This novel blew me away. Absolutely loved the uncanny/weird kid vibes that kept me guessing throughout the entire story.

The plot relies heavily on the psychological aspects of raising a child that has more brilliance and imagination than average. And when that child begins changing in alarming ways, her mother will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of it.

Great page turner that would be perfect for mystery lovers looking for something a little different.

I apparently really enjoy books about messed up kids. There’s something so interesting about the concept, and this one was even wilder because it had the whole “is this supernatural?” aspect to it.

I definitely loved the back and forth with the main character, wondering if everything was really happening or if they were an unreliable narrator. I won’t say it was super twisty- the author definitely had a lot of clues pointing to what was happening, and I guessed the thing with the “villain” way early on.

However, it was pretty good read. It kept me entertained, and it was an interesting and unique story. I wanted to see how everything worked out in the end.

Overall, I would recommend if you want a quick, engaging read that focuses on mental health with a paranormal twist!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

This was interesting! The start worried me a little bit, but as it picked up it started to gain it's footing. The husband became a little cartoonishly evil, but all in all the pacing was good and kept you going right til the end

This was a fantastic read! I really enjoyed it from start to finish. The storyline was propulsive and mysterious. The characters were relatable and well done. This book kept me guessing until the very end. I am looking forward to much more from this author.

Ashley Audrain's The Push made waves a couple of years ago with its tale of a mother questioning the seemingly nefarious motives and intentions of her young daughter, and now Helena Echlin has arrived on the literary scene to deliver a gripping story in a similar vein, Clever Little Thing. However, where Audrain's The Push brings into question nurture vs. nature, Echlin's Clever Little Thing is less black and white.

Charlotte knows and accepts that her eight year old daughter Stella is "different." Obsessed with complex scientific theories, the anatomy of dead birds, and whatever else strikes her fancy, Stella is a child unlike other children. She has difficulty making and keeping friends or relating to other people, and prefers to keep to her own company. Her parents can't even appease her, walking around on tiptoe for fear of prompting Stella to launch into "freak out" mode, which results in Stella throwing a screaming, crying fit with no ability to soothe.

However, this all changes after the death of Stella's former babysitter, Blanka. Stella transforms from a rigid, intolerant child, to one who is placid and amenable ... not unlike Blanka herself. When Stella starts repeating some of Blanka's former phrases, acquiring a taste for foods Blanka loved, and even writing in her diary in Armenian, Blanka's first language, Charlotte is convinced her daughter's body has been taken over by Blanka's spirit. But is this a case of possession, or one of a mother seeing things that are just not there? As Stella becomes less and less like her former self and more like Blanka, Charlotte is convinced she must act or else lose her daughter forever.

Prepare yourself to trust no one as you read the aptly titled Clever Little Thing! Author Echlin cleverly layers this haunting story to keep the reader guessing throughout its chilling journey. I wavered back and forth as I read this book, never quite sure if Charlotte's perception of the world was reliable and true. My inability to commit to a conviction made for an engaging read, and I must admit that I was fully taken by surprise by Clever Little Thing's unexpected ending.

Clever Little Thing explores the complex, often complicated, mother-child relationship, as well as a mother's sometimes inability to be taken seriously by her spouse, friends, and peers. Who better knows a child than her own mother? But what if no one else is able to see what said mother sees? Is the mother right? Or just delusional? Read Clever Little Thing to find out!