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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
It started well enough. The characters were unlikable but the mystery was intriguing. I genuinely wanted to know what happened to the baby. Then came the twists. Twist upon twist upon twist. Each became more ridiculous than the last. I saw someone accurately compare this to a Lifetime movie. That’s right on the money. This can be fun, as long as expectations are adjusted.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
fast-paced
The couple next door showed me that it’s possible to hate and love a book simultaneously
“The Couple Next Door” is one of the most talked about psychological thrillers of year 2016. This is my first of Shari Lapena and the book cover comments have been enticingly catchy. Although I have encountered a lot of book cover comments that has failed my expectations, this one has lived up to it.
It all began when new parents Anne and Marco’s next door neighbor Cynthia have invited them over for her husband’s birthday dinner, specifically instructing them to leave their baby at home as it was an adult dinner party. Soon as the couple accepted the invite, their babysitter had to cancel last minute. Marco convinces Anne to attend and leave their 6 month old baby. He had a hard time convincing Anne to go but they have agreed on watching her through the baby monitor instead. They went through with the birthday dinner but soon as they got home, their 6 month old baby is gone. Secrets within the family start to unfold as soon as the investigation has commenced.
The book has addressed lots of family, domestic, and mental health issues. Being a new mother, things haven’t been easy for Anne. She was diagnosed with post-partum depression after her pregnancy which leads her to doubt and blame herself for her baby’s disappearance.
“The Couple Next Door” is a fast-paced thriller with lots of twists and turns that it will drive you crazy. I admit, there were moments which made me think how stupid the characters decision making skills are. Nevertheless, it was a page-turner and it kept me guessing for awhile. Identifying the culprit has kept me vacuous but it has become predictable towards the end, at least for that part it was. Would I recommend it? Yes.
It all began when new parents Anne and Marco’s next door neighbor Cynthia have invited them over for her husband’s birthday dinner, specifically instructing them to leave their baby at home as it was an adult dinner party. Soon as the couple accepted the invite, their babysitter had to cancel last minute. Marco convinces Anne to attend and leave their 6 month old baby. He had a hard time convincing Anne to go but they have agreed on watching her through the baby monitor instead. They went through with the birthday dinner but soon as they got home, their 6 month old baby is gone. Secrets within the family start to unfold as soon as the investigation has commenced.
The book has addressed lots of family, domestic, and mental health issues. Being a new mother, things haven’t been easy for Anne. She was diagnosed with post-partum depression after her pregnancy which leads her to doubt and blame herself for her baby’s disappearance.
“The Couple Next Door” is a fast-paced thriller with lots of twists and turns that it will drive you crazy. I admit, there were moments which made me think how stupid the characters decision making skills are. Nevertheless, it was a page-turner and it kept me guessing for awhile. Identifying the culprit has kept me vacuous but it has become predictable towards the end, at least for that part it was. Would I recommend it? Yes.
Oh boy. I simultaneously love and hate this book.
Readers meet Anne and Marco Conti, parents to 6 month-old Cora. Anne and Marco go to a dinner party next door where Anne's not-so-best-friend Cynthia holds a "no babies allowed" party. To abide by Cynthia's rules, Anne and Marco are monitoring Cora with a baby monitor and checking in on her every half hour. When they return for the 1am check-in, Cora is gone.
It's going to be a spoiler fest below, so please be warned.
Marco was a dumb ass bitch. Putting up your baby to get money from the father-in-law that hates you? Money you're going to sink into the business you drove into the ground? Such a good idea. Especially when your accomplice is a guy you've met a handful of times. What could possibly go wrong?
I felt so terribly for Anne. Already in a spiral before Marco's dumbassery kicked into high gear, she just got worse and worse and worse. I didn't buy the disassociation disease Shari Lapena slapped her with to make her an unreliable narrator and add extra violence to the story. DO NOT GET ME STARTED ON THAT STUPID ENDING. EVERYTHING WOULD'VE BEEN PERFECT IF NOT FOR THAT DOGWATER ENDING.
The twists and turns truly had me gagged. Every time I thought I had an idea of what was going to happen, Shari Lapena surprised me. I've read a few of her books at this point and I can see why this one has such enduring popularity. It's interesting, it's twisty, and it's to the point! It didn't feel circular and redundant like "Everyone Here is Lying" did.
I was having sooo much fun with this book until that ending. Like all the details of the case and the closure fit together so perfectly and made total sense. It was a solid 5 stars in my mind right until the ending. THEY WOULD'VE GOTTEN AWAY WITH EVERYTHING PERFECTLY. CYNTHIA'S ASS WAS GOING STRAIGHT UNDER THE JAIL!!
I had so much fun with this book!!
Initial review below:
Are these psychological thriller authors allergic to leaving well enough alone? I had to take away a star for that stupid ending!!!
Full review to come.
Readers meet Anne and Marco Conti, parents to 6 month-old Cora. Anne and Marco go to a dinner party next door where Anne's not-so-best-friend Cynthia holds a "no babies allowed" party. To abide by Cynthia's rules, Anne and Marco are monitoring Cora with a baby monitor and checking in on her every half hour. When they return for the 1am check-in, Cora is gone.
It's going to be a spoiler fest below, so please be warned.
Marco was a dumb ass bitch. Putting up your baby to get money from the father-in-law that hates you? Money you're going to sink into the business you drove into the ground? Such a good idea. Especially when your accomplice is a guy you've met a handful of times. What could possibly go wrong?
I felt so terribly for Anne. Already in a spiral before Marco's dumbassery kicked into high gear, she just got worse and worse and worse. I didn't buy the disassociation disease Shari Lapena slapped her with to make her an unreliable narrator and add extra violence to the story. DO NOT GET ME STARTED ON THAT STUPID ENDING. EVERYTHING WOULD'VE BEEN PERFECT IF NOT FOR THAT DOGWATER ENDING.
The twists and turns truly had me gagged. Every time I thought I had an idea of what was going to happen, Shari Lapena surprised me. I've read a few of her books at this point and I can see why this one has such enduring popularity. It's interesting, it's twisty, and it's to the point! It didn't feel circular and redundant like "Everyone Here is Lying" did.
I was having sooo much fun with this book until that ending. Like all the details of the case and the closure fit together so perfectly and made total sense. It was a solid 5 stars in my mind right until the ending. THEY WOULD'VE GOTTEN AWAY WITH EVERYTHING PERFECTLY. CYNTHIA'S ASS WAS GOING STRAIGHT UNDER THE JAIL!!
I had so much fun with this book!!
Initial review below:
Are these psychological thriller authors allergic to leaving well enough alone? I had to take away a star for that stupid ending!!!
Full review to come.
Really closer to 2.5. Loved the story for the first half of the book, but all of the "twists" in the plot fell flat.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Woman is suspect because she takes sertraline, “a powerful antidepressant” 🙄
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My goodness is this book insane! There are so many twists that you cannot expect what will happen. Not once did my “predictions” play out. The way the author wrote this book left me guessing who is at fault for the kidnapping. This was also a quick read for me. The night I started it I got through 75% of it because I did not want to put it down. I could have finished it in one day had I not had to go to sleep.
fast-paced