Books
9 must-read books for The Couple Next Door fans
Have you been watching the new Channel 4 series The Couple Next Door? Whether you’ve been tuning in every Monday night or accidentally binged all six episodes in one sitting (thank you, channel4.com), it’s the tense thriller that’s got everyone talking.
Evie and Pete’s relationship with their new neighbours starts out friendly, but as the series goes on, it spirals into one of lust, obsession, and jealousy – with violent consequences.
If you found the show as addictive as we did, you’d probably enjoy a good domestic thriller novel. The following books share themes with The Couple Next Door: neighbours you can’t trust, obsessive relationships, betrayal, revenge, and dark secrets simmering below idyllic suburban towns…
Books Like The Couple Next Door
The Spare Room by Andrea Bartz
The Spare Room by Andrea Bartz
Kelly’s life is not going according to plan, so when her childhood friend Sabrina offers her a spare room in her home, she jumps at the chance.
Soon, Kelly is brought into Sabrina’s life – and her open marriage. At first, Kelly loves being part of this risqué new world. But when she learns that the last woman invited into the marriage is now missing, she worries she might be next.
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
Cecilia thought she knew her husband. But that was before she found the envelope marked “to be opened in the event of my death”. Unable to resist, she opens it and learns a shocking truth. If she confronts her husband, it will cause untold damage – but could staying silent be worse?
This story of the lies kept in a marriage is perfect for fans of The Couple Next Door. We’d also recommend Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies for its depiction of small-town secrets.
The Switch by Lily Samson
The Switch by Lily Samson
Elena and Adam are housesitting in Wimbledon when they meet their beautiful, enigmatic neighbours, Sophia and Finn. When Sophia proposes that they swap partners in secret, it’s not long before Elena experiences a sexual awakening that turns into a love affair. But Sophia has her own sinister plans, and Elena suddenly realises she might be in danger.
This unique book shows the deadly consequences of lust and jealousy – a key theme in The Couple Next Door. It’s not out until June 2024, but you can pre-order it now!
Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena
Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena
Stanhope is supposed to be a safe, family-friendly neighbourhood. So when nine-year-old Avery goes missing, the community is shaken to its core. But on a street where everyone has secrets, it’s even harder to uncover the truth.
Exploring the dark underbelly of suburbia, this novel has definite parallels with the Channel 4 show. We’d also recommend Shari Lapena’s The Couple Next Door (NB: it’s not related to the TV show in any way), which asks: how well do you really know your neighbours?
Keep Your Friends Close by Paula Daly
Keep Your Friends Close by Paula Davy
Natty and Sean are happily married. When their daughter falls ill on a school trip, Natty rushes to be at her side, leaving Sean with her best friend Eve, who is visiting. But when Natty returns, Sean says he has fallen in love with Eve.
Natty learns that this is not the first time Eve has broken up a marriage as she hunts for the truth about her oldest friend – even as it puts her life in danger.
Our Kind of Cruelty by Araminta Hall
Our Kind of Cruelty by Araminter Hall
If you’re looking for a dark, disturbing tale of obsessive love (think: Evie and Danny), we recommend Our Kind of Cruelty.
It looks at a relationship from two perspectives: Verity is glad her relationship with Mike is over. He was controlling and she’s happy to have moved on. But Mike believes that Verity is playing a game and she still loves him. The end result? A chilling psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the end.
Your Neighbour's Wife by Tony Parsons
Your Neighbour’s Wife by Tony Parsons
Tara is a loving wife and mother. But in an impulsive moment, she spends the night with a married man. Now, the man says he wants a relationship with her – and he won’t leave her or her family alone until he gets what he wants. There’s only one way out, and it involves murder…
This tale of obsessive love is a real page-turner, perfect for anyone who loved The Couple Next Door. We also recommend Tony Parsons’ novel The People Next Door, a nail-biting thriller about neighbours with dubious motives.
The Mistress's Revenge by Tamar Cohen
The Mistress’s Revenge by Tamar Cohen
For five years, Sally has been Clive’s mistress. Now, he has dumped her as he wants to fully commit to his wife. Sally is hurt and angry, and gradually her actions (befriending his family on Facebook, stalking where they work, etc.) start to spiral out of control.
This gripping thriller is dark, unnerving, and shows the lengths people will go to in order to satisfy an obsession – a key theme in The Couple Next Door.
The Friend by Dorothy Koomson
The Friend by Dorothy Koomson
Cece and her family move to Brighton, after her husband receives a promotion. It seems like a picturesque neighbourhood, and Cece soon makes friends with three school mums. But when she learns that a mother was almost murdered three weeks ago, and one of her new friends is a suspect, she realises they are each keeping a secret – and it’s a secret that someone is willing to kill to protect.
With its fresh take on the dark side of female friendship and small communities, The Friend is a great companion to The Couple Next Door.
What did you think of The Couple Next Door? Let us know in the comments below…
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