A slow-burn, atmospheric mystery that pulls you into a small town full of secrets. Nicole is a compelling protagonist, and the author masterfully builds tension through layered characters and eerie details.

While the pacing lags slightly in the middle, the emotional depth and satisfying conclusion make it a standout for fans of domestic suspense.

Amanda has left her beautiful home and her abusive husband, Mike, to live in a rented home that has seen better days. Her daughter, Kiera, 9, and son Jordon, 11, aren’t happy about the move but Kiera is fairly easygoing about it. However, Jordon is furious and is screaming at his mother and threatening her. Jordon’s noise has disturbed the neighbors which consist of several women varying in age.

Caroline is always interested in meeting new people who move into West Street so she bakes them a chocolate cake. She tries very hard to learn more about this little family but Amanda is giving out very little details.

When Amanda left, her husband was on a business trip to China and she knew he would be furious when he returned and found them gone. Sure enough, she has received a text from him saying she will regret leaving him. She just wants him to sign the divorce papers she left for him and they can arrange custody/visitation of the children. Amanda is nervous because she knows how vicious Mike can be.

In filling out papers for the children’s school, Amanda realizes that she forgot to get their passports and will need those numbers to get them registered in school. Dare she try to go back to her home and get the passports?

In the meantime, the neighbors are watching Amanda as they have always kept their finger on the pulse of what is happening in their neighborhood. Could their interest prove to be more than just nosiness?

This is a tense story that is full of surprises and scary events that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat. It certainly kept me that way. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was a page-turning read about women living in a cul de sac, each hiding their own secrets and dark pasts. Twisty, emotional, and unhinged, this was a great read for a rainy day.
The characters were intriguing, to say the least. The nosy older neighbors were highly entertaining, but some of their inner dialogue became redundant at times. I always enjoy this author, but this one seemed not as polished as her previous work. That said, this was still an enjoyable read that I devoured in record time. There is always something addicting about this author's writing style that hooks me into each and every story she creates. Three and a half stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Bookouture, for this ARC.

All I wanted was to live in a nice quiet street, to be surrounded by lovely neighbours and have some peace, especially after all those terrible months…

Amanda takes her two children Jordan and Kiera and flees while her abusive husband is on a business trip in China. Their new house on West Street is run down and their new neighbors aren’t exactly thrilled either, even though Caroline, the old busybody next door, marches right over with a chocolate cake to welcome them. But Caroline is keeping a close eye on the newcomers, because the ladies of West Stret have things to hide, and they’ll stop at nothing to protect their peace… and their dark secrets.

Nicole Trope is an absolute master at her niche of domestic suspense, and Welcome to West Street is yet another gripping dark neighborhood drama. This book hooked me right from the start with the explosive relationship between Amanda and her son Jordan and a fascinating cast of secretive characters. I love a formidable senior citizen character, and nosy old bat Caroline certainly fits the bill! Filled with twists and turns, I couldn’t put this one down until its final shocking reveal!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me an advance copy of this book.

While her husband, Mike is out of town, Amanda packs up her things and moves her children to a new home where she hopes they will be safe from his abuse. The neighbourhood seems safe, but Amanda is still on edge, especially as their son seems so angry and volatile.
When her son goes missing, Amanda is sure her husband is behind it. But can she bet her sons life on that?

This was such a great read. Filled with twists, although I have to admit I figured most of them out fairly early on. I don't think any of them surprised me, which was a bit of a shame as I felt it ended up being a little predictable. However, I did really enjoy it and having a son the same age as Jordan made reading this difficult at times.
I've not read any from this author before, but I will definitely be trying another.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a big Nicole Trope fan and I have read all her books, I enjoyed this book, but not as much as some oththe others. Still, a good read.

