What do you think?
Rate this book
The Perfect Family
Victoria has the perfect life. And she’ll do whatever it takes to keep it.
For Victoria, image is everything. And on the surface, she has it all - a big house, a successful husband and two beautiful children.
But behind the scenes, things are very different. Because Victoria and her husband have a dark secret and she lives in terror of it being discovered, of her perfect facade being shattered forever.
Under massive stress, but still desperately trying to keep up appearances, this is a family that is falling apart.
Husband Kit is unable to work. Teenage daughter Anna grows ever more rebellious. And nine-year-old Joey seems increasingly different from other kids.
Victoria realises she has to act now or she will lose everything. And that’s when she has to ask herself - how far is she willing to go, how much is she willing to do, to preserve her perfect family?
The answer is beyond shocking and will plunge them all into a nightmare from which they may never wake.
For Victoria, image is everything. And on the surface, she has it all - a big house, a successful husband and two beautiful children.
But behind the scenes, things are very different. Because Victoria and her husband have a dark secret and she lives in terror of it being discovered, of her perfect facade being shattered forever.
Under massive stress, but still desperately trying to keep up appearances, this is a family that is falling apart.
Husband Kit is unable to work. Teenage daughter Anna grows ever more rebellious. And nine-year-old Joey seems increasingly different from other kids.
Victoria realises she has to act now or she will lose everything. And that’s when she has to ask herself - how far is she willing to go, how much is she willing to do, to preserve her perfect family?
The answer is beyond shocking and will plunge them all into a nightmare from which they may never wake.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 24, 2022
2325 people are currently reading
1020 people want to read
About the author
Lorna Dounaeva
65 books274 followersLorna Dounaeva is a politics graduate who worked for the British Home Office before turning to crime fiction. She writes dark domestic thrillers and is especially fond of female villains. She lives in the Orkney islands with her Ukrainian husband and his parents, three children, a crafty cat and a happy dog.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
May 8, 2022
This book wastes no time getting down to business. The impressive, spine-tingling Prologue has to be one of the best I’ve read! I wish all books sucked me in this quickly.
Victoria has the perfect family. She and her husband—Kit—work very hard to keep it that way and she won’t let anyone ruin it. You’ll shudder at the things this woman will do for her family!
This domestic thriller is captivating. I concluded early on that Victoria had more than one screw loose. Even her nine-year-old son, with bizarre behavior of his own, questioned some of her actions.
After the intense Prologue, the family secrets are very slowly revealed and you’re wondering if Victoria is the only town resident that belongs in a padded cell. This is a new author for me and she’s worth a read!
Huge thanks to Inkubator Books and Zooloos Book Tours for providing this ARC. All opinions are my own.
#theperfectfamily #lornadounaeva #justfinishedreading #honestreview #domesticthriller #bookstagrammer #Inkubatorbooks #ZooLoosBookTours #booktour #booktourhost #usbookreview #domesticthriller #bookaddict #bookaholic #autism #thrilleraddict #advancedreaderscopy #bookworm #wealthymothers
Victoria has the perfect family. She and her husband—Kit—work very hard to keep it that way and she won’t let anyone ruin it. You’ll shudder at the things this woman will do for her family!
This domestic thriller is captivating. I concluded early on that Victoria had more than one screw loose. Even her nine-year-old son, with bizarre behavior of his own, questioned some of her actions.
After the intense Prologue, the family secrets are very slowly revealed and you’re wondering if Victoria is the only town resident that belongs in a padded cell. This is a new author for me and she’s worth a read!
Huge thanks to Inkubator Books and Zooloos Book Tours for providing this ARC. All opinions are my own.
#theperfectfamily #lornadounaeva #justfinishedreading #honestreview #domesticthriller #bookstagrammer #Inkubatorbooks #ZooLoosBookTours #booktour #booktourhost #usbookreview #domesticthriller #bookaddict #bookaholic #autism #thrilleraddict #advancedreaderscopy #bookworm #wealthymothers
February 10, 2025
I enjoyed it overall
April 27, 2022
This is a great slow burn domestic drama.
After a short opening in which we witness an accident, we meet the family we will actually be following. Victoria is the matriarch of the story. She didn't start out with much and she and her husband Kit have worked their way up. She takes a lot of pride in appearances and reaching for the stars and she expects her family to as well.
We quickly find out things aren't as perfect as Victoria would have us believe. Her husband is suffering from chronic pain, her son Joey has some behavioral issues that are starting to cause trouble at school and her teenage daughter Anna has a rebellious streak and is falling in with a tougher crowd.
Things really get weird when a mother from school starts coming over for her son's piano lessons. Victoria and Kit want to stay as far away from her as possible.. but why??
Victoria is harboring a life-changing secret and when she confides in the wrong person, things are bound to come apart at the seams. This person isn't as loyal to her as she thought and loose lips sink ships. How far will Victoria go to protect her family and their freedom??
This was excellent. I had a good time. I had a bit of a hard time with the believability of Anna's character but nothing that ruined the story. It was thought-provoking. Definitely recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced ebook to read and review!
After a short opening in which we witness an accident, we meet the family we will actually be following. Victoria is the matriarch of the story. She didn't start out with much and she and her husband Kit have worked their way up. She takes a lot of pride in appearances and reaching for the stars and she expects her family to as well.
We quickly find out things aren't as perfect as Victoria would have us believe. Her husband is suffering from chronic pain, her son Joey has some behavioral issues that are starting to cause trouble at school and her teenage daughter Anna has a rebellious streak and is falling in with a tougher crowd.
Things really get weird when a mother from school starts coming over for her son's piano lessons. Victoria and Kit want to stay as far away from her as possible.. but why??
Victoria is harboring a life-changing secret and when she confides in the wrong person, things are bound to come apart at the seams. This person isn't as loyal to her as she thought and loose lips sink ships. How far will Victoria go to protect her family and their freedom??
This was excellent. I had a good time. I had a bit of a hard time with the believability of Anna's character but nothing that ruined the story. It was thought-provoking. Definitely recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced ebook to read and review!
June 12, 2022
What a brilliant book
Really disliked Victoria. Everything had to be her way.
Loved it
Really disliked Victoria. Everything had to be her way.
Loved it
May 17, 2022
3 ⭐️ "Everything was planned. Everything was staged. The picture she presented to the world was always one she had chosen."
This was a fast-paced thriller about... you guessed it: the "perfect" family. Victoria's entire life revolves around her family and keeping up appearances. She's determined to do whatever it takes to give her children the life that she never had. She might refuse to accept reality most days, but at least she looks good and her kids are "thriving".
The Perfect Family was a quick read about the lengths some people will go to in order to keep their secrets. It was a perfectly fine book, but one that I'll probably forget about in a few days. A few details were a bit outlandish and there was a lot of buildup in the beginning, but things fizzled out in the second half. Unlikeable characters and a soapy plot kept me turning pages, but I wasn't all that impressed with the ending.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book; all opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for allowing me to be an early reader.
This was a fast-paced thriller about... you guessed it: the "perfect" family. Victoria's entire life revolves around her family and keeping up appearances. She's determined to do whatever it takes to give her children the life that she never had. She might refuse to accept reality most days, but at least she looks good and her kids are "thriving".
The Perfect Family was a quick read about the lengths some people will go to in order to keep their secrets. It was a perfectly fine book, but one that I'll probably forget about in a few days. A few details were a bit outlandish and there was a lot of buildup in the beginning, but things fizzled out in the second half. Unlikeable characters and a soapy plot kept me turning pages, but I wasn't all that impressed with the ending.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book; all opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for allowing me to be an early reader.
April 16, 2022
While enjoyable, I found the story to be very similar to one from another author that came out not too long ago. To avoid spoilers, I won't mention the book.
Victoria has a lot going on. Her teenage daughter is increasingly rebellious, her son Joey is clearly showing signs of autism that Victoria ignores, and her husband is having difficulty working long hours at his demanding job. On top of all this family turmoil, Victoria is keeping a dark secret; if it got out, everything would be ruined.
It was so hard to sympathize with Victoria. She was vapid and shallow, caring far too much about the opinions of others. What really bothered me was her refusal to accept that her son needed help. Even when confronted by Joey's teacher about his isolation and meltdowns at school, she dismisses the teacher's concerns. Little does she know that Joey has been keeping a secret diary, and he knows the secret his mother is hiding--he just doesn't know how to verbalize it.
I'll have to admit, when everything came crashing down, the ending was very satisfying. I do love when awful people get what they deserve.
Victoria has a lot going on. Her teenage daughter is increasingly rebellious, her son Joey is clearly showing signs of autism that Victoria ignores, and her husband is having difficulty working long hours at his demanding job. On top of all this family turmoil, Victoria is keeping a dark secret; if it got out, everything would be ruined.
It was so hard to sympathize with Victoria. She was vapid and shallow, caring far too much about the opinions of others. What really bothered me was her refusal to accept that her son needed help. Even when confronted by Joey's teacher about his isolation and meltdowns at school, she dismisses the teacher's concerns. Little does she know that Joey has been keeping a secret diary, and he knows the secret his mother is hiding--he just doesn't know how to verbalize it.
I'll have to admit, when everything came crashing down, the ending was very satisfying. I do love when awful people get what they deserve.
April 23, 2022
Victoria’s whole world revolves around her family and their reputation. She’d do anything to give her family the life she didn’t have growing up.
Then there is her husband Kit, rebellious daughter Anna and gifted son Joey.
When something happens Victoria will go to any and all lengths to protect her family.
Story is told in three current time pov’s from Victoria, Anna and Joey’s diary entries.
The ending didn’t feel to match the climax of the story. Somethings I feel weren’t needed to be added and were just odd fillers to the story. Overall was pretty fast paced and kept me wanting to know more.
Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this early release!
Then there is her husband Kit, rebellious daughter Anna and gifted son Joey.
When something happens Victoria will go to any and all lengths to protect her family.
Story is told in three current time pov’s from Victoria, Anna and Joey’s diary entries.
The ending didn’t feel to match the climax of the story. Somethings I feel weren’t needed to be added and were just odd fillers to the story. Overall was pretty fast paced and kept me wanting to know more.
Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this early release!
May 2, 2022
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Perfect Family' by Lorna Dounaeva.
Read and reviewed for ZooLoos Book Tours, Lorna Dounaeva and Inkubator Books.
Publication date 24th April 2022.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching gorgeous cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated 'The Perfect Family – the gripping psychological thriller ideal for fans of K. L. Slater, Mark Edwards, Daniel Hurst.' I am a huge fan of Mark Edwards and K.L Slater so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Inkubator Books. I have yet to read a book published by Inkubator Books that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue, 48 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Surrey, England 🏴 , UK 🇬🇧 . The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Victoria Hill, Joey Hill and Anna Hill. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
This book is well written with vivid descriptions that really set the scene and put you in the storyline. The cover and synopsis suit the book perfectly.
This book is an intriguing slow burner filled with secrets, lies, deceit and more. It is an interesting family drama that questions how far a mother would go to protect her children or is it to protect the Perfect Family image? It leaves the reader questioning which is more important to Victoria. I enjoyed the fact that we get to see the storyline through the eyes of each of the main protagonists and each of them have very different view points of what the events felt like. The school scenes were very realistic with the different cliques of mums and as a mum myself I felt Lorna portrayed it perfectly along with how hard it can be to get in with certain gangs and how catty certain gangs can be. One of the last chapters from Anna's perspective leaves you questioning if she had a part in what happened to. Victoria, I won't say more than that as I don't want to spoil it for future readers.
The characters each and their own personalities and they were all very different to each other. I wasn't a fan of Victoria's character at all and found her to be very stuck up and cared more about her image than her family. The fact that she denied her son Joey the help he certainly needed really annoyed me after seeing it myself so many times. I was more invested in Anna than her mum which is unusual for me. However, Anna seemed much more mature than her age, at times but at others much younger. When she was acting more grown up it was sweet to see the bond that she had with her brother Joey and Dad Kit. My heart went out to poor Kit and Joey. Joey for not getting the support he badly needed and Kit for the way his wife Victoria cared more about how much money he was earning thay how it was affecting his health. Regardless of whether you loved or hated the characters they each worked perfectly well together to form this intriguing family drama.
Overall an intriguing family drama filled with lies, deceit and secrets.
Genres covered in this book include Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Domestic Suspense, Women's Psychological Fiction, Mystery and Psychological Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Mark Edwards, Daniel Hurst, K. L. Slater, Mark Edwards.
313 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#ThePerfectFamily #LornaDounaeva #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #ZooLoosBookTours #InkubatorBooks
@LornaDounaeva @ZooLoosBT @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @inkubatorbooks
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...)
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...
Review for 'The Perfect Family' by Lorna Dounaeva.
Read and reviewed for ZooLoos Book Tours, Lorna Dounaeva and Inkubator Books.
Publication date 24th April 2022.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching gorgeous cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated 'The Perfect Family – the gripping psychological thriller ideal for fans of K. L. Slater, Mark Edwards, Daniel Hurst.' I am a huge fan of Mark Edwards and K.L Slater so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Inkubator Books. I have yet to read a book published by Inkubator Books that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue, 48 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Surrey, England 🏴 , UK 🇬🇧 . The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Victoria Hill, Joey Hill and Anna Hill. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
This book is well written with vivid descriptions that really set the scene and put you in the storyline. The cover and synopsis suit the book perfectly.
This book is an intriguing slow burner filled with secrets, lies, deceit and more. It is an interesting family drama that questions how far a mother would go to protect her children or is it to protect the Perfect Family image? It leaves the reader questioning which is more important to Victoria. I enjoyed the fact that we get to see the storyline through the eyes of each of the main protagonists and each of them have very different view points of what the events felt like. The school scenes were very realistic with the different cliques of mums and as a mum myself I felt Lorna portrayed it perfectly along with how hard it can be to get in with certain gangs and how catty certain gangs can be. One of the last chapters from Anna's perspective leaves you questioning if she had a part in what happened to. Victoria, I won't say more than that as I don't want to spoil it for future readers.
The characters each and their own personalities and they were all very different to each other. I wasn't a fan of Victoria's character at all and found her to be very stuck up and cared more about her image than her family. The fact that she denied her son Joey the help he certainly needed really annoyed me after seeing it myself so many times. I was more invested in Anna than her mum which is unusual for me. However, Anna seemed much more mature than her age, at times but at others much younger. When she was acting more grown up it was sweet to see the bond that she had with her brother Joey and Dad Kit. My heart went out to poor Kit and Joey. Joey for not getting the support he badly needed and Kit for the way his wife Victoria cared more about how much money he was earning thay how it was affecting his health. Regardless of whether you loved or hated the characters they each worked perfectly well together to form this intriguing family drama.
Overall an intriguing family drama filled with lies, deceit and secrets.
Genres covered in this book include Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Domestic Suspense, Women's Psychological Fiction, Mystery and Psychological Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Mark Edwards, Daniel Hurst, K. L. Slater, Mark Edwards.
313 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#ThePerfectFamily #LornaDounaeva #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #ZooLoosBookTours #InkubatorBooks
@LornaDounaeva @ZooLoosBT @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @inkubatorbooks
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...)
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...
April 27, 2022
No family is perfect but this one certainly wasn't. Desperate to keep up appearances, Victoria tries her level best to maintain the "perfect family" facade...not matter the cost, it seems. For her, image is everything. She has so much going on with a husband who works long hours down in London, a rebellious teenage daughter and a son who is clearly showing signs of autism that Victoria continually ignores so that Joey won't be segregated and her family ostracised. Because clearly, the town in which they live is full of shallow people who thrive on the keeping up of appearances...oh, and money.
But on top of all this turmoil, Victoria harbours a dark secret that, if it got out, her life, her goals and her dreams for her family will be ruined. But Joey knows...and he is struggling with his knowledge and how to make logical sense of it.
The bulk of the story is of Victoria trying to maintain the facade of a perfect family. She refuses to believe that there is anything wrong with her son Joey, citing that he is just brilliant and advanced for his age. But even I could see from early on that he displayed signs of ASD. You'd think that any parent would do anything for their child; anything that would help make life easier for them. But not Victoria. Although, she actually thought that everything she was doing was for them, as she stated many times "Everything I do, I do for you" (and I would have Bryan Adams singing those same words as she uttered them...lol) And then there was Anna, her fourteen year old daughter who evolved into this rebellious person overnight, it seemed. But even she begins to struggle with her own moral compass. And her husband Kit, who came across as weak in some ways compared to Victoria's strong personality. Everyone was struggling with this secret...except Victoria.
And then along comes Belinda Solomon and her son Ricky, who have the propensity to throw Victoria's world into an even bigger chaos. She wants nothing to do with her, but Belinda will not take no for an answer as she pleads with Victoria to take on Ricky for piano lessons. Victoria wants to scream no but finds herself agreeing to teach him. How can she get out of it? But it seems fate has other plans as Joey, who has no friends or social tendencies, and Ricky seem to hit it off and flee up to Joey's room to play. Joey even asks if Ricky could stay for tea. How could Victoria refuse when Joey has never asked for a friend to stay? And in the midst of this chaotic tale, Belinda begins to see Victoria as a true friend. Oh the irony.
It was difficult to feel any sympathy for Victoria. She was vain and shallow and cared only for appearances. She had this dream that worked her poor husband to the bone whilst denying her child's special needs, all to see them have the biggest most beautiful house one day. She cared far too much about how others saw her and her family rather than what was truly important. Her refusal to accept that Joey needed help, despite meltdowns that she saw as tantrums, she dismisses others' concerns. But Joey has been keeping a secret diary into which he pours his own logical set of emotions. But can he articulate the secret he knows his mother is hiding?
THE PERFECT FAMILY is anything but. It is certainly not a family I would care to be a part of of, that's for sure. A thriller that verges on the edge of domestic suspense there is no real mystery here but there are a few tense moments. Told through the eyes of Victoria, Anna and Joey's diary, the story unfolds in perfect synchronicity with a gamut of emotions from shock, horror, sorrow, anger and surprise throughout. The ending was a bit of a surprise but I think it was a fitting one all the same.
Overall, THE PERFECT FAMILY is an engaging domestic tale of suspense where none of the characters are really all that likeable but the story was enjoyable just the same. This is my first by this author but the premises to some of her others are just as compelling. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
I would like to thank #LornaDounaeva, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #ThePerfectFamily in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
But on top of all this turmoil, Victoria harbours a dark secret that, if it got out, her life, her goals and her dreams for her family will be ruined. But Joey knows...and he is struggling with his knowledge and how to make logical sense of it.
The bulk of the story is of Victoria trying to maintain the facade of a perfect family. She refuses to believe that there is anything wrong with her son Joey, citing that he is just brilliant and advanced for his age. But even I could see from early on that he displayed signs of ASD. You'd think that any parent would do anything for their child; anything that would help make life easier for them. But not Victoria. Although, she actually thought that everything she was doing was for them, as she stated many times "Everything I do, I do for you" (and I would have Bryan Adams singing those same words as she uttered them...lol) And then there was Anna, her fourteen year old daughter who evolved into this rebellious person overnight, it seemed. But even she begins to struggle with her own moral compass. And her husband Kit, who came across as weak in some ways compared to Victoria's strong personality. Everyone was struggling with this secret...except Victoria.
And then along comes Belinda Solomon and her son Ricky, who have the propensity to throw Victoria's world into an even bigger chaos. She wants nothing to do with her, but Belinda will not take no for an answer as she pleads with Victoria to take on Ricky for piano lessons. Victoria wants to scream no but finds herself agreeing to teach him. How can she get out of it? But it seems fate has other plans as Joey, who has no friends or social tendencies, and Ricky seem to hit it off and flee up to Joey's room to play. Joey even asks if Ricky could stay for tea. How could Victoria refuse when Joey has never asked for a friend to stay? And in the midst of this chaotic tale, Belinda begins to see Victoria as a true friend. Oh the irony.
It was difficult to feel any sympathy for Victoria. She was vain and shallow and cared only for appearances. She had this dream that worked her poor husband to the bone whilst denying her child's special needs, all to see them have the biggest most beautiful house one day. She cared far too much about how others saw her and her family rather than what was truly important. Her refusal to accept that Joey needed help, despite meltdowns that she saw as tantrums, she dismisses others' concerns. But Joey has been keeping a secret diary into which he pours his own logical set of emotions. But can he articulate the secret he knows his mother is hiding?
THE PERFECT FAMILY is anything but. It is certainly not a family I would care to be a part of of, that's for sure. A thriller that verges on the edge of domestic suspense there is no real mystery here but there are a few tense moments. Told through the eyes of Victoria, Anna and Joey's diary, the story unfolds in perfect synchronicity with a gamut of emotions from shock, horror, sorrow, anger and surprise throughout. The ending was a bit of a surprise but I think it was a fitting one all the same.
Overall, THE PERFECT FAMILY is an engaging domestic tale of suspense where none of the characters are really all that likeable but the story was enjoyable just the same. This is my first by this author but the premises to some of her others are just as compelling. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
I would like to thank #LornaDounaeva, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #ThePerfectFamily in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
April 15, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an early copy of The Perfect Family. This book was captivating from the very first page. The story had a lot of unexpected twists which made for a more exciting read.
The main characters were flawed but compelling. I wish there would have more backstory on why the characters behaved the way they did. The main character Victoria was very particular about maintaining the perfect image yet we don't know why. I want to know what happened in her past that made her want to project this image to the world. I do think that with more character development Victoria would be a stronger character.
I enjoyed reading this story and I'm looking forward to reading more books by Lorna Dounaeva.
The main characters were flawed but compelling. I wish there would have more backstory on why the characters behaved the way they did. The main character Victoria was very particular about maintaining the perfect image yet we don't know why. I want to know what happened in her past that made her want to project this image to the world. I do think that with more character development Victoria would be a stronger character.
I enjoyed reading this story and I'm looking forward to reading more books by Lorna Dounaeva.
September 9, 2022
silly story
Terrible story, unbelievable characters. Had to give up. Overbearing pretentious mother killing people. Unable to accept her son might be autistic and trying her best to manipulate her daughter to be something she isn’t.
Really couldn’t finish this book as the story was so terrible.
Save yourself some time and don’t bother trying to read it
Terrible story, unbelievable characters. Had to give up. Overbearing pretentious mother killing people. Unable to accept her son might be autistic and trying her best to manipulate her daughter to be something she isn’t.
Really couldn’t finish this book as the story was so terrible.
Save yourself some time and don’t bother trying to read it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2022
The author should have paid me to read this. I need compensation for the wasted time. Life is too short for this book
December 12, 2025
the matriarch's desire for perfection (outwardly perceived perfection) causes her to make questionable choices that threaten to destroy this "perfect" family.
May 4, 2022
If there’s one thing that I like doing, it’s discovering new authors. Lorna Dounaeva is certainly a new author for me. I read the synopsis for ‘The Perfect Family’ and it certainly sounded like the sort of read I enjoy- a psychological thriller with more layers to it than a parcel during a game of ‘Pass The Parcel’. Well it was that and so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Perfect Family’ but more about that in a bit.
I have to say that I wasn’t especially keen on either of the two lead characters – Kit and Victoria. I certainly didn’t warm to them nor did I really like them. There was just something about them both that made me very suspicious. Victoria likes to think that she is perfect but really she is anything but. Kit doesn’t come across well and it turns out that he has a bit of a ‘habit’ as the saying goes. I won’t go too far down that road and explain just what he is addicted to as I would hate to spoil the story for anybody.
It took me next to no time to get into ‘The Perfect Family’. In fact as soon I started reading, I knew that I was going to find it rather difficult to put the book to one side for any length of time. The characters intrigued me and I was interested to see if their back stories were going to develop as I suspected they would. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story. The more of the story that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. All too quickly I got to the end of the story. I found ‘The Perfect Family’ to be a gripping, tense and dramatic read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘The Perfect Family’ is extremely well written. The author certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a read. For me the story was a bit of a slow burn but that suits the story that the author is telling. As the story gathers momentum, the level of tension increases and the drama grows. Reading ‘The Perfect Family’ felt a bit like being on an unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I love the way in which the author makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Perfect Family’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Lorna’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I have to say that I wasn’t especially keen on either of the two lead characters – Kit and Victoria. I certainly didn’t warm to them nor did I really like them. There was just something about them both that made me very suspicious. Victoria likes to think that she is perfect but really she is anything but. Kit doesn’t come across well and it turns out that he has a bit of a ‘habit’ as the saying goes. I won’t go too far down that road and explain just what he is addicted to as I would hate to spoil the story for anybody.
It took me next to no time to get into ‘The Perfect Family’. In fact as soon I started reading, I knew that I was going to find it rather difficult to put the book to one side for any length of time. The characters intrigued me and I was interested to see if their back stories were going to develop as I suspected they would. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story. The more of the story that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. All too quickly I got to the end of the story. I found ‘The Perfect Family’ to be a gripping, tense and dramatic read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘The Perfect Family’ is extremely well written. The author certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a read. For me the story was a bit of a slow burn but that suits the story that the author is telling. As the story gathers momentum, the level of tension increases and the drama grows. Reading ‘The Perfect Family’ felt a bit like being on an unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I love the way in which the author makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Perfect Family’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Lorna’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
April 18, 2022
CWs: car accident, murder, death
A psychological thriller perfect for readers who enjoy multiple points of view with a big dose of murder. Told from the point of views from Victoria, Anna, and Joey’s Diary, “The Perfect Family” focuses on the importance of family, and just how far a mother will go to save them.
The main character, Victoria, is a mother who tries to do what’s best for her family. Sadly, this is all Victoria’s character did throughout the whole story. Claiming to be a psychological thriller, I wish we had seen more into the psyche of Victoria’s character and why she acts the way she does. It felt like Victoria’s character had no development, and her chapters were incredibly repetitive. Anna, however, was a better written character. The daughter of Victoria, Anna sticks to her grey area thought process and sticks by her mother throughout all of her choices. As the story progresses, we see Anna’s debate with her own moral compass. We also see Joey, the youngest child, through his diary entries that he writes throughout the book. Joey’s character was well written, and I wish we had gotten to see more of his point of view throughout the story.
The novel has a fantastic mystery buildup from the beginning: what happens during “The Song”? Why does Victoria become friends with certain side characters? Unfortunately, the buildup ends halfway through the story. The thriller aspect fizzled out, and the book felt repetitive towards the second half. The ending of the book felt like it didn’t fit with the rest of the story, and I wish we could have kept up the “thriller” vibe the story was giving in the beginning.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A psychological thriller perfect for readers who enjoy multiple points of view with a big dose of murder. Told from the point of views from Victoria, Anna, and Joey’s Diary, “The Perfect Family” focuses on the importance of family, and just how far a mother will go to save them.
The main character, Victoria, is a mother who tries to do what’s best for her family. Sadly, this is all Victoria’s character did throughout the whole story. Claiming to be a psychological thriller, I wish we had seen more into the psyche of Victoria’s character and why she acts the way she does. It felt like Victoria’s character had no development, and her chapters were incredibly repetitive. Anna, however, was a better written character. The daughter of Victoria, Anna sticks to her grey area thought process and sticks by her mother throughout all of her choices. As the story progresses, we see Anna’s debate with her own moral compass. We also see Joey, the youngest child, through his diary entries that he writes throughout the book. Joey’s character was well written, and I wish we had gotten to see more of his point of view throughout the story.
The novel has a fantastic mystery buildup from the beginning: what happens during “The Song”? Why does Victoria become friends with certain side characters? Unfortunately, the buildup ends halfway through the story. The thriller aspect fizzled out, and the book felt repetitive towards the second half. The ending of the book felt like it didn’t fit with the rest of the story, and I wish we could have kept up the “thriller” vibe the story was giving in the beginning.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 5, 2022
The perfect family by Lorna Dounaeva.
They seem like the perfect family. Until you discover their secret.For Victoria, image is everything. And on the surface, she has it all - a big house, a successful husband and two beautiful children.But behind the scenes, things are very different. Because Victoria and her husband have a dark secret and she lives in terror of it being discovered, of her perfect facade being shattered forever.Under massive stress, but still desperately trying to keep up appearances, this is a family that is falling apart.Husband Kit is unable to work. Teenage daughter Anna grows ever more rebellious. And nine-year-old Joey seems increasingly different from other kids.Victoria realises she has to act now or she will lose everything. And that’s when she has to ask herself - how far is she willing to go, how much is she willing to do, to preserve her perfect family?The answer is beyond shocking and will plunge them all into a nightmare from which they may never wake.
Great read. Tense and surprising. I was gripped. Very cleverly written. 5*.
They seem like the perfect family. Until you discover their secret.For Victoria, image is everything. And on the surface, she has it all - a big house, a successful husband and two beautiful children.But behind the scenes, things are very different. Because Victoria and her husband have a dark secret and she lives in terror of it being discovered, of her perfect facade being shattered forever.Under massive stress, but still desperately trying to keep up appearances, this is a family that is falling apart.Husband Kit is unable to work. Teenage daughter Anna grows ever more rebellious. And nine-year-old Joey seems increasingly different from other kids.Victoria realises she has to act now or she will lose everything. And that’s when she has to ask herself - how far is she willing to go, how much is she willing to do, to preserve her perfect family?The answer is beyond shocking and will plunge them all into a nightmare from which they may never wake.
Great read. Tense and surprising. I was gripped. Very cleverly written. 5*.
May 10, 2022
Lorna was kind enough to send me a paperback of her book, and the cover is so sharp and stunning that the photo doesn't really do it justice.
What lengths will one woman go to keep the image of her perfect family intact? We explore that in The Perfect Family, and if you think you know how this book will unfold, Dounaeva has a few things in store for you. Told in alternating perspectives of mother Victoria, daughter Anna, and journal entries from Victoria's son, Joey, this story goes from bad, to worse, to unbelievable in a fast-paced read that keeps you hooked.
"The last thing she needed was Anna taking Kit's side, convincing him that he should put his health first."
Yes, you read that right. Victoria is about as unlikeable as they come. Dounaeva has written this awful person, who is in denial about so many things, who puts these unrealistic pressures on her family, and she has written her so exceptionally well. This was so fun watching the story unravel, the secrets spill out, and the ensuing drama. I loved the twisted lengths taken every step of the way.
What lengths will one woman go to keep the image of her perfect family intact? We explore that in The Perfect Family, and if you think you know how this book will unfold, Dounaeva has a few things in store for you. Told in alternating perspectives of mother Victoria, daughter Anna, and journal entries from Victoria's son, Joey, this story goes from bad, to worse, to unbelievable in a fast-paced read that keeps you hooked.
"The last thing she needed was Anna taking Kit's side, convincing him that he should put his health first."
Yes, you read that right. Victoria is about as unlikeable as they come. Dounaeva has written this awful person, who is in denial about so many things, who puts these unrealistic pressures on her family, and she has written her so exceptionally well. This was so fun watching the story unravel, the secrets spill out, and the ensuing drama. I loved the twisted lengths taken every step of the way.
June 18, 2022
Victoria is trying to keep her 'perfect family' just that...perfect. She also wants to keep all appearances that other people see, perfect. She grew up with very little and is bound and determined her children won't go through what she did. But time is running out, and things are not going as planned. An intense story about appearances and what can go wrong if things are not taken care of properly. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
May 3, 2022
This was a slow burn but once it going I found it really entertaining (if that makes sense for a physiological thriller) and it became a really easy read and I wanted to find out what was going to happen.
Will definitely be looking for more by this author going forward.
Will definitely be looking for more by this author going forward.
May 10, 2022
Stressful
Fast read. Felt stressed reading it but that's how the one character was supposed to be. Bit of a mystery mixed in here with some bat sh*t crazy stuff. Made for an interesting read and satisfying ending. Well, at least I thought it was satisfying.
Fast read. Felt stressed reading it but that's how the one character was supposed to be. Bit of a mystery mixed in here with some bat sh*t crazy stuff. Made for an interesting read and satisfying ending. Well, at least I thought it was satisfying.
July 15, 2022
Wow . Family Life
I found this story very well written and reminded me of how some families appear to be amazing whilst in reality they are not. Its like the old saying . "No-one knows what goes on behind closed doors".
I found this story very well written and reminded me of how some families appear to be amazing whilst in reality they are not. Its like the old saying . "No-one knows what goes on behind closed doors".
February 6, 2023
I enjoyed this read. Admittedly it took me a while to get gripped into it but when I was it was a good flowing read.
I enjoyed the storyline but I felt like it was missing something the whole way through it.
Good read overall though
I enjoyed the storyline but I felt like it was missing something the whole way through it.
Good read overall though
July 14, 2022
I didn't hate this book, but my 3 stars reflect it didn't make me want to run out and read another by this author.
November 6, 2022
The main character made me a little crazy because I know some parents like her who parent the child they wish they had instead of the child they have, but a pretty good read.
November 15, 2022
3.5 stars. Somewhat comparable to Lisa Jewell.
February 12, 2023
That woman is evil! How far would you go to protect your family from the truth? This was a good read, hard to put down.
June 27, 2024
What a strange book. A family with a soft, wimpy husband, a teenage daughter who is struggling to do the right things, a son who is clearly different, perhaps some form of autism, and over them all: a mother who will do anything, and I mean anything to have a perfect family.
We start with the mother, Victoria, frantically getting kids ready for school, and then pushing her husband, Kit, out of bed though he is clearly hurting for some reason, but he must get to work because they need to continue to afford the big house and hopefully get younger son into school. But then at the end of the day, she brings Joey home from school, and as soon as he gets in the door he becomes destructive, smashing decorative items, taking his clothes off, flinging them everywhere and then storming upstairs. Victoria gets the broom and dustpan and cleans everything up, righting the house so it looks normal for when Kit gets home. And it's quite a metaphor for how she handles everything in their lives - simply sweeping it away, trying to hide things, never resolving or dealing with issues.
At first you think perhaps Victoria is just a frantic, delusional mom wanting her kids to fit in and herself to fit in. But then you quickly learn that she is more than that. Way way more than that. My jaw dropped at times when I read about how she was so blind about her boy's rages and behavior, but also about how abusive in a way her behavior was towards her husband - forcing him to live through massive pain, not getting his back looked at because of the accident that caused it.
This is really a strange, strange book. The ending? Dunno how I feel about it. Too neat by half.
We start with the mother, Victoria, frantically getting kids ready for school, and then pushing her husband, Kit, out of bed though he is clearly hurting for some reason, but he must get to work because they need to continue to afford the big house and hopefully get younger son into school. But then at the end of the day, she brings Joey home from school, and as soon as he gets in the door he becomes destructive, smashing decorative items, taking his clothes off, flinging them everywhere and then storming upstairs. Victoria gets the broom and dustpan and cleans everything up, righting the house so it looks normal for when Kit gets home. And it's quite a metaphor for how she handles everything in their lives - simply sweeping it away, trying to hide things, never resolving or dealing with issues.
At first you think perhaps Victoria is just a frantic, delusional mom wanting her kids to fit in and herself to fit in. But then you quickly learn that she is more than that. Way way more than that. My jaw dropped at times when I read about how she was so blind about her boy's rages and behavior, but also about how abusive in a way her behavior was towards her husband - forcing him to live through massive pain, not getting his back looked at because of the accident that caused it.
This is really a strange, strange book. The ending? Dunno how I feel about it. Too neat by half.
October 29, 2025
📚The Perfect Family
✍🏻Lorna Dounaeva
Blurb:
For Victoria, image is everything. And on the surface, she has it all - a big house, a successful husband and two beautiful children.
But behind the scenes, things are very different. Because Victoria and her husband have a dark secret and she lives in terror of it being discovered, of her perfect facade being shattered forever.
Under massive stress, but still desperately trying to keep up appearances, this is a family that is falling apart.
Husband Kit is unable to work. Teenage daughter Anna grows ever more rebellious. And nine-year-old Joey seems increasingly different from other kids.
Victoria realises she has to act now or she will lose everything. And that’s when she has to ask herself - how far is she willing to go, how much is she willing to do, to preserve her perfect family?
The answer is beyond shocking and will plunge them all into a nightmare from which they may never wake.
My Thoughts:
Victoria and Kit are married with two children, Joey and Anna. She wants the perfect family only their family is so dysfunctional. Appearances can be deceiving. This story keeps you on the edge of your seat. The ending was amazing. I really liked this book and found it very intriguing and kept me with the story until the end. Great book.
Thanks NetGalley, Inkubator Books, Author Lorna Dounaeva for the complimentary ARC. I am leaving my review in appreciation
#NetGalley
#InkubatorBooks
#LornaDounaeva
#ThePerfectFamily
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻Lorna Dounaeva
Blurb:
For Victoria, image is everything. And on the surface, she has it all - a big house, a successful husband and two beautiful children.
But behind the scenes, things are very different. Because Victoria and her husband have a dark secret and she lives in terror of it being discovered, of her perfect facade being shattered forever.
Under massive stress, but still desperately trying to keep up appearances, this is a family that is falling apart.
Husband Kit is unable to work. Teenage daughter Anna grows ever more rebellious. And nine-year-old Joey seems increasingly different from other kids.
Victoria realises she has to act now or she will lose everything. And that’s when she has to ask herself - how far is she willing to go, how much is she willing to do, to preserve her perfect family?
The answer is beyond shocking and will plunge them all into a nightmare from which they may never wake.
My Thoughts:
Victoria and Kit are married with two children, Joey and Anna. She wants the perfect family only their family is so dysfunctional. Appearances can be deceiving. This story keeps you on the edge of your seat. The ending was amazing. I really liked this book and found it very intriguing and kept me with the story until the end. Great book.
Thanks NetGalley, Inkubator Books, Author Lorna Dounaeva for the complimentary ARC. I am leaving my review in appreciation
#NetGalley
#InkubatorBooks
#LornaDounaeva
#ThePerfectFamily
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 7, 2024
A new favorite! When perfection turns deadly.
“The Perfect Family” by Lorna Dounaeva is a gripping thriller that delves into the dark secrets of a seemingly flawless family. Narrated by outstanding Jilly Bond, this audiobook exceptionally weaves a twisted tale of family trust, deception and desperation. Behind the façade of their perfect life, Victoria and her husband, Kit, harbor a sinister secret. As the stress of maintaining their image increases, their family begins to disintegrate. Their children begin to exhibit unusual behavior. Victoria’s world begins to unravel, snd she’s forced to decide how far she will go to preserve her perfect family. The jaw-dropping finale left me reeling at the complexellent ending. I get a thrill when I discover a riveting listen and this definitely proves why. Adding to my excitement is the cost of $1.84 during Audible’s holiday sale; this audiction left me craving more, and I was finished in one day. Yes, I’m on that rooftop again, shrieking, “Epic, I say! EPIC! EPIC! EPIC!”
💥👏✍️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟👏💥✍️
“The Perfect Family” by Lorna Dounaeva is a gripping thriller that delves into the dark secrets of a seemingly flawless family. Narrated by outstanding Jilly Bond, this audiobook exceptionally weaves a twisted tale of family trust, deception and desperation. Behind the façade of their perfect life, Victoria and her husband, Kit, harbor a sinister secret. As the stress of maintaining their image increases, their family begins to disintegrate. Their children begin to exhibit unusual behavior. Victoria’s world begins to unravel, snd she’s forced to decide how far she will go to preserve her perfect family. The jaw-dropping finale left me reeling at the complexellent ending. I get a thrill when I discover a riveting listen and this definitely proves why. Adding to my excitement is the cost of $1.84 during Audible’s holiday sale; this audiction left me craving more, and I was finished in one day. Yes, I’m on that rooftop again, shrieking, “Epic, I say! EPIC! EPIC! EPIC!”
💥👏✍️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟👏💥✍️
February 10, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for granting me an ARC of The Perfect Family. Somehow it got lost in my list of TBR, so I am very late writing my review!
Can’t believe I waited so long to read this book, I raced through it in a weekend! Absolutely loved it!
I enjoyed the portrayal of Joey, my son is autistic and, although he isn’t violent when he melts down, I recognised a lot of other quirks. The main character , Victoria, was awful. A really unlikeable person all the way through the book. I would definitely not like to encounter her in real life! I haven’t read many books where I have really disliked the main character, but this was one.
This was an easy read for me, the writing was my style, and most of the chapters were short, making it appealing to pick up and read a few pages at a time if I only had a 10 minute slot. Will be reading more by this author for sure!
Can’t believe I waited so long to read this book, I raced through it in a weekend! Absolutely loved it!
I enjoyed the portrayal of Joey, my son is autistic and, although he isn’t violent when he melts down, I recognised a lot of other quirks. The main character , Victoria, was awful. A really unlikeable person all the way through the book. I would definitely not like to encounter her in real life! I haven’t read many books where I have really disliked the main character, but this was one.
This was an easy read for me, the writing was my style, and most of the chapters were short, making it appealing to pick up and read a few pages at a time if I only had a 10 minute slot. Will be reading more by this author for sure!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews