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The Perfect Son
7 hours, 30 minutes
"Mrs. Cass, we were hoping your son could answer a few questions about the girl who disappeared last night..."
Erika Cass has a perfect family and a perfect life. Until the evening when two detectives show up at her front door.
A high school girl has vanished from Erika's quiet suburban neighborhood. The police suspect the worst--murder.
And Erika's teenage son, Liam, was the last person to see the girl alive.
Erika has always sensed something dark and disturbed in her seemingly perfect older child. She wants to believe he's innocent, but as the evidence mounts, she can't deny the truth--Liam may have done the unthinkable.
Now she must ask herself:How far will she go to protect her son?
"Mrs. Cass, we were hoping your son could answer a few questions about the girl who disappeared last night..."
Erika Cass has a perfect family and a perfect life. Until the evening when two detectives show up at her front door.
A high school girl has vanished from Erika's quiet suburban neighborhood. The police suspect the worst--murder.
And Erika's teenage son, Liam, was the last person to see the girl alive.
Erika has always sensed something dark and disturbed in her seemingly perfect older child. She wants to believe he's innocent, but as the evidence mounts, she can't deny the truth--Liam may have done the unthinkable.
Now she must ask herself:How far will she go to protect her son?
8 pages, Audiobook
First published October 18, 2019
About the author
Freida McFadden
53 books132k followers#1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Amazon Charts bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. She lives with her family and possessed cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.
Note that I am maxed out on friends, so I apologize in advance that I can't friend anyone back!
Note that I am maxed out on friends, so I apologize in advance that I can't friend anyone back!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 19,778 reviews
April 27, 2020
Here we have a book that was, for me, a fairly mediocre read. The characters were standard—and in some cases flat out stereotypic, while the plot just never really engaged me.
Author Freida McFadden is certainly ABLE to write, but her attempt to build suspense was riddled with a fully distracting plethora of obvious red herrings. Any reader of psychological thrillers will see through these misdirects, which at times were almost amateurish and painfully transparent.
Beyond the troubling red herrings, the work also suffers in terms of character development. From the teenage bully to the bookish girl; the Xanax popping overwhelmed parent to the school principal, these characters never rose from the page in a way that made them particularly interesting. Instead of investing in any of them, I found myself mentally leaving the story, angry with the stereotypes.
If you search for the title The Perfect Son, the number of results is almost overwhelming. McFadden’s use of the title, in spite of the commonality, is almost representative of the entire book. The characters, plot development and even the attempts at setting tone, were all basic and, again, common—as if the author was somehow following a prescriptive approach straight out of “How to Write a Psychological Thriller”. All the boxes for necessary elements were checked, but without any flourish or particular creativity.
Three stars for a book that was solid, with a good foundation. Unfortunately the story itself was cookie cutter, lacking any real style to set it apart from a hundred others.
Author Freida McFadden is certainly ABLE to write, but her attempt to build suspense was riddled with a fully distracting plethora of obvious red herrings. Any reader of psychological thrillers will see through these misdirects, which at times were almost amateurish and painfully transparent.
Beyond the troubling red herrings, the work also suffers in terms of character development. From the teenage bully to the bookish girl; the Xanax popping overwhelmed parent to the school principal, these characters never rose from the page in a way that made them particularly interesting. Instead of investing in any of them, I found myself mentally leaving the story, angry with the stereotypes.
If you search for the title The Perfect Son, the number of results is almost overwhelming. McFadden’s use of the title, in spite of the commonality, is almost representative of the entire book. The characters, plot development and even the attempts at setting tone, were all basic and, again, common—as if the author was somehow following a prescriptive approach straight out of “How to Write a Psychological Thriller”. All the boxes for necessary elements were checked, but without any flourish or particular creativity.
Three stars for a book that was solid, with a good foundation. Unfortunately the story itself was cookie cutter, lacking any real style to set it apart from a hundred others.
May 25, 2024
This one was ok - the twists weren’t twisting for me.
July 27, 2023
another freida slay
August 31, 2020
I can’t remember the last time I was this disappointed in a book. How this book is averaging a nearly 4.5 star review baffles me. There was more advanced writing in, “See Spot Run.” I found it irritating everything was explained as if the target audience were in first grade. No character development. All tell, no show. The “twist” at the end was painfully predictable.
