The Perfect Ruin

Starred review from July 1, 2021
In sun-soaked Miami, Ivy Hill is plotting her revenge. After years of wondering who destroyed her life, she has finally uncovered the person responsible: Lola Maxwell, a famous philanthropist and queen of social media. Ivy is still young, in her early twenties, but her childhood spent shuttling between different foster homes has made her feel as though she's lived a hundred years. Her only goal is to ruin Lola's life as Lola ruined hers. Ivy infiltrates her enemy's inner circle, with her eye on the woman's riches and her husband, too, who's a sexy doctor. But will Ivy succeed in taking Lola down, and will it be worth it in the end? This twisty thriller takes readers into a high-class, sinfully privileged world populated with characters who will stop at nothing for what they want. Williams stretches out the tension as readers wonder what Lola did to hurt Ivy and whether their shared past will be revealed. With diabolical turns and surprises at every corner, it's an ideal summer read for fans of May Cobb's The Hunting Wives (2021).

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2021
In sun-soaked Miami, Ivy Hill is plotting her revenge. After years of wondering who destroyed her life, she has finally uncovered the person responsible: Lola Maxwell, a famous philanthropist and queen of social media. Ivy is still young, in her early twenties, but her childhood spent shuttling between different foster homes has made her feel as though she's lived a hundred years. Her only goal is to ruin Lola's life as Lola ruined hers. Ivy infiltrates her enemy's inner circle, with her eye on the woman's riches and her husband, too, who's a sexy doctor. But will Ivy succeed in taking Lola down, and will it be worth it in the end? This twisty thriller takes readers into a high-class, sinfully privileged world populated with characters who will stop at nothing for what they want. Williams stretches out the tension as readers wonder what Lola did to hurt Ivy and whether their shared past will be revealed. With diabolical turns and surprises at every corner, it's an ideal summer read for fans of May Cobb's The Hunting Wives (2021).

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 16, 2021

Ivy Hill has been in therapy for years trying to restore some normalcy to her shattered existence. Twelve years ago, one person's act destroyed her young life and awakened her desire for revenge; since then, she has searched in vain for the name of the perpetrator. When she learns that the person she's looking for is allegedly Lola Maxwell, widely known as "the richest woman of color to live in Florida," Ivy plots to infiltrate the Miami socialite's life in order to slowly but completely ruin her. She begins by joining Lola's charity, Ladies with Passion, and soon catches the eye of Lola's gorgeous husband Corey. Before long, she becomes Lola's confidante and Corey's lover and is drawn into their hedonistic world. Not everyone is fooled by her charade, however, and it turns out that Ivy isn't the only one plotting a perfect ruin. While the story is told mainly through the lens of Ivy, the author gives two characters a shot at narrating toward the end, adding to the complexity. VERDICT Williams (Coach Me; My Fianc�'s Brother) is an award-winning author of romance and suspense novels; her tale of revenge will find an easy spot in fiction collections. Tailored for book clubs and for those who like to read about the sleazy side of rich elites.--Amy Nolan, St. Joseph P.L., MI

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