Member Reviews
A Shalini Boland book is always a great read. I like her style of writing and her realistic characters.
In this latest novel we meet Emily, happily married to Aiden with a son Josh and a baby on the way, money is tight but she's happy, until she finds out Aiden has been keeping a secret from her and she has to uproot their lives.
Dani is married to Aidens boss, Marcus, struggling to conceive.
Two women, two marriages and secrets that threaten them all.
I really enjoyed this book, I found it unputdownable as I raced through wanting to know what was going to happen. Despite having my suspicions there were still twists that I didn't expect
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this advanced copy
I have read several of the author’s books and really enjoyed them but this one felt flat in places and I wasn’t sure if the narrator was necessary. Having said that I did think the ending was good and I definitely didn’t expect it which is why I’m giving it 4, stars.
I’m giving this one three stars, because it’s a solid, entertaining read. I enjoyed the twists in the story, even though I had some idea about what was going on. As fun as it was, I don’t think this book will stay with me for long, but that’s fine. Sometimes a fast, light read is exactly what I’m in the mood for, and this book fit the bill. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book. Could not put this book down! The characters were well developed and the story kept getting more and more interesting. The ending was a surprise and nothing I expected! I will definitely be recommending this book to others.
Emily Graham was heavily pregnant and had to flee with her family to avoid her husband's gambling debts. She was frustrated with starting a new life, hiding at an unknown place with a kid and another coming. Her husband's debt was so huge that his creditors threatened harm to his family.
Marcus, the employer of Emily's husband, ran a luxury car business. His wife Dani was obsessed with having a baby as it had been four years of their marriage. She wouldn't let him breathe in peace. She routinely annoyed him with her complaints and worries.
The story is told from the POVs of Emily and Dani. How they fight their battles and whether their problems get solved forms the rest of the story.
The language is fairly simple. What I loved about the book was the perfect portrayal of the emotions of these women in every situation.
The story and narration are extremely entertaining, more like a family drama with a tinge of suspense. I finished most of it in one go. Also, the storyline is quite unique and not like something I've read before.
I agree that setting up the background and pulling the readers into the story is crucial in this genre. But that made the first half quite lagging. There were unimportant parts that could be avoided, more so because the synopsis makes it look like a suspense novel. I rushed through a few pages because I knew I wanted to read it till the end.
I wonder if it is because I regularly read crime genre but I predicted the ending after getting through three-fourths of it.
I recommend the book for keeping me hooked till the end despite all that I said above. Suitable for those who don't want serious crime and action but something with loads of drama.
I received a review copy and I am posting my review voluntarily.
I am a great fan of Shalini Boland and read most of her books. Once I was approved for A Perfect Stranger I started it immediately. I just love the way this author writes. However this storyline was a touch unbelievable, how the wife Emily would just uproot her life with her husband and young son whilst heavily pregnant. Also her reactions to the family situation was not realistic. I enjoyed how the two different couple’s stories came together although I did guess the twist at the end. Overall it was a good read and I finished it in a day but I have come to expect better from this fantastic author and will eagerly await what she brings out next. Overall 3.5 star.
Emily and her husband Aidan are just getting by on their two incomes, living in a rented house with their little boy Josh and another baby on the way. Dani, married to the wealthy Marcus, wants for nothing… except for the one thing that is eluding her. The two women appear to have nothing in common except for the fact that Aidan works as a salesman at Marcus’s luxury car dealership. But maybe they have more of a connection than either one knows….
Told from dual perspectives, the characterization of the two women is solid, with pregnant Emily seeming like a particularly sympathetic character. I really wanted everything to work out for her and Aidan, despite his misdeeds. Dani is overly naïve with a bit of snooty rich girl thrown in. Her marriage to Marcus seems close and loving, but their actions don’t always match up to their reality. Although there’s a lot of background and set-up early on, once this story got going, I couldn’t put it down! It’s not too long and I was able to breeze through it. Slightly predictable but still an enjoyable quick read, with a stunner of a twist at the end. Maybe too stunning, as it didn’t feel in keeping with the character’s previous behavior at all. I love an unexpected twist, but find them more satisfying when they have a bit of foundation to them - an "a-ha" moment rather than a "what the...." one.
Shalini Boland has become a must-read author for me, so I was pleased to have the chance to review “A Perfect Stranger.” Even though this book wasn’t my favorite of hers, it's still a solid read, and Ms. Boland’s novels are not to be missed for lovers of domestic suspense. Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me an advance copy of this book.
I really liked this book. I found this thriller to be arresting and provocative. I absolutely cannot wait to find out what happened at the end. Anyone who loves a thriller is going to love this book!
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC of A Perfect Stranger by Shalini Boland.
Emily and Dani both lead separate lives with troubled marriages. Told in dual perspectives, they become suspicious of their husbands lives and the consequences it may have on all of them.
While I enjoyed this one with it's many twists and turns, it didn't blow me away. I felt like this was just another domestic thriller among many that tries to one up the others with it's twists. Don't get me wrong, it's still a good story with a good writer, it just didn't have anything to make it special for me.
Talk about red herrings…wow…surprises abound…this book was written by a talented author…some characters are likable but others not so much. The story moves quickly to a surprising ending…amazing..never have guessed…this book was sent to me by Netgalley for review…enjoy this one…
You have a handsome husband Aiden and a gorgeous little boy Josh. You should be on top of the world, shouldn’t you? Something is bugging you and even though your significant half assures you everything is perfect, you know it’s not true. What can be the matter? One day you make him come clean, and it’s not what you wanted to hear, not at all…
What would you do when your husband would confess something like this? Would you stick by him or would part ways with him? Would you turn your life upside down or would you cut your losses?
After all there is not only you, you have to think about. Would this alter your decision?
This is what Emily has to take in consideration. She is determined to take up the reigns and hopes for the best.
And she was right. Everything is almost perfect now. Only one thing missing, but she has figured out a way to solve that too. Life can only get better now, right?
I am used to the author surprising me with the outcome, but this time I thought I was more clever. Haha, good one. I must say I had figured something out, but boy oh boy she still had me in the end.
I really enjoyed this book, but that’s not unexpected. I know this author always amazes me with her great storytelling. 5 stars
Thank you
Good book! I did not see that crazy twist at the end! This book also had suspense, intrigue, action, and a kind of big who done it! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my kindle! There were a few crazy twists too! I will definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!
Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. Another great thriller! Aiden gets into some trouble with some gambling debts so he convinces his pregnant wife, Emily, they need to move away. Meanwhile, Danni and her husband Marcus have been trying to have a baby. The womens' lives intertwine in ways I never saw coming. Great suspense! Huge reveals at the end. Another winner!
Shalini Boland has done it again with A Perfect Stranger. Nothing makes me happier than getting my hands on my favourite author's latest release, and this one did not disappoint.
The stories of two women run along a parallel timeline, yet how their lives will interconnect remains largely and enticingly mysterious. Told from alternaring viewpoints, we meet Emily, a pregnant mother to young Josh, and struggling through a precarious financial situation with her husband Aiden. Then there is Dani, whose husband Marcus is Aiden's boss, although she seems to have no personal relationship with Emily. Dani has it all, save for her heart's greatest desire, a child of her own.
Ms Boland is the queen of the domestic psychological thriller, and I was completely riveted, once again, from beginning to end.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.
Again...she doesn't disappoint.
What a thrill of a roller coaster ride..not sure where this was going but wow what a great final twist!!!!
Always unputdownable, no wonder why I drop everything when Shalini Boland comes out with another page turner.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.