Thank you to William Morrow for the digital copy to review.

This was a WILD ride, it started with a bang (or rather, a crash) right from the start and was fast paced until the very end, and as such I read this in one setting. Intense, heart pounding and heart breaking, I loved the premise, thought it was well executed, and yikes, that ending was nuts.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This mystery thriller had an interesting premise, but it didn’t completely live up to my expectations. The story kept me curious for a while, but the pacing felt a bit uneven, and some of the twists didn’t have the impact I was hoping for. While I enjoyed the atmosphere and some of the character development, I wasn’t fully invested in the plot.

It was an okay read, and mystery thriller fans might find it enjoyable, but it didn’t fully captivate me.

Off the wall read with many unexpected twists and turns.
Lots of drama and suspense all based on a book written 30 years earlier.
The author showcases just how out there some people can be and how far they go off the rails.

There was a lot of hype about this one so I was really excited to finally get to it. Unfortunately, for me, it did not live up to the hype. It took me a long time to read it as it did not suck me so I put it down often .

The story of a cult that has formed slowly targeting a family is a slow burn. In today's (2025) political climate (while this book is not political at all), the conversation of cult followings resonated. It is amazing what people will believe and how far they will go to protect that belief.

Retelling any of the story is a spoiler in my opinion. I felt there were some gaps in the story but overall is was OK. I am not going to ignore it and may recommend it to a fellow reader.

Equal parts psychological thriller and chilling social commentary, We Are Watching dives headfirst into the madness of conspiracy culture. After a tragic accident that shatters her family, Meg Russo just wants to grieve in peace—but the internet has other plans. What follows is a heart-pounding unraveling of paranoia, loss, and the dark side of viral belief.

Gaylin nails the terror of being hunted not just physically, but digitally. A story about grief, guilt, and the dangerous power of fiction, this one will have you checking over your shoulder.

Let’s be real. If a book involves a cult, I’ll likely be reading it (along with half the population). But what if that cult was set around the destruction of you and your family? I loved the premise of this book, because it really showed how cultish behavior can lead to real harm on innocent people. This book was incredibly creepy and made me want to keep reading.

4.5 stars rounded up.

A legitimately terrifying story! Three generations of a family are targeted by a doomsday cult, who are convinced that a book Meg wrote as a teenager, and an album her father recorded, contain clues and demonic spells that will lead to the end of the world. The tension and suspense build to a terrifying crescendo as Meg, her daughter Lily, and her father find members of the cult everywhere in the days leading up to the date the cult believes will be the end of the world. Can they trust anyone? Can they survive that day? I loved the writing, which was scary and suspenseful, and the many twists and turns as you suspect anyone and everyone in the book of being of members of the cult. A great payoff at the end. Alison Gaylin never disappoints, and this one is a doozy!

I love a good cult book and this one did not disappoint! The characters were easy to like and it broke my heart for the ending. Loved it.

This book was great! A different take on the doomsday stuff that I found well done. And scary to think there are people who think like that. Well done! 4.5 stars

The best books push buttons and this one made me uncomfortable, so it gets a gold star! Conspiracies and family tragedy combine to make one of the most unputdownable books I’ve read so far this year!

Meg Russo and her family become the target of crazed conspiracy theorists. First, her husband Justin dies in a car accident triggered by a car that swerves beside theirs and honks repeatedly.Meg reopens a local bookstore, but odd happenings and online threats continue. Seems that thirty years before, Meg had written a YA novel entitled The Prophesy, that a spreading social media cult has come to believe is linked to Satanism.

They're after both Meg and her reclusive father, a famed musician, accused by the same kooks of being an evil warlock.Meg's daughter Lily, also a talented musician, is targeted and manipulated as well, but in a different way. Both question who they can trust as events - and violence - escalates.

An innocent trip to drop off her daughter at college ends up with a tragic car wreck and the death of Meg Russo’s husband. Meg attempts to pull her life together but things begin to get weird. She receives threatening Facebook notices and it seems there’s a massive online conspiracy against Meg, her father and her daughter threatening to turn deadly. Without giving too much away, I found this fast-moving suspense novel quite intricate with lots of twists and turns. Hitchcock, if still alive, would make this novel into a great movie with Meg’s paranoia taking centerstage.

Big thanks to both NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced reader's copy of this quite wild and strange read.

I really wanted to get into this more, but I found it so hard. I kept putting this down and did not find myself reaching for it again. The story started out with a decent enough attentiong grab, but then I just felt myself drifting away and having a hard time staying engaged.

I think there was just too much going on everywhere that I found myself getting confused and having trouble keeping up.

However, there are lots of rave reviews out there for this read so definitely check it out for yourself!!

You know how sometimes you choose a book because you think it's one thing but then it's a totally different thing?

That's this book.

I really loved the premise of this book and I was even down for the type of crazy that I could tell this book would turn into. And maybe it's because I've never really heard of anything like this happening, but I just like it was all a little bit too much.

I loved to read books about cults, and that's what I felt this one was about, but the idea that an entire town can be out to get a family seemed a smidge far-fetched to me. I put up with it because I loved the main characters and the differing points of view, but by the climax I found myself ready for it to be all over.

The ending was convoluted, in my opinion, and it just didn't stick for me. While I thoroughly enjoyed the middle of this book, the beginning was slow and the end was just a little too ridiculous for my liking.

This was creepy and strange - but enjoyable to read. Stormed through it. Thanks to the publisher for the early read!

I loved this! As my first Alison Gaylin I will definitely be working my way through her backlist.
This title touched on grief, coming of age, friendships, and family dynamics. The small town provides isolation without being secluded as the characters do venture to outside locations. The characters were complex and interesting.
The mystery tied neaty together with music, literature and a terrifying cult. I loved being on the outside of the cult and not knowing who to trust. For once the characters were not making stupid decisions and the reveals were not obvious.
Thank you for the advanced copy, Netgalley!

This one felt overly long and repetitive for me- I wanted so much more from it. The story overall was good, but the ending really left a lot to be desired.

Alison Gaylin's "We Are Watching' is a chilling and thought-provoking thriller that masterfully weaves family drama with the sinister allure of conspiracy theories.

The story begins with a devastating tragedy as Meg Russo loses her husband, Justin, in a car accident that quickly spirals into something far more sinister. Gaylin’s plot is a tightly wound web of suspense, as Meg, her daughter Lily, and her reclusive father Nathan Lerner find themselves targeted by a cult-like group convinced that their family is at the center of an apocalyptic prophecy. The narrative’s relentless pace and eerie twists keep readers on edge, making it impossible to look away.

The characters are richly drawn, with Meg standing out as a resilient yet deeply human protagonist grappling with grief and fear. Lily’s descent into the dark corners of the internet adds a layer of modern-day horror, while Nathan’s enigmatic past and strained relationship with his family provide emotional depth. The antagonists, though shadowy, are disturbingly plausible, reflecting the dangers of misinformation and the power of collective delusion. Gaylin’s ability to explore the complexities of parent-child relationships and the weight of generational guilt adds a poignant dimension to the story.

"We Are Watching" is as unsettling as it is compelling, blending psychological tension with timely social commentary. Gaylin’s sharp prose and deft handling of paranoia and fear create an atmosphere that lingers long after the final page. This is a novel that not only entertains but also forces readers to confront the fragility of truth in an age of chaos. This gripping and unforgettable read cements Gaylin’s place as a master of domestic thrillers.

The concept of strange conspiracy theories really appeals to me, so the premise of We Are Watching immediately grabbed my attention. The story started off with an engaging, fast-paced introduction, but as it progressed, the pace slowed significantly, and I felt it dragged a bit before diving into the nitty-gritty of the plot. There were moments when it became a little difficult to follow. I appreciated that the main character, Meg, owned a bookstore—it's a fun little detail for us book lovers—but there wasn’t enough depth to her character for me to feel connected or fully invested in her journey. Overall, I’d rate this one 3 stars—it was decent but didn’t quite leave a strong impression. If you are into conspiracy theories and cults, this one might be for you.

Thank you Netgalley, William Morrow, and Alison Gaylin for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

We Are Watching is out now!

It wasn't what I expected, or a trope I enjoy but here are my full thoughts.
https://youtu.be/5EohfqWD94Y