Enjoyed this book, I tend to like more disturbing books, but did absolutely enjoy this book. I thought it was done in a suspenseful manner and very appropriate for the age it was targeted for. There were definitely parts that had me on the edge of my seat, worrying what might happen!
Will be recommending to members in Chapter Chatter Pub this week!

What to expect:

While I hoped this would be as horrific as some other thrillers, I know going in for YA that it’s going to be a bit more tame. Even still, there were some moments where I held my breath. I was curious if I was going to have to put a special this may cause triggers alert, but fortunately, it didn’t go that far. We’ll leave the super gruesome and heinous crimes for non YA.

That said, there are some moments in this when I was very worried about the protagonist and her family and friends. The person she’s up against, known only as Stalker, is nuts. I mean nuts in the worst possible ways. There’s nothing Viola can do to get out of their sight. There’s nothing she can do right. Every move she makes, the stalker is not only there watching, but is ready to pounce on her when nobody else is around.

And on top of having to worry about all of this, she still has to worry about her application. It’s a lot for a teen to deal with.
Characters:

Right away Viola lets in on the fact that she’s not on the up and up when it comes to her application for a scholarship to a school she’s been dying (ahhahah, this is a thriller) to get into. Still, while being worried, she’s still strong and competent. She worked hard to get where she’s at, and she deserves that scholarship, even if she did have to fudge a few details.

Riel is introduced almost as immediately as Viola, watching her behind, no less. Which is a funny, cute addition to his characterization. And he just grows from there. He’s sweet, and Viola finds herself attracted to him, until they both find out that she won the scholarship which was supposed to be his.

Awkward!

That said, their relationship is interesting. It’s good to be competitive, as long as it doesn’t go to anyone’s head. Unfortunately, they’re both struggling to keep above water. Their full characterization is slowly fed to the reader as the story progresses. It’s gradual but it felt like it was perfectly timed. The characterization went along very well with the plot.

Mar and Gillian are also fantastic side characters. Although I wanted more of Gillian, Mar is in this just enough. Mar pretty much stole the show and is fabulous. Gillian, however, is constantly pushing Viola and Riel to get lives and just get it over with already! It’s hilarious how much she doesn’t hide the fact that she just loves those two and knows that they are attracted to each other.

Thank you to the publisher and Xpresso Book Tours for a free e-copy.


Watching you is a thriller YA book that follows Viola on her journey to getting her family out of the situation they are currently in. To do this she first needs to go to a school in Florida for smart kids (which she is) and then she plans to go to MIT and get a great job! All sound like really great goals and like she has it all figured out. But of course, we have a few problems that happen due to admissions changing some requirements and her student advisor being someone who is just as smart as she is.



Viola is a very likable character. She worries about things, studies and does just normal life things that tend to get left out in books. I did feel like she could have done more things at times to stay safe, or to let someone know what was going on. But I also kind of understand why she didn't.


Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. I couldn't stop reading it and I wasn't able to figure out who it was until it was revealed! This is becoming a rare thing for me anymore as I've been reading so many mystery/thrillers recently. The whole mystery part of this book I really enjoyed, the stalker's point of view that we got to see every few chapters was extremely creepy and ominous that it really kept me interested in trying to figure out who it was. While I did have multiple suspects it was no one that had even been on my radar from the beginning.



As for the romance part, I didn't mind it for the first half of the book it was always just on the back burner in my opinion. The farther into the book the more prominent it became and it took over basically in my opinion which was a little disappointing because it seemed at first like Viola was going to be flying solo until she got all of her education. I will say I am so so glad that we finally got a YA book where both of the people in the relationship are super smart and still have the same goals even after getting into a relationship they just want to work on them together! I also really liked how involved Viola and Riel were in his little sister's life. She was never made to feel like a burden and they worked around her schedule. In fact, Riel could be my new book boyfriend just because of how caring he was about his sister, and making sure he was there for Viola but didn't push any boundaries.



If you want a lighter mystery/thriller book that has romance in it than this book is for you.



I also do want to mention that this book does have a few scenes where sex is implied. It never gets graphic though and is just briefly mentioned.

