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Perfectly Undone
Yes is such a little word…
Dr. Dylan Michels has worked hard for a perfect life, so when her longtime boyfriend, Cooper, gets down on one knee, it should be the most perfect moment of all. Then why does she say no?
For too many years, Dylan’s been living for her sister, who never got the chance to grow up. But her attempt to be the perfect daughter, perfect partner and perfect doctor hasn't been enough to silence the haunting guilt Dylan feels over her sister’s death—and the role no one knows she played in it.
Now Dylan must face her past if she and Cooper stand a chance at a future together. But when Cooper makes a startling confession of his own, can Dylan find the courage to define her own happiness before her life becomes perfectly undone?
Set among the breezy days of a sultry Portland summer, Perfectly Undone is a deeply moving novel of family secrets, forgiveness and finding yourself in the most surprising of places.
Dr. Dylan Michels has worked hard for a perfect life, so when her longtime boyfriend, Cooper, gets down on one knee, it should be the most perfect moment of all. Then why does she say no?
For too many years, Dylan’s been living for her sister, who never got the chance to grow up. But her attempt to be the perfect daughter, perfect partner and perfect doctor hasn't been enough to silence the haunting guilt Dylan feels over her sister’s death—and the role no one knows she played in it.
Now Dylan must face her past if she and Cooper stand a chance at a future together. But when Cooper makes a startling confession of his own, can Dylan find the courage to define her own happiness before her life becomes perfectly undone?
Set among the breezy days of a sultry Portland summer, Perfectly Undone is a deeply moving novel of family secrets, forgiveness and finding yourself in the most surprising of places.
299 pages, Paperback
Published October 3, 2017
28 people are currently reading
1931 people want to read
About the author
Jamie Raintree
3 books39 followersAuthor of Perfectly Undone and Midnight at the Wandering Vineyard. Religious History student. Wife & Mother.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
October 3, 2017
Emotional, vivid, and relatable!
Perfectly Undone is an engaging tale that takes us into the life of Dr. Dylan Michels, a woman who finds herself quickly unraveling as she tries to not only live with the responsibility and guilt she secretly harbours, but also balance a successful career, intimate relationship, and familial obligations.
The writing is descriptive and genuine. The characters are diligent, compulsive, and tenacious. And the plot is an intriguing tale full of heartache, loss, grief, betrayal, infidelity, relationship dynamics, family, romance, and love.
Overall, I think, Perfectly Undone is a fantastic debut for Raintree that does an excellent job of highlighting the importance of forgiving one's self, moving on, and living life to the fullest.
Thank you to Harlequin Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
Perfectly Undone is an engaging tale that takes us into the life of Dr. Dylan Michels, a woman who finds herself quickly unraveling as she tries to not only live with the responsibility and guilt she secretly harbours, but also balance a successful career, intimate relationship, and familial obligations.
The writing is descriptive and genuine. The characters are diligent, compulsive, and tenacious. And the plot is an intriguing tale full of heartache, loss, grief, betrayal, infidelity, relationship dynamics, family, romance, and love.
Overall, I think, Perfectly Undone is a fantastic debut for Raintree that does an excellent job of highlighting the importance of forgiving one's self, moving on, and living life to the fullest.
Thank you to Harlequin Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
October 3, 2017
I am completely shocked that I’m giving this book 4 stars! When I first started reading Perfectly Undone, for the first third of the book actually, I wasn’t into it at all. I didn’t particularly like Dylan, or her obsession with righting a supposed wrong from years ago. The martyr is one of my least favorite characters. The characters were very flat and one-dimensional. I didn’t find them interesting, and it was hard to care about them. However, somewhere around the middle of the book, I suddenly couldn’t put it down. I honestly didn’t know how it was going to end. The characters became unpredictable, but in a very credible, realistic, human way. I wasn’t sure what their actions and reactions would be, and I discovered, to my surprise, I had become emotionally invested in them. Their actions and reactions, the choices they made, especially the poor choices, gave the characters life. There are several themes that ensure it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, (cheating, for example), but I thought the flaws and mistakes made the characters more human and believable. They were more interesting, and real. I thought the parallels between Dylan’s life and two other couples were a tad heavy-handed, and her mentor a cultural stereotype, but overall, I really enjoyed this book.
February 26, 2017
Dr. Dylan Michaels is a successful OB/GYN with a loving and supportive man in her life. However, she is haunted by her past, and thus is constantly sabotaging herself.
Like many women, she has a hard time balancing a demanding and fulfilling career with being fully engaged with her home life.
Raintree’s writing is beautiful—her similes are gorgeous. This is a unique book of women’s fiction.
I received an advance copy of the book via Netgalley for an honest review.
For more of my reviews, please visit http://theresaalan.net/blog/
Like many women, she has a hard time balancing a demanding and fulfilling career with being fully engaged with her home life.
Raintree’s writing is beautiful—her similes are gorgeous. This is a unique book of women’s fiction.
I received an advance copy of the book via Netgalley for an honest review.
For more of my reviews, please visit http://theresaalan.net/blog/
December 16, 2017
Rating: 3.5/5
This is a story which explores guilt, infidelity, forgiveness and is a very emotional read. I’ll be honest and say that after reading about a quarter of it I nearly gave up. I recommend you keep going, it does improve!
The main character is Dr Dylan Michels and the story starts with her turning down her boyfriend’s marriage proposal, even though she loves him. She’s filled with guilt and self-loathing over something in her past and until she comes to terms with that she’ll never really find happiness. The story explores her past and present, giving insights into her life and feelings through the first person narrative story.
