What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
29 days and 18:06:51
25 copies available
U.S. only
Winter Park #2
Perfect Life
Win a free print copy of this book!
29 days and 18:06:51
25 copies available
U.S. only
Following a shocking murder, a woman must face the secrets from her past—and a husband she thought she knew—in this twisty, sizzling novel from the bestselling authors of Happy Wife.
Este Walker didn’t move to Winter Park, Florida, to make friends. Five years ago, she ghosted her life in California to reinvent herself among the lakefront estates of Florida’s elite. With a cocktail in hand, more money than she could ever spend, and secrets she intends to keep buried, she’s finally content—or, you know, close enough. Who cares if her seclusion and secrets have left her with a small social circle? Her husband Beau and her best friend Nora are the only company she needs.
But Este’s secrets are catching up to her. Last year, when Nora gained national attention as a suspect in her husband's disappearance, Este’s picture was flashed onscreen. Suddenly the past she had hoped to keep buried is closing in on her—and Beau might be keeping secrets of his own. And then a mysterious death turns Winter Park upside down.
Thrust into a high-stakes murder investigation, Este must unravel a web of lies and secrets to answer the question: What exactly happened in California, and has it come back to haunt her? More importantly: How is she going to get herself out of this mess?
Este Walker didn’t move to Winter Park, Florida, to make friends. Five years ago, she ghosted her life in California to reinvent herself among the lakefront estates of Florida’s elite. With a cocktail in hand, more money than she could ever spend, and secrets she intends to keep buried, she’s finally content—or, you know, close enough. Who cares if her seclusion and secrets have left her with a small social circle? Her husband Beau and her best friend Nora are the only company she needs.
But Este’s secrets are catching up to her. Last year, when Nora gained national attention as a suspect in her husband's disappearance, Este’s picture was flashed onscreen. Suddenly the past she had hoped to keep buried is closing in on her—and Beau might be keeping secrets of his own. And then a mysterious death turns Winter Park upside down.
Thrust into a high-stakes murder investigation, Este must unravel a web of lies and secrets to answer the question: What exactly happened in California, and has it come back to haunt her? More importantly: How is she going to get herself out of this mess?
336 pages, Hardcover
First published July 7, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
July 7, 2026
🎧Pub Day Review🎧
Don’t let the cover full you into thinking this is a cozy one. It definitely turns into a thriller. Once I started the audiobook, I couldn’t stop.
Este Walker and her husband Beau move to Winter Park, Florida to reinvent Este herself. She’s hanging with the elite in hopes that her secrets stay buried.
Then, the community is shocked by a sudden murder. Who’s the killer and are they close to home? Told from the past and the present.
The audiobook is narrated by a favorite, Saskia Maarleveld. Of course she does an amazing job! I swear, if she narrates it, I’m listening to it. She always does a phenomenal job with the tension and suspense in her tone.
This is out today and I recommend you giving it a read.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Don’t let the cover full you into thinking this is a cozy one. It definitely turns into a thriller. Once I started the audiobook, I couldn’t stop.
Este Walker and her husband Beau move to Winter Park, Florida to reinvent Este herself. She’s hanging with the elite in hopes that her secrets stay buried.
Then, the community is shocked by a sudden murder. Who’s the killer and are they close to home? Told from the past and the present.
The audiobook is narrated by a favorite, Saskia Maarleveld. Of course she does an amazing job! I swear, if she narrates it, I’m listening to it. She always does a phenomenal job with the tension and suspense in her tone.
This is out today and I recommend you giving it a read.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 27, 2026
I really enjoyed this sequel to Happy Life, featuring the neighbors Este and Beau. A fun, twisty mystery with flashbacks that help add to the original story without repeating storylines. Recommend for mystery fans!
I chose Happy Life for my book club earlier this year, and I was so excited to see the next book available as an eARC on NetGalley.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review
I chose Happy Life for my book club earlier this year, and I was so excited to see the next book available as an eARC on NetGalley.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review
July 15, 2026
So when I started reading this book, I didn't realize it was the second of a series. That said, while there are some details you would glean from the first book about the relationship between Nora and Este, you can read this on its own. The authors provide enough details to fill in the reader on what happened in the first book.
Este reminded me of myself a little bit when I worked in the corporate world. I don't think I was as intense as Este, but when you are a woman, you have to work twice as hard to get ahead. But all of that comes crashing down when her boss isn't able to purchase a company. Partially due to the direction he wants to take the company, which goes against the owner's wishes. And because that same owner, Beau, has eyes for Este. She is torpedoed when he fires her via a notecard. But it was probably the best thing for her, because she is able to move on with her life, a life she didn't know she needed.
Beau is one of those guys that all women love. He is down-to-earth, pragmatic, and loveable. I loved watching his relationship with Este grow...until there are deaths in town, and he is a primary suspect. They both seem to have trust issues, and are keeping secrets from one another. Will they get past those secrets?
This is touted as women's fiction and a suspense/thriller, and I can see both of those genres. I enjoyed the humor and cattiness from the female characters, but the suspense as to who killed who kept me engaged in the story. I did not suspect the killer!
I am on the fence regarding Este's character. She seemed to do some unwise things, and instead of leaning into Beau and her friends, she seems to be running away and trying to get to the bottom of things on her own. She does redeem herself in the end.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel and will have to go back and read the first book and learn more about Nora's character.
We give this book 4 paws up.
Este reminded me of myself a little bit when I worked in the corporate world. I don't think I was as intense as Este, but when you are a woman, you have to work twice as hard to get ahead. But all of that comes crashing down when her boss isn't able to purchase a company. Partially due to the direction he wants to take the company, which goes against the owner's wishes. And because that same owner, Beau, has eyes for Este. She is torpedoed when he fires her via a notecard. But it was probably the best thing for her, because she is able to move on with her life, a life she didn't know she needed.
Beau is one of those guys that all women love. He is down-to-earth, pragmatic, and loveable. I loved watching his relationship with Este grow...until there are deaths in town, and he is a primary suspect. They both seem to have trust issues, and are keeping secrets from one another. Will they get past those secrets?
This is touted as women's fiction and a suspense/thriller, and I can see both of those genres. I enjoyed the humor and cattiness from the female characters, but the suspense as to who killed who kept me engaged in the story. I did not suspect the killer!
I am on the fence regarding Este's character. She seemed to do some unwise things, and instead of leaning into Beau and her friends, she seems to be running away and trying to get to the bottom of things on her own. She does redeem herself in the end.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel and will have to go back and read the first book and learn more about Nora's character.
We give this book 4 paws up.
July 1, 2026
2.5 stars. Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores' first book, Happy Wife, was one of my favorite reads of 2025 and my favorite thriller that I read that year. Unfortunately, their second book, Perfect Life, didn't work as well for me.
1. I wasn't as connected to or invested in Este, the FMC, as I was with Nora for Happy Wife.
2. I felt the overall plot was much juicier in Happy Wife. This book, even if I had not read Happy Wife previously, was pretty bland for a thriller for me.
3. I didn't like the quick explanation/wrap up in the epilogue. I would have more so enjoyed this being explored throughout the book rather than summarized in 2.5 pages.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine for the advanced copy. Perfect Life hits shelves on July 7, 2026.
1. I wasn't as connected to or invested in Este, the FMC, as I was with Nora for Happy Wife.
2. I felt the overall plot was much juicier in Happy Wife. This book, even if I had not read Happy Wife previously, was pretty bland for a thriller for me.
