The Neighbors

By: Ania Ahlborn

Narrated by: Fleet Cooper

Welcome to Magnolia Lane. It’s not exactly a little slice of heaven, but in the backwater town of Creekside, Kansas, it’s the best a jobless supermarket clerk like Andrew Morrison can do. After sacrificing a normal childhood, a decent education, and true love to look after his alcoholic mother, he’s finally breaking free and living his own life — but in the squalid house he’s sharing with a former childhood friend, the living isn’t exactly easy. Plus, there’s something about the chipper, all-American couple next door that’s just downright creepy. However, that doesn’t keep Drew from accepting a job as their handyman — or surrendering to the wiles of perfect housewife Harlow Ward, a woman who always gets what she wants. Drew, like a string of hapless young men before him, doesn’t realize he’s dancing with a devil — one dressed to the nines in high heels and pearls.©2012 Ania Ahlborn (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

My Neighbors Suck

So
This is my second listen by this author’s books. I started out liking it, as I did the previous one I listened to (Brother, might be The Brother).
Great premise, had me intrigued. But just like the other book,...Why is the main character so clueless? You start out totally identifying with him/her, then it’s like, oh, c’mon! Are you really that unaware? And why are you so accepting of your horrible circumstances? But all in all, the ending was pretty good. So, didn’t hate it. Didn’t love it. Not sorry I used a credit on this one. The reader was a bit robotic and there were times the inflections were not quite right. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

disappointed

I thought for sure I would love this one since I gave Seed a 5 star, but I just had such a hard time getting into this one. I'm not giving up however the author definitely has a new fan.

SOOOO SLLLOOOOWWW!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Shorten it by half!

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

It had SO MUCH promise in the beginning. Then it just droned on and on. and ended exactly how you would guess it would.

Have you listened to any of Fleet Cooper’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

N/A

Was The Neighbors worth the listening time?

NO!

Any additional comments?

I prefer stories that do not have a supernatural element in them. I like stories that COULD happen. But I actually found myself WISHING that this one would end up pulling something like that (a monster, a demon, etc.) just to spice it up and make it more interesting. Instead I just kept waiting for something to happen and being let down. I fell asleep listening to it 3 nights in a row at the exact same spot. I couldn't even bear to listen to it by the end. I think writers like this one need to learn two things: a) not everyone is meant to write horror/suspense and b) not EVERY story has to be a novel! I would have been satisfied if this story was exactly the way it was IF it were only an hour or two long. But being nearly 8 hours long makes me DEMAND that it actually go somewhere!

Not Ahlborn's best

Andrew has been a good son all his life. Looking after his alcoholic, agoraphobic mother ever since his father left, Andrew has given up his only love and any chance of a career to stay at home and look after his mother. One day he snaps and moves in with a childhood friend, Mickey, who lives across town. He's immediately drawn to the picture perfect house next door and the friendly, helpful neighbors, Harlow and Red. But nothing is quite as it seems in suburbia.
Nowhere near as good as Brother. This was my first Ahlborn novel where I didn't feel invested in the characters at all. They lacked substance. Harlow, the wife, had an interesting backstory but she was characterized in an almost cartoonish manner. The Neighbors is more psychological suspense rather than horror. It was entertaining enough to keep listening, but the plot and the characters were pretty unremarkable.
The narration was fine.

Great as always

Ania Alborn has great writing skills. I hope she continues to write such good books.