This is a truly dark version of Mean Girls, if Cady got her revenge instead of breaking apart her crown.

The POV chapters make the twist more twisty, not that it wasn't super predictable or unexpected, it just made it more enjoyable to read. The story wasn't overly complicated and made for a quick read.

fantastic thriller, thanks for the ARC. I'd say the weakest point is the twist, which isn't usually good for a thriller book to have as the weak point, but this one works well even with that. thanks for the arc.

I am recommending this book for purchase because I see so many positive reviews for it, whereas I thought it was a remake of a remake on the "mean girl" gets her due.

The writing was good and pacing was good, but it felt, to me, as though this book has been written in so many prior books. The subject matter did not feel original and the "take" on the subject matter did not feel original.

However, plenty of other reviewers seemed to like it - and I am going to go with them on this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC! When the high school “queen bee” is murdered at her own party, everyone around her - even her closest friends - are suspects. This was described as YA, but it definitely had some dark truths sprinkled throughout. Check out the trigger warnings before. I enjoyed it.

Shout out to NetGalley, Author: Cindy He, and Publisher: SOURCEBOOKS Fire for an eARC of Perfect Little Monsters in exchange for my honest review!

This was a fast-paced, dark and twisty thriller that centers on our MC's experience with being bullied in school. We all know those "mean girls" that make other girls lives' miserable in middle/high school.

The author did a good job at disclosing touchy subject matter, and that topic of suicide is discussed throughout.

Definitely recommend and can't wait to read more from this author!!

Never have I read a book about bullying that resonated so much. This book is a lot, I would consider reading the trigger warnings. Our story begins following Dawn Foster and her life after join the coveted cheer squad led by queen bee Ella. Ella winds up dead sending Dawn on a path of destruction. You will never guess who the killer is. I’m still shocked at the ending and the bad part is I was rooting for the villain the whole time. I would love a sequel to follow our killer.

This book kept me guessing until the very last minute. Yes, it’s a totally enjoyable YA mystery/thriller, but it also takes a hard look at some of the difficult aspects of the high school experience. The fact that none of these characters were the squeaky clean teenager, made this book into what it was, and ultimately more believable.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for providing me with an arc of this book!

*Light spoilers*
Perfect Little Monsters is a standalone YA novel about a group of cheerleaders in high school who discover that one of their friends was murdered and they are all suspects.

When I first started reading this book, it felt so overdone and stereotypically high school that I nearly dnf-ed it, but luckily I stayed until the end. While I was able to see the twist at the end coming, I did think it was really well done. One of my favorite elements was the unreliable narration---it added a lot of tension to the story when you find out in the end who Dawn really is. It was a super accessible read, and I breezed through it. After I finished it initially, I wanted to rate it something closer to 2/5 stars, but after sitting with it a few days, I realized that I was unable to stop thinking about it, so for that reason I give it 4/5 stars. It was a super enjoyable and quick murder mystery!

This book was exactly what I needed from a YA mystery. Sometimes YA mystery comes off a little too cookie cutter and this book really had me guessing until the end. I loved the alternate chapters and getting the fresh viewpoint back and forth. So much of this left me on the edge of my seat!

I really enjoyed how good this mystery was, it had everything that I was hoping for from the description. It reminded me of everything that I enjoyed reading from a young adult novel. I was invested in what was happening with the characters. Cindy R. X. He writes a great storyline and making unique characters.

When I sat down to read Perfect Little Monsters by Cindy R.X. He, I had no idea it would put me in a chokehold like that. One day after starting it, I finished it. It was that good, that compelling, that I just *had* to know what was going to happen next. What an excellent book that I will be talking about for a long time!!
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From a craft perspective, this book is a freaking delight. It’s fast paced without sacrificing the thoroughness required of any thriller, there are fantastic breadcrumbs sprinkled throughout that peak your intrigue, and the dual POV work in this one is just great.
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The plot itself is also fantastic: the queen bee at the high school is found dead, but who did it? Lots of people at Sierton High wanted the meanest girl around gone, and our main character, Dawn, is determined to find out who’s behind the murder. It’s very hard to go deep into a thriller plot without spoiling it so I will say that this book is full of the best kind of twists and turns. Whew the way I was turning pages!! It is impossible to put down. What a stellar debut novel from Cindy - this YA thriller is a must have when it releases on May 7.

I’m becoming more addicted to YA thrillers and I’m not ashamed! This book shook me! I think because it’s more realistic and could happen that made it more scary honestly. This was so well written and enthralling. Looking forward to more by this author!!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital arc!

This was YA teen thriller done right in every way. There were some really heavy topics (I’ll make a brief list below for TW), but it was DAMN good.

TW: self harm, suicide, eating disorders, bullying

Someone has murdered the queen bee of Sierton High School. All the dead girl’s friends are suspects. And each one has a reason for wanting her dead.

This was great! I'm a sucker for a Y.A. mystery and this hit all the right spots for me. Great job!

Mean girls with social media the unfortunate way the world has become. In order to be a popular person you must follow the rules the queen bee gives or you will not last and become an outcast at the school. Bullying has always been a large factor in high schools and social media has ultimately driven it into a whole new level. It can drive people to suicide and even murder.
I give this book a solid 4.5 stars. A YA book that will keep everyone no matter what your age glued to the pages to what to see what happens and who done it. With a surprising twist at the end that blows your mind.

Thank you NetGalley for providing this digital ARC

This is a truly dark version of Mean Girls, if Katy got her revenge instead of breaking apart her crown.

The POV chapters make the twist more twisty, not that it wasn't super predictable or unexpected, it just made it more enjoyable to read. The story wasn't overly complicated and made for a quick read.

It was a perfect mix of angsty drama and suspense mystery, and I loved it.
I love the writing style so much and how the plot flowed flawlessly, I literally read it in one go. Isaac is a dear, truly. Love our lead Dawn, she was amazing. And basically adore all the drama. That twist thoooo!!!
It was a lovely read!

Quite a throat punch of a novel, which alternates chapters between Hannah and Dawn, both students at Sierton High School in Wisconsin. Dawn Foster is a new student, moved from California after her parents were involved in a major accident, they now live with Dawn’s aunt. Dawn makes the cheerleading squad which bring her into the realm of mean girls Ella Moore, Naomi Chen and Luciana Aguilar as well as Ella’s boyfriend Scott. Dawn also flirts with misfit Isaac. After a drunken party at Ella’s Ella is found dead.

Cut to, three years earlier, a group of girls are trying out for cheerleader, including Hannah Smith, Ella, Naomi and Luciana. They all make it, but, did I mention mean girls? But then what you think is going on really isn’t.

I like stories that can surprise you, so good for this author. I’m assuming this is YA, and it was good stuff. Definitely recommended.

Perfect Little Monsters weaves a compelling tale, blending manipulative mean girls, fervent cheerleaders, and unforeseen twists for an edge-of-your-seat experience.

These elements converge to create an engaging, captivating, and enthralling story.

Even with the startling intensity of the mean girls' actions, the narrative remains captivating, structured with clever design to maintain intrigue from start to finish.

The suspense, tension, and mystery steadily escalate, culminating in a final reveal that keeps readers thoroughly engrossed and invested in the unfolding story.

Fast-paced, compulsively readable, twisty, with a thoughtful (if dark) take on the very real issue of bullying in high schools --I can pretty safely say this is everything I could hope for in a YA thriller. And boy, can I tell you, too, I would have LOVED to have read this as a teen.