If you are into thriller books about creepy children, this one will be right up your alley.

A mother fears that her daughter has been possessed, with good reason.

This book was pretty creepy, and I enjoyed it a lot. I will say that I felt like it took a while for things to get going, and it was a little on the slow side to start. Once it picked up, I couldn't put it down.

I can't say that the ending of the book left me entirely shocked, but it was a great ending.

Charlotte is just trying to keep her children safe. Her daughter Stella seems to be especially introverted. She has no friends and is hard to control. Should she have the child tested or is she the best cure? She feels that there is something wrong with her child but everyone seems to think that she is the problem. Is she? This story reminds me of The Push but is has some other worldly aspects. It will keep you reading until you finally know what has been going on. Is Charlotte crazy or is she right about her daughter? What will she have to do to protect her daughter? What a story! It will definitely make you think.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #HelenaEchlin, and #RandomHouse for a copy of this book.
#CleverLittleThing

#BookReview
📖 Clever Little Thing (#237)
4⭐️/ I liked it.
Swipe for @goodreads synopsis

🪶 Wow. This is a difficult one to rate/process. It left me with a LOT to think about and I’m still weighing my thoughts days after I finished the book, which usually leads to me giving a higher rating. This is out January 14th. Thank you to @penguinbooks for the early look!

🪶 This falls into the “mom noir” subgenre, which is a fast growing group of books, and I can see why! Motherhood is so incredibly complicated and there’s a lot to explore there. And I think if you’ve found yourself enjoying those books then this is definitely one you want to check out as well.

🪶 I think this borders on both the thriller and literary fiction genres. There is so much to think about when it comes to parenting, marriage, how we treat others in our village, but there’s also this sinister whodunnit/can I trust them/is this what it really seems vibe to it all too. It reminded me a lot of ‘The Push.’

🪶 This takes a turn at some point where I thought it went completely off the rails and I thought it was going to make me hate it… BUT then the end made me rethink the whoooollleee book! So bottom line, it’s one worth sticking out and then please come jump into my DM’s and tell me what you think because I still don’t know for sure! 🤣

🪶 Again, this is out January 14th. Did this rambling review convince you to pick it up?! Have you dipped your toes into the ‘mom noir’ subgenre at all?

This was such an engaging read! The story had me hooked from the start - lots of suspense! The main character is one of those narrators you can’t help but be drawn to, relatable in some ways, but with layers that keep you guessing. I loved the twists and the humor added just the right amount of levity to balance the darker moments. It’s the kind of book that keeps you thinking about it after you finish, and I’d definitely recommend it if you’re into stories that are equal parts thrilling and thought-provoking! Thanks to the publisher and author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Clever Little Thing by Helena Echlin is a dark tale reminiscent of the very popular novel, The Push. However, this book has a supernatural twist that I didn't see coming so that will certainly help it stand out in the crowd of new releases. Charlotte's daughter seems to be on the autism spectrum. She has the classic signs until suddenly she doesn't. While Charlotte's husband thinks this is a step forward in a positive direction, Charlotte can't help but be unnerved by the changes. Are they connected to the sudden loss of their nanny? Read and enjoy!

Unfortunately this was a miss for me. I should have read the entire synopsis- I'm typically not one for possession stories and I wasn't a fan of this. I also didn't like how the daughter was portrayed in terms of her possible autism. Not my fave.

Cleve Little Thing by Helena Echlin had so many elements I typically love—an unreliable narrator, a touch of "motherhood noir," and a plot full of eerie tension. Charlotte’s perspective kept me on edge, with her spiraling thoughts and paranoia making me constantly question what was real.

The dynamics of caregiving and motherhood are some of my favorite themes in fiction, and Echlin does a great job capturing the darker, more isolating sides of it. Charlotte’s desperation and fractured relationships felt painfully authentic, and I was rooting for her even as I doubted her perceptions.

That said, I struggled a bit with the supernatural aspect. While it added an unsettling layer, it took me out of the story at times. and I found myself craving more focus on the psychological and emotional unraveling, which felt so much more grounded and relatable to me than the possession-like twists.

Overall, Clever Little Thing had a lot of elements that worked for me, but it didn’t completely come together in the way I’d hoped. If you enjoy thrillers that balance the uncanny with emotional depth, this one is worth a try. It’s suspenseful and thought-provoking, even if it left me wanting just a little bit more. 3.5/5 stars.

Thank you to Pamela Dorman Books for my free review copy.

4 Solid Stars!
Clever Little Thing is CLEVER Helena Echlin! Ever so very Clever!
Wow! Wow! Wow! What a mind trip of a book!
It's Creepy. It's Suspenseful. It's hard to put down. It will keep you guessing right up until the end!
I went into this one blind and am recommending you do too.

This is a psychological thriller about a mother who begins to sense something might be off with her daughter.
Who better knows a child than her own mother?
Clever Little Thing dives deep into the multifaceted, intricate, mother-child relationship.
As well as a mother's sometimes inability to be taken seriously by her friends and spouse.
What if no one else can see changes and exactly what the mother sees?
Is the mother right? Or delusional?
Read Clever Little Thing to find out!!

Publication date is January 14, 2025.
Be sure to add it to your TBR!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group Viking / Pamela Dorman Books and the author for and ARC of this book, which I had the pleasure of reading, in exchange for my honest review.

Charlotte is very happy in her little life- Pete is a great husband Stella is a her quirky, wonderful 8 year old daughter. Plus, she is now pregnant with her second baby and finally hoping to carry this one to term. Then her sitter unexpectedly quits with no explanation and this is when things get weird. Charlotte finds out that the sitter is dead and her daughter starts to change. While many of the changes are positive, Charlotte doesn’t see things that way. She knows she must act to save her daughter.

This was not what I expected this book to be- a bit supernatural, but I enjoyed it. It wasn’t so far fetched that it was unbelievable and I found myself rooting for momma to be able to save her child. I would recommend this book.

What a unique, but brilliant story! I was a bit hesitant about the idea of a child being possessed, but it worked so well in this story.

Chilling, bizarre, intriguing, and creepy. Clever Little Thing is Helena Echlin's clever book which had me guessing what was real, what was true, is this a possession, is what is happening due to a mental health diagnosis, etc. I enjoyed that I was never quite sure what was happening for most of the book.

Charlotte is a pregnant married woman with an intelligent, quirky, antisocial, and quick to tantrum, daughter, Stella. When Stella's babysitter, Blanka dies suddenly, Charlotte notices changes in her daughter. Stella begins talking like Blanka, craves Armenian food, and wants meat even though she was raised vegetarian. Charlotte's husband does not see anything wrong with Stella's changes, but Charlotte can't help but be unnerved and become obsessed by them.

This book was a bit of a slow burn, and I struggle with slow burns. What I did enjoy was not knowing if Stella was possessed, was Charlotte imagining things, was Stella just mourning her deceased babysitter by trying to be like her? I thought this was very well done.
I also wrestled with who was more troubled, Charlotte or Stella? Both had times where I questioned their actions and behaviors.

I enjoyed the unsettling feel of this book with its creepy undertones. There were a few twists and revelations in this book which I did not see coming. This book touches on motherhood, marriage, loss, relationships, and mental health.

This book is well written, well thought out, and kept me guessing. While I enjoyed this book and found it to be clever, it was missing that little bit of something that would push my rating higher.

Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Charlotte is expecting child number 2 and her first child Stella, is an 8 year old genius that is socially awkward. When the babysitter, Blanca, suddenly dies, Stella begins to take on the personality and voice of Blanca. Charlotte is convinced that Stella is possessed by Blanca.

This is such a fast paced, suspenseful, and creepy read! I loved it! Great psychological thriller that had some really fantastic twists and an unreliable narrator. When the family secrets begin to come out, the story really takes off. At times, I did not know who to believe! Also the supernatural element was well done.

Highly recommend!!

Thank you Penguin Group Viking and Pamela Dorman Books for this advance copy. I think this is going to be a very much talked about book that will be a hit with many readers, but it just isn’t for me. Neurodivergent children are a tricky subject for me personally and I struggle with the portrayal here. I’m also not a huge fan of supernatural elements in stories. Overall, it is too dark for my reading taste. I appreciate the chance to review this title and I wish this author and this book much success.

I wish I could say I loved this one. I expected to love it based on the premise. But... it just did not work for me.

Charlotte was very unlikeable for me. I couldn't understand her actions. I'm not a mother, so maybe that's part of why, but she was so confusing and inconsistent that I don't think that's entirely the reason. Why is she so unable to give her child room to breathe?

Conversations were stilted. The plot didn't flow. The twists were unbelievable.



A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Wow! Clever Little Thing by Helena Echlin had me completely captivated—I was up all night reading it! I even found myself sneaking in chapters on my phone while waiting in theme park queues because I just couldn’t put it down.

The story masterfully kept me guessing, balancing perfectly between the supernatural and what could be real. The twists and turns were so engaging that I found myself questioning everything alongside the characters. By the end, the resolution was not only entertaining but also managed to nudge my cynical mind into satisfaction.

What a fantastic rollercoaster of a read—if you’re looking for a thrilling and unpredictable book, this one is a must!

Stella is not like other 8 year old girls. She is difficult, has sensory issues, major meltdowns, extremely gifted at reading, but lacks social skills especially interacting with kids her age. Her mother Charlotte knows this and is thrilled when Stella hits it off with her nanny Blanka. Until one day Blanka quits out of the blue. Then Charlotte finds out Blanka dies a few days later. Suddenly, Stella seems almost normal. Well, not quite normal but more like....Blanka herself - including unique phrases she used to say and a ravenous appetite for an unusual meat stew only Blanka ate. Charlotte begins to unravel as she becomes obsessed with Stella's changing behavior but is Charlotte simply losing her grip on reality?

Woah! Very cool concept and unique premise. This is my first time reading this author and I was hooked from the start. I was fascinated with Blanka, her mother Irina, and Stella. I had to know what was going on and why Stella was acting how she was. Some parts were admittedly weird (I see you "party pooper" and the relationship between Charlotte and Irina) but it worked and really set the stage for how things shook out. While there were no real jaw dropping twists, I found I loved the way it all unfolded and to me it didn't need a crazy twist to make it still be a major page turning read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read in exchange for my honest review. Great book!

Once this gets going, I did find it to be a slower burn, it really gets its teeth into you and you can't put it down. I found it to be as sharp and cunning as described!

CLEVER LITTLE THING
Helena Echlin

There is something terribly wrong with Stella. Stella is Charlotte's daughter. Charlotte is expecting her second child. She is pregnant and has an aversion to different types of foods, and different types of smells, and recently she has an aversion to her daughter.

Stella is peculiar. Bright beyond her years with a few aversions of her own, Stella isn’t always easy to handle. And when her babysitter/nanny dies Stella’s nature and affect seemingly change overnight. Where before she was stuck in her ways, obstinate and stubborn, she is now appeasing, flexible and forgiving.

Presumably easier to be around, it alarms Charlotte more than eases her. What could be the cause of Stella’s transformation? The answer to the question is far more nefarious than Charlotte realizes.

We get to explore the depths of Charlotte’s questioning, and we get to discover the answer alongside her. All in Helena Echlin’s CLEVER LITTLE THING. Coming next week.

A little darker than I anticipated. A lot more fun than should be allowed. I enjoyed the time I spent reading CLEVER LITTLE THING. Charlotte is a wildly interesting character, her daughter more so. The writing is great and there is a bit of old-world styling that makes it feel like it is a folktale and not a contemporary thriller.

I recommend this title to those who enjoy Ashley Audrain’s writing and Sager’s popular release, THE HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE.

I am very surprised this is a debut, and I will check out what Echlin writes next.

Thanks to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking | Pamela Dorman Books for the advanced copy!

CLEVER LITTLE THING…⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Stella has always been a brilliant, but slightly odd child. After the death of her babysitter though, Stella’s entire personality changes. Her mom Charlotte is pregnant with her second child and the changes in Stella have her incredibly concerned. The only problem is that nobody else believes this is an issue…

I love books with creepy kids! I don’t know what that says about me…but it is what it is! Stella was so clearly a completely different child and it drove me nuts that everyone acted like Charlotte was crazy. but hey, where there is scary child there always has to be crazy mom at fault right? ::insert eye rolls:: This book kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going on with Stella, what was going to happen to Charlotte, and what Blanka’s death had done to start this turn of events. If you like creepy kids, look no further than Clever Little Thing!

Thank you to @pameladormanbooks for my gifted copy of this book!

I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I honestly don’t know where to start because from the description alone, I thought I would absolutely devour this. The trope was interesting and the beginning of the book kept me entertained, but the rest of the story was all over the place. I couldn’t connect to any of the characters and wasn’t invested in the conclusion.