There’s a line in the last scene of this book where Tucker is referring what happened to the teens and he calls it “Tragic. Traumatic. Identity-crushing. Soul-suffocating.” I feel like that sums this book up well. It was definitely successful as a thriller/genre novel. It kept me interested and intrigued, but I wish there was a bit more joy and positivity to offset the hard stuff. It would have made me care more about the characters to see them having a bit more fun at times to offset the hard stuff they went through in the book. In particular, that applies to the villain. I didn’t feel like I got to know them well enough to be surprised or care that they were the bad actor.

I choose not to share any reviews on Goodreads other than 4 and 5 stars, so I won’t be sharing this elsewhere. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review the book.

I'd never heard of Kelley Armstrong before this book title, and now I can see the hype behind the name. This was an engaging psychological thriller that had me hanging on every word. This was a very fleshed-out, well-written mystery that was enjoyable from start to finish.

Kelley Armstrong is pretty much a "one-click" author for me. I enjoy all the different varieties of books that she's written. When I read the blurb for this one, I was instantly pulled in. That said, I would advise others to avoid reading too many reviews or blurbs prior to reading the book. Go into it as blind as possible and be surprised by the plot.

Basically, the story takes place at a private high school where the students' parents all work together for a government agency. There are secrets surrounding the school and the students that could be endangering others. The main character, Blythe senses something isn't right about what they are being told and she also believes the truth is just out of reach. But someone is covering up the actual events that have happened. The question is why. In an attempt to uncover the secrets, Blythe reaches out to her friends for help. Brother and sister, Tucker and Tanya were close to Blythe before an act of violence that Blythe and Tucker were both involved in. Since then, they've kept their distance. But times are different now and they have to join forces to determine what is happening at their school and to their classmates.

This was a fun mystery. Not only was the storyline clever, but the characters were well thought out and relatable. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Someone Is Always Watching by Kelley Armstrong

Pub: April 11, 2023 by Tundra Books (tomorrow!)

Thank you @tundrabooks for the gifted finished copy to read and review 🩵

I love YA mysteries and Someone Is Always Watching is a really fun read.

We have a central mystery that starts from one instance and branches out naturally from there into a complex web of lies and secrets. The story uses science that we don't have yet (or do we….) but everything feels grounded in the real world and a lot of that has to do with character development.

I'm always the person who wants more information about WHY people do things and Armstrong absolutely nailed the delivery of this throughout the book.

Can we have a book about Tanya next, please? No spoilers here, but she quickly became a favourite of mine.

TDLR: Someone Is Always Watching is bingeable book fun and I recommend it to all my fellow YA mystery/thriller fans.

Thank you Netgalley and Tundra Books for the chance to read an advanced copy of Someone is always watching by Kelley Armstrong. This was a rush for me as I spent most of the novel trying to figure out where it was going. A wild YA psychological thriller, with a X-Files feel, where the main characters, Blythe, and her friends start to realize their lives are not what they seem. I definitely could not put the book down, and highly recommend it.

Someone Is Always Watching by Kelley Armstrong is a YA novel that is part mystery, part psychological thriller, part YA romance. In the vein of Patterson's Maximum Ride series, this tale is about a group of teenagers in a small, exclusive school that is not quiet what it seems. The fact that the high school is run by a medical research corporation should be the reader's first clue that something is not right. The plot is fast-paced, with lots of twists and turns. Many suspects will present themselves before the final mysteries are solved. Note that there is some content that my be very disturbing to more sensitive readers.

I've read many of Kelley Armstrong's adult novels. This was the first young adult novel of hers that I have had the pleasure to read. I'm delighted to read the same detailed character development and suspenseful, well-plotted story. In Someone Is Always Watching, Blythe and her sister attend a private high school for children of parents working at an exclusive medical research company. Blythe's friends have know each other since they were kids - Gabrielle, the twins - Tucker and Tanya. An incident when they were younger caused a rift between Tucker and Blythe, so much so that Blythe's parents have forbidden her to be around him. When Gabrielle brutally kills their principal and is whisked away to a private mental hospital, Blythe starts investigating the things that just aren't adding up. She is forced to work secretly with Tanya and Tucker to discover what really happened with Gabrielle, and what is behind the flashes of memory she and her friends are suddenly experiencing. Armstrong gives us an original, unique story of friendship and secrets they may be better left undiscovered. Fans of Holly Black and Leigh Bardugo will enjoy this book as will any fan of exciting, well-written, fast-paced fiction. Many thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read an ARC.

This is one of those stories where you are fed little bits of information piece by piece as the layers peel back. You’re never sure who you can trust and you spend your time reading going back and forth on who is reliable (if anyone).


This story follows a group of teens and their siblings at a high school where odd things seem to be happening and memories are unclear.

This story starts when Gabi keeps insisting someone is always watching and that her parents are not truly her parents as a sort of mumbling to herself and particularly around cameras.

Fellow students Tucker, Blythe and Tanya (Tanya and Tucker are siblings) all have a sixth sense that something is massively wrong and then Blythe’s sister Sydney is suddenly missing when she should’ve been at a movie with a friend from coding camp. Later on Devon is thrown into the mix of teens as well. The characters personality traits all intertwine with their backstories that are revealed as the novel continues and it gives you a deep insight into who they are and the ability to guess what may or may not have happened to them as the narrative continues.

I definitely think the story could’ve used a bit of refining/polishing. The story jumps around, seemingly at random which causes confusion when reading. I also would’ve liked more clear and developed back stories and a clear definition of what happened in the past without any room for questioning.

Overall, I think fans of Karen McManus and Holly Jackson will love this book and I recommend they add it to their TBR immediately!

3.5 stars

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Books for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had a fun premise and kept surprising me. However, it felt like ideas were thrown into the page and whatever stuck was kept. It would definitely benefit from proper editing to tighten things up.

This is my first YA novel by this author and I was pleasantly surprised to be so hooked by the storyline. My recommendation is that you go into the book completely blind, so you'll be totally surprised by the twists and turns, the hints at past events in the main group's lives, and the history between them. This was a thoroughly entertaining read.I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is jarring. You almost feel as if you are in two different stories as the plot weaves in and out of a science experiment that has turned horribly wrong. Nothing is what is seems and you learn that the real danger is much closer than what you think.

Rating: 2.5⭐️

Thank you to the publisher for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger warnings: blood, gore, murder, mention of suicide, kidnapping, gaslighting,

This was an easy read that was fast paced and interesting but the execution just didn’t work for me. This is definitely a psychological mystery though, which I’m not the biggest fan of. It focused heavily on the relationships between the main characters, which was fine, except when the POVs kept changing. Blythe’s POV was in first person and everyone else’s was in third. At that point just make them all the same because it wasn’t just Blythe’s story.

I felt like the author was telling more than showing which threw off the pacing of the story. So much was revealed in one go that it didn’t really leave a lot of the mystery element that I was looking for. The revelations for each of the characters were interesting but still predictable.

I think someone who enjoys YA psychological mysteries would enjoy this one, but it just fell flat for me unfortunately.

I LOVED IT!!!! WOW!! I literally sat up all night reading this. Every bit of each chapter really left you wanting more. I truly was guessing who Veritas was the whole book, maybe some may have found it obvious (I usually do) but I wouldn't have guessed. Blythe is a great character, she wants the best for everyone and that's not her fault like some of them make it to be. She just believes in the best. Tucker and Tanya are a great sibling duo. Their dad sucks. This book reminded me of a YA version of the Institute by Stephen King in some ways. Anyways, again, LOVED IT!