This book is about Viola. She’s poor and really wants to attend MIT so she fudges her application to get into a prestigious high school. Her home life is far from perfect and she just wants to escape. Her mom is a stripper, her sister a drug addict and her ex is a criminal. She’s far from perfect but wants more for her life.

She’s a likable character and when she meets Riel it becomes a little more interesting. They have a love/hate relationship. Riel always gets the scholarship but this year he didn’t so it makes perfect sense for them not to like each other. You could still tell that there was chemistry between the two.

This book is supposed to be a suspense book but to me it was more romance. The stalker aspect drew me in and kept me on my toes wondering who it was. When we found out I was slightly disappointed because of the motive of this person’s actions.

The ending felt rushed and if you’re looking for a suspense book with a lot of the stalker vibe then this book isn’t for you. It’s still a good book and I finished it in a few hours because it held my attention. I haven’t read this author before but I will read her other books.

The concept of this New Adult Romantic Suspense reflects the repurcussions of lying, even if it's for a good cause. The consequences can be disastrous, especially when jealousy is involved.

Viola is the first member of her family to have the big dream of breaking out of poverty and making a career which will enable her to provide for her momma and twin sisters. She is smart and caring, but makes a terrible mistake when applying for a prestigious scholarship.

Riel is hard working and has been the recipient of this scholarship until now. Although he is disappointed that this scholarship has been awarded to Viola, he is graceful towards her.

Viola and Riel start off on the wrong foot, but become friends as they get to know each other. They have a lot in common as neither of them has led an easy life. They also have the same goal of attending MIT. She is intent on focusing on her studies, but starts to develop feelings for Riel and his younger sister. She can relate to his responsibilities towards his sister. The first time that they give into their feelings, jealousy rears its ugly head and soon gossips start flowing.

Strange things have been happening to her, most of which she tries to ignore until she is subjected to a brutal attack. She has a stalker and it could be anyone! It looks like her past has followed her. When the truth comes out, will Riel understand and forgive her or will he leave her to her own device?

This story is very well portrayed. There are snippets about the stalker whose identity isn't revealed until much later in the story. The motive behind the attacks is rather shocking and to me, totally unexpected. It lacks in suspense, but the romance between Viola and Riel is wholehearted.

I received an eARC and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

4 1/2 stars

One of my favorite things about reading a new book is when it surpasses my expectations. Watching You, from beginning to end, was just such a novel, avoiding typical cliches and maintaining a high level of interest, incorporating interesting characters and events.

Viola is not a typical YA character. She comes from the wrong side of the tracks, but is brainy. Her family is broken, but she loves her mother and sisters. In fact, Viola is very realistic, even flying off the handle when her world is busted open. She lied, and guilt tears at her.

Shannon Greenland does a great job of keeping the tension level of the suspense high throughout the novel. I will admit that I figured out who the stalker was, although one question nags at me, which I can't form here because, well, spoiler.

Greenland's writing invites the reader in, which I very much appreciate because immediately before beginning Watching You, I had another romantic suspense which was a DNF mostly because of the inaccessibility of the writing and characters. After that, this novel was so welcome.

While this isn't a light summer read, I can most assuredly recommend it for all of you YA suspense buffs out there who prefer your stories a little darker.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The romance in Watching you was really good but I was a little disappointed when I found out who the stalker was. I'm all about romance and so for me, this book was really good. I'm going to try and explain without giving too much away.

Viola has a secret. She wants to attend MIT more than anything. She applies for a scholarship at a top high school but she may have fabricated her admissions essay. She isn't rich but works hard to maintain good grades.

Riel has held the scholarship position for most of his high school years but unfortunately this year they have to give it to someone else. His circumstances are less than perfect but he has his sister who he loves dearly.

The pair are cut from the same cloth. They have so much in common and fight for what they want.

Viola comes from a family with troubles. Her sister is an addict, her mother pays the bills by stripping and her ex-boyfriend has a criminal record. Her record isn't squeaky clean either. Viola wants to show the world she can be so much more and her past won't hold her down.

