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Writer's pictureMaggie Christopher

Book Review: Perfect Girl by Tracy Banghart

Official Synopsis: 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?


I am not normally a thriller reader, at all, but I ate this book up. The story switches from focusing on Jessa to focusing on Bella, one of the girls who has gone missing in a nearby town. From the beginning you feel like something is off, but have no idea who might be behind the missing girls or the way you are feeling while reading.


The story opens with Jessa asking to have a sleepover, instead of staying home alone in their 'far off the beaten path' farm house. When she finally gets her parents to agree, she is excited to have a night with her best friends, including Tiny, who hasn't spent much time with the group recently. When they get to Jessa's house that weekend, they are ready for movies, pizza and just being teenagers. That is when there is a knock on the door, and Jessa's neighbor and classmate David shows up. David says he is just there to check on her, since the storm is bad and the power has gone out, but then leaves when she sees she has friends there. They later hear a noise upstairs, which turns out to be Jessa's older brother and his best friend, who were not supposed to be there.


As the storm continues, the group of teens end up trying to get phone signal by having a few of them run to a gas station, but when they get back their friends are missing. That is when Jessa ends up searching from her friends and ending up in the home of her classmate David, it can't get worse, right?


As the book goes on you try to figure out who you can trust, at the same time Jessa is trying to as well. They are without cell service, power and there is a storm that really perfects the vibe.


This book definitely made my heart beat faster, and was a really great quick read. I definitely recommend it if you are normally a fan of a horror/thriller novel. It is young adult, so nothing is too graphic.


I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars!

Perfect Girl is scheduled to be published November 19, 2024.



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