I had pretty high expectations going into this book. I haven’t read the author’s other work but I’m aware of her. And the synopsis made it seem like this book would be right up my alley. At the beginning, I was certain this was going to be a five-star read for me. We had a girl behaving irrationally, with paranoia over being watched on the school security cameras to the point she is willing to murder her vice principal or kill herself to escape them. Mix in some nonconsensual memory-erasure and a concern that the people raising the teen characters are not their actual biological parents, and you have the makings of an incredible sci-fi thriller. I was so ready for this to be my next favorite book.

But then it turned out the teens had the whole plot figured out in practically the first quarter of the book. There was nothing for the reader to figure out, no clues doled out to allow us to put together the puzzle pieces and figure out what was going on. The story devolved into the teens hashing and rehashing their theories over and over, and the plot became convoluted. By the end it sounded like they were just trying to force the pieces together to fit a story that really didn’t make sense. In the end there was no government conspiracy, no evil organization. Characters died for no real purpose other than unfortunate little accidents. Some characters had no point or purpose in the story other than to solve what appeared to be problems on the author’s end. For example, there are several mentions made of a character named Andre, who is part of the main characters’ friend group. Except he never actually appears in the book save for one brief moment where he hands a razor blade to another character to be used as a weapon later. Could she not have gotten a razor blade from anywhere else? I don’t understand why Andre was even in the book. There is also a scene where the teens steal some encrypted files, and they reach out to a teen whose sole purpose in the book was to decrypt those files. Cassidy actually had a very interesting role to play in the beginning, as the main character’s younger sister’s love interest, and she had a backstory about being trapped in a religious organization with homophobic, abusive parents. But once she decrypts the files for the main character, she is never seen again. She served her purpose and the character was then just dropped from the book, same as Andre.

Speaking of stealing classified files, my largest problem with this book is that, despite being called “Someone is Always Watching,” it turns out nobody was ever watching! I imagined that since all the main characters were teenagers involuntarily being experimented on, that they would be closely monitored. But they freely spy, break and enter, and steal without consequence or really any fear of being caught. It was just too easy for them to go sneaking around and Gabrielle’s whole hangup about security cameras, which were expected to play a huge role in the story that took its title from that issue, turned out to just be Gabrielle’s personal issue from childhood and had nothing to do with anybody else and never really came into play after the inciting incident. The adults in the story never have any idea what’s going on, even with their own children. Absent adults are often a problematic issue in YA books, but in this case it was an especially questionable choice because they were supposed to be scientists running an experiment, and they had absolutely no clue what was happening with their subjects at any point in the book.

The first quarter of the book felt really polished, fleshed-out and filled with what I expected to be clues to unlocking the big mystery behind the rest of the book. But the longer I read, the more convoluted and rushed the story felt. The beginning feels like a finished product, but everything after the halfway mark feels like a first draft still pending editing. Suddenly a lot of things seemed to just be summarized instead of the reader getting to see the scenes fully play out, more like an outline was being drafted than the second half of a book being written. Devon kidnapped Gabrielle, but she suddenly pops out of nowhere in the final scene, and the reader never knows how she was kidnapped, from where, where she’d been held or how. The biggest mystery in the book revolved around “where’s Gabrielle and who took her?” and we actually never find out those things.

I was confused as to why one character's perspective was written in first-person but everyone else's chapters were written in third. I didn't notice at first, but once I did, it felt distracting. I liked reading from Blythe's perspective the best because she felt like the most fully-realized character, but it also made me not care about the other characters as much because there was an obvious focus on Blythe.

I was also distracted by the names of the siblings, Tanya and Tucker. I couldn't help think about country music singer Tanya Tucker every time. Was that an intentional reference? If so, maybe some clues should be sprinkled into the story. Maybe their dad is a big Tanya Tucker fan. Otherwise, it was distracting and didn't make sense.

I also noted some dated language, like when the main character uses the word “ticker-tape.” I had no idea what that is, and I’m in my 40s. Google explained the concept to me but said the word had fallen out of use by 1970. So I don’t understand why teens would be using a word like that, or how teens today would be expected to understand it when they see it.

I feel like there are good bones and serious potential to this book but they need fleshing out. I was very invested in the beginning, but the more I read, the less I enjoyed it. In its current state I would not be able to recommend this book and I would not purchase a copy to reread it.

I have read enough Kelley Armstrong to know what a solid writer she is (though this is my first read of her YA), so this book was a little disappointing. She does something here, twice, that always disappoints me when I see it in a mystery: she allows a character to clearly know something (here, the identity of the perpetrator), but hides it from the reader. If it’s revealed on the next page, that’s one thing, but when it’s chapters later, I find it to be a cop-out. She’s a much better writer than that, so it saddens me to see her use this device. I also felt like the perpetrator was so obvious far in advance, as were some other plot points, that it took the mystery out for me. I did find the concept of the book compelling, but, unfortunately, it didn’t deliver.

sadly, this one started off so intriguing and heart pounding, but it fell kinda flat after that 🙃

I love a good ol mind control premise, especially when it has to do with sci fi advancements and not a divine intervention (*cough* manifest *cough*)! so I was super into the beginning and the mystery of the government hiding certain events!

the intrigue, however, ended there. the characters were capable of only making bad decisions and wandering off on their own. literally, they did nothing else.

and don’t even get me started on their parents. for being labeled helicopter parents, they sure were pretty lenient about their high school children 🤨

the ending was a little too wrapped up and HEA for this kind of story. I wanted an ambiguous sci-fi ending, and instead, I got “and all was well and right in the world.” and I was like … alrighty then?

it just felt super unedited and disjointed for me, but I loved the premise!!

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

rating: 2 stars
wine pairing: napa valley sauvignon blanc

I have been a Kelly Armstrong fan forever. I did worry that I may have aged out of her YA books, but after reading this, I am still a fan. Definitely a suspenseful read. I admit there were some unexpected twists. And, without sharing too much, there is moral level to the book. Do our actions as children define us? It did feel a bit rushed through the ending and open ended enough for additional books. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a e copy to read and review.

I chose this book to read based on reading books by this author in the past (supernatural books). This did not disappoint! Such a great psychological thriller with amazing characters! Great pace, and loved the mystery of it as it unraveled. Great ending, read it in one sitting!

This was my first Kelley Armstrong book and it won't be my last.

From those early pages to the rest of this rapidly paced YA thriller, I was hooked. The cast of characters is decent sized but told through only four of their POVs: Blythe, Tanya, Tucker and Callum.

What would you do if you couldn't trust your memories?

This was a decent psychological thriller delving into the science fiction of the mind. More can't be said without revealing the plot. But the reveals, and there are many, are good. Highly recommend for fans of YA and thrillers.

I’m taking a bit of a different approach with this review than I have lately because I truly don’t want to spoil anything for anyone. I did not expect the book to go in the direction it did, and at first, I didn’t think I was going to like it, but as soon as some pieces started coming together, I was hooked! There are many red herrings and so many pieces that you have to put together that you’re constantly looking for clues. And then, to top it off, the characters are interesting as well. I really, really enjoyed it. I do wish we got a little bit more information at the end about the company their parents work for (it seemed not fully fleshed out), but that’s my only complaint, really. Kelley Armstong is an amazing storyteller.

4 STARS

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

This was my first Kelley Armstrong read. And if, like me, you are not yet well-versed in the author's works, the pacing and some of the style of the story is reminiscent of Karen M. McManus' works in that it's a bit of a slow-burn. But I did appreciate that the beginning was so intriguing as to immediately set up the ominous tone that was maintained all the way to the end. The action really picks up in the middle of the book where it becomes a page-turner all the way to the end.

There is a somewhat disjointed and confusing feel as I was reading this, but it feels appropriate for the subject matter and genre. It even helps highlight the twists and turns in the story.

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the premise of this one. It started off pretty strong then lost a little momentum for awhile. It felt like the main characters kept doing the same thing for awhile without much purpose. It was definitely a fast read. Not bad, but not top of the class.

How quickly can I get a class set? My kids keep asking for more mysteries & this one delivers. They are going to love this. It’s nearly impossible to give any plot details without giving spoilers, but this should suffice: this book has interesting, multi-layered characters who are forced to question everything the know about themselves and the people they know… or think they know. I can’t wait to get this one in their hands!

I really got into this book and found it hard to out down, wanting to know where the tale was going to go next. It certainly kept me guessing and fully invested till the end. Nail-biting, psychological, partly dystopian, i really became invested int he various characters, all who were important figures in the story with no characters surplus to the narrative. Very enjoyable.

