What do you think?
Rate this book
Perfect Little Lives
"A dark and riveting page-turner with an intelligent twist." —Nadine Matheson, author of The Jigsaw Man, on Someone Had to Do It
ON ASHER LANE, SOME SECRETS ARE WORTH KILLING FOR…
Simone’s mother was murdered when she was thirteen. When her father was convicted, everything changed. Overnight, Simone went from living in a wealthy white neighborhood to scraping by.
Ten years later, Simone has given up on her dreams and lives a quiet life, writing book reviews and getting serious with her boyfriend. But with a true crime documentarian hounding her for a scoop and a surprise encounter with her childhood next-door neighbor, Hunter, the past seems set on haunting her. And after Hunter reveals that his father and her mother had a years-long affair, Simone is determined to find out who really killed her mother.
Simone is convinced that all evidence points to Hunter’s father, a renowned judge who had everything to lose if his affair—and his nascent love child—came to light. Playing the game from all sides, Simone enlists Hunter’s help in her investigation into his family—whether he realizes it or not. But is she so desperate for closure that she'll risk imploding her carefully rebuilt life?
ON ASHER LANE, SOME SECRETS ARE WORTH KILLING FOR…
Simone’s mother was murdered when she was thirteen. When her father was convicted, everything changed. Overnight, Simone went from living in a wealthy white neighborhood to scraping by.
Ten years later, Simone has given up on her dreams and lives a quiet life, writing book reviews and getting serious with her boyfriend. But with a true crime documentarian hounding her for a scoop and a surprise encounter with her childhood next-door neighbor, Hunter, the past seems set on haunting her. And after Hunter reveals that his father and her mother had a years-long affair, Simone is determined to find out who really killed her mother.
Simone is convinced that all evidence points to Hunter’s father, a renowned judge who had everything to lose if his affair—and his nascent love child—came to light. Playing the game from all sides, Simone enlists Hunter’s help in her investigation into his family—whether he realizes it or not. But is she so desperate for closure that she'll risk imploding her carefully rebuilt life?
368 pages, Paperback
Published December 5, 2023
183 people are currently reading
9397 people want to read
About the author
Amber Brown
4 books231 followersAmber and Danielle Brown both graduated from Rider University where they studied Communications/Journalism and sat on the editorial staff for the On Fire!! Literary Journal. Following their degrees, they pursued a career in fashion and spent five years in NYC working their way up from interns to assistants to then managing their own popular fashion + lifestyle blog. Amber is also a screenwriter, so they currently live in Los Angeles, which works out perfectly so Danielle can spoil her 30 (and counting!) plant babies with copious amounts of sunshine.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews
October 7, 2024
Perfect Little Lives can’t make up its mind if it wants to be a mystery thriller or a dysfunctional romance. Simone is set out to prove her dad didn’t kill her mom when she was a kid, but the plot gets lost with all the detours of sex and angst created by Simone’s quasi love triangle between herself, her boyfriend and her childhood best friend, Hunter.
Her past with Hunter is disturbing. They have a four year gap but were supposed to be BFFs prior to Simone’s world falling apart. I can’t imagine a 5 and 9 year old being that close or a 12 and 16 year old. They’re at vastly different stages of life and yet it is written with crush undertones as kids that carries into sexual overtures when they reconnect as adults.
Simone keeps saying her dad is innocent and her neighbor murdered her mom, but for most of the book there is no proof other than she believes it was shoddy police work. She does the same thing she’s accusing everyone of doing to her dad: handing out a guilty verdict without doing due diligence or evidence. It would have been a more powerful statement of the injustice that happened to her dad if she would have kept her accusations to herself and done actual investigative work to find proof and the truth.
In the end, I felt the execution was too sloppy and the twist/reveal anticlimactic and a little predictable. Simone was an unlikable character and I felt her relationship drama with her boyfriend and the multiple sex scenes were unnecessary and added nothing to the story.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Her past with Hunter is disturbing. They have a four year gap but were supposed to be BFFs prior to Simone’s world falling apart. I can’t imagine a 5 and 9 year old being that close or a 12 and 16 year old. They’re at vastly different stages of life and yet it is written with crush undertones as kids that carries into sexual overtures when they reconnect as adults.
Simone keeps saying her dad is innocent and her neighbor murdered her mom, but for most of the book there is no proof other than she believes it was shoddy police work. She does the same thing she’s accusing everyone of doing to her dad: handing out a guilty verdict without doing due diligence or evidence. It would have been a more powerful statement of the injustice that happened to her dad if she would have kept her accusations to herself and done actual investigative work to find proof and the truth.
In the end, I felt the execution was too sloppy and the twist/reveal anticlimactic and a little predictable. Simone was an unlikable character and I felt her relationship drama with her boyfriend and the multiple sex scenes were unnecessary and added nothing to the story.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
November 3, 2023
I would love to say this was the fun, gripping thriller it was advertised as, but the truth is much more mundane than that.
The very first chapter of the story begins with an admittedly sort of funny rant about women hating her body hair because of men and how the patriarchy sucks and she is such an anti-feminist for utilizing hair removal devices... blah, blah, blah... In case you're wondering, the rest of the book doesn't get a whole lot more interesting.
As a big fan of thrillers, this was a disappointment. I am not anti-feminist or pro-patriarchy. I just think Perfect Little Lives skirted a little too close to being named Annoying Little Complainers.
The very first chapter of the story begins with an admittedly sort of funny rant about women hating her body hair because of men and how the patriarchy sucks and she is such an anti-feminist for utilizing hair removal devices... blah, blah, blah... In case you're wondering, the rest of the book doesn't get a whole lot more interesting.
As a big fan of thrillers, this was a disappointment. I am not anti-feminist or pro-patriarchy. I just think Perfect Little Lives skirted a little too close to being named Annoying Little Complainers.
August 15, 2023
This was not what I was expecting at all and I refused to finish reading it. From the very first page I found it crude and offensive. There were so many dick references in the first few chapters that I couldn’t even get into the story. I’m not a prude.. but references to plucking nipple hair, sex on your period and “popping a squat” over a guys face were just too much for me. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read a digital copy
April 3, 2024
like reneé rapp once said: can a gay girl (me) get an amen (a good book to read)
November 5, 2023
This one was a little all over the place for me, I think it needed to pick a lane and stick with it instead of toeing the line. At times it felt like I was reading a romance book with toxic drama and then others it felt like I was reading a good case suspense novel. (Super light on the suspense) The failure to distinguish between what it was trying to do lost me unfortunately, but despite debating putting it down I did finish it. That always makes me think there’s something about the authors writing that kept me captivated so gotta give credit there. The suspense aspect fell flat for me as well as I found the twist to be predictable and easy to see coming. I did like the way the author discussed race in relation to criminal cases and found their observations and commentary to be sharp but overall this just wasn’t for me.
October 4, 2023
Amber and Danielle Brown's debut novel, Someone Had To Do It, was a major hit for me earlier this year so when I heard that they were coming out with another novel, PERFECT LITTLE LIVES, I just had to get the opportunity to read this one. Seriously, it was very difficult getting a chance to read this book early so thank you to the publisher for sending this over.
