This reading group guide for THE PERFECT HOME includes an introduction and discussion questions. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.

Introduction

Here’s a PR rule of thumb: when you’re married to one of America’s favorite home renovation reality TV stars and flee with his twin babies in the middle of the night, don’t expect him to let that go unpunished.

Dawn Decker has never been the best at the celebrity thing. She would have been happy staying a minor celebrity as long as she could grow her family with her husband, Wyatt. Wyatt, however, wants to boost their celebrity status by any means necessary, and when he learns that his low sperm count is the reason for their infertility, it wounds him. In desperation, he secretly orders experimental fertility drugs to help them conceive, and it works. Dawn conceives and gives birth to twins, but when Wyatt quits the drug cold turkey, his personality changes. Dawn isn’t sure what to make of it until one day she finds his horrifying plot to manufacture a tragedy to increase their fame. Dawn takes the twins and runs. The next day, Wyatt is on national TV with his version of events, painting her as the villain, and it’s clear that he won’t go down without a fight.

This thriller is an immersive, addictive, and satisfying cat-and-mouse chase that will have readers captivated from the first page.

Topics & Questions for Discussion

1. Discuss the notion of “perfection.” How does the concept influence the characters’ behavior and the events of the novel?

2. At the start of chapter 2, Wyatt shares his take on masculinity regarding his low sperm count. What do you make of his thoughts? Do you feel differently about this treatise after finishing the novel?

3. On page 19, Wyatt says, “That was Dawn at her best, a combination of self-conscious and unintentionally charming.” Discuss Wyatt’s view of Dawn and how it shapes her sense of self.

4. The Perfect Home’s highest audience scores come when Dawn is “there to rain on [Wyatt’s] parade” (page 10). Why do you think that is? Talk about how their respective roles factor into the show’s success and Wyatt and Dawn’s relationship.

5. Dawn has trouble interacting with fans and can’t play into their fantasies the same way Wyatt is effortlessly able to. Consider the difference between Dawn’s candid nature and Wyatt’s performative one. How do these differences clash in the novel? How do they inform the characters’ worldviews?

6. Momma Harlene is a constant and warm presence for Dawn, whereas Wyatt does his best to conceal any relationship with his mother from those around him and even from the reader. How do the characters’ relationships to their mothers inform your understanding of their choices and behavior?

7. On page 77, Victoria tells Dawn, “When my mom died, it was like I saw the world in evil colors for months.” What is your interpretation of the concept of “evil colors?” How do the events of part two relate to this idea?

8. Discuss the relationships between women in this novel. What do you make of Dawn’s friendships and how those transform over the events of the novel?

9. Wyatt brings up “Tom Dale” throughout the novel, revealing the truth of their relationship on page 257. What role does Tom Dale play in the story? How does his presence frame your understanding of Wyatt?

10. There are a few instances of substance abuse in the novel, from Wyatt’s misuse of ASB to Dawn and Tim’s struggles with alcoholism. Discuss what these elements contribute to the narrative and to the characters.

11. Smell factors hugely into the story—and into some of the twists. What is each character’s signature scent, and how does it illuminate something deeper about them?

12. The reason The Perfect Home’s viewership increased with female demographics when Dawn joined the show largely has to do with female fans identifying with and projecting themselves onto Dawn. Discuss the nature of fame and of the relationship between fans and celebrities. How does this play into the events of the novel and how do you see this come up in real life?

13. For all his faults, Wyatt is extremely media savvy. What are some things he gets right about how public relations work. Have you observed these principles in your own consumption of media?

14. Consider the dual perspective of the novel, allowing readers to see both sides of the conflict as the narrative progressed. How would your reading experience be different if there were only a single perspective?

15. What moment in the story shocked you most? Did you make any guesses or predictions that came true?

Enhance Your Book Club

1. Watch a home renovation reality TV show. If you are a fan of the genre, how did your experience with home renovation reality TV inform your reading experience? If you’ve never watched before, reflect on how watching the show influenced your understanding of the novel.

• Publisher: Scribner (January 7, 2025)
• Length: 320 pages
• ISBN13: 9781668063873