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.

This is a gripping psychological thriller from Nicole, blending movie/OTT style drama with a chilling suburban mystery. This could look good on the screen.
When Amanda flees her abusive husband with her two children, she hopes for a quiet, normal life in a new rented place. The locality is strange with her neighbors mostly widowed older women who are intrusively interested in her arrival.
The story is told through multiple points of view, especially Caroline’s nosy perspective and Amanda’s anxious attempts to stay hidden, creates an atmosphere of good simmering tension. The prose heightens the sense of paranoia as secrets unravel and trust erodes. As Amanda's past threatens to catch up with her, the neighborhood’s friendly façade gives way to something far more sinister. Though not every character is likable, it seems only to add to the intrigue. With ominously layered personalities, Nicole delivers an absorbing and suspenseful read.

Rating :⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖Title: Welcome to West Street
Author: 📝 Nicole Troupe
📚Book 42/144 done🎉
Genre: Thriller

A good pick if you like character-driven thrillers with a neighborhood twist.💌❤️

Welcome to West Street is a solid domestic suspense read with intriguing characters and a strong sense of setting. Nicole Trope does a great job creating an atmosphere of quiet tension, where every neighbor seems to be hiding something just beneath the surface. 🕵️‍♀️🏡

The story moves along at a steady pace, and the short chapters keep the momentum going. There are some unexpected turns that keep you engaged, and the emotional undercurrents between characters give the plot some nice depth. 🔍✨

While it didn’t completely knock me off my feet, it was still an enjoyable read with some standout moments.

Welcome to West Street is another great read from Nicole Trope, who’s quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her characters always feel so real, and this story was no exception. Amanda’s fresh start on a quiet cul-de-sac with her two kids doesn’t go as smoothly as she hopes—especially with her son, Jordan, struggling to adjust. I really felt for both of them, and their complicated mother-son relationship was written with a lot of honesty.

Told from the perspectives of Amanda, Jordan, and their neighbor Caroline, the story flows easily and kept me turning the pages. Caroline added a unique perspective that gave the story extra heart, and I enjoyed watching how everything slowly unraveled. There are definitely some heavier themes here, especially around Amanda’s marriage, so it’s worth checking for trigger warnings—but I thought they were handled thoughtfully.

This one had a few twists I didn’t see coming and a pace that made it hard to put down. I'm already looking forward to whatever Nicole Trope writes next!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

I love books with twists that keep me guessing, and boy oh boy did this book do that! Such a great read, I couldn't put it down, I got sucked in right from the beginning. I should probably apologize to my family for neglecting them for the past couple days.
Not all of the characters were likeable, but to be fair, I can't say that I like all of my own neighbours, soooooooo, I guess this part was true to life?
I look forward to reading more from this author, and would 100% recommend this book.

I couldn't put this book down and read it in one very short sitting. The book was full of twists and they kept me guessing all the way through. The pacing was great and combined with the amount of suspense and tension had me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC! Once again a totally unputdownable book! When Amanda moves with her kids to West St, she is welcomed by Caroline to the neighbourhood with a chocolate cake and reassured she’ll be happy here with her kids. But what exactly is going on on this street? All Amanda wants is to be safe from her abusive husband but is she safe from her neighbours? When her son runs away and her husband found dead what exactly is going on???? 4.5⭐️’s

"Welcome to West Street" by Nicole Trope is an entertaining, 5-star read! Amanda needs a fresh start and decides to make a clean break from her husband. While he’s out of town on business, she rents a house and moves in with her son, Jordan, and daughter, Kiera. Tension surfaces quickly—especially between Amanda and Jordan, who misses their old home and wants to be back with his dad. Meanwhile, Caroline, their 70-year-old neighbor, quietly observes the new family from her window as they settle into the quiet cul-de-sac.

The story is told from three different perspectives—Amanda, Caroline, and Jordan—which gives great depth to the narrative. It’s a fast-paced read that kept me turning the pages, eager to see what would happen next. The relationship between Amanda and Jordan feels very real. It’s not always easy to read, but it reflects the kind of mother–son dynamic that does exist in the real world.

There are difficult themes involving Amanda’s relationship with her husband, which some readers may find troubling, so I’d recommend checking trigger warnings. As the story unfolds, several twists emerge near the end—some more surprising than others.

So far, I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by Nicole Trope, and I’m excited to see what she writes next!

Thanks to Bookouture, Nicole Trope, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

This is one of the unputdownable fast paced psychological thrillers written by Nicole Trope.