3. I didn't like the quick explanation/wrap up in the epilogue. I would have more so enjoyed this being explored throughout the book rather than summarized in 2.5 pages.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine for the advanced copy. Perfect Life hits shelves on July 7, 2026.
July 7, 2026
Likely geared for new adults to early 30s, this thriller/romance title’s primary focus is on the career and life goals of main character Este Todd and her surrounding friends, frenemies, business contacts and social acquaintances ranging from annoying to self-absorbed and self-promoting with a surprising few being truly likable. When murder threatens to upend all that Este has meticulous orchestrated and fine-tuned into a so-called perfect life, she must decide how far will she go to protect those dreams.
Loss of her parents in her early teens did not help academically over-achieving, striving for perfection at all times Estes, especially being transplanted from the world of academia to the very different, free-spirited, culturally unique world of New Orleans with an equally eclectic aunt who has a dominant personality like her parents, but with a very different execution style. Este emerges brilliant, with emotions stuffed down tightly, and a determination to launch herself into the business aspect of the tech world and sees Chief Executive Officer in her near future. Being Chief of Staff to Simon Avery has her on the right path to her perfect life, but when she artfully orchestrates a meeting with tech giant Beau Walker looking to sell and her boss makes a disastrous proposition against her counsel, Este is unceremoniously fired and left adrift. Until Beau Walker picks up her pieces and creates a new perfect life she never knew she wanted. Escaping California and the sting and career busting effect of her termination happens by way of expensive distractions across the world, all guided by the handsome, kind and supportive and now, after a highly lucrative sale of his company, an extremely wealthy Beau. Eventually settling in Winter Park, FL amid the wealthy, those who want to be associated with money and all those who work behind the scenes to be sure the money set never has to do much more than keep up appearances at one of the country clubs, Este and Beau settle into the perfect life they are sure will be their final destination as long as they are together.
But everyone knows there is no such thing as perfection and with a mysterious and anonymous text from California area, Este’s Perfect Life begins to implode one step and several leaps at a time until past mistakes, old lovers, dead bodies and prison become the new normal.
Authors Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores weave a solid thriller that may fit more into the mystery, realistic fiction, social drama genres and certainly has elements of all. Those who love to watch Real Wives reality shows will enjoy the petty bickering, focus on finding the just right outfit to be wearing when manipulating an entrance, as well as the romantic entanglements that pop up. Plenty of mystery around the who did what to who and the duo plants plenty of clues that seem like they identify the perpetrator(s) but then go a completely different direction. The conclusion ties up all the loose ends pretty neatly, but certainly leaves readers knowing that within that environment, The Perfect Life that settles into the usual privileged ease will certainly get shaken up again.
*Profanity: Considering the constant barrage of every possible curse word choice being used in so much YA and Adult works now, the level in The Perfect Life is pretty low. There are some Fbombs and a fair amount of lesser cursing, but it was not over used.
*Violence: Several deaths occur and a few fights between key players but none are excessively described nor bloody.
*Sexual content: It is stated that Este has had several lovers and the beginnings of a few of those physical encounters do generate a bit of passion, but those all “fade to black” so to speak w/only low levels of heat; plenty of references to infidelity but no descriptions of those incidents.
*Representation: Not all the key players are obscenely wealthy with service workers and others striving to move up the economic ladder playing key roles; Race is left fairly ambiguous; One wealthy wife makes no secret of her affairs and one of her dalliances is with another woman but no real emphasis is placed on the same sex aspect.
Thanks for the eARC, Edelweiss and Penguin Random House.
Loss of her parents in her early teens did not help academically over-achieving, striving for perfection at all times Estes, especially being transplanted from the world of academia to the very different, free-spirited, culturally unique world of New Orleans with an equally eclectic aunt who has a dominant personality like her parents, but with a very different execution style. Este emerges brilliant, with emotions stuffed down tightly, and a determination to launch herself into the business aspect of the tech world and sees Chief Executive Officer in her near future. Being Chief of Staff to Simon Avery has her on the right path to her perfect life, but when she artfully orchestrates a meeting with tech giant Beau Walker looking to sell and her boss makes a disastrous proposition against her counsel, Este is unceremoniously fired and left adrift. Until Beau Walker picks up her pieces and creates a new perfect life she never knew she wanted. Escaping California and the sting and career busting effect of her termination happens by way of expensive distractions across the world, all guided by the handsome, kind and supportive and now, after a highly lucrative sale of his company, an extremely wealthy Beau. Eventually settling in Winter Park, FL amid the wealthy, those who want to be associated with money and all those who work behind the scenes to be sure the money set never has to do much more than keep up appearances at one of the country clubs, Este and Beau settle into the perfect life they are sure will be their final destination as long as they are together.
But everyone knows there is no such thing as perfection and with a mysterious and anonymous text from California area, Este’s Perfect Life begins to implode one step and several leaps at a time until past mistakes, old lovers, dead bodies and prison become the new normal.
Authors Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores weave a solid thriller that may fit more into the mystery, realistic fiction, social drama genres and certainly has elements of all. Those who love to watch Real Wives reality shows will enjoy the petty bickering, focus on finding the just right outfit to be wearing when manipulating an entrance, as well as the romantic entanglements that pop up. Plenty of mystery around the who did what to who and the duo plants plenty of clues that seem like they identify the perpetrator(s) but then go a completely different direction. The conclusion ties up all the loose ends pretty neatly, but certainly leaves readers knowing that within that environment, The Perfect Life that settles into the usual privileged ease will certainly get shaken up again.
*Profanity: Considering the constant barrage of every possible curse word choice being used in so much YA and Adult works now, the level in The Perfect Life is pretty low. There are some Fbombs and a fair amount of lesser cursing, but it was not over used.
*Violence: Several deaths occur and a few fights between key players but none are excessively described nor bloody.
*Sexual content: It is stated that Este has had several lovers and the beginnings of a few of those physical encounters do generate a bit of passion, but those all “fade to black” so to speak w/only low levels of heat; plenty of references to infidelity but no descriptions of those incidents.
*Representation: Not all the key players are obscenely wealthy with service workers and others striving to move up the economic ladder playing key roles; Race is left fairly ambiguous; One wealthy wife makes no secret of her affairs and one of her dalliances is with another woman but no real emphasis is placed on the same sex aspect.
Thanks for the eARC, Edelweiss and Penguin Random House.
July 14, 2026
I read this book, based on how much I liked the first book, happy wife.
The author attempted to use the same formula for this book as she did in a happy wife
Didn’t work
Murder occurs in upper class, Winter Park, Florida. The suspects are all from the country club.
Typical stereotype characters, not much depth.
The author tried too hard to make the murder, interesting, because it really wasn’t.
Bottom line, not worth the read.
The author attempted to use the same formula for this book as she did in a happy wife
Didn’t work
Murder occurs in upper class, Winter Park, Florida. The suspects are all from the country club.
Typical stereotype characters, not much depth.
The author tried too hard to make the murder, interesting, because it really wasn’t.
Bottom line, not worth the read.
June 16, 2026
This was boring.
June 29, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for inviting me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 stars.
Despite the 3 stars, I did fairly enjoy this book. I would recommend people read it.
The cover is definitely accurate to the book, but I wouldn’t necessarily say this is a summer read. It was set in Florida and California, so in that sense yes. But I wouldn’t call it a beach read if that is what you may think.
I just didn’t realize this was a sequel/companion novel. If I knew that, I would have read book one first. I actually own the first book, I just haven’t read it yet. By the time I realized it was a sequel, I was too far into the book, so I just finished it.
I do plan on reading the first one! Maybe after I read that, I would enjoy this one more.
