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Her Perfect Life
The next thrilling standalone novel by USA Today bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan.
Everyone knows Lily Atwood—and that may be her biggest problem. The beloved television reporter has it all—fame, fortune, Emmys, an adorable seven-year-old daughter, and the hashtag her loving fans created: PerfectLily. To keep it all she has to do is protect one life-changing secret.
Her own.
Lily has an anonymous source who feeds her story tips—but suddenly, the source begins telling Lily inside information about her own life. How does he—or she—know the truth?
Lily understands that no one reveals a secret unless they have a reason. Now she’s terrified someone is determined to destroy her world—and with it, everyone and everything she holds dear.
How much will she risk to keep her perfect life?
Everyone knows Lily Atwood—and that may be her biggest problem. The beloved television reporter has it all—fame, fortune, Emmys, an adorable seven-year-old daughter, and the hashtag her loving fans created: PerfectLily. To keep it all she has to do is protect one life-changing secret.
Her own.
Lily has an anonymous source who feeds her story tips—but suddenly, the source begins telling Lily inside information about her own life. How does he—or she—know the truth?
Lily understands that no one reveals a secret unless they have a reason. Now she’s terrified someone is determined to destroy her world—and with it, everyone and everything she holds dear.
How much will she risk to keep her perfect life?
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 14, 2021
767 people are currently reading
10040 people want to read
About the author
Hank Phillippi Ryan
47 books2,891 followersHank Phillippi Ryan is the USA Today bestselling author of sixteen award winning novels of suspense. National reviews have called her a "master at crafting suspenseful mysteries" and "a superb and gifted storyteller." SHe is also an investigative reporter for WHDH-TV, winning 37 Emmys for her true crime stories.
Her newest is ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS--an INSTANT USA TODAY bestseller.
Is a debut author’s blockbuster bestseller about to ruin her life? A glamorous book tour becomes a deadly cat-and-mouse chase in this new and captivating thriller!
(Freida McFadden says: "Engrossing! With a main character that I loved, and a twist the left me reeling!" And Jeneva Rose says: I absolutely loved it! This is Hank Phillippi Ryan at her best!”)
Don't miss ONE WRONG WORD, now in paperback. BA Paris says: "A gripping rollercoaster of a read!"
Her 2021 thriller THE HOUSE GUEST (Gaslight meets Thelma & Louise) now in a second printing!
Hank is also an award-winning investigative reporter at Boston's WHDH-TV. In addition to 37 EMMYs and 14 Edward R. Murrow awards, Hank's won dozens of other honors
for her ground-breaking journalism.
She is co-host and co-founder of The Back Room, co-host of First Chapter Fun, and host of CRIME TIME on A Mighty Blaze.
Her previous thriller, HER PERFECT LIFE, received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, calling it "Stellar."
Her earlier psychological thrillers include,THE FIRST TO LIE (with several starred reviews) an Agatha Award and Mary HIggins CLark award nomination) and THE MURDER LIST, which won the Anthony Award for Best Novel of the year, and was ]an Agatha, Macavity and Mary Higgins Clark Award nominee, a number one legal thriller on Amazon, and a USA Today Bestseller.
Her first psychological standalone, TRUST ME (now in paperback) , is an Agatha Award nominee, and was named BEST of 2018 by the New York Post, Real Simple Magazine, BookBub, Crime Reads, and PopSugar. Mary Kubica says: "Dazzling!" and Lisa Gardner says "Mesmerizing!"
The Booklist *starred review says "...it's a knockout. First-rate psychological suspense."
Her thriller SAY NO MORE, is a Library Journal BEST OF 2016. And this just in: it's a nominee for the AGATHA AWARD and the MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD! And now, breaking news, it is also a DAPHNE AWARD nominee! Associated Press calls it "stellar" and Publishers Weekly calls it "thrilling" "unflinching" and "gratifying."
Her 2015 book, WHAT YOU SEE, is a Library Journal BEST of 2015, an ANTHONY and AGATHA Award nominee, and a Top Pick!, dubbed "exceptional suspense." It received a starred review from Library Journal which says: "Readers will find themselves racing to the finish!"
Her 2014 book, TRUTH BE TOLD, won the AGATHA Award for best mystery, and is a Library Journal Best of 2014. It received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal, which says, "Drop everything and binge read!"
THE WRONG GIRL won the Agatha Award and the Daphne Award, and is a seven-week Boston Globe bestseller and Anthony Award nominee.
THE OTHER WOMAN won the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award, and was listed as a Best Book of 2012 by the Kansas City Star, the Sacramento Bee, Suspense Magazine, and The Boston Globe, won the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award, and was the only novel nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, Macavity, Shamus and Daphne awards for Best Novel of 2012.
Her first four mysteries, beginning with the Agatha Award-winning PRIME TIME, feature Charlotte McNally, a Boston television reporter. FACE TIME was a BookSense Notable Book, and AIR TIME and DRIVE TIME were both Anthony and Agatha Award nominees for best novel of 2009 and 2010. They are now available in all new editions.
Her journalism work work has resulted in new laws, people sent to prison, homes removed from foreclosure, and millions of dollars in refunds and restitution for victims and consumers. She's been a radio reporter, a legislati
Her newest is ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS--an INSTANT USA TODAY bestseller.
Is a debut author’s blockbuster bestseller about to ruin her life? A glamorous book tour becomes a deadly cat-and-mouse chase in this new and captivating thriller!
(Freida McFadden says: "Engrossing! With a main character that I loved, and a twist the left me reeling!" And Jeneva Rose says: I absolutely loved it! This is Hank Phillippi Ryan at her best!”)
Don't miss ONE WRONG WORD, now in paperback. BA Paris says: "A gripping rollercoaster of a read!"
Her 2021 thriller THE HOUSE GUEST (Gaslight meets Thelma & Louise) now in a second printing!
Hank is also an award-winning investigative reporter at Boston's WHDH-TV. In addition to 37 EMMYs and 14 Edward R. Murrow awards, Hank's won dozens of other honors
for her ground-breaking journalism.
She is co-host and co-founder of The Back Room, co-host of First Chapter Fun, and host of CRIME TIME on A Mighty Blaze.
Her previous thriller, HER PERFECT LIFE, received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, calling it "Stellar."
Her earlier psychological thrillers include,THE FIRST TO LIE (with several starred reviews) an Agatha Award and Mary HIggins CLark award nomination) and THE MURDER LIST, which won the Anthony Award for Best Novel of the year, and was ]an Agatha, Macavity and Mary Higgins Clark Award nominee, a number one legal thriller on Amazon, and a USA Today Bestseller.
Her first psychological standalone, TRUST ME (now in paperback) , is an Agatha Award nominee, and was named BEST of 2018 by the New York Post, Real Simple Magazine, BookBub, Crime Reads, and PopSugar. Mary Kubica says: "Dazzling!" and Lisa Gardner says "Mesmerizing!"
The Booklist *starred review says "...it's a knockout. First-rate psychological suspense."
Her thriller SAY NO MORE, is a Library Journal BEST OF 2016. And this just in: it's a nominee for the AGATHA AWARD and the MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD! And now, breaking news, it is also a DAPHNE AWARD nominee! Associated Press calls it "stellar" and Publishers Weekly calls it "thrilling" "unflinching" and "gratifying."
Her 2015 book, WHAT YOU SEE, is a Library Journal BEST of 2015, an ANTHONY and AGATHA Award nominee, and a Top Pick!, dubbed "exceptional suspense." It received a starred review from Library Journal which says: "Readers will find themselves racing to the finish!"
Her 2014 book, TRUTH BE TOLD, won the AGATHA Award for best mystery, and is a Library Journal Best of 2014. It received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal, which says, "Drop everything and binge read!"
THE WRONG GIRL won the Agatha Award and the Daphne Award, and is a seven-week Boston Globe bestseller and Anthony Award nominee.
THE OTHER WOMAN won the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award, and was listed as a Best Book of 2012 by the Kansas City Star, the Sacramento Bee, Suspense Magazine, and The Boston Globe, won the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award, and was the only novel nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, Macavity, Shamus and Daphne awards for Best Novel of 2012.
Her first four mysteries, beginning with the Agatha Award-winning PRIME TIME, feature Charlotte McNally, a Boston television reporter. FACE TIME was a BookSense Notable Book, and AIR TIME and DRIVE TIME were both Anthony and Agatha Award nominees for best novel of 2009 and 2010. They are now available in all new editions.
Her journalism work work has resulted in new laws, people sent to prison, homes removed from foreclosure, and millions of dollars in refunds and restitution for victims and consumers. She's been a radio reporter, a legislati
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 980 reviews
September 18, 2021
Hmmm... I have some kind of bumpy start with this story! I liked the impactful opening: summarizing the family drama about missing sister which was emotional and promising start for me . But after the powerful beginning, I pushed myself a little to understand what’s going on: who is the secret resource, who is the detective, what the hell is going on at this story! Why the characters mostly acted like suffering from constipation, why they insisted not to see the things standing in front of them! They kept reaching the wrong conclusions about everything!
I think I had hard time to connect with so perfect Lily and her workaholic, fixer producer Greer. I found Lily self obsessed, cold and flat and Greer was so sneaky, untrustworthy, nosy from the beginning.
When we move backwards to learn more about Lily’s sister Cassie and the things pushed her hard to go missing was a little forced and far fetched. She was way too much clever to do those mistakes and act so naive around people.
The story lost his its direction in the middle but thankfully last third and conclusion was satisfying. Especially last twist was well played and the emotional wrapping up was also powerful.
Let’s give you more clues by talking about the blurb so you may decide if this book fits with your expectations:
Lily Atwood in her mid thirties, several Emmy award winner, rising star television reporter, is a living legend with her picture perfect look and amazing lifestyle with her lovely little daughter Rowen she’s raising alone!
But when her special whistleblower / secret resource Smith starts giving her infos for her own secretive life instead of next scandalous news subject, things get riled and she finds herself to solve a cold case: a nearly 3 decades long mystery: her own sister’s disappearance.
Smith thinks her sister is alive and in danger and only one who can help her could be Lily. But what if her sister involved in unlawful things which may destroy her picture perfect life she’s worked so hard to build! What if finding Cassie means losing everything she cares for!
I’m still rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 well executed, intriguing mystery stars because I always enjoy the author’s works. I wish I could like this book and characters a little more. But I’m still looking forward to read her future works as well.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan- Tor/ Forge for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
I think I had hard time to connect with so perfect Lily and her workaholic, fixer producer Greer. I found Lily self obsessed, cold and flat and Greer was so sneaky, untrustworthy, nosy from the beginning.
When we move backwards to learn more about Lily’s sister Cassie and the things pushed her hard to go missing was a little forced and far fetched. She was way too much clever to do those mistakes and act so naive around people.
The story lost his its direction in the middle but thankfully last third and conclusion was satisfying. Especially last twist was well played and the emotional wrapping up was also powerful.
Let’s give you more clues by talking about the blurb so you may decide if this book fits with your expectations:
Lily Atwood in her mid thirties, several Emmy award winner, rising star television reporter, is a living legend with her picture perfect look and amazing lifestyle with her lovely little daughter Rowen she’s raising alone!
But when her special whistleblower / secret resource Smith starts giving her infos for her own secretive life instead of next scandalous news subject, things get riled and she finds herself to solve a cold case: a nearly 3 decades long mystery: her own sister’s disappearance.
Smith thinks her sister is alive and in danger and only one who can help her could be Lily. But what if her sister involved in unlawful things which may destroy her picture perfect life she’s worked so hard to build! What if finding Cassie means losing everything she cares for!
I’m still rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 well executed, intriguing mystery stars because I always enjoy the author’s works. I wish I could like this book and characters a little more. But I’m still looking forward to read her future works as well.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan- Tor/ Forge for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
June 28, 2021
I Couldn’t Put This Down!
3.75 stars
“I’ll give you the best story ever.”
Her Perfect Life is a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller about a news reporter with a secret life. When her confidential source threatens to expose her secrets, she must either decide to play his game or risk being canceled.
Lily Atwood is perfect. A beautiful, Emmy-winning news reporter in Boston, she enjoys her celebrity status. However, her perfection is threatened when her confidential source turns on her and threatens to expose Lily’s secret life...unless she plays along.
Greer, Lily’s producer, also gets pulled into the mysterious source’s game. With both women’s careers on the line, they find themselves entangled in a dangerous web of lies.
Narrated by Lily, Greer, and Cassie, a woman from Lily’s past, all offer a different take on the current events. Lily wasn’t my favorite. For someone who is a supposed star, her character lacked charisma. Greer was awful, but she made me laugh. Her character has some great one-liners. I can’t say much about Cassie without spoiling the plot, so I will leave it at that.
I must say for two women who are award-winning journalists, their investigative skills suck. I rant about this frequently, but why do characters never seem capable of doing a basic google search? Google solves problems, my friends, lol! And it could have saved these two characters a lot of drama.
Her Perfect Life has some good twists and turns. I consider myself a decent arm-chair detective, but I found myself always one step behind-- I couldn’t quite figure out what was going on. It’s a page-turner, and the plot, while a little over-the-top, is unpredictable, which I appreciated. The mystery is compelling, but I was left with some unanswered questions and a few plot holes to grapple with.
Overall, Her Perfect Life is a little messy, but it’s an entertaining read that kept me on my toes!
I received an ARC of Her Perfect Life from MacMillan in exchange for an honest review.
3.75 stars
“I’ll give you the best story ever.”
Her Perfect Life is a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller about a news reporter with a secret life. When her confidential source threatens to expose her secrets, she must either decide to play his game or risk being canceled.
Lily Atwood is perfect. A beautiful, Emmy-winning news reporter in Boston, she enjoys her celebrity status. However, her perfection is threatened when her confidential source turns on her and threatens to expose Lily’s secret life...unless she plays along.
Greer, Lily’s producer, also gets pulled into the mysterious source’s game. With both women’s careers on the line, they find themselves entangled in a dangerous web of lies.
Narrated by Lily, Greer, and Cassie, a woman from Lily’s past, all offer a different take on the current events. Lily wasn’t my favorite. For someone who is a supposed star, her character lacked charisma. Greer was awful, but she made me laugh. Her character has some great one-liners. I can’t say much about Cassie without spoiling the plot, so I will leave it at that.
I must say for two women who are award-winning journalists, their investigative skills suck. I rant about this frequently, but why do characters never seem capable of doing a basic google search? Google solves problems, my friends, lol! And it could have saved these two characters a lot of drama.
Her Perfect Life has some good twists and turns. I consider myself a decent arm-chair detective, but I found myself always one step behind-- I couldn’t quite figure out what was going on. It’s a page-turner, and the plot, while a little over-the-top, is unpredictable, which I appreciated. The mystery is compelling, but I was left with some unanswered questions and a few plot holes to grapple with.
Overall, Her Perfect Life is a little messy, but it’s an entertaining read that kept me on my toes!
I received an ARC of Her Perfect Life from MacMillan in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2021
Her Perfect Life by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Thriller.
Lily is a television personality. She guards her life and secrets carefully. Greer is Lily’s assistant and researcher. She sneers at LIly’s perfect life and knows Lily wouldn’t be where she is without Greer’s help.
Three perspectives: Lily and Greer in current time, Cassie in the past.
Lily seems driven by fear of discovery. Greer is all about the story. When their source turns to Lily’s past, the past starts unraveling.
Intense and dynamic.
Lily was cold, mostly from fear. Greer unravels emotionally more and more as the story unfolds. And Cassie I feel sorry for. I won't spoil it by saying more but her road is the hardest.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook at the same time as reading an ebook copy. The audiobook was narrated by Angela Dawe who did a wonderful job with the emotions and tenseness of a lot of the scenes. The child’s voice was a bit forced and unnatural but it was distinct from the adults. Fortunately each chapter clearly stated whose POV is was but once each of the three woman was established, the content alone was really enough to determine who was speaking. I listened to this at my standard speed of 1.25 which was a good conversational speed. Any faster and I lost the clarity of who was talking. The intro and afterward included a bit of theatrical music that would fit a thriller.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, MacMillan and MacMillan Audio.
Thriller.
Lily is a television personality. She guards her life and secrets carefully. Greer is Lily’s assistant and researcher. She sneers at LIly’s perfect life and knows Lily wouldn’t be where she is without Greer’s help.
Three perspectives: Lily and Greer in current time, Cassie in the past.
Lily seems driven by fear of discovery. Greer is all about the story. When their source turns to Lily’s past, the past starts unraveling.
Intense and dynamic.
Lily was cold, mostly from fear. Greer unravels emotionally more and more as the story unfolds. And Cassie I feel sorry for. I won't spoil it by saying more but her road is the hardest.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook at the same time as reading an ebook copy. The audiobook was narrated by Angela Dawe who did a wonderful job with the emotions and tenseness of a lot of the scenes. The child’s voice was a bit forced and unnatural but it was distinct from the adults. Fortunately each chapter clearly stated whose POV is was but once each of the three woman was established, the content alone was really enough to determine who was speaking. I listened to this at my standard speed of 1.25 which was a good conversational speed. Any faster and I lost the clarity of who was talking. The intro and afterward included a bit of theatrical music that would fit a thriller.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, MacMillan and MacMillan Audio.
February 8, 2023
EXCERPT: She felt tears begin, felt their dampness on her face, and she wiped them away with the back of her hand, furious, and terrified. She wanted her mother, she wanted her father, she wanted someone, anyone, to come help her and fix this, and take care of her and tell her what to do. She pressed her palms to her face, trying to hold it all in and make it go away and when she opened her eyes, Jem would be laughing at her. And she'd be so mad. Then she'd storm out of here and never see this idiot again.
She stared at him, ignoring her own tears now, willing him to be joking with her, some stupid insane boy joke, and she'd laugh, she promised she would. But Jem's face, serene and still, and blood on his cheek, seemed to taunt her.
There could be no more wishful thinking. She had to do something.
She took a deep shuddering breath.
Okay. She knew what to do. First, stop being hysterical. Then call 911. She reached for the receiver of the black phone on the end table, the one that Jem had probably used to call his friend. She stopped, hand in midair, halfway to the phone.
Jem had called his friend. Who was on his way here. She felt her heart racing, constricting, making it difficult to breathe. Whoever showed up here - Jem's friend or the ambulance people, or whoever - would find her here in this apartment.
What if he even died?
ABOUT 'HER PERFECT LIFE': Everyone knows Lily Atwood—and that may be her biggest problem. The beloved television reporter has it all—fame, fortune, Emmys, an adorable seven-year-old daughter, and the hashtag her loving fans created: #PerfectLily. To keep it, all she has to do is protect one life-changing secret.
Her own.
Lily has an anonymous source who feeds her story tips—but suddenly, the source begins telling Lily inside information about her own life. How does he—or she—know the truth?
Lily understands that no one reveals a secret unless they have a reason. Now she’s terrified someone is determined to destroy her world—and with it, everyone and everything she holds dear.
How much will she risk to keep her perfect life?
MY THOUGHTS: There is no such thing as a perfect life, no matter what we see on social media. But, to all her followers and fans, that is what TV star Lily Atwood has, a myth perpetuated by her sycophantic producer, Greer. As long as Lily is adored and successful, Greer has job security. But there are things about Lily that not even Greer knows. In fact, there's a lot about Lily that Greer doesn't know. Only Greer doesn't know that she doesn't know. At least not until the mysterious 'Mr Smith', source of some of their most successful stories, puts her in the picture. But 'Mr Smith' has his own agenda. He is a master manipulator.
Lily
has skeletons in her closet. Things she is torn about. Does she want her sister back in her life if she can find her, or would finding Cassie put everything she holds dear in danger?
Lily spends her life exposing other people's secrets and misdemeanors. She is focused; on her career, her daughter. In order to protect her secrets, she never lets anyone get close to her. So how is she going to feel, and what is she going to do when her past, her secrets, are in danger of being exposed?
I was very ambivalent about Lily's character. She comes across as hard boiled, but daughter Lily is her Achilles heel.
One thing struck me as very odd - she doesn't actually do any work whatsoever at any point in this novel! And come to think of it, Greer doesn't do that much either.
Despite several stupid decisions on both their parts, Her Perfect Life is a twisty mystery. What happened to Cassie? Is she alive somewhere? If she is, why hasn't she contacted her baby sister? After all, Lily's not exactly hard to find. Or is she dead, her body hidden by her killers? And does Lily really want to know? After all, once you know something, it's difficult to unknow.
The chapters are short and sharp, and are told from the points of view of Lily, Greer, and Cassie (retrospective). There are a lot of surprises, one of which is absolutely jaw-dropping. I felt sucker-punched!
This is a mostly tense, and definitely twisty thriller. The characters decisions aren't always rational, but whose are when under pressure, and there are perceived threats to a loved one?
As I said, mostly tense. There were a few places I found repetitive. But only a few. I liked Her Perfect Life, a lot. But I didn't love it like The First to Lie.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.1
#HerPerfectLife #NetGalley
I: @hankpryan @macmillanusa
T: @MacmillanUSA
#contemporaryfiction #crime #familydrama #mystery #suspense #thriller
THE AUTHOR: Hank Phillippi Ryan is an American investigative reporter for Channel 7 News on WHDH-TV, a local television station in Boston, Massachusetts. She is also an author of mystery novels.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Her Perfect Life by Hank Phillipi Ryan for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
She stared at him, ignoring her own tears now, willing him to be joking with her, some stupid insane boy joke, and she'd laugh, she promised she would. But Jem's face, serene and still, and blood on his cheek, seemed to taunt her.
There could be no more wishful thinking. She had to do something.
She took a deep shuddering breath.
Okay. She knew what to do. First, stop being hysterical. Then call 911. She reached for the receiver of the black phone on the end table, the one that Jem had probably used to call his friend. She stopped, hand in midair, halfway to the phone.
Jem had called his friend. Who was on his way here. She felt her heart racing, constricting, making it difficult to breathe. Whoever showed up here - Jem's friend or the ambulance people, or whoever - would find her here in this apartment.
What if he even died?
ABOUT 'HER PERFECT LIFE': Everyone knows Lily Atwood—and that may be her biggest problem. The beloved television reporter has it all—fame, fortune, Emmys, an adorable seven-year-old daughter, and the hashtag her loving fans created: #PerfectLily. To keep it, all she has to do is protect one life-changing secret.
Her own.
Lily has an anonymous source who feeds her story tips—but suddenly, the source begins telling Lily inside information about her own life. How does he—or she—know the truth?
Lily understands that no one reveals a secret unless they have a reason. Now she’s terrified someone is determined to destroy her world—and with it, everyone and everything she holds dear.
How much will she risk to keep her perfect life?
MY THOUGHTS: There is no such thing as a perfect life, no matter what we see on social media. But, to all her followers and fans, that is what TV star Lily Atwood has, a myth perpetuated by her sycophantic producer, Greer. As long as Lily is adored and successful, Greer has job security. But there are things about Lily that not even Greer knows. In fact, there's a lot about Lily that Greer doesn't know. Only Greer doesn't know that she doesn't know. At least not until the mysterious 'Mr Smith', source of some of their most successful stories, puts her in the picture. But 'Mr Smith' has his own agenda. He is a master manipulator.
Lily
has skeletons in her closet. Things she is torn about. Does she want her sister back in her life if she can find her, or would finding Cassie put everything she holds dear in danger?
Lily spends her life exposing other people's secrets and misdemeanors. She is focused; on her career, her daughter. In order to protect her secrets, she never lets anyone get close to her. So how is she going to feel, and what is she going to do when her past, her secrets, are in danger of being exposed?
I was very ambivalent about Lily's character. She comes across as hard boiled, but daughter Lily is her Achilles heel.
One thing struck me as very odd - she doesn't actually do any work whatsoever at any point in this novel! And come to think of it, Greer doesn't do that much either.
Despite several stupid decisions on both their parts, Her Perfect Life is a twisty mystery. What happened to Cassie? Is she alive somewhere? If she is, why hasn't she contacted her baby sister? After all, Lily's not exactly hard to find. Or is she dead, her body hidden by her killers? And does Lily really want to know? After all, once you know something, it's difficult to unknow.
The chapters are short and sharp, and are told from the points of view of Lily, Greer, and Cassie (retrospective). There are a lot of surprises, one of which is absolutely jaw-dropping. I felt sucker-punched!
This is a mostly tense, and definitely twisty thriller. The characters decisions aren't always rational, but whose are when under pressure, and there are perceived threats to a loved one?
As I said, mostly tense. There were a few places I found repetitive. But only a few. I liked Her Perfect Life, a lot. But I didn't love it like The First to Lie.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.1
#HerPerfectLife #NetGalley
I: @hankpryan @macmillanusa
T: @MacmillanUSA
#contemporaryfiction #crime #familydrama #mystery #suspense #thriller
THE AUTHOR: Hank Phillippi Ryan is an American investigative reporter for Channel 7 News on WHDH-TV, a local television station in Boston, Massachusetts. She is also an author of mystery novels.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Her Perfect Life by Hank Phillipi Ryan for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
September 1, 2021
Lily Atwood has crafted the perfect life for herself. She is an award-winning journalist, she has an adorable daughter, a great job, and an outstanding reputation. Her life couldn’t be better.
However, it could all be taken away from Lily when her reliable source threatens to reveal her secrets. Lily’s producer, Greer, gets roped in to this dilemma as well, and thus, unfolds all the drama from there.
I could not get on board with how gullible Lily was, especially since she is supposed to be an Emmy award-winning journalist. I could understand one of the character’s naivety due to their age, but a simple Google search would have immediately revealed a major clue to Lily. All of the characters made bad choice after bad choice. Greer’s were the worst.
Despite the short and snappy chapters, I nearly fell asleep several times while reading this. Some plot points dragged on for what felt like forever. I did correctly guess some of the big twists early on, but not all of them, so there’s that.
On the plus side, my favourite character was Lily’s daughter, Rowen. She’s such a charming and intelligent little girl. I also liked the debate on keeping Rowen out of the public eye. Lily wanted to respect her child’s privacy, while the media were desperate to get a glimpse of Rowen. I would have liked this to have been explored a bit more, but it was eventually forgotten amid all the chaos.
