Blythe and Gabrielle have been friends with twins Tucker and Tayna for a long time. Through time they have all had connections and fell in and out of love. But suddenly one day things start to take a weird turn. Gabrielle starts to go on and on about being watched and cameras. She loses her cool and is sent to see the principal. Blythe starts to worry about Gabrielle so she sneaks into an adjoining room to listen into the conversation with Gabrielle and the principal. But things take a horrible turn and Gabrielle is found with the prinicipal dead and covered in blood. And then Blythe is hit over the head and ends up in the hospital. As Blythe starts trying to get answers things start to not be what they seem.

This book get me on my toes and I never knew what to expect. The development of the plot was top notch and was very interesting. It started off being something that could be construed as a person losing their mind and turned into something completely different. I think the novel was very well written and brought in elements of psychological thriller, sci fi, murder, and more. I would highly recommend this book and this author!

I think most Kelley Armstrong fans would want to read this even though it's a YA book. I absolutely love her A Rip Through Time and A Stitch in Time series so those are my favorites. This didn't reach a 5 star for me like some of her other books. But that's ok...lots of teens will enjoy it and I had a couple days of listening to the audio book and reading along to a quick and enjoyable suspense story.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 11 April 2023

I want to thank Netgalley, Kelley Armstrong and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this book.

I went into this book anticipating a typical YA thriller and was pleasantly surprised, the plot is twisty and kept me guessing

The narrative centers around the protagonist, whose seemingly ordinary life takes a dark turn when they become convinced that they are under constant surveillance. Armstrong skillfully explores the psychological toll of this pervasive fear, delving into the protagonist's psyche with nuance and empathy. The unraveling sense of reality is palpable, creating a sense of unease that resonates throughout the story. Armstrong's writing is sharp and evocative, drawing readers into the protagonist's world and making them feel the weight of the ever-present scrutiny. The pacing is expertly handled, with each twist and revelation heightening the tension. The author adeptly maintains a balance between character development and plot progression, ensuring that the reader remains emotionally invested in the story. The characters are well-rounded and relatable, and Armstrong deftly explores their vulnerabilities and fears. The supporting cast adds depth to the narrative, each contributing to the overall atmosphere of suspense and uncertainty. As the protagonist grapples with the paranoia and searches for answers, the reader is taken on a journey that challenges perceptions and raises thought-provoking questions about trust and reality.

3.25*

Kelley Armstrong never fails to wrote an incredibly readable book, however, this one fell a bit flat for me.

I went in expecting a thriller, which inherently left me wanting twists and turns throughout, however what I got instead left me a little wanting. The plot ended up being far more straightforward than I'd hoped, reminiscent of a popular trilogy that she had previously written, and the ending reveal was lackluster.

The journey through the book was still fun, but I'd been hoping for at least one surprise to elevate the experience for me.

This won't deter me from reading more of her books, I still consider her a favourite author and enjoyed reading this one, it just doesn't stand out to me much.

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for providing me a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed this book. It’s funny how it was able to stick with me. I started reading this book Back in May, got away from reading for quite some time yet I still had this book with me when I picked it back up to finish it.

I felt like this book was not a single thing it was described to be. psychological thriller, but actually science fiction. Not my cup of tea. DNF'd this at about 20% as I just could not get into it.

This is fast pace physiological thriller and it was hard to put down. As you try to connect the dots more trauma and mystery unfolds. What a messed up concept.

This was a diasppointment. I had to DNF at 15% in. The story was just not working for me. The main characters didnt jibe with me at all.

"My life has been a story with a huge chunk missing. Someone tore out my prologue."
Blythe and her friends-siblings Tucker and Tanya, and Gabrielle-have known each other most of their lives and can't imagine not knowing everything about each other. But, cracks in their friendships begin to appear as events unfold that make it clear that they may not know each other or themselves as well as they think. Their memories and even their entire lives may be built on lies. Unexpected acts of aggression and disturbing nightmares and flashbacks unfold as they try to piece together recent events and even their pasts that they thought were settled.

This book was completely intense and just pure Kelley Armstrong suspense. I was riveted from beginning to end. There were so many twists and surprises that I almost started taking notes. Luckily, things started fitting together like a puzzle. The story focuses on the psychology of friendships and personal identity and how you may react when you find out that nothing in your life is the way you thought it was. The storyline was absolutely creative and well thought out. I loved discovering more about each character and the way they fit in the group and how they react and adapt to each new blow they're dealt. I could honestly use more than 5 stars for this one.

An interesting read and with a plot in the end that not many can see.
Not my first encounter with Kelly's writiing and certainly not the last.
The book even though it was hard for me at some points to follow the story with the change of the pov's but it was an interesting ride.
Loved the building of the characters and the background story each of them had. It was pretty exciting to read what actually had happened although in some characters you do not expect it. Moreover, i have to admit it kinda ended quite abruptly but this is my opinion.
In overall i recommend it as it intrigues you to find out what actually happened.

4.5 Stars, rounded up.

It was difficult for me to get into this book at first, but as soon as the first dramatic incident happened, I was hooked.

The author does a great job with creating tension and distrust in the characters and what they're experiencing. Did I see some of the twists coming? Absolutely not. Were they interesting and thought-out? Yes. The final twist, I had figured out who the person was, but didn't even consider the elements surrounding them.

Beautifully written, wonderfully mysterious, and definitely something I would pick up again.

Psychological mystery to the max! I’m glad I got an arc of this book so I went in blind! It added to the excitement!
Every time I thought I had it figured out it twisted in another direction!
As a Kelley Armstrong Fan this book is right on track with some of her best books!!

Thank you to netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada, Tundra Books for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors and this book did not disappoint me. I love her versatility and I am not sad she is successfully tackling young adult thrillers at this point. The first couple of chapters showed me the book wasn’t going to be what I expected, but it was easy to readjust my expectations and enjoy the ride. I devoured this book in one day because I didn’t want to put it down.

I absolutely love books by Kelley Armstrong and this one is a book that I would recommend. I flew through the chapters of this novel and couldn't put it down. Loved this one.

What is going on with Gabby? Gabby suddenly has a mental breakdown in the middle of class, shouting about the cameras always watching her every move. It’s up to her old best friends to get it together and mend their fences to save their friends life. I personally really enjoyed this read, it kept me guessing at every turn

this just did not hit very hard for me. it started off quite intriguing and i was excited to see where it would go, but unfortunately it just fell flat. the plot felt over the top, and not in an enjoyable way, and the characters were annoying and did pretty much everything that you shouldn’t do in a horror/thriller setting

I could not get into this one. I was expecting more murder mystery and less science fiction. I appreciate the ARC, but this just wasn't for me.

If you’re looking for a book that requires insane suspension of disbelief in exchange for a heart racing psychological thriller, this book is perfect for you.

I truly could not trust any of the characters and their stories, which I think is sometimes the highlight of a good psychological thriller. It was multiple POV story which only added to the chilling reality of what happened/was happening/what everyone thought would happen to the characters. I felt like the title was a bit misleading and it required almost complete suspension of disbelief, but beyond that, it was a decent psychological thriller with the most wild premise. Three stars.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as other books by Armstrong. I liked the characters and the situations they had to work through. The story is told through multiple points of view which can make it hard to keep track of while reading. It was a strange read.