"Sorry".. That is how this books start. It is a very gripping first line that gets you hooked from the get go.

There are many mixed reviews of this book and I can understand why. I'm not really 100% sure what I thought of it. Parts of it were gripping, tense and dramatic, yet other parts were slightly slower in pace which made me struggle to power through. However, the alternating between the past and present tense is always something I like in a thriller, I feel it really allows the scene to be set and for the reader to learn about the lies and the deceits of the characters.

My main issue with this book however, is that I did not like either of the main characters. Going by other peoples reviews, I am not on my own with this. Was that the authors aim? Both characters were selfish and egotistical.

Overall this was an average thriller, it had its twists and turns but I feel as though it fell a bit short in places.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Quercus Books for an arc of this in exchange for an honest review!

So new author for me and well it certainly won’t be the last book I read of hers, as this book has been a wowser of the read to the point that it has made me want to read her previous books too.

So this book The Perfect Father has been an absolutely brilliant, entertaining read from start to finish, really enjoyable. I thought it was brilliantly well written, with such amazing characters, who came across as so alive and believable, to the point that I almost forgot I was reading a fiction story.

It was addictive and gripping stuff, definitely had me sitting on the edge of my seat in eager anticipation as to what will happen next. I literally whizzed through the pages.

Some readers might think what happened to Rob was convenient given the circumstances but personally I’m really pleased and satisfied with how his story played out. I was routing for Esther right from the beginning as she really didn’t have it easy, all that she had to go through. I’m so glad and happy with how things ended and turned out for her.

Well last words, I’m already looking looking forward to reading another book by this author Charlotte Duckworth.

I really liked this book. Sometimes books with multiple time periods don't read smoothly (Too much jumping around) but the author handled it well in a way that was easy to follow. I did not initially find the main character, Esther, to be the most sympathetic but by the end really liked her. And there were just enough twists in the story to keep you guessing...not so much a who dun it but a why. I look forward to reading more from this author

Loved this book. Read in one sitting. Rewarded by plenty of twists and turns. I will be looking out for more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

This book was really good! I was very into the book and didn’t want to put it down. I was surprised at some of the twists! I would definitely recommend this book!

3.5 stars. Robin, Esther and toddler daughter Riley. Esther thinks she is really lucky as Rob takes care of everything at home when she returns to her well paid job. The perfect father, or is he? None of the three main characters come out of this story with any credit. Esther is meant to be the strong one but is anything but and Robin is just repellent. The book begins very well and captures the reader’s interest instantly, lags a bit in the middle but the end is just a bit too convenient really. I still enjoyed it despite the confusing jumping around to different times. Very much a domestic drama with some suspense thrown into the mix.

I’m a huge fan of this author but this one wasn’t one of my faves of hers. Still, it’s worth the read for an intriguing story. It begins with a text message from Esthers husband saying “sorry”. Then we go back and forth from both of their points of view in the past and present. Esther and her husband Robin desperately want a baby. And when Esther gets pregnant, Rob is very happy to be the stay at home dad. But is Robin as “perfect” as he seems? This book had a REALLY good twist in the middle of the book that I didn’t see coming and I think that’s what made me want to finish it. Otherwise, I wouldn’t really call this a thriller, more like domestic drama. Still look forward to other books by this author though! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced edition in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 stars. This book took a bit getting into but once I got into it I enjoyed it. I would label it as a domestic suspense book. Look forward to reading Charlotte Duckworth’s next book!

I was excited to get reading this book after reading the blurb, it sounded very intriguing. I did enjoy most of the book, though I found I didn't particularly warm to any of the characters. Unfortunately the ending felt forced and too easy. A disappointing way to end a book I had largely enjoyed.

Also, the 2 year old in this book bothered me somewhat, I know a couple of very advanced 2 year olds and they can't string sentences together like this girl, it felt a little far fetched at times.

I requested this book because I enjoyed both The Rival and Unfollow Me. However I found I couldn’t get into this one even after several tries.

"Sorry."

The book opened with a text message from (Perfect FatherRobin) who in my honet opinion is an egotistical manipulative dickhead to his bread winning wife Esther - who hated returning to work and is equally unlikeable down right snobby and completely gullible. As a couple they are pretty mean and nasty, a toxic relationship on might say. The author does use a lot of clichés in relation to domestic abuse relationships, not necessarily a criticism but in this case I found it just didn't work.

The ending was plain and simply disappointing. I think it was a lazy and convenient way of wrapping everything up without giving much explanations.

I really enjoyed the authors previous book " Unfollow Me" but unfortunately this one just didn't live up to my expectations.

Thank you as always to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review, sadly it is a disappointing 2/5 stars from me.

I don't think this book was for me. I didn't like the characters at all. The story was ok just not for me.




I received an advanced copy for NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you for the opportunity.

This was a pretty good read. It was interesting & well written. I look forward to reading more from Charlotte Duckworth!

THE PERFECT HUSBAND . . .

