Member Reviews
Robyn Harding has been a favorite author of mine for awhile and this one did not disappoint.
Thomas and Viv Adler seem to have the perfect life; they have a beautiful home, two children, and careers that they both enjoy. But each person in their family has their own secrets that they are trying to keep hidden, secrets that may start coming to light. When pranks start happening at their house they think nothing of it, probably just pranksters, but then the attacks become more frightening.
I like how this book was told from multiple points of view, each of the family members had their own chapters. I feel like that really added to the story reading from each independent person.
Another thing I really liked about this book was as soon as I thought I had it all figured out, another layer to the story was peeled away and I was blown away. This was a fun and juicy thriller and I’m excited to see what the author comes up with next!
*Many thanks to Gallery Books for the gifted copy for my honest review!*
3.5 ⭐️ Rounded up!
Anytime I see a new Robyn Harding book, it’s kind of a “go-to” for me. I’m on auto pilot when it comes to clicking the “request” button. Her books are always so easy and addictive with lots of unlikable characters that you can’t help but like! It never fails that I find myself flipping the pages at warped speed with anticipation of what’s to come!
Here we meet The Adler’s. A picture perfect family from the outside, but on the inside these folks have some serious secrets to hide - with issues galore!
So, which one of them is responsible for all of the vandalism that keeps happening to their home?
The story is told from the POV of each family member, which I just loved! What unfolds is lots of juicy, dark secrets - some very disturbing - that just reel you in from the very beginning. Tons of suspense and WTF moments make this thriller one worth reading!
This was a solid 4 stars for me until the ending. However, I still recommend if you’re a Harding fan.
As usual, can’t wait for her next book!
Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books and Robyn Harding for my advanced copy!
I’m a huge fan of Robyn Harding’s writing and I’m super mad at myself for pushing this one off for so long!
The Perfect Family is the perfect page turner, I could not put this one down. The Adler family’s house is being attacked - eggs and tomatoes thrown, broken windows, etc. We follow all four members of the family - mom, dad, daughter, and son - and learn their secrets. Who’s responsible for the destruction and attacks on the family home? Everyone has something to hide.
If you’re a fan of family thrillers full of unlikable characters, and tons of secrets, this one’s for you. Every chapter rotates between the perspective of one of the family members, which I really enjoyed and made for an interesting read. There were a few minor plot holes and things weren’t explained fully, which is why I’m knocking off half a star, but overall a fantastic and quick read!
Meet The Perfect Family, The Adlers 🏠. There is Thomas, Vivian, Eli, and Tarryn. All is beautiful and pristine in their lives. Well, no not quite. It starts with the eggs 🥚 being thrown at the house. It must just be kids playing a prank. Still, Eli has decided to drop out of the Elite College he goes to, but this is a secret. Viv thinks Thomas is having an affair. Next up is the Apple 🍎 thrown. Then it gets worse, with dog 💩 poop put on their door. This is personal. Then rocks 🪨 are thrown. Eli gets stung by Wasps 🐝 when someone planted a wasps nest. Then it just gets worse and scarier. This is not a prank, so now we are going to have to really get to know the dysfunctional Adlers who seem to take these things in stride, but can’t fake it anymore. So, Thomas has a big secret that could make someone attack his family, blackmail is involved. Eli, knows something bad that happened at his college and he needs to keep quiet. Tarryn isn’t as sloppy and uninvolved as everyone thinks. She has her own secret life. This could well be the problem. Last, Viv has as small shoplifting habit of stealing from her friends. She steals a lipstick 💄, then something much more 😳 disturbing. Oh my, where will this all lead? There are so many people out to get them.
This is my first time reading this author, so I just went along for the entertaining ride. This was going to somehow get figured out. My one problem was I didn’t really connect to any of these characters, but perhaps that was the point. Finally, it seems the family makes amends and all is well again. Viv can finally sleep 😴 as she thinks her family is safe. Let’s, hope so and that egg 🥚 that was thrown was just kids playing around. Best of luck 🤞 to the Adlers.
So, I would give this 3.5 Stars rounded up to 4. I liked just enjoying this crazy family and everything that could go wrong did. I just found them all unlikeable and it was hard to care if one lived or died.
Thank you NetGalley, Robyn Harding, and Gallery Books for granting me a copy of this book. I do apologize I am writing a review so late. This book was worth the read and I plan to read some other books by this author.
Loved the different point of views! This held many secrets and what a family. I’d sure love to read more about them. I didn’t love the wrap up quite as much as I loved the rest of the book but she’s definitely done it again with another solid mystery!
This wasn’t my favorite of hers but I really liked it.
Harding has a great writing style and this book was a thrilling ride.
Left me on the edge of my seat multiple times needing to know what was going to happen.
