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PERfunctory AfFECTION
Is it better to live a lie of perfection when the truth is too ugly to survive?
Meg wants a normal life. Her new artistic style, born in the depression of her mother’s death, is poised to take the art world by storm, if she could just overcome the debilitating anxiety caused by the car accident that scarred her boyfriend, Austin. Encouraged by her therapist, Meg pushes outside her comfort zone to befriend Haley, a guest instructor at the university where Meg teaches. Haley is everything Meg wants to be: charismatic, confident, and perfect, but when Austin expresses his worry that Haley is changing Meg too fast and leads her to realize that Austin is trying to keep her afraid and needing him, Meg kicks him out of her life. Or at least, she tries.
Kim Harrison, author of the number one bestselling Urban Fantasy Hollows series, brings to life a world terrifyingly near to our own, where what’s real and what shouldn’t exist twine together in the madness of a troubled mind desperate for a way out. But when the truth is reveled, the question remains, is it better to live a lie of perfection, or cleave to an ugly reality that will destroy you?
Meg wants a normal life. Her new artistic style, born in the depression of her mother’s death, is poised to take the art world by storm, if she could just overcome the debilitating anxiety caused by the car accident that scarred her boyfriend, Austin. Encouraged by her therapist, Meg pushes outside her comfort zone to befriend Haley, a guest instructor at the university where Meg teaches. Haley is everything Meg wants to be: charismatic, confident, and perfect, but when Austin expresses his worry that Haley is changing Meg too fast and leads her to realize that Austin is trying to keep her afraid and needing him, Meg kicks him out of her life. Or at least, she tries.
Kim Harrison, author of the number one bestselling Urban Fantasy Hollows series, brings to life a world terrifyingly near to our own, where what’s real and what shouldn’t exist twine together in the madness of a troubled mind desperate for a way out. But when the truth is reveled, the question remains, is it better to live a lie of perfection, or cleave to an ugly reality that will destroy you?
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2019
79 people are currently reading
1040 people want to read
About the author
Kim Harrison
82 books18.8k followersKim Harrison is best known as the author of the New York Times #1 best selling Hollows series, but she has written more than urban fantasy and has published over two-dozen books spanning the gamut from young adult, thriller, several anthologies, and has scripted two original graphic novels. She has also published traditional fantasy under the name Dawn Cook. Kim is currently working on a new Hollows book between other, non related, urban fantasy projects.
Kim reaches out to her audience at Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KimHarrisons...
Instagram
https://instagram.com/kim_harrison_au...
and her blog http://kimharrison.wordpress.com/
other pseudonyms: Dawn Cook
Kim reaches out to her audience at Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KimHarrisons...
https://instagram.com/kim_harrison_au...
and her blog http://kimharrison.wordpress.com/
other pseudonyms: Dawn Cook
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
April 1, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love Kim Harrison. I tore through her Hollows series and fell in love with that world all over again with her prequel. I read both of the Drafter novels that were published, and would reread them and buy the third if it ever gets published. I'm sad that it hasn't. I'm super pumped that she's got more Hollows in the works.
Unfortuntely, it seems that the Hollows is where she shines, and, at least thus far, her more science fiction leaning books aren't as good as her urban fantasy. The Drafter was good, but nowhere near as good as her Hollows, and this standalone was an entertaining read, but it also didn't live up to her Hollows standards.
In this one, I really liked her concept and her execution. The ending, though, didn't feel like much of a payoff after reading so much to build to that point. I feel like it was a little cliched with the potential of a nice twist that instead was left hanging.
I enjoyed the book though, just by the end wasn't super excited about it when I know she's capable of much more as an author. I hope she finds her mojo again! 3 stars, recommended for those who like thriller-type stories where you're never sure if the protagonist is cray-cray or not.
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I loved Kim Harrison's the Hollows, but I think she's lost her confidence with her Peri Reed series not doing very well. I hope she finds it again.
Review to come upon release, but I was disappointed that she had the opportunities to break some cliches in this book and turn them on their heads, and she just went straight with the cliches. :(
I love Kim Harrison. I tore through her Hollows series and fell in love with that world all over again with her prequel. I read both of the Drafter novels that were published, and would reread them and buy the third if it ever gets published. I'm sad that it hasn't. I'm super pumped that she's got more Hollows in the works.
Unfortuntely, it seems that the Hollows is where she shines, and, at least thus far, her more science fiction leaning books aren't as good as her urban fantasy. The Drafter was good, but nowhere near as good as her Hollows, and this standalone was an entertaining read, but it also didn't live up to her Hollows standards.
In this one, I really liked her concept and her execution. The ending, though, didn't feel like much of a payoff after reading so much to build to that point. I feel like it was a little cliched with the potential of a nice twist that instead was left hanging.
I enjoyed the book though, just by the end wasn't super excited about it when I know she's capable of much more as an author. I hope she finds her mojo again! 3 stars, recommended for those who like thriller-type stories where you're never sure if the protagonist is cray-cray or not.
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I loved Kim Harrison's the Hollows, but I think she's lost her confidence with her Peri Reed series not doing very well. I hope she finds it again.
Review to come upon release, but I was disappointed that she had the opportunities to break some cliches in this book and turn them on their heads, and she just went straight with the cliches. :(
April 8, 2019
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
PERfunctory AfFECTION is a little bit of a mind boggle at times. Meg is an unreliable narrator and that makes figuring out what is going on a little more difficult as she doesn’t seem in her right mind. This story is one of hiding from the past and longing to be something more than you are.
