An enjoyable read - I didn't find either of the two main protagonists particularly likeable but sympathised more and more with each of them in different ways as the book progressed. It was a difficult book to pick up at times - not because it wasn't excellently written, far from it, I just found the plot slightly challenging in places - the type of book where you can see a character becoming more and more embroiled in an awful situation but not knowing how to extract themselves from it! It was testament to Kathryn Sharman's skill that I did continue reading - I had to know what was going to happen next, and despite predicting a number of moments that happened, the ending did come as a shock!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing an advanced copy of this book, which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The first part of this book drug with a really unlikeable main character in Iris. Her best friend who she aspired to be like, was also unlikeable. The book picked up in the middle, with the introduction of a few other characters, but the main characters didn't get any more likeable. This was just an ok read. I don't think I've ever read a book where so many of the characters are not likeable.

This was a quick read that I did enjoy but I do have to say the plot seemed to be one of those over-the-top situations that the author has then based a decent book around. When I read a domestic thriller, I am usually drawn in by the inner workings of the plot but with this story it was the characterization which made it a successful book.

The differences between Iris and her friend Laura were interesting as apart from their sons they do not have a lot in common and lead very different lives. This shows us what friendship can be based on; we do not always have to be the same type of people to be drawn to each other and then be there for each other when times are hard.

Laura is portrayed as a bit of a superficial person, interested mainly in her looks and her wealth but there really was a lot more to her and she was my favourite character in the book. The situation that results from Iris’s actions is where Laura then shines, being there for her friend even though she has her own issues which are significant. I had not read a book from this author before, but I will look out for others in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed thoughts when reading this book. Initially it started of strong, but then went down hill from there. I didn’t like how the first BIG thing that happened was given away too soon. I would have thought there could have been a more thrilling factor to it. As for the story, I wasn’t really into it. I guessed the other twists and the writing style I wasn’t a fan of.

In her chilling and atmospheric debut novel, The Family at No 23, K. Sharman weaves a web of envy, suspicion, and the dark undercurrents beneath the surface of suburbia.

At the heart of the story are Iris and Laura, neighbours whose friendship has grown over the years. But when Laura suddenly moves to a more affluent neighbourhood and enrols her child in a prestigious school, the bond is cruelly severed, and Iris is left crippled with envy and self-doubt. The author paints Iris not as a villain, but as a deeply human character caught in the undertow of jealousy, longing and resentment. The descriptions of her slow unravelling is both heart-wrenching and believable.

When Iris is offered the chance to move her own family into a coveted address in a better part of town, the ethical boundaries blur and the stakes multiply. The question of how far she will go to secure a brighter future for herself and her family propels the narrative towards a shocking decision.

This story is a dark, immersive tale that will have you questioning the lengths to which envy can drive even the most ordinary people. With its tense moments and unforgettable characters, K. Sharman’s debut novel is a must-read for fans of psychological suspense who relish a glimpse into the shadows behind the curtains of suburban life.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

2.5 stars

The Family at No.23 by Kathryn Sharman is a domestic thriller that deals with secrets, lies, tenuous friendships, and social climbing.

The story is told from the POV of two friends, Iris and Laura. When Laura's family moves to the posh part of town and enrols their son in the local prestigious school, Iris feels pressure to keep up even though, financially, her and her husband are in no position to compete. However, wanting the same opportunities for her own son, she takes drastic measures to move into number 23 Riddleston Road - a road with status, where the well-to-do live, where those who can afford to send their children to private schools live. A house that holds secrets that will struggle to stay buried.

This was a quick read (less than 300 pages) and had some potential, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me. I found the story to be basic, and it felt more like domestic drama between two families rather than a psychological thriller. I found the characters very unlikeable (although that possibly was deliberate) and one dimensional. I couldn't sympathise or root for any of them, and the plot twists were easily guessed.

On the plus side, it did keep me engaged enough to finish it, and I think the premise was there. It just wasn't executed quite right for me. I believe this is Sharman's debut novel, and I do feel there is potential, so I would definitely read another in the future.

Thank you to Kathryn Sharman, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and opportunity to honestly review this book.

I have to admit that I wasn’t overly impressed. It’s a short read but highly predictable. Both FMC are not likeable and just annoying. The MMC’s are also obnoxious and hard to like.

The storyline was okay…had a bit of a twist but really just a bunch of jealousy and drama.

This one just wasn’t what I had hoped it would be.

3⭐️⭐️⭐️

A most excellent book which I devoured in one sitting! I look forward to more by Kathryn Sharman and will definitely be recommending this author.

A nice quick read, very twisty right until the end! Enjoyed it a lot and will be recommending it, thank you for the ARC

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC read. If you are a fan of Frieda McFadden this is a must read. This book was hard to put down. Many twists and turns to keep you interested.

Iris was your typical loving and devoted mother and wife. She worshiped the ground her son Ben walked on. She catered to her husband Steve's and Ben every need. She loved making them happy and keeping Ben safe from harm.

Iris is envious of her best friend Laura's life. Laura has money, the perfect house, the perfect husband and son in the perfect neighborhood. Living the life that she can only dream of until one day Iris comes across a women named Rosemary. As Iris was on her way home after meeting up for coffee with Laura she sees an elderly women Rosemary take a fall. The woman had hitbher head and was bleeding. Iris insisted on doing the only honorable thing, to help Rosemary make it home safely.
Once they made it to Rosemary's home Iris
couldn't help but admire the home. It definitely was a home that had been neglected but Rosemary was no spring chicken so she understood. Iris imagined what a person could do to bring this home back to life. It not only had great potential but the home was in the perfect neighborhood close to the best school for Ben to attend. All the things she wanted for her family. Rosemary decided the best thing to do was to rest in her front room while Iris made her some tea. While getting the tea ready the ladies shared conversation between the rooms. Iris inquired as to whom she can call to help Rosemary the women explaned she had no one. Iris brought the tea to Rosemary but only to find her unresponsive and not breathing. She had passed on and had no one to miss her.

Iris was toying with two options to leave and get help or take the opportunity to give her family everything she has wanted. A beautiful home, in the perfect neighborhood, with the perfect school. What will Iris choose the right and moral choice or to sieze a life she has always wanted.

An interesting premise, but a mixed reading experience for me. The Family at No. 23 is told from the dual perspectives of Iris and Laura, longtime friends whose sons are entering high school. When Laura’s financial situation improves, she moves into an upscale neighborhood with a top-tier school, sparking jealousy in Iris.
The story had the potential for a gripping domestic thriller. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with the characters and found it hard to stay fully engaged.

I appreciate the ARC

An addictive, smart domestic thriller that you’ll finish in one (or two) late-night sittings.

Kathryn Sharman delivers a confident, gripping debut. The domestic setting—pristine homes hiding dirty secrets—is a genre favorite, and she executes it well. Iris’s drive to claw her way into privilege, the simmering envy toward her more affluent friend, the psychological manipulation… it all feels raw and cleverly rendered.

The pacing keeps the suspense high, and while certain plot elements require a leap of faith, the intrigue is strong enough to carry you through. By the final chapters, you're fully invested—rooting for Iris, questioning loyalties, and getting hit with that twist.

What a completely obsessive read that i just could not put down its one of them thriller reads where your like just one more chapter ok just one more chapter and before you no it you've binged the whole entire book

Slightly different from my usual reading choices, i found this book to be an enjoyable "when will it all be revealed" novel. A pleasant read that many will enjoy. If you like comfortable mysteries without gore and darkness, this is for you.

This was an easy read, with engaging characters and a plot I haven’t read before. Lots of family drama & keeping up with the Jone’s! This story isn’t a whodunit, but a when will people find out, verging near the side of cosy, this is not a deep gritty thriller.

If you’re after an easy read, check it out in August!

Dark witty page turner that kept me up well past my bed time it was so good I read it very fast I loved ut I will recommend this read I really loved this book iris best friend and her husband Steve was so unlikable why would they do that to her I don’t want to say too much but this book has a bit of everything in it and so good wow this book was nothing that I thought it was going to be wtffff did I just read come again I will be recommending this book !!!! My second favorite read of the year

This book fell completely short in my opinion. This was not a fast paced domestic thriller, as the synopsis claims, but rather a slow, boring read. This book drug on, was constantly repetitive, and full of whiny “poor me” characters. Half the “twists and turns” can be seen from miles away. I felt the characters were also boring, tiresome, and flat and you couldn’t connect to any of them. I ended up finishing this book just to finish it and mark it off, not because I actually wanted to know what happened.

A suspenseful premise, but a mixed reading experience for me. The Family at No. 23 is told from the dual perspectives of Iris and Laura, longtime friends whose sons are entering high school. When Laura’s financial situation improves, she moves into an upscale neighborhood with a top-tier school, sparking jealousy in Iris, who harbors a dark secret of her own and finds a way to follow.

I really liked the setup and the gradual unveiling of secrets, it had the potential for a gripping domestic thriller. However, I struggled to connect with the characters and found it hard to stay fully engaged. One subplot involving a mistreated cat was particularly difficult to read and took away from the experience for me.

That said, I was curious enough to stick with it, and the final twist was well done. Overall, a 3-star read for me, interesting concept, but not quite the execution I was hoping for.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was really fast paced and had me up the entire night reading it. I simply could not put it down. It had everything I was looking for in a thriller and then some. If you are looking for a book that is really going to capture your attention immediately this is the book for you. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for this book. I am really glad I had the opportunity to read this book.

I wanted to care. The premise had all the makings of a twisty domestic thriller—secrets, lies, an ominous house number—but 30% in and I still didn’t give a damn about any of it. The pacing dragged, the characters felt like cardboard cutouts of people who might be interesting in a different book, and the tension was all buildup with no actual bite. I kept waiting for that thing to click into place, but it never did. Eventually I realized I was forcing myself to keep going out of obligation, not curiosity, and that’s always my cue to bow out.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, but this one just wasn’t it for me.