Nifty little thriller about a woman who won't, who can't let go. Elizabeth/Lily/Juliette is a chameleon, who has set up her life to show what she wants in different situations. Now, she wants Nate back. Big time. She actually becomes a flight attendant to keep tabs on him. The flight attendant part of this was, btw, quite interesting. How she cycles into a total holy-cow sort of situation is at the heart of this frankly a little scary novel. It's a fast well written read that will keep you turning pages. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A nice debut!

Juliette is psychotic and obsessed. She will do anything to claim her ex boyfriend and to be “the perfect girlfriend”. Wait until you read the lengths she will go to. This was an intense, psychological thriller that will have you looking at relationships a little differently. Many thanks to Graydon House and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Our girl, Juliette is a true psycho. Think really wants to get married to the man of her dreams, but on speed. As the book opens, Juliette is in training to become a flight attendant following her break-up with her boyfriend, Nate, who is a pilot. Yup, not a coincidence that she is planning on working for the same airline.

Not only that, but when he breaks up with her, he offers to pay her rent for six months somewhere else. Tell me that doesn’t raise a red flag right away. A guy has got to know a girl is seriously unhinged to want to get rid of her that badly that he will pay her rent somewhere else? And they were only together 7 months.

So Juliette moves, and embarks on a brand new life (albeight one that mirrors Nate’s), and stays quiet because “revenge is a dish best served cold.” As we watch Juliette carefully construct every single move she makes to lead her and Nate back together, I found it surprising she is able to appear so functional and normal to others–well, then again, she only has one friend.

Although it didn’t blow me away, I found The Perfect Girlfriend to be a great fast read. It kept my attention and left me wanting for more each time I would set it down. I do think that Nate was kind of a complete idiot to allow himself to become so entangled. I’m not sure many men would be as nice about everything that happens as he was.

It really is amazing the lengths Juliette goes to. Ever had a boyfriend accuse you of being psycho? Send him this book! Although that may just make you look worse:)

Special thanks to Harlequin Graydon House and Netgalley for an e-galley in exchange for my honest review. This one is out next week-March 26, 2019.

Unpopular opinion review alert! I found The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton to be confusing, disjointed at times, and extremely predictable. Totally not worth my time quite honestly!

Juliette is attractive, passionate and even more so, an obsessed psychotic woman madly in love. She considers herself to be the perfect girlfriend. *cough* Predictability of the title *cough* She will stop at nothing to get exactly what she wants — that just so happens to be the perfect boyfriend — Nate. How far will she go to get exactly what she wants and to what lengths? *cough* Gone Girl anyone? *cough*

Juliette goes so far to uproot herself closer to Nate, change her appearance to resemble someone else, and even switches careers — a flight attendant — just to be closer to her perfect boyfriend, Nate, who is a pilot.

“If you love someone, set them free. If they come back, they’re yours. If they don’t, make them.”

Let me just state, again, I truly love psychological thrillers — I’m obsessed with them. This could be clouding my judgement of the book. But let me take a step back. I’m all for genderswapping roles, where a woman is the stalker, but this was on the cusp of insane crazy stalker, almost too unrealistic. I also disliked the main character Juliette. She was predictable but there were so many points that I literally rolled my eyes at what she was doing. The absurdity of the characters and what was happening was laughable.

Furthermore, I had the hardest time with the writing. It was so confusing and disjointed at times, almost hard to follow. I had to go back and reread parts because they didn’t make sense. The flow of the plot and the back story was chaotic and muddled.

This book was predictable, far-fetched, and the writing was rough to read. It really did leave a bad taste in my mouth after finishing it. The parts that had me feeling Deja Vu to other books I’ve read, made it even more so of a book that I would rather forget I’ve read. I hate to be the barer of bad news but The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton was bad.

Thanks to NetGalley and Graydon House Books for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

The Perfect Girlfriend is equal parts Single White Female and Fatal Attraction, Juliette slash Elizabeth slash Lily is a spurned woman with a tragic past who simply won’t let her ex, Nate, go....not after all she’s had to do to snag him in the first place. As she schemes, stalks, and ingratiates herself in order to win Nate back, her past slowly a revealed to the reader to better explain her obsession with Nate.
The Perfect Girlfriend would have benefited from a better organized plot and sequence of events. While Juliette’s mental state is adequately relayed by the author, the plot is too muddied and scrambled and takes away from the sinister ambience of the story. Not one of the best I’ve read this year.

