I was hooked on The Girl Before from the very beginning. The short chapter writing style flipping between Jane and Emma kept me wanting to read more. I loved how the story continued to get creepier as Jane's story begins to mirror Emma's so closely.

I sometimes got mixed up with which girl I was reading about because I was so engrossed in the book, but I thought the author did a good job of differentiating between the two girls and their distinct personalities.

Jane Cavendish is looking for a fresh start. She is recovering from the loss of a child and thinks that a fresh start is just what she needs. One Fulgate Street in London is a home with a history. It's owner is the world renowned architect, Edward Monkford, and he has a set of rules and requirements for anybody who inhabits his homes. There is an extensive application process that starts with the demand "Please make a list of every possession you consider essential to your life." Jane passes the rigorous application process and now must adhere to rules such as "no books" and "no clutter". The house is fully automated right down to a survey she has to regularly take so the "house" can gauge her progress towards being a better person. The house will even withhold services like water in the shower until she completes the survey.
One day she notices a man leaving flowers at her door and Jane discovers that a former tenant died tragically. Emma moved to One Fulgate Street after the flat she shared with her boyfriend, Simon, was broken into. Jane becomes invested in Emma and her story while becoming intimately involved with Edward Monkord. Once she becomes acutely aware of his control issues she realizes that there might be more to Emma's death than she first believed. Will Jane be able to get to the truth before she becomes the next victim to the One Fulgate Street house?

The Girl Before is one of the most unique books that I have read recently. At the heart of the story is a bit of a love triangle, that isn't new, but One Fulgate Street is a setting for a new millennium. Home automation is becoming more and more popular, but Edward Monkford takes it to a scary extreme. The fact that he can control the water in the shower for an off-site location should be utterly terrifying to anybody with a landlord. The list of rules he assigns every tenant is so over-the-top that I can't imagine anybody being willing to agree to the rigidity. In the case of Jane and Emma, I think they agreed because other areas of their lives were out of control and they craved that rigidity to bring order to the world. The story is told in alternating voices - Then: Emma and Now: Jane. The further you get into the book you realize that there are some seriously unbalanced characters in this story. There is a bit of a revelation at the end that through me for a loop, but it didn't shock me that much. --CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS -

Bottom line - The Girl Before is a cleverly written suspense novel. The fact that women willingly submit to such a controlling environment is quite fascinating and the exciting mystery is secondary, in my opinion. If you are looking for a unique thriller - The Girl Before is for you.

Details:
The Girl Before by JP Delaney (a pseudonym for Tony Strong)
On Goodreads
Pages: 352
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: 1/24/2017
Buy it Here!

You'll need to suspend disbelief with J.P. Delaney's The Girl Before (Ballantine, digital galley), which is full of coincidences about the successive attractive tenants of a control-freak architect's custom London mansion. Neither Emma nor Jane is willing to look the gift house in the mouth, even though the rental agreement has about 200 ridiculous rules -- no books, no pictures on the wall, no rugs on the floor -- and also poses intrusive ethical questions. Really?
from On a Clear Day I Can Read Forever

If you’ve stopped by the library lately, maybe you’ve seen the Pickett’s Picks bulletin board, Spring 2017 Edition! It features brand new books from favorite authors, intriguing debut novels, must-read crossover releases, and at least one jaw-dropping cover (can you guess which one?*). Here are just a few of the books that I’m looking forward to reading and sharing with students at Ridley High School during the upcoming semester. What are YOUR picks for the coming months?? Leave me a comment, or stop by the library to let me know. Happy Reading in 2017!

The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney (January, 2017)
A psychological thriller that spins one woman’s seemingly good fortune, and another woman’s mysterious fate, through a kaleidoscope of duplicity and deception. The must-read thriller of the season? Yes, please!

*Bad Romance by Heather Demetrios (June, 2017)
When Grace and Gavin fall in love, Grace is sure it’s too good to be true. She has no idea their relationship will become a prison she’s unable to escape. This is a heartfelt story about spiraling into darkness … and emerging into the light again.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber (January, 2017)
Welcome to Caraval! It’s more than just a game or a performance; it’s the closest you’ll ever find to magic in this world … And whatever you’ve heard, it doesn’t compare to the reality. Get caught up in this sweeping tale of two sisters who escape their ruthless father when they enter the dangerous intrigue of a legendary game.

The Edge of Everything by Jeff Giles (January, 2017)
When their worlds collide, a Montana girl named Zoe and a bounty hunter called X grapple with the ultimate sacrifice in order to be together in this cinematic, star-crossed debut.

The You I’ve Never Known by Ellen Hopkins (January, 2017)
Bestselling author Ellen Hopkins has penned a new novel in verse that poses an impossible question: How do you live your life if your past is based on a lie?

Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham (February, 2017)
When 17-year old Rowan Chase finds a skeleton on her family’s property, she has no idea that investigating the brutal murder will lead to a summer of painful discoveries about the past… and the present.

Everything You Want Me to Be by Mindy Mejia (January, 2017)
Full of twists and turns, this mesmerizing crossover novel reconstructs a year in the life of a beguiling young woman, during which a small town’s darkest secrets come to the forefront…and she inches closer and closer to mortal danger.

Nemesis by Brendan Reichs (March, 2017)
Orphan Black meets Lord of the Flies in this riveting new thriller from the co-author of the Virals series. What more needs to be said?

A List of Cages by Robin Roe (January, 2017)
Adam Blake has landed the best elective ever: serving as an aide to the school psychologist. Until she asks him to track down the troubled freshman who keeps dodging her. Adam discovers that the boy is Julian – the foster brother he hasn’t seen in five years. Adam is determined to help Julian, but his involvement could cost both boys their lives.

Gem & Dixie by Sara Zarr (April, 2017)
Renowned young adult author Sara Zarr returns with this deep, nuanced, and gorgeously written story about the complex relationship between two sisters from a broken home. This is an unforgettable story of breaking apart and of coming together again.

This book was a bit odd to me. I don't even know how to put into words what I think. The story line was there but I just feel the author could have done a bit better then what he did. The whole "daddy" thing was just disturbing.

This story is told in alternating chapters. A chapter about Emma followed by a chapter for Jane and so on. They both lived at One Folgate Street, at different times, and had almost obsessive needs to reside in this “living” house. In order to live in the home, potential residents have to fill out questionnaires and submit to an interview with the architect, Edward Monkford to see if they can pass his “test.”

Once each woman moves in, their lives become increasingly dramatic. Unfortunately, for me, I did not enjoy the drama. It seemed immature, forced, and, incomplete (some scenes didn’t make much sense, leaving me with questions or a general feeling of confusion). Before I touch on that, I want to go back to when I called One Folgate Street a “living” house. I have to be careful not to type home instead of house, because this is not a home in my opinion and I don’t see how it could function as one for any person, other than Spock, who is technically a Vulcan. One Folgate is managed by Housekeeper (a computer/virtual housemanager/control center) who asks the women questions and if they do not answer the questions, certain parts of the house will shut down. The shower may only spray freezing cold water, or the stove will not turn on…time to check Housekeeper to see if there are new questions. There are also a litany of rules as to how the occupant is to treat the house, dos and don’ts, and check-ins with Edward Monkford, and gosh does he have ulterior motives. Edward chooses these women to live in his house for specific reasons that reveal themselves over the course of the book.

I felt confused by this book, creeped out, underwhelmed, and I wonder how they are going to make a movie out of this. So many things are strange and make zero to little sense. Edward’s behavior in unprofessional and bizarre, Emma’s and Jane’s behavior become erratic and their personalities seem to change for the worse the longer they are in the house. And the twists and turns. Oh, the twists and turns. There are almost too many. Too much is happening and I began to experience information overload. But while so many things were happening, the characters do not develop much. Everything and everyone, except the house, seems very one-dimensional. At times I found myself feeling embarrassed for the characters because of their behaviors.

