Perfect Strangers

by Erin Knight

Discover the gripping new novel about powerful secrets and big lies, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Tracy Buchanan

Everyone is allowed their secrets…aren’t they?

Isobel arrives in the quiet Cornish town of Fallenbay determined to find peace – and answers – after her most intimate secrets have been splashed across the internet.

Cleo thinks she’s happy running a small coastal café but has no idea of the trouble her children are getting themselves mixed up in.

Sarah has finally put her horrible ex behind her and found the man of her dreams. Or has she?

All three women have no idea how powerful their darkest secrets can be, and how they will change the town of Fallenbay forever..

Genres: Fiction

561 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 22, 2018

About the author

The official bit:

Since securing the top prize in widely-publicized UK writing contest Racy Reads on ITV’s Lorraine show, Anouska Knight has become an international sensation with her debut novel, Since You've Been Gone, hitting both The Bookseller and Heatseekers bestseller lists and securing praise from the likes of Jackie Collins and Jenny Colgan.
Her books have since gone on to be published in twenty countries worldwide.
A former bakery owner, she has gone on to wide acclaim in her native England and now writes full-time, currently on her next novel for Harper Collins under the pseudonym 'Erin Knight'.


The really real bit:

Frazzled mum to three smashing boys, Rad, Loch & Jesse.
Wife to childhood sweetheart, Knighty.
Big fan of peanut M&Ms. And typing 'The End'.

Reviews

[Paula Sealey · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Perfect Strangers' is an entertaining read bringing the stories of three families in the coastal town of Fallenbay together.

Isobel has arrived seeking the person responsible for her downfall who has been traced to the town. She has come with a clear mission and intends only to stay long enough to get the answers she needs, but she finds herself becoming friends with locals Cleo and Sarah. Cleo is busy running her cafe, little realising that there are serious problems in her children's lives. Sarah is about to get married, but is harbouring doubts over her relationship with husband-to-be Jon.

The plot weaves their stories together as the three ladies begin their friendship; like a few episodes of a soap opera in book form really. At the start I had a bit of a job keeping up with who was who as there were so many characters and different stories playing out, but this got better as I became more involved with the different groups of people. The plot itself didn't hold any major surprises for me as I kind of guessed a lot of what was happening and who was responsible as the stories played out; I still found it enjoyable though, and really liked Erin Knight's portrayal of the three main characters.

*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Tara♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up a copy of this book in a secondhand book shop years ago and bought it because it sounded like it would be interesting. Then I saw it on sale for 2.99 on Audible a few years later and read the synopsis again and bought it again in case I fancied listening to it one day.

Well today was that day. Today. I binged it in one day. Opted to walk an extra hour and a half instead of taking the bus just so I could binge it!

This was very entertaining. It was basically a British soap opera and although I haven't watched one of those in years I still had a great time. Yes, you could see some things coming a mile away, especially the big things, but there was still enough red herrings thrown in to keep you questioning everything and it meant it was impossible to 'put down'. It's probably more a 4 star read but I was 100% hooked so I'm giving it 5.

It also made me:
a) so, so glad that I didn't grow up around the minefield that is social media
and
b) even more glad of my decision not to have kids because some of the stuff in this was terrifying and I'd wager it's the tip of the iceberg. I also feel the need to have chats with my nieces and nephews again about the importance of not just online safety but the importance of knowing they can come to me about ANYTHING and I won't judge and we can figure it out because that bottling it up doesn't do a damn thing!

Yes, a lot of this was over the top because it's a work of fiction and as I mentioned was a lot like a soap opera, but I've also listened to Sweet Bobby and Unraveled: The Stalkers Web so I'm aware that the stories that sound the most bananas can actually be true, so I didn't need to suspend belief too much with this book.

This was entertaining, terrifying when thinking about online presence and impossible to put down. Will definitely be checking out this authors backlist! Bummer, just checked and she hasn't written anything since this (2018) and has no backlist. That's disappointing, very strong debut I must say!

Oh and the narrator was really very good! 10 out of 10 for her as well.

[Andra Lazar · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of the book was so slow paced I felt like giving up on it every day. And then the other half was one exciting plot twist after the other.

But the plot of the book feels very relevant - cyberbullying, a topic increasingly significant in our digital age, is addressed with a keen understanding and sensitivity. Erin Knight delves into the complexities of online interactions and their real-world impacts, weaving a story that is not only thrilling but also thought-provoking. The characters, each grappling with their own digital dilemmas, are well-crafted and their stories intersect in intriguing ways, reflecting the interconnectedness of our online lives.

The narrative also raises important questions about privacy, identity, and the consequences of our online behavior. In this regard, 'Perfect Strangers' serves not just as a gripping novel, but also as a timely commentary on the darker aspects of our increasingly online existence. The book ultimately leaves the reader with much to ponder about the nature of our virtual interactions and the unseen effects they can have on our real lives.

[Calx · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was actually a pretty decent book; it has a good story line, and you get to know the backstories of all 3 main female characters. There's a lot of tension, and quite an uneasy feeling as you progress through the book, which is quite nice. It also explores relevant themes of online safety and social media, both of which impact us greatly today, as it portrays potential consequences and danger.

I think I've only got 2 main problems, one of them being that I guessed the ending, because I just think that a lot of people do start to figure out who it is. I don't know if ??? personality was purposefully written that way, but for me, it made it quite obvious who it was. Also, I do think that there a lot of characters to keep track of: Two of the main characters are married with 2 children each, and then there's parent's of children, exes, people around. I just think for me, there's way too many characters to be able to remember as we go through the story.

Overall, it's quite a slow burn book, with tension gradually rising, and it does make a good read, however, I just think that because of the characters, it made it less enjoyable for me.

[Christina McLain · Rating 3 out of 5]

This piece of chick lit was absorbing enough, but without the humour and satirical touches which would have lifted it out of its rather fluffy genre. It's the story of a young woman with a terrible, painful secret who moves to a small prosperous little town in Cornwall, ostensibly to take a health break. In reality she has a much darker agenda and, on her way to achievement of this goal, she encounters two other women whose lives are more far more complex and problematic than they appear. The whole town is peopled with yummy mummies and raging alpha males; everyone here is keeping up appearances and checking their backs to see if anyone has gotten more than their share in this take on 22 century competitive venality. In truth I found the whole book to be a bit on the negative side and it made me glad not to have been a parent or a child in the dog eat dog world presented here.

[NickeySummer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! A page turner from start to finish! Isobel is bringing g trolled, she rubs away to get a better life and start again, as well as to find whoever it is that trolled her, and a whole lot of secrets start revealing themselves in the sleepy seaside town! Not all is as it seems behind the coffee shops and school gates. This book highlights the terror of the internet when on the wrong hands, as a mum this rang scarily true, the worry, the paranoia, just trying to keep your kid safe nowadays….
Brilliantly written and entertaining, if a little edge of the seat, I would highly recommend this book.

[Janette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read highlighting the current obsession with social media. I enjoyed how the plot weaved between the three friends. The twists and turns throughout the book kept me absorbed until the very end of the book. Well written, I recommend this book.
A really good read - I can't wait to read more from Erin Knight.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Readsandeats · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book was ok.
It was a bit of a psychological thriller and showed that there can be repercussions of what is posted on the internet, even if you are not the person who posted the story.
Was frightening how easily someone can post things about you and how it impacts on your life.

[Hanneke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to get into it a little bit, but really enjoyed this book in the end. The characters were relatable, had depth and the novel wasn't too predictable. I also really enjoyed the vibe of the town in which the story took place.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced and interesting enough that I couldn't put it down at the end. Took a while for me to get into and learn who everyone was to begin with but some very likeable characters once it got going!

[Claire De Blick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an unexpected twist at the end

[Rebecca Abrams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very slow. Very little “content”. Lacked quality character development. Nothing happened until the last few chapters (which were the good part). Huge disappointment.