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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
See this review and more on Books and Ladders!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and chose to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion.
Content Warning: death, fire, depictions of death, suicide attempt, suicidal ideation, involuntary hospitalization, death of a loved one, police manipulation, anxiety attacks, religious persecution, mentions of pedophilia
I went into this thinking it was going to be a murder mystery and we had to solve whodunnit but it was so much more than that! A combination of paranoia, determining what is real and not real, and learning the truth which was so interesting. It kept me guessing until the very end and I couldn't read fast enough.
I thought there were a lot of really good elements in here but I wasn't a huge fan of the few chapters from another POV that wasn't Blythe's. They didn't feel natural and ended up feeling more like filler so that we could "get the truth." However, we were figuring out the truth along the way and it kinda detracted from that for me.
Otherwise I thought it was well paced, well written, and had such amazing plot devices worked in that if I talked about, it would spoil the book for you. I just thought it was so well done and the characters were well developed. I liked mixing in the typical teenage angst with this large, looming plot because it felt so realistic.
I highly recommend!
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Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and chose to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion.
Content Warning: death, fire, depictions of death, suicide attempt, suicidal ideation, involuntary hospitalization, death of a loved one, police manipulation, anxiety attacks, religious persecution, mentions of pedophilia
I went into this thinking it was going to be a murder mystery and we had to solve whodunnit but it was so much more than that! A combination of paranoia, determining what is real and not real, and learning the truth which was so interesting. It kept me guessing until the very end and I couldn't read fast enough.
I thought there were a lot of really good elements in here but I wasn't a huge fan of the few chapters from another POV that wasn't Blythe's. They didn't feel natural and ended up feeling more like filler so that we could "get the truth." However, we were figuring out the truth along the way and it kinda detracted from that for me.
Otherwise I thought it was well paced, well written, and had such amazing plot devices worked in that if I talked about, it would spoil the book for you. I just thought it was so well done and the characters were well developed. I liked mixing in the typical teenage angst with this large, looming plot because it felt so realistic.
I highly recommend!
Like my reviews? Buy me a Ko-Fi!
I devoured this within a day of starting it and OMG was it worth it! A fantastic book to end the year on.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Someone Is Always Watching
Coming out April 11 2023
Thank you to @netgalley @tundrabooks @penguinrandomca for the ARC of this book to review!
Blythe or “Bliss” as her best friend affectionately calls her is a teenager at a private school for kids of CMT’s employees. When one of her best friends has a mental break down in school Blythe discovers that things may not be as the seem. Are the people she loves actually who she thinks they are?
Kelley Armstrong does a great job of writing a mystery with psychological elements that will make you want to keep turning the pages. If you are a fan of books like One Of Us is Lying or A Good Girls Guide to Murder you will like this this twisted YA Thriller. It also managed to spook me and keep me on my toes while reading. All the characters are interesting and have secrets to figure out. Every character introduced was important to the main storyline.
The only thing that was difficult for me while reading this book is that the POV and tense changed a lot between chapters and sometimes I would forget whose POV I was reading. But I liked seeing all the characters plots develop and tie up.
Check this book out in April for a fast paced, fun read!
@readitwithtay
Someone Is Always Watching
Coming out April 11 2023
Thank you to @netgalley @tundrabooks @penguinrandomca for the ARC of this book to review!
Blythe or “Bliss” as her best friend affectionately calls her is a teenager at a private school for kids of CMT’s employees. When one of her best friends has a mental break down in school Blythe discovers that things may not be as the seem. Are the people she loves actually who she thinks they are?
Kelley Armstrong does a great job of writing a mystery with psychological elements that will make you want to keep turning the pages. If you are a fan of books like One Of Us is Lying or A Good Girls Guide to Murder you will like this this twisted YA Thriller. It also managed to spook me and keep me on my toes while reading. All the characters are interesting and have secrets to figure out. Every character introduced was important to the main storyline.
The only thing that was difficult for me while reading this book is that the POV and tense changed a lot between chapters and sometimes I would forget whose POV I was reading. But I liked seeing all the characters plots develop and tie up.
Check this book out in April for a fast paced, fun read!
@readitwithtay
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This one left me conflicted. The main plot twist was unique, but felt like it could have been executed better. On top of that, there seemed to be too many other little plot twists that were meant to aid the big one, but just muddled it and left moments of confusion and overload. But, something about the plot kept pulling me back in.
