This was a unique story that I really enjoyed! I loved the plot twists and I couldn’t put this book down! It is faced paced and perfect for readers who enjoyed The Push!

Charlotte’s daughter Stellah is insanely smart. She has a nanny that she really likes, even though Charlotte isn’t too impressed. One day, her nanny Blanca stops by to collect her check. Charlotte isn’t home so her husband takes care of it. Then Charlotte learns Blanca won’t be back again and later finds out she died in a freak hot tub accident. This is where things start getting weird. Her daughter starts behaving differently. Once gifted and difficult, she is now calm and doesn’t seem to remember things she used to. She starts mirroring Blanca’s personality. Has Stellah become Blanca?

This book was a twist with originality and a bit like the push, but with a hint of originality. This book was a twist with originality and a bit like the push, but with a hint of originality.

HUGE thank you to Viking Books for the ARC!

Books with creepy kids? Yes, sign me up!

I thought this was one was creepy and enjoyable! I usually am not a fan of books dealing with the supernatural, but this wasn't too over the top for me. I was surprised by the ending but also left wishing for just a little bit more!

Overall, I think this will still be a big hit for many!

3.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads

This is a “creepy kid” book that definitely sounded so intriguing. It was a slow burn for me but I still was able to enjoy the suspense of the plot. Charlotte is the mother of 8 year old Stella and is expecting her next child. Stella has behavioral issues but yet seems so smart. Charlotte has a hard time dealing with these problems. After the death of Stella's nanny, Blanka, she begins to act in control and more well behaved, almost taking on the familiar traits of Blanka. Charlotte is baffled at what is going on with her daughter. This one started out strong for me but then fell flat throughout the rest of it. I would still check out this author in the future.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this one’! Charlotte as a main character in was well rounded which i appreciated. I binged this book in a day because of the twists and turns! I love mysteries and thrillers so this one was great!

This was a highly enjoyable “mom noir” thriller, and one of my favorite takes on the genre so far!

Charlotte is in tune with the usual turbulence of her daughter, Stella. Stella’s fierce intelligence, her sensory issues, her emotional outbursts, these things form the rhythm of Charlotte’s days. So when, following the sudden death of her babysitter, Stella becomes increasingly bland and docile, Charlotte knows there’s something wrong. As the pregnant mother grapples with these strange goings on, she becomes increasingly isolated from those around her, and it becomes harder and harder to tell reality from perception.

I’m a sucker for a book about the overwhelming nature of motherhood. Whether it’s biology or societal expectations or both, there’s a unique composition to the relationship between a mother and child, and the emotions involved are intense. This was a gripping exploration of those feelings. The story lives in the gray spaces between fact and fancy, right and wrong, paranormal and mundane.

While not a perfect book, there were moments that didn’t click for me as perfectly as others, I found it completely compelling. I literally couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended for readers of the genre!

Helena Echlin’s debut psychological thriller Clever Little Thing is a total mind-trip of a book. It’s reminiscent of Baby Teeth and The Push in some of its general plot points, but it kept me unsettled the entire time because I never knew what was going to happen next.

I don’t want to summarize too much of the plot – and I beg you to avoid the blurb from the publisher! – because it’s best to go into this one blind, but here are a few basics: Charlotte and Pete are happily married with a precocious daughter named Stella and a baby on the way. Stella is a brilliant but challenging child, prone to bouts of aggression and violence when she gets upset. But when Stella’s babysitter Blanka suddenly dies, Stella’s personality begins to change…

And that’s all I’ll say about the plot, but trust me when I tell you that Clever Little Thing surprised me at every turn. It’s so refreshing to read a psychological thriller that really lives up to both words in the genre: This book is written with the frenetic, propulsive pace of a thriller, but it also really wormed its way into some dark recess of my brain that made me feel so uneasy and so genuinely concerned for the characters. The use of first-person POV works so well for this story, immersing readers in Charlotte’s state of mind: her spiraling thoughts and fears and desperation. Third trimester pregnancy and early motherhood are such fraught, stressful, overwhelming times for women already, so placing the events of this story around that period of Charlotte’s life added another level of emotional complexity.