It is a story of life, where people make mistakes that they regret but that, when they learn from their mistakes, they can move on. Sometimes, however, forgiving yourself is the hardest thing to do. The secondary characters obviously also contribute the the main character’s development and have significant roles to play as they learn that to err is human and no one is absolutely perfect all the time.
I requested and received a copy of this novel, via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.
This is a story which explores guilt, infidelity, forgiveness and is a very emotional read. I’ll be honest and say that after reading about a quarter of it I nearly gave up. I recommend you keep going, it does improve!
The main character is Dr Dylan Michels and the story starts with her turning down her boyfriend’s marriage proposal, even though she loves him. She’s filled with guilt and self-loathing over something in her past and until she comes to terms with that she’ll never really find happiness. The story explores her past and present, giving insights into her life and feelings through the first person narrative story.
It is a story of life, where people make mistakes that they regret but that, when they learn from their mistakes, they can move on. Sometimes, however, forgiving yourself is the hardest thing to do. The secondary characters obviously also contribute the the main character’s development and have significant roles to play as they learn that to err is human and no one is absolutely perfect all the time.
I requested and received a copy of this novel, via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.
February 15, 2017
Many women have walked the line between career and love, family and self. Raintree handles the balance with grace and wisdom. Her writing is clear and crisp, the emotion raw and without melodrama. From family secrets to heartbreaking lost love, the characters felt like old friends by the end. Highly recommended.
December 18, 2018
I started listening to this book on Hoopla and it was so good I couldn't stop listening, and then had to finish reading it on my Kindle last night. Loved it.
November 9, 2017
This was such a simple, easy read exactly the type of book I was craving as a break from several dark thrillers in a row. Though it was undemanding it still had plenty of meat, it explored some below the surface things like the constant balance many women struggling with between having a successful career AND a personal life and how important forgiveness can be, especially when we let ourselves off the hook. It also dealt with fidelity, trust and guilt and just how much these issues can effect a person.
There was a strong feeling of authenticity to this book, both in the authors writing style and the characters she created. Dylan was really easy to relate to, her struggles were common even if the circumstances she experienced were unique. It was one of those debuts where you think, no way is this their first book, the writing is so solid! Raintree is definitely an author I’ll follow closely, she has a keen ability to craft excellent characters that you grow to care about.
This would be a fantastic choice for a book club as there are definitely many things that could be explored and discussed. As an added bonus there are some really awesome questions in the readers guide at the back of the book too! This was honest, heartfelt and touching, definitely an emotional journey that I really enjoyed.
There was a strong feeling of authenticity to this book, both in the authors writing style and the characters she created. Dylan was really easy to relate to, her struggles were common even if the circumstances she experienced were unique. It was one of those debuts where you think, no way is this their first book, the writing is so solid! Raintree is definitely an author I’ll follow closely, she has a keen ability to craft excellent characters that you grow to care about.
This would be a fantastic choice for a book club as there are definitely many things that could be explored and discussed. As an added bonus there are some really awesome questions in the readers guide at the back of the book too! This was honest, heartfelt and touching, definitely an emotional journey that I really enjoyed.
skimmed
July 1, 2023Skimmed.
I REALLY REALLY don't like when all the heroines' friends and family tell them to forgive the cheating hero. It's a cop out and lazy writing. Even the OW tells the heroine to forgive the hero. It's just ridiculous.
I also don't like when the heroine can't move on physically. In this story, the heroine separates from the hero for a bit (good), but can't sleep with another guy because she effectively feels guilty. Like no. He cheated on you and you broke up with him -- you can have sex with a nice OM without guilt. That's what happens when someone cheats and the other partner breaks up with them. Full healing and a believable reconciliation entails real consequences.
I REALLY REALLY don't like when all the heroines' friends and family tell them to forgive the cheating hero. It's a cop out and lazy writing. Even the OW tells the heroine to forgive the hero. It's just ridiculous.
I also don't like when the heroine can't move on physically. In this story, the heroine separates from the hero for a bit (good), but can't sleep with another guy because she effectively feels guilty. Like no. He cheated on you and you broke up with him -- you can have sex with a nice OM without guilt. That's what happens when someone cheats and the other partner breaks up with them. Full healing and a believable reconciliation entails real consequences.
October 3, 2017
Debut author Jamie Raintree delivers a beautifully written story about balancing the demands of a stressful career, a life that's less perfect than it appears, and the crippling guilt of secrets.
February 13, 2017
I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this book for early review! In Perfectly Undone the main character Dr. Dylan Michals seems to have the perfect life, but as in all great stories, not all is as it seems. She's a successful doctor in a great supportive relationship but for some reason she can't help sabotage herself at every turn. Why? Because there are secrets in her past she must come to terms with before she can move on. This is a haunting story about secrets that may shape or break a person. A fantastic read!
October 6, 2017
Rated 4.5 - PERFECTLY UNDONE by Jamie Raintree portrays a doctor’s world with human frailties and love that’s so absorbing you’ll want to devour it from cover to cover.
Dr. Dylan Michels’ family suffered the loss of her sister when she was eighteen and Dylan was sixteen. Tragedy hasn’t been kind to this family and their healing is a long time coming. Dylan seems to be the one who suffers the most, but we don’t always know our family as well as we think we do.
Cooper and Stephen are best friends made even more so when Cooper’s sister marries Stephen. Cooper, Stephen and Dylan supported each other through medical school, but will their adult lives withstand their future?
I wasn’t sure I liked Dr. Dylan Michels at first. She seemed callused and hardened by her past, unable to love those who love her. By the end of the book I understood because she eventually became the woman she was meant to be.
I adored Cooper. It was easy to forgive him for his faults because he was so in love with Dylan. As the outsider looking in, I could see why he erred, and I rooted for him even when I was dead set against his actions.
Dylan’s family reflects her way of distancing herself from others. I so wanted to point them in the right direction as the pain was evident. Cooper’s family seems so pulled together even when they’re not. It was a tug of war watching them all come “perfectly undone”.
The emotion in this book is raw and uncensored. Those who have lost a child, or have been the victim of infidelity may find this book extremely hard to experience. For me, I felt it dealt with life’s worst moments in a raw, engaging manner, eventually concluding in beauty. This book will make you cry when you least expect it. In the end, it’s a joyful cry so it’s well worth the sensitive journey.
There is so much passion within these pages that it stirs something deep inside in appreciation. Gardeners will appreciate Reese and his wisdom. He epitomizes the philosophy of gardening as a healer of fresh wounds.
There are a lot of repetitive ideas and circumstances in this book, but I didn’t realize how much so until I looked back on them in the end. In truth, don’t we all repeat the mistakes of others and connect because of it? The web is deep in this story and with it the pain is like shards of glass. It’s the rare author who has me immediately looking for another book by her to read. Jamie Raintree is a rare find.
Gifted in her approach to weaving an emotive story full of interesting characters you will love for all their faults and goodness, Jamie Raintree sucked me right in until the end. PERFECTLY UNDONE is gripping family drama that will tie you to your chair anxiously turning the pages. I can’t wait for the next book excerpted at the end of this one. A recommended read!
Review by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Digital copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.
Dr. Dylan Michels’ family suffered the loss of her sister when she was eighteen and Dylan was sixteen. Tragedy hasn’t been kind to this family and their healing is a long time coming. Dylan seems to be the one who suffers the most, but we don’t always know our family as well as we think we do.
Cooper and Stephen are best friends made even more so when Cooper’s sister marries Stephen. Cooper, Stephen and Dylan supported each other through medical school, but will their adult lives withstand their future?
I wasn’t sure I liked Dr. Dylan Michels at first. She seemed callused and hardened by her past, unable to love those who love her. By the end of the book I understood because she eventually became the woman she was meant to be.
I adored Cooper. It was easy to forgive him for his faults because he was so in love with Dylan. As the outsider looking in, I could see why he erred, and I rooted for him even when I was dead set against his actions.
Dylan’s family reflects her way of distancing herself from others. I so wanted to point them in the right direction as the pain was evident. Cooper’s family seems so pulled together even when they’re not. It was a tug of war watching them all come “perfectly undone”.
The emotion in this book is raw and uncensored. Those who have lost a child, or have been the victim of infidelity may find this book extremely hard to experience. For me, I felt it dealt with life’s worst moments in a raw, engaging manner, eventually concluding in beauty. This book will make you cry when you least expect it. In the end, it’s a joyful cry so it’s well worth the sensitive journey.
There is so much passion within these pages that it stirs something deep inside in appreciation. Gardeners will appreciate Reese and his wisdom. He epitomizes the philosophy of gardening as a healer of fresh wounds.
There are a lot of repetitive ideas and circumstances in this book, but I didn’t realize how much so until I looked back on them in the end. In truth, don’t we all repeat the mistakes of others and connect because of it? The web is deep in this story and with it the pain is like shards of glass. It’s the rare author who has me immediately looking for another book by her to read. Jamie Raintree is a rare find.
Gifted in her approach to weaving an emotive story full of interesting characters you will love for all their faults and goodness, Jamie Raintree sucked me right in until the end. PERFECTLY UNDONE is gripping family drama that will tie you to your chair anxiously turning the pages. I can’t wait for the next book excerpted at the end of this one. A recommended read!
Review by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Digital copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.
October 2, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from the author for an honest review. This a debut author and I think it was a wonderful book. It tells the story of Dylan, a hardworking OB/GYN. She has been in a relationship with her boyfriend, Cooper, for nine years but she has always held back from fully commiting to it. She harbours a secret from her teenage years that she has never talked about to anyone. After the death of her sister, Abby, from an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy Dyan decides to go into medicine in the hopes of helping other pregnant woman. This consumes her life. She spends hours at the hospital with a large caseload as well as trying to get a grant for a study implementing better prenatal care. Cooper is becoming increasingly frustrated with her as she seems to be pulling away from him and withdrawing more and more into her work. As he pushes her to prioritize their relationship Dylan has to take a hard look at herself and decide what she wants and where she is going with her life. She realizes she has to face the secret that has been holding her hostage all these years. I had a hard time warming up to Dylan in the first part of the book but the more you get to know her she becomes more likeable. Great debut book. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. As I was reading I was thinking it would make a great book club book and was happy to find discussion questions in the back of the book as I finished.
November 5, 2019
Really enjoyed this book. The protagonist is an OB-GYN whose life is falling apart due to old wounds that haven’t healed yet. I enjoyed the Portland, Oregon setting, the angst of trying to reconcile who she is becoming with who she was, the relationships with her parents and fiancé, and the first person accounts of her career. Well done!
December 27, 2018
I really enjoyed this book! I loved that it was set in Portland, OR--I live about an hour and a half from there. The Portland references were very accurate. The book was well written, and an emotional, easy to relate to book. A great read to cozy up with!
November 6, 2017
This is one of those books that I wasn't entirely sure I would like. I wasn't a big fan of our main character, Dylan, until later in the book. The author does an incredible job of penning an emotional story that felt real. I really enjoyed the author's writing style and would definitely read more of her books.
June 10, 2017
**ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review***
Perfectly Undone by Jamie Raintree is a standalone book that you do not want to miss. Emotional is the first word that comes to mind when I finished this book. I felt like I lost my best friend when it was over.
This is a story about a woman, Dr. Dylan Michaels, but the story line is so true for every woman that tries to balance love, family, friendships, a career and keeping yourself sane.
Dr. Michaels is a sought after OB/GYN who is living her life of her other sister. The life her sister never had the opportunity to have. Questioning, pushing her limits, perfectionist has her bolting when her steady boyfriend proposes. She has been holding in a secret that after 9 years together she cannot tell and now everything starts to bubble over and come undone and she has no idea which way is up!
Dylan takes us on her journey of finding herself, learning to let go, letting people in and learning to forgive. Raintree describes and writes Dr. Micheals realistically in which readers can relate too. I believe many woman who read this unique fiction novel will come to love this journey and find something within themselves they can relate too. This is a MUST read of 2017.
5 stars
Perfectly Undone by Jamie Raintree is a standalone book that you do not want to miss. Emotional is the first word that comes to mind when I finished this book. I felt like I lost my best friend when it was over.
This is a story about a woman, Dr. Dylan Michaels, but the story line is so true for every woman that tries to balance love, family, friendships, a career and keeping yourself sane.
Dr. Michaels is a sought after OB/GYN who is living her life of her other sister. The life her sister never had the opportunity to have. Questioning, pushing her limits, perfectionist has her bolting when her steady boyfriend proposes. She has been holding in a secret that after 9 years together she cannot tell and now everything starts to bubble over and come undone and she has no idea which way is up!
Dylan takes us on her journey of finding herself, learning to let go, letting people in and learning to forgive. Raintree describes and writes Dr. Micheals realistically in which readers can relate too. I believe many woman who read this unique fiction novel will come to love this journey and find something within themselves they can relate too. This is a MUST read of 2017.
5 stars
February 14, 2017
Honestly the story was just too flat - it had it moments and that's why I was able to finish it - but nothing out of this world!!
Dylan's character was moping around and messing up her perfectly good life and relationships for no reason (at least to me story of her sister's death just did not resonate enough). There were times I wanted to just slap her for what she was doing to her life and those around her!
Cooper was too goody two shoes to be true (even after his one slip!!)
The author also was too verbose for me - seriously get to the point and get it over with were my sentiments in the end!
Received an advance copy of the book via Netgalley for an honest review!!
Dylan's character was moping around and messing up her perfectly good life and relationships for no reason (at least to me story of her sister's death just did not resonate enough). There were times I wanted to just slap her for what she was doing to her life and those around her!
Cooper was too goody two shoes to be true (even after his one slip!!)
The author also was too verbose for me - seriously get to the point and get it over with were my sentiments in the end!
Received an advance copy of the book via Netgalley for an honest review!!
May 7, 2017
Perfectly Undone: A Novel by Jamie Raintree is a romance novel that is scheduled to be released on October 3, 2017 by Harlequin. Many women in their lives have walked a fine line between love, career, family and self. Raintree manages to capture this balance in her writing making it clear and crisp. A very delightful read that really hits home to many women. This story is all about family love and secrets with the heartbreaking loss of love. I felt like the characters were old friends or family members because Raintree’s writing style makes the characters so life like. I highly recommend this book and cannot wait to read more from this author.
March 4, 2017
This was a three for a while but it blossomed into a four. It shook off some things that annoyed me in the beginning. The characters seemed to settle into themselves and that's when the story gelled. Free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2017
DNF. I made it 1/3 of the way through before I tapped out. I didn't connect with the characters at all...particularly, with Dylan. At 33% of the way in the book, there was nothing going on plot-wise either. On to the next book...
October 6, 2017
I was sent this book from Shelf Awareness and Harlequin Publishing so thank you to them for sending this my way. I requested this back in the summer and I received it at the beginning of September (and by that point I completely forgot I requested the book). So it was quite the surprise the find this package on my doorstep.
*Note: There are going to be some spoilers ahead. You’ve been warned.*
I have quite mixed feelings on this book, so I really have no idea what to think of it. On one hand, I appreciated for the book for what it was. But another part of me wanted to LOVE this book. I really did like the book, and I do believe that other people (who are much older than me specifically) will appreciate this book more than I did. I’m in my very early 20s and the main character is in her late 20s/early 30s so with that huge age gap, I didn’t truly appreciate and/or relate to her character. This book was not in my demographic so as a result, I was very much let down from this book. But I still think other readers will love this book more than I did.
To be honest, I wanted this book to go in a completely different direction than it did. The certain decisions Dylan made, I just didn’t approve of. Like, when she actually goes back to Cooper in the end, I was done (like what the fuck? You don’t just forgive someone after they cheat on you AFTER being in a nine-year relationship with them). I personally thought this book was going be a self-discovery book about Dylan coming to terms with her sister’s death and finding herself after the end of a long-term relationship. Unfortunately that’s not what I got, and I was a little disappointed.
I was mainly frustrated with Dylan because, I felt her decisions were influenced by other people and not herself. People were telling her: “you should get back together with him,” “you guys are meant to be” amongst other things. Like she’s a grown woman, so I think she has the capability of making her own decisions. But she also doesn’t make the greatest decisions herself (hence forgiving Cooper when she clearly shouldn’t have). So just her inability to make a decision really pissed me off.
What I appreciated about the book was the familial relationship with Dylan and her parents. I thought it was well done and it kept me reading. This type of relationship represented in the book is very similar to my own relationship with my family (especially towards the end). I say this because my sibling is very well and alive so there’s no grieving in that sense. But it’s more along of the lines of grieving our former lives and how each of my family members have been affected by the notion of this loss.
