This book was nuts and I’m not sure how I feel about it. We’ve got this wealthy couple, Lucas and Elizabeth Huxley, the wife is crazy and the husband... well you can make up your own mind about him. Living next door is another couple that are the Huxley’s gardeners. They have a daughter, Heather, who comes home to fill in for her mom and make some extra money over the summer. When Heather arrives, old memories are dredged up, some awful things are discovered and all is not what it seems. This story is told from the POV of Elizabeth and Heather. The writing was good and I say that because it was very detailed, I could picture the house and the grounds this was all taking place at perfectly. However, I feel like this story dragged on and on, then got interesting, then it got weird and then it was just downright confusing. It’s got everything you want for a domestic thriller and if you wanna check out the madness then this book is for you!

This is my first novel by bestseller author Clare Boyd, though I have had all three of her previous books on my e-reader for some time. I have to say I was completely and thoroughly hooked by My Perfect Wife right from the start.

Elizabeth is married to Lucas Huxley and they appear to the the proverbial perfect couple; they have a lovely home, two wonderful children, as well as housekeeping and gardening help. Heather Shaw is the gardener's daughter and the Huxley's help. The chapters alternate between Elizabeth's and Heather's perspectives and as the novel progresses, the inequalities of wealth and entitlement contrasting with poverty and lack of privilege gradually emerge, as things begin to fall apart at the seams.

The characters were at best unappealing, and in some cases, downright obnoxious, though this complemented the story and was probably intentional. Highly emotional, unstable, wilful, highly-strung, obstinate, and definitely unreliable, were some of narrators' personality traits, leaving me unable to decipher whose version of events à propos Lucas Huxley was most accurate. With the inevitable abundance of lies and secrets that befit a high calibre psychological thriller such as this one, I was gripped by this slow simmering tale of domestic suspense and the darker side of love, until the dramatic final twist.

Clare Boyd's writing-style was impressive and noteworthy. With its polished pacing and plotting, I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable novel. Evidently the author is a gifted storyteller who can provide readers with thrills, sophistication and a story packed with substance. A very highly recommended five star read and an exciting story that will be of interest to many readers.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Elizabeth Huxley has the perfect life. The perfect husband, the perfect kids and the perfect home set in the perfect scenery. Sure she’s had few problems keeping it together in the past, but that’s all done with now and all she has to do is prove it to everyone.

Elizabeth’s husband Lucas has it pretty good too. A beautiful wife who’s only tried to kill herself in front of the children once, a careful balance of financial chicanery which wholly depend on getting that one key signature and a couple lovers (victims?) to juggle.

Thrown into this picture of marital bliss is Heather, former lover of Lucas and daughter of the Huxley’s gardeners. Heather’s own life is a bit of a jumble including a fiancé she’s not sure she wants to marry and a father who may be mixed up in some shady dealings.

Y’all this crazy cast of characters kept me confused the entire book! Is Elizabeth crazy or is Lucas evil. And will Heather ever get her head out of her butt and lose the losers? Listen, I got to the end of the book and I still couldn’t tell ya! All I know is that I was glad to get out of the madhouse.

I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is the first time I am reading a novel by Clare Boyd. I definitely would like to read more if her works.

This is the story of Elizabeth and Lucas Huxley who live in a suburb England. Heather is the daughter of the couple who stay in the premises and take care of the garden around their massive house. The story is gripping from the start. On the face of it they Huxley family is a happy family with adorable kids Is it what it seems or are there any deeper secrets

The story though slow paced is compelling. The doubts that get planted in my head at every step of the way made me persist till the end. The story is narrated alternatively in a third person POV and first person POV by Heather. The story also alternates in past and present.

The things I liked about the story
1. The story line or the plot
2. The narration that is intriguing.
3. A few characters are well done but a few would have required more depth.

The things I didn't like about the story.
1. The pace is slow
2. The differing POVs, I couldn't understand the utility of it.
3. I didn't particularly liked the way the ending was treated.
4. I felt many of my questions remain unanswered.

If you like reading slow paced psychological thrillers that keep popping doubts in your head then you will like this book.

This domestic thriller starts as a slow burn and then suddenly you are so invested in the characters that you just can't put it down! Clare Boyd is always amazing at character studies and everyone here is so nuanced. So many shades, where nobody is perfect and you are always on edge wondering who will simmer and boil over the top first. I loved the dramatic tension and how the two different POVs don;'t let you settle down into one comfortable conclusion. So, when the conclusion does come, it's unexpected – and just right.

A domestic thriller that will keep you guessing what is the truth and what is the lie. Plenty of twists to keep you hooked.

