literacyell's review against another edition
4.0
This book was such a crazy, anxiety driven & non-stop drama book. Once i started reading i pretty much couldn't stop. The only thing that has made me rate it as a 4 star is because there literally isn't an ending to this book, which is quite frustrating as you're wanting to know what happens to certain characters in the book. It is sort of like the author had finished a chapter, got bored and didn't want to write anymore.
ameliataylor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
denisemoe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.75
melissakate96's review against another edition
4.0
Christopher was literally an idiot, the red flags in his face couldn’t have been any more red! and don’t even get me started on Janie…. I would’ve tied that lil bitch by her hair to the ceiling fan and taken her for a spin.
overall, this was a solid but very disturbing read. 4/5 ⭐️
overall, this was a solid but very disturbing read. 4/5 ⭐️
surraarielle's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
whitedbr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
samreads90's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
tiannahreads's review against another edition
4.0
This is a fairly well paced thriller/suspense novel that kept me interested to know more the entire time.
This is a story of a couple who take in an abused & neglected little girl, Janie. Only there is more to the story... there always is. Janie is mean to Hannah and manipulates Christopher at every turn. Personally, if I were Hannah, I would have run far from it all in the first 1/3rd of the book.
The author does wonderfully at illustrating the highs and lows of different mental states within the different characters.
The way this story unfolds is intriguing, although it was a tiny bit predictable to me. I almost felt like it was a book I'd read or a movie I'd watched before, but I know I've never picked up this book. Regardless, I just kept wanting to know more to see if my predictions were right and how the story would truly unfold. While they were close, I only guessed one thing that was revealed toward the end as an accurate guess.
The ending fell flat for me, it just... ended? I am intrigued to see what happens in the novella that comes after when that little girl is all grown up, so I'm starting that right away.
This is a story of a couple who take in an abused & neglected little girl, Janie. Only there is more to the story... there always is. Janie is mean to Hannah and manipulates Christopher at every turn. Personally, if I were Hannah, I would have run far from it all in the first 1/3rd of the book.
The author does wonderfully at illustrating the highs and lows of different mental states within the different characters.
The way this story unfolds is intriguing, although it was a tiny bit predictable to me. I almost felt like it was a book I'd read or a movie I'd watched before, but I know I've never picked up this book. Regardless, I just kept wanting to know more to see if my predictions were right and how the story would truly unfold. While they were close, I only guessed one thing that was revealed toward the end as an accurate guess.
The ending fell flat for me, it just... ended? I am intrigued to see what happens in the novella that comes after when that little girl is all grown up, so I'm starting that right away.
13rebecca13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
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
4.0
The Perfect Child is a book that has been on my radar since it came out and I honestly do not know why I kept putting it off. I recently read Berry's novel Saving Noah which pushed me to finally read this.
Hannah and Christopher Bauer are a married couple in their early forties who have been struggling to conceive. She is a nurse and he is an orthopaedic surgeon. Just when they have decided to give up on having a biological baby of their own and go down the adoption route, a child is brought into the hospital after being found wandering around on her own.
Janie is six years old but due to her malnourishment, she looks more like a toddler. It is obvious that she has been severely abused and neglected. Janie instantly takes a liking to "Doctor Chris" and eventually Hannah and Christopher decide to adopt her.
Lucinda Berry's writing is absolutely brilliant. She really gets into your head and I have found with both books of hers that I have read so far, that I get into a mental battle inside by brain due to the subject matter. This novel really digs deep into how looking after a child with such complex needs as Janie's can affect the caregivers.
I love that it's told from the points of view of both Hannah and Christopher but also from their social worker Piper whilst she is being questioned by police. You know something terrible has happened and are therefore chasing the revelation.
It lost a star for me due to the ending. I found it very abrupt and I needed to know what was going to happen next. I believe there is a short novella which is a follow up so I will definitely be reading that too. Trigger warnings for child abuse and animal abuse.
Hannah and Christopher Bauer are a married couple in their early forties who have been struggling to conceive. She is a nurse and he is an orthopaedic surgeon. Just when they have decided to give up on having a biological baby of their own and go down the adoption route, a child is brought into the hospital after being found wandering around on her own.
Janie is six years old but due to her malnourishment, she looks more like a toddler. It is obvious that she has been severely abused and neglected. Janie instantly takes a liking to "Doctor Chris" and eventually Hannah and Christopher decide to adopt her.
Lucinda Berry's writing is absolutely brilliant. She really gets into your head and I have found with both books of hers that I have read so far, that I get into a mental battle inside by brain due to the subject matter. This novel really digs deep into how looking after a child with such complex needs as Janie's can affect the caregivers.
I love that it's told from the points of view of both Hannah and Christopher but also from their social worker Piper whilst she is being questioned by police. You know something terrible has happened and are therefore chasing the revelation.
It lost a star for me due to the ending. I found it very abrupt and I needed to know what was going to happen next. I believe there is a short novella which is a follow up so I will definitely be reading that too. Trigger warnings for child abuse and animal abuse.