Everything is Perfect

by Maxine Fawcett

A captivating, honest and wry novel about a forty-something woman on the brink. Is it Peri? A midlife crisis? Or simply a cry for help?

Cassie Prince lives in a beautiful beach suburb with her successful husband Jon and their children Ellie and Danny. Life is perfect, right?

Except now she’s reached her mid-forties, she can’t help wondering what happened to the fun-loving, sexy and accomplished woman she used to be. This isn’t what was promised. She’s panicking about ageing, bored in her marriage, exhausted by her demanding kids, and increasingly torn by news of her sick mother back in England.

So Cassie does what she’s always done – buries her feelings and ignores her problems (and does some more online shopping).

Then at school drop-off she meets Chris Lancaster, a charismatic widowed father-of-five. Soon she can’t stop imagining romantic scenarios between them, even daydreaming of a future together.

She may have been spiralling these last few months, but now Cassie is convinced that the unsuspecting and still vulnerable widower is the answer to everything . . .


'An honest and hilarious story of the changes that come with middle age . . . I laughed, cried and cringed with Cass. This is an absolutely cracking debut novel. I devoured it.' Ali Lowe

‘A humorous but also a raw, honest, eye-opening account of a woman staring down the barrel of middle age. It is not only an accomplished piece of writing, but also an absorbing, gripping novel about a woman teetering on the edge.’ Dianne Blacklock

'Smart, fresh and nuanced, Everything is Perfect is a captivating story about ageing, self-worth and unprocessed trauma as seen through the eyes of a woman unravelling. Perfect for anyone who has ever lost sight of the shore in middle age.' Anna Downes

Genres: Romance

328 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 6, 2024

Reviews

[Allison Harvey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cassie isn’t just unhinged, she’s hingeless.

[Lauren Sewell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly a little depressing. This book embodies everything that's wrong with Western societal norms and it makes my skin crawl. An easy read all the same

[Craig and Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Penguin for sending us a copy to read and review.
Everything Is Perfect is a wonderful debut from a new voice in contemporary women’s fiction.
A solid narrative with a plot that’s slick, crisp and original.
Cassie lives the perfect life with her husband and two kids.
Or so she thinks!
She is approaching her mid forties, standstill in her marriage, tired, keeping her feelings buried deep and worrying about her sick mother back home in England.
But one day, as she drops the kids at school, she meets Chris.
A younger, handsome widower.
Now she is preoccupied and bewitched by him, convinced the future is with him.
Certain he is the answer to all her problems…..
Maxine has created a wonder of a storyline with confidence and a touch of humour.
I adored Cassie, her middle age ways, down to earth attitude and her somewhat obsessive behaviour.
The story itself felt authentic, real, confident, bold and accurate.
I can’t wait to see where Maxine goes next but for now, get ready to fall in love with this book.

[Tara · Rating 1 out of 5]

What did I just read?!? I'm embarrassed that I didn't DNF this book.

[Danielle McGregor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent debut novel. A story about finding yourself. Quite a few eye-rolling moments but generally entertaining. Easy to read but probably wouldn’t rush to recommend it.

TW: suicide and mental health

[Heather Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max Fawcett has completely nailed this one. As a menopausal woman myself I highly recommend this read for anyone between the ages of 25 and 50… forewarned is forearmed! And for those of us over 50…well, you will totally get it. A fabulous read about the effects of hormones, an ageist and consumerist society and the challenges of parenting and being a “good” spouse, themes that are relatable no matter your socioeconomic situation. It’s going to make a bloody good film too! Totally worth the read…get it asap.

[Kelly Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t stop cringing in parts, but in others I found the book really enjoyable.

[Lynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didnt hit the mark for me - skipped to the end

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow I don't know what book Ali Lowe was reading but there is nothing hilarious about this story, also has very little to do with peri, it's a factor but it pales in significance to the real problem. It's about mental illness, child abuse, unresolved childhood trauma, (part) mid life crisis, stalker behaviour , deranged behaviour & being over sexed. Also supports the theory not everyone should procreate! Saw the author speak at words on waves writers festival & was expecting something much more frivolous based on excerpts she read. Well written, got through it in 2 days, absolute page turner to see what nut case behaviour happens next. Great debut, in fact debut or not, it's a very serious topic & well written. Would make good tv series.

