Some popular writers can be depended on to produce fiction of consistently good (or bad) quality, while others cannot. Jodi Picoult belongs to the latter category.

Although most of the novels of hers that I have read have been engaging, relevant, and intelligent, Salem Falls and Picture Perfect are extremely cliched. Picture Perfect tells the story of the marriage between an anthropologist and America's most popular matinee idol.

The book begins right after an unspecified incident that causes the wife to lose her memory (cliche #1). The police officer who saves her is a Native American trying to survive in the racist environment of LA. He is inexplicably attracted to this woman and can't stop thinking about her (cliche #2).

As the plot develops, it becomes immediately clear that all is not well in the marriage. The worried but narcissistic husband has a tendency to lose his temper easily, and we suspect that he is abusive (cliche #3). The backstory focuses on how and why the Native American became a cop and is padded with several native legends, which are the highlights of the novel.

The supporting characters tend to be stereotypes, such as macho cops, the bimbo best friend, and the sleazy agent from Brooklyn. The story unfolds in a very predictable way and is little more than a soap opera or a romance like those of Nora Roberts or Danielle Steel. This is okay if that's what you're looking for, but it's not a genre that I like.

However, it might not have been the case that when starting to read the book, one would think: "What the **** is this?" I thought it was the simplest Picoult book I had read and already assumed that it would really deserve only 1-2 stars. But as I read further, I realized that it is one of her best books!

All those descriptions of the inserts at the beginning really made me feel very negatively. I thought it would be about ghosts and fantasy again, but the story was very vivid, full of the most diverse feelings and emotions. I really liked it ❤️

This book has a unique charm that gradually unfolds as you read. The author's writing style is engaging, and the characters are well-developed. It takes you on a journey through different emotions and makes you think about various aspects of life. Despite my initial misgivings, I was completely hooked by the end.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story that can touch their hearts and make them reflect. It's a must-read for fans of Jodi Picoult and for those who are looking for a book that goes beyond the ordinary.

It's the first Jodi Picoult book I've read, and I have to say it was decent.

The book had quite a number of chapters that seemed rather irrelevant to the main story. It was a bit of a distraction at times.

Although the characters were quite lovable, for some reason, I didn't really feel a deep connection with any of them.

However, despite these minor drawbacks, overall, it's a book that is still worth a read.

It had its moments of intrigue and kept me engaged enough to want to see how the story would unfold.

I'm glad I gave it a chance and look forward to exploring more of Jodi Picoult's works in the future. ☺️

I truly wish it hadn't consumed so much of my time to read this remarkable book. However, I am deeply grateful to the author for crafting a narrative that compelled me to turn each page with an insatiable desire to reach the end.

It possesses the captivating suspense of real life, allowing me to almost tangibly sense the raw pain of the characters, the intensity of their love, and above all, the overwhelming fear that grips them.

It serves as a profound revelation that, at times, regardless of the depth of love shared between two individuals, there are circumstances that dictate they simply do not belong together.

I am filled with hope that there is more to this story, perhaps another book that will shed light on the fate of Connor and the events that unfold with Will.

Undoubtedly, I will be eagerly seeking out more books by Jodi Picoult, as her writing has left an indelible mark on me.

I have only read a few Jodi Picoult books, but they never cease to please me.

This was a thrift store score that I hadn't heard of and didn't know what it was about, and it did a great job keeping me guessing.

The story centers on Cassie and Alex, an intelligent but naive anthropology professor and a Hollywood star, and their "fairy tale" love and marriage. They seem perfect and say they are "made for each other", but in reality, they have a troubled and abusive relationship that no one would believe if they actually told anyone, without seeing the proof.

Through the storytelling, you feel as though it's autobiographical, as it seems so knowing and insightful that you wonder how anyone could make this up. I also found myself cheering for Cassie and Alex to make it, despite him being abusive. You get to know the good in him, the damaged childhood that he truly seems to want to overcome, and that he truly does love her. You want to say "give him one more chance, maybe he really won't do it again..." when you know logically that you should be telling her to run for it.

Picoult's imagination and formidable skills at weaving an amazing story make you feel as though, if you've never been in an abusive relationship, you are given a whole new insight and appreciation for the situation, and why even the strongest of women have had difficulty leaving such situations. It is an eerie feeling - there were so many times that this novel made me incredibly uncomfortable, admitting what I was feeling about what was going on but never able to stop reading. I have never hesitated for a moment to help a friend get away from an abusive situation, but also never had nearly as clear an idea of how they may have felt as I do after reading this novel. Once again, Picoult astounded, intrigued, and educated me.

I'm a die-hard Picoult fan. Her books usually have me on the edge of my seat, with complex characters and thought-provoking storylines. However, this particular one just didn't measure up.

The plot seemed a bit disjointed and lacked the usual depth and coherence that I've come to expect from her. The characters, while not unlikable, didn't have the same level of development and nuance that would have made me truly invested in their fates.

Perhaps it was my high expectations that led to my disappointment, but I couldn't help but feel that this was one of her weaker efforts. That being said, I still have a great deal of respect for Picoult as an author and will continue to read her work in the hopes that she'll return to form with her next book.

Oh, picture perfect! There are indeed numerous reasons why I desired to assign a higher rating to this book. However, I simply couldn't do so for the following causes.

The book was a real drag. While intricate descriptions and background knowledge are laudable when attempting to develop a deeper insight into the characters one is reading about, there was an overwhelming amount of it in this particular book. Consequently, it made the reading experience rather tiresome.

As a result, I didn't experience that same feeling that I have felt within other Picoult books, where I literally couldn't stop reading or stop thinking about the book when I wasn't reading it. The story plot held such great potential. But I felt that Cassie's slow realization of what was blatantly obvious in the middle of the book only intensified my frustration regarding how everything in the book was dragging.

I believe Cassie herself was a rather conflicted character. And although this usually elicits sympathy from me, the pace at which she dealt with her predicament made it more difficult for me to like her as a character. Alas, I realized that this is the experience that many people go through when they are in the same situation as Cassie.

Although the'read' and the flow of the book weren't necessarily outstanding, as with all Picoult novels, I learned so many valuable things about life. It enhanced my understanding of the excruciatingly painful experience that women like Cassie endure and how it impacts their decision-making. My heart truly went out to her. But ultimately, I feel as though she never really moved on and that she never will move on from her unwavering and unconditional love for Alex, despite everything he had done. Overall, it was a decent read. And although I gave it 3 stars, it's a book I will never forget.

Before I unload, dump and explode, I will say I truly love Picoult’s style of writing. She does it in such a right way. She has her characters constantly in motion, either running from something or running to something. There is a wonderful contrast and irony within her stories. Her characters Cassie, Alex and Will are extremely well developed and they will be the kind of characters that you will either love to hate or love to love.

Cassie is our typical Picoult Martyr. She managed to survive her childhood, which included the tragic killing of her best friend Connor by his abusive father. She is laid back and yet is able to catch the attention of actor Alex, who makes all women swoon. Alex, on the other hand, is the typical person with many personalities and he doesn't even know who he really is. He is lost and in desperate need of a savior. Will is the one lurking in the background, waiting and running from who he truly is.

The narration begins with Cassie being found by Will in a Los Angeles cemetery, having completely lost her memory. She has no idea who she is. Will, being a police officer, takes her in and when she is well enough, files a report as a found missing person. Cassie then discovers that she is married to Alex, a well-known movie star. She struggles to regain her memory and we are taken back in bits and pieces until she realizes the reason why she was at the cemetery.

Now for the explosion… and a possible spoiler alert…..

DO NOT GLORIFY SPOUSAL ABUSE BY MAKING THE VICTIM A MARTYR. This is a glamorization of something that is so real and affects so many people. Cassie’s whole premise of staying in an abusive relationship is based on taking the pain of her husband’s pain. This is a seriously important subject matter and responsibility needs to be taken. I would have liked to see at the end a plea for those in abusive relationships to seek help. So if you are one of those people, please get help. You do not have to go through this alone. Don’t be a martyr. You cannot change someone’s behavior and you do not deserve to be a punching bag. It will kill your soul and if you have kids, it will continue the harmful pattern.

I typically have a great love for Jodi Picoult novels. Her works usually focus on highly relevant topics, and she has an amazing ability to capture the tiniest details of everyday life. Moreover, she can vividly depict the real emotions that her characters are grappling with. However, "Picture Perfect" was a huge disappointment for me.

Her portrayal of wife battering in this novel was extremely shallow and far from realistic. It failed to convey the true horror and complexity of such a serious issue. While the little bit that she touched on Native American issues was somewhat interesting, unfortunately, there was no real substance to any of it. The entire novel seemed rather flimsy and lacked the depth and authenticity that I have come to expect from Jodi Picoult.

I have always chosen Jodi Picoult's books in the past because she has the talent to portray the emotions and issues that people face when dealing with challenges that are outside of my own world. I have often marveled at the in-depth research she must have done to create such realistic scenarios. Her ability to capture the essence of her characters' lives has always left me amazed. But "Picture Perfect" completely missed the mark for me. In fact, I'm starting to wonder if Jodi Picoult actually wrote this novel at all. It just doesn't seem to have her usual style and quality.

Will discovers Cassie, who is afflicted with amnesia, at a church.

He promptly takes her to a hospital for examination and then brings her to his home.

Gradually, Cassie regains her memory and realizes that she is married to the renowned actor Alex Rivers. During the weeks she spends back home with Alex, not only does she rediscover her love for him, but the reasons for her memory loss also become clear. Her husband, the famous actor/director, has physically abused Cassie.

The main theme of PICOULT's book is domestic abuse, with subtopics of race and pride. I am fond of PICOULT's writing style. The words seem to gracefully dance off the page. I appreciate that the abuse occurs in a Hollywood home that appears picture-perfect, rather than that of someone less privileged.

I find the subject of the Lakota people extremely interesting. Moreover, Will's personal struggle within his own race is written very well.

I particularly like that Cassie doesn't require a man to save her.

However, despite all the beautiful words and the interesting story, it still comes across as somewhat dull.

Picture Perfect, penned by Jodi Picoult, is a captivating tale. Cassie, an anthropologist, is married to the renowned Alex Rivers, a movie star with the talent of Daniel Day Lewis, the desirability of George Clooney, and a handsomeness that combines both. But beneath the glamorous exterior, all is not well. Soon, Alex begins to physically abuse Cassie. There are reasons for his actions, such as the abuse he endured as a child and the lack of parental love. Cassie also has her own reasons for tolerating it, like her alcoholic mother who depended on her and the tragic loss of her first love.

Ultimately, Cassie must make a crucial decision about whether love should be as forgiving as she has been. When she can no longer bear the pain of loving Alex, she turns to Will, a Native American cop with his own personal struggles. A complex love triangle forms, testing the power of their love and the strength of their identities.

Jodi Picoult, as always, proves to be an outstanding storyteller and one of my favorite writers. Reading her books is like attending a masterclass in writing fiction that is both compelling and entertaining, while also tugging at the heartstrings. There are several passages in this book that showcase her remarkable command of language. I would highly recommend Picture Perfect to anyone who enjoys a good story about the intricacies of love and the flaws within the human race.

However, there was one aspect that bothered me. I became increasingly frustrated with Cassie for staying with Alex for so long, to the extent that I almost lost interest in her fate. Additionally, I couldn't quite understand what both Alex and Will saw in her that made them so hopelessly in love.

Despite this complaint, I still believe that Picture Perfect is a great story. I have read other books and watched movies about abuse, and in each one, the abuser is often portrayed as the ultimate evil, the woman as the martyr, and the other man as predictably perfect for her. Picoult, on the other hand, avoids such clichés. All of her characters have their own strengths and weaknesses, and no one is entirely good or bad.

I've read a significant portion of Jodi Picoult's works, and this particular one seemed to deviate from her typical portrayal of ordinary people. Here, we have Alex Rivers, a renowned movie star, who meets Cassie, an anthropologist.

I have always been impressed by her talent for handling complex issues and presenting them from multiple perspectives. She achieves the same with the subject of domestic violence in this book.

The only challenge I faced was suspending my disbelief a little during the reservation sheltering section. However, overall, it was an engaging read. What stood out for me was the plight of Native Americans, which is often overlooked in this country. This aspect is particularly relevant considering the current pandemic, which has had a severe impact on reservations.

The characters were interesting, and the story managed to hold my attention throughout. It made me think about various social issues and the importance of looking at them from different angles.