I found this psychological thriller to be an entertaining, fun summer read. The plot and character discovery were a bit predictable for the seasoned criminal mystery reader, but the pace of plot development seemed just right to keep me wanting to know what would happen next.

I would recommend it for my patrons who have read and enjoyed works by Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl) and Paula Hawkins (Girl on the Train).

Paul and Mia are travelling to their country home; Paul, the narrator promises repeatedly that it will be "the best day ever" but as they approach their destination cracks begin to show--Paul is having an affair, Mia is suffering from a mysterious illness, and their financial situation is precarious at best. Paul definitely seems to be planning something but it has ominous overtones.

I was expecting a standard "criminal narrates his evil plans" book but I was pleasantly surprised when the tables turned and the novel went to some new and exciting places.

I have to admit, at first I was skeptical reading this. The first person voice of Paul was a little simplistic, off putting. The way he spoke seemed very much like a five year old, but it became increasingly obvious that he was, in fact, an evil 5 year old. Once I realized Paul was a total sociopath, I re=read passages from the beginning and it all clicked. This was an ARC from Net Galley, and I loved it. My only complaint is that [spoiler removed - see goodreads review].

I'd rank this somewhere between a mindless beach read and "omg best book ever."

Paul Strom has it all…..perfect children, a perfect wife (who just happens to have the perfect bank account), the perfect career, a perfect life. He is totally blessed with high intelligence, good looks and the ability to charm just about anyone. Paul loves women and women love him. Paul is misunderstood by just about everyone he meets, and he just can’t seem to grasp why he isn’t loved by all.

God Bless his egotistical, narcissistic, delusional, manipulative heart.

What Paul believes about himself is just sad. Paul is a psychotic jerk and is about to get a reality check handed to him all tied up in a nice pretty bow. Well, maybe not so much because he is so out of touch reality, none of what happened is his fault.
Yes, this is Paul’s story and the reader gets up close and personal with his thoughts, desires and how he was wronged in so many different situations. Nothing is ever Paul’s fault….you know, because he is perfect.

But anyway….as you can tell from the title, this book is about the BEST DAY EVER. Paul and his lovely wife, Mia, are taking a weekend trip to their beach cottage. Their two boys are being cared for by a babysitter and Paul and Mia are going to have a carefree weekend alone. It’s going to be a perfect day with his perfect wife at his perfect cottage. Nothing will get in the way of the Best Day Ever. Or so he thinks. I won’t give anything away, but Paul’s plans get ruined and the sweet smell of revenge is in the air. It is the best day ever…..just not for Paul.

The day is told from Paul’s perspective and the reader learns a lot about his marriage, his job, his lovers and everything in between. For about five seconds, I kind of liked Paul. He seemed to be the devoted and loving husband every girl dreams of having. But as the story progressed, it didn’t take long before I started to despise this man and everything about him. And this is how it is supposed to be. At the end of this story, you will despise Paul as well. Paul is an evil, asinine jerk.

For the most part, I liked this book. Getting inside Paul’s head seem to draw out a little longer than I would have liked, but to get to the heart of the story, I understand why the author did this.

The Best Day Ever is well-written and although the story was slow going for me, the journey to the end was well worth the effort. It’s a dark, gripping psychological thriller that will keep you turning each page determined to know how this twisted story will end.

3 ½ stars

Paul Strom and his wife Mia, the perfect couple with the perfect wife, are going to spend the weekend at their perfect cottage on Lake Erie. A perfect weekend. Narrated by Paul, the reader soon begins to realize that everything is not so perfect. Over a 24 hour period you begin to see just how psychopathic he really is. He reminded me of a Ruth Rendell character. I didn't want to stop reading it.
The ending was a little weak, with some actions by Mia which didn't add up, thus only four stars.

With a fast pace, Best Day Ever keeps you tied to a sociopath's view of the world throughout. Despite my growing horror at the reveal of the narrator's pathology, I found I could not put the book down, and finished it in less than a day. Excellent read, and great for a book club.

http://www.goodbookfairy.com/5352-2/

Best Day Ever was one of my Best Books Ever! I loved everything about this book. Charming Paul who takes us along on his attempt to create the best day ever for he and his wife Mia. I loved being in his mind, it was fascinating. I loved each little tidbit I received along the way that allowed me to see just one more bit of the big picture. It was the perfect way to carry me and the story along. I loved how this book still makes me smile with the brilliance of it all. It's like I have a secret and I want to tell everyone but I won't cause that would make it so everyone couldn't have their own secret. It is just that thrilling though and makes me shiver with all of the goodness.

I absolutely recommend this one to anyone who loves this genre. This is the perfect example of twisty, turny, creepy goodness that keeps one flipping pages way too far into the night. Brilliant!

I received an advanced review copy of this book from the Great Thoughts Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

Ever read one of those books where you know by the end of the first chapter that somone is slated to DIE, but you have to keep reading, because you want to see HOW the plan will fall out? THIS is one of those books. But there's a twist- you know one of the couple will die, but WHICH one? Who is planning to kill whom? Are they both planning? How well do they REALLY know each other? As the pages keep turning, the reader is drawn in, not wanting to like Paul, but finding themselves part of his narrative. The book si at once both dark and filled with energetic light, that crackles as it edges the reader close and closer to the inevitable confrontation. But will there be one? Will the plan succeed? You may find yourself going back and re-reading for clues you might have missed to the shocking conclusion! Don't miss this one- it's bound to be made into a movie before too long, but you need to read the spine tingler before it does!

This book gripped me from page one. I literally read it in two days--I couldn't put it down. Best Day Ever is a psychological thriller involving the narrator and protagonist, Paul Strom, and his wife Mia. The author does a great job of telling the story from Paul's POV, and the reader has a sense of foreboding from the first page. Soon, it becomes apparent that Paul isn't the honest, reliable narrator we initially believed him to be. Great fun to read--I highly recommend it.

"Life: it's transitory. And in life, there are always winners and losers. It's nice to be a winner."

Paul Strom is an ad exec and has created a lovely home for his wife, Mia, and their two boys. He's planned a perfect getaway weekend to their lakehouse so that he and she can enjoy some private, romantic time together. On their way to their retreat, however, cracks in their relationship that widen into chasms start to appear.

Narrated by the husband, this is a psychological thriller that is indeed dark and disturbing. Tension builds slowly as the reader anticipates where this will lead. Although I knew where it was going, the writing was engaging and it keep me hooked. There was something in this whole story, though, that really irritated me but I can't say what it is because of spoilers. It's a quick read because it is hard to put down so plan to read in one sitting!

Stayed up past 10pm to finish reading this story. With much of the story taking place in one day, the contrast of the slow ride up to the lake and the speed of the details being narrated by the husband Paul make for a tense read that you want to finish.
The scene is set by the contrast between the novel’s title Best Day Ever and its description … illusion, dark energy, tension, the question of how well do we really know our spouses?
The details of the Best Day Ever, as planned by the husband, unfold throughout the ride to the lake; the reader hears about the couple’s history, their courtship, their marriage, all told from the point of view of the husband. This first person narrative makes the story worth reading; as his well laid plan for the best day ever unravels, being privy to his thoughts provide the reader with the sense that they are an unseen passenger along for a ride they cannot stop.
A quick ending provides an outlet for the buildup of tension, as some best laid plans fall apart and shatter the perfect marriage, the perfect illusion.

"Best Day Ever" is a page turner. I couldn't put it down sometimes, because I just had to know what was going to happen next. I love an unreliable narrator, and Paul was really good. The only part I didn't like was the nearly tied up ending...one more twist would have made it 5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review .

I enjoyed this book a lot and read it in one day. I was a bit taken aback by the editing and ebook formatting. I suppose it is because the book is an advanced reader version. This would have definitely been a five-star rating without that bogging it down.

