This is a great "what might be behind the scenes" both in reality show world and in your friendships and even your marriage!

I love a good reality show - and like to think what the real reality might be. This was a really good page-turner, thriller, and mystery all in one book! Would love to read more about Dawn Decker!

The Perfect Home, a moderately successful home renovation television show, also delves into the behind-the-scenes lives of Dawn and Wyatt Decker’s marriage. However, ratings are paramount, and the producers resort to drastic measures to boost them. Wyatt, on the other hand, has his own ideas.

Wyatt and Dawn are new parents to twins. When Dawn stumbles upon a disturbing plot that could potentially skyrocket the show’s ratings, she impulsively takes the twins on the run, causing a public relations nightmare. While the story provides insight into Wyatt’s struggles and demons, it also reveals the underlying reasons behind the Deckers’ strained relationship and their inability to become a perfect family.

Despite its irreverent tone, the book takes a serious turn almost immediately, reflecting Wyatt’s genuine emotions and his awful plans for his children. The suspenseful plot, which takes unexpected turns, keeps the reader engaged and eager to discover the outcome.

Many thanks to Scribner and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

A clever and entertaining page turner. Dawn and Wyatt have the perfect marriage-and they're the perfect partners on a home renovation reality show- except that they can't get pregnant. Until. Until Wyatt imports unapproved vaguely illegal pills and they have twins. Except something's very wrong with Wyatt, so wrong that Dawn impulsively grabs the babies and takes off, setting in motion a major hunt for her and a publicity boon for Wyatt. Her long lost dad swoops in to help her and oh boy does she learn who her friends really are. But how can she prove that Wyatt had an evil plan for the twins? Who can help her? I liked that you know there's a rat in the house from the beginning but that you don't know how things will turn out. Kenitz does a great job with his characters who alternately tell the story. It's nicely twisty with more than one surprise. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Really enjoyed this one.

The story is told from the dual perspectives of both Dawn and Wyatt, and made for an entertaining, domestic popcorn 🍿 thriller, which definitely offered up more than one surprise (if you don’t read the synopsis!!)

Thank you so much to @netgalley for my advance copy!

I really loved this "insider" take on "reality" home renovation shows. With lying and cheating and scheming and mudslinging thrown in. What's not to love? This one takes off from the start. Wyatt and Dawn have a Chip and Joanna Gaines type setup. Show, fame, merchandise, money. What they don't have is a baby. No matter how they try, it just isn't happening for them. The issue is narrowed down to Wyatt, who orders ASB, an illegal, but proven to work, fertility drug. The list of horrible side-effects doesn't matter. Wyatt is determined to make a baby! Not for the actual love of a child, but because he feels a baby will be ratings gold. Then the personality changes start happening and babies come and....... well, you just have to see for yourself. The story is told from both Wyatt and Dawn's perspectives, and I thought this was an actual original storyline. There are a lot of good books out there, but also a lot of different takes on similar themes. This one was refreshing in both setting and premise. I felt the behind-the-scenes stuff was researched, along with infertility struggles. I look forward to more from this author.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Daniel Kenitz and Scribner Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Facebook and other retail and social media sites upon publication date of January 7th.

Daniel Kenitz’s The Perfect Home takes readers on a suspenseful journey that feels like a dark, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the polished world of home renovation shows, but with a thrilling twist. From the very first page, the story hooks you with its gripping narrative and refuses to let go until the final reveal.

Kenitz masterfully blends suspense and intrigue, keeping readers on edge as the plot twists and turns. The structure of the book, divided into distinct parts, enhances the reading experience, offering a fresh perspective with each section and building the tension in perfectly measured doses. This format adds depth to the story, making it even more immersive.

The novel’s premise—where the glossy facade of home improvement hides dark secrets—is both original and chilling. Kenitz captures the allure and drama of reality TV while exposing its darker undercurrents, creating a story that’s as compelling as it is unsettling.

For fans of psychological thrillers with unique settings, The Perfect Home is a standout read. Its fast-paced narrative, unexpected twists, and sharp insights into the world of entertainment and ambition make it impossible to put down. Kenitz has crafted a story that’s as addictive as the shows it draws inspiration from—but far more sinister.

Dawn and Wyatt have it all. A reality tv show, an antique store, book deals, and lots of money. But they want children and, after having a hard time conceiving, decide to use a fertility drug that’s illegal in the US. It seems that it’s illegal for many good reasons! After having twins, Wyatt isn’t the same. Dawn witnesses his personality shift, is the brunt of his meanness, and later she finds incriminating evidence leading her to believe he’s a threat to her children. When she runs with the twins, Wyatt does what he does best - lies to the world and spins things so he looks innocent. A rollercoaster story that kept me hooked from beginning to end!

