This was a different type of story. While the book follows two women, they way it's written is intriguing. The chapters alternate between both women.

From the then to the now we are afforded a look into both women's lives and what has brought them to One Folgate Street. While each could not be more different than the other, there are traits and similarities that they both share. Similarities that are enough to be a danger to themselves and the men that they fall in with.

One Folgate Street itself is like a dream come true. While there are a lot of stipulations to living there, you are in a smart house. A house that assesses you and helps you to become a better person. From lighting that helps with depressions to reading hormone levels, the house is scarily in sync with the user. An updated and modern version of Diney's Smarthouse movie.

While I did enjoy the overall story line and how the characters were/interacted, I found the story to be a little slow. For me the progression seemed to drag, going over the same type of details repeatedly. It was almost as if the person needed multiple goes before being able to come to the conclusion that they had been seeing all along.

Overall a story that will keep your interest and leave you reeling towards the end.

The Girl Before by JP Delaney
This is the story of Emma and Jane, two women who, a year apart in time, need a change and a new place to live. Emma is recovering emotionally from a rape and Jane from a stillbirth. There appears to be one place on the rental market in their price range. One Folgate Street is an architectural wonder, concrete, glass, wired to trace a person’s every nuanced move, it seems too good to be true. But there are issues and not just anyone is allowed to rent this house. The owner wants photographs, letters and if approved for an interview, there is a long and personally intense questionnaire.
In their own time, both women are approved to live there. The house can be very unsettling or very comforting, depending on your state of mind, and in the case of both women, that state of mind is very sensitive. The owner maintains complete control of the house and the house responds electronically to any indiscretion. There are rules: no pets, children, throw pillows, rugs, dishes out of place, flowers, nothing intrudes on the starkness of the house. One can either feel very spooked here or very safe.
Emma meets an untimely death and her death is something Jane wants and needs to learn more about. Her inquiry and snooping around in the owner’s life makes for a strained relationship that puts Jane in her own danger zone.
As with the other books this is compared to, Gone Girl, Girl on a Train, the ‘girl’ books have almost become their own genre. Psycho-mystery? As with the other ‘girl’ books this one has twists and turns. While you are on one path and it makes sense, you also know in the back of your mind that if you are trying to figure out the twist you should have taken the other fork in the road. It has a twist, as they all do.

This book was going along just fine until the end. Unfortunately, the end tainted feelings towards the rest of the book and makes this read a 3-star verses a 4-star.

The Girl Before is told in alternating chapters - Then: Emma and Now: Jane. Emma, who is reeling from a traumatic break-in wants a new place to live. Jane, after the loss of a child needs a fresh start. Both are drawn to One Folgate Street. The house is an architectural masterpiece. But there are LOTS of rules: no books, no throw pillows, no photos or clutter or personal effects of any kind.

I couldn’t believe that Emma and Jane were able to live like the occupants of One Folgate Street were required to. However, I was able to suspend belief and keep reading because I felt a great sense of intrigue and suspense. What was going to happen? I had to keep reading to find out. The who done it genuinely surprised me but was quickly passed over for something else. I felt I was rushed too quickly into the next surprise. This next surprise disgusted me. I’m not going to tell you what the next surprise is because I don’t want to spoil the story for you. I’ll only say that it really disgusted me and ruined the nice feelings I had for Jane.

Overall, I encourage you to read this book. As I mentioned, it kept me reading because I sensed a good mystery coming my way. I was only disappointed in the ending. But maybe it will be just the ending you’re looking for?

n interesting premise. A minimalist flat is available to rent but with hundreds of conditions and covenants. Not something I could ever do, by the way. I love my possessions, especially my books. And no pets? Never. But anyway….

The story is told in alternating chapters between past and present. Both women who chose the house have suffered loss or harm - a break-in while she was home by one and the loss of an unborn child by the other. So, they have their reasons for choosing something so different. In between the chapters, there are questions from the questionnaire the landlord gives prospective tenants, just so you can see how strange it all really is.

This book was a mixed message for me. Some ideas were interesting, like the Japanese cultural ideas that Edward espouses. Or Jane’s comparing of her relationship with Edward to palimpsest or pentimento. But other things just really freaked me out. Like ikizukuri, which is just barbaric. I know, I'm freaked out at the idea of eating live seafood when this is a book about murder. But that sort of thing really sets the tone. There's also a dominance and sex theme. Not talking 50 Shades here, but the man having all the control and calling all the shots. Just not my cup of tea. I had no fondness for any of the main characters either.

There's a decent twist towards the end of the book that keeps it interesting and then the ending is positively wild and engrossing. I'm really torn how to rate this. The first ¾ of the book was two stars, but the last ¼ was close to a four for excitement. Guess I'm going with a three.

And what is it with the use of “girl” in titles, for pete’s sake? Emma is a woman.

My thanks to netgalley and Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this book.

I wasn't surprised to read that this book has been optioned for a movie- it reads cinematically, and the tension and possibility for a good film is there. The alternating perspectives of Emma (then) and Jane (now) were interesting as you learned more about them and their similarities (and the symmetry of their experiences living in the house and interacting with the enigmatic architect). The pacing was fairly good, and overall it was a solid if not groundbreaking psychological thriller.