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La ragazza perfetta

Gilly Macmillan (Goodreads Author),

Alessandra Maestrini (Translator)

Stefania Rega (Translator)

3.72 · Rating details · 23,219 ratings · 1,705 reviews

Agli occhi di tutti coloro che la conoscono, Zoe Maisey, prima bambina prodigio e poi genio della musica, è una ragazza perfetta. Eppure, diversi anni fa Zoe ha causato la morte di tre adolescenti. Ha scontato la sua pena, e ora potrebbe guardare al proprio futuro. La sua storia e la sua nuova vita iniziano la sera in cui tiene il concerto più importante della sua carriera ...more

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Hardcover, Nuova narrativa Newton, 448 pages

Published October 6th 2016 by Newton Compton (first published March 3rd 2016)

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3.72 ·

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· 23,219 ratings · 1,705 reviews

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May 04, 2016 Shelby *trains flying monkeys* rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: edelweiss, lifetime-movie-knockoff, read-2016

But the problem is, a high IQ doesn't necessarily mean that you're clever enough to avoid being a massive teenage cliché. Which is what I was, or what I became. Before my descent into 'teen tragedy,' that is.

Meet Zoe, she was bullied back at her expensive private school. She was the poor kid who got the scholarship to the school because she was a child genius piano player.

Zoe ends up making a mistake and it ends up with three of her classmates dead. She was fourteen at the time of the accident ...more

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Feb 05, 2017 Kaceey - Traveling Sister rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: traveling-group-read

Young teenage Zoe makes one extremely bad decision and the repercussions haunt her family for years. Now she and her mom have ventured to a new town in hopes of a fresh start.

Everyone deserves a second chance, right?

When still another tragedy strikes, Zoe understandably believes her world is crashing around her yet again.

This book started off fairly slow for me. It’s also told from several POV and timelines that occasionally I needed a program to follow. But once I fell into the rhythm, I breeze ...more

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Apr 10, 2016 Berit☀️✨ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2017, audiobooks, traveling-sisters

4 Second chance stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

The perfect daughter... The perfect mother... The perfect second chance family... but what is it that we say?

if something seems too good to be true, it probably is...

This book sucked me in from the very beginning.... it was a very fast-paced, page turning read, because I just needed to know what was going to happen with this family....

The structure of this book was brilliant... told from alternating points of view... alternating between events before and after the mur ...more

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Dec 27, 2017 Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-version, traveling-sister-reads, 2017-books

4 close, but not quite so perfect stars to The Perfect Girl ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

It only took me a couple pages to get hooked on The Perfect Girl. The structure of the book added to the swift pacing where different points of view were told at two different times - both before and after a murder. The short chapters added to the quick tempo. Lots of surprises, interesting characters, and a bird’s eye view into this family, all added up to a great book on the whole.

But you know there’s “but” in here somewhere, d ...more

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Sep 28, 2017 Crumb rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: fans of Gone Girl or Girl on the Train

Shelves: psychological-thrillers

The Perfect Girl was a perfect psychological thriller and it was perfect for this time of year. I think it started off a little slowly but gradually built up speed and it kept me turning the pages all the way through. This novel definitely had more of a somber and a macabre tone throughout but I think it fit the book to a "T."

This book alternated between Sunday night after the concert and Monday morning. Personally, I found that a little confusing, but I stuck with it and I am glad I did. That i ...more

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Mar 19, 2016 Taryn rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: received-from-publisher, librarything, mystery-suspense-thriller

Zoe Guerin is a musical prodigy with a genius IQ. Her dreams of success were shattered the night she was involved in a tragic accident that resulted in the death of three classmates. Zoe was convicted in their deaths and spent eighteen months in jail. At seventeen she has served her time and her mother Maria plans the perfect comeback--a piano recital. They live in a new community now and no one knows about Zoe's past. The plans for redemption come to a halt when the father of one of Zoe's victi ...more

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Oct 31, 2016 Linda rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thrillers

A Tale of Two Cities.......

