The Girl Next Door- Blog Tour

 

Author: Matt McGregor

Publisher: Inkubator Books

Publishing Date: 19th October 2025 

Many thanks to the publishing team and ZooLoos BT for my digital copy and a spot on the tour

Blurb 

She's beautiful. She's charming. She's going to destroy your life.

When her only son leaves for college, Helen Martin thinks her biggest worry is an empty house.

Then Dakota moves in next door. Young, beautiful, and brash, Dakota quickly attracts the ire of the homeowners association — and the wandering eyes of Helen’s husband, Sam.

But Helen is determined to be a good neighbor. When Dakota's violent ex-husband comes looking for her, Helen thinks she can help drive him away.

She's wrong.

What starts as a simple act of kindness spirals into a nightmare of obsession, lies, and deadly secrets that will threaten her marriage — and her life.

How far will Helen go to save herself, her home, and her family?

My Thoughts 

A psychological thriller that you do not want to put down!

We meet Helen and Sam Martin, a couple living in a strict HOA neighborhood. If you’ve ever seen the memes or posts online, you’ll know that living in an HOA community can be either a dream or your worst nightmare. You can’t make changes to your property without approval, your lawn has to be trimmed to their exact standards, and fines await if you don’t comply. Sounds fun, right? But on the flip side, everything looks neat, polished, and perfectly suburban.

As Helen struggles with empty nest syndrome after her child leaves for college, she becomes distracted by her new neighbor, Dakota — young, confident, and far from shy about expressing herself. As the dynamic between Helen, Sam, and Dakota begins to shift, tension builds, and you start to wonder: should Helen be worried?

I really liked the character development and how the author peeled back the layers of suburban life to reveal something darker beneath the surface. When Dakota’s ex-partner shows up, the tension ramps up even more, forcing each character to make questionable choices. There’s a steady undercurrent of unease throughout, filled with manipulation, hidden motives, and escalating suspense.

A twisty, tension-filled psychological thriller that’s definitely worth reading!