The Trouble with Perfect

Perfect #2

by Helena Duggan

Having uncovered the secrets that lay behind the spookily pristine town of Perfect, Violet and the townsfolk are enjoying their new freedom from the maniacal rule of the evil Archer twins. But have they really seen the last of Edward Archer? Why is Boy acting strangely? And who is masterminding a scary zombie army?

Another quirky, creepy and unforgettable adventure, perfect for fans of Roald Dahl, Neil Gaiman and Tim Burton.

“A creepy, magical tale of bravery and self-belief” The Sunday Express

“Your heart is in your mouth and you’re knee-deep in adventure...” MG Leonard, author of Beetle Boy

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Mystery, Fiction, Childrens, Adventure, Paranormal

384 pages, Paperback

First published August 23, 2019

About the author

I am from Kilkenny, a medieval, haunted city in the south of Ireland, which was the inspiration for the town in A Place Called Perfect. I write stories full of adventure because I get bored really easily.

A Place Called Perfect was my first book. It was published in August 2017 and was a Waterstones Book of the Month. It won numerous awards including Crimefest Children's Book of the Year and was nominated for the Irish Book Awards and Waterstones Children's Prize.
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The series is a bestselling series has sold over 230,000 copies in the UK and counting and is published in 13 languages to date. Perfect has also been optioned for an animated TV series by Jellyfish Productions.
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The Light Thieves is my new eco/tech adventure series that has just been launched to rave reviews. I look forward to hearing how it's received by the World at large.
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When I'm not writing or designing I'm hanging around with Robbie, my husband (who loves climbing mountains), my daughters Jo and Bobbie and our crazy rescue dog Tinky.

Reviews

[Lucy'sLilLibrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this more than the first in the series - it was a little less obvious and felt like it was for a slightly older audience. It was much more serious and dealt with older subject matters, it was quirky, creepy and quite emotional at times.

I will be finishing off the trilogy. I can't really figure out where the next book is going to go. I liked that we spent more time with some different characters, as I felt like our main two have developed as much as they're going to.

A cute little read - on to the next!

[Marie the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really adore Helena Duggans writing and her story and characters. Violet and Boy are charming as ever and OMG ANNA. Its also nice to see more of the characters like Anna and Jack and Rose. Its an exciting story even though I could see the twist coming. I did not see that other thing coming though. And it feels a bit like a book thats building up to a very dramatic finale in the third book. But I enjoyed it :D And its very magical and gives you good vibes.

[Zhyar Jasim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished on 14.nov.2022

A very fun story, with a slight difference and more serious tone than the last book.
The ending tho, why? Oh why?

✨️
I'm hoping that one day Laika or cartoon saloon studios will adapt this book into a movie. It would look gorgeous in their style.

[Iva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Втората книжка определено ми хареса много повече 😃
Както пише на края: Очаквайте следващата съвършено зловеща история...
Вече нямам търпение да държа и третата част в ръцете си 😃😃😃

[Krasi Karaivanov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Мега, гига топ 😍😍😍

[BetweenLinesAndLife]

"There is no 'them' and 'us'. We are men and women and children and husbands and wives and No-Man's-Landers and Perfectionists. We are all these labels and we are none. We are simply people, and we fight for that simple truth."

While it took me a bit longer to actually get into the story of this second book in the Perfect series, at the end it took my heart by storm.
The first one already had strong messages, but this one was even stronger.
I loved how it transported such adult-like topics into a story accessible to children. The message of caution in regards of mind control by the government, hate speech, inflicting fear and othering feels way to real and was mastered perfectly without ever feeling too much for a child to take in.
Paired with the message of how strong a mother's love is, this made for an emotional read for readers of any age.
I loved how Helena Duggan still was able to write children as children and not an adult mind pretending to be a child.

Truly a series I would recommend to anyone and I'm looking forward to the next installment already!

P.S. The book stole my heart when they named their tea factory "UniTea"!

[Sulhan Habibi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baca terjemahan terbitan Bhuanasastra.

Buku kedua ini lebih seru dari buku pertama. Walaupun katanya buku anak-anak, tapi temanya agak berat juga ya.
Bagus. Aku suka. Terjemahannya juga bagus.
Sangat menanti buku ketiganya.

