As a reality show fan, I enjoyed this book. However, it was much different than the author’s previous books. If I blindly went into this, I would’ve never guessed that Heather Gudenkauf wrote this. The ending was a little abrupt for me, and the character development that she usually has in her stories was not as in depth. I did like the stories of the main characters. That added to the suspense. Overall, this was a decent book but not my favorite by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

I love reality tv and thrillers so a combination of the two is right up my alley. This book had funny timing for me because I’ve been watching g The Traitors on Peacock and the challenges in the beginning reminded me a lot of the show. Maybe that’s what originally gripped me? It was a super fast and fun read.

Heather Gudenkauf is one of my favorite authors so I was thrilled to be approved for an ARC of her new book “Everyone is Watching.” To me, this was an example of a locked-room mystery where five people have been chosen for a ten million prize on a brand new game show entitled “One Lucky Winner.” The setting for the game show and the novel was a vineyard in Northern California.

There were alternating narrators between not only a few of the contestants, but also the game show creator’s assistant. The chapters seemed relatively short which I appreciated. As the story progressed, I figured out a couple of the twists, but certainly not all of them.

I found this book to be a quick read and recommend others check it out for themselves. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

Modern day version of the game Clue! Really fun read. Some of the storyline was pretty predictable but still kept you excited to keep reading!

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
A reality show, a secluded estate, drama, lies, and plenty of secrets. I really liked the synopsis for this so was incredibly excited to have received an eARC via negalley. I loved Gudenkauf’s previous book The Overnight Guest, with that being said I thought that this one was just okay. I did not feel that the premise was unique enough, as it played out like plenty of other books. Also, this was completely unrealistic in terms of the game show aspect and the challenges that each person had to do. I thought it was pretty well paced, but the characters were all completely unlikeable and at times annoying. The ending was okay, but it left me feeling unsatisfied and underwhelmed with some unanswered questions. Overall, it was just okay with not enough twists and unpredictable moments for my liking.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦Reality TV shows
✦Isolated settings
✦Plenty of drama and secrets
✦Alternative POV's
✦A good revenge plot
✦Big Brother tv show vibes
✦A popcorn thriller
✦The boardgame CLUE

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️3/5

Would you compete in a dangerous reality show for ten million dollars? Everyone is watching is a gripping big brother style mystery that follows five contestants who desperately want to win ten million dollars. To win this money the contestants have to complete crazy, thrilling and scary challenges. With each challenge completed secrets are revealed and the contestants past.

This book was fast paced, fun and thrilling to read. I'd highly recommend this book!

I love reality shows so I thought this was a fun book, and a unique story line. There were a lot of secrets revealed throughout the book and that made the tension and suspense even greater. The best part I would say is getting several POV’s and even some past woven in. The one downfall was I guess pretty early on who was behind the whole thing – I wasn’t sure why, but I knew who. It’s still a great read and lots to discover beside the “big” reveal. I definitely recommend reading it.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! This is my first Heather Gudenkauf book and I was not disappointed by it. It took me a while to get through the beginning, being that there are 6 MC’s as well as side characters in the story. Once I caught on, I flew through to the ending. It’s giving Survivor meets Big Brother vibes, but twistier and I’m here for it.

I was super excited to have received this book early to read! I love Heather's books so I couldn't wait to dive into this one! Everyone is Watching was such a good, twisted, messed up(But in a good way) story. Each chapter left on a cliff hanger that instantly wanted you to keep reading onto the next chapter. I read this book within 2 days so you know it was good!
One Lucky Winner involved 5 individuals to compete for $10 million dollars, but what's the catch and why were these 5 people chosen? This game led to many secrets being revealed and everyone questioning one another.
Like I said this book was crazy. It was intense, super fast paced and it is definitely the perfect new thriller that you are going to want to check out!

Thank you again to Net Galley for the ARC Copy.

4.5 rounded to 5
This was such a fun book. This was my first book by Heather Gudenkauf and it definitely won’t be my last. I love “games” in thriller books and this one all about an intense game for 10 millions dollars. But this game was also about revenge and payback! I loved meeting all the contestants and learning how they were tied to each other in one way or another, and the secrets and twists this book had!! Amazing!
Excited to read more by her in the future!!

Thank you to NetGalley.com and Harlequin.com for the ARC of Everyone is watching by Heather Gundenkauf to be published March 26, 2024

It took me a minute to get into this book. I had to keep going because I love Heather Gundenkauf.

A reality tv show kinda squid gamish. Secrets, lies, cheating and murder. There is a little bit of everything I. This book. Once I got into it I couldn’t put it down. It did become intense at times and made me want to read faster.

I would recommend this book to anyone seeking revenge and or retribution.

So, Everyone is Watching is thrilling and addictive, with intriguing characters from sketchy backgrounds all brought together to play this mysterious, high-stakes game. As the plot and game unfold, more and more is revealed and the pieces start clicking. However much it starts to come together, the shocking twists were a unexpected and delicious. I loved this book and applaud the author for trying and succeeding at a different type of book!

Thank you Park Row Books for my free ARC of Everyone Is Watching by Heather Gudenkauf — available now!

Read this if you:
✨ ever watched Big Brother and loved the drama
🗝️ ever wanted to lock your boss away in a room for a few days
💊 ever rooted for a creep to get drugged, tased, stabbed, kicked, shot, etc

Congratulations, you've been selected for the chance to win ten million dollars on a brand-new reality TV show! The only catch is, the challenges are a bit TOO intense sometimes, with drugs, weapons, and a few life-ruining secrets sprinkled throughout for your competitors to pick up and use against you. Can you make it to the end and win the money? Can you make it to the end alive?

This was SUCH a fun thriller! I'm a bit torn over my rating, because I found the plot to be ultra-predictable, but I still had such an enjoyable time reading it and couldn't put it down. So I think it still deserves four stars, despite me not really being surprised by many of the twists. Anyway, if you love a popcorn thriller and think a deadly-reality-show premise is fun, you're going to love this one too! The veeeery end was also incredibly satisfying.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I thought this book was innovative and unique. It was a really interesting concept that I think was executed quite well. I would read another book by this author.

Do you like Big Brother, Survivor, or even Squid Games? Then you’ll love this new thriller involving a reality show, ten million dollars, and possibly revenge…

I’m usually hesitant about locked door thrillers but I really liked this one!! It was exciting and suspenseful because you didn’t know where the show was going to go next or what one of the characters were going to do. The high stakes and drama of the games grips you just like a reality show would. I had my favorite contestant I was rooting for throughout.

The variety of the characters really enhanced the story with their backstories and secrets. The mystery of what they did and who wants to reveal their secrets will keep you turning the pages.

I was able to guess where the story would go early on, but I was wrong about who was behind everything. The revelations had me slapping my forehead (like duh!) and the ending shocked me, making me rethink everything I was told. Such a good popcorn locked door thriller to look forward to!

Enjoyed it, but would not recommend participating on One Lucky Winner. People will do anything for money, especially the chance to win $10 million. There were so many reasons why this was such a horrible/deadly reality show. If the contestants didn't quit after the first challenge, then the second one should have changed their mind about staying. Tasers, scorpions, falling to one's death, drowning and humiliation are just a few reasons not to continue with the show. The contestants are just as dangerous as the show. I have mixed feelings about the book. I was really enjoying it up until the end. Everything seemed rushed after the events that unfolded during Spin, Speak, Shoot. It was obvious everyone was chosen for a reason and they had to be linked somehow. The hatred for Maire and Samuel seemed a bit much and had to be personal. The revenge that was inflicted on the five contestants was unnecessary and didn't have to be made so public. Except for Ned, he really was a scumbag. Of course, I knew who was behind everything. I never put two and two together and who the person really was in relation to the contestants. It's hard to feel bad for Fern. Why did she keep working for Cat? She could have quit at anytime. Cat saved her from an attack, but that didn't mean Fern owed her life to her forever. I didn't love any of the characters, I guess that's what made them perfect for the reality show. They were all hiding secrets that they didn't want aired to millions of viewers, so why go on TV? The media always digs up skeletons that were long buried in closets. If that is what Maire and her friends called fun in Calico, I'm glad I didn't grow up in Iowa. From the moment Fern brought up the loose railing, I knew something would happen.

Definitely recommend the book. It wasn't my favorite by the author, but highly entertaining and a good mystery/thriller. Enjoyed the story, writing style and characters. The story kept me guessing until the very end. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin Trade Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Everyone is Watching was such a fun, unique read to me. This was my first thriller about a reality show, and I was looking forward to reading it for months.
What would you do for $10 million? 5 people are invited to take part in One Lucky Winner, a new reality show with crazy competitions. There's the Best Friend, the Confidant, the Boyfriend, the Senator, and the Executive. Instead of a set time every week, viewers receive a message to watch an episode. It is also live streamed 24/7. As the game starts, secrets are revealed. Is this really just a reality show?
I really liked how this book was based on a reality show. I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes interviews and being a part of each game.
I liked the multiple points of view and how it was a cast of 5 people. It wasn't so big a number that it was overwhelming. All of the characters felt so different. The book also had flashbacks with some of the characters which I enjoyed.
I felt like I knew early on where the story was going, but I did have some questions until the very end.

I love Heather Gudenkauf but this was not my favorite book of hers. It was kind of slow and unrealistic. It was well written though and had an interesting and unique storyline. It just wasn’t super thrilling and suspenseful in my opinion. Overall, it was a good read but not great like her other books.

I have attached my review to this form. I had a blast reading this book. Everyone is Watching is one of the most unique thrillers I`ve ever read! The characters were written so well, and I thought the challenges in this book were really creative. This was a 5 star read for me! Thank you for allowing me to read and review this book early.

Thank you so much to HTP for the ARC!

One thing about Heather Gudenkauf, her books are wild and fun! I still remember the jaw dropping moments in The Overnight Guest that left me absolutely shook!

I'll start by saying that overall I did enjoy this TOTALLY UNHINGED thriller!

The premise itself was absolutely wild: a random group of 5 people get notified that they have been nominated for a game show where the prize is 10 MILLION DOLLARS! They have no idea what the game show entails when they show up to compete but all of them come with their own unique reasons why they really need a win...and the cash! The first twist they find out is that EVERYTHING they do is recorded and being watched LIVE by people all over the world. And quite literally as the title suggests EVERYONE IS WATCHING this craziness unfold.

Some challenges seem simple and normal, but as times goes on the challenges being to escalate and the contestants start to fear things may not be at all what they seem.

Like I said, this was UNHINGED. And it was genuinely entertaining, I couldn't put it down. The concept was really brave and genius but there was also SO MUCH going on that at times it felt a little overwhelming and all over the place. But still, I couldn't look away!

Unfortunately the ARC copy I had received had a typo that accidentally gave away one of the major twists so I didn't get the full experience of being surprised the way readers reading the finished copies will.

If you need your thrillers to be neat and tidy and believable, this probably isn't for you. If you just want to be entertained and can throw believability out the window, then you should definitely check it out!

This book will be available for purchase on March 26th!