This is another great thriller by Nuala Ellwood with an original storyline. There are lots of twists and turns and a fantastic ending that will be difficult to guess. 
I’d definitely recommend this book.
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I took a long time to read this book as it just didn't hook me. The characters are strange and I felt little interest in them. Everyone behaves illogically and I found myself asking 'Why didn't they just ask/check/leave...' with lots of the scenarios. There are timelines and plots that just don't add up or fit together properly. I've read lots of positive reviews for this book, so maybe it's just me, but I won't be recommending this I'm afraid.

With a complex, multidimensional plot structure that touches on issues of abuse, death, and the gaslighting of a vulnerable young woman, Ellwood’s latest domestic thriller is not an easy read. The protagonist, Vanessa, has lost her mother as a young girl and is not only vulnerable but also in search of the perfect home life, hence her delight in house viewings. When she meets her partner, it looks as if she might be able to create a harmonious life for herself, but her life spirals out of control when she is implicated in the death of the owner of one of the houses she has visited. 
This book showcases Ellwood’s talent at her best. Despite its mixture of so many deep topics, it is a compelling novel with many different plot strands expertly woven into a book that keeps you turning the pages.
I was delighted to be provided a free e-book from Netgalley and the publishers of "The Perfect Life" in exchange for this honest, unbiased review.

When I started reading it I found it a bit confusing stories jumping between now and then. As I read further it became clearer and more interesting. It's a psychological thriller, which I love reading. The end wasn't at all predictable.

Loved it! I read this book in 2 sittings although I would have read it from cover to cover in 1 sitting had my eyes allowed me too! The story of Vanessa had me gripped all the way through to the end and what a twist, would never have guessed it!  Just didn’t want it to end. Highly recommended reading.

The Perfect Life is a psychological thriller in which the main character, Vanessa, finds the man of her dreams...or so she thinks.
Vanessa's hobby/quirk is viewing houses she can’t afford. She adopts a different name and persona each time and it appears to be a harmless bit of fun...until one day she views the house of her favourite childhood author, who, following the viewing, is found dead. Vanessa is suspected of the murder.
This book includes the topics of rape, abortion, gaslighting, stalking and psychological abuse. Although that might sound dark, the book only skims the surface of these topics. I felt that this book took a long time to develop to the point where I understood Vanessa's issues and consequently I wasn't rooting for her in a way a reader would expect to. 
A good read, but not a great read.

A curiously enjoyable story that at times did lose me in places with the back and forward POV's - I think the published version will not have this problem with the layout.

A plausible tale of a broken young woman who on the surface has a perfect life but underneath the gloss there is a lonely young woman whose mother died when she was 10 years old.

"Perfection. Its an odd thing to crave isnt it? Particularly as by nature humans are messy and complex and impetuous and changeable". 

I really enjoyed this book, I found myself laying freezing in a bath because so much time had passed and I was too engrossed to realise! 

I liked the dual timeline, I got confused around the middle section but that was definitely intentional.  

I read a lot of thriller/mysteries so I like it when a book surprises me or feels like a new idea and this one definitely does. 

I like it even more when a book has a great ending and wheeew this one does! A great all rounder.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to review this book.

 That is a book worth reading, I liked the unusual twist and turns . A great disturbing story line.

A must have book. The Perfect Life had me gripped from the beginning. Really intriguing and a perfectly woven story. Kept me guessing right until the very last full stop. Brilliant.

Gripping read with plenty of intrigue woven through, keeping you guessing as to how well you know the narrator. The characterisation occasionally felt a bit clunky, but the emotional manipulation angle in the protagonist's relationship with her boyfriend added a very relevant, modern edge to the tale.

What a fab book. Another good read that gave me an excuse to ignore the housework and curl up with a coffee. Thoroughly enjoyed this and couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next.

Nuala Ellwood has woven a tale that addresses many important issues in society, amongst them being social media addiction and the effects it has on depression and mental health issues. More than anything, I felt that the topic addressed best of all was gas lighting. Gaslighting, to quote Wiki, is: “A form of psychological manipulation in which a person or a group covertly sows seeds of doubt in a targeted individual or group, making them question their own memory, perception, or judgment. It may evoke changes in them such as cognitive dissonance or low self-esteem, rendering the victim additionally dependent on the gaslighter for emotional support and validation.” This book shows that process extremely well and I can’t say I’ve read it being done so well anywhere else. Many people are not aware that they are experiencing gas lighting, so this book may be an eye-opener for some. 

The book also covers the topic of wanting to be someone else when you can't get a handle on your life - and the bliss of becoming blind to your troubles for a few numbered hours, and numbing the pain. This is a reality for many people – we all numb pain in different ways. Ellwood shows how family and friends can help us face our demons.

However, personally for me, there were a few things that did not make sense, particularly after the 90% mark of the book. The book soared and then fell spectacularly.

The following made no logical sense: 

- Inconsistency – she met Connor July 2017 and this was said September 2017:

It was typical Lottie, masking her true feelings with humour. Yet, it's true I've been spending more and more time at Connor's place these past couple of months. (And it’s been two months).

- How can a father erase the presence of his son? How is it possible for a famous person to hide away their child from the outside world to the point nobody knows he exists?

- When Geoffrey died, he would have a will. Clearly, Gabriel owned the house at the end of the book. Therefore, he should have been a primary suspect from the start. Yet the police had managed to dredge up the entire history of a woman dating back 6 months, with detailed proof of where she had been and the names of all her personas. Yet they had somehow not managed to figure out that Geoffrey had a son, LIVING IN THE SAME HOUSE. Forensics teams must really not be learning anything any more.

- How did Gabriel get both Connor's and Lottie's contact details to be able message them and pass off as Vanessa? Come to think of it, how did he get Vanessa's private number? You can't get that off social media.

- When he sent her parcels, how did Gabriel get his hands on her dress? How did he get his hands on the photo frame of Vanessa and Conner?

The lead up to the ending was great - the ending, however, was not. It was just random. I recognised and clearly remembered the signs, yet I still found it random. I feel like there should have been more of an indication given through-out the book. It is due the ending alone that I dropped 2 stars. Overall, a good read, especially for the gas lighting eye-opener.

I am really torn... this book took me a while to read, it didn’t hook me and I wasn’t enthralled by it.

I couldn’t warm to Vanessa, there was no real solid character building for anyone in this book really.. it flitted between the past & present but not in a structured way. There was so much that wasn’t explored.. why were Jack & Georgie strained, didn’t Damien have any idea about Connors personality traits.., so many unanswered questions!! 

Not my favourite book this year, and I’m really struggling to review it if I am honest. 

I am as always grateful for the opportunity to read and review new books however this wasn’t  for me. 

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher.

Vanessa is living with her sister when the police come to take her in for questioning after the death of a author.
I found this book to be confusing because of  the moving from past to present timelines and Vanessa using different names when pretending to be someone else. The story was unbelievable and failed to hold my interest.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Nuala Elwood is to be commended for another excellent thriller, with twists and turns at every page.

This started slowly and the Then and Now where slightly confusing but as I progressed things became clearer and more fast paced. Great characters, a creepy element to the story with a twist at the end.

I enjoyed this book, it was an easy read, good story and i liked the main character- there were bits that frustrated me though and some unanswered questions.......

Not everyone has the life they want and always want something they can’t have. It was as good story incorporating it all

This was a great read, enjoyed it thoroughly, great storyline and loads of twists and turns , highly recommend this book x