Thank you to @netgalley and @Scribner for this ARC. Wyatt and Dawn Decker are America's Sweethearts with a hit home remodeling show. From the outside, this couple has it all but the truth is, they are having trouble. When Dawn finds a disturbing file on Wyatt's iPad, she runs. This book had a lot of build up but the ending was really good. #ThePefectHome #DanielKenitz #Jan2025 #Scribner

What if Chip, charming husband of Joanna Gaines and co-host of HGTV's mega-hit Fixer Upper, absolutely lost his shit? That's the plot of Daniel Kenitz' The Perfect Home. This is an incredible premise and The Perfect Home mostly sells it.

Dawn and Wyatt Decker, co-hosts of renovation hit The Perfect Home, have everything. Almost. All that's missing is the laughter of a child to brighten their perfect home. Unfortunately, Wyatt is infertile and incredibly self-conscious about this to the point that he is 1) unwilling to even consider adoption or other options and 2) actively taking illegal, unregulated fertility supplements with some wicked side effects including full dissociation, homicidal thoughts, and hallucinations! What could go wrong?

In the beautiful backdrop of Nashville, Dawn Decker is getting worried her perfect life is spiraling out of control. Shortly after the birth of their twins, her hunky, adored-by-millions-of-fans husband is getting weird. So when she finds a note on his tablet suggesting he's going to straight up murder his family, she does the sensible thing - she leaves. That's about where Dawn's good choices stop.

She doesn't even make a copy of the note before she flees with her and she doesn't tell anyone about his weird behavior. She sets herself up for absolute failure by struggling to Gone Girl correctly and rapidly becomes the target of her husband's televised smear campaign.

I wanted to love this book and it gets points for pacing, concept, and a handful of likable (and hateable, in the case of Wyatt) characters. Where it stumbled for me was in the execution of characterization. Plainly, the women in this book are caricatures and much of their behavior is unbelievable to the point of confusion. Where this could have been fun a la Gone Girl or A Simple Favor, it just felt like reading a B horror film where you're screaming at the onscreen characters asking what they're doing.

I sped through this book for the first 75% but twists toward the end left me finishing purely to close it out. And like a rushed HGTV renovation, a compelling concept fell short when it came to craftmanship.

Dawn and Wyatt Decker are married and hosts of a very popular home renovation project show. Whereas Wyatt reels in viewers with his looks and golden retriever mannerisms, Dawn is full of sarcasm and quips, keeping her husband and the watchers on their toes. When they have twins, the world views them as a First Family of sorts. As most things in life we refer to as "perfect" it isn't that. Dawn becomes instantly demonized when she disappears with her twins, and everyone assumes she's to blame. After all, she IS the one always getting Wyatt's goat.
This was instantly intriguing- the style of writing is quick, easy, and simplistic in terms of keeping up with the plot. Wyatt was indeed terrible to the point that I sometimes had to double read the things he read/ thought of his own wife. I found this to be an interesting take on Hollywood, celebrities, and always being "on" for the public. On the cons side, this should have been shorter. I think it was a great effort although I'd possibly have labeled this a different genre?
Thanks so much to Netgalley for the chance to read this prior to publication.

THE PERFECT HOME
Daniel Kenitz

They had THE PERFECT HOME, and it wasn’t long before the networks thought they would make the perfect show. Their marriage, far from perfect, would act as a third character on the show as they highlighted home improvements in and around the state of Tennessee.

Wyatt was set up to be the rock of the relationship, the Mr. Fix It, the charming one. If you let her tell it, Dawn was often featured as the sarcastic one, with brooding behavior and little home improvement skills. Her darkness, counter parted the light and warmth of his sun.

Struggling with infertility, Wyatt takes it to heart and into his own hands. He decides to try an experimental drug which leads to more than one complication. Somehow to make their twosome a family, he gets redirected, and the family suffers in the end.

They do eventually get pregnant. The twins arrive healthy and happy. But shadows from his decision so long ago threaten their marriage, their TV show, and their family.

I left some things out of the synopsis. I always do. I feel like the one for this book gives away far more than it should. I advise you to read it with caution. If you do decide to read it, know there may not be much left to surprise you.

I enjoyed this concept more than what it ended up being. The storyline got a little ridiculous and very far-fetched. There was nothing it did wrong specifically, there was just a lot it did in general.

