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Her Perfect Life

Review

Her Perfect Life

The word "perfect" has many connotations. We dream of the perfect vacation, the perfect home, the perfect family, the perfect job. But for each of us, that word has a different meaning.

In HER PERFECT LIFE, Hank Phillippi Ryan introduces us to Lily Atwood, whose life seems perfect. She's a television reporter, and her onscreen image is as perfect as her offscreen existence. She lives in a beautiful house with a beautiful seven-year-old daughter and a beautiful nanny, and she scrupulously maintains her appearance to be beautiful. Everything about her matches the Instagram hashtag her fans have created: #PerfectLily.

But perfection comes at a price, and for Lily that price is leaving behind her past. She never talks about her big sister, Cassie, who at 18 disappeared under murky circumstances while at college. We learn about what happened then and now through clearly labeled chapters. The sections entitled “Then" give us a glimpse into what Cassie's life was like just before her disappearance. We understand her insecurities and inability to make sensible decisions during times of crisis. More importantly, we see how her poor choices will affect the rest of her life.

"Book clubs will enjoy discussing what a #perfectlife is and what perfection even means."

Interestingly, the only first person narrative is from Lily's producer, Greer, which exposes us to the jealousy she feels for Lily. Greer convinces herself that she's not jealous, but we can see the envy eating at her. She envies Lily for her apparent perfection: her looks, her home, her lovely daughter, her success.

We also "meet" the mysterious Mr. Smith through both Lily's and Greer's narratives. He has been providing Lily with information that has led to great news stories. But as the novel progresses, she becomes uncomfortable with him --- whoever he is --- because he seems to be stalking her. He knows where she is and what she's doing. Even though readers may think they know his identity, many questions remain. Who sent the flowers to Lily's home? Who mailed her the penguin toy that is an exact replica of the one Cassie left with her before she disappeared? Are these gifts Cassie's way of trying to reach out to Lily from wherever she is, or is something more sinister going on? Is Cassie even alive?

Lily's problems are not limited to her sister. Rowen, Lily’s daughter, doesn't know who her father is, and a defiant Lily is determined to keep her safe at all costs. But when Rowen is caught up in the secrets and the mystery behind the elusive Mr. Smith, Lily has to decide whom she can trust. In the end, we find out that some people are not who they appear to be.

Book clubs will enjoy discussing what a #perfectlife is and what perfection even means. It's easy to look back and say, "If only Cassie had confided in her mother, or some other grown-up she trusted." But often teens don't trust their parents, and they may not have another responsible adult in their lives to whom they can turn.

Trust. That's the issue at the core of each character's problems in HER PERFECT LIFE. Whom can one trust to do the right thing? And once that trust is broken, how does one go about restoring it? Is that even possible? We come to realize that if we have just one person in our lives whom we trust, we are lucky indeed.

Reviewed by Pamela Kramer on September 16, 2021

Her Perfect Life
by Hank Phillippi Ryan