Review: 'Perfect Girl' by Michele Gorman (2014)

Carol is perfect… at least that’s what everyone thinks. In reality she’s sinking fast – her family treats her like their personal assistant and her boyfriend is so busy with work that he’s got her single-handedly running their relationship. Not that her job is any easier. As the only woman on the bank’s trading floor she spends twelve-hour days trying not to get sworn at or felt up by colleagues who put the "W" in banker.
How long can she go on pleasing everyone else before she snaps and loses it all?
Notting Hill Press is treating us to another promising chick lit novel this month with the release of Michele Gorman's 'Perfect Girl' on the 14th of October. I've been lucky enough to have had the chance to read and review some of Michele Gorman's other works, namely 'Single in the City' (click here to read my review) and Christmas novella 'Christmas Carol' (click here to read my review), which I both really enjoyed. I straight away loved the cover of 'Perfect Girl' and looked forward to checking out another Michele Gorman story!
Carol appears to be the perfect girl to the outside world, but behind closed doors things are quite different to what they seem. She has a great job as a business analyst within the banking world, but her hours are ridiculous and her boss treats her in the most condescending way. After Carol has created a new programme for the bank to use and she gets no credit for it, she comes close to having had enough. At the same time, though, there are lots of other things demanding Carol's attention. She's helping her sister Marley with the planning of her wedding, she's trying to be understanding about her boyfriend Ben's busy work schedule, her parents need her help to find the perfect holiday getaway cottage, and her best friend Harriet needs some help with picking out the right men on an Internet dating website. Carol finds herself trying to please everyone around her, but there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day. When will Carol finally start thinking about herself and what will it take to get to that point?
If you're looking for an enjoyable chick lit novel, Michele Gorman's work won't disappoint and this definitely counts for her latest release, 'Perfect Girl.' I already knew the main character Carol from the Christmas novella 'Christmas Carol' and I loved getting to know more about Carol, her friends and family, and her life. The novel can definitely be read as a stand-alone and I would actually recommend reading 'Perfect Girl' before checking out 'Christmas Carol.' Carol is a great protagonist which I think many readers, including myself, will be able to relate to. Sometimes we think too much about others and lose ourselves in the process and it was fascinating to join Carol and see how she dealt with everything going on in her life. 
The book is filled with great characters, such as Carol's best friend Harriet and her eccentric work colleagues, and has an entertaining plot line which I never got bored with. Personally, the book didn't have the ending I was hoping for, but it didn't ruin the reading experience in any way. Michele Gorman's writing is wonderful; her stories are a real joy to read and I definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a pleasant chick lit read to sit down with on a rainy afternoon. 'Perfect Girl' is a funny, heartfelt, thoroughly enjoyable novel with an entertaining mix of characters and a captivating plot line; I already look forward to Michele Gorman's next release! Rating:

9/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.