This one still made sense for the most part, even if you didn’t read the first book. You may just miss out on some extra details or miss out on some references.
Now getting into this book specifically. The mystery aspect was entertaining enough. I was curious to keep reading to see what was going on. I just didn’t fully connect to the characters. I liked Este enough, but I wasn’t in love with her. I liked her relationship with Beau, but I wasn’t interested enough to really care about how they met or how they got together.
And since I didn’t really know characters like Nora from the first book, Este and Nora’s friendship didn’t really keep me engaged. That is why I mentioned I think I could have given this a higher rating if I read the first book.
A lot of the drama with Este’s job I didn’t really care about at all. Which might sound terrible. It was important to the story, and I felt for her when she got fired, but I was never really interested going back in the past. I was more curious about what was going to happen in the present.
Everything tied up really nicely at the end. It was a clean wrap up to the story which I appreciated. There was maybe one thing I would have changed at the end. I won’t really be able to say because of spoilers, but I wish one character switched sides a little more smoothly. One minute she was suspecting someone pretty hard, then the next it was all okay. It was slightly jarring to read. I didn’t hate that she forgave this character, but I wish it was a smoother process. It does make sense in the grand scheme of things considering their relationship to each other, but still.
It’s a good enough read. I probably would read other books in the series if there were more!
3.5 stars.
Despite the 3 stars, I did fairly enjoy this book. I would recommend people read it.
The cover is definitely accurate to the book, but I wouldn’t necessarily say this is a summer read. It was set in Florida and California, so in that sense yes. But I wouldn’t call it a beach read if that is what you may think.
I just didn’t realize this was a sequel/companion novel. If I knew that, I would have read book one first. I actually own the first book, I just haven’t read it yet. By the time I realized it was a sequel, I was too far into the book, so I just finished it.
I do plan on reading the first one! Maybe after I read that, I would enjoy this one more.
This one still made sense for the most part, even if you didn’t read the first book. You may just miss out on some extra details or miss out on some references.
Now getting into this book specifically. The mystery aspect was entertaining enough. I was curious to keep reading to see what was going on. I just didn’t fully connect to the characters. I liked Este enough, but I wasn’t in love with her. I liked her relationship with Beau, but I wasn’t interested enough to really care about how they met or how they got together.
And since I didn’t really know characters like Nora from the first book, Este and Nora’s friendship didn’t really keep me engaged. That is why I mentioned I think I could have given this a higher rating if I read the first book.
A lot of the drama with Este’s job I didn’t really care about at all. Which might sound terrible. It was important to the story, and I felt for her when she got fired, but I was never really interested going back in the past. I was more curious about what was going to happen in the present.
Everything tied up really nicely at the end. It was a clean wrap up to the story which I appreciated. There was maybe one thing I would have changed at the end. I won’t really be able to say because of spoilers, but I wish one character switched sides a little more smoothly. One minute she was suspecting someone pretty hard, then the next it was all okay. It was slightly jarring to read. I didn’t hate that she forgave this character, but I wish it was a smoother process. It does make sense in the grand scheme of things considering their relationship to each other, but still.
It’s a good enough read. I probably would read other books in the series if there were more!
July 7, 2026
Este and her husband Beau are living the good life of wealth and privilege in Florida, fleeing from California and all the secrets they left behind. Unfortunately, the past has caught up with them and Este is plopped into the middle of a murder investigation instead of hiding out in her secluded enclave with her best friend Nora. Although I did not read the first book in this series, I did find this one enjoyable on its own and a fast-paced read. I thought some of the characters were a little shallow, but the main characters were well-developed. The plot was engaging and captivated me with solving the mystery along with Este. I liked the banter between Beau and Este and the playfulness of Este as she makes friends in some unusual ways. This book is a great mystery, a so-so suspense and a good read overall.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
July 16, 2026
Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own.
🎧 Book Review 🎧 By now, I think it’s safe to assume that we’ve all realized that there is no such thing as a perfect life. But sometimes it seems that the more glossy someone tries to make their life appear from the outside, the more there is to hide. In the little community of Winter Park, FL, everything looks shiny and pristine. But as a hurricane forms in the Atlantic, old secrets resurface and not everyone makes it out alive.
While this is the second installment in the Winter Park series, I had no problem jumping right into this gripping story. Kendall Shores and Meredith Lavender deliver a layered thriller with so many twists and turns, I had no idea what was about to unfold. Perfect Life is fast-paced and the narration perfectly matches this delightfully dark read.
I will definitely be going back to read the first book, Happy Wife!
🎧 Book Review 🎧 By now, I think it’s safe to assume that we’ve all realized that there is no such thing as a perfect life. But sometimes it seems that the more glossy someone tries to make their life appear from the outside, the more there is to hide. In the little community of Winter Park, FL, everything looks shiny and pristine. But as a hurricane forms in the Atlantic, old secrets resurface and not everyone makes it out alive.
While this is the second installment in the Winter Park series, I had no problem jumping right into this gripping story. Kendall Shores and Meredith Lavender deliver a layered thriller with so many twists and turns, I had no idea what was about to unfold. Perfect Life is fast-paced and the narration perfectly matches this delightfully dark read.
I will definitely be going back to read the first book, Happy Wife!
July 12, 2026
3⭐️s - little split on this one. I really enjoyed book 1 with Nora and liked how the authors brought her friend, Este, into this second one. I just didn’t connect with Este? I liked the juicy wealthy world drama that continues in this book 2. It’s a good, twisty thriller but just a little predictable. I really liked the community and here’s hoping for another little drama for a book 3?!
✨Special thanks to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for this complimentary digital advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
✨Special thanks to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for this complimentary digital advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
July 7, 2026
On par with Happy Wife, Perfect Life takes us back to Winter Park, FL for more wealthy country club community drama. What could be a better summer read than a rich people murder mystery? I find the writing to be fun without too being too fluffy, with solid characters that overlapped with the Happy Wife and a fun mystery. I hope to see this community again in a future novel!
Thank you NetGalley and Bantam Books for the advanced reader copy of Perfect Life. Out TODAY! 7/7/26
Thank you NetGalley and Bantam Books for the advanced reader copy of Perfect Life. Out TODAY! 7/7/26
July 26, 2026
I don’t get it. This book was just a string of events. I was never drawn in. I never cared about the characters.
Este and Beau are married. A friend of theirs is murdered. Beau is one of the last people to be seen with her. Este stops trusting Beau. Another person dies at their home. Beau gets questioned by the police. Este wonders if her husband killed him.
It’s not riveting.
Este and Beau are married. A friend of theirs is murdered. Beau is one of the last people to be seen with her. Este stops trusting Beau. Another person dies at their home. Beau gets questioned by the police. Este wonders if her husband killed him.
It’s not riveting.
July 17, 2026
loved this book - and I'm already thinking about which of my friends needs to read it. I have a lot of friends that love a good book and I feel like this twisty and turnt but good book needs to be referred to all the people that love a good thriller type book!
July 23, 2026
I loved Perfect Wife so I was excited about this sequel with a different protagonist. It really picked up at 50% and I was def eager to find out the answers to all the mysteries. Fun and easy ready!
July 26, 2026
Hard to finish
July 15, 2026
Was this a thriller or a romance? I think the authors were confused, but it wasn't a good book for either genre. I could not relate with Este at all. And the flashbacks reinforced that there was no way the killer was Beau. The twists were silly and excessive.
Want to Read
June 19, 2026I lost track of this book and just checked to make sure I don't miss the release. I loved the first from this debut author team!
