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The Perfect Daughter
Jess Harper has spent her whole life trying to make her mum, Abigail happy and proud. And everything Jess does, from the clothes she wears, the job she has, the men she dates, are all approved by Abigail first.
The perfect boyfriend…
So when Jess announces that she has a new man in her life – plumber Adam – Abigail is less than impressed. 'A plumber? Really, Jessica....' Adam encourages Jess to break free from her mum’s manipulation, can’t she see what’s happening?
The perfect mother….
But Abigail is only doing these things to keep Jess safe, to protect her from getting hurt again…isn’t she?
Or the perfect liar?
Jess, caught in the middle, doesn’t know who to believe or trust. And then Adam vanishes without trace.
Now Jess is the police’s prime suspect and they want to know if Jess really is as perfect as she seems….
A gripping new psychological thriller for fans of Sue Watson, Shalini Boland and S.E.Lynes
The perfect boyfriend…
So when Jess announces that she has a new man in her life – plumber Adam – Abigail is less than impressed. 'A plumber? Really, Jessica....' Adam encourages Jess to break free from her mum’s manipulation, can’t she see what’s happening?
The perfect mother….
But Abigail is only doing these things to keep Jess safe, to protect her from getting hurt again…isn’t she?
Or the perfect liar?
Jess, caught in the middle, doesn’t know who to believe or trust. And then Adam vanishes without trace.
Now Jess is the police’s prime suspect and they want to know if Jess really is as perfect as she seems….
A gripping new psychological thriller for fans of Sue Watson, Shalini Boland and S.E.Lynes
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 2021
1525 people are currently reading
1409 people want to read
About the author
Alex Stone
5 books88 followersAlex Stone is a psychological thriller author based in Dorset, where the beautiful yet dramatic coastline provides the inspiration and setting for her gripping, character-driven novels.
Originally from the West Midlands, Alex left behind her career as an accountant to pursue her lifelong dream of living by the sea and becoming a writer. She’s living proof that perseverance pays off — and that it’s never too late to change your life.
With a deep interest in psychology, Alex explores how past trauma, hidden truths, and complex relationships shape people — for better or worse. Her thrillers are packed with emotional depth, compelling twists, and characters who stay with you long after the final page.
Her upcoming novel, The Missing Boyfriend (out 14th October 2025), is a tense and emotionally layered thriller set in Christchurch, Dorset:
When Olivia reports her boyfriend Callum missing, the police want to know one thing — is he even real?
Alex draws inspiration from authors such as Gillian McAllister, C.L. Taylor, S.E. Lynes and Lisa Jewell — writers who, like her, craft twisty, thought-provoking thrillers with heart.
Connect with Alex on her website, Facebook, and Instagram at AlexStoneAuthor
https://bit.ly/AlexStoneNewsletter
Originally from the West Midlands, Alex left behind her career as an accountant to pursue her lifelong dream of living by the sea and becoming a writer. She’s living proof that perseverance pays off — and that it’s never too late to change your life.
With a deep interest in psychology, Alex explores how past trauma, hidden truths, and complex relationships shape people — for better or worse. Her thrillers are packed with emotional depth, compelling twists, and characters who stay with you long after the final page.
Her upcoming novel, The Missing Boyfriend (out 14th October 2025), is a tense and emotionally layered thriller set in Christchurch, Dorset:
When Olivia reports her boyfriend Callum missing, the police want to know one thing — is he even real?
Alex draws inspiration from authors such as Gillian McAllister, C.L. Taylor, S.E. Lynes and Lisa Jewell — writers who, like her, craft twisty, thought-provoking thrillers with heart.
Connect with Alex on her website, Facebook, and Instagram at AlexStoneAuthor
https://bit.ly/AlexStoneNewsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 348 reviews
October 6, 2021
Jess Harper has spent her whole life trying to make her mum, Abigail, happy and proud. Everything Jess does has to be approved by Abigail first. When Jess announces that she has a new man in her life - plumber Adam - Abigail is less than impressed. But Abigail is only doing these things to keep Jess safe, to protect her from getting hurt again - isn't she? Or is she the perfect lair?
What an intriguing psychological thriller this is. A manipulative mother who will do anything to keep control of her daughter. When Jess's boyfriend, Adam goes missing, the police seem very interested in Abigail.
This is a thought provoking read. Coercive control and manipulation are prominent throughout the story. The story is told in the past and present day. The past shows how Jess is the person she is now. This is a fast paced and gripping read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #AlexStone for my ARC of #ThePerfectDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
What an intriguing psychological thriller this is. A manipulative mother who will do anything to keep control of her daughter. When Jess's boyfriend, Adam goes missing, the police seem very interested in Abigail.
This is a thought provoking read. Coercive control and manipulation are prominent throughout the story. The story is told in the past and present day. The past shows how Jess is the person she is now. This is a fast paced and gripping read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #AlexStone for my ARC of #ThePerfectDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2021
The perfect daughter by Alex Stone is the story of Jessica Harper and her manipulative mother Abigail. Whatever Jessica does is first approved by her mother, even the boys she dates. But when Jessica meets Adam, her mum refuses to acknowledge their relationship and try to protect Jessica from getting hurt..
On the other hand, Adam can see that Abigail has an strong constant hold on Jessica's life and encourages her to break free from the manipulation of her mother. Will Jessica break free or will a new can of worm open up, when Adam suddenly goes missing and Jess becomes the police's prime suspect...
When I requested this book on Netgalley, the plot sounded very intriguing, which it was but I personally enjoyed only the last 15 to 16 chapters. To me the story progressed in these last chapters. The initial part of the book was too repetitive and slow paced.
I liked that the chapters alternated between two time lines but it was the mind talking (which there was a lot) that made it a bit confusing. The characters also were not strong enough to stand up for themselves.
In my view, there should have been lesser chapters, lesser mind talking and a little more of action and manipulation. Other then this the author had nailed it plot wise.
Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood books and the Author Alex Stone for this ARC.
On the other hand, Adam can see that Abigail has an strong constant hold on Jessica's life and encourages her to break free from the manipulation of her mother. Will Jessica break free or will a new can of worm open up, when Adam suddenly goes missing and Jess becomes the police's prime suspect...
When I requested this book on Netgalley, the plot sounded very intriguing, which it was but I personally enjoyed only the last 15 to 16 chapters. To me the story progressed in these last chapters. The initial part of the book was too repetitive and slow paced.
I liked that the chapters alternated between two time lines but it was the mind talking (which there was a lot) that made it a bit confusing. The characters also were not strong enough to stand up for themselves.
In my view, there should have been lesser chapters, lesser mind talking and a little more of action and manipulation. Other then this the author had nailed it plot wise.
Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood books and the Author Alex Stone for this ARC.
October 9, 2021
I really didn’t enjoy this book and luckily it was a short one. I was irritated by the character who was weak and really didn’t stand up for herself. Her mum was manipulative and I could see through her straight away. Her boyfriend Adam wasn’t a good guy either and I wouldn’t give him house room. It’s a shame as I thought this one would be good but, sadly I was disappointed. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
December 6, 2021
I thought it would never end
This book could have been half as long and would have been much more interesting. I was speed reading through the whole second half because I did want to know what happened but I wasn't willing to wade through all of the fluff and repetition. This book needed a good editor.
This book could have been half as long and would have been much more interesting. I was speed reading through the whole second half because I did want to know what happened but I wasn't willing to wade through all of the fluff and repetition. This book needed a good editor.
December 8, 2021
How it made me feel
The blurb made me excited to get to the book. I was eager to know what really happened to Adam.
The second section was more power-packed so it made the pages turn faster.
Manipulations by the mother was dealt with extensively, so some sections felt to be a downer. I had to scream at Jess to break free and run away.
The Good
The writing was pretty smooth where Alex Stone brought the twists in the right places. Peppered with intrigue, the prose brought out the eagerness to know more. I too wanted to be privy to the information that Jess and Abigail had.
The twists were placed in the second half, and they made the prose balanced. I could guess it, but it was still entertaining to read.
I liked that the author had placed a final twist to bring the book to a sweet closure.
The Bad
The first few chapters were filled with ruminations and thoughts of the characters, which after a certain point of time, felt repetitive. You could just hop, skip, and jump once you got the idea of what was happening to the second half.
As said, constant manipulations were depressive to read. I skim read it as I didn’t want a thriller to bring me down.
The Conclusion
Overall, a decent plot line with a twisting finish.
Since it is available on Kindle Unlimited, read it when you have time.
The blurb made me excited to get to the book. I was eager to know what really happened to Adam.
The second section was more power-packed so it made the pages turn faster.
Manipulations by the mother was dealt with extensively, so some sections felt to be a downer. I had to scream at Jess to break free and run away.
The Good
The writing was pretty smooth where Alex Stone brought the twists in the right places. Peppered with intrigue, the prose brought out the eagerness to know more. I too wanted to be privy to the information that Jess and Abigail had.
The twists were placed in the second half, and they made the prose balanced. I could guess it, but it was still entertaining to read.
I liked that the author had placed a final twist to bring the book to a sweet closure.
The Bad
The first few chapters were filled with ruminations and thoughts of the characters, which after a certain point of time, felt repetitive. You could just hop, skip, and jump once you got the idea of what was happening to the second half.
As said, constant manipulations were depressive to read. I skim read it as I didn’t want a thriller to bring me down.
