Print List Price: | $18.99 |
Kindle Price: | $13.99 Save $5.00 (26%) |
Sold by: | Harlequin Digital Sales Corp. Price set by seller. |
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Image Unavailable
Color:
-
-
-
- To view this video download Flash Player
- VIDEO
Audible sample Sample
Best Day Ever: A Novel Kindle Edition
THE PERFECT MARRIAGE IS THE PERFECT ILLUSION.
Paul Strom has the perfect life: a glittering career as an advertising executive, a beautiful wife, two healthy boys and a big house in a wealthy suburb. And he’s the perfect husband: breadwinner, protector, provider. That’s why he’s planned a romantic weekend for his wife, Mia, at their lake house, just the two of them. And he’s promised today will be the best day ever.
But as Paul and Mia drive out of the city and toward the countryside, a spike of tension begins to wedge itself between them and doubts start to arise. How much do they trust each other? And how perfect is their marriage, or any marriage, really?
Forcing us to ask ourselves just how well we know those who are closest to us, Best Day Ever crackles with dark energy, spinning ever tighter toward its shocking conclusion. In the vein of The Couple Next Door, Kaira Rouda weaves a gripping, tautly suspenseful tale of deception and betrayal dark enough to destroy a marriage…or a life.
Praise for Best Day Ever
“Highly entertaining and truly surprising!” —Kate Moretti, New York Times bestselling author of The Vanishing Year
“Best Day Ever is a creepy, spine-tingling and utterly addictive tale of domestic suspense.” —Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, bestselling authors of The Good Widow
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherGraydon House
- Publication dateSeptember 19, 2017
- File size716 KB
Customers who bought this item also bought
From the Publisher
Praise for Best Day Ever
|
|
|
|
---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
Editorial Reviews
Review
"A tensely written, shocking book that will hold readers on the edge of their seats to the very last page." –Publishers Weekly "We read Best Day Ever in one sitting-ripping through the pages with a breathless urgency. The book takes place over just twenty-four-hours, making you desperate to know: what exactly does the seemingly perfect Paul Strom have planned for his wife when he takes her away for the weekend? Here's what we can tell you: whatever you think it is, you're wrong. Best Day Ever isn't even close to what you're expecting. Best Day Ever is a creepy, spine-tingling and utterly addictive tale of domestic suspense."
– Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, bestselling authors of The Good Widow
"Riveting and provocative, Best Day Ever is a gripping suspense that plays with your mind and makes you wonder how well you truly know your spouse. Accomplished author Kaira Rouda deftly navigates a day in the life of Paul and Mia Strom where what appears to be a perfect marriage is not all what it seems. Fast-paced, dark, and slightly disturbing, you won't be able to put this book down until its jaw-dropping ending. Rouda kept me glued to my seat. Absolutely brilliant!"
– Kerry Lonsdale, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Everything We Keep
"His voice will grip you. Through self-conscious charm and a chilling wit, Rouda's narrator creates laugh-out-loud moments that will feel like guilty pleasures in light of the story's high-impact conclusion. This may well be the most entertaining read of your year."
-Kathryn Craft, award-winning author of The Far End of Happy, on Best Day Ever
"...it was completely addicting. It will be a Bets On pick. Those who loved THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR (another Bets On title) will want to take note of this one." –Carol Fitzgerald, BookReport.com
"Best Day Ever could be the best thriller of the year." -Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of Not a Sound
"Had the best day ever reading Best Day Ever. Great narrator in Paul, LOVE his voice! Fabulous book." -B.A. Paris, New York Times bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors and The Breakdown
"Perfectly plotted and devilishly dark, Kaira Rouda's Best Day Ever won't let you go until that last page is turned. Entertaining and provocative, I could not put this one down!" -Karma Brown, international bestselling author of In this Moment
"An intriguing, perfectly-paced page-turner, BEST DAY EVER is one hell of a ride!-Amy Hatnavy, author of It Happens All the Time
"Chilling, satisfying suspense...it will cost you sleep as you race through the pages."-Good Housekeeping "Creepy and claustrophobic, Best Day Ever ratchets up the terrors of a seemingly happy marriage from page to page. I loved this book. Kaira Rouda is a name to watch." –J.T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author
About the Author
Kaira Rouda is a USA TODAY bestselling, multiple award-winning author of contemporary fiction that explores what goes on beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives. Her domestic suspense novel, Best Day Ever, is a USA TODAY bestseller translated into more than eight languages. Her new novel,The Favorite Daughter, is available now. She lives in Washington, D.C., and Southern California and is at work on her next novel.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Best Day Ever
By Kaira RoudaHarlequin Enterprises Limited
Copyright © 2017 Kaira RoudaAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5258-1140-1
CHAPTER 1
I glance at my wife as she climbs into the passenger seat, sunlight bouncing off her shiny blond hair like sparklers lit for the Fourth of July, and I am bursting with confidence. Everything is as it should be.
Here we are, just the two of us, about to spend the weekend at our lake house. Today represents everything I've worked for, that we have built together. The sun blasts through my driver's side window with such intensity I feel the urge to hold my hand up to the side of my face to shield my eyes, even though my sunglasses are dark and should be doing the job. Under any other circumstances, on any other day, they would be, I know. But today, something is different between us; some strange tension pulses through the still air of the car's interior. I cannot see it, but it's here. I'd like to name it. Discover its source and eliminate it.
Sure, this morning has been hectic. It's a Friday, and Fridays always seem the most frenzied when you have kids. Getting the boys up and dressed, and then dropping them off at their immaculately landscaped and highly ranked red brick elementary school where they will no doubt excel, in first and third grade respectively. Truth be told though, I usually have little to do with the scenario I just outlined. Mia, my wife, handles all the tasks pertaining to the boys each morning. We're a traditional suburban household in that respect. In the morning, I make coffee, shower, dress and leave for work before the boys awaken. Yes, mine is quite a selfish and single-minded pursuit on most days.
That's another reason why today is so special. I drove the boys to school, reminded them that the babysitter would be picking them up afterwards. When I returned to the house, I put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher. I can be helpful when I want to be, although I don't want to remind Mia of this fact as she may come to expect it. Ha! Dishes finished, I had called up the stairs to Mia, urging her to hurry. We haven't had a weekend together, just the two of us alone, for more than a year. This day was going to be just for us, and it was time to go.
She called back, her voice floating like a butterfly down the stairs, asking for my help with her luggage. The next moment, I found myself lugging two huge suitcases down the grand main staircase of our home. She followed behind me with a laundry basket filled with who knows what.
"Staying a while?" I teased. She blushed, embarrassed by her notorious over-packing. But I didn't complain. It was her day. She was free to over-pack away. Once we got everything loaded into the trunk of the car, just as Mia was starting to relax, the packing part over, that was when my phone rang. I shouldn't have answered it. But onward. Taking the call was just one small mistake in a day that's destined to be brilliant. From the driver's seat, I finally finish syncing my phone with the car's system. I find the playlist I created for my wife. All her favorite songs will play during our drive. Music is such an important part of keeping romance alive.
And now, we're getting on the road. Mia turns toward me and smiles. She has a perfect smile: half moon-shaped, with glistening white teeth. My smile is more of a rectangle; no matter how hard I try, I appear to be smirking, I know that. But my teeth are perfect, thanks to the cosmetic dentist. I grin back.
She loves me so much, and of course the same can be said for me. We've been together almost ten years now. We know each other's best qualities, and we know each other's dark sides. Although to be quite honest about it, I'm not sure Mia has what you'd call a dastardly alter ego. Her dark side is simply grumpy, and it typically only appears when she is tired, or when one of our boys faces a rough patch. For my part, I wonder if Mia thinks I have a dark side? Most likely, as far as she knows, I am just her dear loving husband.
Today, though, this morning, right now, she is exuding energy; it oozes from her pores, from her flawless face. It's the cause of the strange pulsing between us, I decide.
"You seem wound up, honey," I say. I want to pat her leg and tell her to relax but I don't. Despite her odd mood she is still beautiful, almost perfect in every way.
"Do I? I guess I'm just excited," she says, confirming my assessment while stretching her hands toward the front windshield. The diamond from her wedding ring flashes in the over-bright sunshine as if imitating her energy.
"I know you are, honey. But we've got a long drive ahead of us, so try to relax. Let's make today the best day ever." I attempt to add the proper lilt to my voice. I need her to believe I am just as happy and carefree as she is. That driving up to our lake house for the first time this season is the most exciting thing I could ever imagine doing on any day, ever.
"In that case, can I request a small detour? There's a little bakery in Port Clinton, just before the turnoff to Lakeside. I'd like to stop there on the way in. For croissants for tomorrow morning. Do you remember the spot? We won't arrive in time to get croissants for breakfast today, but tomorrow's almost as good," she says. Thankfully, her bright blue eyes are hidden behind dark sunglasses that match mine. When I glance at her, we cannot make eye contact. Not really.
I wonder if the comment about not arriving in time is directed at me, and realize it is. Of course. I am the one who took the phone call just as we were walking out the door. I shouldn't have. It wasn't anything new, but I had still held out hope that it would be. Instead, I spent thirty minutes on a worthless call with a headhunter, and, I know, made us late. The croissants will be gone by the time we arrive at the bakery; I know this, too.
"Yes, I remember the place. Ugly strip mall, but sure, we'll stop. Not worried about gluten anymore, I take it?" I say. For a while, Mia and her doctor du jour thought her upset stomach, weight loss, and other intestinal issues were caused by gluten. I was relieved when she decided not to hop on that fad after giving up wheat for a few weeks with no change. She still insists on a vegetarian existence, leaving her with few choices when we go out to dinner and endless questions for the wait staff. It's annoying. But I push those thoughts away. My wife is just doing her best.
"Turns out gluten isn't the culprit," Mia says. She smiles. "So yes, I'd love to stop. If it's okay with you, of course."
Stopping on our way to the lake house at a bakery that will, no doubt, be out of croissants was not on my agenda today. She knows I'm a man of action and when I have a plan, I follow it. I just want to get up there already. But today, I'm being a great husband. Mia's every wish is my command.
"As you wish, my dear." I am the perfect husband. I smile as one of the songs from our early dating days comes on. It was the soundtrack to our first night together. Innocent Mia, a virgin even after four years of college, somehow untouched by all of those lecherous fraternity guys. She was waiting for someone older, someone sophisticated, someone who could take care of her. She found that in me.
I had reserved a suite in the finest hotel in downtown Columbus, with views of the river sparkling below. We'd been dating a couple of months by then and I'd waited as long as any man can be expected to. Mia was nervous, uncomfortably sitting on the edge of the red and white striped upholstered chair, gripping her champagne flute like a weapon she'd use for protection. She wore a light blue dress that matched her eyes. The dress slipped easily over her head once I'd pulled her to me, asked her to dance. The memories of that night are vivid. It took me until the sun was coming up to convince her to give me the gift of her virginity. She worried about the promise she'd made to her mother. I told her if a tree falls in the forest but no one is around to hear it, then did it really fall? She laughed and I slid on top of her, pinning her arms gently above her head, pressing my mouth firmly against hers. And, she fell. I lick my lips at the memory and shift in my seat.
"Who were you talking to on the phone? The office?" she asks as I back out of our driveway.
"Who else? Sometimes I think they can't last a moment without me," I say. Some sort of emotion crosses Mia's face before she turns toward the passenger side window. I guess we're finished with that topic. I should apologize for the delay, but I don't. An amicable silence falls between us.
Personally, I have to admit I love the implied success I feel being able to drive out of my very nice neighborhood, my wife by my side, on a Friday morning on my way to my second home. I am driving a Ford Flex, navy exterior, by choice. Supporting America while demonstrating that my ego does not require a fancy sports car or luxury sedan. No, I am secure in my status and a family man, all rolled into one. The American dream, that's what we're living right here.
My wife is still looking out her window. She seems to be taking in the signs of spring around us. The lawns are greening up nicely and the trees, so stark for the long, dreary months of winter, are budding and flowering. Our suburb is becoming a lovely place to live again, just in time. We pull onto the freeway heading north through downtown Columbus, and I feel a pride for my hometown that extends beyond the college sports franchise. It's growing up. People from all over consider us a sophisticated, cosmopolitan place now, not just a college town or a field of grazing cattle. I don't have to say Columbus comma Ohio anymore. We are on the weather maps internationally as the city in Ohio. Our weather matters more than Cleveland's or Cincinnati's does. That, to me, is a sign we have arrived as a great city.
Ironically, as we zip through the periphery of downtown, skyscrapers slicing the clear blue sky, we are headed to farm country. Most of Ohio still is agrarian, it seems, no matter how much Columbus has changed. My wife and I, we spend our time in the bubble of suburbia mostly, cutting through the city on our way out of town. We really should explore downtown more, I realize. There always seems to be so much more to do in a day than you can ever accomplish. That's why I make plans.
Mia shifts in her seat, angling her body toward me as much as possible for someone strapped in by her seat belt, and asks, "Do you really think the strawberries will take hold? I mean, they looked like they were from the photos Buck sent me. They might even have grown a little. But things can change." I notice she holds her phone in her hands now; her lovely fingers, accented by a cheery red — strawberry red — fingernail polish, move quickly across the small keypad. She was a copywriter at an advertising agency when I met her, and she has amazing keyboard speed still.
"It says strawberry plants should be bought from a reputable nursery. I'm just not sure I picked the right one. And they need deep holes, wide enough to accommodate the entire root system without bending the roots. Very persnickety plants," she continues. Her lips are pursed together, as if she has eaten a sour berry.
"I'm sure they're fine," I reassure her. "No one could have nurtured them more than you did." A black sports car passes us on our right, only a flash of metal actually, because it's moving so quickly. I hadn't even seen it coming in my rearview mirror. It's funny how things can sneak up on you, appear out of nowhere.
"It's like having babies again, or puppies," she says, ignoring the racecar as I turn on my blinker and slide us out of the passing lane. "Don't plant too deep, it says. The roots should be covered, but the crown should be right at soil surface. I should call Buck and ask him to check on the crowns."
She glances at me, no doubt catching my smirk. First, what kind of name is B-U-C-K? I mean, really. But despite his ridiculous name, Buck Overford is a nice enough guy, I guess. He's our next-door neighbor at the lake, a widower even though he's about my age, who likes to talk gardening with my wife. I should be clear. I'm forty-five, and Mia is only thirty-three. Buck is closer to my age than hers, maybe even a bit older. I look younger anyway. Not that we're old geezers by any stretch. Buck does have this affinity for gardening, which to me is a woman's thing, so that makes him older, weaker than me in my book.
At least gardening is what Mia tells me she and Buck have been talking about since we met him last summer. It was just after our moving truck had left. He brought over a bottle of Merlot, a nice one if memory serves, and the three of us spent a lovely evening together on the screened porch until it was time for us to find our boys and get them ready for bed. The boys were free-range chickens up at the lake, had been every summer we'd rented. Now that we were owners, members, they'd increased their span of wandering, it seemed.
There were countless wholesome activities at the lake to draw their attention, from sailing lessons to shuffleboard, skateboarding to bike riding. Sometimes, we'd find them sitting by the edge of the lake, skipping rocks, like they'd stepped out of a Norman Rockwell painting. It was all perfectly safe, these endless summertime activities that delighted our boys and made them beg us to head to Lakeside whenever possible. When it was bedtime though, finding them, corralling them and then getting them into bed was a process best left for family only. We never wanted witnesses to that exhausting exercise.
"Right, I don't need to bother Buck. I can check the crowns as soon as we get there," she says in my direction before returning her attention to her phone screen.
"Good call," I say, checking the rearview mirror for any more speeding sports cars. I had an expensive sports car before, of course. I'll likely have one again one day when my lifestyle dictates a change, I muse, taking in the interior of my sensible Ford Flex. Room for the whole family, as many strawberry plants as Mia could handle planting. I can haul as much of the boys' sports equipment as they can throw my way. It is a sensible, practical car. For a responsible family man. It fits me perfectly, this car. Me and my hot, newly skinny again wife. If she loses any more weight, though, she'll disappear. It's a real shame about the nausea she's been struggling with. The latest doctor is convinced it's stress-related. He told her to meditate.
"Did you know my strawberry plants' runners are called 'daughter' plants?" she asks. The air between us pulses, I feel it. Ping.
"No, I didn't," I say, taking a deep breath before I realize I am doing it. It's funny how the absence of a daughter catches your breath at the strangest times, over the silliest topics. "No 'son' plants? How sexist."
"I still wish we'd tried," Mia says quietly, stirring the age-old pot. Just that topic, that old leathery shoe of a stew makes me swallow something bitter. I cough, trying to clear my throat, my dark mind.
"Can we not have that old discussion today, of all days?" I ask. I focus on the farmland beginning to open up on either side of the road. We're finally out of the reaches of the city, finally free from the responsibility, the shiny office buildings, bespoke suits, and country clubs that that part of civilization values. I would miss golf if I had to live in the country, of course. And many other things. Country visits are for weekends, a touch-base with our more rural and simple selves. Not a place to live full time. I hope we aren't going to disagree this early in our country excursion.
Mia turns to me and I can hear her gentle, agreeable smile in her next words. "Of course, no fighting. This is our happy day, the start of a wonderful weekend. I just didn't realize until this moment about strawberry seedlings and 'daughter' plants. I should have grown peppers." Her voice is soft, a stealth dagger to my heart. This statement, the peppers, is a jab. Sure, we could have tried to get pregnant one more time, but I was convinced it would be another boy. We had two of those, perfect little specimens, each a miniature version of me, as they should be. I realize Mia would enjoy seeing a little version of herself walking around this world, following in her footsteps. But why tempt fate?
(Continues...)Excerpted from Best Day Ever by Kaira Rouda. Copyright © 2017 Kaira Rouda. Excerpted by permission of Harlequin Enterprises Limited.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Product details
- ASIN : B06XFJFJ17
- Publisher : Graydon House; Original edition (September 19, 2017)
- Publication date : September 19, 2017
- Language : English
- File size : 716 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 196 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #214,736 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1,056 in Heist Thrillers
- #1,688 in Psychological Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #3,351 in Psychological Thrillers (Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
Videos
Videos for this product
0:35
Click to play video
Best Day Ever: A Novel
Merchant Video
About the author
Kaira Rouda is a USA TODAY, Amazon charts, and international bestselling, multiple award-winning author of contemporary fiction that explores what goes on beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives. Her domestic suspense novels include BEST DAY EVER, THE FAVORITE DAUGHTER, ALL THE DIFFERENCE, THE NEXT WIFE, and SOMEBODY'S HOME. Her latest novel is THE WIDOW. BENEATH THE SURFACE will be out in September, 2023. To date, Kaira's novels have been translated into more than ten languages.
She lives in Southern California with her family and is at work on her next novel. Connect with her on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest: @KairaRouda; and on Facebook at Kaira Rouda Books.
If you'd like to host Kaira at your book club, in person or virtually, connect with the author, visit KairaRouda.com.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonReviews with images
-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Kaira Rouda creates an unpredictable delicious unique domestic suspense at its finest. I predict BEST DAY EVER will be a blockbuster hit and prime for the big screen. What goes on behind closed doors? BEST DAY EVER, a Big Little Lies - Season 1 but better. The author’s best work to date and this psychological domestic thriller sets itself apart from all the rest due to, a number of things which I will address in my review. (sorry for the length of the review, but have a lot to say).
There are so many psychological elements at play here (starting with the car ride). A weekend trip. The allure. A lake house. A dinner. The anticipation. Afterwards. The perfect setup. You will be dying to know what will happen next. Truly edge-of-your-seat. I can envision Alexander Skarsgård (Paul) and Nichole Kidman (Mia) starring in the film. I want a front row seat. An ideal choice for BEST DAY EVER. Hint, someone! Will need to ponder the cast for Buck. (he needs to be hot and hunky)!
Skillful writing and execution tactics abound. The story takes place within a 24 hr. period. Tick Tock. There is not one moment of boredom. It is addictive and compelling. The banter is to die for! The author has outdone herself. Spine-tingling. Impending peril (not knowing what Paul will do next) creating intense tension, that propels this claustrophobic cat-and-mouse tale toward its hold your breath, gratifying conclusion.
Meet Paul and Mia Strom. Mia was once a copywriter at an advertising agency when they met. She is from a wealthy family. Paul is an advertising executive and he thinks he is God. He thinks everyone worships him. It does not matter what he does wrong. He can put a spin on it. He has secrets.
He, of course, has taught his wife everything. (gag) Sex, love, fine food, travel. He is the sophisticated older man she pledged to love honor and obey. As most psychopaths, they do not respect women. They are a conquest. They seek them out. Put on the charm. Slowly turn on their dark side.
We hear from Paul, in Ohio and his plans to take his wife away for the weekend to their home on Lake Erie. It is a Friday afternoon and Paul feels some tension. He has made these plans and he wants nothing to go wrong. He appears charming and romantic. It will be the BEST DAY EVER. They have not been away for a weekend together in more than a year. This day was going to be just for them and it was time to go. The phone rings causing a little delay.
They drop the kids off at the sitter’s house and then they are on their way. After all, he has loaded and syncing all his wife’s favorite songs. It will be a romantic weekend, with candles, wine, and a fabulous restaurant. Everything to set the mood. Nothing will stand in his way. As for most of us, we are aware of any sort of relationship- when you are traveling, you have expectations of an upcoming trip. Emotions run high. She is thinking. He is thinking. Trying to read the other's mind. However, as the car winds its way to the lake, we soon get the feeling, Paul has a dark side.
However, we are not quite sure what is going on with Mia.
Of course, he does not like it when she wants to stop for a restroom break (God forbid) or stop at a bakery for croissants. However, he is in a flexible mood. He will throw her a bone or two. This once. Paul also talks about the neighbors and bad mouths them if they do not like him. He is all about appearances.
First, I knew nothing about this book going in, except the summary and the book trailer. At first glance, you think this will be another murder at the lake. Been there, done that. Think again. This book is nothing like anything I have read. Not the blood and gore. It is the most dangerous of all. The mind. The thoughts. The suspense. The impending danger. The mystery. The intrigue and the dark humor. Character-driven.
You pretty much suspect early on Paul (husband) looks at life through rose-colored glasses. He thinks he can do no wrong. Everyone is beneath him and he can manipulate anyone to his advantage. What a jerk. He is king of their castle and his queen needs to fall back in line. He is all about action, like a superhero. About achieving and success. Their family is superior. What is this talk about her going back to work? No way.
You have no clue what he has planned for the romantic weekend away at the lake without the boys. You know something is hidden in the car in the glove compartment, but you do not know what. It will be the BEST DAY EVER. He has a lot riding on this weekend. More than you can imagine. Paul is trying to make this a pleasant experience to smooth things over, or so it appears. We soon learn Mia has been sick. It annoys him when she eats healthy and controls their eating and dining habits. He appears to be trying, yet he does not like it when the conversation does not go his way. Everything he is thinking is played out in the book. He continues to steer it in his direction. He demands control.
This is where the book excels in my opinion. I could not put this book down. If I had to, I was dying to get back to it. You know something has occurred and he is trying to make a good impression to get Mia back to his side. He wants to smooth things over for some reason. He gets annoyed when she starts talking about her strawberries and garden at the lake. The guy Buck is their next door neighbor and his wife died. He helps look after her garden when they are away. Of course, Paul does not like Buck. Mmmmm . .
The next thing which keeps the reader guessing. Mia does not seem like the meek and mild type with an overbearing controlling (Sleeping with the Enemy husband). She seems a little cocky. She is not argumentive, but yet she brings up topics which are uncomfortable for her husband. It is a tug and pull; a tit for tat, cat and mouse game. She appears calm and collected. What does she have on him? She keeps him on his toes. She is intriguing. Mysterious. You do not know what is going through her mind at all. It is all coming from Paul’s viewpoint (which you soon find out, he is wacky). Love her character.
He is a modern- day psychopath. Mia, on the other hand, does not seem too worried about what her husband has planned, and pretty much drives the night in a subtle way, much to her husband’s displeasure. When Buck interrupts their alone time, throws dinner reservations late, and at dinner, appears the waiter hates him (because he is a pompous ass) and always looks at his wife, plus his wife seems to be looking at the window in a daze with a smile on her face. He is thrown off his game.
Could Mia have turned the tables on him? Mia knows much more than she has let on about her husband’s secrets and lies. She is the one who comes from money (parent’s wealthy) and they do not like him and never have. How could he have not been paying attention? When did little Mia become so confident and bold? And what does she know? Has someone told her what is going on? He has many skeletons in his closet.
“This was supposed to be the best day ever, and now it is deteriorating, decaying like the memories of his childhood. “
Frantic, we see Paul’s world unraveling and spinning out of control. And the letter . . . . Priceless!!! I have never laughed so hard. Karma will bite you in the butt when you least expect.
WOW! It is hard to describe a book of this nature since you do not want to give anything away. You want to provide enough to encourage others, they “Must” read this book. From the cover, author, characters, plot – from the first page to the last (A complete package). I would not change a thing. All the dirty secrets are revealed.
Rouda has created a character so evil with his banter and thoughts. I would put him next to any of the bad guys out there. One reviewer compared him to Joe in You and I agree. I think also Perry in Big Little Lies and Jack Behind Closed Doors. An utterly compelling journey through the darker side of the human psyche. The things which go on in his head! Clever writing. Both creepy, and witty. Paul is psychotic, entitled, and a narcissist with a capital N! Rouda reminds me of Paul Cleave here. Another favorite author which uses a lot of dark humor mixed with the thoughts of his psychos.
