The Perfect Girlfriend by Hayley Smith
Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense
Read: 19th July 2023
Published: 20th July 2023
★★★★ 4 stars
DESCRIPTION:
He loves me. He trusts me. He shouldn’t.
Jay and I have only known each other a short while, but whenever I gaze into his deep green eyes I tell him he’s the one. His little house by the deep forest’s edge is perfect for the two of us – there’s no internet, no phone signal, and no neighbours. I’m about as far from my past as I could be. No one knows where we are, and I need to keep it that way.
He wants me to stay here where he can keep me safe from the outside world. I don’t question him, I won’t challenge him. I have him exactly where I want him. He has to think I’m the perfect girlfriend, far better than the one before. Because I know what he did.
All I have to do now is play my part and bide my time. So I tell myself Jay doesn’t have a clue who I really am. I’ve been so careful. Haven’t I?
A completely addictive psychological thriller packed with incredible twists you won’t see coming. Perfect for fans of The Housemaid, The Split, and The Serial Killer’s Wife.
MY THOUGHTS:
He loves me…He trusts me…He shouldn’t…
An interesting debut from author Hayley Smith with some interesting scenarios and ideas with a plot that thickens into the dark and troubling about halfway through.
Set against a remote and claustrophobic backdrop, thirty year old Lauren meets Jay at a music festival and it's love at first sight. Having previously dated a married man who dumped her, her parents had ostracised her for bringing shame to their family and her estrangement with her sister. Not to mention losing her job and her flat and is staying with a friend who pretty much wants her space back. And her best friend committed suicide. Stepping things up a notch, Lauren moves into his isolate cottage without a second thought, despite its lack of WiFi or phone service or even neighours, for that matter. And so closing the chapter on her old life, begins a new one.
But Jay, however, is hiding secrets. So is Lauren, for that matter, with her own skeletons rattling around in her wake. But her perfect new life soon begins to splinter when both of their secrets start to surface. As the story unfolds, she realises that Jay isn't the perfect man she'd at first thought. Secret and controlling, Lauren starts to wonder if she's made the right decision in moving here.
The unfolding story was like a car crash that you couldn't look away from despite Lauren continuing to make one stupid decision after another. But the setting was atmospheric and a perfect storm for such a tale. There are plenty of surprises, dark twists and even some creepy moments that will have you turning the pages until the end. Despite the suspension of belief needed for some of Lauren's choices, this is one nail-biting addictive read.
For a debut, a cracking read and mostly enjoyable.
I would like to thank #HayleySmith, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #ThePerfectGirlfriend in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
She has worked as a graphic designer, youth worker and musician, and has been involved for many years in organising music festivals and gigs.
Having a penchant for all things alternative, she often dips into the counter-culture scene for writing inspiration, producing quirky rough-edged characters and dark, unpredictable twists, turns and moral dilemmas.
Social media links:
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