The description says this books is Fixer Upper meets Gone Girl. Unfortunately, I found it to be neither of those to things. This book had a great start and a lot of potential, but just didn’t come through.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC, for an honest review. #netgalley #theperfecthome
Publish date: 1-07-25

Humourous, fun start but as the story continues, it looses some momentum and then takes quite a twist. It’s well written with detailed, descriptive passages and interesting character development. It pokes some holes in the facades created by TV things aren’t really ‘perfect’ in real life; everyone has a different definition of what ‘perfect’ is.
Not my favourite read but I’m glad I persevered to the end so that all the pieces of the story fell into place.
2.5 rounded up to 3
Thank You to NetGalley, Scribner and Daniel Kenitz for the invitation to read a widget of this book.

This story centers on a power couple who are behind a leading shelter reality TV show and what could go wrong. If you are a fan of such shows you might enjoy the novel, which chronicles the decline of their relationship when the husband plans on getting rid of his family in the quest to garner more fame, more power, and more money on his own. Twin babies are involved, an affair happens, and the wife reunites with her long estranged father, all in the quest to figure out the shifting reality -- in this case, their actual lives -- rather than what is depicted on screen as they renovate various homes around the country as the cameras and scripted witty banter roll. Having been through a divorce from my own cheating spouse, I still found this novel interesting and engaging, and the exploration of the shifting understanding of marital trust worthy of the author's treatment.

Dawn and Wyatt Decker were home improvement reality show stars. Dawn was the reluctant star and Wyatt was the personality of the show. He was also having an affair with her friend Victoria. They wanted to have a baby but they were challenged by his low sperm count. He decided to use an illegal supplement that she was not really in favor of. But he told her that he would consult his doctor and she reluctantly agreed. Within a month she was pregnant with twins. It was decided that he would slowly wean himself off of the supplements, but instead he flushed them down the toilet. After she had the babies he became someone she didn't recognize. He was irritable, moody and he even threatened her.

One day she found his tablet and saw where he had written a script whereby he was going to drown the twins. It frightened her so much so that she took the twins and left the state. Wyatt capitalized on that and went on the air accusing Dawn of being an unstable alcoholic. He accused her of kidnapping the children. Basically, he destroyed her reputation.

While she was on the run, the owner of the Airbnb where she was staying called the police on her. Her stepfather, Tim, who was a PI, showed up and rescued her. They ended up going back to Tennesse. Dawn went to her friend Alice's house, the only friend she felt she could trust.

While Tim went to the golf course to distract Wyatt, Dawn went to their house to retrieve the tablet. Later on that evening, while Dawn was sleeping, Alice kidnapped the twins and returned them to Wyatt along with his tablet. It seems she had bought into his lies. Dawn was devastated. The only thing she knew to do was to turn herself in. That's when all hell broke loose.

I thought the author was an excellent storyteller and I was impressed by the believability of the characters. It wasn't difficult to guess the ending but how it got there was another story. I'm glad I read this book. I was well pleased with it. I gave it five stars.

This book is being promoted as “Fixer Upper meets Gone Girl” and I found it nothing like either one of those titles; there was no fixing up and there wasn’t a girl that was gone. I have no idea whose idea that was but it wasn’t a good one. This book was okay as far as popcorn thrillers go but I don’t think it was supposed to be a popcorn thriller. It was like the book had a split personality. At times it was an action-packed he said/she said and it was over the top and then at other times, it was trying too hard to be serious…And it got really repetitive. I don’t watch home improvement shows so I wasn’t disappointed that there wasn’t much of that in the story, I just wanted something with a little more UMPH! I do give props to the author for the unique premise, his execution fell flat though.

Over and over again we are reminded of his handsomeness and her not being a beauty. The characters were more like caricatures and the males’ behaviour was just too far out there for my taste. I didn’t like how the female was treated like a second-class citizen and she let them all do it. They both irritated the hell out of me. The female’s so-called friends or anything but, and there wasn’t one character that had any redeeming qualities whatsoever. The only character I did like was the mom and even she hurts her daughter with her lies in the end. I did like how the author showed how reality TV and the media can twist a person’s perception of another human being, but other than that this book is a no-go for me.

This is a suspenseful psychological family drama. I love a good family drama, and boy did this one deliver in that arena. I love books about reality television because they really highlight how fake it all is, and that was certainly the case here. I felt so bad for Dawn because she was clearly struggling and then she had no one she could turn too in her time of need. It pulled at my heart strings. Her husband, Wyatt, is just horrible. Which, honestly, I am naturally inclined to dislike people with that name based on my own prejudices and that is exactly what happened here. However, he truly is a horrible character, and that is apparent fairly early in the book. The suspense in this book was so well done! I loved it and I sometimes struggle. Even though this wasn’t a true thriller in my opinion, it still had a fast pace. I ended up reading this book in one sitting over the course of a few hours because I just didn’t want to put it down. However, in the end, I wish that the ending would have been slightly more satisfying.



