If you like a tense story of a manipulative, bunny-boiling stalker then this is the book for you.

The book opens with a short prologue of Elizabeth as a child on the day her little brother, Will, died while he was in her care. We then very quickly move on to present day when Elizabeth, who now uses her middle name, Juliette, is coming to the end of her air steward training. This isn't her preferred career choice, no, this is solely to facilitate her obsessive stalking of her ex-boyfriend, Nate, who is a pilot. Their relationship finished several months ago but Juliette just can't let him go. He doesn't know it yet, but he soon will.

Juliette changes work rosters to enable her to crew on the same flights as Nate, and when he is away she lets herself in to his apartment knowing how long he will be away for, and snoops, takes photos of private documents and even stays overnight. She is scheming, devious and intelligent with it.

Nate is the brother of Belle, Juliette's school friend who was more of a mental bully than friend, and Juliette being a little unhinged has kept track of both of them to mete out her revenge.

Juliette is a fabulous character, I loved her neurotic, unbalanced personality and she makes for great reading. This is Karen Hamilton's debut novel and I think she has done a great job of creating a seriously flawed yet likeable character in Elizabeth/Juliette. Her writing keeps you on your toes all the way through the book – I wondered where some of the crazy situations were going and was never disappointed when Juliette's intentions were revealed. The pace is fast, is never dull, and has just enough description to let us realise what devastation she has caused. The only slight disappointment was the ending, I wanted more, more of the life all the main characters were leading. I'd got used to Juliette's scheming ways and I didn't want it to end.

I found this story really unbelievable. The lengths Lily goes to to take revenge on Nate and try and keep him as her own are just too many. Her attempts at revenge are just not credible.

Well as much as I thought some of Juliette’s behaviour was a bit over the top there was a part of me acknowledging that people do act out in this way. In the early part I did feel a bit sorry for her but with each page I liked her less and less. There are elements of this book that will chill you but towards the end I was finding it a little bit ridiculous. The author was previously a flight attendant and her knowledge in this area came across in the narrative. We can only hope that her knowledge of stalker girlfriend behaviour was down to research alone.

I loved The Perfect Girlfriend and was hooked from the first chapter. Creepy and gripping, though Juliette is clearly bonkers I found her story of unrequited love - and her determination to win back her boyfriend - utterly compelling. The lengths she goes to and the subterfuge is incredible and at times blackly comic.
It was also great to have a lead character who wasn't a victim but instead was pursuing her victim.
If you liked Mad by Chloe Esposito, you'll love this!

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.....
I was rather hyped up for this book and I ended up so disappointed. Juliette wasn't very likeable at all, her decisions were incredibly far-fetched and just wrong. The whole plot to be honest was very far-fetched and not in a good way. The story was dull in places and I really struggled to enjoy it. I'd definitely give this one a miss..

Gripping and entertaining with not one word out of place, I loved this insider glimpse of the airline industry through the eyes of the obsessively lovestruck Lily, who will stop at nothing in the attempt to win back her pilot ex. And thrillers are not usually my thing at all.

The Perfect Girlfriend is an utterly captivating and addictive read; one that I thoroughly enjoyed. In it we meet Juliette (real name, Elizabeth) who will go to any lengths to win back her ex-boyfriend, Nate, who she firmly believes will fall in love with her again after she executes the plans she has been concocting since their break-up seven months ago. Becoming a cabin crew member for Nate’s airline is just the start of a tumultuous game of cat and mouse.

In Juliette/Elizabeth, Karen Hamilton has created a complex and intriguing character. At first I sympathized with her and part of me actually wanted her to succeed in her mission, then, as the book went on, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Nate and wonder if he’d ever be rid of her. It’s true what they say - ‘hell hath no fury like a woman scorned’.

The one thing that stopped me giving this book five stars is the ending. I found it too abrupt and felt like I needed to know more, especially as it ended straight after the fated ski trip. I just hope that all the unanswered questions mean that there will be a sequel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wildfire for this advanced copy.

It was the book cover that drew me to wanting to read this book but having said that once I read the blurb which sounded very intriguing it made me want to read it even more.

Suffice to say I wasn't disappointed. It was a captivating and addictive read from start to finish. I was turning the pages as quick as I could so as to find out what would happen next.

I thought the characters were all brilliantly written, but I'll say one thing about the character of Juliette, I'd certainly never want to get on the wrong side of her, she is a piece of work for sure. I spent a fair bit of the book liking her, then not liking her, to liking her again and so on.

The story had me guessing throughout trying to figure out how it would all end. I have to say I was quite surprised by the ending as wasn't expecting it to end like that at all.

A thoroughly fantastic read by debut author Karen Hamilton telling the story of Juliette who is the perfect girlfriend to dashing and privileged airline pilot Nate. She visits his home to leave his favourite foods and wine, keeps a close eye of his wok schedules and is generally an attentive and loving girlfriend except...... Nate broke up with Juliette 6 months ago in the familiar "I need space" vein but it seems Juliette will not be accepting this decision any time soon!
It is impossible to say much more without spoiling things for the many readers that I know will love this book but the plot and characterisation is top class and I can hardly believe that the author managed to elicit feelings of sympathy in me for Juliette as she takes the idea of "bunny-boiler" to new extremes. The very clever way in which the author reveals Juliette's - or Lily as she was known in her younger days - childhood and boarding school experiences given the character vulnerability and make her systematic efforts to get the life she wants without consequence a bit more understandable and evoked a bit of sympathy in this reader. A standout thriller and I will wait impatiently for the next book by Karen Hamilton. 5 stars and huge thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for advance review copy.

I enjoyed this book, although I felt that it was a bit far fetched and disjointed in places. Lily is determined to get her ex boyfriend back, and has a very elaborate plan of action to do so. I liked the characters, and it was certainly a page turner. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
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Juliette (also known as Elizabeth, also known as Lily) is a woman who’s very certain of what she wants - and how she’s going to get it. What she wants, and is very certain she deserves, is Nate, and she’ll go to any lengths to achieve her goal, never seeming to experience a moment’s doubt that it’s the right thing to do. Getting a job as a flight attendant at the airline where Nate works as a pilot is only the beginning...

If nothing else, you have to give Juliette credit for sheer dedication and single-mindedness. Literally nothing matters to her apart from winning her man; there’s no extreme, however absurd, she won’t go to, and it makes for a very entertaining read, because what Juliette gets up to is appalling, but you just can’t look away. There were times when I did feel empathy for her, but it seemed like she’d immediately go and do something so awful that it never lasted long. Some sort of personality disorder seems indicated...

It’s a well written story which definitely keeps you reading! The author worked for years as a flight attendant herself and it shows, because all those details ring very true, and apart from anything else I now feel I know a lot more about what life as a flight attendant involves.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

The Perfect Girlfriend is VERY different to any other psychological thriller I've read lately. This is a novel that shouldn't work, it’s basically an in-depth character study of Juliette a flight attendant and wronged girlfriend, told from her POV, BUT author Karen Hamilton has created a complex character, she’s a woman you will love, hate, she's someone you will want to shake some sense into, she's scary, obsessive and a control freak and deluded! but boy does she make The Perfect Girlfriend a deliciously twisted read.

From the introduction you know something really bad happened to Juliette as as a young girl, so you can't help but blame some of her behaviour on past events. As the reader I found myself making excuses for her increasing erratic behaviour, but on the other hand the way she manipulated situations and people also made me dislike her intensely. At first her behaviour appears a little off and fairly harmless, but as the story develops and she becomes more determined to win “the love of her life” Nate back things take a far more sinister turn, the old adage Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned sprung to mind.

Juliette certainly fits the definition “bunny boiler” to a T, but the incredibly scary thing is she's very credible, she justifies everything she does in the “name of love”, how many times have you read or heard someone say “I did it because I loved them”. You may I have noticed I said at the beginning of my review this was a book that shouldn't have worked, it’s slow paced, the focus is very much centred on one characters thoughts and actions, there's no real mystery, see what I mean? But thanks to the authors unique style of writing, The Perfect Girlfriend is a compelling and twisted story of an obsession that's dangerously out of control. If I had one tiny criticism I thought the ending lacked a clear conclusion, but other readers may think the ending was “perfect”, either way I would say “enjoy the ride”, with plenty of turbulence and flawed characters this is a book I would highly recommend.

This was such a good read, gripping from start to finish. Juliette and Nate are great characters - the story is incredibly well written and I could not put this book down.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline for an advance copy of The Perfect Girlfriend, the tale of Juliette's efforts to win back ex-boyfriend Nate.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Perfect Girlfriend which is a twisted tale of obsessive love. Juliette, formerly Elizabeth or Lily, Price is determined to win back handsome pilot, Nate, because he is her one true love and after their relationship sours the first time she is prepared to play a long game and go to great lengths to make him love her back. Told in the first person it is more humorous than thriller as Juliette works out her POA (plan of action), acts on it and amends it as required.

This should be a really creepy read as Juliette is seriously unhinged but some ridiculous scenarios and a very readable style make it compulsive reading as the reader can't help wondering what she'll get up to next in pursuit of her goal. Her tone is so reasonable and reasoned you can't help rooting for her and condemning Nate's bad behaviour - I didn't feel as sorry for him as I probably should have.

The twists come fast and furious as Juliette adapts to unforeseen circumstances and reactions. She is obviously smart and resourceful so it's a shame she has turned her energies in this direction but as the novel unfolds some well paced reveals explain why she is as she is although I suspect she has an inner psychopath to help her along.

I felt that the middle of the novel is a bit repetitive and I felt my interest flagging slightly but the ending makes up for it, not so much the action but the resolution (I can't say more without spoilers) which is probably the creepiest part of the novel.

The Perfect Girlfriend is not at all what I expected but is a hugely entertaining if slightly sick read and I have nothing but admiration for Ms Hamilton's skill in creating such an unusual character as Juliette. I have no hesitation, therefore in recommending it as a good read.

I really enjoyed this thriller! Quite a page turner and I loved the setting, makes s change!

Truly thrilling tale from the point of view of a stalker. Kept me entertained throughout.

well! What a story! I alternated between sympathy for Juliette, to horror at her actions, to sympathy for Nate, to disbelief at his actions, and then at the end, I just didn't know what I felt! A fantastic, enjoyable, roller coaster of a read

As someone who is interested in psychology and behaviour (obsession in particular), this was a fantastic read! The Perfect Girlfriend is creepy, dark and disturbing in all the right ways and I do love a realistic thriller. All the characters are so well done, and the way Karen Hamilton has managed to portray Juliette and her delusional behaviour is fantastic. Juliette is definitely a fascinating character; her behaviour and thought-process is so disturbing yet realistic and believable.

I did find the writing a bit clunky at times, especially the dialogue, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend it to all psychological thriller fans!

Absolutely fantastic debut book. It was very intense and full of twists and turns. I couldn’t put it down and genuinely didn’t know what to expect. It had me hooked from the first page. Very well written and I would highly recommend

I absolutely loved this. Very unnerving (in a good way!) I’ll definitely be recommending. Thank you.