Mrs. Perfect

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Copyright © 2008 by Jane Porter

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

5 Spot

Hachette Book Group

237 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Visit our Web site at www.HachetteBookGroup.com.

First eBook Edition: May 2008

ISBN: 978-0-446-53738-4

Contents

Praise for Jane Porter’s Novels

Also by Jane Porter

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

About the Author

5 Ways to Know You’re Mrs. Perfect

PRAISE FOR JANE PORTER’S NOVELS

MRS. PERFECT

“A poignant exploration of the pressures modern moms face today, both from without and within, but ultimately it’s about supporting each other in our choices, no matter what.”

—Melanie Lynne Hauser, author of Confessions of Super Mom and Super Mom Saves the World

“Jane Porter strikes a fine balance in the follow-up to her hit Odd Mom Out, MRS. PERFECT, a novel about losing ‘The Good Life’ only to discover what the good life really is—funny, thought-provoking, affecting . . . and highly recommended.”

—Lauren Baratz-Logsted, author of Secrets of My Suburban Life and Vertigo

ODD MOM OUT

“Jane Porter nails it poignantly and perfectly. This mommy-lit is far from fluff. Sensitive characters and a protagonist who doesn’t cave in to the in-crowd give this novel its heft.”

—USA Today

“A poignant critique of mommy cliques and the plight of single parents.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Funny and poignant . . . delightful.”

—Stella Cameron

“Best of all is Porter’s take on mother-daughter dynamics.”

—Newport News Daily Press

“A fun read with some thought-provoking subjects thrown in.”

—Readerviews.com

“A great read.”

—Quick & Simple magazine

“A well-written, original, and interesting story.”

—RomRevToday.com

“I personally loved Odd Mom Out . . . Jane [Porter’s] writing is fresh . . . it has a place on my ‘keep shelf’ of chick lit books.”

—AllThingsGirl.com

“A delightful read.”

—BookLoons.com

“Funny, entertaining, original, and clearly defined with wonderful characters . . . This story is a must-read.”

—FreshFiction.com

“Odd Mom Out is an engaging tale that examines important issues of today’s world. Behind the entertaining, witty prose are insightful observations about real life.”

—Woodbury Magazine

“Marta [Zinsser] is an intriguing heroine.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Keenly emotional and truly uplifting.”

—Booklist

FLIRTING WITH FORTY

“A terrific read! A wonderful, life and love-affirming story for women of all ages.”

—Jayne Ann Krentz, New York Times bestselling author

“Calorie-free accompaniment for a poolside daiquiri.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Strongly recommended. Porter’s thoughtful prose and strong characters make for an entertaining and thought-provoking summer read.”

—Library Journal

“This is an interesting coming-of-age story . . .