July 3, 2026
First book was so good and this fell so flat for me. Didn’t care about any of the characters or plot.
Thank you NetGalley for the arc
Thank you NetGalley for the arc
August 2, 2026
Este Walker uprooted her life in California five years ago and moved to Winter Park, Florida to have a fresh start with her new husband Beau. They’ve been living a life of leisure since Beau sold his company for an exorbitant amount of money. Life has pretty much been fun and games! She’s very content with her close circle of friends, but opened it up for an old acquaintance from California who randomly showed up in Florida. When that person ends up dead, Este’s past threatens to spill into her new life, leaving her not knowing who she can trust.
This was a follow up to Happy Wife, which published last year. I enjoyed both books, and was happy to see some of the characters from the first book return! Este is a super fun character and Saskia Maarleveld did a great job portraying her. Classic rich people behaving badly. I enjoyed it and I’m curious to see if then authors will write another book featuring one of the other neighbors.
This was a follow up to Happy Wife, which published last year. I enjoyed both books, and was happy to see some of the characters from the first book return! Este is a super fun character and Saskia Maarleveld did a great job portraying her. Classic rich people behaving badly. I enjoyed it and I’m curious to see if then authors will write another book featuring one of the other neighbors.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
THIS IS AN ADVANCED READER COPY FROM NETGALLEY OF THE BOOK, “The Perfect Life” written by Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores by Bantom Books:
Este had an amazing corporate job she was incredibly devoted to and extremely successful except she was sleeping with her boss Simon. Her best friend Gemma worked at an exclusive restaurant that all the successful people in the community were always socializing at and had given Este a heads up when the company she and Simon were trying to buy were working on their decisions about which companies to meet with and sell to. When Este meets Beau, whose company is the one her boss wants, she’s overwhelmed by her immediate feelings for him. She sets the meeting at the office and Simon blows the pitch to Beau and the next day leaves her a note on her desk firing her and telling her that it’s over between them. She is devastated because while she didn’t have feelings for Simon such as love she did love her job.
When Beau calls to see if she’d like to get together she explains how her life has imploded and she’s a mess, not someone who’s any fun. Instead he convinced her to try out new things for him to learn because he’s also lost without working anymore. As a new billionaire, he’s never been more flush with money but so confused by what to do and where to settle down and boredom after years of only knowing work around the clock has him feeling adrift. They begin taking painting lessons, learning to ride unicycles, they try all sorts of fun and crazy activities and soon fall in love. They head to Florida to a small elite part called Winter Park and decided to build their home there and have begun making some tentative friends. When Gemma finds Este through her new Instagram account, Este invites her to move from California and come work for Mark, Beaus best friend who has a successful restaurant and who they came to visit when deciding to stay in Winter Park. Este has.been helping Gemma with job applications to get into a career where she can move up the corporate ladder and be successful. The night of the anniversary party for Marks restaurant Gemma comes by to get the clothes she’s borrowing for her interview and Este even bought her a pair of designer shoes to match. Gemma worked at the restaurant that night of the anniversary party but Este after receiving a few calls from a 301 number (California) and then a text message warning her she can’t hide from him forever, Este sees his shadowed outline at the front windows of restaurant and is scared. Has her past and the chaos and bomb that she and Simon left in California cone for her? The year before, someone had murdered her good friend Nora’s husband and were apprehended by the detective work she and Gemma had done finding them. She is worried now that the picture that was in the newspaper is how her old life had found the new one she loves dearly. That night, Beau tells her he’d come home early morning hours having stayed back after she left the restaurant with Tippy, Shep, Autumn snd Mark. Gemma had been a closer and punched out around midnight. The next morning Gemma is found dead in the alley outside the restaurant and everyone at the after party is being questioned by police. Este starts to look at everyone with suspicion and finds that Gemma’s apartment has been cleaned out with no sign of any of the personal items Gemma owned in the apartment. As she is leaving the detective shows up, Este tells him she doesn’t know or understand why the apartment is cleared out. She was looking forward to put roots down and was interviewing for a great company that day. As Este starts looking at all the people around them, Beau is taken to station to be questioned after some damaging video of Gemma and Beau arguing outside in the alley but the footage shows Beau walking away and then just before the footage reaches the last place it can record due to its placement, it shows a a hand grabbing Gemma by covering her mouth and pulling her into the shadows.
Este has a list of suspects and even Beau is one. Then she gets another threatening message and she calls back the number and it’s Simon saying he at the FOUR SEASONS hotel in Florida. She meets him in the bar downstairs from his room and she grills him. She finds out Gemma has been forced to go to Florida to keep tab on Este and Beau as he is convinced that Beau had hacked into Redwood, is firms computers losing alll his clients. Their money being stolen from them as the company dismantled under the hack and all the shares of his company plummeted and were shorted leaving him no choice but to bankrupt company. Gemma had been using the info she would learn from the brokers at her restaurant in Fl and taking that info would go and use it to invest into stocks at Simon’s company. Simon knew she must’ve been using insider trading information to do that because she was using stocks that weren’t in any position to be considered to invest but as soon as Gemma would invest they’d soar into high demand and values. He used this information to force her to go spy and find him proof that Beau was the own who did that hack and cost him all his life’s work in one fell swoop. Este will go on with bits of information trying to find Gemma’s killer and while Simon is setting a trap to finish off she and Beau. But the hurricane the area has finally made landfall and when they wake the next morning they find someone in their pool floating face down and dead. Este calls police and she’s shocked that it’s Simon. Beau gets arrested for the death of Simon but while he’s in being questioned it will be Este who finds the culprit and the guilty party finally having Beau how with her and was spending her gratitude of his being home and their lives together back to where she’d always wanted, they were both keeping things from the other. And they agreed to never allow anyone or anything come in between them again:
I really liked Este, with all her loss from such a young age. She was hard driven and intelligent as equally beautiful. She didn’t have many friends bc her walls she’d built after the death do her parents kept her from letting anyone in to meet the genuine Este but Beau had and that’s why her kove for him was profound, true and the most important relationship in her whole life. He was also madly in love with her as well and they’d reveled in their happiness, the joy they felt everyday and the bond they have js all she needed to navigate the world. Beau felt the exact same.
The story was so lovely regarding Este and Beau. They had such a lovely relationship and while it was the most romantic and equally shared regarding their partnership in marriage and their fire hot passion for one another it wasn’t contrived or unrealistic this was a genuinely committed couple whose love friendship and respect was immense and appreciated by them both.
I personally loved how the lovey adoration and constant love fests Este and Beau had was evened out by the dismal Nora whose husband Will was murder and those of Gemma and Simon. It was a perfect portrayal of the two and was interwoven especially well.
Thank you to the wonderful #Meredith Lavender and #Kendall Shores, #Netgalley ARCs and #BANTOM BOOKS
Este had an amazing corporate job she was incredibly devoted to and extremely successful except she was sleeping with her boss Simon. Her best friend Gemma worked at an exclusive restaurant that all the successful people in the community were always socializing at and had given Este a heads up when the company she and Simon were trying to buy were working on their decisions about which companies to meet with and sell to. When Este meets Beau, whose company is the one her boss wants, she’s overwhelmed by her immediate feelings for him. She sets the meeting at the office and Simon blows the pitch to Beau and the next day leaves her a note on her desk firing her and telling her that it’s over between them. She is devastated because while she didn’t have feelings for Simon such as love she did love her job.
