Perfectly Nice Neighbors by Kia Abdullah

Perfectly Nice Neighbors

by Kia Abdullah

“One of my ten best reads of the year. Easy five stars.” — Lisa Jewell, New York Times bestselling author of None of This is True

A twisty and consuming thriller, Perfectly Nice Neighbors asks: When your dream home comes with nightmare neighbors, how far will you go to keep your family safe?


    Salma Khatun is hopeful about Blenheim, the suburban development into which she, her husband, and their son have just moved. The Bangladeshi family needs a fresh start, and Blenheim feels like just the place.
    Soon after they move in, Salma spots her White neighbor, Tom Hutton, ripping out the anti-racist banner her son put in the front garden. Avoiding confrontation, Salma takes the banner inside and puts it in her window. But the next morning, she wakes up to find her window smeared with paint.
    When she does speak to Tom, battle lines are drawn between the two families. As racial and social tensions escalate and the stakes rise, it’s clear that a reckoning is coming . . .
    And someone is going to get hurt.

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4 of 5 stars

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Book Summary: Selma and her husband have decided to move into a small suburban development. Admittedly, it wasn't their first choice. Or their second. Or even their third. But it is what they can comfortably afford. They should have listened to their guts, as life in this new neighborhood has been anything but peaceful. It all starts with a few small but aggressive acts. It quickly escalates from there. It's only a matter of time before somebody gets killed. My Review: This is the first time I've read anything by Kia Abdullah (sorry, I know, adding to my TBR list), and I can already tell she is a master at writing complex social situations. Perfectly Nice Neighbors may hit logical extremes by the end of the book, but it all has a foundation in reality. That makes this read all the more chilling. Who here hasn't had nightmares about getting a horrible neighbor? Even that element is relatable. Throw in rising social tensions, two-faced natures, and a bit of family drama, and well...you've got the perfect storm. It's safe to say that I enjoyed Perfectly Nice Neighbors. I'm glad that I nabbed it from Aardvark Book Club when I had the chance because I may not have read it (in a timely manner) otherwise. Highlights: Mystery/Thriller Complex Mystery Social Commentary Trigger Warnings: Racism Stalking/Confrontational Behavior The Dog is FINE You Can Also Find Me On: Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 16 October, 2023: Finished reading
  • 16 October, 2023: Reviewed