Solid debut! Great narration, and a story that kept me guessing. Will def check out future novels from this author. 3.5 stars rounded up.

I wish I had read this book without reading the synopsis first. The reveal of what our main character's secret is takes too long when you go in knowing there's more to her motives than being shown. The book has a lot of potentially interesting elements but they fall a bit flat, and things moved a little too slow for me. My favorite part of the book was the vibes of it all. I felt appropriately unsettled at all the right spots. The narration was also solid throughout.

This was a promising debut and I'd definitely pick up another book by Hayley Smith in the future. I'd recommend this to anyone that likes domestic thrillers for the vibes over the mystery itself.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

3.5/5 stars

This was a nicely done debut novel which turned things on a dime with one twist and reveal which changed how I felt about the book. I thought I knew where things were headed, I thought I had things figured out, I was wrong!


Lauren meets Jay at a music festival. He has gorgeous green eyes; she has beautiful dark hair, and they know each other is the one. That is until the proverbial you-know-what hits the fan.

Lauren agrees to move into his cabin at the forest’s edge. It's perfect for two people who want to be alone, as in truly alone. There is no internet, no phone, and no neighbors. Jay soon takes over. Lauren doesn't have to worry about a thing (that is unless she dyes her hair). Jay takes over her finances, plans their time and is in complete control of Lauren. She will be his perfect girlfriend. Controlling, much? Lauren doesn't seem to mind, as she knows she is not perfect...

I had no idea what I was in store for when I began listening to this audiobook. I wanted to take Lauren aside and tell her to get you-know-what out of dodge! But Lauren has secrets and when the author revealed them, things clicked into place, and I sat back and enjoyed the ride. There is a nice amount of tension in this book. There were times I wanted to yell at Lauren, times I shook my head, and a few times I thought "okay, I see where this is going." Both characters have their own agendas and motivations. It was entertaining to learn what they were. Plus, that hair scene... Okay it's not as bad as when they grandmother put tar in Cathy's hair in Flowers in the Attic but still...

This was a solid debut novel and Hayley Smith shows promise and I have a feeling her books are going to keep getting better. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator.


3.5 stars rounded up.

This audio book had me intrigued from the very first chapter. Jay lives off the grid and he meets Lauren at a concert. They immediately are attracted to each other and she moves in with him pretty quickly. This kept me interested from the very first page and even though I didn’t like Jay and how he treated Lauren at times because he seemed to be so controlling but I kept going with the audio. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This book was well written and the character were well defined and intriguing. At times the book became hard to follow though because there were a lot of characters in and out of various storylines. I had to go back and re-listen to some chapters in order to keep characters and their roles straight. I was pleasantly surprised by the development of some of the characters and their roles by the end of the book. I would definitely recommend this book to friends and family, however I think it would be easier to follow as an actual book and not an audiobook. The audiobook is good for someone who has minimal distractions while listening.

A wonderful debut thriller with twists all throughout.

Lauren and Jay meet at a music festival and things quickly heat up between the two with Jay inviting Lauren to move into his secluded cottage that very weekend. Lauren jumps at the chance to start anew, amidst heartbreak and trauma.

Lauren and Jay seem like the perfect fit for each other until their masks begin to slip. Lauren is not the perfect girlfriend that she pretends to be and Jay has other sides to him that quickly become exposed.

This was a great read from start to finish because of its quick pace. You quickly become aware that this isn't the romance novel it sounded like it was going to be in its pages and instead turns out to be a psychological thriller where almost all the characters have something to hide.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutre for this ARC.

Available to all on July 20, 2023!

This book does contain some minor triggering content, includes cussing and a little sexual tension.
The prologue had me at word one! Oh man, what a great start to an awesome story.. Hayley uses a variety of descriptions that sucks one right into the story! Fantastic display of imagination of Jason’s living conditions, totally seeing exactly what Hayley wanted to convey. She did a good job at relating what one will put up with when one is in love/lust. The only problem I did have was the dialect was unfamiliar for I don’t read or listen to British lingo so some of the verbiage was difficult for me to parse out. I really enjoyed the narrator’s different voices of the characters and she drew me into the story like a movie, but better. This book is rated a 4 out of 5 and I recommend anyone wanting a more realistic view on what happens when a person jumps into a relationship, moving in VERY quickly and neglects the consequences, this book is for you!

4.5 🌟!

Okay. The imagery of this book is still with me even though I officially finished it 3 days ago! And I loved the narrator.

This book starts with a female character whose life is a hot mess and decides to start all over when she meets a hot guy at a festival. When I first started this book, I thought stranger danger and what are you doing!? Why would you just uproot your life for a stranger, haven’t you seen a single horror movie!? But then. You get the first little carrot that makes it all click!

I loved this book! The writing was done really well where everything was described in enough detail that you got a clear picture, but not too much where it was overwhelming. Also. The darkness of the male lead was so pulling and captivating that I didn’t want to put the book down!

Definitely recommend this read!

Special thanks to NetGalley and bookouture for the ALC!

While it wasn't perfect, it was certainly entertaining.

I read this book all in one sitting; I couldn't put it down. The twists are very well-timed and literally had my jaw dropping as I was listening. Without giving too much away, I did wish Lauren's motives were more rooted in exacting revenge because I found myself rolling my eyes at a lot of her inner dialogue regarding Jay. While it def isn't a wrong choice, it's just not my favorite.

The narrator did a great job. Great debut by the author; I will certainly read her next book.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the advanced copy.

I was delighted to have the opportunity to review the audio version of The Perfect Girlfriend. This audio version was narrated brilliantly by the wonderful Katie Villa. I have listened to a few books narrated by Katie and she is a super narrator.

Now to the book. This is a really excellent read (listen) and kept my full interest the whole way through. Sometimes my attention can wander especially when listening to audios.but not with this one, I was hooked from beginning to end. It’s a psychological thriller that is full of secrets and everyone seems to be hiding something or other. When I started the book I was completely confused as to why one of the main characters made a certain decision early on I was like shouting out ‘No this is a bad idea. However more things became clear as the story progressed . Gripping and twist from start to finish, f. For a debut book this one is top class. 5⭐️

I was given the opportunity to listen to the audio book of The Perfect Girlfriend by new author Hayley Smith and it was such a good audiobook. I devoured it in a few days which is really good for me.

We meet main character Lauren who has a dark past with many secrets and she meets her partner Jay. They are swept up in a whirlwind romance and Lauren soon moves into his home. His home is in an isolated position and the reader is immersed in feeling that Lauren must feel alone near the forest. This sets the scenes for most of the novel and I found it to be quite dark at times but yet still easy enough to read.

Obviously Jay is not the perfect boyfriend either and both have deep and dark secrets that the reader learns about.

Author Hayley Smith does really well with keeping her audience invested in the novel and if you like a good read with many twists and turns then The Perfect Girlfriend is ideal.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

What a fabulous debut novel! This had so many twists and turns. Based on the blurb I wasn't sure about this one, but I saw that Katie Villa was narrating so I gave it a shot and I'm so glad I did! This deserves a better name and summary in my opinion.

We meet Lauren when she's down and out. A long, inappropriate relationship has ended that she's been blamed for, and her best friend passed away. Her family isn't very supportive so she is just looking for her place in the world.

She is traveling around with a band, playing the fiddle for them, when she meets Jay at a music festival. They spend most of the time in his camper and by the end of the festival, he's invited her to move in.

She's happy to do so and leave the drama behind but she didn't expect it to be quite so *ahem* rustic. There's a lot of work to do around there and instead of a cozy cabin, it's more like minimalistic, off-the-grid living, which she surprisingly thrives at.

Something just isn't quite right. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Jay can be intense and his friends seem to hate her. He is too elusive about his past.. but we also know that Lauren is keeping a few secrets of her own.

This story had a little bit of everything! It was all over the place, but in a good way. One thing I really appreciated was this took place over a significant period of time. Many of these stories go off the rails too quickly and the story hasn't been built. This really shows how the longer you stick around, the crazier it's going to get and the harder it is to get out of.

This book will make you feel so many different emotions. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen and review!

The Perfect Girlfriend by Hayley Smith is a skillfully written debut novel, with the pieces slotting into place at the right moments. She has paced this book perfectly.

Reading this book, I was experiencing periods of unease, mild discomfort, and maybe even some agitation. Any thriller that does that is doing exactly what it's meant to do.

Lauren and Jay meet at a music festival. Things develop between them at lightening speed, to the point that it is probably a little unhealthy how quickly they move in together. Lauren has a dark past with lots of secrets that she is leaving behind to start a new future. Little does she know that Jay has his own set of secrets. I'm talking really messed up stuff. As Lauren's past and present collide,  the story unravels.
I was eager to keep listening to this book after I made it through the first 10%. With all honesty,  I wasn't fully engaged initially, but that changed as the pace picked up and the scene was set.
There are moments where I feel like Lauren should be smarter than that (special kisses...really?). But she more then makes up for her lack of judgment as the book progresses. I grew to like her character. I would like to mention that there are several potential triggers in this book. I would recommend this book and look forward to Hayley Smith's future novels!   I have rated this book 4/5.
Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for this audiobook.

