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A review by nicolem_young
The Perfect Home by Daniel Kenitz
2.0
Book/Story: ⭐️⭐️.5️
Book Cover: ⭐⭐⭐️
TRIGGER(S): INFIDELITY, FERTILITY ISSUES, CANCER, DOMESTIC VERBAL/PHYSICAL ABUSE
POV: Dual, First Person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Trope(s): None
Spice: None
Genre: Domestic Thriller
Debut Novel: Yes
Safe or Dark: Dark
Release Date: January 7, 2025
I don’t think I can ever view couples on home renovation shows the same ever again. Not that I watch HGTV anyway.
Are Ben and Erin Napier, Bryan and Sarah Baeulmer, Dave and Jenny Marrs, and Chip and Joanna Gaines are as happy as they appear? *Narrows eyes in thought*
I had to google who those people were.
It’s no secret that the media twist stories to their advantage. Only showing us what they want us to see and working hard to get us to believe a particular narrative. This book only reinforces that idea. I just loved that this story played on the idea that not everything we see on television is the truth.
A little personal tidbit: I absolutely adore the name Wyatt. WHEN my husband and I WANTED kids (many moons ago), it was in the running if we had a boy. Well, at least it was on my list.
I apologize to anyone who might be personally offended by this. But Harlene is the worst name I have ever heard. Every time I read it, I cringed. I felt legitimately mad for Wyatt and Dawn’s daughter since they named her that. Harlene Mae, to be precise.
Ah, yes, the societal pressure that is put on women to be babymakers. A tale as old as time.
The idealism that a woman's choice to not have children or those who have no maternal instinct are less of a woman in general.
As a female who is childfree by choice, I didn't appreciate the parental “I want grandkids before I die” guilt trip, the idea that our parents deserve to have grandchildren and we need to give it to them mindset, or the couples who don’t have little spawns are useless and lonely vibes. I get that those were things that were needed to progress the plot of the story. But it still gave me the biggest of icks.
My husband and I are far from being lonely and lead a very fulfilling life without children. I knew what this book was about going into it. I just didn’t think that the first half would hit such a personal nerve with me.
Please know that I’m not heartless. I love kids! I adore my nieces and nephews to pieces. I don’t ever fault people for wanting to have children, even if I might not understand why, and I absolutely can sympathize with couples/individuals who have trouble conceiving.
*Takes deep breath and calmly sips coffee.* Okay, I’m going to get off my soapbox now.
The Dawn being a “plain Jane” and Wyatt being a “hot hunk of man meat” thing was way overdone as well. Why did the fact that Dawn was a “regular girl” have to be brought up so often? It almost felt insulting to not only the character but to women in general. Shouldn’t the focus have been less about the couple's looks and more about the dynamics of their marriage?
I honestly had a super hard time getting invested in any of the characters in this story. I didn’t care for Dawn or Wyatt. Dawn's woe is me attitude got on my nerves rather quickly. I wanted to sympathize with her, but she made it difficult. I often found myself being more frustrated with her than I was with Wyatt. Dare I say at times I was on his side!? I tried hard to build a connection with both of them, but alas, it just didn’t happen.
I couldn’t stand Alice and Victoria. For people who were supposed to be Dawn’s closest friends in the world, they sure did do her dirty. They took Wyatt’s side over hers and consistently allowed him to gaslight them into thinking Dawn was the bad guy in this situation. I’d rather have no friends at all than two friends like them. They were just... yuck.
I will say that the first half of the book progresses much slower than the second half. Although we hit somewhat of a lull in the middle of the story, the latter part of the book worked better for me.
As for the ending, it felt rushed, and things were wrapped up in a neat little bow. I would have liked more from it. More turmoil. More struggles. More issues. Just more.
The good thing about this plot is that it’s an original idea. Not one I’ve seen done many times. With the addition of the home renovation concept, it was an interesting twist on the “you never know what happens behind closed door”/”not all couples are as perfect as they might seem” narrative. Props to Daniel Kenitz for that one. The fact that the writing was easy to follow and the chapters were short didn’t hurt either. All in all, it was a quick read despite the slower start.
TLDR: A DOMESTIC THRILLER/DRAMA WITH UNLIKEABLE CHARACTERS! STILL MIGHT BE WORTH A READ!
As always, please remember that reading is subjective, and that’s what makes it so great.
