The premise for this sounded so good and I was hoping to be enthralled immediately. It is the story of Kirsty who, many years after high school, bumps into her old boyfriend Hughie, who does not recognise her and insists she is mistaken. During high school, Hughie was an extended part of Kirsty’s family, so his disappearance from their lives, with no explanation or warning, was devastating for Kirsty and her parents. His reappearance after many years opens many questions that have remained unanswered for Kirsty. This could be a suspense novel, but definitely not a thriller.

I received an AC from Bookouture through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kirsty, midwife, pregnant with her first child, finishing a long hard shift in the hospital encounters a ghost from her past, her sixth form boyfriend - 'the perfect boyfriend' of the book's title. Yet at an early point we learn he was far from perfect, dumping her without excuse and running off into the distance. And is this really her ex-boyfriend?

This was a long audio book. Whilst I definitely enjoyed it, there were some elements of repetition for me that irked me a little. So much time spent to-ing and fro-ing about whether or not Kirsty had really seen her ex, Hughie. So much time exploring whether her mind is unravelling or whether there really are clues that all should be seeing and not just Kirsty. Some of this didn't work for me. The book's layout - split into transcripts by KS and transcripts by HS - was also a little odd. At what point was KS supposed to be recording these transcripts? She was talking as if it was in the moment but then why would there be interspersed transcripts from HS also? Why would he be recording transcripts at all? It did all tie together in the end - and I am glad for that - but I also found far too many of the characters a little annoying or unlikeable. Overall, for me it's just a 3.5 rounded down to a 3

Unexpectedly encountering someone who brutally abandoned you when you were a vulnerable teenager many years ago is bad enough, but when he appears not to recognise you and claims that he is not who you think he is, it is far worse.

This is the premise of Lynes' new novel which delivers bountiful dividends on its promise of suspense and intrigue.

With a plot that gets progressively more complicated and increasingly compelling, the loose ends are, eventually, neatly tied up and this is undoubtedly this writer's best work so far. An easy 3. 5 stars, the only element I did not like was the final relationship twist at the end which felt a little unnecessary but was not problematic as such. Well worth a read for thriller aficionados!

I received an Audio ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio!

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narrator(s): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes, etc: Mistaken Identity, Going Crazy or Being Gaslit, Missing Person
POV: Dual, 1st Person. Transcripts.
Cliffhanger?: No

Brief Summary: Years after he left her high and dry, Kirsty sees her ex-boyfriend Hughie walking through the hospital where she works. When she approaches him, he tells her he’s never met her and she sees a different name on his badge, but she’s sure it’s him. When her neighbor disappears, Kirsty suspects Hughie had something to do with it.

The Praise: This was a fun read. It was very twisty and kept me guessing. And the most shocking twist for me wasn’t even the main one!

The Critique: A thing I dislike about this genre in general is how quickly spouses are willing to write off the main character’s concerns, implying that they’re not all there mentally. In Kirsty’s case, it was implied that her pregnancy hormones were driving her to see things and become paranoid. I know this is often essential to the story’s progression but it just bugs me because why don’t any of these people trust their partners?!

Final Thoughts: This was interesting and had some surprising twists! It will definitely keep you guessing and make you want to reread to see which clues you missed.

This is the first book by S E Lynes and Im so glad I did! I really liked the synopsis and the premise of the whole story and S E Lynes delivered, The storyline was told on 2 POV's. This duel POV in first person which worked very well in building the characters and the plot line. This book starts out slowly and soon gathers pace throughout the book. Each character is well defined, different in their strengths and easy to follow. I love the foreshadowing and even if you do work out the finale, the twists are good and believable.

I will be picking up more books by S E Lynes in the future. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this eArc.
This book ws also narrated by Narrated by Tamsin Kennard who, as always, brings books into another dimension with her voice.

4.5 stars , 4 stars for other review sites .

The blurb had me interested but I found this one a little dull and repetitive. It’s told from the point of view of Kristy and ‘Him’. It felt like it just went through the motions. It lacked twists and turns and the outcome was underwhelming. The storyline was extremely drawn out and felt a little far fetched. I didn’t really care for any of the characters. This one just didn’t work for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to read and review #ThePerfectBoyfriend

This was such a quick read I managed to read it in 2 days. But sadly I didn’t really care this books. Some parts of book were kinda predictable and others were drawn out and too long for the book.
The characters were done in an okay way but not to stand out and sadly this plot has been done a lot in books so wasn’t very creative. I will try this author again.
Thank you to net gallery and the publisher and author for this arc copy xx

Ok weekend quick read. Didn’t really care for it overall. Some parts were kinda predictable and others were drawn out.
The characters themselves were ok and kinda interesting but the plot has been done a lot. And there wasn’t much difference in storyline expect for the occupations etc.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy.

Wow. I could not, would not put this book down … There are so many twists and turns to this story… A must-read for those who love thrillers with so many turns, you have no idea where you are.

The Perfect Boyfriend by S.E. Lynes is a gripping psychological thriller that takes the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions, building suspense and tension throughout. As my first book from the author, I was hooked from the very beginning, and I'm so thankful to NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read the ARC.

The real brilliance of The Perfect Boyfriend, however, comes with its twists. The revelations hit you hard, almost like a tidal wave, altering your perception of everything that came before. It's the kind of story that leaves you reflecting long after you've finished reading, questioning the nature of love, trust, and deception.

In conclusion, The Perfect Boyfriend is a well-crafted psychological thriller with a fast-paced, suspenseful narrative and an unforgettable twist. While the female lead may not always be easy to empathize with, the overall story is captivating, and the ending is absolutely worth the ride. This book is a great introduction to S.E. Lynes' work, and I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

I enjoyed this audiobook - the narrator was perfect, I've heard her on a few audiobooks now.
The story kept me interested, I wasn't sure how it was going to end and I certainly didn't guess the twist at the end!!
It was very good, had moments of suspense and I wanted to know what was going to happen next.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This gripping psychological thriller explores themes of betrayal, secrets, and the dark complexities of relationships. The story follows a woman Kristy who unexpectedly encounters her high school boyfriend Hughie —the one who disappeared mysteriously years ago. Shockingly, he doesn’t seem to recognise her, setting off a tense and twist-filled journey as she seeks to uncover the truth about his disappearance and his strange behaviour.

Overall it was a bit gripping and in some places it felt dragged, overall a 3-star read!

Thanks to NG, Bookouture Audio and SE Lynes for approving the audiobook ARC in exchange for honest review

This book was so much better than I was expecting!! I thought I had everything figured out about halfway through, and then BAM! I was shocked.

I am really glad I requested this book and was able to preview this book ahead of time! So good!

"The Perfect Boyfriend" is a thriller that follows Kirsty (KK) who is pregnant due to give and works at the hospital and thinks that she spots her high school boyfriend "Hughie". She is convinced that it is him and she approaches him by his name and he acts as if they don't know each other. She finds out that he is an anesthesiologist that works at her place of employment. She decides to look into him more and finds out that the guy she saw has a different name.

Kirsty also helps her neighbor Joan and she ends up missing. Joan has been acting weird before she goes missing and then she is still replying to texts that Kirsty sends but she hasn't seen her. Kirsty becomes worried that something happens to her and she tries to figure out what is going on. This story follows Kirsty and her believing that she saw "Hughie" and wondering what happened to Joan. This book was fast-paced and it felt like there was always something going on. The twists and turns were wild and a few things definitely caught me off guard. Overall, I enjoyed this book and felt that it kept my attention.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC and allowing me to listen to this audiobook for an honest review.

"The Perfect Boyfriend" by S.E. Lynes is a compelling psychological thriller that delves into themes of deception, obsession, and the resurfacing of past relationships. The narrative follows Kirsty, a midwife who, while pregnant, encounters a man she believes to be her high school boyfriend, Hughie—the same boyfriend who vanished from her life years earlier without explanation. Despite his insistence that she is mistaken, Kirsty becomes increasingly convinced of his identity, leading her down a path filled with suspense and unexpected revelations.
The audiobook, narrated by Tamsin Kennard, has been particularly well-received. Listeners commend Kennard's ability to bring the characters to life, noting that her performance enhances the immersive experience of the story. Her portrayal of Kirsty captures the character's determination and emotional turmoil, adding depth to the listening experience.
Critics and readers alike praise Lynes' writing for its engaging and steady pacing, with some noting that while the story may not have the traditional edge-of-your-seat thriller elements, it maintains a level of intrigue that keeps audiences engaged throughout. The dual perspectives offered in the narrative provide a comprehensive understanding of the characters' motivations, adding layers to the unfolding mystery.
Overall, "The Perfect Boyfriend" is a well-crafted psychological thriller that explores the complexities of past relationships and the lengths one might go to uncover the truth. The combination of Lynes' storytelling and Kennard's narration makes the audiobook a recommended listen for fans of the genre seeking a suspenseful and thought-provoking experience.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and S.E. Lynes

A well crafted twisted psychological thriller. This story drew me in from start to finish. Not a great story to listen to while walking the dog alone late at night! Life is moving along and all of a sudden a face from the past appears and claims not to know you. You know you’re right and yet not a single person believes you. Not your husband, your BFF nor the police. They say you can’t be right, your pregnancy hormones are making you a little crazy and letting your imagination get the best of you. Undeterred, Kirsty knows the truth and even though nearing the end of her pregnancy, continues to dig her heels in and investigate. It’s a dark road to the conclusion. Stay for all of it. The narration added to the experience of the story.

I love a book that has you questioning the main characters' sanity through the very end. This psychological thriller had me sucked in from the very first word. The UK narration immediately drew me in, and the dual points of view between the two main characters only intensified the tension that slowly built throughout the story.

This is the first time I've read a story that begins in the second-person point of view and then switches to another. It is a very interesting approach, putting you physically in the story, pulling you in, and making you imagine the acts happening to you.

If you're a fan of gripping, fast-paced suspense, this is the perfect read for you!

Firstly I would like to say thank you for the opportunity to listen to this book.
Unfortunately I did not fully enjoy this book. I felt like there was something missing through the book. Sadly it feel a bit too far fetched

The Perfect Boyfriend by S.E. Lynes and narrated by Tamsin Kennard was another superb book especially as I am a big fan of this author. Every book I have read or listened to have been excellent from start to finish and this one was No different. It was full of twists and turns throughout with brilliant characters and a great story line.

The narratorTamsin Kennard was excellent and I enjoyed listening to The Perfect Boyfriend especially as she used used different accents for every character, she made this audiobook come alive! Superb! she out did herself.

I highly recommend the audiobook, it was brilliant.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture audio/Bookouture for my ARC.

Good story, it sucked me in and I basically listened to the whole book within 24 hours. I really liked the female main character.