I read Shari Lapena's debut novel The Couple Next Door last fall as a selection from my Book of the Month club subscription, and while it had its flaws, I really enjoyed the story. So I knew I had to read Lapena's newest novel as soon as I heard about it. A Stranger in the House comes out today, so you can order it or pick it up wherever you buy your books from now!

Brief synopsis: Karen is a plain-jane housewife that works in bookkeeping, and her husband is an accountant. Married for two years, they are a happy couple with boring, nondescript lives. Until Karen wrecks her car on the bad side of town the same night a man was murdered in the same area. Unfortunately, Karen's wreck caused a concussion and temporary amnesia - so she can't remember what happened. Tom starts to wonder how well he knows his wife, and she's wondering the same thing about herself.

Much like The Couple Next Door, Lapena's A Stranger in the House is a little off-the-wall. While that may not suit some readers, I was able to look past the outlandishness of some of the situations to enjoy the novel. I felt the plot was intriguing, but often found myself flipping back pages to make sure some of the situations were lining up.

There were a lot of parallels between this novel and Lapena's debut, including a nosy neighbor that plays a large role in the story, as well as misuse of trust between the main couple, and a detective that just don't think things add up.

If you enjoyed The Couple Next Door, you'll sink into Stranger just as well. With switched perspective story-telling, an unreliable protagonist, and a twist at the end (which I unfortunately saw coming), this novel may just be the next big buzzed about summer story.