Best Day Ever is a story about Paul and his wife Mia on their way to a weekend away from their family. Little by little Paul reveals his true self. He ruminates about how handsome he is, how smart he is, and how perfect he is. As he tells his story, the cracks begin to appear. Told in first person, this frightening tale will hold readers spellbound until the final page. It is impossible to put down as Paul goes from a wonderful husband to something else entirely. Highly recommended.

If Amy Dunne/Gone Girl every had a brother or cousin, it would be Paul Strom. The book is told from his unreliable perspective in the span of 24 hours. Each chapter covers anywhere from fifteen to 45 minutes. One would think that not much could happen in that time that could fill an entire book. But when it starts with the premise of a romantic weekend and ends in attempted murder, there is plenty of action! We see everything through Paul's eyes at first, it is almost voyeuristic, and then we slowley start to put pieces together about the past that are leading to this vacation getaway for Paul and his wife.

This is one of the most suspenseful psychological thrillers that I've read in awhile. So many books have promised to be the next "Gone Girl/Girl On the Train" and have not lived up to those claims. I think "Best Day Ever" comes pretty close to it.

MY REVIEW OF "BEST DAY EVER' by Kaira Rouda

Kudos to Kaira Rouda, author of "Best Day Ever" on writing such a suspenseful, intriguing, chilling, and captivating mystery.  I love the way Kaira Rouda  layers and tells her story. I read this in one sitting and just could not put this down.  The genres of this novel are mystery, and thriller.

Are you sure you know the one you're with?  Who can you trust? I appreciate the way the author describes the characters and plot, and weaves details and clues. The author describes the characters as complex and complicated. There are secrets, betrayals, and unexpected surprises. I like the way the author describes the locations, the Lakehouse, and the home the characters live in. In one way, the lake is described as a former place for toxins, than slime, in contrast it as beautiful and relaxing.

Paul Strom is presented as a successful businessman, with a perfect wife and family and is taking his wife away to  "The Lakehouse" for 'THE BEST DAY EVER'. I love the way this phrase is used throughout the book, with added information. What could go wrong? Mia, is beautiful and a terrific mother. Unfortunately Mia hasn't been feeling well, but Paul promises to make this trip away "THE BEST DAY EVER".

There is an unexpected phone call that delays their trip 30 minutes, and Mia doesn't seem like herself. The interaction during the trip has building tension, and we learn more details of  their lives. Of course Paul still wants this trip to be the best day ever. No matter what.

I highly recommend this captivating and intense novel with drastic twists and turns. The ending is amazing!! I received this ARC for my honest review.

A quick, fun read. Somewhat predictable but with enough twists and turns to keep you intrigued about what will be revealed next.

They live among us-everybody has likely met one- (but you probably don't know it-hiding in plain sight is their M.O.) They're the most charismatic, charming, exciting and good looking person in the room. They hang on your every word-making you feel like you're the only person in the world. Every day is a holiday, every night a party, and you can't help but getting swept off your feet. But it's all an act-lurking behind the charm and bravado are self centered and tormented souls who couldn't care less about your feelings- because they are incapable of feeling anything for anyone but themselves. Such is the case with Paul Strom-protagonist of Kaira Rouda's chillingly sinister novel Best Day Ever. Paul is literally dripping evil-sometimes you want to slam the book shut just to get away from him. Paul appears to be living the American dream-great job, adoring wife and sons, biggest house on the block-but he is hiding a much darker reality from everyone around him-especially his unsuspecting wife Mia. When Paul and Mia head off for a day at their lake front cottage (Paul promises it will be their "best day ever"), you know the outing is not going to end well. The plot takes place over a tense 24 hours-as revelations unwind like a spool of thread, and Mia and Paul play a scary game of cat and mouse. The Best Day Ever is intense, thrilling and most definitely clever.

The Best Day Ever was an amazing book. I could not put it down once I started reading it. The writer engaged me from the beginning and made me wonder about these characters. I kept guessing and guessing, but could not figure them out. The book is very suspenseful. I really enjoyed it!