The Perfect Girl looks at the trope of the "perfect" character and how the way in which they interact with the world affects themself as well as the people around them. I think the book did a fantastic job of setting up Jessa as the idea of the perfect girl, as in she knows everyone sees her this way and she does her best to keep herself this way much to her won detriment. ie she won't go after the boy she likes, try new and risky things with her friends, change her dreams and career paths. It goes even as down to the detail as she won't run around in the woods with her brother because she did once and her mother was upset at her ruining her clothes. They do a great job of showing through out the book how this has not only stifled Jessa but also her relationships, the people close to her, and their relationships too.

This book had me on the edge of my seat. I knew it was thriller/horror and I kid you not it had me changing my mind on who I thought would be the killer every step of the way. The twists and turns and eerie feelings this gives you will have you eating it up. There's a certain twist that genuinely I didn't see coming at all. I don't want to speak too much on it as it could potentially spoil things but I was not expecting the lifestyle to play such a massive part in the psychosis of the way this thriller is revealed and I loved every bit of that. Over all this was the perfect spooky season read. It filled my horror flick book vibe perfectly and I would certainly recommend it to anyone looking for a good book in the genre.

This book started out strong and it seemed promising for a YA thriller. I really had high hopes! Finished it within a couple of days because it was quite the page turner for me. However, I’m sad to say it started to become disappointing nearing the end of the book. Im sorry but if I was kidnapped and about to be murdered, I don’t know that I would be kissing my crush? And I don’t know that I’d be hooking up with my best friend’s brother while she was missing during a storm (prank or not)?!?! But maybe that’s just me. I think the last 20%ish of the book could’ve been tidied up a bit but overall I’d say it was a decent and quick read!

⭐️ Thank you NetGalley, Tracy Banghart, Feiwel & Friends for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I could not get into this book & dnf’d 55% through. The story sounds really great but I could not connect with it. As always- this is my personal experience. I always recommend people read for themselves and see how they feel about each book!

This book was so engaging and fast paced! It exceeded my expectations. I think ya horror is so underrated and this book is delivered. Jessa is a badass and I’m so proud of her growth throughout the book, though the circumstances suck for her and her friends. But overall this is well done, the before chapters were super intriguing and I enjoyed the dynamic between Jessa and her friends, even when they weren’t getting along. Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

This was a quick, fun thrilling read full of high school nostalgia, quirky characters, and a seriously creepy baddie. Though I struggled a bit with some of the choices made by many of the characters, I was intrigued enough by the story that I wanted to see how it was going to end.

The slightly cliched but classic sleepover-gone-wrong trope was still enjoyable and though I didn’t necessarily like Tessa as a protagonist (I found myself eye-rolling many a time), I was rooting for her and her friends the entire time.

If you want a page-turner about the worst sleepover ever that will make you laugh, cringe, and get the creeps, this is the book for you! Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Very mid. Some of the dialogue felt juvenile even for a YA novel. Maybe it will be better after some editing. Could see this being a movie

This a quick and easy read. I love survive the night thrillers and this story had the perfect backdrop of a creepy, haunted house in the middle of nowhere all while a thunder storm is raging outside.

There isn’t a large cast of characters/suspects, so it was easy to figure out who the “bad guy” is, but I didn’t mind it. I still enjoyed settling in for the ride. I especially enjoyed the main characters internal arc as she went from feeling the pressure of having everything figured out and being “perfect” to allowing things to get a little messy and owning up to the fact “perfect” is an illusion.

One thing that did bother me. There’s a bisexual side character who was characterized as not “being honest” since she wasn’t out to her parents and was hesitant to tell them. Look, you’re not a liar/dishonest for not coming out. People aren’t owed your sexuality especially given how horribly unsafe some people can be. Parents disown their kids/kick them out. Some people are violent in their response. And the list goes on and on. So if and when a person comes out is completely their choice and they should never be considered as dishonest for not coming out.

High tempo and captivating thriller!
I had so many jump scares (I’ve never experienced that before) and had goosebumps. This thriller is easily on the top of my thriller reads!
Thank you netgalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Super cute. I know that sounds wrong to say about a thriller, but here I am. I loved the girl empowerment and the true teenage drama. A perfect YA version of the classic troupes. The two girls' POV to explain the plot was thoughtful and intriguing. The conclusion was fire!

This book was so good. While I did not like Jessa at the beginning of the book I loved how she had to adapt her personality throughout the book. There were time when side characters were annoying but overall the book had me hooked.

If you love jump-scare and keep them guessing books or Movies, then this is for you. I know I’m not the age group this is aimed at, but I Loved It. I was hooked after the first page. I finished it in one sitting. LOVE IT!!!

Jessa (our Perfect Girl) just wants a night with her friends. Their lives are changing, and the groups have been having some issues. Her Parents don't want her out running around because of some missing girls in a neighboring town, so they will let her have a sleepover while they are away. Things start out fine, but then the friends start arguing, the power goes out, and there's someone outside. It is the perfect mix for a horror movie or spine-tingling book.

If all of that didn’t hook you, did I mention the missing girls are all Perfect Girls?


Thank You to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about a group of friends having a sleepover during a thunderstorm. The power goes out and people start to go missing. This book had all the twist and completely shocked me. I feel like I was reading something new. I really enjoyed this book. Do not read home alone at night like I did, it’s that spooky! I did not enjoy the pop culture and pandemic references, which brought my rating down.

Happy Sunday Netgalley! We are so close to release day. Its around the corner and I am so excited for this author. Because this thriller was pretty good. I wasn't on the edge 0f my seat but it was good.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for an early release copy of Perfect Girl by Tracy Banghart.

Perfect Girl was a disappointing for me, I went into this kind of expecting sleepover slasher vibes but the direction the book went just didn’t give me the thriller/horror vibes that I was looking for. I didn’t mind these characters, while I wasn’t fond of them these teen characters were written in a enjoyable way that didn’t make them feel cringy (I’ve noticed a lot of young adult books have been using cringy teen/hip dialogue lately). I like the way they were written, I didn’t mind the friendships, and the writing itself was enjoyable.

The relationship felt rushed, I didn’t feel for Jessa or Ryan. I don’t understand why the two even likes each other to begin with, I think I would have liked the idea of their blooming relationship more if we would have gotten some flash backs to show the connection forming between them. There were also some scenes mentioning that the house they are living in is haunted, I would have loved to see more of the haunted house elements.

OMG! I didn't expect to fly through this book but I did.

It's very fast-paced and it kept me on my toes pretty much the entire book. I love the plot twists and we have some romance sprinkled in which gave the book a proper balance of romance and mystery/thriller.

There's def added elements in the story that kept me on my seat and I was glued to the book. I love my reading experience and there's some loose ends but I didn't mind it because I throughly enjoyed the book.

Perfect for spooky season but honestly, you can read this anytime!

This was a great little thriller! I was captivated from page one (could partly be due to watching Woman of the Hour right before starting this lol). The pace was perfect, the intense moments and moments of calm were perfectly distributed, and I honestly just enjoyed every bit of it. Was some of it predictable? Sure, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a book that isn’t a little bit these days.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book - I liked the friendship relationships and the siblings relationship. The pacing was great for YA, and the MC was relatable and accessible. I didn't think the minority characters' ethnicities were introduced soon enough, and the other characters' backstories were a bit light compared to Tiny's. The reveal was kind of predictable, but I think that works for the target audience. A scary, engrossing read right in time for spooky season.

This was so good! I really loved the real life problems that were intertwined with the ones from the plot. The characters were great (minus the few that were made to be bad of course!). THE ROMANCE OMG. IT WAS SO CUTE!! It was very much a subplot but I enjoyed every bit I read. I would definitely recommend this!


Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children’s for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children’s for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Perfect Girl” by Tracy Banghart is a YA thriller that blends the tension of a slasher movie with the psychological weight of familial pressure and the expectations of perfection. Set against the eerie backdrop of a creepy old house during a stormy night, this fast-paced novel keeps you on edge as Jessa, the "perfect girl," faces danger, secrets, and her own unraveling persona. This is a book I would recommend to younger YA readers as the plot is relatively simple, and some readers may be able to relate to Jessa, especially with all the expectations placed on her for being “perfect.” There is some cursing and depiction of an abusive relationship, however, for those (especially younger readers) considering reading this book.

Jessa has always lived up to her reputation as the perfect daughter—straight A's, a model student, and always playing by the rules. But when a storm knocks out the power during a sleepover with her friends, her seemingly flawless world begins to crumble. As tension rises among the group, unexpected visitors arrive, and a killer lurks nearby, targeting girls just like Jessa. She’s forced to confront her deepest fears and question her perfect image. To survive the night, Jessa must abandon the "good girl" act and tap into her inner strength.

Banghart expertly builds an atmosphere of claustrophobic dread with the isolated setting of the old house, which plays as much a role as the characters themselves. The storm and power outage intensify the sense of vulnerability, amplifying every creepy noise and dark corner. As the tension mounts, readers are kept guessing whether the danger is coming from the supernatural, a killer, or the very people inside the house. The parts where the story was taking place in the house were the best, creepiest parts of the book as they really helped set the mood. When the setting changed, the story became a little less atmospheric and a bit more unrealistic.

Jessa’s character is relatable to anyone who has ever struggled with the pressure to be perfect, whether imposed by parents, peers, or themselves. At times, she feels too idealized and almost artificial where she seems to have absolutely no flaws whatsoever, but as the story progresses, Jessa's growth becomes one of the book’s most satisfying elements. She transforms from a naive, rule-following girl into someone capable of fighting back—both literally and metaphorically. Her journey toward self-acceptance and allowing "mess" into her life resonates with readers who have faced similar struggles. Though, again, she is a bit unrealistic where her biggest secret is that she doesn’t want to be a lawyer. Her transformation, while enjoyable, was a bit cliché.

The thriller aspect of Perfect Girl is packed with twists and turns. There are plenty of edge-of-your-seat moments, with the action building to a suspenseful climax. I did feel like a lot of the the mystery aspects were pretty predictable, but the breakneck pace and constant tension made it hard to put the book down. The ending is satisfying, though the resolution feels a little rushed. There's a brief mention of therapy for Jessa, but not much exploration of how the characters process the traumatic events afterward, which could have added more depth to their arcs.
Overall, with its high stakes, eerie setting, and a heroine who learns to embrace imperfection, “Perfect Girl” offers a thrilling and emotionally satisfying ride.

Perfect Girl
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You know when you were younger (or let’s be honest still now as an adult lol) and you would be going back upstairs from your basement and you would sprint because you were convinced someone was down there? That’s what this whole book felt like. Every coat rack was a person, every clap of thunder was deafening, every creak was a footstep. This is a book for my jump scare babes. I was a little nervous it was going to be too YA for me because we’re following along a group of high school friends for the night, but I had a lot of fun with it, I binged 80% in one sitting lol Since we’re reading about high schoolers there were moments, specifically some of the arguments, that felt a little immature for me, but it didn’t mess with the whole book. I had a little hard with Jessa in the beginning, she’s the “perfect” daughter who does no wrong, has everything figured out, yada yada, the daughter no one has to worry about. She’s a ball of emotion - overthinking, making plans, rule follower, smiles on the outside kind of person even if she’s dying on the inside, she took a minute to grow on me. We only get her POV so maybe if there were others I wouldn’t have gotten annoyed by her lol Quick chapters, creepy setting, suspense, another good read! I would have given it a higher rating if it had some gore in it, that’s where the YA fell a little flat for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Thank you NetGalley, Tracy Banghart, and Feiwel & Friends for this e-arc! Perfect Girl comes out November 19th!