This was an interesting story of a group of young adults that have a lot of strange things happen to them. They are missing time, their parents seem to talk a lot about things that don`t make sense and some of them seem to be going crazy and doing crazy things. All of their parents work for a research group that seems to protect its self and are always on the scene very quickly when something happens. Past secrets are coming to light and someone wants them all out in the open. They are in more danger than they realize and knowing who to trust is a guessing game, if they trust the wrong person it may just cost them everything, even their sanity. Its thrilling, dangerous. psychologically trippy and compelling. All of the teenagers are intriguing and their quest to find the truth kept me reading and reading! A great read all around.

Generally, I power through reading with ease, but for some reason I held off finishing this book. It was a slower read for me, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Kelley Armstrong is a strong and cohesive writer. I loved the detail in her writing and I did not have to backtrack after setting the book down for a day or two. It is, indeed, a psychological thriller, but I do not believe it was a psychological thriller that aligned with my personal taste.
A lot of the characters were thought out well, (Tanya being my favorite) while others just seemed to have a walk-through experience that made me more curious about their character development, but it was lacking.

The last 30% of my book were my favorite. It was inventive, a little twisted, but I felt overall, the book took a little too long with teen nuances to reach the precipitous of excitement thirst in a psych thriller.

I'd like to take my age into account. I do love a good YA, but it just seemed like a lot of teenage back and forth, which works great given the character dynamic. All was deployed well and will hit its centered market beautifully.

I would be interested in other books by Shelley Armstrong on a more adult level and refer audiences of a more YA late 20s market.

Also, the cover to the story doesn't add up much to me? Is it a mailbox? Filing cabinet?

Wow, what a ride! I read this in two days. This is a great combination of mystery with a touch of sci-fi. The characters were especially well fleshed out and felt authentic. There were no stock or stereotype characters. They all had layers. The mystery also had layers. I thoroughly enjoyed this. I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to recommend to my students and friends. I will be purchasing both the ebook and print book for my library!

For a lot of this book I felt like I was listening in on a phone conversation and only getting half of the story, it made for a frustrating read. I had a lot of trouble staying focused on the story. The formating of the arc made it difficult to read. There were spaces between sentences that made it feel like I was starting a new paragraph. I found the dialogue and character interaction was very juvenile considering they are supposed to be teenagers old enough to drive. I have loved a lot of this author's books geared towards adults but her YA falls flat for me

I found this book really interesting and different. An experiment to take troubled young children and turn them into the perfect child. But what happens when memories start to come back? I will definitely check out other books this author writes.

Blythe attends a special school, one for the children of the employees of CMT. CMT seems to be able to cover anything. Blythe is there when her best friend, Gabrielle, goes crazy and starts yelling about cameras being everywhere and breaking them. She is there, hiding, when Gabrielle kills the AP of the school, and it is covered up by someone- and the story is spread that he took his own life.
She is there when her sister goes missing and is found facedown in mud mumbling about fire. She and her friends, Tanya, Tucker and a few others begin to realize their memories are not their own. She soon finds out she has a past that she knows nothing about.
Not only do they have to find out what happened to Gabrielle, they have to find out who they really are and what has happened to them.

I really enjoyed the story. I thought I knew who was guilty but soon realized I was wrong. I didn't think the person blamed was guilty, but was surprised when I found out who it really was. I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

The best way to describe Someone Is Always Watching is as "Margaret Peterson Haddix - but for older teens". This book was the perfect blend of mystery and suspense with just the right amount of adolescent drama. Blythe and her friends took me on an adventure so enthralling I struggled to put the book down.

Someone Is Always Watching is a young adult novel, following Blythe and her group of best friends. One day at their private school, tragedy strikes when the principal is found dead. Blythe and her friend Gabrielle are next to him, covered in blood, with no memory of what happened. Gabrielle is quickly taken away to a psychological hospital, and cut off from her friends. The story goes on a wild ride as the group realizes they cannot trust their memories or anyone around them. Full of suspense, mystery, and romance- I was hooked throughout!

Read if you want:
🗣Multiple POV
🎥You can’t trust Big Brother theme
🕵️‍♀️Mystery
💛YA appropriate romance

I love Kelley Armstrong's books. Someone Is Always Watching had such an intriguing premise and I couldn't wait to read the book. I did struggle to get into the story and had to push myself to read until about the half way point.

By the end of the book, I was fascinated by the characters and the story. The conflict was strong and the variety of characters kept me reading. Every time I thought I knew what was coming, something changed. The twists and turns were often surprising.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for my review copy. All opinions are my own. #Someoneisalwayswatching #NetGalley