This was a good popcorn thriller book. It wasn't super fantastic, but it did its job.
Our "perfect" main character Jessa has some friends sleep over while her parents go out overnight. Jessa loves order and following rules. She hates when her friends call her "perfect" or things like "Judge Jessa." Jessa doesn't think she's perfect, she just likes following rules. When that night there is a big storm that knocks the power out, the girls think someone might be creeping around outside, and Jessa realizes there might be someone out there who enjoys the fact that she is perfect.
Jessa has some pretty stressed friendships. She hasn't really spoken to her friend Tiny in a while because she has an older new boyfriend she would rather hang out with. Alexis and Kellan are both sleeping over as well who are closer with Jessa. The atmosphere is pretty tense, especially when Jessa's bother Josh shows up at home with his best friend and her crush Ryan. I feel like the issues everyone has kind of amped up the spooky atmosphere, especially due to the fact that girls had been disappearing recently around their area. Thinking back, I did really enjoy the night going from bad to worse instead of going from good to bad. It really added to the thriller-y aspect of the book.
While the plot was a little predictable, it was still good. I'm used to finding out whodunit close to the end, but we found out relatively early and then had to hope that *person or persons unknown* would get away. It was also a unique (to me). The reasoning, the culprit(s), the method, while they didn't wow me, I did say "huh, that's interesting. I like that."
The pacing was well done. It was fast paced throughout. I didn't find myself thinking anything was lagging, slow or unnecessary.

The pacing was slow and made it a little hard to get through. I think the action should be more prominent, and maybe the reader could be thrown into the danger and fear more, and a little sooner. The characters mixed well together, and other than the pacing, the suspense was tangible, especially with the “false alarms” in the beginning leading into the tension and action. I think the mix of characters and possible suspects along with the looming crime in York builds sufficient tension. Though the story was a bit predictable at times, this is somewhat expected for a YA thriller. Over all, a good build up, good group of characters and call backs throughout the story that help build tension.

The mystery was a little bit predictable, but the tempo was high and captivating, and the pressure-building left you breathless! It was definitely an enjoyable popcorn thriller you can consume in one sitting, enjoying a thrilling night! Okay but this book definitely highlights one of my genuine fears of being abducted or attacked. And while this centers around high school kids, this is still a very real fear of mine that has me kind of always questioning who and what to trust, both in life and also in this book. I kept internally yelling at characters trying to get them to stop making dumb decisions while simultaneously believing that in a fight or flight situation I’d probably legit freeze and therefore be the first to die. And while thrillers don’t guarantee happy endings, I did have hope. I’ll leave it at that as I don’t know how to avoid another spoiler.

Thank you to the author for tossing in some 90s nostalgia. Buffy was one of my favorite movies growing up. This book was overall a quick and easy read that I found hard to put down. It touched on some tough but very real topics that not just high schoolers but people of any age may be able to relate to and it was nice to see Jessa’s character progression and how she was able to allow some mess into her life. I think maybe my one issue is that the characters went through this really traumatic situation together and there’s only the briefest mention of Jessa going to therapy but not a lot about how everyone was able to move on.

Perfect Girl by Tracy Banghart was a great book to help me get out of my reading slump! I found the writing to be very enjoyable and quick to get through. Before I knew it, I was already 50% into the book after reading for only a couple hours.

We follow Jessa, the perfect high schooler who has her whole life planned out. When her parents are out of town for the night, Jessa and her friends find themselves stuck in a storm that took the power out. No service, their phones are dying, no one is getting along, and to make it worse? Unexpected guests keep showing up. What could possibly go wrong?

Jessa was very likable. I felt like she showcased feelings and struggles that can resonate with many. I will admit, at some point to the end I kept yelling at my kindle because Jessa just kept being polite and respectful instead of standing up for herself but I do understand that this was a part of her character.

There was a small group of side characters that were enjoyable but ultimately not my favorite. At the beginning it seemed like each character was getting some development but I feel that it got lost a bit along the way. Additionally, there was a subplot of romance that was cute but overall I didn't care for too much.

The pacing of the story was pretty good, the first 40% was build up to the climax where we got some fun and interesting scenes. Almost every chapter ends on a mini cliffhanger so it keeps you very entertained and wanting to learn more. There was one scene of the group playing truth or dare where school sh***er drills were mentioned as well as mentions of covid throughout the book which took me out of the story sometimes.

I did find our bad guy to be very predictable and easily noticeable (to me) with the way they were written in. Given the small cast, some of the dialogue from said character, and descriptions about them, it just seemed very in-your-face even with the twists that were meant to throw you off. I want to mention that there were a few “before” chapters that we have sprinkled throughout the story and I see how they were wrapped up and connected but at the end of the day, they weren't needed.

Lastly, the ending seemed a little too neat and quickly wrapped up. I don't want to talk about this too much as I don't want to spoil anything but it just wasn't realistic at all and once again, while I understand that it wrapped up another little side story that was brought up throughout the book, it felt a bit out of place.

Overall, if you're looking for a quick, fast paced, fun young adult thriller I would recommend you give Perfect Girl a try!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A well-written thriller with biting social commentary. While I wish the pacing had been a bit different, the overall themes was executed so well it mattered very little.

A smart, fast-paced read with complex, dynamic characters and an intriguing plot. Will definitely add to my classroom library.

Perfect Girl is a horror that offers up some genuinely heart pounding tension and isn't one to read when it's dark outside. The twists and ending were pretty satisfying and I enjoyed it as a quick - and scary - read.

Thank you to the publisher for sending a copy to be reviewed

— 3 stars ★
I have to be honest, I was a little worried about this book because I didn’t realize it was a YA thriller. I haven’t read a YA thriller in a super long time but I must admit, I really enjoyed this book! I’m a pretty quick reader when it comes to books I like, so it’s not a big shocker that I finished this book in one day. Even if you aren’t a quick reader, I’m certain this could easily be read within a day just from the length of the book and how it’s able to keep you GLUED to your seat!

I only have a couple gripes about this book. First, it was super predictable. I wish there was a bit more mystery behind what was going on but almost immediately I knew who the bad guy was going to be. However, this could just be me catching onto clues or watching a LOT of criminal minds…

Another gripe that I had was that I wished that the characters were fleshed out a bit more, especially our main protagonist – Jessa. I felt like sometimes the “nice, perfect girl” trope/characteristic was leaned into a bit too much. It honestly kind of annoyed me how she didn’t really want to fight back because it would have been considered rude, LOL.

I also didn’t really care for the “before” chapters that were included. It just kind of gave background that what was happening in the present time was repeated history. I just felt like it was a bit unnecessary.

Overall, I still had fun with the book and thought it was nice to read on Halloween! It’s a good YA slasher that’s quick and easy to read.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the eARC of Perfect Girl in exchange for an honest review.

This was an excellent YA thriller! I was reading before bed, and had to stop until the next day, because I was getting so creeped out by it. I liked the little "twist" (calling it that because I don't want to say anything to spoil it for people) at the end. Overall, I would highly encourage those who think the summary sounds interesting to read it!

(I definitely recommend checking trigger warnings, because it touches on a lot of difficult topics.)

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

This was an absolutely nail biting thriller! I couldn’t stop reading and the plot twists were SO good. I flew through this.

🤯🤯🤯 There are few books I can’t seem to put down and this was one of them. Finished this super quickly because I could absolutely not put it down. Reminds me of an early 2000s teen thriller movie and I loved it.

This was such an incredible ride! From the first page to the last I was so drawn in by the premise and the build up, and it only continued to get better as the story progressed. I love that this was loosely based from the author’s personal life- that made it feel extra impactful and special. For it being an incredible thriller with some truly wild and unhinged twists and turns, it also had some amazing moments of girlhood that I loved and was so happy to see have their moment to shine. And some haunting!!!! Hi Betty :) Truly, this was such an enjoyable experience and a book I couldn’t put down from the moment I picked it up. I can’t wait to see what comes next from this author!!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for an advanced digital copy of PERFECT GIRL in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I really liked the concept of this book, but I had too many problems with it to really get into it. First, it all feels very “how do you do, fellow teens?” In terms of dialogue, characterization, etc. And at the same time, Jessa was such a stereotypical protagonist I feel like her strong moment at the end wasn’t deserved. I knew nothing about her, I didn’t care about her struggles because they were barely mentioned, and she doesn’t really DO anything too wild like I thought she would based on the cover and description.

Also, the twist wasn’t twisting. There was hardly a lead up to it, and it all felt super rushed. I wasn’t scared once, and I didn’t care enough about any of the characters (except maybe Tiny?). I also feel like a lot was mentioned that just got brushed off, like Alexis being bi, Ryan being what I assume the only black kid in a predominantly white neighborhood, etc. I wanted to learn more, but with so many characters and action sequences, we got the barest bones.

There were some good lines and moments, and the pacing was done really well with so much going on. I also thought the setup was just cheesy enough for me to be excited to see how the slumber party derailed. Also- finally, a realistic sister-brother dynamic! Josh and Jessa hated/ cared for each other the perfect amount, and some of their scenes were funny.

This book had such potential, but just didn’t hit the mark for me.

Our main character Jessa was always labeled a “goody two shoes” but, little does everyone know she can be far from it! During a sleepover at her old creepy (haunted) house the power goes out and everything very quickly spirals out of control. Friends do things friends shouldn’t to each other, unexpected visitors arrive, and a killer looking for the “perfect girl” is on the loose! To survive the night Jessa must drop the good girl act and show everyone what she can really become.

This was a teen thriller/horror novel. Super faced paced and definitely kept me on my toes while reading in the middle of the night. I would recommend to those just getting into the horror genre (like me). This was the perfect amount of scary and gory without being overwhelming! I finished this book feeling admittedly a little scared (as I should be) and very much satisfied with the ending; which I feel doesn’t happen much with thrillers. A must read!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

For young adults and older adults alike, this is a page turning, easily digestible thrill of a book. While a little predictable, it is still a very fun ride and a quick read. Makes for an amazing palette cleanser between heavier books, or a great switch in genres. Overall, well written, tied up and satisfying. A sleepover among friends during a heavy storm out in the boonies with little to no cell service or internet. Will they make it till morning?

The cover of this book drew me in, so I decided to give it a try. I am just starting out with horror, and decided maybe this would be a good start.

I read this at night when I couldn’t sleep. Let me tell you, I was scared while reading this book. It had a lot of spooky things and also a lot of jump scares. It was a perfect read for October. Definitely recommend for any horror/thriller fans or someone who loves a good SCARE!

This was fun and I read it in one day.

Jessa and her friends are home alone during a bad storm. The power goes out, a tree falls, and they're worried about a fire. At first the kids are just having fun playing truth or dare and watching a movie. Jessa's brother and his best friend (and her crush) show up and say that there were footprints outside. There is a possible serial killer taking girls and it's put Jessa more on edge than normal. She puts a lot of pressure on herself to be perfect. But that perfection is what makes her the perfect target for the killer.

This wasn't too hard to figure out early on, but I still really enjoyed reading it. The pacing was pretty good and it wasn't too long. The characters were pretty typical teens. I both liked and disliked them.

I gave this book 4 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my earc and physical copy.

I liked the idea of this one, but the execution fell a little flat. I enjoyed Jessa's character, but felt like she wasn't developed enough to make her hero role in the ending feel believable. Also with the ending...just...what? The ending itself wasn't bad, but it didn't quite fit with the whole horror/slasher trope, making it feel a bit out of place. While entertaining, I think having more development in the plot and character arcs would flesh things out and make it feel more whole. I think younger YA readers would be a better fit for this novel, but might feel like it's missing something for older ones. Thank you for this ARC in exchange for my review!

Tracy Banghart’s Perfect Girl feels tailor-made for fans of classic teen slashers, blending high school drama with a deadly twist. The story follows Jessa, a girl who’s always colored within the lines, living up to her parents’ strict expectations. But when she heads to a sleepover hoping for a night of harmless fun, things take a dark turn as a mysterious threat begins targeting her and her friends. A raging storm cuts them off from help, leaving Jessa to dig deep and break free from her “perfect girl” persona to protect herself and those she cares about.

Jessa’s transformation from rule-follower to fierce leader gives the story heart, making her someone you can truly root for. She faces some life-or-death choices and even finds courage to face her longtime crush. While the suspense builds well, her friends and brother feel a bit two-dimensional, lacking depth compared to Jessa’s growth. Still, Perfect Girl offers just the right mix of chills and thrills, capturing the fun and fear of a Halloween read with a fresh take on a classic teen horror vibe.

Perfect Girl follows our protagonist Jessa and her friends during a sleepover in her (creepy and haunted) home during a storm and a power outage.

I’ve realized I do enjoy reading slasher books and I figured Halloween would be such a fun time to read and finish this book! There were some bits that I wasn’t a fan of, such as the filler “before” chapters. Even though the story was very fast paced and easy to read, the filler chapters felt pointless.

I did however like that the characters actions felt very high school -esq. I like that Jessa found her courage and time to flirt with her crush and it didn’t feel shoved in. Jessa being the “perfect girl” read kind of good to me. She fit into what she had to in order to be “perfect”. I felt though, that the other characters lacked a lot of personality. I wish we had more from them than what we did.

I won’t lie, the ending was pretty… interesting. I also knew who the characters should’ve watched out for nearly from the beginning. I wasn’t very surprised by the circumstances.

2.5 stars out of 5.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.