I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Just enough of a creep factor to keep you on your toes. I did take down a star because I felt that the ending kind of dampened the stories path up until then.

Wow this book was very suspenseful interesting character and plot development. Book held readers interest wondering if things were real or imagined

I loved this thriller- a tightly written novel with a new take on the "scary child" trope. This was really original and I enjoyed it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This has potential- a creepy premise and psychological thriller vibes but it felt slow and all over the place. The pacing dragged and the main character was unrelatable. The twists were predictable and it felt like nothing really happened. This was just okay .
Also posted on Goodreads as well

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the early read. If you enjoy creepy kids, paranoid first-time parents, juicy drama, and unexpected twists and turns, this is for you.

I'd give this novel by Helena Echlin a 4 star rating.

easily one of the best books to come out of 2025. it's realistic approach to motherhood, autism awareness, and mental health set it apart from anything else i've read this year. as a new mom, i saw myself in charlotte and as someone with autism (first seen as a child then later re diagnosed as as an adult) i was extremely fond of stella. i literally could not put this book down and finished it in one sitting. it has left a deep impression on me and i recommended highly to all of my friends.

Clever Little Things by Helen Echlin is a psychological drama that unfolds through the eyes of an unreliable narrator, which kept me second-guessing what was real and what wasn’t. I was left guessing the whole time. This was definitely a highlight of the book. That said, it’s definitely a slow burn. The pacing drags in parts, and the writing style leans heavily into formal language, which made it feel a bit stiff and distant at times. There were also sections that seemed repetitive.

I kept waiting for those jaw-dropping twists, but when they came, they felt more lackluster than shocking. And the ending? Rather than offering a satisfying resolution, it left me with more questions than answers, which was slightly frustrating.

Overall, I appreciated the atmosphere and the psychological tension, especially with the unreliable narrator, but I wish the payoff had been a bit stronger. I enjoyed the story and certain literary components of the author's delivery, and for a debut novel, there is plenty of promise for this author. I look forward to reading her next novel.

Thank you NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Viking and Pamela Dorman Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking/ Pamela Dorman Books for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a very eerie and creepy read! Overall, I enjoyed the story except for quite a few pacing issues. It was definitely a mind trip. I was questioning if mental health issues were at play or possession. I recommend to those who enjoy psychological/domestic thrillers.

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.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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”