Scan barcode
njm1993's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
susemcdonald's review against another edition
3.0
This is the first novel I've read from Sarah Pekkanen even though I have a couple of her books in my library. There were some aspects of the story that I found somewhat implausible and I found her writing somewhat stilted. However, an enjoyable easy read and a solid 3 stars.
bookally's review against another edition
3.0
This book follows a neighborhood of people and the their secrets and dramas. The book has two time lines for one of the characters Tess and it shows what happened leading up to her moving to that neighborhood and then the present time line.
I did really enjoy this book and I can totally see the comparison to desperate housewives and I could totally see this as a programme or a movie. It had great drama and was really entertaining
The downfall for me with this one is that to me none of the characters really stood out. I found myself getting confused with who was who at times as there were a lot of characters to follow.
Other than that it was a good read and I am keen to pick up more from this author
I did really enjoy this book and I can totally see the comparison to desperate housewives and I could totally see this as a programme or a movie. It had great drama and was really entertaining
The downfall for me with this one is that to me none of the characters really stood out. I found myself getting confused with who was who at times as there were a lot of characters to follow.
Other than that it was a good read and I am keen to pick up more from this author
booksuperpower's review against another edition
4.0
The Perfect Neighbors by Sarah Pekkanen is a 2016 Washington Square Press publication.
This is one of those authors I stumbled across reading those Booklist suggestions from the library. I can’t believe I’ve never read any of Sarah Pekkanen’s novels, but now that I have, I will be adding more.
The ‘municipality’ of Newport Cove is one of the safest neighborhoods in the United States. The residents have a Listserv board to share complaints, suggestions, rules, or ask for help with something, and those posts are often hilarious.
The community really is ideal, which is why Tessa and her husband, Harry, along with their young children picked it….. well, one of the reasons.
As we spy of the fine folks in Newport Cove, we meet Susan, Kellie, and Gigi, who welcomes Tessa into their neighborhood with open arms and try to include her in their group. As the story progresses, we learn that Susan is career oriented, dealing with the emotional pain of divorce, and is a dedicated mom. Gigi’s husband is running for public office and her teenage daughter has turned into someone she barely knows. Kellie, after years of being a stay at home mom, has begun working again and is enjoying the challenge and a little attention from her boss.
But, little do they know that their new neighbors are harboring a huge secret, the magnitude of which would shock them and their community to the core.
I loved this book! If you like sudsy drama, a little bit of dark humor, and getting an open invitation to join in the complicated and emotional lives of female friendships, which I do, then you will enjoy this book. Each character has a compelling storyline, each one dealing with something that fits the stage of the life they are going through. I loved watching them grow and learn from their various trials and see each of them come away stronger and more fulfilled than when we first met them, as well as maintaining their close friendships with one another.
I enjoyed getting to know each of these women, although Tessa’s story was not fleshed out as much as I thought it could or should have been, but I did love the mystery and think maybe Tessa will be able to move forward on a more balanced footing from here on out.
All in all, this book and will take you away from your own worries and troubles while you chide, cheer for, and relate to these awesome women as they navigate through the perils and triumphs of life.
4 stars
This is one of those authors I stumbled across reading those Booklist suggestions from the library. I can’t believe I’ve never read any of Sarah Pekkanen’s novels, but now that I have, I will be adding more.
The ‘municipality’ of Newport Cove is one of the safest neighborhoods in the United States. The residents have a Listserv board to share complaints, suggestions, rules, or ask for help with something, and those posts are often hilarious.
The community really is ideal, which is why Tessa and her husband, Harry, along with their young children picked it….. well, one of the reasons.
As we spy of the fine folks in Newport Cove, we meet Susan, Kellie, and Gigi, who welcomes Tessa into their neighborhood with open arms and try to include her in their group. As the story progresses, we learn that Susan is career oriented, dealing with the emotional pain of divorce, and is a dedicated mom. Gigi’s husband is running for public office and her teenage daughter has turned into someone she barely knows. Kellie, after years of being a stay at home mom, has begun working again and is enjoying the challenge and a little attention from her boss.
But, little do they know that their new neighbors are harboring a huge secret, the magnitude of which would shock them and their community to the core.
I loved this book! If you like sudsy drama, a little bit of dark humor, and getting an open invitation to join in the complicated and emotional lives of female friendships, which I do, then you will enjoy this book. Each character has a compelling storyline, each one dealing with something that fits the stage of the life they are going through. I loved watching them grow and learn from their various trials and see each of them come away stronger and more fulfilled than when we first met them, as well as maintaining their close friendships with one another.
I enjoyed getting to know each of these women, although Tessa’s story was not fleshed out as much as I thought it could or should have been, but I did love the mystery and think maybe Tessa will be able to move forward on a more balanced footing from here on out.
All in all, this book and will take you away from your own worries and troubles while you chide, cheer for, and relate to these awesome women as they navigate through the perils and triumphs of life.
4 stars
teresat's review against another edition
5.0
I have thoroughly enjoyed the books by Sarah Pekkanen that I have read and The Perfect Neighbors is no exception. Living in the idyllic neighborhood are four women who, on the surface, seem to have perfect lives. Each one harbors a secret, though. The book was great fun to read. The characters all engaging and likeable: like women you would want to get to know yourself. Their secrets, and how they hide them/deal with them, make the book quite addictive. There is one secret that we don't quite know the exact details until the end - Pekkanen drops hints and clues throughout - adding a little suspense to the story.
chaos_and_cabernet's review against another edition
4.0
Light, easy, quick read. Totally hokie with the references to pop culture. But I totally enjoyed it. Great escapist reading for a Saturday afternoon.
colleenlovestoread's review against another edition
5.0
Find my full review at http://aliteraryvacation.blogspot.com
I became a lifelong fan of Sarah Pekkanen after reading her first novel, The Opposite of Me, and have since gotten every book she's written when it comes out. Any fan will tell you that Sarah has an astounding ability to really make you feel for her characters, and to present stories filled with both humor and heartache in a style all her own. I haven't read a story by her yet that I didn't love, including her newest The Perfect Neighbors.
The overriding feeling I kept going back to as I read The Perfect Neighbors was the fact that these women and their neighbors felt more real than a lot of my own neighbors do! I could completely picture myself grabbing a drink with Kellie, Susan, Gigi, and Tessa as we talked about what was going on in our lives (or most of it) and laughed at the curmudgeonly old neighbor to one side and the gossipy busybody to the other. It got to the point that I found myself wanting to reach in and shake them when I saw them going down a dangerous path or hug them when they hurt. I absolutely loved these women and was able to find something of myself, even if just a little, in each one and the struggles they individually tried to work through.
I'm still not sure how Sarah Pekkanen does it, but she took me once again on an emotional rollercoaster that had me laughing one minute and sniffling the next. Not only do these women make you laugh at times (especially Kelly and Gigi), but most chapters begin with these quick Listserv email strands from various neighbors that I found so funny...and so like something I would be reading if we had that service in my neighborhood! But interspersed with the comical parts of this story are some pretty heavy subject matters, all dealt with in very real and tender ways. Across the story we see these women grapple with insecurities, infidelities, and a wide range of concerns for their children, from the normal issues that come as children grow to possible abuse. Any parent will get a little hitch in their heart as these women and their husbands try to do everything they can for their families, sometimes with unexpected consequences, both good and very, very bad.
It's probably time for me to stop fangirling over this novel and its wonderful author, but I know I won't be able to forget about these women for a while (maybe we can see them show back up in a short story? Huh? Please?!). If you haven't already, pick up Sarah Pekkanen's novels. I cherish each one I've read.
I became a lifelong fan of Sarah Pekkanen after reading her first novel, The Opposite of Me, and have since gotten every book she's written when it comes out. Any fan will tell you that Sarah has an astounding ability to really make you feel for her characters, and to present stories filled with both humor and heartache in a style all her own. I haven't read a story by her yet that I didn't love, including her newest The Perfect Neighbors.
The overriding feeling I kept going back to as I read The Perfect Neighbors was the fact that these women and their neighbors felt more real than a lot of my own neighbors do! I could completely picture myself grabbing a drink with Kellie, Susan, Gigi, and Tessa as we talked about what was going on in our lives (or most of it) and laughed at the curmudgeonly old neighbor to one side and the gossipy busybody to the other. It got to the point that I found myself wanting to reach in and shake them when I saw them going down a dangerous path or hug them when they hurt. I absolutely loved these women and was able to find something of myself, even if just a little, in each one and the struggles they individually tried to work through.
I'm still not sure how Sarah Pekkanen does it, but she took me once again on an emotional rollercoaster that had me laughing one minute and sniffling the next. Not only do these women make you laugh at times (especially Kelly and Gigi), but most chapters begin with these quick Listserv email strands from various neighbors that I found so funny...and so like something I would be reading if we had that service in my neighborhood! But interspersed with the comical parts of this story are some pretty heavy subject matters, all dealt with in very real and tender ways. Across the story we see these women grapple with insecurities, infidelities, and a wide range of concerns for their children, from the normal issues that come as children grow to possible abuse. Any parent will get a little hitch in their heart as these women and their husbands try to do everything they can for their families, sometimes with unexpected consequences, both good and very, very bad.
It's probably time for me to stop fangirling over this novel and its wonderful author, but I know I won't be able to forget about these women for a while (maybe we can see them show back up in a short story? Huh? Please?!). If you haven't already, pick up Sarah Pekkanen's novels. I cherish each one I've read.
stephsabia's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! I have been reading Sarah Pekkanen's books since her very first and I can honestly say they just get better and better! The Perfect Neighbors was a wonderful read! It was the kind of book that I just didn't want to put down; I read it while my son was napping (when I should have been doing laundry), I read it in the 9 minutes it took to boil pasta for dinner, and I read it during the commercial breaks while my husband and I watched our nightly TV shows. I just couldn't put it down! It was addictive and reminded me very much of Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies. I LOVED it!
peggykelly95's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The author is a good writer and the individual stories of each suburban mom (Gigi - politician's wife, Susan - bitter ex spouse, Kellie - flirting with another man, and Tessa - secret we find out over the course of the book) are pretty tired tropes. However, I still enjoyed the journey with each person. The "happy" ending for each person was fine, but mostly fit into the trope so nothing terribly unexpected.