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Winter Park #2
Perfect Life
Following a shocking murder, a woman must face the secrets from her past—and a husband she thought she knew—in this twisty, sizzling novel from the bestselling authors of Happy Wife.
Este Walker didn’t move to Winter Park, Florida, to make friends. Five years ago, she ghosted her life in California to reinvent herself among the lakefront estates of Florida’s elite. With a cocktail in hand, more money than she could ever spend, and secrets she intends to keep buried, she’s finally content—or, you know, close enough. Who cares if her seclusion and secrets have left her with a small social circle? Her husband Beau and her best friend Nora are the only company she needs.
But Este’s secrets are catching up to her. Last year, when Nora gained national attention as a suspect in her husband's disappearance, Este’s picture was flashed onscreen. Suddenly the past she had hoped to keep buried is closing in on her—and Beau might be keeping secrets of his own. And then a mysterious death turns Winter Park upside down.
Thrust into a high-stakes murder investigation, Este must unravel a web of lies and secrets to answer the question: What exactly happened in California, and has it come back to haunt her? More importantly: How is she going to get herself out of this mess?
Este Walker didn’t move to Winter Park, Florida, to make friends. Five years ago, she ghosted her life in California to reinvent herself among the lakefront estates of Florida’s elite. With a cocktail in hand, more money than she could ever spend, and secrets she intends to keep buried, she’s finally content—or, you know, close enough. Who cares if her seclusion and secrets have left her with a small social circle? Her husband Beau and her best friend Nora are the only company she needs.
But Este’s secrets are catching up to her. Last year, when Nora gained national attention as a suspect in her husband's disappearance, Este’s picture was flashed onscreen. Suddenly the past she had hoped to keep buried is closing in on her—and Beau might be keeping secrets of his own. And then a mysterious death turns Winter Park upside down.
Thrust into a high-stakes murder investigation, Este must unravel a web of lies and secrets to answer the question: What exactly happened in California, and has it come back to haunt her? More importantly: How is she going to get herself out of this mess?
336 pages, Hardcover
First published July 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 349 reviews
July 1, 2026
2.5 stars. Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores' first book, Happy Wife, was one of my favorite reads of 2025 and my favorite thriller that I read that year. Unfortunately, their second book, Perfect Life, didn't work as well for me.
1. I wasn't as connected to or invested in Este, the FMC, as I was with Nora for Happy Wife.
2. I felt the overall plot was much juicier in Happy Wife. This book, even if I had not read Happy Wife previously, was pretty bland for a thriller for me.
3. I didn't like the quick explanation/wrap up in the epilogue. I would have more so enjoyed this being explored throughout the book rather than summarized in 2.5 pages.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine for the advanced copy. Perfect Life hits shelves on July 7, 2026.
1. I wasn't as connected to or invested in Este, the FMC, as I was with Nora for Happy Wife.
2. I felt the overall plot was much juicier in Happy Wife. This book, even if I had not read Happy Wife previously, was pretty bland for a thriller for me.
3. I didn't like the quick explanation/wrap up in the epilogue. I would have more so enjoyed this being explored throughout the book rather than summarized in 2.5 pages.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine for the advanced copy. Perfect Life hits shelves on July 7, 2026.
July 7, 2026
🎧Pub Day Review🎧
Don’t let the cover full you into thinking this is a cozy one. It definitely turns into a thriller. Once I started the audiobook, I couldn’t stop.
Este Walker and her husband Beau move to Winter Park, Florida to reinvent Este herself. She’s hanging with the elite in hopes that her secrets stay buried.
Then, the community is shocked by a sudden murder. Who’s the killer and are they close to home? Told from the past and the present.
The audiobook is narrated by a favorite, Saskia Maarleveld. Of course she does an amazing job! I swear, if she narrates it, I’m listening to it. She always does a phenomenal job with the tension and suspense in her tone.
This is out today and I recommend you giving it a read.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Don’t let the cover full you into thinking this is a cozy one. It definitely turns into a thriller. Once I started the audiobook, I couldn’t stop.
Este Walker and her husband Beau move to Winter Park, Florida to reinvent Este herself. She’s hanging with the elite in hopes that her secrets stay buried.
Then, the community is shocked by a sudden murder. Who’s the killer and are they close to home? Told from the past and the present.
The audiobook is narrated by a favorite, Saskia Maarleveld. Of course she does an amazing job! I swear, if she narrates it, I’m listening to it. She always does a phenomenal job with the tension and suspense in her tone.
This is out today and I recommend you giving it a read.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 27, 2026
I really enjoyed this sequel to Happy Life, featuring the neighbors Este and Beau. A fun, twisty mystery with flashbacks that help add to the original story without repeating storylines. Recommend for mystery fans!
I chose Happy Life for my book club earlier this year, and I was so excited to see the next book available as an eARC on NetGalley.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review
I chose Happy Life for my book club earlier this year, and I was so excited to see the next book available as an eARC on NetGalley.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review
June 16, 2026
This was boring.
July 15, 2026
So when I started reading this book, I didn't realize it was the second of a series. That said, while there are some details you would glean from the first book about the relationship between Nora and Este, you can read this on its own. The authors provide enough details to fill in the reader on what happened in the first book.
Este reminded me of myself a little bit when I worked in the corporate world. I don't think I was as intense as Este, but when you are a woman, you have to work twice as hard to get ahead. But all of that comes crashing down when her boss isn't able to purchase a company. Partially due to the direction he wants to take the company, which goes against the owner's wishes. And because that same owner, Beau, has eyes for Este. She is torpedoed when he fires her via a notecard. But it was probably the best thing for her, because she is able to move on with her life, a life she didn't know she needed.
Beau is one of those guys that all women love. He is down-to-earth, pragmatic, and loveable. I loved watching his relationship with Este grow...until there are deaths in town, and he is a primary suspect. They both seem to have trust issues, and are keeping secrets from one another. Will they get past those secrets?
This is touted as women's fiction and a suspense/thriller, and I can see both of those genres. I enjoyed the humor and cattiness from the female characters, but the suspense as to who killed who kept me engaged in the story. I did not suspect the killer!
