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bechlette47's review against another edition
Graphic: Cursing, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Grief, and Gaslighting
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
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
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
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
bringitona'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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Slavery, Terminal illness, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
callidoralblack's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Cancer, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Deportation
megan_bbender'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
3.0
With that being said I can actually appreciate the abruptness throughout the book, for example the very fast-ending sentences and scenarios really help to gain an understanding about how the characters are actually feeling and how fast everything in their community is actually changing.
To be honest, I was having more fun learning about the history of the community and kind of forgot about the plot. I did really like the characters though, Sydney is someone that I would love to be friends with, and the way the neighbours always had each others backs was heartwarming, and I definitely got super invested in the slow burn romance.
I liked the concept of this book and it was really intriguing but I feel like if it was shorter, I would've rated it a bit higher.
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse and Alcohol
rcarr14's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Slavery, Police brutality, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Deportation
lianathereader'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Colonisation
Moderate: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Gore, Police brutality, Stalking, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use and Suicide