Juliette wants Nate and she will do whatever it takes to get him back! This tale of obsession was a twisty exciting read. Crazy stalker stories always intrigue me and this one did not disappoint! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

I'm afraid I can't recommend this book. While I finished it, the pacing and repetition was such that I almost put it down several times and it took me almost. a week to get through (and I'm a fast, obsessive reader). While Juliette/Lily was a somewhat interesting character--and while I do enjoy anti-protagonist stories--there was something lacking. The first half, until the wedding, dragged. It picked up in Vegas, then slid back into repetition, never reaching a solid, satisfying conclusion (for good or for bad). It just ended, like a movie that has misplaced the last reel. I also felt that plot elements (the brother; Amy) were introduced but never fully dealt with. Because I am giving less than 3 stars, I will not post the review outside of NetGalley

Juliette *really* wants Nate and nothing or no one is going to stand in her way of getting her man. There's just one small problem - Nate does not want Juliette and thinks she is far from "The Perfect Girlfriend". So what's a girl to do? Make him yours no matter what.
This was a unique take on the "stalker" story as it is told from the stalker's point of view instead of the victim. The manipulative actions of Juliette drove me nuts - she is one crazy, unlikable character! I struggled at times with parts of the story but overall enjoyed it.
Thank you to Karen Hamilton, Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This book kept me intrigued throughout. The plot wasn't necessarily the most complex, but I was captivated by the protagonist's descent into madness with her obsession. With titles like You by Carol Kepnes, The Perfect Girlfrienx is sure to be a winner with anyone who is into thrillers.

I read this book in a day. The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton, was a thrilling ride through an obsessed woman's point of view. Lilly-Elizabeth-Juliette is playing the long game and setting up her life for a fairy tale ending. She wants to be the doting wife, with the handsome, established husband, ski trips with the in-laws on holidays. The only problem is her ex-boyfriend, Nate, does not want the same thing. Although I needed a little more clarity in the ending, the rest of the book was well thought out with small twists hidden throughout the book.

“If you love someone, set them free. If they love you they will come back to you. If they don’t make them.” Juliette is very determined to make Nate love her. She wants the perfect fairy tale, no matter what it takes. It amazed me how she was able to control so many things. This is a very chilling novel.

I would like to thank Netgalley,Harlequin for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this fun thriller in exchange for an honest review.

4.75 Stars

Juliette knows that she and Nate were truly meant to be. She also knows that she is the absolutely the most perfect girlfriend to ever exist. The only problem? Nate broke up with Juliette a while ago. Juliette is a go getter though. The way she sees it there is no reason for her to just give up on the most perfect relationship ever. Why should she let a little thing like a break up stand in the way of true love? So Juliette sets out to get Nate back. She goes as far as to train to become an airline attendant at the same airline that Nate is a pilot.

Juliette is your worse nightmare, she is smart, sneaky and able to change persona at the drop of a hat. Let's just say that Juliette definitely would give Dan from "You" a run for his money. I would definitely have given this 5 stars if it had not taken so long to get things going. Once things do start though this is a fantastic thriller filled with some plot twists.

Juliette is the type of character you know you shouldn't like but once again like Dan in "You" you just can't help but like her. She has been damaged and there is a deep backstory for her. I really enjoyed this and will totally reread this another time. Just be prepared that it will take a bit for the story to get off the ground. Once it does though, it is totally worth it!

This book gave me the creeps. If you like You by Caroline Kepnes then you will like this book. It is pretty amazing when a written can make you emotionally attached to a character with that kind of personality. \\

However, I did feel that it went into too much detail toward the beginning and middle of the book. It really slowed the pacing down for me and was a distraction to the storyline.

The Perfect Girlfriend # NetGalley
Karen Hamilton

This is a debut novel for author Karen Hamilton and I enjoyed it. She introduces us to the scariest character I have read in a while. Juliette is everyone ‘s worst nightmare, one you would pray you would never meet. She infuses herself into the innocent people around her. Starting with a childhood trauma that would change her psyche, she immerses herself in her “friends” life’s. She cannot let go of her circumstances and has a hard time being acceptable in her need to make friends. She longs for a forever boyfriend, one who she pictures spending the rest of her life with. But, she continues to find herself alone. How can she make her boyfriend love her forever and want to spend the rest of his life with her? She struggles with choosing between right and wrong. The ending leaves you wanting more closure, but you will have to imagine whether or not she will get her comeuppance. I rate this book 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book for an honest review. The opinions are all my own.

For the last 7-months, Elizabeth has been patient ever since her boyfriend, Nate, said he needed space, breaking up with her. She’s been devising a plan of action to get him back to her life. She changes her career to a flight attendant since Nate’s a pilot and Elizabeth starts going by her middle name, Juliette.

Elizabeth held onto Nate’s apartment key and sneaks into his home any chance she gets. She sits on his bed, perfectly spaces the hangers in his closet, leaves him special gifts that could almost go undetected. She finds a way to access all of Nate’s calls, texts, internet search history. Elizabeth knows Nate like no one else ever could and she knows they are destined to be together.

When Elizabeth learns her coworker, Kate, is dating Nate, she does everything in her power to tear them apart. Casual flings she can handle, but a serious relationship gets in the way of Elizabeth’s plan. She manages to weave her way back into Nate’s life because she’s the one for Nate. Surely, he will one day realize his mistake in breaking up with her, right?

Elizabeth has never forgotten about her time as a teenager at an elite boarding school. The most popular girl at school—Bella—ensured that Elizabeth felt inferior. Elizabeth’s been keeping track of Bella ever since, a kind of obsession. This obsession bleeds into Elizabeth’s day-to-day life and even her relationship with Nate.

We get to experience what makes Elizabeth’s mind ticks and why her behavior is so irrational, so insane. Things can’t end well for Elizabeth, but we get to see firsthand just what kind of trouble she gets herself into...

The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton is a psychological thriller with an unreliable, mentally unstable main character. I enjoyed getting to see what kind of predicaments Elizabeth/Juliette gets herself into. Up until about the halfway mark, the book is setting the scene, painting a picture of Elizabeth/Juliette’s psychotic behavior while simultaneously seeing her life as a flight attendant. Somehow I’ve unintentionally read 3 books this week all centered around flight attendant main characters—I had no idea there were so many! After that halfway mark, the story takes a twist toward the ridiculous, but what else would we expect from an insane ex-girlfriend? The story wasn’t fast-paced by any means, but the train wreck that is Elizabeth’s life was fun to watch unfold. 3/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Graydon House and Karen Hamilton for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was excited to read The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton. It has all the makings of an exciting book. Crazy ex girlfriend obsessed with her boyfriend. Stalking. And who knows what else! And my boyfriend is in aviation, so an extra bonus for me. So I’m not sure why this book ending up falling flat. For me, it ended up being too much character development, not enough action, and a slow moving plot. Sometimes I enjoy getting inside the head of someone like Lily, but it didn’t work for me in this case.

If you like books based on a stalker, first person narratives, and character development check this one out. There are a few other more glowing reviews, so definitely balance my review with those!

Wow....I can tell you that the main character, Juliette, is certifiable! She is just so crazy in her obsession. There is a point in the book that you find something out that set Juliette on her crazy course. I think the author did a good job of making you feel sorry for Juliette a "tiny" bit but that feeling doesn't last!
The first maybe 30% seems extremely slow but the rest.....I flew through as the plot just got more twisted!

An amazing character in Libby, Elizabeth, Juliette. The character was well developed. What a life! I loved all the twists and turns in the story. I must say, I was disappointed with the ending. Is there a squeal in the works?

Leaving me? How can you want to end this relationship, Nate? I am the perfect girlfriend.

Juliette and Nate had been together for a short while, but Nate wanted some space.

Juliette couldn’t get over how Nate wanted to end what they had so she decided to train as an airline stewardess and be close to Nate since he was a pilot. She had to remember, though, that their parting rules were to have no contact.

Juliette knew how to stay close to Nate yet remain apart. Juliette would stop in at Nate’s apartment when she knew he was on a long distance flight and pretend she still lived there.

Juliette did some other things not so benign simply because no one can have Nate if she can’t have him because she is the perfect girlfriend.

THE PERFECT GIRLFRIEND was a bit slow to start, but once Juliette started with her "plans," the pages flew by because you won't be able to believe the extent she went to making sure to keep an eye on Nate and his current life.

You won't want to miss reading THE PERFECT GIRLFRIEND if you enjoy a steadily paced thriller that reveals Juliette and her past and especially her current plans to keep Nate.

She actually made my heart race with the things she did and with her boldness. It is also difficult to believe how she thought of the things she did.

Obsessive, cunning, deceitful, unstable, and awful are the PERFECT words for THE PERFECT GIRLFRIEND. 4/5

This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Perfect Girlfriend features an unhinged woman stalking her ex-boyfriend to convince him they can still be happy together. She's given him time, you see, the time he said he needed to be free. Juliette, or Lily, as she used to be called, has suffered a rough life. Her younger brother drowned when she was a child; her mother was neglectful; she was teased and bullied while away at school. But now that she's all grown up, she's going to be happy and successful, just like she's always dreamed of. She just needs one thing to make that happen: her ex-boyfriend, Nate, to admit that he's still madly in love with her and wants to spend the rest of his life with her. Nate doesn't seem to be in any hurry, though, and Juliette knows that the sooner they can settle down, the better life will be for both of them. What's a girl to do? Hurry things along, of course.

The book is fairly well-written, but the ending is entirely too abrupt. Juliette is not a pleasant character, and if you're meant to feel any sympathy for her, the author has failed in that respect. She's a gaslighter and manipulator, and you rather hope someone will call the police on her at more than one point.