Perfectly paced and filled to the brim with tension, this suspenseful suburban mystery was an entertaining read. I did figure out the suspect early on but I think that was likely intentional and it didn't really hinder my appreciation for the story. Overall, this was a solid thriller with loads of drama and a dash of darkness.

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance for access to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

This was a super interesting story and a good, solid mystery. The characters were well developed and the plot kept my guessing. The end was a bit of a let down but the story on the whole was good!

I will say there are some very upsetting elements so check trigger warnings if you're sensitive especially to things involving children.

You Must Be New Here by Katie Sise

Sloane and her ex co-parent well with their daughter Daisy but something is missing from Sloane’s life… Then Harper and Ben move in next door. Harper is vibrant and different and they become friends. Things are looking up until Daisy’s babysitter goes missing, everyone is on edge and secrets come out of the wood work.


I did the audio of this one and it was solid. I enjoyed the narrator and they did a good job of bringing the tension.
So many horrible things happen in this book and a lot of it seemed to be more about shocking you than being believable but that matters very little to me because I suspend my disbelief when I read fiction so for me, this was awesome.

I think the gold in this story was Harper and Ben’s backstories. It was intriguing and different. Not what I was expecting at all. I thought the writing was solid and the pacing was on point but that ending? It kinda fell apart there for me which was a bit of a let down but all in all an enjoyable and entertaining thriller.

3.75 stars

I enjoyed most of this book but about 3/4 of the way through I realized that there was actually quite a bit I didn't like. So I'm having mixed feelings about this one in particular

(4.25 stars)
This one had everything! Sketchy neighbors, family secrets, cheating spouses, teen angst…and murder. Weird and strange things happening, turns into a full blown murder case with a whodunit twist! I was on the edge of my seat! Like seriously! WHOA!

The story is a bit confusing at first because it does jump POV’s. But It didnt derail me from the storyline. After a bit, I liked getting the different POV’s. It felt more well-rounded.

I would definitely read this author’s other books. This one was intriguing and left me wanting more.

Thanks for the opportunity to review this book!

Thanks to Brilliance Audio & NetGalley for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've read some reviews that are giving this book a mid-range review, but I think what pushed it over the top for me was it being the audio edition. Erin Mallon is very talented, and I do love an ensemble cast for an audio book.

The setup is: a small town in upstate New York, where normal people are doing normal things - volunteering for the PTA, coparenting their kids after a divorce, and ... discovering their spouse has been roofie-ing neighborhood women and raping them at parties? Yeah, I'm in.

Does this book strain the bonds of credulity? Yes. Is it entertaining and wacko? Also yes. It was an enjoyable romp, and if this shit was being portrayed on a TV series, you wouldn't bat an eye. I was very intrigued by the new neighbor characters, Ben & Harper (that was a pretty great backstory!), and Sloan and Clara, while not my favorite-ever characters, were relatable and not overly annoying. Clara's arc, in particular, examines female friendships and how they can crumble.

I didn't love the ending, which is why I have leveled a 3.5 star review, rounded up. It felt like Sise didn't quiiiite know how to wrap up the story, and so went full steam ahead with an epilogue that didn't really do the story justice. Lucy is the weakest character, and, unfortunately, the least well-voice acted, IMO. Gonna have to check out more Katie Sise.

Unfortunately, this audiobook was a bit hard for me to pay attention to. This is more of a domestic suspense story than a true thriller. The narrator was a little off pace for me at times, taking me out of the story.

This was strong and kept my interest until the author weirdly decided to conclude everything in a very long epilogue. Pretty much all of this book was too much telling and not enough showing. There are a couple of good twists, but the pacing and character development were so lackluster that the book ended up being just okay.

Single mom Sloane has a young daughter Daisy. She and her ex-husband are friendly co-parents. She's excited to make a new friend when Harper and Ben move in next door and Sloane and Harper become instant besties. Daisy is medically fragile, and high school senior Margaret is the only one they trust to take care of Daisy. One night after babysitting Margaret disappears. What happened to her and what secrets are the other residents hiding?

I listened to the audiobook of this novel, and it alternates between Sloane, Margaret, and Clara, the mother of Margaret's boyfriend (There is also one additional narrator towards the end, can't really go into that without a spoiler.)The various narrators were good and kept my interest to see what would happen.

Overall I found this book rather predictable, and shoving most of the big twists into an extended epilogue felt strange and forced. Why not just have multiple ending chapters? I know the epilogue jumped forward in time, but you can do that with a chapter heading as well. I also felt like many of the major reveals happened off the page, and then the reader is basically just told about them after the fact.

Bottom line: a decent thriller if you can overlook a few shortcomings.

You Must Be New Here is one of those suburban suspense novels that pulls you in with its quiet charm and keeps you on edge with its growing unease. Sloane Thompson is your typical mom-next-door—juggling school events, co-parenting with her ex, and trying to find her place in the picture-perfect town of Sycamore Glen. But beneath the surface of this seemingly peaceful neighborhood lies something much darker.

