The most frustrating thing about this book was how wet the protagonist is. Jess can’t seem to stand on her own two feet and I felt annoyed by how much she defended her mother. Blind to her mother’s negative influences, Jess instead sees it as her duty to love her mother unconditionally. Well, this is fine if your mother is normal… not when she is a conniving witch.

Switching between ‘Then’ and ‘Now’ the story follows how Jess met her current boyfriend, Adam, and then the subsequent police investigation after his suspicious disappearance. From the beginning it is clear that Jess’s mother does not agree with her relationship, in fact, previous relationships that Jess has had have all been doomed to fail. Thanks to further flashbacks into the past, we start to understand that Jess lives a rather isolated life that orbits around her mother and it seems that any time she starts to make a success or break away, that influence is reinstated.

Jess is protesting her innocence about Adam’s disappearance, but believes she has memory loss that is hiding the true events. On the other hand, I disliked how much of a saint Adam was portrayed to be and that no one found it suspicious about how much he was free-loading off of Jess. From the constant lack of money, suspiciously long working hours and absences, to the fact that Jess has never been to his flat, I felt there were too many secrets that were glossed over in the narrative. I wanted Jess (or someone else) to start questioning Adam’s background more than what actually happened. In my opinion, he never was the perfect boyfriend that Jess initially considers him to be.

The ending of the story was a bit of a surprise but by this point, I had grown to care very little about Jess’s fate. I found it interesting how parallels are developed between Jess and her mother. Even when Jess becomes frustrated by her mother’s controlling actions, she doesn’t fully see that she is not too dissimilar. I thought this was a clever aspect of characterisation and it made me ponder how Jess would develop after the story had finished. This, I think, could have added another, more sinister element to the plot.

In the end, I was disappointed by this story. I disliked Jess’s acceptance of everything her mother told her; found Adam to be questionable in his motives; and Jess’s mother to be a suffocating, negative influence that showed a very thwarted love for her daughter. If there were more surprises and less spiritless behaviour from Jess, I might have enjoyed this book more.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"The Perfect Daughter" by Alex Stone weaves a psychological thriller around the intricate dynamics of a mother-daughter relationship, exploring themes of manipulation, trust, and the search for the truth. While the novel offers a compelling narrative and a twisty plot, it falls short of reaching its full potential, earning it a three-star rating.

The story revolves around Jess Harper, who has spent her life seeking approval and validation from her mother, Abigail. Stone skillfully portrays the controlling nature of their relationship, setting the stage for a tense and suspenseful tale. The perfect daughter facade that Jess maintains comes under scrutiny when she introduces her new boyfriend, Adam, to her disapproving mother.

The exploration of the mother-daughter dynamic adds depth to the narrative, delving into the psychological manipulation that shapes Jess's choices. Stone effectively captures the tension and emotional turmoil within the family, creating an atmosphere of suspicion and unease.

However, the character development falls short, particularly with Abigail. While the author hints at the motives behind Abigail's actions, the depth of her character remains somewhat elusive. This lack of insight into Abigail's psyche diminishes the impact of the story's central conflict.

The plot takes a dramatic turn when Adam disappears, leaving Jess as the prime suspect. Stone introduces an element of mystery and suspense, keeping readers guessing about the true nature of the characters and the events that unfold. The pacing is well-managed, and the twists in the plot add intrigue to the storyline.

The resolution, while unexpected, may leave some readers wanting more clarity and closure. The novel touches on psychological themes but doesn't delve as deeply as it could into the complexities of the characters' motivations and actions.

Overall, "The Perfect Daughter" offers an engaging psychological thriller with a strong premise, but it falls short in fully exploring the nuances of the characters and their relationships. While the plot keeps the reader hooked, the depth of character development and resolution may leave some aspects feeling unresolved. With its strengths and shortcomings, the novel earns a three-star rating for its suspenseful narrative and psychological exploration.

This is a good psychological thriller. The story is told in the past and the present. This is a fast paced and gripping book.

The Perfect Daughter is the perfect example of a mother gaslighting her daughter and blaming her for everything wrong with her own life. The ending was pretty predictable and the story was somewhat repetitive, taking way to long to get to the finish, with not much happening overall.

Exciting fast paced book to get your teeth into. I loved this book. There’s lots of twists and turns to keep your interest. Never knowing which way things were going to turn out. Very well written

"The Perfect Daughter" by Alex Stone is a psychological thriller that offers a glimpse into the complexities of familial relationships. Stone's writing captures the tension and mystery surrounding the characters, pulling readers into their world. The pacing keeps the story moving, though there are moments when the narrative could benefit from a stronger sense of urgency. The exploration of psychological trauma and its effects is well-handled, providing depth to the plot. However, the resolution might feel rushed to some, leaving certain plot points underdeveloped. While the premise is engaging, some elements could have been further explored for a more impactful reading experience.

Overall, "The Perfect Daughter" is a decent thriller that manages to deliver suspense, but falls slightly short of its potential to fully captivate the reader.

This is an enthralling psychological thriller that will have readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Jess Harper's life revolves around making her mother, Abigail, happy and proud. However, when Jess introduces her new boyfriend, plumber Adam, tensions rise as Abigail disapproves. As the intricate web of manipulation and deceit unfolds, Jess finds herself caught in the middle, unsure of who to trust. When Adam mysteriously disappears, Jess becomes the prime suspect, and the police question her seemingly perfect facade.

Alex Stone expertly crafts a suspenseful and twist-filled narrative in "The Perfect Daughter." The dynamic between Jess and her controlling mother, Abigail, is captivating, showcasing the complexity of their relationship. Stone keeps readers guessing as they navigate the shifting perspectives and unreliable narrators, leaving them constantly questioning the truth. The author's skillful pacing and well-placed clues maintain a sense of suspense and intrigue throughout the story.

Loved this book. The characters were so well written and the plot was perfect. I had the best time getting lost in this story for a day. Perfect book for a cold and rainy day where you don’t have to go anywhere.

Reading Between the Wines book review #57/115 for 2023:
Rating: 2.5 🍷 🍷 🍷 (rounded up to 3)
Book 🎧: The Perfect Daughter
Author: Alex Stone
Available now!

Sipping thoughts: Wooh, gaslighting as its finest. This book is a domestic drama written as a thriller. It was very easy to see what was happening and going to happen. It read like 2 stars but I rounded up to 3 because of the final reveal, although very predictable.

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @BoldwoodBooks for an advanced copy of @ThePerfectDaughter.

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Loved it, really good fast paced thriller full of twists and turns and had me racing through it to get to the end!! Will look out for more from the author…Good stuff

Jessica has spent her whole life trying to make her mom happy, depending on her for every little decision. After all, her mom's the only one who's always been there for her. It's her fault that her dad left when she was seven... although she can never seem to remember why. The gaps in her memory cover all the bad things in her life from losing her best friend to all her past boyfriends. But she's finally found one that wants to stay. After calling a plumber for repair, it was instant attraction between Adam and Jess. Her mother never approved residual when they moved in together. But now, Adam is missing presumed dead and the police are coming around with a lot of questions. Did the argument they had the night before cause Jess to hurt him and now can't remember?
I was so frustrated with Jess for not seeing how manipulative and twisted her relationship was with her mother. She was basically brainwashed her whole life and couldn't think for herself. I almost gave up a few times but I wanted to see how the book ended. I did see the plot twists coming but the story kept me interested. Just an ok read for me though.
I received an advance reader copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

I absolutely loved this book! It was one twist after another! The complicated mother/daughter relationship combined with the mysterious events added to the intrigue. Highly recommend this book!

This book felt to long and repetitive for me. The book picked up its pace near the end but that was to long of a wait. I never really felt invested in the characters.

This book is based on the story of a girl that was emotionally controlled by her mother, and now as a adult she still can't manage her own life. The book was well written and keeps you entertained until the end.

"Her methods were flawed, but her intentions had been good." Your mother is meant to be the one person in the world who protects you and believes in you, but what happens when your mother is so protective she makes you question your own sanity? This books drew me in right from the very start and kept me reading to find out Jess was the perfect daughter or completely delusional. A great psychological thriller but did drag a little towards the end. It still ended with a good twist!

This book was a bit repetitive in places and I found it was easy to predict the outcome. I have to be honest and say this book frustrated me. The fact it was only told by one person it took away a bit of shine to the book.

An interesting slow burn psychological thriller with some very interesting and well-written characters. Nice twist too! A cracking debut.

A gripping read about a daughter with a controlling mother, a boyfriend who seems perfect and a story that doesn’t add up….an easy read !

The Perfect Daughter is a great psychological thriller that really gets your mind going.
Written in the then and now for main character Jess it shows the controlling nature of her mother and Jess always trying to please her.

Would recommend to anyone liking a psychological thriller.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The complicated mother daughter relationship that is the crux of this novel takes you on a wild ride. Readily apparent is Jess' need to make her mother happy. Her mother helps choose where she lives, what she wears, and who she hangs out with. But is her mom doing this out of love or protection? or is there something more sinister going on?