Someone is Always Watching by Kelley Armstrong, 368 pages. Tundra Books (Penguin Random House Canada), 2023. $17. lgbtqia
Language: R (203 swears, 37 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Blythe (17yo) and her friends have been together for years due to their parents’ jobs with CMT; they know each other and themselves. Until Gabi has a breakdown. Now Blythe is looking for the truth she never knew existed, unsure if she can trust her parents, her friends, or her own memories.
It’s the secrets that get you—secrets hidden from the readers, secrets hidden from the characters, and secrets hidden from both. The more we learn, the less we know, and it is incredible. The story that unfolds is convoluted in an intriguing way, and I loved every minute of it.
The majority of characters seem to be implied White. The mature content rating is for underage drinking, innuendo, and mentions of groping, STIs, drugs, pornography, nudity, orgy, and attempted sexual abuse. The violence rating is for blood and gore, gun use, attempted suicide, assault, murder, and mentions of physical abuse.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Another book I feel conflicted about, it has a very interesting plot and the concept is very unique and complex. The mystery really caught my attention and I was determined to read until the end to find out what happen.

However, I was left confused about some things regarding the memories. It took me a while to understand it. I also felt some parts feels dragging especially in the middle part of the story.

I really like getting to know the characters and the secret pasts each of them has. Some of them really caught me by surprise and made a good plot twist. Although, I wish there’s more depth to the side characters as well.

I don’t know if this is going to be a series or remain a standalone, if it is a standalone then the ending doesn’t feel very satisfying cause it left with some unanswered questions that I wish were resolved at the end of it.

Overall, it’s still a pretty good story. A dash of romance, strong friendship and unexpected twists makes this book quite enjoyable to read.

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Death, murder, sexual assault, mention of suicide, fire injury, suicide attempt and child death.

I received an advanced review copy for free through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!

3.5 stars. Not my favorite Kelley Armstrong book but also not the worst book I’ve ever read 😅 It was… interesting. A bit confusing at times with an unreliable narrator and multiple pov’s. It reminded me of a couple of her ya series, if you took the supernatural aspect out of them. I do enjoy Kelley’s writing and I’m sure this won’t be the last book I read by her.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so good. It had me on the edge of my seat from the very first chapter. I appreciated the pacing of this book, not too fast but not too slow, and admired how easy it was to get in to. I thought the premise was very interesting and only wished that we could’ve had more details on how the memory erasing/creating technology worked.

I've been a fan of Kelley Armstrong's writing for over ten years. Whenever I see one of her books it is an automatic read or buy for me.

This book begins with a tight friend group that is rocked apart by violence. One of their inner circle is found covered in blood, standing over their dead principal with no memory of how they came to be there.

This book was a fun and enjoyable read. If you are wanting an easy mystery/thriller type book to read, this is a good place to start.

Book Summary:

Blythe, Gabriel, Tucker, and Tanya are the best of friends. We all know how important a solid friend group is – especially for teens. Yet this group is unprepared for what is to come, as a rift forms between the two.

When Gabrielle is found, covered in blood, over a murder victim (who happens to be their principal), things go from bad to worse. Without any memory of how she got there, Gabrielle can hardly defend herself. Can the group trust anyone anymore? What about each other?

My Review:

As a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong, I knew right away I had to try her latest thriller novel, Someone Is Always Watching. It's always interesting seeing authors experiment with a different genre, and this is no exception.

Someone Is Always Watching is a teen drama/mystery/thriller, so naturally, it gets quite tense and complex at times. More importantly, it shows the power and fragility of friendship and how quickly things change.

Throw in the creepy nightmares, and you've got a compelling story. I read Someone Is Always Watching in one sitting and have zero regrets about it.

Highlights:
Thriller/Mystery
Romantic Subplot
Teen Thriller

Thank you to Kelley Armstrong, Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this one. The writing was easy to read. It flowed really well. I loved the mystery of it. I really liked Tucker and Blythe. Honestly, this book took a turn and ended up where I would have never guessed. This is one I will recommend.