Mrs. Perfect

by: Jane Porter

Published by: 5 Spot (May 5 release)

Reviewed by Jamie Driggers

Taylor Young presents the perfect life. She has the perfect husband, the perfect children. She is the perfect room mom and the perfect hostess in her perfect home. If she can just keep from ripping her perfectly coiffed hair from her perfectly scheduled head, she might just survive the less-than-perfect circumstances this year brings.

From the very first page you will be absolutely certain of the frantic pace of Taylor’s life. And unlike some of those braggy acquaintances we all have who are busy, busy, busy and love to talk about it so that we will be impressed, you really get the feeling that Taylor knows she’s overextended and wants out. But she’s far too responsible for that, not to mention far too efficient and good at all things organized–and, someone’s got to do it.

After I read Odd Mom Out, also by Jane Porter, I wasn’t sure I would enjoy a book about Taylor, Marta’s nemesis. I identified too much with Marta. But I found that I also identify with Taylor. They are both more alike than either of them would believe. They care passionately about their children and their work (whether a paying job or volunteering at the school), and they are both kind of control freaks. I loved one passage in which she wrote, “I’m fine. We’re fine…When what we’re actually screaming is Help me, help me. Oh God, someone help me…Why can’t we accept help?”

This book is positively riveting. So while my control freak self knew I should put it down and put my house in an immaculate state, I couldn’t do it. And though there are a few things that were hard to swallow, like a SAHM (stay-at-home mom) with a nanny and Taylor scaling down to a “tiny” house the size of the one I live in (so I know it is possible), I totally got who Taylor was and could even understand why these things were problems for her. I absolutely, hands down, recommend this book.

Armchair Interviews agrees this is a fun read.

Author’s Web site: http://www.JanePorter.com