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The Bad Parents
The picture-perfect neighborhood . . .
Instead of hosting trivia nights, the parents on Madison Lane decide to play by a whole new set of rules. Anything goes. Petra, Dawn, and Amy are about to indulge in their darkest fantasies, and it all goes on behind closed doors. Behind perfect picket fences and manicured lawns.
Until someone pushes those fantasies too far.
When Petra's car is stolen, she puts it down to bad luck. After a driver hops the curb and almost kills her, she knows she's being stalked. She can't help but wonder if someone from the group is targeting her.
Petra soon realizes she's caught in a dangerous game. One she may not win.
A completely gripping, twist-packed, and pacy domestic thriller. Perfect for fans of Kiersten Modglin and Tarryn Fisher.
Contains mature themes.
Instead of hosting trivia nights, the parents on Madison Lane decide to play by a whole new set of rules. Anything goes. Petra, Dawn, and Amy are about to indulge in their darkest fantasies, and it all goes on behind closed doors. Behind perfect picket fences and manicured lawns.
Until someone pushes those fantasies too far.
When Petra's car is stolen, she puts it down to bad luck. After a driver hops the curb and almost kills her, she knows she's being stalked. She can't help but wonder if someone from the group is targeting her.
Petra soon realizes she's caught in a dangerous game. One she may not win.
A completely gripping, twist-packed, and pacy domestic thriller. Perfect for fans of Kiersten Modglin and Tarryn Fisher.
Contains mature themes.
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First published May 8, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
August 5, 2023
What in the 50-shades-wannabe did I just read?? I’m in a bad habit of trusting the cover and a sentence review that claims the book is a “riveting thriller,” and not actually reading the summary before I dive in. But good news: I think this book has probably cured me of that.
Sure, there’s a murder. But a murder alone does not a thriller make. Whoever described it that way needs to reevaluate criteria for each genre.
Literally the only reason I gave this more than 1 star was because the last 2 chapters were somewhat surprising.
Sure, there’s a murder. But a murder alone does not a thriller make. Whoever described it that way needs to reevaluate criteria for each genre.
Literally the only reason I gave this more than 1 star was because the last 2 chapters were somewhat surprising.
September 2, 2023
I'd call it "Bad Spouses", not "Bad Parents"
July 2, 2023
"The Bad Parents" by S.L. Harker is a gripping and suspenseful novel that takes readers on a thrilling journey into the hidden lives of residents living on Madison Lane. From the very first page, I found myself hooked by the author's skillful storytelling and the intriguing premise of a seemingly perfect neighborhood harboring dark secrets.
Harker masterfully builds tension throughout the narrative, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The web of mysteries and unpredictable plot twists kept me guessing until the very end. Every chapter left me eager to uncover the truth behind Petra's stolen car and the escalating threats she faced.
What makes this book truly captivating is the complex characterization. Harker brings the residents of Madison Lane to life, delving into their individual desires and questionable actions. The author skillfully explores the depths of their fantasies and the consequences that arise when lines are crossed.
The pacing of the story is well-executed, with a perfect balance between suspenseful moments and quieter, introspective scenes. The writing style is engaging, making it easy to immerse oneself in the world of Madison Lane and empathize with Petra as she grapples with the mounting danger.
Although the book is undoubtedly thrilling, I would have appreciated a deeper exploration of certain characters and their motivations. There were a few instances where I felt some character development fell slightly short, leaving me wanting more insight into their reasoning and actions.
Despite this minor quibble, "The Bad Parents" is a highly enjoyable and captivating read that will keep fans of suspenseful novels hooked from start to finish. S.L. Harker weaves an intricate and suspense-filled tale that continually surprises and leaves readers speculating until the very last page. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling and engrossing read that challenges the façade of a picture-perfect neighborhood.
Harker masterfully builds tension throughout the narrative, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The web of mysteries and unpredictable plot twists kept me guessing until the very end. Every chapter left me eager to uncover the truth behind Petra's stolen car and the escalating threats she faced.
What makes this book truly captivating is the complex characterization. Harker brings the residents of Madison Lane to life, delving into their individual desires and questionable actions. The author skillfully explores the depths of their fantasies and the consequences that arise when lines are crossed.
