I was very impressed by this psychological thriller with AI (artificial intelligence) robots, a missing woman, her autistic son, and a tech billionaire husband. It was different than anything I’ve read recently which helped keep my interest throughout the book. It was fascinating to read about the AI robots, it raises a lot of questions about the ethics of artificial intelligence. I thought the difficulties and the challenges of having a child on the autism spectrum were covered so well. And lastly, the villain in this story is unforgettable for me, very creepy and scary. This was the first book I read by this author and it certainly won’t be my last.

Abbie Cullen awakens with only fragments of memory. She remembers that she is Tim's wife and Danny's mother and is certain that she was in a terrible accident that took her memories. What she soon discovers is that those are not her memories but rather uploads from the real Abbie Cullen's life. Tim, founder of Scott robotics has created the first autonomous companion robot (Cobot) specifically designed to be empathetic. The real Abbie Cullen was lost five years earlier, an accident from which her body was never recovered, and Tim was the prime suspect. As the new Abbie begins to piece together fragments of her existence, she begins to question Tim and Abbie's seemingly perfect life and the real reason for her creation.

All the stars! The Perfect Wife is an amazing new Sci-Fi thriller from J.P. Delaney. I can honestly say I had no idea that this book was going to be about AI and yet it was the perfect element for this fun new thriller. Our protagonist awakens to discover that she is not whom she thought she was and is in fact not even human. Her realization leads her on an adventure in self-discovery which is where the mystery begins. The novel transitions between present day from the POV of Cobot Abbie and an unidentified POV which fills in some past events. The characters personalities shift as new discoveries are uncovered. This novel had some great elements about morality and ethics that made you feel compassion towards the main character. There were also several twist and turns in the plot, some of which you definitely won’t see coming, and I felt that the ending was a perfect way to finish this tale. I had to keep reading just to find out what happened next. This was definitely a top read for me this year and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a fresh approach to the thriller/mystery genre.

It is hard to give my thoughts about this book without giving too much away but i will say, wow. I really had no idea what the premise of this book was about and it was facinating. This psychological thriller was wrapped in mystery and technology and while I don't know a ton of techy type talk- the whole AI aspect was riveting! I pretty much had no idea where this story was going throughout- in a good way that I could not put it down!
Thank you to #netgalley, the publisher and author the ARC copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5 (extra 0.5 stars because I read it in one day and it's still hunting me a week later).

I struggled a bit classifying The Perfect Wife on my shelves. Part mystery and thriller, part family dynamics, with a sci-fi element in the story I did not expect. If sci-fi is not your cup of tea, thou shall not worry. There is nothing technical or complicated to worry about. The story involves AI (Artificial Intelligence) and proposes thought-provoking moral and ethical questions about managing those resources that may be available in the not-too-far future. It also brings important topics such as family dilemmas parenting a child with autism, power struggles in a marriage, and loyalty from friends and family.

The story caught my attention quickly, and I finished the book in one sitting, anxious to know how it would develop. I was certain I knew where the plot was leading, and--even though I was partially right--I was surprised with the turn out of events. The book is narrated by an anonymous narrator close to Tim (Abbie's husband), alternating with chapters narrated by Abbie, a fascinating character (I don't want to give away spoilers).

Eerie, disturbing, moving, thought-provoking; the story is mesmerizing and well-worth reading.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley, #ThePerfectWife

Wow! JP Delaney does it again. His newest book is a great psychological thriller with an undercurrent of sci-fi. I am not normally a sci-fi fan but it is so well done in this book that you actually start seeing the AI character as a person and root for her over "real" characters. The character development is fantastic. I don't want to give anything away, but things are not always what they seem. Don't wait to read this book. It is fantastic.
Thank you #netgalley for the opportunity to read the advanced readers copy of this book for my honest, unbiased opinion.

JP Delaney brings an interesting premise forward in The Perfect Wife. It's sci fi meets psychological thriller, which makes for a fascinating read. This is a book about the pursuit of perfection, what the limits of AI should be, and what makes a family. It seems like billionaire Tim and artist Abbie have it all, but it all changes after Abbie goes missing at sea. Fast-forward five years, and things are not as it seems when Abbie awakens, and Tim works to convince Abbie that she's his perfect wife. Their son Danny is on the spectrum, and Delaney deftly expresses this condition. It's hard to explain more without giving too much away from this book, but it'll certainly intrigue both fans of JP Delaney and those interested in any of the themes articulated.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Ballantine Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

This was a very well written novel with some very interesting concepts. A bit of obsession in a world where robots may or may not be real.
Can they pass as humans in a normal world? Can they replace the one’s we love? or think we love? This may be one of the most intriguing thrillers out this year, it’s definitely worth reading and will consume you until the very end. You will not want to miss The Perfect Wife

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The Perfect Wife by JP Delaney is a breathe of fresh air. I've read so many thrillers on marriages gone wrong, mysterious couples, etc. After reading so many thrillers with similar plot lines, it all starts to blur together. The Perfect Wife is different. Sure, when reading the synopsis blurb, I thought, "Oh, another thriller on a couple who seems to have it all, but doesn't." I was wrong.

The Perfect Wife centers around Abbie, who wakes up five years later. Her husband Tim is the Steve Jobs of AI. She wakes up feeling like herself but she realizes something is off. She starts to piece back memories of her life from five years ago, and realizes there are a lot of secrets Tim's keeping from her.

JP Delaney writes the whole story from a second person POV. At the end of the story, you'll realize why he chose to do so, and you'll find out who the narrator is. Overall, I thought the plot was original and just refreshing to read. It reminded me a lot of Gone Girl, but I was wrong. i don't want to spoil anything but keep reading to find out!