THE PERFECT HOME, by Daniel Kenitz, hit all the high points for me. I read this book in a hospital waiting room, and it kept me engaged from the first chapter. The suspense had me flipping Kindle pages as fast as I could.

Fixer Upper fans, this is your book. The husband-and-wife duo, Wyatt and Dawn, lead the show. The story is told from both of their perspectives, and a beautiful marriage soon becomes a dangerous medical landmine. Wyatt has fertility issues and orders ASB, a drug that is illegal in the US, but one proven to increase fertility. Soon after beginning the medication, his behavior becomes troubling. But don’t let me tell you the whole story.

I sided with Dawn, a truly relatable personality. Her character was so authentic, that I found myself thinking that the author was a female. Her behavior and dialogue were perfectly on target. The other characters add depth to the story, and her twins bring out her strong mothering skills. Dawn is a bright woman who has to make sure that Wyatt doesn’t destroy her and take her babies.

This is Daniel Kenitz’ debut novel. He’s a freelance writer, living in southeastern Wisconsin within jogging distance of dairy cows. I hope he has another story in the works. THE PERFECT HOME is a solid 5 star read.

3.5 stars ⭐️

Wyatt Decker is a media friendly charmer with looks to match. But despite that, his home renovation TV show-“The Perfect Home” doesn’t really take off until he marries Dawn. Her eye rolling, snark is just what the show needed to attract female viewers.

Together, they have reached D level celebrity status but Wyatt longs for greater fame. Children might help but Wyatt has a low sperm count so he orders experimental fertility drugs from Germany which did not earn FDA approval in the U.S..

YES-he will risk ANYTHING to have children including taking this controversial drug, which warns of some serious side effects,

But, having twins is still not enough to get the coveted interview that he feels will propel them to the NEXT level.

So, he devises a horrifying new plan to earn fame and fortune- one that, once discovered by Dawn, prompts her to flee with her two babies.

She is quickly reminded that Wyatt is the beloved star of their show, as he turns HER into public enemy #1.

It will be difficult to beat Wyatt at his own game but Dawn Decker will do ANYTHING for her twins.

The book synopsis shares too much so I will stop here and just say “PROPS” to the author for the ORIGINAL PREMISE set in the ALWAYS choreographed world of home renovation TV!

The story is told from the dual perspectives of both Dawn and Wyatt, and made for an entertaining, domestic popcorn 🍿 thriller, which definitely offered up more than one surprise (if you don’t read the synopsis!!)

If I had felt a bit more TENSION, it might have rated a solid four stars, but it did keep me engaged, so 3.5 stars ⭐️!

This promising debut will be available on January 7, 2025.

Thank You to Scribner for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Daniel Kenitz, and Scribner for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

I enjoyed The Perfect Home! Was it a perfect thriller? No, but was it juicy and fast-paced? Yes! The premise of Gone Girl meets HGTV was so intriguing to me, and that is definitely the vibe of the book. I was hooked from the beginning to see how things were going to turn out for the Deckers. My biggest downfall for the book was that besides for one reveal about halfway through, there was no major twists. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, and it never did, which made the end kind of anti-climactic. I did think the pacing definitely helped with this overall because I was anxious the entire novel to see what was going to happen. I also think there was some great (minor) commentary here on the pitfalls of celebrity and how society refuses to believe women, especially women in the spotlight. While this might not have been a thriller that will stick with me, it was still perfectly enjoyable and fun to read!

I enjoyed this book. While I read it, I pictured Chip and Joanne from Fixer Upper in place of Wyatt and Dawn Decker. I definitely wondered who would be believed in the end. Highly recommended.

Wyatt and Dawn are a married couple with a successful home improvement reality tv show but their life is more complicated then it seems. When Wyatt takes an illegal medication to help with infertility, his personality changes and Dawn goes on the run with their infant twins.

The reality TV and home improvement aspect of the story was a lot of fun and I enjoyed the beginning. Once the action started, I was a little lost. The plot with the medication and note too much for me and not something that I was very invested in. I did like the different point of views and how not everyone was what they seemed.

“You’d lie. I’d lie. The greater good makes liars of us all.”

I have to start this by saying I’m really grateful that the synopsis for this book gives us a lot, so I am able to say a lot without ruining the MANY surprises in store for readers. If you’ve read the synopsis, you know what I mean! If you haven’t, read on…

Dawn and Wyatt Decker are B-list reality stars on HLTV’s “The Perfect Home”, a show where he does the construction and she does the decorating while providing some snark. It’s not totally for Dawn, as she is more shy, but Wyatt brought her into it and they make good money doing it. Still, Wyatt isn’t happy with what they have. He wants to be A-list. He wants to be a household name. He wants more and more things…including children. The problem? He’s infertile.

After not being able to conceive, he orders shady German fertility drugs online and the reviews were true - they really work! Dawn gets pregnant (with twins) very quickly, and Wyatt promises to stop taking the ASB. But also, the reviews were true - they can make you mentally ill! After awhile, he becomes withdrawn, acting strangely and sometimes being downright nasty. It’s not until Dawn finds a document on Wyatt’s tablet that is SO unhinged, terrifying and disordered that she takes their twins and runs. Soon, Wyatt is on the national news saying Dawn is an alcoholic having postpartum issues and he’s worried for her, begging her to please bring the babies back, etc. She’s trying to hide, but she’s a television personality on the run with twins, and it’s hard to hide that.

This book is written from the dual perspectives of the couple, and that worked perfectly for this story. It was fun to see the workings of how an HGTV-like show may be produced, and how some people are willing to fake it for the money and fame. The characters were great, the writing was great and the idea for the book was unique. This was funny and quirky at times, while still being a very thrilling and suspenseful book; not easy to do. I can’t think of a thing I’d change - five stars!

(Thank you to Scribner, Daniel Kenitz and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on January 7, 2024.)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy. The Perfect Home follows Dawn and Wyatt, reality tv stars, as they struggle to start a family. This leads to Wyatt taking an illegal reproductive drug, ASB. Unfortunately ASB can cause severe side effects, such as personality changes. These changes lead to Dawn fleeing from Wyatt with her newborn twins. The Perfect Home is a domestic thriller that was hard to put down. I liked the switching perspectives between Dawn and Wyatt. I think this helped the reader get the whole story. I do feel like the flow was a bit off. I truly didn’t relate to any of the characters.

Wyatt and Dawn are a married couple with a successful home improvement reality tv show but their life is more complicated then it seems. When Wyatt takes an illegal medication to help with infertility, his personality changes and Dawn goes on the run with their infant twins.

The reality TV and home improvement aspect of the story was a lot of fun and I enjoyed the beginning. Once the action started, I was a little lost. The plot with the medication and note too much for me and not something that I was very invested in. I did like the different point of views and how not everyone was what they seemed.

“You’d lie. I’d lie. The greater good makes liars of us all.”

The Perfect Home comes out 1/7.

Definitely a lot of unexpected twists and turns to this story! Once I started reading it, I could not put it down! I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author!

Welp…seems like I’ve been hitting all the wannabe thrillers in a row and this one was no exception. Idk if it was just that the author tried to hard to make it serious, but it came off more as a popcorn thriller, which it didn’t really work as either. The characters are more like caricatures and none of them had any likability so it was hard to root for them to be ok. I did like the authors way of making people being in the media can alter their personality and what you see on tv definitely isn’t reality no matter how they try and tell you otherwise.
I don’t have a lot of positive thoughts on this so I’m going to keep my thoughts to a minimum. Many may enjoy it, I was just not one of them.

The beginning of the book left me wondering why I picked it to begin with. I didn't particularly care for the characters and had no interested in their shared tv show.

However, big surprise! The book took off around the 20% point of the story on my kindle, and I began to appreciate what was happening with the two main people. While there wasn't an extreme moment when I was shocked by the turn the story took, the events did keep me on the edge of my seat hoping it all would work out for a character who took a lot of chances.

5 stars for the remaining 80% of the book; I took off one of them for that draggy beginning.

This book had so many twist and turns, I loved it. The fact that the two main characters have their own POV’s in this book is amazing… we get to both sides, what’s going on in the mind of each character, as the story starts unfold. I was waiting for the shoe to drop, and it dropped quickly. I loved Dawn, but as everything started to unfold I was getting so aggravated with how she did certain things, and I felt so bad for her with everything going on. But I loved how at the end, she had people that came through for her….. a lot of people aren’t what they seem, sadly.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free advanced copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.

The Perfect Home was an enjoyable, and frustrating read.

This book made me so angry throughout because the level of charm it took Wyatt to convince everyone that Dawn was losing it was so little...but he's able to get away with so much.

All in all, it wraps up nicely and Dawn is a bigger woman than me for all the forgiveness she's able to dole out.