ACK. This is by far one of the dumbest and worst Picoults I have ever read.

Cassie is portrayed as a child-endangering idiot. Her actions and decisions throughout the story are completely irresponsible and put the well-being of a child at risk.

Alex, on the other hand, is a big pussy psycho. His character is so overly dramatic and his behavior is just plain crazy.

And then there's Will. His presence in the story seems totally unnecessary. He doesn't add anything significant to the plot or the development of the other characters.

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Edit 2/15/24: OMG, hahahaha. This book was so unmemorable that I just reread the entire thing 15 years later with ZERO memory of it

This book is indeed a good one, but it doesn't quite reach the level of Picoult's very best works.

It has a certain predictability to it, which might disappoint some readers who are used to the author's more complex and unexpected plot twists.

However, that doesn't mean it's not worth reading. The story still manages to engage the reader and draw them in with its interesting characters and themes.

Picoult's writing style is as engaging as ever, and she does a good job of exploring the emotions and relationships of the characters.

Overall, while it may not be one of her top-notch novels, it's still a solid read that will appeal to fans of the author and those who enjoy thought-provoking fiction.

Forget any of her earlier novels.

I read Humpback Whales, and I tried to read Mercy, but I just couldn't get through it.

The same goes for Picture Perfect. I gave up on it as well.

This particular book is like a cheap romance novel that you might pick up at a dollar store.

It lacks the depth and quality that her more recent works seem to possess.

Don't bother with this one. Instead, I would recommend sticking to her more recent stuff.

Her recent novels seem to have a better plot, more developed characters, and a more engaging writing style.

You'll likely have a more enjoyable reading experience if you focus on her newer releases rather than this forgettable one.

So, save your time and energy and move on to something better from her collection.

Picture Perfect begins with a police officer stumbling upon a woman on the side of the road. She claims to have no recollection of who she is or how she arrived there. Her name is Caassie, and she is taken to the police station by the cop. A few days later, her husband comes to pick her up. To her surprise, her husband is the movie star and Hollywood heartthrob, Alex Rivers.

She later discovers that she is an anthropologist and met Alex on the set of one of his films after being persuaded to be the anthropologist on the project. The cop, Will, who has recently moved to Hollywood from his Native American roots, attempts to maintain contact with Cassie as she recalls all the events in her life and the reason she ran away.

Eventually, she remembers her painful past as the wife of Alex and flees to the Native American reserve where Will takes her to help her reflect on her life. She contacts Alex to inform him that she is pregnant and will have the baby while she is away. He begs and pleads with her, and eventually, Cassie leaves Will to try and assist Alex in getting better.

However, he stops attending therapy and reverts to a similar pattern. Cassie is pushed to the point where she has to do the unthinkable: reveal the truth to the public and leave Alex forever.

I adored this book. Jodi Picoult's stories never disappoint, and this one is no exception. It offers insights into the life of a solitary anthropologist, the experience of being a star in Hollywood, and even some aspects of Native American tribes. It is an outstanding book, and like all of Jodi Picoult's works, I rate it a perfect five out of five.

So, in my opinion, it was a little slow to start.

However, it was a good book and I really liked the ending. It was a different type of book by Picoult as there were no courtroom scenes. This was my 8th Picoult novel and the first one I've read without any courtroom drama.

The story is very well developed and the characters, even Alex, are easily sympathized with. Although I have never been in an abusive relationship like the one portrayed in this book, I imagine it is very close to real life.

I used to wonder why women would stay in such blatantly abusive marriages and this book gave me a new perspective that I had never actually thought of before.

This is a must-read Picoult, even if it is slow in the beginning. The story, characters, cultures, and back stories were well researched and developed, giving the reader the feel that you are actually a part of the story, enduring all the hardship, love, and emotion that each of the characters is enduring themselves.

Picoult always leaves you wanting more and for that reason, I completely recommend this book!

The fifth Picoult novel that I have read is definitely not the best. It was first published in 1995, so I assume it's one of her early works. I think her writing has improved significantly since then, as this novel lacks the depth of her more recent ones.

Even back then, she was already writing in what seems to have become her trademark style, dealing with very controversial subjects. In this novel, the protagonist Cassie is the victim of abuse at the hands of her beloved husband, Alex. It takes her four years, the time period covered by this story, to finally be brave enough to face her situation.

The novel begins with Cassie being rescued from a cemetery, suffering from amnesia, by Will, a half-Sioux Red Indian who works as a policeman. It turns out that she is the wife of Hollywood superstar Alex Rivers, who takes her home to their magnificent mansion and helps her recall her life.

Will seems to have a Sioux instinct that her life is not as "Picture Perfect" as it appears on the surface, and he promises to help her if she ever needs it in the future. This is a good thing, as gradually memories of Alex's repetitive abuse start to return.

At one point, he tells her, "If he could have found a way to turn the red rage into himself instead of toward her, he would have done it in a heartbeat." However, this is not true, as not once during their marriage did he ever attempt to seek outside help. The problems within the relationship were always kept a secret, even after she finally left him; he continued to lie about what was happening.

The contrasting lifestyles of Cassie and Alex compared with those of the Native American Indians form an interesting link, expanding the story beyond simple abuse and adding another layer of complexity.

This is the first book that I had read from Jodi Picoult.

I had heard a great many reviews for her books, so I thought I simply had to give it a try.

Well, I really did enjoy it. The story is extremely well written and it pertains to a subject that is really dear to me.

I highly recommended it. It is a story of an anthropologist who meets with a Hollywood star and falls in love.

One night, she is discovered by a LAPD police in front of a Catholic church, suffering from amnesia.

It is a story about courage and learning how to let go. It delves deep into the human psyche, exploring the emotions and struggles that come with love, loss, and the search for identity.

The characters are vividly portrayed, making it easy for the reader to become invested in their lives.

The plot is engaging and full of twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

Overall, it is a truly remarkable book that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a good read.

Jodi Picoult is my favorite author, and this has been the case for a very long time.

I've read all of her books. I read this particular one many years ago (although I can't seem to locate my paperback copy anywhere!), but I didn't remember it very well.

This book was originally published in 1995. I've noticed that books published before 2000 often show their age, especially when it comes to technology. However, this one was an exception!

Picoult is a master of storytelling. She truly creates timeless stories by weaving well-researched and controversial or heavy topics into them, resulting in books that readers of any age can enjoy!

I found that now, being older than when I read it the first time, I was able to connect to the plot in different ways than before. But I enjoyed it just as much as I did when I was younger.

Her ability to craft engaging and thought-provoking stories is truly remarkable. It's no wonder she remains one of my favorite authors.

Whether it's the complex characters, the intricate plots, or the important themes she explores, Jodi Picoult's books always manage to capture my attention and leave a lasting impression.

I look forward to reading more of her work in the future and seeing how her storytelling evolves.

I was initially intrigued by this story.

It had elements that seemed both mysterious and exciting: amnesia, a suspicious situation involving a movie star, and a hot cop.

However, as I delved deeper, what I was left with was a main character who seemed to define herself solely by the men in her life.

She bounced from one man to another, completely ignoring a strong and potentially rewarding career that was right there on the sidelines.

This made it extremely difficult for me to empathize with her.

It was painful to get through the story, watching her make these choices.

To be honest, this was not my favorite.

I was hoping for a more independent and self-assured main character, someone who could stand on her own two feet and not rely so heavily on the men around her.

Unfortunately, this story did not deliver that, and it left me feeling rather disappointed.

This is my very first encounter with Jodi Picoult's works.

I had purchased several of her books during a used book sale as the synopses sounded truly captivating.

I shared this with my sister, who informed me that she had heard Jodi Picoult's topics could be rather profound, yet she herself had not read any of her books.

I had left those books on the back burner, preferring to read more cheerful and upbeat books at that time.

Once a year, my mother, sister, and I each select a book that we want the other two to read. This year, my mother chose this particular book.

I am extremely grateful that she did.

This book was exquisitely written, and the further I delved into it, the more difficult it became to put down.

I was utterly fascinated by the main character, especially her career in archaeology and her experiences with Native Americans.

I adored her courage at various junctures in the story.

I also loved the character Will, but my absolute favorite characters were his grandparents!

Throughout the book, I oscillated between liking and hating Ophelia.

As much as I despised Alex, the author developed the character so masterfully that I found myself sympathizing with him on numerous occasions.

Even though the topic of this story is weighty, it is written so skillfully that the majority of the book feels much lighter.

It is a wonderful read that encompasses Native American folklore and contemporary culture, archaeology in Tanzania, Africa, several love stories and romances, magic, descriptions of clothing and food, Hollywood, Los Angeles, the Black Hills of South Dakota, and so much more.

I will most definitely be reading more of Jodi Picoult's works in the future.

#abookwiththesametitleasamovieortvshowbutisunrelatedtoit

**"Picture Perfect: A Captivating Tale of Love, Abuse, and Redemption"**

Picture Perfect, an older book from 1995, has some details that are now outdated. For example, in today's world, everyone has a cellphone, making it much harder to disappear as the protagonist does in the story. Additionally, the airport scenes would be very different post 9-11.

However, despite these anachronisms, the book truly blew me away. I was not anticipating it to be a story that delved into the complex themes of dysfunctional families, true love, and domestic violence, with a touch of Native American mythos thrown in.

Cassie Barrett starts the book with amnesia. She is discovered and cared for by a Native American LAPD cop who is new to the force. As her memory gradually returns, we learn that her seemingly loving and doting husband is a big-time movie star who was out of the country on a shoot and didn't even realize she was missing.

Her memories come back in bits and pieces, revealing her difficult childhood with an alcoholic mother and an enabling father. We also see her close friendship with Connor, a neighbor boy who might have become her lover and husband if not for a tragic murder-suicide by his depressed father. Cassie's struggle to achieve acknowledgment and tenure as an anthropologist at UCLA is also depicted, and then fate brings her into the orbit of movie star Alex Rivers.

We witness Cassie's memories of her whirlwind romance with Alex, the deep emotional connection between two wounded souls. We see how much they love and depend on each other, and how happy they are together. But then, Cassie remembers that Alex hit her, not just once or twice, but countless times.

The first time it happened, she was in shock and denial, and Alex was extremely sorry. Things seemed better for a long time after that. But the cycle of abuse continued.

If you've never experienced domestic violence, you're fortunate. But the reality is that many people have grown up in dysfunctional homes and have no concept of what normalcy truly is.

Picture Perfect accurately captures the complex emotions involved in a domestic violence situation. The overwhelming love, the soul connection, followed by confusion, betrayal, and pain. The difficulty and deep shame of allowing oneself to be abused, and the cycle of leaving and coming back after the abuser has supposedly "changed" and gotten help.

For a fictional book, it expresses the truth of these mixed emotions in a way that many more clinical non-fiction books fail to do. I highly recommend it to anyone trying to understand why someone would stay with an abuser. It offers a powerful and poignant look into the dark reality of domestic violence and the hope for redemption.

I usually have a great passion for Jodi Picoult's books. Her works often manage to touch my heart and keep me engaged from the very first page. However, this particular book was a huge disappointment for me.

I couldn't even bring myself to read the entire thing. It was just so bad that I lost interest quite early on. The story didn't seem to flow well, and the characters lacked depth and development.

I had high expectations for this book, especially considering Jodi Picoult's reputation as a talented author. But unfortunately, it failed to meet those expectations. I'm really hoping that her next book will be a return to her usual standard of excellence.