Book Cover: ⭐⭐⭐️
TRIGGER(S): INFIDELITY, FERTILITY ISSUES, CANCER, DOMESTIC VERBAL/PHYSICAL ABUSE
POV: Dual, First Person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Trope(s): None
Spice: None
Genre: Domestic Thriller
Debut Novel: Yes
Safe or Dark: Dark
Release Date: January 7, 2025
I don’t think I can ever view couples on home renovation shows the same ever again. Not that I watch HGTV anyway.
Are Ben and Erin Napier, Bryan and Sarah Baeulmer, Dave and Jenny Marrs, and Chip and Joanna Gaines are as happy as they appear? *Narrows eyes in thought*
I had to google who those people were.
It’s no secret that the media twist stories to their advantage. Only showing us what they want us to see and working hard to get us to believe a particular narrative. This book only reinforces that idea. I just loved that this story played on the idea that not everything we see on television is the truth.
A little personal tidbit: I absolutely adore the name Wyatt. WHEN my husband and I WANTED kids (many moons ago), it was in the running if we had a boy. Well, at least it was on my list.
I apologize to anyone who might be personally offended by this. But Harlene is the worst name I have ever heard. Every time I read it, I cringed. I felt legitimately mad for Wyatt and Dawn’s daughter since they named her that. Harlene Mae, to be precise.
“Can we have kids? Then our Machine is good, and we are Instagram-worthy. Can we not? Then we are lonely malfunctions.”
Ah, yes, the societal pressure that is put on women to be babymakers. A tale as old as time.
The idealism that a woman's choice to not have children or those who have no maternal instinct are less of a woman in general.
As a female who is childfree by choice, I didn't appreciate the parental “I want grandkids before I die” guilt trip, the idea that our parents deserve to have grandchildren and we need to give it to them mindset, or the couples who don’t have little spawns are useless and lonely vibes. I get that those were things that were needed to progress the plot of the story. But it still gave me the biggest of icks.
“What good are you to your parents if you don’t make something of yourself before you die?”
My husband and I are far from being lonely and lead a very fulfilling life without children. I knew what this book was about going into it. I just didn’t think that the first half would hit such a personal nerve with me.
Please know that I’m not heartless. I love kids! I adore my nieces and nephews to pieces. I don’t ever fault people for wanting to have children, even if I might not understand why, and I absolutely can sympathize with couples/individuals who have trouble conceiving.
*Takes deep breath and calmly sips coffee.* Okay, I’m going to get off my soapbox now.
The Dawn being a “plain Jane” and Wyatt being a “hot hunk of man meat” thing was way overdone as well. Why did the fact that Dawn was a “regular girl” have to be brought up so often? It almost felt insulting to not only the character but to women in general. Shouldn’t the focus have been less about the couple's looks and more about the dynamics of their marriage?
I honestly had a super hard time getting invested in any of the characters in this story. I didn’t care for Dawn or Wyatt. Dawn's woe is me attitude got on my nerves rather quickly. I wanted to sympathize with her, but she made it difficult. I often found myself being more frustrated with her than I was with Wyatt. Dare I say at times I was on his side!? I tried hard to build a connection with both of them, but alas, it just didn’t happen.
I couldn’t stand Alice and Victoria. For people who were supposed to be Dawn’s closest friends in the world, they sure did do her dirty. They took Wyatt’s side over hers and consistently allowed him to gaslight them into thinking Dawn was the bad guy in this situation. I’d rather have no friends at all than two friends like them. They were just... yuck.
“And what is friendship, really? An unsigned agreement, voluntary siblinghood.”
I will say that the first half of the book progresses much slower than the second half. Although we hit somewhat of a lull in the middle of the story, the latter part of the book worked better for me.
As for the ending, it felt rushed, and things were wrapped up in a neat little bow. I would have liked more from it. More turmoil. More struggles. More issues. Just more.
The good thing about this plot is that it’s an original idea. Not one I’ve seen done many times. With the addition of the home renovation concept, it was an interesting twist on the “you never know what happens behind closed door”/”not all couples are as perfect as they might seem” narrative. Props to Daniel Kenitz for that one. The fact that the writing was easy to follow and the chapters were short didn’t hurt either. All in all, it was a quick read despite the slower start.
“Dawn once told me a life well lived ends with an empty tank of gas.”
TLDR: A DOMESTIC THRILLER/DRAMA WITH UNLIKEABLE CHARACTERS! STILL MIGHT BE WORTH A READ!
As always, please remember that reading is subjective, and that’s what makes it so great.