Reviews

The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton

ksonnev's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 stars

thephdivabooks's review against another edition

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5.0

YOU’VE NEVER READ A LOVE STORY AS TWISTED AS THIS.

You can find my full review and more at PhDiva.blog!

You know when you read a book and you know who you are supposed to like and dislike, and somehow you feel the exact opposite? That describes how I read The Perfect Girlfriend in a nutshell!!! This book is T-W-I-S-T-E-D!!! I sat down to write this and I wasn’t even sure how to begin because this is one of the strangest and most entertaining books I’ve read in ages—in a good way!

Told in first person narrative, Juliette tells the story of what happens after the love of her life breaks up with her. Ok, so maybe she didn’t handle the break up that well. But now she is giving him exactly what he asked for—space! So he will come back to her at the end, right? He will definitely understand what she did to meet his needs.

Juliette is playing the long game. She could arrange a meet-up at any time if she wanted to, but she has this planned out. Slow and steady. Stick to the plan. Everything will work out if you stick to the plan. And so we see her applying for Nate's airline, going through the long flight attendant trainings (seriously, flight attendant training at many companies takes about 8 weeks), and then building up her seniority on her flight schedule.

“Perseverance always pays off. It never, ever fails.”

Juliette should have friends to show she isn’t needy, right? So she makes a friend. Their friendship was SO entertaining! Amy’s reactions to a few odd things Juliette does are spot on, and then in Juliette’s monologue we hear her “I guess it was a bit odd…” Juliette is at a minimum a bit odd, and more accurately she is off her rocker.

And this brings me to who I should like and dislike, and I oddly found myself rooting for Juliette and all of her crazy ideas! She was just SO entertaining and persistent. And even though she is absolutely someone who needs serious help, everyone who has been cruelly dumped, bullied, or mistreated will find a small amount of delight in her revenge plots.

“You think you can use people and discard them when it suits. Like I was nothing. Like I meant nothing. Like we meant nothing.”

The writing on this book is divine. So much of this book happens inside of Juliette’s head, and yet she often doesn’t clue you in on her plan in advance, so we see it unfold in shocking real time. And here is where we should give all of the credit to Karen Hamilton’s writing. Her story is gripping and hard to put down, though much of it is inner monologue. And she also finds a way to humanize and make Juliette sympathetic, despite the fact that she is absolutely vindictive and crazy.

Thank you to Harlequin Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.

megsy13's review against another edition

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3.0

Interesting thriller, twisted and great protagonist

araskov's review against another edition

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3.0

Karen Hamilton takes readers on a twisted journey in "The Perfect Girlfriend," a psychological thriller that explores the dark depths of obsession and love. Brace yourself for a rollercoaster ride of manipulation, shocking twists, and disturbing insights into the mind of a relentless protagonist.

From the start, Juliette's intense infatuation with Nate is palpable. Her determination to win him back knows no bounds, even to the point of becoming a flight attendant to stay close to him. Hamilton's portrayal of Juliette's relentless pursuit is both captivating and unsettling. The author delves deep into her character's psyche, revealing a disturbing thought process that keeps readers on edge.

The story is skillfully written, with Hamilton's vivid descriptions bringing the settings to life and immersing readers in the world of aviation. The authentic portrayal of characters adds depth and believability to the narrative, making it all the more chilling to realize that such psychopathic tendencies exist in the real world.

While Juliette's character is brilliantly crafted, it can be overwhelming at times. Her relentless pursuit and manipulation can test the reader's empathy and understanding. Nevertheless, this discomfort serves a purpose, as it underscores the dark themes explored throughout the novel.

"The Perfect Girlfriend" is not a conventional love story. It is a psychological thriller that delves into the complex and often unsettling nature of obsession. Hamilton keeps readers guessing, as unexpected twists and turns heighten the suspense and leave you questioning the sanity of the characters.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers that push boundaries and explore the darker side of human nature, this book is a gripping choice. Just be prepared to dive headfirst into a world of twisted love and disturbing realities.

johnsonines's review against another edition

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5.0

Wow! This girl is crazy!

Normally you will read a book from the view point of the victim, but not this one. At a point in the beginning of the book, I felt slightly bad for the main character...but after realizing how crazy she is, I couldn’t feel sorry for her.

The ending...well, it wasn’t what I expected.

megmack's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

nikki93's review against another edition

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dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

marieintheraw's review against another edition

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3.0

The conclusion wasn't conclusive enough for me which really is disappointing because this book was a whirlwind.

diclexo's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

helloooooree's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0