
Member Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Overall, I really liked this. It read a bit like a movie, filled with tension and jump scares. It had my attention the entire time and I found it hard to put down. The romance as a subplot worked well. I enjoyed how the storm outside matches the action going on indoors.
What I struggled with was what I felt may have been the main message of the book. Jessa is the perfect girl, afraid to be messy or let anyone down. In fact, when she finds herself in danger, her confession is that she doesn't know if she wants to be a lawyer. I won't go into what ended up happening to her as I don't want to go spoilery. But I felt that it was laid out that what happened was the cost of her being too perfect. So, "be bad because if you're too perfect, xyz will happen to you?". That might be me reading too much into the text, but I struggled with it as a takeaway concept.
Overall, this was thrilling and engaging. A bit of everything from romance to nightmare fuel.

This was written in first person pov and the mc inner dialogue really turned me off at times. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue reading by the 25%, but I am glad i stuck it out bc the halfway point on was great and made up for faults i found early on. Everything came together in a really creepy and dreadful way, with a lot of feel-good self ownership by the end of it. I think this will a good read for a lot of younger people who struggle with self-identity.
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reading opportunity.

This had all the makings of being a great YA thriller: a girl’s night sleepover, a storm, unexpected boys showing up, and a killer on the loose. And in the end it just fell flat for me.
I loved the atmosphere, I loved the petty teenage drama going on between the girls, I loved the set up of the main character always being dubbed as “perfect” by everyone even though she doesn’t think she is. I thought it was a great setup.
But once we got into what being the “perfect girl” really means for the context of this book, and we changed locations, I just felt very uninterested. I wanted a teenage slasher book, and instead got something completely different. It wasn’t bad, just not what I expected.
Overall, it’s a 3 out of 5 stars. I was going with 3, but there was a lot of diversity in this book and I really appreciated that.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

What will Jessa need to sacrifice in order to save her friends and herself?
Jessa is a young woman who has always adhered to the rules and played the role of the "perfect girl." One day, her parents went on a trip and allowed her to invite her friends—Kellan, Alexis, and Tiny—over for a sleepover. However, things took an unexpected turn when the power went out, and a game of truth or dare spiraled out of control. Jessa soon finds herself in a life-and-death situation that forces her to question her values. What will Jessa do?
This is the second thriller I've read, and I absolutely loved it. The narrative is intricately woven with unexpected twists and turns, keeping me on the edge of my seat. Several spine-chilling moments sent shivers down my spine. The underlying theme of the book—that no one is perfect—strikes a chord and resonates deeply with many readers.
Jessa, the protagonist, is a sweet yet courageous character, and I found myself rooting for her throughout the entire story. Her determination and resilience shine brightly against the darkness surrounding her. Kellan, with her vibrant and peppy personality, adds a lighthearted touch to the narrative, providing much-needed moments of levity. On the other hand, Alexis, while intriguing, only had a few opportunities for us to delve into her character, leaving me wanting to know more about her backstory. Tiny, on the contrary, has a sharp tongue and a biting wit, which made her a bit grating for my tastes.
This book is a perfect fit for anyone who enjoys a relatable thriller. It is filled with complex characters and an engaging storyline that grips the reader until the very last page.
Happy Reading, Paige ❤️ 📚

This book had me hooked. I kept trying to put the pieces together and couldn’t wait to find out what happened next in the story. Jessa feels conflicted with being perceived as “perfect” - by her brother, her friends, and her parents. Little does she know that someone else thinks she is the embodiment of perfection and will not stop until he has her. Unexpected arrivals happen all night when her brother and his best friend (Jessa’s crush) unexpectedly crash her sleepover with friends. To get through the night, Jessa has to figure out how to shed her perfect girl persona. I had to set this one down at bedtime to make sure I could sleep at night. Definitely worth a read. Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