The Conclusion
Overall, a decent plot line with a twisting finish.
Since it is available on Kindle Unlimited, read it when you have time.
dnf
June 1, 2022That book didn't work to me. I just couldn't get into it. The atmosphere suffocated me, surely, it was meant to, but the narrative felt wrong. The heroine's "Mum", controlling and obviously mentally ill, the "perfect" daughter who couldn't stand up to her mother were a serious turn-off.
DNF at 18%
DNF at 18%
January 31, 2024
The most frustrating thing about this book was how wet the protagonist is. Jess can’t seem to stand on her own two feet and I felt annoyed by how much she defended her mother. Blind to her mother’s negative influences, Jess instead sees it as her duty to love her mother unconditionally. Well, this is fine if your mother is normal… not when she is a conniving witch.
Switching between ‘Then’ and ‘Now’ the story follows how Jess met her current boyfriend, Adam, and then the subsequent police investigation after his suspicious disappearance. From the beginning it is clear that Jess’s mother does not agree with her relationship, in fact, previous relationships that Jess has had have all been doomed to fail. Thanks to further flashbacks into the past, we start to understand that Jess lives a rather isolated life that orbits around her mother and it seems that any time she starts to make a success or break away, that influence is reinstated.
Jess is protesting her innocence about Adam’s disappearance, but believes she has memory loss that is hiding the true events. On the other hand, I disliked how much of a saint Adam was portrayed to be and that no one found it suspicious about how much he was free-loading off of Jess. From the constant lack of money, suspiciously long working hours and absences, to the fact that Jess has never been to his flat, I felt there were too many secrets that were glossed over in the narrative. I wanted Jess (or someone else) to start questioning Adam’s background more than what actually happened. In my opinion, he never was the perfect boyfriend that Jess initially considers him to be.
The ending of the story was a bit of a surprise but by this point, I had grown to care very little about Jess’s fate. I found it interesting how parallels are developed between Jess and her mother. Even when Jess becomes frustrated by her mother’s controlling actions, she doesn’t fully see that she is not too dissimilar. I thought this was a clever aspect of characterisation and it made me ponder how Jess would develop after the story had finished. This, I think, could have added another, more sinister element to the plot.
In the end, I was disappointed by this story. I disliked Jess’s acceptance of everything her mother told her; found Adam to be questionable in his motives; and Jess’s mother to be a suffocating, negative influence that showed a very thwarted love for her daughter. If there were more surprises and less spiritless behaviour from Jess, I might have enjoyed this book more.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Switching between ‘Then’ and ‘Now’ the story follows how Jess met her current boyfriend, Adam, and then the subsequent police investigation after his suspicious disappearance. From the beginning it is clear that Jess’s mother does not agree with her relationship, in fact, previous relationships that Jess has had have all been doomed to fail. Thanks to further flashbacks into the past, we start to understand that Jess lives a rather isolated life that orbits around her mother and it seems that any time she starts to make a success or break away, that influence is reinstated.
Jess is protesting her innocence about Adam’s disappearance, but believes she has memory loss that is hiding the true events. On the other hand, I disliked how much of a saint Adam was portrayed to be and that no one found it suspicious about how much he was free-loading off of Jess. From the constant lack of money, suspiciously long working hours and absences, to the fact that Jess has never been to his flat, I felt there were too many secrets that were glossed over in the narrative. I wanted Jess (or someone else) to start questioning Adam’s background more than what actually happened. In my opinion, he never was the perfect boyfriend that Jess initially considers him to be.
The ending of the story was a bit of a surprise but by this point, I had grown to care very little about Jess’s fate. I found it interesting how parallels are developed between Jess and her mother. Even when Jess becomes frustrated by her mother’s controlling actions, she doesn’t fully see that she is not too dissimilar. I thought this was a clever aspect of characterisation and it made me ponder how Jess would develop after the story had finished. This, I think, could have added another, more sinister element to the plot.
In the end, I was disappointed by this story. I disliked Jess’s acceptance of everything her mother told her; found Adam to be questionable in his motives; and Jess’s mother to be a suffocating, negative influence that showed a very thwarted love for her daughter. If there were more surprises and less spiritless behaviour from Jess, I might have enjoyed this book more.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2021
Oh this is so cleverly written, looking at the psychology of close relationships, digging deep into the interplay and subtle manipulations that inevitably occur. Between Abigail and Jess, perhaps not quite so subtle. The relationship between mother and daughter is suffocating to the point of claustrophobic, disturbing and totally believable. Abigail just wants to protect Jess. Doesn’t she? Jess loves her mother and knows that, in steering her life, choosing her clothes, her career path, her boyfriends, she’s only trying to do her best for her. Isn’t she? And then along comes Adam, a plumber, someone Abigail can’t possibly approve of. Someone she aims to remove from her daughter’s life. But he’s not a plumber. He’s Jess’s plumber. He loves her. He sees her, a side of Jess she’s never seen in herself. In his company, she’s a butterfly emerging from the chrysalis, breaking free. He’s perfect, until he’s not. What happened on the day Adam disappeared, now presumed dead. Why, when he never touched it, was he drinking whisky? What secrets was he hiding? Is Jess’s recollection skewed – her memory has failed her in the past, her friend reminds her. She doesn’t recall things accurately, her mother reinforces it. What secrets might Jess be hiding. What secrets is her mother hiding regarding the disappearance of Jess’s father from her life?
The intrigue is ramped up throughout the story with short, sharp sentences, stuffed full of intrigue and delivered like the icy drip of a tap, every single one guaranteed to leave you hanging and make you want to read on until you reach the final shocking twist. The Perfect Daughter really is beautifully, powerfully written from first point of view in a style that leaves me in admiration of the author. I highly recommend it. I promise you will not be disappointed.
The intrigue is ramped up throughout the story with short, sharp sentences, stuffed full of intrigue and delivered like the icy drip of a tap, every single one guaranteed to leave you hanging and make you want to read on until you reach the final shocking twist. The Perfect Daughter really is beautifully, powerfully written from first point of view in a style that leaves me in admiration of the author. I highly recommend it. I promise you will not be disappointed.
January 19, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4.0)
It delivered what a psychological thriller should 👏🏻
🌟fast-paced and unpredictable🌟
Thrillers usually are strongly plot-driven so I loved how character-driven this one was and how well-written they were, especially the female MC!!
It felt like I'm reading something about real people.
I was torn between what to believe and who the "bad guy" here was. I had a couple of theories made up but still...
The ending had a nice twist and was not what I expected. I'm usually good at predicting the plots in thrillers, so that says something.
I read it on KU, so definitely worth checking👍🏻
It delivered what a psychological thriller should 👏🏻
🌟fast-paced and unpredictable🌟
Thrillers usually are strongly plot-driven so I loved how character-driven this one was and how well-written they were, especially the female MC!!
It felt like I'm reading something about real people.
I was torn between what to believe and who the "bad guy" here was. I had a couple of theories made up but still...
The ending had a nice twist and was not what I expected. I'm usually good at predicting the plots in thrillers, so that says something.
I read it on KU, so definitely worth checking👍🏻
October 20, 2021
★★★ 3.5 stars
Firstly....this book is not by this Alex Stone. It is by another author of the same name who is female from the West Midlands in England and this book is her debut. Someone has added this book to the wrong author.
THE PERFECT DAUGHTER by Alex Stone is the debut psychological suspense thriller by the author. It's a no holds barred peek into the lives of mother and daughter duo, Abigail and Jess Harper. And boy, will it drive you mad! The relationship between what I have termed "the toxic two" is just that - toxic - detailing the lengths to which a mother will go to just to keep her daughter co-dependent on her. It's not healthy, nor is it normal. I have to say that I am so please my mother is nothing like this at all!
The story is that Jess, a thirty-something woman whose life has been totally immersed in the manipulative hold her mother had over her her entire life. From consistently interfering in her life through each and ever relationship she's ever had to her choice of clothes, make-up, even food, Jess has never made an independent choice for herself. Everything she does, thinks or says is immediately linked to her mother and what she would think or say. Not only that, but every sentence uttered by her mother is a direct put-down which therefore leaves Jess questioning everything she does thus keeping her completely under her mother's tight control.
For Jess, this behaviour is completely normal. Everyone is close to their mothers...aren't they? That may well be, but not everyone is beholden to their mother for ever hour of every day of their lives. If Jess isn't with her mother she is texting her mother or thinking about what her and what she might say in any given situation...even when she is on a date.
But when Jess meets Adam, her life changes. For the first time she begins to feel free from the constraints of her mother's clutches...but is she really? Because then everything she does she begins to second guess or question knowing that she isn't capable enough of making those decisions herself. Even her apartment was chosen by her mother despite the fact Abigail still referred to her childhood home as "home". In her eyes, that was her home and always would be. But Adam sees something in Jess that she cannot, and she starts to feel good about herself. Until she starts to second guess herself and begins to wonder if her mother was right.
Adam tried showing Jess how good she could be if she just let herself be but her mother was always in the background...her voice constantly in her head, reminding her that she wasn't good enough and that, like all the others, Adam will leave her too. I mean, why wouldn't they? She was unlovable and at the end of the day it was always her fault that they leave. Ever since her father left when she was 7 years old. If he couldn't love her, then what hope did she have? But Adam reminded her constantly that she was special, that she was beautiful and that she was good enough. She just had to believe it.
