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Imperfect Lives
From the author of The Intangible comes a powerful story of double lives, hidden truths, and the desire to have the perfect life, no matter the price.
When contract killer Cooper Franklin makes a deathbed confession, his revelations upend the lives of two strangers, setting them on an intersecting and ruinous path that imperils them both.
Widow and single mom Tamara Foster must reckon with the mystery of her late husband’s death and the secrets he left behind. As she digs deeper into his past to discover that she never truly knew him at all, her carefully reconstructed world begins to crumble all over again.
Cindy Fremont has worked hard for the perfect life, and she’s working even harder to keep it. So when Tamara shows up at her door seeking answers about her husband’s past, Cindy must reexamine the tracks she thought she’d carefully covered.
As the two women scramble to keep their lives together in the wake of Cooper’s confession, they soon realize that no matter how deeply the past is buried, it can always come back to find you.
When contract killer Cooper Franklin makes a deathbed confession, his revelations upend the lives of two strangers, setting them on an intersecting and ruinous path that imperils them both.
Widow and single mom Tamara Foster must reckon with the mystery of her late husband’s death and the secrets he left behind. As she digs deeper into his past to discover that she never truly knew him at all, her carefully reconstructed world begins to crumble all over again.
Cindy Fremont has worked hard for the perfect life, and she’s working even harder to keep it. So when Tamara shows up at her door seeking answers about her husband’s past, Cindy must reexamine the tracks she thought she’d carefully covered.
As the two women scramble to keep their lives together in the wake of Cooper’s confession, they soon realize that no matter how deeply the past is buried, it can always come back to find you.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 5, 2023
214 people are currently reading
4015 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Washington
2 books81 followersC.J. Washington is a data scientist and writer. He has a master’s degree in computer science from the Georgia Institute of Technology and lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife and daughter. The Intangible is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
September 5, 2023
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Storygraph and The Book Review Crew Blog
It took me a little bit to keep all the characters straight but once it was revealed how they are all connected this story grabbed me and wouldn't let me go. The plotline is quite dark but in a really good way. We get three points of view, Tamara, Cindy and Cooper. A couple of them have a past and a connection that will surprise you. The further you read the more you understand just how well-connected they are to each other. We also get different timelines of all their stories which leads to how they are all related to one another.
This story was very unique and I loved how the author was able to surprise me that way. I was invested in the lives of these individuals very quickly and I was amazed with how much I liked Cooper. All the characters are well-developed and are fully fleshed out, they are far from perfect but they are most definitely human. The first half of the book is very character driven and the second half is plot-driven. I really liked how the author did this. The ending was pretty amazing and I am hoping for more of Cindy's story after the fact.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Storygraph and The Book Review Crew Blog
It took me a little bit to keep all the characters straight but once it was revealed how they are all connected this story grabbed me and wouldn't let me go. The plotline is quite dark but in a really good way. We get three points of view, Tamara, Cindy and Cooper. A couple of them have a past and a connection that will surprise you. The further you read the more you understand just how well-connected they are to each other. We also get different timelines of all their stories which leads to how they are all related to one another.
This story was very unique and I loved how the author was able to surprise me that way. I was invested in the lives of these individuals very quickly and I was amazed with how much I liked Cooper. All the characters are well-developed and are fully fleshed out, they are far from perfect but they are most definitely human. The first half of the book is very character driven and the second half is plot-driven. I really liked how the author did this. The ending was pretty amazing and I am hoping for more of Cindy's story after the fact.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
September 30, 2023
Imperfect Lives is the second novel by American author, CJ Washington. With a tally of thirty-nine kills in seven states over eighteen years, fifty-one-year-old killer for hire, Cooper Franklin is confessing his crimes to the FBI. He’s in a prison cell, being indulged, with paint, canvas and an easel, in a pastime that indirectly led to his criminal career, while waiting to die with pancreatic cancer.
When the FBI come knocking on her door, widow and mother of eight-year-old Brian, Tamara Foster is shocked to learn that her husband Sam didn’t suicide five years previously, but was murdered by a contract killer engaged by a man she’s never heard of. It’s a mixed relief that Sam didn’t choose to leave them, but Tamara is instantly plagued by so many questions: how much didn’t she know about the love of her life? What secrets did he keep, and why?
Her estranged mother is absolutely the last person that Cindy Fremont wants to see waiting on her doorstep when she brings home her daughter and son. But Jessica’s bald statement, that the FBI have revealed that Cindy’s father hired a hit man to have someone killed, puts her off balance, and the woman she hasn’t seen in almost two decades talks her way into staying. She’ll have to be Aunt Annalise, though; Cindy isn’t exposing her children to any intimacy with this woman just yet, if ever.
When Sam was seventeen, he wanted to write a novel about his recent experiences, but the aunt who had taken over his care after his mother died and his father lost interest, told him he should focus on school. Over a decade later, he finally began, but he kept what he was writing private, not even showing his wife.
Washington gives the reader such an interesting concept: using three narratives that feature flashbacks, and the opening chapters of a novel, he builds the intrigue as he drip-feeds the facts that gradually form the whole story. This is a skilfully plotted tale with red herrings and a twist or two that will keep even the most astute reader guessing right up to the dramatic climax.
His characters, even those in support roles, have depth and appeal and the dialogue is not without humour:
“No one ever contacts me to ask if they should commit a crime. They always hire me after the fact. I would love to get paid to prevent crime.”
“Maybe you should run an ad: ‘Call me, and for a reasonable fee I’ll tell you if you can get away with it.’”
This is excellent crime/mystery and more from this author will be eagerly anticipated.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and LittleA.
When the FBI come knocking on her door, widow and mother of eight-year-old Brian, Tamara Foster is shocked to learn that her husband Sam didn’t suicide five years previously, but was murdered by a contract killer engaged by a man she’s never heard of. It’s a mixed relief that Sam didn’t choose to leave them, but Tamara is instantly plagued by so many questions: how much didn’t she know about the love of her life? What secrets did he keep, and why?
Her estranged mother is absolutely the last person that Cindy Fremont wants to see waiting on her doorstep when she brings home her daughter and son. But Jessica’s bald statement, that the FBI have revealed that Cindy’s father hired a hit man to have someone killed, puts her off balance, and the woman she hasn’t seen in almost two decades talks her way into staying. She’ll have to be Aunt Annalise, though; Cindy isn’t exposing her children to any intimacy with this woman just yet, if ever.
When Sam was seventeen, he wanted to write a novel about his recent experiences, but the aunt who had taken over his care after his mother died and his father lost interest, told him he should focus on school. Over a decade later, he finally began, but he kept what he was writing private, not even showing his wife.
Washington gives the reader such an interesting concept: using three narratives that feature flashbacks, and the opening chapters of a novel, he builds the intrigue as he drip-feeds the facts that gradually form the whole story. This is a skilfully plotted tale with red herrings and a twist or two that will keep even the most astute reader guessing right up to the dramatic climax.
His characters, even those in support roles, have depth and appeal and the dialogue is not without humour:
“No one ever contacts me to ask if they should commit a crime. They always hire me after the fact. I would love to get paid to prevent crime.”
“Maybe you should run an ad: ‘Call me, and for a reasonable fee I’ll tell you if you can get away with it.’”
This is excellent crime/mystery and more from this author will be eagerly anticipated.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and LittleA.
April 12, 2025
OVERVIEW:
Well constructed. Definitely keeps your interest. A story of choices, of holding on, of trying to make your best life. A tale of looking back, of reconciling, and of the strange ways we are connected to others.
The story starts with three separate families, your introduction to them, as you focus in on wondering how they are connected. Tamara’s husband Sam also has a portion, although you don’t realize who he is at the time. Cindy’s backstory is revealed, and you also see how Cooper turned into who he became as well.
OF NOTE:
The cover is uninspiring. Yes, there is a cat in the story, and in some ways it is a catalyst (pardon the pun) for later events, but by no means representative of the narrative as a whole.
Mostly clean fiction, with virtually no vulgarity and only light romantic sec scene references.
CONCLUSION:
Recommended.
- Desiree Reads
The Bookish Birder
April 12, 2025
See more book recs @ https://bookshop.org/shop/TheBookishB...
Well constructed. Definitely keeps your interest. A story of choices, of holding on, of trying to make your best life. A tale of looking back, of reconciling, and of the strange ways we are connected to others.
The story starts with three separate families, your introduction to them, as you focus in on wondering how they are connected. Tamara’s husband Sam also has a portion, although you don’t realize who he is at the time. Cindy’s backstory is revealed, and you also see how Cooper turned into who he became as well.
OF NOTE:
The cover is uninspiring. Yes, there is a cat in the story, and in some ways it is a catalyst (pardon the pun) for later events, but by no means representative of the narrative as a whole.
Mostly clean fiction, with virtually no vulgarity and only light romantic sec scene references.
CONCLUSION:
Recommended.
- Desiree Reads
The Bookish Birder
April 12, 2025
See more book recs @ https://bookshop.org/shop/TheBookishB...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2023
thank you netgalley for this amazing arc! the book was confusing at first and turned out to be much darker and thrilling than i was expecting, but a good read nonetheless.
even after reading the synopsis i had no idea what was going on and how the characters were related till around the 40% mark where i finally got the hang of it and it got interesting, the plot with the connections between the characters are thrilling on their own making it an interesting read
the story starts with a serial killer, cooper confessing to his crimes, one of which starts a chain reaction in the lives of two seemingly unrelated women, tamara and cindy.
this book is for you if you like intricate storylines with complex characters with crime thriller vibes
i give this book a 4/5 because the start was too confusing and slow for me
even after reading the synopsis i had no idea what was going on and how the characters were related till around the 40% mark where i finally got the hang of it and it got interesting, the plot with the connections between the characters are thrilling on their own making it an interesting read
the story starts with a serial killer, cooper confessing to his crimes, one of which starts a chain reaction in the lives of two seemingly unrelated women, tamara and cindy.
this book is for you if you like intricate storylines with complex characters with crime thriller vibes
i give this book a 4/5 because the start was too confusing and slow for me
October 5, 2023
Something different.. A really good read
This was so much more than I expected.
A killer for hire confesses to all of his murders. which of course impacts so many people. But this is a story about two different women that are impacted by this.
I was totally sucked in! I loved the characters, the stories and the story telling. It was so different to the usual that I fell in love with this.
So why not 5 stars?? This is told from multiple points of view which I love. Its my favorite style. But it's from 3 points of view... Each of the women and the killer. AND multiple timelines... The now and the "how they got here". And it jumped around, sometimes in the middle of a chapter. Maybe its my old brain but I'd have to stop once in a while to remember who someone was because each of these people have other people in their lives. It would throw me out of the story for a moment while I had to think " wait... Who is this? ".
But I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!
This was so much more than I expected.
A killer for hire confesses to all of his murders. which of course impacts so many people. But this is a story about two different women that are impacted by this.
I was totally sucked in! I loved the characters, the stories and the story telling. It was so different to the usual that I fell in love with this.
So why not 5 stars?? This is told from multiple points of view which I love. Its my favorite style. But it's from 3 points of view... Each of the women and the killer. AND multiple timelines... The now and the "how they got here". And it jumped around, sometimes in the middle of a chapter. Maybe its my old brain but I'd have to stop once in a while to remember who someone was because each of these people have other people in their lives. It would throw me out of the story for a moment while I had to think " wait... Who is this? ".
But I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!
September 14, 2023
CJ Washington's "Imperfect Lives" is smooth and spare and satisfying.
