Everyone is Watching is the second book I've read by Heather Gudenkauf and I really liked it! This book follows seven main characters that are staying at an Italianesque estate/vineyard/mansion in California. Five of them are competing in a first of its kind reality competition and the other two are the brain behind the show and her assistant. The stakes? Ten million dollars. Each of the five competitors are called something different on the show- examples are "best friend" and "confidante". As the competition progresses, the contestants begin to realize there might be something more sinister at play.

Everyone is Watching is a fast read that doesn't have any lulls in the plot- it hits the ground running almost right away and only continues to pick up steam from there. I really enjoyed reading about the different competitions they competed in and I loved the twists. I rated it four stars because it was a bit predictable but overall a really good read.

This book was definitely unique. The storyline was a bit predictable in some parts….but overall had some good twists and turns. It wasn’t a book that kept me on the edge of my seat though. It’s not one that I would recommend to friends. It was a fun read, though . I enjoyed it overall, well enough to keep reading.

I found this book to be a very enjoyable read. Definitely a very unique story line and was very well written. I enjoyed the flashbacks to each characters life throughout the story which help to build up the tension.

Solid Mystery Lacks Real World Punch Of Other Similar Works. At this point, we've all read some variant of some mystery set in and around the world of reality television, right? This is truly a solid tale of its type, so far as it goes, so even if you haven't read one, this is a good one to start with there.

I'm not sure if a certain aspect of the tale was *meant* to be picked up on early or if I (and apparently a few other reviewers) just *did*, but to me if that particular aspect was supposed to be a "twist", it was about as curvy as say the bend in the US coastline from roughly Charleston to roughly Jacksonville - ie, easily seen from orbit without much effort at all.

The thing blatantly missing - or perhaps it was so subtle that even I simply missed it within this text, as other reviewers have said they loved its presence - was the lack of any actual social commentary baked in to the tale of "reality television", as most in this space tend to have to some degree or another. While I'm glad there was no heavy handed preaching on the subject - no matter the view the author was trying to convey - I do wish that there had been *some*, or perhaps, again, at least some that was more obvious and memorable.

Outside of those two aspects though, this really was a fun and solid mystery of its type, maybe not quite as hard hitting as some of Gudenkauf's previous works, but that is also ok - sometimes both the writer and the reader need a chance to simply enjoy a tale without having to think too hard or without having emotional strings pulled too heart or without too much strain on the heart re: pulse and blood pressure. Not to say that this tale is bland, it absolutely is not. It just isn't *as* intensive as Gudenkauf's prior books - akin to an "easy" 5K at half of your normal running pace while training for a half marathon. You're still getting a good workout, it simply isn't anywhere near the intensity that could hurt you. :D

Overall an enjoyable work and a solid one given its premise. Very much recommended.

This one was both a hit and a miss for me.

You gotta love the premise on this book. There's no question that it is one of those that you very easily fall into right? Right from the start I wanted to know why these people were really here. Why them? What's going on with this game? How serious are things going to get?

Also, this book is a really really fast read. It is short chapters and, the pacing keeps up all the way through. For that reason, I'm going to say this is definitely a straight up thriller and it is a great one night stand book. And you guys know, there are real reasons to have one night stand books. I love to use them for a pallet cleansers.

But, there were definitely some things that were a miss for me. And I will say once again, the premise. Yes, that is both something I liked and something that was a miss for me. The premise is not only locked room, but I think they even mentioned in the marketing copy it is kind of based on, a very famous Christie novel. And if you've read that novel, right from the start, you kind of know a lot. The fact that it was so predictable all the way through had me cringing by the time I got to 75%.

The writing was sloppy. And I absolutely hate saying that, but I have to be honest. It just felt very rushed and almost phoned in. The characters were flat and their backstories, which were really key to the story, were hastily laid out.

Her best work is The Overnight Guest, by far.

🎥𝙴𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚈𝙾𝙽𝙴 𝙸𝚂 𝚆𝙰𝚃𝙲𝙷𝙸𝙽𝙶
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: 𝙿𝚜𝚢𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛
🗓️𝙿𝚞𝚋 𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎: 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚑 𝟸𝟼, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺(𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝟷𝟶 𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚜𝚘 𝚜𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎)
𝙰𝚜𝚑'𝚜 𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 𝟺.𝟻 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

🤏𝚃𝚎𝚎𝚗𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚍𝚋𝚒𝚝... “Big Brother meets Clue in this utterly original and incredibly tense locked room mystery” That’s enough..go in blind. 🫣

💭𝙼𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜...Such a glorious clusterf**k!! 😯This one was beyond original. 👏You have 5 contestants who want this 10 million dollar prize so bad & all willing to do just about anything for it. It’s like Survivor & Big Brother but these stakes are life or death at times. And how are these random strangers all connected since the longer they are there it appears they are?? 🤯So many twisty turns 🌀that you have to just devour to find out more! 🙌Go in knowing it’s def out there but it’s so well done with the coolest setting ever(some massive Hollywood type mansion in the middle of nowhere). It’s fast paced & the ending is nicely wrapped up. So fun & what a joy to read something so friggin unique! 🤌

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

The premise of this book was interesting, a reality show competing for ten million dollars that would push the envelope of risky and dangerous behaviors. But ultimately for me there was too much going, and it was a confusing read. Told from multiple POV from the contestants, as well as dual past and present timelines it was hard to keep up with who was telling the story each chapter.

Also, I knew by the end it would be revealed how all the contestants were intertwined, and called to the show. But it felt very unrealistic and far fetched to be believable.

All in all, this book wasn’t that great of a read for me, I more so just finished to find out why the contestants were chosen for this game. And even after finding out it wasn’t very satisfying.

Trigger warnings for sexual assault and rape.

This is an unexpected gem from Heather Gudenkauf! It’s different from her other thrillers but I think that’s a good thing. She can clearly write something a little dark and character driven AND an exciting popcorn thriller that will leave you hanging by the edge of your seat. If you like books with a competitive nature, then this might be perfect for you!

Wow! This was a twisted little story! It’s an intense edge of your seat thriller. Everyone has secrets to hide but they almost always see the light of day. It’s a fast paced book and you’ll be staying up late to finish it.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

How much would you do for 10 million dollars?! Definitely not as much as the characters in the novel! I loved this fast paced, action packed reality game show novel. The inside of the house was so interesting and I wanted to know the back stories of the characters and how they were all connected. The characters were unlikeable and their actions were definitely questionable, but I found myself so invested. The pacing of the novel was perfect and I never felt myself getting bored.

Thank you to Netgallery and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Maire needs money and she needs it now. Her ex-husband has disappeared and along with him child support and health insurance. That would be bad enough for anyone, but one of her children has cystic fibrosis and has high dollar medical bills all the time. When she gets an email about participating in a game show for 10 million dollars it seems to good to be true, but she is no position to question it. She signs up not knowing the danger that awaits her. Maire and the other 4 contestants are in a game that they might not all live to talk about and all of a sudden the money might not be worth it. Is someone out to get them? Have they been set up?

I am a big Gudenkauf fan. No Exit is a favorite of mine. This is a suspenseful thriller, which we have come to expect from her. This was a good twist on a reality game show with a deadly twist. Highly recommend!

*I will be posting this review on GoodReads and StoryGraph (links provided) on Thursday, March 14th, 2024.*

How far would you be willing to go to win a live-streamed Survivor-like gameshow if ten million dollars were on the line? What if you realized some of your deepest and darkest secrets were potentially being threatened to be exposed? These are the questions five contestants must ask themselves again and again in this twisty suspense novel. The story, which unfolds over the course of several days as well as from enlightening flashbacks for specific characters, keeps you questioning what’s really going on from the very first chapter.

You know that feeling when you read the first few pages of a book and immediately know it is going to be a book you can’t put down? That’s how I felt about Everyone is Watching. I loved this book from start to finish. The storyline was gripping and the writing made me want to read this book in one sitting. It truly was a “just one more chapter” experience. I actually had to force myself to stop reading a few times so I could gather my thoughts. Usually when I read a thriller/mystery book I will occasionally try and guess what the ending will be, but this book had me coming up with theories left and right and I was so invested in it. While I still had a question or two at the end, I thought the ending was great and there were aspects of it I definitely did not predict. This is a book I will not soon forget and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good thriller that keeps you on your toes!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an electronic ARC of Everyone is Watching in return for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy. I enjoy Heather Gudenkauf books and this one did not disappoint! I was invested in this book from the beginning and enjoyed it.

I adore a good reality competition show, so the synopsis of Heather Gudenkauf’s newest book had me so excited to dive in. This binge worthy thriller didn’t disappoint!

Five people are invited to take part in an upcoming show called One Lucky Winner. With a prize of ten million dollars, they all come in ready to push as hard as they can to win it all. When they arrive at a mansion that is under renovation, they quickly realize that starring on this reality show might be more dangerous than they anticipated.

The reality show and the games they play are downright wild; just go along for the ride and enjoy the craziness! My jaw dropped several times as it became quite clear that there really were no rules and that anything could happen during these deranged trials. The idea of creating a reality show that went viral on social media didn’t feel far fetched at all in today’s world, but hopefully no one would go quite this far! It made me think of Squid Game with its deadly challenges, and the way viewers lapped that show up. The audience reactions are included in some chapters, and felt like a real message board you’d find online with the disparate reactions.

The characters all have interesting back stories which are of course important to the story. The premise was interesting, the mystery and plot cleverly written, and the characters compelling. I’ve loved Gudenkauf’s books in the past and will continue to read whatever she writes in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and HTP for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

An implausible but entertaining thriller about five people competing for $10 million in a locked room contest where their secrets come out. The Best Friend, the Confidant, the Senator, the Boyfriend and the Executive-you'll find yourself rooting for one or the other of them and then change your mind. Some of the contests are silly, others more concerning. It is very very unlikely any attorney working for the show would agree to this but hey- it's a page turner. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Just go for it.

4 ⭐️

Let me start off by saying that I am not a reality television show type of girl. I usually find them really cringy and completely fabricated. I did enjoy this book though!

The book follows five contestants who receive emails stating they were nominated by someone (though they don’t know who) to be selected for a new reality tv show called, “One Lucky Winner” where they will compete for two weeks and the winner will walk away with 10 million dollars!

The chapters switch back and forth between three of the main characters (the show’s host and two contestants) and a couple viewers of the show including chatroom comments during the live steaming of the show. The book focuses on the present day, with flashbacks to traumatic events in the three main character’s past.

“Everyone is Watching” starts out with immediate gritty drama and cut throat actions. The game is dirty and the rules are really non-existent. Contestants are trying to physically harm each other during the challenges and are willing to do whatever it takes to win that 10 mil. The contestants also seem to have personal connections to one another in their “real” lives. This book kept me wanting more and I would have finished it in a day if I could have. It was like “Survivor,” but give a couple players a knife and the okay to kick someone else in the face. The game is full of danger, secrets, and surprises and I couldn’t look away from the page!


** My opinions, as spoiler free as possible **

I surprisingly didn’t put two and two together at the big reveal towards the end when the person responsible for the mysterious and dangerous leaks and mishaps appeared (I cannot believe I didn’t notice the name similarity). Once that cat was out of the bag, it felt so anticlimactic, but then things heated up again and got brutal and I enjoyed the ending. It was satisfying for me.

Overall, the subject matter wasn’t my cup of tea, but the suspense and the twisted game continued to hold my interest until the end. It was a very easy and quick read. I have another book by the same author and I am more excited to get into that one now.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me access to the ARC of this book. I greatly appreciate the opportunity.

What a cleverly crafted novel! It was twisty, sneaky, and very addicting to read. I absolutely devoured this book! I never knew what was going to happen next, I was constantly on the edge of my seat, and I thought all the characters were very fascinating. The concept of a locked-room thriller, a 10 million dollar prize, hidden cameras to capture all the drama/action is a recipe for one INTENSE read! And to top it off…some amazing twists!

TOTALLY BUZZING about this book! Mark your calendars friends because this book hits the shelves very shortly!

This was a weird one. It was intense, and a quick read, but something about it just didn't appeal to me. And I am still left with one question: Who was Nan, that visited the therapist? I don't think that was revealed or else I missed it.

Everyone is Watching is a high stakes thrill ride as readers watch 5 contestants compete in a Survivor style reality TV show for 10 millions dollars. Not all is as it appears as secrets are unearthed and the challenges turn deadly.

I’ve never read a Heather Gudenkauf novel, so I didn’t know what to expect. I’m pleased to say I will definitely be reading more Gudenkauf in the future. Her writing was engaging and captivating through twists and turns with a final reveal I did not see coming.

Each of the contestant are labeled with a specific identifier: best friend, confidant, senator, boyfriend, executive. These descriptors were especially helpful at the beginning of the book when the characters were being introduced as well as the intricacies of the challenges. Each of the characters brought a different motive as to why they were competing for the 10 million dollars.

It was truly exciting to watch the story unfold. I was on the edge of my seat from the first page until the last trying to piece together the clues. With each reveal, the puzzle seemed to get bigger until it was an interconnected web of lies and deceit. At first glance, it appears that the mastermind can only be one of a handful of people, but Gudenkauf pulls off a masterful final reveal.

Overall, Everyone is Watching is a high stakes thrill ride about 5 contestants competing in an extreme reality tv show with no rules serving an agenda the contestants are unaware of. Lies, secrets, and deceit are the name of the game.

Read if you like:
#️⃣ Multiple POV
📰 Airing Dirty Laundry
⛔️ Dangerous Games
🚪Locked Room Thrillers
💰What would you do for a Klondike bar

This book takes the reader on a thrilling ride as the book opens with a sketchy but seemingly legit new reality show with the prize of 10 million dollars and 5 contestants that each have their own motivations to win.

But when the games start to have a twist and feeling that something is off, will the contestants walk away or risk it all for the prize of 10 million dollars?

As we get to know the contestants they each have something in their past they would rather stay buried and as clues towards their transgressions start to boil to the surface tensions and aggression begins to rise.

This was a well written and smart book where each narrator feels unreliable and like you can’t really trust the information coming forward, some more than others!

The pacing and flipping between past and present and other timelines was expertly crafted to keep the reader engaged and needing to know what was coming next and if there were more skeletons in the closet and also wondering how where the 5 contestants linked?!

The reveal I felt was well done and the book ended with a bit of a bang and then a nice wrap up!

Thank you so much to the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review! I truly need to read more of this authors backlog as this is my second book by Heather!