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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This was my first Stephie Walls book, and I’m blown away. Her words on every page seared my heart. I felt as though I knew Colbie Chapman personally and my heart broke for her. Her Perfect was so much more than a forbidden student-teacher romance. So much more! I hardly thought about the forbidden love story between Colbie and Eli because there were more deeply rooted emotional issues at play in the story.
Ms. Walls told a very compelling story and captivated me from the first page until the last. I highly recommend this book.
Wow! When I started this book, I hadn’t even read the synopsis, so I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I got incredibly choked up and overwhelmed with emotions as Colbie’s story was told. It is told in such a way that you can’t help but relate to her and her ‘dragons’
Eli is the kind of man every woman deserves. Kind, caring, genuine, supportive…a perfect prince charming
I was sucked into Colbie’s world from the first page. The way her family disregarded her broke my heart.
Colbie may have thought Jess was her best friend, but I felt like she was just using Colbie. The emotions she felt towards the end were out of guilt.
Eli was perfect! He SAW Colbie and loved all of her. He was ready to slay all of her dragons, even if they came in the form of her parents and siblings!
You always know how blown someone’s mind away with your words. I couldn’t put this one down, just like I couldn’t put all the others down. A wonderful read can’t wait for more wonderful stories from you. I love all the feels it brings out. Then again I usually need tissues reading your books.
An amazing story of self discovery. You’ll shed some tears, you’ll be angry but you’ll also be pumping your fist in the air as you see Colbie fight her way to taking back her life! It’s not always but pretty but it’s real and you will feel so much. Eli is another amazing character and I was so happy to see her have someone fighting with her and for her!
Her Perfect obliterated my heart and soul, it kept me on the edge of my seat from start to breathtaking end.
My heart broke constantly for the silent pain Colbie was in and her loneliness bleed into every syllable. And the slow burn, poetic beauty that was Colbie and Eli gave me the kind of teacher-student feels I haven’t experienced since I read A Different Blue by Amy Harmon years ago. Like I can’t. There are no remaining words to describe the love I felt for this book and I am so excited to discover more books from Stephie Walls because WOWOWOWOWOWOW.
I’m sitting here trying to form the right words that could truly show how soul gripping this book was. Because, really calling it soul gripping only half way describes it. I could’t help but emotionally getting attached to the main female character, Colbie. I saw a few things we has in common that I couldn’t help but see myself in her. I too am a middle child, and know to well the feeling of being invisible always in the shadow of others. But, your only invisible till that one someone finds you, and your finally seen. Eli was the other half to Colbie, that she needed to finally see herself, her true self and grow.
“I have to know where the demons are to battle them. I can’t bring light to darkness if I can’t find the switches. I’ll go to the ends of the earth for you, but I have to have a map to get there”
I found that I didn’t care about the fact that Eli was Colbie’s teacher. I looked at the fact that she was a young woman that was lost, and he was the one that saw her wondering and showed her the way home. He was her beacon of light in the dark when she needed a guide. He was able to be her home when she needed one. For this the teacher/student aspect didn’t even come into play for me. The only time that it really played any part was how they denied their feelings that were growing. Their relationship was one that was grew from that of someone that saw a girl needing a person in her corner in life, into a love that was worth fighting for. Eli showed Colbie that she deserved to be showed that she was loved, and that she mattered. He was there for her even when everything that he had and worked for would be put on the line.
Stephie Walls was really out did herself with this one. Her Perfect was just that perfect. Each aspect of Colbie’s character was weaved together into her that she grabbed your heart and wouldn’t let go. This is a story that opens your eyes to seeing how some people feel invisible and how they are just wanting to be seen by someone. And that striving to be perfect for everyone else isn’t the way to truly live.
“Perfection is an illusion; don’t try to achieve something that’s unobtainable.”
Walls has been a favorite author of mine since I first discovered her a couple years ago, and this book has surpassed the others of hers that I have read. The characters and story is so true to life that you can just see it playing in your head while you are reading.
I received an ARC for an honest review
4 heartbreakingly good stars for Stephie Walls!