The pacing of the story is well-executed, with a perfect balance between suspenseful moments and quieter, introspective scenes. The writing style is engaging, making it easy to immerse oneself in the world of Madison Lane and empathize with Petra as she grapples with the mounting danger.
Although the book is undoubtedly thrilling, I would have appreciated a deeper exploration of certain characters and their motivations. There were a few instances where I felt some character development fell slightly short, leaving me wanting more insight into their reasoning and actions.
Despite this minor quibble, "The Bad Parents" is a highly enjoyable and captivating read that will keep fans of suspenseful novels hooked from start to finish. S.L. Harker weaves an intricate and suspense-filled tale that continually surprises and leaves readers speculating until the very last page. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling and engrossing read that challenges the façade of a picture-perfect neighborhood.
July 12, 2023
The Bad Parents opens in idyllic suburbia. A man’s body is found dead at the end of his driveway. It looks like he had been hit by a car which jumped from the street to the sidewalk and killed him before fleeing the scene.
The story leading up to that killing revolves around three attractive suburban wives — all are mothers with young children — and their husbands. Petra, age 38, one of those three wives, is the book’s narrator.
The three wives meet one night in a seedy bar, just three girls who are neighbors getting together without their husbands to have a few drinks. The other two wives are the diffident Amy and the confident Dawn. After Amy leaves early, Petra and Dawn, now the only women in the bar, dance in front of a juke box and find themselves unexpectedly sharing a smoldering kiss, using as an excuse that they were drunk.
Once their husbands find out about that kiss, the three aroused couples start playing sex games among themselves. As the games increase in intensity, their bad behavior unabashedly descends into debauchery.
The Bad Parents is first and foremost a salacious suburban sex romp, where a group of consenting adults are searching for fun but are flirting with danger. The wives aren’t at all bad parents but they are bad people. When they grow unhappy with the games but their husbands don’t, they are faced with the problem of how to get them to stop. They come up with not just a solution, but a final solution.
But before finding that solution, Petra had become the target of a mysterious stalker. Is the stalker one of her sex group consumed by jealousy, or is the stalking related to a terrible secret she discovers her husband has been harboring?
Author S.L. Harker does not post a picture of herself on her website and her pronoun of preference is They. But whoever “she” is she knows how to write. She skillfully deals with a complexity of powerful emotions like jealousy, lust, betrayal and guilt; clearly describes what her characters are feeling, thinking and doing; and uses her words, especially her verbs, effectively.
But in the end she is simply disguising her softcore porn as a morality play. As my prurient eyes pored over the pages, I confess I forgot that I was supposedly undergoing an ethics lesson.
The story leading up to that killing revolves around three attractive suburban wives — all are mothers with young children — and their husbands. Petra, age 38, one of those three wives, is the book’s narrator.
The three wives meet one night in a seedy bar, just three girls who are neighbors getting together without their husbands to have a few drinks. The other two wives are the diffident Amy and the confident Dawn. After Amy leaves early, Petra and Dawn, now the only women in the bar, dance in front of a juke box and find themselves unexpectedly sharing a smoldering kiss, using as an excuse that they were drunk.
Once their husbands find out about that kiss, the three aroused couples start playing sex games among themselves. As the games increase in intensity, their bad behavior unabashedly descends into debauchery.
The Bad Parents is first and foremost a salacious suburban sex romp, where a group of consenting adults are searching for fun but are flirting with danger. The wives aren’t at all bad parents but they are bad people. When they grow unhappy with the games but their husbands don’t, they are faced with the problem of how to get them to stop. They come up with not just a solution, but a final solution.
But before finding that solution, Petra had become the target of a mysterious stalker. Is the stalker one of her sex group consumed by jealousy, or is the stalking related to a terrible secret she discovers her husband has been harboring?
Author S.L. Harker does not post a picture of herself on her website and her pronoun of preference is They. But whoever “she” is she knows how to write. She skillfully deals with a complexity of powerful emotions like jealousy, lust, betrayal and guilt; clearly describes what her characters are feeling, thinking and doing; and uses her words, especially her verbs, effectively.
But in the end she is simply disguising her softcore porn as a morality play. As my prurient eyes pored over the pages, I confess I forgot that I was supposedly undergoing an ethics lesson.
June 9, 2023
The second part of this story caught my interest far more than the first. I know that the first part was the reasoning behind the consequences but I found the characters to be acting like over-sexed teenagers; certainly not responsible adults or parents; hence the title, I suppose. None were likeable, in my opinion.