[Mary Cornish · Rating 1 out of 5]

Despite really enjoying the way this was written, I did not like this story. I felt uncomfortable with the main character for 90% of the story.


Spoiler - The main character stalks and obsesses over a widow and even breaks into his house and follows him. Made me feel sick.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

EVERYTHING IS PERFECT (It’s just her life that’s falling apart) by Maxine Fawcett is published by Penguin Random House, 08/02/2024.
Review by Lorraine Parker
From the very first chapter or, at any other time, did I feel that Cassie’s life was ever or would become perfect. Such is the nature of Cassie Prince aged 45, married ‘happily’ to Jon, with two children Ellie and Danny and a very special -oodle dog by the name of Lilly. Cassie is extremely discontented with her ‘lot’; beautiful home, (near the water in Sydney), freedom to do shopping on line, especially with her high income earning husband.
The dog Lilly is the only member of this household near perfect! Teenage Ellie is becoming more and more precocious and aloof from Cassie. Danny has been, and is, a problematic boy with denied ADHD. He may be the reason that dad Jon avoids coming home at a reasonable hour, even for their evening meal. Cassie, in fact, protects Danny as much as she can. Both at home, socially and at school.
Cassie is a stay at home mum and although she mixes with many of the school ‘mums’ (over coffee), she avoids volunteering for any fund raising or school social activities. Drop-off one morning reveals a new family to the neighbourhood. Chris a captivating, appealing, recently widowed father-of-five. He is so in need of support, or so Cassie believes. Her life is no longer boring! Her brain has somewhere to go! How fortunate that his eldest daughter and Ellie, (Cassie’s daughter) become friends.
An absolutely truthful, graphic account (written in the first person) reveals (I believe) a fascinating psychological thriller. We are able to see inside Cassie’s mind as her imaginings become stronger and stronger to the point where she has to take action! To make then real! Amidst this is the occasional flash back into Cassie and Jon’s first meeting (London) and subsequent life where her mother, now far removed from her, remains in a nursing home in London.
Maxine Fawcett’s debut novel draws the reader very close. Using excellent prose style Fawcett gains so much empathy for Cassie (through Cassie’s own childhood) and then turns the readers feeling to abhorrence and dislike of an unravelling woman who is so reluctant to face her own reality. The subtle touches of humour filled me with laughter and the raw truths made me cringe.
I could not put this book down. The finale is just perfect. (Life is not). A must read for all ages.

[Mercedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mouth actually fell open in shock and I called out “no!” in a couple of spots in this book, so visceral was my reaction to certain plot developments (if you’ve read it, you’ll probably guess which ones).

The story follows Cassie Prince, a mid-40s mum-of-two who appears from the outside to have it all - two perfect kids, a loving husband, beautiful beachside home - and spends her days popping into her local cafe, walking the dog, shopping online, seemingly free and happy.

But we quickly learn, all is not well in Cassie’s world. Her son is on the cusp of an ADHD diagnosis, her mother back in England is dying, brining up memories of an unhappy and tragic childhood, and Cassie’s husband is too busy with work to even notice.

Enter Chris Lancaster, a gorgeous surfer dad new to the school whose wife died a year ago. Cassie goes from casual attraction to imagining romantic scenarios with him to a full mid-life spiral. It would seem everything is far from perfect.

I’ll be honest, I felt the first 100 pages were a little bit of a slow burn, I had to suspend reality in parts, and I struggled to like or relate to Cassie (thank god!) But when I realised where the story was going, I became invested and could not put it down for the last 100 pages. I would have liked a bit more on Cassie’s childhood and her relationship with her mother, which is what ultimately explains her motivations in the present day.