I also enjoyed her writing style but I did find the pacing to be rather slow at times. The story was descriptive so I really got the sense of where this character was for the duration of the book (which is always a good thing when you’re reading,😂). As for reading more of her books, I actually would like to see what else this author will write as this is her debut novel.
Overall, I appreciated certain parts of this book for what they were, but this just wasn’t in my demographic. However, I really do think other people would enjoy this book a lot more than I did. I will be reading her future books just to see how she takes on other stories. I liked the book, I just didn’t love it as much as I thought.
Review is also on: NicoleHendersonReads
*Note: There are going to be some spoilers ahead. You’ve been warned.*
I have quite mixed feelings on this book, so I really have no idea what to think of it. On one hand, I appreciated for the book for what it was. But another part of me wanted to LOVE this book. I really did like the book, and I do believe that other people (who are much older than me specifically) will appreciate this book more than I did. I’m in my very early 20s and the main character is in her late 20s/early 30s so with that huge age gap, I didn’t truly appreciate and/or relate to her character. This book was not in my demographic so as a result, I was very much let down from this book. But I still think other readers will love this book more than I did.
To be honest, I wanted this book to go in a completely different direction than it did. The certain decisions Dylan made, I just didn’t approve of. Like, when she actually goes back to Cooper in the end, I was done (like what the fuck? You don’t just forgive someone after they cheat on you AFTER being in a nine-year relationship with them). I personally thought this book was going be a self-discovery book about Dylan coming to terms with her sister’s death and finding herself after the end of a long-term relationship. Unfortunately that’s not what I got, and I was a little disappointed.
I was mainly frustrated with Dylan because, I felt her decisions were influenced by other people and not herself. People were telling her: “you should get back together with him,” “you guys are meant to be” amongst other things. Like she’s a grown woman, so I think she has the capability of making her own decisions. But she also doesn’t make the greatest decisions herself (hence forgiving Cooper when she clearly shouldn’t have). So just her inability to make a decision really pissed me off.
What I appreciated about the book was the familial relationship with Dylan and her parents. I thought it was well done and it kept me reading. This type of relationship represented in the book is very similar to my own relationship with my family (especially towards the end). I say this because my sibling is very well and alive so there’s no grieving in that sense. But it’s more along of the lines of grieving our former lives and how each of my family members have been affected by the notion of this loss.
I also enjoyed her writing style but I did find the pacing to be rather slow at times. The story was descriptive so I really got the sense of where this character was for the duration of the book (which is always a good thing when you’re reading,😂). As for reading more of her books, I actually would like to see what else this author will write as this is her debut novel.
Overall, I appreciated certain parts of this book for what they were, but this just wasn’t in my demographic. However, I really do think other people would enjoy this book a lot more than I did. I will be reading her future books just to see how she takes on other stories. I liked the book, I just didn’t love it as much as I thought.
Review is also on: NicoleHendersonReads
September 22, 2022
Perfectly undone is a women's fiction and follows the journey of Dr. Dylan Michels as she deals with the death of her sister Abby.
Dylan and Cooper had a beautiful relationship imo until Cooper absolutely smashed it into pieces, I can't describe the anger I felt when he confessed to cheating.
The author took the readers on a deep heartfelt and emotional journey filled with grief. The past scenes with Abby and Dylan were some of my favourites and my heart broke when details about Abby' death were described.
I loved how Dylan came to terms with it and the emotional support her mom provided towards the end but I didn't really like the last page of the book. Cooper simply doesn't deserve to have Dylan's love and I feel bad for her.
Dylan and Cooper had a beautiful relationship imo until Cooper absolutely smashed it into pieces, I can't describe the anger I felt when he confessed to cheating.
The author took the readers on a deep heartfelt and emotional journey filled with grief. The past scenes with Abby and Dylan were some of my favourites and my heart broke when details about Abby' death were described.
I loved how Dylan came to terms with it and the emotional support her mom provided towards the end but I didn't really like the last page of the book. Cooper simply doesn't deserve to have Dylan's love and I feel bad for her.
March 23, 2017
Having worked in a school of medicine, I have seen many women M.D.s/ PH.D.s driven to this kind of near-neurotic quest for perfection, so loved the idea of being given a more intimate (even if fictional!) look at what they go through to achieve such heights. I found Dr. Dylan Michals a very believable (though at times not very likeable!) character - and that's part of what made her ring so true for me! The very real treatment of her foibles and shortcomings as well as her brilliant achievements!!
I also found Dylan's family after the loss of her big sister to be true to form as well. The family in fact was one of my favorite parts of this novel - the deeply flawed, scared and real characters and yet, at the end, when Dylan takes the leap of faith (and donned her gardening gloves to work through the pain and loss in her past) and begins the hard work toward repairing family relationships, I liked her even more.
I loved Cooper - and his family, especially his sister! The challenges he faces with Dylan, though some of his own making, are believable in such a gut-wrenching way.
I found Ms. Raintree's writing to be genuine, engaging and well-researched. Her use of description and simile superb. I look forward to reading more from her in the future!
I also found Dylan's family after the loss of her big sister to be true to form as well. The family in fact was one of my favorite parts of this novel - the deeply flawed, scared and real characters and yet, at the end, when Dylan takes the leap of faith (and donned her gardening gloves to work through the pain and loss in her past) and begins the hard work toward repairing family relationships, I liked her even more.
I loved Cooper - and his family, especially his sister! The challenges he faces with Dylan, though some of his own making, are believable in such a gut-wrenching way.
I found Ms. Raintree's writing to be genuine, engaging and well-researched. Her use of description and simile superb. I look forward to reading more from her in the future!