Meg struggles with the day to day of life. She is depressed, struggles with interactions with people, has severe anxiety and has few people in her life, just a therapist and a boyfriend. After being placed on a new drug, Meg is challenged to get out there and make a new friend, try some new things and really push the boundaries of her life including her co-dependent relationship.
Haley is everything Meg has ever wanted to be and she is so patient with Meg. She asks Meg to do new things and go new places. She fawns over Meg’s peculiar art and practically won’t let her out of her sight. As Meg sorts out her life, the reader is also trying to figure out, what is real and is it better to know the truth than live a lie.
I struggled with this story for a few reasons. I didn’t really like Meg; she is a mess obviously, but being in her head wasn’t really enjoyable. It is difficult to be in someone’s sick mind, she is fixated on Haley and how perfect and cool she is. As she struggles to be like Haley, we see her mimic so many of Haley’s likes down to the coffee she drinks and the food she eats even though she finds the overly sweet things disgusting. Meg is desperate throughout most of the story, sometimes a writer can make me incredibly invested in a sick person, but in this case I wasn’t.
I’ve only read a few unreliable narrator stories and so I’m not an expert in them by any means. If you like the narration style and don’t mind a character driven story with an unreliable narrator then this might be for you.
Narration:
Traci Odom is a solid narrator. I felt like she captured the essence of the characters and had a good delivery of all those involved. She isn’t someone I heard before and thought to look up to see what other books she has narrated though. I listened to this at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
PERfunctory AfFECTION is a little bit of a mind boggle at times. Meg is an unreliable narrator and that makes figuring out what is going on a little more difficult as she doesn’t seem in her right mind. This story is one of hiding from the past and longing to be something more than you are.
Meg struggles with the day to day of life. She is depressed, struggles with interactions with people, has severe anxiety and has few people in her life, just a therapist and a boyfriend. After being placed on a new drug, Meg is challenged to get out there and make a new friend, try some new things and really push the boundaries of her life including her co-dependent relationship.
Haley is everything Meg has ever wanted to be and she is so patient with Meg. She asks Meg to do new things and go new places. She fawns over Meg’s peculiar art and practically won’t let her out of her sight. As Meg sorts out her life, the reader is also trying to figure out, what is real and is it better to know the truth than live a lie.
I struggled with this story for a few reasons. I didn’t really like Meg; she is a mess obviously, but being in her head wasn’t really enjoyable. It is difficult to be in someone’s sick mind, she is fixated on Haley and how perfect and cool she is. As she struggles to be like Haley, we see her mimic so many of Haley’s likes down to the coffee she drinks and the food she eats even though she finds the overly sweet things disgusting. Meg is desperate throughout most of the story, sometimes a writer can make me incredibly invested in a sick person, but in this case I wasn’t.
I’ve only read a few unreliable narrator stories and so I’m not an expert in them by any means. If you like the narration style and don’t mind a character driven story with an unreliable narrator then this might be for you.
Narration:
Traci Odom is a solid narrator. I felt like she captured the essence of the characters and had a good delivery of all those involved. She isn’t someone I heard before and thought to look up to see what other books she has narrated though. I listened to this at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Read
March 30, 2019I can't tell if Kim Harrison's writing style isn't for me or if this was just the worst possible introduction to her work, because so many of my friends LOVE her, but this writing style threw me off from literally the very first page and never got any better. I skimmed through the first few chapters and was just disliking every moment of it. Normally, since it was an ARC, I'd try to power through and only DNF after a good 1/4 of the book or more was over, but I've been in and out of a slump lately and I'm not willing to risk slumping again for this. :(
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
June 4, 2019
What the what, and huh ? Any book I have to reread sections of over and over to try to figure out who is saying what and what the hell is happening ? No. Not even for Ms. Harrison one of my favorite authors. This jumbled mess is going back to the library unfinished.
June 25, 2020
Read: June 2020
There was so much about Perfunctory Affection that I loved - the premise of a struggling art teacher trying to come to terms with a serious car accident, the ambiguous therapist/patient relationship that followed, the personal transformation that seems like a double-edged sword, the undertones of the paranormal that may or may not be connected to mental illness...everything about this set-up seemed like my perfect book.
But...but it just falls short of hitting the mark. Too many questions are left unanswered -
Ultimately, I understand that Harrison told us all the way through the story that she was not going to answer everything; she makes it clear through the character of Meg and her painting technique of only filling a third of the canvas and leaving the viewer to fill in the blanks exactly what she planned on doing to her readers. It is clever but frustrating.
I am huge fan of Kim Harrison but for those new to her work, I wouldn't recommend starting with this one as it is very different from her other novels.
There was so much about Perfunctory Affection that I loved - the premise of a struggling art teacher trying to come to terms with a serious car accident, the ambiguous therapist/patient relationship that followed, the personal transformation that seems like a double-edged sword, the undertones of the paranormal that may or may not be connected to mental illness...everything about this set-up seemed like my perfect book.
But...but it just falls short of hitting the mark. Too many questions are left unanswered -
Ultimately, I understand that Harrison told us all the way through the story that she was not going to answer everything; she makes it clear through the character of Meg and her painting technique of only filling a third of the canvas and leaving the viewer to fill in the blanks exactly what she planned on doing to her readers. It is clever but frustrating.
I am huge fan of Kim Harrison but for those new to her work, I wouldn't recommend starting with this one as it is very different from her other novels.
