Juliette is the perfect girlfriend and she’ll stop at nothing to get what she wants. Psychotic and twisted, she has a clever plan to win Nate back. After a few months ‘giving Nate the space he needs’ she reinserts herself back into his life. He’s an airline pilot and she becomes a flight attendant with the same airline. The first half portrayed the training of a flight attendant where we see snippets of Juliette’s obsessive behavior. Her love for Nate is not reciprocated and her intrusion into his life and other family events were fanciful and somewhat hectic.

But with a background of traumatic events ranging back to her school years, she is delusional and disturbed. Just enough to give us a taste of crazy.

After reading the blurb, I was expecting a wilder ride. Instead, I was surprised to find this book to be a much slower burn; a tamer version of psychotic than ‘You’ by Caroline Kepnes. But it still makes for a compelling read. There were a few detracting features. One: the draft copy was hard to read due to unedited sections and formatting. Two: the ending was a little unsatisfying in the same way Gone Girl left a few lose ends. But overall, it was a well written, engaging book.

Very many thanks to Netgally, Karen Hamilton and Harlequin for the Arc.

Thank you Graydon House Books for a review copy of The Perfect Girlfriend available now in Canada and March 26/19 in the US.

Juliette loves Nate. The fact that Nate broke up with her 6 months ago is nothing to Juliette. She has a Plan of Action to get her “true love” to take her back so she can be his wife.

I was hoping for a faster paced novel when I chose this book to read and that may have influenced my review of it.
The Perfect Girlfriend is a story of extreme obsession but Juliette also becomes a flight attendant to be closer to Nate, a pilot, so a good portion of this book is her working on flights and travelling and getting over jet lag. It made this book move slower than I would have liked. Juliette did do some crazy things to put her Plan of Action into effect though so there were some unbelievable spots that were my favourite to read.

If you like slow burning domestic drama, obsession stories or even travel tales with a good look at the life of a flight attendant, you might enjoy The Perfect Girlfriend.

Drew me in from the very beginning! I was hard pressed to put it down to go to sleep at night or to go back to work after a lunch break read. Twists and turns throughout, and did not see the end coming...Thanks for the early access to this book - I will recommend and purchase for the library!

An absolute must read!!! Karen Hamilton has written an insanely addictive thriller that I found completely unputdownable! The Perfect Girlfriend will have your eyes bulging and jaw hanging open with all of the twists and turns. From the book description you get the vibe that Juliette/Elizabeth is a tad crazy (which is the understatement of the century), but what shocked me even more was the fact that I found myself actually rooting for her!!! The crazier she got, and trust me she reached epic levels, I found my heart went out to her. I am so impressed by Karen Hamilton’s brilliant writing and I can’t wait to read more from here in the future! The Perfect Girlfriend is a solid 5 star novel that is a 2019 favorite and must read!

The Perfect Girlfriend is such a compelling novel! The reader is so invested in Lily's plan that once the book is done they still feel like they are a part of the plot! I actually felt weird talking to my husband after, as if I was still a part of the story. I thought that I would despise Lily for being obsessive but she is like a trainwreck you can't look away from. I wasn't particularly cheering for her but her reasoning made sense in the end! A great read!

Take a little but of Gone Girl and throw in some Fatal Attraction and you have some idea of the novel The Perfect Girlfriend. This psychological thriller is told from the point of view of a woman determined to get her boyfriend back and is willing to do anything to make that happen. In addition the setting in the world of airline travel adds to the fun. It is a great read for fans of the genre.

Lily was the perfect girlfriend until Nate dumped her, but this can’t be, because Lily knows it’s fate, they’re meant to be together forever. And she will let nothing stand in her way.
An unpredictable , page turner that kept me at the edge of my seat. There were so many twists and plot turns, all of which worked brilliantly. On and on they came until the end, and that is where I became very disappointed, because it ends with a non-finish. I think I know why the author left it that way, but it would have been so much more satisfying to have a definitive ending, and there would have been many to choose from. So while the plot is brilliant, I can only give it 4 stars, because I felt so let down by the ending.

Juliette is The Perfect Girlfriend! She and Nate were together but he broke it off because he needed some space. So that is what Juliette gave him, at least from his perspective. She never really left though. She began a career as an airline stewardess, since he is a pilot. She still knows his schedule, thanks to the app she put on his phone. In fact, Nate is never really without Juliette, he just doesn’t know it.

This is the beginning of a twisted, psychological thriller by Karen Hamilton. Juliette knows that she and Nate are destined to be together, she just needs Nate to get with the program. She has it all worked out. She also plans to get revenge on Bella, the girl who she wanted to be like at boarding school. Bella should have welcomed her with open arms and made Juliette a part of the group. Now Bella is going to pay for her disloyalty.

The novel started out a little slow but quickly picked up before it was mid-way through. I had a problem with her use of the word ‘whilst’. I realize the story is set in Europe and that is how they speak but the word just stuck out as being over used, especially in a few chapters. I also hated the ending!! I like things wrapped up in a neat little package and this one is more open ended. I don’t want to say more so I don’t give anything away.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It caught my attention and the premise of the story was great. The different story lines in the book come together nicely and made the revenge motive more understandable. I would say this is 3 ½ stars out of 5.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel.

One of the best psychological thrillers ever printed! An amazing convoluted plot. A woman obsessed with the man who dumped her and the lengths she goes to win him back. Dark secrets from the past continue to haunt her. How she infiltrated his work, family, friends. Cold and calculating. You won’t be able to put this one down.

Wow! What a debut novel by Karen Hamilton. As a former flight attendant, her knowledge of the industry shines thru! Ms. Hamilton slowly and methodically spins her web and coaxes us in.

From the first chapter, Lily/Elizabeth/Juliette is 10, watching her little brother, Will, age 4. Why and what happens next, will carry thru the rest of her life. She tries so hard to make friends at Boarding school. Unfortunately, she is met by a privledged girl, Bella, who is the epitome of a mean girl. This will set wheels in motion, and Juliette takes things to a whole new level. Her stalker/obsession for Nate, Bella’s brother is scary! But, Nate is not the only object of her obsession. So many twists and turns. Ms. Hamilton makes us fear Juliette and pity her in same breathe. Pieces of the puzzle are slowly given until the ending. The ending will leave you wanting more!

Thanks to Netgalley, Karen Hamilton and Harlequin-Graydon House books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Because, without love and acceptance, all that's left is something dark and hateful.

This is a solid debut from author Karen Hamilton. As far as "physiological thrillers" go it's pretty standard fare, slightly elevated by the author's ability to tow the line between entertaining and unnerving.

Juliette/Elizabeth/Lily is the titular delusional, obsessed "Perfect Girlfriend." She has a pretty standard traumatizing past that informs her single-minded, though, very detail orientated stalking of her ex-boyfriend Nate as well as several others. I found the story evolved at a good pace. I really loved the insider look into life as a flight attendant/pilot. I have surprisingly never read a story about someone whose worked for an Airline so I found it to be a refreshing and interesting backdrop.

Although, Juliette/Elizabeth/Lily manages to be compelling, the rest of the (very few) characters in this book kind of just blend together. Nate could have been Miles and Becca could have been Amy or Tara or any of the other interchangeable female characters.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy.

This a fantastic debut novel. This was a page turner and should be at the top of thrillers for 2019. The author did a fantastic job with the development of Juliette and her obsession with her ex- boyfriend Nate, This is a hard review to write as I don't want to give anything away. This is at the top of my list for best novel this year.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

"If you love someone, set them free.
If they come back, they're yours.
If they don't, make them."

What in the cray-cray did I just read?

This book is the very definition of a slow starter. If not for my fascination with the psychotic inner dialogue of the main character, the only character really, Elizabeth/Lily/Juliette or whatever she's calling herself on any given day, I might have given up on this one.

...and that would have been a colossal mistake.

Somewhere around the 40% mark this story takes off like a ballistic missile flying over a cuckoo's nest.

This book is so much fun, in a Fatal Attraction meets Misery kind of way. There are no lengths too great for Elizabeth/Lily/Juliette when it comes to getting what she wants.

"It's a shame I didn't bulk buy voodoo dolls when I had the chance, but I could probably order some more online."

*insert circus theme music*

And just when I thought I could sit back and watch everything play out, a twist was thrown in that, dang it, I should have seen coming, I can't believe I didn't see it coming, HOW DID I MISS IT??

It's hard to believe this is Karen Hamilton's debut. Bring on the next one, Karen! I'm so ready.

⭐ 4.5 Stars rounded down because I feel like this story ran a bit long due to too much unnecessary descriptive chatter.



I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 stars

Imagine breaking up with someone and you think all is good, but it’s not. This is literally Juliette. She is determined to do whatever she can to get back with Nate and she is willing to go to whatever lengths she has to, to get it done.

A great psychological thriller that will only have you turning the pages faster than ever, but it will also make you want to sleep with one eye open just in case you find an ex that is having a hard time letting you go in your house.

Hamilton delves deep into Juliette’s brain and lets her readers insider her mind, it’s almost as if we are actually her. Juliette is such an interesting character and this is one of those books where you will find yourself rooting for her. Throughout the novel we learn more about her past and why she is the way she is and you almost sympathize with her. With books like these, I don’t know why, but I always find myself rooting for the villain. (I guess that’s a bit of a stretch?) I can almost guarantee that you will be on her side by the end of the novel.

It’s always interesting to read books like this evacuee it’s always enjoyable to see how far a person will go to get what they want and let me tell you that Juliette will do the impossible to be with Nate.

The twist, for me, changed the whole way I read the novel. It will change everything for you and you finally understand why Juliette is doing what she is doing. I don’t want to spoil it, but it’s a must read for thriller fans and it’s a wild ride!

Thank you HarperCollins Canada for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review and many thanks to Netgalley as well.

My goodness! Oh wow. Put some time away for this book. It has all the ingredients for a terrific psychological thriller. This might be my favorite book of the year. Unputdownable!

No spoilers from me. Book is great with lots of lies, deception, tragedy, and twists. Also, loved the unpredictable ending. Can't say enough great about this book. Karen Hamilton knocked it out of the park.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this fabulous book.

Can you say obsessed? Juliette is absolutely obsessed with her ex-boyfriend Nate. She visits his apartment when she knows he isn't home to straighten up and leave his favorite foods. Nate is a pilot so Juliette becomes a flight attendant to prove to Nate they are perfect for each other. Everything she does with her life is for the ultimate payoff of getting back together with Nate. This book only took me 2 days to read as I could not put it down. The last night I stayed up late into the night thinking I would only read one more chapter but my oh my the twists and turns!!! I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller of a book and can not wait for more books by this amazing debut author! I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Harlequin Graydon House. All opinions are my own.

tl;dr: The Perfect Girlfriend won't be for everyone, but if you like deeply disturbed main characters, this is absolutely worth your time.

The Perfect Girlfriend has a seemingly simple premise: Juliette is training to be a flight attendant with the airline her ex boyfriend, Nate works at as a surprise, plus the job seems like it could be interesting. She drops by Nate's apartment to check in on things, but she's not being nosy--he wanted space and she's giving it to him because she loves him and just wants to get back together with him.

Except Juliette is living on a different plane then the rest of us (I know! couldn't be helped) and she thinks very, very differently than most people do.

Because Juliette is giving Nate his space but only because she has a plan to get him back, because she's sure they are destined to be together.

Together no matter what. No matter who gets in her way, no matter if Nate isn't interested, no matter if she finds Nate even more irritating than she finds everyone else (which is a lot), no matter if complication after complication arises (which they do).

It takes bravery to make your main character unlikable, and Juliette is *profoundly* unlikable. She's delusional, obsessive, and lacks understanding of basic social skills. She's capable of seeming nice but isn't able to do more than become enraged when new or old acquaintances don't want to do what she wants them to do. And as she wants instant, forever friendships or relationships that are impossible to sustain because she can't stop herself from prying or stealing or coming on too strong--or often, all of that--then she is always left disappointed. And angry.

Juliette does have a troubled past but that past has led her to become--well, I think parasite is too kind. Juliette doesn't want to be part of Nate's life, she wants to *be* his life (and wife) and be not just part of his family but to be loved and accepted by them on a level that isn't possible.

In The Perfect Girlfriend, it really is enthralling to watch Juliette go after her what she wants, get it, and decide it isn't enough. And that's the thing--no matter what or who she wants, when Juliette gets it, the result never lives up to her fantasy. So she reassesses and starts again, tries some more. Always in pursuit of something that can never happen.

It can't happen because instant and lifelong perfection isn't attainable but also because Juliette, for all that she wants love, isn't capable of it. She sees people as things to be obtained or destroyed.

It usually starts with attain and ends with her wanting destruction as everyone is never a good enough friend, never apologetic enough for what she feels are slights, and, in the case of Nate, will never be enough and she will do whatever it takes to get what she wants, a lesson Nate is slow to learn.

Juliette is not someone that readers will like or possibly even empathize with but her ferocity--at her core, she is simply furious anger--is astounding and the lengths she will go to via detailed planning or simply knowing how to use a moment or a person makes for fascinating (if very chilling) reading.

If you enjoy deeply flawed main characters--and if you can handle a nonstop psychological game in which everyone loses (even Juliette, because nothing and no one will be right/enough) then you should absolutely check out The Perfect Girlfriend.

It's genuinely creepy, because Juliette is terrifying, but there's also an occasional sly moment, and despite her lack of humanity, Juliette's belief in it--and yes, always anger at it--makes this a weirdly engaging read.

I think Juliette's take on an old saying shows what The Perfect Girlfriend is...well, perfectly:

"If you love someone, set them free.
If they come back, they're yours.
If they don't, make them."

Wow, Juliette is a perfect example of someone that becomes completely obsessed with a man. She is someone who goes after what she wants and doesn't stop until she gets it, even if it takes a long time. I really enjoyed this debut psychological thriller. I think these are the kind of books that make it hard for me to trust others without knowing their true intentions... Juliette was such a creepy stalker that only made friends with people to use them in specific ways.

It's hard to truly describe this book without giving too much away. I'll just say it always kept me guessing about what Juliette would do next. Well written with an exceptional main character.

A terrific first novel by Karen Hamilton! I couldn’t put it down, and there are very few villains who I have enjoyed this much. Smartly written, darkly humorous, and perfectly twisted.

This is Ms Hamilton's first published book and it is an interesting and readable opener. Her aim is to tell the story of a young woman whose mind is warped due to a traumatic experience that happened to her when she was ten years old. The events are narrated by Juliette in their entirety and it is her thoughts and ideas that are featured in the story.
The book begins with a man that Juliette has been with for several months telling her that their affair is over and that she must leave the apartment they share. It is Juliette's reaction to this decision by Nathan, the man she was living with, that begins the tale and establishes the direction of events. Juliette decides that this decision is the wrong one for Nathan and begins a plan to retake him. He is an airline pilot, and she goes as far as getting a job as a cabin attendant with the same airline he works for. Successful at this Juliette sets up meetings with Nathan, moves to get rid of the new girlfriend he is seeing, and manipulates events to make sure that she gets her way.
The picture of Juliette as a person with a god complex is quite well done by the author and very well paints her as someone that cannot come to grips with any situation in which she is not correct in her own actions. The reader is pointed towards the bad that other individuals do to her and how Juliette must work hard to turn the situation around to make sure she does get her way.
The novel makes for a compelling read with one detracting feature. The front piece outline indicates that there is a surprise ending in store for the reader. Sort of yes, but underwhelming over all and more than a minor detraction and does leave the reader more than a little unsatisfied.