But apart from that, this was a thrilling debut which made me cringe and laugh. More than anything though, gee, I could relate to those primary school years as a mum - the constant P&F fundraisers, kiss and drop queues, lunchboxes that go uneaten, parent WhatsApp groups and so much more.

This book was written with real feeling and insight.

[Rina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Cassie Prince lives in a beautiful beach suburb with her successful husband Jon and their children Ellie and Danny. Life is perfect, right? Except now she's reached her mid-forties, she can't help wondering what happened to the fun-loving, sexy and accomplished woman she used to be. Then she meets Chris Lancaster, a charismatic widowed father-of-five. Soon she can't stop imagining romantic scenarios between them, even daydreaming of a future together.

Ohh this was so good. It started as a hard-hitting drama, and ended up as a semi-suspense! I loved the way it was written, where I was slowly reeled in to Cassie’s state of mind.

Cassie had the ‘perfect’ life with her husband and kids, and it all started perfectly normal. She and her struggles were so relatable in the beginning, I immediately felt a connection. So when everything started to go pear-shaped, I had a big oh-no and don’t-do-it-Cassie moments.

What followed was a series of raw scenes which honestly portrayed Cassie’s fall into the rabbit hole. Maxine wrote her character so realistically well, I was truly scared for Cassie and what would happen to her.

I listened to the audiobook, and was delightfully surprised that there was a bonus interview with the author at the end of it! This was such a well-written book, I’m looking forward to Maxine’s next one.

See my bookstagram review.

[Belinda Cranston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit I was a little uncomfortable reading this story, in the same way some might feel when feigning interest in buying an open house for sale, when really all they want is to have a sticky.

Forty-something Cassie Prince is one of those yummy mummy types who appear to have it all.

Like a character from a Liane Moriarty book, she lives a privileged life in an affluent Sydney suburb with her successful husband and two children. But keeping up appearances when her son needs a diagnosis and her mum back in England is not well, along with a nagging feeling she is not as relevant as she once was, starts to eat away at her.

Then one day Cassie sees Chris, a handsome young widower who silently mouths ‘hello’ at her while she is getting coffee.

This could be a difficult and cringe worthy read, however Fawcett’s depiction of the unravelling of a psyche is both fascinating and insightful. At times it feels shamefully voyeuristic, watching on as Cass avoids her own responsibilities, by fantasising about an uninvited place in Chris’ life instead.

At the same time Fawcett allows the reader to feel some empathy for Cass. She could easily be someone known to us. Perhaps there’s even a bit of Cass in ourselves.

This is a gripping story I was able to get through in a few nights before bedtime. The ending was satisfying and I hope this is the first of several books by Fawcett.

[Carrie Bigg · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was intense. The character is someone at times you hate for the actions and total lack of accountability for her damaging actions. At other times, you can feel empathy for the trauma she lived through and relatable to the experiences of women going through a 'mid-life crisis' or identity disillusionment. I was cringing to the response that the family had to the sons diagnosis of ADHD. It was ablest at each turn from multiple perspectives. To be honest, the attitude about that also reflects her own ability to seek support.
I think that it would have been good to learn more about Chris, but I understand the story was focused on Cassy. It makes me sad to think of the impact of Cassy's actions on the families involved. There didn't seem to be enough consequences on that. Reality would have trauma for the children and criminal actions Cassy took. The financial crisis her addictions would cause.
I was disappointed with many points and almost stopped reading. Cringe but interesting. If there's a sequel, I'd really like it to explore the arc of coming to terms with the child's diagnosis and neuro affirming experiences (and of course her own, which were not discussed but clearly needs).

[Belinda Cranston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forty-something year old Cass isn't a particularly likeable protagonist. Like a character from a Liane Moriarty book, she lives a privileged life in an affluent Sydney suburb but is far from content. Career driven and successful, her husband affords her more kindness than she deserves when she deals with her inner demons by drinking too much and embarrassing him in front of friends. Their 20-year relationship doesn't have the same spark it once did - adding to Cass' frustration is her diminishing sense of self as she struggles to navigate middle age. This could be a difficult and cringe worthy read, however Fawcett's depiction of the unraveling of a psyche is truly jaw-dropping. At times it feels shamefully voyeuristic witnessing just how far Cass will go, to avoid meeting the responsibilities of her own life. At the same time Fawcett allows the reader to feel some empathy for Cass. Everyone experiences a rut at some stage. But not everyone succumbs to a fantasy they are entitled to carve out a place in the life of someone they barely know. This is a gripping story I was able to get through in a few nights before bedtime. The ending was satisfying and I look forward to seeing what Fawcett does next.

