Have you ever powered through a string of books that felt meh and slow and ultimately unsatisfied, and then you get one that you read in less than a week that captivates you from the first chapter and keeps you at the literal edge of your seat (chairs in the break room are very uncomfortable) (gotta change up the weight on the ass fat or it goes numb) (tmi?) until the very end?
Asking for a friend.
This time around, The Perfect Child graced my inbox in the form of a free e-book from Kindle. Written by Lucinda Berry, a trauma psychologist, it takes us through the day-to-day of a couple who decide to adopt a child who is just a little bit more than what they bargained for. And by āa little,ā I of course mean āa lot.ā Letās be honest, there wouldnāt be a lot for me to asdfghjkl; about otherwise.
Are you ready for the shortest, most vague review ever? Because I donāt want to spoil a thing.
This book switches between three points-of-view: Chris, Holly, and Piper, as they retell their experience with a little girl named Janie. Janie is first found in a parking lot, where she is taken to the hospital Chris and Holly work for care, and they fall in love with her for moment one. But not everything is as it seems. As the story draws to an end, the truth behind Janieās past is revealed, and nothing will ever be the same again.
And thatās it. Thatās the most direct Iām going to be with this thing, because honestly, the book is a rollercoaster, and it should be experienced as such. Hell, the blurb itself is vague, which could be seen as both a good and a bad thing, as is evident on the reviews. Of the ones that I read, most all negative feedback revolves around the idea that the reader didnāt know what they were in for, and there were scenes that were hard for them to get through. I didnāt find one that insulted the authorās writing style or anything of that nature (which doesnāt mean there isnāt one lurking there, I just didnāt care enough to dig when I disagreed with what they were saying).
One thing I will draw attention to is the cover, just so if you decide to read it, you arenāt thrown off.
Look at that hand holding the balloon. Look at it.
Is there anything about that hand that says teary-eyed drama? Is there anything about that hand that says feel-good love story? Is there anything about that hand that suggests the story is soft in any way, shape, or form?
No.
That hand, ladies and gentlemen, is a claw: all joints and nails, grasping at something that should be handled with care, unless you want it to pop.
That hand is the whole reason why I chose this book, and damn, am I ever glad I did.
On the whole, I would be as bold as to give The Perfect Child a solid 9 out of 10. My only criticism is I wish there was more to the ending. I am a fan of learning more about Janieās past, yo.
Whatās a book thatās taken you by surprise?
Manda Kay Writes 