Goodreads/Amazon/Author Website
Release date: September 6, 2016
Publisher: Harper Collins
Genre: Mystery, Psychological Thriller
Goodreads blurb:
Zoe Maisey is a seventeen-year-old musical prodigy with a genius IQ. Three years ago, she was involved in a tragic incident that left three classmates dead. She served her time, and now her mother, Maria, is resolved to keep that devastating fact tucked far away from their new beginning, hiding the past even from her new husband and demanding Zoe do the same.
Tonight Zoe is giving a recital that Maria has been planning for months. It needs to be the performance of her life. But instead, by the end of the evening, Maria is dead.
In the aftermath, everyone—police, family, Zoe’s former solicitor, and Zoe herself—tries to piece together what happened. But as Zoe knows all too well, the truth is rarely straightforward, and the closer we are to someone, the less we may see.
Unfolding over a span of twenty-four hours through three compelling narratives, The Perfect Girl is gripping, surprising, and emotionally complex—a richly layered look at loyalty, second chances, and the way secrets unravel us all.
Review:
Even though this is being touted as yet another novel amongst the likes of The Girl On The Train and Gone Girl (sigh, this really needs to stop!) it really doesn’t pack the same punch as those two books did. However, it is still a deeply compelling and altogether addictive and magnetic read.
I started this book yesterday evening and finished in almost twenty four hours, ironic in a way as the book takes place over a twenty four hour period as well. I’ve seen people say they were displeased with the multiple narratives that are used to tell this story but I found it to be a rather skilled way to tell the story. It wasn’t confusing as each chapter is labeled with who is sharing their part and it allowed the reader to see what is happening from every angle. The chapters were rapid enough to keep me saying, oh go on just one more chapter Amy! But revealed just enough relevant information to keep me completely focused and interested.
Everyone in this book is complicated in some way which always makes for a stimulating read. Zoe and Maria are living what Maria refers to as their Second Chance Life after Zoe has spent time in detention after a tragic accident that killed three of her friends. Keeping this secret is paramount to ensuring their new life doesn’t unravel as Chris and Lucas, Zoe’s stepdad and stepbrother know nothing of her past. The night that Maria is killed, but before her unfortunate death, buried secrets threaten to surface, leaving Maria especially frantic and unglued. It seems you really can’t hide from the past…
Right from the start, Zoe’s second chance family gave off an uneasiness and creepiness as things were portrayed to be just a bit too perfect to be believable. I loved the whole, there’s more than meets the eye aspect of this dark family. All of the characters fascinated me even if I didn’t care for some of them, but I especially sympathized with Zoe. She’s such a young fragile thing it was impossible not to feel sorry for her.
Macmillan is a skilled storyteller that crafted a set of circumstances that while not exactly thrilling, were alluring nonetheless. If you’re looking for the next heart pounding thriller, this probably won’t do it for you, but if you’re looking for a tale of a complicated family full of secrets that still has many mysterious aspects, give this one a try.
Overall rating: 4/5
Thanks to Harper Collins for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Yesss! I’ve been waiting for a review on this ☺️ I was iffy about it when I saw it, so I wanted to see some opinions and I’m so glad you liked it! Im defiantly going to read it now, great review as always! 😃
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Thanks! It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting but I still enjoyed it. I guess with thrillers I suspect a bit more suspense but this was more mysterious for me, which is ok too! Hope you like it. 😘
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I’m like that too, I love suspense and when I’m on the edge of my seat. But I also like mystery too, trying to figure out everything can be fun. I hope I do too!☺️
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This sounds interesting! I think I’ll have to add it to my TBR as I’ve been wanting to pick up more mystery/thriller books lately. Great review! 😊
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Thank you! Hope you like it.
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I loved What She Knew by Gilly MacMillan, so I’ll definitely be reading this one! Nice review 🙂
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I haven’t read that one yet! Thank you
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Hopefully I’ll like this one better than the other one… haha 😀 Great review!
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Ha! Fingers crossed, thank you!
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Book comparisons need to stop! It is a bookish pet peeve of mine to pick up a book that has a comparison to another book on the front cover or in the synopsis. Hate it!
Wonderful review as always!
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Ugh me too! It’s so annoying and usually not even true. If a book sounds interesting to me I’m going to read it regardless if it’s compared to Gone Girl, you know?
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Exactly!
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