PERFECT LITTLE LIVES has a similar voice as Someone Had To Do it, but they are very different types of novels, with PERFECT LITTLE LIVES being more straightforward in the storyline. Our main character, Simone, lives with her boyfriend Reggie (a successful attorney), but after she bumps into her old childhood neighbor, Hunter, her past starts coming back to haunt her. Her father was placed in prison for her mother's murder, Simone knows that he's innocent and will do anything in her power to free him. Especially when Hunter's father, the man who had an affair with Simone's mother behind her father's back, seems to be the main culprit in her eyes. Hunter's father is a renowned judge with everything to lose, but when Hunter increasingly becomes a more prominent figure in her current life, Simone believes now is the time to investigate for herself.
PERFECT LITTLE LIVES is so much fun, but I knew exactly how it would end and I was right. The book is part drama, part murder mystery, and part romance. I will read anything that this dynamic duo will write, and readers of light mystery/thrillers will enjoy this one. If you're a bit more seasoned like me, you'll probably figure it out as well. I really enjoyed that Amber and Danielle Brown were able to pivot with book 2 and I can't wait to see what they'll come up with their next release. PERFECT LITTLE LIVES is perfect for those who enjoyed May Cobb's A Likeable Woman.
PERFECT LITTLE LIVES has a similar voice as Someone Had To Do it, but they are very different types of novels, with PERFECT LITTLE LIVES being more straightforward in the storyline. Our main character, Simone, lives with her boyfriend Reggie (a successful attorney), but after she bumps into her old childhood neighbor, Hunter, her past starts coming back to haunt her. Her father was placed in prison for her mother's murder, Simone knows that he's innocent and will do anything in her power to free him. Especially when Hunter's father, the man who had an affair with Simone's mother behind her father's back, seems to be the main culprit in her eyes. Hunter's father is a renowned judge with everything to lose, but when Hunter increasingly becomes a more prominent figure in her current life, Simone believes now is the time to investigate for herself.
PERFECT LITTLE LIVES is so much fun, but I knew exactly how it would end and I was right. The book is part drama, part murder mystery, and part romance. I will read anything that this dynamic duo will write, and readers of light mystery/thrillers will enjoy this one. If you're a bit more seasoned like me, you'll probably figure it out as well. I really enjoyed that Amber and Danielle Brown were able to pivot with book 2 and I can't wait to see what they'll come up with their next release. PERFECT LITTLE LIVES is perfect for those who enjoyed May Cobb's A Likeable Woman.
February 4, 2024
I love the author duo that is Amber and Danielle Brown and just when I was starting to wonder how much I was actually going to like Perfect Little Lives, they threw me for a loop, and I was sold. I thought I had this entire plot figured out and then it turned out I was dead wrong. I think it did move a little slowly, but I was still invested enough in the story to keep going, and I loved the way the authors kept me guessing. Simone was a very strong and motivated FMC, and I was happy to follow along on her journey to figure out who *actually* killed her mother. There are a handful of spicy scenes, but in general, they fit with the storyline, and I would just keep in mind that there is some sexy time mixed in with this thriller.
I think the best way to read this book is through the audio, and despite it being slower for the majority of the time, Sandra Okuboyejo & Allyson Ryan knew how to me going. The way they narrated the story drew me in and kept me listening, and I thought they were both just right for the book itself and their characters. I listened to the majority of this between a 2.3-3x speed, and it goes by so fast that way. Through Perfect Little Lives the authors also cover some very significant topics such as race and class, which was done in a way I have come to love and appreciate from them. The end was surprising, and let's face it, this has a gorgeous cover! I am already excited to see what this duo will do next, and this was a great, timely read for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I think the best way to read this book is through the audio, and despite it being slower for the majority of the time, Sandra Okuboyejo & Allyson Ryan knew how to me going. The way they narrated the story drew me in and kept me listening, and I thought they were both just right for the book itself and their characters. I listened to the majority of this between a 2.3-3x speed, and it goes by so fast that way. Through Perfect Little Lives the authors also cover some very significant topics such as race and class, which was done in a way I have come to love and appreciate from them. The end was surprising, and let's face it, this has a gorgeous cover! I am already excited to see what this duo will do next, and this was a great, timely read for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 24, 2024
3.5/5 stars 🌟 *rounded up to 4
2/5 ❤️🩹
2/5 🥰
1/5 🌶️
5/5 🔎
3/5 😰A
4/5 🎭T
⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️
Death
Murder
Sexual Content
Death of a Parent
Violence
Mention of Abortion
Racism
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️
ON ASHER LANE, SOME SECRETS ARE WORTH KILLING FOR…
Simone’s mother was murdered when she was thirteen. When her father was convicted, everything changed. Overnight, Simone went from living in a wealthy white neighborhood to scraping by.
Ten years later, Simone has given up on her dreams and lives a quiet life, writing book reviews and getting serious with her boyfriend. But with a true crime documentarian hounding her for a scoop and a surprise encounter with her childhood next-door neighbor, Hunter, the past seems set on haunting her. And after Hunter reveals that his father and her mother had a years-long affair, Simone is determined to find out who really killed her mother.
Simone is convinced that all evidence points to Hunter’s father, a renowned judge who had everything to lose if his affair—and his nascent love child—came to light. Playing the game from all sides, Simone enlists Hunter’s help in her investigation into his family—whether he realizes it or not. But is she so desperate for closure that she'll risk imploding her carefully rebuilt life?
🌎📖OVERALL REVIEWS📖🌎
Courtesy of Storygraph
COMMUNITY REVIEWS
SUMMARY OF 109 REVIEWS
Moods
tense 72%
mysterious 70%
dark 52%
emotional 52%
sad 25%
challenging 11%
adventurous 6%
reflective 4%
hopeful 2%
Pace
medium 55%
slow 26%
fast 17%
Plot- or character-driven?
A mix: 43% | Plot: 33% | Character: 20% | N/A: 2%
Strong character development?
Yes: 44% | No: 31% | It's complicated: 23%
Loveable characters?
It's complicated: 44% | No: 42% | Yes: 10% | N/A: 2%
Diverse cast of characters?
Yes: 91% | No: 8%
Flaws of characters a main focus?
Yes: 55% | It's complicated: 20% | No: 20% | N/A: 5%
Average rating
3.21
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
I’m going to be as fair as I possibly can. I have no idea what black people have to go through when dealing with police, and white people in general. So, won’t pretend to know. I know racism is a HUGE problem that still exists. It makes me nauseous to see people wrongfully accused because of the color of their skin. There were a few backhanded statements made in this book that did not sit well with me.
As for the story itself, I loved it! I think this was well written and entertaining. I feel this was a slow/steady paced read that dabbled a bit in the romance area of a thriller/mystery. I think the best way to describe this book, is that it was written and read(by me) to feel like a true story. Like this could’ve actually happened. It was that life like quality that made the book interesting to me. I get why some reviewers felt like the book was all over the place and in some ways it was. But that’s what I mean by making the story feel real, more life like.
That being said, I don’t think this was some epic thriller that leaves your jaw on the floor or make your stomach drop or anything you expect when reading a thriller.
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared/Anxious - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy/Tragedy based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
2/5 ❤️🩹
2/5 🥰
1/5 🌶️
5/5 🔎
3/5 😰A
4/5 🎭T
⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️
Death
Murder
Sexual Content
Death of a Parent
Violence
Mention of Abortion
Racism
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️
ON ASHER LANE, SOME SECRETS ARE WORTH KILLING FOR…
Simone’s mother was murdered when she was thirteen. When her father was convicted, everything changed. Overnight, Simone went from living in a wealthy white neighborhood to scraping by.
