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mxinky's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
theinstabookworm's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I've got to hand it to the author that, for most of the book, I had no idea where the story was going. I just knew that I was pulled in and along for the ride. I ate this up and couldn't put it down, even though it's a slow burn. There are also quite a few characters to keep track of, and, usually, I have trouble with that, but it wasn't an issue with this book. However, I do feel the ending was tied up a little too neatly for my liking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Drug use
megwilli's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Gun violence, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Addiction
minimicropup's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Narration: 🤝
Multiple POV = multiple narrators. Thank you. Prevents confusion. Somewhat necessarily it meant certain characters had a cartoony voice depending on who was narrating a chapter, but I'll take it. Hate it when I forget whose POV we are in 2 min through and all it reads is "Chapter 13" in the app.
Main POVs: 👍
Multiple POV = multiple narrators. Thank you. Prevents confusion. Somewhat necessarily it meant certain characters had a cartoony voice depending on who was narrating a chapter, but I'll take it. Hate it when I forget whose POV we are in 2 min through and all it reads is "Chapter 13" in the app.
Main POVs: 👍
- Parent. Overconfident. Convinced their history of integrity gives them a free pass even if they were to be shown in a nefarious situation.
- Parent. Overcompensating, hypercritical, and simplistic in their parenting views, which they use to justify their own immoral behaviours.
- College-aged "child". Overconfident and sheltered. Not familiar with how to process the "unpredictable" moments in life. Relies on a selfish sense of empathy to justify hiding and ignoring abuse.
- Senior in high-school "child". Well-intentioned "ally" missing the point. They gloss over their vulnerabilities and biases with idealistic justification.
Atmosphere: 👍 Curious, mysterious, and sentimental, with the slightest hint of irony.
- Set in a suburban Portland, Oregon neighbourhood with all the immediate family members under one roof
Cred Rating 🤷♀️: Suspended disbelief plausible
Not OTT or nonsensical, but relies on coincidence and convenience to drive the plot.
Growls and Howls 🐺:
- The characters weren't unlikeable, but also not likeable. They were kind of annoying all 'round. Sometimes I cheered for them, sometimes I wanted them to get their comeuppance. So, could be "I don't care about any of these people" red flag for some
- The mystery and flow was good, but near the end the plot suddenly seemed rushed, to the point I had to slow down the audio to process what was happening and how it tied in to what we knew about all the MC POVs.
- Hate ambiguous endings? You might hate this story.
Reading Journey 👍:
Stop at a little cafe for a snack on the way through a town and eavesdrop on some drama the next table over.
Mood Reading Match Up:
- Family drama due to unhealthy parental dynamics (not abusive)
- Suburban neighbourhood mystery
- Dark-ish cozy mystery
- Secrets, gossip, the tea, behind closed doors drama
Vibes: 😅☹️😬
Content Heads-Up: Blackmailing, Hazing, Rape (mostly off page), Underage online content
Format: Library Audio via Libby
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Rape, and Violence
micaelamariem's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I’m starting to think maybe I do like thrillers if they are done properly…
I loved the multiple pov which helped me dive into everyone’s secrets while still having an unreliability to the views, keeping me guessing. I also loved how the conclusion is still a bit open ended and I can come up with some of my own interpretations even though the big questions are answered!
TWs: SA, addiction, violence
I loved the multiple pov which helped me dive into everyone’s secrets while still having an unreliability to the views, keeping me guessing. I also loved how the conclusion is still a bit open ended and I can come up with some of my own interpretations even though the big questions are answered!
TWs: SA, addiction, violence
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Excrement, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Infidelity
ronnieb's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
God this family is so insufferable. The disconnect between the parents and children had me rolling my eyes so much on almost every page. It was annoying but it was the point of the story. It felt realististic. There is a lot of soapy drama though and feels very over the top at points and definitely with some of the twists revealed toward the end of the story.
Ultimately, the story is very thin since we are following 4 characters and they all have their own secrets. We also then have different people connected to each of the 4 main who are connected to the attacks on this family. Some answers are pretty obvious and some are pretty surprising. Also, not all answers are given and the reader is still left with hanging plot threads not closed off. This can be hit or miss I think it does work in this story since there are so many main characters but I wish I did know all answers. So if that bothers you you may not like the ending to this novel.
Ultimately, the story is very thin since we are following 4 characters and they all have their own secrets. We also then have different people connected to each of the 4 main who are connected to the attacks on this family. Some answers are pretty obvious and some are pretty surprising. Also, not all answers are given and the reader is still left with hanging plot threads not closed off. This can be hit or miss I think it does work in this story since there are so many main characters but I wish I did know all answers. So if that bothers you you may not like the ending to this novel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Stalking
soobooksalot's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Who knows what secrets lurk behind closed doors?
In pursuit of the answers, I could not put down The Perfect Family by Robyn Harding!
Viv and Thomas are your seemingly average happily-married couple, living with their two kids Tarryn and Eli. But every one of them have secrets that may be impacting their home life.
Their house has been vandalized, with increasing frequency and severity. Any one of the family member's secrets could be motivation behind the attacks, but no one knows what each other is bringing to the table.
It's like a domestic locked-neighbourhood suspense, with some decidedly dark turns.
Some great twists and reveals make this a real-page turner. Recommended!
Released on Aug. 10.
In pursuit of the answers, I could not put down The Perfect Family by Robyn Harding!
Viv and Thomas are your seemingly average happily-married couple, living with their two kids Tarryn and Eli. But every one of them have secrets that may be impacting their home life.
Their house has been vandalized, with increasing frequency and severity. Any one of the family member's secrets could be motivation behind the attacks, but no one knows what each other is bringing to the table.
It's like a domestic locked-neighbourhood suspense, with some decidedly dark turns.
Some great twists and reveals make this a real-page turner. Recommended!
Released on Aug. 10.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol