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Best Day Ever
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
108 posts | 94 read | 104 to read
"As I opened the door and stepped into the humid night, her scream followed me out. But I knew there was still love for me in her heart... I'm unforgettable." 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 perfect is their marriage, or any marriage, really? How much do they trust each other? Is Paul the person he seems to be? And what are his secret plans for their weekend at the cottage? 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.
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deeannloso
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Pickpick

This is such a good book. Paul Strom is the best, most loving husband ever; or is he? Paul and Mia are driving to their cabin for the weekend. Paul wants this day to be the “Best Day Ever.” During the ride, however, tensions begin to build. What does Paul have planned for Mia? You must read this book to find out.

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deeannloso
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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“Paul Strom has the perfect life..and he's the perfect husband..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..Is Paul the person he seems to be? And what are his secret plans for their weekend at the cottage?”

28 likes1 stack add
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Victoriahoperose
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Mehso-so

I felt like this book just took way too long to get to the point and by the time it got there, it was over. It was an okay thriller but there wasn‘t much suspense and it was rushed. It‘s a quick read and a decent domestic type thriller, but not my favorite.

31 likes1 stack add
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SheWhoReads26
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Book 1 for 2022!! I have started a challenge to read 22 physical books this year. I love audio and kindle style books but nothing compares to flipping the pages& that infamous “book smell” that only true readers know. 📚❤️

magyklyXdelish I enjoyed this one quite a bit. I hope you like it! (edited) 2y
3 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Twainy
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Pickpick

🎧 A little behind adding reviews, work‘s been extra work-like lately.

The book starts by telling you it‘s a Harlequin book. I almost stopped right there & ran away at top speed cuz all I heard was >> this is a ROMANCE! Argh! 🤮 but nope!

Paul & Mia have been married awhile. They have 2 boys. Mia wants to try for a girl. Paul is an ass.

⭐️⭐️⭐️3/4 👇🏻👇🏻

Twainy You may enjoy hating Paul. Ugh he‘s such a horrible person! It was predictable but like a train wreck you think maybe he‘ll change or get his! Even better.

I admit to being occasionally frustrated with how outlandishly unlikeable Paul is but it only fuels the fire of your hatred for him LOL

👇🏻
3y
Twainy So Paul gets a babysitter & takes Mia to their lake house for a weekend getaway, he needs to smooth things over with her so he‘s planning “a best day ever”.

Buck is the 3rd wheel. He‘s a lake house neighbor who helps Mia with her garden ....

If you need a quick read & don‘t mind a truly despicable 1st person narration this might be for you! I ENJOYED HATING PAUL 😆
3y
27 likes1 stack add2 comments
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mrs.stevens
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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8 likes1 stack add
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Allthingsbooks
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
Mehso-so

Kept my interest...but didn‘t captivate me.

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magyklyXdelish
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Pickpick

Slow at work now more than ever but it‘s allowing me to plow through my reading. This is definitely one of the better slow burn thrillers I‘ve read. I love and adore books with unreliable narrators. I saw a lot of the twists coming but it didn‘t take away from the enjoyment. I‘d give it a 4

#review #booked2020 #readinggoals #readingresolutions #readingatwork

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magyklyXdelish
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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AudiobookingWithLeah
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Pickpick

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ SLOW-BURN
⤏ PSYCHOLOGICAL (LIGHT) SUSPENSE
⤏ A STUDY OF A SOCIOPATH
⤏ OVER-THE-TOP...TO THE POINT OF HILARITY
Told mainly over the course of a day...in what is dubbed THE BEST DAY EVER. Paul tells the story of his and Mia's life to that point. Told completely from Paul's warped point of view, you'll slowly get a picture of what makes Paul tick.

12 likes1 comment
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she.hearts.horror
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Pickpick

A quick and entertaining read.

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mvrdr
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Am I right? Shared from Facebook.

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BookNightOwl
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Pickpick

I went into this book not knowing what it was about. I liked the way the cover looked along with its title. I knew it was about a married couple and that's about it. I like the way the book was written with the different times of the day as chapters. Your not sure where this story is going until everything starts piecing together. I suggest this read but may not be for everybody.
4⭐⭐⭐⭐

Clwojick This one was DARK. loved it ! 5y
42 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Clwojick
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Pickpick

“I taught myself how to imitate the look people have when they are feeling sad, for example. The corners of the mouth droop, the eyes fill with water.”

A chilling story of a husband who will stop at nothing to make sure his wife has the best day ever. Once again, I picked a book simply based on the cover & chose not to read the description before jumping in. This was definitely not was I was expecting, but I really enjoyed it. #BFCR2 #BFC

marleed That‘s my favorite way to read a book! 5y
Reagan I loved this one. 5y
87 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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Madison91
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Pickpick

They say you shouldn‘t judge a book by its cover, but this book is every part, dark, moody and beautiful as it‘s outside. It‘s a good easy read, and I love the points of view

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Lmass23
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Anyone read this? Hoping it‘s good!!

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Betty
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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EastWind76
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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I kind of want to start a new series (probably either Throne of Glass or Codex Alera), so I'm going to knock out my book club book for this month first, so I won't have to insert it in the middle.

40 likes1 stack add
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Readingfeathers1
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Pickpick

Wow.. so there‘s nothing like seeing inside the creepy characters mind! Great domestic thriller 👍

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Night_Reader
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Pickpick

Love the fact that this book takes place within a 24hr period - such a fast paced & addictive book. Paul is not the most likeable or reliable narrator/hubby but I couldn't stop reading. 👍

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Betty
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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1. This year, neither. But tomorrow some 8th graders are coming to the deaf club to put on a Halloween play. We‘ll have treats for them.
2. Black cats
3. Scary movie. Right now episode 7 of The Haunting of Hill House
4. @Suzze
Bonus: tagged book
#tuesdaytidbits #thisorthat @JenlovesJT47

JenlovesJT47 🧡🖤🧡 5y
TheWordJar I just watched the first ep of The Haunting of Hill House last night. 😱 Will definitely be continuing this evening. I love scary shows! 5y
Betty @TheWordJar I was confused the first 3 episodes because the mom and the three adult sisters all had long brown hair — I couldn‘t keep them straight. On the 4th and 5th episode, I caught on. Went back to re-watch 1-3 before moving on to #7. 5y
Suzze Thanks for the tag! 5y
49 likes4 comments
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DaNae.Gr
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Onto the next! #11

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Reagan
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Pickpick

This is what I wanted when I read You (my favourite unpopular opinion). Paul and Mia are going out of town to spend some time without their kids, but immediately, you can feel that something is wrong. Paul is the storyteller and he‘s great! I am dying to know more about both of these characters. I couldn‘t put the book down, and I‘ll be on a back catalogue binge of Kaira Rouda!

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Reagan
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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I LOVE IT! I need to read the whole thing immediately. It‘s so creepy! 🤗

35 likes1 stack add
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Reagan
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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I haven‘t started reading this yet, but I should because today my boss came and told me that she asked to have my contract extended! It‘s only by a little bit, but hopefully a sign of things to come! What a great way to end the week 🤗🤗

LauraBeth 🙌🙌 6y
Mdargusch Congratulations! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 6y
40 likes2 comments
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Mdargusch
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Someone is playing games in this domestic thriller about a controlling husband trying to provide his wife with “the best day ever”. #thenameofthegame #abbainaugust

Kalalalatja He sounds like someone I wouldn‘t want to come too near! 6y
emilyhaldi Pretty picture though 😍 6y
Cinfhen Nice word play👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻well ✅ 6y
Reviewsbylola It was so interesting to see how this one unfolded. 6y
Rebesta That‘s an ominous book jacket. 6y
107 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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Mitch
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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OMG I sooooo want to go to Ohio now. To relax on the lake, eat popcorn at the fair and attend amazing homegrown author events. It‘s so exciting to discover new authors , especially where there‘s a super interesting back story and I may have had some Mike & Ikes for breakfast (you may notice one box missing!)
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you 🙏 @Mdargusch I can feel the love on this package. 💕
#hometownswap

Mitch So my husband woke me up this morning standing beside the bed with my swap box and scissors. He‘s been dying to know what‘s inside and is super pleased with the choice of popcorn @Mdargusch 🤣 6y
erzascarletbookgasm 😂your husband seems more excited than you! 😂 Great package! 6y
Mitch Oh no - I‘m super excited! @erzascarletbookgasm He‘s just been ‘looking after‘ it for me as he knows I‘m not very patient! 🤣 6y
See All 12 Comments
Mdargusch Too funny. I had fun trying to put the box together but somehow Ohio is not nearly as interesting as London. 6y
LeahBergen How wonderful! 💕 6y
Mitch Oh no it is ! @Mdargusch It‘s been added to our lifetime bucket list! 6y
MicrobeMom Yay Mitch! I hope you enjoy learning about Ohio! 6y
Mitch Can‘t wait to dive into these books @microbemom ( whilst munching popcorn of course - as I imagine only a true Ohioan would! ) 6y
emilyhaldi So fun!! Please do come to Ohio someday, you are always welcome 🤗 6y
readinginthedark Great selection! And @Mdargusch so smart to include recipes! I should've done that for the things I couldn't ship! 6y
Mdargusch Well buckeyes are so good and I feel bad not to have included them due to the heat. @readinginthedark 6y
readinginthedark @Mdargusch Agreed! Buckeyes are popular here in Missouri, too! Yum! 6y
78 likes12 comments
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Mdargusch
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Pickpick

Paul and Mia seem to have the perfect upper middle class life but as this plot unfolds, nothing is as it seems. The author herself describes this as “domestic suspense “ and it was definitely a compelling read. I especially loved that it takes place in the community where we spend our summers in this pink cottage. I would put this in the #borrownotbuy category @Cinfhen and it is my #beachread for #booked 2018

emilyhaldi Love this pic ? and glad the book ended up a "pick"!!! 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Oh I love your pink cottage 💗💗💗💗 6y
LeahBergen Your cottage! 💕😮💕😮 6y
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JaclynW Cutest cottage!! 6y
Mdargusch It‘s hard to tell but it was built in 1881 so it‘s a little bit rough in places. 😂 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @LeahBergen @JaclynW 6y
violabrain This looks like Chautauqua in upstate New York. Is it? My family has been going there in the summer for years! 6y
Kalalalatja That cottage 😍😍 6y
JaclynW @Mdargusch I love it! A little rough in places is perfect! 6y
BarbaraTheBibliophage How lovely! Perfect pick for #booked2018! 6y
mabell So pretty! And your hydrangeas! 😍 6y
JanuarieTimewalker13 I can picture this home on Block Island, if it were a bit more petite. 6y
Cinfhen 💕💕💕 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Mdargusch looks perfect 💗 6y
Reviewsbylola I don‘t think I would have cared for this had it not been set in LS. I just don‘t love thrillers like I used to. 6y
Mdargusch No this is Lakeside Chautauqua- we are the poor cousin to the New York Chautauqua @violabrain 👍🏼 6y
Mdargusch I was surprised you gave it 4 stars @Reviewsbylola 🤷🏼‍♀️ 6y
Meredith3 I wanna read this 6y
Meredith3 @Reviewsbylola you don't like thrillers anymore?! Have you read the last time I lied? Loved it 6y
Reviewsbylola I‘m just so sick of them. I‘ve actually picked that one up twice and both times I was just annoyed with it so I bailed. @Meredith3 6y
Meredith3 @Reviewsbylola omg I finished it last night and loved it 😹 6y
Reviewsbylola I don‘t like the main character. She reminds me a lot of the main character in his last book and it‘s turning me off. @meredith3 6y
113 likes5 stack adds21 comments
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Mdargusch
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Last week I listened to lectures on Jane Austen. This week I got to meet Kaira Rouda and listen to her speak about The Best Day Ever. It‘s a psychological thriller that takes place in Lakeside Chautauqua where I spend a large part of my summer.