There’s also thoughtful commentary about neurodivergence and the importance of parental advocacy, the immigrant experience, gaslighting, and complicated family dynamics, all integrated into an original, suspenseful examination of motherhood and relationships. Clever Little Thing is such an impressive debut, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for Helen Echlin. Thank you to Pamela Dorman Books for the early reading opportunity.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me an ARC for "Clever Little Thing" by Helena Echlin - This book was pretty good but had some moments where I didn't just love it. I do look forward to reading other books by this author!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Clever Little Thing by Helena Echlin is a first person-POV dual-timeline psychological paranormal mystery. Charlotte and Pete are raising their young daughter Stella and taking her preferences and needs one day at a time. When Stella’s nanny Blanka suddenly quits and Stella begins to behave differently, Charlotte starts to believe that Blanka has taken over Stella’s body.

This book was hard to read at times for several reasons. Like Charlotte’s mother, I struggle with depression, and like Charlotte's daughter, I have Autism. Charlotte is extremely resistant to the idea of Stella having Autism despite all the signs being there that she should at least get testing so the proper accomodations can be lined up if they are needed. While I understand Charlotte’s feelings in regards to her mother because her mother was emotionally neglectful (as was my own at times), I also felt like Charlotte really struggled to understand the weight of her mother's mental health issues. It's a bit like being in the head of someone who is neurotypical but so many of the most important people in their life are neurodivergent and yet they still refuse to actually listen. In that way, it is realistic; I think many people know of that parent who refuses to accept that their child needs extra attention in some ways and won't develop the same as ‘the other kids,’ but it can also make you want to shake Charlotte until she understands how her stubbornness in this regard is not helping her child in the long term.

All of that leads into what I really like: despite Charlotte's resistance to getting Stella tested, she knows her daughter extremely well. She knows what level Stella is reading at, what her special interests are, she knows how much her daughter talks and what makes her have a meltdown. These are all signs of an attentive parent who is trying their best and in the context of the story, it lets Charlotte see when Stella starts to act strangely. Pete and several others either cannot see or want to believe that Stella is growing out of being a picky eater or that her new desire to stay far away from her father is because she's getting older. Charlotte knows that can't be the case because it happened overnight and certain things are too close to how Blanka behaved.

These two things together create a theme that I would love to see explored more in fiction: do mothers always know best and when and where do we draw the line? Charlotte can be right about her daughter’s change in behavior but completely wrong about her daughter potentially being Autistic. She can be a gentle parent because of the ways her mother abused her but also judgmental of others and refuse to accept their help. Two things can be true at the same time and sometimes we are doing pretty good with what we're given but maybe we can do better.

Content warning for brief descriptions of sexual assault, brief mentions of emotional neglect, and depictions of psychological abuse, and mentions of the Baku pogrom

I would recommend this to fans of the psychological thriller/paranormal mystery blended space and readers who are interested in a character like Charlotte

Oh yes, I really enjoyed this book. It was a very nice blend of horror, thriller, paranormal mystery, and family drama.

Charlotte and Pete’s 8-year-old daughter Stella can be a bit challenging. It’s pretty obvious to the reader that she’s on the autism spectrum, but Mom Charlotte isn’t ready to handle that diagnosis yet, due to some childhood trauma of her own. When Stella’s entire personality completely changes, Charlotte is determined to get to the bottom of it….even if it means the supernatural may be involved.

I thought this book had some creepy moments in it, and was very suspenseful.

US pub date: 1/14/25
Genre: mystery/thriller
Quick summary: Stella is a sensitive, precocious child until a sudden trauma leaves her mother Charlotte concerned at the strange changes in her behavior.

If you don't like spoilers, definitely do not read the full blurb of this book (I'm kind of glad I hadn't before I dove in). But be warned, this book is creepy with a capital C and you probably won't want to read it before bed. It's not exactly horror, but it felt darker than the typical thrillers I read.

That being said, I was hooked and had to keep reading to see what would happen next and how Stella's issues would be resolved. It's appropriate that Ashley Audrain (author of THE PUSH) blurbed this one, as both books explain the darker side of motherhood in an honest, unflinching manner. I will definitely look out for more from Echlin!

Thank you to Viking Books for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is one I didn't see coming!
Some parts I thought questionable parenting, some hints of a possibly neurodivergent child, turns out she was just possessed. 😳 I love how the book unraveled bits of the mystery as mother & child navigated their new relationship. Once we learn the full truth, it hits hard, and everything makes sense. The ending was great, a newfound family.

CLEVER LITTLE THING is just like the title says…clever! This fast-paced audiobook was hard to stop listening to. I was fully engaged and didn't want the book to end. It's filled with many surprises and I loved the ending. I definitely recommend getting this one on audio, you won't be disappointed.

