Customer Reviews

The People Next Door

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Lisa and Darrell Canfield are in search of the perfect spot to build their dreamhouse. They each have a daughter near the same age from their first marriages and a set of adorable twins. In addition, Darrell's mom is moving with them, thus, the large house they have planned will be perfect. Just as they give up on finding the ideal location, they discover a spot near friends and begin building. All is well in their lives as they look forward to their new home.

Across town, Brad Bentacourt is a bit sick of his wife's freeloading family. He wants to convince his wife, a stay-at-home mother, that they should move closer into town--and away from her family. When an opportunity presents itself and a recently built house is available for a quick sale, he jumps at the opportunity. Though he has to convince her at first, once they see the house, she loves it and they soon make the purchase. Unbeknownst to them, they have purchased the house next door to the Canfields. To add even more drama, Lisa is Brad's ex-wife. Yep, you read correctly. Brad and his new wife have moved next door to his previous wife. Want more drama? Well, the new wife isn't happy about the idea of her step-daughter being so close to Brad and does her best to hide it from him. The previous wife loves her current husband, but feels that what Brad has, should've been hers. Can someone say

D-R-A-M-A?

Author Bettye Griffin melds an unbelievable scenario full of nosey neighbors trying to out-do each other, arguments between the new wife and the old, lessons on unruly children, and situations revolving around social status. She also touches on some major issues dealing with blended families. Through the crazy incidents, the author's wit, and the various characters with all their flaws and misgivings, THE PEOPLE NEXT DOOR is an enjoyable read. It showcases lessons on familial love, dealing with others, and learning from the lessons of the past.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal

of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

The People Next Door by Bettye Griffin is a very enjoyable, entertaining read that will have you thinking long after you put it down. It is the story of The Canfields and the Bentancourts. Lisa and Darrell Canfield are looking to build their dream home and find the perfect lot in Jacksonville. Little does Lisa know that her ex-husband Brad and his wife Suzanne will end up buying the house next door. Of course, the wives don't get along because Lisa feels Suzanne is the reason for the break-up of her marriage to Brad. Suzanne, on the other hand resents Lisa because she feels Lisa is everything she is not: well-bred and educated. Suzanne grew up poor and considers herself lucky to be married to Brad, a very successful radiologist. The guys begin to build a friendship much to the surprise and dismay of the wives and of course, fireworks begin to fly because Suzanne is also resentful of the fact that Brad and Lisa share a daughter. Despite the fact that Lisa and Darrell, as well as Brad and Suzanne are happy and in love with each other, Lisa resents that fact Suzanne is living the life that she feels SHE should be living and it begins to cause problems with Lisa and Darrell. Of course, you always have the neighbors that try to keep up with everyone and put on appearances like they have more than what they have.....Ernie and Flo Hickman. Despite everything, they all learn to get along and to focus on the more important things in life: family. The People Next Door is not only a very entertaining blend of drama and comedy but it also deals with family issues and makes you aware of how things are in dealing with blended families. I give this book 4 stars!!!! Reviewed by Shay C of PeoplewholoveGoodBooks

This book had a very slow beginning. Although it did pick up in the middle, the ending was very disappointing. We do not recommend this book.

This was a book that kept me reading. I didn't think it was slow at the beginning as some reviewer had said. Interesting circumstances in this book. I do feel she left the door opened for sequel. I'd recommend this book, I'm in a bookclub and will suggest the other members read it.

This book was boring and although it picked up in the middle it still did not make it any better.The Canfields are trying to find a place to build their dream home.The Betancourts move next door to them.Lisa Canfield use to be married to Brad Betancourt.Lisa's husband and Brad get along fine but Brad's wife Suzanne and Lisa don't like each other.Suzanne has a freeloading family.I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.The Hickmans are nosy people who try to keep up with what everyone else has.The Hickmans were more interesting than the Betancourts and the Canfields.

This book have a very very very slow beginning lol. It pick up some what in the middle but still not enough to make u wanna keep the book in yo hands. I did like the end through how all the familys came together as one and let the past be the past. overall if you a fan of Bettye Griffin I would say go on an get this book if you don't have it. but if it is your first time reading from this author Bettye Griffin like myself then I would check it out from the library before buying.

I am super glad I only got this book for $2.00. Let me begin with agreeing with the other reviewers, this book has an excellent storyline, full of rich charcters (but then the excellence stops there).

Lisa Canefiled and Suzanne Bethancourt, were both married to the same man, Lisa was the first wife follwed by Suzanne as circumstances would have it they end up living side by side each other.

Lisa is a career mom, good family background, solid education, while Suzanne is a typical ghetto girl who used her looks to grab her a "rich" man.

The story develops around these two and their complex family lives, spirnkled with activity from the quirky secondary characters.

This novel had alot of potential to explore real issues that the rising black middle and upper class have to deal with such as: love, marriage,divorce, pretenses,pride, family,morals and values.

The novel was closed up pretty poorly, but it seems like there could be room for a sequel, lets just hope Bettye gets it right the second time around.

This book had the potential to be great, but it was completely to enamored with the 'keeping up with the Joneses' thing. Siddity people all trying to out do each other. The story itself is believable, many people face this every day (I have NOSEY neighbors just like the ones she describes, down to the husband asking my husband how much he makes!)I like the way it touched on the blended families issue. Although Lisa and Susanne both got on my nerves, Lisa being the under cover envious ex wife who didn't seem very loving to her husband she seemed stuck up and stiff, and constantly embarrassed that her husband didn't have what her ex did(she didn't say that she just acted like it). And Susanne being the dim wit house wife (who finally snagged a rich man to take care of her and her lazy family)with no wants of doing anything else besides spend her husbands money on stuff she can show off and her lazy trifling family, she whined about feeling out of place when going places with him because the other women 'knew' things about world events or their careers and she was content knowing nothing and trying to look pretty, she didn't work but the broad wouldn't even cook a real meal! The story did drag a bit as everyone talked about everyone else and what they had or didn't have (the scene in the grocery store where Sue was stocking up on hamburger helper and noticed Lisa's basket filled with 'wrapped' meats from the butcher so she was spending 'real' money on meats and Suzanne was embarrassed to be seen with all that hamburger helper...give me a break!) Also the way it ended seemed like the author just got tired. I wouldn't recommend buying this book and it COULD be book club worthy if focused on the real issues in the story and not who had the most expensive whatever.

This turned out to be a good read. At first I was a little concerned since it started off a bit slow, but gradually the story line picked up. People who are in "blended families" will be able to relate. As a divorced woman who remarried a divorced man, I could definitely relate to the characters and the situations in this book. Living next to either of our exes would be a nightmare! I'll definitely read other books by this author.

This was a great book. Interesting storyline and plot and I think Ms. Griffin did a great job with the storyline and the characters. This isn't a book full of drama so if you are looking for tons of crazy family issues and drama, this is the wrong book and you will be disappointed. If you are interested in a good read about a family dealing with a crazy and probably not so unique situation, than this is the book for you.