Thank you to Forge Books for the ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
However, it could all be taken away from Lily when her reliable source threatens to reveal her secrets. Lily’s producer, Greer, gets roped in to this dilemma as well, and thus, unfolds all the drama from there.
I could not get on board with how gullible Lily was, especially since she is supposed to be an Emmy award-winning journalist. I could understand one of the character’s naivety due to their age, but a simple Google search would have immediately revealed a major clue to Lily. All of the characters made bad choice after bad choice. Greer’s were the worst.
Despite the short and snappy chapters, I nearly fell asleep several times while reading this. Some plot points dragged on for what felt like forever. I did correctly guess some of the big twists early on, but not all of them, so there’s that.
On the plus side, my favourite character was Lily’s daughter, Rowen. She’s such a charming and intelligent little girl. I also liked the debate on keeping Rowen out of the public eye. Lily wanted to respect her child’s privacy, while the media were desperate to get a glimpse of Rowen. I would have liked this to have been explored a bit more, but it was eventually forgotten amid all the chaos.
Thank you to Forge Books for the ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2021
Award-winning television reporter Lily Atwood has The Perfect Life. A hugely successful career and an adorable daughter she loves more than anything.
When an anonymous source threatens to reveal parts of Lily’s past she’s managed to keep hidden she fears her whole life may be unraveling.
Told from multiple perspectives I had no difficulty following along. But I kept feeling something was missing. I didn’t find Lily very likable and thus lacked the connection I needed. I had to remind myself that Lily was an investigative reporter as she seemed rather gullible at times.🤷🏻♀️
I listened to the audio version and enjoyed the narration.
Hank Phillippi Ryan always adds some great twists to keep you guessing and yes…shock you at the same time.
Looking forward to more from this author.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio 🎧
When an anonymous source threatens to reveal parts of Lily’s past she’s managed to keep hidden she fears her whole life may be unraveling.
Told from multiple perspectives I had no difficulty following along. But I kept feeling something was missing. I didn’t find Lily very likable and thus lacked the connection I needed. I had to remind myself that Lily was an investigative reporter as she seemed rather gullible at times.🤷🏻♀️
I listened to the audio version and enjoyed the narration.
Hank Phillippi Ryan always adds some great twists to keep you guessing and yes…shock you at the same time.
Looking forward to more from this author.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio 🎧
September 20, 2021
3.5 stars
Real life investigative tv reporter, Hank Phillippi Ryan has done it again. One can say she also writes what she knows i.e., her lead character, Lily is a television reporter in Boston (where you guessed it, Hank Phillippi Ryan is a TV j, another character is Greer is Lily's producer. Then there is Cassie, Lily's sister who went missing when Lily was a child.
Lily Atwood's life on the surface looks picture perfect. She is an award-winning television reporter and single mother to seven-year-old, Rowen. She is so put together that she comes off a little cold, but she must protect herself and her child. She frequently thinks of her sister, Cassie who went missing during her freshman year of college while Lily was a child. As I stated things seem to be going well, but her informant, who has been feeding her tips, is well, a little shady.
Greer, Lily's producer, is a career driven woman. She is about the news and getting the story first. When she is contacted by Lily's confidential informant, she takes the bait and agrees to meet.
Cassie was eighteen years old and off living at college. She had her whole future in front of her (don't we all?) when something happens at college. She disappears and has not been seen since.
What happened to Cassie? Where is she? Will Lily ever know the truth? Does she want to know the truth? Who is this informant? What is his game plan?
Lots of questions. You will get them, but you will also get a little frustrated with the characters as well. For smart women they make not so smart decisions. But the chapters are short, you will always know what character each chapter is about, and this helps move the book along nicely.
Although this was not my favorite book by Ryan, I enjoyed this one. There are some twists and turns which kept me immersed in the story. I enjoy her books and will be on the lookout for future ones.
Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Real life investigative tv reporter, Hank Phillippi Ryan has done it again. One can say she also writes what she knows i.e., her lead character, Lily is a television reporter in Boston (where you guessed it, Hank Phillippi Ryan is a TV j, another character is Greer is Lily's producer. Then there is Cassie, Lily's sister who went missing when Lily was a child.
Lily Atwood's life on the surface looks picture perfect. She is an award-winning television reporter and single mother to seven-year-old, Rowen. She is so put together that she comes off a little cold, but she must protect herself and her child. She frequently thinks of her sister, Cassie who went missing during her freshman year of college while Lily was a child. As I stated things seem to be going well, but her informant, who has been feeding her tips, is well, a little shady.
Greer, Lily's producer, is a career driven woman. She is about the news and getting the story first. When she is contacted by Lily's confidential informant, she takes the bait and agrees to meet.
Cassie was eighteen years old and off living at college. She had her whole future in front of her (don't we all?) when something happens at college. She disappears and has not been seen since.
What happened to Cassie? Where is she? Will Lily ever know the truth? Does she want to know the truth? Who is this informant? What is his game plan?
Lots of questions. You will get them, but you will also get a little frustrated with the characters as well. For smart women they make not so smart decisions. But the chapters are short, you will always know what character each chapter is about, and this helps move the book along nicely.
Although this was not my favorite book by Ryan, I enjoyed this one. There are some twists and turns which kept me immersed in the story. I enjoy her books and will be on the lookout for future ones.
Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
August 24, 2021
All Lily knew was that things could be taken away from you, any second of any moment of any day. Things—and people you loved—could disappear. The world was not reliable, not any second of any moment of any day.I received a free ARC of Her Perfect Life by Hank Phillippi Ryan from Macmillan in an exchange for an honest review. I wish I had more positive things to say about it.
When Lily Atwood was seven years old, her college-age sister Cassie disappeared. Now, 25 years later, Lily is a famous, successful television reporter, with a seven-year-old daughter Rowen, whose father is Lily’s deep, dark secret. Lily and her team, led by her intrepid assistant Greer Whitfield, have just won another local Emmy thanks to tips from the anonymous Mr. Smith. But when he, and a private detective named Banning, start speaking to both of them about Lily’s past, Lily and Greer have to decide how far they’ll go to protect Lily.
Her Perfect Life is told in short chapters from the alternating perspectives of Lily, Greer, and Cassie. Greer’s chapters are told in the first person, while Lily and Cassie’s chapters are told in the third person. I could not figure out the reason why Greer is the only first-person narrator, but it definitely contributed to making her into the least likable of the three characters.
There were a couple of ideas explored in Her Perfect Life that I did enjoy. The pressure of being a public figure who has to constantly worry—every minute of every day—about her public image. Also, the conflict within Lily between how much she wants to know what happened to Cassie and her fear that learning the answer may not only be worse than not knowing, but could place her and Rowen in danger, was really interesting.
Unfortunately the plot of Her Perfect Life made so much less sense than it sounds. Why is the identity of Rowen’s father a secret? Allegedly because if people knew they’d judge Lily and it would ruin her career, but that idea seems pretty far fetched in 2021. Cassie’s backstory is incredibly contrived to put her into the situation that leads to her disappearance. Lily, Greer, and Cassie each make an inexplicable decision to trust a man in situations that scream this is sketchy as hell, I should not go off alone with this man I don’t know. The plot would not work without even one of these terrible decisions, but it’s difficult to imagine actual women of intelligence making such obvious, unnecessary mistakes. Finally, the motivations of the story’s antagonist made little sense, placing themselves at great personal risk for no clear reason. Ultimately, a disappointing read.
July 30, 2021
Her Perfect Life is the latest release by Hank Phillippi Ryan, a thriller mystery with dual time lines set about twenty-five years apart. I've previously read and enjoyed one of Ryan's books, so when this one became available, I grabbed a copy. Between the two, this novel wasn't as strong, but it still had an interesting storyline and offered several great, climactic scenes.
Cassie is 18-years-old and off to college for the first time. She has a much younger sister, Lily, and they are both being raised by just their mother. Their father is gone/dead, and Cassie's learning the ways of the world. Something strange happens while she's at college, and then she disappears. No one ever hears from her again. Lily grows up and becomes a famous journalist. Their mother passes away, the detective who searched for Cassie dies, and Cassie's roommate who knew a little bit but not enough to find the girl also dies. What really happened?
In present times, Lily's producer/director, Greer, is slightly jealous of her success, and while she does everything to support her, there is this fine line of attitude. Lily's got a young daughter and won't discuss the child's father. Soon, she receives secret info about her own life rather than other stars she's been tracking, and the past comes flooding back. A new detective is on the case and enlists Greer's help to get access to Lily. Readers know that Greer as well as several other women are about the same age Cassie should be, but we're not certain if one of them is actually Cassie. Meanwhile, Lily's ex returns and wants to meet his daughter.
Both stories have merit in their own right, and when they collide, it's fascinating to read between the lines. All the cards are pretty much on the table by 1/3 into the book, which ultimately made the plot too simple for me. I felt like I was missing something because I clearly saw what was going on (except the one pseudo-major reveal). As the pieces fell into place, and the truth about Cassie's disappearance became more apparent, I kinda went... well, definitely not what I expected but really? There were a few holes in terms of what happened in the last 25 years. Nothing major, and sometimes the little details aren't important. But I wanted more from this book.