PERFECT GIRL by Tracy Banghart
Pub date: Nov. 19th, 2024
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Rating: 4 / 5
Everything works out for the perfect girl... right?
Jessa Morgan never does the unexpected. She follows the rules, sticks to her plans, and never rocks the boat. Sure this has garnered a "goody two-shoes" reputation for her, but that's a small price to pay for security. When Jessa's given the rare go-ahead to have a sleepover without parent supervision, a would-be relaxing hangout quickly goes awry. Jessa didn't plan for this, but if she wants to survive the night, she'll have to trade in being the perfect girl for the final girl.
PERFECT GIRL is a fast-paced YA thriller that takes the reader on a movie-worthy, hair-raising trip. Jessa might seem like a boring "good girl" at first, but her growth as a character was as satisfying as it was engaging. Her relationships with the ensemble cast – her older brother, friends, and nearly lifelong crush– also add entertaining banter and heartfelt dynamics the story. As far as the thriller aspect, there are some more predictable plot points but also twists that add refreshing depth and tension to the book's events. Fans of read-in-one-sitting thrillers with female empowerment and some beyond the grave vengeance will likely enjoy Banghart's latest release.
Readers should note that the book includes possibly triggering content including abusive relationships, nonconsensual acts, and kidnapping.
(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!)

This was a good little young adult story, I enjoyed it. Pretty quick read too, basically read it in one sitting.

Perfect Girl by Tracy Banghart was a teenage-drama horror story that kept me in it from start to finish. Reminiscent of 80s and 90s fun horror films (Scream, Heathers, etc.), the tale of prim-and-perfect Jessa goes from bad to worse when unexpected visitors show up at a sleepover in the middle of torrential thunderstorms.
I'd happily recommend this book for young adult and adult readers looking for a little scare and a story to curl up with in the rain. While I found the story plot relatively predictable, that predictability was welcome and kept a smile on my face through out.

This was such an enjoyable thriller! I don’t usually have much time in a day to read but I read this when my whole family was sick and I finished it in less than a day. I could not put it down! This is a YA horror/thriller and something about it feels nostalgic. There’s a sleepover, a storm, power and phone lines are down, and a killer on the loose. This is a perfect read if you’re looking for a cozy thriller!
Thank you @netgalley for gifting me an E-ARC copy of this book!

You know what? I had the best time reading this book. It’s super fast paced and easy to read. I read the whole thing in one day. I will say the whole killer thing was a little predictable but the whole book was so entertaining that I honestly didn’t mind. This felt very 90s coded and I’m here for it! The whole thing read like you were watching a 90s thriller movie. It even made me laugh a little when they’re running from danger and stop to have a little kissing moment… because teenagers 😂
I would hands down recommend this if you love the older thriller movies. It has a nostalgic vibe. It’s a little predictable but super entertaining. I’m truly so happy I read it! I will be rereading this one day!
Thank you to the author and TBR and Beyond Tours for the eARC 🖤

Super impressed with this thriller. It was a little slow getting into the story line but then it takes off.
Perfect teen slasher, Jessa’s friends come stay the the night when a storm is brewing. Power goes and the story speeds up. A killer is on the loose and Jessa is a target. Can she drop her perfect girl ways and survive the night.
Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan’s Children Publishing Group for the advance copy.

Perfect Girl by Tracy Banghart is a great YA horror book that not only keeps you on your toes but has relatable characters. There’s a twist and turns that kept me wanting to keep reading even though it was past my bedtime. I like how every day teenage problems, like choosing a future career path or silently pining for someone, are intertwined with the mysterious, murderous plot. There is a storm that leads to a power outage, a ghost, and a creepy old lady. Those are three key creep factors. I really enjoyed this book. I caught myself talking to it saying things like “what are you doing?” and “why are you going in there?”
Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Feiwel and Friends and Netgalley for a digital arc.

All said and done, this wasn't a horrible book. The FMC (our "perfect" girl) was definitely annoying at times, as you would expect from a perfect, people pleasing main character. Of course she was set up that way so that she could grow and become her own person. While we definitely see development, it felt cringy at moments and forced at others. Additionally, the completely unhinged twist at the end wasn't set up quite right and the overall shock factor was diminished by the ongoing side story that opens that book. Recommend? Maybe. It was good to pass the time and I think as a YA mystery/thriller it is good, but it's not the mystery that's gonna change your life.

