A Gracious Neighbor

A Novel

By: Chris Cander

Narrated by: Karissa Vacker

Length: 9 hrs

Publisher's summary

A gripping novel about friendship, secrets, misjudgments, and redemption among women by the USA Today bestselling author of The Weight of a Piano.

Martha Hale is an affable wife and mother who lives in an affluent neighborhood of well-tended lawns and high expectations. If only her clumsiness at penetrating the social circles of her neighbors weren’t making Martha so lonely.

That’s why she’s thrilled when the glamorous Minnie Foster, a former high school classmate, moves in next door. Despite Martha’s determination, picking up where they left off is trickier than anticipated—especially when their memories of the past don’t always align. But Martha is undeterred. In fact, her preoccupation with Minnie’s life, her success, and her marriage is becoming an obsession. When she sees a darkness and shame hiding inside Minnie’s perfectly deceptive home, Martha realizes that not even Minnie’s secrets are what they seem.

Visceral, sharp-witted, and deeply empathetic, A Gracious Neighbor explores the judgments women pass on one another and the ills of a society curated to keep them on the outside looking in.

©2022 Chris Cander. (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Cander cleverly combines sharply observed satire, a keen sense of place, and a feminist sensibility. Fans of Liane Moriarty will eat this up.”—Publishers Weekly

“A suspenseful tale of relationships, loneliness and what goes on behind closed doors.”—People

“A dynamic and insightful storyteller, Cander imbues her work with such poignant character detail, as a reader, I felt I’d all but moved into Martha’s neighborhood. As a documented lover of tales of complicated relationships between women, I must say that A Gracious Neighbor is among the best.”—Chandler Baker, New York Times bestselling author of The Husbands

ANXIETY TRIGGERING... well, at least for me.

This book was really good and I felt like I was right there in the midst of everything. However, Martha triggered my anxiety so bad. I was talking at her like she could really hear. I also, at times connected with her with regards to how her neighbors treated her. I did feel she took some things personal that she shouldn't have but who hasn't made themselves an unnecessary victim on occasion? I felt very much like her husband grew to be so caught up with work and himself that he stopped really paying attention to her because he didn't notice that she'd stopped sharing with him as much and who knows how that would've changed the ending or not. Then, there's Minnie. I didn't care very much for her actions towards Martha but as I read more and more, I started noticing things weren't really what they seemed to be. Then, I adjusted my line of thinking and I was spot on. I don't think I've been so stressed from reading as was while reading the last 1/4 of this book. When it was over, I had several questions and wanted to know more. I doubt there will be a follow-up to this one but if so, I'll definitely pre-order my copy.

Goodness Gracious!

Outstanding writing, riveting tale, exposing the good and the complicated of our neighborly relations!

An enjoyable domestic

I found the characters were believable if not relatable. This novel kept my interest and kept me guessing.

Meh

I really wanted to like this but the main character was so pathetic it was hard to relate. And it goes on and poof just ends. The part about West U was accurate

great story

This is great story telling. The male characters could be fleshed out a bit more but I like the interactions that play out as real. I had audio version and didn't love the female narrators' imitation of male voices that sounded like, well, a female imitating a male :-)

The main character, Martha, has the audacity to talk and look down on gossipy West U people but actually does ultimate nosy things!

I will look for other titles by this author and loved references to hometown locations, etc.

Still Waiting

Blah story line! I kept reading waiting for a climax that never came. Don't waste your credit. Sam

A must for Houstonians

This book is particularly good if you are familiar with Houston neighborhoods. Great narration and intriguing story. I personally liked the ending, don’t understand why other reviewers said it wasn’t good.

A nice, insightful story.

Itss worth the read. A peek into the life of someone, a family, who loved their every day life, surrounded by a changing neighborhood, nose-to-the-grindstone. A story about understanding....one's self, and others. When you think you know, you really don't.

Just not for me...

This book was really a strange one, and I had a hard time finishing it. The narrator has a "breathy" voice which I find annoying. She drops to a "whispery" tone very often, so forget trying to listen in bed- you can't get the volume right. if I'd noticed it was her again, I'd have deleted the book without listening to it.
Over all, the book was a waste if my time.

Nosey Neighbor

A long story about a nosey neighbor replaying high school slights that mature adults would have long forgotten. The reader’s whining, while befitting for the protagonist had me longing for the story to end.