[One chapter more · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I had a friend like Violet when I was her age. We could get in trouble together and save the world together!

Well, the sequel is as charming as the book no 1!

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Trouble with Perfect is the second book in this series - I don't know how long it will be. But I think we are getting a third one.

The book is written in third person, with Violet being our narrator. The book in written in a very easy to manner and the chapters are quite short - roughly 8 pages each.

The book picks up right after A Place Called Perfect finishes, with the inhabitants rebuilding the town and their lives. Everything seems to be going fine, until there are a series of robberies in town and then a couple of kids go missing. All fingers seem to point to Boy! Violet is then left in a very difficult position as she doesn't know what to believe and had to uncover the truth.

I did enjoy this book. It was nice revisiting all the characters who i'd met before. I also really liked the creative methods the villain used to try and get what they wanted - it was very imaginative and different. The children also remained children and not mini adults, which was also great. In many children's books, I find the kids eventually merge into adults in kids bodies, here they were still children. Which was refreshing.

However, I did find the book a little samey. As though we'd been here before, which I guess we had. I also saw the twist coming, which I guess may be down to my age and experience as the intended audience may not.

But I did enjoy this book. It was a very good continuation of the story and I look forward to the next one.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

After enjoying the first book so much, this was a real disappointment. Predictable and boring.

[Книжни Криле · Rating 5 out of 5]

Една от най-любопитните и напрегнати детско-юношески книжни поредици от последните години се завръща със своята втора част! Когато едно място се нарича Съвършенство, там не би трябвало да се случват неприятности. Но вече знаем, че зад фасадите на „Град на име Съвършенство” нещата далеч не са такива, каквито би трябвало да са, тъй че... неприятностите вече едва ли са нещо неочаквано. В това писателката Хелена Дъган не убеди още с първия роман от поредицата си за щурите и чудати приключения на Вайълет – момиче, чиито приключения са достойни за „Зоната на здрача”. Дори и да си вдигнал гарда обаче, за някои изненади няма как да си подготвен! А „Неприятности в Съвършенство” (изд. „Orange Books”) е наистина продължение пълно с изненади и... граничещо със съвършенството. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...

[maven calore’s venice b!tch · Rating 2 out of 5]

if me and my twin brother were neglected by our mom and we spent our entire life fighting for her attention while she hated us and favoured our little brother, i’d turn into a villain too 😭 it’s so annoying how they’re like “oh they’re twisted from the start””idk how they turned out like that” MAYBE BECAUSE YOU NEGLECTED THEM??? i literally have no idea why they hate on the archers brothers so much when they’re a product of their childhood.
idk why i’m continuing this series 😭 the writing is so shit and all the characters are so annoying. violet, the main character acts so self righteous and she’s so stubborn and annoying and mean and all the other characters are annoying as well. the plot is SO predictable and i literally guessed the twist halfway into the book. i hate this series

[Dessislava Ivanova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Е, много неща предвидих, но това не го очаквах... Обичам поредицата за Съвършенство - детски книги със сърце, дух и приключения. Втората книга е чудесна и макар че се досетих за някои неща, много се, ядосвах на възрастните, а накрая и плаках - определено имаше дъжд от емоции... Любими са ми всички герои, но Вайълет ми е фаворит, заедно с Ана. Изключителни деца и страхотна история!

[Gabriela Kozhuharova · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first book better, just because the plot of The Trouble with Perfect seemed a little bit repetitive to me. Still dark and charming, though.

[Chloe Reads Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! A sequel that definitely lived up to the first!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5★

[Melanie]

DNF @ p. 76

I enjoyed the first book a lot, but for some reason, this sequel is not doing it for me. I tried reading it for the third time now and I cannot get into it. Oh well, I'm a bit bummed about it but maybe it was not meant to be. *shrugs*

[Valeria ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must be honest: even though I deeply loved A Place Called Perfect and I was super hyper excited at the idea of reading a new chapter of Violet and Boy's story, the new adventure wasn't able to engage me from the very first page, as much as it happened with the previous book instead.
I felt this new adventure took off on the wrong foot, as well as the main developments couldn't measure up with the central events previously told: it felt like a repetition of the story, having the author covered the same exact topic.
I don't question the originality through which Helena Duggan was able to explain politics to children (and not only) in the most interesting way, although simple. What I wasn't liking too much and which slowed down my reading process, was the previously mentioned repetition: this second chapter involves very similar dynamics, on one side necessary if considered the ending of the first book, but the new settings are not as much engaging and fascinating.

