I recently did a post for a meme Top Ten Tuesday with the topic books to pull you out of a reading slump and I used some recommendations from some of the Traveling Sisters. Susanne recommend Best Day Ever by . Along my book travels I noticed that the paperback copy was released a few days ago so I quickly went to my local bookstore to take this photo for this post.
Norma read this a while back and loved it and recommended it to me to read but I was a little hesitant to read. Paul Strom terrified me. Than Susanne listened to it and tried to get Kaceey and I on board but I just kept pushing it aside. Really what was I thinking . While finally Kaceey and I read it and were so glad we did. We couldn’t believe we waited so long to read. We loved it. I highly recommend adding this one to your list to read right away. Now it’s out in paperback with such a great cover really how can you resist.
Best Day Ever
Goodreads summary
I glance at my wife as she climbs into the passenger seat, and I am bursting with confidence. Today will be everything I’ve promised her…and more…
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 bestselling, page-turning vein of The Couple Next Door and The Dinner, Kaira Rouda weaves a gripping, tautly suspenseful tale of deception and betrayal dark enough to destroy a marriage…or a life
Publication date: September 19, 2017
Paperback publication date: August 21, 2018
About the author
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 via Skype/Facetime, please reach out through her website KairaRouda.com
BEST DAY EVER by KAIRA ROUDA is a dark, thrilling, and sinister tale of deception and betrayal that takes place over a 24-hr period and had me flipping those pages with anticipation and fascination finishing the book in less than 24-hrs. I could not put this book down!
Okay, for the first part of this novel it takes a little while to get yourself into the book and into the mindset of the main character but as you read on you get the idea of what the author is trying to portray here. It is definitely worth the read and it gets easier and better as the story progresses.
KAIRA ROUDA delivers a gripping and highly entertaining read here told from the first person point of view of our main character Paul Strom who is described as an unreliable narrator by the author. He is narcissistic, arrogant, a womanizer, and a psychopath who is trying to have the Best Day Ever with his wife Mia. The author does a wonderful job portraying the mindset of this character as he is so well-written you totally get into his head and you discover rather quickly that there is definitely something not quite right here. Which will have you wondering why is this the best day ever and who is actually going to have the best day ever, Mia or Paul?
This character is not an easy one to read, I didn’t really like him very much as he has a horrible attitude and is really high on himself. You might also get a little lost sometimes as he will just go off into an inner monologue with himself confusing you even more. Once I figured out what was happening though then I found it rather easy to follow along with the storyline.
The ending was satisfying with all loose ends tied up neatly in a bow. This time around I really liked that the author chose to end the story that way as I needed clarification and closure. I did find the book somewhat predictable at times but there were a few little twists along the way to keep me interested enough throughout and I was totally curious in how this was all going to play out. Would recommend!
Taken from our Traveling Sisters Goodreads reviews.
From Susanne’s review
I listened to the audiobook of “Best Day Ever” and it captured my attention from the first sentence. It was completely gripping and was in fact the best audiobook I have listened to in 2017. Kudos to the narrator, Graham Halstead for bringing Paul Strom to life. This is a book that I highly recommend. It is extremely entertaining, full of lots of crazy twists and well, it was totally wicked, in the Best Way Ever.
From Kaceey’s review
Oh my gosh! Paul is the perfect leading character you will just love to hate! I can’t say anymore…you’ll just have to read it yourself! The book is delightfully different and so well done! Not your typical domestic thriller! I blazed through this one in two sittings!
If you’ve already read this one…wasn’t it great?!
If you haven’t, I recommend you put this one on your list!
From Marialyce’s review
Certainly unnerving, Paul is the ultimate villain. He has everything, manipulates everything, and as all psychopaths do, regrets nothing. Mia seems to be his pawn.
From Suzy’s review
Well, THAT was interesting! While reading the first 100 pages of this book, I was getting annoyed – mainly because I was expecting more than I was getting. Not a lot going on. Little did I realize it was all part of a slow build up to an explosion of a story! After I quickly understood Rouda’s intentions, I finished the remaining 242 pages in just a few hours. Suspense GALORE people! Kudos to Rouda for doing a fabulous job in creating Paul’s character. The most delusional, narcissistic psycho I have ever read. Man, this dude is a piece of work. You can’t help but be 100% repulsed by him from the get go.
From Carol’s review
It is brilliantly told and Paul is an excellent character. I was completely captivated by the novel and finished it fast.
Overall, I loved the novel and highly recommend it to readers of thrillers and contemporary fiction. I look forward to the author’s next book.
Expected publication: February 19, 2019 by Graydon House
Goodreads summary for
From the author of the page-turning domestic suspense Best Day Ever, comes another gripping novel of psychological suspense set in an upscale Southern California community, for fans of B.A. Paris and Shari Lapena.
The perfect home. The perfect family. The perfect lie.
Jane Harris lives in a sparkling home in an oceanfront gated community in Orange County. It’s a place that seems too beautiful to be touched by sadness. But exactly one year ago, Jane’s oldest daughter, Mary, died in a tragic accident and Jane has been grief-stricken ever since. Lost in a haze of anti-depressants, she’s barely even left the house. Now that’s all about to change.
It’s time for Jane to reclaim her life and her family. Jane’s husband, David, has planned a memorial service for Mary and three days later, their youngest daughter, Betsy, graduates high school. Yet as Jane reemerges into the world, it’s clear her family has changed without her. Her husband has been working long days—and nights—at the office. Her daughter seems distant, even secretive. And her beloved Mary was always such a good girl—dutiful and loving. But does someone know more about Mary, and about her last day, than they’ve revealed?
The bonds between mothers and daughters, and husbands and wives should never be broken. But you never know how far someone will go to keep a family together…
Have you read The Best Day Ever? Want to read it? Are you excited and intrigued by
Penny For Our Thoughts 
*sigh* Now I’ve got to have THIS one! Excellent reviews.
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Thank you, Jonetta! This is one not to be missed! I hope you love it too! Maybe we should make it a suggestion for a Traveling Friends group read.
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Fantastic reviews! I have read Best Day ever and I loved it! Fingers crossed that I will get approved for her new one. If not, I will just have to live vicariously through your reviews of it. Can’t wait to hear what you have to say about that one!
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Thank you! Hope you get approved!
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I really liked this one too though Paul scared me 🙂 I didn’t know that Kaira has a new book coming out. Thanks for mentioning it. Off to add it to my TBR!
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Glad you liked it too!! You’re welcome – hope her new one is great!!
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Fabulous post!! What were you thinking Brenda?! LOL! I was just glad that after Norma and I read/listened to it that you and Kaceey finally did and then you both loved it also! Phew!
I can’t wait to see what you think of The Favorite Daughter! Am super excited to see your reviews and am eagerly awaiting reading it myself. 🙂
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I know what was I thinking! I am glad we finally did!
Thank you, Susanne! I am looking forward to it!
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I really liked this one! I love your blog. It’s like an instant Bookclub!
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Oh I am so happy to hear Vicky that you enjoyed this one too and you put a big smile on our faces by your lovely comment about our blog! 🙂
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