What do you think?
Rate this book
The Assassin's Guide #1
The Assassin's Guide to Babysitting
This riveting, superpowered adventure unveils a shadow world of Talented bounty hunters—and plumbs the nature of identity, deadly secrets, and found family.
Tru has been hiding all her life. Her parents taught her to conceal her bastion Talent: indestructible skin, muscles, and bones. In a world where Talents are common and varied, no one trusts a bastion—they’re too powerful. Hiding failed to keep Tru’s parents alive, but moments before their murder, Tru’s mom pointed her to Logan Dire, a famed recluse assassin who adopted and trained orphaned Tru. At seventeen, she’s still hiding. Not even her closest friends know her true name or Talent, or that she’s balancing high school with knife and stealth training (while crushing on her BFF’s older sister). When assassins interrupt a mundane babysitting job booked through BountyApp—where lethal hunters find work and babysitters for their kids—Tru flees with a one-year-old strapped to her chest and spiraling questions: Who killed her parents? Whom can she trust? What does it mean to be a bastion? And is it ever OK to kiss a girl who’s trying to hunt you down? From an award-winning author comes a masterfully plotted thriller that holds character and relationship on a par with action and nail-biting suspense.
Tru has been hiding all her life. Her parents taught her to conceal her bastion Talent: indestructible skin, muscles, and bones. In a world where Talents are common and varied, no one trusts a bastion—they’re too powerful. Hiding failed to keep Tru’s parents alive, but moments before their murder, Tru’s mom pointed her to Logan Dire, a famed recluse assassin who adopted and trained orphaned Tru. At seventeen, she’s still hiding. Not even her closest friends know her true name or Talent, or that she’s balancing high school with knife and stealth training (while crushing on her BFF’s older sister). When assassins interrupt a mundane babysitting job booked through BountyApp—where lethal hunters find work and babysitters for their kids—Tru flees with a one-year-old strapped to her chest and spiraling questions: Who killed her parents? