The Perfect Neighbors

A Novel

By: Sarah Pekkanen

Narrated by: Madeleine Maby

The pause-resisting new novel from the internationally best-selling author known for her "conversational writing style and a knack for making readers care about her characters" (The Washington Post) 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 20 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 that Tessa is hiding the biggest secret of all.

©2016 Sarah Pekkanen (P)2016 Simon & Schuster

3 stars is geneerous...

I almost returned this book based on narration alone. Sometimes it's fine ( so I know she's capable) and other times it's as if she is speaking in slow motion and trying to make each syllable a seperate word for no reason. The storyline itself is just ok ,and the book feels like it ended abruptly ,with no real endings. I didn't hate it (except for the narration at times) but I also didn't really like it, and can't honestly recommend it.

No plot twists here

This book isn’t bad, just not my style. No plot twists or deep characters. This is a feel good light and fluffy read. Like a g-rated toned down version of desperate housewives.

The Narrator!

The storyline was just so-so. Something to pass the time; but the clipped, staccato, voice of the narrator almost made me stop listening on multiple occasions. That exaggerated stop/start tone was unnecessary.

There is no Family if There no Secrets

Wonderfully written and narrated. Keep me on the tip of my toes until the very very end. Well done.

Some books you don't want to end

I loved the characters. They were me, they were people I know. Good story about every day struggles. The narrator was a bit annoying at first but she found her way with the characters after a while.

Not one of her best

I’ve read several of Sarah Pekkanen’s books and enjoyed most of them a lot, but this book is definitely not one of best. The characters were well developed and parts of it were funny but overall it was pretty dull. The story is very anti climactic. I did grow to care for the characters so I finished it but almost stopped several times intending to exchange it.

Great Book but narrator gets on your nerves

Narrator could be great except for when she reads dialogue. The inflections in her voice do nothing to portray the emotion. It’s terse and dry. Annoying.

WOW!!!

I absolutely love Sarah Pekkanen’s books! This book is definitely easy to relate to because the stories of the characters could happen to any one, in any neighborhood. It could be you, your best friend, your husband, a family member...I guarantee you won’t be able to read this without some of the characters reminding you of people you know. It’s so sincere and truthful. I love how the characters lives were all so unique and individual, yet still intertwined in such realistic ways. Full of emotion, twists, turns, and surprises...you won’t want to put it down!

Everyone has a story

An easy listening story with characters who all have a story, different but the same. This book is a nice way to escape or refresh for a while.

I'd like to give it 2.5 stars

Let me start by saying that I am a fan of this author and have enjoyed many of her books. But I found this story lacking. I thought that so much of the storyline was unrealistic and it just lacked any depth whatsoever. To make matters worse, the narration was awful. Every. Word. Needed. To. Be. Enunciated. I was very frustrated and annoyed. I will steer clear of this narrator in the future.