ABOUT THE BOOK:
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:
The Perfect Neighbors by Sarah PekkanenMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Perfect Neighbors by Sarah Pekkanen is a 2016 Washington Square Press publication.
This is one of those authors I stumbled across reading those Booklist suggestions from the library. I can’t believe I’ve never read any of Sarah Pekkanen’s novels, but now that I have, I will be adding more.
The ‘municipality’ of Newport Cove is one of the safest neighborhoods in the United States. The residents have a Listserv board to share complaints, suggestions, rules, or ask for help with something, and those posts are often hilarious.
The community really is ideal, which is why Tessa and her husband, Harry, along with their young children picked it….. well, one of the reasons.
As we spy of the fine folks in Newport Cove, we meet Susan, Kellie, and Gigi, who welcomes Tessa into their neighborhood with open arms and try to include her in their group. As the story progresses, we learn that Susan is career oriented, dealing with the emotional pain of divorce, and is a dedicated mom. Gigi’s husband is running for public office and her teenage daughter has turned into someone she barely knows. Kellie, after years of being a stay at home mom, has begun working again and is enjoying the challenge and a little attention from her boss.
But, little do they know that their new neighbors are harboring a huge secret, the magnitude of which would shock them and their community to the core.
I loved this book! If you like sudsy drama, a little bit of dark humor, and getting an open invitation to join in the complicated and emotional lives of female friendships, which I do, then you will enjoy this book. Each character has a compelling storyline, each one dealing with something that fits the stage of the life they are going through. I loved watching them grow and learn from their various trials and see each of them come away stronger and more fulfilled than when we first met them, as well as maintaining their close friendships with one another.
I enjoyed getting to know each of these women, although Tessa’s story was not fleshed out as much as I thought it could or should have been, but I did love the mystery and think maybe Tessa will be able to move forward on a more balanced footing from here on out.
All in all, this book and will take you away from your own worries and troubles while you chide, cheer for, and relate to these awesome women as they navigate through the perils and triumphs of life.
GET YOUR COPY HERE:
https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Neighbors-Novel-Sarah-Pekkanen-ebook/dp/B010MH9WA4/
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-perfect-neighbors-sarah-pekkanen/1122785379
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
"Fans of Jennifer Weiner and Emily Giffin will strongly appreciate this rising star in women's fiction." - Library Journal.
Internationally bestselling author Sarah Pekkanen's newest book is THE PERFECT NEIGHBORS. She is also the author of THINGS YOU WON'T SAY, CATCHING AIR, THE BEST OF US, THE OPPOSITE OF ME, SKIPPING A BEAT, and THESE GIRLS. Sarah's linked free short estories, published by Simon&Schuster exclusively for ereaders, are titled "All is Bright," and "Love, Accidentally."
Sarah is the mother of three young boys, which explains why she writes part of her novels at Chuck E. Cheese. Sarah penned her first book, Miscellaneous Tales and Poems, at the age of 10. When publishers failed to jump upon this literary masterpiece (hey, all the poems rhymed!) Sarah followed up by sending them a sternly-worded letter on Raggedy Ann stationery. Sarah still has that letter, and carries it to New York every time she has meetings with her publisher, as a reminder that dreams do come true.
Her website is www.sarahpekkanen.com and please find her on Facebook Instagram and Twitter @sarahpekkanen!
