Member Reviews
Why on earth did I put off reading Burlington by Heather Dixon for so long? I had a hunch I would love it and I was absolutely right!
I went into this book thinking it was a thriller and although it is suspenseful, it did not really fit into that genre... but never once did my unmet expectations detract me from enjoying this story! After reading what Dixon said about Burlington, it's just not a book that fits perfectly into one solitary box and she never wrote it to do so. It's one of those overlapping genre books, the kind of which I enjoy and I found myself loving this book all the more for it! Instead of the thriller vibes I expected, it's a little bit domestic suspense, a little bit mystery and a little bit realistic fiction. This book is about motherhood and friendship and everything those relationships entail!
I instantly connected with main character Mae Roberts in short because I related to her lifestyle so much; stay at home mum life, school drop offs, conversations with friends, and the fear of not fitting in all resonated with me. Our lives mirroring one another's was the perfect dose of reality injected into this work of fiction and honestly made me question the conformity in my own day to day life! Mae continuously represented a universal truth of motherhood: constantly thinking about her upbringing, making decisions to avoid her young daughters repeating that same childhood. As I sorted out what genre this book was, and as the story progressed, occasionally I questioned if Mae was an unreliable narrator; she never contradicted what she said, but I enjoyed how there were times of overlapping timeline events that made me question her slightly. (These missteps really fit the book well, as memories are never linear, especially once motherhood comes into play!)
The riveting way this story was written made for an extremely propulsive and quick read; it hummed along towards a perfectly fitting ending in all its small town look-the-other-way glory!
What happens when you mix Stepford Wives and Mean Girls? You get Burlington!
Thank you NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing Co. for the complimentary copy to read and review.
I’m struggling to come to terms with what this book was supposed to be. I think Dixon was aiming for psychological thriller but every detail was given from the first page so there wasn’t really any surprise or twist or shock.
Mae is mind-numbingly dull. I kept falling asleep reading about the minute details of her day and how pleased she was with her many shopping trips and cleaning and school runs. And it’s not because she’s a stay-at-home mum - it’s because she’s so fucking boring. She would change her mind within the same sentence and I was just expected to go along with her constantly changing mood and mindset?
None of these characters were interesting but it’s hard to tell if this is due to their inconsistent personalities or because we’re viewing them through Mae’s self-centred perspective.
I’ve been told I should add some positives about the book if I want to rate it two stars. which I guess means I need to drop it down to one star? Because I honestly in this moment can’t pick out anything I liked about Burlington. Which is unfortunate.
This was definitely not what I was expecting and it wasn't a pleasant surprise either. The MC is wishy washy at best and there was nothing in this story that kept me interested in it.
What was on the surface a mystery about two missing mothers is actually a much deeper commentary about women's friendships and the lengths one goes to fit in. I had true empathy for Mae, as her situation was very one to one I personally experienced after moving a few years ago. The Characters and situation (minus the murder, hopefully) were quite recognizable and relatable. I really enjoyed reading this, and I was surprised to find out that this was actually a debut novel. That being the case, I am excited to read what Heather Dixon writes next. Have been recommending this, and will continue to do so!
These mothers were horrible! If you love unlikable characters in books, pick this one up! There was lots of drama, people behaving badly, and twists.
sharply written page turner. Opening with a seemingly normal day at school drop off, except one of the moms has disappeared. And Mae Roberts doesn’t understand why no one seems bothered by this. Not only does it leave you wondering what happened, it also explores the toxic side of mom-ships. A perfect book club pick, or read on your own, but expect to lose sleep because you’ll be up all night devouring it!
I was excited for this dark academia esque thriller but it sadly fell flat for me. It was a bit confusing and ultimately boring for me
A thrilling domestic drama of neighborhood community, mom cliques and murder. The suspense is highly addictive and I loved to hate the mommy cliques which of course rubs off on to the children.
I have lived in three countries other than my home country in the past decade or so, and each time, I managed to live on the fringes as an expat/outsider by not having the need to interact on a daily basis with any kind of society, be it people from my home country or the locals. We lived a little like Hermits, which is only feasible if you are a self-sufficient couple (or so I feel). The minute children are in the picture and need to attend some form of gathering, the social context becomes more pronounced for the parents.
I am now a few years away from that, and I cannot predict which country I will be in then, but it is not something I am very eager to embrace after having been away from society for so long.
I begin with this long-winded point just to emphasise what this book is about.
Our lead protagonist is a reasonably young mother who decides to be a stay-at-home mother in a new town when her husband gets a job that can afford them the luxury of moving to a more fancy location and setting up a home in a way that neither has been used to. Then, the ominous atmosphere starts to trickle into their lives.
