I loved this tightly paced psychological thriller about a mom whose quirky young daughter begins behaving in alarming—possibly supernatural?—ways following the death of her babysitter. All the characters were so well developed, they felt real. Of a slightly speculative take on Baby Teeth or The Push sounds like your thing, I highly recommend checking this out!

If you are a fan of The Push or Defending Jacob this book is right up your alley. The author sets the stage for the reader to wonder what really is going on with this scenario, with this child. The plot sounds fast paced but the writing was very literate in nature that gave it more of a slow burn feel. This made it a slower read for me, but I do believe others are going to enjoy it. I liked it but I think I could have loved it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!

𝘾𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙮 𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙖 𝙀𝙘𝙝𝙡𝙞𝙣 is an unsettling and gripping psychological thriller that explores the boundaries of maternal fear, obsession, and the supernatural. The story follows Charlotte, a pregnant mother whose life takes a terrifying turn when her daughter, Stella, begins to eerily mimic the behaviors of their recently deceased babysitter, Blanka. What starts as small, strange coincidences escalates into a chilling exploration of whether grief, guilt, or something more sinister is at play.

What sets this book apart is Echlin’s ability to tap into primal fears with razor-sharp precision. Charlotte’s growing dread is palpable, and as a reader, you can’t help but feel every ounce of her confusion, anxiety, and desperation. The setting, woven with haunting imagery, heightens the tension, keeping you on edge as the mystery unfolds.

The pacing is sharp, and the twists—while deeply unsettling—feel earned. As the story builds toward its jaw-dropping conclusion, Echlin masterfully blurs the line between love and possession, leaving you questioning how far a mother’s instincts can take her when faced with the unexplainable.
This was a creepy slow burn that I binge read!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Clever Little Thing by Helena Echlin is a wonderful debut.
A thrilling and unputdownable novel.
I was kept on the edge of my seat the entire time. Truly gripping, I had to read it in one sitting.

Normally books with themes involving possession aren't my thing, but I knew, right from reading the early synopsis of Clever Little Thing, that I would love it. It just felt like my kind of creepy, and it exceeded all my expectations. I flip-flopped back and forth so many times on which character was "the villain", which gave Helena Echlin's first psychological thriller a must-know aspect. There's so much to think about with this book that I think it would be a fantastic book club choice.

I actually really enjoyed this read. Kept me quite engaged the whole time. Threw me a couple times with things I didn’t see coming. Really captures the inner dialogue of a mother which being one myself I could really relate to everything the main character was going through.

Let me start out by saying this book is definitely NOT going to be for everyone. There are lots of trigger warnings for sensitive readers to consider before picking this one up: miscarriage, mental health, suicide, dysfunctional families, infidelity, sexual victimization, supernatural events, & developmental disability. I know that’s quite a list, but honestly I think there may be others I’m failing to recall. I am not a sensitive reader and am open to all kinds of plot lines, even ones that veer far from path of contemporary norms. I think this one does just that and I was here for it!

Clever Little Thing doesn’t neatly fit into one genre; it exhibits dark literary elements and contains features of a psychological thriller and a supernatural suspense. I don’t want to say too much about the plot because I think it’s best to go into this one blind like I did— unless you’re a sensitive reader, then be sure to check out those content warnings above.

I read and listened to Clever Little Thing and enjoyed both formats. The narrator has a very tranquil voice and does well with the different character voices and accents (British, American, & Russian).

If you’re looking for a creepy, unique plot that will keep you engaged throughout, definitely consider picking this one up!

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
🥣 Mix of genres
🎙️ Unreliable narrator
⚰️ Supernatural
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Family dynamics
🫣 Unsettling & creepy
🔀 Alternating timelines
🛝 The Push by Ashley Audrain

Such a creepy read! Helena Echlin truly had me questioning myself! Is Charlotte telling the truth, or is she confused? Is Pete just a loving, supportive husband who's worried about his daughter's well-being, or is there something more sinister going on?

I love how the story takes place over a short-period of time. The reader is thrown right into the middle of Charlotte's breakdown. We figure things out alongside a mother who knows something is off with her daughter, but no one will listen to her. The subject matter is serious, and the storytelling is riveting. Clever Little Thing is nothing short of a clever little story!

Read this if you like books with:
- ND rep
- mother daughter relationships
- struggles of motherhood
- psychological elements

I read about 10% and just couldn't get into it. It was not as propulsive as I was hoping for. I found myself not wanting to pick it back up, and after talking to a few other trusted reviewers, I don't think this one is for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Viking/Pamela Dorman Books and the author for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions below are my own.

Charlotte's precocious 8yo daughter, Stella, has always been different from her peers. She would rather dissect a dead seagull or read a history book than play with dolls or have a playdate. After the abrupt death of her babysitter, Stella's behavior shifts - she becomes more agreeable and starts to blend in socially. She also starts mimicking the mannerisms of her late babysitter. Is it a trauma response? Is she simply maturing? Or could it be something more sinister? Charlotte will stop at nothing to find out the truth.

I love a book with an unreliable narrator and a "creepy kid" is the cherry on top. The social commentary about classism/privilege was well done and it shined a light on some of the hardships of raising a neurodivergent child.

Unfortunately, I found Charlotte to be quite an insufferable character. I had a difficult time empathizing with her, which made me feel detached and not as emotionally invested in her fate. After reading The Push and Baby Teeth previously, I felt this book, while decent, did not offer anything new to the genre or stick with me in the same haunting manner. I found the "twist" at the end was also predictable and a bit overdone for thrillers of this nature.

I would recommend this book if you like slow-burn psychological thrillers with a dash of paranormal, particularly if you are new to the genre. As always, beware of trigger warnings.

I've been fascinated with thrillers focusing on motherhood, and this one's a definite YES for me. It's a taut, well-written book that I was engrossed in. It's been a while since I got this lost in a book.

You start to doubt Charlotte and wonder whether she's losing it and, you don't know what to believe. Not to give anything away, but I liked how motherhood is portrayed especially the notion that most moms are doing their best even if it may not seem like it.

This is one of those books that are better if you go into it blind. I highly recommend it to all fans of thrillers.

Thanks to Netgalley & Penguin Group for the e-copy!

4.5/5

3.75* This is a fun thriller that kept me on edge. The commentary on motherhood is refreshing and then ending is *chef's kiss*. This is a great read for when you are looking for a fast-paced, quick read with a good message.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pamela Dorman Books for a copy. This book is out today!

I am not quite sure how I would describe this book. It is not a straightforward psychological thriller as it is billed; rather it is much more. It is a story about pregnancy, motherhood, neurodivergent children, and trauma with a horror element.

The story moved at a fast pace and as I read it, I wasn’t sure if the narrator was having postpartum depression or if things really weren’t what they seemed. There were some twists and turns leading to an unexpected, jaw-dropping twist near the end that left me with a “could it be???” question, I concur with the comparisons some reviewers have made of this book and The Push.

This was an intriguing, unique, unnerving story which I thought was quite well done.

Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

If you are looking for a mother daughter psychological thriller, this one is for you!

From the beginning I knew young Stella was a very disturbed child but as the novel progressed I was back and forth debating whether her or Charlotte, her mother, was more unhinged.

The pacing ebbs and flows but there are dark twists throughout and I was reaching for more at every page.
Overall this was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman books for allowing me to read Clever Little Thing.
Publication date: January 14, 2025.

This read evolved from a slow simmer to a raging inferno. The story's mysterious elements captivated my imagination, encouraging me to continue reading. As the narrative unfolded, the experience transformed into a breathtaking journey that lasted until the end. A huge thank you to Penguin Group/Viking and NetGalley for the eARC.

Charlotte’s 8-year-old daughter Stella is an unusual child, she’s precocious, a voracious reader and consumer of facts, and extremely sensitive. But after a tragic event, Stella’s personality begins to change, becoming more docile and acting more neurotypically. Charlotte is convinced there is something seriously amiss with Stella, but her husband Pete thinks pregnant Charlotte is overreacting and just needs to focus on “resting and gestating.”

This psychological thriller is creepy, chilling, and so compelling that I could not put it down! I absolutely love thrillers about motherhood, pre- and post-natal depression, and whether mothers can trust their instincts, and Clever Little Thing has all this in spades! Charlotte is a perfectly crafted unreliable narrator; I was never sure if I should trust her mama bear instincts or if she was unhinged. The prose is taut and the pace is so propulsive that I read this in a single evening. I don’t want to say too much about the plot because I think it’d be too easy to spoil, but suffice it to say that I was riveted the entire time! Perfect for fans of The Push by Ashley Audrain and Where Are the Children by Mary Higgins Clark.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Viking Books, and Pamela Dorman Books for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Nothing like a creepy kid mimicking an adult to kep the twists coming throughout! I love when books have an narrator going head to head against others -or maybe I just like trying to figure out who is the sane character. I appreciated that Echlin wrote a neutotypical character and didn’t feel the need to put a diagnosis in the story. The ending was strong even though it’s a bit ambigious - I love when books have two schools of thought to debate (very Verity-esque if you will!)

This book was a tad bit slow going for me. I was very invested at first and then it kind of dragged on too long for me. This book is also very creepy, so check out the trigger warnings.

Stella is a very intelligent child but she’s also very sensitive. She enjoys weird things like dead birds on the beach and she starts mirroring her babysitter’s personality after her babysitter passes away suddenly.

Stella’s mother is pregnant and she’s trying to protect Stella but Charolette just comes off us psychotic to everyone who knows her. Even Stella’s father Pete is convinced his wife needs to be placed in a psych ward.

Overall, this was a decent read but some parts dragged on too long for me.

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for a chance to read this book for free in return for my honest opinion.

[3.75]

Charlotte's maternal instinct is fairly strong given she has an 8-year-old daughter and another on the way. However, after the sudden loss of their babysitter, her daughter, Stella, begins to behave oddly. Stella has always been an odd child - reading well above her age level, reacting negatively to normal situations, etc. - but is now acting the opposite of her normal self. In fact, Stella is acting more like Blanka, their former babysitter. Charlotte does not know what to think. Everyone around her is telling her that this is a good thing, but Charlotte knows that this is NOT her daughter. Perhaps, she's just overly tired from her difficult pregnancy. As time goes on, Charlotte begins to think that Stella could potentially be possessed by Blanka. But why? Did Charlotte do something to cause Blanka to seek revenge for something? Or is Charlotte just overreacting? With the help of Blanka's mother, Charlotte is determined to discover the truth. But first, she has to convince her husband it's not all in her head before it's too late.

I don't normally enjoy the "possession" plots of some books, but...WOW. This is what I hoped Baby Teeth would have been. The strange family dynamic with an "odd" child? Sign me up. I was second-guessing everything all the way through. Even at the end, I wasn't entirely sure what to think. I flew through the last 40% of the book because it was such a wild ride. I felt so bad for Charlotte, too. First, your child has a major personality change and then your husband determines you are absolutely insane? No wonder why she turned to an outside party to solve this mystery. If you are a fan of Ashley Audrain or Zoje Stage, pick this one up! You won't regret it! My only gripe was that the husband was so awful and it was painful to read his thoughts and opinions (which, of course, he had to be awful).

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for this gifted eARC. I gave it 3 stars which means I liked it. As a thriller I was hoping for just a little bit more oomph. There were some trigger warnings I suggest looking up, especially if you are a mother. The themes in this book would be really hard to read, I think, as a parent.

Overall the storyline was an interesting one, and one that I’ve not seen before. The mental struggles the mother was going through during this book really pulled at the heartstrings, and it was fascinating seeing her relationship with the babysitters mother as well.