Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - When No One Is Watching

Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole

46 reviews

eve_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Overall Thoughts:
⁕ I appreciate how this book explores gentrification in the historical context of colonization. I learned a lot about the history of NYC from it.

⁕ Cole expertly juxtaposes a culture of collective care and mutual aid with one that is ruled by white supremacy and individualism. It forced me as the reader to explore the ways in which my own community relationships either perpetuate harm or foster well-being.

⁕ For a thriller, it was a very slow build. The plot development and most the of major story events occur in the last 100 pages.

⁕ Both Sydney and Theo have a reveal/secret that is central to their character development, but I felt that only Sydney’s was really backed up by the text. The information introduced about Theo came out of the blue and wasn’t believable.

To read my full review, visit: https://evereads.online/
For regular book-related content, follow my Instagram account: @eve_reads

Content Warnings

ehmannky's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Alyssa Cole is one of my insta-buy romance authors, so I was a little unsure of how this thriller would turn out. But it was so, so good. Everything from Sydney and Theo's chemistry to the slow unfolding of the mystery to the ways in which Cole put so much historical research into what she wrote. I also liked that Theo (and by extension any white readers) didn't have his white feelings coddled at any turn--he was called out and learned to take it.

It's so good. The villains in this remind me so much of the Get Out villains, right down to the posturing at liberalism and progressive politics by the villains. And the twists in this book! When I tell you I gasped out loud, I am not being dramatic, I literally gasped out loud. The ending is wild, but wild in a way I liked.

Content Warnings

adoras's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

My second Alyssa Cole novel, and the second one I've given 4+ stars. I've officially found a new favorite author.

This has been described as Get Out meets Rear Window, and a lot of times with book marketing, these kinds of comparisons don't hold up. This one absolutely did, and I loved it. I'm surprised this doesn't have a higher rating, but I've heard complaints about the pacing: most of the book is a slow-burn, focusing on setting the scene and developing the main characters and their relationship. However, I felt that all of this was necessary and a big aspect of why I loved it so much. And I still finished it in one sitting! The ending, by contrast, was maybe a little rushed, and I wish the denouement had been a little more drawn-out.

Cole has really done her research, and I loved the way the historical information is woven through the story: to send the message that everything is cyclical, and racist movements to drive Black people out of neighborhoods and prevent them from owning property is a well-documented fact. Gentrification is far from a new concept to me, but there were still many things mentioned in this book that I didn't know, and I look forward to checking out the additional reading material cited at the end of the book.

I loved Sydney as a main character--her anxiety, depression, and feelings of helplessness are palpable. She is an incredibly strong person, but is also dealing with multiple recent traumas throughout the book. It's easier to recognize the issues you have than to fully address them and change your actions/habits of behavior, especially when some of these issues are external (i.e. legal and money problems). I also really liked Theo. Although I didn't have much of anything in common with him in terms of personality or backstory, we're both white. I think he's a good example of someone who is flawed and who starts off with the general idea that he's "not racist", but who also doesn't think much about systemic racism, doesn't speak up when his girlfriend exhibits racist behavior, and tries to performatively show allyship. He also ultimately learns and improves instead of getting and staying defensive when corrected.

Overall, great characters, concept, and atmosphere. Some of the plot twists surprised me and some didn't, but almost everything worked for me. I don't usually actively wish for books to be turned into movies, but this would work so well.

Content Warnings