It starts out slow and quiet, with seemingly unrelated stories from 3 living POV characters, and they and their lives and backgrounds are so different that at first it was difficult to imagine how they might fit together. Little by little, the author drops clues to that, as he adds in a 4th POV from a no-longer-living character.
Washington makes us care about the characters (some more than others--and surprisingly, one I didn't expect to like was quite relatable!). Only in the last quarter of the book did I really begin to understand who these people were to each other, and about that same time, the pacing picked up on a wild ride to the end.
I enjoyed "Imperfect Lives" very much and will happily read anything else CJ Washington cares to write.
Thanks, NetGalley for the Advance Reader Copy. My review thoughts are my own.
4.8 stars, rounded to 5
It starts out slow and quiet, with seemingly unrelated stories from 3 living POV characters, and they and their lives and backgrounds are so different that at first it was difficult to imagine how they might fit together. Little by little, the author drops clues to that, as he adds in a 4th POV from a no-longer-living character.
Washington makes us care about the characters (some more than others--and surprisingly, one I didn't expect to like was quite relatable!). Only in the last quarter of the book did I really begin to understand who these people were to each other, and about that same time, the pacing picked up on a wild ride to the end.
I enjoyed "Imperfect Lives" very much and will happily read anything else CJ Washington cares to write.
Thanks, NetGalley for the Advance Reader Copy. My review thoughts are my own.
4.8 stars, rounded to 5
January 3, 2024
New year, new book club selections! I had never heard of C.J. Washington or this book, but it was picked for my book club so away I went. This isn't a book I would have naturally gravitated to, but as a beach book or in my case, something to read at the Korean spa, it was perfectly fine.
I had to reread the first two chapters twice to get going, something about the way he was introducing the characters didn't stick with me, but after a bit of extra effort, I was in and read half this book in one sitting. This is a story of seemingly disparate people and events that all wind their way back to each other, sort of with the same randomization of the movie "Love Actually" in that you have no idea what one has to do with the other, until boom it does. The connective threads are zany, and juuuuust shy of being too farfetched to be believable.
The title "Imperfect Lives" is also a colossal understatement as the flaws of these characters go well beyond "imperfection" as their actions include joining a cult, lying to a spouse about losing their job, becoming a killer for hire, dabbling with an extra-marital affair, estranged family members, missing family members, arrest for underaged public intoxication, attempted murder, serving as a fugitive, and committing a drunken hit-and-run. Also, we have the 2008 housing crisis thrown in as a plot point.
It's. A lot.
When I was already 3/4 of the way through the book I didn't understand why there were cats on the cover and fish bones (Edited to say, Oh wait. Now I think I might get it. But if you are picking this up as a cat person, you'll be disappointed. There is one significant cat in about 1/16 of the story, so this is the case of the book cover not being a good match for the story inside).
As literary popcorn entertainment and a wackadoo story to get lost in, I give it a shoulder shrug and a thumbs up.
I had to reread the first two chapters twice to get going, something about the way he was introducing the characters didn't stick with me, but after a bit of extra effort, I was in and read half this book in one sitting. This is a story of seemingly disparate people and events that all wind their way back to each other, sort of with the same randomization of the movie "Love Actually" in that you have no idea what one has to do with the other, until boom it does. The connective threads are zany, and juuuuust shy of being too farfetched to be believable.
The title "Imperfect Lives" is also a colossal understatement as the flaws of these characters go well beyond "imperfection" as their actions include joining a cult, lying to a spouse about losing their job, becoming a killer for hire, dabbling with an extra-marital affair, estranged family members, missing family members, arrest for underaged public intoxication, attempted murder, serving as a fugitive, and committing a drunken hit-and-run. Also, we have the 2008 housing crisis thrown in as a plot point.
It's. A lot.
When I was already 3/4 of the way through the book I didn't understand why there were cats on the cover and fish bones (Edited to say, Oh wait. Now I think I might get it. But if you are picking this up as a cat person, you'll be disappointed. There is one significant cat in about 1/16 of the story, so this is the case of the book cover not being a good match for the story inside).
As literary popcorn entertainment and a wackadoo story to get lost in, I give it a shoulder shrug and a thumbs up.
February 24, 2024
Quick drama read
August 2, 2023
This book was such a surprise! I expected it to focus on Cooper, the contract killer; however, I was so invested in the lives of the other two main characters, Tamara and Cindy. This book had great flow - I read it in two sittings, and it flew by because I was so curious to know more about the characters and the story. I feel like it's not completely right to call it a thriller, but it had the same mystery and suspense in the second half that one would expect from a thriller. The different narratives are a little difficult to follow at first, but once the foundation is laid everything is much clearer. Always love well-developed characters, and this book provided.
Thank you to NetGalley, Little A, and C.J. Washington for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley, Little A, and C.J. Washington for the ARC!
September 5, 2023
[3.5 Stars]
You always hear about having six degrees of separation with another person. But what if those degrees of separation are fewer and you never even knew it? For Cindy and Tamara, they're separated by one degree but are soon to find out how dangerous this separation is. Throughout the novel, readers are left wondering who (or what) killed Tamara's late husband, Sam. How is Sam connected to Cindy? Tamara thought she knew her husband but quickly realized how wrong she was. Cindy thought she was able to hide from her past, but the past soon came knocking on her door. As for Cooper Franklin, his deathbed confessions shake the worlds of Cindy and Tamara and threaten to tear their comfortable lives apart.
I was so excited by this premise, but it fell a little short for me. There were many parts of the novel that did not seem to have a place within the greater story; this was space that could have been used to further strengthen the storyline and add more depth to these relationships. The first 80% of the book left me thinking, "When is anything going to happen?" as it was all backstory and slow connections. Once I passed 80%, I was blown away. Everything I wanted happened all at once and felt rushed. I think if the pacing and structure were better, this would have easily been a 4.5/5 star read for me. The overall story is great, but this feels like it is still in its draft stage. I do recommend this book as it will keep you on your toes, but just don't expect anything spectacular from this novel, unfortunately.
