A review by cj_mo_2222
The Perfect Family by Robyn Harding

challenging emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Perfect Family is a fun beach/pool read. The book is told from the point-of-view of the four members of the Adler family. From the outside it looks like this family is living the perfect life. However, each person in the family is keeping secrets from outsiders and also from each other. The facade starts to crumble and the family begins falling apart when someone begins harassing them, starting with pranks like egging the house but escalating to arson and blackmail.

This book was fast-paced and entertaining. The suspense grows as the harmless pranks turn dangerous and the family's secrets are revealed. I enjoyed the book while I was reading it, but didn't like that two loose ends remain. I don't know if one thing was left unresolved on purpose or if it was overlooked. However the second one was a deliberate choice since it's the very last line of the book!  Since this book is from 2021, I checked to see if there's a sequel I had missed but so far there isn't. It's hard to discuss without spoilers, but it completely undoes what had been a satisfying ending. I was disappointed, but I like the author's writing style and would read other books she has written. 
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