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amandasbookreview 's review for:
When No One Is Watching
by Alyssa Cole
Thank you, NetGalley, Alyssa Cole, and William Morrow Paperbacks for the opportunity to read this book!
When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole is a thriller that channels “Get Out.” The book focuses on gentrification in a neighborhood in Brooklyn. The book follows the points of view of Sydney and Theo. Sydney has lived in her neighborhood most of her life with the same neighbors who have become family. However, a big company is coming in with the promise of jobs–with this comes gentrification. Theo is one of the new white neighbors to move in, along with his girlfriend Kim. Kim and Theo are struggling in their relationship when he meets Sydney from across the street. She is making a tour of the neighborhood for the big block party and Theo has offered to help with the research. Their research leads them to discover historical patterns of racism. Meanwhile, people are disappearing and new people are moving in. The problem is these neighbors wouldn’t up and leave, especially without saying goodbye. Now it seems like someone is targeting Sydney. Are Theo and Sydney just paranoid? Or is there something more sinister at work?
HOLY SHIT! This book had me on edge the entire time! It has all the twists and turns. Right when you think you know what will happen—BAM–another twist! There are so many intense themes throughout the book. Gentrification is the main theme. A company is systematically pushing black people and people of color out of the neighborhood so it can make the new white people comfortable. Then there are examples of racism and “white tears.” The pacing moves along fairly well, but it REALLY picks up at the final half of the book. There are psychological aspects like paranoia and anxiety. THEN there is the dystopian plot line–that completely blindsided me. However, it never felt unrealistic. These are real fears that black people deal with throughout their entire lives. It is absolutely gut-punching.
The characters are fantastic. I knew from the very first line that I was going to love Sydney. Theo is great too but not as badass as Sydney. Then on top of it all, there is an intense amount of research about the Bronx and New York. I learned so much and now plan to find some more books on the topic because it is definitely eye-opening. For me, this book is fantastic from beginning to end and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. This book gets 5 out of 5 stars!
This book is set to release on September 1st, so be sure to add it to your wishlist!
When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole is a thriller that channels “Get Out.” The book focuses on gentrification in a neighborhood in Brooklyn. The book follows the points of view of Sydney and Theo. Sydney has lived in her neighborhood most of her life with the same neighbors who have become family. However, a big company is coming in with the promise of jobs–with this comes gentrification. Theo is one of the new white neighbors to move in, along with his girlfriend Kim. Kim and Theo are struggling in their relationship when he meets Sydney from across the street. She is making a tour of the neighborhood for the big block party and Theo has offered to help with the research. Their research leads them to discover historical patterns of racism. Meanwhile, people are disappearing and new people are moving in. The problem is these neighbors wouldn’t up and leave, especially without saying goodbye. Now it seems like someone is targeting Sydney. Are Theo and Sydney just paranoid? Or is there something more sinister at work?
HOLY SHIT! This book had me on edge the entire time! It has all the twists and turns. Right when you think you know what will happen—BAM–another twist! There are so many intense themes throughout the book. Gentrification is the main theme. A company is systematically pushing black people and people of color out of the neighborhood so it can make the new white people comfortable. Then there are examples of racism and “white tears.” The pacing moves along fairly well, but it REALLY picks up at the final half of the book. There are psychological aspects like paranoia and anxiety. THEN there is the dystopian plot line–that completely blindsided me. However, it never felt unrealistic. These are real fears that black people deal with throughout their entire lives. It is absolutely gut-punching.
The characters are fantastic. I knew from the very first line that I was going to love Sydney. Theo is great too but not as badass as Sydney. Then on top of it all, there is an intense amount of research about the Bronx and New York. I learned so much and now plan to find some more books on the topic because it is definitely eye-opening. For me, this book is fantastic from beginning to end and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. This book gets 5 out of 5 stars!
This book is set to release on September 1st, so be sure to add it to your wishlist!