Someone is Always Watching started out intriguing, but there are some pieces that we're expected to know, or that are revealed later, and I felt like I was lost when I shouldn't have been. I also couldn't get passed the siblings being named Tanya and Tucker; this seemed very lazy.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I found the concept behind this story quite intriguing and it started out strong. I’m going to avoid details to prevent spoilers but suffice to say it was an interesting principle. However, I found the execution to be slightly far-fetched. Much of the novel required a suspension of logic and this made it very hard for me to be fully invested in the story. It took me quite long to finish it as a result.

So many interesting twists and turns. Armstrong doesn't disappoint. I love her ability to write between adult and YA, I know I'm always in for a wild and interesting ride.

I received a free ebook ARC from Penguin Random House via NetGalley. Blythe and her friends go to a private STEM school where their parents work for Coeus Medical Technologies (CMT). When the vice principal commits suicide and one of Blythe’s friends Gabrielle has a mental breakdown their world starts to unravel. The more Blythe and her friends want to help Gabrielle the more questions arise about what their parents are doing.

The premise of this book with the parents as scientists was interesting. We get perspectives from a couple different characters that make this psychological thriller more suspenseful. I liked when they dug into files and character histories. It lagged in parts, but overall is a satisfying read for teens looking for a thriller.

What happens when your memories aren't really what you think they are? This was a pretty good YA thriller, that will keep you guessing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of Someone is always watching.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Someone is Always Watching by Kelley Armstrong.

Unfortunately this is a DNF for me. It drags, it repeats, the characters are too snotty. I just couldn't get into it, and life's too short to keep trying.

This book was certainly a whodunit mystery where the 'subjects' knew the real culprit for all of their problems, but still had to convince others that certain characters were not always responsible for what occured. The scientists in this book thought they were doing something for the greater good of the characters, but it blew up when they started to get their real memories back. All in all, a good immersive story to read!

Kelley Armstrong is an autoread author for me, ever since I got hooked into her Women of the Underworld series. I have enjoyed all her YA books, and this one is no different. Deliciously creepy, and a little bit scary - after all, this seems like it could happen in real life - I couldn't put this down.

Blythe has always been tight with her friends but there's a rift in the group after a violent event occurs, and things start getting stranger and more aggressive until her BFF Gabrielle is discovered covered in blood in front of the body of their dead principal. What happened? And more importantly, what is happening to them?

I was hooked from the first chapter. There were a few bits that were jarring (secret agent kid was probably a step too far), but all in all I was captivated by Blythe and I couldn't wait to see how everything unfolded. The technicalities weren't too overwhelming, and everything made sense within the story.

A solid mystery/thriller for teens, but also enjoyable for adults too.

It no secret I’m a big fan of Kelley Armstrong’s work, but I must confess that, to date, I’ve only pretty much read her adult thrillers. Someone is Always Watching is my first venture into her YA, and I’m thinking, Hmm…maybe I’ve been spoiled.

The story here is a bit dysfunctional, and well, to tell the truth, so are all the characters. We follow a group of teenagers—our protagonist Blythe, her friends Gabrielle, Tucker, and Tanya—as they navigate high school life through several traumatic events. First, Gabrielle experiences paranoia which culminates in a mental breakdown, coming back to herself afterward with no memory of what happened or why is drenched in blood with the dead body of the school’s principal at her feet. Things are not the same between the four friends after that, as Blythe struggles to come to terms with what Gabrielle is thought to have done.

Meanwhile, brother and sister Tucker and Tanya are having problems of their own. Memory lapses and unsettling dreams plague their day-to-day, putting stress on their relationships. Formerly tight with the siblings, Blythe now begins to question all her friendships with no idea who she can trust. Then suddenly, Blythe’s sister Sydney goes missing, but the teens’ parents, supposedly adults that they can trust, all seem to know something they’re not telling.

If the above summary feels vague, that’s because I don’t want to accidentally reveal any spoilers. Also, this book was just strange and, if I’m being brutally honest, kind of a hot mess. All this makes it hard to discuss any story details. The plot was disjointed and chaotic; we jumped from scene to scene with poor transitioning, seemingly with no rhyme or rhythm. While there were twists aplenty, these didn’t seem too well thought out, and felt either too predictable or too unconvincing.

Then there were the characters. On the positive side, I liked how the story explored the psychology of mistrust and gaslighting, and enjoyed the way the author wrote about Blythe and her friends’ reactions to having their identities slowly being stripped away. After all, if you are a product of your life experiences, what does it mean when you can’t remember or start doubting the veracity of your memories? Still, I often found myself frustrated by the teens’ passive responses and lack of ability to come up with any real solutions. Round and round they went, going nowhere fast and dealing with too much trivial drama.

I suppose if you are into YA thrillers, this one is perfectly serviceable. It’s twisty, it’s fun, it’s a little edgy. It has plenty of suspense and even some romance. On the surface, it checks all the boxes, but for me, I personally wanted something more. I also think I’ve come to expect much more from Armstrong as a writer, and this book felt lacking in polish compared to the quality I’m used to from her work. The story didn’t flow as smoothly, the pacing was wonky, the themes weren’t very well realized—everything was in place but just felt a little…off.

That said, if you are a Kelley Armstrong fan, Someone is Always Watching is probably still worth reading, but I will say it’s probably my least favorite of her books that I’ve read so far. Though I won’t say no to her future YA, next time I’ll definitely learn to adjust my expectations.

I loved this book so much!! It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a YA book. If you’ve ever read the Maximum Ride books this gives me the same vibes, and those are still some of my all time favourite books! I was so intrigued by everything about this book and genuinely didn’t see any of it coming. Please read how amazing this book was!!