I am on the fence regarding Este's character. She seemed to do some unwise things, and instead of leaning into Beau and her friends, she seems to be running away and trying to get to the bottom of things on her own. She does redeem herself in the end.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel and will have to go back and read the first book and learn more about Nora's character.
We give this book 4 paws up.
Este reminded me of myself a little bit when I worked in the corporate world. I don't think I was as intense as Este, but when you are a woman, you have to work twice as hard to get ahead. But all of that comes crashing down when her boss isn't able to purchase a company. Partially due to the direction he wants to take the company, which goes against the owner's wishes. And because that same owner, Beau, has eyes for Este. She is torpedoed when he fires her via a notecard. But it was probably the best thing for her, because she is able to move on with her life, a life she didn't know she needed.
Beau is one of those guys that all women love. He is down-to-earth, pragmatic, and loveable. I loved watching his relationship with Este grow...until there are deaths in town, and he is a primary suspect. They both seem to have trust issues, and are keeping secrets from one another. Will they get past those secrets?
This is touted as women's fiction and a suspense/thriller, and I can see both of those genres. I enjoyed the humor and cattiness from the female characters, but the suspense as to who killed who kept me engaged in the story. I did not suspect the killer!
I am on the fence regarding Este's character. She seemed to do some unwise things, and instead of leaning into Beau and her friends, she seems to be running away and trying to get to the bottom of things on her own. She does redeem herself in the end.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel and will have to go back and read the first book and learn more about Nora's character.
We give this book 4 paws up.
July 14, 2026
I read this book, based on how much I liked the first book, happy wife.
The author attempted to use the same formula for this book as she did in a happy wife
Didn’t work
Murder occurs in upper class, Winter Park, Florida. The suspects are all from the country club.
Typical stereotype characters, not much depth.
The author tried too hard to make the murder, interesting, because it really wasn’t.
Bottom line, not worth the read.
The author attempted to use the same formula for this book as she did in a happy wife
Didn’t work
Murder occurs in upper class, Winter Park, Florida. The suspects are all from the country club.
Typical stereotype characters, not much depth.
The author tried too hard to make the murder, interesting, because it really wasn’t.
Bottom line, not worth the read.
July 7, 2026
Likely geared for new adults to early 30s, this thriller/romance title’s primary focus is on the career and life goals of main character Este Todd and her surrounding friends, frenemies, business contacts and social acquaintances ranging from annoying to self-absorbed and self-promoting with a surprising few being truly likable. When murder threatens to upend all that Este has meticulous orchestrated and fine-tuned into a so-called perfect life, she must decide how far will she go to protect those dreams.
Loss of her parents in her early teens did not help academically over-achieving, striving for perfection at all times Estes, especially being transplanted from the world of academia to the very different, free-spirited, culturally unique world of New Orleans with an equally eclectic aunt who has a dominant personality like her parents, but with a very different execution style. Este emerges brilliant, with emotions stuffed down tightly, and a determination to launch herself into the business aspect of the tech world and sees Chief Executive Officer in her near future. Being Chief of Staff to Simon Avery has her on the right path to her perfect life, but when she artfully orchestrates a meeting with tech giant Beau Walker looking to sell and her boss makes a disastrous proposition against her counsel, Este is unceremoniously fired and left adrift. Until Beau Walker picks up her pieces and creates a new perfect life she never knew she wanted. Escaping California and the sting and career busting effect of her termination happens by way of expensive distractions across the world, all guided by the handsome, kind and supportive and now, after a highly lucrative sale of his company, an extremely wealthy Beau. Eventually settling in Winter Park, FL amid the wealthy, those who want to be associated with money and all those who work behind the scenes to be sure the money set never has to do much more than keep up appearances at one of the country clubs, Este and Beau settle into the perfect life they are sure will be their final destination as long as they are together.
But everyone knows there is no such thing as perfection and with a mysterious and anonymous text from California area, Este’s Perfect Life begins to implode one step and several leaps at a time until past mistakes, old lovers, dead bodies and prison become the new normal.
Authors Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores weave a solid thriller that may fit more into the mystery, realistic fiction, social drama genres and certainly has elements of all. Those who love to watch Real Wives reality shows will enjoy the petty bickering, focus on finding the just right outfit to be wearing when manipulating an entrance, as well as the romantic entanglements that pop up. Plenty of mystery around the who did what to who and the duo plants plenty of clues that seem like they identify the perpetrator(s) but then go a completely different direction. The conclusion ties up all the loose ends pretty neatly, but certainly leaves readers knowing that within that environment, The Perfect Life that settles into the usual privileged ease will certainly get shaken up again.
*Profanity: Considering the constant barrage of every possible curse word choice being used in so much YA and Adult works now, the level in The Perfect Life is pretty low. There are some Fbombs and a fair amount of lesser cursing, but it was not over used.
*Violence: Several deaths occur and a few fights between key players but none are excessively described nor bloody.
*Sexual content: It is stated that Este has had several lovers and the beginnings of a few of those physical encounters do generate a bit of passion, but those all “fade to black” so to speak w/only low levels of heat; plenty of references to infidelity but no descriptions of those incidents.
*Representation: Not all the key players are obscenely wealthy with service workers and others striving to move up the economic ladder playing key roles; Race is left fairly ambiguous; One wealthy wife makes no secret of her affairs and one of her dalliances is with another woman but no real emphasis is placed on the same sex aspect.
Thanks for the eARC, Edelweiss and Penguin Random House.
Loss of her parents in her early teens did not help academically over-achieving, striving for perfection at all times Estes, especially being transplanted from the world of academia to the very different, free-spirited, culturally unique world of New Orleans with an equally eclectic aunt who has a dominant personality like her parents, but with a very different execution style. Este emerges brilliant, with emotions stuffed down tightly, and a determination to launch herself into the business aspect of the tech world and sees Chief Executive Officer in her near future. Being Chief of Staff to Simon Avery has her on the right path to her perfect life, but when she artfully orchestrates a meeting with tech giant Beau Walker looking to sell and her boss makes a disastrous proposition against her counsel, Este is unceremoniously fired and left adrift. Until Beau Walker picks up her pieces and creates a new perfect life she never knew she wanted. Escaping California and the sting and career busting effect of her termination happens by way of expensive distractions across the world, all guided by the handsome, kind and supportive and now, after a highly lucrative sale of his company, an extremely wealthy Beau. Eventually settling in Winter Park, FL amid the wealthy, those who want to be associated with money and all those who work behind the scenes to be sure the money set never has to do much more than keep up appearances at one of the country clubs, Este and Beau settle into the perfect life they are sure will be their final destination as long as they are together.
But everyone knows there is no such thing as perfection and with a mysterious and anonymous text from California area, Este’s Perfect Life begins to implode one step and several leaps at a time until past mistakes, old lovers, dead bodies and prison become the new normal.
Authors Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores weave a solid thriller that may fit more into the mystery, realistic fiction, social drama genres and certainly has elements of all. Those who love to watch Real Wives reality shows will enjoy the petty bickering, focus on finding the just right outfit to be wearing when manipulating an entrance, as well as the romantic entanglements that pop up. Plenty of mystery around the who did what to who and the duo plants plenty of clues that seem like they identify the perpetrator(s) but then go a completely different direction. The conclusion ties up all the loose ends pretty neatly, but certainly leaves readers knowing that within that environment, The Perfect Life that settles into the usual privileged ease will certainly get shaken up again.
*Profanity: Considering the constant barrage of every possible curse word choice being used in so much YA and Adult works now, the level in The Perfect Life is pretty low. There are some Fbombs and a fair amount of lesser cursing, but it was not over used.
*Violence: Several deaths occur and a few fights between key players but none are excessively described nor bloody.
*Sexual content: It is stated that Este has had several lovers and the beginnings of a few of those physical encounters do generate a bit of passion, but those all “fade to black” so to speak w/only low levels of heat; plenty of references to infidelity but no descriptions of those incidents.
*Representation: Not all the key players are obscenely wealthy with service workers and others striving to move up the economic ladder playing key roles; Race is left fairly ambiguous; One wealthy wife makes no secret of her affairs and one of her dalliances is with another woman but no real emphasis is placed on the same sex aspect.
Thanks for the eARC, Edelweiss and Penguin Random House.
August 18, 2026
Perfect Life by Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores is book number two in the Winter Park series. I am obsessed with these books. The writing is witty, current and juicy. Winter Park, Fl is full of so many characters we both love and hate, that all have one thing in common most come with money. Perfect Life picks up where we left off with Nora's bff, Este and her husband Beau. You get to peek at why they ended up in Winter Park from California and someone from there past is closing in on them. Even money can't allow you to hide away from the past for long. We find that Nora and Este are no longer outcasts but Nora is the new Queen Bee of the affluent set, so wherever their every move is documented by someone in Winter Park. No spoilers but this one is a wild who done it ride, that begins with of course another body, I have a feeling this town's count is about to climb.
Grab this book its a fantastic quick read, and in case you missed the other times I said it, I love this book!
Grab this book its a fantastic quick read, and in case you missed the other times I said it, I love this book!
August 14, 2026
3.75⭐️
August 9, 2026
This was fine, I didn’t see where it was going and I read it really slow so I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had more time to read and get into it with each session vs just reading a few pages at a time and then finishing the last 40% in one go
July 20, 2026
I think Winter Park is my favorite setting. Like can I live there?!?! Just kidding it’s wayyyy out of my price range.
We meet Este back in Winter Park in the months following the murder of her next door neighbor. This time Este is the one sleuthing to find the connection between her husband and the murder of her best friend. Este keeps uncovering clues to understand what the heck happened, all while her past in California is coming back to haunt her. Is her husband the man she thought he was or was it all a scam.
I LOVE the winter park series and I am in desperate need of another book after finishing this one! Like right now please!!!! I highly recommend everyone reads these books. You will not be disappointed!
We meet Este back in Winter Park in the months following the murder of her next door neighbor. This time Este is the one sleuthing to find the connection between her husband and the murder of her best friend. Este keeps uncovering clues to understand what the heck happened, all while her past in California is coming back to haunt her. Is her husband the man she thought he was or was it all a scam.
I LOVE the winter park series and I am in desperate need of another book after finishing this one! Like right now please!!!! I highly recommend everyone reads these books. You will not be disappointed!
August 21, 2026
I loved the first one so I had high hopes for this, but it didn’t hit for me. I like the romance/thriller vibes, but this book was overall boring af. I didn’t care about any of the characters, and I did not like the few page summary at the end. I would have rather learned all that throughout the earlier chapters, not just in the last few pages of the book. The whole thing felt really drawn out for no good reason :/
July 17, 2026
loved this book - and I'm already thinking about which of my friends needs to read it. I have a lot of friends that love a good book and I feel like this twisty and turnt but good book needs to be referred to all the people that love a good thriller type book!
July 26, 2026
I don’t get it. This book was just a string of events. I was never drawn in. I never cared about the characters.
Este and Beau are married. A friend of theirs is murdered. Beau is one of the last people to be seen with her. Este stops trusting Beau. Another person dies at their home. Beau gets questioned by the police. Este wonders if her husband killed him.
It’s not riveting.
Este and Beau are married. A friend of theirs is murdered. Beau is one of the last people to be seen with her. Este stops trusting Beau. Another person dies at their home. Beau gets questioned by the police. Este wonders if her husband killed him.
It’s not riveting.
July 3, 2026
First book was so good and this fell so flat for me. Didn’t care about any of the characters or plot.
Thank you NetGalley for the arc
Thank you NetGalley for the arc
June 29, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for inviting me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 stars.
Despite the 3 stars, I did fairly enjoy this book. I would recommend people read it.
The cover is definitely accurate to the book, but I wouldn’t necessarily say this is a summer read. It was set in Florida and California, so in that sense yes. But I wouldn’t call it a beach read if that is what you may think.
I just didn’t realize this was a sequel/companion novel. If I knew that, I would have read book one first. I actually own the first book, I just haven’t read it yet. By the time I realized it was a sequel, I was too far into the book, so I just finished it.
I do plan on reading the first one! Maybe after I read that, I would enjoy this one more.
This one still made sense for the most part, even if you didn’t read the first book. You may just miss out on some extra details or miss out on some references.
Now getting into this book specifically. The mystery aspect was entertaining enough. I was curious to keep reading to see what was going on. I just didn’t fully connect to the characters. I liked Este enough, but I wasn’t in love with her. I liked her relationship with Beau, but I wasn’t interested enough to really care about how they met or how they got together.
And since I didn’t really know characters like Nora from the first book, Este and Nora’s friendship didn’t really keep me engaged. That is why I mentioned I think I could have given this a higher rating if I read the first book.
A lot of the drama with Este’s job I didn’t really care about at all. Which might sound terrible. It was important to the story, and I felt for her when she got fired, but I was never really interested going back in the past. I was more curious about what was going to happen in the present.
Everything tied up really nicely at the end. It was a clean wrap up to the story which I appreciated. There was maybe one thing I would have changed at the end. I won’t really be able to say because of spoilers, but I wish one character switched sides a little more smoothly. One minute she was suspecting someone pretty hard, then the next it was all okay. It was slightly jarring to read. I didn’t hate that she forgave this character, but I wish it was a smoother process. It does make sense in the grand scheme of things considering their relationship to each other, but still.
It’s a good enough read. I probably would read other books in the series if there were more!
3.5 stars.
Despite the 3 stars, I did fairly enjoy this book. I would recommend people read it.
The cover is definitely accurate to the book, but I wouldn’t necessarily say this is a summer read. It was set in Florida and California, so in that sense yes. But I wouldn’t call it a beach read if that is what you may think.
I just didn’t realize this was a sequel/companion novel. If I knew that, I would have read book one first. I actually own the first book, I just haven’t read it yet. By the time I realized it was a sequel, I was too far into the book, so I just finished it.
I do plan on reading the first one! Maybe after I read that, I would enjoy this one more.
This one still made sense for the most part, even if you didn’t read the first book. You may just miss out on some extra details or miss out on some references.
Now getting into this book specifically. The mystery aspect was entertaining enough. I was curious to keep reading to see what was going on. I just didn’t fully connect to the characters. I liked Este enough, but I wasn’t in love with her. I liked her relationship with Beau, but I wasn’t interested enough to really care about how they met or how they got together.
And since I didn’t really know characters like Nora from the first book, Este and Nora’s friendship didn’t really keep me engaged. That is why I mentioned I think I could have given this a higher rating if I read the first book.
A lot of the drama with Este’s job I didn’t really care about at all. Which might sound terrible. It was important to the story, and I felt for her when she got fired, but I was never really interested going back in the past. I was more curious about what was going to happen in the present.
Everything tied up really nicely at the end. It was a clean wrap up to the story which I appreciated. There was maybe one thing I would have changed at the end. I won’t really be able to say because of spoilers, but I wish one character switched sides a little more smoothly. One minute she was suspecting someone pretty hard, then the next it was all okay. It was slightly jarring to read. I didn’t hate that she forgave this character, but I wish it was a smoother process. It does make sense in the grand scheme of things considering their relationship to each other, but still.
It’s a good enough read. I probably would read other books in the series if there were more!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
THIS IS AN ADVANCED READER COPY FROM NETGALLEY OF THE BOOK, “The Perfect Life” written by Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores by Bantom Books:
Este had an amazing corporate job she was incredibly devoted to and extremely successful except she was sleeping with her boss Simon. Her best friend Gemma worked at an exclusive restaurant that all the successful people in the community were always socializing at and had given Este a heads up when the company she and Simon were trying to buy were working on their decisions about which companies to meet with and sell to. When Este meets Beau, whose company is the one her boss wants, she’s overwhelmed by her immediate feelings for him. She sets the meeting at the office and Simon blows the pitch to Beau and the next day leaves her a note on her desk firing her and telling her that it’s over between them. She is devastated because while she didn’t have feelings for Simon such as love she did love her job.
When Beau calls to see if she’d like to get together she explains how her life has imploded and she’s a mess, not someone who’s any fun. Instead he convinced her to try out new things for him to learn because he’s also lost without working anymore. As a new billionaire, he’s never been more flush with money but so confused by what to do and where to settle down and boredom after years of only knowing work around the clock has him feeling adrift. They begin taking painting lessons, learning to ride unicycles, they try all sorts of fun and crazy activities and soon fall in love. They head to Florida to a small elite part called Winter Park and decided to build their home there and have begun making some tentative friends. When Gemma finds Este through her new Instagram account, Este invites her to move from California and come work for Mark, Beaus best friend who has a successful restaurant and who they came to visit when deciding to stay in Winter Park. Este has.been helping Gemma with job applications to get into a career where she can move up the corporate ladder and be successful. The night of the anniversary party for Marks restaurant Gemma comes by to get the clothes she’s borrowing for her interview and Este even bought her a pair of designer shoes to match. Gemma worked at the restaurant that night of the anniversary party but Este after receiving a few calls from a 301 number (California) and then a text message warning her she can’t hide from him forever, Este sees his shadowed outline at the front windows of restaurant and is scared. Has her past and the chaos and bomb that she and Simon left in California cone for her? The year before, someone had murdered her good friend Nora’s husband and were apprehended by the detective work she and Gemma had done finding them. She is worried now that the picture that was in the newspaper is how her old life had found the new one she loves dearly. That night, Beau tells her he’d come home early morning hours having stayed back after she left the restaurant with Tippy, Shep, Autumn snd Mark. Gemma had been a closer and punched out around midnight. The next morning Gemma is found dead in the alley outside the restaurant and everyone at the after party is being questioned by police. Este starts to look at everyone with suspicion and finds that Gemma’s apartment has been cleaned out with no sign of any of the personal items Gemma owned in the apartment. As she is leaving the detective shows up, Este tells him she doesn’t know or understand why the apartment is cleared out. She was looking forward to put roots down and was interviewing for a great company that day. As Este starts looking at all the people around them, Beau is taken to station to be questioned after some damaging video of Gemma and Beau arguing outside in the alley but the footage shows Beau walking away and then just before the footage reaches the last place it can record due to its placement, it shows a a hand grabbing Gemma by covering her mouth and pulling her into the shadows.
Este has a list of suspects and even Beau is one. Then she gets another threatening message and she calls back the number and it’s Simon saying he at the FOUR SEASONS hotel in Florida. She meets him in the bar downstairs from his room and she grills him. She finds out Gemma has been forced to go to Florida to keep tab on Este and Beau as he is convinced that Beau had hacked into Redwood, is firms computers losing alll his clients. Their money being stolen from them as the company dismantled under the hack and all the shares of his company plummeted and were shorted leaving him no choice but to bankrupt company. Gemma had been using the info she would learn from the brokers at her restaurant in Fl and taking that info would go and use it to invest into stocks at Simon’s company. Simon knew she must’ve been using insider trading information to do that because she was using stocks that weren’t in any position to be considered to invest but as soon as Gemma would invest they’d soar into high demand and values. He used this information to force her to go spy and find him proof that Beau was the own who did that hack and cost him all his life’s work in one fell swoop. Este will go on with bits of information trying to find Gemma’s killer and while Simon is setting a trap to finish off she and Beau. But the hurricane the area has finally made landfall and when they wake the next morning they find someone in their pool floating face down and dead. Este calls police and she’s shocked that it’s Simon. Beau gets arrested for the death of Simon but while he’s in being questioned it will be Este who finds the culprit and the guilty party finally having Beau how with her and was spending her gratitude of his being home and their lives together back to where she’d always wanted, they were both keeping things from the other. And they agreed to never allow anyone or anything come in between them again:
I really liked Este, with all her loss from such a young age. She was hard driven and intelligent as equally beautiful. She didn’t have many friends bc her walls she’d built after the death do her parents kept her from letting anyone in to meet the genuine Este but Beau had and that’s why her kove for him was profound, true and the most important relationship in her whole life. He was also madly in love with her as well and they’d reveled in their happiness, the joy they felt everyday and the bond they have js all she needed to navigate the world. Beau felt the exact same.
The story was so lovely regarding Este and Beau. They had such a lovely relationship and while it was the most romantic and equally shared regarding their partnership in marriage and their fire hot passion for one another it wasn’t contrived or unrealistic this was a genuinely committed couple whose love friendship and respect was immense and appreciated by them both.
I personally loved how the lovey adoration and constant love fests Este and Beau had was evened out by the dismal Nora whose husband Will was murder and those of Gemma and Simon. It was a perfect portrayal of the two and was interwoven especially well.
Thank you to the wonderful #Meredith Lavender and #Kendall Shores, #Netgalley ARCs and #BANTOM BOOKS
Este had an amazing corporate job she was incredibly devoted to and extremely successful except she was sleeping with her boss Simon. Her best friend Gemma worked at an exclusive restaurant that all the successful people in the community were always socializing at and had given Este a heads up when the company she and Simon were trying to buy were working on their decisions about which companies to meet with and sell to. When Este meets Beau, whose company is the one her boss wants, she’s overwhelmed by her immediate feelings for him. She sets the meeting at the office and Simon blows the pitch to Beau and the next day leaves her a note on her desk firing her and telling her that it’s over between them. She is devastated because while she didn’t have feelings for Simon such as love she did love her job.
When Beau calls to see if she’d like to get together she explains how her life has imploded and she’s a mess, not someone who’s any fun. Instead he convinced her to try out new things for him to learn because he’s also lost without working anymore. As a new billionaire, he’s never been more flush with money but so confused by what to do and where to settle down and boredom after years of only knowing work around the clock has him feeling adrift. They begin taking painting lessons, learning to ride unicycles, they try all sorts of fun and crazy activities and soon fall in love. They head to Florida to a small elite part called Winter Park and decided to build their home there and have begun making some tentative friends. When Gemma finds Este through her new Instagram account, Este invites her to move from California and come work for Mark, Beaus best friend who has a successful restaurant and who they came to visit when deciding to stay in Winter Park. Este has.been helping Gemma with job applications to get into a career where she can move up the corporate ladder and be successful. The night of the anniversary party for Marks restaurant Gemma comes by to get the clothes she’s borrowing for her interview and Este even bought her a pair of designer shoes to match. Gemma worked at the restaurant that night of the anniversary party but Este after receiving a few calls from a 301 number (California) and then a text message warning her she can’t hide from him forever, Este sees his shadowed outline at the front windows of restaurant and is scared. Has her past and the chaos and bomb that she and Simon left in California cone for her? The year before, someone had murdered her good friend Nora’s husband and were apprehended by the detective work she and Gemma had done finding them. She is worried now that the picture that was in the newspaper is how her old life had found the new one she loves dearly. That night, Beau tells her he’d come home early morning hours having stayed back after she left the restaurant with Tippy, Shep, Autumn snd Mark. Gemma had been a closer and punched out around midnight. The next morning Gemma is found dead in the alley outside the restaurant and everyone at the after party is being questioned by police. Este starts to look at everyone with suspicion and finds that Gemma’s apartment has been cleaned out with no sign of any of the personal items Gemma owned in the apartment. As she is leaving the detective shows up, Este tells him she doesn’t know or understand why the apartment is cleared out. She was looking forward to put roots down and was interviewing for a great company that day. As Este starts looking at all the people around them, Beau is taken to station to be questioned after some damaging video of Gemma and Beau arguing outside in the alley but the footage shows Beau walking away and then just before the footage reaches the last place it can record due to its placement, it shows a a hand grabbing Gemma by covering her mouth and pulling her into the shadows.
Este has a list of suspects and even Beau is one. Then she gets another threatening message and she calls back the number and it’s Simon saying he at the FOUR SEASONS hotel in Florida. She meets him in the bar downstairs from his room and she grills him. She finds out Gemma has been forced to go to Florida to keep tab on Este and Beau as he is convinced that Beau had hacked into Redwood, is firms computers losing alll his clients. Their money being stolen from them as the company dismantled under the hack and all the shares of his company plummeted and were shorted leaving him no choice but to bankrupt company. Gemma had been using the info she would learn from the brokers at her restaurant in Fl and taking that info would go and use it to invest into stocks at Simon’s company. Simon knew she must’ve been using insider trading information to do that because she was using stocks that weren’t in any position to be considered to invest but as soon as Gemma would invest they’d soar into high demand and values. He used this information to force her to go spy and find him proof that Beau was the own who did that hack and cost him all his life’s work in one fell swoop. Este will go on with bits of information trying to find Gemma’s killer and while Simon is setting a trap to finish off she and Beau. But the hurricane the area has finally made landfall and when they wake the next morning they find someone in their pool floating face down and dead. Este calls police and she’s shocked that it’s Simon. Beau gets arrested for the death of Simon but while he’s in being questioned it will be Este who finds the culprit and the guilty party finally having Beau how with her and was spending her gratitude of his being home and their lives together back to where she’d always wanted, they were both keeping things from the other. And they agreed to never allow anyone or anything come in between them again:
I really liked Este, with all her loss from such a young age. She was hard driven and intelligent as equally beautiful. She didn’t have many friends bc her walls she’d built after the death do her parents kept her from letting anyone in to meet the genuine Este but Beau had and that’s why her kove for him was profound, true and the most important relationship in her whole life. He was also madly in love with her as well and they’d reveled in their happiness, the joy they felt everyday and the bond they have js all she needed to navigate the world. Beau felt the exact same.
The story was so lovely regarding Este and Beau. They had such a lovely relationship and while it was the most romantic and equally shared regarding their partnership in marriage and their fire hot passion for one another it wasn’t contrived or unrealistic this was a genuinely committed couple whose love friendship and respect was immense and appreciated by them both.
I personally loved how the lovey adoration and constant love fests Este and Beau had was evened out by the dismal Nora whose husband Will was murder and those of Gemma and Simon. It was a perfect portrayal of the two and was interwoven especially well.
Thank you to the wonderful #Meredith Lavender and #Kendall Shores, #Netgalley ARCs and #BANTOM BOOKS
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2026
🔎 ARC Book Review
Perfect Life
Winter Park #2
@meredithandkendall
@bantambooks
@netgalley
Publication Date: July 7th, 2026
My Rating:
🌟 4/5
👀Read if you like
Duel Timelines
Florida Vibes
Toxic Relationships
Este Walker didn’t move to Florida to make friends. Five years ago, she ghosted her life in California to reinvent herself among the lakefront estates of Florida’s elite. With a cocktail in hand, more money than she could ever spend, and a past she intends to keep hidden, she’s finally content—or, you know, close enough. Her husband, Beau, and her best friend, Nora, are the only company Este needs.
But when someone she’d much rather forget resurfaces, the past begins to close on her. And then a mysterious death turns Winter Park upside down—and Beau, who’s keeping secrets of his own, is implicated,. Thrust into a high-stakes murder investigation, Este must unravel a web of lies and deception to answer the question: What exactly happened in California, and has it come back to haunt her? More important: How is she going to get herself out of this mess?
🔎 My review
The sequel to Happy Wife did not disappoint! 👏📚
After finishing Happy Wife, I was so intrigued by Este and couldn’t wait to learn more about her. So when I found out that Perfect Life would give us the chance to really get to know Este and Beau, I was immediately excited! 👀
And this one delivered another fast, juicy thriller that kept me guessing from start to finish. 🔥 The mystery had me completely stumped—I had my theories, but I still couldn’t figure out who the killer was!
The twists and turns kept coming, and I was genuinely shocked by several of the reveals 😱 Just when I thought I had something figured out… nope. Wrong again!
If you enjoyed Happy Wife and love fast-paced thrillers filled with secrets, shocking twists, and characters you can’t quite figure out, you definitely need to pick up Perfect Life! 🖤📖
Thank you @meredithandkendall @bantambooks @netgalley for the ARC!
#NetGalley
#PerfectLife 🔪
#MeridithLavender 📚
#KendallShores 📖
Perfect Life
Winter Park #2
@meredithandkendall
@bantambooks
@netgalley
Publication Date: July 7th, 2026
My Rating:
🌟 4/5
👀Read if you like
Duel Timelines
Florida Vibes
Toxic Relationships
Este Walker didn’t move to Florida to make friends. Five years ago, she ghosted her life in California to reinvent herself among the lakefront estates of Florida’s elite. With a cocktail in hand, more money than she could ever spend, and a past she intends to keep hidden, she’s finally content—or, you know, close enough. Her husband, Beau, and her best friend, Nora, are the only company Este needs.
But when someone she’d much rather forget resurfaces, the past begins to close on her. And then a mysterious death turns Winter Park upside down—and Beau, who’s keeping secrets of his own, is implicated,. Thrust into a high-stakes murder investigation, Este must unravel a web of lies and deception to answer the question: What exactly happened in California, and has it come back to haunt her? More important: How is she going to get herself out of this mess?
🔎 My review
The sequel to Happy Wife did not disappoint! 👏📚
After finishing Happy Wife, I was so intrigued by Este and couldn’t wait to learn more about her. So when I found out that Perfect Life would give us the chance to really get to know Este and Beau, I was immediately excited! 👀
And this one delivered another fast, juicy thriller that kept me guessing from start to finish. 🔥 The mystery had me completely stumped—I had my theories, but I still couldn’t figure out who the killer was!
The twists and turns kept coming, and I was genuinely shocked by several of the reveals 😱 Just when I thought I had something figured out… nope. Wrong again!
If you enjoyed Happy Wife and love fast-paced thrillers filled with secrets, shocking twists, and characters you can’t quite figure out, you definitely need to pick up Perfect Life! 🖤📖
Thank you @meredithandkendall @bantambooks @netgalley for the ARC!
#NetGalley
#PerfectLife 🔪
#MeridithLavender 📚
#KendallShores 📖
September 4, 2026
Perfect Life? Yeah…not so much. Turns out, the more perfect the life looks, the messier it probably is.
I really liked being back in Winter Park and catching up with Nora and Este, especially with their roles reversed this time around. I liked the humor and the uncertainty. There were so many secrets and twists, even in the smaller subplots, that I kept second guessing everyone. It kept the story moving and kept me interested. I also really liked the California chapters sprinkled throughout. They gave me more of the backstory and little pieces of what went down years ago which I really liked.
It wasn’t perfect though. A few parts dragged for me, and some of the storyline felt familiar for a thriller. But neither was enough to really bother me.
The narration was good! Saskia Maarleveld isn’t my favorite narrator nor my least favorite, but I’ve listened to her read other books and I know I can count on her for a solid performance. She did a good job with this one.
All in all, I really like Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores’ writing style and I’m definitely becoming a fan of these two. If you liked Happy Wife, I’d absolutely recommend this one too. If you haven’t read Happy Wife, read that one first since the characters overlap. Already looking forward to whatever they write next. Hope they keep them coming! (Audio)
I really liked being back in Winter Park and catching up with Nora and Este, especially with their roles reversed this time around. I liked the humor and the uncertainty. There were so many secrets and twists, even in the smaller subplots, that I kept second guessing everyone. It kept the story moving and kept me interested. I also really liked the California chapters sprinkled throughout. They gave me more of the backstory and little pieces of what went down years ago which I really liked.
It wasn’t perfect though. A few parts dragged for me, and some of the storyline felt familiar for a thriller. But neither was enough to really bother me.
The narration was good! Saskia Maarleveld isn’t my favorite narrator nor my least favorite, but I’ve listened to her read other books and I know I can count on her for a solid performance. She did a good job with this one.
All in all, I really like Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores’ writing style and I’m definitely becoming a fan of these two. If you liked Happy Wife, I’d absolutely recommend this one too. If you haven’t read Happy Wife, read that one first since the characters overlap. Already looking forward to whatever they write next. Hope they keep them coming! (Audio)
September 13, 2026
Perfect Life by the writing team of Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores surprised me.
"Este has abandoned her dreams in California and moved to Florida to start over with her new husband, Beau. A murder shakes up the community and Beau becomes a suspect, Este doesn't know who to trust. Trouble from California shows up and Este has to figure out how to get things right again."
This is told through Este's POV. There's a dual timeline where you find out what was going on in California. The authors keep you guessing on the killer - always making you question - 'Could he really do that?' 'Where did the blood come from?' A coming hurricane builds tension - you are reminded at the beginning of each chapter that the hurricane is 4 days away or 3 days away. The countdown makes you know something big is coming (Who will die?)
This is not really crime fiction because you don't get a lot of police work. It does have that flavor though - maybe more of a mystery.
Wild ending as the hurricane comes through and surprising resolution.
Entertaining read from Lavender and Shores
"Este has abandoned her dreams in California and moved to Florida to start over with her new husband, Beau. A murder shakes up the community and Beau becomes a suspect, Este doesn't know who to trust. Trouble from California shows up and Este has to figure out how to get things right again."
This is told through Este's POV. There's a dual timeline where you find out what was going on in California. The authors keep you guessing on the killer - always making you question - 'Could he really do that?' 'Where did the blood come from?' A coming hurricane builds tension - you are reminded at the beginning of each chapter that the hurricane is 4 days away or 3 days away. The countdown makes you know something big is coming (Who will die?)
This is not really crime fiction because you don't get a lot of police work. It does have that flavor though - maybe more of a mystery.
Wild ending as the hurricane comes through and surprising resolution.
Entertaining read from Lavender and Shores
July 7, 2026
Este and her husband Beau are living the good life of wealth and privilege in Florida, fleeing from California and all the secrets they left behind. Unfortunately, the past has caught up with them and Este is plopped into the middle of a murder investigation instead of hiding out in her secluded enclave with her best friend Nora. Although I did not read the first book in this series, I did find this one enjoyable on its own and a fast-paced read. I thought some of the characters were a little shallow, but the main characters were well-developed. The plot was engaging and captivated me with solving the mystery along with Este. I liked the banter between Beau and Este and the playfulness of Este as she makes friends in some unusual ways. This book is a great mystery, a so-so suspense and a good read overall.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
July 16, 2026
Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own.
🎧 Book Review 🎧 By now, I think it’s safe to assume that we’ve all realized that there is no such thing as a perfect life. But sometimes it seems that the more glossy someone tries to make their life appear from the outside, the more there is to hide. In the little community of Winter Park, FL, everything looks shiny and pristine. But as a hurricane forms in the Atlantic, old secrets resurface and not everyone makes it out alive.
While this is the second installment in the Winter Park series, I had no problem jumping right into this gripping story. Kendall Shores and Meredith Lavender deliver a layered thriller with so many twists and turns, I had no idea what was about to unfold. Perfect Life is fast-paced and the narration perfectly matches this delightfully dark read.
I will definitely be going back to read the first book, Happy Wife!
🎧 Book Review 🎧 By now, I think it’s safe to assume that we’ve all realized that there is no such thing as a perfect life. But sometimes it seems that the more glossy someone tries to make their life appear from the outside, the more there is to hide. In the little community of Winter Park, FL, everything looks shiny and pristine. But as a hurricane forms in the Atlantic, old secrets resurface and not everyone makes it out alive.
While this is the second installment in the Winter Park series, I had no problem jumping right into this gripping story. Kendall Shores and Meredith Lavender deliver a layered thriller with so many twists and turns, I had no idea what was about to unfold. Perfect Life is fast-paced and the narration perfectly matches this delightfully dark read.
I will definitely be going back to read the first book, Happy Wife!
August 1, 2026
[I read this one before the first one accidentally while traveling. I went back and read the first, and I really would read it first. It gives so much detail on the setting (see my review for Happy Wife). This book also has a chapter that tells what happens in the first book. I didn’t pay that much attention when I read this one and didn’t remember it (a week later). Este and Nora are the main characters in the first one. ]
Este Walker is living the life of luxury in Winter Park. This book begins the moment she calls the police for a dead body floating in her pool. We go back to her life in Los Angeles, working for a tech company, to see how she got to where she is today, and who the men are in her life.
