Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the eARC.

Oh I love a good multi POV and this one had it. Really loved the different perspectives throughout this novel. It was so hard for me to stomach Wyatt throughout the novel. He was such a crap person and husband, which means that Kenitz did the job of creating memorable characters. Really found myself enjoying this one.

Dawn and Wyatt have a charming, perfect life. While they want to add a child to their lives, they are struggling with infertility issues. Wyatt starts taking fertility drugs, and they work… but his personality starts to change. After their twins are born, Dawn learns of Wyatt’s evil plan. Unfortunately, he has the more likable personality, and Dawn is portrayed as the unstable one.

The Perfect Home is told through Dawn and Wyatt’s points of view. They have a successful home renovation show, but Wyatt dreams of more fame. Dawn is content with the lives they have. Dawn is smart, but sometimes naive . Wyatt is not a good man, but he is very charming.

The Perfect Home is a twisty and wild thriller. An entertaining debut novel.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was very pleasantly surprised with this book. A new to me author and a very exciting book. It was filled with a lot of action and some edge of your seat tension.

While I would not call this a book about fixing up houses or a girl truly gone missing, it is about a tv personality who remodels homes and a woman who takes her twins and leaves.

The main couple, Dawn and Wyatt Decker have been married five years. They are part of a reality tv show called The Perfect Home. It's Wyatt's life. He loves the show more than anything. He loves being the center of attention. He loves money. He will do anything to get what he wants. Dawn is more down to earth. She was raised by her mother after her dad left when she was eleven. When she met Wyatt she fell in love and wanted a family. He does something he should not have to help ensure that they have a baby. Illegal in the US but not in Germany, he orders and takes a drug that is suppose to enhance fertility. Seems he was the cause of them not being about to have a baby. How dare the universe do that to Wyatt Decker...

The story is about their life and how things went from good to horrible after the birth of their twins. Wyatt turned into a stranger. A threat to his wife and their babies. Who can she trust now? Her two best friends. One who is sleeping with Wyatt. If you can't trust your best friends just who can you trust. Dawn goes through a lot to keep her babies safe. The world loves Wyatt. The world thinks Wyatt has been wronged.

This book has you going along with Dawn on a trip trying to keep not only her twins but herself alive. When she read what Wyatt had written she knew she had to get away. With nowhere to go and no one to turn too she leaves Tennessee. Someone from her past comes to her aide just in time to keep her from being arrested. Together they try to find answers to clear her and make the world see what Wyatt truly is.

I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and had me guessing in a few places. One surprise and then all the tension of facing Wyatt kept me on the edge. Overall this book is very good. I recommend it to anyone that likes a good edge of your seat with a couple of not huge twists.

Thank you #NetGalley, #Scribner, for this ARC.

4 stars.

The Perfect Home takes readers into the dark side of realty home TV. The Deckers really do have the perfect home - and the perfect life, and the perfect marriage. But they were struggling from infertility, and with the help of an illegal drug, they finally conceive. So when Dawn takes the twins and runs, and lies and deceit begin to run wild, you really have to wonder….what makes a perfect home.

This book was incredible. It’s also one of the most stressful I have ever read. It’s an amazing example of how to appropriately write a gaslighting, abusive relationship. It’s well done, the twists and turns are perfect, and I really enjoyed the ending. I was so concerned I was not going to like the end or be happy about the outcome, so this was a relief.

I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future!