You always hear about having six degrees of separation with another person. But what if those degrees of separation are fewer and you never even knew it? For Cindy and Tamara, they're separated by one degree but are soon to find out how dangerous this separation is. Throughout the novel, readers are left wondering who (or what) killed Tamara's late husband, Sam. How is Sam connected to Cindy? Tamara thought she knew her husband but quickly realized how wrong she was. Cindy thought she was able to hide from her past, but the past soon came knocking on her door. As for Cooper Franklin, his deathbed confessions shake the worlds of Cindy and Tamara and threaten to tear their comfortable lives apart.
I was so excited by this premise, but it fell a little short for me. There were many parts of the novel that did not seem to have a place within the greater story; this was space that could have been used to further strengthen the storyline and add more depth to these relationships. The first 80% of the book left me thinking, "When is anything going to happen?" as it was all backstory and slow connections. Once I passed 80%, I was blown away. Everything I wanted happened all at once and felt rushed. I think if the pacing and structure were better, this would have easily been a 4.5/5 star read for me. The overall story is great, but this feels like it is still in its draft stage. I do recommend this book as it will keep you on your toes, but just don't expect anything spectacular from this novel, unfortunately.
September 10, 2023
From the author of The Intangible comes a powerful story of double lives, hidden truths, and the desire to have the perfect life, no matter the price. When contract killer Cooper Franklin makes a deathbed confession, his revelations upend the lives of two strangers, setting them on an intersecting and ruinous path that imperils them both. Widow and single mom Tamara Foster must reckon with the mystery of her late husband’s death and the secrets he left behind. As she digs deeper into his past to discover that she never truly knew him at all, her carefully reconstructed world begins to crumble all over again. Cindy Fremont has worked hard for the perfect life, and she’s working even harder to keep it. So when Tamara shows up at her door seeking answers about her husband’s past, Cindy must reexamine the tracks she thought she’d carefully covered. As the two women scramble to keep their lives together in the wake of Cooper’s confession, they soon realize that no matter how deeply the past is buried, it can always come back to find you.
I floved this story so much. It had me hooked from the beginning. The unique way of writing different timelines to show how everything is connected is sheer perfection. Will recommend to others.
I floved this story so much. It had me hooked from the beginning. The unique way of writing different timelines to show how everything is connected is sheer perfection. Will recommend to others.
October 15, 2023
Really probably a 3.75 ⭐️
October 31, 2023
Like a 3.5 ⭐️
November 17, 2023
3.25
Kindle read
Kindle read
March 7, 2024
4.5 stars
October 6, 2023
I was so confused at the beginning of this book because there are different POVs and it was hard to connect who was who. I started to make the connection when I was halfway through the book. I’d say the first half of the book is mostly character development where you learn about the characters and their problems, the other half is where the action starts to happen and characters and events start to connect and make sense.
This book will require you to pay attention if you want to learn motives, if you do I am pretty sure you’ll be able to predict most of what is happening.
I think it was worth the time to listen to it and I do recommend it if you like drama and interesting plot twists.
This book will require you to pay attention if you want to learn motives, if you do I am pretty sure you’ll be able to predict most of what is happening.
I think it was worth the time to listen to it and I do recommend it if you like drama and interesting plot twists.
June 27, 2023
ARC provided by NetGalley. This novel winds together experiences from the characters’ pasts that haunt their present. The first half of the book sets the stage for each character’s individual development. The second half of the book, which winds each character’s story together, feels like a thriller. The last 25% of the book is an absolute page-turner - I didn’t want to put the book down until I learned each characters’ fate. I struggled at the beginning to track the characters and their stories, since it was not clear until about halfway through the book how the characters whose names served as chapter titles had any relation to one another. But there were small hints dropped throughout the book - the name of a restaurant referenced by multiple characters, for example - that hinted at an explanation to come.
September 8, 2023
Thank you to Little A publishing for my advanced copy!
What a smart and twisted story. It kept me interested and invested the whole way through and I had trouble putting it down.
Three stories slowly begin to intersect and intertwine in ways that are both shocking and yet make perfect sense. The writing could be a bit chaotic at times - jumping from past to present and back again, between POVs, and between real and fake names - but it didn’t stop me from absolutely devouring the story.
It was an unexplored perspective of crime and fault and motivation and while I didn’t quite come out of it knowing whether or not I should feel empathy for these characters, I was definitely intrigued.
I’d recommend this one for fans of psychological thrillers.
What a smart and twisted story. It kept me interested and invested the whole way through and I had trouble putting it down.
Three stories slowly begin to intersect and intertwine in ways that are both shocking and yet make perfect sense. The writing could be a bit chaotic at times - jumping from past to present and back again, between POVs, and between real and fake names - but it didn’t stop me from absolutely devouring the story.
It was an unexplored perspective of crime and fault and motivation and while I didn’t quite come out of it knowing whether or not I should feel empathy for these characters, I was definitely intrigued.
I’d recommend this one for fans of psychological thrillers.
October 22, 2023
Imperfect Lives: A Novel
C.J. Washington’s most recent work, Imperfect Lives: A Novel, follows three main characters, Tamara, Cindy, and Cooper, by blending the present and the past through a central mystery. This mystery comes to the center as Tamara learns that her husband, who was thought to have committed suicide, actually was murdered. The novel follows Tamara’s journey to find out what happened to her husband and his past that he had never told her about. This leads to the reader finding the dark intertwining story of all the main characters. Cooper, who is diagnosed with terminal cancer, confesses to dozens of murders, one of them being Sam, Tamara’s husband. Not understanding why someone would want to murder her husband, Tamara starts to dig into his past by reading a book that he never finished writing. Through this she learns that he escaped a cult with another woman, Cindy, whom he seems never to have stopped loving. Tamara reasons that the cult must have had her husband murdered. She finds where Cindy lives and goes to meet with her. Cindy, scared that the cult may know about her new identity, threatens Tamara to show her Sam’s story about the cult. Cindy then decides she has to run away and start her life over again. In the end, each character reflects on what matters to them and makes amends with their families, ending the story happily.
The Novel focuses on familial struggles and mental health while also touching on the struggle of Black Americans in the workforce. Each character is introduced through positive interactions with their family, but as the story progresses, each character struggles in their familial relationship, because of their mental health or the mental health of their family members. Examples of this are Malik, Tamara’s brother who has schizophrenia, and Sam who struggles with depression. This is one of the reasons he was thought to commit suicide, which brings up the theme of un-visibility. Un-visibility is not being seen because you are doing what others might expect you to do. Washington often includes the topic of un-visibility. Being a Black American himself, Washington included the struggles of finding and keeping jobs for African Americans, pointing out how they are often pushed to the side or expected to work without making any noise. Washington also shows the struggles of mental illness through un-visibility. Throughout the book he shows how mental illnesses are often ignored or overlooked simply because it is easier to do. In Sam’s case, no one thought twice about him committing suicide, even his wife, because of his history of depression. Many times throughout the book, the character's problems are ignored because those around them are too afraid to say something that might lead to their loved ones lashing out at them. Another case of un-visibility is related to Cooper and his murders. No one expected a painter with a wife and children to be a hired killer, so no one ever thought to question him. Although Thompson does not focus on the race of his characters, there are still some acknowledgments of how hard it is for Black Americans to move up the ladder in the workforce, and how hard it can be for them to find a job.
Imperfect Lives highlights the impact of past trauma on the mind and how it can influence people’s decision-making. While the beginning of the book can be a bit overwhelming at the beginning, gradually the reader starts to unfold the mystery of the book for themselves and is engrossed with the interactions between each character. Thompson’s book can be used to highlight many modern-day problems with the struggle against helping those who have mental disorders and how often they are ignored before it is too late. In the end, Thompson’s novel masterfully weaves a thrilling mystery with each character's battle with their own mental state and inner consciousness as they fight to find out how to balance their past and present.
C.J. Washington’s most recent work, Imperfect Lives: A Novel, follows three main characters, Tamara, Cindy, and Cooper, by blending the present and the past through a central mystery. This mystery comes to the center as Tamara learns that her husband, who was thought to have committed suicide, actually was murdered. The novel follows Tamara’s journey to find out what happened to her husband and his past that he had never told her about. This leads to the reader finding the dark intertwining story of all the main characters. Cooper, who is diagnosed with terminal cancer, confesses to dozens of murders, one of them being Sam, Tamara’s husband. Not understanding why someone would want to murder her husband, Tamara starts to dig into his past by reading a book that he never finished writing. Through this she learns that he escaped a cult with another woman, Cindy, whom he seems never to have stopped loving. Tamara reasons that the cult must have had her husband murdered. She finds where Cindy lives and goes to meet with her. Cindy, scared that the cult may know about her new identity, threatens Tamara to show her Sam’s story about the cult. Cindy then decides she has to run away and start her life over again. In the end, each character reflects on what matters to them and makes amends with their families, ending the story happily.
The Novel focuses on familial struggles and mental health while also touching on the struggle of Black Americans in the workforce. Each character is introduced through positive interactions with their family, but as the story progresses, each character struggles in their familial relationship, because of their mental health or the mental health of their family members. Examples of this are Malik, Tamara’s brother who has schizophrenia, and Sam who struggles with depression. This is one of the reasons he was thought to commit suicide, which brings up the theme of un-visibility. Un-visibility is not being seen because you are doing what others might expect you to do. Washington often includes the topic of un-visibility. Being a Black American himself, Washington included the struggles of finding and keeping jobs for African Americans, pointing out how they are often pushed to the side or expected to work without making any noise. Washington also shows the struggles of mental illness through un-visibility. Throughout the book he shows how mental illnesses are often ignored or overlooked simply because it is easier to do. In Sam’s case, no one thought twice about him committing suicide, even his wife, because of his history of depression. Many times throughout the book, the character's problems are ignored because those around them are too afraid to say something that might lead to their loved ones lashing out at them. Another case of un-visibility is related to Cooper and his murders. No one expected a painter with a wife and children to be a hired killer, so no one ever thought to question him. Although Thompson does not focus on the race of his characters, there are still some acknowledgments of how hard it is for Black Americans to move up the ladder in the workforce, and how hard it can be for them to find a job.
Imperfect Lives highlights the impact of past trauma on the mind and how it can influence people’s decision-making. While the beginning of the book can be a bit overwhelming at the beginning, gradually the reader starts to unfold the mystery of the book for themselves and is engrossed with the interactions between each character. Thompson’s book can be used to highlight many modern-day problems with the struggle against helping those who have mental disorders and how often they are ignored before it is too late. In the end, Thompson’s novel masterfully weaves a thrilling mystery with each character's battle with their own mental state and inner consciousness as they fight to find out how to balance their past and present.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2025
There are many great things to write about Imperfect Lives, but the main point that stands out to me, is that the book moves back and forth so much, that it's really hard to follow! While the story is interesting and very intriguing, I feel like there is a little bit too much going on, and too many characters to follow to jive as it should. Not only does it jump around from characters and stories, but it also jumps different time periods, which makes it incredibly difficult to follow, especially at the beginning, which, to me, is the most important time to grab a reader! I am really OCD about finishing books, but I could see why a reader would mark this one as a DNF!
However, if you hang on a bit, it all starts to come together (a little) and lends to an interesting story. I do feel like C.J. Washington focused on too many character faults, and tried to cram them all into one book, which also kind of left a disconnect with the characters! I was left without loving any of the characters, really, which makes it hard to want to love a book! Some parts of the story were so out there, that they were close to unbelievable. Although the story and characters do tie together, if you hang on!
Nevertheless, Imperfect Lives is a fast-paced, thrilling book, that just might captivate you, especially if you are the puzzle-type, or likes to try to put things together, this book might just be right up your alley! I can't say that C.J. Washington is my newest favorite author, but I also can't say that I wouldn't ever read another book by him either!
Imperfect Lives was narrated by a three-person cast, consisting of Adenrele Ojo, Cary Hite, and Megan Tusing, and honestly, I think it was a great trio! I think my favorite of the three was Cary Hite, which surprised me because I absolutely LOVE Megan Tusing, but I think Hite fit his part perfectly! I do credit some of the confusion of the book to listening to the audiobook, but I think this set of narrators really brought this story to life!
Overall, this wasn't my favorite book of the year, or even the month for that matter, but I don't hate that I finished it or feel like I wasted time by reading it! But I think there are many great things about this book, which makes it worth reading! See what you think!
However, if you hang on a bit, it all starts to come together (a little) and lends to an interesting story. I do feel like C.J. Washington focused on too many character faults, and tried to cram them all into one book, which also kind of left a disconnect with the characters! I was left without loving any of the characters, really, which makes it hard to want to love a book! Some parts of the story were so out there, that they were close to unbelievable. Although the story and characters do tie together, if you hang on!
Nevertheless, Imperfect Lives is a fast-paced, thrilling book, that just might captivate you, especially if you are the puzzle-type, or likes to try to put things together, this book might just be right up your alley! I can't say that C.J. Washington is my newest favorite author, but I also can't say that I wouldn't ever read another book by him either!
Imperfect Lives was narrated by a three-person cast, consisting of Adenrele Ojo, Cary Hite, and Megan Tusing, and honestly, I think it was a great trio! I think my favorite of the three was Cary Hite, which surprised me because I absolutely LOVE Megan Tusing, but I think Hite fit his part perfectly! I do credit some of the confusion of the book to listening to the audiobook, but I think this set of narrators really brought this story to life!
Overall, this wasn't my favorite book of the year, or even the month for that matter, but I don't hate that I finished it or feel like I wasted time by reading it! But I think there are many great things about this book, which makes it worth reading! See what you think!
May 18, 2023
I'd like to thank Net Galley and Little A for letting me ready this in advance to it's release date.
Publication Date: September 5, 2023
I was confused at the beginning of the book. I was under the impression Tamara was Cindy's mother. I even wrote out a family tree just so I could get all the relations correct. It started to not makes sense as both timelines of theirs lives never matched up. That timeline got scrapped and I made a new one with the three points of view on it; Cindy, Tamara and Cooper.
By page 100 everything started to make a lot more sense.
I felt empathy for Cooper. He started off a new father who was slowly losing the two things he loved: art and his cat, Fernando. He slowly became a person who he no longer recognized anymore after losing these two things. He was desperate to provide a good life for his family, so he slowly fell into a life of crime and murder. The best way to redeem himself and become the man he once was to confess, which is how this story with three point of views starts.
As i said before, i was very confused at first but i loved how everything unfolded. In the past i have been known to try to figure out the twists and turns but now i enjoy the ride and try not to ruin the surprises for myself.
Let me just say, I was not a huge fan of Cindy throughout the whole book. I liked her even less once the mysteries were revealed. She had a tough life for sure. That might be what molded who she is and why she made the choices she has.
I did not get a good grasp on Tamara's personality. It might have been because she was too busy digging into her husband's past. I was confused at first who Malik was. I was under the impression at first it was her brother. At one point she said, "he was one of the loves of her life", so I thought he was a high school boyfriend. Then she recalled a sad story to her younger sister, Melinda. It made it crystal clear after that Malik was her older brother and she is the middle child.
I am hoping this is a series and there will be a second book. The ending opened up the possibility of another book to come but I don't see any indication online that another book is in the works.
Did I mention the cover has cats on it? Because it's so cute.
Publication Date: September 5, 2023
I was confused at the beginning of the book. I was under the impression Tamara was Cindy's mother. I even wrote out a family tree just so I could get all the relations correct. It started to not makes sense as both timelines of theirs lives never matched up. That timeline got scrapped and I made a new one with the three points of view on it; Cindy, Tamara and Cooper.
By page 100 everything started to make a lot more sense.
I felt empathy for Cooper. He started off a new father who was slowly losing the two things he loved: art and his cat, Fernando. He slowly became a person who he no longer recognized anymore after losing these two things. He was desperate to provide a good life for his family, so he slowly fell into a life of crime and murder. The best way to redeem himself and become the man he once was to confess, which is how this story with three point of views starts.
As i said before, i was very confused at first but i loved how everything unfolded. In the past i have been known to try to figure out the twists and turns but now i enjoy the ride and try not to ruin the surprises for myself.
Let me just say, I was not a huge fan of Cindy throughout the whole book. I liked her even less once the mysteries were revealed. She had a tough life for sure. That might be what molded who she is and why she made the choices she has.
I did not get a good grasp on Tamara's personality. It might have been because she was too busy digging into her husband's past. I was confused at first who Malik was. I was under the impression at first it was her brother. At one point she said, "he was one of the loves of her life", so I thought he was a high school boyfriend. Then she recalled a sad story to her younger sister, Melinda. It made it crystal clear after that Malik was her older brother and she is the middle child.
I am hoping this is a series and there will be a second book. The ending opened up the possibility of another book to come but I don't see any indication online that another book is in the works.
Did I mention the cover has cats on it? Because it's so cute.
August 23, 2023
Grade: C
I distinctly remember a scene from an old Superman movie (one with Christopher Reeve) where Superman takes a lump of coal, squeezes it, and when he opens his fist he has a diamond. This book is like that. More specifically, it is like the coal.