I enjoyed the good, fast-paced writing and part of the story as a whole but have read better from this author.
I enjoyed the good, fast-paced writing and part of the story as a whole but have read better from this author.
July 25, 2024
I really enjoyed it but felt I could come up with the twists before they happened. There were quite a few of them that it kept me interested though. Wasn’t expecting the plot hahah
July 18, 2025
C’était un peu ordinaire. Au début, c’est juste des soirées échangistes entre voisins… et quand l’action arrive, c’est correct mais sans wow.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ : Correct
⭐️⭐️⭐️ : Correct
July 25, 2023
Petra and her group of mom-friends attend game nights and things go from PG to X-rated fairly quickly. Soon, things in the neighbourhood start to go wrong. Petra's car is stolen, someone is attacked, and Petra starts to wonder if one of her friends might be responsible.
The plot of this book was kind of dumb in my opinion. Something that shouldn't have been a big deal was completely blown out of proportion because these characters had some internalized homophobia.
The characters were annoying and I just didn't care.
The plot of this book was kind of dumb in my opinion. Something that shouldn't have been a big deal was completely blown out of proportion because these characters had some internalized homophobia.
The characters were annoying and I just didn't care.
January 22, 2024
A very different story with a twist, had me guessing right till the end.
January 20, 2024
This book shocked me from the beginning. I was like what on earth am I reading at first then as it went on I was enjoying the “stalking” plot twist because it started to get the mystery vibe then. The swinger storyline was crazy. The ending with the wives taking out each other’s husbands was the best ending ever because I was not prepared for that. I seriously thought the therapist was killed by an obsessed client. To learn he was sleeping with clients, a baby by side chick and business partner, I was not really mourning of his loss. I enjoyed the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2025
4.5 I went in blind with this one thinking they were awful to the kids or something... nope I was way off this is a suburban "perfect" life gone bad lol 😆 with a very twisted ending that I did not see coming 😳
November 15, 2024
3.5 stars! Don’t agree with the tittle, should be called bad husbands
May 17, 2023
𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬, 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬, 𝐏𝐓𝐀𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐠𝐚 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐔𝐕𝐬, 𝐰𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦.
My third read from this author, and it was a winner! Domestic suspense is hit or miss with me, but THE BAD PARENTS really pulled back the curtain for a peek into the dark side of suburban life. The prologue immediately drew me in with the discovery of a body lying in the street. The story itself unfolded at a fast pace and centered around three couples who regularly get together for game night...until a new game is proposed. Of course this type of 'game' never ends well for the participants, and before long, loyalties are divided, relationships are strained, and things become awkward for the inhabitants of Madison Lane.
As expected, someone pushes the fantasy too far, and what began as a bit of salacious fun behind closed doors has now exploded into a feeling of paranoia. Is someone stalking the group threatening to expose their secrets, or does a member of the group want to unravel an established relationship and begin a new one?
The ending was fantastic, and the entire book was just so much fun. This author is now an auto-buy for me.
My third read from this author, and it was a winner! Domestic suspense is hit or miss with me, but THE BAD PARENTS really pulled back the curtain for a peek into the dark side of suburban life. The prologue immediately drew me in with the discovery of a body lying in the street. The story itself unfolded at a fast pace and centered around three couples who regularly get together for game night...until a new game is proposed. Of course this type of 'game' never ends well for the participants, and before long, loyalties are divided, relationships are strained, and things become awkward for the inhabitants of Madison Lane.
As expected, someone pushes the fantasy too far, and what began as a bit of salacious fun behind closed doors has now exploded into a feeling of paranoia. Is someone stalking the group threatening to expose their secrets, or does a member of the group want to unravel an established relationship and begin a new one?
The ending was fantastic, and the entire book was just so much fun. This author is now an auto-buy for me.
August 2, 2023
Bilge
Don’t waste your time reading this rubbish. The characters are all awful people who I couldn’t have cared less about and the plot was ridiculous. The writing style is juvenile and stilted. The only saving grace is that it was a freebie.
Don’t waste your time reading this rubbish. The characters are all awful people who I couldn’t have cared less about and the plot was ridiculous. The writing style is juvenile and stilted. The only saving grace is that it was a freebie.
