(Review) The Perfect Neighbors

The Perfect Neighbors by Sarah Pekkanen
Publication Date: July 5, 2016
Pages: 352 (paperback)
Genre: Fiction/Contemporary
My Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars


Goodreads Synopsis:
Perfect Neighbors takes us into the homes of an idyllic suburban neighborhood where we discover the burning secrets hiding just below the surface.

Bucolic Newport Cove, where spontaneous block parties occur on balmy nights and all of the streets are named for flowers, is proud of its distinction of being named one the top twenty safest neighborhoods in the US.

It’s also one of the most secret-filled.

Kellie Scott has just returned to work after a decade of being a stay-at-home mom. She’s adjusting to high heels, scrambling to cook dinner for her family after a day at the office—and soaking in the dangerous attention of a very handsome, very married male colleague. Kellie’s neighbor Susan Barrett begins every day with fresh resolutions: she won’t eat any carbs. She’ll go to bed at a reasonable hour. And she’ll stop stalking her ex-husband and his new girlfriend. Gigi Kennedy seems to have it all together—except her teenage daughter has turned into a hostile stranger and her husband is running for Congress, which means her old skeletons are in danger of being brought into the light.

Then a new family moves to this quiet, tree-lined cul-de-sac. Tessa Campbell seems friendly enough to the other mothers, if a bit reserved. Then the neighbors notice that no one is ever invited to Tessa’s house. And soon, it becomes clear Tessa is hiding the biggest secret of all.

My Review: 
I picked this up on a whim. I can't even really remember where I saw it recommended, but I'm glad I took a chance on it. 

I feel like this is more in the vein of Liane Moriarty than the other authors Sarah was compared to. This is a story of four very different women that all seem to have one things in common: they've all got secrets. Oh, and they're all pretty much bet friends, too. 

Each of these characters will stick with you in a good way. You can see that these four women only want what's best for their families, even though their ways are a little unconventional. Kellie is struggling with her identity in the business world, Susan is trying to be a mom and a dad for her son, Gigi just wants her daughter to love her, and Tessa has a huge secret. 

The way these women build their relationships is written beautifully. It's raw and sweet and feels very, very real. I loved that, at the end of everything, their families are what takes precedent over all else. They learn to make sacrifices, forgive, and love again...all within three-hundred-and-something pages. 

These were four very different, very well-written stories about women just trying to make it in the world. 

I will definitely be checking out some of Sarah's other stories. 

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