I was sure I was going to give only 4 stars to the book until I reached the last few chapters: in the very final part the story finally spices up, introducing a plot twist I could never imagine in a book of this kind, that made me fall in love with this story even more than expected. To be fair, it wasn't the only plot twist introduced by the author, but the proper first one revealed during the central part of the book was pretty predictable, especially if the reader is a detailed-oriented adult who could already notice something bizarre in the previous book. This way, when a new element of the story was presented, I wasn't much surprised having had already predicted the switch of the story from the very start. On the contrary, the turn of events in that second last chapter truly left me speechless instead. It made me even more eager to read the third book, more as compared to when I finished A Place Called Perfect: I'm genuinely curious to know what the authour has in mind, what new horrific twist is going to trouble the life of this town.

I do have high expectations, considering the great job the writer has done so far, and I will count the days to the release of the new book. In the meanwhile, I'll suggest this reading to whoever I know, and here on Goodreads I want to state again the importance to read this book series. No matter what age you are, because the one told by Helena Duggan is a universal story. It teaches how to be independent from the intellectual and political point of view, pointing out the possible discriminations operated by politicians to divide populations, and the swindles and deceits that let the least decent keep the power. It's a memorandum of the importance of being active, suspicious and true to one's own ideals, in the fight for freedom and good politics. An essential human matter explained with originality, simpicity and through a fairytale-like perspective which makes the story and its teaching accessible to anyone.

[Andrew MacDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because the first one was really good but unfortunately that was not the same for this one. It has an uninteresting plot and dramatic irony/ possible dislike for characters that turned out haven't done anything.
Violet is not the smartest character for her age. She gets confused with simple things yet is the center of our story.
Boy is questionable and unforgiving and for most of the book we think of him as the villain which is sad because he used to be my favourite character in the series.
In all, this book isn't great and has made me not look forward to reading the third one (if I even will bother).

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first one but still really enjoyable and a real page turner. Definitely one of the darkest kid's books around.

[Eva McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a really good book. Violet and her friend Jack had to go on yet another quest to save their town. The quest involved finding out about someone who could be related to boy (violets best friend)

[aynsrtn · Rating 5 out of 5]

❝Jika kita melupakan masa lalu, masa lalu akan menyusul kita.❞ - p. 28

Boy diduga menjadi dalang atas pencurian dan hilangnya Conor dan Beautrice, teman sekolahnya. Town yang perlahan bangkit pasca jatuhnya Archer bersaudara, menjadi tidak aman. Tentu saja Violet tidak percaya bahwa semua ini dilakukan oleh Boy. Tapi, sayangnya, semua bukti justru mengarah kuat kepada Boy.

Buku kedua dari series Perfect dan masih tetap Perfect—sempurna dengan 5⭐️ dariku. GOAT.

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Pada seri kedua ini intrik dan polemiknya makin seru dan membuatku serasa naik ke rollercoaster. Bagaimana kepercayaan dan perasaan bisa memengaruhi daya berpikir dalam pengambilan keputusan. Pengaruh media dan "buzzer" dalam perebutan kekuasaan serta mudahnya "menyetir" warga menjadi 2 kubu yaitu kubu yang ingin kembali ke kejayaan masa lalu dan kubu revolusi yang progresif, menjadi isu panas yang ditekankan di buku kedua ini. Sebagai buku yang sebenarnya cerita middle grade, tapi sangat cocok dibaca untuk orang dewasa. Keren banget.

❝Kalau kau dapat menanamkan rasa takut pada seseorang, itu akan membangun kemarahan. Beri mereka alasan atas ketakutan mereka dan kau dapat mengarahkan kemarahan mereka, dengan demikian mengendalikan mereka ... Memecah belah lalu menumbangkan, metode yang digunakan untuk memperoleh atau mempertahankan kekuasaan,❞ - p. 180

#

Lalu, sekarang rasanya "adil", ya. Di buku pertama yang "ngeselin" adalah Violet, di buku kedua giliran Boy. Tentu semua ada justifikasinya. Memang usia 12 menuju 13 tahun—fase anak-anak yang beranjak remaja adalah fase menegakkan yang menurut mereka benar—meski agak rebel, haha.

Special thanks to Anna and Jack as MVP in this book. Kalau nggak ada mereka, udah kelar deh Violet dan Boy bisa-bisanya bickering bahkan di saat urgent.

#

No word again. This series will be the greatest series all the time for me. Lanjut buku ketiga sebagai penutup series ini. Ekspetasiku tentu sangat besar. Semoga tetap "perfect" sesuai judulnya.

Baik, buku ini direkomendasi. Sangat amat direkomendasikan. Apalagi bagi kamu yang suka cerita middle grade dengan petualangan berbumbu fantasi serta intrik politik perebutan kekuasaan.

Sukaakkk bangettt bangettt!! 💐

[cassidy_blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Махам звезда, защото Вайълет (и някои други, от време на време) ме изнервяха. Момче беше прав, когато попита Вайълет кого ще спре да се спъва (аз бих добавила "и да вдига шум").🙄 Също така елементът с газа тук сякаш леко се доближи до този с чая от първата книга.
Но стига съм се заяждала с момичето.😂 Книжката е готина, изпитах много и различни емоции. Момче ми стана дори по-симпатичен. Знам, че някои не са впечатлени от драмата около него, но аз лично намирам реакциите на всеки един от героите за естествени. Някак си тази ситуация ме накара да погледна на продължението по различен начин. Фокусът от една страна не е единствено Град, а се измества към взаимоотношенията между приятелите и тези в семействата. Случилото се на финала дори няма да коментирам - опитвам се да остана позитивна.🥲
"Неприятности в Съвършенство" ми хареса - макар и една идея - повече и нямам търпение за финала.

П.П. Към средата на книгата в рамките на няколко минути се бяха случили доста неща едно след друго. Известно време слушах аудиокнигата с изражение, подобно на онази меме котка с огромните очи, защото не разбирах какво се случва.😆

[Dreximgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good sequel. I liked the issues it dealt with too and there was one thing which happened that I truly wasn't expecting and made me so sad. I love Boy so much and was so worried about him for most of this book. Violet got on my nerves a bit I have to admit but once she got interacting with more of the other 'orphans' she mellowed a bit. I have to say the adults in this book are incredibly dumb sometimes which is truly frustrating but it's kind of addressed a little.

Overall a great read and I am looking forward to the last one.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐

[Elena Toncheva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Тази трилогия става все по-зловеща и по-зловеща…

[Simoné Eloff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for Believathon IV prompt number 8: Continue a series.

[From Heaven With Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book. I can't choose which was better, the first or the second one because withought one another, they wouldn't be complete and wouldn't make sense. I am definitely going to read the 3rd and last for now and hope for the best!! 😊❤️🎈😘

[N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Di buku kedua dari seri A Place Called Perfect ini, boy dituduh mencuri barang dan menculik anak-anak. Warga kota town bersaksi melihat boy melakukan aksinya itu dan violet yakin boy tidak mungkin melakukan hal buruk itu. Dengan beberapa pemecahan misteri, terungkap lah kebenaran-kebenarannya.


Di buku kedua ini tidak kalah seru dengan buku yang pertama. Alur dan karakternya memang selalu keren. Terjemahan yang bagus. Cover buku yang cantik. Dan ending yang masih ada tanda tanya yang akan dilanjutkan di buku berikutnya. Tidak sabar ingin menyelesaikan buku berikutnya.

My rate:4.7⭐

[Claire Holloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it is a great sequel to ‘A Place Called Perfect’ which I loved. Although predictable at times, this is a lovely story of family, friendship and mystery. I highly recommend it.