Goes to show there’s a book out there for everyone, and we are all entitled to our own opinions. If you’re looking for an incredibly simple, predictable read with flat characters this might be right up your alley.
Goes to show there’s a book out there for everyone, and we are all entitled to our own opinions. If you’re looking for an incredibly simple, predictable read with flat characters this might be right up your alley.
August 22, 2023
THE ENDING…. HUH?!! WHAT?
February 22, 2024
that mother definitely thought about fucking her son at some point
red flags: this was free on audible (only bad books are). also halfway through i remembered that freida is a goodreads favourite thriller author (only bad thriller authors are, you guys have absolutely no taste). but alas. it was free just like the trojan horse and who doesn’t like a gift!!
the writing and storytelling were just terrible. sometimes inconsequential things would just be thrown or sentences repeated unnecessarily. also the revelation of murder grandpa was way too convenient. “oh i think my son is a murderer, what are you saying mum? the father i thought dead got just released from his prison sentence for killing someone? what are the odds” . give me a break. there’s plot twist in thrillers and then there’s things you know the author thought would be clever but don’t even deserve an eye roll that’s how stupid they are.
also the mother was so fucking annoying. i don’t even believe that the son ever tortured hamsters at this point, i think she was just high on xanax making shit up.
the ending was very funny though, i laughed. considered raising my rating to two stars when the reveal happened but the epilogue was so cringe and the mother so annoying again so i simply can’t do that.
red flags: this was free on audible (only bad books are). also halfway through i remembered that freida is a goodreads favourite thriller author (only bad thriller authors are, you guys have absolutely no taste). but alas. it was free just like the trojan horse and who doesn’t like a gift!!
the writing and storytelling were just terrible. sometimes inconsequential things would just be thrown or sentences repeated unnecessarily. also the revelation of murder grandpa was way too convenient. “oh i think my son is a murderer, what are you saying mum? the father i thought dead got just released from his prison sentence for killing someone? what are the odds” . give me a break. there’s plot twist in thrillers and then there’s things you know the author thought would be clever but don’t even deserve an eye roll that’s how stupid they are.
also the mother was so fucking annoying. i don’t even believe that the son ever tortured hamsters at this point, i think she was just high on xanax making shit up.
the ending was very funny though, i laughed. considered raising my rating to two stars when the reveal happened but the epilogue was so cringe and the mother so annoying again so i simply can’t do that.
November 29, 2023
A fantastic thriller book. Definitely a page turner because I couldn't stop listening to the audiobook. And the way I listened to it every night for 4 days because I'm just messed up like that. I like reading mystery or thriller books at night. It's just who I am.
This was my first Freida McFadden book and I know I'll be reading all of her books soon. I was hooked from the very first chapter with her writing, characters' description and the mystery about the murder and kidnapping of Olivia. And just when I thought I know who did that she proved me wrong. The plot twist literally twisted my brain in the best possible way because I never saw it coming. But I guess we should never believe any character when reading mystery and thriller books.
Freida's writing was amazing and I liked how she had me thinking both the best and the worst about all the characters even though I couldn't really believe anyone. I couldn't help but think what if that person didn't do it? This was a fast paced story and since I read this as an audiobook the whole experience made everything more interesting. The narration for this book was beautifully done.
Erika was a simple character as simple as one would say with a perfect family like that. She was always anxious about her son Liam and wants to protect him at all costs because he's her son and since it was written from her and Olivia's pov so it was easy to know what goes in her head and all the other things. But Liam? I don't know why but I kind of always believed him that he wasn't the one who did it. Maybe it was Freida's constant mention of how perfect he was and how cute he was. It was kind of obvious for me atleast or maybe I'm just kidding myself right now. But Liam was the only character I couldn't made my mind about. He was good at showing what others always wanted or expected from him and maybe thats why.
I liked the how the mystery about the murderer was finally revealed in the ending chapters and how all the loose ends came together in the end. I never saw it coming and I still don't believe it. The ending was satisfying but I'm concerned about Liam and his family because this book has an open ending. What if he's just what his mother always thought about him? Well I guess now we'll never know.
