Member Reviews
What starts out as what seems to be a prank escalates, the Adler family's fear also begins to rise. However, their own secrets might just be fueling their fear...
I wasn't fond of Thomas and Viv, but I think that helped to fuel the overall mood of the story. I love the twists and unfortunately, stayed up far too late as I couldn't wait to see what happened next.
This one is another slam dunk from Robyn Harding.
The Perfect Family is an engaging, thought provoking read. I found the characters to be well developed. I was fascinated with Viv. Her choices are bizarre, yet I still found myself rooting for her. All the Adlers have secrets- big life changing secrets. I was not sure what to think as more became known, but I found myself pleasantly surprised with how it all came together.
While this was not my favorite from Robyn Harding, I do recommend reading The Perfect Family.
This was a fun thriller that kept me guessing throughout. We all know what's on the surface is never what's underneath and Harding took that to the extreme with The Perfect Family. This was a quick page turner, and while the characters weren't the deepest, they were fun to read about and judge from my couch!
Each one, in their own little way, really deserve what they get. But it really is a question of balance - when is enough, enough?
Robyn Harding may just be my new favorite author. Her books are always quick-paced, intriguing, and contain the element of surprise. "The Perfect Family" is no different. Thomas and Viv Adler appear to be everything from the outside.....wealthy, attractive, successful, with two lovely teenage children. However, looks are often deceiving.
It all begins simply enough, with some juvenile pranks being played around the house. Some tossed eggs, a smoke bomb....surely it must just be one of their children's teenage friends playing around. However, soon the pranks become more ominous. A shadowy figure hanging around at night, punctured tires.....something is not right in suburbia. And it isn't. For every single member of this family is hiding something.....something that has the power to rip this family unit to shreds.
As we learn more and more about this family, we understand why they have become a target. We also understand why this person/persons will stop at nothing to usurp this perfect family.
I have recently read two @rhardingwriter books and I absolutely loved both of them! This past week I read the Perfect Family, it was just the creepy family suspense novel I’ve been waiting for!
Thomas and Viv Adler have a picture perfect family; beautiful home, two kids, a boy and a girl. When their family home is egged, they chalk it up to kids. But a smoke bomb and their tires slashed get them thinking that it could be something more. Each of the family members starts to think maybe they are the reason this is happening to them. Each of the reasons are so different, it was great storytelling. The book changes POVs with each family member and I always love that. This is another example of completely unlikeable characters making a great story.
Thank you so much to the author, @gallerybooks and @netgalley for my copy of the book. The Perfect Family is on sale now! Robyn had definitely solidified into a must read author for me.
Loved this book!!! Each family member had their own little secrets and lives going on! Could not put it down
I’m really struggling with where to start on this one. So let’s just make it simple: it was good! And I was hooked for the majority of the story–honestly, I could NOT figure out who was pranking and messing with the Adlers. I didn’t guess any of it.
The Adlers are super into appearances, often trying to keep up with “The Joneses”. They have a big, beautiful house, nice cars, perfectly manicured lawn–and, when it comes down to it, big ugly secrets.
I like that each of them have a hidden secret that no one else in the family knows about. And I absolutely love that it’s told from four different points of view, one from each of the Adlers. It was super gripping watching each secret unravel as I learned more about each character.
As much as this story captivated me, and as much as I love Robyn Harding, I can’t rate this book more than three stars. It was good–don’t get me wrong. And maybe the problem is that it’s the start of spooky season when both authors and Hollywood are hitting hard with thrillers, but I just don’t think this story was as suspenseful as I was hoping for.
Normally when I’m reading a good thriller I tell EVERYONE about it–my husband, my family, friends and coworkers. I keep them updated on the story, tell them what’s happening and how good it is–I also think about it HARD over the next several days. But this book just didn’t do that for me. I read it, I really enjoyed it while I read it, and now I’m done and moving on. I think the problem is also that I didn’t love the ending–I sat there like that’s IT?!
Anyway. This is a fun escape, enjoyable while it lasts. It was told and written well, with flawed characters hiding big parts of their lives.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Oh my gosh! This story had my attention from the prologue. What on earth was going on and what was going to happen to this family? A perfect family, from the outside looking in maybe. But every one of them had a secret that could explain an evil person coming after the whole family.
This was a excellent thriller, which left me wondering and bewildered until the end. Which one of them had a vindictive nemesis coming after them all? And what was going to happen next? I was sitting on pins and needles just like they were, just waiting for the next attack, escalating with each event.
And then that last sentence! Whoa! I'm not going to say any more. You need to read it yourself, but trust me, you will not be disappointed. I highly recommend The Perfect Family if you like psychological thriller. This one will mess with your mind!
While the premise of this story was intriguing there was so much time involved in just getting the plot to actually go anywhere. The build up of secrets for everyone in the family had me turning the pages but in the end, the resolution was very anticlimactic.
What a fun read. It was quick and captivating. This poor family, what a lot of weirdness! But what fun to read. Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery books for the perusal.
This is a fast paced 5 star twisty book that will keep guessing until the last page. Shocking at times and scary I loved the mystery. This family all has secrets hidden and may look perfect on the outside but they are far from it!! Put this juicy book on your to be read list! Thank you to NetGalley for an early edition of this book for my honest review!!
Posted on my Goodreads!
Robyn Harding hit it out of the ball park this time. My favorite book by Robyn yet to date!
I love hearing each persons perspective in this story. I think it truly made this story because it wouldn’t be AS amazing without that. Robyns great at making suspenseful domestic thrillers and entertaining and that doesn’t fail here.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an E-arc!
I want to start this review off by saying that Robyn Harding's "The Arrangement" was a 5 star read for me, and I was excited to receive an e-arc of her newest book. Unfortunately this book was not a 5 star read for me like The Arrangement. A lot of the story just felt like the main characters were hiding secrets from the reader (I know something you don't know)- one of my least favorite themes in books. That alone knocks a star off for me as I don't enjoy that in books at all. Secondly, the book just seemed extremely repetitive, and none of the characters are likeable. I also felt gross reading about a high school girl camming on the internet- it just didn't sit right with me. Overall the book was ok. It was a quick read and the pieces come together nicely at the end.
Oh my goodness! This is a naughty family.
Robyn Harding turns up the tension with this live wire, action-packed, highly entertaining, fast-paced, tale of deadly secrets and lies. How sins of the past and actions of each member of this family will come back to haunt them.
Not only themselves but the ones they love. An entire family is under the gun. The clock is ticking. They no longer hide behind the safety of their facade.
Someone knows. Someone wants revenge. They will pay. Which secret will destroy?
Gosh, I LOVED #ThePerfectFamily Her best yet!
Meet the family:
THE ALDER FAMILY SECRETS
Thomas (dad)
Viv (mom)
Eli (son)
Tarryn (daughter)
All seem too perfect in their perfect world. Beautiful home. Beautiful family. Great careers. Successful children. Everyone envies them. However, behind the facade, there are fissures and they are about to crack their foundation.
This house is falling down (crashing) and all their sins are about to be exposed folks. Then how will the outside world view them? If they only knew their dirty little secrets?
Not only one of them, but husband, wife, son, and daughter all have their hands in the cookie jar.
Their wicked ways cannot come to light, not only will they lose their standing in the community, they may lose their family and those close to them. They will not be able to face one another.
However, someone knows their secrets. How? Each family member contributes to the fallout. Someone wants revenge. Why, and how far will they go? What do they want? Each tactic gets worse. No one seems to help. They must figure out whodunit.
Not only are they hiding secrets from the world, but they are also hiding these secrets from one another.
Thomas, a successful real estate agent.
In reality, he is being blackmailed due to a bachelor party that got out of hand. However, he was passed out drunk. What really happened and how far did it go?
Viv, a successful interior designer.
In reality, she has an addiction - Kleptomania. She likes to steal little trinkets from her client's homes. No one will miss them, right? She hides away her little treasures in a secret compartment in her closet. Harmless, right?
Eli, the son that would make anyone proud. Best athlete, good-looking, popular, best schools, bright future.
In reality, there was a hazing that went south, and lives are destroyed. He cannot live with the guilt. No one can know.
Tarryn, the daughter. A rebel of sorts, feminist, great grades, a bookworm, great student.
In reality, late at night, she cams. In bra, lipstick, wig, and she can be another personality and everyone loves her, right? No one will know.
Someone has made some enemies. Each attack on their home becomes more dangerous. Their lives are being pulled apart by the seams and the authorities do not help. When they try to tackle this on their own, it backfires.
What a house of horror and thrills! Trust me, you will not be able to put #ThePerfectFamily down! An avid fan of Robyn Harding, she can spin a tale like no other with some red herrings that will leave your head spinning and guessing.
She dazzles! Where does she get these brilliant ideas? All the pieces come together for some jaw-dropping action and riveting suspense. Not to mention the devilish tricks and schemes. (love her dark humor).
I call this one contemporary meets horror. Movie-worthy and totally addictive! Not only is this a knock-out killer psychological domestic thriller, but it is also a deep-dive character study of the four members of the family. How many people reside in one family with these kinds of secrets? So realistic it is scary. Do you really know what your parents are doing or your teens? What goes on behind closed doors?
With her signature rich, dark, and intricately twisted style, the author crafts an impressive work of suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page is turned.
Get this one on your list NOW!!! While you are waiting for Aug 10, I strongly advise reading all her books.
Check out my Elevator Ride with Robyn where we go behind the scenes with the author and the book!
A special thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an ARC.
Blog Review:
#JDCMustReadBooks
@JudithDCollins
wwwJudithDCollins.com
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Top Books of 2021
Pub Date: 8/10/21
The perfect family that everyone admired on the outside and yet they each had secrets! Great twists and turns kept you guessing who was actually responsible for the all the vandalism. Good ending yet the door was open for questions! I will recommend this book to mystery lovers.
I thought I had problems! PHEW! Welcome to the lives of the Adlers. Where appearances are more than deceiving and things are most definitely closer than they appear. My 5th Harding book and once again she gives a very suspenseful, easy to devour read.
We get the POVs of each member of the family. Viv, the mother, who likes to steal things ... and personally I think I liked her the best. "But I don't see how fifty thousand dollars is going to help him sleep at night. Or.. make his pimples go away." Yep, she's definitely my fave. 🤣 Thomas, the father... well, outside of being a typical asshole who doesn't know how to properly solve a problem, he's relatively normal. Eli, their son, just quit college due to a particular incident that happened there and now is set on the path that his parents will surely hate.. which makes him happy as he's tired of all their pressure. And last, but certainly not least, Tarryn... rebel til the end. Listen, you're not going to like these characters but they surely will have you feeling better about your own family.
You know when you pick up a Harding book you are going to be entertained and you definitely will be with this one. For a majority of the book, the suspense is throbbing and you can't help but turn page after page with the need to know what is happening to the Adlers. You'll definitely need to suspend some reality, which I am always happy to do as y'all know. But if I'm being completely honest, the ending kinda killed it for me. Allllllll of that led to... THAT? 😐 I'm definitely in the minority with this thought so if you read reviews before you tackle a read, go read the others too.
Harding is forever an autobuy author for me and while this wasn't my favorite of hers, I will read anything she writes. ANYTHING.
The perfect family visually on the outside, but what goes on behind closed doors? This is a novel about a "Keeping up with the Jones'" type family. What would be the stunning nuclear family on the outside, but they are more nuclear as in going to explode their lives. This is one family that really needs counseling before someone gets so angry with them they may try to harm or worse kill them.
The Perfect Family was the perfect mix of mystery and good storytelling. It was unputdownable, I had to finish it as quickly as I could. Which is probably why I finished it in one sitting. No regrets about that!
The Alder family is the typical picture-perfect family. But really, each member of the Alder family is keeping a BIG secret. Secrets that could explain why the Adler’s are under attack. Soon the attacks escalate and, each Alder questions if their secret is the reason why.
This book had me HOOKED, let me tell you. I could not put it down for even a second. I had to know what was happening with this family. Seeing each member of the Alder family going through the events made the mystery 100% better.
The only thing that prevented this from being a 5 star was the ending. It left me a bit unsatisfied, as there was something that didn’t get an explanation. Now, I cannot go into details because of spoilers, but I was a bit disappointed. But maybe, I am the only one who felt this way.
The Perfect Family was still an amazing book regardless of that little bit. And it is still very much worth the read. If you are looking for a fantastic thriller, then I highly suggest this one.
Thank you x a million Netgalley & Gallery Books for an early copy!
This book was right upon my alley. I love a good family drama thriller with twists and turns. My favorite by this author and would totally recommend