When Beau calls to see if she’d like to get together she explains how her life has imploded and she’s a mess, not someone who’s any fun. Instead he convinced her to try out new things for him to learn because he’s also lost without working anymore. As a new billionaire, he’s never been more flush with money but so confused by what to do and where to settle down and boredom after years of only knowing work around the clock has him feeling adrift. They begin taking painting lessons, learning to ride unicycles, they try all sorts of fun and crazy activities and soon fall in love. They head to Florida to a small elite part called Winter Park and decided to build their home there and have begun making some tentative friends. When Gemma finds Este through her new Instagram account, Este invites her to move from California and come work for Mark, Beaus best friend who has a successful restaurant and who they came to visit when deciding to stay in Winter Park. Este has.been helping Gemma with job applications to get into a career where she can move up the corporate ladder and be successful. The night of the anniversary party for Marks restaurant Gemma comes by to get the clothes she’s borrowing for her interview and Este even bought her a pair of designer shoes to match. Gemma worked at the restaurant that night of the anniversary party but Este after receiving a few calls from a 301 number (California) and then a text message warning her she can’t hide from him forever, Este sees his shadowed outline at the front windows of restaurant and is scared. Has her past and the chaos and bomb that she and Simon left in California cone for her? The year before, someone had murdered her good friend Nora’s husband and were apprehended by the detective work she and Gemma had done finding them. She is worried now that the picture that was in the newspaper is how her old life had found the new one she loves dearly. That night, Beau tells her he’d come home early morning hours having stayed back after she left the restaurant with Tippy, Shep, Autumn snd Mark. Gemma had been a closer and punched out around midnight. The next morning Gemma is found dead in the alley outside the restaurant and everyone at the after party is being questioned by police. Este starts to look at everyone with suspicion and finds that Gemma’s apartment has been cleaned out with no sign of any of the personal items Gemma owned in the apartment. As she is leaving the detective shows up, Este tells him she doesn’t know or understand why the apartment is cleared out. She was looking forward to put roots down and was interviewing for a great company that day. As Este starts looking at all the people around them, Beau is taken to station to be questioned after some damaging video of Gemma and Beau arguing outside in the alley but the footage shows Beau walking away and then just before the footage reaches the last place it can record due to its placement, it shows a a hand grabbing Gemma by covering her mouth and pulling her into the shadows.
Este has a list of suspects and even Beau is one. Then she gets another threatening message and she calls back the number and it’s Simon saying he at the FOUR SEASONS hotel in Florida. She meets him in the bar downstairs from his room and she grills him. She finds out Gemma has been forced to go to Florida to keep tab on Este and Beau as he is convinced that Beau had hacked into Redwood, is firms computers losing alll his clients. Their money being stolen from them as the company dismantled under the hack and all the shares of his company plummeted and were shorted leaving him no choice but to bankrupt company. Gemma had been using the info she would learn from the brokers at her restaurant in Fl and taking that info would go and use it to invest into stocks at Simon’s company. Simon knew she must’ve been using insider trading information to do that because she was using stocks that weren’t in any position to be considered to invest but as soon as Gemma would invest they’d soar into high demand and values. He used this information to force her to go spy and find him proof that Beau was the own who did that hack and cost him all his life’s work in one fell swoop. Este will go on with bits of information trying to find Gemma’s killer and while Simon is setting a trap to finish off she and Beau. But the hurricane the area has finally made landfall and when they wake the next morning they find someone in their pool floating face down and dead. Este calls police and she’s shocked that it’s Simon. Beau gets arrested for the death of Simon but while he’s in being questioned it will be Este who finds the culprit and the guilty party finally having Beau how with her and was spending her gratitude of his being home and their lives together back to where she’d always wanted, they were both keeping things from the other. And they agreed to never allow anyone or anything come in between them again:
I really liked Este, with all her loss from such a young age. She was hard driven and intelligent as equally beautiful. She didn’t have many friends bc her walls she’d built after the death do her parents kept her from letting anyone in to meet the genuine Este but Beau had and that’s why her kove for him was profound, true and the most important relationship in her whole life. He was also madly in love with her as well and they’d reveled in their happiness, the joy they felt everyday and the bond they have js all she needed to navigate the world. Beau felt the exact same.
The story was so lovely regarding Este and Beau. They had such a lovely relationship and while it was the most romantic and equally shared regarding their partnership in marriage and their fire hot passion for one another it wasn’t contrived or unrealistic this was a genuinely committed couple whose love friendship and respect was immense and appreciated by them both.
I personally loved how the lovey adoration and constant love fests Este and Beau had was evened out by the dismal Nora whose husband Will was murder and those of Gemma and Simon. It was a perfect portrayal of the two and was interwoven especially well.
Thank you to the wonderful #Meredith Lavender and #Kendall Shores, #Netgalley ARCs and #BANTOM BOOKS
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: July 7, 2026
Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores , authors of “Happy Wife” return with their new co-written twisty novel of suspense, “Perfect Life”.
Este Walker moved to Winter Park, Florida to escape her life in California, a life that had blown up spectacularly. Now, even though her husband, Beau, is a super wealthy tech millionaire, she is still trying to find her place among the upper echelons of Winter Park society. But Este soon gets more attention than she could ask for when bodies start dropping in the quiet community, both with close connections to Este, and fingers start pointing at Beau. Was Este too rash in her desperate attempt to escape California that she didn’t truly know the person she married? What other secrets is Beau keeping?
Lavender and Shores have the co-writing thing down. “Perfect Life” is smooth and flowing and it is impossible to differentiate between the authors or, in fact, that two authors wrote the novel at all as it is so seamless and connected. Este is the protagonist who is immediately the envy of readers, as well as the community of Winter Park, for marrying the handsome and super wealthy Beau, who also happens to be in love with her. But it all comes crashing down when Beau is arrested and the question arises- is Beau really too good to be true?
“Perfect” is single-narrator and dual-timeline, taking place both before, when Este was in California, and after, when her and Beau have settled in Winter Park. The chapters are labeled, delineating what time frame readers are experiencing, so it is easy to keep up. Right at the beginning of the novel, as a prologue, Este is experiencing the aftermath of a hurricane, so each chapter that takes place in Florida is leading up to the hurricane itself.
I didn’t have any experience with the authors prior to this, and I didn’t know a whole lot about the novel before reading it, either, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. “Perfect” is the follow up to “Wife” and that makes sense, as there are incidents in “Perfect” that are discussed (such as the murder of Nora’s husband) which the characters had a sense of familiarity with that had me completely in the dark. That didn’t really take away from my enjoyment of “Perfect”, though, as anything pertinent was touched on, so I got the minor details of the things I had missed by not reading “Wife”.
“Perfect” is sharp and tense, and the authors deliver a pulse-pounding novel that will captivate readers, whether they have read “Wife” or not.
Expected publication date: July 7, 2026
Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores , authors of “Happy Wife” return with their new co-written twisty novel of suspense, “Perfect Life”.
Este Walker moved to Winter Park, Florida to escape her life in California, a life that had blown up spectacularly. Now, even though her husband, Beau, is a super wealthy tech millionaire, she is still trying to find her place among the upper echelons of Winter Park society. But Este soon gets more attention than she could ask for when bodies start dropping in the quiet community, both with close connections to Este, and fingers start pointing at Beau. Was Este too rash in her desperate attempt to escape California that she didn’t truly know the person she married? What other secrets is Beau keeping?
Lavender and Shores have the co-writing thing down. “Perfect Life” is smooth and flowing and it is impossible to differentiate between the authors or, in fact, that two authors wrote the novel at all as it is so seamless and connected. Este is the protagonist who is immediately the envy of readers, as well as the community of Winter Park, for marrying the handsome and super wealthy Beau, who also happens to be in love with her. But it all comes crashing down when Beau is arrested and the question arises- is Beau really too good to be true?
“Perfect” is single-narrator and dual-timeline, taking place both before, when Este was in California, and after, when her and Beau have settled in Winter Park. The chapters are labeled, delineating what time frame readers are experiencing, so it is easy to keep up. Right at the beginning of the novel, as a prologue, Este is experiencing the aftermath of a hurricane, so each chapter that takes place in Florida is leading up to the hurricane itself.
I didn’t have any experience with the authors prior to this, and I didn’t know a whole lot about the novel before reading it, either, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. “Perfect” is the follow up to “Wife” and that makes sense, as there are incidents in “Perfect” that are discussed (such as the murder of Nora’s husband) which the characters had a sense of familiarity with that had me completely in the dark. That didn’t really take away from my enjoyment of “Perfect”, though, as anything pertinent was touched on, so I got the minor details of the things I had missed by not reading “Wife”.
“Perfect” is sharp and tense, and the authors deliver a pulse-pounding novel that will captivate readers, whether they have read “Wife” or not.
July 8, 2026
Have you ever started a thriller and immediately thought, “Every single one of these people is a bad idea”? Because that was pretty much my relationship with Perfect Life from beginning to end.
Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores’ Perfect Life is set in a wealthy Florida community where everyone seems to have the kind of life that looks great in photos. Big houses. Nice cars. Expensive dinners. Perfect marriages. You know, all the things that usually fall apart by chapter three.
Published by Ballantine | Bantam, thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.
The story follows Este Walker, who left California years ago and built a completely different life with her husband, Beau. She has money, security, and a fresh start. Then someone from her past shows up, a death rocks the community, and suddenly that fresh start doesn’t look so secure anymore.
What kept me reading was less about the mystery itself and more about the people. Nobody seemed fully honest. Every time I thought I had somebody figured out, I’d learn something new and start questioning everything again. I spent a lot of this book pointing fingers at different characters and being wrong.
Which, for a thriller reader, is actually pretty fun.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
“Gossip isn’t sharing, and it’s not a game. It’s an arms race. Every secret demands another.”
That quote made me stop and reread it because it fits this story so well.
I will be honest and say the beginning moved a little slowly for me. It wasn’t a book that grabbed me by the throat from page one. Instead, it took its time setting things up. Once the pieces started falling into place, though, I found myself reading longer than I planned and saying, “Okay, one more chapter” more times than I care to admit.
I also liked that Este felt flawed. She doesn’t always make great decisions. She isn’t the kind of character who walks into a room and magically solves every problem. She carries baggage, makes mistakes, and sometimes complicates her own life. That made her feel more believable to me.
The wealthy-neighborhood setting was probably my favorite part. There is just something entertaining about watching people with beautiful homes and seemingly perfect lives scramble when their secrets start slipping out. Maybe that says something about me, but here we are.
I enjoyed Happy Wife a little more overall, but I still had a good time with this one. The final stretch was especially strong, and by the end I genuinely wanted to know how everything would shake out.
If you like domestic suspense, messy friendships, complicated marriages, old secrets, and characters who all seem a little suspicious, this is worth adding to your summer reading list.
Sometimes the most dangerous person in a thriller isn’t the obvious suspect. It’s the one smiling in the background while everyone else gets the blame.
Tell me I’m not the only one who reads thrillers and immediately starts a mental suspect list. Who else plays detective while they’re reading?
Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores’ Perfect Life is set in a wealthy Florida community where everyone seems to have the kind of life that looks great in photos. Big houses. Nice cars. Expensive dinners. Perfect marriages. You know, all the things that usually fall apart by chapter three.
Published by Ballantine | Bantam, thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.
The story follows Este Walker, who left California years ago and built a completely different life with her husband, Beau. She has money, security, and a fresh start. Then someone from her past shows up, a death rocks the community, and suddenly that fresh start doesn’t look so secure anymore.
What kept me reading was less about the mystery itself and more about the people. Nobody seemed fully honest. Every time I thought I had somebody figured out, I’d learn something new and start questioning everything again. I spent a lot of this book pointing fingers at different characters and being wrong.
Which, for a thriller reader, is actually pretty fun.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
“Gossip isn’t sharing, and it’s not a game. It’s an arms race. Every secret demands another.”
That quote made me stop and reread it because it fits this story so well.
I will be honest and say the beginning moved a little slowly for me. It wasn’t a book that grabbed me by the throat from page one. Instead, it took its time setting things up. Once the pieces started falling into place, though, I found myself reading longer than I planned and saying, “Okay, one more chapter” more times than I care to admit.
I also liked that Este felt flawed. She doesn’t always make great decisions. She isn’t the kind of character who walks into a room and magically solves every problem. She carries baggage, makes mistakes, and sometimes complicates her own life. That made her feel more believable to me.
The wealthy-neighborhood setting was probably my favorite part. There is just something entertaining about watching people with beautiful homes and seemingly perfect lives scramble when their secrets start slipping out. Maybe that says something about me, but here we are.
I enjoyed Happy Wife a little more overall, but I still had a good time with this one. The final stretch was especially strong, and by the end I genuinely wanted to know how everything would shake out.
If you like domestic suspense, messy friendships, complicated marriages, old secrets, and characters who all seem a little suspicious, this is worth adding to your summer reading list.
Sometimes the most dangerous person in a thriller isn’t the obvious suspect. It’s the one smiling in the background while everyone else gets the blame.
Tell me I’m not the only one who reads thrillers and immediately starts a mental suspect list. Who else plays detective while they’re reading?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Book review 📖
📜Perfect Life
✍️Meredith Lavender & Kendall Shores
📠Ballantine/Bantam
📚Mystery/Thriller Fiction
🗓️Pub date: July 7, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✨Thank you @NetGalley and @bantambooks @ballantinebooks for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
From the publisher:
Welcome back to Winter Park, where looks can kill and secrets refuse to stay buried.
Este Walker didn’t move to Florida to make friends. Five years ago, she ghosted her life in California to reinvent herself among the lakefront estates of Florida’s elite. With a cocktail in hand, more money than she could ever spend, and a past she intends to keep hidden, she’s finally content—or, you know, close enough. Her husband, Beau, and her best friend, Nora, are the only company Este needs.
But when someone she’d much rather forget resurfaces, the past begins to close on her. And then a mysterious death turns Winter Park upside down—and Beau, who’s keeping secrets of his own, is implicated,. Thrust into a high-stakes murder investigation, Este must unravel a web of lies and deception to answer the question: What exactly happened in California, and has it come back to haunt her? More important: How is she going to get herself out of this mess?
Thoughts:
I snatched this right up as soon as I saw it, after having loved Happy Wife. I remember loving Este as a kickass friend to Nora, so I was excited to hear her story.
The first part was a little slow for me, but things quickly sped up. I loved the alternating timelines with Gemma and Este, and Este’s courtship with Beau. My head was spinning with all the twists towards the end, and I was eager to figure out who was responsible for the murder.
I’m a huge fan of Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores and can’t wait until their next book releases! This will be a great summer thriller or a fun book to pack in your beach bag ⛱️☀️🌊
#netgalley #advancedreadercopy #perfectlife #bantambooks
📜Perfect Life
✍️Meredith Lavender & Kendall Shores
📠Ballantine/Bantam
📚Mystery/Thriller Fiction
🗓️Pub date: July 7, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✨Thank you @NetGalley and @bantambooks @ballantinebooks for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
From the publisher:
Welcome back to Winter Park, where looks can kill and secrets refuse to stay buried.
Este Walker didn’t move to Florida to make friends. Five years ago, she ghosted her life in California to reinvent herself among the lakefront estates of Florida’s elite. With a cocktail in hand, more money than she could ever spend, and a past she intends to keep hidden, she’s finally content—or, you know, close enough. Her husband, Beau, and her best friend, Nora, are the only company Este needs.
But when someone she’d much rather forget resurfaces, the past begins to close on her. And then a mysterious death turns Winter Park upside down—and Beau, who’s keeping secrets of his own, is implicated,. Thrust into a high-stakes murder investigation, Este must unravel a web of lies and deception to answer the question: What exactly happened in California, and has it come back to haunt her? More important: How is she going to get herself out of this mess?
Thoughts:
I snatched this right up as soon as I saw it, after having loved Happy Wife. I remember loving Este as a kickass friend to Nora, so I was excited to hear her story.
The first part was a little slow for me, but things quickly sped up. I loved the alternating timelines with Gemma and Este, and Este’s courtship with Beau. My head was spinning with all the twists towards the end, and I was eager to figure out who was responsible for the murder.
I’m a huge fan of Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores and can’t wait until their next book releases! This will be a great summer thriller or a fun book to pack in your beach bag ⛱️☀️🌊
#netgalley #advancedreadercopy #perfectlife #bantambooks
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you enjoy domestic thrillers packed with secrets, lies, and jaw-dropping twists, Perfect Life delivers exactly what its title promises—and then completely shatters it.
Este Walker has spent years carefully constructing a new identity in the affluent world of Winter Park, Florida. Surrounded by wealth, protected by her husband Beau, and relying on her closest friend Nora, she's managed to keep her troubled past firmly buried. Or so she thinks. When a shocking death rocks the community and long-hidden secrets begin resurfacing, Este finds herself caught in a dangerous web of deception where no one can be trusted—not even the people closest to her.
The authors excel at creating tension from the very first page. Every chapter seemed to reveal another layer of mystery, and just when I thought I had figured things out, a new twist sent me in a completely different direction. The pacing is fast, addictive, and perfectly suited to a thriller that keeps readers questioning everyone's motives.
Este is a fascinating protagonist—flawed, secretive, and impossible not to root for. Her complicated past and determination to protect the life she's built make her both sympathetic and unpredictable. The supporting cast is equally compelling, particularly as hidden agendas and buried truths begin to surface.
What stood out most was the atmosphere. The polished wealth and picturesque beauty of Winter Park provide the perfect backdrop for a story filled with dark secrets lurking beneath the surface. The contrast between the glamorous setting and the escalating danger creates an irresistible sense of unease throughout the novel.
Filled with suspense, shocking revelations, and plenty of emotional stakes, Perfect Life is an engrossing thriller that kept me turning pages late into the night. Fans of twisty domestic suspense and unreliable characters will not want to miss this one.
Highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of Perfect Life by Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2026
Perfect Life is the second book in the Winter Park series by Meredith Lavender and Kendall shore, the first book a perfect wife centered on Nora whose husband was murdered on his birthday and Nora was the prime suspect. investigating the murder is also how Nora and Estee became friends. it’s been a year now and Nora and Estee are enjoying or rather not enjoying a bit of celebrity and when the book begins they’re at a party at Bo and Este’s restaurant Lemon And Fig before the party is over Gemma will be found murdered in the alley by the restaurant in this really freaks Este out. for one thing Gemma is the only one who knew her back in California in the end of her stay there wasn’t a good one she was broken up with and fired on the same day by the same guy this is why she fled California to Florida with billionaire bo and start a new life that she loves. it doesn’t help matters when bow becomes the suspect for Gemma‘s murder and on top of that Este keeps getting text messages from her ex Simon. while all this is going on Este keeps picking up things she believes is clues to the crime and she has no idea why or how they can help. Gemma will not be the only dead body in Winter Park but should they be looking for one killer or two? I really enjoyed this book not as much as I did the first one but this is definitely a close second I love Nora and Este together. I hope there is another book in Winter Park. I find them to be so quirky together in her and Nora both work well against each other I was really perplexed as to who killed Gemma at first and then I thought I knew but I had no idea ultimately. I love a good book that keeps you guessing and this one definitely did that I think the two authors work well together it would definitely read more by them and hope to do so in the future. This is a book I definitely recommend for thriller fans. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
July 26, 2026
Perfect Life is a gripping domestic thriller that masterfully blends psychological suspense, murder mystery, and emotional drama into a story where carefully constructed lives begin to unravel one devastating secret at a time.
What immediately stands out is the novel's exploration of reinvention. Este Walker has seemingly built the perfect new life among Winter Park's wealthy elite, yet the lingering shadows of her past create a constant undercurrent of tension. The story brilliantly asks whether anyone can truly escape who they once were or whether buried truths inevitably demand to be uncovered.
I particularly appreciated the layered characterization. Este is neither a conventional heroine nor an obvious antihero, making every decision she faces feel morally complex and emotionally believable. As suspicions begin to surround both her past and her husband, readers are drawn deeper into a web where trust becomes increasingly difficult to place.
The pacing is another major strength. Each revelation raises new questions without sacrificing emotional investment, creating the kind of suspense that encourages "just one more chapter." The authors carefully balance shocking twists with believable character motivations, allowing the mystery to unfold naturally rather than relying solely on surprise.
Winter Park itself becomes an effective backdrop for the story. Beneath its polished appearance lies an atmosphere of privilege, ambition, hidden agendas, and carefully guarded reputations, perfectly complementing the novel's central themes of deception and identity.
Ultimately, Perfect Life delivers exactly what great psychological suspense should: compelling characters, escalating tension, and a mystery built as much upon emotional secrets as criminal ones. Fans of domestic thrillers, unreliable narrators, and character-driven mysteries will find this an engrossing and thoroughly satisfying read.
What immediately stands out is the novel's exploration of reinvention. Este Walker has seemingly built the perfect new life among Winter Park's wealthy elite, yet the lingering shadows of her past create a constant undercurrent of tension. The story brilliantly asks whether anyone can truly escape who they once were or whether buried truths inevitably demand to be uncovered.
I particularly appreciated the layered characterization. Este is neither a conventional heroine nor an obvious antihero, making every decision she faces feel morally complex and emotionally believable. As suspicions begin to surround both her past and her husband, readers are drawn deeper into a web where trust becomes increasingly difficult to place.
The pacing is another major strength. Each revelation raises new questions without sacrificing emotional investment, creating the kind of suspense that encourages "just one more chapter." The authors carefully balance shocking twists with believable character motivations, allowing the mystery to unfold naturally rather than relying solely on surprise.
Winter Park itself becomes an effective backdrop for the story. Beneath its polished appearance lies an atmosphere of privilege, ambition, hidden agendas, and carefully guarded reputations, perfectly complementing the novel's central themes of deception and identity.
Ultimately, Perfect Life delivers exactly what great psychological suspense should: compelling characters, escalating tension, and a mystery built as much upon emotional secrets as criminal ones. Fans of domestic thrillers, unreliable narrators, and character-driven mysteries will find this an engrossing and thoroughly satisfying read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Perfect Life” is a very entertaining mystery/thriller set in tony Winter Park, Florida. It’s well- and stylishly-written, fast-paced, and designed to keep readers both reading and guessing.
The book grabbed me from the very first page. Main character and narrator Este Walker is immediately likable and engaging. She’s bright, witty, charming, and kind, but doesn’t suffer fools and refuses to “run with the pack.” She’s married to her soulmate, Beau, a charismatic and sexy software genius with unlimited wealth. They never have to work another day in their lives. They’ve built a beautiful home in one of Florida’s most desirable communities along with some very strong friendships.
But life is not perfect. Something from the past haunts her and Beau. What, or who, is it? How much of a threat is posed? And what connection, if any, does it or they have to the death of a close friend? Was that death an accident or a murder? If a murder, who did it? Is anyone else in danger? Is the perfect life that Este and Beau have built in danger of being destroyed?
These are the questions that kept me turning the pages, along with authors Meredith Lavender’s and Kendall Shores’s brisk, descriptive prose and sparkling dialogue often laced with humor (some of which is directed at the foibles of certain of Este’s and Beau’s neighbors.)
It’s a novel that reminded me a little of that old TV show, “Desperate Housewives.” Fans of that series may well want to give “Perfect Life” a try. Certainly, I enjoyed it enough to give its prequel, “Happy Wife,” a try.
"Perfect Life" is due to be published on July 7, 2026.
My thanks to NetGalley, authors Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores, and publisher Ballantine | Bantam for providing me with a complimentary electronic ARC. All of the foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.
The book grabbed me from the very first page. Main character and narrator Este Walker is immediately likable and engaging. She’s bright, witty, charming, and kind, but doesn’t suffer fools and refuses to “run with the pack.” She’s married to her soulmate, Beau, a charismatic and sexy software genius with unlimited wealth. They never have to work another day in their lives. They’ve built a beautiful home in one of Florida’s most desirable communities along with some very strong friendships.
But life is not perfect. Something from the past haunts her and Beau. What, or who, is it? How much of a threat is posed? And what connection, if any, does it or they have to the death of a close friend? Was that death an accident or a murder? If a murder, who did it? Is anyone else in danger? Is the perfect life that Este and Beau have built in danger of being destroyed?
These are the questions that kept me turning the pages, along with authors Meredith Lavender’s and Kendall Shores’s brisk, descriptive prose and sparkling dialogue often laced with humor (some of which is directed at the foibles of certain of Este’s and Beau’s neighbors.)
It’s a novel that reminded me a little of that old TV show, “Desperate Housewives.” Fans of that series may well want to give “Perfect Life” a try. Certainly, I enjoyed it enough to give its prequel, “Happy Wife,” a try.
"Perfect Life" is due to be published on July 7, 2026.
My thanks to NetGalley, authors Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores, and publisher Ballantine | Bantam for providing me with a complimentary electronic ARC. All of the foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
After leaving California behind for a fresh start, Este Walker has built a new life in Winter Park, Florida, hoping to keep her past exactly where she left it. But when a murder rocks her close-knit community and someone from her past unexpectedly reappears, the life she's worked so hard to build begins to unravel. As secrets begin surfacing and suspicion falls on those closest to her, Este is forced to confront the past she thought she'd escaped.
Told entirely from Este's point of view, the story follows her as she tries to make sense of the murder, the questions surrounding her husband, and the secrets hidden within her circle of friends and neighbors. I especially enjoyed how the mystery continued to evolve as more of Este's past came into focus. Rather than relying solely on shocking twists, each revelation added another piece to the bigger picture and changed how I viewed everything that had come before.
One of my favorite aspects of Perfect Life was returning to Winter Park. While this novel absolutely works as a standalone, having read Happy Wife made revisiting Nora, Marcus, Este, and Beau feel like catching up with old friends. Knowing their history added another layer to the reading experience, and I appreciated seeing those relationships continue to grow.
By the end, I wasn't ready to leave Winter Park. I'd happily return for another story, whether it followed these familiar characters or introduced new residents within the community. Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores have created a setting and cast that I would love to revisit.
If you enjoy domestic thrillers that blend mystery with layered relationships, complicated pasts, and a strong sense of community, Perfect Life is well worth picking up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
After leaving California behind for a fresh start, Este Walker has built a new life in Winter Park, Florida, hoping to keep her past exactly where she left it. But when a murder rocks her close-knit community and someone from her past unexpectedly reappears, the life she's worked so hard to build begins to unravel. As secrets begin surfacing and suspicion falls on those closest to her, Este is forced to confront the past she thought she'd escaped.
Told entirely from Este's point of view, the story follows her as she tries to make sense of the murder, the questions surrounding her husband, and the secrets hidden within her circle of friends and neighbors. I especially enjoyed how the mystery continued to evolve as more of Este's past came into focus. Rather than relying solely on shocking twists, each revelation added another piece to the bigger picture and changed how I viewed everything that had come before.
One of my favorite aspects of Perfect Life was returning to Winter Park. While this novel absolutely works as a standalone, having read Happy Wife made revisiting Nora, Marcus, Este, and Beau feel like catching up with old friends. Knowing their history added another layer to the reading experience, and I appreciated seeing those relationships continue to grow.
By the end, I wasn't ready to leave Winter Park. I'd happily return for another story, whether it followed these familiar characters or introduced new residents within the community. Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores have created a setting and cast that I would love to revisit.
If you enjoy domestic thrillers that blend mystery with layered relationships, complicated pasts, and a strong sense of community, Perfect Life is well worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed Perfect Life and found it to be a strong follow-up to Happy Life. The story shifts the focus to Este and Beau, two neighbors introduced in the earlier book, and quickly builds a tense, twist-filled mystery around them. Even though this is technically a sequel, I think it works well on its own because the authors provide enough context without rehashing the previous plot.
What stood out most to me was the structure. The dual timeline, moving between Este’s past in California and her present in Winter Park, adds layers to the suspense and gradually reveals why she’s so determined to reinvent herself. The chapters are easy to follow, and each new piece of information changes how you view both Este and Beau.
The setting also adds a lot to the atmosphere. Winter Park’s polished, wealthy community feels like the perfect backdrop for a story about appearances, secrets, and the question of whether anyone truly knows the person they married. As the investigation unfolds and suspicion falls on Beau, the tension ramps up in a way that kept me turning pages.
I also have to mention how seamless the co-writing feels. If I hadn’t known two authors wrote this, I never would have guessed. The narrative flows smoothly from start to finish.
My only reason for not giving it five stars is that a few of the twists were somewhat predictable once the clues started lining up. Still, the journey was entertaining, the pacing was strong, and the ending felt satisfying without tying everything up too neatly.
If you enjoy domestic suspense with wealthy neighborhoods, hidden pasts, and escalating secrets, Perfect Life is definitely worth picking up.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What stood out most to me was the structure. The dual timeline, moving between Este’s past in California and her present in Winter Park, adds layers to the suspense and gradually reveals why she’s so determined to reinvent herself. The chapters are easy to follow, and each new piece of information changes how you view both Este and Beau.
The setting also adds a lot to the atmosphere. Winter Park’s polished, wealthy community feels like the perfect backdrop for a story about appearances, secrets, and the question of whether anyone truly knows the person they married. As the investigation unfolds and suspicion falls on Beau, the tension ramps up in a way that kept me turning pages.
I also have to mention how seamless the co-writing feels. If I hadn’t known two authors wrote this, I never would have guessed. The narrative flows smoothly from start to finish.
My only reason for not giving it five stars is that a few of the twists were somewhat predictable once the clues started lining up. Still, the journey was entertaining, the pacing was strong, and the ending felt satisfying without tying everything up too neatly.
If you enjoy domestic suspense with wealthy neighborhoods, hidden pasts, and escalating secrets, Perfect Life is definitely worth picking up.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews