This book was NUTS and had me in an absolute chokehold - I rarely finish books in one sitting, but I couldn't stop until I got to the end! Even though I called a few of the twists, I never knew exactly what was coming next - every page was a surprise. I'm a true sucker for an academic institution thriller, and the intricacies of the society's history and expansive network drew me in from the start. I felt as unsettled as Maren discovering how ubiquitous the society was, and found her to be a compelling lead whose journey of discovering all the society's secrets was exciting to follow. At times the plot became a bit over the top, but it was so fun and compelling that I didn't mind suspending disbelief in order to enjoy it. This is a definite recommend and now I can't wait to see what Chelsea Ichaso does next!

This book is too long for what it is and the whole narrative lacks tension. The reveals were just there and didn't elicit shock or any thrilling emotions from me personally. I am just bored all throughout the reading experience and find some of the characters interchangeable.

This was an amazing thriller in my opinion and I hope many look into reading this book. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I read this. The writing was fantastic and the cover looks great as well. Overall, this is an amazing book. Five Stars for this!

This was such a good thriller! It kept me guessing and intrigued the whole time! The characters were likable and well developed. I would definitely recommend this to everyone!

An elite school, disappearances, a secret society and puzzles- already hooked .
I fully enjoyed it. I was at the edge of my seat and I could not put this book down. The protagonist was sometimes impulsive which made the book more daunting and I kept questioning what she was going to do. I kept trying to figure out who was in the secret society which made this book more enjoyable since I was coming up with multiple explanations and theories. It definitely kept me engaged. However, I found the romance to be underwhelming and unnecessary. I usually like romance sub-plots but this one felt forced. Overall it was a thrilling read and I will be recommending it.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this.

This is a great thriller, creepy but you can’t stop reading. Great book for October lol.
I could not put this book down .

Maren and Polly are both scholarship students at an ultra exclusive private school named Torrey-Pines. They are inseparable until a few months before Polly's disappearance when she begins hanging with a wealthy crowd. Maren discovers a secret society with deep roots within the school. She believes this society is responsible for the disappearance Polly. Maren wiggles her way into the society and as she completes tasks for the society she is given another clue about her friend's whereabouts. Maren is befriended by a few other members in the society, but everyone has secrets of their own. In this game of cat and mouse it is uncertain who can be trusted and who is pulling to strings. This novel is a fast paced thriller that will keep you guessing until the end. I really enjoyed this one. Usually I can tell the ending from a mile away, but this one kept me on my toes. It was very well executed. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited for this one, I loved Ichaso's other work, so I thought; HECK YES! When I received the email that it came through.

At 22% I had to put it down, it just wasn't keeping my attention like her other books. It starts out lifeless and quite honestly, boring. Then when Maren finally starts to get somewhere the events just feel unlikely for a teenage book. And I get it, it's supposed to be fiction. But it feels a little to unorthodox.

Unfortunately it just isn't the book for me.

This was my first time reading this author and I really enjoyed her writing. “Secret societies” got me right off the bat. I found this book both creepy and entertaining which is exactly what I enjoy in a novel such as this. This is a perfect “fall” read for seasonal readers.

Fast paced and interesting mystery thriller that’ll keep you guessing until the end. A secret society, A missing student , intrigue, danger, suspense, this book has it all. Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

Fun mysterious story that kept me on my feet.

Very well written and interesting use of other members and initiatiates of the secret society.. I think anyone who likes suspense and mysteries will love this book. Especially those that love attention to detail.

I've never had the privilege of reading this author's work before but I'm so glad I found her because this one was really good! I love novels set in elite academies and it's a bonus if they include a mystery and thrills! This one was a winner!

Elite boarding school, secret society, game master and a missing roommate. This was a fun mystery thriller. Maren's roomie and best frien goes missing one day. The police and her parents are convinced she just ran away. Maren doesn’t believe that since Polly was acting very strange before she disappeared. She is convinced it has something to do with a secret society. She is determined to get an invite and find out what happened. She is unsure who she can trust and even gets caught up in a love triangle. I enjoyed this book. It was a little long but still entertaining. There were some twists I didn’t see coming.

Where did Polly disappear to and can Maren help solve the mystery?

This was much more advanced than I was expecting it to be. It starts off strong, and carries through until the end. I couldn't understand some of the motives of the main characters, but I kept reading anyways and I am glad that I did. All I could think about was HOW GOOD this book would be if it was adapted to be a film-which isn't a thought I often have while reading. I really enjoyed the underline romance of Maren and Remington and their inability to trust each other throughout the book. It added a level of realism to the plot that I feel most books like these leave out.


Special thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

'Victory or Dust' is the simple motto of the Gamemaster's Society. There isn't anything sinister in having a catchy slogan or a secret society inside an academy. Is there? And yet, every fiber of Maren's body screams at her that the Gamemaster's Society is the reason for her best friend's disappearance. Although everybody, including Polly's parents, has accepted the police's theory that she ran away of her own accord, Maren does not believe it. She knows the only way to find the truth is by joining this super secret society. By far, her only concern is getting an invitation to join this "clan."What she doesn't realize is that getting out of the Society will soon become the most complicated equation of her problem.

They're Watching You by Chelsea Ichaso, in its secrets and attractive characters are reminiscent of Pretty Little Liars, a TV series. However, the story is not a reflection of the series by any means. The plot, with its shocking twists, is as gripping as it comes. Chelsea Ichaso plants a never-yielding ominous feeling inside the hearts of her audience, and still, Maren's quest to find answers provides a faint hope that keeps them glued to the pages. The protagonist, antagonist, and side characters are beautifully written. The high reach of the Gamemaster Society seemed unbelievable; however, that did not lessen the entertainment anyway. They're Watching You by Chelsea Ichaso is a recommended read for readers who enjoy Young Adult Thrillers.

A fast paced secret society mystery! The ending was full of twists that I did not see coming!! I can’t wait to read more by Chelsea Ichaso!

This is my third and so far favourite Chelsea Ichaso read.

An elite academic institution, a secret society, sinister disappearances, and deadly trials all form the nexus for this thrilling and fast-paced read. Everything featured in the sentence above are my buzzwords and so I had very high expectations concerning this storyline, all of which were easily met.

This was a dark and thrilling read, with clues and puzzles for protagonist, Maren, and reader to solve in order to uncover what happened to her former-best-friend, Polly, before her disappearance. Not one of the extended cast were trustworthy and so my suspicions never rested on just one individual, which added to the already tense situations that they were exploring.

The society Maren gained access too only heightened this unease, with trials featuring throughout for her to gain more information and increased authority. Every chapter had a new reveal, all of them led to more raised questions, and nothing about this novel was expected.

The ending did border on becoming a little overwhelming but the author pulled it back off the precipice and delivered something unique and fresh in this genre instead. I'm excited what else she will deliver in the future!

In They’re Watching You by Chelsea Ichaso, Maren learns that her best friend and roommate, Polly, may have been involved in a secret society in the months leading up to her disappearance. Maren attempts to infiltrate this group in the hopes that if they were involved, she’ll be able to get some answers. But the conspiracy goes further than she thought and the secrets are darker than she expected.

Here’s the thing. This kind of book is difficult to review because the things that make it compelling are the same things that make it unrealistic. This is an over-the-top dramatic, twisty, and fast-paced mystery. It’s also completely absurd. But, in a way that makes it super fun if you’re in the mood for that kind of thing. Some readers will be frustrated by the leaps in logic, the out-of-nowhere plot twists, the rash and often ridiculous decision-making by allegedly clever characters, and the larger-than-life settings, villains, and plots. But other readers will love the book because of all those exact things. That’s what makes this sort of book so deliciously fun.

So, I’m going to list the things that make this book stand out, and you, dear reader, can decide for yourself whether to consider each point a pro or a con. This book features:
*A secret and powerful society
*A doomed and very tense love triangle
*Lots of puzzles, secrets, plot twists, and dramatic reveals
*So much drama
*A main character who has good intentions, but continuously makes poor decisions
*A mysterious and historic New England boarding school setting
*An increasing sense of tension and paranoia
*Conspiracies about possible cults and human sacrifice

In conclusion, I enjoyed this book. It isn’t deep or literary, but I had fun reading it, no matter how many times I had to pause so I could rant about how bad various characters are at making decisions. (I legitimately lost count) I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fun, fast-paced, unrealistic, and dramatic mystery-thrillers. I would recommend it to anyone who was intrigued by the aforementioned list. But I would recommend it with the caveat that it has some dark themes including blackmail, murder, child endangerment, drug use, and imprisonment. And while I don’t remember anything graphic, there are various forms of violence. So younger readers should proceed with caution.

This book pulled me in right from the beginning. I really look forward to reading more from this author.

Best friends Maren and Polly attend Torrey-Wells Academy, an elite private boarding school. The two of them have been inseparable since day one... until two weeks ago when Polly went missing. The school, police, and even Polly’s parents have labeled her a runaway, but Maren thinks something happened to Polly. Determined to find her best friend, Maren begins searching for clues and stumbles upon an invite to a secret society hidden in Polly’s things.

The Gamemaster’s Society looks like fun and games, but their games are dangerous. More risk = more reward. The Society’s reach is further than Maren ever thought, and as you move up in their ranks, you can request favors from the highest places. Maren infiltrates the Gamemaster’s Society to receive clues about Polly’s whereabouts, but things quickly turn dangerous. Nothing is as it seems, no one can be trusted, and everyone may not get out alive.

I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK. It reminded me of “They Wish They Were Us” but it was even better! Even though this is a YA book, it didn’t feel too young. It felt like I was reading about students on a college campus. I loved the boarding school setting, the creepy secret society, and the Greek mythology connection. There were a lot of twists and turns, and I was surprised many times. This was my first book by Chelsea Ichaso, but I will be reading her others immediately.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire & Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.