In between Adam's voice and her mother's, Jess couldn't hear her own in the cacophony. Did she even have a voice? And was she good enough to be heard? Soon, Jess began to wonder if the freedom she gained from her mother's clutches wasn't being replaced by Adam's? Had she simply moved on from being manipulated by her mother to being manipulated by Adam? Or is she just imagining it all?
And then Jess' world falls apart when Adam disappears...feared dead. Both her and her mother are questioned by the police after Adam's van was found having plunged over a cliff with Adam nowhere to be found. Was it suicide, accident or something more sinister? All eyes begin to fall on Jess as she is called in for questioning several times and what with her history, her suspicious behaviour and apparent memory problems, Jess even begins to question herself. Did she do this?
The story unfolds solely through Jess' unreliable narrative in the past and present, with alternating chapters "Then" and "Now", beginning when she met Adam up to his disappearance and its aftermath. We also see through this and her various flashbacks from over the years, the manipulative hold her mother has on through coercive control and the constant negative affirmations that have clearly affected every aspect of her self conscious life. And despite efforts to the contrary, Jess has grown to realise that THE PERFECT DAUGHTER doesn't exist...no matter how hard she tries to appease her mother.
Jess's thought process is very repetitive and somewhat depressing but is it any wonder? I found it difficult to read at times because her mother was so blatantly manipulative but Jess was so conditioned to it that she was blind to the damage she was causing. I was incredibly frustrated and I just wanted to shake some sense into Jess and smack her mother into the middle of somewhere far far away. But then as we see Jess begin to doubt herself, we start to wonder just how much are we being told? How much of what Jess tells us in her narrative can we believe? If, for some reason, she is as mentally challenged as her mother insinuates then just how much of her recollection can we really believe?
THE PERFECT DAUGHTER is engrossing, addictive and incredibly frustrating at times but it has a somewhat surprising ending despite having already figured out the twist early on. The final twist was the surprise and the ending was sweet.
A psychological thriller with a totally unreliable narrator, THE PERFECT DAUGHTER is the perfect read for fans of this genre and will have you guessing and second guessing just what is real and what is imagined.
I would like to thank #AlexStone, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #ThePerfectDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Firstly....this book is not by this Alex Stone. It is by another author of the same name who is female from the West Midlands in England and this book is her debut. Someone has added this book to the wrong author.
THE PERFECT DAUGHTER by Alex Stone is the debut psychological suspense thriller by the author. It's a no holds barred peek into the lives of mother and daughter duo, Abigail and Jess Harper. And boy, will it drive you mad! The relationship between what I have termed "the toxic two" is just that - toxic - detailing the lengths to which a mother will go to just to keep her daughter co-dependent on her. It's not healthy, nor is it normal. I have to say that I am so please my mother is nothing like this at all!
The story is that Jess, a thirty-something woman whose life has been totally immersed in the manipulative hold her mother had over her her entire life. From consistently interfering in her life through each and ever relationship she's ever had to her choice of clothes, make-up, even food, Jess has never made an independent choice for herself. Everything she does, thinks or says is immediately linked to her mother and what she would think or say. Not only that, but every sentence uttered by her mother is a direct put-down which therefore leaves Jess questioning everything she does thus keeping her completely under her mother's tight control.
For Jess, this behaviour is completely normal. Everyone is close to their mothers...aren't they? That may well be, but not everyone is beholden to their mother for ever hour of every day of their lives. If Jess isn't with her mother she is texting her mother or thinking about what her and what she might say in any given situation...even when she is on a date.
But when Jess meets Adam, her life changes. For the first time she begins to feel free from the constraints of her mother's clutches...but is she really? Because then everything she does she begins to second guess or question knowing that she isn't capable enough of making those decisions herself. Even her apartment was chosen by her mother despite the fact Abigail still referred to her childhood home as "home". In her eyes, that was her home and always would be. But Adam sees something in Jess that she cannot, and she starts to feel good about herself. Until she starts to second guess herself and begins to wonder if her mother was right.
Adam tried showing Jess how good she could be if she just let herself be but her mother was always in the background...her voice constantly in her head, reminding her that she wasn't good enough and that, like all the others, Adam will leave her too. I mean, why wouldn't they? She was unlovable and at the end of the day it was always her fault that they leave. Ever since her father left when she was 7 years old. If he couldn't love her, then what hope did she have? But Adam reminded her constantly that she was special, that she was beautiful and that she was good enough. She just had to believe it.
In between Adam's voice and her mother's, Jess couldn't hear her own in the cacophony. Did she even have a voice? And was she good enough to be heard? Soon, Jess began to wonder if the freedom she gained from her mother's clutches wasn't being replaced by Adam's? Had she simply moved on from being manipulated by her mother to being manipulated by Adam? Or is she just imagining it all?
