28 October 2026

That ending was brilliant! I love it when a book manages to surprise me, and Such Perfect Lives certainly delivered when it came to the final reveal.

Ellie and Josh are hired to renovate a house for the wealthy Spencer family. However, when they discover a hidden room, things take a turn, and suddenly, the job becomes far more complicated than either of them could have imagined.

Right from the beginning, something about the Spencers did not sit well with me. They were rich, entitled and accustomed to getting their own way. The way they treated Ellie and Josh made me uncomfortable, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something seriously wrong with this family. You know that feeling when your instincts tell you not to trust someone? Well, I had that feeling about the Spencers from the start!

It took me a while to get a proper feel for Ellie and Josh. We are given hints about their difficult past and the circumstances that have brought them to this point, but the full picture takes time to emerge. I wanted to understand why they were so desperate to hold on to this job, especially as things became increasingly unsettling. Their circumstances added an interesting layer to the story, even if I would have liked a little more clarity earlier on.

There were also a few things that didn’t quite work for me. Ellie continuing with the renovation after Josh disappears felt strange. Surely, with everything that was happening, she would have wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible? I also couldn’t understand why she didn’t contact Josh’s sister to find out what was going on.

Josh’s decision to rush off after receiving a random message claiming that his sister had been in an accident also stretched my belief a little. Wouldn’t you double-check that the message was genuine before blindly rushing off? These moments left me questioning the characters’ decisions, and I did find myself wishing they had been a little more cautious.

Despite these niggles, I found myself enjoying the story. There is something particularly unsettling about watching people use their wealth and influence to control situations and the people around them. This book explores how money can open doors, silence people and create a sense of entitlement, as well as how those with enough power can sometimes escape the consequences of their actions. It makes you wonder just how far some people will go to protect their reputations and keep their secrets hidden.

And then there is that ending! The conclusion was a real highlight for me. After all the questions, suspicions and unsettling moments, the final reveal delivered the jaw-dropping moment I had been hoping for. It was clever, unexpected and left me looking back at the story differently. For me, this was definitely the strongest part of the book.

AJ Carter is another new-to-me author, and it seems I have been discovering quite a few new authors lately! While there were a few plot points that didn’t entirely convince me, the story kept me entertained, and that ending made the read worthwhile.

Such Perfect Lives was an enjoyable thriller with a satisfying dose of suspense and a brilliant conclusion. A three-star read for me.

Thank you for visiting and reading my review. I hope you enjoyed this one. Are you an AJ Carter fan? Which of his books would you recommend to me? Leave a comment below. Until next time…. Happy Reading!