Best Day Ever

Written by Kaira Rouda

Narrated by Graham Halstead and Amy McFadden

‘Compelling’ Hello!

‘[A] deliciously dark story shot through with black humour.’ Sunday Mirror

A loving husband. The perfect killer?

‘I wonder if Mia thinks I have a dark side. Most likely as far as she knows, I am just her dear loving husband.’

Paul Strom has spent years building his perfect life: glittering career, beautiful wife, two healthy boys and a big house in the suburbs.

But he also has his secrets. That’s why Paul has promised his wife a romantic weekend getaway. He proclaims this day, a warm Friday in May, will be the best day ever.

Paul loves his wife, really, he does. But he also wants to get rid of her. And with every hour that passes, Paul ticks off another stage in his elaborately laid plan…

Behind Closed Doors meets Liane Moriarty in this creepy, fast-paced psychological thriller with a twist you won’t see coming!

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Release date: Sep 7, 2017
• ISBN: 9780263930726

Kaira Rouda

Kaira Rouda is a USA TODAY bestselling, multiple award-winning author of contemporary fiction that explores what goes on beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives. Her domestic suspense novel, Best Day Ever, is a USA TODAY bestseller translated into more than eight languages. Her new novel,The Favorite Daughter, is available now. She lives in Washington, D.C., and Southern California and is at work on her next novel.

Reviews for Best Day Ever

[bons_11 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[howifeelaboutbooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read this book in about 4 hours on a Saturday. Very compelling. Great suspense, without being too over the top. The ending was perfect - not hokey, very realistic. I think this is better than most “suspenseful” books I’ve been reading lately; you know the kind, billed as “the next Gone Girl”. I hope this book gets the attention it deserves.

[Lucía García · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Best Day Ever is an absorbing thriller which takes place during one vital day in the lives of Paul and Mia a married couple celebrating a weekend away at their lakeside cottage, while their two young children are with their nanny. The story is mostly narrated in the first person by Paul and partly by Mia. The author, Kaira Rouda does a great job getting into Paul's twisted mind, lacing it with dark humour. It is well paced, taking place during one day in their lives , although there are constant flashbacks to their ten year marriage and brief courtship. It is a disturbing novel, but it's also well worth reading and discussing with young women or at a reading group. I listened to the audio version which was compellingly read by Graham Halstead.

[gpangel_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Best Day Ever by Kaira Rouda is a 2017 Graydon House publication. Paul and Mia are heading out to spend a weekend alone without their kids, or work interference, at their lake house. Paul was hoping to create ‘The Best Day Ever’ for his wife- but things are not quite working out as he planned. Mia is argumentative, bringing up old grievances, picking at sore spots between them. At all turns Paul’s plans go awry- including their pesty neighbor who keeps popping up at the more inopportune moments and can’t seem to take a hint. As the weekend progresses, it becomes clear that Paul and Mia’s perfect marriage may have a few cracks in it- and they each have very different ideas of how to spend their time together… After suffering through a crispy fried burnout on Domestic and Psychological thrillers a few years back, for all intents and purposes, I stopped reading them all together for a while. The problem was that I had stacks of PT’s on my TBR pile. This summer I’ve been working through that list, which had ballooned out of all reasonable proportion and had to make some tough decisions. When I got around to this book, which has been gathering dust now for four years- close to the automatic delete- cut off date- I waffled back and forth on whether to keep it or delete it. What to do? I decided to read a few chapters of the book, then decide. The next thing I knew I’d read half the book in one sitting. This is one of those strange, and rare, situations when if you don’t have an inkling as to what is going on, this book might bore you to tears. But because I knew early on that something sinister was afoot and it wasn’t necessarily one-sided, I was absolutely captivated by the way the story unfolded. Although, domestic thrillers all seem to borrow from a similar format, once you’ve read a dozen or fifty in a year, it starts to feel like I’m reading the same book over and over and over- only with different names and locations. This book has those hallmark elements- but was cleverer, with even pacing- and no over the top twists at all. It wraps up quite nicely - because it is always richly satisfying when a horrible character finally gets their comeuppance- and it couldn’t have been more fitting! Overall, I enjoyed the ride- and will certainly read this author again. 4 stars

[purple_pisces22 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I picked up this book on a whim. I have a ton of TBR books waiting, but I just wasn’t feeling it for any of them at that time. So I went looking for something...else... hard as I can’t say different really because I tend to stick with the suspense/murder genre but something about this description grabbed my attention. It was also my first book by Kaira Rouda, and I was not disappointed.
This book begs the reader to think about how well they really know the people closest to them. We all have secrets, some more than others apparently. But it should be OK to assume you know your spouse. Well you know what they say about assuming.
There are quite a few surprises and unexpected events along the way to Paul and Mia’s Best Day Ever. I suspect it’s actually one of the worst days I’ve ever.

[squiresj_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I kept wondering how Mia could put up with Paul's women. As one who learned last year you don't always know your spouse. Until the end I thought there was more to Buck than strawberry plants. Be sure your sins will be exposed. Paul's finally were. Thankful Mia was kept safe. Not all women have someone like Buck. Lois didn't. I'm glad I finished story. I reached a place I was disgusted with Paul's actions. But by then had to see ending.

[kbranfield-837433 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4.5 stars.

Best Day Ever by Kaira Rouda is a chilling, suspenseful novel about a seemingly devoted husband who whisks his wife away for a romantic weekend at their lake house.

On the surface, advertising executive Paul Strom is good looking, successful and very involved in his wife, Mia, and their two sons' lives. His marriage is quite traditional with Mia staying home to care for the children while Paul works hard to provide for his family. On the drive to their lake house, Paul is quite contemplative as he reflects on pivotal events that have occurred throughout his life. His musings run the gamut from his somewhat dysfunctional childhood to his first romance after college to his courtship of Mia. However, these rather bland reflections soon become disquieting and rather sinister as Paul's anecdotes finally reveal his true nature. The tone of the novel soon turns ominous despite Paul's constant assertions to Mia (and the reader) that he has planned the "best day ever" for his lovely wife.

Mia comes across as a dutiful wife who is completely under her husband's thumb. In recent months, she has been suffering from a undiagnosed illness but her health appears to be improving. However, during the drive, Paul notices something about his wife seems to be different, but he cannot quite put his finger on what has changed. Once they arrive at their lake house, Mia immediately goes off Paul's carefully scripted plans and he is frustrated by her emerging independence. He finally gets their evening back on track when he takes Mia to an upscale restaurant for a romantic dinner, but will their evening the way Paul has envisioned?

Narrated from Paul's point of view and taking place over a twenty four hour period, Best Day Ever is a spellbinding novel that is impossible to put down. Although it is apparent right from the beginning that there is something quite off about Paul, it is still incredibly shocking once the truth about him is fully revealed.  This tightly plotted domestic mystery has some fiendishly clever twists and turns that are sure to surprise readers as Kaira Rouda brings the novel to an unexpected conclusion.

[pegmcdaniel · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is my first novel by Kaira Rouda and, hopefully, it won't be my last. She has written a dark novel, Best Day Ever, that has suspense and slowly builds over a 24-hour period. Paul has planned a day with his wife, Mia, at their lakeside cottage. It's to be a romantic getaway and he has planned every detail. Paul is so full of himself, always gets what he wants, is controlling, and is a total Jerk with a capital J. The entire novel is narrated by Paul so we get his point-of-view.Paul is so well-written that, at times, I was having serious emotions about him: disbelief, exasperation, repulsion, and laugh-out-loud humor. You know from the start that this is not going to be the best day ever for either of these characters. They are going through a rough time in their marriage and it will take more than a day's getaway to solve it. You can sum up the novel by asking, "How well do you know someone?"

[rmarcin-630843 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Best Day Ever is a husband’s attempt to take his wife away on a romantic getaway weekend. The only problem is that the husband is an egotistical psychopath. This is evident very early in the book. What isn’t evident until much later is how sick he actually is. However, if you are a fan of psychological thrillers, you will be able to figure this one out very early on. Spoiler alert: when it is mentioned in the book that Paul‘s parents were dead from carbon monoxide poisoning, it was not a stretch to realize that Paul was the one that caused the poisoning. When Mia complains of being sick, and the doctors can’t figure it out, I knew that he was poisoning her. I was not aware of all of the possible affairs that Paul was having/had, or that he had been fired from his job. However, when he kept glancing at his phone, I knew that that was a woman contacting him. The ending was not as obvious, in the fact that her parents, Buck, and Mia had all planned to take Paul down, and did it so efficiently. Mia played her part very well.
#BestDayEver #KairaRouda

[master275 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3.5 stars----rounded down b/c of the ending. LOVED this crazy book up to the very end and expected a wee bit more fireworks. Still a great read.

[grigoro_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A fun read, told from the point of view of the control-freak / narcissist / psychopath husband who has big plans for his wife's "Best Day Ever". A bit predicable, but a book I enjoyed returning to. Great epilogue.

[chrisway · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Entertaining although predictable.

[pamv-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

OMG! This book was so twisted and so is Paul. Well done, Kaira Rouda! I was on the edge of my seat with this thriller of a book.

[jenn88-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Paul Strom has the perfect life - he is a successful advertising executive, his wife is young and beautiful, they have two healthy boys together, they live in a big house in a wealthy suburb, and they now own a lake house. In fact, Paul is taking his wife, Mia, to that very lake house for a romantic weekend, just the two of them. Paul promised Mia this would be the best day ever, but the tension in the car is palpable and things don't go the way Paul had planned.I love the cover and appreciate it more now that I've read the book, which was great from the very first page. The writing is stunning and flawless and allows us to really get to know the characters. The story is from Paul's point of view and we can definitely tell he's a smug arsehole. We also get the feeling that there's something sinister lurking just beneath the surface. I couldn't wait to find out what was going on. There's no big twists, just little bombs dropped here and there that had me thinking 'wow' It's amazing how different Paul's mind works from Mia's and everyone else's in the story, although it focuses quite heavily on husband and wife. This was a quiet but intense read and I absolutely loved every word!

[carol420 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

You realize that there is something wrong with Paul Strom from the first page. That's WRONG with all screaming, capital letters. The voice we hear through 90% of the book is Paul's. He believes he is the perfect husband, perfect father, well gee..he is just perfect! I didn't understand how anyone as smart as Mia...his wife...couldn't see what he was. From Paul's point of view they are the perfect couple. She’s beautiful. He’s rich and successful. They live in a gorgeous suburban home and have two perfect boys. The rest of the world is just too inferior to even be given a thought. Like all narcissist there is under the surface a simmering, ready to explode dark side. This was not a perfect story and towards the end, I had had enough of these people, but I have to admit that it was a fun read. Crazy and disaster always waiting to happen. Paul loves Paul so much that he can’t believe the things that are about to happen to his perfect life. It was so much fun to witness Paul’s failures because he’s the type of guy you are just waiting and hoping for someone to punch.

[boudicca123 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Paul and Mia, an apparently happily married couple, going to spend the weekend at their lakeside house. Leaving their 2 sons at home, they’re going to have The Best Day Ever, aren’t they?? That was the plan! Wow, this is just fab, didn’t know whether to laugh or cover my eyes as events unfolded. Paul is absolutely amazed by himself, whether at home or at work, he knows best and loses no time in asserting his superiority, if anyone dares to say otherwise. If he were chocolate then he’d eat himself. Well I loved every minute of this “day” and hope Kaira will bring him back in another book!

[pattylouise_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Best Day EverByKaira RoudaWhat it's all about...Paul is all about taking his wife Mia to their second home near Lake Erie...it’s a small cottage that they both love. It’s a place where their two young sons can romp and play and be free. But this weekend the boys are with a sitter and Paul and Mia are off for a weekend alone. Paul wants them to have the best day ever. I repeat...the best day ever! Why I wanted to read it...So...it really doesn’t take long before you get a really creepy feeling about Paul. Actually I got several creepy feelings about Paul. The author has me in awe of the way she became a psychopathic twisted evil possibly bipolar man. Paul is in charge of this story. He tells his own puffed up sick version of his life. The hints given...the insight into Paul’s relationships...the way he tries to maintain control over everything...wow...this kind of writing just kept my pages turning. It’s not even possible to share much about this book and this character...the mystery...the intensity...is just realizing what he has done in the past and how far he is willing to go...to maintain what he has and what he wants.What made me truly enjoy this book...Why do I enjoy reading about these creepy characters? They both frighten and appall me. They have no boundaries. They think that they will always come out as winners. And it always seems as though there is always someone out there ready to believe their stories and fall for their lies.Why you should read it, too...Readers who love a fast paced hard to put down satisfying thriller...should love this book. This author is absolutely breathtakingly amazing in her creation of Paul. Seriously! I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.

[angiestahl-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Like many, it seems, I too am a sucker for 'psychological thrillers' and unreliable narrators. I've been suckered into several of over-hyped post-Gone Girl-derivative books and often left feeling let down and time-wasted.Not this time.This book has been summarized well elsewhere, but let's just say that the main character is such a tool that you really, really want him to get what's coming to him. You also really, really want his wife to snap to.Neither character is what either seems to be.The entire story is a slow burn, well-plotted and paced. It's sort of the equivalent of reading a well-played marital heist story - you know something is going to happen, but what, when, how and to whom? Once you start, it's hard not to keep reading to see how it all turns out.The ending is satisfying, but doesn't quite live up to the rest of this book in the oh-crap-what-now sense. But not much could and by the time you get to that point, you won't care that the final payoff isn't quite as strong as rest.Give this one a chance--it's one of the few that stands up to the glare of the hype.

[debkrenzer · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book, this book right here. OMG! I have never seen a more narcissistic, pompous ass in my life. Paul Strom is one major asshole. There were a few times when I just wanted to throw the book and pretend it was him.However, I read on. I just could not believe the things that were coming out of his mouth. And, I couldn't tell which direction this was going. That made it very hard to guess at what was coming. Although the closer I got to the ending, I could see where it was heading.Although this guy kept pissing me off and had me shaking my head, I was glad that I stuck with it. It just made the ending that much sweeter.Thanks to Harlequin, Graydon House and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[susan.macura · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Paul and Mia Strom are living the American dream. They have a perfect relationship, a lovely home, a wonderful summer home and two great children. Life is perfect. The book opens with Paul telling us, the readers, how perfect their lives are. In fact, he is such a great husband that he is taking his wife away for the weekend, just the two of them while the kids stay at home with a sitter. However, as the day goes on, we start meeting the real Paul. Perfect is no longer the word one would use to describe him and that day does not turn out to be so perfect. I simply loved this book!

[sharn_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book. Who doesn't like a psychopath narrator?Paul Strom has planned "the best day ever" to spend with his wife, Mia, at their Lakeside cottage in Lake Erie. I mean, who doesn't like to take a day off from life and just relax? I guess that depends on your definition of relax....A twisty book told just the way I like it by one, unstable psychopath.I just read this from someone else's review on Amazon and it's spot on so I'm going to include what "carilynp" on Amazon said in her review: "You know the villain who is so naughty yet so eerily funny that you find yourself sort of loving his wicked ways and wonder who you are for laughing at his sick humor? This is what Paul, the protagonist, the single most self-absorbed, cynical, cheating, lying guy on earth will do to you as you read Kaira Rouda’s psychological thriller BEST DAY EVER."

[susan.h.schofield · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3.5 stars. This was a solid, well written psychological thriller. My only issue with this book was that the author made Paul so despicable right from the beginning that it was fairly easy to figure out what was going on. And Mia came off as whiny and weak for most of the book. But it held my attention and was a quick read that didn't drag anything out. I received an ARC of this book.

