Author: Natasha Boydell
Narrator: Mhairi Morrison
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Publication Date: February 2022
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible
Description: Two neighbors struggle with envy of each other’s lives—and as their friendship grows, their questions do too . . .
Sophie is a happily married mum of two who considers herself lucky—until her beautiful and highly successful new neighbor Angie moves in along with her charming husband and four talented children. The two women couldn’t be more different, but after a storm brings them together, an unlikely friendship develops. As their children grow closer, so does their bond.
But the alliance between the families is a wake-up call for both women. Angie’s success makes Sophie consider whether she really is as satisfied as she makes out. And Sophie’s uncomplicated marriage forces Angie to look at her own and accept that it’s not as perfect as it seems. Both women vow to change.
But their decisions may not lead where they expect, in this absorbing novel about risks and relationships by the author of The Missing Husband that explores whether the grass is always greener on the other side of the garden fence . . .
My Thoughts: So…the old saying about never judging a book by its cover rings loudly and true for me with this book. I assumed I was going to be listening to a domestic thriller / mystery / suspense type novel with The Woman Next Door by new to me author Natasha Boydell. Maybe my subconscious craves this genre and I just can’t get enough of them. Instead, I got a women’s fiction story about the various relationships we embark on in our lives and what betrayal, lies, secrets and forgiveness does to those relationships.
Once I got over my initial shock and yes, disappointment, that there would not be anyone lurking in the darkened shadows wielding a butcher knife and the only spilled blood would likely be from a skinned knee or two, I got busy getting to know the numerous characters in this story.
First up is Sophie Brennan, her husband Allan (not sure how the author spelled it as I listened to the audiobook) and their two children Tom and Katie. Sophie is a stay-at-home mother and though she gave up a career in journalism to raise her children, she longs to have a career or something to call her own.
Angie Taylor is Sophie’s new neighbor who has moved in next door with her husband Jack and their four children Benji, Indie, Freddie and Ellie. Angie is a lawyer and very career oriented and has major trust issues with her husband, who she suspects of having a wandering eye.
Angie’s youngest two children are around the same age as Sophie’s children, so it’s really the children who bring the families together as they want to hang out and play. As you would expect, the families spend loads of time together, barbecues, picnics, school events and even go on vacation together. Sophie and Angie develop a deep friendship that I thought was typical of women who have things in common, but I sensed early on that they envied each other. Sophie envied Angie’s independence and successful career. Angie envied Sophie’s perfect marriage and the tight-knit bond she has with her husband and children.
Everything seems to be going well until it isn’t. Life throws these families a major curveball that sets them all on a course that drives them apart. Nobody gets murdered or goes missing, but the loss of the friendship felt like a death to me.
Where this story got really interesting for me is that the author didn’t let it end there. She fast forwards the story ten years later with the children all grown and the youngest of Sophie and Angie’s children find themselves crossing paths at Oxford. Will old resentments, bitterness and pain reappear or will there be healing and forgiveness?
Despite my initial remorse over the lack of suspense, I found this story to be very engaging and it held my attention quite well. I found the characters to be well written and engaging and easy to relate to. I thought a few of the characters were overly shallow and selfish, but my opinion changed as I got more into the story. The audio narration by Mhairi Morrison was performed very well and kept me plugged into the story.
My Final Verdict: Overall, I am quite glad I stuck with this story and was pleased with how it all played out. I don’t recommend it to readers who like the thrill of suspense, but readers who enjoy family drama and relationship driven stories should give this one a look.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Woman Next Door from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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