This author’s novels just get better and better, this is the third one I have read, and it is again a fabulous read. The story is of a young woman who struggles with her mental health after losing her mother at an early age. She likes to create alter-egos and “window shop” as a prospective customer to estate agents until one such occasion leads to her being involved in a murder investigation; she is also involved with a man who is emotionally abusing her. This is a taut riveting psychological thriller that also highlights the mental harm an abusive relationship can cause. Thoroughly recommend this book.

There’s a real atmosphere throughout this book of something dark and menacing. Vanessa appears to have completely lost any sense of reality - murder, psychosis and paranoia stalk her wherever she goes. Even her best friend has moved to the other side of the world! How will it end, who will stop her on this mad spree of trying to live other people’s lives and fantasizing that she’s someone she’s not.
An amazing read. I absolutely loved it.

Really good twists in this story, whilst the main character is very likeable you do start to question your own judgement with her whilst also feeling relly sorry for her and what she has been through.

I loved Nuala Edwards first two books and so I was excited to receive her latest offering, The Perfect Life. As usual, Edwards characterisation and storytelling abilities engage the reader straight away. her characters are clearly drawn and become familiar instantly. As a reader, I found myself caring about the main character, her sister and her friend and this interest carries you and the story along.

The themes in the book are relevant and compelling; a coercive relationship and I think that Edwards drew the horror and confusion of the MC and her inner turmoil around this distressing relationship very well. However there were a couple of places where the writer contradicted herself, and where the plot line was unbelievable, based on the evidence she had around her pregnancy. In another scene, the MC is leaving for the police station at 9am when her appointment is not until 12 noon. Then on the way there, she gets a message to meet a friend and then acknowledges the appointment is at 12 noon. Why then, was she leaving home nearly 3 hours early when it was a short drive?

The structure takes a little getting used to. Not only the flitting back and forth in time but flitting back and forth between multiple places and timelines. In places I found myself having to go back and check the heading to make sure I knew where I was in the story. The middle of the story was a little soggy for me and I found the 'twist' unbelievable and unconvincing; such a shame when I had enjoyed it up until this point.

However in saying all of that, reading is subjective and some readers may find the resolution entertaining and fair.

Due to the quality of the writing and the way the story carries you forward, I would still recommend this book to fans of Edwards and fans of psychological thrillers.In saying all I have, I still read this in one sitting which is an indication of how well Edwards engages her readers.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my arc.

I've read several of the author's novels and found them to be very variable. This one I thought was very disjointed. There was a back story referring to a children's book series which was supposed to link into the main story but did not do so effectively. The story became increasingly unlikely and I did not find it enjoyable. Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

I love Nuala Ellwood and i am always excited when she has a new book out. She has this exceptional ability to infuse emotion throughout the book. Its a thriller, it’s suspenseful, but its always emotional and i feel so intensely connected to the characters. And so i felt like i read this book for the characters, as opposed to plot. But that being said, it was a page turner and i couldnt stop reading!

Vanessa is bowled over by the handsome Connor. She quickly moves in and in doing so falls out with her best friend in the process. Life was wonderful until little things began to juggle and she was no longer so sure of the man she chose.
Vanessa starts to view houses, house porn if your will. She can't afford the houses but imagines the perfect lives of those who own them. She is then accused of the murder of one of the owners who showed her round his house which she believes she committed.
A story with lots of twists and turns.

Oh my! This book hooks you in right from the start. I was utterly gripped and invested in the story as it is unfolded. Suspenseful and twisting, this is a book that I couldn’t put down. Highly recommended- in face have already encouraged a couple of friends to request a copy! Simply brilliant.

Thanks so much for the early review book and as usual the book was amazing.

Nessa and her sister Georgie was such amazing character, there twist after twist that you don't see coming.

I have previously read 'Day of the Accident' by Nuala Ellwood and loved it so had high hopes for this one. In all honesty it wasn't as good as the previous red but still an entertaining read and got better with every page I read.

Vanessa likes to pretend to be different people and enjoys playing make believe looking round houses she couldn't possibly afford. What started as harmless fun became sinister when one of the owners is found dead and everyone suspects Vanessa.

Entertaining read but I felt that there were a few holes in the overall plot.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Penguin UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very easy book to get into right from the start as we follow Vanessa's life, her first meeting with Connor and their developing relationship alongside her successful career in the cosmetic industry. The underlying story line centreing around Holly Maze House was extremely clever, the author could very easily have written and published the stories herself about Angus, Iris, the ghost children and the little blackbird, I have no hesitation in saying that I think they would have been a huge success. Vanessa's slow decline and the eventual gaslighting slowly creeps into the chapters so cleverly that we actually begin to wonder whether she is unstable and becoming a nervous, heavy drinking version of herself. The only slight criticism I have with the book is based around Connor's OCD life at home. If Vanessa had been spending most of her time at his flat, as outlined in the book, then surely she would have seen that his cupboards were displayed in OCD fashion, that he liked to eat at eight o clock every night, that he was a bit of a control freak at home and liked everything in it's place and routines followed. In addition to that, if this was the way that Connor lived then surely this would have encroached on his life outside the home as well. These things aren't usually isolated. Apart from that this book was a brilliant read, I shall look out for more by this author.

#ThePerfectLife #NetGalley
An edge of your seat suspense.
Vanessa has always found it easy to pretend to be somebody different, somebody better. When things get tough in her real life, all she has to do is throw on some nicer clothes, adopt a new accent and she can escape.That's how it started: looking round houses she couldn't possibly afford. Harmless fun really. Until it wasn't.Because a man who lived in one of those houses is dead.
I loved Jack and Connor from starting to ending although Nessa was somewhat good.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for giving me an advance copy.

Vanessa may not like her real life, but she can escape it by putting on different clothes, using a posh accent and looking at houses that only the top 1% can afford. It’s fun, pretending to be someone else, until it isn’t. The owner of one of the houses she visited has been murdered and Vanessa is suspect number one. Suddenly, her old life looks pretty darn good, but Vanessa will have to face the consequences of pretending to be someone she’s not