I think I would have enjoyed this more not as an audiobook. The timelines were hard to keep track of. It was an okay read.

The Perfect Ones was a great read by Nicole Hackett. Instagram celeb Alabama Wood goes missing two days after arriving in Iceland for an influencer trip. The Icelandic police have no leads so they start their investigation by focusing on the two influencers that are closes to Alabama, Celeste Reed and Hollie Goodwin. Celeste has been distracted by her five year old's behavioral issues and her husbands refusal to admit that there's a problem which has cause Celeste and Alabama to grow apart. Although Hollie seems to have everything, she went to Iceland to escape the implosion of her life. I enjoyed reading this book and cant wait to read more by the author.

The slow plot was not very twisty but the ending was good. I wish there was a more thrilling plot and some relatable characters. I love influencer horror stories but this one just didn't hit the mark for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for a complimentary e-audio ARC for my honest review.

I found it a little confusing with the multiple timelines. I liked the idea of the mystery in the book, but it just wasn’t for me.
The narrators did a good job.

Friendship, Social media, and tested loyalty prove to be deadly. The perfect image projected by influencers hides imperfections keeping reality at bay. Competition between friends may be fatal. This thriller is atmospheric, original and exposes the ugly side influencer culture. I enjoyed getting a glimpse into this tantalizing world. The narration added a layer of realism and intensity. Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my audiobook.

I loved this book! I will definitely recommend it. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

In the last few months I have discovered that there is room in my heart for more than just romance novels and have been diving head first into mystery/thrillers. I was ecstatic that Queen Bee delivered The Perfect Ones by Nicole Hackett while I found myself in one of the biggest book slumps of my life. As it turns out an audiobook filled with girl drama was just what I needed.

The heart of this story is about women who have found themselves in the public eye through social media influencing, and the pressure that falls on them to maintain the image that their followers have come to expect. I know this may be shocking to hear, but not everything you see on the internet is real, this was a hard reality I had to learn at an early age thanks to AOL chat rooms. When we peek behind the Instagram filters it turns out that there are real people with real problems behind the glamorous posts. First, we have Hollie, a fitness influencer with millions of followers who is struggling to maintain not only the routines she is known for but the appearance of someone with a well-maintained diet and fitness plan. Celeste is a lifestyle influencer who is trying to maintain the well-groomed appearance of the do-it-all mom, while dealing with the new realization that her daughter may be on the spectrum and require additional help. And then we have Alabama, the influencer friend that wants so bad to find her big break that she is willing to jump on any trend, or piggy-back off anyone’s career to get there.

The three women have been invited on a brand trip to Iceland with other influencers to get some well-manicured shots of products on glaciers and of course content for their own personal IG stories.

We are shown different timelines so that we are able to see the women’s lives prior to the trip. While it’s always hard to relate to people who are given money, products and “Fame” for posting online, Nicole Hackett really dives into what the pressure that trying to maintain that life can do to someone. For some it can lead to disordered eating, others it can lead to being in denial about a child’s diagnosis because it strays from the “perfect” appearance, and for some, it can even lead to death.

While on the trip we see the women finally confront their demons, which leads to some heated exchanges. Alabama is the influencer who most wants a platform and is struggling to find her “thing” that will make her stand-out and finally get the number of followers she thinks she deserves. Her best bet is to hitch her wagon to Hollie and her millions of followers, but in an attempt to become her new BFFL she instead forces Hollie to her breaking point that causes her perfect façade to come crumbling down. The next morning, one of the influencers has gone missing and no one knows who or what to believe.

When we shift to the “after” timelines we are shown broken women dealing with a traumatic experience, who have to decide how they will move forward not only in real life, but online as well. Will they go back to their picture-perfect online lives or will they allow reality to become a higher priority?

As a new audiobook convert I am very picky about narrators and I was so happy with the performances from Patricia Santomasso, Jess Nahikian, Elise Arsenault. They were able to capture the personalities of each character so well, and I was able to distinguish whose POV we were in with little effort.

As far as the story goes, I will say that this didn’t read as a mystery/thriller as much as a drama, there was less emphasis put on the disappearance and following events than there was on the women’s lives prior to the trip. While I was able to guess the ending, which doesn’t normally bother me, the reasoning behind what happened felt very disconnected to what we know of the characters. But even with those points, I still enjoyed the flow of the story and felt invested in each of their lives. As a mom and semi-regular bookstagrammer I was able to relate to some of their frustrations which made them seem more realistic.

Nicole Hackett’s debut “The Perfect Ones” has definitely put her on my list of authors to watch for. Congratulations on a successful first release!