May 16, 2019
The story was adeptly told, particularly in regards to wordsmithing. Although I had figured out much of the story earlier than the reveal there were still some twists I wasn't expecting.
But I didn't enjoy spending the entire book in the head of someone deeply mentally disturbed.
But I didn't enjoy spending the entire book in the head of someone deeply mentally disturbed.
April 15, 2019
PERfunctory AfFECTION was different. An unreliable narrator and events that unfold will leave the reader pondering what they have just read. Some will say horror, some will say psychology thriller and still other will declare it fantasy or paranormal.
I am not going into any details, because I went in blind and I think it is better that way. When I first met Meg I wasn’t sure what to think. She obviously has some issues. She lost her mother and has some PTSD from a car accident involving her boyfriend Austin. She suffers from depression and teaches art at the local university.
The tale began rough for me, but slowly pulled me in. I struggled a bit trying to figure Meg out and that made it hard to sink into the story. Don’t expect to like her. She feels needy, unsure and at times childish in her mannerisms, but there is an unlying strength that emerges.
Part of the problem was the narration, which I will get to next. Once, Meg befriended Haley I was hooked. The story reads like a psychological thriller with a fantasy or supernatural vibe. It all depends on what or who you believe.
Traci Odem narrates and as I stated above I initially struggled with her narration. On reflection, I think the disconnect was me trying to settle into the story and identify with Meg. Around the 25% mark I had no complaints with either the story or the narration.
Depending on your perception at the end of PERfunctory AfFECTION there could be another book or it was one heck of an ending. Either way, it is one you will reflect on, talk about, and conjure. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
I am not going into any details, because I went in blind and I think it is better that way. When I first met Meg I wasn’t sure what to think. She obviously has some issues. She lost her mother and has some PTSD from a car accident involving her boyfriend Austin. She suffers from depression and teaches art at the local university.
The tale began rough for me, but slowly pulled me in. I struggled a bit trying to figure Meg out and that made it hard to sink into the story. Don’t expect to like her. She feels needy, unsure and at times childish in her mannerisms, but there is an unlying strength that emerges.
Part of the problem was the narration, which I will get to next. Once, Meg befriended Haley I was hooked. The story reads like a psychological thriller with a fantasy or supernatural vibe. It all depends on what or who you believe.
Traci Odem narrates and as I stated above I initially struggled with her narration. On reflection, I think the disconnect was me trying to settle into the story and identify with Meg. Around the 25% mark I had no complaints with either the story or the narration.
Depending on your perception at the end of PERfunctory AfFECTION there could be another book or it was one heck of an ending. Either way, it is one you will reflect on, talk about, and conjure. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
March 31, 2019
As readers can tell from the cover, which looks somewhat like a horror novel, this story from Urban Fantasy author, Kim Harrison, is not part of the Hollows series. It is part psychological thriller and part paranormal…maybe. This complex tale centers on Meg, an artist struggling with some psychological issues that have their roots in a tragic incident three years before involving her boyfriend, Austin and the loss of her mother. Panic attacks are her daily companions. She is desperate to get her life back so when her therapist offers a new, experimental drug, Meg is all in. At the same time that she starts the medication, two people enter Meg’s attenuated life offering a way to make major changes and possibly become whole again.
Meg latches on to the enigmatic Haley and her handsome “roommate” who are everything she wants to be: confident, charismatic, and with lives full of color. Though an artist and university instructor, Meg has been living a monochrome life in a brown cave of an apartment with most of her freedom from dark emotions squelched. She is very tired of being a captive to her depression and anxieties.
Readers will puzzle over what is real and what is an illusion right along with Meg. Is it the drug, or some supernatural forces at work? Is she a reliable or unreliable narrator? Austin worries that Meg is changing at a light sped while she enthusiastically embraces her new found liberties and abilities brought on by a combination of the drug and her two new friends. I suspect fans who lean more towards the paranormal genre will see it that way while those preferring psychological mindbenders will see it the opposite that everything is a construct in Meg’s head. This book will leave you to draw your own conclusions. It is definitely a brain teaser of a tale that raises as many questions as it answers.
Meg latches on to the enigmatic Haley and her handsome “roommate” who are everything she wants to be: confident, charismatic, and with lives full of color. Though an artist and university instructor, Meg has been living a monochrome life in a brown cave of an apartment with most of her freedom from dark emotions squelched. She is very tired of being a captive to her depression and anxieties.
Readers will puzzle over what is real and what is an illusion right along with Meg. Is it the drug, or some supernatural forces at work? Is she a reliable or unreliable narrator? Austin worries that Meg is changing at a light sped while she enthusiastically embraces her new found liberties and abilities brought on by a combination of the drug and her two new friends. I suspect fans who lean more towards the paranormal genre will see it that way while those preferring psychological mindbenders will see it the opposite that everything is a construct in Meg’s head. This book will leave you to draw your own conclusions. It is definitely a brain teaser of a tale that raises as many questions as it answers.
March 30, 2019
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
DNF @ 39%
As a huge fan of The Hollows, I was so excited to see something new out by this author. I jumped on getting the ARC and dived into the book with an abundance of excitement. Which makes not finishing this novel so much more difficult for me.
I was bored reading this one. The writing wasn't working for me and the story felt like it was dragging. I also have a problem with people who take medication and don't properly keep track of it. It isn't the medication I have a problem with, please don't misunderstand-- it is the casual popping of pills without keeping records (like you're told to) and not following a doctor's orders.
Another problem, and this one is very much personal choice, is I actually have a hard time reading books with unreliable narrators. There are very few that I've been able to read and enjoy, so people who don't mind this type of storytelling, may enjoy this book much more than I did.
I do think there is an audience for this book -- those who don't mind slower pacing and unreliable narrators, but it just wasn't for me. This won't keep me from reading more from this author! I will definitely try her next novel as well.
DNF @ 39%
As a huge fan of The Hollows, I was so excited to see something new out by this author. I jumped on getting the ARC and dived into the book with an abundance of excitement. Which makes not finishing this novel so much more difficult for me.
I was bored reading this one. The writing wasn't working for me and the story felt like it was dragging. I also have a problem with people who take medication and don't properly keep track of it. It isn't the medication I have a problem with, please don't misunderstand-- it is the casual popping of pills without keeping records (like you're told to) and not following a doctor's orders.
Another problem, and this one is very much personal choice, is I actually have a hard time reading books with unreliable narrators. There are very few that I've been able to read and enjoy, so people who don't mind this type of storytelling, may enjoy this book much more than I did.
I do think there is an audience for this book -- those who don't mind slower pacing and unreliable narrators, but it just wasn't for me. This won't keep me from reading more from this author! I will definitely try her next novel as well.
January 18, 2019
I loved it! This author is one of my favorites. The story is tense and you can feel a wrongness simmering beneath the surface but can't figure out what it is. It was well past halfway when things were revealed and then everything made sense. I should have realized sooner but I didn't expect it at all. It was fantastic! I ordered a hardcover and I can't wait to hold it in my hands. ARC netgalley.com
September 24, 2019
My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.
I had no idea what I was walking into with this story. I’m a huge fan of Kim Harrison’s The Hollows series. Jenks is still my favorite all-time sidekick. I tried her new series, and I liked it, but didn’t love it. I was very interested in seeing what she came up with next. I really enjoyed it.
So, I like to go into books fairly blind. I did no more than skim the few reviews that I’ve seen for this book. I wasn’t even 100% sure what genre this falls into. Even after reading it, it is hard for me to put it in a genre. I think would say, a psychological thriller with a hint of science fiction.
Meg is our main character. She suffers from severe anxiety and PTSD. She struggles doing much of anything out and about with people. She is seeing a psychiatrist that puts her on a drug that really seems to be helping her.
I don’t want to give you much information, because I think going in not knowing much about Meg or even the story is best. It does take a little bit to get into the story, because you don’t really know what is going on with Meg. But if you like twisty thrillers and are willing to give the story some time, I think you would enjoy it.
Narration
I love Traci Odom. I’ve listened to her narrate several books over the years. I was very excited to hear that she was narrating this book. I knew she would do it justice, no matter what the genre. After listening to her narration, I think she was the perfect narrator for this book. She really brought out the difficulty of Meg. I really felt for Meg and the difficulty of her life. The voices of both the male and female voices were well done.
**I'd like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I had no idea what I was walking into with this story. I’m a huge fan of Kim Harrison’s The Hollows series. Jenks is still my favorite all-time sidekick. I tried her new series, and I liked it, but didn’t love it. I was very interested in seeing what she came up with next. I really enjoyed it.
So, I like to go into books fairly blind. I did no more than skim the few reviews that I’ve seen for this book. I wasn’t even 100% sure what genre this falls into. Even after reading it, it is hard for me to put it in a genre. I think would say, a psychological thriller with a hint of science fiction.
Meg is our main character. She suffers from severe anxiety and PTSD. She struggles doing much of anything out and about with people. She is seeing a psychiatrist that puts her on a drug that really seems to be helping her.
I don’t want to give you much information, because I think going in not knowing much about Meg or even the story is best. It does take a little bit to get into the story, because you don’t really know what is going on with Meg. But if you like twisty thrillers and are willing to give the story some time, I think you would enjoy it.
Narration
I love Traci Odom. I’ve listened to her narrate several books over the years. I was very excited to hear that she was narrating this book. I knew she would do it justice, no matter what the genre. After listening to her narration, I think she was the perfect narrator for this book. She really brought out the difficulty of Meg. I really felt for Meg and the difficulty of her life. The voices of both the male and female voices were well done.
**I'd like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2019
This was an odd one for me, I'm not even sure what to shelf it under and very unlike the author's other work.
I felt for Meg, she seems at a cross-roads in her life, a life that has been tough for her lately. All of a sudden new people appear in her life and she seems to take control, getting away from bad things, embracing new things, her life looking up. Then the last part of the book happens and you wonder what they hell you just read, what was real and what wasn't. But most of all I feel sorry for Meg, maybe the not real would have been better for her.
I felt for Meg, she seems at a cross-roads in her life, a life that has been tough for her lately. All of a sudden new people appear in her life and she seems to take control, getting away from bad things, embracing new things, her life looking up. Then the last part of the book happens and you wonder what they hell you just read, what was real and what wasn't. But most of all I feel sorry for Meg, maybe the not real would have been better for her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2024
Insufferable, people pleasing, and casually racist main character, incorrect and horrible representation of mental illness and treatment, and lazily built tension? What’s not to hate!
If you want a book that does “is it fey or is it mental illness?” better, then read Roses and Rot by Kat Howard.
This was drivel.
If you want a book that does “is it fey or is it mental illness?” better, then read Roses and Rot by Kat Howard.
This was drivel.
