Fun book full of suspenseful moments. The main character was a little annoying at times, but I was still rooting for her. Twisty turny fun though!

The beginning of this book was a bit of a struggle, the characters felt a little too immature for high schoolers. But once the sleepover kicked off, the story took a turn for the better and really pulled me in. I appreciated the subtle nuances of society's pressure of being the “perfect girl” and how doing what’s expected isn’t always the right thing.
I also enjoyed unraveling the mystery of the missing girls and how it all connected back to Jessa and the mysterious killer. The classic tropes of a dark, isolated night and people being picked off one by one were well executed. The big question remains… will Jessa finally break free from the perfect image she’s been forced into?

*Thank you to Tracy Banghart, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

In all respects this book should have been a slam dunk for me. The premise is perfectly up my alley and lately all I want to read and watch are feminine rage books and movies. I wanted so badly to love this, but I just really disliked this book.

There was so many times I found myself cringing to myself. I’d read a line and wonder, ‘Did I just read that right?’ And would back up and realize that yes, I did just read that. It also took a good while for the story to pick up and there was a lot of nothing happening in the beginning.

The guy and his mom who kidnap the girls and the whole dollhouse vibe was creepy, but ultimately it was not enough to save the story.

The subject of Covid wasn’t handled well in this book and with the amount that Covid is mentioned it irked me a lot. Also there was a bisexual character who is being told that they are lying to people because she isn’t out and that just left a huge bad taste in my mouth.

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this book. I really did not care for it.

I got an ARC of this book.

This is not my typical horror read. I am not into the slasher sort of vibe. Slashers tend to read a bit too thriller for me. I don’t enjoy thrillers. They are drastically different genres, despite what so many people say. This is a hill I will die on.

The first half of the book was pretty slow, but I enjoyed it. It was building the atmosphere. It felt like the sort of horror that really gets me invested. I cared about the characters. I wanted to know them more, I wanted them to survive. I was also incredibly suspicious of them. It was a great build up. The first half of the book was by far my favorite.

The book started to go downhill when the action really started. The slasher aspects dragged it down for me. It was pretty clear who was doing it and why. It was weaker than the first half that could have made the big bad anyone.

The cover is gorgeous and I loved the fantasy duology by Banghart, so I was going to read this even with my misgivings. It was not a bad book. It just wasn’t strong the whole way through. Instead characters came and went in ways that didn’t really make sense. The giving up being perfect to save her life wasn’t really feel delivered on. The romance felt thrown on. The ending for the romance felt so weak. So many details in the second half seemed to just chip away at what was building so perfectly in the first half. The roamnce could have been handled in a way to further build that as well. But even the side character’s romance with a violent person just felt thrown on. It was sad to see how far it fell.

Overall, the first half of the book was five stars. The second half was three. So rounding it, four. It was a fun read, but not going to be one that I am going to shove at horror fans. It would work better for thriller fans who aren’t the best with really scary books, but want to dip their toe in.

As someone who reads a lot of YA mysteries, I usually go into them with some level of apprehension, and The Perfect Girl was no exception. I had no idea what to expect, but this book leads with intensity and promise. It slows down after that, but not for long. And sometimes, a slow buildup is just what a good mystery needs. This one follows a group of teens having a sleepover at one of their houses in a pretty isolated area. Some pretty intense thunderstorms roll in, the power goes out, and the group soon realizes they are not safe and someone is targeting them, looking for "the perfect girl". I don't think the premise is completely unique, but I do think it's a setup that works for a reason. Also, this friend group is easy to root for, and the author gives us a main character that a great arc and manages to learn a thing or two instead of just being traumatized. This is a book I'd recommend to teenage girls who love Criminal Minds, or Natasha Preston, and want something equally creepy. This kind of has everything they could want, including romance and a truly deranged mystery plot.

2.75 stars

The setting of this reminds me of a 90's slasher film. There's a group of girl friends having a sleepover, then some boys crash it and things get a little wild. The house is in a fairly remote location and there's no cell service, sounds like the perfect time for things to go wrong.

Unfortunately, this mystery just didn't quite land for me. There were some creepy parts and tense moments, but it was easy to see who the killer was and the struggle seemed over too quickly. The romance was also kind of silly and the reason they weren't dating yet was laughable and ended up not mattering at all.

This is short and because of that, some issues didn't really resolve like I wanted. I also didn't understand the main character's parents having that 'boys will be boys' mentality and girls shouldn't make messes. Can we unpack that or.......

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for the copy.

I absolutely LOVE an unhinged sleepover story. As someone who lived through many sleepovers and without giving away too much, this book captures the toxic nature that can sometimes occur between teen girls, but also adds a level of intrigue.

Perfect Girl wasn’t awful, but it also didn’t really do it for me. The setup had potential—a stormy night, creepy house, a killer on the loose—but it felt more like a checklist of thriller tropes than something fresh or gripping. I wanted more tension, more twists, more oomph, but instead it kind of coasted along and never fully pulled me in. Jessa's whole "perfect girl" persona had moments that could’ve led to deeper commentary, but it mostly just stayed surface-level. If you’re into fast, easy reads with a light slasher vibe, it might work for you—but I finished it more out of curiosity than excitement.

Had a lot of potential but ultimately falls short of being the gripping thriller it promises. The early parts of the book feel more like a YA romance than a suspenseful mystery, which can be frustrating for readers expecting more tension right out of the gate. The first third drags, and much of the middle section doesn’t pick up much steam until closer to the final chapters, when the plot finally gets interesting.

The main character’s decisions are often infuriating, with choices that seem completely avoidable, which can make it hard to stay invested. Add to that some irrelevant flashback chapters that feel disconnected from the main plot, and it’s easy to get frustrated with the pacing and lack of focus.

I enjoyed this read so much Jessa hws so much pressure like many teens trying to figure out her future. Yet Jessa has something most teens dont have and thats a crazy stalker. This book takes you for a ride and its so fun. I recommend reading it, this book is a fast read you will just want to finish.

Perfect Girl by Tracy Banghart is a captivating, thought-provoking read that explores themes of identity, societal expectations, and personal growth. Banghart’s writing is sharp and immersive, immediately drawing the reader into the life of the protagonist, a young woman struggling to meet the impossible standards placed on her. The pacing is fast and engaging, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you hooked from start to finish.

The protagonist’s journey of self-discovery is both relatable and emotional, and Banghart does a great job of exploring the complexities of navigating family, school, and personal aspirations. The book also delves into the pressures of perfectionism and the toll it takes on mental health, making it a relevant and timely read. The characters are well-rounded, and the relationships, particularly the protagonist's with her family, are compelling and nuanced.

While the plot is strong, there are moments when the story feels a bit predictable, and certain character arcs could have been more fleshed out. Nevertheless, the themes and emotional depth make it a memorable and impactful read.

Overall, Perfect Girl is an empowering, emotional, and gripping story that will resonate with readers who enjoy character-driven narratives about self-acceptance and overcoming societal pressures. It’s a solid read that will make you reflect long after the last page.

A book that perfectly captures what it's like to watch high school themed thriller tv shows. A bit predictable, but not at any fault of the author. This is a fun and fast paced read that I can see others using as a palette cleanser.

Definitely a YA thriller.
Typical scary teenage scenario: sleepover, boys, the lights go out.
The appeal to the YA reader is the ability to relate to all of the characters. The goodie two shoes, the pesty brother, one friend who is making bad choices, desire from afar......everyone knows someone like this.
The storyline produces a heroine, a new love interest, deadly neighbors and a ghost.
A popcorn read that has really scary moments...

This book gave me back a feeling I had when I would watch pretty little liars each week to watch a new episode! It kept me hooked and kept me on the edge of my seat

Many thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for providing me with an eARC of Perfect Girl in exchange for my honest review!

I got some nice old thrills out of this slasher horror ride that traps us within the growing tension of a sleepover. Sure, it can plod its way through repetitive and predictable stretches during the first half, but then it builds up more satisfyingly after that and ultimately thrives with an excellent climax. Throughout all the terror, it weaves in a critical lens on the misogynistic standards that our society forces women to meet in order to become objects of perfection that can appeal to men and obey their every whim.

Overall, I'm officially rating Perfect Girl 3.5 out of 5 stars, which I'm rounding up to 4 stars. I'm happy to have given this a shot as a slasher horror fan.

I loved this book. I adored our cast of characters and the relationships between them. Jessa was so well written and it felt very realistic the perfectionism she felt thrusted upon her from everyone around her, and a thriller is the perfect place to be the backdrop of that--nothing will challenge perfectionism quite like life or death. I also loved that it was a classic high school thriller including a sleepover, scary movies, a power outage, and truth or dare. Made me wish I read this in October. YA thrillers are sooo good nowadays, I love them more and more every time I get to read a new one.

Everything about Jess is perfect. She always follows the rules, never gets in the way, and her friends and family really let her know it. While having a party, a storm knocks the power out at her house, which brings more than the darkness. PERFECT GIRL is a fast-paced YA thriller that will keep you hooked.

The story is told from several POVs, including flashbacks, which gives the reader a deeper story to dive into to understand the characters. Jess felt like a fully formed character which many YA readers will relate to. Tracy Banghart has a great way of capturing the essence and anxiety that comes with being a teenage girl.

The constant tension in the book will keep readers invested in the story. It not only builds the setting, but the tension between characters and the tension within the characters.

2.5 ⭐

This book has so much potential and it completely fell flat for me. It was messy, but extremely predictable. Like, I almost immediately figured out the plot. I will say its only redeeming quality was how fast paced it was. If it hadn't been, I would have DNF it.

*Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.*

This book was okay, I loved the characters! It was just a little too slow for me. I felt like I was confused most of the time.

Jessa is know as the "perfect" girl but being perfect has its downfalls and Jessa is at her breaking point. Jessa's parents are going out of town and she begs to have a few friends over. She's anxious about being alone as a few girls have gone missing is nearby towns. Her parents break their own rules and allow her to invite her friends over. Kellan, Alexis and Tiny join Jessa for a sleep over but things quickly get out of control. A few uninvited guests show up, the power goes out and a game of Truth and Dare turns into a game of life or death.

The story is told in alternating points of views and flashbacks. It's predictable in an an enjoyable way. Be prepared to be engaged and entertained.