The Family Next Door in Aussie Readers

Mar 04, 2018 Brenda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own-read, 2018-release, arc, aussie-authors, sent-by-publisher, reviewing-by-request, mystery, uncorrected-proof, 5000-books

4.5★s

Pleasant Court in Melbourne housed Essie, Ben and their two daughters, Mia and Polly, with Essie's mother Barbara nearby; Ange, Lucas and sons Will and Ollie; and Fran, Nigel and daughters Rosie and Ava. The neighbours were friendly, everyone knew each other; looked after the others' gardens when they were away, collected mail - it was a good neighbourhood.

When a new resident arrived in Pleasant Court she struck everyone as different. Single and childless, she didn't fit the area of familie ...more

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May 28, 2018 Janine rated it it was amazing

I am a huge fan of Sally Hepworth and this book is no exception! It tells the story of Pleasant Court and is set in Melbourne so you can relate to the place names mentioned therein. The families are all friendly with each other but the image they portray is not indicative of what’s going on behind the scenes. It comes to the forefront when Isabelle moves into the court. Everyone is curious about her and they all make assumptions which bring their own issues out. I loved the direction Sally took ...more

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May 07, 2018 Tanya rated it it was amazing

After recently discovering the brilliance that was The Mother's Promise, I had to hunt down another Sally Hepworth book. That led me to The Family Next Door.

Essie. Fran. Ange. Barbara. 4 very different women living in Pleasant Court. Isabelle moves to the street, and inserts herself into their lives. What follows is a riveting and engrossing tale of these women and the secrets they harbour.

Who hasn't looked at the life of someone on Facebook, the school mum in the morning with her shit together, ...more

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Feb 18, 2018 Kathy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5 stars.

The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth is an engaging and intriguing novel about the lives and secrets of five women who are neighbors.

Pleasant Court is a quiet and somewhat tranquil neighborhood where everyone looks out for one another. Eppie, Barbara, Fran and Ange are all neighbors who are on friendly terms but they are not overly close. However, when Isabelle Heatherington moves in, their curiosity about her brings them closer together. As time passes, the cracks in each of the fam 4.5 stars.

The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth is an engaging and intriguing novel about the lives and secrets of five women who are neighbors.

Pleasant Court is a quiet and somewhat tranquil neighborhood where everyone looks out for one another. Eppie, Barbara, Fran and Ange are all neighbors who are on friendly terms but they are not overly close. However, when Isabelle Heatherington moves in, their curiosity about her brings them closer together. As time passes, the cracks in each of the families become more apparent and by the time they know the reason for Isabelle's presence, their lives are forever altered.

Essie is mum to two daughters, three year old Mia and six month old Polly. Her husband Ben owns a fitness gym so she relies on her mum, Barbara, to help out with the girls. Essie is happy with her marriage and kids, but will the same darkness that overtook her after the birth of Mia engulf her again when Polly begins having trouble sleeping?

Fran is also a mum to two daughters, three year old Rosie and six week old Ava. Her husband Nigel went through a rough spot but the birth of their second daughter seems to have helped. Unfortunately, while Nigel is content with their family, Fran has something weighing so heavily on her mind that she has become a compulsive runner. She knows that a secret she is keeping could have an adverse effect on her family but can she continue to maintain her silence?

Ange owns her own business so her photographer husband Lucas is quite involved with their sons, eleven year old Will and eight year old Ollie. Ange never has a hair out of place, her home is spotless and she is the consummate hostess. Following a trip to the ER with Ollie for a broken arm, Ange has reason to wonder about the future of her marriage.

Isabelle is carelessly glamorous with a beautifully decorated home. Essie is particularly happy to meet her since she could use a new friend. But she, along with Fran, Essie and Barbara, cannot help but wonder what prompted Isabelle's sudden move from Sydney to Melbourne? And why is a single woman with no children so keen to get to know the women and their children?

Written from each of the five women's perspectives, readers get to see what happens behind the closed doors. Each of the women is harboring a secret that could have serious implications for their families and/or their respective futures. Although not a mystery, there is an aura of suspense as each woman wrestles with their particular issue. And of course, there is quite a bit of mystery surrounding Isabelle and exactly what she hopes to gain by moving into their neighborhood.

The Family Next Door is a compelling novel that is fast-paced with appealing characters. Sally Hepworth once again has penned an imaginative story that grabs readers' imaginations and attention right from the start. This heartwarming and poignant tale that has quite a few unexpected twists, turns and surprises. A thoroughly captivating novel with just a hint of suspense that will delight readers. ...more

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Jul 19, 2021 Dee-Ann rated it it was amazing

Shelves: five-star, australian-authors, romance, mental-health, surprise-twist, strong-women, elderly-main-character, friendship

Really enjoyed this book about the people of five houses in one Melbourne suburban street. Secrets and a mystery. Kept me guessing until near the end. There was a rawness and real ness about the stories … and it touched on areas which I think need to be discussed, including post natal mental health, relationships and challenges.

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