Perfect Girl by Tracy Banghart suffers from something that a lot of Y.A. mystery novels suffer from--it was clearly written by someone who has no idea how teenagers speak to each other. I wanted to enjoy it, but I found the dialogue cringy and the writing just wasn't doing it for me.

I wasn’t expecting this to be as Young Adult as it was, but I still enjoyed it. The mystery was interesting, but the sub-plot and dialogue was very much written for a younger audience than myself.

So I didn’t really expect this to be as YA as it was…it was RL Stine coded. That being said, it wasn’t bad, I’ll definitely have my 12 year old daughter read it and I know she will have a great time. I was expecting a little more out of this though. It was still okay.

super fun and fast paced !! Will definitely be wanting to read more by this author.

Thank you netgalley!!

This was really disjointed. I didn’t understand why the subplot story was included. This was very goosebumps ish - but not so fun and campy. It wasn’t for me.

This is an engaging YA horror/thriller. The opening filled me with such a sense of dread and forthcoming doom that it helped me get through the slower novel start. The start is written well but focuses heavily on introducing you to the teen characters, their relationships and challenges, which help you stay invested in the characters. The action of the story begins before you’re able to fully investigate the most interesting parts of the characters.
The main character was SO naive and so much of a people pleaser that it was almost hard to believe, but I understand the point the author is making about ignoring your own instincts and boundaries.

this YA thriller/horror was SO GOOD.

- loved all the characters, yes even people pleasing Jessa, bc hello that was the POINT
- themes were great
- dialogue was done really well, you could really tell the author did NOT write the teenagers based off tiktok trends
- I really wanted something bad to happen to Tiny's boyfriend lmao
- I wish we would have either gotten a lil more out of the subplot or none of it at all, bc it really didn't do anything for me
- was def a fan of the dollhouse stuff- so creepy!!
- very campy but i love 90's horror camp and since these kids didn't have cell service, it gave those same vibes
- lil love clicks in there were cute
- finding yourself without the pressure of your parents, teacher, friends, and other outside voices is so important. Also trusting your gut. absolutely fuck politeness.
- would most def recommend this

Fun book full of suspenseful moments. The main character was a little annoying at times, but I was still rooting for her. Twisty turny fun though!

The beginning of this book was a bit of a struggle, the characters felt a little too immature for high schoolers. But once the sleepover kicked off, the story took a turn for the better and really pulled me in. I appreciated the subtle nuances of society's pressure of being the “perfect girl” and how doing what’s expected isn’t always the right thing.
I also enjoyed unraveling the mystery of the missing girls and how it all connected back to Jessa and the mysterious killer. The classic tropes of a dark, isolated night and people being picked off one by one were well executed. The big question remains… will Jessa finally break free from the perfect image she’s been forced into?

*Thank you to Tracy Banghart, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

In all respects this book should have been a slam dunk for me. The premise is perfectly up my alley and lately all I want to read and watch are feminine rage books and movies. I wanted so badly to love this, but I just really disliked this book.

There was so many times I found myself cringing to myself. I’d read a line and wonder, ‘Did I just read that right?’ And would back up and realize that yes, I did just read that. It also took a good while for the story to pick up and there was a lot of nothing happening in the beginning.

The guy and his mom who kidnap the girls and the whole dollhouse vibe was creepy, but ultimately it was not enough to save the story.

The subject of Covid wasn’t handled well in this book and with the amount that Covid is mentioned it irked me a lot. Also there was a bisexual character who is being told that they are lying to people because she isn’t out and that just left a huge bad taste in my mouth.

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this book. I really did not care for it.

I got an ARC of this book.

This is not my typical horror read. I am not into the slasher sort of vibe. Slashers tend to read a bit too thriller for me. I don’t enjoy thrillers. They are drastically different genres, despite what so many people say. This is a hill I will die on.

The first half of the book was pretty slow, but I enjoyed it. It was building the atmosphere. It felt like the sort of horror that really gets me invested. I cared about the characters. I wanted to know them more, I wanted them to survive. I was also incredibly suspicious of them. It was a great build up. The first half of the book was by far my favorite.

The book started to go downhill when the action really started. The slasher aspects dragged it down for me. It was pretty clear who was doing it and why. It was weaker than the first half that could have made the big bad anyone.

The cover is gorgeous and I loved the fantasy duology by Banghart, so I was going to read this even with my misgivings. It was not a bad book. It just wasn’t strong the whole way through. Instead characters came and went in ways that didn’t really make sense. The giving up being perfect to save her life wasn’t really feel delivered on. The romance felt thrown on. The ending for the romance felt so weak. So many details in the second half seemed to just chip away at what was building so perfectly in the first half. The roamnce could have been handled in a way to further build that as well. But even the side character’s romance with a violent person just felt thrown on. It was sad to see how far it fell.

Overall, the first half of the book was five stars. The second half was three. So rounding it, four. It was a fun read, but not going to be one that I am going to shove at horror fans. It would work better for thriller fans who aren’t the best with really scary books, but want to dip their toe in.

As someone who reads a lot of YA mysteries, I usually go into them with some level of apprehension, and The Perfect Girl was no exception. I had no idea what to expect, but this book leads with intensity and promise. It slows down after that, but not for long. And sometimes, a slow buildup is just what a good mystery needs. This one follows a group of teens having a sleepover at one of their houses in a pretty isolated area. Some pretty intense thunderstorms roll in, the power goes out, and the group soon realizes they are not safe and someone is targeting them, looking for "the perfect girl". I don't think the premise is completely unique, but I do think it's a setup that works for a reason. Also, this friend group is easy to root for, and the author gives us a main character that a great arc and manages to learn a thing or two instead of just being traumatized. This is a book I'd recommend to teenage girls who love Criminal Minds, or Natasha Preston, and want something equally creepy. This kind of has everything they could want, including romance and a truly deranged mystery plot.

2.75 stars

The setting of this reminds me of a 90's slasher film. There's a group of girl friends having a sleepover, then some boys crash it and things get a little wild. The house is in a fairly remote location and there's no cell service, sounds like the perfect time for things to go wrong.

Unfortunately, this mystery just didn't quite land for me. There were some creepy parts and tense moments, but it was easy to see who the killer was and the struggle seemed over too quickly. The romance was also kind of silly and the reason they weren't dating yet was laughable and ended up not mattering at all.

This is short and because of that, some issues didn't really resolve like I wanted. I also didn't understand the main character's parents having that 'boys will be boys' mentality and girls shouldn't make messes. Can we unpack that or.......

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for the copy.

I absolutely LOVE an unhinged sleepover story. As someone who lived through many sleepovers and without giving away too much, this book captures the toxic nature that can sometimes occur between teen girls, but also adds a level of intrigue.

Perfect Girl wasn’t awful, but it also didn’t really do it for me. The setup had potential—a stormy night, creepy house, a killer on the loose—but it felt more like a checklist of thriller tropes than something fresh or gripping. I wanted more tension, more twists, more oomph, but instead it kind of coasted along and never fully pulled me in. Jessa's whole "perfect girl" persona had moments that could’ve led to deeper commentary, but it mostly just stayed surface-level. If you’re into fast, easy reads with a light slasher vibe, it might work for you—but I finished it more out of curiosity than excitement.

Had a lot of potential but ultimately falls short of being the gripping thriller it promises. The early parts of the book feel more like a YA romance than a suspenseful mystery, which can be frustrating for readers expecting more tension right out of the gate. The first third drags, and much of the middle section doesn’t pick up much steam until closer to the final chapters, when the plot finally gets interesting.

The main character’s decisions are often infuriating, with choices that seem completely avoidable, which can make it hard to stay invested. Add to that some irrelevant flashback chapters that feel disconnected from the main plot, and it’s easy to get frustrated with the pacing and lack of focus.

I enjoyed this read so much Jessa hws so much pressure like many teens trying to figure out her future. Yet Jessa has something most teens dont have and thats a crazy stalker. This book takes you for a ride and its so fun. I recommend reading it, this book is a fast read you will just want to finish.

Perfect Girl by Tracy Banghart is a captivating, thought-provoking read that explores themes of identity, societal expectations, and personal growth. Banghart’s writing is sharp and immersive, immediately drawing the reader into the life of the protagonist, a young woman struggling to meet the impossible standards placed on her. The pacing is fast and engaging, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you hooked from start to finish.

The protagonist’s journey of self-discovery is both relatable and emotional, and Banghart does a great job of exploring the complexities of navigating family, school, and personal aspirations. The book also delves into the pressures of perfectionism and the toll it takes on mental health, making it a relevant and timely read. The characters are well-rounded, and the relationships, particularly the protagonist's with her family, are compelling and nuanced.

While the plot is strong, there are moments when the story feels a bit predictable, and certain character arcs could have been more fleshed out. Nevertheless, the themes and emotional depth make it a memorable and impactful read.

Overall, Perfect Girl is an empowering, emotional, and gripping story that will resonate with readers who enjoy character-driven narratives about self-acceptance and overcoming societal pressures. It’s a solid read that will make you reflect long after the last page.

A book that perfectly captures what it's like to watch high school themed thriller tv shows. A bit predictable, but not at any fault of the author. This is a fun and fast paced read that I can see others using as a palette cleanser.

Definitely a YA thriller.
Typical scary teenage scenario: sleepover, boys, the lights go out.
The appeal to the YA reader is the ability to relate to all of the characters. The goodie two shoes, the pesty brother, one friend who is making bad choices, desire from afar......everyone knows someone like this.
The storyline produces a heroine, a new love interest, deadly neighbors and a ghost.
A popcorn read that has really scary moments...