By Caro Claire Burke
SPOILER-FREE
‘My name is Natalie Heller Mills, and I was perfect at being alive…’
Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle – and her followers are sick with envy. Her charming farmhouse on her working ranch is artfully cluttered, her husband is a handsome cowboy, her homemade sourdough boules are each more beautiful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers and industrial-grade ovens behind the scenes? What her followers don’t know won’t hurt them.
Then, one morning, Natalie wakes up in a strange, horrible version of reality. Her home, her husband, her children—they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Is this a hoax? A reality show? A test from God? Natalie knows just two things for sure: this isn’t her perfect life, and she must escape, by any means possible.
REVIEW
THEMES: CONTEMPORARY, TENSE, HUMOROUS, THRILLER, MEDIUM-PACED.
Natalie Heller Mills has a perfect life… to her Instagram followers. She lives on a farm and leads a ‘traditional’ life. As a woman of faith, she serves her husband and children and never complains.
So why has she woken up in this nightmare. Her family is familiar, but something is off and her expensive, perfect house is now shabby and tired. Is this a test from God, or a practical joke? And most importantly, can she escape?
This book has blown up.
Maybe I am out of the loop, but for me, this book came out of the woodwork and took over my feed. Many people claim they read it in one sitting, which is one of the most enticing sentences a book lover can hear.
I did not read it in one sitting, and never would. Kudos to those who could, but you are insane. Natalie was too intense for me to take in all at once.
She is a very interesting character, and it was fascinating reading from a completely foreign perspective. Burke does a good job at making the reader feel like Natalie. I would catch myself reacting as if I was going through it, which is great but a little embarrassing when in public.
I’ve noticed a couple reviews saying that they didn’t like the book because they hated Natalie… but isn’t that the whole point? Wasn’t that the authors objective? A story doesn’t always have to be adored but understood. And if you understand it, you may come to love it.
After I finished the book, I kept looking up the characters, forgetting they are fictional. I still get the urge to whenever I think about the book, but alas the search is fruitless.
I was not a huge fan of the ending, it felt a little unoriginal but at the same it was realistic. I think some of the middle could have been cut out and the ending lengthened, as it felt a bit rushed.
An enjoyable read but I think it is slightly overhyped. I would suggest spacing it out if you’re someone whose mood mirrors the tone of the book you’re reading.
Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.