Thank you for the opportunity to read this book! At this time I will not be reading or reviewing. I will update if I do read in the future!

I think the description lead me to believe "Clever Little Thing" would be a propulsive, child-possession horror like in "The Exorcist," but the pacing, flipping back and forth between present and past, along with lead character Charlotte's terrible personality turned me off from finding out what happened. So I ultimately DNF. There's a lot of promise in the story of a daughter’s sudden behavioral changes following the death of her babysitter – is it haunting? a possession? – but I think I wanted this narrative to unpack itself a different manner than the author chose to do.

Helena Echlin’s *Clever Little Thing* presents an intriguing premise—a mother grappling with her daughter’s sudden behavioral changes after the death of their babysitter—but ultimately falls short in delivering a compelling and cohesive narrative.

The novel's pacing is notably uneven, with the middle sections dragging as the story delves into repetitive domestic scenes that fail to advance the plot meaningfully. While the alternating “Then” and “Now” chapters aim to provide depth, they often feel like filler rather than integral components of the story.

Character development is another area where the novel falters. Charlotte's oscillating trust in Blanka’s mother, Irina, becomes tiresome and detracts from the narrative's focus. This indecision, intended to showcase Charlotte's internal conflict, instead comes across as inconsistent writing. Additionally, the portrayal of Stella's potential neurodivergence is handled with a lack of nuance, making it difficult for readers to fully understand or empathize with her character.

The novel's attempt to blend psychological thriller elements with supernatural undertones feels disjointed. The transition between genres is awkward, and the execution of the paranormal aspects is clumsy, undermining the story's credibility. Rather than adding depth, these elements seem to distract from the central themes and weaken the overall impact.

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Wow- this was one of the best books I have read this year! It was a satisfying cross between The Push and Rosemary's Baby. I couldn’t put it down. The tension built at just the right pace and I was fully invested in Charlotte’s world.

Spooky, creepy, and at the end. . . .you still wonder. I'll be thinking about this one for awhile. Not another word. You'll have your doubts, but the end is worth the ride. . .and then you'll still have your doubts. (And stay away from meaty stews for awhile. . .you just never know. . .)

*A sincere thank you to Helena Echlin, Penguin Group Viking | Pamela Dorman Books, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*

This book haunted me—in the best way. Yes, Clever Little Thing is technically a ghost story, but its real specter is the way society devalues care work and erases the women who perform it. Helena Echlin doesn’t just write a chilling tale; she delivers a razor-sharp commentary on invisibility, dismissal, and the emotional labor that too often goes unnoticed.

This story reminded me of Push by Audrey Audrain and Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, books that also explore motherhood, race, class, and the quiet violence of being overlooked. But Echlin adds a supernatural thread that underscores how the consequences of that neglect linger long after the moment has passed.

At its core, this novel is about motherhood - not just in the literal sense, but in the web of care, support, and shared responsibility that women have historically provided for one another. It examines how that network has frayed over time, replaced by isolation and silence, and the cost of that shift. I kept thinking about how much we ask of mothers and caregivers, and how little we offer them in return.

The prose is vivid and immersive, the characters fully formed and painfully real. It’s an easy read in style but a deeply uncomfortable one in content which is exactly what makes it powerful. I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance copy. All opinions are entirely my own.

I wanted to love this one more than I actually did, especially being a huge fan of similarly themed books by other authors. But this one really suffered from pacing issues and felt like too much of a chore to get through.

This was a charming little read with a unique premise and a whimsical tone that kept me intrigued throughout. I really appreciated Helena Echlin’s writing style—it had a lyrical quality that made even the quieter moments feel engaging.

That said, while I enjoyed the overall vibe and thought the concept was really clever (pun intended), I didn’t fully connect with the characters or the emotional depth I was hoping for. It felt like it was almost there—just shy of truly pulling me in.

Still, it’s a solid read that I think others might enjoy, especially if you're into slightly quirky stories with a touch of mystery and heart.

As soon as I saw the Ashley Audrain blurb on the cover, I knew I would love this book! I saw this described as "mom-noir" with a psychological thriller edge and that fits perfectly. This book has short chapters and alternating timelines that made it so easy to read. I was immediately absorbed into Charlotte and Stella's story and gasped at the twists along the way. This is a perfect read for a day when you need to feel totally obsessed with a plot!

This was a creepy, slow burn story that was ambiguous on whether it was a descent into pre and postpartum madness, or a horror story about body snatching...until it wasn't. I really enjoyed this book and then the last quarter really threw me for a loop. I think the larger issue for me is that Charlotte is insufferable, which is ironic for someone who writes etiquette notes, because she seems incapable of interacting with anyone. Her insistence that Stella is a perfect genius and mothers always know is irritating at best, and the novel requires a major character shift that doesn't really seem earned in order to validate things. It also involves a sudden memory reappearance from eight years prior. Near the end, she nearly makes a decision regarding her child that seems INSANE for someone who claims to be looking out for their child's safety above all.

I'd give this book 4 stars for the first 3/4, and 2 stars for the final 1/4, so we'll even it out at three.

A great “missing woman” thriller/mystery. Imperfect characters that you root for and some great twists! I’m glad to have discovered this author and would recommend this book to those who liked “Still Missing” and “The Quiet Tenant”

I really enjoyed this book. It's eerie. Suspenseful and kept me on the edge of my seat. I am definitely be recommending this to everyone!

This book is creepy, emotional, eerie, and thought provoking! I loved it. It toughed on mental health, autism awareness, etc.

When Stella, Charlotte’s daughter, starts to charge when her nanny passes away- weight gain, no interest in reading, her temperament shifts from at times freaking out to totally calm, Charlotte begins to wonder if nanny Blanka has possessed Stella.

Is she possessed? Is Charlotte experiencing psychosis? All I can say is I couldn’t put this book down. What a great debut novel. I give it 4.5 ⭐️

This is a psychological thriller / domestic suspense mashup that falls into the same category as Ashley Audrain’s “The Push,” forcing big questions about nature versus nurture and good versus evil. I believe that the book’s official synopsis borders on a spoiler, so I’d recommend going in blind. What I loved about this one is how real the tension and gaslighting felt to me as a reader. I didn’t know what to believe, and the tension kept me hooked until the very end.⁣
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I know a lot of readers (myself included 🙋🏼‍♀️) are always looking for books similar to “The Push.” “Clever Little Thing” shares that same haunting vibe, and I think any psychological thriller fan would really enjoy it.

All I can say is that this mystery is entwined with the spirit world, or is it all just someone's clever plan? A page turn with family secrets and lies that all come out in the end. Charlotte is a busy mom with an 8-year-old daughter who has some unique developmental abilities, or as her friend thinks, maybe she is autistic. After the babysitter leaves and is then announced to have committed suicide, Charlotte starts to notice subtle changes in Stella. She goes to Blanka's mom and tries to find out exactly what happened to her. Charlotte's husband begins to believe she is mentally unstable and has her taken to a facility after the birth of her second daughter. Although her husband's real motives, as every chapter leads to a new twist, all these secrets are revealed. With an ending that leaves one wondering how clever Stella was? A fun, quick read that had me excited to find out what was going to happen next. I would recommend Helena Echlin to anyone looking for a great mystery and family drama.

I went into this one blind and was pleasantly surprised. The creepy/unsettling vibes made for some late nights! However, this book felt like a slow burn that took too long.

I wanted to love this, and I really liked it, but something held me back from a five star review. The characters were deeply dislikable but the writing was spot on. Smart, insightful and well crafted. Will keep reading this author!

I really did not care much for this one. I feel like this whole pregnant and crazy trope has definitely overstayed it's welcome. I did not care for the character development in this book. There is supposed to be an autistic daughter, however her characterization fell flat. The only character I really ended up liking was Irina, however this was more because she was the only non-flat character in the bunch. The paranormal elements were contrived and did not fit. I would be interested in seeing what else this author can do. I think she had an interesting bunch. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I personally didn't enjoy this story as much as I expected. The pace was hard for me to keep up with but I feel like it has the potential to be a great story.

Charlotte is a young mother of 8 year old Stella. Stella is an unusual child. She is bright, reading books on her newest obsession of aviation. She likes to be alone. At times she will have fits to show her displeasure, such as the bath water being too hot or being touched. Sounds also cause her pain. For all her differences, Charlotte knows that Stella is a very special child. When the family needs a caregiver for Charlotte, the task seems impossible. It is only after Blanka enters their life that Stella seems to find comfort in someone. Blanka is unique in her own way. Saying little more than "oh, yes", she shares little about herself. One day Blanka simply texts to Charlotte that she quits. A week later Charlotte finds out that Blanka is dead. It is after this that Charlotte sees Stella slowly changing. She goes from shunning people to slowly accepting others into her world. Stella's father, Pete, is thrilled. Charlotte, however, sees something more sinister. Stella is slowly becoming Blanka. Charlotte, who is pregnant and desperately trying to avoid another miscarriage, struggles to convince others that Stella is not well. When Irina, Blanka's mother enters their lives Charlotte finally finds an ally. Can they solve the question of why Blanka is still here and save Stella or is Pete right? Charlotte has had an emotional breakdown and none of this is real? The twists and turns of this book will keep you guess right up until the end.