I got a free advance reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. Thanks NetGalley and Bookouture!

Many times the less fortunate look at the lives of the wealthy with envy. I remember the saying “not all that glitters is gold.” My Perfect Wife by Clare Boyd is a perfect embodiment of that saying.

Elizabeth is married to Lucas Huxley and leads a seemingly charmed life. They have a beautiful house with an even more beautiful garden cared for by horticulturist couple, Gordon and Sally. Sally has been called away unexpectedly to care for her ailing sister. Her replacement while gone is their daughter, Heather. Heather and Lucas have a history. Elizabeth is responsible for planning a party to woo a potential investor for Lucas’ company. A lot rides on that investment. If Elizabeth does well, Lucas would not send their daughter, Isla, to boarding school because it will mean her mental health has improved. While Heather is jealous of the life Elizabeth leads, I soon realized the relationship was not as perfect as it seemed to be.

The story was written from two perspectives, Elizabeth and Heather. I found Elizabeth’s own was more fascinating than Heather’s. This may have been because she was actually involved in the events which took part in the household. Heather was basically an outsider looking in.

I found Lucas to be so charming. He had a way of twisting everything to look like he was the hero in every situation, something which must have been extremely frustrating for Elizabeth. No matter what, Heather believed he was perfect and could do no wrong.

I felt the most pity for Agata, the children’s au pair, and her boyfriend, Poitr, the handyman of the house at the end, particularly Agata. They dealt with a lot in a strange country.

This book was full of twists. I found myself doubting what I thought was true many times during the book. Most times, just as I settled on what I thought was happening, a piece of evidence appeared which made me doubt myself. I rather enjoyed this book and my only complaint is I would have loved to get a little more information about what happened to the characters after the story ended.

Suitable audience: This is a book which should be read by adults who like domestic thrillers. This is not suitable for young readers because there is mention of sexual violence.

Recurrent themes: Gaslighting. Narcissism. Mental illness. Financial abuse. Physical abuse.

Violence: An attempted suicide is mentioned. Physical abuse happens in some places throughout the book.
Sexual Content: Sexual violence is mentioned within this book
Profanity:
Religious Themes: None
Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: Alcohol is drank a lot by some of the characters. Weed as well as prescription medicine is used as well.

I really enjoyed this domestic thriller that had me guessing right up until the end. When I thought I had the plot figured out there would be a twist and I needed to rethink the outcome. Although it got off to a slow start and was slow a few times throughout, I still found this a thrilling and easy read.

While this was an easy read I felt it a bit predictable and long winded in places. The characters were likeable and the storyline very similar to a lot of books currently on the market. The plot line felt like it could have been a bit more twisty but overall an easy read and enjoyable

Elizabeth and Lucas Huxley have everything what she wants a perfect house, a caring husband and two adorable children. From outside its a perfect family what everyone desires rich, humble, happy and with some great support staff. But all is not what it seems. Elizabeth might be on the verge of losing everything. She might me not that stable but her only chance to prove herself is to organise this party and save herself and her family.

Heather is struggling with her job and maybe she is not that much in love with her boy friend. But with nowhere to go and being almost broke she has to return to her parents home and help his father in Huxley's garden. But Heather has a crush on Lucas Huxley.

Will Heather be the catalyst in destroying Elizabeth family? Or Heather will just do her work and maybe try to control her feelings?

Review-

Being a psychological thriller it definitely plays a trick or two with your mind and confuse you about the intentions and actions of the characters. But not that much. Like pretty much you know who is the culprit and who is the victim.

Elizabeth character is the star of the book. Her confusion, her doubts, her victimization and then finding reality amidst her own self doubt is really impressive. You feel like you are on a roller coaster ride when you read Elizabeth POV.

Heather was not that much impressive for me and maybe I was slightly bit irritated with her actions and emotions. Though her character has depth and she could provide a range of emotions but that just didn't convey properly.

The writing was really good and it kept me hooked till the end. But I guess the execution of the plot was not done so smoothly. The end was too rushed like it just finished in the blink of an eye. And i kept wondering what just happen.

I really like the book but in the sense of psychology thriller it just didn't satisfy my thirst. In some parts I am really impressed and with some I am really disappointed too. But still if you really want to try psychology thriller you can give this book a try.

This just didn’t work for me. It was so boring that I needed to check the GR synopsis and some reviews to decide if I'll keep reading or not. I found myself constantly starting a new one. I continued to just over 20% and I’m still not hooked. I had to give this up, so sorry.

Really disappointing since synopsis sounded great.

I don't know how I feel about this book. On the one hand, it was an easy read with interesting characters. On the other hand I found it kind of predictable and the ending was super convoluted and confusing. Was anybody in this book a good person? I have no idea. Three stars.

I absolutely love this book! I love all the characters and the chapters were set up in different POVs which I like. I enjoy Clare Boyd's writing style and can't wait to read her others books. It was hard to put down and kept you invested throughout. Overall, I will give this book 4.5 stars and recommend this for fans of domestic thrillers.

This book was nuts and I’m not sure how I feel about it. We’ve got this wealthy couple, Lucas and Elizabeth Huxley, the wife is crazy and the husband... well you can make up your own mind about him. Living next door is another couple that are the Huxley’s gardeners. They have a daughter, Heather, who comes home to fill in for her mom and make some extra money over the summer. When Heather arrives, old memories are dredged up, some awful things are discovered and all is not what it seems. This story is told from the POV of Elizabeth and Heather. The writing was good and I say that because it was very detailed, I could picture the house and the grounds this was all taking place at perfectly. However, I feel like this story dragged on and on, then got interesting, then it got weird and then it was just downright confusing. It’s got everything you want for a domestic thriller and if you wanna check out the madness then this book is for you!

This is my first novel by bestseller author Clare Boyd, though I have had all three of her previous books on my e-reader for some time. I have to say I was completely and thoroughly hooked by My Perfect Wife right from the start.

Elizabeth is married to Lucas Huxley and they appear to the the proverbial perfect couple; they have a lovely home, two wonderful children, as well as housekeeping and gardening help. Heather Shaw is the gardener's daughter and the Huxley's help. The chapters alternate between Elizabeth's and Heather's perspectives and as the novel progresses, the inequalities of wealth and entitlement contrasting with poverty and lack of privilege gradually emerge, as things begin to fall apart at the seams.

The characters were at best unappealing, and in some cases, downright obnoxious, though this complemented the story and was probably intentional. Highly emotional, unstable, wilful, highly-strung, obstinate, and definitely unreliable, were some of narrators' personality traits, leaving me unable to decipher whose version of events à propos Lucas Huxley was most accurate. With the inevitable abundance of lies and secrets that befit a high calibre psychological thriller such as this one, I was gripped by this slow simmering tale of domestic suspense and the darker side of love, until the dramatic final twist.

Clare Boyd's writing-style was impressive and noteworthy. With its polished pacing and plotting, I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable novel. Evidently the author is a gifted storyteller who can provide readers with thrills, sophistication and a story packed with substance. A very highly recommended five star read and an exciting story that will be of interest to many readers.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Elizabeth Huxley has the perfect life. The perfect husband, the perfect kids and the perfect home set in the perfect scenery. Sure she’s had few problems keeping it together in the past, but that’s all done with now and all she has to do is prove it to everyone.

Elizabeth’s husband Lucas has it pretty good too. A beautiful wife who’s only tried to kill herself in front of the children once, a careful balance of financial chicanery which wholly depend on getting that one key signature and a couple lovers (victims?) to juggle.

Thrown into this picture of marital bliss is Heather, former lover of Lucas and daughter of the Huxley’s gardeners. Heather’s own life is a bit of a jumble including a fiancé she’s not sure she wants to marry and a father who may be mixed up in some shady dealings.

Y’all this crazy cast of characters kept me confused the entire book! Is Elizabeth crazy or is Lucas evil. And will Heather ever get her head out of her butt and lose the losers? Listen, I got to the end of the book and I still couldn’t tell ya! All I know is that I was glad to get out of the madhouse.

I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is the first time I am reading a novel by Clare Boyd. I definitely would like to read more if her works.

This is the story of Elizabeth and Lucas Huxley who live in a suburb England. Heather is the daughter of the couple who stay in the premises and take care of the garden around their massive house. The story is gripping from the start. On the face of it they Huxley family is a happy family with adorable kids Is it what it seems or are there any deeper secrets

The story though slow paced is compelling. The doubts that get planted in my head at every step of the way made me persist till the end. The story is narrated alternatively in a third person POV and first person POV by Heather. The story also alternates in past and present.

The things I liked about the story
1. The story line or the plot
2. The narration that is intriguing.
3. A few characters are well done but a few would have required more depth.

The things I didn't like about the story.
1. The pace is slow
2. The differing POVs, I couldn't understand the utility of it.
3. I didn't particularly liked the way the ending was treated.
4. I felt many of my questions remain unanswered.

If you like reading slow paced psychological thrillers that keep popping doubts in your head then you will like this book.

This domestic thriller starts as a slow burn and then suddenly you are so invested in the characters that you just can't put it down! Clare Boyd is always amazing at character studies and everyone here is so nuanced. So many shades, where nobody is perfect and you are always on edge wondering who will simmer and boil over the top first. I loved the dramatic tension and how the two different POVs don;'t let you settle down into one comfortable conclusion. So, when the conclusion does come, it's unexpected – and just right.

A domestic thriller that will keep you guessing what is the truth and what is the lie. Plenty of twists to keep you hooked.

Elizabeth and Lucas Huxley have it all - a gorgeous house, two lovely children, plenty of money, great friends and so much more. But not everything is as it seems !!

Heather returns to the Huxley’s neighbourhood when her mother has to go away to take care of a dying relative. She returns home to help her Dad, who is a groundsman for the Huxley’s. Heather is looking forward to seeing Lucas, although she is very nervous after what happened when she lived at home in her teens.