Perhaps it's me. I am torn by this dichotomy that has been presented. I read What She Knew by this talented author. It was filled with pure compassion, deeply carved characters, and the beautiful lilt of language. I just finished The Perfect Girl and felt like I was reading a newspaper rendition. No evidence of this masterful writer.

The Perfect Girl begins with a seventeen year old genius of a musical prodigy, Zoe Maisey. A few years back, she was involved in an automo ...more

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Dec 29, 2017 Marialyce rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: traveling-sisters

3.5 stars

“When all the details fit in perfectly, something is probably wrong with the story.”

Meet Zoe Maisey, a genius, a child piano prodigy, seventeen years old, and convicted of drinking and driving which resulted in the deaths of three classmates. Her life was going to be perfect, all planned out for her, but then fate stepped in and all that changed in the blink of an eye.

Meet Maria, Zoe's mom determined to carve out a life for Zoe, after Zoe's dad leaves them bereft. Maria moves them, af ...more

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Dec 27, 2017 Susanne Strong rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: traveling-sister-read

4 Stars..

Zoe Maisey and her mother have built a new life for themselves. Even Zoe’s name is different. Everything changed within the blink of an eye. Zoe was involved in something horrific, something she paid a big price for and now, Zoe and her mother Maria have a second chance at life and a new family. The only thing that has remained a constant is Zoe’s piano playing. She and her new step brother Lucas have a concert tonight. At the end of it, tragedy strikes yet again and Zoe’s mother Maria ...more

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Jun 14, 2016 Robin rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: edelweiss, thriller, 2016, english

2.5 stars

A good thriller is tough to find.

This one centres around Zoe, a teenage piano prodigy, a victim of bullying at her expensive private school - and also a convicted killer. We are told early on that her mother Maria, is killed on the evening after a piano recital gone wrong.

There's a lot of crap going on in the background. Blended families, affairs, secrets and lies.

For me, this book had a distinct YA feel. Not only because the main character is a teenager, but also the simplicity of it ...more

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Oct 08, 2016 Brenda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I found this book compelling. I needed to know what Zoe, a 14 year old musical prodigy, had done. What mistake had she made that completely changed her life and who she was. How did she get a "Second Chance Family," but then have that go awry as well?

There is a limited number of characters, and the book is a study of these characters and their behavior. How does a teenager (we all know they are prone to poor judgment at times) recover from a disaster? How do sisters relate as adults? How does a ...more

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Feb 12, 2019 sue rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1netgalley-challenge

I really really wanted to love this book more than I did.

Top marks for the writing, the intense feelings, the plot. For me I just couldn’t get excited enough to want to keep reading it, I did of course, and it was an ok book I just wanted more.

I loved her debut.

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Oct 19, 2016 Julie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book, mystery-shelf, overdrive, psychological-thriller, thrillers

The Perfect Girl by Gilly Macmillan is a 2016 Little, Brown Book Group publication.
After having read ‘What she Knew”, I have been on the lookout for more books by Gilly Macmillan. This one popped up on my digital library service a few weeks ago and without hesitation,I placed a hold on it.
While this is a dark and twisted little tale, it is not on the same caliber as “What She Knew’. When something like that happens, disappointment can leave me feeling let down, however, after giving it some th The Perfect Girl by Gilly Macmillan is a 2016 Little, Brown Book Group publication.
After having read ‘What she Knew”, I have been on the lookout for more books by Gilly Macmillan. This one popped up on my digital library service a few weeks ago and without hesitation,I placed a hold on it.
While this is a dark and twisted little tale, it is not on the same caliber as “What She Knew’. When something like that happens, disappointment can leave me feeling let down, however, after giving it some thought, I think this novel stands on its own merits and is perhaps chillier than I initially gave it credit for.

Zoe, a musical prodigy with a promising future ahead of her, commits a huge crime, makes an irrevocable mistake that leads to unspeakable tragedy. If you were on the receiving end of this situation, you might find yourself incapable of warming up to Zoe, unable to trust her, or her motives. On the other hand, she has paid for her crimes and so perhaps she should make the most of her life from here on out, if she can.