[Ike Levick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 40: Everything is Perfect

We were lucky enough to host the hilarious and lovely Max at our bookclub, so we asked lots of questions, cried with laughter, and were fascinated to hear how Cassie was a voice who just “came to her,” while she was sitting on a bench writing in her journal. How cool is that?

This is written in first person, and the main character is gradually spiralling out to control, so it was quite the experience. Hilarious, and alarming, all at once. Some of the things she did had me shrieking in my mind, giving me Glenn Close/ Fatal Attraction vibes. You know when you put characters in situations and ask yourself, “What if she did such and such…” Max does this in quite a few instances - which made for uncomfortable reading, but also a magnetic story.

This book is funny, sad and very easy to read. Whilst I don’t want to spend more time in Cassie’s head, I did appreciate going along for the ride into her descent, and trying to figure out why she was feeling the way she felt. A close study of one person’s life, with very little regard for anyone else. Fascinating!

Well done Max, on a unique debut! I can’t wait to read your next book 🥰🛟🥰.

#bookclub #bookreview #everythingisperfect #penguinbooks #commercialfiction #amreading

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This debut book is satisfactory read, and I am sure will appeal to any woman facing a mid life crisis
Cassie's husband often works overseas leaving Cassie to cope with their children , one who has challenging behaviour . When the family moved to Australia Cassie's mother was left behind in England and this also weighs on her mind causing some stress. So while she tries to put on a brave face to everyone she interacts with , her life is slowly unravelling and author Maxine Fawcett has included a few twists and turns in the storyline as Cassie tries to figure out what she most needs in her life
The writing is crisp, the chapters are not long so the book moves along at a good pace ,and I am sure many women reading this book could relate to some of the issues which cause the anxiety overwhelming Cassie.
I will be keen to see what Maxine writes next , I hope we hear more about Cassie and her family.

[Katie Clews · Rating 4 out of 5]

New release: Everything is Perfect by Maxine Fawcett
Maxine’s debut novel is a story about Cass, middle aged mum of two who has a husband and a perfect life - or so it seems from the outside. Cass’s mum is in the UK and is dying, her son has been diagnosed with ADHD and her husband is too busy with work to notice her. She’s bored in her marriage until she encounters Chris, hot looking surfer Dad who has recently lost his wife and is looking after his kids. Her infactuation with him soon turns into an obsession and her life spirals out of control.
A solid debut which touches on some serious topics. 4 stars 🌟 🌟🌟🌟 from me
Ticking off book #12 in #ktbookbingo (a paperback book) Katie Elizabeth

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024 has, so far, been a year of highly emotional reads and Maxine Fawcett’s debut, Everything Is Perfect, was one of the standouts.

Cassie Prince is a wife and mother in her mid-forties whose life looks perfect from the outside, but nothing is as she had hoped. She’s worried about ageing, bored in her marriage and exhausted with motherhood, all while trying to ignore the news of her mother’s declining health. Cassie copes by doing what she’s always done, burying her feelings and turning to alcohol, online shopping and fantasies about the hot newly widowed father at her kids’ school.

I was so invested in Cassie and felt such empathy towards her. Being a similar age and experiencing similar struggles as a mother, I felt her tension in my own body as I read of her heartbreak and loneliness.

Being unable to deal with things and ignoring them was a strategy I could relate to, but I wished Cassie had the support around her to help her manage. Watching her unravel and her life spiralling towards the inevitable crash was nail biting and my heart was permanently in my throat.

There were so many amazing quotes, but here are just two that I found very relatable:

“…me and all the other desperate over-forties women doing our best not to disappear into a void of nothingness.”

“Parenting is like being pushed down a ski slope when you can’t ski. In the end, the result is always the same: you crash.”

Everything Is Perfect explores heavy themes including grief, loss, childhood trauma and mental health issues. It had me close to tears, but Maxine balances this so well with lighter humourous moments and an overall feeling of hope.

I will be thinking about this book for quite some time. It’s one I highly recommend, but dm me if you have questions about trigger warnings. Everything Is Perfect deserves all the stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Sarah Clutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very clever portrait of a forty-something mum's spiral into psychological decline as she's forced to face up to the truth of her childhood. Cassie appears to have the perfect life, but as she struggles with parenting, alcohol and her marriage, we are taken inside her fracturing mind in a very realistic way; no longer able to soothe her psyche with online shopping, botox or new clothes, Cassie has to do the work to save herself, but along the way her shocking fixation will keep you turning the pages! Well done on an amazing debut Maxine Fawcett!

[Cassie Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a bit of I don’t know.

I certainly enjoyed the start and understand the narrative but then it got a bit weird, intense and stalkery.

I was a bit frustrated with Cassie, the main character and her belief that her whole life would be better with this particular man in her life.

The plot twist was certainly not what I was expecting over the cheesecake incident and then it escalated quickly.

It does have themes of mental health and suicide and there really was no warning of this.

Generally it was a good read and I knocked it over quickly. It was not what I expected.

[Andrea Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything Is Perfect by Maxine Fawcett begins as a funny frothy story about a woman’s midlife crisis, but it soon becomes apparent that Cassie’s problems are extremely deep-rooted.
Her behaviour goes off the deep end, and it felt a bit like watching (reading) a train-wreck. I wanted to remain on her side and kept cheering for her to get her life back under control, but she just kept spiralling.
The humour made the story enjoyable and engaging, but don't underestimate it—this is a much deeper psychological story than first meets the eye.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Cassie navigates peri-menopause, her life begins to spin out of control. When demons from her past rear up, she becomes increasingly obsessed with handsome widower, Chris, convinced he is the antidote to all that is threatening to pull her down. Fast-paced, with wince-bright sharp edges, this novel grabbed me from the outset. I was stealing time anywhere I could to finish it. An excellent, astounding debut.

[Genevieve Brock · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I enjoyed most about this book is the way my feelings towards Cassie (the protagonist) changed throughout. There were quite a few unexpected, dark and sometimes shocking moments, balanced by the author’s sharp wit. Cassie has many issues but I did enjoy her sense of humour, particularly her observations of other parents. Worth a read.

[Tarne Neilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book felt odd with strong stalker undertones, leaving me puzzled about its themes. Is it a lighthearted comedy or a serious exploration of mental health and suicide? The combination didn't mesh well for me; the stalker elements were uncomfortably cringeworthy, prompting me to avert my gaze. It might appeal to some, but it didn't resonate with me.

[Hannah Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character is so unhinged and unlikable but as an enjoyable read I did power through this one.
It really encapsulates all the things wrong with Australian culture and comparative scenarios, esp around dating / marriage / jealousy. Sometimes a bit cringe and predictable, but engaging enough to like.
3.5 stars

[Denise Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot unfolds with a compelling rhythm, keeping readers engaged and eager to see what twists and turns await. Fawcett's writing offers a nice balance of description. She doesn't overwhelm with unnecessary detail, yet her scenes vividly immerse oneself in the lives of her characters. I kept visualising the book as a movie.

[Georgina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great book up till the end. So much time building the story to rush the ending and gloss over such an important topic. Could have been a much better story with some more time and effort put into the ending. You can’t say 12 months later.. and add a single chapter after all that happened. Disappointed.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say .. if you want to read about real life and choices and decisions that are made when they may be the wrong ones .. but to your a little unhinged to the point of becoming a stalker … then read this book… absolutely an eye opener and sad too and even happiness creeps in at times … I throughly enjoyed it 🫶🏻