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Girl Bully
Oh, the things we will do for our children.
Pamela Bowman is a confident, strong, eye-catching woman, but she hasn't always been as secure in her skin as she is now. Growing up, she was neglected and unwanted by her family. After ending up a ward of the state and getting passed around from one foster home to another, Pam realized she had to fend for herself. No one was looking out for her but her.
Once Pam was old enough, she decided to take control of her destiny; her life was going to be what she made out of it. After graduating from law school and finding the perfect husband, she felt that she had succeeded in this endeavor. The ideal life lay before her; everyone around her was eating out of the palm of her hand.
Pamela along with her husband Howard, and their daughter Lucille have to relocate from their cushy home in Alabama to the harsh street of Chicago. Once there, Pam realized she was losing herself and needed to justify this immediately. She was no longer everyone's primary focus, and the lack of attention was seeping into her psyche.
It wasn't until Pam's daughter, Lucille, reached eleven years old, the same age that Pam had been when her life was flipped upside down that she started to gain some motherly instincts. Pam had never felt the maternal force, the bond between mother and child that everyone talked about. However, once a threat showed its ugly face around Lucille, Pam became overwhelmed by a need to keep it away.
Little did she know that the more she tried to take control, the more she lost it.
If you always have high expectations in life, you will almost always be disappointed. Be careful who you think are weak links; they may end up destroying you in the end.
Pamela Bowman is a confident, strong, eye-catching woman, but she hasn't always been as secure in her skin as she is now. Growing up, she was neglected and unwanted by her family. After ending up a ward of the state and getting passed around from one foster home to another, Pam realized she had to fend for herself. No one was looking out for her but her.
Once Pam was old enough, she decided to take control of her destiny; her life was going to be what she made out of it. After graduating from law school and finding the perfect husband, she felt that she had succeeded in this endeavor. The ideal life lay before her; everyone around her was eating out of the palm of her hand.
Pamela along with her husband Howard, and their daughter Lucille have to relocate from their cushy home in Alabama to the harsh street of Chicago. Once there, Pam realized she was losing herself and needed to justify this immediately. She was no longer everyone's primary focus, and the lack of attention was seeping into her psyche.
It wasn't until Pam's daughter, Lucille, reached eleven years old, the same age that Pam had been when her life was flipped upside down that she started to gain some motherly instincts. Pam had never felt the maternal force, the bond between mother and child that everyone talked about. However, once a threat showed its ugly face around Lucille, Pam became overwhelmed by a need to keep it away.
Little did she know that the more she tried to take control, the more she lost it.
If you always have high expectations in life, you will almost always be disappointed. Be careful who you think are weak links; they may end up destroying you in the end.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2020
64 people are currently reading
448 people want to read
About the author
Leigh M. Hall
16 books373 followersLeigh is a believer in fairytales, the kind that keep some people up at night.
She lives in Texas with her family of gremlins and their amazing dogs. Not only does she love the heat, but she is preparing herself just in case there, in fact, will be a hell at the end of all this.
Growing up, she spent most of her time in the land of fictional characters and kept her head buried in a book. With ideas continually running around in her strange mind, she decided to dip her toes into writing.
Leigh published her first novel, Girl Bully (a best-selling psychological thriller), in 2020. Since then, she has published many more intensely dark and captivating novels. Many of her books can be listened to through Audible and Apple books.
Leigh loves staying in touch with her fans. You can follow her through her newsletter and many social media sites. She is very active in the writing community. You can find her at an in-person signing at any point during the year, including the incredible Wild Dead Wood Reads held during Wild Bills days in South Dakota every summer. She also attends Wanderlust in San Antonio, Texas, an event known for attracting a plethora of different readers.
Over the last few years, Leigh has been very busy building her career as a writer. She is a Houston Writer’s Guild member and an active in-person member/contributor to the 20 books community. She is also a sponsoring author for The Bookworm Box/Bookbonanza, a Texas-based charity bookstore, and event. As of 2022, Leigh is now an associate member of International Thriller Writers (ITW).
She lives in Texas with her family of gremlins and their amazing dogs. Not only does she love the heat, but she is preparing herself just in case there, in fact, will be a hell at the end of all this.
Growing up, she spent most of her time in the land of fictional characters and kept her head buried in a book. With ideas continually running around in her strange mind, she decided to dip her toes into writing.
Leigh published her first novel, Girl Bully (a best-selling psychological thriller), in 2020. Since then, she has published many more intensely dark and captivating novels. Many of her books can be listened to through Audible and Apple books.