Freida wanted me to never believe the characters in this book even in the end. And I think I will never believe any of the characters written by her.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. So if you want something fast paced and a good mystery thriller? Definitely go for this book.
This was my first Freida McFadden book and I know I'll be reading all of her books soon. I was hooked from the very first chapter with her writing, characters' description and the mystery about the murder and kidnapping of Olivia. And just when I thought I know who did that she proved me wrong. The plot twist literally twisted my brain in the best possible way because I never saw it coming. But I guess we should never believe any character when reading mystery and thriller books.
Freida's writing was amazing and I liked how she had me thinking both the best and the worst about all the characters even though I couldn't really believe anyone. I couldn't help but think what if that person didn't do it? This was a fast paced story and since I read this as an audiobook the whole experience made everything more interesting. The narration for this book was beautifully done.
Erika was a simple character as simple as one would say with a perfect family like that. She was always anxious about her son Liam and wants to protect him at all costs because he's her son and since it was written from her and Olivia's pov so it was easy to know what goes in her head and all the other things. But Liam? I don't know why but I kind of always believed him that he wasn't the one who did it. Maybe it was Freida's constant mention of how perfect he was and how cute he was. It was kind of obvious for me atleast or maybe I'm just kidding myself right now. But Liam was the only character I couldn't made my mind about. He was good at showing what others always wanted or expected from him and maybe thats why.
I liked the how the mystery about the murderer was finally revealed in the ending chapters and how all the loose ends came together in the end. I never saw it coming and I still don't believe it. The ending was satisfying but I'm concerned about Liam and his family because this book has an open ending. What if he's just what his mother always thought about him? Well I guess now we'll never know.
Freida wanted me to never believe the characters in this book even in the end. And I think I will never believe any of the characters written by her.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. So if you want something fast paced and a good mystery thriller? Definitely go for this book.
December 16, 2022
The quality of writing is not why you’d read this book. This is plot driven, which is fine, except it looks so much like one person is guilty of what happened, you know it can’t be that otherwise this wouldn’t be a suspense novel. What it turns out to be is, for me, not satisfactory.
July 19, 2024
Everything about this feels overdone. It's a very slow start - you're 30% in before anything starts to happen, and too much time is spent on the filler details. There's a lot of repetition, and all is told to the reader instead of shown, and to top it off, it's all told by mom.
The mom, Erika, is over-anxious and singularly focused on her son, Liam. It's so aggressive that as I went on reading, I thought surely there is some psychoanalytic diagnosis for her behavior, but I don't what it is called.
The focus on Liam is so heavy handed, with outright hand-holding to get you to believe he is at fault. You can't help but drift off to imagine other possible culprits or scenarios, such as maybe Olivia ran off, or maybe the mom is the perpetrator. I disliked this in your face leading. Just present some possibilities with supporting facts or evidence and let me have the fun of sorting through it all. There wasn't much focus on the crime, it is more character-driven, so this should have been a good suspense-driven novel, but constantly being thrown back to one person ruined the suspense. I just wanted to move on either way - if it was Liam, just tell me already because you've told me it's him from the very beginning, and then I can rate this poorly for being unsuspenseful and anticlimactic, and if it's not him, let me have the chance to see and consider other potential culprits.
Besides the mom, I didn't really care for how any of the other characters were written either. The teenagers are not portrayed accurately - nor are the scenes they are central to - Olivia's mother tells her it's getting late at 6:30 at night? Really? Even the most over-protective mother wouldn't say that is late to a teenaged child. Olivia's expressions of "Oh, my god" were so overused and annoying.
Unfortunately, I experienced too much sighing and eye-rolling over the lame writing to really enjoy a good plot. The suspense was lacking which zapped my enthusiasm and enjoyment.
The mom, Erika, is over-anxious and singularly focused on her son, Liam. It's so aggressive that as I went on reading, I thought surely there is some psychoanalytic diagnosis for her behavior, but I don't what it is called.
The focus on Liam is so heavy handed, with outright hand-holding to get you to believe he is at fault. You can't help but drift off to imagine other possible culprits or scenarios, such as maybe Olivia ran off, or maybe the mom is the perpetrator. I disliked this in your face leading. Just present some possibilities with supporting facts or evidence and let me have the fun of sorting through it all. There wasn't much focus on the crime, it is more character-driven, so this should have been a good suspense-driven novel, but constantly being thrown back to one person ruined the suspense. I just wanted to move on either way - if it was Liam, just tell me already because you've told me it's him from the very beginning, and then I can rate this poorly for being unsuspenseful and anticlimactic, and if it's not him, let me have the chance to see and consider other potential culprits.
Besides the mom, I didn't really care for how any of the other characters were written either. The teenagers are not portrayed accurately - nor are the scenes they are central to - Olivia's mother tells her it's getting late at 6:30 at night? Really? Even the most over-protective mother wouldn't say that is late to a teenaged child. Olivia's expressions of "Oh, my god" were so overused and annoying.
Unfortunately, I experienced too much sighing and eye-rolling over the lame writing to really enjoy a good plot. The suspense was lacking which zapped my enthusiasm and enjoyment.
October 1, 2024
Another fun, suspenseful and exceptionally twisty listen from Freida McFadden.
After the half way point of The Perfect Son, I was almost certain my keen detective skills had honed in on the what the big reveal was and how it would all come together at the end. Now, it was time to just sit back and wait for confirmation.
Fast-forward to end . . . I must humbly admit Ms. McFadden has duly succeeded in foiling me again. Yay. This is why she always keeps me coming back for more.
Narrators Suzie Althens and Daniel Thomas May make a spectacular team. To summarize in two words: "Dynamic Duo."
After the half way point of The Perfect Son, I was almost certain my keen detective skills had honed in on the what the big reveal was and how it would all come together at the end. Now, it was time to just sit back and wait for confirmation.
Fast-forward to end . . . I must humbly admit Ms. McFadden has duly succeeded in foiling me again. Yay. This is why she always keeps me coming back for more.
Narrators Suzie Althens and Daniel Thomas May make a spectacular team. To summarize in two words: "Dynamic Duo."
June 6, 2022
This is definitely one of my favorites from Freida.
How far will a Mother go to protect her son? From a young age Liam has shown some psychotic tendencies and his Mother has done everything in her power to keep it a secret and to make sure her son stays out of trouble.
But is that a good thing?
With the turn this book takes I would say yes. Absolutely amazing plot line!
How far will a Mother go to protect her son? From a young age Liam has shown some psychotic tendencies and his Mother has done everything in her power to keep it a secret and to make sure her son stays out of trouble.
But is that a good thing?
With the turn this book takes I would say yes. Absolutely amazing plot line!
July 2, 2023
hahaha-i never cackled so hard at a plot twist/reveal. i mean its so obvious i wanna criticize it, but its also satisfying to be right. 🤣 i feel like the more i read this authors backlist, the more i realised she always has a tendency to write the dumbest (female) narrators. i was so annoyed at the mother, but maybe her wariness isnt entirely unfounded cause i love how the book ends ambiguously. also, Freida McFadden writing teenagers POV is cringe.🤭
(read as an audiobook)
(read as an audiobook)
June 27, 2023
4.5
That ending. Shook. I loved every minute of this.
That ending. Shook. I loved every minute of this.
Read
November 2, 2024freida stop writing the dumbest FMCs ever challenge
October 17, 2024
The plot twist was good even though I guessed it.
Erika really got on my last nerve. By far the dumbest character 😪
I really wish we got Liam’s POV
Erika really got on my last nerve. By far the dumbest character 😪
I really wish we got Liam’s POV
March 25, 2024
I wish I could read at least one Freida McFadden book that would totally blow my mind. Something unpredictable and unconventional. I wish.
Because this is definitely not it. I felt like this book was trying a bit too hard to be shocking—with all the obvious herrings and foreshadowing. One particular phrase that was repeated multiple times in the book gave the whole twist away. Like, I was able to figure it out from the get-go.