September 14, 2017
I had the pleasure of reading an early copy of this lovely book, and am thrilled to see what newcomer Jamie Raintree will add to the voice of Women's Fiction over the course of what I hope is a long and distinguished career. Her prose is masterful and her characters deliciously flawed. The main character, Dylan, feels the strain of her ambition as it beings to lop over onto her private relationships. A poignant novel of love and forgiveness. A must read for Fall of 2017!
August 31, 2018
I didn't like the main character, Dylan. I didn't understand why she feels responsible for her sisters death. Started out too slow. Other reviews said it gets better but I'm a DNF.
November 10, 2017
“Dad always told me, “People should never forget where they come from,” as if it’s possible to erase it from memory. Maybe if I could forget my past, I’d finally get a hold on my future.”
Dr. Dylan Michels has it all. A fantastic job doing what she loves, the chance to further her career and her research to help save women, and an amazing boyfriend who is there for her no matter how hard she works. So, when he proposes, why does she go running into the rain?
We know up front that Dylan is obsessed with her grant research, and her career, because of her sister’s death. We don’t know how exactly she died, only that Dylan somehow feels responsible for it. And her entire family relationship is centered around this loss. She is distant from her mother, who also holds on to Abby as much as Dylan, but they can’t grieve together. Her father and brother share their grief, but only on the anniversary date, so while on the surface they seem close, it also feels more frail than it appears.
And then there’s Cooper. Her boyfriend of 9 years. The man who loves and her accepts her and is always rooting for her. Even when her life hasn’t settled into the one he hoped for. He has the family she wants, and couldn’t think of life without him. Which is partly why she drove me a little crazy.
Here’s the thing about Dylan: I didn’t particularly like her. Don’t get me wrong, I understood her, where her character was coming from, the determination to right a perceived wrong. But she drove me crazy. She was so unaware of herself and her actions. I found it maddening that she expected everyone to be so understanding of her actions, even when she did nothing to explain them, but then refused to give other people the same courtesy. I found her to be a little self-absorbed and very immature, the her hypocrisy made me want to throw the book more than once.
If turmoil and bad choices aren’t your thing, you’re probably going to be in for a disappointment. These characters are a symphony of poor communication. Of assuming that the choices you make in order to protect other people, or because you think you know what they’re thinking, are always the right choices. This dance of missed opportunities is done throughout the book in multiple relationships, and really drives home the important of being open and honest with the ones you love. There is a certain Shakespearean elegance, (or perhaps it’s more Greek tragedy), to the relationships and how they develop (or fall apart) in this novel.
In this regard, it struck me over and over, how unfair and immature Dylan was being. She listens to people complain about people behaving a certain way in their lives, and even has those same issues with others, but completely fails to recognize it in her own self. And, when it comes to one rough spot, albeit a very bad rough spot, she simply shuts down and freezes everyone out. It’s difficult to go into the specifics without giving away spoilers. But, I can say, for a character who is told how perceptive she is to the needs of her patients, it’s amazing how little she lacks that same ability in her personal life. Or rather, she has it, she just simply doesn’t want to face it.
“I realize I may have pushed things too far. Maybe I didn’t want to hear his side, because it would bring me to this moment: facing the ugly truth. I’ve always known I was keeping Cooper at a distance, but I hoped he didn’t notice.”
Maybe that’s the point. Maybe that’s how we are in real life. We all probably have the most difficultly seeing how we truly behave with others. And it’s hard to face the ugly truths about ourselves. When things aren’t personal, we are able to relax and follow what we know to be right and true. But when our hearts get in the way, our heads seem to short-circuit.
Of course, unlike Shakespeare, or the Greeks, this story doesn’t end in tragedy, or, at least not the tragedy you expect. This story is more about forgiveness, and all that word encompasses. Forgiving others, but especially forgiving our selves. And I did like how the author led the conclusion of that forgiveness down several different paths for the characters. Sometimes forgiveness means letting go. And sometimes it doesn’t.
Not liking the main character aside, I did enjoy this book. I find that books that make me really think and identify with what makes me uncomfortable are often some of the most satisfying books. I also find that people aren’t always likable, so why do we always expect that of the characters within our books? Even if I don’t want to be BFF’s with the characters in the pages, it made me think and feel and examine my reactions deeper than just the surface. And that’s worth reading.
This complexity makes it, I think, the absolute perfect book for the November book club pick. There is substance and depth to each of the characters. Not to mention, quite a few issues to keep conversation interesting; such as guilt, lies, secrets to just name a few.
Thank you to BookSparks for sending me a copy to read and review as part of FRC2017!
Dr. Dylan Michels has it all. A fantastic job doing what she loves, the chance to further her career and her research to help save women, and an amazing boyfriend who is there for her no matter how hard she works. So, when he proposes, why does she go running into the rain?
We know up front that Dylan is obsessed with her grant research, and her career, because of her sister’s death. We don’t know how exactly she died, only that Dylan somehow feels responsible for it. And her entire family relationship is centered around this loss. She is distant from her mother, who also holds on to Abby as much as Dylan, but they can’t grieve together. Her father and brother share their grief, but only on the anniversary date, so while on the surface they seem close, it also feels more frail than it appears.
And then there’s Cooper. Her boyfriend of 9 years. The man who loves and her accepts her and is always rooting for her. Even when her life hasn’t settled into the one he hoped for. He has the family she wants, and couldn’t think of life without him. Which is partly why she drove me a little crazy.
Here’s the thing about Dylan: I didn’t particularly like her. Don’t get me wrong, I understood her, where her character was coming from, the determination to right a perceived wrong. But she drove me crazy. She was so unaware of herself and her actions. I found it maddening that she expected everyone to be so understanding of her actions, even when she did nothing to explain them, but then refused to give other people the same courtesy. I found her to be a little self-absorbed and very immature, the her hypocrisy made me want to throw the book more than once.