Ten years later, Simone has given up on her dreams and lives a quiet life, writing book reviews and getting serious with her boyfriend. But with a true crime documentarian hounding her for a scoop and a surprise encounter with her childhood next-door neighbor, Hunter, the past seems set on haunting her. And after Hunter reveals that his father and her mother had a years-long affair, Simone is determined to find out who really killed her mother.
Simone is convinced that all evidence points to Hunter’s father, a renowned judge who had everything to lose if his affair—and his nascent love child—came to light. Playing the game from all sides, Simone enlists Hunter’s help in her investigation into his family—whether he realizes it or not. But is she so desperate for closure that she'll risk imploding her carefully rebuilt life?
🌎📖OVERALL REVIEWS📖🌎
Courtesy of Storygraph
COMMUNITY REVIEWS
SUMMARY OF 109 REVIEWS
Moods
tense 72%
mysterious 70%
dark 52%
emotional 52%
sad 25%
challenging 11%
adventurous 6%
reflective 4%
hopeful 2%
Pace
medium 55%
slow 26%
fast 17%
Plot- or character-driven?
A mix: 43% | Plot: 33% | Character: 20% | N/A: 2%
Strong character development?
Yes: 44% | No: 31% | It's complicated: 23%
Loveable characters?
It's complicated: 44% | No: 42% | Yes: 10% | N/A: 2%
Diverse cast of characters?
Yes: 91% | No: 8%
Flaws of characters a main focus?
Yes: 55% | It's complicated: 20% | No: 20% | N/A: 5%
Average rating
3.21
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
I’m going to be as fair as I possibly can. I have no idea what black people have to go through when dealing with police, and white people in general. So, won’t pretend to know. I know racism is a HUGE problem that still exists. It makes me nauseous to see people wrongfully accused because of the color of their skin. There were a few backhanded statements made in this book that did not sit well with me.
As for the story itself, I loved it! I think this was well written and entertaining. I feel this was a slow/steady paced read that dabbled a bit in the romance area of a thriller/mystery. I think the best way to describe this book, is that it was written and read(by me) to feel like a true story. Like this could’ve actually happened. It was that life like quality that made the book interesting to me. I get why some reviewers felt like the book was all over the place and in some ways it was. But that’s what I mean by making the story feel real, more life like.
That being said, I don’t think this was some epic thriller that leaves your jaw on the floor or make your stomach drop or anything you expect when reading a thriller.
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared/Anxious - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy/Tragedy based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
December 18, 2023
I’ve never read a book with more outright prejudice. The main character’s extreme bias made this a difficult-to-endure read.
December 18, 2023
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Marketed as a "A dark and riveting page-turner with an intelligent twist.", Perfect Little Lives sounded like the perfect read. As I am often on the lookout for a gripping thriller, I couldn't wait to dive into this latest offering from sisters Amber and Danielle Brown. Perfect Little Lives delivered a mash-up of thriller, suspense and romance.
Perfect Little Lives, introduces the reader to Simone, a book reviewer, who has dreams of becoming an author. She lives with her boyfriend Reggie, an attorney. She appears to have her life in order. However, with all her focus being on proving her father's innocence, her life is slowly spiralling out of control. The murder of her mother resulted in her father being charged and found guilty. Simone, however, believes someone else is responsible. Despite the lack of evidence to back up her theory, she remains resolute in her quest to uncover the truth. Then the unexpected occurred. Her childhood friend, Hunter, came back into her life, and with his return came some interesting information about her mother and his father. Information, which had her zeroing on Hunter's dad as the main suspect in mother's murder.
The story failed to deliver on its promise of a dark and riveting page turner. The premise was great, but the execution was flat. The plot was all over the place. It was as if the authors could not make up their mind whether this should be a thriller or a story about Simone's love life. The thriller aspect of the story provided average entertainment, however, the story would have been better off without the inclusion of the poorly executed love triangle.
While I shared empathy for Simone's mission to demonstrate her father's innocence, I was not a fan of her personality. If naive, clueless, judgemental and manipulative were a person, then Simone would definitely be that person. Also, lies were second nature for her. She was not above manipulating persons to get what she wants. Funny enough, she didn't even recognize the truth while it was staring her in the face. It was this truth that took away from the thrills. Figuring out who murdered her mother, which occurred in the first twenty-five percent of the story, was a no-brainer. My desire to learn if Simone will figure it out was what kept me reading.
The story was filled with several inconsistencies and gaps which spoiled the flow of the story. Also, the ending was anti-climatic. The story ends without readers made aware if the killer gets their just dessert.
Overall, Perfect Little Lives had the potential for an exciting read. Unfortunately, it failed to deliver the expected thrills and page-turning experience.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
Marketed as a "A dark and riveting page-turner with an intelligent twist.", Perfect Little Lives sounded like the perfect read. As I am often on the lookout for a gripping thriller, I couldn't wait to dive into this latest offering from sisters Amber and Danielle Brown. Perfect Little Lives delivered a mash-up of thriller, suspense and romance.
Perfect Little Lives, introduces the reader to Simone, a book reviewer, who has dreams of becoming an author. She lives with her boyfriend Reggie, an attorney. She appears to have her life in order. However, with all her focus being on proving her father's innocence, her life is slowly spiralling out of control. The murder of her mother resulted in her father being charged and found guilty. Simone, however, believes someone else is responsible. Despite the lack of evidence to back up her theory, she remains resolute in her quest to uncover the truth. Then the unexpected occurred. Her childhood friend, Hunter, came back into her life, and with his return came some interesting information about her mother and his father. Information, which had her zeroing on Hunter's dad as the main suspect in mother's murder.
The story failed to deliver on its promise of a dark and riveting page turner. The premise was great, but the execution was flat. The plot was all over the place. It was as if the authors could not make up their mind whether this should be a thriller or a story about Simone's love life. The thriller aspect of the story provided average entertainment, however, the story would have been better off without the inclusion of the poorly executed love triangle.
While I shared empathy for Simone's mission to demonstrate her father's innocence, I was not a fan of her personality. If naive, clueless, judgemental and manipulative were a person, then Simone would definitely be that person. Also, lies were second nature for her. She was not above manipulating persons to get what she wants. Funny enough, she didn't even recognize the truth while it was staring her in the face. It was this truth that took away from the thrills. Figuring out who murdered her mother, which occurred in the first twenty-five percent of the story, was a no-brainer. My desire to learn if Simone will figure it out was what kept me reading.
The story was filled with several inconsistencies and gaps which spoiled the flow of the story. Also, the ending was anti-climatic. The story ends without readers made aware if the killer gets their just dessert.
Overall, Perfect Little Lives had the potential for an exciting read. Unfortunately, it failed to deliver the expected thrills and page-turning experience.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
November 2, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my copy of Perfect Little Lives!
This was not what I expected it to be. When I first read the plot, I was sold because I love these types of things. The wrong person is in prison and his daughter will do anything to exonerate him. Amazing plot. But this one fell through for me. It can't decide if it wants to be a dark romance or a domestic thriller. There's too many unnecessary $3x scenes, the love triangle is just cringe and some of the sentence construction was making my head hurt. English is not my first language so that probably is the culprit but I don't know. Some of the sentences are too long.
