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erinbrook's review
1.0
First of all, I do appreciate the arc and I feel terrible for the review. I really am sorry, but here we go...
This was one of the worst books I've read in a while.
Starting with the very beginning. Newly divorced woman with a kindergartner moves into an apartment and within a week has fallen for her neighbor. At one point she even states that he's such a good boyfriend and father figure to her daughter. Bruhhhhhh. I was a single mom for a long time, and I PROMISE you that not only was I not introducing my kids to my newest fling after a week, but I guarantee they absolutely wouldn't be called a father figure. She screamed stereotypical desperate divorcee, and it really bothered me--for the sake of her daughter.
Her daughter just so happens to get a scholarship to a prestigious elementary school (which for whatever reason, she felt the need to tell all other moms within their first conversation) and she gets a deal on a Chicago apartment because someone else broke their lease. It's just all too convenient.
This book has most stereotypical characters. Desperate single mom, bubbly neighbor, "emo" neighbor, rich older neighbor who loves your daughter, and hot neighbor. Don't even get me started on how often tattoos were used when describing the characters we weren't supposed to like.
Also the descriptions reminded me of a YA novel, not an adult psychological thriller. See example:
"Bridget stood in the hallway, her berry stained lips smiling toward us, and a bottle of Chardonnay gripped in her hand. Designer jeans hugged her legs, tapering down to trendy ankle boots. Her eyes popped beneath Smokey eyeshadow, and silver bracelets clinked on her wrists"
This was one of the worst books I've read in a while.
Starting with the very beginning. Newly divorced woman with a kindergartner moves into an apartment and within a week has fallen for her neighbor. At one point she even states that he's such a good boyfriend and father figure to her daughter. Bruhhhhhh. I was a single mom for a long time, and I PROMISE you that not only was I not introducing my kids to my newest fling after a week, but I guarantee they absolutely wouldn't be called a father figure. She screamed stereotypical desperate divorcee, and it really bothered me--for the sake of her daughter.
Her daughter just so happens to get a scholarship to a prestigious elementary school (which for whatever reason, she felt the need to tell all other moms within their first conversation) and she gets a deal on a Chicago apartment because someone else broke their lease. It's just all too convenient.
This book has most stereotypical characters. Desperate single mom, bubbly neighbor, "emo" neighbor, rich older neighbor who loves your daughter, and hot neighbor. Don't even get me started on how often tattoos were used when describing the characters we weren't supposed to like.
Also the descriptions reminded me of a YA novel, not an adult psychological thriller. See example:
"Bridget stood in the hallway, her berry stained lips smiling toward us, and a bottle of Chardonnay gripped in her hand. Designer jeans hugged her legs, tapering down to trendy ankle boots. Her eyes popped beneath Smokey eyeshadow, and silver bracelets clinked on her wrists"
linnaboobooks's review against another edition
4.0
A woman and her young daughter are making a new life for themselves after leaving an abusive husband/father and the toxicity of the woman's mother. With a good deal on an apartment because of the previous tenant breaking the lease, her daughter Lily getting into a good school on a scholarship, and her able to do her insurance job from her home, Rachel is ready to go on with her life.
When little things like finding mail of the only tenant's, Annie, in the mailbox, and a strange wire above the door - she isn't sure if it's her hypersensitivity for safety driving her to imagine things along with all the paranoia and anxiety of her past or if something is genuinely going on that can't be explained away with "Annie left the apartment in the middle of the night".
This book will drive up your anxiety levels if only a little with how well the tension and thoughts of Rachel are written. Which makes her incredibly realistic with her jumping to conclusions on things now and again, the fear she has about her ex, and so many other intrusive thoughts that come along with past trauma.
trigger warnings for: abusive spouse / parent, stalking, paranoia, anxiety, intrusive thoughts.
When little things like finding mail of the only tenant's, Annie, in the mailbox, and a strange wire above the door - she isn't sure if it's her hypersensitivity for safety driving her to imagine things along with all the paranoia and anxiety of her past or if something is genuinely going on that can't be explained away with "Annie left the apartment in the middle of the night".
This book will drive up your anxiety levels if only a little with how well the tension and thoughts of Rachel are written. Which makes her incredibly realistic with her jumping to conclusions on things now and again, the fear she has about her ex, and so many other intrusive thoughts that come along with past trauma.
trigger warnings for: abusive spouse / parent, stalking, paranoia, anxiety, intrusive thoughts.
swiftlyreviews's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc copy of The Girl Before Me by Laura Wolfe! I enjoyed this book quite a bit! I give this 4 stars. I liked the story a lot and the plot twists. I found about half through, it was a little slow and took a while to get to the good stuff. Towards the end, it was awesome! I did not expect the ending at all. I was totally surprised! I did wish we saw more of Rachel’s husband Keith, I thought he was going to be a bigger part of the story. Other than that, I enjoyed it a lot! I will definitely check out some of her other books as well.
booknerd315's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review. This book is set to publish at the end of the month!
This read ended up rating as a 3.5 stars for me. Unfortunately this book was entertaining but for the wrong reasons.
The synopsis of this book is categorized as a gripping psychological thriller. Not much happened that was “thrilling” during the first 75% of the book.
This felt like a woman’s fiction story involving Rachel. There were a few tidbits that felt more like drama.
The most thrilling parts were slammed at you in the last quarter. I think what frustrated me a bit is that there was potential to make this gripping but the author decided to play it safe instead.
It was an all around good read but doesn’t fit into my version of a thriller.
This read ended up rating as a 3.5 stars for me. Unfortunately this book was entertaining but for the wrong reasons.
The synopsis of this book is categorized as a gripping psychological thriller. Not much happened that was “thrilling” during the first 75% of the book.
This felt like a woman’s fiction story involving Rachel. There were a few tidbits that felt more like drama.
The most thrilling parts were slammed at you in the last quarter. I think what frustrated me a bit is that there was potential to make this gripping but the author decided to play it safe instead.
It was an all around good read but doesn’t fit into my version of a thriller.
readwithpitties's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! I Loved the whole plot line of the suburban mom moved the city after a abusive marriage, I feel like i read a lot of suburban drama so the city story line was a nice fresh take to me and i liked it! Rachel was the main character in this novel, and i really liked her she had such strength and determination after leaving her abusive husband and mother behind. She was such a great mother too, like one of the best ones i have read about lately! she loved her daughter lily so much and was so protective and cautious of her no matter what. Alex was her next door neighbour/love interest in this story and i really didn't know what to think of him. He gave me red flags through most of it, and just this vibe like something was a little off. The other characters where not really likeable in this story either, like you wanted to like them but everyone just felt a little iffy, which i think made the slower burn of this novel work well. the thriller twist in the end was really good and i had a little bit of a guess of what it was at one point but it was not my main guess of what was going to happen! The mystery of Annie was also really good add to the story line because it kept you reading to find out!she added little hidden clues thrown into the main story line. I devoured this book in pretty much 24 hours and if your looking for a mom getting back her power and taking control of her life mixed with city vibes, mystery and a thriller all into one than you wont be disappointed. Thank you net gally for a copy of this book for a review!
catreader18's review against another edition
5.0
This was a delightful quick read for me. Rachel and her daughter, Lilly, move into an apartment to start a new chapter of their lives. Then Rachel starts to hear strange noises and thinks it is related the the prior tenant who mysteriously disappeared.
Rachel’s life is hectic right now and the strange things about her apartment are not helping. What I loved about the book was that it captured my attention so much that I didn’t realize what was going on around me. I was in the book, walking with Rachel. I love when I can get lost in a book!
Rachel’s life is hectic right now and the strange things about her apartment are not helping. What I loved about the book was that it captured my attention so much that I didn’t realize what was going on around me. I was in the book, walking with Rachel. I love when I can get lost in a book!
lilyraiti70's review
3.0
This was a quick read that had me hooked from the start.
Rachel is staring over her life with her daughter Lily after a disastrous marriage break up. She moves into a lovely apartment complex in the city while Lily starts at a prestigious private school. It’s not long before Rachel starts feeling weird and unusual vibes from the apartment and some of the tenants, especially once she realises the previous tenant from her apartment vanished without a trace.
There is a plethora of suspects and new encounters for Rachel as she tries to figure out what happened to Annie.
This was a slow burn which I didn’t mind. It had lots of twists and turns and the writing was very atmospheric. It just fell a little flat for me. I didn’t see the twist at the end coming, but I feel it took so long to get there, that by that stage I had lost a little interest.
A fast, twisty and creepy read that I’d recommend to lovers of domestic thrillers. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital review copy.
Rachel is staring over her life with her daughter Lily after a disastrous marriage break up. She moves into a lovely apartment complex in the city while Lily starts at a prestigious private school. It’s not long before Rachel starts feeling weird and unusual vibes from the apartment and some of the tenants, especially once she realises the previous tenant from her apartment vanished without a trace.
There is a plethora of suspects and new encounters for Rachel as she tries to figure out what happened to Annie.
This was a slow burn which I didn’t mind. It had lots of twists and turns and the writing was very atmospheric. It just fell a little flat for me. I didn’t see the twist at the end coming, but I feel it took so long to get there, that by that stage I had lost a little interest.
A fast, twisty and creepy read that I’d recommend to lovers of domestic thrillers. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital review copy.
melaniesreads's review
4.0
3.5 stars
With an ominous prologue this slow burn thriller got off to a great start. It amplified that the one place we should feel safe can be anything but that when we don’t know who we are sharing our space with.
We then get to meet Rachel and her daughter Lily who are moving in to their new apartment block after divorcing husband Keith and serving him with a court order. Just as they are settling in and finally feeling safe with their fresh start a letter arrives and with it a mystery, the sudden disappearance of Annie the previous tenant. With the neighbours keeping schtum you just know there’s more to this than they are letting on. Giving the reader plenty of suspects, not only in regards to Annie but to Rachel no longer feeling safe.
I hate that lone women are often portrayed as vulnerable but unfortunately it’s a true and sad fact. Trying to fit in to a new community we often open up too much and let the wrong people in to our lives. This is definitely the case with Rachel and it leads to her becoming increasingly paranoid.
Taking it upon herself to find answers this then changed direction. You know the classic films like Village of the damned or The Stepford Wives where evil lurks beneath the surface but everyone is still pretending that life is just peachy and perfect. It had those sinister undertones. My only niggle is some of her decision making and the speed of her new relationship considering the marriage she had just got out of.
With some nice twists and a satisfying conclusion this is a creepy little thriller that will make you check your door is locked.
With an ominous prologue this slow burn thriller got off to a great start. It amplified that the one place we should feel safe can be anything but that when we don’t know who we are sharing our space with.
We then get to meet Rachel and her daughter Lily who are moving in to their new apartment block after divorcing husband Keith and serving him with a court order. Just as they are settling in and finally feeling safe with their fresh start a letter arrives and with it a mystery, the sudden disappearance of Annie the previous tenant. With the neighbours keeping schtum you just know there’s more to this than they are letting on. Giving the reader plenty of suspects, not only in regards to Annie but to Rachel no longer feeling safe.
I hate that lone women are often portrayed as vulnerable but unfortunately it’s a true and sad fact. Trying to fit in to a new community we often open up too much and let the wrong people in to our lives. This is definitely the case with Rachel and it leads to her becoming increasingly paranoid.
Taking it upon herself to find answers this then changed direction. You know the classic films like Village of the damned or The Stepford Wives where evil lurks beneath the surface but everyone is still pretending that life is just peachy and perfect. It had those sinister undertones. My only niggle is some of her decision making and the speed of her new relationship considering the marriage she had just got out of.
With some nice twists and a satisfying conclusion this is a creepy little thriller that will make you check your door is locked.