I tried to get swept into this narrative, but unfortunately it didn't stick out to me. I DNF'd at 20%.

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

I wanted to like this book, but it took me a long time to pick it up several times to finish it. The pace was slow, especially in the first half. And I felt the plot was nothing special.
I liked the narrator.

Always the 'good girl,' perpetual people pleaser Jessa becomes the object of obsession to the unhinged boy next door with life or death consequences. Does she have what it takes to do what she must in order to save herself and her friends when they get kidnapped one frightful night? Good on audio, this was a face-paced entertaining read. Solid 3 stars for me for this latest by a new to me author. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Perfect Girl is your standard YA thriller. It was a fun, keep your attention popcorn thriller. Love the sleepover setting with friendship tensions while fighting for survival. The pacing was good, there were some good scary moments and the twists while predictable was engaging. Angie Kane was a smooth narrator that kept you captivated throughout the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

A nice thriller / mystery, it was interesting and I wanted to know what was happening. The writing seemed a bit jumpy at times, I was confused for a bit when it switched to the other girls POV but I got it, and the narrators words sometimes cut off before it felt like she finished the word. The characters were fun though, and the storm gave it a nice vibe, it was also a unique plot but I was hoping there was more to it. It was entertaining, not too special but if you want to pick up a thriller it’s a nice easy read.

I'll be publishing my review on Goodreads and StoryGraph 19th December and on Tik tok most likely will add to a monthly wrap up post with review the beginning of January

I got this as an audio arc on Netgalley and it has since come out. Yeah this was a solid interesting mystery with a fitting narrator that properly captured the flow of the book. I've read Banghart before and didn't disappoint again. Some twists I didn't see coming.

First I would say the narrator did so good bringing the story to life with her narration.

2.75⭐️
Jessa is a perfect girl. When a freak storm takes out the power during a sleepover with her group of friends at her creepy, old house, things starts to go south.
I found it quite difficult to get into the story. It's one of those books I went in just because of the cover. . Generally, I'm not a fan of YAs, though there are just a few I've liked over the year.
The story was very slow paced. It was kinda interesting at some parts and keep your interest, and there were a few parts that felt like two different stories cram together which was confusing. But i still finished.
I think this will be a nice movie. It gives that kinda vibe.

Thank you, NetGalley and DreamscapeMedia, for this audiobook.

Perfect Girl is just the book to read to get you out of a slump. Just when you think you have all of the twists straightened out another snag comes out of nowhere.
Perfect for fans of AGGGTM, this book sets straight just what it means to be perfect in the most imperfect ways.

This review has been posted to Goodreads and Storygraph on November 25th, 2024. Links provided.

Jessa has always prided herself on being the “perfect” girl - polite, obedient, and eager to meet everyone’s expectations. Though her friends tease her for being so strait-laced, she’s content with her role. But during a sleepover at her old, creepy (potentially haunted) house, a storm knocks out the power and chaos erupts. As tensions rise and unexpected guests arrive, Jessa discovers that a killer who is obsessed with perfection is targeting her. To survive the night and protect her friends, she’ll have to break free from the persona she’s always embraced - but can she?

Overall, I enjoyed this audiobook and it was a quick and easy listen. The narrator did an excellent job delivering an engaging and suspenseful experience, though the story has its flaws. The central plot, with the storm, Jessa’s friends, and Jessa not knowing who the real enemy could be, is full of tension and eerie moments that kept me hooked. The pacing is quick, and the story builds well, especially as the night unfolds with the teenagers alone in the house without power. However, there were times when the plot felt a bit predictable, and some of the character development could have been deeper. Still, the tension between Jessa’s need to survive and her struggle to break free from her perfect image kept things interesting. As someone who grew up (and sometimes still is) a protectionist and people-pleaser, I could understand Jessa’s point of view, even if there were times that I wanted to yell at her for some of her decisions. In the end, this young adult novel is a fast-paced, mildly unsettling read, perfect for anyone who enjoys a suspense thriller centered around high school students without too much gore (think Pretty Little Liars).

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an audio ARC of Perfect Girl in return for my honest review.

This was a quick fun read! I could totally see this being a movie! This book felt like a pretty little liars season, it had it all, missing girls, creepy stalker, cute boys, complicated teenage girls, and no parental involvement!

The Perfect Girl by Tracy Banghart is a thrilling suspense novel that takes a dark turn on the classic slumber party scenario.
Jessa, a seemingly perfect girl who adheres to rules and expectations, is granted permission to have a sleepover at her creepy old family home. As a power outage plunges the house into darkness, a sinister figure emerges, targeting jessa and her friends, The night takes a terrifying turn as the killer's obsession with perfection becomes increasingly dangerous.

Perfect Girl by Tracy Banghart was a fun read. It wasn't amazing, but it was fine. The narration was good. The characters were just too frustrating.

Jessa defines perfection, while her brother Josh is the exact opposite. With a serial killer on the loose, their parents decide to let Jessa’s friends stay overnight while they go out for the evening. Josh and his best friend join them. However, when a storm causes a power outage, and someone appears to be lurking outside, Jessa's idea of perfection may not be enough to keep her alive.

This fast-paced popcorn thriller delivers some genuinely creepy vibes—you might want to avoid reading it at night! It’s the kind of book you can easily finish in one or two sittings. The atmosphere is immersive, with power outages and a looming storm creating a sense of claustrophobia. I don’t want to give too much away, but I loved the elements of a lurking stalker, “survive the night,” and the "final girl" trope. The story also includes a touch of the paranormal with ghosts (love Betty!) and a forbidden crush on the brother's best friend. And from one glass-wearing chick to another - Jessa, I understand your panic and frustration.

If you're a fan of audiobooks and need a popcorn thriller, this one's a must-add! Angie Kane is fantastic as Jessa, bringing depth to the character and heightening the tension. Her performance keeps you on the edge of your seat! Truly a voice actress!

What an amazing book with lovely talented narration! Perfect girl by Tracy banghart definitely caught my eye and kept it. With twists and turns that you never expect, this beautiful story will draw you in.

This book was quite captivating. It follows a group of teenagers who are left home alone for a sleepover while their parents are out of town. Initially, the gathering was supposed to be just the main character, Jessa, and her friends. However, her brother unexpectedly returns after his game is canceled, and his best friend—whose parents are having a conflict—joins the group as well. To add to the isolation, they live in a remote house, with the nearest store being over 20 minutes away.

As the night progresses, strange occurrences begin, and that’s when the suspense truly kicks in. At first, I found myself frustrated with Jessa, as I felt she wasn’t taking enough action. But then I reminded myself of how I might have reacted at that age. In hindsight, Jessa handled the situation well. In fact, if it weren’t for her quick thinking, neither she nor her friends would have made it out alive.

The writing was strong, and the inclusion of flashback chapters provided subtle foreshadowing. Although this technique helped me predict certain plot twists, it added an eerie atmosphere to the story, which I believe was the author’s intention. I also appreciated the romance woven into the narrative, as it captured the authenticity of teenage life.

The audiobook version was exceptionally well done, adding an extra layer to the experience. I particularly enjoyed the use of a full cast of narrators, each bringing the characters to life. The pacing was spot-on, and the voices matched the characters' ages, which is often overlooked in audiobook productions. The narrators’ performances truly enhanced the story, bringing out the emotions and tension in a way that made it even more immersive.

Overall, the story was suspenseful, well-crafted, and entertaining—definitely a thrilling read, especially when paired with such a skillful audiobook performance.

I had a hard time getting into this one, the main character's choices were just infuriating, like most of the situations they got themselves into could have been prevented if ANYONE had made good choices or used their brains. The characters weren't great, The plot was okay I liked some parts more than others and the ending was good I did rather enjoy it.

The audiobook was really great, I loved the narrator.

What a fun YA thriller! The narration was great too. I liked the character development with the fmc, I also like how we not only see the problems with the thriller part of the story, but we also get to see real life, personal problems with the characters as well. There are some crazy moments where I’m like girl, your friends are in danger and this is what you’re worried about?!? But then I think about my 8th grade students, and I believe this is exactly how they would be acting in these moments. If you’re looking for a creepy, fast paced thriller, this may be the book for you!

{ℙ𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕖𝕔𝕥 𝔾𝕚𝕣𝕝 by Tracy Banghart}
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Narrator(s): Angie Kane
Length: 7h 33m, 304p
Source: ALC/ARC - NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, Macmillan, TBR & Beyond
Release Date: November 19, 2024
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Jessa is the “perfect girl” and she’s okay with it…
…until a sleepover turns into a nightmare and the Perfect Girl becomes the target of a deadly stalker.

Think 90s slasher/thriller vibes, y’all.
The FMC, Jessa, was naive and a bit too much of a people pleaser.
It took about 77% of the story for her to catch on and start doing something.
The twists and turns were a bit predictable but nevertheless fun and thrilling.

The sweet little side romance was done well and added depth to the story.
Tiny’s side story also added quite a bit of drama as well.
I liked most of the characters and they each had just enough to bring them to life.

A quick, fun, reminiscent flashback to my youth and the pop culture phenomenon that gripped us all with urban legends and survival horror films.

🎧 NARRATION:
Angie Kane was fantastic!
I thought her voice paired well with our characters and she brought Jessa to life.
Well done production and all around 5 stars on the narration side.

{I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook & book. All reviews are my own.}

2.3, on a good day
If you've ever wanted to be privy to the inner monolog of someone living out her "I'm a deeply idiotic final girl" fantasy, I have the book for you. Between the constant reasons to separate from the rest of the group and the clockwork predictable asides about how she knows she should be concerned about everyone being murdered, but her crush might like her back!, I found this MC utterly exhausting.

The narration was fantastic! The voice brought the characters to life, making their struggles and triumphs feel incredibly real. I found myself completely immersed in the story, eagerly anticipating each twist and turn.

What I loved most about this book was how it cleverly subverts the typical horror tropes. The atmosphere is thick with suspense, and the pacing is relentless, making it feel like a cinematic experience. Banghart does an excellent job of exploring themes of perfectionism and the pressures young women face, all while delivering a gripping narrative.

The character development is also noteworthy. Jessa’s journey is not just about survival; it’s about breaking free from the constraints of her "perfect" persona. As she confronts her fears and the expectations placed upon her, I found myself rooting for her transformation.