Cathythoughts You are having a great summer 👍🏻 6y
CSeydel No way ... my parents used to take us to Lake Chautaqua when I was little! 6y
LeahBergen I‘m quite envious of all your local literary events. 💚 6y
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Mdargusch Yes! I‘m so blessed @Cathythoughts 😁 6y
Mdargusch So cool! @CSeydel Where did you stay? 6y
Mdargusch My cup runneth over when I‘m here @leahbergen. There‘s so much to do that it‘s hard to fit everything in! 6y
BarbaraBB Envy you! Enjoy & keep posting 😘 6y
Reviewsbylola Omg you‘ll enjoy this one just for the setting. It‘s so crazy. She even mentions Ray‘s. So cool you got to see her. 6y
emilyhaldi Oooohh I didn't know about that one! Fun!!! 6y
Mdargusch She took people on a tram tour on Sunday to point out the sites from her book and I missed it. @Reviewsbylola @emilyhaldi 6y
88 likes1 stack add10 comments
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rachelk
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Pickpick

If you‘ve ever known a narcissist, you‘ll likely recognize the POV of the narrator, Paul. The novel takes place over a 24 hour period and much of the action relayed to us has already transpired. At times I found the writing a bit heavy handed but ultimately it was a hard to put down psychological thriller - which, for me, makes it a pick.

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rachelk
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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I think that being surrounded by piles of books and trying to decide which one to pick up next is the most luxurious problem in the world.

The tagged book stood out to me this evening and so far it‘s holding my interest. 🤞🏻

Lauram The Lisa See book is great! (If it‘s what I see in the pile) (edited) 6y
rachelk @Lauram It is! Good eye! 6y
48 likes2 comments
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GirlWellRead
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
Mehso-so

Paul is so narcissistic that he can‘t read social cues or navigate relationships. He thinks women want him, when in fact he is actually stalking them and the attention that is harassment. The comparison to Ellis' Patrick Bateman is there, although Paul is not quite as polished, and unlike Bateman, there is no likability whatsoever. Rouda goes out on a whimper. There needed to be more of a psychological throw down to amp it up.

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KristinaWright
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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So many books to review, so little time...

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TrishB
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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#bestdayofmylife #getmovin
Couldn‘t miss anyone out could I! Hubby, kids and Numan 💕
No books in there - but Sylvia gets a look in and she‘s my current read (for the next few days at least!).

Scurvygirl These two photos of you guys are awesome!! 💜💜 6y
Cinfhen Love the collage❣️❣️❣️❣️ 6y
tammysue Great photos!! 💕 6y
See All 17 Comments
AmyG ❤️ 6y
readordierachel Fab t-shirt! 6y
saresmoore I love this post! ♥️ 6y
eanderson Yayy!! Love this!!! 6y
LauraBeth Great pic!❤️ 6y
Tanisha_A Wow T-shirt! 6y
EvieBee 😍😍 6y
LeahBergen ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
Kalalalatja Lovely! 6y
TrishB @ReadOrDieRachel @Tanisha_A thank you 😁 it has the first line of my fav poem in the back too. 6y
Tanisha_A @TrishB Which poem is it? 6y
TrishB @Tanisha_A The Moon and the Yew Tree 6y
Tanisha_A @TrishB Complex and beautiful! 6y
112 likes17 comments
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AceOnRoam
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Mehso-so

A day in the life of Paul Strom, psychopath, and his wife Mia. Not an ordinary day though and creepy as hell. Not my usual fare, but I couldn't stop reading this one. I guessed a lot of what was happening but I think that was the author's intent.

#coverlove
#ReadingOnRoam

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aliasNayNay
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Pickpick

To be honest, the first 120 pages was lacking in any kind of action, they were a struggle. However, once I passed that, WOW, it got very good! I realized the lack of action was the ultimate set up for the shocking results of the story. It was a great story. With a great plot. Once I got into it, I couldn‘t put it down. It‘s definitely worth the read!

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aliasNayNay
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Next on my reading list....looking forward to this one, heard great things.

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meganmayfair
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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I devoured this. I found the narrator compelling even though not is all at it seems.

82 likes8 stack adds
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GripLitGrl
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Panpan

Wasn't a fan of this one to be honest the book felt like the main character Paul was rambling blah blah blah for a majority of the book. The epilogue was the best part. I did a lot of skimming & skipping around didn't hold my interest like a thriller should.

Ashley85 Totally agree! Paul got on my nerves 🙄 6y
TheBookgeekFrau Sounds like I may need to remove this one from my wish list 6y
GripLitGrl @Ashley85 glad I'm not the only one who felt that way😄 6y
See All 6 Comments
GripLitGrl @C.Perone I wouldn't rush to read it but you never know eveyone has different taste. Another reason why i love the library i can just return the book now😉 6y
TheBookgeekFrau @GripLitGrl I wasn‘t *all* that keen on it anyway 😊 6y
GripLitGrl @C.Perone gotcha😉😀 6y
36 likes6 comments
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Ashley85
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
Mehso-so

It was okay. I was about to bail at one point, but I pushed through just to see exactly how creepy Paul was. I‘ll give it 2.5 ⭐️ . It had a pretty fair ending.

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GripLitGrl
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Reviewsbylola
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Pickpick

I picked up this book because it is set in the same town where my parents have a lake cottage. I loved reading a book set in a place I know so well. It was a nice bonus that I ended up liking the book overall too. All I knew going in was that it was a psychological thriller. I really loved how it all unfolded, and how the reader becomes more aware, bit by bit, what‘s truly going on. Well done and I enjoyed the fresh perspective.

Melissa_J Glad to see you enjoyed this one. I have it on my TBR and think I‘m going to read it soon. 6y
Kaye Sounds good ! 6y
Kappadeemom That sounds good!! 6y
See All 11 Comments
Mdargusch I can‘t wait to read it! 6y
emilyhaldi Are we all going to borrow this?! 😄 6y
Reviewsbylola It‘s a library book but sure. @emilyhaldi 6y
Reviewsbylola I was thinking the LS bookstore should feature it this summer though! @emilyhaldi @Mdargusch 6y
Richryan52 @Reviewsbylola Are you a blogger? 6y
Reviewsbylola I was. My blog has been inactive for awhile. I‘ve found I like Litsy better—it feels way more interactive. 😄. @Richryan52 6y
Richryan52 @Reviewsbylola I love Litsy. People here are the best. Are you a Sherlock Holmes fan? 6y
Reviewsbylola I haven‘t read any I don‘t think tbh. 😬😬 @Richryan52 6y
112 likes3 stack adds11 comments
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Ashley85
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Started this tonight. From what I‘ve read so far, I‘m not sure how I‘m going to feel about this one. The main character is pretty creepy...

27 likes2 stack adds
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Chocamanda
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Started this audiobook today and the narrator seems like a mix between Don Draper, Donald Trump and Scott Peterson #marriageonthebrink #ssdgm

Chelleo That‘s an....interesting description! 6y
Reviewsbylola I just started this. I can totally see the Scott Peterson comparison. This dude is a total creep. 6y
Chocamanda @Reviewsbylola the author definitely did their research on psychopaths. Eventually they push the Don Draper thing. I hope you like the book! 📚 6y
Reviewsbylola My parents own a cottage in Lakeside and we spend so much time there that I had to read this just for the setting! 6y
17 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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LauraBeth
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
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Goodbye library hold that I never got to.

MarriedtoMrT Happens to me ALL the time. So sad! 6y
DGRachel Someone‘s enjoying the sunbeams though! 😍🐶😍 6y
LauraBeth @MarriedtoMrT I know! 😩 6y
See All 7 Comments
LauraBeth @DGRachel she‘s was practicing her downward dog 🐶 6y
minkyb Happens to me a lot. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 6y
Reviewsbylola Lol. I can totally relate. I just started this one! 6y
LauraBeth @Reviewsbylola let me know how you like it! 6y
122 likes7 comments
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Monica5
Best Day Ever | Kaira Rouda
Pickpick

I had heard mixed reviews about this book. I liked it, even though I didn't like the narrator, Paul. He is an egotistical, conceited, psycho. But, for some reason, even though I hated him, I had to keep reading to find out what happens. I stated this late afternoon and ended up reading until a quarter to 12 last night. It just got its claws in me and wouldn't let me go.