Be mindful of triggers in this book as it does heavily focus on infertility and the struggles that can be associated with pregnancy and childbirth.

This is the first time I have ever read a book from this author. I found the book to be very good, and full of excitement. I read it pretty quickly because I kept wanting to find out what was going to happen next. I liked it so much, I want to see what other books this author has written.

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

This suspense is perfect fans of HGTV and Chip and Joanna Gaines! At times it made me question the “reality” of “reality”! Rarely do you see infertility woven into a thriller which provided a fresh take. All in all I think this book will find its way into the hands of appreciative readers.

This story is proof that sometimes the call is coming from inside the house I was expecting a thriller, but this read more like a domestic drama with some suspenseful elements. I was filled with so much fury about all of the women in the protagonists life, that if I wasn’t reading this on my kindle I would’ve thrown the book.. this girl had not one single legit friend in her entire life. Overall, if you like domestic drama, and also want to feel enraged at women who enable men to act badly towards other women, this might be the book for you!

Thank a so much @netgalley & @scribnerbooks for the eArc!

I loved this!

I don’t even watch home improvement shows, but I was so into this one.

The author completely played with my head when it came to one character and I was so concerned about Dawn.

The book is funny, suspenseful and absolutely pulls at the heartstrings.

Very twisty and clever and I was just so sorry that it was over (but it had a good ending).

• ARC via Publisher

I decided to pick up this book because the tagline was “Gone Girl Meets HGTV reality show,” and that alone convinced me to read it. However, the book didn't meet my expectations and didn't have the same shocking vibe that I was anticipating. Some parts of the book were interesting and suspenseful, but most of the plot was very far-fetched. None of the characters were likable. I was very baffled that none of Dawns friends stuck by her and her awn's so-called friends were conned by Wyatt's charm. lThe ending was satisfying and was glad that Dawn got the resolution that she deserved.


Thank you to NetGalley and to Scribner for giving me a copy.

Wow. I breezed through this book within a day. I simply did not want to put it down. I was so invested in this story and in Dawn as a protagonist. The Perfect Home is about a reality show couple who seem to have it all. Their show centers around the home renovating they do together. Wyatt had the show before he met Dawn but it really got popular because of them as a couple.

The viewers are meant to see Wyatt as a handsome and charismatic man who can do it all. While Dawn is the nag always throwing some sassy quip his way and constantly going over the decorating budget. Dawn is actually more reserved and tends to disappoint fans that meet her by not being very personable. Wyatt on the other hand is what he appears to be. On the surface anyway..

Everything starts to fall apart when they decide to have a baby. Wyatt wants to take pills that aren't legal to have in the US to help with his low sperm count. Dawn is against the idea because it's too risky. Not only are they illegal but there are side effects. He orders them anyway and Dawn convinces herself it's actually wonderful he wants to have a baby with her so bad he'd lie to her and take shady pills.

So she gets pregnant almost immediately and wants him to taper off the pills. They do change him and not in favorable ways. She eventually has twins and he really gets mean and also does creepy things like standing there staring off at nothing. The whole time I'm wondering, did the pills change him that much or is this how he is and he's starting to let her see that? Maybe both, the pills just enhance things?

Why I even questioned that is because you get to read Wyatt's point of view as well as Dawn's. You find out he's actually pretty manipulative and conniving. He's obsessed with having the perfect image and wants to be even more famous. Dawn soon finds out his plans to get more ratings and thus more popularity. What she stumbles across was actually quite chilling to read.

What follows is Dawn's attempts to protect her babies from the man she no longer trusts. She takes the twins and goes on the run and I loved that she immediately left and didn't try to stay and get evidence, wait and see or try to reason with him. She was just like, "Nope, we're out of here!"

Going on the run with two infants is hard enough but Dawn is also recognizable. And thanks to the show, people tend to love Wyatt more. He's able to create the narrative that she's the unstable one and he just wants his babies home safe and to get Dawn the help she needs. Dawn knows she'll never win in the court of public opinion and she'll need evidence. She could also use some support. This situation definitely proves to her who her friends really are is all I'll say.

The tension never lets up as things escalate. Wyatt has everyone eating out of the palm of his hand while Dawn desperately tries to prove he's lying and keep him away from the babies. I was rooting for her so hard and hating everyone else besides her few allies. It was so frustrating that so many people believed what they were told and not what was so obvious!

That's how people really are though. We all know that couples, individuals and families can look perfect but could be hiding ugly secrets. Most of true crime is based on that fact. And yet knowing there's nothing real about reality shows, people tend to believe what they're shown and form attachments to who they see. They let their own biases get in the way too. I loved how The Perfect Home explored all that. Also how easily women are villainized and dismissed as crazy.

