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A review by theknitterwithabook
The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
An heartwarming tale about the family you choose...
...I'm kidding! This child is evil.
The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry
This book was so upsetting yet so captivating. I couldn't stop reading.
If you liked the movie The Orphan, this is the perfect book for you. It has similar vibes while being quite different. The child is obsessed with the father figure but she's so much more than that.
The author has a background as a psychologist and a researcher in childhood trauma. Therefore, you get a very clinical, copy/pasted from the DSM-IV type of child. You cannot have a more perfect example of a psychopathic kid.
All characters have issues of some kind but one that stood out, other than the child, was Christopher. He is both the victim and the villain and I didn't think I could despise a character more than that.
Be careful to check TW before going in as there's some mention of abuse and a ton of gaslighting.
...I'm kidding! This child is evil.
The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry
This book was so upsetting yet so captivating. I couldn't stop reading.
If you liked the movie The Orphan, this is the perfect book for you. It has similar vibes while being quite different. The child is obsessed with the father figure but she's so much more than that.
The author has a background as a psychologist and a researcher in childhood trauma. Therefore, you get a very clinical, copy/pasted from the DSM-IV type of child. You cannot have a more perfect example of a psychopathic kid.
All characters have issues of some kind but one that stood out, other than the child, was Christopher. He is both the victim and the villain and I didn't think I could despise a character more than that.
Be careful to check TW before going in as there's some mention of abuse and a ton of gaslighting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting