This was just weird and not in a fun enough way for me to be able to suspend disbelief for its entirety. I think I’m just tired of mommy thrillers that use pregnancy-related depression as a plot device.

Clever Little Thing is sure to be one of the most talked about books of 2025. It's a perfect book club read. I was thoroughly impressed with this psychological thriller that was deeply disturbing and at times heartbreaking.

Charlotte loves her daughter exactly the way she is. So she's very concerned when Stella starts to change after the death of her babysitter, Blanka. Stella's personality and habits do a complete 180 and Charlotte is the only one who doesn't like it. Because Stella is acting just like Blanka.

It doesn't help matters that Charlotte is going through a very rough pregnancy and her husband works a lot. Luckily Blanka's mother Irina is good with Stella. She helps out while Charlotte increasingly worries and her husband dismisses those worries because he likes the way things are now.

There's so many layers to this story. Is Charlotte making a big deal of things because she's under so much strain? This could all just be Stella's way of coping with losing Blanka. Or is she actually possessed by her babysitter?

The tension never lets up as Charlotte stops at nothing to get her daughter back. I never knew what to expect all the way through to the shocking reveal. Comparisons to The Push are valid but Clever Little Thing is it's own unique story. But if you loved The Push like I did, odds are you'll love this.

I recommend Clever Little Thing if you like psychological thrillers with a bit of the supernatural mixed in. Or if you just want to read something different and thought provoking.

Thank you Penguin Group Viking/Pamela Dorman Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book- it was creepy and kept me guessing! The story centers on Charlotte, whose daughter Stella is seen as a difficult child to others, though Charlotte can see no problem. When their babysitter, Blanca, dies, Stella’s personality changes and Charlotte is convinced she is being possessed by Blanka in some way.

I love a story with an unreliable narrator and you get that here, as everyone around Charlotte thinks she is crazy. I went back and forth throughout the book on what was really happening. It was easy to root for her either way due to her fierce loyalty and drive to fight for Stella. There were some great twists in the 2nd half of the book, the biggest which I didn’t see coming at all. There were a couple things that were a bit unrealistic but still fit well with the story and didn’t bother me much. The very end of the book introduces some questions that kept me thinking about it even after I finished reading. I liked the ending overall.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and thought it was creepy and unique. There were some great surprises and it kept me guessing the whole way through. Would definitely recommend to those who like psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley… I really wanted to love this one but I could not finish. It was just too slow paced for me right now.. but I do think I can go back and finish this book and update my review at a different time . It’s not what I’m looking to read right now .

Clever Little Thing is bingeable, entertaining, and keeps you guessing until the end. The book has a slower start as it introduces you to the characters but it picks up in the second half.
The book was very well written and easy to read. I enjoyed the paranormal/supernatural elements and the unique premise. Readers of psychological and mom thrillers will enjoy this one.

This book is being compared to The Push and aside from the book being about a mother, Clever Little Thing is completely different (in a good way).

Clever Little Thing by Helena Echlin will be available on January 14. Many thanks to Pamela Dorman Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy!

I love a good creepy child story. I was hooked from page one and simply could not wait to see how it all ended.
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Charlottes daughter Stella is incredibly bright. She’s also a bit introverted and quite particular. Charlotte has a special bond with her daughter and goes to great lengths to protect her well being. When Stella’s babysitter suddenly die's strange things start to happen around the home and more specifically with Stella herself. At first Charlotte chalks it up to hired, but then things become more prevalent that Charlotte can no longer ignore what’s happening.
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This story took me on a ride. I was intrigued, I was invested and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. There were a few parts of the story I found a bit unbelievable, but then I think to read this type of book there must be some suspension of belief in order to enjoy it. I found it clever and really enjoyed it!•
Thank you @netgalley and @pameladormanbooks for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Clever Little Thing lives up to its name - it is a clever read full of questions that Echlin slowly answers for her readers, one surprise at a time. I enjoyed that some of the more supernatural aspects of this story were bound to reality through the actions of each character. Echlin’s style of writing had me feeling connected with Charlotte: I felt her anguish, her confusion, and her desperation to figure out what was happening to Stella. This book is engaging and has a steady pace - I didn’t want to put it down.

The premise of this book intriuged me, although I don't typically like supernatural elements of ghosts/demons etc in my thrillers, i decided to give it a try. This was a pretty quick read for me and i think i enjoyed the last 10-15% of the book the most. Some of the things that came out about the husband were shocking, I cant believe that it was him who assaulted the babysitter. and that he was cheating on the wife for almost their whole marriage.

This is the best psychological thriller I’ve read this year!

It kept me engaged, intrigued and I wasn’t able to guess what would happen

A true thriller.

Strongly recommend

So I didn't love this one, but I didn't hate it either - it was just...unexpected? It's hard to get too into it without giving key parts away, but there was a big paranormal element that I didn't see coming. Echlin had a lot of unique twists to keep things interesting, but I struggled with the pacing - some chapters flew by while others I kind of skimmed to keep things going. I wouldn't have minded more character background as well - I enjoyed the characters, but they left me wanting to know more about them! I sure didn't see this ending coming, but I left with more questions than answers. Thanks for the ARC!

thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review!

getting more into it would be getting into spoiler territory - though honestly, the synopsis is pretty spoilery - so I'll just say this was a really good and tense psychological "mom thriller" that was very let down by an ending that spiraled into silliness

Helena Eschlin’s Clever Little Thing is an intriguing blend of sharp wit and thoughtful storytelling that brings a fresh perspective to contemporary fiction. The novel shines with clever dialogue and a protagonist who is as quirky as she is relatable. Eschlin’s unique voice keeps the narrative engaging, especially for readers who enjoy introspective, character-driven plots.

However, at times the pacing feels uneven, with certain sections dragging while others rush by too quickly. Some of the side characters, though interesting, could have been developed further to add depth to the story.

A quick, intense read. A mother knows best…right? Stella is a unique child. She is loud, stubborn, and wildly intelligent, but Charlotte begins to notice her daughter has changed after recent events with their babysitter. No one believes her. Charlotte risks it all to save her daughter and find the truth, even if the truth is hard to believe. If you liked The Push by Ashely Audrain, definitely check this one out. It’s not quite as dark, but definitely a wild ride.

4 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good psychological thriller. The especially good ones leave you wondering about what is really going on until the very end, and sometimes even after. This book certainly delivers. You start questioning what is real, who is actually crazy, who is just acting, what the characters' goals are, who is being manipulated, and ultimately who is going to come out as the winner at the end. Winner might be the wrong word, but triumphant also seems pretty aggressive.

The main character in this is fairly unreliable, which adds an extra twist to figuring out the entire thing.

I definitely recommend this one.

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.