Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme)'s Reviews > Everyone Is Watching

When five people are invited to play for ten million dollars on the set of the new reality TV show, One Lucky Winner, they each think that this may be their lucky day. Without another thought, they pack their bags and travel to a posh villa in Northern California where they’re told the rules upon entry. They must relinquish their phones and under no circumstances can they leave the property or access parts of the villa deemed off limits. Despite the remote location and limited understanding of the game they’re about to enter into, they all quickly agree.

As the competition begins, however, it seems this TV show is like no other of its kind. With dangerous challenges and insinuations about each of the contestants, there just might be more going on behind the scenes than they imagined. And as the games proceed and their battle is live-streamed worldwide, they each find out that this reality show isn’t just about who can finish first and claim the reward. Someone just might have an ulterior motive for bringing them together and, before they’re allowed to leave, each of their long-held secrets may be revealed to the world. If, of course, they don’t lose their lives first.

Holy amazeballs! Everyone Is Watching was one rollicking good time. Starting off with a bang, the plot had the pace of a runaway train. With unparalleled suspense and definite foreboding, I sped through the pages until the last final reveal. Trust me when I say that I did not want this book to end. At the same time, however, I couldn’t stop myself from flying through this unputdownable psychological thriller in just one sitting.

The characters ran the gamut from two that I was rooting for despite their transgressions to several thoroughly unlikeable individuals that definitely deserved to lose in my eyes. While perhaps on the more melodramatic side of the persona meter, I still got swept up in their debacle and had my definite favorites. This was helped by the multiple POVs and flashbacks, which gave a delicious glimpse into several of their backgrounds and what misdeeds had landed them in the hot seat.

The plot was the shining star of this riveting novel, however. Fast-paced and thoroughly twisted, the back-and-forth layering of the storyline drew me in deep. And if you know me at all, I’m always down for a thrilling tale of revenge. After all, stuffed to the brim with intrigue and long-buried secrets, a tantalizing web of deceit revealed quite the plan, all said and done. Given that Gudenkauf wrote this plot, though, I’m unsurprised by the addictive quality that rivaled any real-life reality TV show. Now I just hope that it makes it onto an actual screen one of these days…

The were, unfortunately, a few minor flaws. Requiring a definite suspension of disbelief, the plot had a certain over-the-top feel. I also wish there had been a bit more exploration for all of the characters and not just those narrating the plot. At the same time, however, it was intense, well-written and had that special something that only Gudenkauf can muster. For that and the general entertainment value, I was more than happy to overlook the above in order to enjoy each and every word.

A popcorn thriller through and through, I was simply bowled over by the thought-provoking observations about social media and how far people will go to get what they want. Not to say that those critiques got in the way of the action-packed premise. Oh no. There were plenty of adrenaline-pumping events that had me racing through the pages. All said and done, despite this one not necessarily being my favorite by the author, it still ranked right up there near the top. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Heather Gudenkauf, Park Row Books, HTP Books, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Trigger warning: attempted rape, child with a chronic illness, near drowning, stalking, mention of: sexual assault, infidelity