Elizabeth and Lucas Huxley have it all - a gorgeous house, two lovely children, plenty of money, great friends and so much more. But not everything is as it seems !!

Heather returns to the Huxley’s neighbourhood when her mother has to go away to take care of a dying relative. She returns home to help her Dad, who is a groundsman for the Huxley’s. Heather is looking forward to seeing Lucas, although she is very nervous after what happened when she lived at home in her teens.

Elizabeth is a devoted wife but right from the start we find out that her life has not been plain sailing. She starts to doubt Lucas and suspect that he is planning something behind her back as well as lying to her. One evening she sees something but did she really, or is her mind playing tricks on her ?

The story is told from the view points of Elizabeth and Heather. Both are very different and both have their doubts about Lucas but what is the truth ? This book kept me guessing right until the end as you really don’t know who to believe. A great psychological thriller.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

This is one of those books that's starts off all benign, then slowly creeps up on you until... bam! You're into a dark and twisty thriller. Told through two POVs, I found this easy to read, the story pulling me in until I couldn't put it down. I had to know what was really going on!

Here is the synopsis I'd give this book:

From the outside, Elizabeth looks like she has the perfect life - a devoted husband who dazzles everyone, two children she adores, and a beautiful house overlooking their garden and pool. But
Elizabeth begins to notice that everything isn't what it seems.

The success of the summer party is her last chance to prove to her husband that she's on the mend. But she can't help but notice a hint of desire in her husband's eye when Heather, the girl next door, returns home to help her father. And is what she saw in the pool a delusion? She can't be wrong about this, otherwise she may lose her kids.

The given synopsis bugs me because it's written in first person, but the actual book is written in third person with alternating viewpoints every chapter. Also, the book starts off with Heather, the girl next door, rather than Elizabeth who you think is going to be telling the story. And, I know it's small, but I felt like there would be an emphasis on the house but in reality, it was mostly around the pool.

Things I loved: There was great character development. Heather seemed down to earth and was truly trying to better her life. There were times I found myself thinking that Elizabeth had grown as a character as well. This book also gave you feelings. Mostly anger, but I've come to respect books that get me invested in the characters. Another pro is that I truly didn't know where this book was going. I was constantly going back and forth on who to believe - Heather, Elizabeth, or Lucas and just when I thought I knew, I was wrong.

Things I didn't love: it took me a while to get into the book. Within the first quarter of the book, I had checked the synopsis a handful of times because I could've sworn the book I was reading wasn't the same one. Some of the characters were also infuriating, which is also a good thing.

Elizabeth and Lucas are a wealthy couple who appear to have it all. They have a lovely home, 2 beautiful children, a housekeeper and gardeners but looks can be deceiving. When Heather comes back to help out her parents, the gardeners, Elizabeth quickly sees that there is something between Heather and Lucas. As Elizabeth plans a party to help a business deal for Lucas. Something about Lucas just isn’t right, he has too many things that don’t add up.

Overall, this book is hard to put down. It is thoroughly entertaining and keeps you guessing until the end.

My Perfect Wife by Clare Boyd was a fast pace thriller. This book had me guessing till the end. This wasn't my typical type of thriller, but boy did I enjoy it. This book centers around a couple Mr. and Mrs. Huxley. Heather thier gardener thinks she has the perfect looking couple all figured out. You wont see the twists and turns coming. I would rate this book a 4/5 stars. I can't wait to read more from Clare Boyd. Thank you Clare Boyd and Netgalley for this ARC.
Pub Date: March 4, 2020

This is a domestic thriller about three people.: Lucas and Elizabeth Huxley and Heather Shaw.
Lucas and Elizabeth are one of those couples who seem to have it all. However, this is just what it seems from outside.
Heather comes into the story as her parents both work for the Huxleys and it turns out that she already shares a story with them.
We also get to know Jude, Elizabeth's brother and a couple form Poland who also work for Lucas and Elizabeth.

The story is told through different POVs and startes a bit slowly but gathers quite a lot of speed!

IMHO the end was a bit too much but all in all a very entertaining book.

Thank you #NetGalley #Bookouture +Clare Boyd for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was a good book , kept me interested till the end . It was a slow burner but the characters were interesting. Not the best Ive read from this author but still well worth a read

As popular fiction catches up with the fact that the home is where true horror lives, there’s a heck of a lot of authors writing about the dangers nested deep in our most intimate relationships. My Perfect Wife depicts how many small acts of cruelty and control can incrementally cause such enormous amounts of damage.

Fraught with tension, My Perfect Wife presents a very believable depiction of a faltering marriage with witnesses forced to participate in its downfall by bonds of love or duty. We have the view from the inside, and the view from the outside.

The moral tone in this book is not just about trust in relationships but about being an enabler of someone else’s bad behaviour by cause of inaction or misguided loyalties. It is not a spoiler to say that toxic relationships are at the centre of My Perfect Wife but it is not just about the co-dependencies that exist between two people in a marriage.

It’s a bit of a tightrope to classify novels such as My Perfect Wife as they are dramatic novels centred around crimes of coerce and control. We’re used to a whodunit, more than a whydunit in our suspense reading. My Perfect Wife is a slow complicated march towards a sure explosion that rewards the reader with some thinking material for the after.

The book centres upon a couple who are wealthy but waiting for that last big deal to
Make them millionaires. But money doesn’t mean happiness as the book explores. Slow burning at times but a good read which keeps you guessing throughout. The book introduces the characters well and allows you insight into how they have got to where they have

3.5 stars
This is a good thriller that kept me guessing until the end.
It’s a bit of a slow burner as at least half the book is scene setting. I would have liked more happening during the first half of the book as it all seemed to develop in the second half of the book.
Heather is asked to help her Dad with the gardening at their neighbour’s home when her Mum is called away to help a sick relative.
Elizabeth and Lucas lead a complicated life and with Heather and her Dad working there each day it soon comes to light that Heather and Lucas have a past together.
Elizabeth is made to feel inadequate by Lucas but how much of what he says about her is the truth?
Another good read from Claire Boyd.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

A slow moving domestic drama of a rich couple. There is no plot except for the last one third. I am not sure what the author wished to convey in the first half.

This one gave me the chills, honestly! Such an excellent read that I could not stop reading! The storyline was top notch and I will recommend this to everyone!

“Smoke and mirrors” is how Lucas Huxley describes his life. A beautiful house with a soaring copper roof and floor to ceiling glass walls. Two perfectly behaved children. Elizabeth, the perfect wife. What more could he want? That question is answered when Heather, the daughter of the estate gardeners, who grew up next door, returns home to help her father.

My Perfect Wife deserves to be read slowly. Summarizing the plot would give too much away. It is enough to say that the story encompasses several weeks surrounding a holiday party and its aftermath. Clare Boyd brings each character to life in a carefully crafted series of flashbacks. Lucas, Elizabeth, Heather, her father Gordon and the Polish couple, Agata and Piotr, nanny and handyman on the estate, all dance around one another in a plot where things are never what they seem. Only the walls are transparent. The devastating conclusion will leave you wondering what really was true.

A psychological thriller that is also excellent literary fiction is a rare find. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Clare Boyd for this ARC.

Lucas and Elizabeth Huxley have it all, attractive, wealthy with two beautiful children, but appearances are not always what they seem!

Heather is the daughter of the Huxley’s gardener who has returned home to help her father with his business and now is working for the Huxley’s.
Heather and Lucas have had a past liaison when Heather was a teenager but she isn’t at ease with either of the Huxley’s.

Lucas is controlling, or so his wife leads us to believe. Elizabeth has previously tried to kill herself and is recovering from mental health problems. Can she or can we tell the difference between her thoughts and reality?

The tension builds throughout the book as you question who is crazy, who is telling the truth and who is manipulating who. As the story unfolds it keeps you on the edge of your seat and reading late into the night. You will not see the ending coming!

This is the first book I’ve read by Clare Boyd but if definitely won’t be the last!

I'm going to step away a bit from my usual review style as starting by giving my own synopsis of the plot would actually be a disservice as it's much too complicated to reduce to a paragraph. Simply pick this one up and read what is essentially a slow simmer tale of domestic suspense that builds tension with every chapter. I thought I had this pretty much all figured out after the first couple of chapters. In a way I did -- but the way this author breaks it all out is quite masterful.

The characters -- well, I'm not going to lie -- I didn't care for any of them really. Emotional, unstable, indecisive, trusting, naive, willful, obstinate, weak, and strong. Definitely unreliable narrators who alternate chapters telling their version of the story and the reader is unable to figure out whose is accurate. Lots of secrets and lying going on of course as usual in psychological thrillers and both Heather Shaw and Elizabeth Huxley are complex packages of longing and desire. Whose version of Lucas Huxley bears out after all? NO SPOILERS.

Did I mention that it's a slow burner? That bears repeating because it seemed to take forever to get to the rising action with lots of what appeared to be irrelevant detail and description. But, hang in there as the last third of the book brings all the drama to the forefront and it's quite hard to guess what will happen next. I found it all quite satisfying and read it all in basically a single sitting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.