Thank you to Netgalley, JP Delaney, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Very interesting book that is like nothing I have ever read before, that makes you do a lot of thinking about what direction we're heading in terms of the use of technology and AI in every day life.

Wow, this book! JP Delaney has once again written a thought-provoking, intriguing, and unique storyline, full of twists and unexpected surprises that had me addicted from page one. With beautifully written characters, a plot that kept me guessing, and a jaw-dropping ending that I definitely did not see coming, I enjoyed it immensely. Don't let the fact that there is an element of sci-fi deter you - you don't have to be a fan of sci-fi to LOVE this one! Highly recommended! A huge thank you to Random House and NetGalley for my advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I have to be honest, after reading the first chapter of this book I put it down, thinking this book is not for me. I read 2-3 other books all the while this one kept nagging me to pick it back up. I am so glad that I did! JP Delaney did not disappoint. This was a true thriller with twists all the way to the last page. The character development in this book was amazing. I also enjoyed the education I received on autism. This book essentially is about the love of a mother and the lengths she will go to for her child. Throw in the misogynistic husband and you have quite a story.
Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC. Highly recommend!

The Perfect Wife is a perfect thriller with plenty of twists and turns. Great writing and interesting characters. This is a must read book of the year.

OMG! What a crazy ride! I only wish I could read it again as a first time read! Excellent, horrifying, complete with great characters and plot! I am a huge JP Delaney fall to begin with but now I a full blown groupie!

Buy this book!

It took me a long time to finish this book, although it's far from boring. The concept of an AI version of a real person seems scarily realistic and provided an intriguing premise. I don't want to give anything away, and I know this book remains months from publication, but it might be my favorite by Delaney so far, even if it took me a while to get through. There were a few plot holes and I could see a few of the twists coming, but all in all, it was a really clever book and one I suspect I won't be quick to forget.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of The Perfect Wife in exchange for an honest review.

Domestic thriller meets sci fi! JP Delaney delivered again! Motherhood, marriage, drama, lies. This book has it all! I enjoy when a male author can write female main characters and so so very convincingly! Wow. This ending blew me away.

I love all of JP Delaney's books. I love suspense thriller type books, and alot of them are basically the same. These books have technology as mine points in the story with twists and turns, it really makes you think about the world and how far it has come and what things could happen in the future.

I read THE PERFECT WIFE because I'd read and liked JP Delaney's previous book, BELIEVE ME. I didn't know what THE PERFECT WIFE was really about when I picked it up, which, to be honest, was probably for the best, Good work on the catalog copy! Describing Abbie's recovery as a "miracle of science" just made me think she'd come out of a coma or something. I'm glad I didn't know the full details of what happened to her because if I'd known it involved artificial intelligence, the book would have sounded a little too sci-fi for my taste and I probably would have skipped it. Instead I found it enthralling, not just a page-turner but a truly terrifying glimpse into the possibilities of AI with the wrong creators and financiers at the helm. I thought about it for days after I finished it. Highly recommended--and now I'm going to have to go back and read THE GIRL BEFORE!

A 4.5 rounded down. I really enjoyed this one - the intersection of science fiction (without getting unrealistic!) and thriller kept me hooked. The main reason for rounding down though is that I found some of the reveals obvious. Still, there were a few jaw-dropping moments, particularly now the end. The author certainly keeps you guessing.

One thing I really appreciated about this book is that it emphasized the dangers of toxic masculinity. The entitlement displayed by one of the characters rings frighteningly and depressingly true to real life. The author also does a great job describing an autistic character with sensitivity and care. These are delicate and difficult topics and I appreciate that they were subtly mentioned; the former in particular is so important to creating awareness around and having conversations about.

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House, and Ballantine Books for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I started reading The Perfect WIfe by JP Delaney early this morning and finished it quite late in the evening. That says what I thought of the book. The basic story revolves around a genius who makes robots, has difficulty getting along with his peers and cannot control his temper. He marries a younger beautiful woman and they have a child
who is diagnosed with autism. After 4-5 years of living with him she either dies or runs away. He is accused of her murder, tried in court but found not guilty. He builds a robot to replace her. I was totally unprepared for the books ending!
Much of the books describes several methods the family used to treat their autistic child. Some were abusive like using electric shocks when the child did something wrong.The child responded to kindness and attention. Nothing was really said about the father's psychology but he was certainly anti-social and unable to have healthy relationships.. I recommend this book to people who enjoy mysteries and are interested in aautism!

I really enjoyed The Girl Before and Believe Me, 5 stars for each, so I had high expectations for The Perfect Wife, J.P. Delaney’s newest novel.

I liked the chapters switching between first and third person. There were short twists every few chapters and it was an extremely interesting idea for a story. Anytime it was brought up at how "you" are a robot (opening the face, seeing underneath the skin, etc.) it was very strange, such a different book than I’m used to, but I absolutely loved it.

I loved the fact that the unlikable character was not the main character, something that is prevalent nowadays. I hated <spoiler> that Tim lives in the end, I had really hoped AI Tim would kill human Tim and take his place in society, only not a misogynistic prick</spoiler>. If that had been how the book ended, easily 5 stars.

Cover art (design and how appropriate it is for the book): Decent, I wish there was more of a tech aspect to it.
Length (too short, too long, just right): Just right
Twist factor: Okay, no chill aspect however. I did enjoy that <spoiler> it wasn’t Abby at the house in Oregon.</spoiler>

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.