elite are allowed to live, dream, and inevitably self-destruct? Delicious.

And while the atmosphere was dreamy in that dark-money, too-perfect way, the rest didn’t quite land for me. The structure felt disjointed and scattered, like I was getting glimpses of something bigger without ever being fully let in. And the characters? Unfortunately, none of them felt real enough for me to root for, hate, or even hold onto. Just vibes. Expensive, empty vibes.

BUT! The audiobook narration was excellent—smooth, immersive, and really well-paced. I might’ve enjoyed this less in print, so if you’re curious, I’d definitely recommend going the audio route.

I was lucky enough to get my hands on the audio ARC of Next to Heaven by James Frey and it had me hooked from the very beginning. Was it perfect? No. But did I ignore my responsibilities and finish the whole thing in a day? Yes. And sometimes, that’s exactly what I want from a whodunnit book.

The story revolves around 4 couples living in New Bethlehem, a town populated by the mega rich. It does a great job of combining thriller elements with social commentary. It explores community, love, deceit, status, and image. Most of all it gives readers a peek behind the curtain of the 1%.

There were a couple storylines that I felt were a bit underdeveloped but overall I really enjoyed it! James Frey has a very unique writing style and I loved the use of repetition throughout. If you’re a fan of Big Little Lies or White Lotus, I think you’ll enjoy this.

This one just wasn’t for me. While the story itself had potential, I struggled with the writing style. The characters were written in a way that felt more nonfiction-like—overly detailed and weighed down by unnecessary background that didn’t serve the plot. Some of the language seemed to exist purely for shock value, which felt more distracting than impactful. It’s clear the book was aiming for gritty and provocative, but it missed the mark for me.

Thank you NetGalley, S&S Audio, and Author’s Equity for the ALC and e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I was hooked in this book. Such a relaxed and yet intriguing writing. It takes to the world of extremely wealthy couples in the richest, whitest part of Connecticut, and oh boy how fun it was to read about it. I've listened to this book as an audiobook, and the narrator was one of the best narrator I've heard lately. It gave life to the book. So I absolutely recommend giving this book a go, and enjoy the wildness of it.

I did not enjoy this book. I love a good "rich people problems" story, but this one was not my vibe. These people were ALL despicable, and I did not find a single character that I was connected with or enjoyed reading about. The entire story revolves around sexual assault and who is sleeping with who and whose marriage is falling apart due to said infidelity. I just didn't enjoy it. I have never read one of Frey's books before, so I wasn't sure what I was getting into, but I think maybe he's just not the author for me.

Book Review: Next to Heaven by James Frey
Rating: 3.5 stars
Received as an ARC—thank you!

Next to Heaven is a gloriously messy dive into the lives of deeply flawed people orbiting a true monster of a man—Billy. James Frey delivers a character-driven, reality-TV-adjacent drama that feels almost too real at times, with a level of chaos that makes it hard to look away.

First off, Gina Gershon’s narration is a standout. She nails the tone of the book perfectly, capturing both the grit and the glamour of the characters and setting. Her voice adds a slick layer of authenticity that really elevates the experience.

The novel’s biggest strength is also part of its challenge. Frey offers an incredible amount of background detail and interconnected threads between characters, which is impressive and intriguing. However, the way it’s presented leans heavily into exposition—it often tells rather than shows, which can bog down the momentum. At times, the lengthy, almost nonfiction-like descriptions of the neighborhood felt excessive and disrupted the pacing.

That said, there’s something undeniably compelling about how everything unfolds. The web of relationships, the secrets, the betrayals—it all builds to a fun, satisfying conclusion where most of the couples end up in better places. The true killer, while not surprising, is still a gratifying choice.

Billy stands out as a chillingly realistic antagonist. He’s the kind of man who exerts control and leaves wreckage in his wake, and his presence looms over every storyline. He’s terrifying in a way that doesn’t feel fictional, and that’s what makes him so effective.

While the narrative style wasn’t quite my cup of tea, I can appreciate what Frey set out to do. If reality TV gave you a literary high, it might feel a lot like Next to Heaven. It’s not perfect, but it is entertaining, smart in its own chaotic way, and ultimately a solid read.

this was . . . not good. or well written. but it was trash in the same way reality tv is, eg. engaging and hard to look away from.

I was curious to try James Frey’s newest novel, Next to Heaven, given the controversy surrounding his earlier books. Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me.

The use of shock-value language felt more crude than raw, and the lengthy backstories failed to draw me in. Instead of building connection or tension, the digressions slowed the momentum for me. While the story promises scandal and secrets, I found myself disconnected from both the characters and the chaos unfolding around them.

That said, I can see Next to Heaven appealing to readers looking for a fast, beachy thriller packed with drama and bad behavior. It’s simply not my style — but it will likely find fans among those who enjoy scandal-filled, escapist reads.

Maybe its's the current political climate, butt this novel about the uber wealthy was a real turn off,it actually made me feel a little ill and I could not finish it.

Frey has created a world of privilege that everyone will do anything to get to. I want something else to happen in this glitzy neighborhood so I can go back! The story and dialogue would lend well to a movie or series. Gershon as the narrator was perfect. The sexy drawl of her voice lent to the nefarious characters and the mystery at hand.

Next to Heaven was a quick fun read that kept me from reading the NYT or checking my 401k . And Thank Heavens! The residents of New Bethlehem, Connecticut are the spoiled uber- rich, bored and looking for more excitement in their excessive lives. A neighborhood swingers party is planned at one of their mansions and it becomes the catalyst for change that no one expected.

I was completely engrossed in this novel and recommend it to anyone looking for something to take your mind off real life chaos. Stock up on frozen dinners so you won’t have to cook while you’re reading!

A terrific narration of the audiobook is performed by actress Gina Gershon.

I tried to get into this one, but I felt the ick from about 30 mins in and it never went away.

This is rich people behaving badly, which is what I wanted, but I didn't care for any of the characters, nor the shenanigans they got up to. I need at least one of those to enjoy the story. I know that the kind of humor and the ridiculousness will be appealing to some and I truly hope this book finds that audience.

Devon Kensington McCallister is the wife of Billy McCallister, a hedge fund manager. Texas oil heiress, Belle Hedges Moore is the wife of Teddy Moore. Their search for a thrill will destroy their world. Grace is the wife of Alex; he is cute and tempting and a cheater. Charlie and Katy enjoy their single life.
New Bethlehem, Connecticut appears to be the ideal place to live. Best friends, Devon and Belle live in New Bethlehem. They have it all, money, status, beauty and friendship. They have everything they want except they are bored. They long for excitement. What could be more exciting than a “key “party (a swinger party)? They carefully worked on a list of guests, planned the special invitations, and planned the pairings. The party starts off well but quickly descends into chaos leading to murder. The residents of New Bethlehem demonstrate that money isn’t everything; it does not buy happiness.
Author James Frey allows readers to peek through the windows of the elite, the wealthy, the famous, the pretenders. He demonstrates the lack of authenticity of those who depend on their wealth for happiness; they buy thinking one more item will fulfill the needs of their hollow life. They do not see how the worship of wealth is destroying their lives. The characters in this tale are not particularly likable but their flaws are what makes them relevant. There were times when I found the author’s writing style rather odd and confusing.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Next to Heaven is a chaotic, messy fiasco — which is exactly what makes it so addictive. Think Real house wives meets Wolf of Wall Street focused in on the most insane aspects. Serving up wealth, delusion, and moral collapse without an ounce of subtlety. The plot is wild, the characters are objectively awful, and yet the sharp writing keeps you turning pages anyway. It’s not good, I hated them all and it found it constantly cringy but it’s undeniably entertaining and I HAD to know how it all unraveled.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars Rated R for language, sexual content, and some seriously dark subject matter

I have has never heard of this author until after I read this so I didn't know his background went in blind. I learnt his back story after reading, I can see why the book worked so well and I felt so real now.

This book for me was a mix of wit, mystery and dark undertone it flows and reads easy but never once felt lazy or brain fluffy it was insightful observant and smart it never once was a chore to read. I read it over a day I couldn't put tot down.

I loved the short chapters each told from a different characters POV in the third person. There was vast cast of characters each with a unique voice and story they interlinked perfectly to tell what was complex plot that was told with real style. There was a sense of pending tension though out, the characters developing as the plot does...the writing was truly a class act.

I got big white lotus, little big lies, Kevin Kwan and Emma Rosenblum vibes from this which I loved.

Really really enjoyed this one, great from start to finish I'd say it make perfect pool side reading.

Crying out to be made into Netflix series

A strong 4.5 Stars

As an audiobook it works really, the reader had good tone and kept the pace well