I thought it was a clever, compulsive read. I thought her back story of power and yet, really holding herself back, was interesting. Several of the twists surprised me. It’s a great vacation read.
Favorite quotes -
“If the past is catching up to me, I need to be able to see it coming.” Ch 1
“Did I tell Beau Walker that I was good in bed? Future me will have to solve these mysteries.
For now, I could only sit there, wondering how someone so sure of herself could unravel so quickly.” Ch 18
“I can see that the myth of my perfect life is fading away for her.” Ch 19
“Don’t pick at old wounds. The past only has power when you open the door and invite it back in.” Ch 20
“…you don’t have to be perfect to be worth something.” Ch 23
“Because this is what a best friendship is sometimes, sitting in the pieces of the damage someone else caused.” Ch 28
“A life that could’ve been perfect. Until it wasn’t.” Ch 39
Este Walker is living the life of luxury in Winter Park. This book begins the moment she calls the police for a dead body floating in her pool. We go back to her life in Los Angeles, working for a tech company, to see how she got to where she is today, and who the men are in her life.
I thought it was a clever, compulsive read. I thought her back story of power and yet, really holding herself back, was interesting. Several of the twists surprised me. It’s a great vacation read.
Favorite quotes -
“If the past is catching up to me, I need to be able to see it coming.” Ch 1
“Did I tell Beau Walker that I was good in bed? Future me will have to solve these mysteries.
For now, I could only sit there, wondering how someone so sure of herself could unravel so quickly.” Ch 18
“I can see that the myth of my perfect life is fading away for her.” Ch 19
“Don’t pick at old wounds. The past only has power when you open the door and invite it back in.” Ch 20
“…you don’t have to be perfect to be worth something.” Ch 23
“Because this is what a best friendship is sometimes, sitting in the pieces of the damage someone else caused.” Ch 28
“A life that could’ve been perfect. Until it wasn’t.” Ch 39
August 5, 2026
I couldn’t wait to dive into Perfect Life, and it absolutely delivered. I was hooked from the beginning and spent the entire book trying to figure out what was really going on. Every time I thought I had it solved, another twist completely threw me for a loop.
I loved getting to revisit these characters who were introduced in “Happy Wife” and peel back the layers of their past and how that lead them to the present. The story kept building without ever feeling predictable, and I found myself saying “just one more chapter” over and over. Kendall Shores and Meredith Lavender have a way of keeping you guessing - just when you think you’ve figured it out, they make you question everything! I loved every minute of it. If you enjoyed Happy Wife (or even if you haven’t read it yet) this is absolutely worth the read.
I loved getting to revisit these characters who were introduced in “Happy Wife” and peel back the layers of their past and how that lead them to the present. The story kept building without ever feeling predictable, and I found myself saying “just one more chapter” over and over. Kendall Shores and Meredith Lavender have a way of keeping you guessing - just when you think you’ve figured it out, they make you question everything! I loved every minute of it. If you enjoyed Happy Wife (or even if you haven’t read it yet) this is absolutely worth the read.
July 12, 2026
3⭐️s - little split on this one. I really enjoyed book 1 with Nora and liked how the authors brought her friend, Este, into this second one. I just didn’t connect with Este? I liked the juicy wealthy world drama that continues in this book 2. It’s a good, twisty thriller but just a little predictable. I really liked the community and here’s hoping for another little drama for a book 3?!
✨Special thanks to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for this complimentary digital advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
✨Special thanks to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for this complimentary digital advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
July 7, 2026
On par with Happy Wife, Perfect Life takes us back to Winter Park, FL for more wealthy country club community drama. What could be a better summer read than a rich people murder mystery? I find the writing to be fun without too being too fluffy, with solid characters that overlapped with the Happy Wife and a fun mystery. I hope to see this community again in a future novel!
Thank you NetGalley and Bantam Books for the advanced reader copy of Perfect Life. Out TODAY! 7/7/26
Thank you NetGalley and Bantam Books for the advanced reader copy of Perfect Life. Out TODAY! 7/7/26
August 29, 2026
3.25/5
I am always down to read about some rich people drama and this is definitely full of that. Alongside the murder mysteries and lots of secrets, of course.
This sounded like it would be a lot of fun and that it would be super dramatic, but sadly, I couldn't get all that invested in these characters. They just felt a tad too flat to be main characters.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I am always down to read about some rich people drama and this is definitely full of that. Alongside the murder mysteries and lots of secrets, of course.
This sounded like it would be a lot of fun and that it would be super dramatic, but sadly, I couldn't get all that invested in these characters. They just felt a tad too flat to be main characters.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
August 8, 2026
I’ll gladly keep reading books about murders in Winter Park if they keep writing them.
While I didn’t love this book as much as the first one, it still had all the same charm. Este makes an excellent main character. Like in the first book, there is a murder to be solved, but in this book, we get a ton of main character backstory. Este, her past career, how she meets her husband, how she ends up in Florida… and how her past all ties back to the murder.
I’m also so impressed at how the town is basically a character itself. You feel like you’re in WP.
What I like about this series, other than the fact that it feels very close to home (shout out for Barnie’s coffee being mentioned again ☕️)— it’s clearly a thriller but not at all suspenseful or scary. Just a good old fashioned who-done-it.
While I didn’t love this book as much as the first one, it still had all the same charm. Este makes an excellent main character. Like in the first book, there is a murder to be solved, but in this book, we get a ton of main character backstory. Este, her past career, how she meets her husband, how she ends up in Florida… and how her past all ties back to the murder.
I’m also so impressed at how the town is basically a character itself. You feel like you’re in WP.
What I like about this series, other than the fact that it feels very close to home (shout out for Barnie’s coffee being mentioned again ☕️)— it’s clearly a thriller but not at all suspenseful or scary. Just a good old fashioned who-done-it.
July 23, 2026
I loved Perfect Wife so I was excited about this sequel with a different protagonist. It really picked up at 50% and I was def eager to find out the answers to all the mysteries. Fun and easy ready!
August 7, 2026
3.5/5 ⭐️s Another fun summer mystery/thriller by the authors.
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