March 3, 2025
Wow! J’ai tout aimé du livre! Un fabuleux mélange entre romance, 🌶️🌶️ et intrigue. Au début, je me demandais franchement où l’histoire nous mènerait, mais plus les chapitres avançaient, et que des rebondissements faisaient leur apparitions, ça devenait de plus en plus excellent! Honnêtement je recommande 😬
January 5, 2025
Les premiers chapitres étaient vraiment 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ , au point que je me demandais si une intrigue allait arriver un jour. Finalement, plusieurs rebondissements sont arrivés vers la moitié du livre. La fin, quoi que pas originale à outrance, m’a surprise!
August 6, 2023
There were certainly some psychological aspects and "thriller" feels to this extremely disturbed story. Overall, I'd say the biggest mystery was really in how this story would take shape, rather than a "whodunnit."
I struggled to get through the first part as it was a stark contrast to what I was expecting due to the genre it's labeled under.
Based on reviews, I kept reading until the end.
Throughout the story, and obviously by the title, the characters are portrayals of exceptional bad, selfish, irresponsible parents who complain about their spouses and kids and do everything wrong about it.
Typically, in a story there is at least one likable character, one with a redeeming quality.
In the end, I kept waiting for it to unfold, but not one character had a redeeming quality. On the contrary, each character kept getting more and more disgusting.
The only characters to feel sorry for, or feel a tie to, were the children who had parents who didn't want them, treat them well, care about being mature and setting good examples, and were conspiring murders of the other parent.
Each character felt justified for murdering their child's other parent. The only thing psychological about it was showing multiple seriously screwed up and psychotic parents.
The main character should be locked up as the ending clearly shows a victim mentality and psychopathic break where she sees herself as the heroine of a seriously deranged psychotic logic "saving" her children...
I have great respect for the art of writing and I do everything I can to support fellow writers... but this story just did not work for me at all. A character needs to at least be likable and have redeeming qualities about them. If there isn't either of those, then at least be developed in a way as to produce an understanding or sympathy, a thread of compassion, for the character. I have honestly never read a book where I not only disliked each of the central characters, but never was made to feel any pull or compassion towards them either.
The first part of the story was so heavily infused with "game night gone bad" that it felt heavily disjointed and like it should have been labelled a different genre.
In every story I've ever read, even if I dislike a lot of the character's qualities or actions, at least I find myself rooting them on at the end. By the end of this story, I'm left sickened and disgusted at the characters. I don't feel a "thrill," I don't feel a resolution, and I honestly just feel unsettled and disappointed. I chose to be fully honest because the only reason I kept reading past the first part was due to other reviews. If someone is hoping for a redemption of the story's arc by continuing to read like I did, it just doesn't happen. I would have rather gone with my gut and stopped reading when I felt it going too far over into 50 shades of grey land. I strongly think it should be related to "erotic suspense" or something rather than what it is and that might better filter out the right audience for the book.
I struggled to get through the first part as it was a stark contrast to what I was expecting due to the genre it's labeled under.
Based on reviews, I kept reading until the end.
Throughout the story, and obviously by the title, the characters are portrayals of exceptional bad, selfish, irresponsible parents who complain about their spouses and kids and do everything wrong about it.
Typically, in a story there is at least one likable character, one with a redeeming quality.
In the end, I kept waiting for it to unfold, but not one character had a redeeming quality. On the contrary, each character kept getting more and more disgusting.
The only characters to feel sorry for, or feel a tie to, were the children who had parents who didn't want them, treat them well, care about being mature and setting good examples, and were conspiring murders of the other parent.
Each character felt justified for murdering their child's other parent. The only thing psychological about it was showing multiple seriously screwed up and psychotic parents.
The main character should be locked up as the ending clearly shows a victim mentality and psychopathic break where she sees herself as the heroine of a seriously deranged psychotic logic "saving" her children...
I have great respect for the art of writing and I do everything I can to support fellow writers... but this story just did not work for me at all. A character needs to at least be likable and have redeeming qualities about them. If there isn't either of those, then at least be developed in a way as to produce an understanding or sympathy, a thread of compassion, for the character. I have honestly never read a book where I not only disliked each of the central characters, but never was made to feel any pull or compassion towards them either.
The first part of the story was so heavily infused with "game night gone bad" that it felt heavily disjointed and like it should have been labelled a different genre.
In every story I've ever read, even if I dislike a lot of the character's qualities or actions, at least I find myself rooting them on at the end. By the end of this story, I'm left sickened and disgusted at the characters. I don't feel a "thrill," I don't feel a resolution, and I honestly just feel unsettled and disappointed. I chose to be fully honest because the only reason I kept reading past the first part was due to other reviews. If someone is hoping for a redemption of the story's arc by continuing to read like I did, it just doesn't happen. I would have rather gone with my gut and stopped reading when I felt it going too far over into 50 shades of grey land. I strongly think it should be related to "erotic suspense" or something rather than what it is and that might better filter out the right audience for the book.
August 4, 2023
The picture-perfect neighborhood. Instead of hosting trivia nights, the parents on Madison Lane decide to play by a whole new set of rules. Petra, Dawn, and Amy are about to indulge in their darkest fantasies behind closed doors. Until someone pushes those fantasies too far. When Petra's car is stolen, she puts it down to bad luck. After a driver hops the curb and almost kills her, she knows she's being stalked. She can't help but wonder if someone from the group is targeting her. Petra soon realizes she's caught in a dangerous game. One she may not win.
THE BAD PARENTS is the perfect title for this suspenseful thriller. It's a group of bored, suburban parents that want to spice up their lives. When I started reading, I did not expect the freaky, deaky turn of events. I wasn't bothered by it, but who would have thought they could get down like that? Sheesh! That said, it's not smut, by all means. It's tasteful and arguably entertaining. Plus, I couldn't get enough of the drama slowly unfolding! Pass me the popcorn because once this shady stalker came into play, I immersed myself in the story, losing sleep.
As for the characters, I disliked all the husbands. Stick them on a boat and ship them away, please! I cringed every time one of them opened their dumb mouth. As for the wives, I had a good time getting to know them. Yes, they were flawed, but I couldn't blame them. Petra especially caught my attention. Due to her intelligence and motherly care, I labeled her my favorite, with Dawn as a close second.
SL Harker did a phenomenal job building each marriage's storyline and the aftermath of their actions. A few curveballs surprised me, with a well-thought-out ending that brought everything full circle. I highly recommend THE BAD PARENTS if you're looking for a fun, think-outside-the-box plot that'll have you side-eyeing your picture-perfect neighbors. After all, anyone can give in to their darkest desires if given the opportunity.
THE BAD PARENTS is the perfect title for this suspenseful thriller. It's a group of bored, suburban parents that want to spice up their lives. When I started reading, I did not expect the freaky, deaky turn of events. I wasn't bothered by it, but who would have thought they could get down like that? Sheesh! That said, it's not smut, by all means. It's tasteful and arguably entertaining. Plus, I couldn't get enough of the drama slowly unfolding! Pass me the popcorn because once this shady stalker came into play, I immersed myself in the story, losing sleep.
As for the characters, I disliked all the husbands. Stick them on a boat and ship them away, please! I cringed every time one of them opened their dumb mouth. As for the wives, I had a good time getting to know them. Yes, they were flawed, but I couldn't blame them. Petra especially caught my attention. Due to her intelligence and motherly care, I labeled her my favorite, with Dawn as a close second.
SL Harker did a phenomenal job building each marriage's storyline and the aftermath of their actions. A few curveballs surprised me, with a well-thought-out ending that brought everything full circle. I highly recommend THE BAD PARENTS if you're looking for a fun, think-outside-the-box plot that'll have you side-eyeing your picture-perfect neighbors. After all, anyone can give in to their darkest desires if given the opportunity.
September 19, 2023
First things first, there is one major issue here.... this book opens with a detective showing up at a crime scene, where a man was run over in his driveway. She mentions looking up to see a woman crying, and says "Then she regards the house. One of her officers consoles a weeping woman standing in the doorway. The wife or a neighbor? Definitely the wife, judging by the tears."
By the end of the book you know it's Petra's husband Andrew that it was referencing...which means the detective already knew Petra by that point.... so? Just doesn't make sense. More context, Petra's 911 call after she finds Andrew: "My husband is dead. He’s at the end of our drive. I think he was hit by a car… I don’t know. I… there wasn’t a pulse. He’s not… he’s not at the right angle. There’s blood. He’s cold. I… I think it’s the stalker, the one with the SUV. Can you send Detective Buchanan? She knows what happened to me. Please send someone soon. I need to look after my kids."
Also the whole weird "game nights" was just awkward?
Other than that, this reminds me of when I watched Haunting of Bly Manor...where I went into it expecting horror but instead by the end I got a sweet lesbian love story....
Except in this case you have some unhappy domestic couples that get a little wild, and then end in 2 husbands murdered and one lesbian couple.....
I'll give it credit that it kept me reading, but between the big mistake I mentioned and the weirdness of game nights, and Andrew just being a big piece of sh*t I can't really say much good about it....
By the end of the book you know it's Petra's husband Andrew that it was referencing...which means the detective already knew Petra by that point.... so? Just doesn't make sense. More context, Petra's 911 call after she finds Andrew: "My husband is dead. He’s at the end of our drive. I think he was hit by a car… I don’t know. I… there wasn’t a pulse. He’s not… he’s not at the right angle. There’s blood. He’s cold. I… I think it’s the stalker, the one with the SUV. Can you send Detective Buchanan? She knows what happened to me. Please send someone soon. I need to look after my kids."
Also the whole weird "game nights" was just awkward?
Other than that, this reminds me of when I watched Haunting of Bly Manor...where I went into it expecting horror but instead by the end I got a sweet lesbian love story....
Except in this case you have some unhappy domestic couples that get a little wild, and then end in 2 husbands murdered and one lesbian couple.....
I'll give it credit that it kept me reading, but between the big mistake I mentioned and the weirdness of game nights, and Andrew just being a big piece of sh*t I can't really say much good about it....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2025
This is not a book that I'd really recommend. The first half of the book follows 3 couples as they decide to become swingers basically. It starts with 2 of the moms kissing on a moms night out, then all the couples playing spin the bottle, and then it just goes downhill from there. It's graphic, its gross, and some of the characters are like "Oh this is bad!" but they keep going back for more. I almost DNF'ed it because it was too much for me and it just felt icky, but I was over halfway through so I kept going. There is someone stalking our main character, Petra, and I wanted to know who/why. The 2nd half (or maybe third) of the book is a thriller about who is stalking her and why and THAT was interesting. That's what took this from a 1-2 star to a 3 star. The reasoning for it was cheap and not that satisfying, but it was fine. Honestly, this was compulsively readable, but the content is a 2 max.
July 6, 2023
I took a chance on this as it was an Amazon freebie and found myself enjoying the rush of the story. The problem is, there is too much of a rush. There is a great deal going on here and it's often raced through, with little character development or exposition.
Potentially, it's a decent quick read but I personally found it's story unsatisfying and full of characters who needed more fleshing out. At 204 pages, there isn't really the space or time to expand on the characters or their motivations.
A high two stars if that makes sense - when it's in full flight The Bad Parents is an exciting read...I just wish it would have slowed down sometimes to let the story and characters breathe.
Potentially, it's a decent quick read but I personally found it's story unsatisfying and full of characters who needed more fleshing out. At 204 pages, there isn't really the space or time to expand on the characters or their motivations.
A high two stars if that makes sense - when it's in full flight The Bad Parents is an exciting read...I just wish it would have slowed down sometimes to let the story and characters breathe.
July 12, 2023
1⭐️
Majorly NSFW.
I found the content toxic and cringeworthy at the same time. Perpetuating the myth (largely believed by men) that if you’re straight and kiss someone of the same sex, it’s not cheating. What message does this send to LGB readers; completely invalidating their feelings and relationships. The only character with a half decent moral compass was Amy and she was made oh to be prudish and an oddity because she valued her marriage vows. I am sure there are thousands of readers who enjoy reading about wife swapping and drug fuelled sex parties, but I am not one of them.
Majorly NSFW.
I found the content toxic and cringeworthy at the same time. Perpetuating the myth (largely believed by men) that if you’re straight and kiss someone of the same sex, it’s not cheating. What message does this send to LGB readers; completely invalidating their feelings and relationships. The only character with a half decent moral compass was Amy and she was made oh to be prudish and an oddity because she valued her marriage vows. I am sure there are thousands of readers who enjoy reading about wife swapping and drug fuelled sex parties, but I am not one of them.
August 11, 2023
Stellar!