If turmoil and bad choices aren’t your thing, you’re probably going to be in for a disappointment. These characters are a symphony of poor communication. Of assuming that the choices you make in order to protect other people, or because you think you know what they’re thinking, are always the right choices. This dance of missed opportunities is done throughout the book in multiple relationships, and really drives home the important of being open and honest with the ones you love. There is a certain Shakespearean elegance, (or perhaps it’s more Greek tragedy), to the relationships and how they develop (or fall apart) in this novel.
In this regard, it struck me over and over, how unfair and immature Dylan was being. She listens to people complain about people behaving a certain way in their lives, and even has those same issues with others, but completely fails to recognize it in her own self. And, when it comes to one rough spot, albeit a very bad rough spot, she simply shuts down and freezes everyone out. It’s difficult to go into the specifics without giving away spoilers. But, I can say, for a character who is told how perceptive she is to the needs of her patients, it’s amazing how little she lacks that same ability in her personal life. Or rather, she has it, she just simply doesn’t want to face it.
“I realize I may have pushed things too far. Maybe I didn’t want to hear his side, because it would bring me to this moment: facing the ugly truth. I’ve always known I was keeping Cooper at a distance, but I hoped he didn’t notice.”
Maybe that’s the point. Maybe that’s how we are in real life. We all probably have the most difficultly seeing how we truly behave with others. And it’s hard to face the ugly truths about ourselves. When things aren’t personal, we are able to relax and follow what we know to be right and true. But when our hearts get in the way, our heads seem to short-circuit.
Of course, unlike Shakespeare, or the Greeks, this story doesn’t end in tragedy, or, at least not the tragedy you expect. This story is more about forgiveness, and all that word encompasses. Forgiving others, but especially forgiving our selves. And I did like how the author led the conclusion of that forgiveness down several different paths for the characters. Sometimes forgiveness means letting go. And sometimes it doesn’t.
Not liking the main character aside, I did enjoy this book. I find that books that make me really think and identify with what makes me uncomfortable are often some of the most satisfying books. I also find that people aren’t always likable, so why do we always expect that of the characters within our books? Even if I don’t want to be BFF’s with the characters in the pages, it made me think and feel and examine my reactions deeper than just the surface. And that’s worth reading.
This complexity makes it, I think, the absolute perfect book for the November book club pick. There is substance and depth to each of the characters. Not to mention, quite a few issues to keep conversation interesting; such as guilt, lies, secrets to just name a few.
Thank you to BookSparks for sending me a copy to read and review as part of FRC2017!
September 28, 2017
"Perfectly Undone" was a really fantastic novel about forgiveness and moving on. Daryl is an OB/Gyn, finishing her residency and applying for grants, while somewhat balancing her relationship with Cooper, who is a pediatrician and already done with his residency. Although both of them had been in the same place for so long, Cooper is now to the next step with regular hours and an interest in settling down with the rest of his life. The first chapter is his proposal and her declining of it. We then go back in time to trace the weeks leading up to this event and then the aftermath.
I was absolutely gripped from the get-go. Although this wasn't a thriller, Daryl's life is pretty intense. We get glimpses into her family, her patients, and her personal history of relationships with Cooper and her family that set the stage for her current state. Daryl was a three-dimensional character, and she felt a little like all of us- trying to have it all, striving for unattainable perfection, carrying around guilt and judgments. The people around her are equally as flawed. We see mistakes from Cooper (who often seems too perfect to be human), his sister/her husband, and Dylan's parents. The way that they all evolve throughout the book is fascinating. The author really invites us into their lives and gives the perfect amount of context and events to allow us to become really emotionally invested in every character's story. It was nearly impossible to put this book down once I started reading, and I was absolutely enthralled the whole way through.
One of the most interesting albeit least developed characters was the gardener/landscape architect, Reese. The garden and landscape architect served as a focal point for much of Dylan's thinking and revelations. It really sets the stage for a lot of deeper meaning and thinking. I found his role to be incredibly intriguing and really like the way he was left mostly to the imagination and did not fill much beyond his purpose in terms of Dylan's development. It was a really interesting way to create him and I found it portrayed his role perfectly. The writing style was absolutely amazing and the book was put together so well, I felt I understood Dylan on a very deep level, and I was incredibly emotionally invested in her story.
Notably, this book wasn't a light, beachy read, as it deals with some very intense themes, including infidelity, unexpected death, secrets, and ultimately forgiveness and love. However, I absolutely enjoyed the book and felt that the ending resolutions were perfect even if not always perfectly happy. Overall, this was a fantastic read, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys women's fiction, stories of redemption, and second chances.
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I was absolutely gripped from the get-go. Although this wasn't a thriller, Daryl's life is pretty intense. We get glimpses into her family, her patients, and her personal history of relationships with Cooper and her family that set the stage for her current state. Daryl was a three-dimensional character, and she felt a little like all of us- trying to have it all, striving for unattainable perfection, carrying around guilt and judgments. The people around her are equally as flawed. We see mistakes from Cooper (who often seems too perfect to be human), his sister/her husband, and Dylan's parents. The way that they all evolve throughout the book is fascinating. The author really invites us into their lives and gives the perfect amount of context and events to allow us to become really emotionally invested in every character's story. It was nearly impossible to put this book down once I started reading, and I was absolutely enthralled the whole way through.
