Fans of Kristin Hannah & Jojo Moyes, Bestselling Author, Stephie Walls brings you emotionally compelling characters and a powerful message of self-discovery, bravery and defying all odds in the name of love.Everyone has secrets. Although, I was a master at concealing mine. But part of hiding was deception, and I’d become a veritable Pinocchio. He was like two different people—Eli and Dr. … people—Eli and Dr. Paxton. While I knew the latter would turn out to be an incredible teacher, the idea of Eli being more threw me for a loop. I couldn’t separate the two, and it seemed vastly inappropriate and strangely alluring.
The practical side of me needed to win the war inside my mind. I had to please the teacher, not the man. But once I’d cross that line, there was no turning back.
For either of us.
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I had the pleasure of receiving a ARC for this book for a honest review. I’m at a lose for words. I have never read any kind of book like this and wow what an amazing book. What Colbie has to go through on a daily basis and how she can overcome and succeed is aw inspiring. Eli well what can I say but holly hell he’s amazing!!!!! The connection they had was beautiful and raw and everyone needs a Eli in their life. I’ve felt so many emotions reading this book. I questioned thing with her parents and brothers(well really I yelled at them) what the hell were they thinking and why do that and do this instead. My heart hurt for her and then it just busted open with pure joy for her. Stephie Walls is truly an amazing author!!!!!!
Stephie Walls takes us on an uncomfortable journey of discovery and transformation that will make you keep turning the pages until the very last word. Her protagonists are imperfect. Their pain is real. And we can’t help but root for them as they try to navigate a world where they are expected to be perfect and any deviation from the norm brings trouble. This one will make you think, long after you’ve finished the tale.
Very emotional, dark, intense.
I’m not usually into the teacher student romance, however, this book intrigued me. In fact, the book has left me gutted! I also, don’t hand out a great many 5 star reviews, this one is amazing!
Colby, is an overachiever, she has already been accepted to college and is striving for perfection. She is the only girl among seven children. She is living in a small Georgia town, in a football crazy and participating family. She is in fact, the invisible child. I understood this and when she is asked to find a song that means something to her and explain it by her English Teacher, Invisible by Hunter Hayes. If you haven’t ever heard it listen to it, I made a point when I found my forever and we had children to ensure they knew every day, they are loved and cherished.
Eli is a friend and teammate of Colby’s oldest brother and comes to town and becomes Colby’s English Teacher. Their story starts off with a bang, her telling him off when he chastises her for being late the first day of class. She is fire and ice on the outside, but she is shattered on the inside. She is working on everything, school, piano, and running. She has a secret, a secret no one know about, even as her relationship with Eli blossoms, he is unaware. Will their love conquer her demons?
Ms. Walls, handles the very sensitive story of eating disorders, self image, and the emotions with forethought and grace. (again – this book hit close to home – I remember the binging and purging, looking in a mirror and thinking one more pound, right down to the feeling of euphoria when it’s all said and done) Her prose are forward moving, and her characters are strong and keep you involved and waiting to see the story through to the end.
If you are wanting a fantastic read that makes you think and feel this one is highly recommended!
It’s a torture to have a book by this lady waiting to be devoured when I am reading one book and can’t stop.
I might sound a bit crazy, (a thing that I really don’t care), but I haven’t stopped a book in the middle to be able to start a new one. And I’ve read my fair share of books but I simply can’t. First I need to finish what I’m reading in order to be able to focus entirely on the new book.
And if that so-called book is written by Stephie Walls you better have your head clear… Just trust me.
Her writing is addicting, intense, with some hot stuff and very enticing feelings… Just trust me.
Her Perfect is her latest release and tells Colbie and Eli’s stories.
Colbie is a senior in high school with her future all planned. But it didn’t matter what she wanted or what she is because her parents only had eyes to her brothers. She’s used to hiding behind a facade or a few lies but who cares right?
Eli is an English teacher that always saw potential in Colbie. He knows her family because he’s her oldest brother best friend. He knows Colbie and sees the real Colbie not the one she portraits for others to see. He sees her struggles and wants to help her… He’s one stuff muffin that she would love to bite.
