Cover Image: The Perfect Family

The Perfect Family

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I am admittedly not the biggest fan of domestic thrillers. This book had lots of family drama and secrets, which I found a bit unbelievable but know that other people absolutely love. If you do enjoy domestic thrillers, I think this one is worth a read!

Was this review helpful?

Thomas and Vic Adler.. seem to have it all.. a beautiful home in the right neighborhood.. successful careers and 2 children.. But we know all that looks can be deceiving.. Actually they are a mess, each family member is is the midst of their own personal crisis and as a family they have never been so dysfunctional.. Add their house being the the target of local kids or someone more sinister .. eggs fire and a break in.. this family is at the brink.. The secrets they are all keeping, are either going to make or break this family.. the author tells a crazy story of love, lies and fear…
If you like a thriller, this story is for you.. i was guessing the whole time on how things would go. The writing was good and it was a quick read..

Was this review helpful?

From the moment I started this book I was hooked and I couldn’t wait to find how it would all play out. Each member of the family are hiding secrets and I was curious to see how it would all connect. Sadly the last part of the book fell flat for me. I wanted more especially after all the build up and the ending was underwhelming.

Was this review helpful?

A very intriguing look into a seemingly perfect family that each has a dirty little secret that brings trouble to their doorstep. What first starts out as annoying but harmless pranks done to their home soon escalates to more ominous and increasingly dangerous attacks. While each family member should and would have reason to suspect their own secrets and actions are the cause of these attacks, they suspect it's another family member who is to blame. Tensions rise and stress escalates until it all comes to a boil and their secrets and shame have to be dealt with. It all wrapped up perhaps a little to neatly and easily for me, but it kept me glued to the pages until the very last sentence...which turned out to be a bit of a twist in itself.

Was this review helpful?

The Adlers really are The Perfect Family. Husband Thomas is a successful real estate agent in Portland, Oregon, while wife Viv, an interior stager, was trained in graphic design. Son Eli is a soccer star at the elite college he attends, and daughter Tarryn seems to be going through a surly stage, but it’s really nothing they can’t handle. Except…Thomas is being blackmailed by a stripper, Viv is a kleptomaniac, Eli witnessed a traumatic event while at college, and Tarryn makes hundreds of dollars through her webcam sex site. They all do a pretty good job of hiding their secrets from one another, but once the assaults of their home begin, each person is positive that the eggs, feces, tire slashing, and more that the family has to endure is directly related to their own behavior.

This was a fascinating read! I love psychological thrillers, and this one definitely did not disappoint. Told from the point of view of each Adler, The Perfect Family delves into the character flaws and issues that each family member has to deal with, both individually and as a family. I really enjoyed the many plot twists, and was positive I had figured out who was responsible for the assaults…but I was wrong.

Was this review helpful?

Another kick-ass novel from one of my favorite authors. A small cast of characters, a seemingly perfect family, societal pressures all wrapped up in an amazing domestic thriller. The blazing ending was just exactly...well, perfect!

Was this review helpful?

Since I have enjoyed all of Robyn Harding's previous domestic suspense thriller novels, I was excited to read The Perfect Family. The verdict: This is her best one yet!

From the very first page, I was pulled into the story and couldn't get enough of it. I was worried for all four of the Adlers, especially as their secrets were coming back to bite them and they weren't sure who the people attacking their house were truly out to get. From theft, to blackmail, to a secret nighttime life, to witnessing a violent act, each Adler has something to hide. I liked hearing all their perspectives, especially in relation to what was going on with the others in their family and trying to figure out what was really going on. Meanwhile, the attacks on their house were getting more and more dangerous.

This novel kept me turning the pages so quickly, as I needed to know what was going to happen and whether the Adlers would come out of this unscathed. It was especially frustrating how the police weren't all that helpful and that people were judging the family for what was going on.

While the ending felt slightly anticlimactic, it also has the potential for a follow up novel. I wouldn't mind that at all! Once again, a job well done.

Movie casting suggestions:
Viv: Sarah Rafferty
Thomas: Victor Webster
Eli: Peyton Meyer
Tarryn: Chiara Aurelia
Emma: Britt Baron
Mr. McLaughlin: David Corenswet
Dolly: Brigid Brannagh
Arianna: Grace Beedie

Was this review helpful?