April 24, 2019
I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at Subterranean Press. Trigger warnings: death, death of a parent, severe injury, car accident, fire, violence, blood, mental illness, anxiety, anxiety attacks, depression, verbal abuse.
Meg has been in therapy for three years after her mother’s death and the car accident that nearly killed her boyfriend, Austin. Dealing with depression and an anxiety that barely lets her leave the house, she’s encouraged to try a new medication. Right away, she begins feeling the effects, and they’re compounded when she meets Haley, a glamorous colleague who introduces Meg to a world of style, fun, and sophistication. Austin worries that Meg is trying to change herself too fast, and a sinister escaped patient warns her that things are not what they appear. Haley’s life is perfect, and Meg will do whatever it takes to stay in it, even if it means leaving Austin and her old self behind.
I followed Harrison’s Hollows series for a while, but I didn’t find much to enjoy about PERfunctory AfFECTION. It’s a mess of mental illness cliches and questions of whether Meg’s new friends are supernatural or a side effect of her new medication, but it fails to bring anything original or even very interesting to that conversation. I’m not sure whose side we’re supposed to be on. Austin rails against Meg’s improvements in socializing and self-confidence, and Meg treats Austin horribly and blames him for all her former problems. In terms of Meg’s recovery, I guess there’s some explanation for all of it, but I wouldn’t want to be friends with either of them.
Meg is sometimes difficult to read; her internal monologue is really critical of herself and Austin. The words 'frumpy’ and 'needy’ come up more times than I wanted to count. She also has an annoying perception of her normal life with Austin as boring and embarrassing, while Haley’s is glamorous and perfect because she’s wealthy and attractive. It’s like high school never ended, and I don’t have any tolerance for that mindset. Haley isn’t a character so much as a mannequin of the perfect woman/friend, and the novel probably would have functioned just as well if Rorry wasn’t in it at all.
I think the worst thing about it is that it’s just not enjoyable. Watching Meg and Haley shop and decorate an apartment is boring, and it reinforces that attitude that things have to look perfect to be good. I don’t know how to address the mental illness representation in the book or if it’s even attempting to be realistic, but my sense is that it’s reinforcing stereotypes that people with mental illnesses are violent or dangerous. Things escalate as Meg’s grip on reality deteriorates, but I just wasn’t interested. Nothing about the plot twist or the conclusion really blew me away, and the end is frustratingly vague with basically no payoff. I could forgive cliche, but there’s not much I can do with boring.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
Meg has been in therapy for three years after her mother’s death and the car accident that nearly killed her boyfriend, Austin. Dealing with depression and an anxiety that barely lets her leave the house, she’s encouraged to try a new medication. Right away, she begins feeling the effects, and they’re compounded when she meets Haley, a glamorous colleague who introduces Meg to a world of style, fun, and sophistication. Austin worries that Meg is trying to change herself too fast, and a sinister escaped patient warns her that things are not what they appear. Haley’s life is perfect, and Meg will do whatever it takes to stay in it, even if it means leaving Austin and her old self behind.
I followed Harrison’s Hollows series for a while, but I didn’t find much to enjoy about PERfunctory AfFECTION. It’s a mess of mental illness cliches and questions of whether Meg’s new friends are supernatural or a side effect of her new medication, but it fails to bring anything original or even very interesting to that conversation. I’m not sure whose side we’re supposed to be on. Austin rails against Meg’s improvements in socializing and self-confidence, and Meg treats Austin horribly and blames him for all her former problems. In terms of Meg’s recovery, I guess there’s some explanation for all of it, but I wouldn’t want to be friends with either of them.
Meg is sometimes difficult to read; her internal monologue is really critical of herself and Austin. The words 'frumpy’ and 'needy’ come up more times than I wanted to count. She also has an annoying perception of her normal life with Austin as boring and embarrassing, while Haley’s is glamorous and perfect because she’s wealthy and attractive. It’s like high school never ended, and I don’t have any tolerance for that mindset. Haley isn’t a character so much as a mannequin of the perfect woman/friend, and the novel probably would have functioned just as well if Rorry wasn’t in it at all.
I think the worst thing about it is that it’s just not enjoyable. Watching Meg and Haley shop and decorate an apartment is boring, and it reinforces that attitude that things have to look perfect to be good. I don’t know how to address the mental illness representation in the book or if it’s even attempting to be realistic, but my sense is that it’s reinforcing stereotypes that people with mental illnesses are violent or dangerous. Things escalate as Meg’s grip on reality deteriorates, but I just wasn’t interested. Nothing about the plot twist or the conclusion really blew me away, and the end is frustratingly vague with basically no payoff. I could forgive cliche, but there’s not much I can do with boring.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
January 22, 2019
Meg wants to overcome her crippling anxiety and depression which took hold after her mother's death and her boyfriend, Austin, is supportive of her. Her therapist starts her on a trial drug what is supposed to cement new patterns in her brain. Or so she says
The pills help her and within days she has met a new friend, been stalked by a crazy man telling her that her friend isn't real and that the pills will put her in danger. Along with a shady FBI guy who keeps popping up trying to find said crazy man.
Her boyfriend is also telling her something is wrong with the pills and the doctor and her, but she is too determined to take the art world by storm and be accepted by her new friends.
The friends were so creepy I knew they weren't real. This is Kim Harrison so the fey were bound to be caught up in this.
I'm not sure if it was meant to be just a shorter story or there is more to come, but the ending was abrupt and did not leave me satisfied.
