The Perfect Neighbors

perfectneighbors“Drivers Beware! A friendly reminder that school starts today, so please be on the lookout for the students, especially the wee ones… – Remember, a normal speed meets every need! Sincerely, Shannon Dockser, Newport Cove Manager”

The Perfect Neighbors
By Sarah Pekkanen

Welcome to Newport Cove, one of the 20 safest communities in the U.S. as praised by Parenting Magazine. There are fun-filled block parties, beautiful homes and your neighbors are your friends.

Susan, Gigi and Kellie are friends who meet on a regular basis and when they meet a newcomer to the community they quickly embrace her and hope she’ll join them for drinks and friendly gossip. Tessa likes the women but she’s reserved and it’s hard for the women to get to know her.

While Tessa may seem the most remote, as the story develops it is clear that each of the women have struggles in their lives. There’s Gigi whose husband is running for political office and is learning to deal with being in the spotlight. For Susan, it is hard to let go of her ex-husband and meanwhile Kellie is joining the workforce after being a stay-at-home mom and finding it hard to resist a work flirtation.

Still as the women share some of their lives with Tessa, it is clear that what Tessa is trying so hard to keep secret could really rock their community if they knew about it.

I really enjoyed the humor, especially in the listserv digests that open each chapter, and thought that was a nice touch to the story and made me feel like I was part of the community. With regards to the secrets the women keep, although one is supposed to be the shocker I was more intrigued by Susan and Kellie as I felt that their situations just seemed very real. Definitely check this one out if you are looking for an entertaining Summer read.

Source: Advance Review Copy