The stalker adds a creepy edge to this story which I liked. Someone has it in for Viola. We know she isn't perfect but she's a great character. She's loveable and kind but her stalker doesn't agree. My problem with this story is the fact I was waiting for a deeper meaning and there wasn't one.

I really liked the flow of this book and enjoyed the ride. 4 stars out of 5. This would have been 5 if the stalker had a greater reason. The book kept me interested from beginning to end.

*Adult content UK 16 plus
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of WATCHING YOU on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher and author.

Five stars and here's why:

WATCHING YOU combined the enemies to lovers contemporary romance with a suspenseful twist. The author captured me from the get-go. Viola is your typical downtrodden teen with a stripper mom, dad in prison and drug addict sister. She wants out of her crappy situation and fakes her school and scholarship applications to a prestigious FL school that she’s always dreamed of attending in order to get into her dream college: MIT. She ends up winning the scholarship away from Riel, who is a hella-hot guy that ends up being her student advisor, all the while wrestling with his own demons to raise his younger sister on his own. Soon, sparks fly between these two enemies to friends to lovers, then tempers fly, and soon Viola can’t shed the guilt for lying on her applications when Riel so rightfully deserved the scholarship. The icing on the cake: you can’t judge a book by its cover. Or can you?

The story is told from alternating viewpoints and at first, I thought reading the POV of the stalker pulled me out of the story, but at the same time, the author ratcheted up the tension with the stalker’s chapters so it worked well for me.

If you love hella-hot, resourceful guys, sassy, smart girls, and a suspenseful ending that’ll make you forget your to-do list and read this story in one sitting, then this book is for you! Highly recommend!

More Young Adult Romance than Suspense, Watching You tells the story of Viola, a teen genius who is willing to do whatever it takes to get herself and her family out of the projects, even lie. A scholarship to her dream school puts her on the right path, but the steps she took to get there threaten to catch up to her. Both her competition and her mentor, Riel is as smart as he is gorgeous. He seems to understand her troubled upbringing, despite the picture perfect life she has presented. With no wealth and little connection with her fellow dorm mates, Viola learns to trust in Riel, especially once frightening things begin to happen.

I admit, I went into this with pretty high expectations and I'm sad to say it was a bit of a letdown. I really liked the premise of Watching You, because I think a scary stalker situation in an away school situation can have more suspense than your usual Young Adult suspense where parents and longtime friends can get involved. That said, the high school environment did not lend itself to the storyline. It came across as more romance with a hint of suspense and even then I wasn't engaged in the stalker storyline. I did, however, never guess who the stalker was nor their motives, so that was a nice surprise. I liked the breaks between chapter from the stalker's perspective, I just wish that Viola had been more concerned, because I certainly would have been. In her youth though she's definitely more concerned with the cute boy than the quickly turning dangerous situation she's in. Viola has a good reason for wanting to get away from home and to land a spot at the prestigious private high school. Desperate to get into MIT for college and to give her family a new life she takes a lot of risks, a lot of understandable risks that I couldn't fault her for. Riel, however, is the one who steals the show. He's a knight in shining armor with brains, beauty, and a heart of gold, it was impossible not to like him and to sort of resent Viola for her role in his life. As things heat up between them so too does the creepy feeling of being watched. Viola tries to ignore it, pushing onward in school and attempting to befriend to wealthy elite at the school, but strange happenings keep distracting her...that or Riel does.

After a lot of thinking, I have come to the conclusion that Watching You just might have been too juvenile for me. At times the characters seem more mature than their 18 years and at other times I thought I was reading a teen drama, it made it difficult for me to place the characters in this away from home setting and in the midst of a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Viola responds in a very young way and she seems to find every male attractive, so I struggled to accept that at 18 she is willing to move away to a school that's very similar to college, leave behind a family she claims she has felt the burden of taking care of, and that she'd find herself in such a serious relationship. Riel, on the other hand, reads much older and was definitely more college aged than 18. In fact, his storyline is more believable than any other character, primary or secondary, that we interact with. Ultimately, I've come to the conclusion that this novel might have gone through some editing that changed the setting and ultimately changed the presentation of the characters.

I think Watching You is fitting for the Young Adult genre, with the romance leading the story and the suspense taking a back seat. However, I was disappointed with the setting and the lack of connection I felt towards Viola, there were a lot of missed opportunities with her. I did read this in one sitting *extra point for that* and I do think the suspense was written well, I just wanted more.

Excellent thriller. Really enjoyed the character development and progression of the storyline. Lots of twists and turns on who-dun-it I greatly enjoyed and struggled to put the book down.

Watching You by Shannon Greenland is a young adult/new adult contemporary suspense. This one really reads a bit more like contemporary romance with a side of suspense to it though but more on that later.

Viola has had a pretty rough start in her young life, her mother is a stripper, father in prison and a drug addict for a sister. Viola however is determined to get out of that situation and to help her other two younger siblings out too so her plan was to win a scholarship to a prestigious private school in Florida to complete her senior year then onto M.I.T.

When Viola arrives in FL however she finds that her rival for the scholarship was none other that the sexy Riel and she begins to feel bad for taking away, especially considering her lies about her family life on the application. Viola had no intention of thinking about boys and relationships though so she tries to avoid Riel and just stick to her studies but she just can’t shake the feeling someone is watching her every move.

Now Watching You was certainly not a bad read at all thus why I’m still giving it 3.5 stars but I would warn to those that really love a good thriller for the intensity that this one was probably 80% romance and 20% suspense… or around that ratio. It was still fun to watch Viola adjust to the rich boarding school life complete with mean girls and cute boys included though in a lovely warm weather setting. I would warn too that there is sexual content included, not overly graphic but definitely there.

As for the suspenseful side of this tale it is easy to remember that something is coming around any turn of the page because occasionally the author inserted short chapters coming from the point of view of the stalker. This creepy unknown narrative is enough to keep that side of the plot on a slow burn until things get brought out a bit more in the story.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
The summary and cover art definitely pulled me in. I found the characters all likable but felt they lacked a certain something. I wasn’t able to fully connect with them and didn’t find myself rooting for or against any of them.
While the story flowed I feel there were parts we could have done without in order to develop more of the important story lines.
The mystery was okay but there was too much emphasis on misleading. It didn’t feel organic.
If someone is looking for an easy read I would recommend Watching You.

When I was approached about reading and reviewing this book, my answer was a definite YES as I love and read all of Shannon Greenland/ S.E Green's books to date. The idea of a stalker also fascinated me as I love that suspense feel. Viola has started at a prestigious school on a scholarship and meets her peer mentor whom Viola has taken the scholarship from. There is a love/hate relationship between the two but we can see that there are sparks flying as, despite either one wanting to admit it, they come from similar backgrounds. During this book, we learn that Viola has a stalker and someone is watching her from the background and at one point even in her dorm room. This part had my heart pumping a bit. On a night out, Viola is attacked by her stalker but manages to be saved. I have to admit the ending of this book fell flat for me especially when the stalker was revealed as I was hoping for maybe a deeper reasoning behind the stalker and I also felt things, in the end, were rushed and the actions of the stalker swept under the rug. This is the reason, Watching You is getting 4P's instead of 5Ps. If you are looking for a YA romantic suspense that is a light-read then Watching You is a good read but if you are wanting a stalker book with deeper meaning then this is not the book for you as you will be slightly disappointed.

Noteworthy experiences while reading this book: I have been a fan of SE Green since I read her other series Killer Instinct and this one although not as good as that one was still worth the read.

Check out author's other books? Yes
Recommend this book? Yes

Notes and Opinions: I wasn't sure what to make of this one when I was approved for it. I really loved what the author was trying to do but I think it would have worked better as a new adult vs. teen. I did enjoy it but I think it could have been a lot better. The characters were all there and well formed but the story itself just felt a little off and a little out of place. The mystery was done very well and we all know that SE Green can do mystery!! (like really well!!). So that part of this story was all 5 stars! It really came down to this just missing something that I couldn't put my finger on.