I really wanted to love this book and the potential is there, it really is. The story did not develop completely for me and as I mentioned above, the character development was almost non-existent

Two women have terrible things happen to them, so they punish themselves further by living in a house devoid of life, and forging a creepy relationship with the equally damaged architect.

I was excited about this because I'm a huge Ruth Rendell fan, but I could not get past the horrific description of losing a baby. Sorry - it will never be the right time in my life for that. It's already a best seller with a too hot to hold list at my library, so I'll be sure to recommend it to fans of psychological sexual thrillers

This WAS definitely a captivating & original tale..... I enjoyed it & finished it quickly - also understand there is to be a movie made & I'll want to see it.... but I also understand some of the reviewer's frustration about how the storyline seemed to trickle down there at the end. Again, overall an excellent read though… Pick it up and take a gander! Would like to thank netgalley and RandomHouse/Ballentine for the opportunity to read and review this!

Thanks so much for the ARC! I didn't enjoy this one as much as I thought I would.

Thanks Netgalley, Penguin Publishing and JP Delaney for this ARC. I love when chapters of a book bounce back and forth. All the characters intertwined nicely, the stories mixing together, and the ending as to who killed Emma and who didn't kill Edwards wife and son was well done. I must say, Edward was a unique character ! Would definitely recommend this book.

What an incredible piece of art this book is! The Girl Before is a suspense novel by J.P. Delaney, that's about Emma and Jane who live at One Folgate Street at different times. To each woman, there is a mystery about the house that they feel a strong need to uncover. The characters are likable and realistic. Both Emma and Jane have been through traumatic experiences recently before they move in and are vulnerable. The architect of the house requires an extensive application process to live in the house which in turn forces the reader to evaluate what you can and can’t live without. The architect, Edward, is very mysterious and alluring. One Folgate Street, which is cold, stark and minimalistic, has all high tech gadgets that make it seem like its alive at times. Each woman settles in nicely to the house and that is when they realize that not only do they have to change the way they live but that the house changes them too.

The writing style is a bit awkward at times since each chapter switched characters. Easy enough to follow, but at some points had to go back and read the last line of the chapter pertaining to that character. There are a few twists that I enjoyed, I love when a story is unpredictable.

I was disappointed in the ending, I had grown to really like some of the characters and even relate to them and then decisions made and things said in the final chapters ruined them for me. I will always appreciate Jane and her strong will. Not a fan of Emma. The biggest surprise to me was the reveal of just who the author meant with the title The Girl Before since it is not who I pictured it being about. I can’t go any more into depth without revealing spoilers.

I absolutely recommend to anyone who wants a little something different. I am not usually into suspense but thought this one sounded interesting and it ended up having a bit of romance too. I read this book in about a week (pretty fast for me) and would have finished sooner had I not been afraid to read it while home alone.

4.5/5 stars

This novel by J.P. Delaney focuses on two main characters, Emma and Jane. Emma was the victim of a burglary and feels uncomfortable in her own home. She and her boyfriend Simon begin searching for a new home. During the search, the couple is introduced to One Folgate Street. Emma soon falls in love with the home and the couple decide to move in.
Jane is recovering from the heartbreak of stillbirth. She wants a new home so that she isn't constantly reminded of the child she lost. Jane is also introduced to One Folgate Street and she also falls in love with the home.
Both women enjoy the home at first, until their paths cross with the same man and suddenly they begin to wonder, is there more to One Folgate Street than what meets the eye?

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars. I enjoyed the premise of the book. Would you live in a architectural masterpiece for almost nothing in exchange for adhering to pages and pages of rules and lack of privacy? As I continued reading, however, I had a sense of deja vu a couple of times, like I had read this book before. It didn't seem original except for the "house rules." It was a decent read and there was a surprise ending but the characters weren't terribly original. I heard they're making it into a movie as well?