What happens if the memories you have are not really yours? Kelley Armstrong's book explores the unique idea of memory manipulation and the ethical implications that may arise when it fails.

This is a thrilling and engaging read that keeps you on the edge of your seat with it's twists. At one point I was sure I knew who was involved only to find out I was wrong!

Readers of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and One of Us Is Lying and anyone who enjoys YA thrillers will love Some Is Always Watching.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada and Tundra Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Such an interesting premise - the manipulation of memories and the ethical implications that can arise when that manipulation begins to fail. Here, a group of teens have grown up together in an insular community that revolves around a medical research company. Blythe is the constant do-gooder whose closest friend Tucker is the known troublemaker. But is he really? Things begin to spiral when their friend Gabi starts having hallucinations…and then disappears.

What follows, which I won’t spoil, is just such a twisted labyrinth of mystery & questions. I truly enjoyed this.

Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for a digital copy to enjoy. All opinions are my own. 4/5 stars.

This was an ok read for me. I found the writing to be a little bit less captivating than previous books I have ready by Armstrong. This did read like a book that many of my students will enjoy because of the content. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’ve been a long time fan of this author, but speaking honestly, I did really struggle with this one. I just felt I couldn’t connect to the characters in it. That’s okay, not every book is meant to be loved by all! Still love this author and look forward to the next one!

Alright, look: if you can suspend your disbelief and are okay with over the top wild plot lines, this one is a home run. If you can, I recommend going in blind and reading no reviews, including this one. Alas, I did not realize that this was going to be outside of the usual, normal realm (trying to be careful with my words and avoid spoilers), so once I caught on in the first few chapters, I adjusted my expectations accordingly. An interesting take on this trope, with twists and turns galore. A YA popcorn thriller from one of my favorite authors of our time, it wasn’t my favorite Kelley Armstrong novel, but still a worthy, quick read.

DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

I had the opportunity to read Kelley Armstrong's "Someone Is Always Watching," and I have to say, it was an excellent read. As a fan of young adult mystery thrillers, I gave it a four-star rating and would highly recommend it to others who enjoy the genre.

The story revolves around Blythe and her friends Gabrielle, Tucker, and Tanya, who start experiencing violent outbursts and nightmares after an act of violence that drives a wedge between Blythe and Tucker. Things come to a head when Gabrielle is discovered covered in blood next to their deceased principal, with no memory of what happened. As cracks in their friendship and memories begin to surface, Blythe and her friends must confront long-buried secrets that could change their lives forever.

I found the pacing of the story to be fast and exciting, and it kept me guessing until the end. The plot was intriguing and well-developed, and I appreciated the way Armstrong slowly revealed what was happening. The characters were also well-written, and I found myself quickly invested in their stories.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I felt that the ending was a bit rushed and that some of the suspenseful moments were drawn out for too long. However, these were minor issues, and overall, "Someone Is Always Watching" was a thrilling and engaging read.

In conclusion, I would highly recommend "Someone Is Always Watching" to any fan of young adult mystery thrillers. I received an ARC ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I'm glad that I had the chance to read it.

Warning: this book is not for the squeamish and has many triggers, including the death of a family member, murder, and abuse, among other similar subjects. This psychological thriller kept you on the edge of your seat the entire time. The book is framed to set some preconceived notions and make you think you know what is going on and who is guilty, but appearances are completely deceiving in this tale. The story starts with Blythe and Tucker being kept from each other because of an incident that occurred the previous year. Everyone considers Tucker dangerous, but no one has explained why. Suddenly, Gabrielle starts talking about the cameras and how she is being watched and 'they' are waiting for her to do something wrong. In her paranoia, some events occur, which sets Blythe, Tucker and Tanya (her friend and Tucker's sister) into investigating what could be happening. What they discover is not what they expected and sets everyone in a new light. It was a twisted but very intriguing read.

This book is honestly a guilty pleasure for me- but a pleasure nonetheless!

This reads as a perfect YA thriller. There are cracks in the friend group, the adults are complicit in some unknown horror against them, and it's impossible to know which clues hold truth in them. I don't want to spoil the unknown horror, but it felt like a unique idea that offers many opportunities for discussion about trauma and healing. There are a lot of elements that don't come together until the very end, which felt very Nancy Drew to me. (It's a good thing! The classic sleuth series!)

Another aspect which is Nancy Drewesque is that teenagers seem to be too good and too wise beyond their years. However, it didn't bother me or come across as insincere. (There is also the unquestioned amount of freedom these kids have, but how else could the plot get interesting?). Each character's story is also explored well enough for the reader to have a good understanding of their histories, personalities and perspectives. I was really glad for this because the friend group is very interconnected in the story and it informs the group dynamic, and also reveals how the group affects the individuals.

TW note: there are some descriptions of violence in the beginning of the novel which were more graphic than I expected.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada, and Tundra Books for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. It's been... a pleasure.

This heart-pounding thriller was absolute delicious to devour. I am a slow reader, but this took me less than two days to gobble up. (I think I might be hungry for lack of eating because I was reading). Seriously, though, I’ve been in a bit of a reading rut and this was exactly what I needed! It was very “one of us is lying” vs. “eternal sunshine of the spotless mind” and I’m sorry but when you bring eternal sunshine into the mix, I’m going to fall head over heels. This book had me hooked from the get-go with the weird happenings of a group of teenage friends who are having nightmares, hallucinations, and doing things they wouldn’t normally do. I highly recommend this book to any fan of thrillers or YA and thank you netgalley and penguin random house Canada for allowing me to read a digital copy of this absolutely enthralling novel.