After a difficult pregnancy, Esther is grateful that her husband Robin offers to put his career on hold so that she can return to the job she loves.

But Esther finds leaving her daughter Riley behind more challenging than she'd thought. And soon the new imbalance in her relationship with Robin brings old tensions to the surface.

OR A PERFECT LIE?

Then one day Esther arrives home from work to find Robin and Riley are missing. As the police investigate their disappearance, it becomes clear that nothing about this modern-day family is what it seems...

Is Robin the perfect father everyone thinks he is? Or was it all a perfect lie?

Rollercoaster journey this one with plenty of twists to keep you guessing, I liked Esther and thought she was a grey character, I enjoyed the plot and the ending was fab 😊 pretty fast paced it only took me a few days to finish and I’m on the lookout for more from the author already! Defo a great book for 2021

Oh wow, what a read!
This book has sat on my shelf for a few weeks and I’m now wishing I read it sooner.
It’s one of the best psychological thrillers that I’ve read for a while and another great book by Charlotte Duckworth.
I read it in one go and couldn’t put it down once I started it. I’d definitely recommend it.

The synopsis sounded exactly like the type of books that I love to read, however I struggled to finish this one. The plot timeline, the going back and forth, actually made me get confused a bit and wasn't written as well as other books that I have read that have a similar pattern to this. I found this book just didn't hold my attention.

“The Perfect Father” is another stand out psychological thriller from Charlotte Duckworth. Containing her trademark blend of social critique and gobsmacking twists, this novel is extremely hard to put down!

Esther and Robin have been happily married for some time, so having a baby seems like the logical next step. There marriage isn’t typical - Esther is holds a senior position in a major charity and Robin is still chasing his big break on the comedy scene. They’ll make it work though and when daughter, Riley, comes into their life it makes sense for Robin to be a stay at home Dad. He’s the perfect father...or is he?

Duckworth returns with her third psychological thriller and I can honestly say that they keep getting better and better! What draws me to her novels is her outstanding critique of society and her exceptionally plotted and well paced narratives. “The Perfect Father” is the perfect blend of all of these. I was immediately drawn to the subject matter - looking at the reversal of traditional parenting and gender stereotypes. From the outset, I was drawn to Rob and his desire to be a full time dad. Having taken 8 weeks of shared parental leave last year and experiencing first hand the confusion (and ignorance) in people’s reactions to this, I found “The Perfect Father” to be an astute look at the ingrained social prejudices of men who choose to be full time fathers. There is a very strong theme of toxic masculinity that is explored adeptly (Rob’s relationship with his father, is a particular vivid example) and the impact that is felt from this ripples across the lives of all the characters. There is an element of domestic noir in the plot, which works really well with this exploration of masculinity and modern parenting. It is clear that Rob is a product of his lack of success in his career, his overly critical father and his polar opposite brother. However, his devotion to his daughter appears admirable and enviable - I found him very relatable on this front.

However, Duckworth is a master at letting readers think that a story is heading in one direction, only to suddenly veer you on to a completely different and altogether more shocking path! “The Perfect Father” is resplendent with jaw dropping revelations, shock twists and edge of your seat sequences. She very cleverly weaves a sense of dread and anticipation through the narrative, which explodes at various points in the plot into highly tense and gripping scenes. The narrative builds at a steady and engaging pace, as gradually the heart of Esther and Rob’s marriage is laid bare. However, once the revelations come to light the narrative becomes nail-bitingly tense and progresses at pace. Flipping between the present day and the characters’ lives from the past three months helps to layer this story and build up both readers’ investment in the characters and suspense around the narrative. I was gripped from page one and was desperate to read what was going to happen. I also loved the fact that for much of the narrative I was unclear on who the antagonist and hero was going to be. This again helped with the suspense and the overall sense of unease that permeates throughout the novel.

I highly recommend “The Perfect Father” - it tackles some very topical themes and takes them into a thrilling and disturbing realm!

Twists and turns are certainly the order of the day in this great thriller, who is who???? and what will happen next??
Guarantee this rollercoaster of a read will keep you stuck on the sofa until you reach the end.
#Netgalley #Amazon

It was a bit of a drag to get through this book quite frankly. Nothing captured or interested me from the start and the book was very slow. Mainly finished the book so I could leave a review and rate but I’m a little disappointed about this book. One woman’s trash, another woman’s treasure though!

After a difficult pregnancy, Esther is grateful that her husband Robin offers to put his career on hold so that she can return to the job she loves. But Esther finds leaving her daughter Riley behind more challenging than she'd thought. And soon the new imbalance in her relationship with Robin brings old tensions to the surface. Then one day Esther arrives home from work to find Robin and Riley are missing. As the police investigate their disappearance, it becomes clear that nothing about this modern-day family is what it seems. I was quite intrigued with the blurb and expected to read a thriller, but this is more a family drama with some suspense. Thank you to NetGalley, Quercus/Hachette UK, and the author for a gifted copy. This is my honest review.