Amanda takes her two children and move to a house on West Street. She is running away from her husband who has been abusive towards her. However moving into the new house wasn't as easy as she thought. Her eleven-year-old son Joshua seems to be very difficult and wants nothing but return back to his father. Meanwhile Amanda's neighbor Caroline seems to be very observant towards the new neighbors. Then one day, Joshua runs away from the house in anger. Meanwhile, on the same day Amanda's son runs away, her husband Mike was murdered and the police suspect that Amanda might be behind Mike's murder. But Caroline is very particular about keeping the street calm as possible and would do anything, including getting rid of someone...

This was a fast paced thriller and quiet a page turner too. This is more like a domestic thriller than a psychological thriller but the whole story was executed well and it was intriguing and engaging. The story is told in the POVs of Amanda, Caroline, Joshua and Gemma, another character. The ending was quiet unexpected and the small twist at the end was quiet surprising and unexpected.

Overall, I give this book as 4.5 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5)

Amanda and her two children have moved into a house, sight unseen, in an attempt to escape her abusive husband. Her husband Mike is abroad on business and will return home to find divorce papers. Amanda's son Jordan, 11, is angry and yelling about the situation while her daughter Kiera, 9, is usually happy but struggling, missing her friends. Amanda is sure that this is the safest place for them to be.

Caroline, a neighbor, is watching the new family's every move. They have secrets on their street and like to keep things quiet. She also likes to have readily available for her use all the information about everyone. Now she needs to find out the secret behind the new family moving to their street.

Think Desperate Housewives meets a senior living home, that’s the vibe I got. Now I don’t feel as nosy as the neighbors in this book. This was definitely a popcorn that I read in 24 hours. Not all chapters were short, but they were easy to get through.

The ending felt very far fetched, so that’s what bumped in down to a 3.5 to me, however I had to finish to know what went down. The “twists” weren’t shocking to me, as one I figured out pretty early on in the book. The last one just “made sense” so it didn’t shock me. Overall though, it was an a easy read!

This story was entertaining and suspenseful filled with surprises and an elderly “busybody” that kept me hooked until the shocking end! Trust me, it’s not your average domestic thriller. WOW - that epilogue really caught me off guard!!
I'm always eager for Nicole Trope’s new releases - they never disappoint!
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read/listen to this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Welcome to West Street was a quick read that kept me up late wanting to know what happened. Amanda moves along with her children, Jordan and Keira, to a quiet neighborhood of close knit friends. However, Amanda harbors secrets and so do her new neighbors. Knowing who to trust is the question. I really enjoy books where chapters are written from different points of view. Each chapter provides another crack in what you think to be true. I loved the ending which included a couple jaw-droppers and I felt it wrapped everything up nicely. Thanks to Nicole Trope for another twisty read! Thank you also to NetGalley and Bookouture for the chance to read this ARC.

Yet another winning storyline from this author. When Amanda flees with her two children away from her husband to a house that she has rented she thinks everything will work out all right for them. Her husband won't discover that she has left him as he is out of the country with his business. All she wanted was to live a normal quiet life again. That was until she met her few neighbours and she will soon wish they had left her alone.
Brilliant from start to finish. Can't' wait for the next book to read.

Amanda and her children move to a new neighborhood. She has new neighbours that she knows nothing about. Why did this seemingly well dressed woman move into a house that will be torn down soon! Such a great story. It is emotional,gripping and will have you reading nonstop! I loved everything!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for the book #WelcomeToWestStreet by #NicoleTrope. Amanda has just started over with her two children and has moved into a small house in West Street. Her neighbors are a little strange and seem to be in her business. But all is not what it seems. The neighbors have secrets but so does Amanda. Can they all live happily ever after?

Another excellent addictive read from author Nicole Trope, she really does know how to write a story and keep her readers engaged.

It was an interesting storyline for sure, makes you realise that you really can’t trust your neighbours especially if you live on West Street. The neighbours in question are quite a mixed bag in terms of personality and ages, all f whom seem quite normal, if a bit nosey, until you really get to know them.

I did find myself turning the pages pretty quickly so as to find out what was going to happen next and how things would play out. There were a couple of twists and shocking revelations throughout, all of which makes for a brilliant story.

So if you like psychological thrillers, the do give this book a go.

"Welcome to West Street" this book had me hooked from the very first page—I literally couldn’t put it down! It’s one of those stay-up-late page-turners that keeps you guessing until the end. The storytelling is mind-blowing, and the incredible twist took my breath away! If you’re a fan of gripping narratives and unexpected turns, you absolutely have to read this. Trust me, you won’t regret it!