Watch Out For Her was responsible for more than one 2 a.m. reading session.
Sometimes you can't put a book down in the name of sleep!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and Netgalley for my eARC for review.
Canadian author Samantha M. Bailey has made the anticipation so worth it with her new thriller release. This briskly-paced story lays out the suspense from the first page.
Sarah Goldman is a stay at home mom and talented photographer in Vancouver. She's burnt out and feeling unappreciated, her days spent catering to son Jacob and husband Daniel. They hire Holly as a summer babysitter to give Sarah some time to herself.
Holly's home life is complicated, and she quickly becomes enamored with the Goldman family. There are secrets being kept by nearly everyone, and they unravel to the present day where events relocate to Toronto. The story plays back to reveal the events leading to the Goldman's abrupt move.
There are plenty of red herrings here, and more than once I (incorrectly) thought I had things figured out. Also of note are the Canadian locations featured.
Do not miss this sophomore novel - recommended!
For release on April 26.

This was really good! A solid thriller with a satisfying twist at the end. It was fast paced and engaging throughout the whole book, and I do love when I don't trust a single character. Another thing that this book did really, really well was have JUST enough characters to keep you guessing. Not too few, and not too many to make you think the author is unnecessarily throwing in red herrings everywhere. Watch Out for Her is really well crafted, and I look forward to more by this author in the future.

Watch Out for Her is a psychological thriller by Canadian author Samantha Bailey. At the heart of it is Holly, a young woman desperate for a family that loves her, and Sarah, who hires Holly to be a nanny to her six-year-old boy so that she can focus on her photography during the days while her husband is at work. Holly is enamoured with Sarah’s family and willing to do anything to become a part of it. When she catches Sarah’s husband in some lies, she confronts him, learns his secret, and sets out to do the unthinkable in order to fix his problems. Sarah finds out what Holly does, but not why, and, horrified by her babysitter’s actions, moves her family across the country to get away from her. The story is then told in a back and forth format, with chapters from Holly’s point of view telling the story leading up to the move, and chapters in Sarah’s point of view telling the story after the move. While I enjoyed the dual points of view going backward and forward in time, I was confused as to why Holly’s was written in third person and Sarah’s in first. I found it a bit jolting to switch from third person to first person, back and forth throughout the novel.

Holly’s character is relatable - her mother died and her father uses her as a lure for male clients, leaving her longing for real family bonds . She wants to please her father and does whatever she has to do to secure backers for his company. Sarah is a little less relatable, over-reacting to the “thing” she discovers Holly did, while very much under-reacting to the fact that her husband has a shed that she is forbidden to enter. I don’t know of any real-life wives who would be okay with that, knowing her husband must be hiding something and not caring.

The strange things taking place after Sarah and her family move from Toronto to Vancouver create great suspense and hold the reader’s interest, but the climax scene was a little cliche in my opinion, and the big reveal a bit too unbelievable. The story itself is enjoyable enough, though the writing seemed often to be the opposite of “show, don’t tell”.

I thank Net Galley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC. Watch Out for Her releases April 26, 2022.

I absolutely enjoyed this one. I really like the double narrative. The chapters weren’t too long and the story flowed well. It kept my attention and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. I didn’t guess the “end” so I liked that I didn’t see it coming. Will definitely be recommending this one.

When Holly Monroe is hired by Sarah Goldman to be her son’s new babysitter, they both see it as a new beginning. For Holly, it’s a chance to start a new job with a family she feels an instant connection with. For Sarah, a former photographer turned stay-at-home mom, it is a chance to rediscover the part of herself she’d long ago given up.

Soon Holly is becoming fixated on Sarah, longing for the mother figure she’s never had, and Sarah, unsure whether she’s trust worthy, begins to watch Holly, eventually seeing something she shouldn’t. After moving her family across country to start anew, Sarah sees a camera in her house. And another one. And another. And realizes she is now the one being watched.

I really enjoyed this page turner of a book. I could not put this book down, determined to know what the heck was going on in both the past and present storylines. I liked that I found myself unsure whom to trust, whom the villain was, etc. throughout. And I think that is exactly the author’s point - no one is inherently good or bad, but rather varying shades of morally grey.

The character development was phenomenal and no stone was left unturned as the author detailed the two main characters, their psyches, quirks and all. I am a fan of multiple points of view and multiple timelines, so that element of the book is a major plus for me. My only criticism involves the pacing of the book. There is a lot to digest in the end - A LOT - and I think I would have preferred it if some of the revelations came sooner, so as not to overwhelm the reader at the conclusion.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good psychological thriller. Especially one that’s more mild in nature, as I have been drawn to lately. I cannot wait to check out Samantha Bailey’s previous books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Holly wants a home and family to love, one that loves her back. She tries so hard it makes her employer uncomfortable; to the point of forcing them to move far away. What makes a healthy, pretty, and kind young woman so starved for attention? The story behind the doors of the mansion she calls home will explain it all.
Sarah Goldman was happy to find a local girl to babysit her 6-year old son, Jacob. But odd things keep catching her eye about this seemingly innocent girl, to the point that Sarah is spying on her under cover of darkness. Two women, both with their own personal agendas, are on a crash course.
As they maneuver and plot around each other, your emotions for each will span from disgust to deep sympathy. Characters with intricate personalities, a fast-paced plot, and twists you won’t see coming, Samantha M. Bailey’s new book is as satisfying to read as her earlier novel, “Woman on the Edge”.
Sincere thanks to Simon & Schuster, Canada for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The publishing date is April 26, 2022.

Sarah her husband Daniel decide to hire a babysitter for the summer for their 6 year old son Jacob. They hire 22 year old Holly who is home from medical school. She lives with her rich father and stepmother. Her best friend is Alexis her step sister. Holly's life is anything but wonderful. She wants to be part of Sarah's family. Sarah is a photographer so she is always watching everything. What she sees about Holly worries her to the point she doesn't want Holly around her son anymore. Daniel is hiding huge secrets which Holly uncovers. This story is told in the present by Sarah and in the past by Holly. I love this as you learn absolutely everything about the characters. This is a great thriller that I read in one day as I couldn't put it down. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

This book kept me on edge from beginning to end. The twist was a surprise and shocking but oh so good. I love when I can’t figure out the plot.

Thank you Simon & Schuster, Netgalley, and Samantha Bailey for this book in exchange for an honest review. This domestic thriller grabs you from the start and keeps you interested throughout the whole book. This is the second book from the author and I will definitely be keeping an eye out fit the third book. Such a talented writer! 🌟🌟🌟🌟 solid stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, this book is incredible!

Holly is a 22 year old with a messed up sense of familial responsibility who lands a summer job as babysitter to a 6 year old. The job is available because 30-something Sarah is going through some things and is looking for some help taking care of her 6 year old son. Some chaos ensues and Holly ends up moving into the guest room. Then more chaos follows.

Fuelled by suspicion, things are not going smoothly for either lady and in the second half of the book, Sarah, husband Daniel and son Jacob end up relocating from Vancouver to Toronto to start life anew.

The thing that is extraordinary about this book is both Sarah and Holly are very likeable and even though we more or less see what Holly and Sarah are up to, the surprises just keep coming. The paranoia is contagious and this book is a psychological thrill ride.

There is also an underlying story of the mother- child relationship which makes the characters even more relatable. A motherless daughter, a mother that lost her daughter and a mother trying to hold onto an identity in addition to her role as mother.

This book will be published April 19, 2022 and is written by Canadian Author Samantha M. Bailey. Preorder this one!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

Actual review closer to 3.5 stars. Moved at a decent enough pace for me but I didn't find any of the characters particularity likeable.

Can you say scary - lived the chilled this book gave me. Very enjoyable. More from this author please

A thank you to Netgalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nothing earth-shattering here. A decent if somewhat bland thriller that passes the time and keeps you engaged just enough to keep reading. Read it recently, but don't have already forgotten much of the story. Beach read fodder perhaps?

Thank you to the publisher, netgalley and the author for my e-arc in exchange for an honest review! This book comes out April 26, 2022!

My rating: 4.75 rounded up to 5

I read Samantha Bakeky’s debut book, Woman on the Edge in the fall, and loved it! So I was so excited and happy I got to read WATCH OUT FOR HER early! I loved it! This book will keep you on the edge of your seat, needing to know what happens next.

I love books that have an unreliable narrator, because it helps the reader feel just as confused, and trying to figure it out. In this book, Sarah serves as the unreliable narrator, as her husband doesn’t believe her about al l the weird things that keep happening. It’s only when he sees firsthand, then he believes her, but he still seems to brush it off as no big deal. Until it’s too late.

This book takes place in two locations in Canada: Vancouver, BC, and Toronto, Ontario. It also has two points of view, which I love! We get Sarah, the mother and in Toronto, and Holly, the babysitter in Vancouver. This allows for the reader to see what happens up to the move to Toronto, which is how the book starts off. Then we flip back and forth and see how the part events weave together to create what happens at the end.

The ending was so well done!! I loved it! Did I guess the ending? Well I had an idea near the end, and I was kind of right, but also wrong 🤣 it did surprise me tho! Which is a good thing!

This book is about who you can trust, protecting those you love, wanting to feel like you belong, and living up to expectations people have of you.

If you have read and enjoyed Samantha Bailey’s first book, I urge you to preorder and read this book when it comes out next month!

TW: death of a parent giving birth (happens before the book takes place), gambling, control issues, child safety issues

Such a creepy story involving the babysitter and babysitter's family! Exactly the type of story I was looking for when I started this one.

Holly is the young babysitter, just finished her first year of medical school and looking for a summer job, or should we say, looking to impress her father for a summer job. Holly is always looking to please her father and get into his good graces, no matter what or how far she has to go. When Holly's father suggests babysitting for Sarah and David Goldman over the summer, Holly jumps at the chance.

Once she arrives to Sarah's house, she feels that this is her long last family. She finally belongs somewhere! Then things start happening, obsessive behaviors from both ends.

Overall, a solid thriller! I would recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada as well as the author Samantha M. Bailey. This was a book that I took my time reading for some reason because I found this book disturbing at times..my gosh. This book was like the? in so many ways. I was shocked so many times in this book by the behaviour of people to the point that I put the book down and then had to pick it back up as I wanted to know how it ended. When a thriller reads this way for me, I know that the thriller author knows how to write a thriller book. This book will keep your attention and have you talking to yourself about the deception that happens in this book.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected pub date: April 26, 2022
Sarah Goldman, her six year old son, Jacob, and her husband, Daniel, have moved across the country from Vancouver to Toronto, eager for a new start. Sarah was desperate to leave behind one thing in particular- Holly Monroe, the young woman who Jacob immediately fell in love with as his babysitter, and who Sarah thought was the perfect fit for her family. But Sarah can never trust anyone completely- and when the nanny cams she installed her home reveal Holly’s deep secret, she knew that she had to get her family away from Holly as soon as possible. Now, happily settled in Toronto, Sarah starts to receive anonymous text messages from someone Sarah knows has to be Holly. If Holly has followed them across the country, what else is she capable of?
“Watch Out for Her” is the second novel by author Samantha M. Bailey, and it is full of tense, nail-biting action, deep secrets and dangerous obsessions.
The novel is told in two time periods, then (when the Goldman’s lived in Vancouver) and now (in Toronto), and is also told from the perspective of both Sarah and Holly. This writing style served to build up each suspenseful twist and turn, and kept me turning the pages.
The obsession between Holly and Sarah (and vice versa) was dark and haunting, and initially it was hard to wrap my head around. It was desperate and intense, and both characters seemed to have nothing better to do than stalk each other. However, as the story played out, I was pulled into their dangerous obsession and wanted more of it.
Holly is a unique character, but she left my feelings divided. On one hand, she was manipulative and desperate for attention, and I wanted to dislike her, but she was so completely broken and dysfunctional that I couldn’t help but give her my sympathy. Her genuine affection for Jacob made her even more charming, and her naiveté and youth made her desperately bad decisions easier to swallow. Sarah, too, was obsessive (to a huge degree), and was an absolute “helicopter Mom”, but again, her intuition was on point and her maternal love was fierce.
There are a few individuals in this story who I knew would have a part to play in the twist ending (because there is always a twist ending in books like this) and when the ending played out, I loved it! It was unexpected, yet made perfect sense to the storyline. “Watch” is my first novel by Canadian author Bailey (props to the Canadian backdrops and settings!), but it won’t be my last. I hope she delivers more delicious page-turners like this one!

