A review by michelles_book_nook
The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

⚠️ TW: child abuse, infertility, drug abuse, animal abuse, mental illness, murder, parental death and brief mentions of miscarriages ⚠️ If you're looking for a deeply chilling psychological read that you won't be able to put down then you need to read this book! This book follows Hannah and Christopher Bauer, a happy married nurse and surgeon, who more than anything want a child. Then when Janie, an abandoned little girl, turns up at their hospital Christopher forms an instant connection with her and convinces Hannah they should take her home as their own. However, she's no ordinary child and proves to be more than they bargained for as her behaviour becomes increasingly disturbing. And as Janie’s behavior threatens to tear Christopher and Hannah apart, the truth behind her past surfaces and it might just be enough to push them all over the edge. This book weaves a dark web of suspense that you know is going to end badly but you just can't stop reading, while still having some truly shocking twists! Throughout the whole book you feel the need to check that you're reading a work of fiction because it is written so well that it could easily be a true story. I loved so much about this read but my favourite part was the multiple pov's between Hannah, Christopher and Piper, their social worker, because it made it feel all the more real and like you were experiencing all of the changing emotions as the story progressed. However, the ending felt quite rushed and it was left on a big cliffhanger which left a lot of unanswered questions. Overall though, I highly recommend this book but please take the TW's into account.
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