This book is one that really makes me wish I could use half stars. If I could give the rating I wanted to, this would be a 3.5. I waffled back and forth about rounding up or down but ultimately I decided that because I enjoyed the ending so much, I had to give it the extra star.

Before I discuss what I liked about the ending, I want to mention a couple of things I didn't like. One, the chapters from Jay's perspective were a bit much. I think a lot of them could and should have been left on the cutting room floor. I understand what the author was trying to do with them, but it quickly reached a point where they were no longer necessary. Two, I think this book would have been a 5 star read if it weren't for the friendship between Lauren and Nell. Because of that element, Lauren was a frustrating and almost unbelievably stupid character at some points. If Jay and Lauren had just crossed paths at some point, it would have been a lot more understandable that he was able to get her under his spell. IMO if the point of her scheme was to get revenge for Nell, she failed miserably for most of the book. And I understand that abusers typically have a very strong hold on their victims, but to me, it just doesn't make sense for her to let it get that far in the first place given the situation. Specifically, the part about her willingly taking drugs from him really felt super unrealistic.

Despite those things, the ending really redeemed this book. A lot of thrillers either falter after the climax or end on a too-good-to-be-true happy ending. This book did neither of those things. It had a composed ending that leaves the reader feeling hopeful for the main character, but not in a way that seems unbelievable. I really like how the relationship between Lauren and her sister was handled in the end. It felt incredibly realistic.

The premise of the book was interesting and for the first 25% was very hooking. However, I had found that it slowed down at the 50% mark. The characters were mysterious enough but I found that they were lacking a bit of depth. I will say that I adored the setting, how they lived in a cottage - this made the story eerie and unsettling.

Thank you to netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advance copy.

The story follows Lauren as she moves 'off grid' with her new love Jay after meeting at a festival. Lauren ignores so many red flags in the relationship that has you screaming at the book. It later transpires that she has put herself in this position to find out more about the death of her best friend Nell.

The story was slow paced, frustrating and unbelievable. Whilst the book is well written and the setting descriptive the characters and the plot let the book down.

I don't understand why Damian is in the story (also did she pay him back?), The fact Rick had a personality transplant by the end of the book after being a jerk for 90% of the book and why on earth Lauren would ever want the 'special kisses'.

I imagine some people would love this book but for me it wasnt a hit.

The perfect girlfriend by Hayley Smith will keep you at the edge of your seat


Lauren needs a fresh start after years of bad decisions it’s time she started her life over again, after meeting Jay at a music festival the two quickly form a relationship and Jay asks Lauren to move in with him. Lauren arrives at Jays cottage to discover not only is it in the middle of nowhere but there is no wifi, landline or mobile signal. As time goes on Lauren starts discovering some of Jays secrets but has she got some of her own?

From the first few pages this book had me hooked! I find it so hard to believe that this is Hayley Smiths debut book the writing style is 10/10. The book itself is medium to fast paced with short chapters. The twists in this book had me at the edge of my seat and every time I set it down, I found myself thinking about when I could pick it up again. I’ve rated this book 4.5 stars, as much as I loved it I did find Lauren to be a little bit annoying. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that’s in the mood for a thriller that is slightly on the darker side

Thank you Hayley Smith, NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this Arc

This book is a perfect fast paced thriller that is littered with twists. I got engaged from page 1 and the book was a very easy finish. I was very surprised that this was a debut novel because of how well written this book was. Hayley Smith is definitely a great writer to look out for and I am very excited for what else she comes up with.

I was initially irritated by the main character because of seemingly dense she is to ignore some very obvious red flags. Although, all this makes sense later on so if anyone is annoyed with her, I would say to press on. The book has a very good ending that summed up everything I presumed would not be explained. It was definitely an interested read.

4.5/5 Stars!!
This book completely blew me away, the twists and turns of the book were incredible. I can usually figure things out early on in novels, but this one kept me on my toes!
It was a total page turner and Lauren was the perfect main character, she was completely realistic in every way.
The writing style was incredible, the subtle hints here and there made it so enjoyable.
My only criticism (if at all) would be that I would have liked to have know more about Nell, so that we could support Lauren’s passion more. Other than that, screw Jay🙈

The cover and synopsis drew me to this book originally but I was completely sucked in on page 1. I will not spoil the book, if you like fast paced twisty thrillers then this is for you. This is my fastest book read to date. I did pause midway to look up if there were any other books by this author to only find out this is her debut novel. Honestly I thought I read wrong, Hayley Smith is going places watch this space! I would give this book 10 stars if I could. I cannot wait to read more by this author, she is definitely a talented lady.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for my ARC of “The Perfect Girlfriend.” I really struggled with this book. It wasn’t for me, but hopefully others enjoy it. I was really drawn to the description of this book. But, it was hard to read and I didn’t really understand the plot. The characters were one dimensional and I was confused on their motivations. But, I did have to keep reading to find out the ending and it surprised me. 2/5 stars ⭐️.

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

Not my favorite thriller, I was hooked by the prologue but then lost. I found it very boring till the little twist. Jay was obviously sick from the beginning but I enjoyed Lauren getting their relationship started from the beginning for revenge and watching that unfold was a quick read.

This was everything you could want from a domestic noir! It had the tense atmosphere, the twists and turns, and no matter how many time you try to guess the outcome.... I was wrong every time! I loved the writing style, it flowered really naturally and made me feel like I could picture everything playing out in front of me like I was watching a series on TV. I'd recommend this to any domestic noir fans

This book is a definite psychological thriller! I loved the anticipation of the book and Lauren had me literally wanting to reach through my kindle and knock some sense into her!!! Page after page I was trying to solve this and I was wrong every time!! The descriptions that Hayley used was fantastic! I could see this in my mind perfectly! Hayley Smith has a new fan because I will definitely be reading more of her books!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this book. What a grear debut novel! I read this book in one sitting because I just could not put it down. It was very entertaining and it was full of twists, turns and surprises. I never would've guessed that ending!

“The Perfect Girlfriend” is a debut mystery thriller by Hayley Smith. What I liked about this book was that it reminded me, somewhat, of Gillian Flynn with a bit of Karen Slaughter mixed in. What I didn’t like was that it reminded me, again, why I dislike Karen Slaughter’s books. The first 60% of this book I found very slow moving - I didn’t like the main character. She ignores red flags in order to be the “perfect girlfriend,” which makes sense later in the book but in the beginning it’s just annoying. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve read too many thriller books in a row lately, but the behavior of one person made me think “not as awful as all suspect.” Also, I’m not sure why the main character’s sister decided to meet (again) with the main male character. Yes, stay in touch with your sister - but really, in that manner? In the end, I think this book brings together the plot nicely - there’s closure, there’s completeness, and the beginning portion makes a lot more sense. Overall, for a debut novel it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t a book I need to re-read and even reading it the first time, I cannot say that I really liked it. Many trigger warnings - hopefully someone will post a list because there’s a lot.

4.5 Stars

The Perfect Girlfriend is an outstanding read. This reviewer thoroughly enjoyed its unique storyline of semiprofessional musicians living off the grid. So many novels focus on the wealthy and famous it was a refreshing change to connect with characters struggling to survive both emotionally and financially following trauma. Lauren, the protagonist, has made questionable life choices that have all but destroyed her future and her relationship with her family, so when she moves into Jay's home after only knowing him one weekend, we're convinced she's made another poor decision.

As the story unfolds and Lauren's motivations are revealed, the plotlines come together, and we clearly understand her. The vivid countryside setting in which she and Jay live is a strong character in its own right, and the book sits squarely on its shoulders. Haley Smith paints a perfect word picture of Lauren and Jay's humble cottage and their daily life without slowing the pacing. The mystery and thriller elements keep the story moving, and the secondary characters add depth and purpose to the tale. The author writes well, and the story is well plotted. The ending is absolutely perfect. A recommended read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an ARC to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

This was a fun and twisted book! This author (Haley Smith) is new to me, and I will definitely read more of her books in the future. The writing in this book was so good, and the storyline kept me engaged the whole time. I especially liked the ending. This is one of those books that is binge-worthy.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and to Bookouture for giving me access to an Arc for an honest review.

I don't even know where to start lol. Since the beginning, I want to scream at Lauren, slap some sense in her. How many more red flags does she need ?? It was like seeing an accident to happen in slow motion. The emotions I felt were so strong all throughout the book !! No huge twist, but still, the author managed to get me in all sorts of emotions. And for this, I will surely read future books from this author, she can convey the emotions so well.
I really enjoyed the book.

It was so easy for Lauren to get swept up in a whirlwind romance with Jay. He seemed like just the guy she needed and she had no reason to be wary of him. But it’s not long before the appeal of living off-grid with him wears off, and she begins feeling unsettled by his friends, the locked cottage door, and Jay ultimately himself. Lauren’s tired of his secrets and how stifling he is, as well as the constant scrutiny from his friends. But the straw that finally breaks the camel’s back is finding the personal item of a girl Lauren knows is dead while cleaning out Jay’s bedroom. Frightened of Jay, Lauren plans to get away before she reaches the same fate—but not before she finds out once and for all just how much of a depraved psychopath Jay really is.
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This was kind of a miss for me. The plot is a little all over the place at first and the pace slogs until like halfway thru the book. Lauren spends more time talking about her suspicions of Jay than she does acting on them, and Inreally didn’t think she made a lot of efforts to uncover the truth. I feel like psychological thrillers are better when they’re character-driven as opposed to plot-driven, so that’s probably why this fell short for me. There were some elements I really enjoyed tho so I’m not going to say this was a waste of time bc i feel like there are many readers who will appreciate this much more than i will.

I really enjoyed this book, it's a solid 4/4.5 for me! A psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns, it had me hooked.

The world building was good - I could really picture the cottage, all the renovations, improvements, and the dark history within.

The character creation was great, there's definitely some unlikeable characters created, but I think
this helps to keep you on your toes throughout the various twists and turns.

A big plot point comes in quicker than you think, but it deepens the plot instead of cutting it off, so the author really keeps your attention until the end of the book!

Overall, I really enjoyed this, it's a great debut novel and I can't wait to see what's next for Hayley Smith!

Lauren and Jay meet by chance at a music festival where Lauren is temporarily a fiddle player for a band that Jay loves. Their instant attraction turns in to a whirlwind romance, and Lauren packs up her few bags and music equipment stored in her friend Rachel’s guest room and moves in with Jay after only knowing him a couple of weeks. Secrets of both their past and present begin to unfold over time as they try to live self sufficiently on land and a cottage owned by Jay’s friend Rick’s family. As time passes the reader learns that both Jay and Lauren have secrets about their past that collide into their present and everything comes to a head in a thrilling ending.

This book was phenomenal. I could not put it down. Everything about it engaged me from the vivid descriptions of the cottage and land to the secrets surrounding Jay. Lauren was not as naive as I believed she was in the beginning, and I love that when she could have ran and gotten away from Jay; she instead stayed and craftily plotted revenge against Jay to avenge Nell. I loved all the characters. Each one had secrets that all weaved together and it was like trying to solve an intricate puzzle at the turn of each page, The author is a wonderful writer. She kept me engaged and wanting more from the story even as it ended. I will definitely keep this author on my radar for future books. My only criticism would be the title of the book. I feel like this title is overused and redundant, If I could rename the book I would call it “ Long, Black Hair” with the illustration being a woman standing with her back to the cover with long black hair running down her back. Otherwise it was a solid 5 star read and I will recommend this one to my followers.

This one was not a winner for me. There was a slightly interesting twist related to Lauren, the female protagonist, but if you read the jacket of the book it was not really a surprise. I would suggest skipping this one unless you're in a pinch.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital review copy.