This book follows Elizabeth who is an English proffesor running a creative writing class at a university in New York. Her students have to send her a chapter of their book every week, and one student starts sending in chapters that are too familiar - because they have happened to Elizabeth in real life. Elizabeth then tries to work out who could possibly be writing these chapters and who knows her secret?

Wow this book definitely keeps you guessing! There were so many plot twists, and every character seemed suspicious. It was fast paced and intriguing, and I really liked the ending of the book. There was also a bit of spice in this book, which I was not expecting but it worked well with the slight romance in the book.
I will make sure to look out for more of Vi Keeland's books in the future.

Y'all. That ending. I am still just overwhelmed with how addictive this book was. The ending literally has left me astounded.

This was my first Vi Keeland book and it will not be my last.

The premise of this book was really unique it follows an English professor who is reading chapters for an assignment she's made when one of the chapters is explaining a secret she thought was buried long ago.
Trying to untangle who's writing these chapters leads our FMC on a twisty path.

This book does have some dark themes but I think they were handled very well.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC!

Wowza! This was a RIDE! Keeland really knows how to grab her readers from the onset. I love the dark academic nature of the plot and the idea of being black mailed by a student. While I read this super fast because it was so suspenseful, I have to admit I was disappointed with the ending. I think the ending had the potential to be a little bit different and that there was a wee bit of a gap in the plot line than could use some tightening up. All in all - I was totally in this for the suspense with a side of sex (didn't expect that!) This read is heavy on the abuse so readers should know that in advance. I'd definitely look for another offering of Vi Keeland! She's on to something! Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for a review.

4.5 stars

Thank you @atriabooks, @atriathrillers, & @netgalley for my free copy!

@vi_keeland has written another banger thriller! I absolutely loved her first one, The Unraveling, and I absolutely loved this one, too!

First off, there are multiple twists in this that are *chef’s kiss*. A few were totally shocking to me. There’s a big one about halfway through that rocked me and I kept having to reread parts to make it make sense. I do think there was a plot hole with it, but the story was still so gooooood in spite of that.

I definitely want to mention that there is some spice in this. If you’re a dedicated romance reader, it will probably feel very mild to you. If you are a dedicated thriller reader, the spice could be a turn off for you. This is for sure on the sexier side of thrillers. I also want to mention to check trigger warnings before reading this one!

There are some dark academia vibes here that I enjoyed, and the professor getting blackmailed by a student angle was unique and kept me in suspense. I also like any time the MC tries to guess who the “bad guy” is in a book. It makes it feel like my guesses, if the same, are most likely going to be wrong, and I like that back and forth of unpredictability in a thriller.

Every character in this book seemed shady to me, and I think this is just based on solid writing from Keeland: reading through the lens of a highly paranoid and anxious FMC, that slowly heightens as the story continues. The ending is shocking for sure, BUT, I was left with questions that I really wish I could have answered!

If you’re looking for an easily bingeable thriller that will have you guessing the whole time—this one is for you!

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for this ARC!

Couldn’t put this down! I loved the romance subplot. I also loved the ending and how it couldn’t be left up to the reader’s interpretation.

I hope this author continues to write thrillers!

Sexy and suspenseful. Loved this one so much. She is the queen of thrillers that have just enough romance to attract all kinds of readers.

Vi Keeland shines when it comes to balancing a mystery with an erotic thriller, and Someone Knows is no exception. This is a popcorn thriller, but there’s a darkness to it that adds an edge to the traditional popcorn thriller. It’s fast-paced, and extremely easy to get through in a sitting or two when you’ve got mini cliff hangers at the end of each chapter. The pace is great, the characters messy, and I always like an academic NYC setting, but where it fell a little flat for me was in the sleepy twist that wrapped this all up. I didn’t find the shock value to be there, but I really appreciate the way Vi Keeland can propel you through her stories.

I liked the book, and I recommend it. It is a gripping thriller that kept me guessing who the "someone" who knew the secret was, and I couldn’t wait to find out.
I personally enjoy reading books with likable and dislikable characters, and I found both here.
The author hooked me from the first chapter, and it just got better with every page turned. It was hard to put away; it kept me engaged and wanting to read more to find out what had happened.
It had several unexpected twists, and as soon as I thought I knew where the story was going and would not be surprised, there would be another twist, which kept me from putting the book down.

First, thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for this ARC!

This was really a dark thriller, so please, check the trigger warnings before reading it. It was still a a good read, a little slow at first and then picking up the pace, with a lot of twists. Made me feeling a bit uneasy at the end, and no, I also did not see it coming, even when I did try. 3.5 stars from me for this one, and I'll for sure read another book by Vi Keeland in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

This had me hooked from the beginning, it was a very quick read, and I did enjoy it for the most part. What bothered me (besides the ick factor, be sure to read trigger warnings) was that a couple of characters go nowhere within the story. I'm not sure if that was intentional or not but I felt like we were left hanging. There was one major twist I didn't see coming and I have to admit I was not expecting this to be as much of a psychological mystery as it turned out to be. The ending was no surprise yet I can see how some might be disappointed by it. I liked the book - I didn't love the book. Would recommend as a quick read, though, if you like this author.

"we can only save ourselves."

oooooh, this was a fun, twisted dark little read! I'm still trying to wrap my head around that last chapter!

Elizabeth is a professor teaching language arts at a college. It's summer and she teaches a short creative writing class every summer. She finds that most stories are duds but every now and again, she finds a gem and she loves helping them craft the story.

But one story arrives from a student that is eerily like the horrible secret from her past, one that she has never told anyone. No one can know what she's done, because her world will come toppling down. As each chapter arrives, Elizabeth realizes someone definitely knows and she needs to find them before they tell everyone.

