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munky15's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
Graphic: Racism and Blood
Moderate: Confinement and Death
Minor: Police brutality, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
boba_nbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
On the surface, When No One Is Watching is thriller novel, but when you start to dig into the material, you find that the author weaves the important subjects of racism and gentrification into the suspense.
Sydney has lived in Brooklyn all her life, but the neighborhood she knows and loves is transforming before her eyes as more and more white people are moving into homes that have been owned by Black families for years. One of those people is Theo, who moved into one of the homes with his long-term girlfriend with the intent of flipping the house and reselling it. In order to keep the history of the neighborhood at the forefront, Sydney decides to create her own historical tour and asks Theo to help her dig into the rich past of the area. But the further they look, the more suspicious behaviors and conspiracies they uncover, and the pair becomes unsure of who they can trust.
This novel is definitely a slow burn. There is a lot of build-up before the tension comes to a head at the very end. Throughout the story, you're unsure of who you can trust--including both our main narrators, Sydney and Theo. I think the themes could've been more poignant and the ending could've been more realistic than leaning into science-fiction.
When No One Is Watching brings the vital issues of racism, injustice, and gentrification to the forefront of its story. These subjects were what brought the most chilling themes to me, and if you're wanting to learn more about them through a thrilling ride, I'd definitely recommend this novel to you.
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Racism
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Slavery
smatthews0486's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Death, Racism, Grief, and Murder
tmchopra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Cultural appropriation, and Deportation
briannant's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Moderate: Racism and Grief
Minor: Death, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
maryjames's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Death, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Slavery, and Kidnapping
haemby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
From the beginning, the author sewed the seeds of mystery surrounding the main and side characters. There's a constant tenseness when flipping through the pages that makes it impossible to put down.
The plot slows at points, but I think it's because I'm so used to watching a thriller. Reading a thriller gives you every single detail you may miss from a fast paced movie. This author does not disappoint. Makes me want to watch it on a screen!
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
kylieqrada's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Racism
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Slavery
m_moon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Vomit
shaun_dh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail