Cover Image: The Neighbours

The Neighbours

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Member Reviews

I found this story quite predictable with maybe an exception of the very last twist. Early on I thought the way Zac spoke when he first met Abby and Sarah was not how any teenage boy I’ve ever met speaks so that didn’t make me feel like it was going to be one of my favourite books and unfortunately that was accurate.

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Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the advance review copy of The Neighbours.

At the start of The Neighbours we meet Abby, who is in her 20s and has been dealt a bad hand. Her Dad walked out on their family and her boyfriend just dumped her on New Years Eve. Then she meets Liam, and her world is turned up side down. They are young and in love and life seems pretty perfect.

Then one night after a night on the town with her brother, she is involved in a car accident that kills her brother. She blames herself - she had been drinking, and vows that she doesn't deserve to be happy ever again, walking away from the man she loved most in the world.

Fast forward 20 years and she's in a relationship with Nate, the man who was first on the scene of the car accident and who has doted upon her ever since. They are happily married with a teenage daughter and when new neighbours move in next-door, Nate is hopeful that they can be good friends,

However in an ironic twist of fate, the man that moves in next-door with his family is none other than Liam - Abby's first true love from all those years ago. The physical attraction and pull to each other is as strong as ever; but they try their hardest to stay away from each other; to protect their new partners and children from the secrets of their past.

The story is told through multiple points of view - that of Abby, her husband Nate and their teenage daughter Sarah, and flicks between two different points of time - THEN and NOW. As the story develops, we learn more and more about the history between Abby and Liam and undercover even more secrets and lies.

I guessed part of the storyline fairly early on (the hints were fairly strong) however this lulled me into a false sense of security. So certain was I that this book had a predictable ending that the other twists and the final chapters in particular completely took me off guard and caught me totally by surprise! A definite 'woah" moment with some real shocks and gasp moments towards the end.

The Neighbours was fast paced and dramatic, full of twists and turns and I read it from cover to cover in less than 24 hours. I always judge a book by how often I find myself thinking about it once its over, and I thought about The Neighbours a lot - wondering what might have happened if things had turned out differently.

With underlying themes of trust, love, lust and betrayal, this book is very hard to put down. I will definitely be seeking out more books from Hannah Mary McKinnon,

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I absolutely loved this book! It was well written, fast paced, and unputdownable! Lots of thrills, chills, twists and turns, and even shocks. Some parts I had figured out, but others truly got me, that’s when I have to give 5 stars, even other areas were not perfect! This also included quite a bit of drama; so if that’s not your cuppa, this likely won’t be either! I do highly, highly recommend, except for starting before bed! In fact, best just cancel plans as once you finish a hangover is sure to follow!

Will make sure to buzz it around platforms and use lower Amazon reviewer number on release date!

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I gave this book 4 stars because although I had worked out some of the plot and twists, there were a few parts that were a shock. The story is well written and well thought out with only a few likeable characters and I think that makes it a better read.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

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In 1992, a car accidentally kills a young man and forever changes the lives of three people.

Abby was responsible for the crash that killed her brother. Not being able to forgive herself, she pushes away the man she loves.

Twenty years later, Abby's husband, Nate, is also living with a sense of guilt. He was the driver who first came upon the scene of Abby's accident. He had pulled her to safety but he could not save her brother.

In a strange twist of fate, Liiam, Abby's true soulmate moves in next door to her. Abby and Liam to pretend that they've never met, yet they cannot resist the pull of the past.

This domestic suspense drama filled with lies, betrayals and complex relationships.. its narrated by multiple points of view. It's filled with shocking twists. It's told in the past and present day format. As we learn more about the characters the more the suspense builds. The pace is fast and the story is multilayered. I couldn't read this book quick enough.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #hodderstoughton and the author #HannahMaryMcKinnon for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

Loved this
really well written
Loved the plot and the characters

An fantastic page turner

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WOWZA! This was a juicy little nugget filled with drama!

I couldn't put this one down!

Abby and Liam were in their early twenties and were hot and heavy in love. On a night out, Abby and her brother get into a car accident and he dies, leaving Abby in a world of despair. She breaks off her relationship with Liam and starts a new one with Nate, the man that dragged her out of the car the night of the accident. Fast forward twenty years, Liam and his wife move in next door, WHATTTTT?!?!?!

This one kept me up late a night, drinking tea and devouring the drama.

I will be running out and reading the rest of Hannah Mary McKinnon's books!

A special thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and Hannah Mary McKinnon for providing me with an ARC.

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Would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping novel

A car crashes, there’s someone in the backseat and another victim thrown from the car
This is the scene that Nate came across

He couldn’t save tom the young man in the back but he helped save Abbie and whilst visiting her in hospital he fell in love

Abbie is grieving the loss of her young brother and the guilt of being the drunk driver that caused the crash

The story that follows is both gripping and keeps you on the edge of your seat... though I had guessed by the end one of the outcomes it still made for an interesting read

Will be keeping an eye out for more of this authors works

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The Neighbours is an excellent domestic thriller based around 2 couples Nate and Abby and Liam and Nancy.When Liam and Nancy move next door the couples become friends but Liam and Abby are hiding a secret that if found out could destroy everyone as they know each from the past,it is told from each characters point of view and also going back in time to explain everything that happened in their past,it is a well written book which kept me reading well into the night.If this is the standard of what Hannah Mary McKinnon can continue with i think she has a very bright future as an author.An excellent 5 star read for me and i would certainly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading this genre.

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I thought this book was okay,but not the most gripping book I have ever read.having said that the characters were well drawn and realistic, and the story flowed well.For me it lacked a little excitement,but was a perfectly acceptable read.

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A fast paced story, and even though I did guess the outcome it didn't spoil it for me . Good book and worth a read

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Thanks so much to Netgalley for a preview of this great book. It was a fast paced, gripping and thrilling read. I read it in a number of hours and it was tough to put it down. A really good book and I am looking forward to more from this writer

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Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book.

Such a great book, thrilling mysterious dark and had me gripped from page 1 dont want to spoil what happnened but you must read it for yourself you wont regret it!

5 stars!!

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Brilliant thriller, the ending was a shocker although I thought the storyline was dreadfully sad and wished things had ended differently - but that's because the author made the characters so real.

I would definitely recommend this book to friends and will be looking out for more by the same author. I was fast paced and with each chapter being told from the perspective of a different character this kept the mysetery, tension and interest going right until the end.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. A 4 star book (one star deducted because the ending really was quite sad and left me thinking about it all day after finishing the book!)

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Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy on netgalley. This is a new author for me and ive 2 of her books to read .

I flew through this!

Its written with alternate narratives and timelines. This keeps it fresh and fast paced. It also enables each charactar a voice in the unfolding drama.

What happens when a blast from your past moves next door? Will old passions rekindle or new ones formed?

This is unpredictable,thrilling and addictive. Its sizzling with scandal,packed with secrets and destined for a dramatic turn.

I highly recommend .

Im now off to read her other book …

Published 20th August

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Thank you NetGalley and Publishers for providing me with this e-arc. This book was easy to get into, the writing style was gripping and it was hard to put down for couple of 100 pages and so. I liked the characterization and the fact that main characters had their own point of view which really helped you seeing things from their perspective BUT it wasn't anything remarkable. It was an average read with average storyline. There wasn't anything "thrilling" about it. It's domestic thriller/mystery which surround the relationship between characters, that's all that there is to this story and I personally want more from my thrillers as a reader. I had pretty much guessed the all "plot twist". It wasn't new. Detailed review is on my Instagram

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Nate, Abby and teenage daughter Sarah have new neighbours in Bromley in Liam, Nancy and son Zac. Nate welcomes them but Abby has a very strange reaction and it transpires that her and Liam have history from their early twenties which they hide from their respective families. The story is told from the perspective of the adults Then and Now with diary entries from Sarah.

This is an enjoyable domestic noir though with predictable outcomes as keeping their past hidden is inevitably going to cause problems one way or another. The characterisation is excellent and they all have traits you can like. Nancy is very attractive but full of self doubt as Liam is successful as well as good looking , Nate is very kind just wants to fix everything but sometimes things are so broken they can’t be fixed even with good intentions. Abby is fascinating as a tragedy in her life causes her to punish herself in every way she can, so when Liam re-enters her life you know she can’t keep things suppressed indefinitely. Sarah’s diary is good and I love the word of the day at the end which makes you smile! The story comes together well, the dual timelines flow, there are moments of suspense and tension, there are plenty of twists and it’s full of dramatic events some you see coming and some you don’t.

Overall, this is a well written and entertaining novel about love, denial and tragedy.

With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton.

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Bloody hell! Now that is how a book should be done! Dark, creepy and full of suspense. Hannah Mary McKinnon has been a favourite of mine since I read Sister Dear. (also check that book out, full review on my site)

Now don’t get me wrong there were parts of The Neighbours that need improvement but overall it’s pretty damn good! I’ll always give a higher rating for a book which surprises me with the ending, oh and this one did!

A strong read. 4/5

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This was a cracking read.

Full of passion, secrets and twists you just don't see coming.

Abby wasn't a particularly likeable character, but given what she'd gone through in life, abandoned by her dad, hated by her mum and the death of her brother, it was easy to see why, but when she meets Liam, her softer side comes out and their love story is epic - until the night of the accident.

But that was then and this is now, Abby is now married, to Nate, the man who rescued her the night of the car crash, they moved away, they have a lovely home, a beautiful daughter and are happy.

Then new neighbours arrive and wouldn't you just know it, it's Liam, his wife, Nancy and their son. Nate and Nancy hit it off straight away and are well up for dinner parties and getting to know each family better. Nate doesn't understand what Abby's issue with Liam is when she says she's not a fan, he thinks he's a decent bloke. But Abby is scared of getting to close to Liam again, the fire is still there between them and despite her best efforts to keep him at arms length, they are heading for a collision.

Loved the fire between Abby and Liam but also loved Nate too, this was way more than your average love triangle!

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book, this is my honest opinion

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I am not quite sure on this one. Personally it’s really not my thing... it’s also a little bit too much like an episode from eastenders or coronation street. I found it a bit too cliched and some of the scenes were to forced. But having said that it flowed well and I loved the flit back and forth of then and now with the different characters. Apart from that I found I disliked the main character and also the man/boy Liam. The ending was a bit too obvious. But I think I can see this doing well.

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