Note: It may be a touchy subject for some.
This book was dark and full of emotion. It really pulls on the heart. Eli and Colbie are the forbidden lovers in this emotional journey. As Colbie strives to be perfect, a lot is at stake. Teacher / student relationship plus her need for perfection makes for the perfect storm and such a great story.
The struggle to be perfect is a real one and to be in Colbie’s head during her battles is such an eye opener to such a sensitive subject.
Stephie’s brilliant writing had me feeling all the feels!
From happy, to sad, to angry and anxious. She just has a way with words.
Her Perfect by Stephie Walls
Wowza!! So so so so amazing! I loved it! Stephie did a marvelous job on this story!
“Perfection is an illusion; don’t try to achieve something that’s unobtainable.”
Captivated my interest throughout! Grab it today! You will not be disappointed!!
A stunning look at the human condition to be perfect and the effects that can come with that mindset. Stephie teeters the edge of taboo with grace and dignity while pulling out emotions that make you feel the characters completely. This story truly hurt my heart to read, but it’s a topic that should be discussed more with our young girls. But the romance was angsty and firey hot. A great story with depth.
Perfectly Poingnant
I really didn’t know what to expect when I opened the cover of Her Perfect by Stephie Walls. What I found when I finally nestled is for a read is a multilayered taboo story that is as poignant as it is relevant.
This tale held my interest from cover to cover. The characters are well defined and quite unique. Colbie Chapman, the highly motivated and purpose-driven heroine is truly captivating Eli Paxton, the very astute and intense hero, is simply mesmerizing. Together this beautiful pair if individuals navigates their way through the most heart- rending and perilous of circumstances. They both risk everything they have and are to find their happy ending.
On the surface, Her Perfect is a tale of teenage angst and delicate family dynamics. When one looks much deeper is really a story of the individual who must come to terms with who they are and what they need to be a whole and healthy human being. It is also a tale which highlights the importance of unconditional love and support in the life of every individual. In the end it is a caution to remind us that if we do not take time to value our loved ones, we will lose them.
Stephie Walls has written an unforgettable story that deals with very tough issues which affect too many young people and families in the very real world. Her Perfect is an intense, insightful, and imperative piece of literature. It will make you examine and reevaluate not only the expectations you have for others, but also those expections you have for yourself.
Wow!! Her Perfect was such what an emotionally charged story!!! I’m a huge fan of teacher/student romance, but this story is so much more!!
Her Perfect is just that a girl intent on perfection in everything she does. Colbie is so much stronger then she knows. This girls story resonated with me so much. I felt such a connection to her. My heart broke for her, and when she found that one person, my heart exploded with love!
Eli being her teacher wasn’t prepared for this woman, but she came into his life and he was instantly in awe of her. This man I can’t possibly put into words how much I ADORED him! He is the epitome of the “perfect man” Eli was just…everything. He has such profound love and his deviation to Colbie was so strong and beautiful!
Colbie’s story isn’t am easy one, and I’ll tell you she’s far more forgiving then I’d be to her family. An absolute 5 star must read!
Her Perfect is a book that will forever be in my heart. One of my all time favorite reads!
Oh wow, what an amazing book. Colbie is the only daughter among a houseful of sports loving brothers and is ignored. She plays piano like an angel and is a straight A student but still ignored because she isn’t into sports. She needs to be perfect in everything she does, I think to make her family see her. They still don’t. Eli who is her brothers best friend and her English teacher sees her and is in awe of her. They secretly fall in love but it’s forbidden, mind you she’s 18 and an adult. I can’t really say more without spoiling it but her parents and family are despicable, the way they treat and ignore her really frustrated me. I personally think this is Stephie’s best book to date. Definitely a 10 star read. Highly recommended.
I can’t even express how many emotions I had reading this book. This was an amazing story and really pulled at your heart strings in so many ways.
I absolutely loved this book it was so amazing I couldn’t put it down it had you enamored until the very end
WOW!!!! What an incredible book!! I have read every book this author has published and this the best to date. My heart just broke for Colbie and her struggle and yearning to be seen in a house full of boys where football was king. I loved Eli and his strength to take on a journey that at first he had no idea what it entailed and his unconditional love for Coblie. It is a forbidden teacher/student romance but done like none I have ever read before. Eli was like family and that family lived in a small southern town where appearances were everything, football was like religion and everyone knew everyone. I so related to this passage in the book and I think if we are all honest when we read it, we all have a little Colbie in us and are desperately searching for our Eli who will see us…….”Colbie had siphoned every resource she’d had into a tank she’d hoped would feed everyone else. Not only had she not gotten what she wanted out of that, she hadn’t even come close to getting what she needed”
One of the best books of 2019 hand down for me and this book should be on everyone’s to read list. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
Oh this book and the emotions and feels that are stirred up and brought to life with Colbie and Eli’s story. This book was wonderful, beautiful, emotional, and touched so close to home. I feel that this story will resonate with so many readers and the author did a fantastic job portraying both characters and their family and friends all the while dealing with so many issues. I don’t want to give away the story but know this, this is a teacher-student romance but not just any teacher-student story, there is so much more with the relationships and story line that it is hard to put in words. But every single page of this book is worth the read. At times it was hard to move forward only because of how the story stirred up emotions for me personally but it was worth it and I loved these two from beginning to end.
HER PERFECT is a near perfect forbidden student/teacher romance, but the story is so very much more. There are major issues that must be addressed, beyond the obvious of her being his eighteen-year-old honor student. I was nervously reading each page till the Epilogue.
Colbie Chapman was in her senior year, with determination that she was to be the Valedictorian of her class. Being the best wasn’t enough. Being great still wouldn’t work. Exceptional was the only option. Now perfection was expected. As the only girl in a home of six boys, it was hard to be noticed. If you didn’t play football, or at least watched the boys play football, then you pretty much were ignored. Even if you played the piano flawlessly, and were destined for a professional career you were excluded in the Chapman house hold. Except for her one younger brother Caden, she was overlooked as if invisible.
When Colbie walked into her honor’s English class, and taken her seat a little bit late. She never expected to be reprimanded by her new teacher Dr. Eli Paxton. Nor for him to be so young and so good looking. Their first meeting did not go well. Dr. Paxton informed his new student, that just because he was her oldest brother Caleb’s best friend, she shouldn’t expect any favoritism. His not knowing she had been an over-achiever all her life. Nor that she had no clue that he had played football with Caleb & been his roommate for four years. As an added insult, that Eli would be a groomsmen in her brother’s upcoming wedding. She herself was excluded from the wedding party.
It didn’t take Eli Paxton long to realize just how brilliant, talented, and beautiful Colbie Chapman really was. He also noticed how her family overlooked her true value. Eli was also something of an over-achiever. He was only twenty-four years old, and had finished his doctorate in six years, by going to school year-round, plus more credit hours each semester. His attraction to Colbie and her returned attraction were very dangerous stuff. He could loose the job, he had worked so hard for, and she couldn’t even imagine what drastic measures her family would take to keep her reputation spotless. Only problem was, every part of her wanted to connect with him on a level she had never connected to anyone. Emotionally, physically, spiritually, and every other way. His feelings for her were returned as much, if not more. He wanted to protect her, and shelter her from a cruel world. If they waited for her to graduate, they could then safely be together. Staying away from each other turned out to be too difficult. And there are huge secrets being kept that might just be too much to overcome.
An incredible story that packs an emotional punch. Hands down her best book to date. You are taken on Colbie’s soul stirring journey that makes you evaluate everything. When Eli comes into the mix she has some decisions to make that could be life altering. I found myself putting this story down to process and handle the mixture of feelings. Deserves more than five stars and should be a must read on everyone’s list.
Growing up In that “perfect family” colbie wanted to achieve everything right and while doing that she lost her self image no one notice but one person her brothers best friend Eli but he is also her teacher. Can Eli help colbie? This book def tugged at my heart I loved it.