Stella is a problem child, until her nanny, Blanka dies. Then she becomes very docile and agreeable. Then Stella starts to act like Blanka. Stella’s mom, charlotte, is pregnant with her second child. She basically thinks her daughter is possessed by Blanka’s spirt. Her husband thinks she crazy.

Possession?

Charlotte’s daughter Stella cannot stand the sound of the waves at the beach, or the sound of water running in the bathtub. She has an aversion to snuggling. And, she also throws tantrums that her mom calls “freak out mode”. Her screams were once so loud and piercing that she rushed her to the ER.

But, she can also read at an ADULT level, although she has only just completed grade three.

Other moms suggest that the anti social child be tested because of her behavior-but Charlotte doesn’t want Stella to be labeled. She would never want Stella to feel the way her own mom made her feel-“not good enough”.

But then suddenly, after the death of her babysitter, Blanka, just days after she had resigned, the once disruptive child has become almost TOO agreeable.

“OH YES!” became her answer to everything-just like Blanka.

She begins mirroring Blanka-not only in personality but also by taking on some of her physical traits.

Her father is thrilled that Stella seems to be outgrowing her strange early tendencies, but Charlotte is convinced that Blanka has taken over Stella’s body, and with an unlikely accomplice-Blanka’s mother, Irina-Charlotte is determined to save her daughter.

But, is it Stella who needs the saving? The book opens with Charlotte talking to a Dr. Beaufort (Now) and these chapters alternate with chapters from THEN.

Although this takes place in modern times, the writing is very formal (example: “I proffered the blanket, tied with a gray silk ribbon-it’s luxe minimalism was out of place here-instead looking drab and utilitarian) Perhaps that is what made it such a SLOW BURN. And, despite the premise it DID NOT have the CREEPY factor that I expected.

It took me longer than usual to finish this story-I liked it but I didn’t love it.

Expected publication date: January 14, 2025.

Thank You to Pamela Dorman Books for the invitation to read this one. I received a gifted ARC and as always-these are my candid thoughts.

This was a fantastic book with lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing throughout the book. It is a true psychological thriller with pulses of the supernatural throughout the book. This book has a little bit of everything to offer every reader, and made me question whether or not it was possible for someone else's spirit to actually exist inside someone else's body! There are some triggers in the book such as rape of a young child ,so please be aware.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would like to thank Netgalley and Viking Penguin for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my review.

Clever Little Thing by Helena Echlin one clever little book. This novel read quickly and kept me turning the pages long into the night. The story centers around Charlotte and her young family. After many miscarriages, she is finally pregnant with her second daughter, and her husband is over the moon. They have an eight year-old daughter, Stella, who is highly intelligent, yet struggles socially and behaviorally. After Stella's babysitter, Blanka, quits with no explanation, Charlotte learns that she died unexpectedly. In an attempt to pay condolences, Charlotte gets herself wrapped up in a strange relationship with Blanka's mom. Blanka's mom begins to help taking care of Stella while Charlotte battles bad bouts of morning sickness, and as it goes on, Charlotte notices Stella has changed. Stella is now pliable and more like a "normal" kid her age. She no longer cares about the things she used to. She is seemingly a different kid altogether, but no one else seems to recognize it. Is Charlotte losing her mind? What does Blanka's mom have to do with the changes in Stella? What does Charlotte's doting husband, Pete, think about what is happening? This book had many twists and turns, and I struggled to figure out who was the bad guy and who I could trust. It is billed as a psychological thriller, but there is also an element of horror/supernatural to it that I didn't expect.

Thanks to Netgalley and Pamela Dorman Books for this ARC.

This book started a little slow for me and the characters seemed a little cliche. The overwhelmed mom and the perfect husband are familiar characters in psychological thrillers. I soon discovered this was not the typical thriller and became immersed in the book, finishing it rather quickly. It had some interesting twists. Reading it was time well spent.

Many thanks to @pameladormanbooks @penguinrandomhouse @netgalley for my #gifted (free) copy. Pub date 1/14/24.

I'm not going to lie this one started off a little slow, but I am so glad I kept with it because the ending was awesome, and totally not at all what I was expecting. I thought it was going in one direction, but no, I was WAY off! This is a great slow-burn thriller that I definitely recommend.

Charlotte and her husband Pete have an eight year old daughter Stella who is very smart and intelligent, almost a little too smart for her age, but she also has some behavioral issues. When Stella's babysitter Blanka suddenly dies, Blanka's mother Irina starts helping out Charlotte, but then Stella's behavior starts to change, and Charlotte thinks she is starting to act a lot like Blanka. This is a creepy eerie novel that will have you guessing what the heck is going on with Stella.

Clever Little Thing is a real page-turner—I devoured it in just two days! The plot is unique and refreshing, especially because it doesn't rely on the typical "murder mystery" trope that seems so common in thrillers today. Helena Echlin crafts a suspenseful story that kept me hooked from start to finish.

That said, there were parts of the book that, looking back, felt a bit superfluous. Some scenes didn’t seem to add much to the overall plot or character development. However, the originality of the storyline and the tension throughout still made this a captivating read. If you're looking for something thrilling and different, this is definitely worth picking up.

It's been many years since I've read Ashley Audrain's "The Push", and it remains one of my favorite psychological thrillers to date - so when "Clever Little Thing" was introduced in a similar vein, I immediately jumped at the chance to read it.

Told from the first perspective of Charlotte, we're introduced to her as she's being checked into a "wellness center", given the concern of family and friends over her behavior in recent months. Charlotte recounts what led her up to then, starting earlier when she was entering her second trimester with her secondborn, and juggling her new role as SAHM to eight year-old Stella. Her husband Pete is a loving and caring partner, but often works long hours working with his start up company. In their cookie cutter neighborhood in California, Charlotte struggles to put up a good front, especially as Stella is far from the normal child, as she displays a extremely high IQ but struggles with interpersonal relationships and physical touch.

Things begin to change when Blanka, Stella's Armenian babysitter, suddenly quits and several days later is reported as dead, and Charlotte begins noticing an escalating number of changes in her daughter - from changes in her speaking and interests, to the food she willingly eats, to the ways she interacts with her classmates and teachers - that mirror those of Blanka. Charlotte becomes increasingly convinced that her daughter is in danger, but what she believes has happened is far too bizarre for anyone else to believe. With some help from Irina, Blanka's mother, she attempts to peel back the truth and save her daughter before it's too late.

I was hooked from the first few pages of the novel, and found Charlotte to be a compelling and believable protagonist. She's dealing with a difficult second pregnancy, trying to care for a child on the spectrum, and struggling with handling many of the day-to-day tasks (frequently overlooked when done by women) as her husband is rarely home to help. The novel places believable doubt on the reliability of the narrator as well; is she truly a concerned, well-meaning parent or has she warped the reality of the situation for even herself? I didn't foresee the ultimate reveal and ending, but found it well-done and structured, highlighting just how easily what women say is overlooked, chalked to "stress" or "hormones".

Well worth a read when "Clever Little Things" is published in January 2025!

I like a good psychological thriller and the description of this one caught my eye. The story kept evolving and captured my attention as I waited to see what would revealed next. There were lots of twists and turns, some of which I found more believable than others.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was really really good. The end was totally not what I was expecting!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Clever Little Thing was The Push but way more sinister and creepy. Charlotte's daughter, Stella, isn't the easiest child to take care of- she's obviously on the spectrum (but Charlotte doesn't want to admit it). After the sudden death of Stella's babysitter, Charlotte starts to see a major change in Stella. And of course no one believes Charlotte and you will have to read it to see what happens from here. I don't want to give any part of the story away. I think this will end up being popular when it comes out in January!

Thanks to Pamela Dorman Books & NetGalley for the ARC!

On the surface, this novel may appear to be a chilling thriller infused with supernatural elements. However, at its core, its an exploration of motherhood, the dynamics between mothers and daughters, maternal intuition, generational trauma, and the treatment of women's mental health in contemporary society. It excels at it all. If you enjoyed The Push, The Whispers, or Ashley Audrain's work in general, this book is a must-read for you. Set to release on January 14, 2025. A special thank you to @helenachlin and @netgalley for the ARC.

4 stars-Charlotte hires Blanka to babysit for her daughter Stella. She feels like Blanka is not living up to expectations and Blanka is let go, and then dies a week later. The majority of the novel is how the loss of Blanka changes the lives of Stella and Charlotte. This is best read without a lot of background because reading too much beforehand kind of gives the whole plot away. I liked the storyline though it got a little repetitive in the middle. I was able to predict all the twists pretty early on, but I still really engaged with the story and would recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc. All opinions are my own.

Clever Little Thing is advertised as a psychological/domestic drama thriller about how Stella, an 8 year old girl gradually changes after the sudden and tragic death of her babysitter, Blanka. The book is told exclusively from the point of view of her mother, Charlotte, who at the opening of the book is being admitted into a psychological care facility after the birth of her 2nd child. The story alternates between the present timeline while Charlotte is in the facility, and the past, when early in her pregnancy Blanka dies and Stella begins to change in ways that Charlotte struggles to grasp and understand.
While the book was intriguing in its premise, and it's worthwhile observations on motherhood and parenting a child who appears to be neurodivergent, the climax of the conflict left me befuddled and quite unhappy. Admittedly, I am never keen on books that require a suspension of disbelief, and boy does this book demand that of the reader. Only in the very last pages does the author attempt to reel it in with a semi plausible explanation for the events of the book, that just felt like grasping at straws for me. I could see readers who enjoy this type of book enjoying it overall, but it really wasn't for me by the end.
Thank you to Penguin Group Viking, Pamela Dorman Books, and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

This book is being touted as perfect for fans of thrillers, and The Push by Ashley Audrain. That was my favorite book the year it came out so I jumped at the chance to read Clever Little Thing.

This book was FIVE stars! Seriously all the stars! It completely lived up to the hype. It kept the twists coming and the tension until the last page!

If you enjoy bingeable psychological thrillers, pick this one up and go into it BLIND!

As an avid thriller reader, I find it more and more difficult to find a 5-star one to really impress me. This one had a different type of twist to it, and although I could see a lot of the reveals coming it was still done so well. Echlin’s writing is the true star of the book though, I wasn’t expecting this to pack such an emotional punch - one reveal in particular around the halfway mark really hit home for me and provided some really fantastic quotes.

This should be a buzzy thriller for early ‘25 and it deserves all the praise.

I just couldn’t get into this book. I felt like the story wasn’t going anywhere and I honestly just got bored.

I'll be blunt: this book didn't work for me. Too clichéd, the writing is too clunky for my taste and waaay too slow. I DO like character-driven stories with a slow pacing while developing the characters deepenly, but it wasn't the case here. It was just dragging on and on....and it isn't for me.
I don't wanna discourage readers to pick this book up. Maybe it was just me. Other readers will like it, I'm sure.

This was a unique way of depicting death, trauma, and the pure love of a mother.

Charlotte is becoming increasingly unnerved by the changes in her daughter Stella since the death of her babysitter, Blanka. She is convinced that there is something within Stella that has changed. It is almost like she is becoming Blanka, adopting her mannerisms, language and food preferences. Charlotte knows there is something wrong and will stop at nothing to get Stella back.

I found the premise of this book to be so entirely intriguing. The deeper and deeper I got to the root of the story, the more my head was spinning. I found the conversations happening in this book to be powerful and terrifying. This was not what I was expecting and I enjoyed it so much.

This book started and went slow for me - it did not really pick up until about 75% in, so it was a slog to get there. I also felt like this veered into "unbelievable" territory, in the truest sense of the word, and I prefer novels rooted in reality. I also feel like I didn't get all the answers I wanted. One other gripe - after reading enough thrillers, when there is a "perfect" husband at the beginning of the book, it feels obvious that he's going to end up being the evil one. I had that hunch from the beginning - and shocker - I was right.