I never really got attached to any of the characters, and the "romance" seemed very tropey. I definitely wanted to love this one more than I did. It had its moments, and it was worth a read, which is why I'm giving it 3 stars, but it could have been better.
I never really got attached to any of the characters, and the "romance" seemed very tropey. I definitely wanted to love this one more than I did. It had its moments, and it was worth a read, which is why I'm giving it 3 stars, but it could have been better.
Content Warnings: mentions of suicide, sexual assault
This book is a wild ride. The action starts almost immediately and it keeps up until the end. I haven't read a book this fast in a while.
Did the plot really make sense? Eh. But it was interesting and I'm just here for a good time.
This book is a wild ride. The action starts almost immediately and it keeps up until the end. I haven't read a book this fast in a while.
Did the plot really make sense? Eh. But it was interesting and I'm just here for a good time.
Wow I loved this. Sucked in right from the beginning. Amazing twists and turns. Excited to read more from this author.
5 ⭐
I don't know why I loved this as much as I did, but I truly loved every single moment of it. The plot was fairly easy to follow and the twists kept me intrigued enough that I finished it in one day.
I think what made me really really like this book was Tucker. I love his character so much, that I think I'd pretty much do anything for this boy. Which, I don't normally do- might I add- get obsessed with a boy in a book. I liked him from the very beginning and it never wavered.
Besides that, I truly did think the plot was unique and unlike anything I had read before.
When I rate a book 5 stars, it has to leave me thinking about it for days to come. It has to be unforgettable and I haven't forgotten about Someone is Always Watching.
I don't know why I loved this as much as I did, but I truly loved every single moment of it. The plot was fairly easy to follow and the twists kept me intrigued enough that I finished it in one day.
I think what made me really really like this book was Tucker. I love his character so much, that I think I'd pretty much do anything for this boy. Which, I don't normally do- might I add- get obsessed with a boy in a book. I liked him from the very beginning and it never wavered.
Besides that, I truly did think the plot was unique and unlike anything I had read before.
When I rate a book 5 stars, it has to leave me thinking about it for days to come. It has to be unforgettable and I haven't forgotten about Someone is Always Watching.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*3.5 stars*
This book was well written with really great character development. It's full of twists and turns ... and lies!
The reveal of everything was definitely the best part. Specifically how the groups truths are connected and what their real stories are. There were definitely some major and unsuspected surprises there. Tanya & Blythes were my favourite. Once the truths were uncovered, things made complete sense and pieced together smoothly.
The only fault, my opinion, is the ending. I just think it reads/feels as if it was missing something, as if there could've been more to the finale. Overall this is an interestingly easy YA psychological thriller.
This book was well written with really great character development. It's full of twists and turns ... and lies!
The reveal of everything was definitely the best part. Specifically how the groups truths are connected and what their real stories are. There were definitely some major and unsuspected surprises there. Tanya & Blythes were my favourite. Once the truths were uncovered, things made complete sense and pieced together smoothly.
The only fault, my opinion, is the ending. I just think it reads/feels as if it was missing something, as if there could've been more to the finale. Overall this is an interestingly easy YA psychological thriller.
dark
mysterious
This was as believable as Riverdale (which is to say, not believable at all) but it was just as addicting.
I love psychological thrillers and this is probably the first YA psychological thriller that I've read and I devoured it.
It's probably best if you go into this book blind but at a high-level, it's a book about a dark secret that the town has been keeping and that Blythe and her group of tight-knit friends are keen on uncovering in order to help their friend.
I really liked the characters, particularly Blythe and Turner and their unlikely friendship and unflappable loyalty towards one another.
I will say that I've previously read Armstrong's Darkness Rising trilogy and I found that a lot of parallels can be drawn between that trilogy - such as the characters' personalities, relationship dynamics, and the parents' involvement in keeping (pretty crazy) secrets from their children.
I love psychological thrillers and this is probably the first YA psychological thriller that I've read and I devoured it.
It's probably best if you go into this book blind but at a high-level, it's a book about a dark secret that the town has been keeping and that Blythe and her group of tight-knit friends are keen on uncovering in order to help their friend.
I really liked the characters, particularly Blythe and Turner and their unlikely friendship and unflappable loyalty towards one another.
I will say that I've previously read Armstrong's Darkness Rising trilogy and I found that a lot of parallels can be drawn between that trilogy - such as the characters' personalities, relationship dynamics, and the parents' involvement in keeping (pretty crazy) secrets from their children.