As many of you read, my personal notes in my recent review of Emma in the Night— this topic is very relatable and one I have researched for years since my ex-husband was a narcissist. Most everything in this book is so realistic. I think Paul and my ex could be brothers. SCARY. If you meet someone too charming and too good-looking. RUN.
The author keeps you guessing all the way through the book. You want to savor each moment and not rush. What I did indeed enjoy (which I wish more authors would follow)- Kaira recaps the night and the events leading up to the night from Mia’s point of view at the end. A "behind the scenes."
During the reading, the author does not give anything away. As a reader, you think she is being manipulated by her husband. By providing all the final details, this balances the story for a satisfying conclusion.
Note: Kaira, if I see Paul around Palm Beach at the Breakers or shopping along Worth Avenue in his pink shirt with an older rich lady on his arm, will let you know. This could be a great follow-up book. Seriously, this may be my favorite psychological/domestic thriller this year. Congrats. Can’t wait to see what’s next. You have found your groove. Give us more of this, please. (no pressure).
Also purchased the audiobook narrated by Graham Halstead and Amy McFadden (currently listening) and ordered the hardcover (to arrive today). I hear it is pretty spectacular. Look forward to reading 2018 PLENTY TO GO AROUND. (sneak preview included). If I have not convinced you yet. The best psychological thriller (domestic suspense) of 2017! Fans of Mary Kubica, Fiona Barton, and B.A. Paris will enjoy. A special thank you to Graydon House and NetGalley for an early reading copy. JDCMustReadBooks
The author did scenes superbly. As a reader, I almost felt I was there, squirming in the back seat of the car as Paul and Mia drove to their holiday cottage, and as for the scene in the restaurant, I could imagine being there at their table and urgently wanting to throw my linen serviette on the table and high tail it out of there.
The author is terrific at writing 'squirm' content!
My only criticism and the only reason I did not give the book five stars was because of the ending, In comparison with the rip roaring sustained pace of the book, the ending was a tad lame. Perhaps some innuendo re the protagonist resurfacing in Mia's life unexpectedly would have given the wow
conclusion. The book was just so wow, I thought the ending needed to have more of the same, to sustain the superbly taut thread of tension.
A really terrific read.
I find passages I've highlighted better express what I could attempt to say to provide examples of an author's wonderful writing ability. I probably highlighted more in this one than any other, but here are a selection to 'whet your appetite":
"I put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher. I can be helpful when I want to be, although I don't want to remind Mia of this fact as she may come to expect it."
"For my part, I wonder if Mia thinks I have a dark side. Most likely, as far as she knows, I am just her dear loving husband."
"Stopping on our way to the lake house at a bakery that will no doubt be out of croissants was not on my agenda today. She knows I'm a man of action and when I have a plan, I follow it. I just want to get up there already. But today, Mia's every wish is my command."
"A black sports car passes us on our right, only a flash of metal actually, because it's moving so quickly. I hadn't even seen it coming in my rearview mirror. It's funny how things can sneak up on you, appear out of nowhere."
"Buck does have this affinity for gardening, which to me is a woman's thing, so that makes him older, weaker than me in my book."
"We have been arguing, disagreeing let's call it, over our phantom daughter....for six years. The whole thing is absurd. She should be counting her blessings, like her strawberry daughters at her beautiful lake house. She should be thankful for everything she has, everything I'd provided, not missing something, someone who never existed. I feel myself squeeze the steering wheel, watch my knuckles whiten."
"I'm uncertain why after all of our years together, she hasn't grown and developed her cooking expertise. I know she's invested in cookbooks and cooking classes, but still, her best efforts can only be awarded a C. Barely edible, actually, when compared to fine dining. It's a shame, really."
"Even though I cannot see her face, I detect a tone in her voice, something that sounds like the feeling you get when you can't understand a joke. Like you are the joke, like you are an idiot. Only someone you love can make you feel that way."
"Soon the road will narrow, and it will be down to one lane, each direction. That's when I'll really need to pay attention. That's when it gets dangerous. If you make a mistake, there is no forgiveness on a two-lane country road."
"I like the way I feel when I stand at the end of the dock. The backdrop complements me like a movie set: oh look, there's handsome, wealthy city-dweller Paul Strom enjoying a carefree day of leisure at his lakefront community. Very presidential."
"Typically we do not take bathroom breaks on the drive to the lake house. The boys know this, Mia knows this. But in her weakened state, and on this, the best day ever, will make an exception without shaming her. I'm in a loving, flexible mood. "Gas station or fast food?" I ask Mia-I'm not about to be blamed for choosing the wrong bathroom for her. "I'll let you know when we see the options" Mia replied, reopening her magazine. I'll let it go, my disdain for the fact that she isn't more appreciative of my willingness to stop for her."
"Before I can think to stop her, she has popped open the glove compartment and she's rummaging around in it. I check myself in the rearview mirror and notice my forehead is shiny, suddenly damp. It's so hard to keep secrets these days. People can find out anything, ruin all kinds of plans. Sometimes, all it takes is just opening the wrong door."
"I'm sure she doesn't really mean this, that's why her voice shakes. She's in unfamiliar territory. This boldness is not like her. And I don't like it, not at all."
"I ignore this old-man type of physical pain, just as I ignore cashiers and parking lot attendants. They are all a bother, beneath my wasting a breath or thought on."
"She gets to eat and do whatever she wants all day long, and all I ask for is just that: respect."
"And I told her what I told you: I knew we were perfect for each other from the moment we met. As long as she could become the wife I was looking for, of course."
"I wonder if she is asking me for something, for some understanding. Some type of compassion or empathy. I'm not good at those emotions, or, if we're being honest, any emotion except anger. Rage lurks deep inside me, ready to lash out whenever it's needed."
"It's not easy, feigning care."
"But not if it means she'll be working with John. No way. Together, they each know too many pieces of me."
"There should be a rule that adults cannot walk three abreast or even two across on crowded sidewalks. Everyone should walk single file, destination in their sights, briskly and with purpose. Unfortunately, humans are like sheep, most of the time. They need a shepherd or they are a milling-about mess."
"I allow the Pilmers to see the boys, of course, ever since Mia told me they'd set up large trust funds for them. So nice, and she gave me access to the accounts so I could monitor them. I was sure old Donald wouldn't like that, but too bad. Mia was in love and what was hers was mine."
"You don't discuss family dirty laundry, not at all. You smile and quietly accept what comes your way. Don't make waves, not until you're the one in control. Then you get your revenge."
"I'm the opposite of my father in many ways. I fight to be like that, to be his opposite, every day, tamping down the anger that's there, the fire-filled rage he instilled inside me from an early age. It's like a wildfire that is 80 percent contained."
"Most of the time, people don't notice their surroundings. They wouldn't even realize if the same car was following them for miles. It's the same following someone on foot, or, say, sneaking into someone's home. It's easy if you're quiet and methodical."
"We're all like me, ladies, just differing degrees. We are more than willing to put up with your emotions, as long as you keep your end of the bargain. Look good, take care of the kids, maintain a clean home, have sex when we want it and for God's sake, don't question us or our motives. Never do that."
"I notice she's holding the side door handle, as if she were anticipating an accident. It's a pose you'd assume if you knew something was coming at you head-on at any moment."
"Mia looks at Buck like a lost puppy dog and nods a silent yes. Clearly my mutt needs a little retraining."
Top reviews from other countries
The story takes place in a single day, with the exception of the last chapter. Paul takes his wife Mia to their lakeside house in Ohio. He plans to spend the perfect day with her. He wants to be alone with her and enjoy “the best day ever”. Unfortunately, not everything works as planned.
The book is just fun. The story is told from Paul's point of view. We are in his head, so to speak. Paul is a psychopath and extremely narcissistic. He has a very high opinion of himself and precise ideas of how everything has to be to his liking. Mia was until this day the perfect and willing wife. She also has rich parents. But somehow apparently he does not have everything under control anymore. In his boundless confidence in his own genius he has missed that something has changed behind his back.
You could complain about the lack of a story because there is not much happening. The plot is rather small. Paul drives with Mia in a car, goes out for lunch, goes shopping and then leads his wife out to dinner. We as readers are practically in his head the whole time. He basically has a long monologue. Paul is one of those characters you love to hate. I found him very amusing. He is an un-empathic psychopath and knows it. I enjoyed the book a lot. I think it's terrific written and Paul is a ghastly-fascinating character.
"Best Day Ever" is an exciting, amusing and dark reading pleasure. If you love a good psychopath, well here you are!