Welcome to the Neighbourhood by Jane Fallon review: A heart-filled whodunnit without the murder
Funny, twisty and constantly surprising – an absolute gem of a book.
Welcome to the Neighbourhood by Jane Fallon: Key details
- Publish date: 15 January 2026
- Genre: Women’s fiction
- Publisher: Penguin
- Available formats: Paperback, ebook, audio
- Series/standalone: Standalone
- Length: 439 pages
Blurb: Until recently, the most exciting thing that that happened in Ashdown Close was a parcel going missing. That was before the arrival of Sian and Richard at number 8. They are cool, glamorous, and everything that Kitty hoped her life in London would be. Kitty can’t help but be dazzled by her new neighbours, and makes it her mission to befriend them.
But when she sees a mysterious stranger leaving their house, she realises they might not be the perfect couple she thought. Aided and abetted by her reluctant best friend Grace, Kitty is determined to find out the truth.
But nosy neighbouring has consequences. And on a street where everyone knows everything, what if you uncover more than you bargained for?
Welcome to the Neighbourhood by Jane Fallon: The review
Honestly, 2026 has been off to a flying start in terms of books. I’ve read some brilliant all-timers, including this delightful dram-com from Jane Fallon. Welcome to the Neighbourhood follows 40-something Kitty; she’s living on her own after recently separating from her partner. She feels like she doesn’t quite fit in with her neighbours, but then Sian and Rich move in next door. Instantly she has a new best friend in Sian.
But while Sian and Rich initially seem like the perfect couple, cracks soon start to show. And perhaps not everyone is telling the truth. Is Rich up to something shady? Can Kitty believe everything Sian says? Kitty regrets getting so involved, but she can’t help playing detective along with her lovable but annoying tagalong friend, Grace.
To say much more about the plot would spoil some of Welcome to the Neighbourhood‘s best reveals, but trust me when I say this is a book that you won’t want to put down. This is a twisty and hilarious novel, with wonderful, real characters that are a joy to spend time with.
In fact, it’s refreshing to read a novel about people in their 40s, people who have experienced life and are no longer in their prime. It’s also refreshing to read about 40-something characters without children, whose lives don’t revolve around school runs and chasing after kids. It feels even more rare that childless characters should be heroic, too; someone to look up to, not to be looked down upon. It’s almost as if it doesn’t really matter at all. Imagine that.
Once I started reading Welcome to the Neighbourhood, I couldn’t put it down. While it sits somewhere in the women’s fiction category, it’s not a romance (although romance does play a part). It’s simply a great story about likeable characters that you’ll be rooting for. In many ways, it’s almost a whodunnit without the murder in the way that Kitty and Grace chase clues and unpack evidence, so if you’re usually a crime fan but feel like something a bit more light-hearted, I think you’ll be right at home with this.
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