vlynch5's review
3.0
Just spend a little time around an elementary school and THE MOMs will out themselves. There will be a group of super high-achieving moms who wield all the power. They plan all the events, they decide who gets the coveted volunteer spots. They rule the school. In The Mother Next Door, they are the Ivy Five.
Theresa is newly married and has moved with her teenage daughter, and her husband, the newly minted principal of the high school. She knows right away who the moms to get tight with are. In fact, they all live on her street. The thing is, it’s not a coincidence. Theresa isn’t completely new to town, she pulled strings to get her husband her job, and while the Ivy Five plans their famous Halloween Bash, it’s hard to tell who will be burned more by this information, Theresa or the Five.
As it turns out, the Ivy Five also has secrets. Laskowski paints a tale of women we all know but with a more sinister plot than we’ve hopefully encounter in our own lives. It’s a quick thriller and a fun read for the spookiest time of year. Special thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for an advanced e-galley in exchange for my honest review.
Theresa is newly married and has moved with her teenage daughter, and her husband, the newly minted principal of the high school. She knows right away who the moms to get tight with are. In fact, they all live on her street. The thing is, it’s not a coincidence. Theresa isn’t completely new to town, she pulled strings to get her husband her job, and while the Ivy Five plans their famous Halloween Bash, it’s hard to tell who will be burned more by this information, Theresa or the Five.
As it turns out, the Ivy Five also has secrets. Laskowski paints a tale of women we all know but with a more sinister plot than we’ve hopefully encounter in our own lives. It’s a quick thriller and a fun read for the spookiest time of year. Special thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for an advanced e-galley in exchange for my honest review.
freddi_dean's review
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
serena_w's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
electric_apricity's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
claralivesinbooks's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I thought I had read every twist and ending that can be found in a thriller, and I was wrong. This was almost perfect. I loved almost everything about the ending, which was refreshing since after reading so many thrillers as I have, by well before the middle you know how it'll end.
katierewolinski's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mommasaystoread's review
4.0
The Mother Next Door is just in time for Fall/Halloween, so if you're looking for something to put you in the mood for the season, this is a good way to go. It's more domestic drama/suspense than thriller in my opinion, but it certainly has all the right elements to draw you in and keep you guessing. The story does have a sinister, even kind of creepy, vibe, but it's not as dark as I expected from the blurb. I'll just throw it out there that I didn't much like any of the characters, but I really don't think we're supposed to, and that combined with some over-the-top moments made for a fun seasonal read. The book is well-written, and the storyline is perfect for curling up in your favorite chair for an entertaining weekend read.