This is a short book that feels like it lasts forever. I expected faster pacing but instead slogged through and then just gave up with it. Thank you for the copy and apologies I couldn't read and review the entire thing - it just wasn't for me

Four main social media influencers head on a retreat together. Alabama one of the girls ends up going missing on the retreat. The timeline jumps around and at first I thought the plot started out well. However, I lost interest somewhere in the middle and then it got a little strange and almost too twisty at the end. The ending just didn’t seem to have a cohesiveness or believability that worked. Entertaining enough but not gonna be a fave. I think it does mean to make some good commentary on the craziness that is social media influencers. Likes hearts comments. You know the drill.

The Perfect Ones is not the perfect one for me. I had a lot of trouble getting into this storyline. It felt almost TOO detailed at times and really missed the mark on what it could've been. As of right now I stopped reading it, and plan to pick it back up in a couple days to see if I feel the same about it.

The Perfect Ones by Nicole Hackett is a contemporary thriller that delves into the dark side of social media. The story revolves around a group of influencers on a promotional trip to Iceland. The seemingly idyllic trip takes a sinister turn when Alabama Wood, a less popular influencer, goes missing. The plot thickens as the Icelandic police begin their investigation, focusing on the other influencers on the trip, particularly Alabama's best friend Celeste Reed and fitness guru Hollie Goodwin. The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives and timelines, keeping the reader engaged with its suspense and twists.

Overall, The Perfect Ones is a compelling read that offers both thrills and insights into the complexities of modern social media culture. Nicole Hackett's debut is a promising start, and it will be interesting to see what she writes next. This book is recommended for fans of psychological thrillers and anyone interested in the intersection of social media and real life.

I don't know how I feel about this one. It is a modern day read with social media influencers being invited to Iceland and a murder (??) that happens while they are there. It shows their online personas versus their real life events and how they intertwine.

Although it is very current and with the time, the story kind of left me wanting more. It had the information and good character development, but it just seemed to be lacking something. A few times I had to reread to make sure I wasn't missing something.

Overall, it was a good story. I look forward to reading more from this author.

The book was full of suspense! It really makes you think about friendships, motherhood and social media. And how all of it connects in some situations. Are our friendships really strong? As mom's do we constantly worry about our parenting? Is it lying to just omit some of the truth?

In this fast-paced exploration of friendship and the dark side of social media, we follow a group of Instagram influencers on a picture-perfect trip to Iceland. The story kicks off when Alabama Wood, a popular influencer, goes missing just two days after arriving in Iceland. The Icelandic police focus their investigation on two influencers closest to Alabama: Celeste Reed, her best friend of ten years, and Hollie Goodwin, a fitness guru and Alabama’s unwilling idol. But secrets lurk beneath the surface. Celeste has been coping with personal worries involving Alabama in ways no one would guess, while Hollie’s seemingly perfect life hides an implosion waiting to happen. As the investigation unfolds, loyalties are tested, and the truth behind their online images comes to light.

“The Perfect Ones” expertly scrutinizes online culture intersected with mental health. As you delve into the messy lives of these influencers, you’ll question who controls their online personas—do they shape their image, or does it control them?

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review*

A great thriller - I would recommend it!

Lots of trigger warnings. Lots about appearances, which is to be expected bc of the influencer world. It was good for a debut!

I will not be providing feedback on this book for I had not the opportunity to read it before it got archived! However, I am still interested in reading this book and I’m hoping to review it in the future on my social media platforms!

The mystery with Alabama intrigued me and I wished the focus had been more on that and the trip to Iceland. The extra plot lines with Holly and Celeste were pretty much unnecessary in my opinion and detracted from the main storyline.

The writing was good and again, this has the makings of a great book. Honestly, it would convert SUPER well to a mini-series.

DNF!

This book should not be classified as a thriller or a mystery! I kept waiting for something to happen and nothing did. I did not care about any of the characters or what was happening. All the characters seemed the same, oddly enough. This book was also poorly edited! Typos and grammar errors everywhere.

A really good read, lots of tension and very gripping. Interesting characters with the focus on influencers and their competitive world.

Loved the premise of this one. A trip to Iceland, social media influencers and one goes missing! I don’t want to say too much because this was a solid mystery but this was a wild ride!
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Thank you #crookeanebooks and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Interesting read on the impact of social media!

Instagram influencer Alabama goes missing when she arrives in Iceland on a promotional visit. She was joined on this visit by two other social media influencers.

What happens when a carefully crafted social media profile begins to crumble? How far will you go to preserve face?

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

I was ready for a griping thriller and this just wasn't it. It follows three social media influencers and how their lives intersect at an event in Iceland. Alabama goes missing and then the storyline jumps between the past and present as we learn what happened to Alabama.

There isn't a likeable character or much of a mystery. This one just wasn't for me. The lack of an ending really frustrated me too!

I had a hard time connecting with this one. I didn’t like the back & forth POV. I also felt the ending was predictable.

Thank you Net Galley & to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received an eBook ARC copy via the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"A picture-perfect trip goes horribly wrong in this fast-paced exploration of friendship and the dark side of social media."

"Everyone wants to be them, but internet fame comes at a price…"

Two days after arriving in Iceland for an influencer event, Alabama Wood goes missing. Two of her fellow influencers, Celeste and Hollie, both have something to hide. What are they hiding? Was it fatal to Alabama? Or was there something more at play? Something even darker than either Celeste or Hollie could even imagine.

The book alternates between POVs of Celeste and Hollie and alternates timeframes and locations. You really have to be paying attention to when and where. There was no clear cut explanation to the flashbacks. None of it really added any significance to the plot itself. So much of the book could have been cut out because it really did not have an affect on the plot. Also Hackett's writing style was hard to follow at times. Even though at the beginning of every chapter, the POV you were in would be listed as well as the when and sometimes the where. But that did not stop Hackett from using that POV's name numerous times in a sentence. I get it, I'm reading from Celeste's POV. And not just that, the book just didn't seem to flow.

The story has a good basis. Instagram influencers all piled together for a trip. One mysteriously goes missing. A close friend with something to hid. A fellow influencer who has even more to hide. It was a great, great concept. But honestly, it completely fell flat for me. I had to push myself to finish this book. It was so boring and repetitive at times. And I am not usually a negative reviewer and I am trying to be positive about this book. It was a great concept. Just not well executed.

Again, this is my opinion and thoughts. Yours can be completely different and that's okay!! That's the beauty of book reading! Everyone is going to have their own thoughts and opinions! And just because I didn't like it, doesn't mean you won't! Happy reading!

-good plot line
-alternates POV & time-past & present
-interesting read with crazy characters
-didn’t like ending; too drawn out and a little predictable; cheesy
-not sure if I want to read the next book if there is one
-themes: mental illness, food binging, social media influencers mental game

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!