In The Perfect Divorce, Jeneva Rose delivers a wickedly entertaining psychological thriller that proves lightning can indeed strike twice. Following the massive success of The Perfect Marriage, Rose returns to the world of Sarah Morgan—a character whose moral compass is permanently set to self-preservation—in this deliciously dark tale of betrayal, manipulation, and murder.
The novel picks up eleven years after the events of The Perfect Marriage, with Sarah having seemingly moved on from her first husband Adam’s conviction for killing his mistress. She’s now married to Bob Miller, has a nine-year-old daughter named Summer, and runs a charitable foundation helping reformed felons. But when Bob’s infidelity triggers Sarah to file for divorce, a series of events unfolds that threatens to expose long-buried secrets and reveals just how far Sarah will go to protect what’s hers.
What begins as a seemingly straightforward divorce proceeding quickly spirals into a complex web of disappearances, murders, and shocking revelations that force readers to question every character’s motives and actions. Rose masterfully employs multiple perspectives, allowing us to witness events unfold through the eyes of Sarah, Bob, Sheriff Hudson, and other key players, creating a narrative that feels like watching a deadly chess match where the queen is always several moves ahead.
Strengths: Manipulative Characters and Twisty Plot
The Perfect Divorce shines brightest in its portrayal of deeply flawed, morally ambiguous characters. Sarah Morgan is a fascinating protagonist—ruthlessly intelligent, calculating, and utterly remorseless. While readers will likely find her actions reprehensible, there’s something undeniably compelling about her character. She represents the ultimate femme fatale, whose beauty and charm mask a predator’s instincts.
Rose excels at creating tension through the shifting power dynamics between characters. The cat-and-mouse game between Sarah and Bob, each trying to outmaneuver the other, forms the heart of the novel. Their relationship is toxic yet fascinating, like watching two scorpions in a bottle, each waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
The plot unfolds at a brisk pace, with unexpected twists that will leave readers gasping. Just when you think you understand what’s happening, Rose pulls the rug out from under you, forcing you to reassess everything you thought you knew. The novel’s structure, with its alternating perspectives and “Unknown” chapters, keeps readers off-balance in the best possible way.
Areas for Improvement: Character Development and Believability
While the novel’s plot twists are undeniably entertaining, some readers may find certain developments strain credulity. The sheer number of coincidences and perfectly executed plans occasionally pushes the boundaries of what seems plausible, even in a psychological thriller where suspension of disbelief is part of the genre’s appeal.
Additionally, while Sarah and Bob are well-developed characters, some secondary players feel less fully realized. Characters like Anne and Alejandro could have benefited from deeper exploration of their motivations and backgrounds. A stronger emotional connection to these supporting characters would have added another layer to the story’s impact.
The novel also occasionally sacrifices deeper character development for the sake of maintaining its breakneck pace. While this keeps pages turning, it sometimes comes at the expense of more nuanced character arcs, particularly for Sheriff Hudson, whose personal stake in the investigation could have been more thoroughly explored.
Writing Style: Sharp, Concise, and Unflinching
Rose’s writing style is perfectly suited to the psychological thriller genre—sharp, direct, and occasionally brutal. Her prose doesn’t waste time on flowery descriptions, instead driving the narrative forward with crisp dialogue and concise scene-setting. This economical approach to storytelling creates a sense of urgency that mirrors the high-stakes situations in which her characters find themselves.
Particularly noteworthy is Rose’s ability to write from multiple perspectives while maintaining distinct voices for each character. From Sarah’s cold calculation to Bob’s increasingly desperate rationalizations to Sheriff Hudson’s determined pursuit of justice, each viewpoint feels authentic and adds a crucial piece to the overall puzzle.
The author doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of human nature, presenting morally reprehensible actions without judgment or unnecessary sensationalism. This matter-of-fact approach to depicting manipulation and violence makes them all the more chilling.
Themes: Trust, Revenge, and the Nature of Justice
At its core, The Perfect Divorce explores several interconnected themes:
- The fragility of trust – Sarah’s observation that “trust is like glass. Once you break it, you can’t put it back together” serves as a central metaphor for the novel.
- The nature of justice versus revenge – The novel repeatedly questions who deserves punishment and how it should be administered, often blurring the lines between legal justice and personal vengeance.
- The masks people wear – Nearly every character presents one face to the world while hiding their true nature, raising questions about how well we can ever truly know another person.
- The lengths people will go to preserve their self-image – Many characters, particularly Sarah and Bob, are willing to commit heinous acts to maintain their carefully constructed personas.
Rose handles these themes with subtlety, allowing them to emerge organically from the characters’ actions rather than through heavy-handed exposition.
Comparison to Other Works
Fans of The Perfect Marriage will find much to love in this sequel, which maintains the first book’s tension and moral ambiguity while raising the stakes considerably. Rose’s writing has matured since her debut, with more confident plotting and sharper character work.
The Perfect Divorce fits comfortably alongside other domestic psychological thrillers like Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl and A.J. Finn’s The Woman in the Window, though Rose’s protagonist is arguably even more ruthless than Amy Dunne. The novel also shares DNA with legal thrillers like The Lincoln Lawyer, particularly in its exploration of how the legal system can be manipulated by those who understand its workings.
Who Should Read This Book?
The Perfect Divorce will appeal to:
- Fans of psychological thrillers with morally ambiguous protagonists
- Readers who enjoy unreliable narrators and multiple perspectives
- Those who appreciate plot-driven narratives with unexpected twists
- People fascinated by the darker aspects of human psychology
- Anyone who enjoyed The Perfect Marriage and wants to see what happened next
However, readers who prefer protagonists they can root for or who are sensitive to depictions of manipulation and violence may want to approach with caution.
Final Verdict: A Deliciously Dark Page-Turner
The Perfect Divorce is an addictive, twisted thriller that will keep readers guessing until the very end. While it occasionally sacrifices plausibility for the sake of shocking plot developments, the novel succeeds on the strength of its central character—a fascinating villain-protagonist whose schemes are simultaneously horrifying and oddly satisfying to witness.
Jeneva Rose has crafted a worthy follow-up to The Perfect Marriage that expands on its predecessor’s themes while taking the story in unexpected directions. The novel’s greatest achievement is making readers complicit in Sarah’s schemes—we know we should be appalled, yet we can’t help turning the page to see what she’ll do next.
With its clever plotting, morally complex characters, and unflinching examination of human nature at its most calculating, The Perfect Divorce is a good read. Rose continues to establish herself as a formidable voice in the psychological thriller genre, and the tantalizing hint at the end of the novel that “Sarah Morgan’s story isn’t over yet” promises more deliciously dark tales to come.
Pros:
- Intricate, twist-filled plot that keeps readers guessing
- Fascinating villain-protagonist in Sarah Morgan
- Effective use of multiple perspectives
- Brisk pacing that makes the book hard to put down
- Sharp, economical writing style
Cons:
- Some plot developments strain credulity
- Secondary characters could use more development
- Occasionally sacrifices emotional depth for plot twists
The Perfect Divorce confirms what readers of The Perfect Marriage already suspected: Jeneva Rose is a master of psychological manipulation—both in her characters and in how she toys with readers’ expectations. This sequel proves that when it comes to depicting the darker side of human nature, Rose is in a league of her own.
