Paul and Mia Strom are determined to have the Best Day Ever. Despite Paul’s lurid past, and even shadier current dealings. Despite Mia’s slowly failing health. Despite the dishonesty (on both their parts) that is like a loose thread, about to unravel them both if either of them picks at it.

A seemingly enviable upper-middle class family struggles with a madman at the helm, manipulating and controlling everyone and everything around him to meet his self-serving agenda.

How far has Paul gone in his pursuit of the perfect life, and can Mia face all this head-on?

Best Day Ever is in the vein of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl in its exploration of perfect-on-the-surface-marriage, and is creepy in a style similar to Caroline Kepnes You. The story is largely told from Paul’s perspective (until the Prologue), and he is not a likable guy. He’s entirely interesting, but a disgusting chauvinist pig. A certifiable narcissist. You know something bad is going to happen. But what? And to whom? And man, did I keep my fingers crossed for someone to toss this guy off a bridge.

The writing is impactful. The characters, particularly Paul, well fleshed out. I hadn’t meant to get so completely wrapped up in this book, but as soon as a few chapters in, I had to know what happens. I’m not entirely satisfied with the ending, but a perfect ending is rare. Everyone will have some feeling about what should have happened, and even if I didn’t get what I was after, the fact that Best Day Ever is well-written enough for me to have a feeling one way or another says everything about how good a story it is.

*Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an advance reader copy (ARC). ( )

While this wasn’t a very thrilling or suspenseful read (most of the plot is predictable), I really enjoyed the perspective of this story. It added a lot being in Paul’s point of view. ( )

One of the best and clever suspense books I've read! Paul Strom is such a wonderfully written character. He's a witty, self-absorbed, evil, clever, controlling, charming, sociopath!

In short, he is a character you may love to hate. Like a train wreck, you'll find yourself quickly turning the pages to see where his destructive path takes him and his poor wife, Mia.

Will she out-smart him? If so, how?

I loved this story, both as a reader and as an author impressed with the great character development. ( )

Interesting book with Paul telling the story of he & Mia's marriage on the way to the lake house for the "Best Day Ever". Both characters are completely unlikable & unreliable. Paul tells you what he wants you to know, or does he? Mia is whiny & unpredictable, or is she? Taking place from 9am till 4:45am chronicling the drive to the lake house, arrival, dinner, & aftermath it runs a little slow and a little too long with a kind of unsatisfying ending. ( )

I'm new to this author but did Kaira Rouda ever pull off a edge of your seat one here! So edgy. This good and evil story was on the brink for so very long. Well done showing a sociopath in such a normal but maniacal light. ( )