SLOOOOOOOW BURN! This had some odd goings on for sure! You jump in thinking, “of course this isn’t going to go well! You just met the guy!” I’m glad I stuck through this one as I really did like how it all ties together in the end. Love how it plays out but reader beware it’s pretty dark and strange. Nice work Hayley Smith. Thank you for letting me listen early! Also, great narrator! She did a fantastic job.

Would you take on a whole new life to investigate your best friend’s death at the risk of putting yourself in dangerous? In Hayley Smith’s latest novel, The Perfect Girlfriend, readers get to see what happens when we take investigative matters into our own hands.

Synopsis: “I smile at my boyfriend as I set the table ready for the delicious dinner that’s bubbling on the stove. I know I’m everything to him. I’ve made absolutely sure I’m his perfect match, in every way…
Jay and I have only known each other a short while, but whenever I gaze into his gorgeous green eyes, I know 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 I am, and I need to keep it that way.
Warm in Jay’s arms, I can persuade myself it’s ok that he disappears for hours when he thinks I’m asleep at night, returning the next morning, glittery eyed and tense. And I don’t mind that he likes to be in charge of our money, our time, of me. He’s just looking after me, keeping me safe from the outside world, because he loves me.
I won’t question him; I can’t challenge him. I need our relationship to work. Because I have secrets too. Jay thinks he knows me, but he doesn’t have a clue. All I have to do is play my part, and pray he never discovers just how far from perfect I really am…”
My Rating: 3.5
I’m all about reading psychological thrillers. I love their twists and turns and trying to figure out who did what any why, but I feel like this one fell a little short. Don’t get me wrong, it is a good read that will grab your attention, but it feels like it could have been two entirely different novels: a psychological thriller and contemporary women’s fiction. At times the thriller aspect took a back to mental and emotional growth from traumatic events and visa versa. With all the red flags from the very beginning, I felt like it was easier to figure out who committed the crime that Lauren threw herself into investigating. The ending was satisfying, and the character development we see between Jay and Lauren (who are polar opposites of one another in their development) is both terrifying and uplifting. I wish more detail surrounding the secondary characters and more buildup surrounding the main conflict and the strange relationship between Lauren and Jay. I wanted to know more of what Lauren was thinking and why she would stay the situation at hand. The narrator was fantastic though! In the end, I definitively recommend this book for a thriller surrounding healing and secrets. Check trigger warnings first!

I listened to an audio copy and the narrator did a good job. Overall, an enjoyable read. The story changed direction about halfway through which made it interesting. At times it was a bit slow, and the main character was frustratingly naive at times. This wasn’t the type of story with a lot of twists, but enough happened to maintain my internet. The last 2 hours were fast paced and the ending was satisfying and balanced out some of my earlier complaints.

I give this a 3.5, rounded up to 4 for the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an audio copy of The Perfect Girlfriend, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Holy crap!!! What a ride. I really enjoyed this one. It was fast paced and cringeworthy at times. You really never know what is going on and if someone is a villain or not. I listened to this one and the narrator did a great job. I am from the US and this is set in England, I think. There is a slight accent, but I was still able to listen to it at 2x the speed. There were twists and turns galore, just when you think there can't be more, there is more, and not in a bad way either. I can't even put this review into words right now. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the listen. I'll definitely be checking this author out for more.

This is strictly a NetGalley complaint. There were lots of reveals at the ends of chapters and I wanted to rewind, but it won't go back after you've completed the chapters and the tab with all the chapters have no numbers. It was difficult to figure out which section I just read to listen to the end. Or at least allow the bookmark to show on those sections. Absolutely no reflection on the book.

Lauren, a musician, got caught in a whirlwind of a romance with Jay. They now live together. Is Jay little controlling? Absolutely. But it makes Lauren feel safe because she has secrets too, so she tries to be the perfect girlfriend to him...
This is a thriller, and this author's debut novel. The premise was interesting, but it fell a little flat. I feel the main characters motivations are wobbly, and some of the twists really come from left field (you do not see them coming, which, kudos to the author, but there was no real clue that they were coming, so I felt cheated). I did like that it was a quick and fast paced read and that the characters were all well rounded up. The narration in the audio book was great.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

a typical thriller fast past and all that. good narrator and it kept me interested. it was a big choppy here and there and wasn’t a fan of the drug fuelled sex stuff but a solid thriller tbh

A brilliant thriller that’s dark and twisty. It’s creepy and addictive.

Lauren meets Jay at a music festival, moves in with him immediately, but it’s an odd relationship. She discovers things in the house that she’s very confused about.

I listened to this book and the narrator was great, very easy to follow all the characters with her different tones. Chapters are well pronounced and her voice is easy to understand.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.