What can I say?… I’m stunned… I’m overwhelmed…
Dayum Stephie… Dayum…
Sublime plot, super engaging, intense and emotional. Each scene grabbed my attention in a way that I couldn’t stop… Reading chapter after chapter, without being bothered was almost mission impossible but I was able to do it.
A teacher-student relationship is taboo but why? Why can’t two people that love each other stay together? Why be subjected to scrutiny and judgment?
You know how everyone likes to give an opinion or a side eye but when you love… You love.
This book presented us with loss, lies, betrayal as well as acceptance, love desire… Oh boy…
There were parts of the book that I saw myself almost screaming with them but there were others that I wanted to hold them and promise better days.
It was like riding the bumpiest rollercoaster of my life.
Stephie, you rock woman. This book nailed it and I was tempted to text you after every chapter… Dayum.
More, please… More…
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Wow, I am still trying to put all my emotions together after reading this book. Though I have not been one to be very interested in student/teacher romances this book destroyed me. There was so much raw emotion and feeling was put into the story of Colbie and Eli. Just when I thought I knew was going to happen the story took another turn. I was frustrated, sad, hurt and completely torn to everything that can go on with a family behind closes doors. When you are growing up lots of times teens are hiding feelings/emotions that nobody can see, as a parent you should be able to be that rock or person for your children when they are looking for help. So many people like to cover up and put a front on to what is really going on, this is so that society doesn’t see flaws that families can hold. I highly recommend you to read Her Perfect it was an excellent story of self-discovery.
5 stars for Her Perfect by Stephie Walls. This is my first book from her, and it was amazing. I have now become a fan. Yes, this book is a forbidden teacher/student romance, but it is so much more than that. This is a book about self-acceptance. It is a book about learning to accept that no one is perfect, and perfection is something you will never reach.
“Perfection is an illusion don’t try to achieve something that’s unobtainable.”
Colbie has always felt out of place in her family. She is the only girl among 6 boys. Her family is all about Georgia football and she is all about the piano and studying. Colbie strives to be perfect, in hopes that her family will finally notice her. Eli is the new English teacher and Colbie’s brothers’ best friend. At first these two did not get off on the right foot. That soon changes when they learn who each other really are. Colbie is suffering more than anyone knows. She is suffering more than even Eli knows. Can these two move past all the trials they face?
“That my dragons will be too big for you to slay. And my darkness is too deep for you to penetrate.”
This book reached out and pulled at my soul. My heart broke over and over for Colbie. I wanted to reach in and hug her. I wanted to help her more than anything and I also wanted to throat punch her family. I cried many tears while reading this book. Even though I may have ugly cried at times , I still felt this book was amazing. Stephie Wall’s writing is intriguing and can pull you in. I would like to read more from these characters, they were great. This book is a must read. The cover shows how much Eli loves Colbie. It shows how much he is there for her. I am looking forward to reading more from her.
Her Perfect is unlike any forbidden student/teacher romance I’ve read before and I’m not sure how I’m going to do this book justice with my review, especially as I don’t want to talk specifically about the plot. For that reason, my review will be short and vague. I was not prepared for what happened between these pages and my enjoyment of the story was even better because of it.
This story is deep and multilayered, raw, heart wrenching and gripping. SO much more than I was expecting. With each page I turned, each new revelation, it drew me in. It’s a story about relationships, those than heal and those that harm, with a wonderfully talented young woman at its centre. It’s about striving for perfection when you don’t feel good enough. About how, even in the midst of a crowd, you can feel totally alone and invisible, until finally, like an answered prayer, that one incredible person sees you for who you really are, the unique shining light in a sea of sameness and conformity. That one person who then becomes your champion, willing to sacrifice everything because they believe in you.
“I just need you to know I see you. I want you. Every perfection and every flaw. I love all of you equally.”
Touching and inspirational, I don’t hesitate to recommend Her Perfect.
This is the first book I have read from Stephie. It was definitely a very interesting intense storyline about a difficult subject. She did an amazing job writing this book. Colbie has to be perfect at everything. But being perfect takes a toll on her. She starts a friendship up with someone she shouldn’t that turns into something more. Until being perfect tears everything apart. Will her secret destroy her life and her love? I absolutely loved this storyline and characters. The chemistry was amazing. I felt so much for Colbie. You could easily feel what she was going through. This was definitely a page turner. With some interesting twists in the story line. But Stephie gained a fan with this book.
I went into this book completely blind. I had no idea what to expect and by the time I realized what a cry fest I was in for, I was in too deep! Eli is perfection. He is the guy we all dream of, our prince, our soothing balm, our hiding place. Colbie is broken, bruised, and just so alone. The sadness comes off of her in waves but only Eli sees it. This book will shatter you and put you back together again in the most beautiful way. This is one of my top reads of 2019 and I don’t see how anyone can top it. This book is heartbreaking perfection that leaves you begging for more! Don’t just add this to your TBR, one click it now. I promise you will be grateful you had the opportunity to read this amazing love story!
Colbie Chapman has always tried to be “perfect” due to living in the shadows of her six football playing brothers. She plays the piano but her family hasn’t come to see her play as they place football ahead of her silly dreams. She wants to become a doctor like her father so hopefully he will notice her and is in running to be class valedictorian against her best friend, Jessica McLean.
Dr. Eli Paxton is the new English teacher at school and is best friends with Colbie’s oldest brother Caleb. He has never really gotten to know Colbie as she was never with her family at any of her brother’s football games and right away he misjudges her.
Yet soon enough Eli sees a different side of Colbie and understands what she is going through with her family. The two begin to get closer but will they blur the lines of teacher/student? But Colbie is hiding a big secret and when her family discovers it will they also learn about Eli and what will happen when they discover the truth?
This was such an awesome book with some heartbreaking moments and moments that really made you think as a parent about your own family dynamics.
I loved Colbie and I completely understood her need of “perfection” after being ignored in her own home. She worked hard at being an amazing piano player yet her own parents never came to watch her perform. I understood her secret and why she did it and it made me so mad that no one up until Jess never even noticed what was going on.
Eli was an interesting character as initially he was coming from a side that saw how wonderful and supportive Colbie’s parents were but soon he saw another side and he was torn on what to do. Eli was very attracted to Colbie but never wanted to cross that line but soon he finds himself being the one to support her when her family is not there.
There was so much chemistry between Eli and Colbie and with everyone else disappearing on her you knew things would happen sooner rather than later. I did really like the two of them together although I was super worried with him being her teacher.
Initially I really liked the friendship between Jess and Colbie but I really felt sad that Colbie was left in the dark with everything between Jess and Caden. I think I was more mad as then nobody was in Colbie’s corner and Jess knew how Colbie’s family treated her and she did nothing to help Colbie out, especially at the family dinners when Chastity was there. At the same time Jess recognized that something was wrong with Colbie but I hated how that whole thing went down and what happened to Colbie.
My heart was just broken for Colbie in regards to her relationship with her family, espcially her parents. I was just shocked at how they ignored her and put her below all of her brothers and never payed any attention to her. I was mad that they put Caleb’s girlfriend Chastity ahead of her and that they never cared how cruel Chastity was to Colbie. I truly hated her parents in this book and it was no wonder that she went to Eli for support and having someone actually care about her.
I was torn with where Colbie’s parents out her. I was super glad that she was getting the help that she needed but I was so mad that they never once came for her or supported her while she was in there. Them lying about where she was just capped it off and I hope that I never treat my kids like that.
I loved what Colbie was able to accomplish on her own and then once she had Eli’s support things were definitely looking up and I was shocked that Colbie’s parents still tried to control her.
I was so glad for the fresh start that Colbie and Eli got at the end and I was happy that her parents realized the mistake they made!!
This was such an amazing book and I can’t wait for more!!