I was truly looking forward to this one but I honestly lost interest about halfway through the book. The plot is about a girl named Polly who is missing and has been for a while now. Maren, her best friend, decides to get to the bottom of why she's missing because the academy they attend and others simply think she's a runaway. I don't want to say what does happen and why she is missing, but as Maren searches for answers let's just say she gets in over her head. The problem I had is that so much of what happened was definitely too much, totally unbelievable for me, so I lost interest.

wow okay!! was not expecting this at all. not saying the book is unlike the summary, just much much deeper than i thought. i am kind of shocked but in a good way!! let me warn you and say this book is way darker than it seems lol. another warning—if you hate love triangles then stay away.

i’m gonna start off with the plot. it was honestly perfectly paced (besides the ending being a bit rushed.) the book starts off slightly slow, but i think that’s good because the author is giving you all the facts without info dumping. but once it gets going, i found it so hard to stop reading. there are twists that i was not expecting at all, and the surprises just keep going throughout the book. if you’re looking for entertainment, this is for you because i gasped multiple times.

now i’m gonna say, the reason my rating isn’t higher is because of the characters. they’re not bad—i actually really like all of them, unfortunately i don’t relate to them at all. and the name remington definitely doesn’t help.🤢 i really only found myself caring about maren and remington.

maren was a solid main character. she’s smart, good under pressure, and brave. she’s not a pushover and willing to take risks which i appreciate. she’s a loyal friend, but maybe too loyal. it kinda pissed me off that she did so much to get polly back when polly literally ditched her in the first place. maybe she needs to know her worth a little more, but i won’t complain.

anyways, moving on to the love interests. i had a hard time picking who i was rooting for. for the most part, i was team remington, but not gonna lie i had a hard time trusting him for most of the book. gavin was sweet at times, but he was a tad boring. another warning, this book will give you major trust issues ⚠️ i questioned pretty much every character at one point; the author always keeps you guessing and changing your mind. and i did not guess who the gamemaster was so that was a plus! i will say there was a tiny plot hole, but oh well.

overall, i am super super impressed. this book honestly reminds me a bit of the ’inheritance games’ series. if you are a fan of dark academia, secret societies, love triangles, boarding schools, mysteries, & games, you’ll love this!

thank you to netgalley & sourcebooks fire for the arc!

This was a cute and interesting book. The secret society is quick to enter the story. In just the first few chapters, the MC is aleady in and doing their dirty work. I liked the societies games and riddles to solve even if the stakes were higher than Maren thought. It is entertaining to read, especially if you like the secrets and the twists.

But I found this to be a little sweeter and lighter than I thought it would be. It was cute, and I liked it, just didn't love it. Oh and the twist totally had me, I never guessed a thing!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

what a fun and thrilling ya!
ya thriller is my comfort genre, mix that in with academia and it's perfect.
i really enjoyed it and I think it is one of my more favorite books that i've read this year.
i thought the mystery aspect was so interesting, and i really enjoyed the characters as well.

this is going to be a staple when it comes to ya thrillers and i can't wait for it's release!

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!