At first glance the Adlers are the epitome of the perfect all American family. Cracks are soon revealed and perfection is only a facade. Everyone in the Adler family is hiding something. Secrets, lies and deception strangle the family bond and prove that appearances are most definitely deceiving. The story is told from four POVs as secrets are revealed and lives are put in danger. This thriller definitely had me on the edge of my seat! Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for my copy. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Was this review helpful?

The premise is interesting but I found the characters to be insufferable. They all have their secrets and I was just not invested in their story. The plot moves along at a nice pace but I was missing that emotional piece that could have brought the book to the next level. A fine thriller, but one I’ll move past quickly. My thanks to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Are you big on Lifetime family dramas? Then this book may be the book for you! 👀Don’t get me wrong, I do love me some Lifetime movies, as I think that’s where my love for thrillers stems from. (Alongside Criminal Minds, but this book doesn’t go to that level) But sometimes, I crave a little more violence. A little more grit. 🤷🏻‍♀️

🏡 The Perfect Family by Robyn Harding is one of those thrillers (more so family drama) that are nice to use as buffers between the more dark suspenseful reads. 📖 The book alternates between all four family members perspective, which I enjoyed AND the chapters are super small! I know a lot of y’all love your short chapters. Each family member has their secret, one that makes them not seem as perfect as they try to make themselves appear. Were these secrets super dark? Not in my opinion, but again, I’m a different breed 🙃 BUT they were interesting and I was curious as to how everything was going to play out. The ending is where the downfall was. There were a few key things that were left unanswered (like with the sister) and honestly I was wanting something super juicy to play out in that last chapter. 🥚 It was a quick, entertaining, solid three out of five ⭐️ for me.

Was this review helpful?

This is by far my favorite Robyn Harding book! I loved the thriller aspect of this novel and trying to figure out to the very end who the culprit was! I do have to admit I wasn't a little surprised who we find out is the culprit for all the actions to this family. But great family drama on how everyone has a secret to hide and what they're willing to do to keep that secret. My only negative towards this book was the ending. I didn't like how it didn't fully resolve - almost has me wanting a sequel, but I doubt that will happen.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book! Told from 4 perspectives, each one a member of the family being targeted, each point of view brings a very different view of the ongoing events. From the 17 year old daughter to the college dropout son, to their seemingly perfect parents, each family member has a huge secret tat could be the cause of the vicious attacks being waged on their home, in their quiet, upscale neighborhood.

I was totally in the dark until the very end of the book, and was incredibly satisfied with the conclusion, as it stands. Fast paced and VERY easy to read all in one sitting, I will happily recommend this book!

Was this review helpful?

The Perfect Family by Robyn Harding is about the seemingly perfect Adler family. They appear to have it all. Perfect marriage, home, children, and jobs. One morning they awake to discover their home has been vandalized overnight. They figure it’s just kids so they clean it up and continue on. However, the vandalism recurs and causes mounting frustration for the family. It turns out each family member has secrets that will be revealed whether they want them to be or not. Read and enjoy!

Was this review helpful?

Robyn Harding is an auto-buy author for me. Ever since I read The Party in 2017, I’ve been obsessed with her. Her newest release, THE PERFECT FAMILY, shows what Robyn does best: introducing her readers to complex characters with secrets that are surprising!

In this story, we follow the Adler family who appear to be literally the perfect family. They have the great yard with the nice house in the right neighborhood. Everything is exactly how it should be. Until one day, the family wakes up to eggs thrown all over the house. Soon decided to just be pranks by bored teenagers, the family tries to move on. But as the story progresses, more pranks happen, and they start becoming more serious. Is this really as “innocent” as the police made it out to be?

I will say, this book starts off in a way that just really grabs you: we are in the future and instead of eggs, the “prankster” is using fire. How could anyone put a book down with an opening like that?

This thriller is incredibly fast paced as the chapters are shorter and told from each perspective of the Adler family members. Some of the separate stories work better than others — I was immediately invested in Viv’s (mom) and Eli’s (son) stories, while I could not stand the dad, Thomas, at all, and felt like Tarryn’s (daughter) story could have had a little more at the end. I applaud Robyn for taking the risk of telling, basically, 4-stories-in-1 and succeeding in that venture.