So, when Zoe’s mother meets a widower with a son, the second chance at a happy family presents itself. But, when Zoe’s past comes calling the family quickly disintegrates and once more Zoe’s chances for a normal, happy family evaporates.
But, the situation is much darker than it appears on the surface, and in the wake of a second tragedy, Zoe sees her chance to create a new opportunity for herself….

The story is told from the first person perspectives of Tessa, Zoe’s aunt and her husband, Richard, whose marriage is teetering on the edge, as well as Zoe, her stepbrother, Lucas, and Sam, Zoe’s attorney.
The story has a sinister feel to it all throughout, and presents a number of moral dilemmas for the reader to wade through.
Every single character, except the baby, was hard to like on some level, as each of them were dishonest, manipulative, and secretive. However, there were a few characters who shook off the cobwebs and pulled themselves up, determined to face the future in a more positive way, while others will have to cope with choices that are morally ambiguous, leaving it up to the reader to ruminate on the way everything turned out, and decide if things will really work the way we hope it does for all concerned.
The characterizations, as well as the switch from past to present and the actions and rationalizations the characters provide to excuse what they did, could put some readers off, but then again, I will lay you odds this book, like all other current psychological thrillers, has been marketed as ‘for fans of ‘Gone Girl’ and ‘The Girl on a Train.’ So, if you know going in that each character is flawed, some more so than others, and are not always easy to like or cheer for, you’ll be fine.

This book could also be called, ‘The Secret Life of Teenagers’, since, despite what we want to think, they are indeed quite capable of devising cunning plots and telling smooth, nearly undetectable lies, hiding secrets, and covering up their crimes and misdemeanors. But, will they be found out in the end?
At the end of the day, what it all boils down to is whether or not you can wrap your head around the events that transpire over a relatively short period of time and if you agree with the actions and choices the characters made, and the motives behind them.
I thought his story was constructed very well, the suspense was solid, although not tense enough to prompt nail biting, but the twists were terrific and made me wonder if maybe a little poetic justice was worth it in the end. You tell me.
So, overall, I enjoyed this book for the most part, although it is not the strongest outing for this author.

3.5 stars
...more

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Nov 27, 2015 Brenda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016-release, suspense, psychological-thriller, borrowed-from-library

Zoe and Lucas were almost ready – the first performance for Zoe since the accident – and her first performance with her step-brother by her side. The nerves were vibrating in them both, both in different ways. But Zoe knew once her fingers touched the keys and Lucas was playing beside her, she would be fine; they would be fine. Zoe’s mother Maria had been the instigator of this concert and also Zoe’s biggest supporter. But the monumental disturbance in the middle of their recital was the beginni ...more

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Nov 03, 2017 Nikki rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: traveling-sisters-reads

This was my first Gilly Macmillan read. I struggled with an exact rating on this one, so I’m landing somewhere around a 3.75 to 4 stars. And here’s why:

Wow. The beginning of this book was great. It sucked me in quickly, and I could not put it down. The chapters are very short, and they alternate between different characters’ perspectives. The Perfect Girl is a psychological thriller that tells the story of Zoe Maisey and her Second Chance Family. The events of the book take place within a 24+ h This was my first Gilly Macmillan read. I struggled with an exact rating on this one, so I’m landing somewhere around a 3.75 to 4 stars. And here’s why:

Wow. The beginning of this book was great. It sucked me in quickly, and I could not put it down. The chapters are very short, and they alternate between different characters’ perspectives. The Perfect Girl is a psychological thriller that tells the story of Zoe Maisey and her Second Chance Family. The events of the book take place within a 24+ hour period, intermingled with flashbacks and references to the past. We learn about Zoe’s life and her previous involvement in a tragic accident, while reading and learning about another tragic accident that has taken place during this 24 hour window. Hats off to the author for creating this interesting scenario and packing so much into such a short timeframe. I was very impressed with her ability to do this!