It felt like a debut novel, trying too hard to fit into the landscape that is the thriller genre. Trying to say everything there was to say. Not leaving anything up for interpretation, not allowing the characters to behave in any reasonable fashion. It was forced and felt like it.

As hard as it tried to be unique the storyline ended up being the basic plot for almost every other domestic thriller out there.

This one was a three for me. It was close to a waste of time. And with so many great titles coming out in the new year, you could easily skip this one and not miss much of anything.

Thanks to Netgalley and Scribner for the advanced copy!

THE PERFECT HOME…⭐️⭐️⭐️

I found this book was very slow moving for me. I pit it down a few times and had a hard time finishing it. I considered giving it 2*. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

DNF at 36%

I think this book is described fairly, but I was expecting the thriller part to be a little lower stakes / the focus more on the reality show aspect of the description. The plot felt heavy with suspense in a way I was not anticipating and didn’t enjoy. The writing is definitely quick, but it’s certainly darker than I was expecting.

very thrilling! did not see the plot twist coming at all. the book kept my attention all throughout. the plot was very interesting and the characters were likeable. no complaints! will read more from this author

I thought this book kept up a steady pace. The author did a great job of kept me wondering what could happen next as the story moves quickly and I just couldn't figure out how Dawn was going to get out of the terrible situation she was in.

This domestic thriller immediately caught my attention and held it the whole way through. Dawn Decker is the less beloved half of the celebrity couple behind the reality show A Perfect Home. Everyone adores Wyatt and his easy smile and charming personality. She's less comfortable in the spotlight, less adept at manipulating public opinion. When she finds handwritten notes outlining his plans to exploid a family tragedy - one that hasn't actually happened yet - she packs up their newborn twins and runs, knowing that she's instantly recognizable and that the public will be firmly on Wyatt's side. I loved this book. The plot might not be plausible, but it was definitely entertaining.

I dooo like me a mindless renovation show every now and then so this book had appeal. I appreciated the comparison to “Gone Girl” but it made me anticipate the book might be more complex than it really is. It delivered on the fast-paced, easy reading, entertaining promise but lacked a bit in the “psychological” thriller department as I found it a bit on the predictable side. I enjoyed the character of Dawn and found her realistic in her imperfections. She does need to find some better friends! The friend department in this novel highlighted the male author for me! Wish I could give this a 3.5 stars. Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review.This is beach-reading at its best and if that’s your expectation, it won’t disappoint.

dnf @50%

“fixer upper meets gone girl” is not at all what i got from this. it’s definitely more of a domestic/family drama than thriller and the home reno show was barely part of the book other than to establish that they were known as tv personalities. i just wanted more from this and i wasn’t interested enough in where it was going to finish.

I must first start by thanking both NetGalley as well as the publisher Simon & Schuster for my eARC In exchange for my honest review.
A wonderful combination of HGTV and a psychological thriller. Hold your breath as it will play with you making you jump from one conclusion to another. Wonderfully paced.

Everyone likes a glimpse of what goes on behind-the-scenes, and that’s exactly what you get in THE PERFECT HOME. I don’t even watch reality tv of any kind but I gobbled this right up. Wyatt and Dawn Decker are the picture-perfect couple on screen, but off screen, not so much. After learning that Wyatt has some fertility issues, he starts taking experimental drugs, and then boom— Dawn is pregnant with twins just mere months later. What happens next is beyond wild— Wyatt becomes aggressive, Dawn becomes a fugitive. I’m sure you’re thinking “ok that escalated quickly”, but for real, it does. I don’t want to spoil anything, you’re just gonna have to take my word this time.

If you’re looking for an edge-of-your-seat thriller, with a little betrayal sprinkled in, and maybe a murder, mark JANUARY 7 in your calendar!

Admittedly, I’m not much of an HGTV viewer. The only show I’m aware of is “Fixer Upper” with the couple from Waco, Texas (oh, wait — The Property Brothers, too). I guess they are the superstars of that genre (a niece had to make a pilgrimage to Waco just to see their Magnolia stores). But that channel is a 24/7 operation with lots of other small town couples doing remodeling and renovations. What do they do to be as outstanding and memorable as Chip and Joanna Gaines?

Debut novelist Daniel Kenitz explores just that angle: A loving TV couple with great audience appeal (but medium ratings). He’s the goofy charmer, she’s the sensible one. They are also having fertility issues. That part gets solved when Wyatt gets some black market fertility drugs. Twins are born, but Wyatt appears to be having some side effects — like delusions of grandeur and horribly evil plans to raise their ratings. Wyatt becomes increasingly frightening and Dawn goes on the run with the babies, while hubby is denouncing her on cable TV as a woman with postpartum paranoia.

Like “Gone Girl” there are two POVs (although pretty quickly we know Wyatt is probably the unreliable narrator). Kenitz has crafted a unique, twisty thriller with two cool ideas —home renovation horror and male fertility drug psychosis. This kept me guessing until the end — I was always doubtful that the resolution would make sense, but in true thriller form, it did. An excellent effort for a debut author! 5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Harlene May has green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Leyland cypress trees are fast growing and make a nice privacy wall.

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

**Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the eARC of this title!**

I was super intrigued by the idea of following the stars of a home improvement show while they tumbled through a domestic drama situation. While I do wish there had been more on the "show" aspect of things and a deeper dive into the influencer aspect, I did enjoy the story and found this to be a stressful read in the best way. The Perfect Home is a fast-paced read and worked perfectly for me as a cleanser between horror books.

I recommend this book for fans of domestic thrillers, family drama, and action!

Wyatt and Dawn Decker are husband and wife cohosts of The Perfect Home, a Tennessee based home renovation reality television show. For Wyatt, "the handsome charmer", it's all about getting ahead - he's obsessed with becoming an A-list celebrity. Dawn, "the every woman" whose salt and vinegar remarks on the show boosted their ratings, has her priorities set on her marriage, family and friends.

Their battle with infertility sends Wyatt searching for answers overseas and he begins taking a fertility enhancement not approved by the FDA. Dawn is soon pregnant with twins, and Wyatt's personality begins to grow darker and darker.

After the birth of the twins, Dawn finds evidence that Wyatt is planning a tragedy to increase their ratings. Horrified, she takes the children and runs. Soon the charming Wyatt has it all over the news that Dawn, suffering from post-partum depression, has kidnapped the twins and he enlists America's help in finding her before she does something unspeakable. He is so convincing that even her best friends believe him. Where can she turn, who can she trust, how can she keep her children safe???

Lest you think that I've just spoiled the book for you, all of the above information is available in the publisher's synopsis.

This is a quick-paced, suspenseful, engaging and fascinating look at gaslighting, what some people are willing to do for fame, and whether it's possible to overcome a heavily biased misperception of who you really are. I highly recommend the read. It rates 4 stars from me.

My thanks to Scribner for allowing me to access a DRC of this book via NetGalley. Publication is 1/7/25. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

"Fixer Upper meets Gone Girl"? Hardly. A good angle with home renovations in a domestic thriller but hardly anything shocking or scandalous here.

I thought the beginning of this book was really good. I love HGTV home renovation shows so this book appealed to me. About midway through the twist seemed really far fetched to me. I picked this book up several times after that but I lost interest and just could not finish it. This book didn’t work for me but you won’t like every single bit book you pick up. I hope it works better for the other readers.

Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book.

Book Title: The Perfect Home
Author: Daniel Kenitz
Publisher: Scribner
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: January 7, 2025
My Rating: 3 Stars
Pages: 327

Story it told from the POV of husband and wife-Wyatt and Dawn
Dawn and Wyatt Decker are the married couple stars of a Tennessee-based home renovation reality TV show, The Perfect Home. They have been wanted to start a family are super happy when Dawn finds out she is pregnant with twins.

Wyatt, already a horrible human being, took illegal fertility drugs in order to successfully produce the twins and the medication caused him to become even more dangerous than he already was. He has the ability to mask his true self via his charming TV host personality and everyone loves him.

When Dawn discovers that Watt has a plan to manufacture a tragedy in order to skyrocket their ratings, she takes the twins Junior and Harlene Mae and goes on the run.
Wyatt appears on national television as the sad father and husband and tries to turn the public against Dawn using post-partum depression as her reason for leaving with the babies.

Story plays up the idea that Wyatt is handsome and Dawn well not the attractive female one would guess Watt would find desirable. There is no doubt that everything we see on TV and Social Media is the truth.

Story was different that my usually thrillers and have to admit I did struggle a bit but hung in there.

Want to thank NetGalley and Scribner for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 7, 2025.

I was a little hesitant to read since it was being touted as the next "Gone Girl" but I absolutely devoured it on a recent flight! Wyatt - what a character! The plot twists had be on the edge of my seat until the ending