By: Robyn Harding
ISBN: 1982169397
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: 08/10/21
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 5 Stars
The bestselling author of the The Swap—praised by Samantha M. Bailey, author of Woman on the Edge, as “wickedly delicious, addictive, utterly compelling”—explores what happens when a seemingly perfect family is pushed to the edge by cruel, vindictive, and increasingly dangerous attacks.
Thomas and Viv Adler have a picture-perfect family. Affluent and attractive, with two well-mannered kids almost out of the nest, they live in a beautifully restored Craftsman house in a well-to-do neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. Their jobs are secure; their children are thriving; the world is their oyster.
Until one morning, when they wake up to find that their house and car have been pelted with eggs. Thomas dismisses it as the work of a few out-of-control kids, but when a smoke bomb is tossed on their front lawn, and the tires on their BMW are punctured, he begins to worry. The family installs surveillance cameras but they show nothing but grainy images of shadowy figures in hoodies. Unable to identify the perpetrators, they are helpless as the assaults escalate. The police assure them that this is just the work of bored teenagers. But no one in the Adler family believes it. After all, each of them has a secret—kept not only from the outside world but from each other.
Seventeen-year-old Tarryn is dabbling in a seedy online world; her older brother, Eli, has dropped out of college and refuses to tell his parents why; and Thomas and Viv have their own secrets that began as harmless fun and relief from the pressures of everyday life, but have grown into something darker and more dangerous. As the Adlers grapple with their guilt, fear, and shame, the assaults grow deadly. Their “perfect” façade is crumbling, and it may be too late for any of them to do anything about it in this addictive and twisty suspense novel that will keep you turning pages until its explosive ending.
August Elevator Ride
Praise
"Unsettling and darkly sublime, Robyn Harding deftly explores twisted family dynamics and devastating secrets in suburbia in this stunning novel that will shock readers by the final page. The Perfect Family explores a perfect family’s perfect façade, and how even perfect lies can become perfect nightmares. A mesmerizing, compulsively readable thriller, this one smoulders from the first page to the last."
—Christina McDonald, USA Today bestselling author of The Night Olivia Fell
“Edgy, diabolical and completely suspenseful! The talented Robyn Harding peels back the sleek facade of suburbia to show its disturbing reality—and all the dangerous (and sometimes heartbreaking) secrets that even loving families keep from each other. Incredibly cinematic and jaw-droppingly devious, this book will have you turning the pages as fast as you can.”
—Hank Phillippi Ryan USA Today bestselling author of The First to Lie
"In The Perfect Family, Robyn Harding wields deep community ties like a garrote and redefines terror in suburbia. Breathless pacing and an inescapable sense of menace make Harding's latest an absolute must-read that will scare the hell out of you as only Harding can. This one's a stunner." —P. J. Vernon, author of Bath Haus and When You Find Me
“Robyn Harding is at her twisty, devious best with The Perfect Family, a novel that peels back the veneer of suburban perfection to expose the decay beneath. A propulsive, constantly surprising read that both entertains and chills—and makes the reader question whether they really know not only their neighbors, but their own family. From the opening page to the shocking last line, I was hooked.”
—Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, author of The Girls Are All So Nice Here
“Robyn Harding has long been one of my favourite, must-read authors, and The Perfect Family is another example why. Brilliantly layered, fabulously developed and interesting characters, and twists and turns galore all made for a compelling read I couldn't put down. Add to that Robyn's wry wit and dark sense of humour that made me laugh out loud, and this is definitely a summer hit. I loved it!”
—Hannah Mary McKinnon, bestselling author of Sister Dear and You Will Remember Me
“Harding creates powerful character studies, reflects on societal expectations from a variety of viewpoints, and ramps up unmanageable chaos in a tale that is unforgettable on many levels. The small cast allows the author to present thoughtful interior monologues as each character considers their actions and responses and makes adjustments before the next event comes along and rearranges our understanding of everything. Readers ready for a roller coaster ride of guilty admissions peppered with red herrings and actual clues pertaining to the crimes committed will read straight to the end. A great choice for fans of Celeste Ng, Gillian Flynn, and Liane Moriarty.” —Booklist (Starred Review)
My Review
Oh my goodness! This is a naughty family.
Robyn Harding turns up the tension with this live wire, action-packed, highly entertaining, fast-paced, tale of deadly secrets and lies. How sins of the past and actions of each member of this family will come back to haunt them.
Not only themselves but the ones they love. An entire family is under the gun. The clock is ticking. They no longer hide behind the safety of their facade.
Someone knows. Someone wants revenge. They will pay. Which secret will destroy?
Gosh, I LOVED #ThePerfectFamily Her best yet!
Meet the family:
THE ALDER FAMILY SECRETS
Thomas (dad)
Viv (mom)
Eli (son)
Tarryn (daughter)
All seem too perfect in their perfect world. Beautiful home. Beautiful family. Great careers. Successful children. Everyone envies them. However, behind the facade, there are fissures and they are about to crack their foundation.
This house is falling down (crashing) and all their sins are about to be exposed folks. Then how will the outside world view them? If they only knew their dirty little secrets?
Not only one of them, but husband, wife, son, and daughter all have their hands in the cookie jar.
Their wicked ways cannot come to light, not only will they lose their standing in the community, they may lose their family and those close to them. They will not be able to face one another.
However, someone knows their secrets. How? Each family member contributes to the fallout. Someone wants revenge. Why, and how far will they go? What do they want? Each tactic gets worse. No one seems to help. They must figure out whodunit.
Not only are they hiding secrets from the world, but they are also hiding these secrets from one another.
Thomas, a successful real estate agent.
In reality, he is being blackmailed due to a bachelor party that got out of hand. However, he was passed out drunk. What really happened and how far did it go?
Viv,, a successful interior designer.
In reality, she has an addiction - Kleptomania. She likes to steal little trinkets from her client's homes. No one will miss them, right? She hides away her little treasures in a secret compartment in her closet. Harmless, right?
Eli, the son that would make anyone proud. Best athlete, good-looking, popular, best schools, bright future.
In reality, there was a hazing that went south, and lives are destroyed. He cannot live with the guilt. No one can know.
Tarryn, the daughter. A rebel of sorts, feminist, great grades, a bookworm, great student.
In reality, late at night, she cams. In bra, lipstick, wig, and she can be another personality and everyone loves her, right? No one will know.
Someone has made some enemies. Each attack on their home becomes more dangerous. Their lives are being pulled apart by the seams and the authorities do not help. When they try to tackle this on their own, it backfires.
What a house of horror and thrills! Trust me, you will not be able to put #ThePerfectFamily down! An avid fan of Robyn Harding, she can spin a tale like no other with some red herrings that will leave your head spinning and guessing.
She dazzles! Where does she get these brilliant ideas? All the pieces come together for some jaw-dropping action and riveting suspense. Not to mention the devilish tricks and schemes. (love her dark humor).
I call this one contemporary meets horror. Movie-worthy and totally addictive! Not only is this a knock-out killer psychological domestic thriller, but it is also a deep-dive character study of the four members of the family. How many people reside in one family with these kinds of secrets? So realistic it is scary. Do you really know what your parents are doing or your teens? What goes on behind closed doors?
With her signature rich, dark, and intricately twisted style, the author crafts an impressive work of suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page is turned.
Get this one on your list NOW!!! While you are waiting for Aug 10, I strongly advise reading all her books. See list below.
ELEVATOR RIDE: Stay tuned for my fun Elevator Ride with the Author coming pub day 8/10 where we will go behind the scenes of this highly anticipated thriller and this talented author (want to know what goes on in her world)? Stay tuned, it is going to be WILD.
A special thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an ARC.
Blog Review:
@JudithDCollins
wwwJudithDCollins.com
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Pub Date: 8/10/21
“A highly entertaining domestic thriller from Harding... The brisk plot takes several clever twists before building to a shocking act of violence. Harding is sure to win new fans with this one.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Harding takes the reader on a wild psychological ride with this addictive thriller.”
—Palm Beach Daily News' "2021 Summer Reading List: 48 of the Best Books for Adults, Teens, and Kids"
About the Author
Photograph by Tallulah
Robyn Harding is the author of numerous books, including the international bestseller, The Party, and The Swap, which was an instant #1 Globe and Mail (Toronto) and #1 Toronto Star bestseller. She has also written and executive produced an independent film.
She lives in Vancouver, BC, with her family. Visit her at RobynHarding.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @RHardingWriter or Facebook @AuthorRobynHarding.
#1 Instant National Bestseller!