Amanda is running from her husband and I quickly deduced why. I thought her son needed an attitude adjustment.
Initially I thought Caroline was a nosy busy body who has nothing better to do than sky on her neighbors.
Little did I conceive that once a move was completed things would go south on West street!
My jaw did drop as major revelations come to light and even I hadn’t fathomed how unhinged a couple of the characters were!!
The ending has a full circle moment that is illuminating as well.
Trope writes my kind of trope!

I wasn’t sure what to think in the beginning. A woman and her children escape her abusive husband and ends up living on a small cul de sac with some quirky neighbors. They’s quite a group of characters. They want to help Amanda, but part of them doesn’t want her and her children there disturbing their peace either. The thriller part comes later when Amanda’s son goes missing. The ladies hate when the cops are crawling all over their street, but why?

I liked that this book takes place in Australia, I don’t read many books that are set there.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copies of this book.

Amanda, having endured years of domestic abuse, has finally decided to leave her husband. She has gathered her two children, packed up everything she can and fled to West Street, hoping that her husband won’t find them.

From the moment they arrive, one of the neighbors, Caroline, is on the watch. Under the guise of being welcoming, Caroline wants to know why they have moved there. Amanda can’t help but feel a bit put off by Caroline’s pushy nature, but she also has other worries and these are of great concern.

Amanda also meets Gemma, and the two hit it off right away. However, Amanda’s son Jordan’s behavior really has her worried, so she strives to strike a balance between her determination and the struggles she has with him.

What a thrilling domestic drama! Nicole Trope’s latest book is a gripping and entertaining read. Amanda’s fears were palpable and Caroline’s nosiness was with intent, and I loved watching the drama unfold. There were more than a few surprises in this story, and it was a book that I couldn’t put down.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I have read many books by Trope and a new release is always eagerly anticipated.

Welcome to West Street, the place where curtains twitch, neighbours are nosey and you have no idea who or what is lurking behind closed doors.

It's a pacey read, full of ubiquitous twists and a cul-de-sac of neighbours that all fell under my suspicion radar.

Trust no-one. They're hiding secrets from you. They're lying!

Such a great read. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Nicole Trope does it again! There is nothing she writes that doesn't move me. I liked the title this time! Sometimes they don't do her work justice.

Have always loved the authors books,the settings, characters and stories always make for an exciting read

In this book we find Amanda and her 2 children on the run from an abusive husband …..they have moved into a quiet residential street where Amanda has nothing to fear except her husband finding them….or so she thinks…

Her neighbours are an extremely tight knit group led by Caroline, who makes it her business to keep ‘her’ street in shipshape order and intends to make sure the new arrivals do nothing to change the peaceful status quo of her beloved kingdom….and woe betide them if they do

Of course Caroline and the other neighbours all have secrets they are hiding as Amanda is about to find out!

Loved the descriptions of the formidable character of Caroline who pickling and baking aside was more than a force to be reckoned with and whose unspoken rules you broke at your peril

Good and at times unsettling psychological thriller

Welcome to West Street by Nicole Trope is a tension filled domestic suspense/thriller that is full of secrets and will keep you guessing right up until the final twist!!

Amanda is on the run with her two children to escape her abusive husband. When they move to West Street, Amanda hopes that this tiny house will be a safe haven for her kids and herself. But what should have been a new start turns unsettling soon after meeting her new neighbors. Caroline is the queen bee of West Street, always making it a point to know everything about everyone. Things quickly spiral into chaos when Amanda's 11-year-old son Jordan runs away, angry that they left their father and their old life behind. Will Amanda and her children be safe in their new home? Or was moving to a place like West Street the worst mistake that Amanda could have made?

Nicole Trope is quickly becoming an auto buy author for me! Her releases never disappoint me and Welcome to West Street was no exception! With Trope's masterful character development her characters all feel very real and relatable even if some are unlikeable. There are some pretty heavy themes that are explored in this book, especially domestic violence, so check your triggers. This multi perspective novel is full of domestic suspense and tension with plenty of twists and turns! I would definitely recommend this novel for fans of Freida McFadden, Daniel Hurst, and Shari Lapena!

Thank you to NetGalley, Nicole Trope, and Bookouture for this ARC!! Publication date is April 22nd 2025.

Wow just wow!!! I definitely was not expecting this ending and I have a feeling this book will live rent free in my head for a long time. Neighbors can be nosey and I was so annoyed with the neighbors of the cul de sac because Geesh how annoying to be spying on the home of your neighbors for “peace and quiet” Amanda was someone I can relate to but she annoyed me at times too with her overthinking and not being rational. Dang I’m still in complete shock! This book is a MUST read!!!!

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY to @NicoleTropeAuthor for the most amazing book – Welcome to West Street!

Caroline is the ultimate nosy neighbor. Amanda is the new neighbor, hoping for some peace and quiet while running from her abusive husband. Mike, Amanda’s husband, has been cheating on her – so when Mike is off on a business trip, Amanda makes her escape Her two kids aren’t happy with the move, and Amanda is struggling to live her best life. Caroline is always trying to get in to Amanda’s business. But, Amanda isn’t the only one in the neighborhood with secrets.

Told in multiple POVs, which worked so well in getting us into the heads of Amanda, Caroline and Amanda’s so Jordan.

I am an avid Nicole Trope reader and this book does not disappoint!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND but make sure you start it early in the day because you will not want to put it down!

Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy of #WelcometoWestStret in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you @bookouture for approving my request.

Welcome to West Street by Nicole Trope and narrated by Taryn Ryan was a excellent psychological thriller with a shocking twist especially as it had me gripped from the very start. It was full of suspense with brilliant twists and turns throughout which makes Nicole an excellent author, she know how to have you hooked! and up most of the night listening to it - So glad I had ear buds and I had no work the next day!!!!

The narrator Taryn Ryan was excellent and bought this book alive from the start.

I highly recommend this book/audiobook. It was superb!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture and Bookouture Audio for my ARC

This is a crazy ride with some wild twists. It was such a fun ride and impossible to put down. I was hooked right off the start and just intrigued the whole way through. The ending shocked me and I am very satisfied with it.

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

Welcome to West Street!

I'd heard mixed reviews of this one so I began with a sense of dread and trepidation - but I was pleasantly surprised! I began this book as I was cooking dinner and devoured it within hours. It is pure Nicole Trope, domestic suspense queen extraordinaire.

Amanda has been married to jewellery businessman Mike Caldwell for twelve years; first his mistress then his wife. Together they have two children - Jordan (11) and Keira (9) - and a huge sprawling house with everything she could ever want. Except maybe a husband who loves and respects her. But to Mike she is just a trophy he can take out and show off, whilst behind closed doors bending her to his will. His abuse is swift, stealthy and silent. No one but she knows of her terror. And the last thing she wants is her children finding out. They adore their father and she doesn't want to taint their image of him. Her only problem now is how to leave him. She's threatened him eleven times and each time he knew she would never follow through. After all, she knew what he would do to her if she tried.

So when she receives a text from an unknown number"

"You don't know me but I know you...Mike and I are in love..."

Amanda thinks this is her way out. She bides her time and waits for the perfect moment. It comes when Mike takes a week long buying trip to China for his business. Amanda wastes no time in packing their belongings - all the essentials and the things she has purchased in secret and kept in storage until this moment - loads the children into the car and drives the hour long distance to the place she has rented for them for six months. This will be the start of their new life. But what she doesn't realise is the danger she has brought to her door.

The moment Mike realises she has gone, leaving nothing but an envelope with divorce papers on his desk, she knows he will be livid. He has threatened her many times if she dared to leave him. But dragging the children from their life of privilege to a run down house that will be demolished in a few months, that has nothing of the mod cons they are used to, is a far cry their old life. She knows her children don't like the move but she is doing this for them. She doesn't want them to grow up with the shadow of that kind of abuse being acceptable. It isn't.