Netgalley/March 31st 2019 by Subterranean Press
The pills help her and within days she has met a new friend, been stalked by a crazy man telling her that her friend isn't real and that the pills will put her in danger. Along with a shady FBI guy who keeps popping up trying to find said crazy man.
Her boyfriend is also telling her something is wrong with the pills and the doctor and her, but she is too determined to take the art world by storm and be accepted by her new friends.
The friends were so creepy I knew they weren't real. This is Kim Harrison so the fey were bound to be caught up in this.
I'm not sure if it was meant to be just a shorter story or there is more to come, but the ending was abrupt and did not leave me satisfied.
Netgalley/March 31st 2019 by Subterranean Press
January 23, 2019
Meg is placed on a trial experimental psychiatric medication, whose aim is to allow her to experience emotions that she was previously numb to in effort to effectively deal with them. The side effects to this medication are plentiful and may be permanent. As a mental health professional, I was frustrated that such a medication was given on an outpatient basis when clearly, it would be more safely monitored in an inpatient setting. It was frightening to think that a patient was allowed to spiral out of control in a situation in which she was a danger to herself and others. It was horrifying to think that professionals and pharmaceutical companies would endanger participants in the trial and put the public at risk. Readers are teased with a supernatural element and may wonder if an alternate reality exists or is it mental illness. Actually, an alternate reality may be better than the one Meg faces. This book was polarizing and thought provoking! I read a free ARC of this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 5, 2019
I struggled with this book. I love Kim Harrison's writing, generally, but Perfunctory Affection was hard for me. I really liked how she portrayed anxiety, and how it can really limit your world. I have anxiety, and it can really shrink your world in unexpected ways. Basic things can be really challenging. But the other aspects of Meg's mental illness didn't feel as convincing.
Overall, the story felt a little predictable and I couldn't really buy into parts of the story. I hope Kim finds her stride again, The Hollows series is just so good.
Overall, the story felt a little predictable and I couldn't really buy into parts of the story. I hope Kim finds her stride again, The Hollows series is just so good.
March 30, 2019
I am going to start off and say i am a die hard fan of The Hollows series! So when I saw a review copy on Netgalley, I jumped on it. Read the summary and was like this will be interesting. More of a thriller!
It's giving me such great pains to say I had to stop reading this book. The first couple of pages left my head hurting. I skimmed after that, and decided I had to sadly DNF the book.
I'm going to try and pick back up in a couple months and I hope my mindset will change.
I received this via Netgalley in a exchange for an honest review.
It's giving me such great pains to say I had to stop reading this book. The first couple of pages left my head hurting. I skimmed after that, and decided I had to sadly DNF the book.
I'm going to try and pick back up in a couple months and I hope my mindset will change.
I received this via Netgalley in a exchange for an honest review.
June 6, 2019
Brought on by the death of her mother, Meg has been suffering from severe anxiety for years. Every day is a living hell as she fights her way through panic attacks and irrational fears. All Meg wants is to be a normal person again. To be able to be around people without worrying about when her anxiety will throw her into a panic attack and make her run home. When Meg's therapist, Dr. Jillian, suggests an experimental drug called Fitrecepon, Meg jumps at the chance and begins taking them. While it isn't immediate relief, Meg slowly starts to handle day to day life easier. Until she meets Haley, a guest teacher at the university. Suddenly it's as if life is ready and waiting for Meg, as Haley pulls her into a whirlwind of activity she would never have been able to achieve on her own. But are things too good to be true? A man lurks in the shadows, watching Meg, warning her that Haley isn't what she seems. Is Haley the friend Meg needs to pull her free of her crippling anxiety, or is it an illusion?
The way Kim Harrison paints Meg's anxiety is spot on to what I know my anxiety to be like. A few reviews I have read spoke about the confusing beginning and how they didn't know what was going on. Welcome to the life of someone suffering from anxiety. Your thoughts race, irrational fears, and questions begin to pop up out of nowhere and you suddenly find yourself unable to do anything but breathe. Meg does all she can to just walk out of the house to meet a few friends. Hell, there have been times I've been so crippled up I can't even accomplish that.
There is a good deal of blurring reality with illusion in this novel. The reader is never sure if what Meg is seeing is real, or just a side effect of her new medication. This does allow the fantasy elements to come into play as hints are dropped at whether or not there are fey involved. Having read the novel I can't honestly tell you if they are real or not. It makes me want to read it one more time and pick apart everything to make a more informed decision on the matter.
I do wish there had been a bit more build up with some characters. Aside from Meg, you don't learn much about anyone else. I think seeing the other characters on the page more would have added to the twist Kim threw towards the end. Dr. Jillian was the therapist, only seen during therapy. Haley was the friend only seen when shopping and going out to dinner. It was a very closed minded approach compared to her other novels where she flushed out each and every character over time.
As much as I love The Hollows series, I enjoyed seeing Kim Harrison experiment with a different type of writing. While this book is intended for adults, I can easily see young adults enjoying it as well.
The way Kim Harrison paints Meg's anxiety is spot on to what I know my anxiety to be like. A few reviews I have read spoke about the confusing beginning and how they didn't know what was going on. Welcome to the life of someone suffering from anxiety. Your thoughts race, irrational fears, and questions begin to pop up out of nowhere and you suddenly find yourself unable to do anything but breathe. Meg does all she can to just walk out of the house to meet a few friends. Hell, there have been times I've been so crippled up I can't even accomplish that.