Don't get me wrong, I love Freida's writing style. Her simple narrative, wordings and pacing make it easy for the readers to follow crucial events in the story, I liked that. I like simple and straightforward writing, no over the top or unnecessary profundity. I want to be able to easily understand certain words and not worry about being clueless of what's happening because a word totally struck me dumbfounded.
Anyway. Will still read Freida's works.
Because this is definitely not it. I felt like this book was trying a bit too hard to be shocking—with all the obvious herrings and foreshadowing. One particular phrase that was repeated multiple times in the book gave the whole twist away. Like, I was able to figure it out from the get-go.
Don't get me wrong, I love Freida's writing style. Her simple narrative, wordings and pacing make it easy for the readers to follow crucial events in the story, I liked that. I like simple and straightforward writing, no over the top or unnecessary profundity. I want to be able to easily understand certain words and not worry about being clueless of what's happening because a word totally struck me dumbfounded.
Anyway. Will still read Freida's works.
August 11, 2024
No, I refuse to believe that epilogue and how it’s trying to play with my mind
Liam supremacy 🦅🦅🦅🦅
Ok sooo this book didn’t have good plot twists but it was entertaining and fast paced, honestly I’m not a Freda McFadden fan but somehow I’ve read every single book she has at B&N 😂
I can read these books in one sitting because they’re so easy binge, but I’m kind of tired already.
First, the story is very mundane, the lives of the protagonists are always normal but there is someone who’s creepy and does awkward things.
Second, i don’t like how the author represents teenagers, seriously how many times does the teen characters use the word “like” 😃 and then their attitude towards their parents are always weird and rude. I think she forgot how it was to be a teen cuz 🙄
And then there’s the men, always dumb and too busy with their jobs. Honestly, this one is true in rl but why do you have to make ALL of them like that.
The only books by her I really liked were Never Lie and The inmate, I don’t think the others should be classified as thrillers but more as uncomfortable books lmao
Usually her epilogues can ruin everything or make the book better and creepier. In this case, the epilogue was unnecessary imo and I if it wasn’t because I liked Liam I would’ve believed it.
Like someone said in one of my reviews, there is a pattern in every single book by her and recycled details that I’ve noticed.
Watch me reading her others books on my kindle js because they help with my reading goal 🤣
Anyway, if you want to read this and have KU do it! But don’t buy a copy for 19$ like I did 😭
Liam supremacy 🦅🦅🦅🦅
Ok sooo this book didn’t have good plot twists but it was entertaining and fast paced, honestly I’m not a Freda McFadden fan but somehow I’ve read every single book she has at B&N 😂
I can read these books in one sitting because they’re so easy binge, but I’m kind of tired already.
First, the story is very mundane, the lives of the protagonists are always normal but there is someone who’s creepy and does awkward things.
Second, i don’t like how the author represents teenagers, seriously how many times does the teen characters use the word “like” 😃 and then their attitude towards their parents are always weird and rude. I think she forgot how it was to be a teen cuz 🙄
And then there’s the men, always dumb and too busy with their jobs. Honestly, this one is true in rl but why do you have to make ALL of them like that.
The only books by her I really liked were Never Lie and The inmate, I don’t think the others should be classified as thrillers but more as uncomfortable books lmao
Usually her epilogues can ruin everything or make the book better and creepier. In this case, the epilogue was unnecessary imo and I if it wasn’t because I liked Liam I would’ve believed it.
Like someone said in one of my reviews, there is a pattern in every single book by her and recycled details that I’ve noticed.
Watch me reading her others books on my kindle js because they help with my reading goal 🤣
Anyway, if you want to read this and have KU do it! But don’t buy a copy for 19$ like I did 😭
September 8, 2024
lowkey loved this after a few lacklustre Freida reads I was happy with this one.
the major plot twist was predictable - there was only a few ways it could have gone and I guessed the way it went but apart from that it was still entertaining enough that I enjoyed the entire thing. can recommend but not a must read xoxo
the major plot twist was predictable - there was only a few ways it could have gone and I guessed the way it went but apart from that it was still entertaining enough that I enjoyed the entire thing. can recommend but not a must read xoxo
November 28, 2022
The line “Nobody liked Michael because he was gross and fat” exists.
February 25, 2024
I could not put this book down. I read it in one day. It is pretty dark at times, so don’t read it if you are not in the mood for a dark thriller. It focuses on psychopath behavior & includes abuse & death of animals (I will say I am glad none of the animals were dogs though, major dog mom here). There is also murder, torture, etc.
I did not expect the twist at all. It’s hard to say too much in a review without giving it away. It was a very surprising twist in my opinion, because there wasn’t really any hints to it.
The ending is also crazy, because you think everything is going to be better, but nope!
I did not expect the twist at all. It’s hard to say too much in a review without giving it away. It was a very surprising twist in my opinion, because there wasn’t really any hints to it.
The ending is also crazy, because you think everything is going to be better, but nope!
March 24, 2024
While a bit of a formulaic plot, The Perfect Son written by Freida McFadden is still suspenseful and exciting. A 16-year-old with a seemingly psychopathic past is the last to see his girlfriend. Through alternating chapters, we learn she is alive and stuck in the basement of some cabin afraid of "him." Clearly it's not the boy, but as we learn things he's done in the past, we have to wonder if we're being tricked into thinking it's not him so we are surprised in the end when it IS him. Right up until the last few chapters, readers will keep guessing, and when the truth comes out, there are a few surprising moments as to the culprit’s identity and reasoning. Lots to consider as we learn about the family history and the friendships of yesteryear. A great reason why I ALWAYS enjoy McFadden's novels. I'm on a kick to finish them all this month, and she's been writing 2 to 3 a year for almost a decade!
May 12, 2023
3.5 STARS
Eh, this was okay. For me, it was so glaringly obvious the entire book who took Olivia. This honestly was not twisty at all. However, I did award some stars back to McFadden for the epilogue that added a little suspense and tied everything up in a neat bow. 🎀 I’ve read better.
Eh, this was okay. For me, it was so glaringly obvious the entire book who took Olivia. This honestly was not twisty at all. However, I did award some stars back to McFadden for the epilogue that added a little suspense and tied everything up in a neat bow. 🎀 I’ve read better.
January 12, 2024
Freida McFadden knows how to entertain her readers and keep them guessing right till the end. This was another enjoyable and fast-paced read. And for once I guessed the twist that was coming, but of course, as we know there is never just one twist and of course that took me by surprise.
The Perfect Son was a great read and this author is fast becoming another favourite author of mine. If you enjoy thrillers that keep you up past your bedtime then I highly recommend you read a book by this author.
The Perfect Son was a great read and this author is fast becoming another favourite author of mine. If you enjoy thrillers that keep you up past your bedtime then I highly recommend you read a book by this author.
July 16, 2024
This book made me ask how well do I know members of my own family. I don’t know where Frieda McFaddens ideas come from but I hope she never runs out of plots. I’ve read so many of her books now and I still love them. And I love the tiny bit of carryover between books that you catch if you’re paying attention. Similar to Easter eggs In movies.
September 17, 2024
⭐️ 3 stars —
⤿ minor spoilers ahead.
”did you do anything further?”
“i’ll tell you, detective, there’s one thing i did.”
“what’s that?”
“i gave the kid an A in english.
some things are not worth dying over.”
wheeewwww. this was inevitable, i know. at some point, one was bound to become physically unable to write another freida mcfadden review. ten books later, your girl is tired. however, if i don’t rant here, where else will i go?
the writing. you can tell from the vocabulary in the perfect son that it was one of the author’s earliest releases. most of the characters’ inner monologues were insufferable!! especially olivia’s — the high school protagonist we follow, one of two POVS in this novel. there are multiple paragraphs of her excessively swooning over liam, the son in question. i’m aware she’s meant to represent a head-over-heels teenager but come on!! he’s cute!! thank you, i got it the first three times. no need to tell me every page.
i had the same issue with our other protagonist, erika. patterns of cringe word choices would make their way into her thoughts mid chapter, completely tearing the trance of the story for me; i had to pause and roll my eyes.
nevertheless, the writing remained engaging enough for me to conclude this read in the span of two days. and, as someone who often takes MONTHS trying to complete a single chapter in other books, i don’t care, a win is a win.
the ending. by the sixty percent mark, i had successfully guessed who was behind everything; there wasn’t much room for multiple assumptions to formulate in my mind. there weren’t that many suspects to begin with, really. despite that, even after the surprise element i usually crave in thrillers was eliminated, the intrigue and anticipation surrounding the events made this a three star experience. one of my favorite things about freida’s works are the cliffhangers she crafts into each finale. the open endings!!
the characters. olivia (spoilers! even though the girl was kidnapped and trapped for almost the entirety of the plot) was honestly a menace. this brings me back to my very first point; the way she was written was just not it. her dialogues, her mindset — UGH. i couldn’t care less about her being alive, just give me a fast paced story and i’m sat.
