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.

CLEVER LITTLE THING by Helena Echlin has an odd premise, so odd that it was hard for me to buy into the story. The story starts with Charlotte, a new mom to her second daughter, settling into a facility while her newborn is in NICU. As the story unfolds, Charlotte thinks her older daughter Stella has been possessed by her recently deceased nanny Blanka. Her daughter had been showing signs of being autistic, but, after Blanka dies, Stella becomes more social and exhibits far fewer sensory processing issues and also takes on Blanka’s preferences.

I found this novel to be unsettling but not in an intriguing way. I was confused by the different elements, like the “possession,” Charlotte’s munchausen by proxy toward her daughter Stella, Stella’s radical change in behavior, Charlotte not being a trustworthy narrator, and just not liking being in Charlotte’s perspective. I did enjoy THE PUSH tremendously, so I’m not opposed to novels with a nuanced look at motherhood. This one just didn’t land for me.

CLEVER LITTLE THING publishes January 14, 2025.

2 stars

I had to DNF this at 11%. The pacing and voice reminds me very much of writing on Wattpad - very undeveloped, and overly descriptive of every action that doesn’t add anything to the plot. The writing made me feel like I needed to rush while reading it, like she was building to something only to have nothing happen at all. This was described as being similar to The Push by Ashley Audrain but this was far less engaging from the beginning and I already think Stella is a psychopath just from the beach scene alone.

This was a fascinating one! I won't lie, it took me a little while to get into it, but once I did I was hooked and by the last 1/4 or so I was flipping pages like crazy just dying to see how it ended. It's a unique plot in such a way that I don't think I've read anything else like it. I ended up really loving Charlotte, Stella, and especially Irina, and rooting for all three of them.

A page-turning thriller that has "unreliable narrator" written all over it | The story kept me on the edge of my seat from page 1 | I kept guessing what was actually going on and I did not get it right | Until about 85%, this was a true 5 star read for me - then it took an unexpected turn that disappointed me a bit | The writing was super engaging and the characters felt very well developed | Highly recommend for any thriller lover, especially anyone who loved The Push

4.5 Stars

This review was published on Goodreads

Oh, she is a clever little thing. This book kept me guessing and intrigued the entire time. Charlotte seems obsessed with her daughter Stella. She appears even more so when Stella's behavior changes drastically. While Charlotte tries to get to the bottom of it, her husband who plays the role of supportive partner, really isn't helping her at all. I liked the writing style and seeing everything from Charlotte's point of view. Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for the ARC of this book. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read it early.

This book certainly kept me reading to find out what would happen. I was a bit unsettled by the possible supernatural aspect of the story, and it’s not something I typically gravitate to. But for fans of that genre, this will probably be a winner. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fast paced, thrilling suspenseful read. An interesting mix of characters. Dark and gritty, entertaining and hard to put down. Overall a great read.

Getting this ARC felt like such a win. Right from the start, I was pulled into a thriller that wasn’t just about suspense—it was filled with beautifully complex characters. The way it portrayed neurodivergent traits, especially around autism, felt incredibly respectful and genuine. It’s rare to find stories that handle this with such nuance, and even though it wasn’t directly addressed, there was a quiet authenticity that stayed with me.

Some twists felt predictable, but oddly, that only made the experience more gripping. It was as if the story invited you to anticipate what was coming, and then threw in emotional weight that took me by surprise. The blend of drama, trust, and unexpected depth created a rollercoaster of emotions that left a real impact. By the last page, I didn’t want to say goodbye to these characters—they felt like they’d been on the journey with me.

Helena Echlin has written a tense psychological thriller with great suspense and a varied cast of characters. Clever Little Thing is a fast-paced read, with a good twist, and a satisfying ending.

At times the reader must put aside realistic expectations in order to follow the story, but it works in this storyline. The neurodivergent character at times bothered me, only because the behavior of the character did not always feel authentic. Perhaps though I am just being a little sensitive to that subject. I love though that the author took a chance and used a neurodivergent character.

Fans of thrillers/suspense are going to like this one. Just be prepared, it does get dark, but it works for the story and adds a new level of suspense.

I loved the beautiful things Helena Echlin did with Clever Little Thing, even though I didn’t love everything about the story itself. It was the character growth that really impressed me. From start to finish, Charlotte undergoes a massive transformation in her emotional awareness. Her narration quickly reveals her privileged voice, as well as her stifled emotions. She relies on her self-imposed rules of etiquette, which sound wise in theory, but lead to poor boundaries in practice. She cares very little for those who aren’t part of her tax bracket, and she views her child’s babysitter mechanically, rather than seeing her as a person. She loves her daughter dearly, and appreciates all of the qualities that make her unique as a child, but she refuses to acknowledge vital truths regarding her child’s behavior. She looks back on her own childhood with sadness, continually questioning and judging her mother’s behavior. And she possesses an overwhelmingly evident bias toward foreign customs, despite a somewhat performative drive at comprehension. The author managed to take all of these characteristics and work through them as the story unfolds, allowing Charlotte to become a better version of herself by the end of the novel.

Clever Little Thing embraces the popular evil child trope, although Stella isn’t quite Damian, despite the possibility of possession. Her changing behavior after her babysitter’s death is cause for concern, although no one but Charlotte seems to be taking this seriously. This was another aspect Echlin did well. Even though we know, as readers, that Charlotte might not be a completely reliable narrator, we also recognize that she isn’t losing her mind. The way other characters cast doubt upon her observations, and explain away Stella’s behavior, is extremely frustrating. It mirrors real life so well that it succeeds in causing distress.

While Clever Little Thing had its unique components, I wouldn’t say its path was decidedly different from other stories using this trope. The narrative was always interesting to me, though. The more Stella’s behavior looked like that of Bianca, her deceased babysitter, the more my curiosity grew.

The twist certainly helped eradicate an implication that had made me uncomfortable throughout the book. I’m glad I leaned into trusting the author with it. Although it wasn’t something I automatically assumed, I felt like the story crumbled a bit after it was revealed. I also need to warn that it could be extremely triggering for some readers. I cannot say how without spoiling things. Even though my basic rule of thumb when picking up a thriller or a horror novel is to expect potentially triggering content, this reveal still caught me off guard, and while other aspects of the book’s content might also prove difficult for some readers, this particular piece may be even more jarring because of how it is illustrated.

I was, overall, satisfied with the final resolve, although what was suggested within the last few sentences irritated me. I think all that Echlin accomplished before that worked well enough, and there was no good reason for this highly implausible addition.

3.5 stars

I am immensely grateful to Pamela Dorman Books and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.

Stella is a sensitive and smart child who begins to change after the death of her babysitter, Blanka. Her mother Charlotte has concerns, but not everyone agrees that the changes in Stella are for the worse. When Stella’s actions start to mirror her former babysitter, Charlotte starts to wonder if Stella and Blanka’s lives have become entwined her death.

I loved this book! The unique story and relatable struggles of motherhood made me want to keep reading.
It had some creepy vibes which made it a perfect spooky season read for me!

3.5 or 3.75. This was definitely reminiscent of The Push, but I really found the ending weak and unsatisfying. Other than that, though, this was exactly the kind of book I love! I really get a kick out of these mom-noir books that are becoming more popular nowadays. I love the idea of a mysterious/possibly evil kid and the frazzled new mom just trying to keep her head above water. Call me a sucker for punishment (I'm 34 weeks pregnant right now, so maybe I should hate these kinds of books). Our MC is Charlotte, mom to 8-year-old Stella, who has always been a challenging child. She doesn't like to be touched, hates water, is easily overstimulated, and shows little interest in her peers. The book hints that Stella may be on the spectrum, but it's never really confirmed. After the tragic death of Stella's long-time babysitter, Stella abruptly changes personalities completely, acting more and more like the deceased woman. Charlotte, struggling with a difficult pregnancy and a husband who doesn't see anything wrong, tries to find out what has happened to her daughter, and how to get Stella back.
The premise is entertaining and fun, with plenty of chilling moments that will make the mom readers shiver. Charlotte is a relatable protagonist, and the side characters add depth to the story. The ending, as I mentioned earlier, was pretty disappointing for me, and I think The Push is definitely a better book, but this one is well worth the read if you like this subgenre of mystery novels.

This was a good book. Didn't blow me away, but I did quite enjoy it. I did suspect the twist, but the ending really satisfied me. Thank you so much for the advance copy

Dark and twisty in the best way! Reminded me a lot of “The Push”, another maternal thriller that makes you feel uncomfortable throughout. A great unsettling feeling follows you through the chapters, as you question the main character’s sanity and her child.

What a wild ride this book was. This book was so creepy. Books with kids, and things surrounding the supernatural and kids just give me the creeps, but I love reading them. The paranormal elements were fantastic, and I love how they felt real, yet made me question everything. This book kept me guessing and I just devoured it. I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen. This one is full of suspense and kept me on the edge of my seat. I truly couldn’t guess how everything was going to work out, it was so twisty and unexpected. Charlotte was the ultimate unreliable narrator. I was surely questioning her sanity hard at several points in the book. And then her husband, just wow, what a character. The second half of the book is full of twists. I loved how some of them felt like they smacked me right in the face, while a few I felt I knew were coming. I couldn’t put this one down and finished it in a couple hours over the course of an afternoon.

If you are looking for a delightful and entertaining psychological thriller, then you need to read this one.

I’m not usually a fan of psychological suspenses with supernatural elements, but this was really original well written! A little girl takes on characteristics of her babysitter who recently died. There are family secrets that are eventually exposed. This was suspenseful, captivating, and a fast read.

This gave me the chills/creeps in a good way - I was on a move around every day road trip and still fell into it at night despite the exhaustion.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

4.5 Stars rounded up ! This novel was brilliantly twisty and kept me completely at the edge of my seat. I thought the storyline was very unique and I have not read another psychological thriller similar to this one. It was very easy to binge read this one in a sitting or two. I highly recommend giving this one a read if you enjoy a good suspense/psychological thriller, especially if you are a mother.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Viking for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

Clever Little Thing is perfect for fans of "The Push" and "All the Dangerous Things", following the perspective of a mother in grief, confusion, and strength, fighting to protect their children. Clearly, some interesting themes are explored here about motherhood, but also neurodivergence, found families, and the disintegration of the nuclear family. There's also a surprising touch of magical realism and spookiness! This definitely is dark and leaves you guessing, but for me the answers did tend to come way earlier than intended. The pacing was also too slow for my personal taste. Still, be sure to check it out in January!