There is a good deal of blurring reality with illusion in this novel. The reader is never sure if what Meg is seeing is real, or just a side effect of her new medication. This does allow the fantasy elements to come into play as hints are dropped at whether or not there are fey involved. Having read the novel I can't honestly tell you if they are real or not. It makes me want to read it one more time and pick apart everything to make a more informed decision on the matter.
I do wish there had been a bit more build up with some characters. Aside from Meg, you don't learn much about anyone else. I think seeing the other characters on the page more would have added to the twist Kim threw towards the end. Dr. Jillian was the therapist, only seen during therapy. Haley was the friend only seen when shopping and going out to dinner. It was a very closed minded approach compared to her other novels where she flushed out each and every character over time.
As much as I love The Hollows series, I enjoyed seeing Kim Harrison experiment with a different type of writing. While this book is intended for adults, I can easily see young adults enjoying it as well.
March 6, 2019
Perfunctory Affection is a stand-alone novel from Kim Harrison of the Hollows fame, set in a world that appears to be very similar to our own. I absolutely *adored* the Hollows novels, and it pains me greatly to have had such a negative reaction to this book. Meg, the protagonist, has such immature reactions to every situation she finds herself in that I couldn't take her seriously as an adult character. She questions whether two characters are "boyfriend, girlfriend;" she notes that a character of color's "ancestry" makes her "exotic and graceful;" and she develops a deeply felt friendship with another woman based on a 5-minute interaction.
The way in which certain psychological experiences were handled was poignant, and the big twist didn't feel too forced, but neither made up for serious suspension of disbelief that was required in order to plow through the book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
The way in which certain psychological experiences were handled was poignant, and the big twist didn't feel too forced, but neither made up for serious suspension of disbelief that was required in order to plow through the book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
April 14, 2019
2.5 stars
*I received a free audio copy of PERfunctory AfECTION from Tantor Media. This has in no way influenced my review which is honest and unbiased.*
This story was very strange, to say the least. And Meg was such an unreliable narrator I still have no idea what was going on... Grieving, she was in a bad place, and she was participating in a drugs trial. Those drugs may or may not have made her hallucinate.
I did not really enjoy the narration - and the story was very confusing because Meg wasn't even sure herself what was happening, and what was real and what wasn't.
*I received a free audio copy of PERfunctory AfECTION from Tantor Media. This has in no way influenced my review which is honest and unbiased.*
This story was very strange, to say the least. And Meg was such an unreliable narrator I still have no idea what was going on... Grieving, she was in a bad place, and she was participating in a drugs trial. Those drugs may or may not have made her hallucinate.
I did not really enjoy the narration - and the story was very confusing because Meg wasn't even sure herself what was happening, and what was real and what wasn't.
November 4, 2025
Beautifully written. Embrace the ambiguities.
March 15, 2019
I received a copy of Perfunctory Affection through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Perfunctory Affection is the newest novella from Kim Harrison. It explores the concepts of love, perfection, life, truth, and understanding. It’s a heavy but fascinating read, delving deep into anxiety, depression, and delusions.
This novella lands somewhere between a science fiction horror and an individual’s journey to understanding what’s happening to them. It has a touch of fantasy as well, which I personally appreciated.
This is nothing quite like any of Kim Harrison’s other works, and that’s okay. I enjoyed it anyway – though if I’m being entirely truthful her name being on the novella is the main reason why I became curious about it to begin with.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Perfunctory Affection is the newest novella from Kim Harrison. It explores the concepts of love, perfection, life, truth, and understanding. It’s a heavy but fascinating read, delving deep into anxiety, depression, and delusions.
This novella lands somewhere between a science fiction horror and an individual’s journey to understanding what’s happening to them. It has a touch of fantasy as well, which I personally appreciated.
This is nothing quite like any of Kim Harrison’s other works, and that’s okay. I enjoyed it anyway – though if I’m being entirely truthful her name being on the novella is the main reason why I became curious about it to begin with.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
February 9, 2023
I love Kim Harrison’s The Hollows and I like Peri Reed as well but this book is different. Many folks don’t seem to like it because it doesn’t fall in the high action suspense bracket that both those series fall into. Kim Harrison has sort of pidgeonholed herself into being a suspense writer because she’s been successful as a suspense writer, but I digress.
I really liked this book. I love books written about art and artists so that is a weakness of mine and also unreliable narrators.
The book starts off easily enough with Meg trying to teach art for a semester and manage her anxiety and depression better. Her therapist suggests she try to make a friend and she does but her relationship with her long-time boyfriend, Austin, is not going well since the accident that left him scarred. Meg’s therapist has put her on a trial experimental drug for her anxiety and things seem to be going well because she’s already made a friend, Haley, a new teacher for the semester.
Things seems to be going well, really well, except that Meg starts to avoid her boyfriend Austin and suddenly moves in with Haley. Things are spiraling out of control and something is wrong. There is also a crazy man escaped from the psychiatric ward following her and it seems her therapist is hiding things from her.
In order to not spoil things I’ll leave off there but this book had me thinking about it long after I finished it. I was questioning what was real and what wasn’t, what did things look like from the outside, where exactly did things go entirely sideways? Many folks probably won’t like the open-ended ness and the uncertainty but done well it’s so much fun.
I really liked this book. I love books written about art and artists so that is a weakness of mine and also unreliable narrators.
The book starts off easily enough with Meg trying to teach art for a semester and manage her anxiety and depression better. Her therapist suggests she try to make a friend and she does but her relationship with her long-time boyfriend, Austin, is not going well since the accident that left him scarred. Meg’s therapist has put her on a trial experimental drug for her anxiety and things seem to be going well because she’s already made a friend, Haley, a new teacher for the semester.
Things seems to be going well, really well, except that Meg starts to avoid her boyfriend Austin and suddenly moves in with Haley. Things are spiraling out of control and something is wrong. There is also a crazy man escaped from the psychiatric ward following her and it seems her therapist is hiding things from her.
In order to not spoil things I’ll leave off there but this book had me thinking about it long after I finished it. I was questioning what was real and what wasn’t, what did things look like from the outside, where exactly did things go entirely sideways? Many folks probably won’t like the open-ended ness and the uncertainty but done well it’s so much fun.
March 11, 2019
Having enjoyed Harrison's Hollows series, I wasn't sure what to expect with PERfunctory AfFECTION. Harrison delivers an compelling tale of a woman trying desperately to get back to a sense of normal after a horrific car crash. Meg is trying new medication prescribed by her doctor to help her with her inability to live a normal life. Meg's relationship with her boyfriend, Austin, is tested when Meg makes two new friends that help her take huge strides in reclaiming her life as a result of taking this medication. Add in a mysterious homeless man and an FBI agent, and you got an exciting story that keeps you guessing from beginning to end.
Harrison does a great job at setting up a compelling story that captures the reader's attention from the very beginning and never lets go. Meg is well developed as a character, and the reader's journey with Meg as she makes these strides helps get the reader invested in this character. The book's story depends upon the reader getting invested in Meg's journey to get better, and Harrison successfully pulls that off. The story gets complicated when Meg begins to question what is real and what is not as well as who she can really trust. PERfunctory AfFECTION is a great read that I would most definitely recommend.
Received a copy of PERfunctory AfFECTION through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Harrison does a great job at setting up a compelling story that captures the reader's attention from the very beginning and never lets go. Meg is well developed as a character, and the reader's journey with Meg as she makes these strides helps get the reader invested in this character. The book's story depends upon the reader getting invested in Meg's journey to get better, and Harrison successfully pulls that off. The story gets complicated when Meg begins to question what is real and what is not as well as who she can really trust. PERfunctory AfFECTION is a great read that I would most definitely recommend.
Received a copy of PERfunctory AfFECTION through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
January 29, 2019
Thanks to netgalley, subterranean, and especially kim harrison. I’m always anxious to read anything by Kim Harrison. This was no exception. I’ve not read anything like this before and I was intrigued all the way through. I absolutely love this and I think Miss Harrison has seen a new way to go with her writing. I would classify this is a new adult book as apposed to the normal adult reading of the same subject.. I love the characters and the imagination that was in this book and it was something I’ll not forget. It was extremely interesting concept, and I would definitely love to read more of it in follow up books by this author. And as always, I stay a true devoted fan of Miss Kim Harrison. This will be a five star review on my sites of Amazon, good reads, Twitter, Instagram, and my book clubs. Absolutely loved it!
April 18, 2019
This book is excellent. The narrator Meg is entirely unreliable. I was compelled to finish this book as quickly as possible so that I could find out what happens, and much is left unclear-by Kim Harrison's design, I do not fault her for that, I understand this was her plan. I just finished and I don't know what was was real and what was illusion. Perfunctory Affection is a heavy book full of sadness. It's going to stay with you so give yourself time to sit with it when you are done. Maybe listen to some music that makes you smile when you finish the book.
I listened to the audiobook. The reader was fantastic.
I listened to the audiobook. The reader was fantastic.
April 8, 2019
This is a really hard book to review. It's is a bit of a suspense/psychological thriller. I have read 3 books that were similar in the last 5 years and thus I wasn't really surprised by the plot reveals.
I didn't really like the lead character Meg at the beginning and pretty much hated her by the end. It's hard for me to love a book without loving the characters. However, it is an interesting story and kind of thought provoking. I like that I could decide how it ended.
Kim Harrison is a favorite author of mine. I pre-ordered this via Audible and will continue to pre-order anything she writes.
I didn't really like the lead character Meg at the beginning and pretty much hated her by the end. It's hard for me to love a book without loving the characters. However, it is an interesting story and kind of thought provoking. I like that I could decide how it ended.
Kim Harrison is a favorite author of mine. I pre-ordered this via Audible and will continue to pre-order anything she writes.
April 6, 2019
DNF
I found this book to be disappointing dry. I pushed myself to finish, but only made it to the start of chapter 6 and could go no further. I'm a retired psych nurse and retired for a reason. I had enough then and the main character was too over the top for me now.
I'm a big fan of The Hollows series by this author and it is one of my favorites. Also the Peri Reed Chronicles were fairly good, but this book was just not for me.
I found this book to be disappointing dry. I pushed myself to finish, but only made it to the start of chapter 6 and could go no further. I'm a retired psych nurse and retired for a reason. I had enough then and the main character was too over the top for me now.
I'm a big fan of The Hollows series by this author and it is one of my favorites. Also the Peri Reed Chronicles were fairly good, but this book was just not for me.
April 10, 2019
I didn't have expectations going into the book other than I enjoy the author and her storytelling. I was gripped by the first chapter and enjoyed the ride through the book. Unlike the usual strong female leads, Meg was someone you felt for and the theme of real life being unachievable through perfection carried over into the main character well as she struggled to combat who she is versus the internal pressure we put on ourselves of who we think we should be.
Well done Ms. Harrison!
Well done Ms. Harrison!
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