No family is perfect and every family has its secrets. The Adlers are no different. This story is a speeding train ripping through all of the stations. The author is very good with smoke and mirrors.
Many thanks to Gallery Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.
I have read other books by the author, Robyn Harding, The Perfect Family was not my favorite. The Adler family is neither perfect nor likable. They are quick to accuse and blame others and each other for all their perceived wrongs.
Each family member is harboring at least one big secret. As the story progresses things get muddled by all the secrets and mistrust. The family is being targeted by vandals, multiple vandals or even family members; it becomes unclear and in my eyes is never really addressed.
In spite of the confusion and often ridiculous situations I kept reading, the premise was good just not clearly defined. I wanted closure, I wanted to know what was going on here. I though the end of the book was leading there, but that last sentence for me was all bets off. The end of the book made me sorry for the time I had invested.
The perfect family. To outsiders. The perfect house. To outsiders. Looks can be so deceiving. While intriguing, this isn't a nail biter, or leave you on the edge of your seat novel. It is one that is hard to put down, This is my third Robyn Harding book, and I have loved them all. This one might be my favorite!
The entire family has secrets. Secrets that could destroy their lives, as well as others. What happens when those secrets come to light and others find out.
Thomas and Viv Adler appear to have it all, a beautiful home, two healthy children, careers that they enjoy, and secrets! Let us not forget about the secrets! But we all have them don't we? A story about a family and what they face! A read that will keep you wanting more! thank you netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for a review.
Robyn Harding brings it again with this domestic thriller full of secrets and lies upon lies....
The Adler family is picture perfect. A facade. Because nothings really perfect right?
Viv is sure her husband Thomas is cheating. Thomas is hiding something, that much is obvious. Their kids, college aged Eli and high schooler Tarryn are also enmeshed in their own dark secrets.
All the while, the family home is being vandalized to the point of danger, when it is set on fire one night.
The story is told alternating between each family members point of view. I always love that device, it gives special insight into each character.
I can’t say that I really liked any of the main characters but I did like Eli’s backstory the most. It seemed to have the most substance. And as always with a Harding book, I uttered wtf at least twice.
Thanks so much to the publisher and author for my review copy, it in no way influenced my opinions.
Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.
I didn't care for any of the characters in this one so it was difficult to push forward at times. The Perfect Family is different from Harding's previous novels (probably my least favorite), but still a good weekend read. The last sentence of the book!!
Written by one of my "go-to" authors, this is an exceptional story about what happens when circumstances go beyond your control. I loved this one!
Robyn Harding has done it again. I finished this book in 2 days. A great quick read. If you loved Hardings other novels this one does not disappoint. A quick story with a fast pace which leaves you wanting to read more and more. A truly enjoyable ride.
The Adlers family home is being vandalized but by who and why? Even though each family member is hiding a big secret they each believe that they can’t be the one who is responsible for bringing these horrors upon the household. This is a highly addictive read with an explosive ending.
What an interesting look at the inner workings of a family who appears to have it all together. Each member of the family was hiding a secret that was only exposed when they start to experience a series of harassing events and try to solve the mystery of who was behind it all. A very good read and one that will hold your attention throughout.
The Adler’s home is egged one night. At first it appears to be a prank, but more attacks occur, and they become more frightening. The Adler family seem to have everything anyone could want. Unfortunately, not all is as it appears. The Adlers are all all hiding something.
The Perfect Family is told using multiple points of view – mother, father, son, and daughter. Each family member has something happening in their life of which their family is unaware.
An intriguing mystery with drama and suspense. Fans of Robyn Harding’s other books are sure to enjoy this novel.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
To the casual observer, the Adler family is pretty perfect. Thomas is a successful realtor, Viv dabbles in interior design, their son, Eli, goes to an ivy league school, and their daughter Tarryn is a quiet high school student. But then one day somebody eggs their house and it sends the Adler family spiraling down a road of deceit and dishonesty, as each of the Adlers has their own secrets to keep. Will the Adler family come together to find out who has been harassing them?
The Adler family is far from perfect, no matter how it may appear. All of them were flawed in very significant ways. But what surprised me was that I was sympathetic to most of them. I still didn't like Thomas in the end, but the rest of them left me feeling sad for them. But one thing was for sure, if they talked to each other more, they would not have had as many issues. CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS All the secrets were revealed in the end, but the way the book ended left the reader wondering.
Bottom Line - The Perfect Family is a dark and twisty novel about a family that proves that even the most perfect of families is far from perfect.
Details:
The Perfect Family by Robyn Harding
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Pages: 352
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: 8/10/2021
Buy it Here!
Thank you to NetGalley for the book in exchange for a review.
Really enjoyed this one - I always love reading a Robyn Harding book and this was no exception!. Thanks for the opportunity to read!
An interesting read - neither life-altering or can’t-put-downable… might follow the author for backlist & future reads.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.