That being said, here is where my rating started to falter. While I felt the beginning started off strong and intense, I felt the book started to lose momentum towards the later half/end. There are several important characters (Zoe, Maria, Tessa, Lucas, etc.) in this book, and their stories and perspectives on the events are crucial. However, there are secondary characters that I felt received more mention or focus than deemed necessary. And, to me, it took away from the storyline a bit. Also, while I praise the author for creating an intriguing story within such a small timeframe, it also seemed to hinder the story a bit. I felt maybe it drug on a little too long, when it could have been wrapped up earlier. Nevertheless, it kept my attention, and it kept me reading and reading and reading and WANTING to know how it was going to end. So for that, it’s almost a four star rating.

When I finished the book, what I kept thinking about most was the title: The Perfect Girl. I do not want to say too much and will let everyone form their own thoughts and opinions, but the title fascinated me. Who is The Perfect Girl in this story? Who wants to be The Perfect Girl? Is there such a thing? What an interesting title that can be left open to interpretation. I will leave you to ponder on that and draw your own conclusions! :) Enjoy!

This was another fun Traveling Sisters read with Brenda, Kaceey, Berit, Jennifer, Marialyce, and Susanne. Thanks for great comments and conversations, Sisters! ...more

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Aug 22, 2016 Joanne Harris added it · review of another edition

This book, kindly sent to me by the publisher, is heavily marketed to those readers who enjoyed THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN and GONE GIRL. Full disclosure: I didn't much like either of those, and so it's not all that surprising that this one didn't grip me either. I wish it had: the basic premise is pretty good, and if you did enjoy GONE GIRL and the little flotilla of similarly-marketed novels that followed in its wake, you'll probably like this one, too. The reasons I didn't are probably more to do ...more

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Nov 27, 2015 Dale Harcombe rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Four a half stars.
After reading her earlier book Burnt Paper Sky, I was thrilled to bits to win an ARC from The Reading Room and the publisher. Originally titled Butterfly in the Dark it has undergone a change of name and is now The Perfect Girl. Perfect the book is not, but it is an absolutely compelling read about Zoe, a teenage musical prodigy and her family. In her other life, Zoe was convicted of having caused the death of their teenagers. Now she is back trying to resurrect the career that ...more

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Feb 17, 2016 Michael rated it really liked it · review of another edition

It is fair to say that this an "it" book. You only have to look at the front cover to see the dreaded (for me at least) line, "for anyone who loved The Girl on the Train, It's a must-read". While this is not uncommon being compared to big name books it does heighten my expectations. It also means the book lives or dies by what it delivers. Can it live up to those lofty pieces of praise.

Originally titled Butterfly in the Dark, the story revolves around teenage musical prodigy Zoe Maisey. Years ea ...more

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Aug 01, 2016 Bethan Watson rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, thriller-mystery

Zoe Guerin is a musical prodigy child genius. The story begins on a Sunday night, as Zoe, after causing the death of three teenagers and serving time for it, is about to make her musical comeback with her step-brother Lucas. She didn’t know that her mother would be dead by midnight.

This story is a gripping psychological thriller with a very intricate timeline, with only a few pages to each chapter. The writing was snappy and concise and flowed very well. At first, when I read ‘For anyone that l ...more

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Jul 15, 2016 Liz Barnsley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: addictive-thrillers, highly-recommended, received-via-netgalley

As a huge fan of “Burnt Paper Sky” I had that little worry that the second novel could not possibly be as good but noooooooo worries there – The Perfect Girl is a bang on target read, addictive, emotional, very intense at times with some really fascinating characters and a story with a few little twists in the tale…

So Zoe then, she was a pretty typical teenager except for her outstanding musical talent, but the typical teenager part threatened to destroy all that when one night at a party ended ...more

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Oct 22, 2016 Li'l Owl rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: uk-author-setting, stand-alone, owl-s-audible-audiobooks-own, mystery-crime-suspense-thriller

17 year old Zoe and her mum, Maria, are just beginning a brand new life ninety miles away from where they lived before, secure in the knowledge that they've successfully left the past behind for good. It's as if it never existed.
Maria has married Chris and now Zoe has a step brother, Lucas, and a new baby sister, Grace. Chris and Lucas have no idea what Zoe and her mum are hiding and neither one talks about her life "before." Zoe thinks that only she and her mum know about her past.

They were wr ...more

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Dec 13, 2016 Kris - My Novelesque Life rated it liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: fans of suspense

THE PERFECT GIRL
Written by Gilly Macmillan
2016; 448 Pages (William Morrow)
Genre: suspense, psychological thriller

RATING: 3 STARS

Here we go again with another "Girl" book. The girl in this case is Zoe Maisey, a music prodigy, and she was perfect, once. One day Zoe is a good girl and the next she is serving time for causing the death of three fellow teens. She is now out and trying to get her life back. Her mother, in a new marriage with a stepson and a child with her new husband, puts Zoe back in ...more

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Oct 01, 2016 Rachel Hall rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The Perfect Girl is a touchingly profound story of a parent fulfilling their dreams through their child and simultaneously a heartbreaking insight into just how a parents misplaced nurturing can focus undo emphasis on one aspect of a child's character, honing it to the point of obsession and thereby coming to define a child by their ability. This is a tragic story which should be compulsory reading for all parents nowadays and it is both a poignant and deeply thought provoking read. In an increa The Perfect Girl is a touchingly profound story of a parent fulfilling their dreams through their child and simultaneously a heartbreaking insight into just how a parents misplaced nurturing can focus undo emphasis on one aspect of a child's character, honing it to the point of obsession and thereby coming to define a child by their ability. This is a tragic story which should be compulsory reading for all parents nowadays and it is both a poignant and deeply thought provoking read. In an increasingly competitive world where gaining the edge is at the forefront of every parents mind as they launch their offspring into the 'survival of the fittest culture' of the modern world, The Perfect Girl is more relevant than ever.

Precociously talented pianist Zoe Guerin is the epitome of a gifted child at the age of fourteen, but one mistake leads to a very spectacular fall from grace and has seismic repercussions. As a music scholar at a prestigious school she is made well aware of her status as 'official pond life' and the Popular Girls that rule the roost are very keen to make sure that she knows her place. Bullied and with her self-esteem cripplingly low, she is attracted to the fringes of the hangers-on that ache to be cool and fit in amongst the Popular Girls. Until one mistake changes all of that, and Zoe's life becomes a question of "what if's" and shows just how fickle fate can be. Taking what she thinks is the most sensible decision in the circumstances and driving her drunken best friend home one moment of lapsed concentration leaves Zoe facing responsibility for the deaths of three teens whilst driving under the influence of drink. A damning charge for anyone, even more so for a fourteen-year-old who should never have been behind the wheel in the first place and swears blind she never knowingly consumed excessive alcohol. Sentenced to eighteen-months in a Secure Unit, mother Maria's life descends into free fall as her determination to save Zoe's promise and obvious potential drives a wedge between her and husband, Philip. Until that is Maria, Zoe's Key Worker at the Unit, Jason and her sister, Tessa come to the agreement that her talent could also be her route to redemption.

As Zoe performs her first recital post life in the Secure Unit, now living anonymously under the name Zoe Maisey in a suburb of Bristol, complicit in keeping her past a closely guarded secret from step-father, Chris and his son, Lucas, she understands the strained tension which reigns inside the confines of her new home. Perceptively coined as her Second Chance Life, step-brother, Lucas and Zoe take to the stage and begin a duet, only for an furious outburst from a grieving parent of one of the children left dead in the car accident to throw her new life up into the air. Just hours later that Sunday evening Zoe's mother, Maria, is dead. The synopsis tells readers of Maria's fate prior to the outset of the novel, and builds on the heightened anxiety in the aftermath of the outburst and Gilly Macmillan makes her readers wait for the horrific event. The timeframe of Sunday night through to Monday morning is placed under a microscopic spotlight as Macmillan delivers a blow by blow account of the drama that unfolds, allowing glimpses into Zoe's past to drip feed through to form a clearer picture of just what has brought her and the ever supportive Maria to this point. Emotions are clearly worn on sleeves and in the heady aftermath of the downfall of the Second Chance Family in the Second Chance Life granted to her, Zoe's on-point narrative also reveals her estrangement from her natural father, Philip. Zoe is hugely thankful for her post Secure Unit shot at a new life and although she is sensible enough to acknowledge the instability of her mother, Zoe's willingness to go along with the charade and keep her past secret from Chris shows just how firmly devoted to her mother she is.