Go Into This One Knowing: This one works with the characters, plot, and story. Worth the Read

It started with a lie. For Viola Burnett, the opportunity to study at a prestigious academy means a shot at her dream school, MIT. So she lied about a few things, who will it hurt?

On her first day at the academy, Viola meets the gorgeous Riel and she starts to question her decision. Riel is not only her peer mentor, he is also her rival. There's no denying their attraction, and I like the way the author ratchets up the tension between them while forging a real friendship. Riel isn't just a pretty face, he's intelligent as Viola. And she's tough as she is pretty. Viola can physically match Riel in endurance and discipline.

As much as this is a #YAsuspense, #YAthriller, #YAromance; #WatchingYou is also about the consequences of lying, even if it appears on the surface as an opportunity. Even before the lie is exposed, Viola has to face a real threat in the form of a stalker. The first person narrative by the stalker character works even while it had me guessing .... admittedly, wrongly for the most part. And that's what makes this so engrossing a read.

Finding out that Watching You was written by S.E. Green ("Killer Instinct" - one of my favorite series!) was a definite pleasant surprise and no doubt why the story hooked me. Her writing captivates. The characters are starkly drawn, flaws and all. The friendship turned to romance flowed effortlessly. The ending is believable because real life isn't perfect.

Mahalo to #NetGalley and #EntangledPublishing for the ARC, and to S.E. Green for continuing to write!

Watching You was a pretty good mystery with a love story, too.

Viola hasn't had an easy life. Her mom is a stripper, dad is in jail, one sister is an addict, her mom has been married many times, they are poor, and she had a bad ex boyfriend. She has to work full time while going to school. But her goal is to get into MIT. In order to have the best chance, she applies for a scholarship to a private school in Florida. She has the grades, but they added community and family information. Viola decides to lie on those parts of the application and gets approved.

Riel was getting the scholarship before Viola. He and his younger sister (that I adored) live alone in an RV. Riel works while going to school and takes care of Mar alone. They have such an incredible relationship though.

Viola finds herself drawn to Riel. But another girl at school likes him. This girl's father is the one who gives out the scholarship money and she is determined to ruin Viola's life if she does anything with Riel.

During this time, Viola starts feeling like someone is watching her. Her ex was just arrested for rape and is possibly a murderer, too. Viola starts to wonder if he followed her to Florida. She also struggles over the fact that she was with him for a year and loved him. She realizes how toxic their relationship was.

Some of the chapters are told by "stalker". This person is plaing with Viola and it's only a matter of time before they attack.

There was a lot of mystery, but the book also focused on relationships. Romantic with Riel, friendship with her roommate, and the problems with the mean girl at school. One thing I liked was that this book was sex positive. Viola does turn eighteen, but she wasn't a virgin. Her roommate encourages her to have sex, even if it's just with a friend. They don't shame it except that Viola receives a message that says "slut". There is some sex in the book, but nothing graphic.

Overall, I really liked the book and had fun trying to figure out who the stalker was. This person definiely had some serious issues and I was glad that it was addressed a bit at the end.

Thank you to Entangled Teen for sending me a copy for review (through netgalley). I gave this one 4 stars.

This is such chick-lit. Like a soft mystery or how they call them...

Not for me, sorry. LOVE the cover art, though.

Thank you Netgalley for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4 stars

Drama, suspense and intrigue. Those are the three words I'd involve to describe this novel.

Watching You is, like the synopsis tells you, about Viola. A girl who tries her best to escape the no good town she came from by getting a scholarship to a prestigious school and to start providing for her mother and two sisters. When she arrives, she expects it to be possible to hide her past and start anew, with a clean slate. Unfortunately, pasts have the nasty habit to come back to us and bite us in the arse. And that, just when everything seems to be going so well.

I just.. I didn't even expect to like this story too much, but I ended up being so intrigued? The first thought that pops up into my head when thinking about this book is still: shit, I did not expect that ending.

I feel like the side characters could've had more depth, which is why I'm not giving it the full stars rating but don't let it fool you; I kind of really, really, really loved reading thi