Simone is also very unlikeable. Her dad is wrongly judged and that's what she did with every single person she encountered. Her claims is basically things she thought of with no concrete evidence like it happened with her dad. She's such a hypocrite and just not nice. Also, that age gap when she's 9 and Hunter is 15. I don't know if I'm just sensitive or what but it kind of bothered me. There's definitely some undertones of liking each other. Might just be me.
I definitely did not enjoy this one and it kind of made me sad because it seemed really promising. Oh, well. Definitely not for me.
This was not what I expected it to be. When I first read the plot, I was sold because I love these types of things. The wrong person is in prison and his daughter will do anything to exonerate him. Amazing plot. But this one fell through for me. It can't decide if it wants to be a dark romance or a domestic thriller. There's too many unnecessary $3x scenes, the love triangle is just cringe and some of the sentence construction was making my head hurt. English is not my first language so that probably is the culprit but I don't know. Some of the sentences are too long.
Simone is also very unlikeable. Her dad is wrongly judged and that's what she did with every single person she encountered. Her claims is basically things she thought of with no concrete evidence like it happened with her dad. She's such a hypocrite and just not nice. Also, that age gap when she's 9 and Hunter is 15. I don't know if I'm just sensitive or what but it kind of bothered me. There's definitely some undertones of liking each other. Might just be me.
I definitely did not enjoy this one and it kind of made me sad because it seemed really promising. Oh, well. Definitely not for me.
January 4, 2024
What kind of crap is this!??? Do not waste your time. You’re welcome!
August 7, 2023
"Perfect Little Lives" is an absolutely stunning and captivating read, showcasing a fantastic narrative voice that skillfully weaves an enthralling story. The book's ability to maintain a high level of tension, even when the main question is answered relatively early on, speaks volumes about its brilliant storytelling.
The characters in the novel are deeply human, flawed, and capable of significant mistakes that inflict harm upon each other. However, they are also bound together by an intense loyalty and an unwavering pursuit of justice that stems from familial devotion. The cast is compellingly portrayed, making the reader emotionally invested in their journey.
While the book's strength lies in its character-driven narrative, it can also be its drawback. The apparent revelation of the culprit before the first act concludes might frustrate some readers. Yet, this decision could be seen as a reflection of social commentary and commentary on societal assumptions, rather than a pacing or plotting error. Despite this, the novel remains a compelling and thought-provoking read.
The story delves into social commentary with a somewhat heavy-handed reveal of workplace conflict. Although there is an attempt to introduce another supposed reveal, it might not hold the impact the author intended due to its predictability. Nevertheless, the skillful plotting that treats something expected as a twist, rather than resorting to incoherent surprises, is commendable and showcases the author's respect for the readers.
"Perfect Little Lives" is undeniably compulsively readable, fueled by righteous fury that simmers beneath the surface. This gripping novel should not be missed, as it leaves a lasting impact on the reader's mind and heart.#PerfectLittleLives #NetGalley
The characters in the novel are deeply human, flawed, and capable of significant mistakes that inflict harm upon each other. However, they are also bound together by an intense loyalty and an unwavering pursuit of justice that stems from familial devotion. The cast is compellingly portrayed, making the reader emotionally invested in their journey.
While the book's strength lies in its character-driven narrative, it can also be its drawback. The apparent revelation of the culprit before the first act concludes might frustrate some readers. Yet, this decision could be seen as a reflection of social commentary and commentary on societal assumptions, rather than a pacing or plotting error. Despite this, the novel remains a compelling and thought-provoking read.
The story delves into social commentary with a somewhat heavy-handed reveal of workplace conflict. Although there is an attempt to introduce another supposed reveal, it might not hold the impact the author intended due to its predictability. Nevertheless, the skillful plotting that treats something expected as a twist, rather than resorting to incoherent surprises, is commendable and showcases the author's respect for the readers.
"Perfect Little Lives" is undeniably compulsively readable, fueled by righteous fury that simmers beneath the surface. This gripping novel should not be missed, as it leaves a lasting impact on the reader's mind and heart.#PerfectLittleLives #NetGalley
June 4, 2023
Perfect little lives are perfect until there’s a murder in the exclusive cul de sac of Asher Place. The police determine that the murder was a crime of passion. An old story, a husband discovers his wife’s infidelity and kills her in a rage. The husband is convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. The couple’s teenage daughter, Simone, now effectively orphaned, is convinced that her father is innocent.
Simone believes that the cops to the easy way out. It’s usually the husband in these cases. A conviction also got rid of an unwanted black family in lily-white Asher Place. Simone has fought a losing battle for her father’s release for thirteen years. The effort drained the family’s bank accounts and most of her earnings.
If her father is not the murderer, who is? Simone discovers that her mother had carried on a long affair with Scott Bishop, a neighbor. Further, her mother was three months pregnant when she was murdered. Did Bishop kill her because she wouldn’t get rid of the child? The pregnancy provides a plausible motive for Bishop, but also one for her father.
We’re treated to multiple suspects, possible malfeasance by the police, even a diary that might hold the key to the murder. Each theory crumbles when Simone follows it. A true-crime documentary about the murder portraying Simone’s father as the enraged murder is nearly complete. In its current form, the film will confirm for the public that the cops got the right man.
In Simone, the Browns have given us a modern woman. She is completely comfortable in her own skin both as a woman and as a black woman. She fearlessly confronts the suspects although she has no weapon or martial arts training. She accepts her sexuality with the same clear-eyed view. She is both a vulnerable person and a fanatic crusader. Wow!
Simone believes that the cops to the easy way out. It’s usually the husband in these cases. A conviction also got rid of an unwanted black family in lily-white Asher Place. Simone has fought a losing battle for her father’s release for thirteen years. The effort drained the family’s bank accounts and most of her earnings.
If her father is not the murderer, who is? Simone discovers that her mother had carried on a long affair with Scott Bishop, a neighbor. Further, her mother was three months pregnant when she was murdered. Did Bishop kill her because she wouldn’t get rid of the child? The pregnancy provides a plausible motive for Bishop, but also one for her father.
We’re treated to multiple suspects, possible malfeasance by the police, even a diary that might hold the key to the murder. Each theory crumbles when Simone follows it. A true-crime documentary about the murder portraying Simone’s father as the enraged murder is nearly complete. In its current form, the film will confirm for the public that the cops got the right man.
In Simone, the Browns have given us a modern woman. She is completely comfortable in her own skin both as a woman and as a black woman. She fearlessly confronts the suspects although she has no weapon or martial arts training. She accepts her sexuality with the same clear-eyed view. She is both a vulnerable person and a fanatic crusader. Wow!
Read
April 30, 2024DNF
October 25, 2023
This book is written by two authors, and it was sadly one where the writing style felt like there were two authors. I really just struggled with the writing in general. It was an odd combination of sentences raning from very long, to very short. I counted one sentence that took up three lines with my size 1 font kindle, and it was over 50 words, with one comma. That’s just too long. Then there was the odd mash up of genres. I love books that cross genres, especially romantic thrillers, but this one didn’t work for me the way I wanted it to and I never could put a finger on what genres were trying to be portrayed. I also struggled with the characters. Simone is the main character and while I don’t mind unlikeable characters, I do struggle with naïve characters and Simone is very naïve. While she did experience some growth over the course of the book, her character was pretty unredeemable.
I think that with some editing this book would have read a lot better and been easier to handle. I do think that this book is also mis labeled genre wise and hope the publisher can fix that. Labeling this as a dark romance would help reach the target audience better.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I think that with some editing this book would have read a lot better and been easier to handle. I do think that this book is also mis labeled genre wise and hope the publisher can fix that. Labeling this as a dark romance would help reach the target audience better.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2025
I don’t know if I was reading a romantic mystery or a murder mystery. (Would not classify this as a thriller.)
Regardless, I am not a big fan of romance in my thriller/mystery books; however, if done right and subtly then I’m good with it. I also like the dark, graphic, gruesome books, so take that with a grain of salt.
This was entertaining and I was intrigued with the whodunnit while at the same time I wasn’t surprised with whodunnit because it was predictable. Of course, I’m saying this as someone who only reads thrillers and have been religiously for the last five years.
Again, take that with a grain of salt.
There is lots of potential with these sister writers and I’m hoping the next one I read from this I feel differently. I previously read their debut and I do think their writing has greatly improved since then, so I’d like to read another one of theirs before determining whether or not their books are for me or not.
If you’re new to the genre, pick up this one.
Regardless, I am not a big fan of romance in my thriller/mystery books; however, if done right and subtly then I’m good with it. I also like the dark, graphic, gruesome books, so take that with a grain of salt.
This was entertaining and I was intrigued with the whodunnit while at the same time I wasn’t surprised with whodunnit because it was predictable. Of course, I’m saying this as someone who only reads thrillers and have been religiously for the last five years.
Again, take that with a grain of salt.
There is lots of potential with these sister writers and I’m hoping the next one I read from this I feel differently. I previously read their debut and I do think their writing has greatly improved since then, so I’d like to read another one of theirs before determining whether or not their books are for me or not.
If you’re new to the genre, pick up this one.
January 20, 2024
This one is a slow burn that at first I thought was a romance where Simone had a past and it affected her current relationship. Then it evolved to her wanting to find her mother’s killer and get her dad out of prison as he was the one convicted. It takes us a while from here to get to the resolution, I was vested though and wanted to see how it would end. I really liked the ending and overall enjoyed this one.
Thank you to Grayson House for the digital copy to review.
Thank you to Grayson House for the digital copy to review.
October 3, 2023
I appreciate the story Perfect Little Lives was trying to tell regarding how Black men are treated by the criminal justice system and how the authorities pull out all stops when a white woman goes missing or is murdered. However, the book was poorly executed. I guessed all of the main twists straight away. Part of the problem is that there weren't enough suspects. By going all in on suspecting Scott, it made the killer very obvious. It also took a while to get into the main plot. The book spends the first few chapters detailing the relationship dynamic between Simone and Reggie and their sex life and then recaps the same details over and over to the point where I thought I was reading the wrong book because it seemed like a contemporary romance instead of a mystery/thriller. The book was also significantly longer than it needed to be, which made it difficult to read. The exposition was bulky and repetitive and could have been trimmed.
Simone irritated me and not in the "unlikeable female character" that you can still root for and be invested in a kind of way. She was so judgmental of every single other woman in the book that it came off as misogynistic. For instance, there is a long list of valid judgments she could have made against Kate like racism and snobbery, but to fixate on how Kate, who had no medical background whatsoever, didn't take care of her husband's mother felt gross. Women are already expected to perform too much unpaid labor. It's not a woman's job to play nurse to her husband's family. For as wealthy as they are, they easily could've hired someone. Simone also didn't have any significant emotional reaction to finding out that her mom had a long-standing affair, which seemed weird.
I also found it difficult to be invested in Simone and Hunter. While a few years' age gap as adults is insignificant, knowing how close they were when she was 8 and he was 13 was gross and made Hunter seem predatory. Also, the way Hunter treated her later on in the story was over the top cruel.
There were also small details that didn't make sense. For instance, Simone talks about not having enough money for an attorney, and yet she's been paying rent for her dad's apartment all this time. Given that people were calling for the death penalty, I'm assuming he was given a life sentence. I understand that she fully believes he's innocent and will be exonerated, but it made no sense that she was paying rent this long instead of using that money to hire a lawyer. Worry about housing when he gets out. I know this is a small detail, but this is just one example.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for giving me a copy. All thoughts are my own.
Simone irritated me and not in the "unlikeable female character" that you can still root for and be invested in a kind of way. She was so judgmental of every single other woman in the book that it came off as misogynistic. For instance, there is a long list of valid judgments she could have made against Kate like racism and snobbery, but to fixate on how Kate, who had no medical background whatsoever, didn't take care of her husband's mother felt gross. Women are already expected to perform too much unpaid labor. It's not a woman's job to play nurse to her husband's family. For as wealthy as they are, they easily could've hired someone. Simone also didn't have any significant emotional reaction to finding out that her mom had a long-standing affair, which seemed weird.
I also found it difficult to be invested in Simone and Hunter. While a few years' age gap as adults is insignificant, knowing how close they were when she was 8 and he was 13 was gross and made Hunter seem predatory. Also, the way Hunter treated her later on in the story was over the top cruel.
There were also small details that didn't make sense. For instance, Simone talks about not having enough money for an attorney, and yet she's been paying rent for her dad's apartment all this time. Given that people were calling for the death penalty, I'm assuming he was given a life sentence. I understand that she fully believes he's innocent and will be exonerated, but it made no sense that she was paying rent this long instead of using that money to hire a lawyer. Worry about housing when he gets out. I know this is a small detail, but this is just one example.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for giving me a copy. All thoughts are my own.
October 13, 2023
….what did I just read? I wanted to like this one SO BADLY. I really did. But the writing and dialogue felt so unnatural, it kept taking me out of the story. Sure, some of the details may have been “important,” but things were presented in a way that just felt off and matter-of-fact versus how someone would actually phrase their thought in the real world.
This novel is also super unsure as to what it’s main plot is. Is it about our main character’s love life? Is it a murder mystery? Procedural? Where exactly is my energy supposed to be focused? I feel like this was two separate novels in two separate genres that were slammed together and edited in a way that doesn’t do either of them justice. It isn’t a particularly good romance/love triangle story, nor is it a particularly good thriller.
I’m not one to believe that a main character has to be like able to be well written and good, but Simone is just too much, even for a 23 year old. She’s naïve and clueless to a fault in a way that isn’t believable and made it extremely difficult for me to be invested in her and the plot.
Honestly, I can’t recommend this one. I almost gave up about 10% of the way through but stuck it out, and I don’t think the payoff was worth it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review!
This novel is also super unsure as to what it’s main plot is. Is it about our main character’s love life? Is it a murder mystery? Procedural? Where exactly is my energy supposed to be focused? I feel like this was two separate novels in two separate genres that were slammed together and edited in a way that doesn’t do either of them justice. It isn’t a particularly good romance/love triangle story, nor is it a particularly good thriller.
I’m not one to believe that a main character has to be like able to be well written and good, but Simone is just too much, even for a 23 year old. She’s naïve and clueless to a fault in a way that isn’t believable and made it extremely difficult for me to be invested in her and the plot.
Honestly, I can’t recommend this one. I almost gave up about 10% of the way through but stuck it out, and I don’t think the payoff was worth it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review!
