Meribel Mills has discovered the dark side of fame in the form of an escalating stalker. Fleeing across the country to save her young teen daughter and herself, she also learns that it isn't really possible to be both celebrity and anonymous in any location.

I received a Netgalley digital ARC of this book. There were a fair number of typos and a couple of glaring errors I ran across that hopefully will be fixed for final publication.

For a main character, Meribel seemed...flat. I found her 12-turning-13 daughter, Honor, a much more interesting and well-rounded character; whereas Mirabel was often reduced to "oh she's an actor" tropes. (Actually, there are more than a few eyeroll-inducing "my actor brain" mentions that essentially implied being an actor brings about superpowers. While actors may be wired differently...just no.)

As a thriller, after a somewhat slow build for over half the book, a lot of unexpected twists happened in quick succession. Were this not a book waiting for review, I definitely would have put it down several times instead of pushing through.

Character flaws aside, this one gets 4 stars from me for the truly surprising plot twists, a thrilling final few chapters with parallel stories, and for excellent inclusive writing for a character with autism. It's not my favorite Joshilyn Jackson book, but it's a solid thriller.

The amount of twists and turns had me spinning and guessing until close to the end! A creepy stalker forces Meribel and her daughter to relocate, but it seems the stalker has caught up with them. The letters and packages that seemed to stop have returned with fury. Meribel doesn't feel safe anywhere. Who can she trust? She meets a few people at her current apartment complex, but does she really know them?

The story also switches to Meribel's daughter and her perspective for a good chunk of the storyline, taking on a YA feel. The ending tied all the storylines up in a nice package.

Overall a slow burn thriller, I would are 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 based on how well everything wrapped up. I did find myself struggling to push through at about 40%, but it picked up nicely afterwards.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I usually enjoy this authors books and for the most part this one was good also.
However two things stopped me from giving it 5 stars. Personally I didn’t like being inside the head of the stalker so much and the ending was so abrupt and unfinished that I feel part of the story was missing. Overall it was suspenseful and a page turner with a couple surprising twists, but where’s the rest of the story?

Joshilyn Jackson stays true to her unique combination of mystery with a splash of horror in her latest novel, With My Little Eye.

Maribel is a single mom and an actress. As an actress, she’s often in the public eye, and she has picked up a stalker along the way. As the stalker is increasing the threats in his letters and the police are unable to do anything, Maribel decides to move across the country to protect her daughter, with the excuse/reason of a new job. However, her stalker doesn’t give up and seeks her out across the country. Maribel is scared for both her safety and the safety of her daughter, and turns to her neighbor, Cooper, for friendship and security.

As Maribel’s stalker continues to circle around her, we also get the story of Honor, Maribel’s autistic daughter. Maribel struggles with friendships, but has made a couple of friends since they moved. Although her mom is happy she has made some friends, the reader will have concerns about the quality of Honor’s friend group.

Things rapidly escalate, and soon Maribel is desperate to protect both herself and her daughter. However, there are dangers Maribel hasn’t seen yet; how can she possibly protect
Honor from danger she doesn’t yet know exists?

With My Little Eye weaves a tale of suspense throughout, as it is told in alternating viewpoints. I found Honor’s perspective as an autistic teenager interesting, and would love to know more about Joshilyn’s research into or experience with individuals on the autism spectrum to know how well this aligns with one possible autism experience. This is a great book to read if you’ve enjoyed Joshilyn’s other novels, or if you enjoy mysteries with a twist.

Thank you to William Morris Publishing and Joshilyn Jackson for the advanced copy. With My Little Eye will be out on April 25!

So many storylines that lacked cohesion, this one was not for me. It felt written down, Jackson's trademark smart and dark edginess was missing here

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

2.5 stars

I haven't read many stalker based stories. so I was excited to get into this one, but it wasn't as enjoyable as I'd hoped. It took awhile for the momentum to pick up and there were too many characters and plot points that ended up being superfluous. I didn't enjoy Meribel as a main character or her interactions with the various men in her life. The only character I was truly invested in was Honor. I thought the author did a great job writing her as an autistic preteen. Honor's chapters and the mystery of the stalker's identity kept me reading until the end. While the reveal was unexpected, the ending was way too abrupt. There should have been one more chapter or epilogue to wrap things up.

Meribel Mills is an aging actress by Hollywood standards. She enjoyed a smattering of success on a network show early in her career which affords her the opportunity to continue booking acting gigs. Like most actors Meribel has fans, but she also has a stalker. Initially she writes off this person as an overzealous fan, but when his marker-scented letters become increasingly graphic and violent she starts to take notice. Soon she starts to smell an unfamiliar scent on her sheets and things are moved around in her home. He's been closer than close and she is terrified.

For the safety of herself and her 12 year old daughter, Honor, Meribel decides to move across country to Atlanta. She hopes putting some distance between herself and "Marker Man" will keep her and her daughter safe, but he's not so easily deterred. Soon letters start arriving at her new condo postmarked from locations inching closer to Atlanta.

The synopsis and author had me super excited to get my hands on a copy of this novel. Joshilyn Jackson usually can do no wrong in my book. Unfortunately, this story fell a bit flat. There were too many elements/characters in the story that seem to be there to throw the reader off the "scent" of Meribel's stalker. The extra plot points and players did nothing for the main storyline. Although we are given the stalker's POV throughout I still didn't have a sense of who he really was and why he was doing this beyond he was just very disturbed. The ending felt a little too neat and yet incomplete.

**Thank you to William Morrow and Netgalley. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review

B-list actress, stalker, parenting, suspense…. This book had all the makings of a great story but truly fell a little flat for me.

The overall premise of the story was great — aging actress has a stalker and has to uproot her life to try and escape him. I didn’t love Meribel, the main character, but I adored her daughter, Honor, who is on the spectrum. Her character felt very real.

A few people were unnecessarily added in the story to keep you guessing on who was the stalker, but I really felt like some of them could’ve been left out and the story would’ve felt the same.

I enjoyed the main twist although that entire storyline seemed so far out of left field.

Lastly, the big reveal toward the end and the ending were abrupt and were executed less than the reader deserved! I found myself disappointed and wanting more. I have so many more questions and respectfully request a sequel!! Why, Marker Man, Why!!!!

Overall, this was my first Joshilyn Jackson book and it definitely won’t be my last. Although this book wasn’t my favorite, I enjoyed it and couldn’t wait to get to the end. Jackson is a great writer and kept my attention throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC!

i really did enjoy the story of this one. the plot was really good. i didn’t fully love the choppy writing but i understood the need for it. i was left wanting more though.

i wanted to know about the after everything went down with everyone of the characters.

I love Joshilyn Jackson’s books. Each one is an unusual story. This one is no different although it doesn’t come together as well as some of her others. There was a twist that I enjoyed but another that didn’t quite work for me. I will always be excited for her. next one!

United States Publication: April 25, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.


When I first found Joshilyn Jackson she was writing straight-up women's fiction and I love it. So her foray into the mystery-thriller genre had me super curious. My brief summary? Nailed it. But let's go a little bit deeper than that.