This is a really good psychological thriller. It tells the story of 2 women, Emma is telling her story from the past (mostly because she is dead) and Jane who has her own set of issues and becomes obsessed with finding out what exactly happened to Emma. Both of these women are at a point in their lives where living in an austere house with a million rules to follow has an appeal. Emma because she has experienced a robbery and the security of the house appeals to her, and Jane because her daughter was stillborn and needs to begin her life again. Finding out what actually happened to Emma is central to the story and it becomes a sort of cautionary tale for Jane who intends to avoid the mistakes that led to Emma's death. The story really draws the reader in and all of the twists and turns lead to a great story. I definitely recommend it.

You've finally found the perfect rental. It's a beautiful home in a lovely area and, best of all, the fees are far below what you would expect for a home like this. The catch is that the architect is unbelievably picky about who is allowed to live there. The application consists of pages and pages of questions that seem to have nothing to do with renting a property; questions like these:

You are involved in a traffic accident that you know is your fault. The other driver is confused and seems to think she caused the crash. Do you tell the police it was her fault or yours?

You have a choice between saving Michelangelo's statue of David or a starving street child. Which do you choose?

I have no time for people who don't strive to better themselves. Agree or disagree?

In addition to all the strange questions, all applicants are required to attend an interview and to agree to an extensive list of very strict rules, any of which if broken constitute immediate eviction. Would it be worth it? The Girl Before by JP Delaney follows two women, Emma in the past and Jane in the present, who have decided that it is worth it and even look forward to how living in this strange home may change, and hopefully improve, their lives. It all seems wonderful until each of the women discovers a mystery related to the house. The architect is his own mystery and neither of the women has any reluctance discovering his strange secrets.

I felt like this book was very well done. While written in alternating chapters, one from Emma in the past, one from Jane in the present, never does the author repeat herself. Separate bits of information are shared through each of the women, but the reader is aware that both characters have uncovered the same information. The author also inserts just enough strange information that the reader knows it must be a clue, increasing the suspense.

There have been plenty of comparisons to The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl. Sure it has the word "Girl" in the title and it is a mystery featuring women, but you can read my previous rant about calling every new book "the next whatever" in my review of The Girl on the Train. No need to repeat it here. The point I'm making is that if you liked those books, sure, you'll probably like this one, too, but can't we just let books stand on their own?

This book really had me going; I was talking out loud to my Kindle and even had trouble sitting still reading it a few times. The characters are all flawed in some way, and some much more than others. I could occasionally be heard shouting, "Why?! Why would you do that?!", perhaps even by the neighbors. This book was exciting and gripping and a lot of fun to read. One caution that I will offer: there are some scenes that are a bit graphic, not unlike Gone Girl, so take that into consideration if that's something that bothers you. I always hate to recommend a book without mentioning that when it applies.

I think this would make a fantastic book club pick. Plenty of conversation starters and then you and your friends can all freak out together.

The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney

I must admit this book sat waiting for me to pick it to read for quite awhile, 4 months to be exact. I had heard such good things about it and I honestly didn't want to be disappointed. Too much hype surrounding a book release often leads to let down in my literary experience. I’m happy to say, this book was well worth all the buzz and more! However, now I need to try to sum up my reading experience without ruining it for anyone else….hmmmmm. Here I go!

The Girl Before alternated seamlessly chapter by chapter between its two main characters, Emma and Jane. The story was told both in the present day with Jane and in the past with Emma. Both women were reeling from personal tragedy and searching for big changes in their lives. Jane was looking for a new place to live after suffering through the stillbirth of her first child. Emma had experienced a home invasion and was held at knife point. The exact events that occurred during the attack have been blurred by the trauma. She wanted to mremember the attack, but also forget at the same time.