[ivydtruitt · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

BEST DAY EVER ReviewWelcome to a day in the life of Paul Strom. Not just any day though, this day will be the best day ever for him and his wife, Mia. Paul’s been laying the groundwork for this day for months, and he’s chomping a the bit. Everything has to be perfect, but Paul’s best day ever isn’t going exactly as planned right from the get go, he knew he shouldn’t have taken that call.What, if anything, lurks behind that loving smile? Is it just a facade? Tell the truth, don’t you already know, deep down…Bit by bit Paul, our narrator, reveals his true intent, motives, and self. By the end he's flagrantly throwing it in the reader's face. BEST DAY EVER isn't just about Paul, though. It's also a reflection of ourselves in Mia. How we see what we want or prefer to, make excuses, ignore our instincts and signs, essentially lying to ourselves. Those self delusions can come with a hefty price tag, and the “Young and dumb” excuse has a limited shelf life. If you’re on the outside looking in, what can you say? Will you be believed, or lose a friend or loved one? Plenty of moral questions to go around.With BEST DAY EVER it’s incredibly easy to say give away too much. But, it’s a cat and mouse of who knows what and how much. A deadly guessing game of steadily increasing tension with an explosive ending. Suffice to say, it’s intense and provocative, giving the reader (at least this reader), much to reflect on.Reviewed for Miss Ivy's Book Nook Take II & Novels Alive TV

[carolesrandomlife · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book. I didn't love it but I think a lot of people will. I decided to read this book without knowing much about it but the cover caught my attention and the premise sounded good which was enough for me. I knew pretty early on that I was going to have to see what was going to happen to these characters in the end. This book tells Paul's story. The reader spends almost the entire book in Paul's head which is not always a pleasant place to be. I wasn't sure about Paul from the very beginning of the book and it quickly became apparent that he really wasn't someone you wanted to put your trust in. As the book moves forward, we only learn the things that Paul wants to share and he is only going to share the things that paint him in the best light possible. Paul is taking his wife away for the weekend and has planned the best day ever. He has it all planned out and wants to make sure that things go perfectly. Unfortunately for Paul, there are a few factors that are out of his control. The neighbor seems to show up at all the wrong times and refuses to take a hint. Mia doesn't always follow the plan that Paul has in his head either. I found myself setting this book aside more often than usual. I think I just needed a break from Paul's thoughts. I didn't like Paul at all which was kind of the point of the book but it made it hard to connect with any of the characters since everything is described by him. The entire takes place over the course of a single day. There are times in the book where things seemed to move really quickly but at other times the plot slowed to a crawl. I would recommend this book to anyone that thinks the premise sounds interesting. It was pretty fast read for me which was a good thing since I was really wanting to see how everything would work out. I would be interested in reading more from Kaira Rouda in the future.I received an advance reader edition of this book from Harlequin - Graydon House via NetGalley.