I seem to have discovered an amazing author that I have not heard of before. I am thinking this may have been her debut novel, as I don't see any other works by her. Trust me...I looked!!! Ms. Nicole Hackett has a truly amazing imagination, and a true gift for writing and story telling!

This book is about 4 separate influencers that come to meet one another on a trip to Iceland. Their lives intertwine, and a mystery unravels of a disappearance of one of them. My only real "dislike" of this book is the style in which many authors are now following. They jump around in the time frame. For example, they start the story, and then they move on to "6 months before"; and "2 weeks after"; etc. This does interfere with my total enjoyment of the novel as a whole.. I do understand this is a writing style, and I can see that Ms. Hackett has mastered how to use this in her writing. Because she did such an amazing job at pulling me in, and making it so I did not see the giant twist coming at the end, she earned every one of all 5 stars I am giving this book! I will be watching for her future writings! This is an author worth following!

I will absolutely be recommending this book on my blog found at https://thefinalwordbooks.blogspot.com. I only publish reviews that meet a certain level of criteria on this blog, as I search for the very best work (in my opinion).


Thank you, Dreamscape Media, for this opportunity to read your books simply in exchange for an honest review.

I was immediately intrigued by the setting of Iceland. It is a bucketlist travel location for me and luckily enough I have a tripped planned for this year. As an avid reader, what better book to catch my attention that a missing person mystery set in the picturesque Iceland.
I was taken in by the premise of a group of social media influencers taking a promo tour in Iceland. However, I was easily confused with the jumps from 3 characters POVs but in essentially 6 different timelines - before the trip and during the trip. Once I got a hold of the transitions and stopped mixing up which character was which, I settled into the storyline nicely.
Until the end...I had a suspicion of what happened but the reasoning and final closing of the story was just wild beyond measure, even for those looking for fame from likes and views.
While this book kept me entertained, it still left me a bit confused and needing more.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
While I enjoyed the story, I did have some trouble keeping up with the multiple points of view and timelines. I also felt the ending left something out, it just didn't seem like an actual true ending. All in all, not a bad read, and I may actually read the book again as opposed to listening to the audio.

I really enjoyed this one because it was read by a full cast. I"ve found that I either like a memoir read by the author or fiction read by a cast. It makes it so much livelier and the story easier to follow. I loved the Icelandic setting and the influencer aspect made the book feel timely,

A sucker for get away trips and the perils that seemingly face them, "The Perfect Ones" was certainly one for the twists. Enticing and engaging read page after page.

a bunch of infulencers go on a trip and one goes missing. what happened to alabama? how? why? how do you really know the people youre around or how do you really know yourself ? the other characters were dealing with their own issues in the back ground, trying to juggle that and what happened to alabama it kept my attention, i couldnt stop reading at the end. no one is perfect. especially if they pretend they are

I just finished the story The Perfect Ones by Nicole Hackett. This shows the darker side of social media. I won’t give too much away but this was a pretty good mystery. Most of the characters are unlikeable, but isn’t that the way it should be? I didn’t like the ending, it left me hanging.
I listened to the story on audio and the narrator had a pleasant voice. Many thanks to the author, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

At first I found it a little difficult keeping up with the main characters via audio, but then it got easier and I really enjoyed it!

"The Perfect Ones" by Nicole Hackett is an audiobook that left me with mixed feelings. While it had its merits, there were certain aspects that prevented it from reaching its full potential.

Firstly, the concept of the book is intriguing. Exploring the idea of genetically engineered "perfect" humans and their societal implications is thought-provoking and relevant to our current discussions about ethics and technology. Hackett's exploration of these themes was commendable, and she raised important questions about the nature of perfection and the consequences of playing with human genetics.

However, the execution of the story fell short. The pacing felt uneven, with some parts dragging on while others were rushed. This made it difficult to fully engage with the plot and invest in the characters' journeys. Additionally, I found certain plot twists to be predictable and lacking in surprise. The story seemed to rely too heavily on familiar tropes rather than offering fresh and innovative ideas.

Another aspect that impacted my experience was the narration. While the narrator's voice was clear and pleasant to listen to, I felt that the delivery lacked depth and emotion. The characters' voices often blended together, making it challenging to distinguish between them during dialogue-heavy scenes. A more dynamic narration could have enhanced the listening experience and brought the characters to life.

On the positive side, Hackett's writing style is generally solid. Her descriptions are vivid, allowing readers to visualize the settings and imagine the futuristic world she has created. The themes she addresses are important and relevant, and there were moments where the story truly engaged my imagination.