I wasn’t even sure where this story was going from the start but it was intriguing. These 3 couples open a can of worms with their game nights that stray into spicy territory. But secrets are being revealed and the friends are learning things about themselves and each other — and the worms won’t go back in the can.
It may be controversial, but I loved the ending. Women taking matters into their own hands to rid themselves of scummy losers is a tale as old as time and I applaud it. Justice has to come from somewhere.
I wasn’t even sure where this story was going from the start but it was intriguing. These 3 couples open a can of worms with their game nights that stray into spicy territory. But secrets are being revealed and the friends are learning things about themselves and each other — and the worms won’t go back in the can.
It may be controversial, but I loved the ending. Women taking matters into their own hands to rid themselves of scummy losers is a tale as old as time and I applaud it. Justice has to come from somewhere.
November 15, 2023
S. L. Harker is another new author for me, and The Bad Parents is not for the faint of heart. I had no idea where she was headed when she finished all of the graphic sex scenes in the beginning, but she managed to tie it together with a tidy red bow. If you trust anyone after reading this book, I would be shocked.
I would recommend this book to most of my thriller loving friends, but if you don't want to read about illicit sex, then pass it by. I nearly stopped reading it a few times, but I'm glad that I finished it!
I would recommend this book to most of my thriller loving friends, but if you don't want to read about illicit sex, then pass it by. I nearly stopped reading it a few times, but I'm glad that I finished it!
May 23, 2023
Fast and easy read
This book is definitely not mind blowing as some reviews have stated. It’s fast and easy but lacked tension and a build up. Not a lot of character development. I didn’t find myself rooting for or disliking any of them. The story itself was ok. I didn’t get bored but I didn’t feel invested either. If you need something to read then give it a try but don’t feel like you missed anything if you skip it.
This book is definitely not mind blowing as some reviews have stated. It’s fast and easy but lacked tension and a build up. Not a lot of character development. I didn’t find myself rooting for or disliking any of them. The story itself was ok. I didn’t get bored but I didn’t feel invested either. If you need something to read then give it a try but don’t feel like you missed anything if you skip it.
September 4, 2023
I didn’t realize this book would be so salacious and erotic. But in between all that is a twisty thriller that pivots so many times that the reader will be surprised at the end.
Three married couples engage in “game night” where the games get more erotic each time they meet. After a series of strange events, secrets and lies emerge.
While I had it figured out early on, the surprise twist at the end really got me. I did not see that coming!
Three married couples engage in “game night” where the games get more erotic each time they meet. After a series of strange events, secrets and lies emerge.
While I had it figured out early on, the surprise twist at the end really got me. I did not see that coming!
December 11, 2023
This is quite spicy and an enjoyable read. I did like the blend between domestic drama and crime fiction, and thought that was very interesting. I felt there was more to be depicted in the dynamic between the three women but, once the crime elements in the story began, there were obviously other aspects to explore. There are some very gripping moments here, though I wasn't entirely convinced by the twist. Still, it's a good read.
January 14, 2024
If it makes you super horny does that mean it’s a good book? Eeeeek. I had no idea what I was getting myself into but….okay….I’m down for it (quite literally). I love a good domestic thriller but this was more domestic parents meet magic Mike. Good fun I guess. I liked it and I’m not done yet. I never leave reviews but if you want some fun “normal” family, but not in the least, sex then hop on. No puns intended.
June 24, 2024
What in the world did I just read? The first half of this book involved weird “game night” sex orgies between three couples in a neighborhood. Then we have a stalker, jealous spouses, cheating spouses and weird arrangements.
I was not at all a fan of this book. I almost DNF but pushed on because it wasn’t an overly long book. The ending was a bit weird and was only a slight surprise.
Just a bizarre novel.
I was not at all a fan of this book. I almost DNF but pushed on because it wasn’t an overly long book. The ending was a bit weird and was only a slight surprise.
Just a bizarre novel.
January 17, 2025
For a domestic thriller —one of my favorite sub genres— this book really fell flat. What started as an awkward spouse swapping for nearly half the book, turned into an 'everyone has a dark side and men suck' sort of "twist" and despite there being a smidge of sapphic feelings squeezed in there, it did not sell me on the couple, nor the book itself. It had potential to be quite good, but things got too messy and the end felt very rushed.
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