All that said, I did enjoy it. Ryan has a balanced writing style despite some awkward dialog scenes where I felt like a couple of lines were missing or something got edited out. Questions repeated or answers not really answering the question. It didn't seem intentional either; another round of editing should've happened on this one. I rarely say things like this but it was noticeable here. None of this would stop me from picking up another book by the author. She has a fantastic way of building plot and characters so that readers keep analyzing the situation, investing in the outcome. Looking forward to more in the future.
Cassie is 18-years-old and off to college for the first time. She has a much younger sister, Lily, and they are both being raised by just their mother. Their father is gone/dead, and Cassie's learning the ways of the world. Something strange happens while she's at college, and then she disappears. No one ever hears from her again. Lily grows up and becomes a famous journalist. Their mother passes away, the detective who searched for Cassie dies, and Cassie's roommate who knew a little bit but not enough to find the girl also dies. What really happened?
In present times, Lily's producer/director, Greer, is slightly jealous of her success, and while she does everything to support her, there is this fine line of attitude. Lily's got a young daughter and won't discuss the child's father. Soon, she receives secret info about her own life rather than other stars she's been tracking, and the past comes flooding back. A new detective is on the case and enlists Greer's help to get access to Lily. Readers know that Greer as well as several other women are about the same age Cassie should be, but we're not certain if one of them is actually Cassie. Meanwhile, Lily's ex returns and wants to meet his daughter.
Both stories have merit in their own right, and when they collide, it's fascinating to read between the lines. All the cards are pretty much on the table by 1/3 into the book, which ultimately made the plot too simple for me. I felt like I was missing something because I clearly saw what was going on (except the one pseudo-major reveal). As the pieces fell into place, and the truth about Cassie's disappearance became more apparent, I kinda went... well, definitely not what I expected but really? There were a few holes in terms of what happened in the last 25 years. Nothing major, and sometimes the little details aren't important. But I wanted more from this book.
All that said, I did enjoy it. Ryan has a balanced writing style despite some awkward dialog scenes where I felt like a couple of lines were missing or something got edited out. Questions repeated or answers not really answering the question. It didn't seem intentional either; another round of editing should've happened on this one. I rarely say things like this but it was noticeable here. None of this would stop me from picking up another book by the author. She has a fantastic way of building plot and characters so that readers keep analyzing the situation, investing in the outcome. Looking forward to more in the future.
August 23, 2021
Her Perfect Life is not so perfect.......
I've enjoyed many books by the talented Hank Phillippi Ryan. This one is just not up to snuff with all her others. Like sitting in a tub of tepid water. Not hot enough to be soothing and not cool enough to force you out. Hmmmm.
Lily Atwood is the darling of Channel 6 News. Her ratings are up there and she has quite the following. Together with her quick-witted producer, Greer Whitfield, they smash the competition night after night.
Lily, unmarried, has a precocious seven year old daughter, Rowen. She and her daughter have a wonderful relationship with Petra, the nanny, filling in when necessary. But Lily has a non-relationship with Rowen's father, Sam. Sam, who was married at the time, was unable to commit to Lily. Lily cut all ties with Sam after Rowen was born.
But Lily carries a family secret. Her older sister, Cassie, went missing during her freshman year of college when Lily was just a child. The police have given up after all trails went cold. Lily still pines for her sister, although she believes that Cassie may well be dead after twenty-five years.
Hank Phillippi Ryan spreads out her storyline with characters' names driving each chapter. It appears that no one in this story is truly who they present themselves as. This can work well at times, but too much is too much. We'll come to find out about the initial stages of Cassie's disappearance as well as some soiled stockings hanging in Greer's closet.
I found the character of Lily below par as well. As a journalist and news analyst, you'd think that Lily would not be quite so naive. She seems to float through the chapters as a reactionary rather than a hardnosed driver of the plot. Lily doesn't seem to have much stem.
But, all in all, Her Perfect Life serves up to entertain if you're a follower of Hank Phillippi Ryan. Let's see where the next one will take us.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and to Hank Phillippi Ryan for the opportunity.
I've enjoyed many books by the talented Hank Phillippi Ryan. This one is just not up to snuff with all her others. Like sitting in a tub of tepid water. Not hot enough to be soothing and not cool enough to force you out. Hmmmm.
Lily Atwood is the darling of Channel 6 News. Her ratings are up there and she has quite the following. Together with her quick-witted producer, Greer Whitfield, they smash the competition night after night.
Lily, unmarried, has a precocious seven year old daughter, Rowen. She and her daughter have a wonderful relationship with Petra, the nanny, filling in when necessary. But Lily has a non-relationship with Rowen's father, Sam. Sam, who was married at the time, was unable to commit to Lily. Lily cut all ties with Sam after Rowen was born.
But Lily carries a family secret. Her older sister, Cassie, went missing during her freshman year of college when Lily was just a child. The police have given up after all trails went cold. Lily still pines for her sister, although she believes that Cassie may well be dead after twenty-five years.
Hank Phillippi Ryan spreads out her storyline with characters' names driving each chapter. It appears that no one in this story is truly who they present themselves as. This can work well at times, but too much is too much. We'll come to find out about the initial stages of Cassie's disappearance as well as some soiled stockings hanging in Greer's closet.
I found the character of Lily below par as well. As a journalist and news analyst, you'd think that Lily would not be quite so naive. She seems to float through the chapters as a reactionary rather than a hardnosed driver of the plot. Lily doesn't seem to have much stem.
But, all in all, Her Perfect Life serves up to entertain if you're a follower of Hank Phillippi Ryan. Let's see where the next one will take us.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and to Hank Phillippi Ryan for the opportunity.
March 26, 2021
There’s a reason Hank Philippi Ryan keeps winning so many awards, because she is a master at crafting suspense around fully formed characters with real emotion and depth. In Her Perfect Life, she takes things to the next level with Lily, the beloved television reporter harboring a life-changing secret. Philippi Ryan’s fans will devour this one, and the ferociously smart plot will win her some new fans, as well. A mesmerizing thrill ride.
October 31, 2021
I am a big, maybe even huge, Hank Philippi Ryan fan. Her mysteries are great, and her third-act twists are the stuff of legend. She’s an auto-buy author for me and I will read absolutely anything she writes! So it pains me a bit to say this this is not one of my favorites of hers. Her writing is always page-turning, and she could probably write a book about rocks and make it interesting. Unfortunately, I just didn’t connect so much with the subject matter, the family intrigue, or the initial “mystery” of this particular book.
This book has several narrators - maybe one too many for me - and focuses largely on Lily, an Emmy-award winning TV reporter with a long-lost sister and a secret and mysterious source. Suddenly, her source’s tips begin getting a little too personal about Lily in particular. I enjoyed Greer, Lily’s assistant and researcher, and her more down-to-earth narration the most.
I am unfortunately just not a big fan of the family drama type of thriller. Some of Ryan’s previous books have incorporated this element but there was always a larger plot-driven murder type mystery beginning at page 1 that captivated me enough to keep me invested in both storylines. That wasn’t as much the case here. I’m also a little more drawn to Ryan’s legal thrillers and this book is more of a family drama/newsroom type tale. The ending, though, as with all Hank Philippi Ryan stories, delivers.
So in summary, while the writing here is still a cut above other thrillers, and the pages still turn, I would instead enthusiastically recommend The Murder List to any first time Hank Philippi Ryan reader. Still a Ryan fangirl, but this one didn’t quite do it for me. Hoping the next book is more of a return to the more traditional plot-driven legal thriller type mystery I love from this author.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Tor Forge for the ARC from one of my faves in exchange for my honest review.
This book has several narrators - maybe one too many for me - and focuses largely on Lily, an Emmy-award winning TV reporter with a long-lost sister and a secret and mysterious source. Suddenly, her source’s tips begin getting a little too personal about Lily in particular. I enjoyed Greer, Lily’s assistant and researcher, and her more down-to-earth narration the most.
I am unfortunately just not a big fan of the family drama type of thriller. Some of Ryan’s previous books have incorporated this element but there was always a larger plot-driven murder type mystery beginning at page 1 that captivated me enough to keep me invested in both storylines. That wasn’t as much the case here. I’m also a little more drawn to Ryan’s legal thrillers and this book is more of a family drama/newsroom type tale. The ending, though, as with all Hank Philippi Ryan stories, delivers.
So in summary, while the writing here is still a cut above other thrillers, and the pages still turn, I would instead enthusiastically recommend The Murder List to any first time Hank Philippi Ryan reader. Still a Ryan fangirl, but this one didn’t quite do it for me. Hoping the next book is more of a return to the more traditional plot-driven legal thriller type mystery I love from this author.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Tor Forge for the ARC from one of my faves in exchange for my honest review.
August 15, 2021
This book was so twisty! Just when you think that you have it all worked out, everything changes again. Fantastic read. I love it when a book continues to surprise you, right until the very end. The characters are not always likeable or trustworthy but that makes for a great story.
Lily Attwod appears to have the perfect life. She is happily the single mother to her little girl and has a blossoming career on TV as a reporter. There are Emmys on her shelf and she is much loved by her followers on Instagram. But when she was little, her older sister Cassie went missing from college. Over the years she has tried to find her without any luck, but now a source has a lead and Lily will do anything to find her. Along with her producer, she follows the clues and gets in deeper and deeper into the case.
Thanks to Forge Books and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
Lily Attwod appears to have the perfect life. She is happily the single mother to her little girl and has a blossoming career on TV as a reporter. There are Emmys on her shelf and she is much loved by her followers on Instagram. But when she was little, her older sister Cassie went missing from college. Over the years she has tried to find her without any luck, but now a source has a lead and Lily will do anything to find her. Along with her producer, she follows the clues and gets in deeper and deeper into the case.
Thanks to Forge Books and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
March 3, 2022
Updated review:
I started this book last year in print version and ended up giving up about halfway through because I just didn't like it. I decided to give it another shot because I do not like to leave a book unfinished. This time, I tried the audiobook version. I still didn't like it, but this time I finished it.
This story was a jumbled mess. It was narrated by three different people and one of those was in the first person, the other two were third person. That was the first thing I didn't like about it. Well, the story got so far fetched and disjointed that I actually found myself giggling in spots. It was just not my cup of tea. The characters were all awful. I didn't connect with any of them. It just didn't do it for me. I was disappointed in this book because it came recommended by a good friend. I just didn't like it.
The audio was average. Nothing special. I'm going to revise my previous one star rating and give this two stars because I did end up finishing it.
Thank you to #Netgalley and #McMillanUSA for this advance reader copy of Her Perfect Life by Hank Phillipi Ryan.
Possible spoilers ahead:
This book is my first DNF in a very long time. I gave it to the halfway point, but I just couldn't continue. I just really didn't like it. The characters were flat, the mystery wasn't intriguing, and the suspense just wasn't there. I didn't like the fact that of the three different narrators, two were written in third person and one in the first person. I just felt like that was messy and somewhat confusing. I didn't connect with any of the characters. To me, this story has been written many times and this was a terrible version. Lily was annoying, whiny and acts like a spoiled brat. Cassie just seems to make one stupid decision after another. I don't know what happened to her and the book wasn't interesting enough to make me want to find out. And, Greer's disappearance was weird, as she was the first person viewpoint. I really didn't care what happened to her. I'm probably in the minority here, but I just didn't like this book. It was a chore to read and I would doze off after a few pages.
I started this book last year in print version and ended up giving up about halfway through because I just didn't like it. I decided to give it another shot because I do not like to leave a book unfinished. This time, I tried the audiobook version. I still didn't like it, but this time I finished it.
This story was a jumbled mess. It was narrated by three different people and one of those was in the first person, the other two were third person. That was the first thing I didn't like about it. Well, the story got so far fetched and disjointed that I actually found myself giggling in spots. It was just not my cup of tea. The characters were all awful. I didn't connect with any of them. It just didn't do it for me. I was disappointed in this book because it came recommended by a good friend. I just didn't like it.
The audio was average. Nothing special. I'm going to revise my previous one star rating and give this two stars because I did end up finishing it.
Thank you to #Netgalley and #McMillanUSA for this advance reader copy of Her Perfect Life by Hank Phillipi Ryan.
Possible spoilers ahead:
This book is my first DNF in a very long time. I gave it to the halfway point, but I just couldn't continue. I just really didn't like it. The characters were flat, the mystery wasn't intriguing, and the suspense just wasn't there. I didn't like the fact that of the three different narrators, two were written in third person and one in the first person. I just felt like that was messy and somewhat confusing. I didn't connect with any of the characters. To me, this story has been written many times and this was a terrible version. Lily was annoying, whiny and acts like a spoiled brat. Cassie just seems to make one stupid decision after another. I don't know what happened to her and the book wasn't interesting enough to make me want to find out. And, Greer's disappearance was weird, as she was the first person viewpoint. I really didn't care what happened to her. I'm probably in the minority here, but I just didn't like this book. It was a chore to read and I would doze off after a few pages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2021
When you read a Hank Phillippi Ryan mystery you are in the hands of a master! HER PERFECT LIFE offers shocking twists, whip-smart turns, and a deep-dive into the dark side of celebrity. (Hank is well-known journalist, herself.) I devoured it.
March 13, 2021
Be careful what you wish for meets all that glitters isn’t gold…
Anyone who has read a Hank Phillippi Ryan novel knows she’s a true master of twisty turns and deep deception—nobody keeps us guessing like Hank does. With sleek prose and characters more layered than an onion, HER PERFECT LIFE is as suspenseful as it is fast-paced and exquisitely thrilling.
HER PERFECT LIFE needs to be on your to be read list immediately. It’s genius!
Anyone who has read a Hank Phillippi Ryan novel knows she’s a true master of twisty turns and deep deception—nobody keeps us guessing like Hank does. With sleek prose and characters more layered than an onion, HER PERFECT LIFE is as suspenseful as it is fast-paced and exquisitely thrilling.
HER PERFECT LIFE needs to be on your to be read list immediately. It’s genius!
October 28, 2021
Hank did it again! HER PERFECT LIFE, in a word, is perfect. Hank has once again created a thriller with engaging characters, a brilliant premise, and a jaw-dropping conclusion. Loved it!
October 30, 2021
Her Perfect Life is an entertaining thriller about a woman that will do anything to protect her perfect life. Lily is a famous TV reporter that starts getting tips from a secret source, and one day that source starts revealing information about Lily’s life. Lily has the perfect job and the perfect daughter, but nobody ever questions who the father is. Greer, Lily’s producer, is jealous of Lily’s success but is even more afraid of Lily’s reputation being ruined from fear it will mess with her job. Lily and Greer are both contacted by the secret source with different stories to protect Lily’s secrets. What’s the truth? Her Perfect Life kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Lily is a fascinating character that keeps everyone at arm’s length. Lily’s sister disappeared when she was a child, but nobody knows what happened to her. How far will Lily go to find the truth or would she rather keep the past in the past? I recommend Her Perfect Life to thriller fans. Thank you Get Red PR and Forge for Her Perfect Life.
Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
October 1, 2021
Are you ready for the thrill ride of your life? The queen of suspense has out done her self. Her Perfect Life is full of twists and turns that you won't see coming. Oh this ending is going to get you!
This is a must read 5 star, I highly recommend. Get ready for a wild ride.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
This is a must read 5 star, I highly recommend. Get ready for a wild ride.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
August 19, 2021
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: September 14, 2021
Lily Atwood has a seemingly perfect life as a beautiful TV journalist raising a young daughter on her own. Her celebrity status has her being recognized on street corners, and stopped for selfies by young fans when she goes out in public. It’s everything Lily ever wanted and she works hard to maintain her image. But one secret from her childhood could ruin it all, so she’s done everything she can to keep it quiet. But when a reliable source reaches out to her with information about her secret, she must do everything she can to keep it hidden.
Hank Phillippi Ryan returns with her twelfth novel, “A Perfect Life”, and it is everything you expect from Ryan. Gripping plot lines, suspicious characters, and twists in all the right places make “Life” a novel you can’t put down.
I loved Lily’s dedication to her daughter, especially to maintaining her daughters’ privacy, and overall she was likable and charming. I wanted Lily to win out at the end, and was rooting for her from page one. Her naiveté and gullibility seemed a little bit unbelievable for someone who had been in show business for so long- she was far more susceptible to being pulled into danger and lies than you would expect, especially for someone as untrusting and guarded as Lily initially appears. The other characters had their charms but there was not one of them who was completely clear of suspicion. Although I was able to recognize the person pulling the strings right from the beginning, I really enjoyed the twisty path Ryan takes to get us to the satisfying ending.
“Life” has small, compulsively readable chapters with addicting, page-turning cliff-hangers at the end of each one. Lily is the main narrator, although other characters do get their turn to tell their tale, and Ryan labels each chapter so it is clear who is speaking. There are a few stories-within-a-story in “Life” (Lily’s missing sister, her daughter Rowen’s mysterious father, the “source” Mr. Smith, Cassie’s past and her relationship with Jem), and yet I was able to follow the flow of the plot easily.
Ryan tells a gripping tale, with strong character development and a flowing, addictive plot. “Life” is one of my first reads by Ryan, but I am already eager to experience some of her other novels.
Expected publication date: September 14, 2021
Lily Atwood has a seemingly perfect life as a beautiful TV journalist raising a young daughter on her own. Her celebrity status has her being recognized on street corners, and stopped for selfies by young fans when she goes out in public. It’s everything Lily ever wanted and she works hard to maintain her image. But one secret from her childhood could ruin it all, so she’s done everything she can to keep it quiet. But when a reliable source reaches out to her with information about her secret, she must do everything she can to keep it hidden.
Hank Phillippi Ryan returns with her twelfth novel, “A Perfect Life”, and it is everything you expect from Ryan. Gripping plot lines, suspicious characters, and twists in all the right places make “Life” a novel you can’t put down.
I loved Lily’s dedication to her daughter, especially to maintaining her daughters’ privacy, and overall she was likable and charming. I wanted Lily to win out at the end, and was rooting for her from page one. Her naiveté and gullibility seemed a little bit unbelievable for someone who had been in show business for so long- she was far more susceptible to being pulled into danger and lies than you would expect, especially for someone as untrusting and guarded as Lily initially appears. The other characters had their charms but there was not one of them who was completely clear of suspicion. Although I was able to recognize the person pulling the strings right from the beginning, I really enjoyed the twisty path Ryan takes to get us to the satisfying ending.
“Life” has small, compulsively readable chapters with addicting, page-turning cliff-hangers at the end of each one. Lily is the main narrator, although other characters do get their turn to tell their tale, and Ryan labels each chapter so it is clear who is speaking. There are a few stories-within-a-story in “Life” (Lily’s missing sister, her daughter Rowen’s mysterious father, the “source” Mr. Smith, Cassie’s past and her relationship with Jem), and yet I was able to follow the flow of the plot easily.
Ryan tells a gripping tale, with strong character development and a flowing, addictive plot. “Life” is one of my first reads by Ryan, but I am already eager to experience some of her other novels.
October 27, 2021
I always love reading a new standalone from Hank Phillippi Ryan, and she doesn't usually disappoint me. Luckily, Her Perfect Life was another wild and crazy winner, and there was a nice jaw-dropping moment as well. The story is told from alternating viewpoints between Lily and Greer, with some Cassie 'before' chapters thrown in. I would have honestly loved more of Cassie, but I think this decision helped keep the suspense alive and it definitely made me more curious about what happened to her. I will say that this is one of those books where you need to make sure you are paying attention, or you might end up feeling lost and confused. I had to rewind the audio a few times because I got distracted and when that happened, I had no idea what was going on.
Speaking of the audiobook, I really enjoyed Her Perfect Life that way and the narrator Angela Dawe was perfect for the different viewpoints. I would have loved more narrators (I always feel this way), but I thought she did a great job, and I am never disappointed in her performance when I listen to her. I didn't find Lily or Greer to be all that likable, and my favorite viewpoint was really Cassie's even though it doesn't take up a large part of the novel. I loved the super-short chapters and the fact that I didn't want to put it down. There was plenty going on to hold my attention and the only times I got distracted was when I was trying to work at the same time. The plot does seem a little far-fetched once you find out what was going on, but that in no way bothers me because this is fiction. Ryan is such a talented writer, and I highly recommend this book if you enjoy her writing or are simply in the mood for a quick and gripping thriller!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Speaking of the audiobook, I really enjoyed Her Perfect Life that way and the narrator Angela Dawe was perfect for the different viewpoints. I would have loved more narrators (I always feel this way), but I thought she did a great job, and I am never disappointed in her performance when I listen to her. I didn't find Lily or Greer to be all that likable, and my favorite viewpoint was really Cassie's even though it doesn't take up a large part of the novel. I loved the super-short chapters and the fact that I didn't want to put it down. There was plenty going on to hold my attention and the only times I got distracted was when I was trying to work at the same time. The plot does seem a little far-fetched once you find out what was going on, but that in no way bothers me because this is fiction. Ryan is such a talented writer, and I highly recommend this book if you enjoy her writing or are simply in the mood for a quick and gripping thriller!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
September 22, 2021
Her Perfect Life by Hank Phillippi Ryan is a thrilling standalone novel and my first novel by her. It definitely won't be my last!
Lily Atwood is a gorgeous television reporter with multiple awards, has a lovable 7 year old daughter and a beautiful home. Her life is perfect. Or is it? Lily has secrets and an anonymous source suddenly reveals that he knows more about her life than he should.
Told in three separate voices, by very strong and intriguing women, this story takes the reader to an exciting climax.
This USA bestselling author gives us an unputdownable read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Lily Atwood is a gorgeous television reporter with multiple awards, has a lovable 7 year old daughter and a beautiful home. Her life is perfect. Or is it? Lily has secrets and an anonymous source suddenly reveals that he knows more about her life than he should.
Told in three separate voices, by very strong and intriguing women, this story takes the reader to an exciting climax.
This USA bestselling author gives us an unputdownable read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
August 25, 2021
A Satisfying Mystery Full of More Twists and Turns Than a Corkscrew.
SUMMARY
Cassie was eighteen and a freshman in college when she disappeared. Her mother and little sister, Lily, age 7, could not imagine what happened to her. The police investigated, but Cassie was nowhere to be found. Younger sister Lily, now 33, continues to scan crowds everywhere she goes looking for the face she imagines would belong to her older sister.
Lily has the perfect life. She is a beautiful, Emmy award-winning journalist with a stellar reputation, and an adorable seven-year-old daughter Lily and her producer Greer Whitfield have relied on a new anonymous source for remarkable story tips that have led to their latest Emmy award. But now the tips have suddenly changed. They are seemingly tied to Lily’s carefully safeguarded life. This mysterious source threatens to expose Lily secrets and ruin her reputation if she doesn’t do as they say. Why would someone want to ruin the beloved Lily? What is Lily willing to risk to protect her perfect reputation and all those she holds dear?
REVIEW
Lily’s life was perfect until it wasn’t. She was a smart investigative journalist until the story starts hitting much to close to home. HER PERFECT LIFE is entertaining and unpredictable and has more twists and turns than a corkscrew.
The writing is good, and the chapters alternate between Cassie, Lily, and Greer, adding tremendous breadth to this multifaceted story. I particularly appreciated how well the story comes together at the end.
HER PERFECT LIFE is Ryan’s twelfth novel, and as a Boston real-life news journalist, she has certainly left her mark on this one. Other most recent novels include The First to Lie and The Murder List
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
Publisher Macmillan/Forge
Published September 14, 2021
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
SUMMARY
Cassie was eighteen and a freshman in college when she disappeared. Her mother and little sister, Lily, age 7, could not imagine what happened to her. The police investigated, but Cassie was nowhere to be found. Younger sister Lily, now 33, continues to scan crowds everywhere she goes looking for the face she imagines would belong to her older sister.
Lily has the perfect life. She is a beautiful, Emmy award-winning journalist with a stellar reputation, and an adorable seven-year-old daughter Lily and her producer Greer Whitfield have relied on a new anonymous source for remarkable story tips that have led to their latest Emmy award. But now the tips have suddenly changed. They are seemingly tied to Lily’s carefully safeguarded life. This mysterious source threatens to expose Lily secrets and ruin her reputation if she doesn’t do as they say. Why would someone want to ruin the beloved Lily? What is Lily willing to risk to protect her perfect reputation and all those she holds dear?
REVIEW
Lily’s life was perfect until it wasn’t. She was a smart investigative journalist until the story starts hitting much to close to home. HER PERFECT LIFE is entertaining and unpredictable and has more twists and turns than a corkscrew.
The writing is good, and the chapters alternate between Cassie, Lily, and Greer, adding tremendous breadth to this multifaceted story. I particularly appreciated how well the story comes together at the end.
HER PERFECT LIFE is Ryan’s twelfth novel, and as a Boston real-life news journalist, she has certainly left her mark on this one. Other most recent novels include The First to Lie and The Murder List
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
Publisher Macmillan/Forge
Published September 14, 2021
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
September 24, 2021
Lily Atwood has a charmed life. She’s an award-winning television journalist and has a smart, loving seven-year-old daughter, Rowen. Greer Whitfield is her producer and her right-hand and as close to a friend as Lily has. But no one knows the secrets Lily is hiding. A mysterious Mr. Smith has been calling Lily with some reliable tips that have led to some good stories. But now Mr. Smith is crossing the line and seems to know Lily’s secrets including information about Cassie, Lily’s sister who disappeared years ago and may have been involved in something very bad. This stranger’s intrusion on her life threatens to dispel the illusion created by Lily (and Greer) that she is #LilyPerfect. While she wants to protect her image and the safety of her child, she is also desperate to learn what happened to her sister.
Author Hank Phillippi Ryan has created a story that quickly captured my interest. This mystery / thriller is told from the perspectives of Lily and Greer as well as Cassie, 25 years ago, up to the time when she said goodbye to her young sister Lily, never to be heard from again. The story of Rowen’s father, who is out of the picture, also adds another twist to this already intriguing story.
Her Perfect Life will keep you guessing and provides a good, tense read throughout. I enjoyed and recommend it. However, the female lead characters made some ill-advised decisions that were surprising based on their smart and savvy backgrounds, which was unsettling. But overall, this is a good, fast-paced book from an author you can always trust to deliver.
Rated 3.75 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
Author Hank Phillippi Ryan has created a story that quickly captured my interest. This mystery / thriller is told from the perspectives of Lily and Greer as well as Cassie, 25 years ago, up to the time when she said goodbye to her young sister Lily, never to be heard from again. The story of Rowen’s father, who is out of the picture, also adds another twist to this already intriguing story.
Her Perfect Life will keep you guessing and provides a good, tense read throughout. I enjoyed and recommend it. However, the female lead characters made some ill-advised decisions that were surprising based on their smart and savvy backgrounds, which was unsettling. But overall, this is a good, fast-paced book from an author you can always trust to deliver.
Rated 3.75 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
October 27, 2021
An entertaining, twisty mystery by an author that I always enjoy. I must admit that the characters were not particularly likeable, and sometimes the plot seemed far-fetched, but the story did keep me guessing, and the ending was suspenseful and held some surprises.
November 8, 2021
Loved it! Review to come
March 16, 2023
Lily Atwood is a famous television reporter. She earned awards and has so many fans! When she was younger, her sister Cassie disappeared from college, and Lily would still do anything to find her. Lily has an anonymous source that gives her all her info. Well when this source starts telling Lily parts of her own life and giving her leads on her sister, she knows this person must know her, and knows her secrets too. How does this person know what has happened in Lily's life? Lily knows that someone is out to destroy her, and everything that's important to her. How far is she willing to go to keep her secrets in the dark, find her sister and keep her life "perfect"?
This was a twisty, suspenseful book. Told in dual timelines, it worked awesome for this book. There were things that I guessed and things I totally didn't expect. Lies, secrets exposed throughout! I had a lot of fun reading this one!
Thank you to the publisher, publicists and authors for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own!
This was a twisty, suspenseful book. Told in dual timelines, it worked awesome for this book. There were things that I guessed and things I totally didn't expect. Lies, secrets exposed throughout! I had a lot of fun reading this one!
Thank you to the publisher, publicists and authors for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own!
July 27, 2021
Her Perfect Life is a stunning, wonderfully tense thriller about deceit, grief, fame and perfection, and the secrets we carry beneath our skin. Written with gracefully exact language and tugging on every heart string, the page-turning plot is flawlessly woven with beautifully-drawn characters to tell an utterly irresistible tale by a master in this genre. A magnificent, knockout thriller.
September 8, 2021
”The boy who cried wolf, Lily thought again. But again, there was no wolf. Not here, at least.”
I’ve only read one other book by this author, but it was so impressive that I had to try another. And this one didn’t disappoint, with its lovely cover! It’s well-written and full of unpredictable surprises. I alternated between the audiobook and the Kindle version, so I got the best of both worlds on this one!
Lily and Greer are a team. Lily is the talent. An award-winning journalist. Her fans and the camera love her. Greer is her producer. She’s content to be in the background, rather than the spotlight. Or is she?
When Lily was seven, her older sister disappeared and was never seen again. This is a secret she doesn’t share with her fans or coworkers. And she secretly hopes that one day she will be reunited with Cassie.
There are three POV’s and all three are equally as engaging. Lily tells us about her life from her perspective. Nothing is as perfect as it seems on the outside. She’s made her share of questionable choices that she tries to keep private.
Greer describes how she interprets their partnership and Lily’s fame. In public, she’s more than happy to let Lily take the spotlight and stand back in her shadow. But privately, she’s full of resentment and maybe some jealousy.
Cassie gives us an account of the past, leading up to her disappearance. She was a flaky, naive, and trusting college student, who encountered the wrong people and made bad choices. Don’t we all think we’re invincible at that age?
Sincere thanks to NetGalley, Edelweiss, Macmillan Audio, and Forge Books. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My Rating: 4 ⭐️’s
Published: September 14th 2021 by Forge Books
Pages: 304
Audio: 11 hours
Recommend: Yes
#HerPerfectLife #HankPhillippiRyan #readinginsidersclub #NetGalley #Edelweiss #BookReview #InExchangeForReview #ARC #Bookstagram #MacmillanAudio #AudioBook #PerfectLily
After publication, my reviews can be found at Amazon, Twitter, Instagram, GoodReads, Barnes and Noble, BookBub, NetGalley, and Edelweiss
@hankpryan @forgereads @NetGalley @edelweiss_squad @MacmillanAudio
I’ve only read one other book by this author, but it was so impressive that I had to try another. And this one didn’t disappoint, with its lovely cover! It’s well-written and full of unpredictable surprises. I alternated between the audiobook and the Kindle version, so I got the best of both worlds on this one!
Lily and Greer are a team. Lily is the talent. An award-winning journalist. Her fans and the camera love her. Greer is her producer. She’s content to be in the background, rather than the spotlight. Or is she?
When Lily was seven, her older sister disappeared and was never seen again. This is a secret she doesn’t share with her fans or coworkers. And she secretly hopes that one day she will be reunited with Cassie.
There are three POV’s and all three are equally as engaging. Lily tells us about her life from her perspective. Nothing is as perfect as it seems on the outside. She’s made her share of questionable choices that she tries to keep private.
Greer describes how she interprets their partnership and Lily’s fame. In public, she’s more than happy to let Lily take the spotlight and stand back in her shadow. But privately, she’s full of resentment and maybe some jealousy.
Cassie gives us an account of the past, leading up to her disappearance. She was a flaky, naive, and trusting college student, who encountered the wrong people and made bad choices. Don’t we all think we’re invincible at that age?
Sincere thanks to NetGalley, Edelweiss, Macmillan Audio, and Forge Books. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My Rating: 4 ⭐️’s
Published: September 14th 2021 by Forge Books
Pages: 304
Audio: 11 hours
Recommend: Yes
#HerPerfectLife #HankPhillippiRyan #readinginsidersclub #NetGalley #Edelweiss #BookReview #InExchangeForReview #ARC #Bookstagram #MacmillanAudio #AudioBook #PerfectLily
After publication, my reviews can be found at Amazon, Twitter, Instagram, GoodReads, Barnes and Noble, BookBub, NetGalley, and Edelweiss
@hankpryan @forgereads @NetGalley @edelweiss_squad @MacmillanAudio
September 15, 2021
“Her Perfect Life” is a story of guilt, fame, revenge, sisters, and a trail. Every single thing characters do, every single decision they make opens one door but closes others.
Lily lives the perfect life. She has a daughter Rowen, now in the first grade. She had a sister, Cassie, who was “lost, and Lily has never stopped looking for her. She is an investigative journalist; she gets the “big” news stories, and the big news is always bad. She lives the volatile life of a “public figure” and has “first world” problems: too much attention, too little anonymity, an expensive and obvious car, and a constant fear that she will be some other reporter’s big scoop.
The story is told in alternating narratives by Lily and her assistant, Greer; each chapter is clearly labeled. The team has a new “source,” one who has given them a couple of amazing leads, but now he wants something in return for the next big story, something special, and something very important. A high-stakes emotional chess game ensues. Events from the past wait to spring into the present for revenge and retribution. Ignoring them will not make the danger go away, and a decision must be made; that decision will change everything.
“Her Perfect Life” highlights the dark side of fame. It is a cat and mouse game, but who is the cat and who is the mouse? I received a review copy of “Her Perfect Life” from Hank Phillippi Ryan, Tor/Forge Books, and Macmillan Publishing. It is the story of a family, relationships, duplicities, and ultimate forgiveness. Advice for readers: plan your time wisely; once you start reading this book, you will not be able to stop reading until the very last page.
Lily lives the perfect life. She has a daughter Rowen, now in the first grade. She had a sister, Cassie, who was “lost, and Lily has never stopped looking for her. She is an investigative journalist; she gets the “big” news stories, and the big news is always bad. She lives the volatile life of a “public figure” and has “first world” problems: too much attention, too little anonymity, an expensive and obvious car, and a constant fear that she will be some other reporter’s big scoop.
The story is told in alternating narratives by Lily and her assistant, Greer; each chapter is clearly labeled. The team has a new “source,” one who has given them a couple of amazing leads, but now he wants something in return for the next big story, something special, and something very important. A high-stakes emotional chess game ensues. Events from the past wait to spring into the present for revenge and retribution. Ignoring them will not make the danger go away, and a decision must be made; that decision will change everything.
“Her Perfect Life” highlights the dark side of fame. It is a cat and mouse game, but who is the cat and who is the mouse? I received a review copy of “Her Perfect Life” from Hank Phillippi Ryan, Tor/Forge Books, and Macmillan Publishing. It is the story of a family, relationships, duplicities, and ultimate forgiveness. Advice for readers: plan your time wisely; once you start reading this book, you will not be able to stop reading until the very last page.
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