Member Reviews
Thanks to @Boldwood for my copy of The Perfect Parents
This story unfolds from multiple perspectives. Three siblings return to their childhood home after the devastating loss of their parents, grappling with the aftermath of their father's suicide while their mother’s body remains missing. The atmosphere at the funeral is tense, with the community showing little sympathy for Jackson Hemsworth, raising questions about his troubled past and the circumstances of his death.
As secrets begin to unravel, the narrative can sometimes feel a bit complex with the intertwining lives and hidden truths. It challenges readers to keep track of relationships and their consequences, sparking curiosity and engagement. Despite the initially slow pace, the gradual unveiling of the story's layers offers a rewarding experience that keeps you invested in the characters' journeys. Each twist and turn adds to the depth, making it a thought-provoking read that ultimately invites reflection on resilience and the bonds of family.
This novel is packed with secrets, and I devoured it eagerly to unravel the mystery surrounding the Hemsworths and Armett House. There are numerous surprises and twists awaiting the reader, and I had a genuine gasp-out-loud reaction to one particular twist. I am a huge fan of stories brimming with secrets, so I thoroughly enjoyed The Perfect Parents.
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As I have come to expect from a J A Baker book this book is filled with mystery, suspicion, secrets and betrayal. After the double suicide of their parents Jessica, Florence and Ezra build us the story through their unique POVs and we slowly see what may have actually happened or do we? If you like a good thriller, that will keep you turning the pages well into the night then this would one of my first recommendations.
It took me some time to get into this book. I found the first few chapters a bit dragging, but after some pages the story picked up and I was immersed in this book. Trigger warning: it contains suicide!
Wow what a great read, well written and . Totally gripping, a real page turner.Would highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Perfect Parents by J. A. Baker in exchange for an honest review.
This was a dark and twisted thriller with an interesting plot. It was a little slow and the plot twists were predictable but I still enjoyed it.
I would recommend this to thriller readers.
This one is a family drama. Unfortunately, it felt like something I had read before. I did find it to be very predictable and found it hard to connect to the characters.
The Perfect Parents by J A Baker was a quick and easy read which would be great for your day off relaxing or your holidays. This latest book was hard to put down once I started to read it. Perfect Parents is a great story of three siblings, Florence, Jessica and Ezra and they are attending the funeral of their father Jackson.
Lydia and Jackson made a suicide pact to jump from Newport Bridge which they both did but only Jackson's body was found!!! Their mother Lydia's body was never found!
Did she survive and where is she now?
As they sit at their father's funeral they all wonder where their mother is! and return to their family home to search for answers. But, their family home hides some very dark memories for them all and they need to face their demons one by one!
This book is full of twists and turns and ended up an excellent book.
I really enjoyed it. I highly recommend The Perfect Parents.
Big thank you to Netgalley and Boldworld Books for my ARC.
I've read enough J. A. Baker books to know that the parents in a book titled The Perfect Parents are going to be anything but perfect parents. Just what sort of parents jump off a bridge for a start?
Three siblings return to the family home after the shock of their parents' suicide. There is only one funeral to arrange though as their mother's body has not been recovered and the children aren't about to shed many tears over the death of their father. The people in the town aren't upset about Jackson Hemsworth's demise and there is outright hostility at the funeral. Just what has he done and why did he kill himself?
It does sometimes get a little confusing as to who is who, especially when the secrets start to be spilled and my poor old tired brain tried to understand the links and repercussions. This is probably because I only read my kindle in bed at night, so I'm sure a more alert brain would have no such issues.
This book is chock-a-block full of secrets and I couldn't read fast enough to get to the bottom of the mystery of the Hemsworths and Armett House. There are lots of shocks and surprises in store for the reader and I had a veritable gasp out loud moment after one such shock. I absolutely love books filled with secrets so I really enjoyed The Perfect Parents.
I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
The Hemsworths are known in their community, they decide to take their own lives, leaving behind 3 children to figure out why they chose to go down that path, what was so bad in their lives that that was the only way out. This is the first book I've read from this author and I enjoyed it once I got into it.
A twisty thriller that instantly suckered me in and on the last page spat me back out. It is one where I don't know who was lying until it's revealed. You can trust your parents, can't you? I was surprised by how dark the plot became.
I'm still trying to digest this one and how I feel about it. There isn't a lot of mystery, but there sure is some explaining to do and things to figure out. I enjoyed this and the story that surrounded it. Characters to love, characters to hate, dark family secrets. It's a bit slow moving, but once it gets going, hang on for the ride.
I mostly enjoyed this. Unfortunately I guessed what felt like quite a big twist really early on however was left shocked further in the book by further twists.
This book is a captivating tapestry of mystery, suspicion, and secrets woven together with a cast of fantastic characters. One of its most compelling aspects is the use of multiple points of view and timelines, which add depth and intrigue to the narrative. The river, portrayed almost as a character itself, serves as a haunting backdrop that adds an eerie atmosphere to the story.
This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.
3.5/5.
Oh this book is filled with mystery, suspicion, secrets and fantastic characters.
I loved the different POVs and timelines, especially the river which was like a character in its own right.
My heart broke for Jess and Flo and all they faced, especially the hostility from pretty much all of the villagers. The authors writing style portrayed such dark undertones, which kept me both hooked and on edge.
This is a fantastic psychological thriller and needs to be on your TBR.
This book started out so great for me. Had a great plotline and sucked me in. Unfortunately it ended up a little predictable and falling flat. It was a decent read, just needed a little bit more.
After the unexpected death of their parents, the Hemsworth children are left to sort out what happened. Lots of twists and turns kept this novel engaging and gripping until the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This I could not put down and had so many twists and turns. Everytime I thought I knew what was going on nope it completely turned around with another shock. The parents especially the father was awful. But a good read.
J A Baker is an author that I follow to insure I don't miss a new release. She builds the back story, community and characters slowly as she adds emotions and tension to the mix. THE PERFECT PARENTS centers around a family with the reputation of being "perfect". Readers will recognize them, there's a least one family like them in every town and suburb. But this family.......they are not quite as perfect as presented. Once the doors are closed and locked, the real domestic picture comes to life. Baker created the father from hell, his character combines all of the worst traits as he maintains his family's reputation by insuring they obey him.....or else. But then the story takes a sharp turn and we discover that all is not what it seems. From this point, you must watch for clues closely. The ending will surprise you.
The book starts with the double suicide of Jackson and Lydia Hemsworth, leaving children Florence, Ezra and Jessica to tell the story from their differing points of view. Lots of secrets made this a great story and well worth reading
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review
Wow! There are so much going on in this book in a good way!
The book starts off with two death scenes within the prologue and first chapter.. I was immediately intrigued, desperately wanting to know what was going on and if these deaths were related. The second scene involves an older couple, jumping to their deaths off a bridge into the frigid waters. It is quite dramatic, shocking, and sad. The book then shifts into present day, with the introduction of the couple's kids, Flo, Jessica, and Ezra.
The daughters become the main narrators of the book, going back and forth between their point of views. I love multiple narration. Not only does it tell the story from different views, offering insights into how differently people can perceive things, it also makes the reader question who they trust/what POV they can rely on.
As the story continues, the family is thrown into more turmoil. There is more shocking deaths, questions on true family ties, and some absolutely shocking revelations at the end (more than one!). The title of the book is The Perfect Parents, and this is a thrilling story showing the difference in relationships between children and their parents; a story of how one parent can destroy a child, while another would risk everything to protect them.