Leigh loves staying in touch with her fans. You can follow her through her newsletter and many social media sites. She is very active in the writing community. You can find her at an in-person signing at any point during the year, including the incredible Wild Dead Wood Reads held during Wild Bills days in South Dakota every summer. She also attends Wanderlust in San Antonio, Texas, an event known for attracting a plethora of different readers.
Over the last few years, Leigh has been very busy building her career as a writer. She is a Houston Writer’s Guild member and an active in-person member/contributor to the 20 books community. She is also a sponsoring author for The Bookworm Box/Bookbonanza, a Texas-based charity bookstore, and event. As of 2022, Leigh is now an associate member of International Thriller Writers (ITW).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
August 28, 2020
Loved it. Couldn’t put it down. Literally read it in one weekend. I thought I knew the direction it was taking me then it went somewhere else. I hate when you read a book and the plot is so typical and predictable. This book was definitely not that! Kept my attention page after page! I want more!!!!
August 27, 2020
I was informed that if I didn’t read this book, I would be flogged in the streets..
I’m so glad it was pushed into my hands. I could not put it down until it was over. The outcome of events after investing time of being drawn in, blew my mind.
Can not wait to see what comes next!
I’m so glad it was pushed into my hands. I could not put it down until it was over. The outcome of events after investing time of being drawn in, blew my mind.
Can not wait to see what comes next!
February 2, 2022
There is a lot to unpack in this review, so please be aware of spoilers.
When I started reading this book, I was not enjoying it. I’ll admit- for 100 pages or so, I was so turned off from the style of this book. If I hadn’t been determined to see what happens, I might have DNFed it. There is a lot of telling- which isn’t a bad thing- but it read more like a memoir, and with the main character being a rather unemotional, darkly minded person, this could get dry at times. I will admit to being bored during some of the set up, wondering where the plot would kick in.
But when it kicked in, it REALLY kicked in. This book goes underneath a drastic change- my review alone went from a two to a four start just based on the final 170 pages. There are some truly interesting writing methods used in this book that I really enjoyed; including dark fantasies highlighted by incredibly heavy music, which was well done, in my opinion. I really got to get a feel for the main character, who has some severe issues. This book is not for the light hearted- there is a scene that includes rape with a strap on, in which the main character truly thinks she did nothing wrong, and it nearly made me set the book down. Later sex scenes in the book, however, were pretty well done. I don’t often read erotica, but I’ve written it and read it enough to be able to tell good from bad- and the sexual content of this book is not only well written, but it’s used sparingly. This isn’t an erotica book, and the sex served only to tell the story, which I enjoyed. I also enjoyed subtle moments between Pam and her husband, and a genuine bond that began to show as the book went on. Lines like, “This is why I picked him” and “Isn’t he great?” Earned a smile from me, I love those sorts of subtle shows of affection.
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from the storyline, as I didn’t really pay much attention to the blurb on the back- I wanted to experience it firsthand. When little girls started dying, things started clicking into place. The interest skyrocketed, as Pam struggled with her emotions to seemingly being in a place of blame for the death of the first girl- and then definitely being negligent in the death of the second girl, or so it seemed. There were so many ways to go with this, and my mind wandered to every possibility. Was she having a mental breakdown? Did she murder those girls and then not know it? Was there a false narrative? She certainly seemed willing to kill the third of the pretty princesses, much more so than the other two. I also wondered whether someone else was involved. Ricky, Hubby, her sweet little daughter who seemed to be the most innocent person in the entire book, maybe one of the other moms.
I won’t make any reveals here, but the ending blew me out of the water. While the telling narrative took time to grow used to, it ended up being exactly how this book needed to be told. The story is solid, and the end hits hard. I didn’t see it coming, not even slightly- which is rare for me, as thrillers are usually my bread and butter. This book is cleverly written, and though there were many moments that made me shudder from what was happening. Ms. Hall didn’t pull any punches, and as a fan of horror and thrillers, I love and respect that greatly.
Another thing that stunned me was that Pam, the main character, started out as an unemotional, uncaring, politically minded woman. I almost thought she was sociopathic, until things started to show that, no, she had emotions- but she was very detached. I wondered if I could connect to a character who couldn’t connect. But I found that by the end of the novel, I sympathized greatly for Pam and the way things ended up. This book took an unemotional, cunning woman, and turned her into a great tragedy, someone you wanted to see saved- and that takes masterful writing.
Overall, I would recommend this book, with a bit of caution. Firstly, because of its slow start, I think a lot of people might struggle to enjoy it if they don’t have the patience to keep reading. I know people who DNF a book after 50 pages- this book probably isn’t for those people. You have to be willing to wait for the payoff, which I think is incredibly worth the wait. Secondly, I would caution people who read this due to its content. Sexual content, child content, swearing, violence. It’s done tastefully, in my opinion, and done believably, but it still has a shock factor that even I wasn’t expecting. For those not scared of reading difficult, shocking moments, I couldn’t recommend this book enough- it really was one of the more exhilarating reads I’ve had in awhile. I was glued to it by the end, and I almost wish there were to be a sequel.
August 29, 2020
What can I say... this writer is INSANE!! Glad she let me in that mind!!!
November 10, 2020
This is a MUST READ! I couldn't put it down from the moment I started reading! The book is not for the faint of heart.
April 22, 2021
OMG, so amazing! This book kept my nose in it for two days! Normally it takes me much longer to read a book. Looking forward to up and coming books! Such a great book and an awesome author!
October 27, 2020
I never leave actual reviews but for this I had to. This is the debut novel by up and coming author Leigh M Hall. From the 1st page to the last this book keeps you in it's grip and doesn't let go. There were moments that make you cringe, moments that make you laugh, and a whole lot of moments that make you say WTF.. poor poor Mrs Pamela Bowman ( that's all I'm gonna say because I don't want to spoil anything)
August 27, 2020
I could not put this book down. And I have two toddlers so they were severely neglected until I finished it.
I am definitely impressed by how much character build there is, and the process it takes for Pamela Bowman to get from the roughshod childhood she was born into, to the upscale world she eventually claimed for herself, and to doing what she has to do to keep it. I am not one for erotica usually, but these scenes had me re-reading parts of the book, with the fan switched to HIGH on my hot-blooded body.
The content is well thought out. The dialogue between characters and the inner thoughts of Pamela felt very real. The animosity between frenemies is spot on. And I absolutely loved the ending; it is as it should be.
I can’t wait to read any future releases from this author!
I am definitely impressed by how much character build there is, and the process it takes for Pamela Bowman to get from the roughshod childhood she was born into, to the upscale world she eventually claimed for herself, and to doing what she has to do to keep it. I am not one for erotica usually, but these scenes had me re-reading parts of the book, with the fan switched to HIGH on my hot-blooded body.
The content is well thought out. The dialogue between characters and the inner thoughts of Pamela felt very real. The animosity between frenemies is spot on. And I absolutely loved the ending; it is as it should be.
I can’t wait to read any future releases from this author!
Read
May 7, 2021Spicy and juicy, reminds me of a taco. I love tacos!
Modern day rags to somewhat riches story of a young girl cast aside by her family. Pamela is determined to make her future far better than her past. Following Pamela through her childhood is a little heartbreaking but you will start to root her on once she gains control and starts steering it in the direction she wants it to go in.
Great character build up, lots of back story that will take you on a disturbing yet exciting ride. A few fun and crazy WTF and erotic moments that will keep you turning the pages for more.
Modern day rags to somewhat riches story of a young girl cast aside by her family. Pamela is determined to make her future far better than her past. Following Pamela through her childhood is a little heartbreaking but you will start to root her on once she gains control and starts steering it in the direction she wants it to go in.
Great character build up, lots of back story that will take you on a disturbing yet exciting ride. A few fun and crazy WTF and erotic moments that will keep you turning the pages for more.
November 16, 2020
Hall’s voice speaks to everyone on some level. This is a brave book. Not for the faint of heart. Pam is a representative of a strong female in the dark world that we live in. She still finds light and hope in the important aspects of life. Pam is a great model for an individual dealing with interior demons of her past. I also found myself laughing at times. Hall finds a way to veil some of the atrocities of man with witty author narration. For example, Pam says, “It didn’t take long for me to rise above the misgivings of my childhood and grab life by the balls.”
November 18, 2020
Warning - this book is decidedly not for the faint at heart! I’m not usually into psychological thrillers but made an exception for this one.
I had to read it in bits and pieces but dang. If you like twisted mental mind games stuff this is the book for you!
Overall I enjoyed it. Flowed smoothly enough, well written for a first time author.
I had to read it in bits and pieces but dang. If you like twisted mental mind games stuff this is the book for you!
Overall I enjoyed it. Flowed smoothly enough, well written for a first time author.
October 18, 2020
WOOOOOOWWWW
All I can say is WOW!!! This book was absolutely perfect! I love the way the characters were built up. I love how the author had all the twists and turns keeping you guessing. I figured it was the little girl after they found the hammer. But the way the ending played out was so crazy!!!! This is my first read from this author and I am now a HUGE FAN!!!!!
All I can say is WOW!!! This book was absolutely perfect! I love the way the characters were built up. I love how the author had all the twists and turns keeping you guessing. I figured it was the little girl after they found the hammer. But the way the ending played out was so crazy!!!! This is my first read from this author and I am now a HUGE FAN!!!!!
October 19, 2020
This is the 1st book I've read written by Leigh M. Hall; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I can’t wait to read more of her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
October 7, 2020
An exciting page turner. Great book to curl up with on a rainy day with a cup of coffee. Good plot development and a perfect ending. Excited to see more books from her!
June 13, 2022
Twist and turns that you don't see coming! This writer put her soul into this book. Job well done!!!! I started to read this book while my kids went to a little town event just to pass time but then I found myself not wanting to put it down it grabbed ahold of me and I had to read every little part of it. The day ended up being a fast food night because I could not focus on anything else but this book. It's a must read.
November 11, 2020
This book was exciting. I couldn't put my kindle down for a second. However I did not expect that ending. I was a little disappointed. Overall I think the book was a success.
January 6, 2021
Absolutely AMAZING book!!!!
June 6, 2022
A good read, parts were predictable but an ending I did not expect
October 3, 2022
Really got into this book! The character is so believeable and likable. She's not your average bully, she's incredibly logical, I found myself supporting her and her choices lol. Great thriller. Onto the Novella
September 15, 2020
Let me start by saying that I'm not a big reader in general. It usually takes me FOREVER to finish a book; but I couldn't put this one down! This book grabs you from the start. My heart broke for the main character and what she went through as a youth. I couldn't help but root for her to reach her goals as she got older. I love how real Hall made the characters. Even some of the angry or insecure inner thoughts that we all have but don't admit to. The plot has so many twists and surprises; I was completely sucked in wanting to see what happens next!! There are definitely some jaw dropping moments and some uncomfortable moments. They all played their part in making this book a fantastic read! If you're on the fence with this book, do yourself a favor and just get it!!! SO GOOD!!
October 21, 2020
This is a good thrilling read. With good characters that lead you into a fascinating storyline. I’d recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 6, 2020
Wow, I was taken out of my every day life into the world of the elite status. I immediately began to analyze every aspect of the book for the first 2 chapters. Then, I was in the book, it got me, I got it.
I was excited to be in the life of Pamela aka Patty. My review, can not do this dangerously, twisted , adventure any more creditably, other than you need to just read it.
I take great pride in always being a step ahead of what is coming next. For the most part, I did call it on some of the twist and turns. However, I missed the mark on the ending. No spoiler alerts from me.
I am still reeling from this read and I already want more. I needed this one and it help me realize how great my life is and that maybe I am okay after all, or am I??????
I was excited to be in the life of Pamela aka Patty. My review, can not do this dangerously, twisted , adventure any more creditably, other than you need to just read it.
I take great pride in always being a step ahead of what is coming next. For the most part, I did call it on some of the twist and turns. However, I missed the mark on the ending. No spoiler alerts from me.
I am still reeling from this read and I already want more. I needed this one and it help me realize how great my life is and that maybe I am okay after all, or am I??????
January 22, 2021
Whoa. What an intense read! With graphic details and tons of inner dialogue, you get a full sense of who the main character is. (Now, whether you like her or not...that's a whole other story.) Even through some of the more graphic scenes, there was something that kept pulling me back in to see what was going to happen next. I'm glad I did. The end was delicious! This is a thriller I'd recommend to anyone who loves a good scream.
June 5, 2021
The main character is the victim of child abuse and becomes an adult with unresolved anger issues. While the reader feels for her she becomes easy to dislike due to the severe bully she becomes. She becomes a despicable human but yet we still want to understand her. A pacey fast moving novel with disturbing yet intriguing themes. Great job!
October 2, 2021
This was an awesome book there were a few moments that caught me by surprise but I enjoyed the writing very much. I will definitely pick up more from this author in the future.
September 5, 2021
Hmmm
I honestly can’t tell you if I liked this or not. I’m really on the fence. I found I couldn’t put it down even though it did have a lot of spelling errors and what not. It reads almost like a diary format of Pams day to day life but her disconnection from everything really keeps you just right there. I honestly think Pam loves her daughter but doesn’t understand that’s what it is. She does all these things to protect her but makes herself believe it boils down to image. I didn’t but I also did see that ending coming. It still felt like I was shocked. Idk I felt like she would win and I was rooting for her. Like I said I’m on the fence and I can’t get the emotions in check because this is an adult vs preteens and just coming of age teens. Of course you can’t condone this at all but she has dd so it’s just all messed up. I give up on explaining. It’s a good read, it’s messed up, you can’t decide if you like Pam or hate her, there are spelling & grammar issues, it’s writing style is different from what I’m use to. It’s a to each their own type of read.
I honestly can’t tell you if I liked this or not. I’m really on the fence. I found I couldn’t put it down even though it did have a lot of spelling errors and what not. It reads almost like a diary format of Pams day to day life but her disconnection from everything really keeps you just right there. I honestly think Pam loves her daughter but doesn’t understand that’s what it is. She does all these things to protect her but makes herself believe it boils down to image. I didn’t but I also did see that ending coming. It still felt like I was shocked. Idk I felt like she would win and I was rooting for her. Like I said I’m on the fence and I can’t get the emotions in check because this is an adult vs preteens and just coming of age teens. Of course you can’t condone this at all but she has dd so it’s just all messed up. I give up on explaining. It’s a good read, it’s messed up, you can’t decide if you like Pam or hate her, there are spelling & grammar issues, it’s writing style is different from what I’m use to. It’s a to each their own type of read.
May 6, 2024
"Girl Bully" by Leigh M. Hall is a fantastically written book that keeps the reader engaged with its well-crafted plot and intriguing characters. The story may start off slow, but it eventually picks up pace and leaves the readers wanting more at the end of each chapter. The main character, Pamela Bowman, a woman who embodies grit and relentless dedication. After relocating to Chicago from the South, for her husband's legal career, Pamela faces new challenges in fitting in and maintaining her social status. The transition is far from smooth sailing. Pamela suddenly finds herself struggling, fighting tooth and nail to maintain her social status in unfamiliar territory. She's determined to leave no stone unturned in her quest for success, fiercely protecting her daughter along the way. It's a thrilling tale of shock and ambition that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
July 10, 2022
control
I enjoyed this, a story of a life started with the deck stacked against one young girl, who had dreams and goals . Sadly they are usually unreachable. But this woman rewrote her past, changed her name and kept her eye on the prize. She became a woman confident & in control surrounding herself with those that she can “groom” to reach the top, to become a power couple, a name all those that are someone, knows and impressed by.
Things surely can be knocked off track or become a threat, but it can be controlled after all she successfully controlled the narrative in her world till now. Will everything end up the way wanted, or will the past always catch up to the present?
I enjoyed this, a story of a life started with the deck stacked against one young girl, who had dreams and goals . Sadly they are usually unreachable. But this woman rewrote her past, changed her name and kept her eye on the prize. She became a woman confident & in control surrounding herself with those that she can “groom” to reach the top, to become a power couple, a name all those that are someone, knows and impressed by.
Things surely can be knocked off track or become a threat, but it can be controlled after all she successfully controlled the narrative in her world till now. Will everything end up the way wanted, or will the past always catch up to the present?
December 29, 2021
As this was her debut novel I had absolutely no idea what to expect from Leigh M. Hall. In the past I have not read many thrillers and definitely nothing like Girl Bully. This book had me on edge and entertained the whole way through. With the constant shocking moments and huge plot twists there is never a dull moment in this book. Leigh M. Hall does not hold back with anything in this book, and I loved that. I am now a big fan and have read everything LMH has written up to date.
August 20, 2023
interesting read probing into the mind of a megalomaniac
I think this is my 5th read from Leigh M. Hall. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started, but Pamela is an interesting “control freak” of a character. I was married to a narcissist for 19 years, so I recognize the behavior and inability to admit guilt that is present in Pamela’s mind. I really felt sorry for her at the end of the book, when all her years of planning and plotting came to an end.
I think this is my 5th read from Leigh M. Hall. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started, but Pamela is an interesting “control freak” of a character. I was married to a narcissist for 19 years, so I recognize the behavior and inability to admit guilt that is present in Pamela’s mind. I really felt sorry for her at the end of the book, when all her years of planning and plotting came to an end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews