This is the best psychological thriller I’ve read this year!

It kept me engaged, intrigued and I wasn’t able to guess what would happen

A true thriller.

Strongly recommend

So I didn't love this one, but I didn't hate it either - it was just...unexpected? It's hard to get too into it without giving key parts away, but there was a big paranormal element that I didn't see coming. Echlin had a lot of unique twists to keep things interesting, but I struggled with the pacing - some chapters flew by while others I kind of skimmed to keep things going. I wouldn't have minded more character background as well - I enjoyed the characters, but they left me wanting to know more about them! I sure didn't see this ending coming, but I left with more questions than answers. Thanks for the ARC!

thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review!

getting more into it would be getting into spoiler territory - though honestly, the synopsis is pretty spoilery - so I'll just say this was a really good and tense psychological "mom thriller" that was very let down by an ending that spiraled into silliness

Helena Eschlin’s Clever Little Thing is an intriguing blend of sharp wit and thoughtful storytelling that brings a fresh perspective to contemporary fiction. The novel shines with clever dialogue and a protagonist who is as quirky as she is relatable. Eschlin’s unique voice keeps the narrative engaging, especially for readers who enjoy introspective, character-driven plots.

However, at times the pacing feels uneven, with certain sections dragging while others rush by too quickly. Some of the side characters, though interesting, could have been developed further to add depth to the story.

A quick, intense read. A mother knows best…right? Stella is a unique child. She is loud, stubborn, and wildly intelligent, but Charlotte begins to notice her daughter has changed after recent events with their babysitter. No one believes her. Charlotte risks it all to save her daughter and find the truth, even if the truth is hard to believe. If you liked The Push by Ashely Audrain, definitely check this one out. It’s not quite as dark, but definitely a wild ride.

4 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good psychological thriller. The especially good ones leave you wondering about what is really going on until the very end, and sometimes even after. This book certainly delivers. You start questioning what is real, who is actually crazy, who is just acting, what the characters' goals are, who is being manipulated, and ultimately who is going to come out as the winner at the end. Winner might be the wrong word, but triumphant also seems pretty aggressive.

The main character in this is fairly unreliable, which adds an extra twist to figuring out the entire thing.

I definitely recommend this one.

Stella is a problem child, until her nanny, Blanka dies. Then she becomes very docile and agreeable. Then Stella starts to act like Blanka. Stella’s mom, charlotte, is pregnant with her second child. She basically thinks her daughter is possessed by Blanka’s spirt. Her husband thinks she crazy.

Possession?

Charlotte’s daughter Stella cannot stand the sound of the waves at the beach, or the sound of water running in the bathtub. She has an aversion to snuggling. And, she also throws tantrums that her mom calls “freak out mode”. Her screams were once so loud and piercing that she rushed her to the ER.

But, she can also read at an ADULT level, although she has only just completed grade three.

Other moms suggest that the anti social child be tested because of her behavior-but Charlotte doesn’t want Stella to be labeled. She would never want Stella to feel the way her own mom made her feel-“not good enough”.

But then suddenly, after the death of her babysitter, Blanka, just days after she had resigned, the once disruptive child has become almost TOO agreeable.

“OH YES!” became her answer to everything-just like Blanka.

She begins mirroring Blanka-not only in personality but also by taking on some of her physical traits.

Her father is thrilled that Stella seems to be outgrowing her strange early tendencies, but Charlotte is convinced that Blanka has taken over Stella’s body, and with an unlikely accomplice-Blanka’s mother, Irina-Charlotte is determined to save her daughter.

But, is it Stella who needs the saving? The book opens with Charlotte talking to a Dr. Beaufort (Now) and these chapters alternate with chapters from THEN.

Although this takes place in modern times, the writing is very formal (example: “I proffered the blanket, tied with a gray silk ribbon-it’s luxe minimalism was out of place here-instead looking drab and utilitarian) Perhaps that is what made it such a SLOW BURN. And, despite the premise it DID NOT have the CREEPY factor that I expected.

It took me longer than usual to finish this story-I liked it but I didn’t love it.

Expected publication date: January 14, 2025.

Thank You to Pamela Dorman Books for the invitation to read this one. I received a gifted ARC and as always-these are my candid thoughts.

This was a fantastic book with lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing throughout the book. It is a true psychological thriller with pulses of the supernatural throughout the book. This book has a little bit of everything to offer every reader, and made me question whether or not it was possible for someone else's spirit to actually exist inside someone else's body! There are some triggers in the book such as rape of a young child ,so please be aware.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would like to thank Netgalley and Viking Penguin for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my review.

Clever Little Thing by Helena Echlin one clever little book. This novel read quickly and kept me turning the pages long into the night. The story centers around Charlotte and her young family. After many miscarriages, she is finally pregnant with her second daughter, and her husband is over the moon. They have an eight year-old daughter, Stella, who is highly intelligent, yet struggles socially and behaviorally. After Stella's babysitter, Blanka, quits with no explanation, Charlotte learns that she died unexpectedly. In an attempt to pay condolences, Charlotte gets herself wrapped up in a strange relationship with Blanka's mom. Blanka's mom begins to help taking care of Stella while Charlotte battles bad bouts of morning sickness, and as it goes on, Charlotte notices Stella has changed. Stella is now pliable and more like a "normal" kid her age. She no longer cares about the things she used to. She is seemingly a different kid altogether, but no one else seems to recognize it. Is Charlotte losing her mind? What does Blanka's mom have to do with the changes in Stella? What does Charlotte's doting husband, Pete, think about what is happening? This book had many twists and turns, and I struggled to figure out who was the bad guy and who I could trust. It is billed as a psychological thriller, but there is also an element of horror/supernatural to it that I didn't expect.

Thanks to Netgalley and Pamela Dorman Books for this ARC.

This book started a little slow for me and the characters seemed a little cliche. The overwhelmed mom and the perfect husband are familiar characters in psychological thrillers. I soon discovered this was not the typical thriller and became immersed in the book, finishing it rather quickly. It had some interesting twists. Reading it was time well spent.

Many thanks to @pameladormanbooks @penguinrandomhouse @netgalley for my #gifted (free) copy. Pub date 1/14/24.

I'm not going to lie this one started off a little slow, but I am so glad I kept with it because the ending was awesome, and totally not at all what I was expecting. I thought it was going in one direction, but no, I was WAY off! This is a great slow-burn thriller that I definitely recommend.

Charlotte and her husband Pete have an eight year old daughter Stella who is very smart and intelligent, almost a little too smart for her age, but she also has some behavioral issues. When Stella's babysitter Blanka suddenly dies, Blanka's mother Irina starts helping out Charlotte, but then Stella's behavior starts to change, and Charlotte thinks she is starting to act a lot like Blanka. This is a creepy eerie novel that will have you guessing what the heck is going on with Stella.

Clever Little Thing is a real page-turner—I devoured it in just two days! The plot is unique and refreshing, especially because it doesn't rely on the typical "murder mystery" trope that seems so common in thrillers today. Helena Echlin crafts a suspenseful story that kept me hooked from start to finish.

That said, there were parts of the book that, looking back, felt a bit superfluous. Some scenes didn’t seem to add much to the overall plot or character development. However, the originality of the storyline and the tension throughout still made this a captivating read. If you're looking for something thrilling and different, this is definitely worth picking up.

It's been many years since I've read Ashley Audrain's "The Push", and it remains one of my favorite psychological thrillers to date - so when "Clever Little Thing" was introduced in a similar vein, I immediately jumped at the chance to read it.

Told from the first perspective of Charlotte, we're introduced to her as she's being checked into a "wellness center", given the concern of family and friends over her behavior in recent months. Charlotte recounts what led her up to then, starting earlier when she was entering her second trimester with her secondborn, and juggling her new role as SAHM to eight year-old Stella. Her husband Pete is a loving and caring partner, but often works long hours working with his start up company. In their cookie cutter neighborhood in California, Charlotte struggles to put up a good front, especially as Stella is far from the normal child, as she displays a extremely high IQ but struggles with interpersonal relationships and physical touch.

Things begin to change when Blanka, Stella's Armenian babysitter, suddenly quits and several days later is reported as dead, and Charlotte begins noticing an escalating number of changes in her daughter - from changes in her speaking and interests, to the food she willingly eats, to the ways she interacts with her classmates and teachers - that mirror those of Blanka. Charlotte becomes increasingly convinced that her daughter is in danger, but what she believes has happened is far too bizarre for anyone else to believe. With some help from Irina, Blanka's mother, she attempts to peel back the truth and save her daughter before it's too late.

I was hooked from the first few pages of the novel, and found Charlotte to be a compelling and believable protagonist. She's dealing with a difficult second pregnancy, trying to care for a child on the spectrum, and struggling with handling many of the day-to-day tasks (frequently overlooked when done by women) as her husband is rarely home to help. The novel places believable doubt on the reliability of the narrator as well; is she truly a concerned, well-meaning parent or has she warped the reality of the situation for even herself? I didn't foresee the ultimate reveal and ending, but found it well-done and structured, highlighting just how easily what women say is overlooked, chalked to "stress" or "hormones".

Well worth a read when "Clever Little Things" is published in January 2025!

I like a good psychological thriller and the description of this one caught my eye. The story kept evolving and captured my attention as I waited to see what would revealed next. There were lots of twists and turns, some of which I found more believable than others.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was really really good. The end was totally not what I was expecting!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Clever Little Thing was The Push but way more sinister and creepy. Charlotte's daughter, Stella, isn't the easiest child to take care of- she's obviously on the spectrum (but Charlotte doesn't want to admit it). After the sudden death of Stella's babysitter, Charlotte starts to see a major change in Stella. And of course no one believes Charlotte and you will have to read it to see what happens from here. I don't want to give any part of the story away. I think this will end up being popular when it comes out in January!

Thanks to Pamela Dorman Books & NetGalley for the ARC!

On the surface, this novel may appear to be a chilling thriller infused with supernatural elements. However, at its core, its an exploration of motherhood, the dynamics between mothers and daughters, maternal intuition, generational trauma, and the treatment of women's mental health in contemporary society. It excels at it all. If you enjoyed The Push, The Whispers, or Ashley Audrain's work in general, this book is a must-read for you. Set to release on January 14, 2025. A special thank you to @helenachlin and @netgalley for the ARC.

4 stars-Charlotte hires Blanka to babysit for her daughter Stella. She feels like Blanka is not living up to expectations and Blanka is let go, and then dies a week later. The majority of the novel is how the loss of Blanka changes the lives of Stella and Charlotte. This is best read without a lot of background because reading too much beforehand kind of gives the whole plot away. I liked the storyline though it got a little repetitive in the middle. I was able to predict all the twists pretty early on, but I still really engaged with the story and would recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc. All opinions are my own.

Clever Little Thing is advertised as a psychological/domestic drama thriller about how Stella, an 8 year old girl gradually changes after the sudden and tragic death of her babysitter, Blanka. The book is told exclusively from the point of view of her mother, Charlotte, who at the opening of the book is being admitted into a psychological care facility after the birth of her 2nd child. The story alternates between the present timeline while Charlotte is in the facility, and the past, when early in her pregnancy Blanka dies and Stella begins to change in ways that Charlotte struggles to grasp and understand.
While the book was intriguing in its premise, and it's worthwhile observations on motherhood and parenting a child who appears to be neurodivergent, the climax of the conflict left me befuddled and quite unhappy. Admittedly, I am never keen on books that require a suspension of disbelief, and boy does this book demand that of the reader. Only in the very last pages does the author attempt to reel it in with a semi plausible explanation for the events of the book, that just felt like grasping at straws for me. I could see readers who enjoy this type of book enjoying it overall, but it really wasn't for me by the end.
Thank you to Penguin Group Viking, Pamela Dorman Books, and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.