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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loved the short chapters and alternating POV’s!
P.S. Lily, perfection is overrated
P.S. Lily, perfection is overrated
Lily Atwood is perfect - or is she? The news anchor harbors a secret in the form of her mysterious sister Cassie, and she worries that if it comes out, her life will be destroyed. Producer Greer has always been Lily's confidante, but her investigation could spell the end for both of them.
This book is more suspense than thriller - I enjoyed it, but I kept waiting for a really shocking twist that never came. The Cassie reveal is interesting, but not a jaw-dropping twist. It was hard to stay interested in the story, as other reviewers have noted, because Lily, Greer, and Cassie are not very likable or relatable characters.
I enjoyed the narrator Angela Dawe, but I would have preferred having multiple narrators to cover the three women's voices, as it was sometimes confusing as to who was speaking. I wonder if I would have liked the book more in text since I read faster than I listen - the slowness of audio made things feel a bit more drawn-out.
If you enjoy stories about the past coming back to haunt an MC, you might like this one!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio/Forge books for providing an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is more suspense than thriller - I enjoyed it, but I kept waiting for a really shocking twist that never came. The Cassie reveal is interesting, but not a jaw-dropping twist. It was hard to stay interested in the story, as other reviewers have noted, because Lily, Greer, and Cassie are not very likable or relatable characters.
I enjoyed the narrator Angela Dawe, but I would have preferred having multiple narrators to cover the three women's voices, as it was sometimes confusing as to who was speaking. I wonder if I would have liked the book more in text since I read faster than I listen - the slowness of audio made things feel a bit more drawn-out.
If you enjoy stories about the past coming back to haunt an MC, you might like this one!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio/Forge books for providing an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Hank is one of those authors that I preorder any new book she has coming out. I don’t need to read the synopsis or see the cover.. she never disappoints. Her Perfect Life is the perfect novel. This will have you on the edge of your seat! I held my breath, I gasped and was totally shocked.
Thank you Hank for allowing us into your creative and amazing mind.
Thank you Hank for allowing us into your creative and amazing mind.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book has everything that I love in a thriller: multiple POV’s, lies, deceit, twists and turns, and an ending that left me shocked. The entire book I was questioning who to trust, and if everyone was what they seemed.
I also loved getting a peek behind the curtain of the rich and famous, and what life is like being in the spotlight and maintaining that #PerfectLily image.
I also loved getting a peek behind the curtain of the rich and famous, and what life is like being in the spotlight and maintaining that #PerfectLily image.
“What happened to Cassie? I imagined her dead, of course. I’d imagined her kidnapped, imprisoned, hidden, brainwashed, indentured, enslaved, made into a princess, transported by aliens to their faraway planet.”
Lily’s sister has been missing for years and is presumed dead. Despite challenges and tragic loss, Lily has built a very successful career as a tv journalist. In front of the camera, she appears to be perfect! But Lily is hiding some secrets that she can’t afford to have leaked! “Smith”, her informant, leads her on a confusing journey with an unknown end goal. What will happen with Lily and Smith? Is this goose chase worth the risk?
There are many twists and turns in this book, so it really kept me guessing. The writing style was good and I was very interested in the outcome.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Lily’s sister has been missing for years and is presumed dead. Despite challenges and tragic loss, Lily has built a very successful career as a tv journalist. In front of the camera, she appears to be perfect! But Lily is hiding some secrets that she can’t afford to have leaked! “Smith”, her informant, leads her on a confusing journey with an unknown end goal. What will happen with Lily and Smith? Is this goose chase worth the risk?
There are many twists and turns in this book, so it really kept me guessing. The writing style was good and I was very interested in the outcome.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I always love reading a new standalone from [a:Hank Phillippi Ryan|526376|Hank Phillippi Ryan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1335745244p2/526376.jpg], and she doesn't usually disappoint me. Luckily, [b:Her Perfect Life|56179370|Her Perfect Life|Hank Phillippi Ryan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1624828440l/56179370._SY75_.jpg|87513152] was another wild and crazy winner, and there was a nice jaw-dropping moment as well. The story is told from alternating viewpoints between Lily and Greer, with some Cassie 'before' chapters thrown in. I would have honestly loved more of Cassie, but I think this decision helped keep the suspense alive and it definitely made me more curious about what happened to her. I will say that this is one of those books where you need to make sure you are paying attention, or you might end up feeling lost and confused. I had to rewind the audio a few times because I got distracted and when that happened, I had no idea what was going on.
Speaking of the audiobook, I really enjoyed Her Perfect Life that way and the narrator Angela Dawe was perfect for the different viewpoints. I would have loved more narrators (I always feel this way), but I thought she did a great job, and I am never disappointed in her performance when I listen to her. I didn't find Lily or Greer to be all that likable, and my favorite viewpoint was really Cassie's even though it doesn't take up a large part of the novel. I loved the super-short chapters and the fact that I didn't want to put it down. There was plenty going on to hold my attention and the only times I got distracted was when I was trying to work at the same time. The plot does seem a little far-fetched once you find out what was going on, but that in no way bothers me because this is fiction. Ryan is such a talented writer, and I highly recommend this book if you enjoy her writing or are simply in the mood for a quick and gripping thriller!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Speaking of the audiobook, I really enjoyed Her Perfect Life that way and the narrator Angela Dawe was perfect for the different viewpoints. I would have loved more narrators (I always feel this way), but I thought she did a great job, and I am never disappointed in her performance when I listen to her. I didn't find Lily or Greer to be all that likable, and my favorite viewpoint was really Cassie's even though it doesn't take up a large part of the novel. I loved the super-short chapters and the fact that I didn't want to put it down. There was plenty going on to hold my attention and the only times I got distracted was when I was trying to work at the same time. The plot does seem a little far-fetched once you find out what was going on, but that in no way bothers me because this is fiction. Ryan is such a talented writer, and I highly recommend this book if you enjoy her writing or are simply in the mood for a quick and gripping thriller!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Sharply written, though slow to begin, "Her Perfect Life" by Hank Phillippi Ryan, is, well, almost perfect. A slow burner at the beginning, it held my attention and had me guessing throughout, sometimes right and sometimes wrong. It was the guessing challenge for me.
Told from multiple points of view, this dramatically written family drama had many twists throughout. There’s a lot more to this book than you think at first glance—multiple mysteries, secrets, kidnapping, jealousy, and a dual timeline, all adds up to winning thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hank Phillippi Ryan and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️️
Told from multiple points of view, this dramatically written family drama had many twists throughout. There’s a lot more to this book than you think at first glance—multiple mysteries, secrets, kidnapping, jealousy, and a dual timeline, all adds up to winning thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hank Phillippi Ryan and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️️
If this had a disclaimer in the beginning saying it was based on true events, I could’ve rated this higher, but this story is so completely and utterly unbelievable (and not in a good way) that I can’t in good conscious recommend it.
Lily was so gullible, yet had Emmy’s for her “stealthy reporting?” And the portrayal of police, from beginning to end, was so poorly written. Even the dialogue in these scenes wasn’t believable. May need to skip this author next time.
Lily was so gullible, yet had Emmy’s for her “stealthy reporting?” And the portrayal of police, from beginning to end, was so poorly written. Even the dialogue in these scenes wasn’t believable. May need to skip this author next time.