This was a great mystery. Elizabeth is an easy character to ride along with as she juggles heading back to the small town she grew up in. She visits her mother and past friends and tries to look at everyone hard - who could be torturing each week with a chapter and why would they do this? It's a pretty quick read, especially since the story ramped with tension. I liked that we got to reach the chapters each week, even though they were difficult, because it gave us the full picture of the detail this person knew and what had happened.

Great mystery, fast pacing, I loved this one!

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

ARC Received: NetGalley
Publication Date: June 17, 2025

*CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS*

Imagine a secret you thought you buried decades ago comes back to haunt you in the form of your students writing assignment! That’s what happens to English professor Elizabeth, in her creative writing course. The chapters the student submits for the assignment mirror a secret Elizabeth believed was in her past. But, now she realizes someone else knows the truth and they’re telling it one page at a time. A real whodunit!!

To answer your question Elizabeth, yes he is one hell of off-the-cuff liar. The plot of the book he described was so detailed and believable I want to read THAT book and someone needs to write that ASAP. As for this book, I have no words. Just…Wow!

This was my first book by this author and it won’t be my last. This book caught my attention from the beginning, and kept it all the way through. Check trigger warnings, but otherwise recommend if you’re looking for a thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

"I need backup—because 2 days later, I’m still spiralling."
Inviting you all to read this book because I can’t be the only one emotionally unravelling over here.

⚠️ Trigger Warnings: SA, grooming, abuse.
I gently ask you to check in with yourself about these TW as they're very central to the story.

Rating:
We'll settle on 4.75⭐ (rounded up). It almost was a favourite.
A few unresolved and still open questions kept it from fully landing for me—but I guess that's what Vi Keeland wanted to do.
The book unsettled, left me uneasy, and begging for more crumbs.
Just... prepare yourself.

🌀 Hooked from the Start
The writing is sharp and tense in all the right ways. It hooked me and didn’t let go.
Pacing? Perfect. Characters? Threaded in and out with intention.
Even when juggling multiple moving pieces, the author never let the flow drop.
I was constantly guessing, spinning theories left and right—but never feeling totally sure. At best, I landed on 60% suspicion, and even then, I kept doubting myself. It’s that kind of book.
Complete page-turner.

⚡ The Twist
Then twist happened, and I got whiplash.
What hurts is: I knew. I even asked myself the exact question that would lead there, but I dismissed.
🤔 I’m still torn about that first twist.
I loved the concept behind it, but I’m uncertain about how it was framed. Certain aspects felt heavier than what the story actually needed to convey. And while the moment left me reeling, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this particular reveal is becoming a bit overused lately.
➕ Some of the extra layers that followed felt unnecessary—especially since what came after packed a much bigger emotional punch and lasting impact. That’s the twist I’ll be haunted by.

Left Uneasy. Still Processing.
By the end, I was cracked open. There’s one line that echoed through me:
“Who haunts a victim?”

Oof.
The ending made me want to scream (not exaggerating - I actually did). The unease it left me with is... I have no words.
After everything—the journey, the peeling back of layers, the rebuilding—we’re left haunted and no definitive peace. Just a lingering ache and a question that won't quit:
Was this meant to offer healing… or simply haunt us?

So yeah, I repeat:
⚠️ If the trigger warnings leave you uneasy, please pace yourself with this book.
Check in with your mental health as you read. Take breaks. Step away if needed.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC and for absolutely wrecking my peace of mind. Much appreciated.

This one was full of twists and turns that had my jaw on the floor! With quick chapters, lots of cliffhangers and surprises, it is a keep-you-on-you-toe thriller that I really enjoyed!

Got this as an ARC and I was pleasantly surprised!! Super unique thriller, very fast paced, and a short read with lots of twists. Went in blind so I was not expecting the romance aspect, but the romance scenes/subplots felt out of place with what was going on in some parts. I’m usually one to catch on to a plot twist, but not for this book!! The ending was really well done and so twisty, but in a way that wasn’t lazy and added more to the plot. Overall it was a great quick read and I will be reading more from this author!!

This one was a slow start for me but then it got incredibly twisty, drama filled and suspenseful. About the time I thought I knew what was happening, another twist happened. I don't want to give too much away with this one but I'm still surprised by the ending. I thought I had it figured out but then didn't and then it turned out I was right which surprised me even more. This story kept me on my toes.

An English professor’s deadly past comes back to haunt her in this chilling thriller. This thriller kept me wondering what the twists were and who had done it. I really enjoyed it!

This book was so good. Loved the characters and the story line. Could not put it down. This book was such a fun read. Kept me on my toes. Loved the writing style. It’s a must read.

Looking for a suspenseful story with a fast pace and lots of twists, then you have found it. We start the story with Elizabeth, a college professor who teaches English in New York City. She has secrets but who doesn’t. She has been living her life in New York for 20 years until one day, she gets a paper from one of her students that is a little too familiar for her. In this writing assignment it perfectly shows what happened to her friend 20 years ago. Where she had a relationship with her teacher and she’s sure only her and her friends should know about it, but her student knows. Knows the truth about her teachers death, Mr. Sawyer, and that she’s the one who killed him. Knows what happened all those years ago and the thought frightens her so she heads back to the one place she vowed to never return to, her hometown. Suspense and tension are high to find out just what the writer wants and everyone is a suspect.

I really enjoyed this story with all its twists and turns. I had a lot of ideas of who could have sent the papers to her and as I read I changed my answer time and time again, but the person who it was I did suspect. This story had me intrigued from the start and shocked at the end. The ending was something I didn’t see but not unexpected but it did leave me with some questions on the story. The question I had were what’s going to happen to Elizabeth? Does she ever figure out the truth of who sent it? It felt kinda open ended to me that there was something more that could have been added to it. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and the twists that came with it.

Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.