There are some great elements of this book. Washington has created three fascinating characters and, for the most part, does an excellent job of fleshing them out. The main idea of this book is creative and interesting and Washington has it paced just right to keep the reader turning the pages.
But, there are issues. As I struggled to figure out how to phrase my concerns I realized the problem. This book is an excellent first or second draft of what could be a great novel. It's just rough with a lot of stuff, for lack of a better word, that doesn't need to be there. For example, Washington spends quite a bit of time outlining an event from recent history in a way that evoked a textbook. Then, that whole event had nothing to do with the central plot! There is also an entire storyline concerning the sibling of one of the main three characters which, again, plays no role in the central plot. There is also just so much "telling" in this book. That, alone, is what made this book feel like a rough draft for me.
Again, the elements of an excellent novel are here and I do think that Washington has it in him to produce a great novel. This one, however, is not it.
I received an e-ARC of this book from Little A, through Netgalley, in return for an honest review.
I distinctly remember a scene from an old Superman movie (one with Christopher Reeve) where Superman takes a lump of coal, squeezes it, and when he opens his fist he has a diamond. This book is like that. More specifically, it is like the coal.
There are some great elements of this book. Washington has created three fascinating characters and, for the most part, does an excellent job of fleshing them out. The main idea of this book is creative and interesting and Washington has it paced just right to keep the reader turning the pages.
But, there are issues. As I struggled to figure out how to phrase my concerns I realized the problem. This book is an excellent first or second draft of what could be a great novel. It's just rough with a lot of stuff, for lack of a better word, that doesn't need to be there. For example, Washington spends quite a bit of time outlining an event from recent history in a way that evoked a textbook. Then, that whole event had nothing to do with the central plot! There is also an entire storyline concerning the sibling of one of the main three characters which, again, plays no role in the central plot. There is also just so much "telling" in this book. That, alone, is what made this book feel like a rough draft for me.
Again, the elements of an excellent novel are here and I do think that Washington has it in him to produce a great novel. This one, however, is not it.
I received an e-ARC of this book from Little A, through Netgalley, in return for an honest review.
September 6, 2023
Imperfect Lives describes the lengths that people will go to in order to put the past behind them, and to get what they want, as well as showing what can result from the almost-universal aspirations towards creating a perfect life. This story is actually better gone into without knowing too much, although it requires the reader to get through the initial part, which can sometimes be confusing.
Cooper Franklin is a contract killer - but, as we discover, for reasons that are somewhat unexpected. This ends up making him a surprisingly sympathetic character. Unfortunately, Cooper's deathbed confession has serious implications for two other individuals, Tamara and Cindy, who are not aware of the ways in which they are connected.
Tamara is still getting over the death of her husband, whom she believes to have committed suicide. But once she realizes that she did not know her husband as well as she thought, subsequent discoveries lead to a dovetailing of Cindy's life with hers - even if that is not what either of them want.
The story is told from all three points of view, but it takes a while to understand how these peoples' lives are linked. After that becomes clear, things move quickly.
The pace of the storytelling is a little uneven, but this is a very interesting book. Albeit dark, at times. The mystery is compelling, and the plot has some surprises to offer. I give it 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4. Worth a read.
Cooper Franklin is a contract killer - but, as we discover, for reasons that are somewhat unexpected. This ends up making him a surprisingly sympathetic character. Unfortunately, Cooper's deathbed confession has serious implications for two other individuals, Tamara and Cindy, who are not aware of the ways in which they are connected.
Tamara is still getting over the death of her husband, whom she believes to have committed suicide. But once she realizes that she did not know her husband as well as she thought, subsequent discoveries lead to a dovetailing of Cindy's life with hers - even if that is not what either of them want.
The story is told from all three points of view, but it takes a while to understand how these peoples' lives are linked. After that becomes clear, things move quickly.
The pace of the storytelling is a little uneven, but this is a very interesting book. Albeit dark, at times. The mystery is compelling, and the plot has some surprises to offer. I give it 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4. Worth a read.
June 2, 2023
Wow, this book packed a lot into 348 pages: mental health, cults, family secrets, contract killing, second chances and redemption. There were a number of storylines and it was a little confusing at times, but everything tied together in the end, I could definitely picture this one as a movie / mini-series. Also, I actually chose this book because of all the cats on the cover, there is a cat, it does play a small role, but this is not a book about cats 😂.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5 / 5 stars
💕You might like this book if:
🔹 you like books with multiple storylines that have you guessing how they will be connected
🔹 you like complex characters that make you question if a person should be defined by past actions
🔹 you like books that explore the impact of secrets on relationships and self-image
A huge thanks to Netgalley and Little A publishing for providing me with a digital ARC in return for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5 / 5 stars
💕You might like this book if:
🔹 you like books with multiple storylines that have you guessing how they will be connected
🔹 you like complex characters that make you question if a person should be defined by past actions
🔹 you like books that explore the impact of secrets on relationships and self-image
A huge thanks to Netgalley and Little A publishing for providing me with a digital ARC in return for an honest review.
August 30, 2023
Cooper Franklin never imagined he would be a killer for hire. A married father of twins, he fell into the job and the money was too good to turn down. Now that he has terminal cancer, he is confessing to all the murders he committed over the years, upending his own life along with the lives of countless strangers. Told from three points of view, Imperfect Lives follows Cooper’s confessions, along with the lives of two women deeply impacted by Cooper’s actions. As his crimes come to light, so do long-held secrets, buried pasts and complicated histories.
Despite its somewhat preposterous premise, I found myself unable to put this book down. Just when I thought I had a grasp on the characters, their stories went deeper and became more complex. Again, some aspects were a bit far-fetched and therefore unrelateable but it kept me engrossed and eager to see how it would all play out.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little A for the advance copy of this book.
Despite its somewhat preposterous premise, I found myself unable to put this book down. Just when I thought I had a grasp on the characters, their stories went deeper and became more complex. Again, some aspects were a bit far-fetched and therefore unrelateable but it kept me engrossed and eager to see how it would all play out.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little A for the advance copy of this book.
September 8, 2023
A huge thank you to the author and the publishing group for the great opportunity to read this unique book.
At first, I wasn't sure what to expect. As the novel goes on, I was able to easily distinguish each character and their role in the book before finding out how they all connected in each others' lives. It was truly a twisty story that kept surprising me at every turn. Instead of being just like every other suspense novel, this one was unique in using a contract killer as one of the main characters.
I loved being able to jump from the present to the past for Cooper. We got to see where he came from and how he got to this place of no return, all while actually feeling bad for him? C.J. Washington does an excellent job of humanizing a man who just wanted to do the right thing and having it absolutely take over his life.
While some parts felt out of place, this novel was truly entertaining and twisty enough to keep me reading long into the night. Thank you, NetGalley!
At first, I wasn't sure what to expect. As the novel goes on, I was able to easily distinguish each character and their role in the book before finding out how they all connected in each others' lives. It was truly a twisty story that kept surprising me at every turn. Instead of being just like every other suspense novel, this one was unique in using a contract killer as one of the main characters.
I loved being able to jump from the present to the past for Cooper. We got to see where he came from and how he got to this place of no return, all while actually feeling bad for him? C.J. Washington does an excellent job of humanizing a man who just wanted to do the right thing and having it absolutely take over his life.
While some parts felt out of place, this novel was truly entertaining and twisty enough to keep me reading long into the night. Thank you, NetGalley!
September 3, 2023
This book kind of made me mad. Because it had the potential to be SO. GOOD. I think Washington’s writing is superb. All of the characters he crafted were complex and intriguing. I liked how the mystery unraveled itself, and how all the individual stories intersected in interesting ways. And by slowly unveiling what was going on, Washington kept me engaged the whole time.
But it could have strongly benefited from another round of edits. There were a lot of extraneous things happening, like plot lines and side characters that were not needed. I think if this was tightened, I would have enjoyed it more. But it was still a lovely story, and I’m definitely interested in reading more of his work!
(but also - justice for Fernando!)
Thank you to Little A and Netgalley for the ARC. Imperfect Lives is out 9/5
But it could have strongly benefited from another round of edits. There were a lot of extraneous things happening, like plot lines and side characters that were not needed. I think if this was tightened, I would have enjoyed it more. But it was still a lovely story, and I’m definitely interested in reading more of his work!
(but also - justice for Fernando!)
Thank you to Little A and Netgalley for the ARC. Imperfect Lives is out 9/5
September 14, 2023
Super enjoyable work of contemporary fiction: this book entertained me from start to finish. The author has created a world that is both realistic and relatable, populated by characters who are complex, flawed, and entirely human.
I really loved the author’s prose: so descriptive and vivid, bringing the story's settings and characters to life in a way that is both immersive and engaging. While reading, I was able to visualize the characters and the places with clarity! Also, C. J. Washington balances moments of tension and conflict with moments of quiet introspection, creating a narrative that is both gripping and emotionally resonant.
I highly reccomend “Imperfect Lives" to fans of contemporary fiction. With its relatable characters, immersive world, and compelling story, it is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who picks it up.
I really loved the author’s prose: so descriptive and vivid, bringing the story's settings and characters to life in a way that is both immersive and engaging. While reading, I was able to visualize the characters and the places with clarity! Also, C. J. Washington balances moments of tension and conflict with moments of quiet introspection, creating a narrative that is both gripping and emotionally resonant.
I highly reccomend “Imperfect Lives" to fans of contemporary fiction. With its relatable characters, immersive world, and compelling story, it is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who picks it up.
September 22, 2023
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this random book selection. I confess to almost returning it when the search for extraterrestrials was introduced. I’m glad that I didn’t. (It is not a huge part of the story and more academic than anything else)
It is a heady book with lots of characters and layers. I marvel how the author kept it all straight and flowing in away as to minimize confusion and progress the story.
The character development was very well done.
I did guess a few things before they happened but it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the story.
I didn’t guess the big stuff which was cool.
I felt slightly let down by the ending but still enjoyed the book overall. There were so much depth that I may read it again to make sure I *got* everything.
Happy Reading!
It is a heady book with lots of characters and layers. I marvel how the author kept it all straight and flowing in away as to minimize confusion and progress the story.
The character development was very well done.
I did guess a few things before they happened but it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the story.
I didn’t guess the big stuff which was cool.
I felt slightly let down by the ending but still enjoyed the book overall. There were so much depth that I may read it again to make sure I *got* everything.
Happy Reading!
January 30, 2024
Imperfect Lives was selected as my book club's January 2024 BOTM, As a few of the other reviewers stated the first two chapters were confusing. The alternating POVs and me trying to figure out how these characters were connected was a struggle.
This book has been on my TBR for a while. The central characters were Cindy, Cooper and Tamara and there was a book within a book, written by Tamara's late husband Sam. I already mentioned I was confused.
Cindy's character made absolutely no sense to me and she annoyed me the most. Tamara left her "good job" in finance to study extraterrestrials in outer space I think? Tamara had a sister named Melinda and they had a brother who was just missing from the family.
Cooper and his foolishness and his "freelance work" was so damn ridiculous. What was up with him and that cat! TI was left with more questions than answers. I hope my book club members finished this book!
This book has been on my TBR for a while. The central characters were Cindy, Cooper and Tamara and there was a book within a book, written by Tamara's late husband Sam. I already mentioned I was confused.
Cindy's character made absolutely no sense to me and she annoyed me the most. Tamara left her "good job" in finance to study extraterrestrials in outer space I think? Tamara had a sister named Melinda and they had a brother who was just missing from the family.
Cooper and his foolishness and his "freelance work" was so damn ridiculous. What was up with him and that cat! TI was left with more questions than answers. I hope my book club members finished this book!
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