This was another hit from Robyn Harding, a strong 🌟🌟🌟🌟 read! I look forward to her next book and cannot wait to see what secrets her next characters hold!

Many thanks to @netgalley and @gallerybooks for the eARC!

Was this review helpful?

Viv and Thomas Adler do their best to uphold the appearance of perfectness with their children - their manicured house, high end cars, and clothes are impeccable. They are shocked when eggs are thrown at their house. Believed to be a prank, they are confused and then angry when these pranks become increasingly violent. Even with security cameras installed they can never get a clear view of who it is. Why would they be a target? What have they done to have someone do these terrible things to them?

With each family member telling their POV, the Adler's are far from perfect. Each one is keeping a secret from the others. As the situation continues to get worse they realize they must figure out who it is or they need to come clean. I liked Eli the most since he wanted to do the right thing. The others were trying to figure out how to keep their secrets from exploding. I thought the book was a good read but would have liked more closure in the end. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read this book.

Was this review helpful?

Robyn Harding is the queen of fast paced suspenseful books. She did it again with this wonderful story. I love when a story alternates POV so I get the story from different angles. This was a fast paced read that I couldn't wait to see what happened. I enjoyed the characters even though I hated them. I was so excited to get an advanced copy of this book, but I felt like I needed it in my collection so I bought a paper copy as well!

Was this review helpful?

Viv and Thomas Adler and their two children are a well-to-do family living in an upscale, seemingly perfect neighborhood when out of the blue one morning they awake to find their beautiful home being pelted with eggs. Angry and annoyed they assume it's just bored kids pulling a prank. Every few days the pranks are starting to escalate and get more menacing so they contact the police but there isn't anything they can do since the aggressors can't be identified. They realize they are the only family being targeted but can't understand why. Sadly, this is a very dysfunctional family and all four of the Adlers are keeping some serious secrets from one another and it's very likely that someone wants revenge against this family and nothing is going to stop them until they get their payback even if it means wiping out the entire family. Is a family member really hiding a secret that could really cause this much deadly chaos and destruction? There is only one way to find out the answers. You Will Have To Read This Book!

This was a fast and entertaining read for me. Lots of secrets within this very disconnected household. While I did enjoy the story I found that there was a bit too much repetition throughout the chapters and that annoyed me somewhat but it didn't take away from the entertainment factor and the book did have a terrific ending. I have read a couple of other Robyn Harding books and loved them especially "The Arrangement" . I recommend this story to any reader who enjoys domestic/mysteries and I will be looking forward to reading more of Robyn Harding's books.

I want to thank the publisher "Gallery Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I have given an this story a rating of 3 1/2 DEVASTATING & SECRETIVE 🌟🌟🌟❇ Stars!!

Was this review helpful?

The Perfect Family had me hooked from page one! It really takes new meaning on what is happening behind closed doors. The suspense kept building throughout the entire book, until you get to the point that the family can't take it anymore and things start to come to light. I loved how it alternated viewpoints of the family, and how everyone in the family had their own little secrets making it difficult to figure out what is behind all the drama happening in their lives.

Was this review helpful?

This is a story about family, revenge and many secrets. The Adler family has a problem, someone is terrorizing their family and they are having a hard time figuring who it is. Each of the four household members has a secret that could be at the root of the problem or is it a combination of secrets causing it? Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

4.5 stars....

Harding's books are so propulsive and addicting! I can't get enough! I was hook, line, and sinker after reading The Arrangement! (I need to go back to read her back list).

The Perfect Family was nothing like I expected! I love going in blindly and being pleasantly surprised. I assumed it would be another "neighborhood drama thriller" (kind of over this), but instead, it was solely about a family of 4, under random house attacks.

The entire book was fast paced, told through multiple POV (Viv - mom, Thomas - dad, Eli - son, and Tarryn - daughter), with very short chapters. It flowed effortlessly and kept me guessing eagerly to find out who the culprit was, until the very end!

PS - I didn't like the ambiguous last sentence...!??!? I very much enjoy things tied up neatly :)

Was this review helpful?