A Perfectly Nice Family

by Nicole Trope

Stephanie cradles her coffee and gazes out to the little house at the end of her garden. The family who just moved in seem perfectly nice, if a little odd. And it’s only now that Stephanie if she can see them, they can see everything inside her house, too…

Single mother Stephanie is more than happy to welcome the Kemps to her property. Tragically, they have just lost everything in a fire. The rent money means Stephanie can keep her children in this beautiful, rambling home – so expensive to run, since the divorce – all while helping the Kemps get back on their feet.

Jason Kemp is so handy, always offering to fix things. But his wife Cecelia finds a reason to knock on Stephanie’s door every day. Their teenage daughter is sullen and rude. Then one day, Cecelia says the strangest thing…

“You know what teenagers are like. I would have sworn that she set our house on fire in a fit of rage.”

It must be a joke. Stephanie smiles weakly. The Kemps have been through so much, she tells herself.

But when she opens her eyes in the middle of the night to the sound of unfamiliar footsteps on the staircase, Stephanie realises she has made a dangerous mistake. A mistake she may not survive…

An absolutely addictive and twisty psychological thriller where nothing is as it seems! Fans of Shari Lapena, Lisa Jewell and Noelle W. Ihli will be completely hooked.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Psychological Thriller

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 6, 2026

About the author

Nicole Trope writes psychological thrillers about families in crisis and the secrets we keep from ourselves and others. She has always been fascinated by the stories behind the headlines and published her first novel in 2012. In 2026 she will publish her 20th novel with Bookouture. She is a USA Today and Amazon bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS, Canada and Germany. Her books have been translated into German, Italian, Polish, Hungarian and French and Japanese.
She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children
Current Publication: What Have You Done?-October 17th 2025
Next publication: A Perfectly Nice Family: March 6th 2026

Reviews

[Rachel the Page-Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts with us meeting Stephanie, who is now a single mom after her ex-husband Christopher found a mistress and decided to move in with her. Stephanie has custody of their kids, 16-year-old Luke, and 12-year-old Avery, but she has gone back to school and the child support payments aren’t cutting it. She doesn’t want to lose the house her children grew up in, so she takes her best friend’s advise and rents out their guest house to a family who just lost everything in a fire.

The Kemps, Jason, Cecelia and 15-year-old Polly, are happy with the arrangement. They have a cheap place to live while they rebuild, and now Stephanie has another source of income. It seems like a win for everyone, until the family starts driving Stephanie crazy. All three of them come to the main house like it’s part of their property, and they are constantly outside, being loud and fighting. The Kemps signed a lease for six months, but after a creepy incident with Jason, Stephanie decides the money isn’t worth it. She wants them gone.

That’s when this book goes off the rails. The Kemps are not happy about being told to leave, and their secrets start unraveling as they become more desperate. This perfectly nice family is anything but, and when the police become involved, Stephanie realizes how much danger they were actually in. The ending was perfect, and the rest of the book was a quick and entertaining read. Four stars!

(Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me on this book’s tour!)

[Mikayla Larlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first Nicole Trope thriller, I found it engaging, easy to get hooked on, and perfect for readers looking for a fast, unsettling domestic thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

It starts with good intentions and ends with the kind of tension that makes you wish everyone had just minded their own business.

This book really leans into that “be careful who you’re nice to” energy, and it works. The setup is simple but unsettling, new neighbors, blurred boundaries, and that slow realization that something is very off. I liked how the tension crept in quietly rather than exploding right away; it felt more like a constant low-level unease than a nonstop thrill ride. The characters are frustrating in the way real people are, making choices you want to shake them for, which somehow made it even more compelling. I’m a Nicole Trope fan and have found all her psychological thrillers engaging, and this one fit right into that pattern. Not groundbreaking, but definitely addictive and perfect for when you want a fast, twisty domestic thriller that keeps you side-eyeing everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Sam Stoddard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nicole Trope puts something in her books that really gets me hooked. I read this book in two days. And that is only because I had adult things I needed to do in between. Otherwise I would’ve finished it in one sitting. Tropes books are just full of suspense and thy are incredibly addictive. This book was especially addictive and fast paced, and it had me glued to my seat. It’s a slow building tension that you feel in the back of your neck the entire time, which creates an atmosphere and a feeling of intense unease. I love how it played up the idea of your neighbors and privacy compared to proximity, how living so close to someone can suddenly become terrifying and claustrophobic when the trust begins to crumble. The chapters were short and the tension was high. If you enjoy a twist psychological thriller about secrets, neighbors, and the dangers that can be hiding behind a persons “nice” facade, then this book is a must read for you.

Stephanie, recently divorced and trying to keep her life from falling a part. She needs money and when a family who lost everything in a fire needs a place to stay, Stephanie decides to rent them the small house at the end of her garden. This seems like the perfect solution: Stephanie helps someone in need and can bring in some extra money to support her children.

But the Kemps are not what they seem. They are strange.
Jason is a little too helpful. Cecelia seems to arrive at Stephanie’s house more than a friendly neighbor. And their teenage daughter…. Is anything but friendly.
A story that started out mildly uncomfortable quickly becomes incredibly unsettling as Stephanie realizes that she may have done the wrong thing…. She may have invited danger onto her property.

This is an incredibly bingeable thriller that includes boundaries, trust and the realization that kindness can quickly turn into a nightmare.

[Daniella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephanie is doing everything she can to hold her life together and care for her children after a difficult divorce. When a family who has lost their home in a fire needs somewhere to stay, she agrees to rent them the small guest house on her property. The extra income will help her keep the house, and helping people who seem down on their luck feels like the right thing to do.

But it doesn’t take long before things start to feel… wrong.

The new tenants are polite enough on the surface, but their family dynamic is strange and tense. They seem to show up in Stephanie’s home constantly, and small incidents begin piling up that make her question whether welcoming them onto her property was a terrible mistake.

I read a lot of psychological thrillers, so it takes a lot to genuinely surprise me. This one absolutely did. The story builds tension slowly at first and then starts layering twist after twist. Every time I thought I understood what was happening, something shifted and I had to rethink everything.

There are also some very tense moments in this book that had me genuinely worried for certain characters, which made it impossible to stop reading. I ended up flying through it because I needed to know how everything was going to come together.

Most importantly, the twists actually work. Nothing felt cheap or random, and the ending was both satisfying and believable.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers with strong tension, morally messy characters, and twists you won’t see coming, this is definitely worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

[Diane Elizabeth Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

​No Good Deed Goes Unpunished! ​
In this gripping, claustrophobic thriller, Stephanie’s life is already on the brink. A newly single mother struggling to keep her head above water, she rents her granny flat to a bereft family only to realise she’s invited a nightmare into her home. ​
The dynamic is instantly unsettling. Cecilia is abrasive, teenager Polly is inexplicably rude, and Jason’s presence feels like a growing shadow. As the tension ramps up, Stephanie’s desperation grows, making her a protagonist you can’t help but root for. ​I raced through the pages as the domestic sanctuary turned into a cage.
With a shocking twist and an expertly tied-up ending, this is a must-read for fans of psychological suspense.
My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy. My voluntary opinions are my own.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well blimey that was quite a story, pretty intense and somewhat of a rollercoaster at times.

The story was well written, as always with Nicole’s books, as she sure does know how to keep her readers engaged from start to finish. I am in awe as to how her mind works in coming up with the different twists and turns, not to mention the characters. She really does know how to bring the characters to life. There was literally two or three characters in this story, that I just did not know if they could be trusted or not, literally kept me guessing and trying to figure it all out and how the story would play out.

I certainly didn’t see that twist / surprise come the end of the story, very nicely done indeed.

[Alice - Books On the Lake · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story - I love the concept of neighbours who are far too close to home and something is off about them. That theme really gets me hooked, and there is plenty that is off about this odd family!

I liked the pace, it kept me reading into some late nights and I just had to find out what this family were up to and who they really were.

I did not predict the twists and that is refreshing. It all tied together and that was satisfying.

I will be looking for more from Nicole Trope.

Thankyou to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC of A Perfectly Nice Family!

This was my first book by Nicole Trope and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I am a fan of psychological thrillers and this delivered! I did not see the twists and turns in the end and it kept me on my toes. I would recommend this book and really enjoyed reading and reviewing it.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is an interesting thriller. Told from 3 POV it was interesting to see the story unfold from the different perspectives.

I was interested in how the story would unfold and wanted to keep reading to see the resolution. The twists did catch me off guard.

I have read several books by this author and I always find them to be quick, engaging stories.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Nicole Trope book - and what a great one to start with!

A Perfectly Nice Family revolves around single mum, Stephanie and her two children, Luke and Avery. When finances become tight Stephanie decides to rent out the guesthouse in her garden to the Kemp’s; a family who have recently experienced tragic circumstances. However, all is not as it seems. Before long, the Kemp’s start inserting themselves more and more into Stephanie’s life, getting a little too close for comfort! There’s lots of twists and turns that’ll keep you guessing and wanting to read “just one more chapter.”

From the get-go, A Perfectly Nice Family keeps you on your toes. It’s well-paced and keeps you hanging on for answers.

One of the things I enjoyed most about it was that it is told from multiple perspectives: Stephanie’s, Avery (Stephanie’s 12 year daughter) and Cecelia (one of the family members staying in her garden). It was a great way to drop in new bits of information and kept me wondering which way the story was going to go. I particularly enjoyed hearing from Avery. I felt the author captured the ever-changing emotions of a pre-teen well and the language they use. There was only once or twice where this slipped - e.g. the use of the word “Mother” rather than Mum” by several teens in the book. I didn’t feel that this was necessarily the way a teen would ‘speak’.
Hearing from one of the Kemp’s offered an interesting perspective as to why they were the way they are. It also made me question which way the plot was going and I really enjoyed that.

One of my favourite things about this book was the character of Stephanie. She was well-written and came across throughout as a strong level-headed woman, who was very aware of what was going on around her. This was really refreshing. She also wasn’t without her flaws, which made her feel ‘real’ and made me warm to her more.

I would have loved for the situation relating to who Avery was speaking to online to have been resolved. I kept thinking this was going to be linked into the general plot-line but it didn’t seemed to come to anything. I will say that I think its inclusion brought light to a very current (and scary) issue.
I think it would be useful to include trigger warnings at the start of the book for readers once it is published, since it covers some dark topics.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed A Perfectly Nice Family; so much so that I’m excited to pick up a paperback copy once it’s been released.
This book was a great introduction to Nicole Trope’s writing and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Many thanks to Bookouture for providing this ARC via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love a fast-paced psychological thriller that hooks you from the very first chapter and refuses to let go, A Perfectly Nice Family absolutely delivers.

Imagine this: you’re freshly divorced after your doctor husband cheats on you with his receptionist. He “graciously” lets you stay in your dream home for the sake of the kids—but then quietly makes life financially suffocating. The bills pile up, the house is expensive to maintain, and pride only stretches so far. So when your best friend suggests renting out your granny flat to a family who tragically lost everything in a fire, it feels like fate. You need the money. They need help. What could possibly go wrong?

As it turns out… everything.
Stephanie is a relatable and sympathetic protagonist. She’s doing her best to protect her children, maintain stability, and hold onto the life she thought she’d have. When the Kemps move into the small house at the end of her garden, they seem perfectly nice—if a little off. Jason is overly helpful, always ready to fix something. Cecelia drops by constantly. Their teenage daughter radiates hostility. Still, Stephanie tells herself they’ve been through trauma. She wants to believe in the good.
But then there’s that chilling comment: “I would have sworn that she set our house on fire in a fit of rage.”

From there, the tension tightens like a vice.
One of the most unsettling elements of the book is the physical proximity. Stephanie suddenly realizes that if she can see their home from her windows… they can see into hers. That loss of privacy, that creeping sense of being watched, adds a layer of claustrophobic dread that builds beautifully throughout the story.

As a parent, some scenes are genuinely difficult to read. Trope has a talent for tapping into a mother’s deepest fears—about safety, trust, and the vulnerability of children within their own home. The nighttime footsteps on the stairs? Absolutely chilling. The kind of moment that makes you double-check your locks before bed.

Why four stars instead of five? At times, you may feel yourself wanting to shout at Stephanie to see the red flags sooner. But honestly, that frustration also speaks to how invested you become in her life. You care. You want her to be smarter, safer, stronger—because Trope makes her feel real.
Overall, A Perfectly Nice Family is gripping, tense, and emotionally charged. It’s the kind of book you start “just for a few chapters” and suddenly it’s midnight. If you enjoy domestic thrillers where ordinary kindness spirals into something far darker, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Just maybe don’t read it alone at night.

**Thank you NetGalley & Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest review**

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

OH GIRL. She let them move in. Into the little house in her own backyard. Like, she’s making coffee in the kitchen while a whole new set of strangers might be watching her through the trees and she’s just vibing. I am begging these fictional women to start having anxiety. PLEASE.

In A Perfectly Nice Family, Stephanie is a freshly divorced mom trying to keep her life from crumbling like an Aldi gingerbread house in July. She’s got bills, kids, an ex-husband who can choke, and a granny flat out back. So when this family shows up, tragic fire, nowhere to go, nothing suspicious about this at all, she says yes. She rents it to them. And that is the moment I personally sprouted a stress rash.

The new tenants are... let’s just say not giving normal suburban energy. The dad is a little too eager with a wrench. The mom shows up like clockwork with weird stories and weirder vibes. And the teenage daughter? Ma’am. No notes. Just vibes. But not good ones. Every interaction had me feeling like I was watching someone slowly lock themselves in a haunted house and then compliment the decor.

But does Stephanie listen to her gut? Of course not. She does that very specific thriller heroine thing where every red flag is explained away with a little sigh and a glass of wine. I wanted to scream. I did scream. I whispered you’re gonna die in that cardigan, babe, at least five times.

To be clear, this isn’t one of those twist every page thrillers. Nicole Trope slow burns it. The dread creeps in like water under the floorboards. You’re not sprinting through the story. You’re trapped inside it watching the tension pile up until you realize it’s too late. I respect the hell out of that.

We get multiple POVs which really helps break up Stephanie’s spiral and lets the paranoia breathe. Some twists were easier to spot but it didn’t matter. The way they land still hits. You’re not here for mind games. You’re here for emotional chaos. And you get it.

This is a 3.5 that still had me clutching my metaphorical pearls and texting no one because I was too busy reading. Was I yelling at these characters like I was watching a true crime doc narrated by a sleep-deprived mom? Absolutely. Did I finish it in one sitting with wine and righteous indignation? You know I did. The ending? Oh it delivers. Not in a wow what a twist way but in a holy sh*t she did that kind of way. I sat there blinking like I just got slapped with a plot. I wasn’t mad.

Whodunity Award: For Turning a Backyard Lease Agreement Into My Newest Trust Issue

Big thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC and for triggering my lifelong suspicion of polite new neighbors with too many handyman skills.

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Perfectly Nice Family by Nicole Trope is a highly recommended psychological thriller. Troupe always very reliably writes a compelling thriller full of twists.

Stephanie Gordon is recently divorced from her physician husband, Christopher, who was having an affair with his office manager, Vanessa. Stephanie and their children, Luke, sixteen, and Avery, twelve, based on the divorce settlement, are living in the family home until the children are out of school, but money can be a struggle. It doesn't help that Christopher always makes Stephanie ask for him to pay support. When her bestfriend Gail mentions a nice family who lost their home in a fire is looking for somewhere to live while they wait for the insurance settlement, Gail suggests Stephanie rent the granny flat in her backyard to them. It would add income for Stephanie while helping someone in need.

The family, Cecilia and Jason Kemp along with their daughter Polly, fifteen move in. and seem perfectly nice, but perhaps a little odd. Quickly, Stephanie begins to think renting to them was a mistake. They are constantly asking for something. Celia seems strange. Polly is rude and flirting with Luke. Jason is always there, watching. When things start to break and require expensive repairs, Stephanie has had enough and asks Gail for more information about them.

This is a well-written psychological thriller where the atmospheric tension slowly simmers for much of the novel, right up until everything boils over. You will be suspicious about what is really going on for much of the novel, because there are plenty of hints that something isn't right, but once it is all uncovered and the twists begin, it becomes a nail-biter right up to the end. The intense ending will hold your complete attention.

Stephanie is a fully-realized character with both strengths and weaknesses. Her patience is amazing through much of the novel. Anyone who has experienced the life circumstances she is going through will understand how great she really is as a character and you will be on her side. Honestly, having things break in your house when you can't afford repairs is always a nightmare. Most readers will feel the uneasiness of being watched while reading and will also be questioning Gail's reliability as a freind w-a-y before Stephanie does.

A Perfectly Nice Family is a great choice for those who enjoy psychological thrillers. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...

[Olive · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Perfectly Nice Family is about Stephanie, a divorced mother of 2, and her experience navigating the.. Questionable family living in her guest house. She'd never rented out her guest house before, but this was a family in need, and she wanted to help (and of course, the money didn't hurt either.) But we can't always trust those living close to us, can we?

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't very long, but it was full. It's written from multiple people's POV, each chapter being a different part of the story from someone's POV, which I love. I always wonder what the other characters are thinking and this provided that for me. It was a little confusing, though because I noticed one characters chapters were written from a narrators perspective, not her own. While the others chapters were written as the characters themselves. I wasn't sure why and pondered if that would be revealed, but it was not. Perhaps so the reader will question her credibility? But I never did. I believed her fully.

I take notes while I'm reading, so I remember thoughts I had that may be relevant to the review. Here are some of those notes:
- Some of the descriptions of people and places were super (almost too) detailed, while others weren't really described at all, which made it seem a little inconsistent at times. This wasn't a big deal as I got into the story.
- Really good so far - I'm consciously choosing to read instead of watching TV before bed. That's big, especially for me.

If you're a "neat little bow" ending type of person, this delivers, but perhaps not completely.. That depends. I enjoyed how it ended - major questions were answered and made sense.

I don't know if I'd necessarily read this again, but it was quite good. I had tingles a few times while reading, which for me just means I'm invested in the story and the characters.. And what happens to them.. That's a pretty big compliment.

I would recommend it to others. If you're new to thrillers, this a good place to start. Not scary, but gripping, and the chapters end in a way that keep your reading and wondering what's next.

This was my first Nicole Trope book, and I've already added another to my TBR.

Solid 4 stars.

- Trigger warning for hints at sexual abuse against a child. Just in case.


I'm so grateful for NetGalley and Bookouture for my first ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. I was so excited to be approved for this one.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: A Perfectly Nice Family
Author: Nicole Trope
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Domestic Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: March 6, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pages: 314
Recently divorced Stephanie Gordon and her two children - sixteen-year old Luke and twelve-year-old Avery are having a difficult time emotionally adjusting to the new normal as well as making a financially adjustment. It seems dad Christopher a Doctor is much too busy with new girlfriend Vanessa and keeps forgetting about his child support.
Stephanie‘s best friend Gail an Insurance lawyer mentions a friend asked if she knew of small apartment that could be used temporary for a nice family who lost their home in a fire and are waiting for the insurance to settle, Gail suggests the small building near the garden where the previous owners mother-in-law stayed and now used for storage,
Stephanie likes the idea and knows the extra money would be helpful.
So Cecilia and Jason Kemp and their fifteen –year-old daughter Polly move in.
Doesn’t take long for Stephanie to starting thinking perhaps this was a mistake - Polly is rude. Cecilia seems a bit strange and Jason seems to be trying too hard- for example-Stephanie thinks is it inappropriate for him to be so friendly with Avery- giving her a ride etc.as they really don’t know him well enough.

Stephanie has hoped to earn some extra money but since the Kemp’s move in things are falling apart.

Okay things are getting a bit boring to me at this point but this is my sixteenth Nicole Trope story. I love her psychological thrillers so know something just hasn’t clicked yet.

Aww but when it did I said ~ “I knew she would come through’.
Turned out GREAT.
Yep the Kemp’s were Not a perfectly nice family!
Earned 5 ‘Surprised Stars’ from me!

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 6, 2026.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay… you know I love a good domestic thriller that makes me side-eye my neighbors? This one absolutely delivered.

Stephanie is freshly divorced after her doctor husband cheats (with his receptionist… of course) and leaves her “graciously” in the dream house while quietly squeezing her financially. Bills are piling up, pride is cracking, and she’s desperate to keep life stable for her kids. So when she rents out her granny flat to a family who supposedly lost everything in a fire, it feels like a lifeline.

What could go wrong?

Everything.

From the start, the Kemps feel… off. Jason is a little too helpful. Cecelia is constantly hovering. Their teenage daughter is openly hostile. Stephanie keeps telling herself they’ve been through trauma. She wants to believe in the good. But then the comments start. The strange behavior. The creeping feeling of being watched.

And when you realize she can see their house from her windows — which means they can absolutely see into hers — the whole thing turns claustrophobic in the best (worst?) way. The tension just tightens and tightens. There’s a nighttime scene involving footsteps that had me fully reconsidering my own home security.

The twists? I genuinely did not see them coming. I thought I had it figured out. I did not.

This was my first Nicole Trope and it won’t be my last. She knows exactly how to tap into those very real parental fears and make an ordinary situation feel terrifying. The only reason it’s 4 stars instead of 5 is because there were moments I wanted to shake Stephanie and yell, “PLEASE see the red flags!” But honestly? That just means I was completely invested.

If you love fast-paced psychological thrillers where one “good deed” spirals into a full-blown nightmare, add this to your March TBR immediately.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy — my opinions are, as always, my own.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Single mother Stephanie is more than happy to welcome the Kemps into her property. Tragically they have lost everything in a fire. The rent money means Stephanie can keep her children in this beautiful, rambling home - so expensive to run since the divorce - all the while helping the Kemps get back on their feet. Jason Kemp is so handy, always offering to fix things. But his wife Cecelia finds a reason to knock on Stephanie's door every day. The teenage daughter is sullen and rude. Then one day, Cecelia says the strangest thing....

"You know what teenagers are like. I would have sworn that she set our house on fire in a fit of rage."

Not every good turn you do is respected by the recipients, and this story proves that point!

Stephanie was struggling to make ends meet and her husband didn't always pay the maintenance on time. Her friend suggests she rents out her granny flat at the bottom of her garden to give her some well-needed extra cash. But she never thought the family would be intrusive, rude and hostile. Stephanie also feels that the family are watching her every move,

The tension starts to build the moment the Kemps move into the granny flat. I was fully invested in this story, but I didn't like some of the things that happened along the way, but unfortunately it happens in real life. This is a well-written psychological thriller. I did not see some of the twists coming. The Kemps even made me feel uneasy. I liked the way this story ended.

Published 6th March 2026

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #NicholeTrope for my ARC of #APerfectlyNiceFamily in exchange for an honest review.

[Donna Stewart-Waltz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC at noon and had it finished by 7pm.
This thriller follows recently divorced Stephanie Gordon, a mother of two trying to comes to term with her ex's betrayal and his refusal to do anything to make the transition even the smallest bit more financially and emotionally easier on her or his children.
To make extra money for her children, Stephanie takes the advise of her "best friend" Gail and rents out her garden mother-in-law suite to a perfectly nice family (Cecilia, Jason and their psycho, teen daughter Polly) who supposedly recently lost their home in a fire. But with friends like Gail, who needs enemies? I literally had to "breathe in for four and hold for two," because I wanted to climb through the pages and throttle Gail myself.
You will also hear from pre-teen Avery, Stephanie's typical, insecure and angry girl child trying to find her place in her new normal, which now includes, a pre-occupied mother and an absent father whose misplaced priorities are with his new fling, Vanessa.
Nobody here is as they portray themselves and one is just VILE.
The twists and shockers in this book will have the hair on the back of your neck standing up and will have you understand why author Nicole Trope is a mistress of suspense!
I plan on buying the physical copy of this book so I can have it for my collection and to re-read it at a slower pace.
Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for providing an honest opinion.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Perfectly Nice Family is one of those books that lures you in with its comforting domestic setup and then—very slowly, very cleverly—begins to twist the knife.

Stephanie, still finding her footing as a single mum, thinks she’s doing something kind and practical by renting out the little house at the bottom of her garden to the recently displaced Kemp family. They seem perfectly pleasant… if a touch unusual. But that’s easy enough to overlook when the rent helps keep her own home afloat.

What follows is a wonderfully slow‑burn escalation of unease. Jason is too helpful. Cecelia is too present. Their daughter oscillates between rude and unsettling. And as small, strange comments begin to pile up—like Cecelia’s offhand remark about her own child setting their house on fire—you can feel Stephanie’s world tightening around her.

The author does an excellent job capturing that creeping dread of being watched in your own home, of realising you may have let danger come a little too close. By the time the late‑night footsteps begin, I was genuinely tensing up.

This is a compulsively readable psychological thriller that thrives on atmosphere and character dynamics rather than shock‑for‑shock’s‑sake twists. Perfect for fans of Shari Lapena and Lisa Jewell who love the “seemingly normal family with very abnormal secrets” kind of story.

A tense, twisty, and highly bingeable read—I flew through it in a day.

With thanks to Nicole Trope, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

This was the perfect thriller for me and an easy 5 stars. The story follows Stephanie, a single mother who is struggling to make ends meet. When a seemingly lovely family loses their home in a fire, she makes the decision to let them rent her annexe. What seems like the perfect solution soon proves to be anything but. I started this in the evening and couldn’t wait to see how it would unfold i had it finished within six hours.
From the very beginning, there’s an undercurrent of tension that steadily builds. Small moments of unease start to creep in, and it quickly becomes clear that not everything is as it seems. I found myself completely absorbed, constantly trying to piece together the truth and work out who could really be trusted.
The pacing was spot on. Each chapter revealed just enough to keep me questioning everything without giving too much away. I loved how the narrative constantly shifted my suspicions. Every time I thought I had it figured out, another twist changed the direction and kept me guessing.
The shock factor was exactly what I look for in a psychological thriller. The reveals were surprising yet believable, and they added real emotional weight to the story. The layers of secrets and hidden motivations made the plot feel complex and compelling rather than overdone.
If you enjoy domestic thrillers filled with suspense, unexpected turns, and that jaw-dropping moment that makes you stop and reread a line, this one absolutely delivers. A gripping, twisty read that kept me hooked from start to finish.

[Heidi Lynn’s BookReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I want to thank Nicole Trope, Bookouture and NetGalley for this book so I can bring you this review.

Seriously no joke reading A Perfectly Nice Family by Nicole Trope I felt like I was watching one of those crazy good family drama filled reality shows!! Infact, this story would be great as a Netflix series!! I have been a fan of Nicole’s for a while now but this one for me was one of my favorites! It was so fast paced and addicting that I was able to binge read it in one sitting! Yes, that is how into the story I was!! This book deserves 5 stars and is a must read!!

What I would love to know is how Nicole came up with this storyline! It was brilliant as it was so creative, different, and outside of the box!! Nothing like this storyline has ever been done like this! Plus, the characters are different, unique and mysterious.

Here is what I couldn’t wrap my head around: Stephanie didn't think to google the Kemps before agreeing to have them move on to her property?! She didn’t know anything about them!!! That would have been a red flag city for me!!! However, once things got weird then she googles them? I was shaking my head with that one.

Within the craziness of the storylines there are some where the readers I think may be able to relate to.

There are many many wicked twists and turns that threw me off the trail of figuring out what was really going on! That one actually blew me away!

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Is it possible that the perfectly nice family she let into her life is walking around her house in the middle of the night?"

With a start like that, Nicole Trope had me locked in.

A Perfectly Nice Family is a fast paced thriller that I devoured in just two days.

It follows single mom, Stephanie, through her struggle to stay afloat, both financially and mentally, after her husband's infidelity. Surviving on a part time job and child support she has to beg for, she is working her way through school for her teaching degree in the hopes of getting a full time teaching position and hanging on until then - all scenarios that could have been ripped out of my own diary.

Her tale is frustrating and maddening and I couldn't put it down.

She is given an opportunity to rent out her shed, originally built as a mother-in-law suite, and even with misgivings, she decides the help is just too good to pass up. Of course, this is where all the chaos ensues and has the reader questioning everything - and everyone.

If thriller novels have taught me anything, it is to always trust your gut and maybe never be a landlord - things I realize I don't need self-help books for.

This was my first Nicole Trope novel and I absolutely will check her out again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC and the opportunity to review it!

[Britney Ireland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank You #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC copy of Nicole Tropes new novel
A Perfectly Nice Family.

A Perfectly Nice Family

Nicole has done it again, delivering a taut, suspenseful new thriller, A Perfectly Nice Family, that will have readers questioning everyone they trust. The novel introduces us to Stephanie, a woman navigating the complexities of a recent divorce and the need to require more finances. The solution? Renting out the quaint, guest house in the backyard.

Enter the 'perfectly nice family'—a seemingly ordinary couple with their child. They are the ideal family for her financial needs. However, the veneer of normalcy quickly begins to crack.

The central mystery rapidly takes hold: Who are these people, and what is their true purpose for being in Stephanie’s guest house? Are they simply eccentric, or is there a far more sinister agenda at play?

As Stephanie digs deeper, the narrative explodes with twists, turns, and shocking revelations. Nicole masterfully peels back the layers of deception. The novel races toward an explosive conclusion as Stephanie races against time to uncover their origins, their real identities, and the shocking reason for their meticulous, unsettling arrival in her backyard.

A Perfectly Nice Family is a gripping thriller with an ending I didn't see coming.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this one?? Yeah… productivity never stood a chance.

I absolutely devoured this book—like “ignore responsibilities, stay in bed until noon, life can wait” levels of obsessed.

I did this as an immersion read with the physical copy + audiobook (Amazon Music monthly pick 🙌), and honestly? Elite combo for a domestic thriller. I did try the eARC first, but had some issues (fully a me problem), so waiting for my preferred format was 100% the right call.

What really made this hit was how layered it felt. There are multiple subplots weaving in and out, and at first you might side-eye a few like “okay filler…”—but NOPE. Every single thread matters. Watching it all snap together was so satisfying and incredibly well executed.

And can we talk about Stephanie’s 12-year-old daughter?? That POV could’ve gone so wrong, but it was done perfectly. Age-appropriate, believable, and honestly added an extra layer of tension that made everything feel sharper and more unsettling. Getting that tween perspective? Genius move.

If you’re in the mood for a psychological/domestic thriller mashup that actually delivers on its twists and sticks the landing (!!!), this one is absolutely it.

I am thankful to have received a complimentary eARC from Bookouture via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semicolons~✡~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

~3.5~

The beginning dragged a bit, but once the story clicked, I couldn't stop reading. The narrative took an an unexpected turn, which is always a good thing in a thriller.

My house suddenly falling apart like Stephanie's did (broken dishwasher, flooded kitchen, sewage backup, cracked pipes) is my worst nightmare, so that was scary enough on its own. Add to that the Avery (Stephanie's 12-year-old daughter) storyline, and I was on the edge of my metaphorical seat.

I was worried Stephanie, the female protagonist, would turn out to be super naive and weak, but she surprised me. She caught on to what was happening quickly and wasn't afraid of confrontation. She was still borderline hysterical, but to be fair, I might be too if I had the Kemps living in my backyard.

Australian laws must differ from those of the United States. when it comes to being an accessory to a crime. No way would someone who set up and organized a crime but didn't actually commit it get off scot-free in the U.S.

Thank goodness for the epilogue, where Jason got his comeuppance; men like Jason don't deserve to live.

In a nutshell: Multiple POVs, suspenseful narrative, strong ending, and accessible writing made this a satisfying read.

[Jennifer TW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephanie is working through a difficult divorce, trying to finish her teaching degree and do her best by her two children Luke and Avery. Her ex Husband, Christopher, a Doctor, had walked away from their marriage to be with Vanessa, his receptionist. A condition of their divorce is that Stephanie and the children can remain in the home until the children no longer need to live there. Stephanie is struggling to make ends meet so decides to rent out her granny flat to a family for 6 months after their own home was destroyed by fire. But the husband, wife and teenage daughter who rent this space act strangely and are intrusive. Stephanie is worried by their behaviour. But is she just paranoid? Suddenly things go wrong in the house, with expensive repairs required. Stephanie feels paranoid but is this all coincidence? In parallel, Avery is messaging a friend online late at night, and she is feeling disillusioned by her parents divorce. Has she found a new friend amongst the family who have moved in?
A fast paced and gripping thriller that explores the complications of divorce and the lengths people will go to. Huge thanks to the author and publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This tense domestic thriller follows Stephanie, a single mother trying to stay afloat after her divorce, who decides to rent part of her property to the Kemp family after they lose their home in a fire. What begins as an act of kindness quickly turns unsettling. Jason is overly eager to involve himself in every household repair, Cecelia inserts herself into Stephanie’s daily routine, and their teenage daughter radiates hostility. When Cecelia casually hints that her own child might have been responsible for the blaze that destroyed their home, Stephanie brushes it off, until strange noises in the night make her question whether she has invited danger into her home.

The story builds its suspense slowly, leaning into a creeping sense of intrusion and mistrust. Once the tension takes hold, it becomes a gripping read, full of uneasy moments and shifting suspicions. Even with a few predictable turns and minor plot gaps, the atmosphere and character dynamics keep the pages turning. Fans of twisty, character‑driven psychological suspense, especially those who enjoy stories about seemingly ordinary families hiding dark secrets will find plenty to enjoy here. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy, all opinions expressed are my own.

[Genesis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished A Perfectly Nice Family by Nicole Trope and wow… chef’s kiss. Five stars, no notes. This isn’t even my usual genre because I don’t read a lot of thrillers, but this book had me completely hooked from start to finish. It kept me on my toes the entire time and had me feeling every single emotion.

What I loved the most was Stephanie’s character and her growth. Watching her rebuild her life after her divorce, deal with being cheated on, and still show up for her kids was so powerful. She’s navigating financial stress, going back to school, maintaining the home she once shared with her husband, and just trying to survive. It felt real and relatable. So when this “perfectly nice” family comes into her life offering financial help, it honestly made sense why she said yes.

But let’s just say… nothing is ever that simple. The tension, the twists, the slow unraveling of the truth?? I was constantly guessing and suspicious of everyone. I genuinely did not see the final reveal coming, which made it even better.

If you love emotional thrillers with strong female leads, messy relationships, and shocking twists, this is a must-read. This book pulled me out of my comfort zone and I’m so glad it did.

[Nicole Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of A Perfectly Nice Family, and I truly loved this book from start to finish!
This story had just the right amount of twists and turns to keep me completely invested. Every time I thought I had things figured out, the plot shifted just enough to make me question everything all over again. It kept me guessing in the best way possible and made it nearly impossible to put down.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was the character development. The author did such a wonderful job of peeling back layers, revealing motivations, and allowing the characters to evolve in a way that felt natural and compelling. I found myself fully immersed in their lives — trying to predict their next moves while also second-guessing my own assumptions.
I also really appreciated how the story unfolded. There were moments where I wasn’t quite sure where things were heading — and that’s what made it so fun. The pacing felt balanced, building tension steadily while still giving readers enough insight to stay emotionally connected.
If you love thrillers with strong character depth, steady suspense, and twists that keep you engaged without feeling overdone, this is definitely one to add to your list. I’m so grateful I had the chance to read this ARC — highly recommend!