And then Jess' world falls apart when Adam disappears...feared dead. Both her and her mother are questioned by the police after Adam's van was found having plunged over a cliff with Adam nowhere to be found. Was it suicide, accident or something more sinister? All eyes begin to fall on Jess as she is called in for questioning several times and what with her history, her suspicious behaviour and apparent memory problems, Jess even begins to question herself. Did she do this?
The story unfolds solely through Jess' unreliable narrative in the past and present, with alternating chapters "Then" and "Now", beginning when she met Adam up to his disappearance and its aftermath. We also see through this and her various flashbacks from over the years, the manipulative hold her mother has on through coercive control and the constant negative affirmations that have clearly affected every aspect of her self conscious life. And despite efforts to the contrary, Jess has grown to realise that THE PERFECT DAUGHTER doesn't exist...no matter how hard she tries to appease her mother.
Jess's thought process is very repetitive and somewhat depressing but is it any wonder? I found it difficult to read at times because her mother was so blatantly manipulative but Jess was so conditioned to it that she was blind to the damage she was causing. I was incredibly frustrated and I just wanted to shake some sense into Jess and smack her mother into the middle of somewhere far far away. But then as we see Jess begin to doubt herself, we start to wonder just how much are we being told? How much of what Jess tells us in her narrative can we believe? If, for some reason, she is as mentally challenged as her mother insinuates then just how much of her recollection can we really believe?
THE PERFECT DAUGHTER is engrossing, addictive and incredibly frustrating at times but it has a somewhat surprising ending despite having already figured out the twist early on. The final twist was the surprise and the ending was sweet.
A psychological thriller with a totally unreliable narrator, THE PERFECT DAUGHTER is the perfect read for fans of this genre and will have you guessing and second guessing just what is real and what is imagined.
I would like to thank #AlexStone, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #ThePerfectDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
December 21, 2021
Maybe it because this was on audio but I just couldn’t gel with this. There was just too much internal dialogue, too much of her analyzing her own and other peoples actions and not much actually going on
The end was wrapped up too quickly and was way too far fetched for me. I just didn’t like her as a character she was so weak and did too much overthinking which was the narrative of this book. Not for me
The end was wrapped up too quickly and was way too far fetched for me. I just didn’t like her as a character she was so weak and did too much overthinking which was the narrative of this book. Not for me
October 14, 2022
I saw a review saying this had clever twists, I must have been reading a different book 🤷🏻♀️ I didn’t think the characters were very complex which made me just not care about them. I actually found Jess to be on the annoying side, and Adam was a bit of a douche 😂 it wasn’t terrible, just good. Give it a go and tell me what you think
April 7, 2022
Predictable.
I felt the book constantly repeated itself as if the book just needed to reach its' quota of words and I'm surprised the main character had any lips left she nibbled them so much!
I felt the book constantly repeated itself as if the book just needed to reach its' quota of words and I'm surprised the main character had any lips left she nibbled them so much!
April 11, 2022
just awful!
Started slow but began to pick up! Eventually I found my self skimming through The long and laborious explanations about what was going on in Jess’s mind. There wasn’t a single, Likable character in the entire book. The plot was incredibly predictable and quite frankly boring. I always like to finish what I started and that’s the only reason I made it to the end but good heavens I thought I’d never get there.
Started slow but began to pick up! Eventually I found my self skimming through The long and laborious explanations about what was going on in Jess’s mind. There wasn’t a single, Likable character in the entire book. The plot was incredibly predictable and quite frankly boring. I always like to finish what I started and that’s the only reason I made it to the end but good heavens I thought I’d never get there.
November 27, 2025
Repeative, with a really wet unlikeable main character. This book is crying out for a decent editor. Got 3/4 through and gave up.
October 18, 2021
What struck me of this book was how frustrating it is, not the book per se, but the relationship between mother and daughter. Sometimes I just wanted to jump inside the story and shout into Jess's face to wake up and see how sick and manipulative her relation with her mother was.
Another peculiarity is the complete unreliability of the narrator (Jess, the "perfect daughter"). We only have her POV in this story and we always doubt her, just like she doubts herself, we never can be sure of how much her recollection of events is true and we even doubt her mental stability.
It's a well written psychological thriller, that will frustrate you, but also lead you through some twists and to a satisfying ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for sending me a widget in exchange for an honest review.
Another peculiarity is the complete unreliability of the narrator (Jess, the "perfect daughter"). We only have her POV in this story and we always doubt her, just like she doubts herself, we never can be sure of how much her recollection of events is true and we even doubt her mental stability.
It's a well written psychological thriller, that will frustrate you, but also lead you through some twists and to a satisfying ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for sending me a widget in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2022
This book is incredibly infuriating. The unconditional love and admiration Jess had for her mum was absolutely unimaginable. From the very beginning of the book it is utterly apparent what the outcome will be however it seemed like the end was never in reach. Karen was the only breath of fresh air throughout the whole novel.
April 25, 2022
This story was choppy and nonsensical. I understand that when you read a book there is some sense of fantasy but the ending of this story went beyond unbelievable into simply silly and boring. The idea that the mother would write out all of her schemes in a notebook for anyone to find is simply ridiculous. I struggled to get through this book and ended up skimming most of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2022
Don't bother
There was nothing gripping about this poorly written, badly structured, amateurish attempt at a novel. I very rarely give up on a book but a third of the way in was too much. A huge waste of time.
There was nothing gripping about this poorly written, badly structured, amateurish attempt at a novel. I very rarely give up on a book but a third of the way in was too much. A huge waste of time.
March 18, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up. Overall, it was a pretty good story. Manipulative mom, Abigail... "perfect" daughter, Jess... Lots of situations over time where the Mom "fixed" things Jess. Was the mom really that bad or did Jess just not remember doing the things she said? Then jess meets Adam, the plumber. Abigail is less than impressed. Adam has his own issues. Jess needs to step up... or is she the liar?
I liked the book. It did get a bit tiresome that Jess seemed kind of clueless. It does fit with an unreliable narrator, which is fine. But she just felt kind of whiny and let everyone take control. I wasn't sure if she was really the liar and the Mom and Adam had been the good guys or if she was the victim of both of their controlling natures. The ending was pretty good because it took all the way to the end to figure out what was going on. And there was a bit of a twist.
I liked the book. It did get a bit tiresome that Jess seemed kind of clueless. It does fit with an unreliable narrator, which is fine. But she just felt kind of whiny and let everyone take control. I wasn't sure if she was really the liar and the Mom and Adam had been the good guys or if she was the victim of both of their controlling natures. The ending was pretty good because it took all the way to the end to figure out what was going on. And there was a bit of a twist.
November 1, 2022
In this book, the need for control is a powerful and evil thing. A young child is deceived and blamed for the disappearance of her father from her life. I turned the pages as fast as I could pulling for Jess to see through her mother's lies. My heart broke for her as her friends and lovers were deceived as well. A gut wrenching story that exposes how a parent can impose their will on a child that can be almost impossible to break. Loved this book.
October 22, 2021
The Perfect Daughter by Alex Stone is a psychological thriller from a new author to me. This cover and synopsis both grabbed me immediately and I knew I needed to read it.
Jess Harper has spent her whole life trying to make her mum, Abigail, happy and proud. And everything Jess does, from the clothes she wears, the job she has, the men she dates, are all approved by Abigail first.
The Perfect Boyfriend
So when Jess announces that she has a new man in her life – plumber Adam – Abigail is less than impressed. 'A plumber? Really, Jessica....' Adam encourages Jess to break free from her mum's manipulation; can't she see what's happening?
The perfect mother
But Abigail is only doing these things to keep Jess safe, to protect her from getting hurt again… isn't she?
Or the perfect liar?
Jess, caught in the middle, doesn't know who to believe or trust. And then Adam vanishes without a trace.
Now Jess is the police's prime suspect, and they want to know if Jess really is as perfect as she seems.
A story told in alternating chapters from the 'now' and 'then' we see how Jess and Adam met and how Abigail affected their relationship. The mother-daughter relationship is a real claustrophobic, smothering one. Jess believes her mum just wants the best for her and to protect her, and then she finds Adam. A man who encourages her to follow her dreams and really cares for her. Until the day Adam is gone and she is alone, again, with her mum. Things go from bad to worse as the police think Jess is connected to his disappearance.
I was gripped immediately from the first chapter,Alex Stone knows how to hold a reader's attention. The more the story unfolded, the more the toxicity of the relationship became apparent. The darkness running through this story had me on edge throughout.
A thought provoking, thrilling read that really highlights manipulation and coercive control in relationships. I enjoyed this so much I read it in two sittings,sat on the edge of my seat occasionally, as I got further into the book.
Alex Stone certainly has a knack of storytelling that left me totally satisfied with the story I had just read and I am looking forward to reading more from her.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the copy of the book.
Jess Harper has spent her whole life trying to make her mum, Abigail, happy and proud. And everything Jess does, from the clothes she wears, the job she has, the men she dates, are all approved by Abigail first.
The Perfect Boyfriend
So when Jess announces that she has a new man in her life – plumber Adam – Abigail is less than impressed. 'A plumber? Really, Jessica....' Adam encourages Jess to break free from her mum's manipulation; can't she see what's happening?
The perfect mother
But Abigail is only doing these things to keep Jess safe, to protect her from getting hurt again… isn't she?
Or the perfect liar?
Jess, caught in the middle, doesn't know who to believe or trust. And then Adam vanishes without a trace.
Now Jess is the police's prime suspect, and they want to know if Jess really is as perfect as she seems.
A story told in alternating chapters from the 'now' and 'then' we see how Jess and Adam met and how Abigail affected their relationship. The mother-daughter relationship is a real claustrophobic, smothering one. Jess believes her mum just wants the best for her and to protect her, and then she finds Adam. A man who encourages her to follow her dreams and really cares for her. Until the day Adam is gone and she is alone, again, with her mum. Things go from bad to worse as the police think Jess is connected to his disappearance.
I was gripped immediately from the first chapter,Alex Stone knows how to hold a reader's attention. The more the story unfolded, the more the toxicity of the relationship became apparent. The darkness running through this story had me on edge throughout.
A thought provoking, thrilling read that really highlights manipulation and coercive control in relationships. I enjoyed this so much I read it in two sittings,sat on the edge of my seat occasionally, as I got further into the book.
Alex Stone certainly has a knack of storytelling that left me totally satisfied with the story I had just read and I am looking forward to reading more from her.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the copy of the book.
October 9, 2021
2.5 stars
The book is extremely predictable and repetitive. You basically know what is happening and how it will all unfold from the first chapter. There are no unexpected twists or surprises. Also, the idea of manipulation and gaslighting is taken to an extreme. The naivety of the main character is hard to believe.
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for offering me the chance to read this novel.
The book is extremely predictable and repetitive. You basically know what is happening and how it will all unfold from the first chapter. There are no unexpected twists or surprises. Also, the idea of manipulation and gaslighting is taken to an extreme. The naivety of the main character is hard to believe.
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for offering me the chance to read this novel.
June 16, 2022
I jumped through chapters to finish the book.
I got so tired of reading that girls self doubt over and over again that u actually jumped pages after pages to just get to the end of the book. The last chapter did redeem the book but by that time I was so so bored that the redemption was futile..
I got so tired of reading that girls self doubt over and over again that u actually jumped pages after pages to just get to the end of the book. The last chapter did redeem the book but by that time I was so so bored that the redemption was futile..
April 1, 2022
Great twist
The twist was worth being reading. I felt frustrated by the repeated psychological analysis of the main character. It was as though the author didn’t trust the reader to understand hence only 3 stars
The twist was worth being reading. I felt frustrated by the repeated psychological analysis of the main character. It was as though the author didn’t trust the reader to understand hence only 3 stars
November 18, 2021
don’t bother
I rarely write reviews but the plot in this book is obvious from the start and could and should have been a quarter in size. Painful
I rarely write reviews but the plot in this book is obvious from the start and could and should have been a quarter in size. Painful
March 31, 2022
oh my word how many times can the main character “nibble her bottom lip” in one book?
September 5, 2022
I couldn't stand the characters so the book was just annoying.
December 1, 2022
I liked it, but very repetitive and redundant. Not a bad story, but easy to figure out.
October 19, 2021
Now here’s a novel to get your teeth into!
Jess has spent her whole life trying to please her mother, and Abigail is not an easy woman to please. She expects her daughter to seek her rarely given approval on all matters, be it the job she does, the clothes she wears, where she lives and anyone she dates. Her latest boyfriend, Adam, is a plumber – certainly not good enough where her mum is concerned – and when he disappears, the police have Jess is in the frame and with no body it’s hard to prove she is innocent.
This is a well-written novel which drew me in from the very start and kept me there. At times I wanted Jess to stand up to her mother but, as I know from experience, it’s not always that easy. Little by little, we discover Jess’s history and there is a drip of information which any amateur detective will jump upon as I did and come to conclusions – and not always the right ones. This is a very smartly crafted novel which keeps it’s secrets right up until the very end. You may think you have it all worked out but, trust me, there are more surprises to come. A perplexing novel, and one which kept my attention until the very last. 4.5*.
Jess has spent her whole life trying to please her mother, and Abigail is not an easy woman to please. She expects her daughter to seek her rarely given approval on all matters, be it the job she does, the clothes she wears, where she lives and anyone she dates. Her latest boyfriend, Adam, is a plumber – certainly not good enough where her mum is concerned – and when he disappears, the police have Jess is in the frame and with no body it’s hard to prove she is innocent.
This is a well-written novel which drew me in from the very start and kept me there. At times I wanted Jess to stand up to her mother but, as I know from experience, it’s not always that easy. Little by little, we discover Jess’s history and there is a drip of information which any amateur detective will jump upon as I did and come to conclusions – and not always the right ones. This is a very smartly crafted novel which keeps it’s secrets right up until the very end. You may think you have it all worked out but, trust me, there are more surprises to come. A perplexing novel, and one which kept my attention until the very last. 4.5*.
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