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B14AA144-9DFB-43F8-A4BB-E8762E78758E

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: August 10th, 2021

352 Pages

Synopsis: The bestselling author of the The Swap—praised by Samantha M. Bailey, author of Woman on the Edge, as “wickedly delicious, addictive, utterly compelling”—explores what happens when a seemingly perfect family is pushed to the edge…and beyond.

Thomas and Viv Adler are the envy of their neighbors: attractive, successful, with well-mannered children and a beautifully restored home.

Until one morning, when they wake up to find their porch has been pelted with eggs. It’s a prank, Thomas insists; the work of a few out-of-control kids. But when a smoke bomb is tossed on their front lawn, and their car’s tires are punctured, the family begins to worry. Surveillance cameras show nothing but grainy images of shadowy figures in hoodies. And the police dismiss the attacks, insisting they’re just the work of bored teenagers. Unable to identify the perpetrators, the Adlers are helpless as the assaults escalate into violence, and worse. And each new violation brings with it a growing fear. Because everyone in the Adler family is keeping a secret—not just from the outside world, but from each other. And secrets can be very dangerous….

This twisty, addictively page-turning suspense novel about a perfect family’s perfect façade will keep you turning pages until its explosive ending. (Goodreads)

I have to be honest and admit I’ve had mixed results with Robyn Harding’s previous books, and I hesitated before requesting The Perfect Family. The premise however was too much to resist, and although I had a couple of issues, including the ending, I did wind up enjoying this.

Neither Thomas or Liv Adler, nor their two children Tarryn and Eli, are the most likable of characters, although I did eventually wind up feeling more empathetic toward Eli. They’re all keeping secrets from each other, which makes it impossible to guess who is the primary target of their mysterious tormenter. Their actions at times are as puzzling as the actual mystery, and don’t always come off as believable. However, the storyline itself with the twisty mystery make this a page-turner despite the characters’ shortcomings, and I found myself unable to put this book down. The ending, I suspect will leave readers either loving or hating it. It aggravated the heck out of me which is why I gave it 3.5 stars instead of the 4 stars I had originally planned on. Still, despite the elements I disliked, The Perfect Family was a quick read and kept me entertained for the three hours I spent reading it.