In this suburban area, the local stay-at-home mothers have formed a clique, and things do not go well for those who stray from the accepted norms.
I liked the way the people were introduced and the conflict in Mae's mind as she clings to her family and what brings her happiness. I think the reveals were a little too dramatic for me. It is not unrealistic to imagine them happening, but given the pacing of the rest of the story, I felt it a little jarring.
I think people who read this genre more often will find themselves more comfortable with the plot.
I liked the author's writing and would recommend her to fans of the genre. I would definitely pick up another of her works if I get the chance.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
I read roughly 50% of this one and couldn’t get through the rest. Perhaps it was because I had just read a bunch of domestic thrillers but the characters did not engage me enough to want to see the story through to the end.
A suspenseful story about the challenges of motherhood and the pressure to be perfect. Though Mae has it all, she still struggles to fit in with the wealthy moms she encounters in Burlington. The story delves into suburban life, the choice to become a stay at home, and proving your worth even though you've technically "made it." An interesting read.
You’re quickly drawn into the lives of the wealthy residents of Burlington.
It’s a suburban drama with yummy mummies behaving badly.
“Mae Roberts is certain her new life in the suburbs with her family will be everything she’s always wanted. That is, until one of the mothers from her daughter’s school goes missing”
Mae must decide what’s more important - fitting in or uncovering the truth
A domestic suspenseful drama that delves into the realities of parenthood and the choices we’re sometimes forced to take and the lengths we’ll go to, to maintain a facade.
Gripping and intriguing, loved the mystery surrounding the missing woman and how it panned out.
Thanks @hdixonwriter @RAPubCollective and @netgalley for the eARC
Mae Roberts is certain her new life in the suburbs with her family will be everything she’s always wanted. That is, until one of the mothers from her daughters’ school goes missing.
Burlington was a perfect mystery/thriller set in the backdrop of wealthy suburbia. It asks a multitude if questions: what would you do to fit in? How far are you willing to go before you break? Mae has to answer these questions while simultaneously trying to figure out what has happened to her friend, who has mysteriously disappeared. This book kept me on my toes and so intrigued throughout reading. I highly recommend.
Thank you to @netgalley and @risingactionpublishingco for letting me review this book.
The book was billed as a domestic thriller, a genre I usually do not gravitate towards- a mix of Stepford Wives & Mean Girls- but after going to college in Vermont, I thought I’d try this out. I went along with the beginning because I could totally understand moving to a new place with kiddos and wanting to find a new community with the kids parents. It didn’t keep me In suspense, felt more like a slow burn domestic drama with some mystery and thrill at the end. I may not have been the target audience, but could see it lending to a good book club discussion.
This book had plenty of interesting twists and turns. I enjoyed it a lot, even if it didn't feel especially "new" -- but it was a very good debut and I will absolutely read more of the author's work in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing Co. for the chance to read this book!
Great setting, smooth prose, but the characters were a bit flat. The resolution and ultimate twists were terrific--wish the writer had had better editing help in the middle of the book.
What a fantastic read ! This was the perfect pace, full of shocks and twists throughout the whole book. I loved it and can't wait to read this Author again .
I love a good neighbourhood drama story! This one revolves around Mae who has recently moved to a new suburb with her family. She initially tries to make friends with the mothers at the new school where her children attend but she finds the women a bit intense and intimidating. The more Mae integrates into their inner circle the more apprehensive she becomes especially when two of the mothers go missing. Surpislngly no one seems to be too worried about them and this is when Mae decides she has to do something. This was definitely an interesting suspense story that I flew through.
In her impressive debut novel, Heather Dixon delivers an engrossing thrill ride of a read that’s very Big Little Lies meets The Stepford Wives with a whole lot of twists thrown in for good measure.
Mae Roberts thought she’d be living her dream life in the suburbs but after one of the moms—the only one who made any kind of attempt to get to know Mae—disappears she has to question if moving to Burlington was a good idea. When she finds herself finally admitted into the inner circle of Riverpark Elementary’s exclusive clique, she learns the deeper truth about these women and the web of lives they’ve all woven. And then another mom disappears…
This fast paced story pulls you into Mae’s world where no one speaks the truth and everyone has something to hide. It’s a story about trying to fit in, feeling alone in the act of motherhood, and how far someone will go to protect what they think is important.
BURLINGTON is the perfect suburban mom suspense with lots of tension and misdirection that will have you guessing all the way through to the end.
My thanks to Rising Action Publishing for the advance reading copy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Loved this fast paced thriller. I enjoy neighborhood thriller books and this one did not disappoint at all. Well written first book for this author. I really
Liked the character of Mae as well. And other characters were easy to dislike but they weren’t horrible.