[janjanfreeman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Paul Strom is about to have the Best Day Ever with his wife, isn't she lucky? They have 2 beautiful boys, a nice house in the suburbs, sensible SUVs, and she doesn't have to work. Life is good, as it should be. As he has perfectly planned everything to be. But things aren't always what they seem and the past has a sneaky way of coming back to haunt you. I think what especially made this book so great was how it made me react as a reader. I did not like the narrator. I was uncomfortable and I wanted justice. Initially, this had me debating whether or not I should continue. Especially as it was based in where I currently live-Columbus, OH- and the descriptions gave mental images of more than a few people that I have met in the suburbs here. Coincidentally, I happened to have picked up the audiobook for You by Carolyn Kepnes (read by Santino Fontana who voiced the unreliable character Prince Hans of the Southern Isles in Disney's Frozen) which also has an arrogant, sinister, and unreliable narrator which may have added to my discomfort level with Best Day Ever. For the record, I took a break with You so I could finish Best Day Ever first. Finally, this book also had a slow, arduous start as the readers are only given Paul's malicious, misogynistic, and narcissistic perspective. However, somewhere around the halfway point, it quickly spirals into the suburban nightmare (kind of like B. A. Paris' The Breakdown) and the conclusion was redemptive and incredible. I would recommend this book for fans of domestic thrillers, psychological thrillers, and fast-paced action at the end.I would not recommend this for anyone younger than 18, nor for those who may be triggered or offended by: foul language, graphic violence, infidelity, revenge, arson, burglary, mental abuse, sexually suggestive scenarios, stalking, and misogyny.Please note: an electronic Advanced Reader Copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[beckvalleybooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Superb, thought provoking and attention-grabbing!What do you expect form a psychological thriller? Suspense, tension, twists and turns, throughout the storyline this book delivers on all fronts.From the first page to last the author has you hooked, the thought train of the main character is expertly defined and shows an incredible knowledge of how the human mind operates in different situations.The main character has got it all mapped out and is in total control of his destiny and future or so he thinks. Planning a romantic trip with his wife to rekindle their relationship, he starts to notice his wife behaviour has changed and becomes suspicious, the dark side of his soul starts to become disturbed, but to what end?All through the storyline you are kept on tender hooks and question what is going on, which is the sign of an excellent psychological thriller, what is going to happen? Why has his wife's behaviour changed? What is going to be the outcome?The writers prose is first class and I could not put this book down, it had everything that I expected and more, having read a lot of thrillers I can normally guess the result but not in this case which enhanced the reading.This book should be taken to the big screen and would rate up there with the great Alfred Hitchcock I cannot give this book enough praise and if I write anymore I am endanger of spoiling it for other readers.This is the first book I have read by this author and is now on my list alongside Lee Child, James Patterson and Ian Rankin that’s how highly I rate this story and cannot wait for future publications.

[hubblegal-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

What a perfect husband Paul Strom is and what a perfect husband and provider. He’s happily married to the lovely Mia and has two sons. They’re financially well off with no worries. At least that’s what Paul would like you to believe. He’s planned the “best day ever” for he and his wife by taking her to their lake house for a romantic weekend of wining and dining. But how will that get away end?The whole book encompasses one day in the lives of Paul and Mia. It’s a very easy to read and quick moving book and whenever I had to put the book down, I did look forward to picking it up again. Paul is an easy character to despise. The reader learns fairly early just how psychopathic Paul is and once you learn that, I felt that he quickly became very annoying. I also had a hard time relating to Mia. I also found the book to be too predictable with very few surprises. I didn’t feel the wrap-everything-up-neatly ending was necessary as I had already “gotten it” from what had previously been told and felt it was just repetitive. But it was a fun read and I’m glad I gave it a try. Maybe I’ve just read too many unreliable narrator books lately. But if you enjoy this type of book and haven’t been overloaded yet with the unreliability aspect, then I think you’ll enjoy this entertaining book.This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.

[jess_reads_books · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Paul Strom lives a picture perfect life: a high-profile advertising executive job, a gorgeous wife, two darling boys, a huge house in the best neighborhood suburbia can offer, and a vacation cottage in an exclusive lakeside area. On the outside looking in, any stranger would see a caring, loving, and providing husband in Paul, but something lurks beneath the surface that you can’t quite place your finger on. Is this marriage really what it seems?BEST DAY EVER outlines the events of a 24-hour time period in which Paul has planned the “best day ever” to show his wife how much he loves and adores her. He has put together a picturesque weekend away at their lakeside cottage, fully equipped with a romantic playlist for the car ride and reservations at the fanciest restaurant the town has to offer. Lately things between Paul and his wife, Mia, have been on edge as Mia has suffered with health ailments that doctors cannot seem to find a cure for. Despite changing her diet to a restrictive organic, vegetarian lifestyle, Mia cannot stop her weight loss and constant illness. Paul narrates this novel as we watch the events of the day unfold. Slowly, the reader is introduced to Paul’s backstory and the secret activities he’s engaging in behind his wife’s back. Paul is the epitome of a narcissistic and unreliable narrator. Never once does Paul take a moment to reflect on his actions except to praise himself for being smart, loving, or some other positive character trait. As time ticks away on the best day ever, Paul is met with the realization that perhaps he has underestimated Mia. She has learned bits and pieces about Paul’s life and reveals them to him as the day goes on. Rouda’s slow-building narration draws the reader to continue flipping through the pages to discover exactly what Paul and Mia have in store for each other. Parts of Rouda’s novel seem forced, with what seems like an exaggerated narration by Paul at times. While I understood this was all in an attempt to drive the point of Paul’s narcissism home for the reader it became obnoxious and almost redundant at points. The choice to have a male narrator is uncommon for the psychological thriller genre, so I was excited to find Paul telling the tale. I would have rather had the over-the-tops bits of his personality toned down, as I found Paul to be just as creepy and unlikable without them. Overall, I found Rouda to have provided an intriguing, story in which I had a general understanding of what the main character’s motives were early on and how the situation might unravel. Despite the lack of huge plot twists, I was still interested in learning how the day would play out as Rouda slowly built the tension between Paul and Mia. BEST DAY EVER is suitable for a reader looking to give a male narrator a try, but should go in to the novel knowing that this is a slow-building reveal. Thank you to Graydon House (Harlequin), Kaira Rouda, and NetGalley for providing me a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

[teachlz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

MY REVIEW OF "BEST DAY EVER' by Kaira RoudaKudos to Kaira Rouda, author of "Best Day Ever" on writing such a suspenseful, intriguing, chilling, and captivating mystery.  I love the way Kaira Rouda  layers and tells her story. I read this in one sitting and just could not put this down.  The genres of this novel are mystery, and thriller.Are you sure you know the one you're with?  Who can you trust? I appreciate the way the author describes the characters and plot, and weaves details and clues. The author describes the characters as complex and complicated. There are secrets, betrayals, and unexpected surprises. I like the way the author describes the locations, the Lakehouse, and the home the characters live in. In one way, the lake is described as a former place for toxins, than slime, in contrast it as beautiful and relaxing.Paul Strom is presented as a successful businessman, with a perfect wife and family and is taking his wife away to  "The Lakehouse" for 'THE BEST DAY EVER'. I love the way this phrase is used throughout the book, with added information. What could go wrong? Mia, is beautiful and a terrific mother. Unfortunately Mia hasn't been feeling well, but Paul promises to make this trip away "THE BEST DAY EVER".There is an unexpected phone call that delays their trip 30 minutes, and Mia doesn't seem like herself. The interaction during the trip has building tension, and we learn more details of  their lives. Of course Paul still wants this trip to be the best day ever. No matter what.I highly recommend this captivating and intense novel with drastic twists and turns. The ending is amazing!! I received this ARC for my honest review.

[girlwellread · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A special thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Canada, and Graydon House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.Rouda weaves a dark tale of marriage, betrayal, and deception in this page-turning thriller. Readers are in the mind of narcissist Paul Strom, a handsome and successful advertising executive that is trying to have the "best day ever" with his wife—Strom is a combination of a character from "Mad Men" and Patrick Bateman from American Psycho. Paul is confident, charming, and thinks that every woman wants him. The story begins with Paul and his wife, Mia, leaving for a child-free weekend up at their lake house. He's promised her that this will be the best day ever. The couple say this phrase several times during the drive and the reader wonders what is going on with these two. The tension is palpable and written as such that we don't know the extent of the problem or if in fact these two even like each other. Paul is an incredibly unreliable narrator, so narcissistic that he cannot read social cues or navigate relationships. He thinks that women want him, when in fact he is actually stalking them and the attention that he bestows upon these victims is stalkerish and harassing plain and simple. 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 to another star. All-in-all, a great read for the summer and I would definitely recommend this book.