The Perfect Girl by Tracy Banghart is a thrilling suspense novel that takes a dark turn on the classic slumber party scenario.
Jessa, a seemingly perfect girl who adheres to rules and expectations, is granted permission to have a sleepover at her creepy old family home. As a power outage plunges the house into darkness, a sinister figure emerges, targeting jessa and her friends, The night takes a terrifying turn as the killer's obsession with perfection becomes increasingly dangerous.

Perfect Girl by Tracy Banghart was a fun read. It wasn't amazing, but it was fine. The narration was good. The characters were just too frustrating.

Jessa defines perfection, while her brother Josh is the exact opposite. With a serial killer on the loose, their parents decide to let Jessa’s friends stay overnight while they go out for the evening. Josh and his best friend join them. However, when a storm causes a power outage, and someone appears to be lurking outside, Jessa's idea of perfection may not be enough to keep her alive.

This fast-paced popcorn thriller delivers some genuinely creepy vibes—you might want to avoid reading it at night! It’s the kind of book you can easily finish in one or two sittings. The atmosphere is immersive, with power outages and a looming storm creating a sense of claustrophobia. I don’t want to give too much away, but I loved the elements of a lurking stalker, “survive the night,” and the "final girl" trope. The story also includes a touch of the paranormal with ghosts (love Betty!) and a forbidden crush on the brother's best friend. And from one glass-wearing chick to another - Jessa, I understand your panic and frustration.

If you're a fan of audiobooks and need a popcorn thriller, this one's a must-add! Angie Kane is fantastic as Jessa, bringing depth to the character and heightening the tension. Her performance keeps you on the edge of your seat! Truly a voice actress!

What an amazing book with lovely talented narration! Perfect girl by Tracy banghart definitely caught my eye and kept it. With twists and turns that you never expect, this beautiful story will draw you in.

This book was quite captivating. It follows a group of teenagers who are left home alone for a sleepover while their parents are out of town. Initially, the gathering was supposed to be just the main character, Jessa, and her friends. However, her brother unexpectedly returns after his game is canceled, and his best friend—whose parents are having a conflict—joins the group as well. To add to the isolation, they live in a remote house, with the nearest store being over 20 minutes away.

As the night progresses, strange occurrences begin, and that’s when the suspense truly kicks in. At first, I found myself frustrated with Jessa, as I felt she wasn’t taking enough action. But then I reminded myself of how I might have reacted at that age. In hindsight, Jessa handled the situation well. In fact, if it weren’t for her quick thinking, neither she nor her friends would have made it out alive.

The writing was strong, and the inclusion of flashback chapters provided subtle foreshadowing. Although this technique helped me predict certain plot twists, it added an eerie atmosphere to the story, which I believe was the author’s intention. I also appreciated the romance woven into the narrative, as it captured the authenticity of teenage life.

The audiobook version was exceptionally well done, adding an extra layer to the experience. I particularly enjoyed the use of a full cast of narrators, each bringing the characters to life. The pacing was spot-on, and the voices matched the characters' ages, which is often overlooked in audiobook productions. The narrators’ performances truly enhanced the story, bringing out the emotions and tension in a way that made it even more immersive.

Overall, the story was suspenseful, well-crafted, and entertaining—definitely a thrilling read, especially when paired with such a skillful audiobook performance.

I had a hard time getting into this one, the main character's choices were just infuriating, like most of the situations they got themselves into could have been prevented if ANYONE had made good choices or used their brains. The characters weren't great, The plot was okay I liked some parts more than others and the ending was good I did rather enjoy it.

The audiobook was really great, I loved the narrator.

What a fun YA thriller! The narration was great too. I liked the character development with the fmc, I also like how we not only see the problems with the thriller part of the story, but we also get to see real life, personal problems with the characters as well. There are some crazy moments where I’m like girl, your friends are in danger and this is what you’re worried about?!? But then I think about my 8th grade students, and I believe this is exactly how they would be acting in these moments. If you’re looking for a creepy, fast paced thriller, this may be the book for you!

{ℙ𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕖𝕔𝕥 𝔾𝕚𝕣𝕝 by Tracy Banghart}
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Narrator(s): Angie Kane
Length: 7h 33m, 304p
Source: ALC/ARC - NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, Macmillan, TBR & Beyond
Release Date: November 19, 2024
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Jessa is the “perfect girl” and she’s okay with it…
…until a sleepover turns into a nightmare and the Perfect Girl becomes the target of a deadly stalker.

Think 90s slasher/thriller vibes, y’all.
The FMC, Jessa, was naive and a bit too much of a people pleaser.
It took about 77% of the story for her to catch on and start doing something.
The twists and turns were a bit predictable but nevertheless fun and thrilling.

The sweet little side romance was done well and added depth to the story.
Tiny’s side story also added quite a bit of drama as well.
I liked most of the characters and they each had just enough to bring them to life.

A quick, fun, reminiscent flashback to my youth and the pop culture phenomenon that gripped us all with urban legends and survival horror films.

🎧 NARRATION:
Angie Kane was fantastic!
I thought her voice paired well with our characters and she brought Jessa to life.
Well done production and all around 5 stars on the narration side.

{I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook & book. All reviews are my own.}

2.3, on a good day
If you've ever wanted to be privy to the inner monolog of someone living out her "I'm a deeply idiotic final girl" fantasy, I have the book for you. Between the constant reasons to separate from the rest of the group and the clockwork predictable asides about how she knows she should be concerned about everyone being murdered, but her crush might like her back!, I found this MC utterly exhausting.

The narration was fantastic! The voice brought the characters to life, making their struggles and triumphs feel incredibly real. I found myself completely immersed in the story, eagerly anticipating each twist and turn.

What I loved most about this book was how it cleverly subverts the typical horror tropes. The atmosphere is thick with suspense, and the pacing is relentless, making it feel like a cinematic experience. Banghart does an excellent job of exploring themes of perfectionism and the pressures young women face, all while delivering a gripping narrative.

The character development is also noteworthy. Jessa’s journey is not just about survival; it’s about breaking free from the constraints of her "perfect" persona. As she confronts her fears and the expectations placed upon her, I found myself rooting for her transformation.

The perfect read for lovers of YA Thrillers. It was extremely fast paced and easily digestible, hitting all the notes and keeping me entertained from start to finish. I love the concept of the "perfect girl" and not ever truly knowing what someone is going through.

Overall, I loved the plot, the dual timeline, and the imagery Tracy Banghart weaves throughout.

A great listen for a YA thriller. Fast moving but kind of predictable. I did like the idea of "perfect girl" and how on one side it was used against her, and on the other how she had to get over it. The narrator did a great job of getting the emotions across.

A perfect read for the YA audience as it does point out how we never know what is happening in another person's life. We are typically too focused on ourselves and our own problems and miss the big issues happening with others. It gives the message that we do need to talk more open about our feelings and if we see something is not right, we should point it out.

A thrilling and entertaining ride.

I had such a fantastic time reading this book! The synopsis sounded thrilling, and I couldn't put this book down, it was so engaging and I had to know what's going to happen next! Especially as things kept getting creepier and creepier, and tended to be going downhill.

Things are set up pretty quickly, and then things quickly started to escalate! With Jessa and her friends in her home, with the power out and no phone service, each moment just got more and more tense! There's a neighbourhood boy who seems to be lurking, her brother and his friend (who she has a crush on) shows up, and oh, yeah, it all kept growing!

Jessa tries her best to be perfect, she was scolded for being messy, and that's a pretty crippling weight for her to carry, those expectations. Especially when things her brother does gets carried over to her. But it's also something that she struggles with in every situation, to make everybody happy.

We did get brief times in another perspective, of a friend or a girl who went missing, and I had to know what was going on and how it was all connected! I had a suspicion that the book laid out, and I just had to know how it was all going to play out! That ending was epic to read!

This was such a terrific read and I can't wait to read more by Tracy Banghart!

Fast paced but not for me.
This is YA and as much as I really have been trying to find my place within this trope, I just could not get into this one.
There were certain elements I did enjoy but I just cannot get connected to teenage characters and their angst and constant internal monologue.
I’d buy this for a teen as a gift or an avid reader of YA horror/thriller, but not horror fans.

Perfect Girl
by Tracy Banghart
Narrated by Angie Kane

thank you so much dreamscape media for the gifted audiobook!

About the book 👇🏽
Jessa has been raised to be the “perfect girl.” She is unfailingly polite, never rocks the boat, and always follows the rules—no matter what. Her friends love to give her a hard time for being such a goody two-shoes, but Jessa likes it this way. She knows what's expected of her, and she's happy to be the person her parents (and society) want.

When a freak storm takes out the power during a sleepover at Jessa’s creepy, old house, things go south before the pizza gets cold. Her friends are at each other’s throats, unexpected guests keep showing up (some more welcome than others), and it’s not just her brother serving up jump scares. A killer looking for the perfect girl has targeted Jessa, and she’ll have to reject everything she’s been taught if she wants to keep herself—and her friends—alive until sunrise.

Who knew perfection could be so dangerous?

📖 My thoughts:

I flew right through this! The story was great and the narration was superb. This story actually reminded me of a pretty little liars episode (I didn’t read the books) and I enjoyed it! It’s pretty fast paced, keeps you engaged, and holds your attention all the way throughout. It’s the perfect binge read if you’re looking for something quick and entertaining. or even a palate cleanser! I’d recommend giving this book a read or the audiobook a listen! Perfect Girl is out TODAY 11/19/24!

Happy reading 📖

A serial killer on the loose, a sleepover, a storm, a ghost story AND the power is out? No need to panic?

Perfect Girl by Tracy Banghart is such a fun, quick and suspense filled read. It has all the makings of a story that will leave you on the edge of your seat, and it delivers! I was so excited I stayed up ignoring the time as I read through, but it eventually reached 5am and I couldn’t ignore the time anymore.

Really recommend this one when it comes out on the 19th of November
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

Rating: 4.5 stars!

4.5 stars? 5 stars? A sleepover, a storm bad enough to cause a power outage, a ghost, and a serial killer?! What is there not to love about this thrilling story! This book had my jaw dropping constantly! Highly recommend!!

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

This is a gripping and suspenseful read that will captivate fans of dark, fast-paced mysteries and young adult thrillers who enjoy stories about self-discovery, rebellion, and the complexities of societal expectations.

This was okay. I liked the narrator, but found the characters a little immature, even for YA. They also seemed to pack a lot of events into 1 night.

“Perfect Girl” is a fast paced YA thriller surrounding Jessa and her friends.

Jessa is having a sleepover with her besties while her parents are away for the evening. Her brother unexpectedly crashes the party with his friend - who may just be the guy Jessa is secretly crushing on.

Tensions are high as there has been a series of missing girls recently, so when playing truth or dare during a storm / power outage leads to one of Jessas friends going missing, they split up to search for her - it’s safe to say from this point things go from bad to worse.

I enjoyed how much of a quick read this was, the author wasted no time getting to the point and keeping the momentum moving forward with lots of action and suspense, I definitely listened to this in one sitting!

I also liked the main character Jessa, I thought she was a really good friend and sister and always does her best to help others and not hurt anyone’s feelings. She does learn however that she may need to work on taking more risks and setting boundaries which I think is a great topic for the YA age group. Finding yourself as a young woman and learning to keep yourself safe whilst being expected to be the “polite nice girl” is definitely something every girl experiences as they are learning how the world works. The character growth in this book was fun to watch.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Tracy Banghart for the ALC!

Publish date: tomorrow! November 19th 2024