This book was engaging, had amazing character development, and kept me turning the page. A deathbed confession puts a lot of people in the hot seat. Parts were a little hard to follow, but the great story line and characters more than made up for it! It was an enjoyable read! I had this as ARC.

Reading this felt like reading the transcript of a true crime video, which I love to watch on YouTube. We read from three POVs: the one from a guy who’d recently confessed that he had been a murderer for hire for the past nineteen years, the one from a woman who is told by the FBI that her husband’s death was linked to said murderer, and the one from a woman whose dad had actually hired the murderer. I think this is the perfect book for readers who are just getting into mystery novels. It kept me hooked from beginning to end.

Immersive and multilayered. A recommended purchase for collections where thrillers and WF are popular.

in my opinion, this novel has so much potential but falls short on the writing style. there's just too many characters and too many pov, that reading this book feels like an impossible puzzle to me. there is so much back story to all of the characters yet i don't feel connected to any of them.
the only thing that keeps me going in this book is the mystery of the connection of all the characters. in the end, nothing really surprised me.

"Imperfect Lives" by C. J. Washington is a gripping thriller with intricate character dynamics. Washington's storytelling is intense and keeps readers engaged in a complex web of secrets and motives.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "Imperfect Lives" and all opinions expressed are my own. Overall ok. The book fell a bit short for me, didn't flow smoothly. I didn't feel connected to the characters. Cover is nice though.

I didn't enjoy this book and didn't finish it either, this story really wasn't my thing.. I did like the cover and title a lot but expected something else.

Imperfect Lives is the second novel by American author, CJ Washington. With a tally of thirty-nine kills in seven states over eighteen years, fifty-one-year-old killer for hire, Cooper Franklin is confessing his crimes to the FBI. He’s in a prison cell, being indulged, with paint, canvas and an easel, in a pastime that indirectly led to his criminal career, while waiting to die with pancreatic cancer.

When the FBI come knocking on her door, widow and mother of eight-year-old Brian, Tamara Foster is shocked to learn that her husband Sam didn’t suicide five years previously, but was murdered by a contract killer engaged by a man she’s never heard of. It’s a mixed relief that Sam didn’t choose to leave them, but Tamara is instantly plagued by so many questions: how much didn’t she know about the love of her life? What secrets did he keep, and why?

Her estranged mother is absolutely the last person that Cindy Fremont wants to see waiting on her doorstep when she brings home her daughter and son. But Jessica’s bald statement, that the FBI have revealed that Cindy’s father hired a hit man to have someone killed, puts her off balance, and the woman she hasn’t seen in almost two decades talks her way into staying. She’ll have to be Aunt Annalise, though; Cindy isn’t exposing her children to any intimacy with this woman just yet, if ever.

When Sam was seventeen, he wanted to write a novel about his recent experiences, but the aunt who had taken over his care after his mother died and his father lost interest, told him he should focus on school. Over a decade later, he finally began, but he kept what he was writing private, not even showing his wife.

Washington gives the reader such an interesting concept: using three narratives that feature flashbacks, and the opening chapters of a novel, he builds the intrigue as he drip-feeds the facts that gradually form the whole story. This is a skilfully plotted tale with red herrings and a twist or two that will keep even the most astute reader guessing right up to the dramatic climax.

His characters, even those in support roles, have depth and appeal and the dialogue is not without humour:
“No one ever contacts me to ask if they should commit a crime. They always hire me after the fact. I would love to get paid to prevent crime.”
“Maybe you should run an ad: ‘Call me, and for a reasonable fee I’ll tell you if you can get away with it.’”
This is excellent crime/mystery and more from this author will be eagerly anticipated.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and LittleA.

Love unexpected connections and I really loved the cover of this book. I’m surprised more aren’t talking about this. I enjoyed a lot.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

"Imperfect Lives" by C. J. Washington weaves a captivating tale of mystery and suspense, where a deathbed confession sets off a chain of events that will reshape the lives of two strangers. This description promises a thrilling and emotionally charged narrative that explores secrets, betrayal, and the repercussions of a hidden past.

The story revolves around Tamara Foster, a widow and single mother, who is forced to confront the mystery surrounding her late husband's death and the secrets he left behind. This quest for truth thrusts her into a world of uncertainty, where the foundations of her carefully constructed life begin to crumble.

Cindy Fremont, on the other hand, appears to be living the perfect life, but Tamara's arrival at her door seeking answers about her husband's past forces her to confront her own hidden truths. The juxtaposition of these two characters and their intertwined fates promises a gripping exploration of identity and deception.

The theme of buried pasts resurfacing and the idea that one can never truly escape their history adds depth to the story. Readers can expect a narrative filled with suspense, unexpected twists, and complex characters.

"Imperfect Lives" appears to be a tale of intrigue, where the characters' desperate attempts to hold onto their carefully crafted lives lead to a riveting and thought-provoking journey. This book description hints at a compelling story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats as they uncover the truth behind Cooper's confession.

CJ Washington's "Imperfect Lives" is smooth and spare and satisfying.

It starts out slow and quiet, with seemingly unrelated stories from 3 living POV characters, and they and their lives and backgrounds are so different that at first it was difficult to imagine how they might fit together. Little by little, the author drops clues to that, as he adds in a 4th POV from a no-longer-living character.

Washington makes us care about the characters (some more than others--and surprisingly, one I didn't expect to like was quite relatable!). Only in the last quarter of the book did I really begin to understand who these people were to each other, and about that same time, the pacing picked up on a wild ride to the end.

I enjoyed "Imperfect Lives" very much and will happily read anything else CJ Washington cares to write.

Thanks, NetGalley for the Advance Reader Copy. My review thoughts are my own.

4.8 stars, rounded to 5

Super enjoyable work of contemporary fiction: this book entertained me from start to finish. The author has created a world that is both realistic and relatable, populated by characters who are complex, flawed, and entirely human.

I really loved the author’s prose: so descriptive and vivid, bringing the story's settings and characters to life in a way that is both immersive and engaging. While reading, I was able to visualize the characters and the places with clarity! Also, C. J. Washington balances moments of tension and conflict with moments of quiet introspection, creating a narrative that is both gripping and emotionally resonant.

I highly reccomend “Imperfect Lives" to fans of contemporary fiction. With its relatable characters, immersive world, and compelling story, it is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who picks it up.

From the author of The Intangible comes a powerful story of double lives, hidden truths, and the desire to have the perfect life, no matter the price. When contract killer Cooper Franklin makes a deathbed confession, his revelations upend the lives of two strangers, setting them on an intersecting and ruinous path that imperils them both. Widow and single mom Tamara Foster must reckon with the mystery of her late husband’s death and the secrets he left behind. As she digs deeper into his past to discover that she never truly knew him at all, her carefully reconstructed world begins to crumble all over again. Cindy Fremont has worked hard for the perfect life, and she’s working even harder to keep it. So when Tamara shows up at her door seeking answers about her husband’s past, Cindy must reexamine the tracks she thought she’d carefully covered. As the two women scramble to keep their lives together in the wake of Cooper’s confession, they soon realize that no matter how deeply the past is buried, it can always come back to find you.

I floved this story so much. It had me hooked from the beginning. The unique way of writing different timelines to show how everything is connected is sheer perfection. Will recommend to others.

A huge thank you to the author and the publishing group for the great opportunity to read this unique book.

At first, I wasn't sure what to expect. As the novel goes on, I was able to easily distinguish each character and their role in the book before finding out how they all connected in each others' lives. It was truly a twisty story that kept surprising me at every turn. Instead of being just like every other suspense novel, this one was unique in using a contract killer as one of the main characters.

I loved being able to jump from the present to the past for Cooper. We got to see where he came from and how he got to this place of no return, all while actually feeling bad for him? C.J. Washington does an excellent job of humanizing a man who just wanted to do the right thing and having it absolutely take over his life.

While some parts felt out of place, this novel was truly entertaining and twisty enough to keep me reading long into the night. Thank you, NetGalley!

The premise of this book had me intrigued and the writing had me gripped at the start. Unfortunately some clunky moves between narrators and eventually a disappointing execution of the final denouement left me feeling this could have been so much better.

Will read more by this author as the start was so promising.

Thank you to NetGalley & publishers for the ARC

Imperfect Lives describes the lengths that people will go to in order to put the past behind them, and to get what they want, as well as showing what can result from the almost-universal aspirations towards creating a perfect life. This story is actually better gone into without knowing too much, although it requires the reader to get through the initial part, which can sometimes be confusing.

Cooper Franklin is a contract killer - but, as we discover, for reasons that are somewhat unexpected. This ends up making him a surprisingly sympathetic character. Unfortunately, Cooper's deathbed confession has serious implications for two other individuals, Tamara and Cindy, who are not aware of the ways in which they are connected.

Tamara is still getting over the death of her husband, whom she believes to have committed suicide. But once she realizes that she did not know her husband as well as she thought, subsequent discoveries lead to a dovetailing of Cindy's life with hers - even if that is not what either of them want.

The story is told from all three points of view, but it takes a while to understand how these peoples' lives are linked. After that becomes clear, things move quickly.

The pace of the storytelling is a little uneven, but this is a very interesting book. Albeit dark, at times. The mystery is compelling, and the plot has some surprises to offer. I give it 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4. Worth a read.

I was so excited for this premise. I was so excited for the two women and trying to figure out the connection. I was intrigued by Sam’s death. I was just somewhat disappointed by the execution. Something good that could have been great is always slightly disappointing.

[3.5 Stars]

You always hear about having six degrees of separation with another person. But what if those degrees of separation are fewer and you never even knew it? For Cindy and Tamara, they're separated by one degree but are soon to find out how dangerous this separation is. Throughout the novel, readers are left wondering who (or what) killed Tamara's late husband, Sam. How is Sam connected to Cindy? Tamara thought she knew her husband but quickly realized how wrong she was. Cindy thought she was able to hide from her past, but the past soon came knocking on her door. As for Cooper Franklin, his deathbed confessions shake the worlds of Cindy and Tamara and threaten to tear their comfortable lives apart.

I was so excited by this premise, but it fell a little short for me. There were many parts of the novel that did not seem to have a place within the greater story; this was space that could have been used to further strengthen the storyline and add more depth to these relationships. The first 80% of the book left me thinking, "When is anything going to happen?" as it was all backstory and slow connections. Once I passed 80%, I was blown away. Everything I wanted happened all at once and felt rushed. I think if the pacing and structure were better, this would have easily been a 4.5/5 star read for me. The overall story is great, but this feels like it is still in its draft stage. I do recommend this book as it will keep you on your toes, but just don't expect anything spectacular from this novel, unfortunately.

This book kind of made me mad. Because it had the potential to be SO. GOOD. I think Washington’s writing is superb. All of the characters he crafted were complex and intriguing. I liked how the mystery unraveled itself, and how all the individual stories intersected in interesting ways. And by slowly unveiling what was going on, Washington kept me engaged the whole time.

But it could have strongly benefited from another round of edits. There were a lot of extraneous things happening, like plot lines and side characters that were not needed. I think if this was tightened, I would have enjoyed it more. But it was still a lovely story, and I’m definitely interested in reading more of his work!

(but also - justice for Fernando!)

Thank you to Little A and Netgalley for the ARC. Imperfect Lives is out 9/5