The Family at No. 23 by Kathryn Sharman review

About The Book

Book: The Family at No. 23
Author: Kathryn Sharman
Standalone or Series: Standalone
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Publication Date (UK): 28th August 2025

🔍Standout Read. Awarded to books I highly recommend.

My Review

What. A. Debut. This one is going to get people talking when it hits the shelves later this year.

A domestic thriller packed with morally grey characters, it’s a standout in the genre – and I read a lot of them. The characters aren’t always likeable, but they’re absolutely compelling. You’ll fly through the pages wanting to know what happens next.

Iris and Laura have been friends for years, bonded by their sons, Freddie and Ben. But when Laura, her husband Ivo, and Freddie move to the other side of town, the better side, things begin to shift. Their children are about to begin secondary school and Laura’s new postcode means Freddie now qualifies for a different school – while Ben is left out of catchment. Iris, whose own family could never afford the rent in this area, is quietly seething with envy. Her son is sensitive, often unwell, and she worries about him being left to navigate a new school without his best friend.

After meeting Laura for coffee within her affluent new area, Iris witnesses an elderly lady fall in the street, bumping her head. She helps her home – but after making them both a cuppa tea, she returns to find the woman has sadly passed away in her absence. Peacefully. Quietly. And oh, what a wonderful house she has…

What follows is a fantastic read that you will not want to put down. Bravo!

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the ARC.