From a distance, Felix Fitzwilliam, the son of an old English family, is a good husband and father. But, obsessed with order and routine, he’s a prisoner to perfection. Disengaged from the emotional life of his North Carolina family, Felix has let his wife, Ella, deal with their special-needs son by herself.A talented jewelry designer turned full-time mother, Ella is the family rock…until her … rock…until her heart attack shatters their carefully structured existence. Now Harry, a gifted teen grappling with the chaos of Tourette’s, confronts a world outside his parents’ control, one that tests his desire for independence.
As Harry searches for his future, and Ella adapts to the limits of her failing health, Felix struggles with his past and present roles. To prevent the family from being ripped apart, they must each bend with the inevitability of change and reinforce the ties that bind.
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Woah. My breath is taken away. This is not the genre that I normally read (I’m more of a historical fiction buff), but White’s characters were so realistic from page one that I felt that I knew them. Her dialog and movements were spot-on, and I found myself wishing that I knew Harry. What a charming young man who overcame so many obstacles.
I will definitely read this author’s work again.
Like a box of fine chocolates, Barbara Claypole White’s latest novel will leave you wanting to savor each and every page. The Perfect Son is a witty, poignant, and sometimes irreverent story about a family in crisis, peopled with characters we–sometimes surprisingly—find ourselves falling in love with as they struggle to reinvent themselves in the face of terrifying trials. This author pulls no punches when dealing with her character’s flaws, stripping away easy stereotypes and misconceptions to expose the real-world challenges of dealing with mental illness and psychological scars. As always, she has created a delightfully rich cast of characters I will miss as if I actually know them—because I do.
I loved this book. The characters were wonderful and a little quirky. Would be a 10 star book if I could give that many. Everyone should read.
Barbara Claypole White is an artful storyteller. Elegant writing coupled with a compelling story makes The Perfect Son an engrossing read. Ella is the glue that holds her family together. When she falls ill, it’s up to the boys to get along. The developing Father-Son relationship is realistic, and you find yourself cheering for both characters as they grow.
Definitely could not get enough of this book. Read it in 24 hours. Loved the characters; especially Felix. It has laugh out loud moments and many heart string moments. I sort of figured how it would end up, It was wrapped up beautifully. Definitely on my favorites list!!
Authors will relate to this story of a man trapped by his need for perfectionism. We’re constantly pressured to stand out, be better, rise above the millions of others who publish—a never-ending and impossible goal. But there are many others with perfectionist tendencies who will see themselves in this story. I’m one of those as well, raised by a father who strongly encouraged me “to do better.”
There are three main characters in The Perfect Son: Ella, wife and mother and the family glue; Felix, Ella’s husband, a proper Brit who thrives on order and routine; and Harry, their son, who’s brilliant and has Tourette syndrome. When Ella suffers from a heart attack, the family structure collapses. Ella, who has been caring for Harry, can no longer care for anyone, and Felix, who is dedicated solely to work, must now take care of both wife and son.
The book is laced with beautiful descriptions, witticisms, stark revelations, and tender moments. While all three characters shine under the skillful weavings of the author, this is Felix’s story. His tenacious tendency to hold on to what he knows, his abhorrence of anything that is not ordered, his underlying emotions carried forward from a tormented past, all serve to create a deeply troubled, complex character that has a long way to go. But even though every step forward takes Felix into uncharted territory with a healthy dose of fear, Barbara conveys that journey with such understanding and humanity that I couldn’t help falling in love with him.
The Perfect Son is a brilliant look at the inner workings of people’s lives—their hopes, their fears, the things that go unspoken. You’ll love this story and I dare say, like me, you won’t want it to end.
Perfect son, perfect father, perfect story.
Absolutely wonderful! Incredibly researched, perfectly played out. Characters so very flawed and real, plot delivered so skillfully, I had to read it straight through! An absolutely MUST READ!
This is one of my all-time favorite books. Barbara Claypole White has done a masterful job of delving into the relationship between father and son.
Beautiful book. My first by the author. Wonderful story of coping loss before it happens and rebuilding lives after the fact.