The Perfect Stranger

I paid $1 for the book. Thankfully, it wasn't more costly. The premise seemed pretty good - basically, a love triangle between wealthy folks gone wrong. The writing was childish and sophomoric, kind of like an 16 year old who thought this is how adults interact and dialog with one another. The plot twists were pretty unbelievable and implausible. The Amazon hype was good though. I surely won't be seeking an more titles by Marin Montgomery.

The story kept me interested but the poor grammar and writing errors are really unbelievable. Might not bother others, but I hate to see such a sloppy job of writing.

The main character, Stella, is very whiney and manipulative. Didn't even make it half way through. I'd had enough of her.

I received this book as part of an ARC program in exchange for my honest opinion.I really dont know how to feel about this book. At first, I didnt really like it. I found the MC to be shallow and annoying and the plot as predictable as ever. As I kept reading the story grew on me. I felt invested in the story and I had to keep reading. I am glad that I did though because the final plot twist was something I didnt see coming. I still have mixed feelings about it. I don't hate it, but I dont love it. It was worth the read, for me.

This started out as an interesting story, but was very drawn out. There is constant use of "her" for "she" ("Grant and her never took an interest..." , "Stella can't remember when her and Grant...", and this: "There isn't a lot of... "), and ironically at one point a character says "I have to check it for grammatical and spelling errors". There is a big twist at the end of the book, but it almost seems laughable, as though it were written in a rush, and the relationship between Stella and best friend Lucy at the end of the book is not believable, nor is the visit from Lucy and her husband in the hospital. With some plot fixes and attention to detail, I could see this as a great movie.Thanks to Hidden Gems book for a review copy of this book.

There is a thing called "editing". Clearly, "editors" are becoming a thing of the past, as are "public school grammar teachers". This novel is rife with grammatical errors, which may be a good thing, because those errors kept me from fully ingesting the plot. Is it a mystery? Is it a sleazy illicit romance? What is this? It doesn't actually matter, since one of the characters, a LITERARY AGENT, in fact, uses the term, "Me and her..."This author doesn't even REALIZE that any "literary agent" so devoid of grammatical chops would be laughed out of existence in three seconds flat.Such gems as, "Snide, her fingers reach out to clench Stella's chin," sprinkle the book. What does that mean?? Talk about rookie mistakes. Her fingers are snide (she should be using an adverb, btw, just saying)? "Me and her, her and me," misplaced modifiers, uncertain antecedents...I understand I'm the biggest grammar snob, but for Pete's sake, in order to be published, one should at LEAST be able to write in a style better than an ill-educated seventh-grader.And before accusations pour in accusing me of missing the point and harping on small things, I'd like to say that smooth grammar and writing should be prerequisites for a novel. They make reading an easy experience. Poor grammar detracts from the narrative. Also, we should uphold some basic standards when it comes to the written word. Authors with dreams and wonderful stories should first make sure they have the basic foundations of spelling, grammar, and structure down, so we can all enjoy their ideas without unnecessary confusion.The characters? Shallow, clumsy, narcissistic. I didn't care one whit about any of them. As for the "mystery", or the climax, it was so painfully thin and transparent, I'd guessed most of it already. Thank goodness the end seemed pasted on, and the final excitement glossed over. I really did not want to spend more time with any of these reedy, frail characters.Why did I read the entire thing? I'd decided to enter the exciting world of "kindle unlimited". Surprising I'd never signed up before, since I read like the dickens. This was my first "kindle unlimited" book, and boy, was I thrilled! Now, not so much. If this is an example of the offerings, a few days on kindle unlimited will be plenty of time.

I really enjoyed this book...Stella had it all...a husband who adored her, good women friends, an up and coming cosmetics business...and a mental illness...which someone will use against her...this book was another one that I had a hard time putting down to get things done...the characters were well written, there were a few curve balls thrown in for good measure, and the ending was not quite what I expected...overall, I recommend this book if you have some time to spare.This was a voluntary review of a book I received free from Hidden Gems

Seldom is a marriage perfect, even when or the other of the participants believes so. Stella Masen has it all: gorgeous spouse, expensive Malibu home, her own cosmetic company, love and freedom to be herself. Sounds enduringly perfect. But there's thorns in Stella's garden, and it won't be long before the perfect marriage dissolves into a perfect storm.Prolific author Marin Montgomery spins a psychological thriller of remarkable complexity.I reviewed a digital ARC generously provided by the author via Hidden Gems Books at no cost, obligation, or remuneration. I opted to review this title.