August 17, 2023
Having recently read and loved Amber & Danielle Brown's debut, I knew I needed to get my hands on their sophomore novel! Perfect Little Lives has more of a serious tone than the soapy gossip girl-esque Someone Had to Do It - dealing with Simone, who is trying to get her father out of jail where he has been for a decade on allegations of murdering her mother - something Simone never believed.
Told with diary entries from the past and a present day perspective from Simone, this book discusses important topics with an interesting conclusion in a fast and enjoyable format - another winner from this duo!
Thank you to Harlequin for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Told with diary entries from the past and a present day perspective from Simone, this book discusses important topics with an interesting conclusion in a fast and enjoyable format - another winner from this duo!
Thank you to Harlequin for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
July 27, 2023
Perfect Little Lives by Amber and Danielle Brown
Publisher Harlequin Trading
Release Date December 05, 2023
I honestly could not finish this one. There was honestly way too many details that were very unnecessary and the story dragged on for awhile. There were quite a lot of inconsistencies as well. I could not finish after about 40%. The character of Simone was almost too naive and just had no clue. She felt as though she knew who the killer was and no matter what she was going to believe it.
2 stars
Thank you you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.
Publisher Harlequin Trading
Release Date December 05, 2023
I honestly could not finish this one. There was honestly way too many details that were very unnecessary and the story dragged on for awhile. There were quite a lot of inconsistencies as well. I could not finish after about 40%. The character of Simone was almost too naive and just had no clue. She felt as though she knew who the killer was and no matter what she was going to believe it.
2 stars
Thank you you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.
dnf
January 16, 2024Listened to literally a minute on audio. Starts off with a girl ripping a hair out of her nipple, and glancing at reviews, it doesn't seem to get any better from there.
March 3, 2024
“ Simone’s mother was murdered when she was thirteen. When her father was convicted, everything changed. Overnight, Simone went from living in a wealthy white neighborhood to scraping by.
Ten years later, Simone has given up on her dreams and lives a quiet life, writing book reviews and getting serious with her boyfriend. But with a true crime documentarian hounding her for a scoop and a surprise encounter with her childhood next-door neighbor, Hunter, the past seems set on haunting her. And after Hunter reveals that his father and her mother had a years-long affair, Simone is determined to find out who really killed her mother.”
If you like murder and mayhem you need to read this book. Twists and turns!
A great book, fast paced. Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this ARC!
Ten years later, Simone has given up on her dreams and lives a quiet life, writing book reviews and getting serious with her boyfriend. But with a true crime documentarian hounding her for a scoop and a surprise encounter with her childhood next-door neighbor, Hunter, the past seems set on haunting her. And after Hunter reveals that his father and her mother had a years-long affair, Simone is determined to find out who really killed her mother.”
If you like murder and mayhem you need to read this book. Twists and turns!
A great book, fast paced. Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this ARC!
December 31, 2023
⚖️📚⚖️
📖Review
3🌟🌟🌟
📖Book 97/100
📚Same Perfect Little Lives
💫Genre: Thriller???
✍️Authors: Amber & Danielle Brown
📝Synopsis 📝
Simone was an odd duck (to refrain from going into detail) living in Asher Lane. Her mom has a not so secret affair and ends up murdered. Her innocent dad sadly gets the blame for it, and she makes it her mission to get him out.
My thoughts 💭
This book opened up very oddly with Simone plucking out her (.)(.) hair, and her inner dialogue about her sexlife. This had me thinking 🤔💭 okay is this is a dark romance book, but I was wrong. It was a murder mystery/thriller but all over the place and very predictable. I did enjoy the legality of it all, and I also loved how she was so headstrong about getting her dad out of prison. I just think it would have been an easier read if they (authors) stuck to one theme.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Company for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
✨✨✨
#bookstagrammer
#bookreview #booktok #bookrecommendation #fictionbooks #thrillerbooks #netgalleyreviewer #netgalleyreviews #romancebooks #bookstagram #bookreviews #netgalley #bookworms #bibliophile
📖Review
3🌟🌟🌟
📖Book 97/100
📚Same Perfect Little Lives
💫Genre: Thriller???
✍️Authors: Amber & Danielle Brown
📝Synopsis 📝
Simone was an odd duck (to refrain from going into detail) living in Asher Lane. Her mom has a not so secret affair and ends up murdered. Her innocent dad sadly gets the blame for it, and she makes it her mission to get him out.
My thoughts 💭
This book opened up very oddly with Simone plucking out her (.)(.) hair, and her inner dialogue about her sexlife. This had me thinking 🤔💭 okay is this is a dark romance book, but I was wrong. It was a murder mystery/thriller but all over the place and very predictable. I did enjoy the legality of it all, and I also loved how she was so headstrong about getting her dad out of prison. I just think it would have been an easier read if they (authors) stuck to one theme.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Company for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
✨✨✨
#bookstagrammer
#bookreview #booktok #bookrecommendation #fictionbooks #thrillerbooks #netgalleyreviewer #netgalleyreviews #romancebooks #bookstagram #bookreviews #netgalley #bookworms #bibliophile
July 5, 2024
Writing is not very good,similar to something written by a teen on wattpad. Features lots of “modern” words diluting the idea that this could be called literature. Story line progression is fine.
August 28, 2023
ON ASHER LANE, SOME SECRETS ARE WORTH KILLING FOR…
Cue the shock factor...
Perfect Little Lives, will keep your head spinning and your spine tingling.
I read and LOVED "Someone Had To Do It" last year and loved it. Having two authors within one book you get the best of two minds that bring so much more to the table. Amber and Danielle Brown both have the ability to weave a story together that will keep you on your toes the entire time. There is so much detail within this book that everything felt so incredibly real.
Following along with Simone as she tries to uncover the truth of the fateful night her mother was murdered pulled me in so many emotional directions. I felt for Simone, I LOVED Simone, and I was rooting for her the entire time.
This story is so much bigger than the binding that holds it. I can't even begin to tell you how much I loved this book.
This is a must read for all and I am beyond honored to have read and reviewed Perfect Little Lives, prior to the big release on December 5, 2023! Big Thank You to HTP, Netgalley, and Amber and Danielle Brown!!
Before I spoil it for anyone, check out this teaser!
Simone’s mother was murdered when she was thirteen. When her father was convicted, everything changed. Overnight, Simone went from living in a wealthy white neighborhood to scraping by.
Ten years later, Simone has given up on her dreams and lives a quiet life, writing book reviews and getting serious with her boyfriend. But with a true crime documentarian hounding her for a scoop and a surprise encounter with her childhood next-door neighbor, Hunter, the past seems set on haunting her. And after Hunter reveals that his father and her mother had a years-long affair, Simone is determined to find out who really killed her mother.
Simone is convinced that all evidence points to Hunter’s father, a renowned judge who had everything to lose if his affair—and his nascent love child—came to light. Playing the game from all sides, Simone enlists Hunter’s help in her investigation into his family—whether he realizes it or not. But is she so desperate for closure that she'll risk imploding her carefully rebuilt life?
Cue the shock factor...
Perfect Little Lives, will keep your head spinning and your spine tingling.
I read and LOVED "Someone Had To Do It" last year and loved it. Having two authors within one book you get the best of two minds that bring so much more to the table. Amber and Danielle Brown both have the ability to weave a story together that will keep you on your toes the entire time. There is so much detail within this book that everything felt so incredibly real.
Following along with Simone as she tries to uncover the truth of the fateful night her mother was murdered pulled me in so many emotional directions. I felt for Simone, I LOVED Simone, and I was rooting for her the entire time.
This story is so much bigger than the binding that holds it. I can't even begin to tell you how much I loved this book.
This is a must read for all and I am beyond honored to have read and reviewed Perfect Little Lives, prior to the big release on December 5, 2023! Big Thank You to HTP, Netgalley, and Amber and Danielle Brown!!
Before I spoil it for anyone, check out this teaser!
Simone’s mother was murdered when she was thirteen. When her father was convicted, everything changed. Overnight, Simone went from living in a wealthy white neighborhood to scraping by.
Ten years later, Simone has given up on her dreams and lives a quiet life, writing book reviews and getting serious with her boyfriend. But with a true crime documentarian hounding her for a scoop and a surprise encounter with her childhood next-door neighbor, Hunter, the past seems set on haunting her. And after Hunter reveals that his father and her mother had a years-long affair, Simone is determined to find out who really killed her mother.
Simone is convinced that all evidence points to Hunter’s father, a renowned judge who had everything to lose if his affair—and his nascent love child—came to light. Playing the game from all sides, Simone enlists Hunter’s help in her investigation into his family—whether he realizes it or not. But is she so desperate for closure that she'll risk imploding her carefully rebuilt life?
August 27, 2023
At thirteen, Simone's entire world was upended when her mother was murdered and her father convicted. Ten years later, she barely scraps by, writing book reviews and working a passionless job. Simone fights to evade the questions of a documentarian who hounds her for the inside scoop. A chance encounter with Hunter, her childhood neighbor, rushes the past to the forefront, and the secrets of Asher Lane haunt her. When Hunter explains that his dad and Simone's mother had a years-long affair, she is determined to find the truth behind her mother's murder, even if she has to play Hunter to get it. As Simone uncovers more evidence, she is convinced that Hunter's father is to blame. The prominent judge would have a lot to lose if the truth behind his illicit affair and secret love child came to light. Playing the game from all sides, Simone uses Hunter to find the truth, whether he knows it or not. Can Simone make sense of her mother's murder, or will her investigation implode and leave her father in jail forever?
Review:
Let's start with the positives.
The mystery elements are highly intriguing. As we follow Simone and her investigation, we are in the trenches with her. We feel her loss closely and intimately. Due to the writers' abilities, we are tossed into the plot alongside her. Simone is relatable and exciting. Like Brandi from Someone Had to Do It, Simone is written with such tenacity and finesse that we feel all her emotions and rage. From her disappointment with the police investigation to her fury centered around the treatment of black people, Amber and Danielle Brown craft a nuanced character with whom we become intimately familiar.
One of the most popular tropes in current mystery and thriller books is the addition of a podcast element. As a play off the trope, Amber and Danielle Brown, instead, use the documentarian, Pia, as an objective viewer of the case. Simone is, rightfully so, close to the subject and, therefore, cannot offer an unbiased opinion. While she is sympathetic, and we root for her, we often wonder how much of what she is saying is reliable. Therefore, the Brown sisters include Pia as a buffer, almost a sounding board for Simone's theories. I enjoyed this addition and believe it added a fun twist and the traditional podcast element.
Much like Someone Had to Do It, Perfect Little Lives is a heavy mystery with insightful commentary. In their previous novel, the Brown sisters discuss the male gaze and the treatment of black people at the hands of the cops. Similarly, in their new release, they focus heavily on the role that racism and unconscious bias play within the confines of a police investigation. In one scene, Hunter explains to his mother that the word "black" is preferable to "African-American." As a teacher, I much appreciated this brief commentary. While I teach in a predominantly white school, we have black students. I have told other teachers and students not to use the term "African-American" as it is an inaccurate and incomplete description. In response to similar conversations, Simone questions, "At what point does ignorance stop being a viable excuse?" and I find her sentiment glaringly poignant. As black people, I am sure the Brown sisters have heard countless excuses for racist terms and ideas, mainly unconscious bias. However, it is 2023. There is absolutely no excuse for racism and racist behaviors, whether out of perceived "ignorance" or unfounded beliefs. Many articles, blogs, and videos discuss unconscious bias and how to address and change these ideas properly. Amid George Floyd's murder, Emmanuel Acho released "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man," a series of YouTube videos discussing micro and macro aggressions against black people. I believe the Brown sisters are doing the same. They argue that "there is no one to protect black women, especially in a county where the black men are being mass incarcerated and murdered in plain sight by the people designated to serve and protect." As LBJ said, "You do not take a person who, for years, has been hobbled by chains and liberate him, bring him up to the starting line of a race and then say, "you are free to compete with all the others," and still justly believe that you have been completely fair." It is this same sentiment that the Brown sisters are arguing. It is inarguable that the justice system does not treat black and white people fairly. While they write an incredibly taut mystery, the goal is to relay the inadequacies of the justice system and the harm that unconscious racism can have. I highly recommend watching Acho's series and adequately adjusting your beliefs and actions to address these ideas.
Now, let's move on to my complaints about the novel, of which there are only a few.
As in their previous book, the Brown sisters include many smut and sex scenes. While I have no problem reading sex scenes, I have a problem when they don't contribute to the novel. How many times can I read about Simone looking for an imprint in sweatpants? They didn't seem to serve a purpose, and that's my problem with them. It's a minor complaint, but the scenes are frequent and without purpose.
Secondly, I called the murderer from early on in the novel. While my sleuthing skills did not ruin the book, I like to be kept on my toes and shocked by the final twist. I don't necessarily believe that the Brown sisters' goal was to shock the reader as much as to use the mystery as a conduit for commentary on racism. I'm not mad that I called the plot because I still enjoyed reading the novel.
Lastly, and this is my biggest and most significant complaint. Right at the novel's end, there is a three-month time jump. If you have been following along with my reviews for any time, you know this is a massive issue for me. Time jumps feel lazy and inadequate after spending time with the characters. In the novel, we discover who murdered Simone's mom, and then there is a time jump. We don't know the outcome of the investigation or if the police even catch the murderer. Not only does it feel lazy, but it does not provide the sense of closure that we have been wanting and Simone has been needing.
Overall, I enjoyed my time reading and loved the commentary within the novel. Like Someone Had to Do It, I was anticipating another five-star read. However, the time jump changed my opinion. The Brown sisters are an incredible duo, and I plan to read everything they publish. However, I give this novel four out of five stars. It's a great book, but the time jump bothers me.
Review:
Let's start with the positives.
The mystery elements are highly intriguing. As we follow Simone and her investigation, we are in the trenches with her. We feel her loss closely and intimately. Due to the writers' abilities, we are tossed into the plot alongside her. Simone is relatable and exciting. Like Brandi from Someone Had to Do It, Simone is written with such tenacity and finesse that we feel all her emotions and rage. From her disappointment with the police investigation to her fury centered around the treatment of black people, Amber and Danielle Brown craft a nuanced character with whom we become intimately familiar.
One of the most popular tropes in current mystery and thriller books is the addition of a podcast element. As a play off the trope, Amber and Danielle Brown, instead, use the documentarian, Pia, as an objective viewer of the case. Simone is, rightfully so, close to the subject and, therefore, cannot offer an unbiased opinion. While she is sympathetic, and we root for her, we often wonder how much of what she is saying is reliable. Therefore, the Brown sisters include Pia as a buffer, almost a sounding board for Simone's theories. I enjoyed this addition and believe it added a fun twist and the traditional podcast element.
Much like Someone Had to Do It, Perfect Little Lives is a heavy mystery with insightful commentary. In their previous novel, the Brown sisters discuss the male gaze and the treatment of black people at the hands of the cops. Similarly, in their new release, they focus heavily on the role that racism and unconscious bias play within the confines of a police investigation. In one scene, Hunter explains to his mother that the word "black" is preferable to "African-American." As a teacher, I much appreciated this brief commentary. While I teach in a predominantly white school, we have black students. I have told other teachers and students not to use the term "African-American" as it is an inaccurate and incomplete description. In response to similar conversations, Simone questions, "At what point does ignorance stop being a viable excuse?" and I find her sentiment glaringly poignant. As black people, I am sure the Brown sisters have heard countless excuses for racist terms and ideas, mainly unconscious bias. However, it is 2023. There is absolutely no excuse for racism and racist behaviors, whether out of perceived "ignorance" or unfounded beliefs. Many articles, blogs, and videos discuss unconscious bias and how to address and change these ideas properly. Amid George Floyd's murder, Emmanuel Acho released "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man," a series of YouTube videos discussing micro and macro aggressions against black people. I believe the Brown sisters are doing the same. They argue that "there is no one to protect black women, especially in a county where the black men are being mass incarcerated and murdered in plain sight by the people designated to serve and protect." As LBJ said, "You do not take a person who, for years, has been hobbled by chains and liberate him, bring him up to the starting line of a race and then say, "you are free to compete with all the others," and still justly believe that you have been completely fair." It is this same sentiment that the Brown sisters are arguing. It is inarguable that the justice system does not treat black and white people fairly. While they write an incredibly taut mystery, the goal is to relay the inadequacies of the justice system and the harm that unconscious racism can have. I highly recommend watching Acho's series and adequately adjusting your beliefs and actions to address these ideas.
Now, let's move on to my complaints about the novel, of which there are only a few.
As in their previous book, the Brown sisters include many smut and sex scenes. While I have no problem reading sex scenes, I have a problem when they don't contribute to the novel. How many times can I read about Simone looking for an imprint in sweatpants? They didn't seem to serve a purpose, and that's my problem with them. It's a minor complaint, but the scenes are frequent and without purpose.
Secondly, I called the murderer from early on in the novel. While my sleuthing skills did not ruin the book, I like to be kept on my toes and shocked by the final twist. I don't necessarily believe that the Brown sisters' goal was to shock the reader as much as to use the mystery as a conduit for commentary on racism. I'm not mad that I called the plot because I still enjoyed reading the novel.
Lastly, and this is my biggest and most significant complaint. Right at the novel's end, there is a three-month time jump. If you have been following along with my reviews for any time, you know this is a massive issue for me. Time jumps feel lazy and inadequate after spending time with the characters. In the novel, we discover who murdered Simone's mom, and then there is a time jump. We don't know the outcome of the investigation or if the police even catch the murderer. Not only does it feel lazy, but it does not provide the sense of closure that we have been wanting and Simone has been needing.
Overall, I enjoyed my time reading and loved the commentary within the novel. Like Someone Had to Do It, I was anticipating another five-star read. However, the time jump changed my opinion. The Brown sisters are an incredible duo, and I plan to read everything they publish. However, I give this novel four out of five stars. It's a great book, but the time jump bothers me.
February 8, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ If there’s one thing this sister writing duo is gonna do, it’s add a bunch of unnecessary sex scenes in their books! 😩
So, it seems this book is mostly coming from a romantic angle. Simone is in a committed relationship with her workaholic attorney boyfriend, Reggie. We get a lot of their sex life and they are certainly drifting apart, which accelerates when her old childhood friend, Hunter, comes back on the scene.
Getting justice for and proving that her father is innocent of murder should’ve been the prime focus, but seemed like the backdrop at times. It seemed the scenes where she was actually putting in work flew by quickly while the romance scenes were drawn out.
Simone made a lot of impulsive choices. Showing up at people’s homes questioning them about crimes, tossing blame around with no proof to back it up…. I love a good mix of romance and suspense when It flows well. There was also a problematic detail in Hunter and Simone’s history.
It was a light and sexy suspense that managed to keep me guessing until the end. I know I would’ve loved it much more if we had more of the “judge” angle, a real investigation instead of guesses, and more of the true crime reporter!
So, it seems this book is mostly coming from a romantic angle. Simone is in a committed relationship with her workaholic attorney boyfriend, Reggie. We get a lot of their sex life and they are certainly drifting apart, which accelerates when her old childhood friend, Hunter, comes back on the scene.
Getting justice for and proving that her father is innocent of murder should’ve been the prime focus, but seemed like the backdrop at times. It seemed the scenes where she was actually putting in work flew by quickly while the romance scenes were drawn out.
Simone made a lot of impulsive choices. Showing up at people’s homes questioning them about crimes, tossing blame around with no proof to back it up…. I love a good mix of romance and suspense when It flows well. There was also a problematic detail in Hunter and Simone’s history.
It was a light and sexy suspense that managed to keep me guessing until the end. I know I would’ve loved it much more if we had more of the “judge” angle, a real investigation instead of guesses, and more of the true crime reporter!
February 22, 2024
When I found a thriller by not only one black woman, but TWO…I knew I had to read it and I’m so happy I did. These gorgeous identical twins are giving sexy thriller vibes with this one and I’m here for it all!
Simone grew up in a rich neighborhood as the only black family there but that didn’t last long. Her mother was brutally murdered and now her father sits behind bars. As an adult, Simone hides her past and works as a freelance book reviewer, has a lawyer boyfriend and is determined to get her innocent father out of prison.
One day Simone runs into her ex best friend and neighbor, Hunter Bishop. Talking about old times, Hunter revealed that his father and her mother had been having an affair for years. With this information Simone is disappointed, but now believes she knows who killed her mother. Will Simone be correct in her theory? Will being around Hunter not only bring up old childhood feelings but also new clues?
This book was all over the place and I enjoyed it! Did I figure out who the murderer was before the end of the book? Yes…but did I switch it a couple times? Yes! I loved all the twists and turns and the ending. Your turn to read it!! I look forward to reading their first book as well!
Simone grew up in a rich neighborhood as the only black family there but that didn’t last long. Her mother was brutally murdered and now her father sits behind bars. As an adult, Simone hides her past and works as a freelance book reviewer, has a lawyer boyfriend and is determined to get her innocent father out of prison.
One day Simone runs into her ex best friend and neighbor, Hunter Bishop. Talking about old times, Hunter revealed that his father and her mother had been having an affair for years. With this information Simone is disappointed, but now believes she knows who killed her mother. Will Simone be correct in her theory? Will being around Hunter not only bring up old childhood feelings but also new clues?
This book was all over the place and I enjoyed it! Did I figure out who the murderer was before the end of the book? Yes…but did I switch it a couple times? Yes! I loved all the twists and turns and the ending. Your turn to read it!! I look forward to reading their first book as well!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews