Kelley Armstrong has been a well-loved author for me for years, all the way back to reading about our fun gang of necromancers, witches, and werewolves in The Summoning. She’s got a new upcoming book now, and it is a really great read for YA mystery thriller fans. Here is why I think you will definitely enjoy reading Someone Is Always Watching.
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Title: Someone Is Always Watching
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Published by: Tundra Books
Publishing date: April 11, 2023
Genre: YA Mystery Thriller
My Rating: 5/5
Summary:
Blythe and her friends — Gabrielle, and brother and sister Tucker and Tanya — have always been a tight friend group, attending a local high school and falling in and out of love with each other. But an act of violence has caused a rift between Blythe and Tucker . . . and unexpected bursts of aggression and disturbing nightmares have started to become more frequent in their lives.
The strange happenings culminate in a shocking event at school: Gabrielle is found covered in blood in front of their deceased principal, with no memory of what happened.
Cracks in their friendship, as well as in their own memories, start appearing, threatening to expose long-forgotten secrets which could change the group’s lives forever. How can Blythe and her friends trust each other when they can’t even trust their own memories?
*Thank you to Tundra Books for a free e-copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.*
This was a really enjoyable read. It’s easy to fall into the story quickly, and Blythe is an excellent narrator who it is easy to care about. And what a situation she has found herself in. It’s clear pretty early on that someone or something is tampering with her memory, and as pieces of the truth are slowly revealed, there’s just enough unsaid each time to keep you on the edge of your seat for more. I will say, this isn’t the kind of book that has a big, completely unexpected and surprising twist at the end. Rather, it reveals small twists little by little, and the culmination of everything leaves you with this eerie, unsettling truth of what’s happened to these kids.
What I really love is the type of questions that the book and this kind of mystery thriller leaves you with. Who is the bad guy in this story? In some ways there may seem to be a clear one, but at a slightly different angle, it’s not so black and white. Can an action that seems cruel be justified by a good motive? And where do we draw the line between who gets a second chance and who doesn’t? This book poses all of these questions in a way that is thrilling and entertaining. It’ll definitely get you thinking for a little while afterward.
I loved Blythe as a narrator, someone who is seen as and does her best to be a good person, but also struggles with having a little bit of darkness in her. I especially love her ability to see the best in people. Sometimes that can be to a fault, but she also never lets the opinions of other people or situations change how she feels about those she loves. I also really loved Tucker as a character, because he is the opposite of what so many people expect him to be. The story highlights his love of sitting in bed and reading, and obviously as a book nerd I relate. Like Blythe, he has his own darkness, but he’s also such a genuine gentleman when nobody expects him to be. It’s no wonder Blythe secretly finds him swoonworthy 😉
If you are looking for a book with a unique premise that is both thrilling and thought-provoking, I highly recommend this one. It’s a quick read because it keeps you so invested. And if you’re not already a Kelley Armstrong fan like me, this book just might make you one.
Are some memories better hidden away?
Thanks for reading!
Faith Noelle 