One of the most interesting albeit least developed characters was the gardener/landscape architect, Reese. The garden and landscape architect served as a focal point for much of Dylan's thinking and revelations. It really sets the stage for a lot of deeper meaning and thinking. I found his role to be incredibly intriguing and really like the way he was left mostly to the imagination and did not fill much beyond his purpose in terms of Dylan's development. It was a really interesting way to create him and I found it portrayed his role perfectly. The writing style was absolutely amazing and the book was put together so well, I felt I understood Dylan on a very deep level, and I was incredibly emotionally invested in her story.
Notably, this book wasn't a light, beachy read, as it deals with some very intense themes, including infidelity, unexpected death, secrets, and ultimately forgiveness and love. However, I absolutely enjoyed the book and felt that the ending resolutions were perfect even if not always perfectly happy. Overall, this was a fantastic read, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys women's fiction, stories of redemption, and second chances.
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
October 18, 2017
Introducing debut author, Jamie Raintree and her novel, PERFECTLY UNDONE, which has been published by GraydonHouse.
“Sometimes you have to lose your way to find yourself.”
Dr. Dylan Michels has worked hard for her perfect life, and has been hoping for the perfect moment her longtime boyfriend, Cooper will get down on his knee and pop the question. But when he does, Dylan says no. Huh?
For years she has been living with guilt – the part she played in her sister’s death. But her entire facade of being the perfect daughter, perfect partner and perfect doctor hasn’t silenced that haunting thought.
Ironically, it’s Cooper who makes a life changing confession, before Dylan has the chance to tell her secret. Is their so-called perfect life about to come undone? Sometimes you find yourself in the most surprising places.
Writing about forgiveness and family secrets is difficult, but Jamie is able to create a sensitive narrative without cliché. Her prose is sharp, focused and the characters become pretty good friends by the end.
Jamie recently was interviewed by Tall Poppies online book club, BLOOM. She offers advise for aspiring authors. “If your goal is to build a career as a writer, treat your writing like a career from the get-go. In order for people to take you seriously as a writer—your family, your friends, an agent, a publisher, and most importantly, yourself—you have to take your writing seriously.”
Here’s the full interview.
https://tallpoppies.org/tuesday-chat-...
Jamie Raintree is a voracious student of life, which is why she became a writer, where she could put all that acquired information to good use. She is a mother of two, a wife, a businesswoman, a nature-lover, and a wannabe yogi. She also teaches writers about business and productivity. Since the setting is always an important part of her books, she is happy to call the Rocky Mountains of Northern Colorado her home and inspiration.
“Sometimes you have to lose your way to find yourself.”
Dr. Dylan Michels has worked hard for her perfect life, and has been hoping for the perfect moment her longtime boyfriend, Cooper will get down on his knee and pop the question. But when he does, Dylan says no. Huh?
For years she has been living with guilt – the part she played in her sister’s death. But her entire facade of being the perfect daughter, perfect partner and perfect doctor hasn’t silenced that haunting thought.
Ironically, it’s Cooper who makes a life changing confession, before Dylan has the chance to tell her secret. Is their so-called perfect life about to come undone? Sometimes you find yourself in the most surprising places.
Writing about forgiveness and family secrets is difficult, but Jamie is able to create a sensitive narrative without cliché. Her prose is sharp, focused and the characters become pretty good friends by the end.
Jamie recently was interviewed by Tall Poppies online book club, BLOOM. She offers advise for aspiring authors. “If your goal is to build a career as a writer, treat your writing like a career from the get-go. In order for people to take you seriously as a writer—your family, your friends, an agent, a publisher, and most importantly, yourself—you have to take your writing seriously.”
Here’s the full interview.
https://tallpoppies.org/tuesday-chat-...
Jamie Raintree is a voracious student of life, which is why she became a writer, where she could put all that acquired information to good use. She is a mother of two, a wife, a businesswoman, a nature-lover, and a wannabe yogi. She also teaches writers about business and productivity. Since the setting is always an important part of her books, she is happy to call the Rocky Mountains of Northern Colorado her home and inspiration.
November 5, 2017
I won an advance copy of Perfectly Undone through Jamie Raintree’s newsletter.
I don’t normally read this type of book. My normal go-to reads are crime or thrillers. But when, I heard Jamie was about to break through into the publishing world, I was extremely excited for her. I entered the giveaway, not really expecting to win, but thank goodness I did. I’m really not sure if I would have grabbed a copy otherwise.
Jamie Raintree is an excellent author, and her story Perfectly Undone ripped my heart out.
Dylan has a secret, something she can’t tell anyone, not even her best friend/boyfriend, Cooper. Her determination to right her own wrong drives a wedge between her and those who love her the most. But, when Cooper betrays her, the whole world collapses around her - one piece at a time. Perfectly Undone is a story of falling apart and then coming back stronger than before.
I recommend this book to most readers of women’s literature, and to anyone who has felt the pain of being cheated on, or have experience the tug of war between career and relationship.
I don’t normally read this type of book. My normal go-to reads are crime or thrillers. But when, I heard Jamie was about to break through into the publishing world, I was extremely excited for her. I entered the giveaway, not really expecting to win, but thank goodness I did. I’m really not sure if I would have grabbed a copy otherwise.
Jamie Raintree is an excellent author, and her story Perfectly Undone ripped my heart out.
Dylan has a secret, something she can’t tell anyone, not even her best friend/boyfriend, Cooper. Her determination to right her own wrong drives a wedge between her and those who love her the most. But, when Cooper betrays her, the whole world collapses around her - one piece at a time. Perfectly Undone is a story of falling apart and then coming back stronger than before.
I recommend this book to most readers of women’s literature, and to anyone who has felt the pain of being cheated on, or have experience the tug of war between career and relationship.
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