The Perfect Ruin by Shanora Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I went into The Perfect Ruin completely blind. No synopsis, no expectations—just knowing it was a Shanora Williams book, so I trusted the process. And honestly, that was the right move.

This is one of those stories where saying too much about the characters would ruin the experience, so I’ll keep it tight. I will say this though: Keke had the most sense out of everybody, and that’s all I’m giving on that.

Emotionally, I didn’t feel deeply connected to the characters. Most of the book, I found myself focused on one main question: what exactly did Lola do to Ivy? That curiosity is what kept me locked in.

At its core, this story is about revenge. Ivy believes Lola ruined her life, and she’s determined to make her pay. The plan unfolds, the tension builds, and then—of course—the plot thickens. Along the way, Shanora weaves in betrayal, mental health struggles, childhood trauma, and a whole lot of lies and deceit.

The pacing was solid. It keeps you reading, not because of nonstop action, but because you need answers. The “why” keeps pulling you forward.

Overall, this was a good read, and yes—I’d recommend it. If you like psychological tension, messy truths, and stories where nothing is quite what it seems, this one is worth picking up.

View all my reviews