At the different times in the book, both of the women were shown the same home...the spectacular minimalistic house - One Folgate Street. The house was extraordinary. The house was the winner of architectural awards, its design was simple and sleek. But this house had a violent history and a determined, unwavering owner, Edward Monkford. Edward had a reputation of being a handful to deal with. The application process, the rules, and the way of life that the Edward demanded of you to live in this house, would have made the average person run away. But not these two, they were blinded by the beauty and the idea of a simplistic lifestyle allured their senses.

The twisting tale of these women and their experiences with the house and Edward kept me up at night, and reading until the wee hours of the morning. In my personal down times, I found myself contemplating where the plot was heading, and who was the true villain in the story? I changed my mind over and over. If you ask me that's the true sign of great storytelling! That and the fact that I feel like I can't put all my thoughts on this one into this one review. It’s a disservice to how good this book was!

Now, with that being said I don't think this book is for every reader - as most aren’t. I think people who enjoy mystery and thrillers will love it. The people who like to identify with the characters may not. I personally didn't really like any of the characters. Jane was probably the most likeable for me. Edward was a big double thumbs down, a real turn off for me! I don't care how good looking and powerful you are or pretend to be, no one is going to tell me how to live! End of story!

There is so much more I could write about this one, but in the end it's meant to be experienced by the reader as it's written, without bias...so I will end with just a gentle push - go ahead, read it, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Ballantine, and J.P. Delaney for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I enjoyed every moment and I am anxiously awaiting the next book, and the upcoming movie as well!

So glad this is a book for I would NEVER want to be a part of this psychological thriller. Thrilling to be sure.

There's not much I can say about this one that won't give away spoilers, but I didn't like it. It was like a weird mystery, watered down version of Fifty Shades of Grey. Edward, an architect, has designed a futuristic, minimalist house on One Folgate Street. Its renters must adhere to dozens of rules. Edward is weird, but so are the women-Emma, from the past, and Jane, who is currently living there. Nothing seemed to fit or make sense, especially the ending when the mystery is "solved." It wasn't scary, just a little creepy and confusing, and the storyline seemed jumbled. If you're looking for a good thriller, skip on this one.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.

A must-read, must-discuss, must-share book, interesting and well-crafted.

I got the ARC for this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, but after a hundred or so pages in the ARC expired so I had to wait till the book was actually out so I could continue on with it. It tells the story of two women, Emma (before) and Jane (after), both of them having lived through a traumatizing experience very recently and now looking after a fresh start. When they decide to move in to austere and strict One Folgate Street, a house with a mysterious and tragic past, and get involved with it's architect, Edward Monkfort, it may be exactly what they need. Except that not everything is as it seems and their lives will be changed forever.

This was an interesting book, because we are pulled along through most of it certain that we know what's going on and believing everything we've been told only to find out 2/3 in that NOTHING is as we thought it was. Since the book is told through 2 different POV's, we're used to rely on our MC's telling us the truth, since we see the events through their eyes and have access to their thoughts and feelings. Except when our MC is being fooled, there's no reason to doubt what's being told from their perspective. But our narrators are unreliable here, one more so than the other, and we realize at the end of the book that we've been played one way or another all along. There were other surprises through the book, even the mystery of who was 'the girl before' - it's absolutely no one you will think of during the read and the actual answer makes sense once it's out there (you just never thought it up as a possibility until that moment). And while this made the book interesting and different and exciting, it is not to say that it doesn't have it's flaws.

Edward Monkfort was this uncomfortable character (he's super douchy, tbh), and I couldn't like him at all. His role in the entire thing was just to be creepy and sketchy and basically for you to suspect him at all times. Other than that, he's pretty forgetable (and he's supposed to be a main character, ugh). The pace was also something that I struggled with. It was interesting at the beginning, but after a 100 pages or so, the plot failed to move at all and it dragged for me until it finally picked up towards the end and it got me invested again. This is one of the reasons why it took me a while to finally finish it, and the book suffered from this.

Overall, it's a book I would recommend, mainly because I liked getting into these two women's head and the fact that I couldn't see the ending coming. 3 stars.