The moment Harper and Ben move in next door, everything shifts. Harper’s magnetic personality draws Sloane into a fast, almost intoxicating friendship that feels too good to be true. When Margaret, the town’s reliable teen babysitter, suddenly vanishes, the book takes a sharp turn into mystery and psychological tension. And let me tell you—I was not prepared for all the secrets that would come out.

Katie Sise does a great job of building suspense while dropping subtle clues that kept me second-guessing everything. I definitely didn’t see the twists coming and had my theories flipped upside down more than once! If you enjoy domestic thrillers with complex female relationships and small-town secrets, this is a solid pick.

I knocked off one star only because the pacing in a few spots slowed down, but the payoff in the end was totally worth it. Highly recommend to anyone who loves a story full of suspense, secrets, and unexpected turns.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

This was just okay. It felt a little like a Big Little Lies rip off but not as fleshed out.

I figured out who did it pretty quick, but the narratives of multiple players wasnt bad, it just wasnt super necessary either.

Please check out trigger warnings before reading this book!!

This one was okay for me. It’s domestic thriller set in a wealthy neighborhood full of scandals, drama, and so many secrets. The pacing was a little slow, but I was engaged enough to keep going. The plot was pretty predictable, but I still wanted to see how it played out.

What stuck with me most was how SAD AND UPSETTING this book was, especially in how it reflects the kind of predatory behavior some men get away with!! I listened to the audiobook, and the full cast made it easy to keep up with the multiple POVs.

This was my first Katie Sise book, and anlthough the characters in this book felt a little flat (this might be an me thing!), I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.

This was so great! I love the mystery in the cover and I think you should pick this one up!! Definitely recommend listening!!!


Thank you to the author and NETGALLEY for this ALC

You must be new here is a twist and turn of a book. It kept you guessing. There is several characters in the book, so sometimes it was difficult to keep everyone straight

After loving Katie Sise's previous books, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of her latest, You Must Be New Here, and it did not disappoint. It's tragic and dark, revolving around the disappearance of Margaret, but there's so much more about female friendship, revenge, and keeping secrets. The multiple perspectives really worked to advance the story, and this is one that I will be recommending to all my thriller-loving friends!

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 is a scandalous domestic thriller.
A bit predictable, and sometimes hard to follow with all of the characters, but very entertaining.
When a young girl goes missing in the beautiful community of Sycamore Glen, mysteries and drama are brought to light.
This is an easy read and a great listen. Thank you netgalley for the arc!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This is a thriller told by multiple POV... which is my favorite. But I feel like tis one fell a little short for me.

So many red herrings, so little time. I fell for them all so I call that a success. The narrators did a great job. There were several times there were awkward emphases that threw me off but nothing major. This is one of those stories where you don’t know what to believe. I appreciate how even during the flashback chapters, it doesn’t feel super YA. There were a lot of subplots involved and honestly I enjoyed them all. The epilogue really wrapped everything up in a satisfactory way. It don’t feel like any holes were left in the story at all which I always enjoy. Domestic thrillers can kind of blend together after a while so I am happy when I finish one and don’t feel like I’ve read multiple versions of the same story.

Sloane lives alone with her eight year old daughter Daisy in the small town of Sycamore Bay. When new neighbors Ben and Harper move in next door m, she is hopeful that they can become friends.

When Daisy's teenage babysitter Margaret goes missing after looking after her, Sloane is beside herself. What could have happened to the young woman?

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The characters were so well defined and the narrators did a wonderful job of voicing them. Much of the action comes from examining the relationships between the neighbors, until Margaret goes missing and the book then skews into thriller territory, and it does it well.

I received this advance audio copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Sloane, a devoted mother living in the peaceful town of Sycamore Glen with her daughter Daisy, longs for a true friend in a community that she feels distant from. Her wish comes true when Harper and Ben Wilson move in next door, and Sloane quickly forms a close bond with Harper. However, their newfound friendship is shattered when Daisy's reliable babysitter, Margaret, mysteriously disappears. As the search for Margaret intensifies, long-hidden secrets in Sycamore Glen begin to surface, revealing that many residents are not who they appear to be.

I am pretty indifferent about this one. Not great but not bad I guess. The book's pacing felt slow, with major plot developments only starting around 40% in, making it hard for me to stay engaged in the beginning. The plot itself was predictable, following a very common domestic thriller storyline of a missing teenager and immediate suspicion on both her boyfriend and the new neighbors. While there were a few surprising twists in the subplot, they weren't enough to significantly improve the overall plot. I liked the multiple viewpoints, and how those explored the different personal experiences that each of the characters had with the other individuals in the neighborhood. Overall, it was a decent and easy read, but I don't think this one will stick with me.