The book was good, fast paced which I liked to an extent. I wish that there was more building up to when they got into the house. It was obvious it was David from the start, but then again I usually do catch the twist in books early on. It reminds me a lot of the Criminal Minds doll episode, which I did enjoy. Jessa was a very well thought out character, it seemed like the other characters could have had more personality building but I will say they were all very likable. It played a lot into the “perfect girl” stereotype, which was fleshed out well. I do wish that he big “secret” was more profound but it made sense for her character. Overall a good read especially if you want something interesting and fast paced

I really really enjoyed the first 75% of the book. I liked the characters and the author managed to write everything multiple characters a little suspiciously so it wasn’t very obvious who was the bad guy (though it got obvious quite quickly) — or maybe I’m just naturally suspicious of characters.
But then when things got dicey and the girls were abducted. The pacing felt a little off for me. Multiple times I thought “oh this must be the climax” but then the suspense level went down again only to go back up and it didn’t feel… I don’t know I can’t explain it. When Jessa escapes you’d want the suspense to stay up because she must be panicking about her friends and yet she’s … well, she’s not calm but it’s like they have all the time in the world. And then she randomly sees her brother and best friend making out? (props to her for not screaming at them because if I was kidnapped by a serial killer while my brother made a move on my best friend I would not be able to laugh it off)
After that the actual climax feels so … anti-climactic. And while I enjoyed the povs we got from Bella, I feel like the ones from Ashley didn’t add much — especially the last one.
Overall though I liked the concept but it could’ve been executed a little differently in my opinion.

I don't know what I was really expecting going in, but it still exceeded whatever expectations I may have had. As a semi-former people pleaser myself, our MC Jessa was easy to emphasize with. She's perfect on the outside (perfect daughter, teacher's pet, future lawyer, etc.) but on the inside, she's just as messy as everyone else.
Girls a couple towns over are going missing. When the power goes out during a sleepover while her parents are out of town, Jessa and company do their best to get through it. Things quickly go from bad to worse and perfect Jessa must do what she can to make sure they all make it until morning when the power is supposed to come back online.
I'm one of those readers who tries to guess the twist the second I feel one coming. It makes me feel smart. 😅 I was absolutely sure I knew what was going to happen. I was so unprepared and all the clues were there. The ending was so satisfying.
If you like your characters smart and capable of so much more than they think they are, look no further. I absolutely recommend this one to anyone who likes the thriller genre. It's a breath of fresh air. 4 stars!

This book offered some fairly engaging characters that were a bit stereotypical at times. The overall mystery could have been better developed as it seemed to tip its hand earlier than most books. I like that it dealt with some larger themes of abusive relationships and expectations of perfection. Overall, it was a solid book, but nothing that ever elevated to a must read.

I had the honor of getting this ARC and I’m so sad it took me so long to get to it. Too many books too little time. I highly recommend reading it if you’re interested! I loved the story and how it was told! I did figure out the twist pretty early but even then reading it and getting lost in the story was so fun. It was the only thing I could read consistently during this little reading slump I’m in and I’m sad it’s over. It comes out in a few days and I can’t wait to grab the physical copy!

The Perfect Girl is a gripping thriller that delivers a heart-pumping, suspenseful tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Jessa, the quintessential "perfect girl," finds herself trapped in a desperate fight for survival when a freak storm plunges her sleepover into chaos. As tensions rise and unexpected guests arrive, Jessa must confront the dark side of her perfectionist upbringing. This book is perfect for fans of teen thrillers and horror!

I loved how quick pace this was and it was super fun to read. The characters we so relatable especially Jessa. I found it to be a bit predictable and guessed the ending pretty early on but I wouldn't say it took away from the story as more thing unravel. There were some parts where I was like "wtf" or "Jessa, girl, get it together" but overall it was fun and had some humor in it. Definitely an enjoyable read.