Wow, what a clever title!

@sbaileybooks knows how to write a suspenseful thriller that will keep you turning the pages.

In Watch Out For Her we meet Sarah and Daniel and their young son Jacob, living in North Vancouver. The couple decide to hire a weekday babysitter for Jacob so that Sarah can give more attention to her photography passion. Daniel finds Holly through their local country club where Holly plays a key role in convincing rich men to invest in her family’s pharmaceutical company. Unlike her sister Alexis, Holly has the looks and confidence to woo the investors and doesn’t mind using some immoral means to get their attention.

Holly seems to be the ideal babysitter for young Jacob, willing to play games all day and teach him how to dive in the pool. For Holly, she sees Sarah as a mother figure she doesn’t have. Sarah is very protective of her son and doesn’t trust Holly fully. She is the mom with the nanny cams. One day Sarah sees something that disturbs her to her core and makes her believe that the only thing to do is to remove her family from Holly. Daniel gets job offer in Toronto and they swiftly sell their home and move. The anxiety that Sarah has carries with her to Toronto and when the next door neighbour appears too friendly, her guard is up right away. Is there any actual danger or has Sarah’s anxiety got the best of her?

With alternating chapters focussing on Sarah and Holly, now and before, the level of anticipation ramps up until all is revealed in the last ten percent of the book. The unreliable narrator and cast of suspicious characters did their job in keeping me on my toes right until the end.

I grew up in North Vancouver and know the neighbourhood that the ‘before’ is written in well. I could even picture riding my bike through the streets and looking down at the Capilano River. The downtown Vancouver scenes also felt totally realistic to me.

While there are a few too many coincidences for one of the characters, it was not enough to take away from the story and I thoroughly enjoyed it and will continue to read this author’s work.

I loved Woman on the Edge, Bailey’s debut thriller and this one was just as good. I can’t wait to see what she has up her sleeves next.

Thank you to @netgalley and @simonschusterca for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. Watch Out for Her publishes April 19, 2022.

I See You … What happens when these words go from a loving endearment to something more sinister. That is what you get in Samantha M Bailey’s new novel “Watch Out For Her.”

Welcome to one of my most anticipated thrillers of the season. This is the second novel by author Samantha Bailey and it did not disappoint. Dysfunctional families, lies, and tension all warp together to lead to a highly suspenseful, sinister and twisty novel full of games, and obsession that has you guessing every character right from the beginning.

Sarah is ready for a fresh start, she wants to put behind her life in Vancouver, including her 22 year old babysitter - Holly. Moving to a suburb in Toronto where she continues to fear her past. But when she begins to think someone is watching her she has to wonder if her past is catching up to her or is it someone new?

This book was just what I wanted in a thriller. Beyond the usual this book is full of Canadian content which was an added bonus. I love being able to connect deeper into fiction when it has familiar places included. The child safety aspect added another layer of fear and suspense to this novel and kept me turning the pages of this novel.

Also – That ending

Thank you to #Simon&Schuster and #NetGalley for a gifted early digital ARC.

Another great thriller by this author, I loved her first book Woman on the Edge and liked this one as well if not a bit more .
I loved the story being told by two characters Holly and Sarah and it has present and past timelines . Sarah and her husband hire Holly to be a summer sitter for their son Jacob. Holly feels like she finally has a family but then things take a turn. Sarah and her family move away leaving Holly behind……but what’s a thriller without some twists and turns along the way….I did not see this one coming .

This was a quick read for me , it intrigued me and I found myself not wanting to put it down, lots of family dynamics going on throughout the story. I loved that this story was set in Canada and places I am ver familiar with.

I received a free advanced copy and all opinions are my own . I would recommend this book to friends and my book club.