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Review
'Suzanne Bugler's much acclaimed debut novel is a deliciously dark story of how a woman's seemingly perfect world is slowly torn apart by events in the past...An impressive first novel.' --Lancashire Evening Post Series Pam Norfolk
'This story packs an emotional wallop with insightful things to say about family values, the shallowness of social success and the torment of failure.' --Peterborough Evening Telegraph Alex Gordon
'This story packs an emotional wallop with insightful things to say about family values, the shallowness of social success and the torment of failure.' --Peterborough Evening Telegraph Alex Gordon
Product Description
What do you do when your secret past threatens your perfect present?
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
I really enjoyed this novel. It's well written and a fairly quick and engrossing read, though not an easy one at times. I hadn't heard much about it or the author so came into it with no preconceptions, other than the jacket recommendations that it is in a similar vein to Nicci French, Barbara Vine and Sophie Hannah. I've read a few Nicci French and also Sophie Hannah and liked both so on that basis I was looking forward to the book.
The novel is written in the first person, and we really get inside the mind of the main character Laura Hamley. Ostensibly Laura is living the 'perfect' middle class life, two lovely children, good husband, lovely village, and super friends.
But this novel is all about peeling back the layers of the present and of the past, and seeing what's under the surface. Back in her schooldays, Laura bullied another girl, Helen 'Heddy' Partridge, and generally made her life a bit of a misery at every opportunity. This was in spite of the fact that for some reason, Laura's parents tended to push her and Heddy together, despite Laura's protests. The novel begins with Heddy's mother contacting Laura out of the blue to discuss Heddy's current unhappy state, and ask for her help. And so begins the painful and revealing trip back to the memories of those childhood days for Laura, and the confrontation with Heddy in the present day. Through these events, Laura comes to re-evaluate her current life and so-called friends, and begins to see it all for what it is, or rather what it is not.
Laura is an interesting and well rounded character, and full of flaws, it is easy to judge her, and to both like and admire her for standing up to the false and shallow people in her life and trying to change her relationships, and yet to also intensely dislike some of her bullying behaviour and cruelty towards Heddy in the past. She evidently loves her children, but the writer portrays a woman who is also aching for some of the freedoms of the past, before she had the constant round of school runs, PTA meetings, shopping, bathtimes, bedtimes etc.
A fascinating study in how someone's 'perfect world' can be exposed for what it really is, and how it can crumble apart.
The novel is written in the first person, and we really get inside the mind of the main character Laura Hamley. Ostensibly Laura is living the 'perfect' middle class life, two lovely children, good husband, lovely village, and super friends.
But this novel is all about peeling back the layers of the present and of the past, and seeing what's under the surface. Back in her schooldays, Laura bullied another girl, Helen 'Heddy' Partridge, and generally made her life a bit of a misery at every opportunity. This was in spite of the fact that for some reason, Laura's parents tended to push her and Heddy together, despite Laura's protests. The novel begins with Heddy's mother contacting Laura out of the blue to discuss Heddy's current unhappy state, and ask for her help. And so begins the painful and revealing trip back to the memories of those childhood days for Laura, and the confrontation with Heddy in the present day. Through these events, Laura comes to re-evaluate her current life and so-called friends, and begins to see it all for what it is, or rather what it is not.
Laura is an interesting and well rounded character, and full of flaws, it is easy to judge her, and to both like and admire her for standing up to the false and shallow people in her life and trying to change her relationships, and yet to also intensely dislike some of her bullying behaviour and cruelty towards Heddy in the past. She evidently loves her children, but the writer portrays a woman who is also aching for some of the freedoms of the past, before she had the constant round of school runs, PTA meetings, shopping, bathtimes, bedtimes etc.
A fascinating study in how someone's 'perfect world' can be exposed for what it really is, and how it can crumble apart.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This Perfect World is a spellbinding read, that draws the reader in from page one. Well written and a fairly quick read but also at times, a very difficult read.
Narrated by Laura, a woman who lives the seemingly perfect life - with the perfect children, husband, house and circle of friends. Her friends are women who are all married to rich men, women who spend their time talking hair, shoes, lunch and judging each other by what they have or do not have. A totally superficial life based on wealth, appearance and greed.
Laura gets a blast from the past when she receives a call from Mrs Partridge. Laura bullied the woman's daughter - Heddy. Bullied her so badly that it is clear that Heddy's life has been formed by her childhood experiences. Heddy is in a psychiatric ward and her Mother wants Laura's help to get her home.
As Laura reflects on her past and the awful things that she did to Heddy, it's clear that underneath the glam exterior she too is a scarred and somewhat damaged woman.
This is a fast flowing read but one that really makes the reader consider the consequences of our actions. How many of us went through our child and teenage years without saying or doing something nasty to another child? How many of us were the victims of bullies?
Psychologically tense with characters that jumped from the pages - I will certainly look out for more work by Suzanne Bugler
Narrated by Laura, a woman who lives the seemingly perfect life - with the perfect children, husband, house and circle of friends. Her friends are women who are all married to rich men, women who spend their time talking hair, shoes, lunch and judging each other by what they have or do not have. A totally superficial life based on wealth, appearance and greed.
Laura gets a blast from the past when she receives a call from Mrs Partridge. Laura bullied the woman's daughter - Heddy. Bullied her so badly that it is clear that Heddy's life has been formed by her childhood experiences. Heddy is in a psychiatric ward and her Mother wants Laura's help to get her home.
As Laura reflects on her past and the awful things that she did to Heddy, it's clear that underneath the glam exterior she too is a scarred and somewhat damaged woman.
This is a fast flowing read but one that really makes the reader consider the consequences of our actions. How many of us went through our child and teenage years without saying or doing something nasty to another child? How many of us were the victims of bullies?
Psychologically tense with characters that jumped from the pages - I will certainly look out for more work by Suzanne Bugler
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
As I read the first page of this book my first thought was that I was not going to enjoy it. This is because the main character, Laura, seems so utterly unpleasant. As she recounts tales of bullying an unfortunate classmate called Heddy during their school years she comes across as such an unsympathetic character. In the first part of the book she paints a picture of her perfect, but superficial, middle-class life and it is very hard to warm to her. When Heddy comes back into her life she is forced to confront her past and this leads her to question her marriage and her lifestyle.
There are two things that I really loved about this book. Firstly, the school bullying episodes are very realistic as are the scenes between Laura and the other mums in their middle-class clique. Secondly, I loved the journey you go on when you read this book. As the story progresses I felt that I really started to understand Laura and Heddy and I felt great compassion for them both. This book is literally a page-turner in that I was desperate to find out what was the event that linked Laura and Heddy together and I really cared about what would happen to them both.
There are two things that I really loved about this book. Firstly, the school bullying episodes are very realistic as are the scenes between Laura and the other mums in their middle-class clique. Secondly, I loved the journey you go on when you read this book. As the story progresses I felt that I really started to understand Laura and Heddy and I felt great compassion for them both. This book is literally a page-turner in that I was desperate to find out what was the event that linked Laura and Heddy together and I really cared about what would happen to them both.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The perfect partner to 'The Child Inside'
I read this straight after the author's other book, 'The Child Inside'. The main character of this book, Laura, is a mother who has always been in the in-crowd - both at school and... Read more
Published 12 days ago by Ms. R. M. Keys
Ever felt like excluding someone?
This book will resonate with you if you have ever excluded or felt excluded either in your childhood at school, by members of your family or by 'friends' now. Read more
Published 26 days ago by D. L. Clewes
An engrossing easy read
Having never heard of Suzanne Bugler or her book just by looking at the cover alone I could tell I was going to enjoy this book. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Deb L
Good but not amazing
I read this book while travelling and enjoyed it enough to finish it, which I don't if the book is not remotely gripping or interesting enough. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Book worm
Great read - really enjoyed it.
I really loved reading this book. The subject matter of bullying doesn't sound very attractive but the author reveals the impact of childhood bullying on everything she does and... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Frances
well written drama of the Perfect World falling apart
I got this book as part of a collection of 10 and had no pre-conceived ideas about it other than what the blurb on the back said. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Ms. K. J. Waghorn
Just Perfect
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and if you have ever been bullied or were the bully you just have to read this book. Tugs at all your emotions - definately recommend.
Published 7 months ago by Megs
good book for bookclub
we read this book at our book club. brought lots of feedback. quite a feminine book! full of emotion. well written. made us all think about how we judge people.
Published 7 months ago by melanie69
Perfect? I think not.
This book was chosen by my book club as it was on the Richard & Judy Book Club list; that is why I read it. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Joy L.G. Wright
Loved this book!
Is it just me or has everyone who has had to brave the school gates met a group like Laura's? The well groomed, perfect women with their perfect children and lives who make the... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Bajan Girl
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