Zoe is an easy person to vie for but the reality is that she has seen and heard enough during her time in the Secure Unit to understand that her history cannot be erased and she is "damaged property", with the knowledge that her reputation that will often go before her. To all intents and purposes, Zoe was sober when she took the wheel of the car and someone's else's testimony was her downfall. In Zoe's eyes her honesty was never rewarded in the ensuing trial, reflecting just how flawed the justice system can be. Inevitably it is this knowledge which is at the forefront of Zoe's mind in the closing stages of the novel and the most lasting reflection of her time inside has shown her that there is a often a stark difference between the truth and the hand that the justice system deals out. Sometimes the system is flawed and it was a source of real pity for me that at the age of seventeen Zoe is sceptical of how unjust this can be. That Zoe is cynical in the wake of her mothers death and to some extent plays the system is understandable as she factors in the implications of the nightmare that she finds herself amidst.

Written using multiple points of view offered by Zoe, her aunt Tessa and her solicitor, Sam Locke, this is a heartbreakingly sad novel. Sam, like many of the professionals who came into contact with Zoe during the course of her prior life is profoundly sympathetic, and his impartial observer commentary reveals his sadness at just how Zoe's future has been compromised, neither deserved or in the least bit reflective of her behaviour in general. Sam is emotionally drawn into the plight of her situation by his burgeoning relationship with Zoe's aunt Tessa. Not hearing from step-father Chris but merely observing his brooding menace as he struts around his perfect home emphasises the threat that he poses over the fragile calm that holds court in Zoe and Maria's Second Life. Zoe's fiercely ironic humour and sharp wit is wonderfully incisive, often cutting through the futility of a life spent papering over the cracks. Zoe does not expect to eschew her responsibilities for her behaviour, but the unfairness of her honesty resulting in a guilty outcome at her trial does stick in her throat and undoubtedly plays a part in her knowledge that she has to take control of her destiny in the wake of Maria's death. Admittedly both Tessa and Sam sympathise with the situation that Zoe finds herself in, and perhaps a voice from her past, either natural dad, Philip, or a parent of one of the teens whose lives were taken would have added a contrasting opinion and perhaps made for a more balanced feel towards the attitudes of a young girl who made one fatal mistake.

In hindsight, perhaps the ending is tied up a little neatly, but The Perfect Girl is an engrossing read that poses so many important questions about nurturing our children that I reflected long and hard. Gilly Macmillan delivers a brilliant portrayal of a girl who deserved better, not simply shoehorned into a home life bound by strict adherences to social conventions. Insightful step-brother, Lucas is Zoe's only ally within the home and they both see what their parents trying to hold up the proverbial house of cards. The suspense element of The Perfect Girl is limited as readers know Maria's outcome and despite racing through this book, I did have a very strong inclination of what the future would hold for Zoe, Lucas and baby Grace. The Perfect Girl is less a thriller, more a touching insight into a bright future comprised by one mistake. To Zoe, piano playing is never considered as a gift, but rather something that she works hard at, practising for hours. Whether Zoe pursues her piano playing as avidly as she does knowing that it is her mother Maria's wish seems likely, although this is never addressed by Macmillan. The Perfect Girl is a sharp insight into how damaging the bond between a parent and child simply trying to do their best for each other can be.