Many thanks to PRH Audio for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

I was honestly a little bit leery about reading this book because of the subject matter. I love psychological thrillers but I'm skeptical about supernatural phenomenon. In other words, I like reading about creepy kids (think of The Perfect Child or The Push), but I wasn't sure how I'd feel about a creepy child who is possessed by her dead babysitter.. However, after I started reading, I was immediately drawn in and couldn't stop reading.

Stella is an 8 year old girl who reads adult books and has the vocabulary of an adult. She's socially awkward and doesn't have many friends. She shows a lot of signs of being on the autism spectrum. Charlotte's relationship with her own mother was not good. because her mother suffered from depression and was emotionally distant. Charlotte strives to be nothing like her own mother and while she is extremely attentive to Stella, she doesn't want to take Stella to the doctor for a diagnosis despite the persuasion of her husband Pete and some of their friends. When Stella's babysitter Blanka dies suddenly, Stella's whole personality changes. She begins eating more, she stops reading the books that she'd been reading and she simply has a calmer demeanor, much like Blanka did. Charlotte is pregnant again and she seeks out Blanka's mother in order to get to the bottom of what is going on with Stella before the new baby is born.

I felt like the author did a great job keeping the reader in suspense. It was a slow burn which came to a somewhat satisfying conclusion. My only complaint would be that everything wrapped up a little too quickly and the true villain in the book didn't get quite the punishment that I would have liked to have seen. But all in all, I really enjoyed this book and have found a new author to follow.

Thanks so much to Penguin Group Viking / Pamela Dorman Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The publication date is January 14, 2025.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. I kept waiting for something big to happen and I was left wanting more. I found myself skimming towards the end just so I could finish it.

Helena Echlin’s adroit new novel Clever Little Thing functions as a fascinating, dramatic ghost story that provides occasional thrills-and-chills, while also being a unique commentary on the challenges associated with mothering a child on the Spectrum.  In Echlin’s beginning chapters, the protagonist, Charlotte, has just had a baby (Luna) but is still in the hospital getting therapeutic treatment for her unshakable paranoia.  She believes her other daughter, Stella, who has been strangely changing her regimented habits and her repetitious behaviors, has been possessed by Stella’s dead babysitter, Blanka.  Like all good MacGuffins, Charlotte’s suspicion and Stella’s actions are what drive the story; however, what makes Clever Little Thing such a clever little book is the underlying message that speaks to the underdiscussed issue of girls’ and women’s mental health; as well as, the dynamic psychological changes that can happen when one least expects them.

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The plot of this story was very intricate, the way the many layers were all weaved together. But it flowed so organically I quickly got lost in the story of a mother desperate for her child. I found myself relating to our FMC, in her fierce instinct to protect her child even when nobody around her believed her. The pace was fast and told over dual timelines, with a surprising twist about 75% of the way through. I had started to suspect what it could be, but that didn’t stop me in the least from enjoying this story!

Thank you to Pamela Dorman Books and Netgalley for the ARC. “Clever Little Thing” releases January 14, 2025! This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

I had no idea what I was getting into with this book. I'm so glad I picked it up. It is a true psychological thriller. I had no idea what was going on, who to trust, which way was up. It is an amazing ride and I'm so excited for when this book comes out, so I can talk with other people about it!

This one was a wild ride - I enjoyed the suspense and the supernatural element. The unraveling of Charlotte was done masterfully - is she crazy or the only person actually seeing things for what they are?
That feeling of being questioned and doubted by everyone is described in such detail the book feels claustrophobic at times, as Charlotte makes one questionable (from a reasonable adult point of view) decision after the other.
I loved how passionately she fought for Stella and how much more important it was for her to let her be herself again than having a child who is more convenient to live with.
The conclusion of the story is satisfying, and I liked that the perceived villains are actually on your side, while the good guys (read - men) actually suck in various degrees.

Thank you, NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books, for providing an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review. The book is out on January 14.

A Clever Little Thing is a Super Clever debut!

This book can best be described as a combination of The Push, Baby Teeth, and Behind Her Eyes.

I really don’t want to give away any details from this plot. It is best to go in blind and experience it for yourself. I know this isn’t that helpful of a review, but I fear my last sentence has already given away too much.

I can’t believe this is a debut! The writing is intoxicating and I couldn’t put it down for a minute. Echlin is a master storyteller and expertly leads the reader in so many directions.

I absolutely loved Clever Little Thing and am recommending it as one of my favorite psychological thrillers of the year! I can’t wait to read more from this talented writer! All of the stars!

5/5 stars

Expected publication date: 1/14/25

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group - Viking for the ARC of Clever Little Thing in exchange for an honest review.