[JoJo’s Book Review] When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole

Rear Window meets Get Out in this gripping thriller from a critically acclaimed and New York Times Notable author, in which the gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood takes on a sinister new meaning…

Sydney Green is Brooklyn born and raised, but her beloved neighborhood seems to change every time she blinks. Condos are sprouting like weeds, FOR SALE signs are popping up overnight, and the neighbors she’s known all her life are disappearing. To hold onto her community’s past and present, Sydney channels her frustration into a walking tour and finds an unlikely and unwanted assistant in one of the new arrivals to the block—her neighbor Theo.

But Sydney and Theo’s deep dive into history quickly becomes a dizzying descent into paranoia and fear. Their neighbors may not have moved to the suburbs after all, and the push to revitalize the community may be more deadly than advertised.

When does coincidence become conspiracy? Where do people go when gentrification pushes them out? Can Sydney and Theo trust each other—or themselves—long enough to find out before they too disappear?

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

When I first read the blurb of this book I knew I had to get my hands on it. I mean just read that blurb. When No One Is Watching is just fantastic, one thing is sure, Alyssa Cole is master of pacing, of keeping you on your toes, because she did that to me all through this book. I am going to be honest with you all, because we are all friends here, my original plan when I read this book was to just spend a few hours out of my Saturday and read a few chapters and come back to it on Sunday, but this book had other plans for me as it had me glued to my kindle screen for the entire Saturday, with each page I became and more desperate to know what was happening in Sydney’s neighborhood in Brooklyn. I was hooked real quick.

The synopsis is spot on when it says that this book is a mix of “Rear Window ” and “Get Out” because the paranoia that one feels when they are watching those films is ever-present in this story, you’re constantly given hints and little clues that there is something more sinister at bay. We get to view this story mostly through Sydney and Theo’s eyes, as well as through the neighborhood online forum page, all came together to really help the reader put these puzzle pieces of this story together. I must say that the thriller aspect in this book feels very real and in many ways highlights the many social issues we have in our world.

There were so many twists and turns in this story, honestly, there were moments that my jaw just dropped at the reveals. Alyssa cole does an amazing job truly pulling you into this story, I felt like she just dropped little bits and pieces of clues all over this book, and you don’t even catch them until BAM !! the answer to the question you have been wondering about is right in front of your face. I also want to talk about the romance in this book, Sydney and Theo’s romance was perfect for this book, there was so much going on this story so I love how the romance was present but at the same time not overpowering, nothing felt rushed and felt very genuine.

When no one is watching is the perfect thriller to start of September with. I really hope to see Alyssa Cole return to the world again, because I still have so many more questions I would love answers too. If your wondering if you should get this book the answer is yes as soon as possible and make sure you clear out an entire day of your time because once you start this book it won’t let you go.

JoJo

Hi everyone !!! I am JoJo ( virtual hugs), I am so excited to post about all the things. But before I start to babble, I love books, blogging, fictional boyfriends lol, crafting, the colour pink and a very long list of other things lol. I am so pumped to share all my thoughts with you all.