⤿ minor spoilers ahead.
”did you do anything further?”
“i’ll tell you, detective, there’s one thing i did.”
“what’s that?”
“i gave the kid an A in english.
some things are not worth dying over.”
wheeewwww. this was inevitable, i know. at some point, one was bound to become physically unable to write another freida mcfadden review. ten books later, your girl is tired. however, if i don’t rant here, where else will i go?
the writing. you can tell from the vocabulary in the perfect son that it was one of the author’s earliest releases. most of the characters’ inner monologues were insufferable!! especially olivia’s — the high school protagonist we follow, one of two POVS in this novel. there are multiple paragraphs of her excessively swooning over liam, the son in question. i’m aware she’s meant to represent a head-over-heels teenager but come on!! he’s cute!! thank you, i got it the first three times. no need to tell me every page.
i had the same issue with our other protagonist, erika. patterns of cringe word choices would make their way into her thoughts mid chapter, completely tearing the trance of the story for me; i had to pause and roll my eyes.
nevertheless, the writing remained engaging enough for me to conclude this read in the span of two days. and, as someone who often takes MONTHS trying to complete a single chapter in other books, i don’t care, a win is a win.
the ending. by the sixty percent mark, i had successfully guessed who was behind everything; there wasn’t much room for multiple assumptions to formulate in my mind. there weren’t that many suspects to begin with, really. despite that, even after the surprise element i usually crave in thrillers was eliminated, the intrigue and anticipation surrounding the events made this a three star experience. one of my favorite things about freida’s works are the cliffhangers she crafts into each finale. the open endings!!
the characters. olivia (spoilers! even though the girl was kidnapped and trapped for almost the entirety of the plot) was honestly a menace. this brings me back to my very first point; the way she was written was just not it. her dialogues, her mindset — UGH. i couldn’t care less about her being alive, just give me a fast paced story and i’m sat.
September 3, 2022
4.0 stars
I love the concept of a sociopathic child but too many books missed the mark. So I was delighted to find one that worked really well for me. Despite a few implausible moments, I found this to be a gripping thriller with a complex family dynamic. I want to say more, but I don't want to spoil the book for anyone. If you love domestic thrillers, then you'll definitely want to check this one out.
I love the concept of a sociopathic child but too many books missed the mark. So I was delighted to find one that worked really well for me. Despite a few implausible moments, I found this to be a gripping thriller with a complex family dynamic. I want to say more, but I don't want to spoil the book for anyone. If you love domestic thrillers, then you'll definitely want to check this one out.
February 4, 2024
3.5 ⭐️!! the epilogue slayed. the rest was very obvious to me so i didn’t have as good of a time. but quick read & i do love me some freida <3
November 14, 2021
The pacing of the story was quick that I thought this is one of those mystery thrillers where in you could easily predict who did it. My goodness! I never saw that twist coming, it's not perfect by any means, but if you are looking for something light yet mind blowing mystery thriller that would put you on the edge of your seat then this is definitely the book for you.
April 23, 2024
This lady is UNHINGEDDDDD AND I LOVE HER! I didn’t expect the twist of course but I did see the last few pages coming. All in all, a good quick fun read! I’m binging all her books and I think I have 8 more to go!
April 28, 2022
while ultraterrified by a heartbreaking
prey/victim's point of view, I was easily
amused by erika's agitated family life,
her weird son and murderous father:
what a gripping well written story! ♡
prey/victim's point of view, I was easily
amused by erika's agitated family life,
her weird son and murderous father:
what a gripping well written story! ♡
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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