I definitely recommend The Perfect Home for those who want a dark domestic thriller that is enjoyable to read. The only time I was disappointed was with how Dawn chose to handle certain betrayals at the end. I'm getting frustrated again just thinking about it! That's all I'll say so as not to spoil anything. If you want to run through a gamut of emotions and be thoroughly entertained, you must read The Perfect Home.

Thank you Scribner and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you, Scribner for the copy of The Perfect Home by Daniel Kenitz. I loved the description and the premise was really appealing. I wish I had connected with the characters more, but one was a sociopath and the other was the epitome of a doormat. I hated how often we were reminded that HE was gorgeous and desirable and because SHE was plain she was lucky to get him. I’m not sure why I lost interest as I read, but thank goodness it started to get better about three quarters of the way through. I’m not sure the ending was satisfying, but it was still a quick good read. 3 stars

I wanted to like this book more than I actually did, to be honest. The premise: a wealthy couple, who star in a home renovation show on an HGTV-like network, find themselves moving from wildly-in-love to diametrically opposed, with the lives of their children at risk, in the blink of an eye. Or, so we are led to believe. The truth is much more complicated, and unravels slowly. One of the central puzzles of this book involves figuring out who is telling the truth and who is gaslighting the other. I was engaged enough to plow through, wanting answers, but also disappointed in some of the twists and how things ultimately unfolded. For me, it was a very good, but not excellent thriller. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

This was an interesting read. I did enjoy the book and it was paced enough to keep me interested. I would have this on a list to recommend to other readers. I will be looking forward to more books from this author.

Wyatt and Dawn Decker are the perfect couple to host the wildly popular home renovation reality TV show, “The Perfect Home.” He’s charismatic and makes everyone feel instantly important and she is an American everywoman who is quick to roll her eyes at his antics. Their chemistry is gold. But trouble’s brewing. They desperately want children to make their family complete, but Wyatt’s boys are not cooperating. When he takes an experimental fertility drug the Decker’s perfect story comes off the rails.

I loved this book! It’s a dual POV so the reader gets Wyatt’s and Dawn’s perspectives on what’s happening. It’s twisty, funny, compelling, and tasty. Reading it is like opening up a bag of chips and downing every last one before coming up for air. I think the word may be addictive. I tore through it loving the setting (Nashville), the premise (a reality show that hid the truth), and the characters (even the bad guy is lovable). Can’t wait to read the next book by Daniel Kenitz.

Thanks to @simonandschuster and NetGalley for an advance reader copy.

As a lover of HGTV and thrillers, this was a page turner for me. The plot was engaging, and though not terribly realistic, it kept me engaged. I am a ‘glass half empty’ type of person anyways, always wondering if couples on social media or home renovation shows are actually as happy as they portray. This book is a perfect window into that line of thinking. I would definitely recommend this book, though I am a mood reader so I would have to be in the right mindset as some of the subjects can be triggering.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Wyatt Decker has a so-so home improvement show -- until he marries Dawn, and their ratings begin to skyrocket. Dawn is seen as the perfect compliment to Wyatt's charming, pretty-boy persona. However, their world is not perfect, as they struggle with infertility. After they have twins, due to Wyatt taking an unregulated, overseas supplement, Dawn sees his personality change, and uncovers a plot that has her fleeing with her twins.

Though parts of the story were engaging and suspenseful, I didn't really connect with the main, nor the peripheral, characters; they just weren't very likeable. A lot of what happened toward the end of the book seemed far-fetched.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

In "The Perfect Home," a gripping domestic thriller, Dawn Decker navigates the treacherous waters of fame and deceit alongside her husband, Wyatt, as they star in a home renovation reality TV show. While Wyatt is driven by an insatiable desire for fame, Dawn feels increasingly uncomfortable with their celebrity status. The couple's struggles with infertility lead Wyatt to take dangerous fertility drugs, resulting in the birth of their twins but also triggering a dark transformation in his personality. When Dawn uncovers Wyatt's chilling plan to stage a tragedy for publicity, she flees with their infants, only to find herself vilified by Wyatt, who paints her as an unstable kidnapper.

As the narrative unfolds from both Dawn and Wyatt's perspectives, readers witness the unraveling of their marriage and the lengths Dawn must go to protect her children and expose Wyatt's true nature. Faced with public scrutiny and betrayal from friends, she ultimately finds unexpected support from her estranged stepfather. This novel explores themes of media manipulation and personal resilience, blending suspense with a critique of reality TV culture. With its engaging plot twists and relatable characters, "The Perfect Home" offers a compelling read that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats until the final page.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.