Elizabeth is a devoted wife but right from the start we find out that her life has not been plain sailing. She starts to doubt Lucas and suspect that he is planning something behind her back as well as lying to her. One evening she sees something but did she really, or is her mind playing tricks on her ?

The story is told from the view points of Elizabeth and Heather. Both are very different and both have their doubts about Lucas but what is the truth ? This book kept me guessing right until the end as you really don’t know who to believe. A great psychological thriller.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

This is one of those books that's starts off all benign, then slowly creeps up on you until... bam! You're into a dark and twisty thriller. Told through two POVs, I found this easy to read, the story pulling me in until I couldn't put it down. I had to know what was really going on!

Here is the synopsis I'd give this book:

From the outside, Elizabeth looks like she has the perfect life - a devoted husband who dazzles everyone, two children she adores, and a beautiful house overlooking their garden and pool. But
Elizabeth begins to notice that everything isn't what it seems.

The success of the summer party is her last chance to prove to her husband that she's on the mend. But she can't help but notice a hint of desire in her husband's eye when Heather, the girl next door, returns home to help her father. And is what she saw in the pool a delusion? She can't be wrong about this, otherwise she may lose her kids.

The given synopsis bugs me because it's written in first person, but the actual book is written in third person with alternating viewpoints every chapter. Also, the book starts off with Heather, the girl next door, rather than Elizabeth who you think is going to be telling the story. And, I know it's small, but I felt like there would be an emphasis on the house but in reality, it was mostly around the pool.

Things I loved: There was great character development. Heather seemed down to earth and was truly trying to better her life. There were times I found myself thinking that Elizabeth had grown as a character as well. This book also gave you feelings. Mostly anger, but I've come to respect books that get me invested in the characters. Another pro is that I truly didn't know where this book was going. I was constantly going back and forth on who to believe - Heather, Elizabeth, or Lucas and just when I thought I knew, I was wrong.

Things I didn't love: it took me a while to get into the book. Within the first quarter of the book, I had checked the synopsis a handful of times because I could've sworn the book I was reading wasn't the same one. Some of the characters were also infuriating, which is also a good thing.

Elizabeth and Lucas are a wealthy couple who appear to have it all. They have a lovely home, 2 beautiful children, a housekeeper and gardeners but looks can be deceiving. When Heather comes back to help out her parents, the gardeners, Elizabeth quickly sees that there is something between Heather and Lucas. As Elizabeth plans a party to help a business deal for Lucas. Something about Lucas just isn’t right, he has too many things that don’t add up.

Overall, this book is hard to put down. It is thoroughly entertaining and keeps you guessing until the end.

My Perfect Wife by Clare Boyd was a fast pace thriller. This book had me guessing till the end. This wasn't my typical type of thriller, but boy did I enjoy it. This book centers around a couple Mr. and Mrs. Huxley. Heather thier gardener thinks she has the perfect looking couple all figured out. You wont see the twists and turns coming. I would rate this book a 4/5 stars. I can't wait to read more from Clare Boyd. Thank you Clare Boyd and Netgalley for this ARC.
Pub Date: March 4, 2020

This is a domestic thriller about three people.: Lucas and Elizabeth Huxley and Heather Shaw.
Lucas and Elizabeth are one of those couples who seem to have it all. However, this is just what it seems from outside.
Heather comes into the story as her parents both work for the Huxleys and it turns out that she already shares a story with them.
We also get to know Jude, Elizabeth's brother and a couple form Poland who also work for Lucas and Elizabeth.

The story is told through different POVs and startes a bit slowly but gathers quite a lot of speed!

IMHO the end was a bit too much but all in all a very entertaining book.

Thank you #NetGalley #Bookouture +Clare Boyd for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was a good book , kept me interested till the end . It was a slow burner but the characters were interesting. Not the best Ive read from this author but still well worth a read

As popular fiction catches up with the fact that the home is where true horror lives, there’s a heck of a lot of authors writing about the dangers nested deep in our most intimate relationships. My Perfect Wife depicts how many small acts of cruelty and control can incrementally cause such enormous amounts of damage.

Fraught with tension, My Perfect Wife presents a very believable depiction of a faltering marriage with witnesses forced to participate in its downfall by bonds of love or duty. We have the view from the inside, and the view from the outside.

The moral tone in this book is not just about trust in relationships but about being an enabler of someone else’s bad behaviour by cause of inaction or misguided loyalties. It is not a spoiler to say that toxic relationships are at the centre of My Perfect Wife but it is not just about the co-dependencies that exist between two people in a marriage.

It’s a bit of a tightrope to classify novels such as My Perfect Wife as they are dramatic novels centred around crimes of coerce and control. We’re used to a whodunit, more than a whydunit in our suspense reading. My Perfect Wife is a slow complicated march towards a sure explosion that rewards the reader with some thinking material for the after.