In conclusion, "The Perfect Ones" is an audiobook with potential that unfortunately falls short in its execution. While the concept is intriguing and the themes are thought-provoking, the pacing issues, predictable plot twists, and lackluster narration prevent it from being a truly exceptional experience. It may still appeal to readers interested in exploring the ethical implications of genetic engineering, but those seeking a more polished and immersive storytelling experience may find themselves wanting more.

The Perfect Ones, not The Perfect Ones for me🙃

SUMMARY:
When a perfect trip to Iceland goes wrong. There are three of them (Alabama Wood, Hollie Goodwin, and Celeste Reed), but one person (Alabama Wood) goes missing only two days after their arrival for the influencer trip. Each of them seems to have everything you want in life, but they are all hiding a dark secret from each other. And what is the secret behind Alabama's disappearance? Who did that to her and why?.......

👁️This story is told in third person POV alternate among (Hollie, Celeste and Alabama)

🕰️There are Multiple Timelines in here.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW🔊:
Narrated by: Patricia Santomasso, Jess Nahikian, Elise Arsenault 👩
Length of audio: 9h 31m (<s>I thought it was 12 hours</s>)
Before we get into my critical points, let's begin with something more positive. I appreciated all three of them; they did a pretty good job, and thank God their voices did not sound similar to each other.

The most I liked was the one who narrated Hollie; though her pace is slow, somehow her voice is soothing and calm (she is the reason why I always waited for Hollie's POV), and the one who narrated Celeste, I think she got the most part from this audiobook; I have no problem with her because she sounds very normal. Meanwhile, the one who narrated Alabama—let's say I'm not a fan of this kind of voice; she sounds so formal to me that it made me feel like I was in the middle of hearing a business presentation.

For 272 pages, I would like to say 9h 31m is DAMN LONG!!!!!!! Usually with this length, it only took 7h 30~40+m. Listening to this, it felt like eternity. I lost count of how many times I sighed and shook my head.

MY THOUGHTS:
📌 I don't have any thoughts because it was SUPER CONFUSING!!!

WHY IT DIDN'T WORK OUT FOR ME:
☠️ I'm regretting so much for reading this book as an audiobook. Reason:
- I couldn't connect with everything in here because there were too many timelines, and the timelines kept going back and forth: 3 months before, the day before, the day after, two days after, the morning after, one year later, and many more! JESUS SAVE ME. My brain couldn't take it anymore with too many timelines, POVs, and places. After I finished this book, I wasn't even sure what story I had just read.

☠️ The story started so slowly; the first half of this book was hopeless for me. Though it began with Alabama missing, but next, next, and very next chapter is a flashback about their lives, such as their marriage problems, kid problems, social media problems, and many other problems.

☠️ No one is a likeable character in here; I found myself disliking all of them, even their husbands. And thank God this book is told in third-person POV; if it is first-person POV, then 🪦

☠️ The main focus of this book is not on why, when, or how Alabama goes missing. But more about how they seemed to have a perfect life, how Hollie dealt with her unexpected pregnancy and her miscarriage, or Celeste's daughter's autism, or how Alabama suspected her husband cheating on her and her mental illness (such a mediocre and predictable plot).

☠️ To be honest, I do love the topics about influencers and social media, and I think the author did such a good job with her research and explanation of those things, BUT I still couldn't understand them.

NO COMMENT:
I have absolutely no comment about the ending or the twist. *SIGH*. This book made me speechless in many ways *SIGH*.

OVERALL:
I cannot recommend you read this book as an audiobook; if you still want to try it, then you're better off with an e-book or physical copy.

CREDIT:
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with this audibook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

(+) Iceland! What a great and exotic setting. Honestly pretty spooky and dangerous with all the glaciers, crevasses, and lakes.
The social media commentary was really well done. I loved hearing the internal monologues of the super-influencers and how it affects their relationships and home life.

The end was really good - and the book ended on a CLIFF HANGER.

(-) I felt like the three women kind of mixed together. It took me a while to get into their back stories. Also we learn that Alabama is missing right away - before we cared about the character. And I feel like I cared more about both Hollie and Celeste’s story.

BUT I will say - if there is going to be a second iteration of this book - I WILL be reading it - just because of how it ended.

I LOVED this book and how it shows the other side of social media influencing. As a former influencer myself I can say that it accurately describes what goes on during press trips and how focused on numbers and how fake some of these people can be.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the ending left a little to be desired and I feel like I would have liked to see that plot develop, but I wouldn't be sad if a sequel were to come of this. With today's modern day world of social media I felt like all of the characters were fairly relatable and all were fairly likeable. There was some back and forth in the time line but it was easy to follow, even in audiobook format. The narrator was great as well. Overall I really liked this book and would love to read/listen to more from this author.