It isn't long before Amanda meets the other residents of the quiet cul-de-sac of West Street - queen bee Caroline who flutters over elderly Mary and mother of two Gemma. The women like the street the way it is and dislike disruption but welcome the family with open arms. However, not all is as it seems. Jordan is anything but happy about the move and makes it known not just to his mother but all the other neighbours as well, screaming his vitriol for all to hear before storming out which becomes a daily occurrence. This unsettles the residents and ruffles the feathers of their quiet little street. But there's a story lurking and the women are intent on uncovering Amanda's secrets and to be the friends she is sure to need.

But just how much is everyone hiding in this cul-de-sac? Can she trust them? Can they trust her? And just whose past is going to catch up with them before the last page?

Amanda didn't so much as drive to West Street as catch the crazy train there! This is one crazy ride from start to finish with plenty of drama, secrets, lies and deception. Oh, yes, it is a tad OTT but the entertainment factor kept me enthralled too much to care. Nobody is particularly likeable, including Amanda as you feel she is keeping something back though you aren't quite sure what. I didn't entirely warm to her and loathed her son Jordan who was a spoilt rich kid who had been used to daddy's creature comforts not to see past himself. Caroline was far too nosy for my liking though she came across as endearing that you forgave her that at first. Mary is somewhere in la la land and Gemma is just pure shifty. I knew she was hiding something from the beginning.

The story was pretty predictable from very early on and I had figured out pretty much all the twists - some even before they happened! But it didn't ruin my enjoyment of what was essentially an entertaining quick read that I devoured in the space of an evening.

Nicole Trope is one of my favourite authors and she never disappoints. I love how she brings Australia to life in her stories so I can relate to the climate she describes in her books as I live the steamy summers and mild winters all year round. And February definitely IS the hottest and steamiest month (even though it is the last month of summer here).

If you love a good domestic suspense with plenty of drama, secrets and whole load of bonkers, then you will enjoy this crazy ride for sure!

I would like to thank #NicoleTrope, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #WelcomeToWestStreet in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest domestic thriller by Nicole Trope, with the audiobook wonderfully narrated by Taryn Ryan. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Amanda is trying to forge a new life in a quiet little suburb away from her abusive husband. But her children aren't real happy with the move, especially her son. And not everyone on the street is as they appear.

Go into this one blind to fully enjoy all the crazy twists and turns. The characters seem realistic and I felt for Amanda who was just trying to do the right thing for herself and her children. She wasn't sure who she could trust and worried so much about her kids, especially Jordan, who was so angry and bitter towards her. Another good twisty thriller - loved the ending!

Welcome to West Street is domestic suspense at its most addictive—gripping, quietly menacing, and laced with the kind of secrets that fester behind perfect hedges and polite smiles. Nicole Trope expertly peels back the carefully curated façades of suburbia to reveal the simmering tension underneath, crafting a slow-burn psychological thriller that keeps readers guessing until the final page.

The story opens with Amanda, a woman on the run from a past she won’t speak of, moving into the smallest house on a quiet street with her two children. It’s a place where she hopes to disappear. But West Street isn’t the sanctuary it seems. From the moment she’s greeted by Caroline—a watchful neighbor with a smile as practiced as it is unsettling—it’s clear that privacy is more fantasy than reality here.

Trope masterfully alternates between Amanda’s fragile efforts to rebuild her life and Caroline’s unnerving need to know everything. Their uneasy dynamic becomes the heartbeat of the novel: Amanda desperate to stay invisible, Caroline determined to unearth the truth. But as layers are pulled back, it becomes clear that everyone on West Street has something to hide.

Secrets pile up like forgotten mail. A mute child. A missing husband. A woman who watches more than she talks. Trope’s writing is taut and elegant, her pacing impeccable, slowly tightening the tension with every chapter. And just when you think you know who to trust, she flips the narrative on its head.