A day in the life – – do you want the TV me? Or the real me?

If I told you about my TV life, you’d think: wow. Perfect! And I know this is true, because my fans have made a hashtag for me: #PerfectLily. When you see me on the screen, chasing down criminals, or confronting corrupt politicians, or bringing the truth to light, I know I look confident and competent – – and, actually, if I could confess to you, I do know what I’m doing as a journalist. And I have the Emmys to prove it.

And yes, my TV station make sure my hair looks nice, and I have the right clothes, and I even have a wonderful producer, Greer, who helps me with a lot of things.

I’m in the spotlight, I know it. And I love the attention and approval from viewers whose lives I have changed, and the gratitude of those people Greer and I have helped. (I know Greer has a difficult job. And I can admit to you, just sometimes, I feel she’s a little. . .critical of me. I’m sure that’s just me overthinking.)

But I love my work, and I love finding the top stories, and I love working hard, and I love being successful.

Problem is – – and I know you won’t tell – – I have a secret. And if someone reveals it, my entire career could come crashing down. My entire life. Not to mention my sweet daughter Rowen, who is seven years old. Rowen, who I must protect at every turn. Wonderful little Rowen, who didn’t choose to be in spotlight, but now cannot avoid it.

And because of what happened to my sister Cassie, I may be overprotective of Rowen. Because now I know danger and tragedy is not a news story. . .it’s real. And if it could happen to me once, it could happen again.

So my other life, my not so perfect life, the one you don’t know about, is ruled by fear. Fear of who knows my secret, and who might tell the secret. I know from television that no one tells a secret without a reason. . .and in my case, there are some people who might have their reasons.

Problem is, I don’t know quite who they are.

What happened to my sister Cassie? I think about that every day. The last time I saw her, I was just a kid, and she was a college girl. She came home, and then she was gone. I look for her everywhere? And I wonder sometimes – – why doesn’t she look for me? And just as terrifying—what will happen if she does?


Her Perfect Life
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Release: September 2021
Purchase Link

The next thrilling standalone novel by USA Today bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan.

Everyone knows Lily Atwood—and that may be her biggest problem. The beloved television reporter has it all—fame, fortune, Emmys, an adorable seven-year-old daughter, and the hashtag her loving fans created: #PerfectLily. To keep it, all she has to do is protect one life-changing secret.

Her own.

Lily has an anonymous source who feeds her story tips—but suddenly, the source begins telling Lily inside information about her own life. How does he—or she—know the truth?

Lily understands that no one reveals a secret unless they have a reason. Now she’s terrified someone is determined to destroy her world—and with it, everyone and everything she holds dear.

How much will she risk to keep her perfect life?


About the author
Hank Phillippi Ryan is the USA Today bestselling author of 13 thrillers, winning five Agathas, the Mary Higgins Clark Award, and 37 EMMYs for investigative reporting. Her psychological standalone The First To Lie (2020) garnered a Publishers Weekly starred review and is nominated for the Anthony Award and the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award. Her Perfect Life was published September 14, and received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, which called it “A superlative thriller.”

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