I finished Perfect People feeling remarkably frustrated. Why would such a genuinely captivating act 1 and 2 be abandoned for such a sappy, Hollywood, and downright dumb ending? It feels like Peter James was aware that the first 3/4 of the book was actually really good but couldn't decide on an ending and just watched Superbabies: Baby Geniuses for inspiration.
I am fine with suspension of disbelief.
Take something like Signs or Mysterious Skin, both of which when broken down, are technically ridiculous, but you get too invested in the plot and characters to notice or care. The same cannot be said for this. The plot goes that a young-ish grieving couple's baby Halley has died (from an incurable disease which both the parents have in their DNA), are sent to the controversial Dr Leo, whose expensive and lengthy treatment will ensure another baby. But is this as it seems? His intrusive and erratic behaviour makes the couple think they may be designing their own babies. And when numerous complications occur over the pregnancy, they start getting worried. These chapters are truly effective and get uncomfortably under your skin. The charismatic, though not entirely original Dr Leo gets to play out his character excellently, and the young couple, despite how painfully naive they are, we still get to share their desperate attempts at another child. And then...it gets ridiculous. I will not reveal it but trust me, it starts getting really silly. The depressing thing about this book is that, like I said before, it starts so well but descends into eye-rolling ridiculousness. Annoying.
2/5
MT
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