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namitakhanna's review against another edition
4.0
One Folgate Street an award winning high tech property in London, was designed by architect Edward. He is a minimalist and is very choosy about who he will lease the house too. The tenants have to go through a rigorous questionnaire and if approved have to abide by a set of rules to live in the house for cheap rent.
The book is narrated by alternate POVs, Emma the girl who lived before and Jane the present resident of One Folgate Street. Both have gone through traumatic events in their lives and think the basic no nonsense approach may give them some stability. Emma wants to find a safe place to live after being burglarized and attacked in her home. She is approved to live at the house and moves in with her boyfriend Simon. Jane gave birth to a stillborn and is looking to find some kind of solace in the stark walls of the house. Both Jane and Emma bear a striking resemblance to each other and to Edwards late wife. Jane soon discovers that Emma suffered an unfortunate accident in the house resulting in her untimely death and starts investigating. Was it really just an accident or were there other mitigating factors resulting in Emma’s death?
There were some aspects of this book that I did not like but it was still an interesting concept . The long list of rules did remind me of Fifty Shades of Grey but that’s where the similarity ends. Overall a good read with decent suspense and will rate it 3 ½ stars.
Many thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
The book is narrated by alternate POVs, Emma the girl who lived before and Jane the present resident of One Folgate Street. Both have gone through traumatic events in their lives and think the basic no nonsense approach may give them some stability. Emma wants to find a safe place to live after being burglarized and attacked in her home. She is approved to live at the house and moves in with her boyfriend Simon. Jane gave birth to a stillborn and is looking to find some kind of solace in the stark walls of the house. Both Jane and Emma bear a striking resemblance to each other and to Edwards late wife. Jane soon discovers that Emma suffered an unfortunate accident in the house resulting in her untimely death and starts investigating. Was it really just an accident or were there other mitigating factors resulting in Emma’s death?
There were some aspects of this book that I did not like but it was still an interesting concept . The long list of rules did remind me of Fifty Shades of Grey but that’s where the similarity ends. Overall a good read with decent suspense and will rate it 3 ½ stars.
Many thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
jasminelucyx's review against another edition
3.0
This kept me interested throughout and the premise was so interesting but the plot was just missing something. It left me a bit disappointed. Not a bad book but not a great one. Just okay
marareading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
2.25
A solid meh. Not a bad premise but the way it got there made me want to throw the book at least three times 😐
danbee88's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
roglows's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. It was a clever thriller; I had a hard time putting it down. Such a tight plot! I was given a free copy of this book after winning it in. Goodreads contest.
tishywishy's review against another edition
2.0
Edward is an eccentric architect who is riddled with grief from the death of his wife and child. He builds an austere minimalist house that demands conformity and obedience from its renters. Emma is one of those tenants but dies in the house. Police say suicide but Jane the new tenant suspects death - she also uncannily resembles Emma.
This books almost got rated 1 star. I dead ass was about to stop reading it about halfway through.
Everyone in the book has problems: Jane, Emma, Edward, Simon and then all the side characters have problems with the main characters. The ending was forked. I almost stopped reading then too but I was only 3 pages to finishing. I wanted to knock everyone.
Why I finished - I honestly was pushing to see if it this was going to turn into a horror. I was almost craving it cause it had the entire set up. It didn't happen and frankly I am disappointed. A horror twist would have worked better. I'm giving it 2 stars - 1 for good premise - the other for Emma.
This books almost got rated 1 star. I dead ass was about to stop reading it about halfway through.
Everyone in the book has problems: Jane, Emma, Edward, Simon and then all the side characters have problems with the main characters. The ending was forked. I almost stopped reading then too but I was only 3 pages to finishing. I wanted to knock everyone.
Why I finished - I honestly was pushing to see if it this was going to turn into a horror. I was almost craving it cause it had the entire set up. It didn't happen and frankly I am disappointed. A horror twist would have worked better. I'm giving it 2 stars - 1 for good premise - the other for Emma.
Spoiler
being a nut jobwhimsymusings's review
5.0
This book has left me emotionally vulnerable and I’m hurting so much right now. I hate everything that led me to this moment I just want this pain stop oh my god.
neverending_bookshelf's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.75
graciecat_mom's review against another edition
4.0
When this book was compared to “Gone, Girl” and “Girl on the Train”, I jumped at the chance to read it. “The Girl Before” didn’t disappoint. It was a thrill ride from cover to cover.
Chapters alternate from two characters’ points of view: Emma and Jane. Emma, then Jane, have lived in a house built by a controlling architect and bound by confining and manipulative rules. Every aspect of the house is technology-driven and controlled by a program called “Housekeeper”, which makes sure that current residents are adhering to the rules.
Creepy, claustrophobic and well-told. Highly recommended!
4 stars out of 5
Publication Date: 24 Jan 2017
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Netgalley and JP Delaney for this Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
Chapters alternate from two characters’ points of view: Emma and Jane. Emma, then Jane, have lived in a house built by a controlling architect and bound by confining and manipulative rules. Every aspect of the house is technology-driven and controlled by a program called “Housekeeper”, which makes sure that current residents are adhering to the rules.
Creepy, claustrophobic and well-told. Highly recommended!
4 stars out of 5
Publication Date: 24 Jan 2017
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Netgalley and JP Delaney for this Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for an unbiased review.