The Perfect Girl is at times an uncomfortable read as the spotlight is turned onto Zoe's future but it left me with plenty of food for thought and has also introduced me to Gilly Macmillan, whose highly rated debut, Burnt Paper Sky (now re-titled What She Knew) is firmly in my sights! The sub-plot of Tessa, married to alcoholic husband, Richard and drawn to sensitive solicitor, Sam adds a frisson of tension to proceedings and I was pleased that Gilly Macmillan also provided a resolution to both this and Zoe's future into the close. ...more

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Sep 25, 2016 Emma rated it liked it · review of another edition

3.5 stars

The writing in this one was spot on: it gave the book a dark, hopeless feel that underlined the plot. Even the attitudes and personalities of the characters fit into this unhappy pathology- whiny, paranoid, damaged. There's no real happiness here, it had the equivalent effect of a film scene opening with darkened skies, pouring rain, shadows, and a creaking old timber house with broken windows. You know bad s*** is going to happen.

(view spoiler) ...more

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Mar 17, 2017 Mackey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller-suspense, my-reviews

To say that The Perfect Girl was a real page turner would be an understatement for me. Once I read the first page I didn't stop reading until I completely finished the book! That rarely happens...
The storyline appears simple enough: child prodigy, once in trouble with the law, now making a comeback but suddenly her mother is murdered. However, there is SO much more to this story and so much history with the characters within the story that nothing at all is simple. Nothing. Not even the ending.
T ...more

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Dec 11, 2015 Judy Collins rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016-releases, gilly-macmillan, books-read-in-2016, suspense, psychological-suspense, psychological-thriller, thriller

Gilly Macmillan returns following What She Knew with her second gripping psychological thriller, THE PERFECT GIRL -a hypnotic literary domestic suspense mystery; a teen, a family of dark secrets, a performance, and the lengths they will go to protect those they love.

How small initial differences may lead to large unforeseen consequences over time. A first and second life. Is there hope for a third? A Sunday Night performance—before and after.

Set in Bristol, Zoe Maisey, a musical prodigy—a ...more

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Apr 25, 2016 Ellen Gail rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: edelweiss, girls-girls-girls

Well it's certainly a high three stars. 3.684? Maybe? There were certainly a few 1/10 deductions. I have to think on it a bit. But for right now I feel pretty comfortable saying that I liked parts of The Perfect Girl, certainly more than Macmillan's previous novel What She Knew. It's a pretty solid read, though not without balance issues, and it fails to stick the landing.

Yes I've been watching Olympic gymnastics nonstop. No I will not stop and be productive.

Zoe's a convicted killer. There are ...more

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Sep 20, 2016 Yellagirlgc rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: edelweiss, reviewed-books, 2016-brok

3.25

This is a difficult review to write. On one hand I liked the suspense aspect of the book but I don't think I really connected to the characters. Zoe is a musical prodigy that was convicted of a terrible crime. It destroyed her family. Her mum has married again and had a new child. Her and Zoe call it their Second Chance Family. They might need more that two chances to get this right....
I received a copy from Edelweiss and the publisher for my honest opinion.

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May 17, 2016 TL marked it as dnf · review of another edition

Shelves: goodreads-giveaways

I received this via Goodreads FirstReads giveaways in exchange for an honest review.
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DNF at page 106

Couldn't get into it, was bored and couldn't connect with anyone or anything in the story.

I have one of her other books in my pile so I'll still give it a try one day down the road.

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

Jul 22, 2017 Monica rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-stars

Just fantastic!! The book moves quickly from the first page throughout the entire journey. Lots of surprises. I enjoyed the changing narrators, it added a great layer to the story. Highly recommend!

flag 13 likes · Like · see review

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About Gilly Macmillan

Gilly Macmillan

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Gilly Macmillan is the New York Times bestselling author of WHAT SHE KNEW (previously published as BURNT PAPER SKY in some territories), THE PERFECT GIRL, ODD CHILD OUT & I KNOW YOU KNOW. THE NANNY is coming in 2019.

Gilly is Edgar Award nominated and an ITW award finalist. Her books have been translated into over 20 languages.

She grew up in Swindon, Wiltshire and also lived in Northern Califor ...more