Meribel Mills has just moved herself and her daughter from Hollywood to Atlanta for two reasons. One, to escape the onslaught of stalker fan mail and unwelcome visits to her home from someone out there eager to claim Meribel as his own, and two, Meribel landed a good part on a good show and needs the work. Meribel is used to fan mail, having played a popular character on a popular show a dozen years ago but the kind of mail she is getting from this one person is upsetting, to say the least, and it is escalating from romance to violence. Meribel has a tween daughter that she will go to any lengths to protect. In Atlanta, she hopes to be able to breathe easier and stay hidden from her stalker. However, Atlanta also holds her past - one she fled to Hollywood to escape. Her neighbor, Cooper, is nice and friendly and working through a recent break-up so he and Meriel find friendship as they bravely try to forge on. He's also really good with Honor, her tween-almost-teen daughter that has autism and is Meribel's whole life and world. Meribel is missing Cam Reynolds, whom she left behind in California as she fled to Atlanta. However, when Cam shows up in Atlanta, at the same time Meribel receives a gift from her stalker, her suspicions, fueled by Cooper's jealousy, threaten to take over. Is it just a coincidence that Cam appeared in her life as the stalker ramped up from romance to violence and then found her in Atlanta? Is her ex-husband the one she feels has eyes on her in Atlanta? Is Cooper someone she should pursue a relationship with? What will it take for the police to finally take her seriously, her chopped-up body?

This was very good. Very, very good. There are so many things about it that elevated it above a typical mystery-thriller. Things that, as I think about it, are hallmarks of Jackson's writing. The whole stalker story and the mystery surrounding who it might be was very good, and kind of the point of the book, but what I really liked and appreciated about the book was the character of Honor, Meribel's daughter, and the work Jackson put in researching and bringing to life someone who lives with the kind of challenges she has and how Maribel supported her. Their mother-daughter relationship was really wonderful to read. I also really liked the various turns Jackson takes the reader to arrive at the person stalking Meribel. She wove together a few storylines in a really deft way.

I am a big Joshilyn Jackson fan and was thrilled to get my hands on an ARC of "With My Little Eye." An actress who made her name playing a teen on a sitcom flees Hollywood to go home in the hopes of evading an unknown stalker who has been in pursuit. Once set up in Georgia with her daughter, Meribel the closest people in her life soon seem the most suspicious as she tries to identify her stalker.

I found Meribels young teenage daughter the most dimensional character. Enjoyed seeing the world through her eyes and her pursuit of human connection. I found Meribel's character a little tiresome. As the plot advanced it had an exciting conclusion that is worth the wait for the reader.

I was given a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

My mom has read and enjoyed Joshilyn Jackson before so I was excited to read With My Little Eye. Unfortunately, it was all over the place and I found it obnoxious and annoying. Something about it just grated my nerves! I didn’t like any of the characters. I kept reading and reading just so I could see how it ends/who the stalker is, but I finally gave in and looked on Goodreads for spoilers. I didn’t find any, but I did see some reviewers felt the same way I did and it sounds like it doesn’t get any better at the end, so I’m giving up without knowing (and at this point, caring) who the stalker is. I will give her older books a chance but I sadly couldn’t finish this and I doubt I’ll pick it up at the library for my mom.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.

This book had a great premise about an actress moving across country with her daughter to avoid a stalker. I have to say though I was confused at the beginning of the book and couldn't tell is that was by design. As I for further into it, I couldn't figure out who was the stalker and felt compelled to keep reading. I enjoyed the character, Honor, and thought the author did a great job describing challenges some people with autism have. There were some subplots that got going as well and though interesting, they didn't all really connect at the end. The last 10% of the book was extremely fast paced and my heart was pounding, but the ending was too abrupt. I do like this author a lot, but this was not my favorite.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy of With My Little Eye by Joshilyn Jackson. I have read and enjoyed two other books by this author so I was looking forward to reading this book. This is a thriller about an actress and her adopted autistic daughter who move from LA across the country to get away from a stalker they call Marker Man whose letters include horrific drawn pictures of what he’d like to do to the actress. Unfortunately the story ended up getting too ridiculous for my taste. There were other characters thrown in to make you wonder who the stalker could be. An ex husband, a boyfriend, a neighbor? You may like this book if you like fast paced stories full of twists and turns. I sadly didn’t like it and gave it 2⭐️

I was really excited about this book as I have enjoyed some of author’s previous work, but unfortunately this fell a bit flat for me. I think the premise was really strong but for me the execution just wasn’t there. The characters were fairly enjoyable to read about, in particular the character of Honor was written quite strongly in my opinion. However, I didn’t feel much suspense throughout and the ultimate conclusion felt rushed and unsatisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for my e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Every had a stalker? Meribel is an actress receiving creepy letters from a man, also known as "The Marker Man", since he writes these letters with a fruit scented marker. She is scared for herself and her adopted autistic daughter, Honor. So, in an effort to escape The Marker Man, Meribel take an acting gig in Georgia with the hope that she can lose the stalker. But it does not work out as she continues to receive the letters. She feels like she is being watched as well. Who is this Marker man and what does he want?

I thought the concept of the novel intriguing as what would you do if you ha a stalker that you did not know but he was getting closer day by day? However, I found that the story dragged a bit in the middle. I really wanted to know who The Marker Man was so I powered through. Perhaps the characters could have been more developed?

Definitely a good, scary read, especially with the mystery of who was the stalker. I did enjoy the book and do recommend it.

3.5 stars rounded up

Summary
Meribel Mills is an actress and single mother living in LA when “fan” mail from an anonymous person starts to become more and more concerning. The “Marker Man” addresses his letters in sickly sweet scented marker, making his letters identifiable. Meribel has dealt with obsessed fans before, but Marker Man is different. Marker Man is escalating and despite increased security measures and police involvement, he remains anonymous. When it becomes clear that Marker Man has been in her home, Meribel makes the decision to uproot her and her daughter’s lives and move them to Atlanta.

The decision was tough for various reasons but nothing will stop Meribel from ensuring her daughter, Honor, is safe from Marker Man. Moving to Atlanta meant tearing Honor away from her known stable routine and starting over, which would stress any child but Honor is also on the spectrum and needs stability. But when letters from Marker Man continue to arrive with post marks getting closer and closer to Atlanta, it seems they have not eluded him. He’s on his way and what ensues will put everyone in peril.

Review
The book starts a little slow but the context is definitely important for character development throughout. Honor’s character is beautifully done and seemed very authentic. The insights into the twisted male characters added suspense and drama that I really enjoyed. Even though the reader does not get any indication as to which character is narrating at the start of a chapter, it was easy to identify whose head we are in. This speaks volumes about the character development and cast management (not too many characters to cause confusion).

There were some twists and turns that I really enjoys and an entire subplot among the tween characters. The plots merge seamlessly at the end but then end did feel rushed and abrupt. I was left wanting more of an explanation at the end. I think the book could’ve been a five star for me if there had been an epilogue, but still a great read.

This is one of the psychological thriller books that had not much very likeable characters? There were a lot of confusing parts about this book which was the multiple POV and catching up with the story. The ending in this book was not satisfying...

This was my third Joshilyn Jackson book, and it is definitely my favorite so far.

I don’t know how to summarize the plot without giving a lot away, so I’ll keep it vague. Meribel is an actress who has relocated to Atlanta with her daughter, Honor (who is on the spectrum), to escape a stalker. I’ve listened to enough true crime podcasts to believe the way her reports of her stalker are handled is unfortunately accurate — there’s not much the authorities can do until the stalker has already hurt the person, or worse. Moving across the country to get away is completely reasonable.

There are a whole lot of moving parts and people involved in the webs being woven throughout this book. Reveals kept happening the further along I read, and it kept me turning the pages to find out what was going to come next.

It did get slightly confusing at times when perspective would shift from one character to another at the start of a new chapter, but once they were all introduced it was easier to recognize their ‘voices’. There were also some parts that the jumping around disrupted the flow of the story for me. It would eventually get back on track, it would just take me a few pages.

Now to the important part — THE ENDING. It was so abrupt and I have so many questions. I’m curious if there is an epilogue out there somewhere that may be in the finished copy or if it’s an active choice to leave so many things left to the reader to decide. I’m not sure which scenario is the one I’d like better. I’m an ‘I want answers’ person, but it is bold to end it the way it is. It will lead to great book club discussions.