A Fixer Upper wannabe takes a dark turn in this novel as Wyatt Decker hungers for more and more fame. Just what will he think of next to attain it? When his wife, Dawn, finds out, she flees with her infant twins, but no one believes that the lives of her babies are in danger. Wyatt has painted quite the picture of who Dawn has become and she’s now enemy number one. Will she be able to convince a public in love with her husband or will she lose her precious babies forever? This was a witty domestic drama that was an entertaining read. Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This was exactly what I was looking for and didn't even realize until I was reading. Many reviewers are upset with the comparison of Fixer Upper meets Gone Girl, because it's not. But it is a loosely based idea of those things combined to make this book. The reader gets more of a behind the scenes look at a reality home renovation show. We get to the know the people behind the show and their deep, dark secrets. Which leads us to the similarities to Gone Girl.
I found <i>The Perfect Home</i> very entertaining. I could picture these characters and easily follow along with all the drama that ensued. This was very much a family drama/physchological thriller. A situation that under normal circumstances would on affect that people it directly involved, but because of the shows popularity, social media and the public were invested. And that just causes a lot more chaos so that the situation snowballs into more people believing in potential lies.
This was a solid start to my reading list for the new year.

It was probably not a good idea to read this book before bed. This one definitely gave me nightmares. The book starts pretty lovely and I was wondering how it was going to twist into a thriller. It does. It's definitely got fixer upper vibes in the home tv reality show world. If this had been a movie I would have covered my eyes throughout it. It was scary for me. Especially when children are involved. I'm a big chicken. If scary thrillers are your vibe, check out this book.

Thank you to Dart Frogg Communications, Scribner and Simon Audio for the gifted copies to review.

Oh my, I loved this one, it was quite the wild, crazy ride. Wyatt and Dawn Decker are the home renovation reality TV stars of the south, really it is mostly Wyatt and his charm, Dawn is his attention-to-detail sidekick wife, and their show is The Perfect Home. They are in love, just over the moon, and nothing could possibly go wrong with this scenario. Right? Right… Then the couple learns they have infertility issues, on Wyatt’s side, so he orders experimental drugs on the down low, as one does, and she finds herself pregnant with twins not too long after.

I mean, nothing can stop these two, not even infertility! But wait… Wyatt’s personality takes a dark turn, but Dawn seems to be the only one that notices, the only one receiving the brunt of it. She then discovers he is coming up with a tragic plot to become even more famous, and so she flees with the twins for their own safety. Problem is, he’s so slick he convinces everyone she’s the problem and stole their babies due to her drinking and depression issues.

That’s all you get, you’ll have to read this one yourself to know any more (but really you should read this book)! Told in dual POVs, I loved both perspectives of Dawn and Wyatt, and the audio for this was delightfully creepy with Wyatt. It was suspenseful and intense, I was not sure how it was going to end, but I sure did enjoy it, I mean really I enjoyed it the whole way through. This was such a satisfying read, and I loved the play on how fame can get to someone and keep them wanting more, and my goodness, I am glad I have better friends than these.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I liked the premise of this, an HGTV-style couple with some dark secrets. It was pretty well-written, easy to read, and kept me interested. A solid thriller for fans of the genre!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this book!

I enjoyed this book. It kept my interest and had me turning pages to find out if Dawn would overcome. I admit there were a couple times where I said WHOA to myself, especially concerning Wyatt. Overall I liked it.

What exactly is Wyatt Decker willing to do to boost ratings? This man, with narcissistic tendencies, is constantly coming up with scenarios to take his home improvement show to new viewership levels. Everyone is just collateral damage. No one is safe from his schemes. This story leaves you on edge until Dawn figures out how to get control back.
The story is good. I think there was some space for the turnaround to be more intense. This was just a slow twist. The dad story was slid into the story but seemed anticlimactic.

This started strong and had a great premise, but near the end of the book I unfortunately could not wait to finish it. Dawn was a very relatable and dimensional character I was rooting for, but the plot of the book felt too close to Gone Girl to enjoy.

The writing and pacing in the book was great however, and I would read another book by this author. This one just didn’t work for me!

If you are fans of HGTV and all those 'flipper' reality show, this book is for you! It tells the story of a reality super couple, Dawn and Wyatt, who reminded me of the 'The Flipping El Moussas', picture perfect and camera ready. In their desperate attempt to have a baby, they find out that Wyatt has a low sperm count, so he goes to extreme lengths to rectify that with various prescription medications that alter his personality significantly. As he attempts to increase their ratings by fabricating certain events, Dawn flees with the baby, and Wyatt pits the audience against her for dramatic effect. It's the ultimate reality show gone wrong. Dawn is running for her life and even her closest friends don't know who to believe. This is a easy, quick read, that goes pretty fast. A good palate cleanser if you've recently read a heavy book. Not much to discuss or linger on here, but a unique twist on our obsession with home improvement shows. A great first debut for this author that would make a very dramatic movie.

An original story line that is a sure winner if you're an HGTV addict. In a market where the shows draw millions and the "stars" become house hold names, Wyatt Decker has become the celebrity he thinks he deserves. He's charming, good looking and knows how to play to the camera.....so what's missing. On the other hand, there's his wife and costar, Dawn, who's there to get the job done and has no problem putting Wyatt in his place. Sounds familiar, right? But is it real or scripted?
Wyatt decides the couple needs a baby, but his infertility is a problem. Wyatt is very much a man who worries about his reputation, so starts taking infertility drugs, with success. Dawn begins to see the side effects of the drug soon after. She's always know Wyatt had a side he didn't show in public but now he has lost control, and he's still not on the A list.
From this point, the tension ratchets up as Dawn protects the babies while Wyatt is more concerned with his status. His character becomes Dark.....note the capital D.....and the story races. This is one heck of a debut from Daniel Kenitz. It's going to be interesting to see is he can top THE PERFECT HOME.

Wyatt and Dawn Decker are married and have a home improvement show together which has made them semi famous. Wyatt wants more fame and more money however. After they have some fertility issues Wyatt takes illegal medication to help them conceive. After the birth of their twins, Dawn discovers something shocking on the Wyatt’s computer indicating his plans for a way to get what he most wants. Terrified she takes the twins and runs.

I meant to post this yesterday as it was published yesterday! This is tagged as Fixer Up meets Gone Girl but unfortunately that’s not accurate. I liked the premise and I liked the look of how public perception is manipulated in the media. Wyatt is the good looking, charming star of the show and quickly puts out lies to get the public on his side. I like home improvement shows but there wasn’t much of this in the story itself. It’s a bunch of unlikable characters again. The pace was too slow and some of the details just didn’t make sense. I mean who doesn’t take pictures of evidence they find or take the document with them? It’s not illegal to take your kids somewhere when you’re their guardian…. It’s a popcorn thriller debut with some flaws. However, I did enjoy the ending.

The Perfect Home, by Daniel Kenitz, is a domestic thriller encased in the world of reality home improvement TV. The story is a bit slow to start as attention focuses on the main husband and wife characters and the "reality" of reality TV. You may never want to watch again. Nonetheless, both characters are well developed and very nuanced. POV shifts between the two. Tension dramatically mounts as their lives become more complicated with the birth of children and escalating success of their show. I really enjoyed this novel and the many twists and turns as it moved towards resolution. However, too many of the supporting characters came out of nowhere, and took action that seemed contrary to their history. Nonetheless, this was a fun book with which to start the year, and I am happy to recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner publishers for the opportunity to read a digital ARC.

Domestic thrillers have quickly become a genre that I devour, and The Perfect Home by Daniel Kenitz lived up to those expectations!

First and foremost: this book is being compared to Gone Girl (my OG favourite thriller, the one I've read at least four times, the one I compare all other thrillers to), so know that this comparison was in the back of my head as I read.

The Perfect Home, broken down into its five parts:

Part One lured me in with a false sense of security and that hook was all I needed! I was utterly addicted to where the story was heading next. Gone Girl comparison, indeed!

Part Two had the wheels falling off! Could I trust what I believed in Part One, or were my emotions being toyed with again? Who do I side with? All I know is that I'm beyond addicted!

Part Three messed with my thoughts and emotions even further; mixed up is an understatement! Every side is believable, every side is completely wrong! Still absolutely addicted!

Part Four ramped up the action and my perceived perception pivoted once more! I finally know what team I'm on, and I need to stay up to finish this book!

Part Five ended this game of cat and mouse in the perfect way!

Overall: yes, I can see the similarities between The Perfect Home and Gone Girl (and know I would have come to that conclusion even if it wasn't being presented to me)!

If you love emotional manipulation, questioning the truth (though not forced by unreliable narrators), and succinct endings that leave no doubt - this one is for you!

Thank you NetGalley and Scribner for the complimentary copy to read and review.

This was another early 2025 read that I couldn’t put down. I didn’t really read the synopsis other than “Fixer Upper meets Gone Girl” so I had no idea what to expect. Now, I don’t think either of those is a true comparison but I enjoyed this nonetheless. This was twisty, suspenseful and There was one part that made my jaw drop (if you’ve read this it’s when a certain computer file is found!) This was a fun debut and I’ll be interested to see what Kenitz writes next.

The Perfect Home is one of the top home renovation shows on HLTV. It stars husband and wife Wyatt and Dawn Decker. Wyatt is the muscle, and Dawn is the decorator. He comes up with crazy ideas, like taking down a load-bearing wall, and she rolls her eyes at him and tries to bring him back down to earth. Originally, the show was just Wyatt, but once he started dating Dawn, he brought her on the show, and the fans immediately loved her. Their relationship, their wedding, their honeymoon trip were televised, and their fans went crazy.

Wyatt and Dawn have built their dream house in Nashville, and next they want to add kids. But they’re struggling to get pregnant. A visit to a fertility specialist informs them that the struggle to get pregnant is on Wyatt’s end. He decides to try a fertility drug that is not legal in America, ordering it from Germany through a dark part of the internet. And it works. Dawn gets pregnant with twins in months. But Wyatt isn’t quite himself on the drugs. Dawn wants him to wean himself off it, and he tells her that he will. Instead, he throws them out.

It’s not until after their babies are born, a boy and a girl, both healthy, that Dawn starts to worry about Wyatt’s behavior. He threatens her on the set, but in a way only she could hear. He stands in the twins’ room for hours, not moving, in the dark. But when she finds his secret plans for her and the twins, Dawn knows that her children are in genuine danger. She does the only thing she can think of. She packs up her children and leaves. But she doesn’t have anywhere to go. And it doesn’t take long before Wyatt is all over the news, telling everyone that his wife is suffering from postpartum depression and has taken off with their kids.

Can Dawn figure out a way to save her children, and herself, from one of the most beloved, charming men in the home renovation reality tv space? Or will she just get cancelled, pushed out of her marriage, pushed off of the show, homeless, and having to watch other people raise her children?

The Perfect Home is a debut novel that blends the best of reality home and garden television with an edge-of-your-seat domestic thriller. Told in alternating perspectives between husband and wife, this suspenseful story accelerates as the character voices become more strained. The more pressure these reality stars come up against, the more desperate their decisions. Which makes it all a win for the reader.

I devoured this book. I have watched my fair share of home renovation shows, so I knew what I was getting into with their reality show. But for everything else, I was taken on quite the ride until the end. This book goes in directions I was not expecting, but I loved it all. This is a smart thriller with genuine surprises along the way and well-defined characters that drive the story off a cliff. If you’re a fan of those HGTV shows and love a good thriller, you will want to dive right into this one.

Egalleys for The Perfect Home were provided by Scribner through NetGalley, with many thanks.

The Perfect Home by Daniel Kenitz was a compelling domestic suspense novel.
A very well-written story and quite twisty. The storyline itself was extremely compelling and gripping.
The characters are engaging and interesting.
So many twists and turns that I was literally holding my breath.
A tense thriller that will take you up and down like a wild roller coaster ride. You are constantly questioning, and you continually trying to understand what the hell is going on.

Thank You NetGalley and Scribner for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!