I am a huge reality TV fan, I love it all including competition style shows so the description of this was right up my alley. A game with such a huge prize meant the stakes were very high here and I knew that meant the contestants would be cutthroat and man was I right. Some of the challenges were terrifying and the lengths these people would go to in order to win was insane and it was such a fun premise for a truly entertaining thriller. From the start you know each contestant had secrets in their pasts but I really liked how the author worked it all together in the end. The pacing was a steady climb to an action packed ending and I was pretty gripped the whole time. It was a bit over the top and some things were kind of a stretch but I didn’t care because it was just a really fun read.

I have never read a Heather Gudenkauf book before but I think I will definitely have to pick up another book by her. I really enjoyed this book. I have never read a thriller with this kind of concept before. Very unique. It did take me a minute to get into it because there were many characters backstories and other side stories going on. However, I wouldn't change it. The story comes together nicely and the end was satisfying. I highly recommend this book for not only thriller lovers but also reality TV lovers too.

4.5 ⭐️

I want to thank Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book ahead of the release date.

This book is so good! So twisty and mind boggling that i read the book in just one day and my mind didn't stop trying to figure out the mystery. This was such a good story and it was written beautifully!

I loved this book. It was very intriguing from the beginning. The game show, the suspense, and the twists kept me on my toes throughout the whole book. It was definitely a fun thriller read.

Everyone is Watching was definitely different from other Heather Gudenkauf books that I've read. I loved the idea of a reality show where people get to watch live. The revenge plot added a sinister level. It was fun trying to figure out how each of the contestants were connected and to whom. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I think it would make for a great movie!

The storyline is about how a reality show is produced.
Five contestants are picked for the show called “One Lucky Winner.”
10 millions dollars is the prize.
Only one winner.
Hmmm, sound intriguing to you?
Definitely a intense, gripping, intriguing and nerve racking story!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the second game show book I’ve read in the last 30 days and I will say I am loving them! Five contestants are competing for a million dollars on a show called “One Lucky Winner.” That money certainly means a lot to some people. 🤑 The five contestants are: the best friend, the boyfriend, the confidant, the senator and the executive. Such an interesting cast! What could possible go wrong when everything is being streamed live and no one can leave the remote property?! 🫠 As time ticks on, the “challenges” seem to get more dangerous and the contestants start to realize someone wants to settle a score. Let’s list say they aren’t your average plinko games 😂

Thoughts:
I thought this one was a fun dramatic story filled with conniving characters that quite frankly are cruel. This is the ultimate test of just how far will someone go to win! This book is fast paced and I kept thinking to myself if this was happening to me I would be the first to tap out. 👀 The games were quite intense. 😅 I loved how Heather created each character with a specific reason they needed to win and then of course loved how each of their stories played out. If you’re looking for an intense, action packed book that will make your heart race…grab this one along with your tennis shoes, your wits and maybe a taser to survive! 😆

Thank you to the publisher for a Netgalley of this upcoming thriller/suspense novel.

Fast paced, popcorn thriller. And that is not being said in a negative way as sometimes that is the exact book I want to read. The competition our characters face get out of hand quickly. And it all comes together nicely. I have some thoughts about the ending, but overall this was an entertaining read.

5 contestants are after 10 million dollars for a competition called One Lucky Winner created by Catalina. The 5 contestants (Camilla, Ned, Maire, Samual, and Richard) are sent to a vineyard in California. Fern, host of One Lucky Winner, has the contestants compete in challenges that test their mental and emotional strengths. Each contestant committed a crime that is revealed in the game.

A twisty, if predictable, thriller with an interesting premise - a quick read that would be perfect for group reads with friends.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC to read and review.

What an intense journey! A thrilling gameshow where everyone is hiding something…. This one had me in the edge of my seat. I did have a lot of what transpired predicted pretty early on, but the SUSPENSE of it all kept me going. This was a super quick read with lots of mystery and drama. A solid 3.5/5.

The premise of this book was so intriguing and had me really looking forward to this plot. Unfortunately I never go wrapped up in the story once I started the book. I found it predictable, and the book flitted too much between all the characters for you to really form a connection or root for anyone. In fact, all of the characters were unlikeable and unbelievable, which didn't make for a compelling novel.

“CONGRATULATIONS- YOU’VE BEEN NOMINATED!”
Here are reasons to read the Thriller book:

Reality TV - A new reality streaming show called One Lucky Winner is about to start
5 Contestants - 5 contestants gather for some challenges and games, plus the chance to win 10 million dollars
3 POV - we follow 3 people that are involved as they experience what it is like to be on camera everywhere
Connections - But why were these 5 people chosen for this show?

After reading Heather Gudenkauf’s book last year, I knew I had to pick this one up, especially because it was about a game. This book was a crazy wild ride with lots of reveals and twists. I devoured it in a day. And while some things may not be surprises, and you may guess some of the twists, the beauty of this book is the experience of reading it and being pulled along the story with the characters in the book. I think my one criticism may be that I wished there was more of the game storyline. But overall, I had a good time.

For the publisher - This review will be included in video form on Tiktok and Instagram on Sunday March 24th on my @zaineylaney account.

Ten million dollars, 5 contestants,, isolated Northern California Villa, dangerous live streamed challenges, and an unknown creator are elements that add to this twisty popcorn read. I loved the take on the reality show trope- the impeding sense of dread with each new challenge of One Lucky Winner. Long held secrets are exposed and the true reason why these apparent strangers were selected is revealed. Gudenkauf’s writing is superb- the characters are complex, locked room thriller setting is creepy and foreboding, and the tension filled revenge plot is well written and keeps the reader engaged and wanting more. I liked being swept into this dangerous reality world where I didn’t know what to expect and I appreciated the twists along the way coupled with a satisfying ending.

My rating 4 out of 5

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this eARC that will be published March 26 2024.

Heather Gudenkauf has been one of my favorite authors for years now. I will read anything she publishes. Everyone Is Watching is another homerun from her. It's a page turner, will keep you guessing, and totally bingeable.

The premise of the book where five contestants are brought to a beautiful villa where they will be competing in various challenges for the chance to win $10 million dollars was great. I really liked that the show would be live streamed via the web, as opposed to television, since that's happening all the time now.

The characters, as always, we were well-developed and brought the story to life. I thought the twists and mystery elements she wove through the story were fantastic.

What can I say, another Gudenkauf book that is easily a 5-star read for me.
Thank you, Park Row and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an E-ARC of Everyone is Watching. This is the perfect twisty mystery to keep you on your toes.

Everyone is watching is an interesting take on a group of supposed strangers being lured together in a fancy house. Almost everything that happens is being streamed online for the world to comment on. The reader must make the connections between the over-the-top players of One Lucky Winner. A lot of the book was predictable, but I still blazed through the final third trying to find out how everything was connected.. Gudenkauf highlights the worst in the characters, how people view reality television, and the ills of social media.

This is my first book of Heather Gudenkauf. I was drawn in by the cover, title, and book description.

There are five contestants: the Best Friend, the Boyfriend, the Confidante, the Executive, and the Senator. All we chosen/invited to play a game for 10 million dollars! Think of Survivor (the challenges) but American Idol (the voters chose who goes home).

The build up was great. I was on the edge of my seat once the game started. Kept wanting more. But then the ending was very rushed. It was like "this is the person that is responsible and the end". I was kinda let down.

I look forward to reading more of this author and she admitted that this story is different than anything she has written before.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgally for letting me read an advanced copy. I appreciate it so much!

Heather Gudenkauf is an excellent author and if you see No One Is Watching, get it immediately. I think Heather is one of those writers who gets better and better with each novel she writes. I started this one evening and finished it first thing in the morning. I loved it.

Yes reality show tropes are on trend right now with so many books weaving reality tv elements into the plot, but this was different and so creepy. I can see this one being a movie or series.

Synopsis:

The Best Friend. The Confidant. The Senator. The Boyfriend. The Executive.

Five contestants have been chosen to compete for ten million dollars on the game show One Lucky Winner. The catch? None of them knows what (or who) to expect, and it will be live-streamed all over the world. Completely secluded in an estate in Northern California, with strict instructions not to leave the property and zero contact with the outside world, the competitors start to feel a little too isolated.

When long-kept secrets begin to rise to the surface, the contestants realize this is no longer just a reality show—someone is out for blood. And the game can’t end until the world knows who the contestants really are…

Out on March 26

This was such a wild ride! I loved the setting and premise of a game show. The characters were well developed and felt real. The thrills were never ending and I love the multiple timelines and POVs!