Last year I read the fabulous Our House by Louise Candlish which I loved – and so did loads of other people and it’s subsequently won awards!  So when I was emailed by the publisher a few weeks ago to see if I’d like an advanced review copy on Netgalley, I jumped at the chance!

Here’s the blurb:

“You don’t like them. They’re not like you. Are you one of Those People?
Until Darren and Jodie move in, Lowland Way is a suburban paradise. Beautiful homes. Friendly neighbours. Kids playing out in the street. But Darren and Jodie don’t follow the rules and soon disputes over loud music and parking rights escalate to threats of violence.
Then, early one Sunday, a horrific crime shocks the street. As the police go house-to-house, the residents close ranks and everyone’s story is the same: They did it.
But there’s a problem. The police don’t agree. And the door they’re knocking on next is yours. “

The story is set on a suburban London street – it is so terribly middle class – with ‘play out Sunday’ organised by some of the parents, and some typical alpha female mothers.  I have to say it reminded me quite a lot of our village (mentioning no names).  When we moved into our house almost 14 years ago there had been upset about them being built, and we were known as one of ‘those people’ in one of ‘those houses’ for quite a while!!

Back to the book!

Some new neighbours move in – who the existing residents immediately look down their nose at – and there are issues with parking and noise and dog poo (honestly, it could be our village Facebook page…….)

But then disaster strikes (no spoilers here, although it wasn’t what I expected) and the road becomes infamous.

Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different resident of the street – and it’s interesting to see how their stories all interlink – and the relationships, publicly and behind closed doors, being revealed.

I have to say that I didn’t really take to any of the characters – but that didn’t detract from the book at all – I was really keen to find out what was going on and read through it quickly to keep the pace.

The twists and turns are great – and you’re never quite sure who you should be siding with.

I also liked the use of modern communication methods – the residents Whatsapp group (all our neighbours in ‘those houses’ have iphones, so we have an imessage group!) and the Facebook pages for the various local community groups. It just felt very true to life in 2019.

Whilst there wasn’t a final shocking sentence, as there most definitely was in Our House, the last chapter does leave you wondering what would happen next!!

I would definitely recommend this when it comes out in June.