This is a slow paced book and it took me longer than usual to finish it. It’s a story about influencers and how one goes missing. This book has some very well developed characters but doesn’t have the twists that typically make a good thriller. I enjoyed it even without the typical twists.

When I read this was a story based in Iceland, I wanted to read it to take me back to my vacation adventure there!

Compare yourself to others lately? Everyone’s guilty of it; whether subconscious or consciously. But to what extent would you go to to at least appear to take the high road? That’s the main question within this story.

Take a group of influencers, have them pack up and go on an adventure together and see what unfolds. I enjoyed the fact that it had different points of view, which helped us have a better understanding of each character and their motives/ambitions/logic behind their responses and actions. Had we not had different perspectives over different periods of time, I don’t think it would have been as successful in garnering the kind of empathy and understanding of each of the characters in this book.

Although it did feel like a slow build, I do wish certain things might have been flushed out more; but this also is a personal want to better know the characters, not necessarily a loss to the story.

Without spoilers, the ending definitely made me do a double take in my mind; it made my eyes go wide with reaction if you will. I finished this with more questions, which I think could lend to more discussions with others about a whole list of commentary; from personal image to social media and beyond.

Thanks so much to the author, Nicole Hackett, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audio ARC of The Perfect Ones!

The Perfect Ones has a lot of things I enjoy reading about: influencers, missing people, weird trips, yet this one fell flat for me. I don’t think the narrative style worked—there was a lot of flipping between timelines and people. It all blurred together and I didn’t know (or care) who did what and when.

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

This is a thriller that works very well as an audio book. It manages to make social media influencer drama seem fresh.

Book Title: The Perfect Ones
Author: Nicole Hackett ~ Debut Author
Narrators: Patricia Santomasso; Jess Nahikian; Elise Arsenault
Publisher: Crooked Land Books and Dreamscape Media
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: May 2, 2023
My Rating: 3.5 rounded up
Pages: 272

Story is told from the POV of Alabama Wood, Celeste Reed, and Hollie Goodwin influencers who won a trip to Iceland by PinkPursue - the sponsor company.

Alabama, Celeste, and Hollie are just three of the many Instagram influencers who are in Iceland for this promotional trip. They all appear to be the “perfect” image (thus the title) of how to live your life.
Two days after arriving Alabama is missing. The Icelandic police start their investigation by questioning Celeste and Hollie as they are the two influencers closest to Alabama.

Recently there have been several ‘influencer theme’ stories and I have read most not that I am a big influencer fan but I like mysteries. These stories were somewhat the same ~ the influencers are perfect and experts on what we should be wearing as well as how to live our lives. Of course, one goes missing presumed dead and in most cases was murdered.

However, I was drawn to this story as the winning trip was to Iceland. I have never been but my friends who have gone said that it is nearly perfect – many great things to do without having to travel all that far to get to them. So I was disappointed that there wasn’t more about Iceland.
The story slowed down and I decided to check reviewed from readers I trust. When I saw most gave 3 Stars – stating characters based about the influencer’s home life.
Hmmm
I was curious as to what really happened to Alabama so hung in there but had lowered my expectation.
Much to my surprise it ended up much better than I expected. Especially liked the ending!

Additionally I am an audiobook fan. This story had three narrators and they ALL did a great job in performing their characters.

Want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books ~ Dreamscape Audio for granting me this early audio.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 2, 2023

I always love a novel about social media influencers and The Perfect Ones had that and so much more. A mystery, multiple narrators, travel, real life issues.

So why am I struggling to give this more 3 stars?

While the premise was awesome and there were a lot of pieces that could’ve made this book great, it fell a little flat for me. I wasn’t connected to the characters, didn’t emphasize with them all that much (though I did connect with Celeste in many ways), and though it’s a short novel, it almost felt like there was too much going on not directly related to the plot which made my interest wander.

The mystery with Alabama intrigued me and I wished the focus had been more on that and the trip to Iceland. The extra plot lines with Holly and Celeste were pretty much unnecessary in my opinion and detracted from the main storyline.

The writing was good and again, this has the makings of a great book. Honestly, it would convert SUPER well to a mini series.

I listened to the audio and appreciated that there were multiple narrators. They were all good and entertaining.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, MacMillan Audio, and NetGalley for the copy.

An incredible book full of drama, action an secrets. There's a lot more going on then there seems on the surface of the main plot and I really liked this. Every single character is really unique although they're all striving for perfection and trying to fill the cracks that are appearing in their lives.

Thouroughly enjoyed this one! I really enjoyed that each character had their own side plots and conflicts, not just the main plot. The only thing that I would say I didn’t like was the amount of suspense. I wish it was more suspenseful

I'm loving the new micro-genre of books that include Influencers who aren't as they seem. The Perfect Ones perfectly, (pardon the pun) encapsulates the vapid, fake lives of Influencer culture. Throw a few Influencers in the mix with one who apparently has zero remorse for the lengths she'll go to obtain fame, and you have the makings of a wild ride. A great summer read.

It's hard to like a book when you dislike all the characters--and I didn't find a single redeeming individual in The Perfect Ones. I suppose that's the point, though. This shows the reality of "Instagram Influencers" putting their best foot forward on social media, no matter how big the cracks in their lives are.

As far as the plot, it dragged a bit and I found the premise predictable. I knew from the beginning what the "twist" would be at the end.

From my understanding, this is a debut novel, and I wish the author the best of luck in the future.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this ALC.

!!! Instagram influencer Alabama Wood goes missing.!!!

The Perfect Ones by Nicole Hackett. Dreamscape Media #ThePerfectOnes #NetGalley
Pub Date: 02 May 2023

5 Stars for the narrators Patricia Santomasso, Jess Nahikian, Elise Arsenault

I loved this book! Great story with a total plot twist you wont expect! #willtherebemore

I understand the Celeste's frustration will her daughter and husband who acts like everything is fine!

Random thought if these people were real they should swap spouses!
I think Celeste & Nick would be great parents together!
I feel like Hollie would be able to talk to Henry without fear of judgment.
Alabama just needed to **** ** *** *****! (No spoilers!)

Special thank to Net Galley, Dreamscape Media & Nicole Hackett for giving me the opportunity to read this story early! Available on May 2nd 2023 - Hardback, Audio & Ebook! #ThePerfectOnes #NetGalley

DNF at 40 Percent.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my advanced audio copy of The Perfect Ones.

This just didn't work for me.
I was very intrigued by the premise.
There were multiple POV's and narrators.
The characters just weren't interesting enough to hold my attention.
The narrators weren't bad but their voices weren't distinct. They were almost interchangeable in my opinion.
I've just lost all interest in continuing.

This is no way meant to be disrespectful to the author or anyone who enjoyed this book.

Synopsis:
"Everyone wants to be them, but internet fame comes at a price…
Two days after arriving in Iceland for a promotional trip, Instagram influencer Alabama Wood goes missing. With no leads, the Icelandic police start their investigation by focusing on the two influencers seemingly closest to Alabama on the trip: Celeste Reed, Alabama’s best friend of ten years, and Hollie Goodwin, fitness guru and Alabama's unwilling idol.
As secrets are revealed and loyalties are tested, debut author Nicole Hackett asks: do we control our online image, or does it control us?"

My Thoughts:
This was a fun thriller told in my favorite format, multiple POV's with past and present timelines. I did struggle the first few chapters as the story jumped around but once I caught up I was fully engaged. We know from the very beginning that something happened to Alabama while on an Influencer trip. The story takes us through the twists and turns of each characters past leading up to the trip and their days on the trip before she disappeared. This gives the reader a peek behind the curtain of the Influencer life, which is not always as perfect as it seems; and shows the drive to be popular at any cost.
The story is a medium paced, fun read with a big final twist saved for the very end. Great debut by Nicole Hackett.

Thank you to @netgalley , @dreamscape_media , and @crookedlanebooks for the gifted copy of this book.

AH, I'm so thankful for getting access to The Perfect Ones by Nicole Hackett from Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media. This thrilling tale about an influencer gone missing with a slew of other twisted details that you won't see sliding into you from your blindside. The Perfect Ones is set to hit shelves on May 2, 2023.

This is the second book I’ve read lately about social media and it’s impact on mental health- and I’m glad! I’m so glad that more authors are calling out the impacts of this stuff and, though fictional, the consequences that they can have. This one was creepy, but really good.

🌀Synopsis
The influencers take on Iceland. After converging and meeting each other in this foreign country we start to see just how broken these “perfect” influencers are.
Celeste is struggling with a secret and animosity towards her husband. Hollie is struggling with a miscarriage, split from her husband, and an eating disorder she seemed to pick up along the way. Alabama seems to be okay but she’s secretly obsessed with Hollie and obsessed with becoming more like her.
It all comes to a head one night when Alabama catches Hollie in the kitchen binge eating. Hollie panics and nearly attacks her because no one can know her secret. Alabama, who proves to be very mentally unstable, is determined to take the attention one way or another. She stages an accident that ends up going very wrong.
In the wake of her death the women strive to fix the things they’ve been hiding. Celeste meets with Alabama’s husband and ends their affair. She becomes more invested at home with her husband and child. Hollie opens up about her miscarriage and officially splits with her ex. It takes Alabama’s death for them to realize these perfect people they are on social media isn’t really who they need to be.

Some of the lower reviews may be reflecting that this is more of a momlit type story with a dead body than an actual thriller. That’s fine for me; I can do both. Once I accepted the nature of the story, I did find myself getting more drawn into the characters. Definitely enjoyable pool reading.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the free ALC in exchange for my honest review. This sounded like a home run however the execution and repetitive language irked me. I don't think autism should be aomething written in a thriler..what doea it add tonthe story? If not value then why?

I am so sorry to report that this book was not a good time for me.

I am trying so hard to separate myself from the book so I can review the material and not the plot.... But wow this book was just goofy. I thought the characters were all pretty insufferable.

The twist was so dumb 🥴

This started out very very slow for me. Trying to keep up with each characters story was a chore in itself. I never really got into the book and didn't enjoy it as much as a I was hoping I would. The premise will probably be very popular though so I'd still recommend to people who like books about influencers that include suspense.
Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane books for the alc.

A strikingly picturesque trip to Iceland curtesy of a sponsor seems like an ideal situation for a group of American influencers.....until one of them goes missing.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the set up with the multiple perspectives and multiple settings. I especially loved the parts set in Dallas. I feel like the chapter in the Spanish restaurant there started to give people a hint of the cool vibe Dallas has but gets so little credit for. I wish there would have been a little more of that each time the story returned to the city.

I also really liked this particular take on the influencer thing, where they were all older and more mature so while they were obviously still motivated by their social media followings, it wasn't as shallow and unbearable as the bulk of the influencer stories with their teenage protagonists.

This only thing I struggled with was that the story got a little slow in the middle but the narrator was really good and the end picked it all up again. I don't think the ending was especially surprising, but it was interesting.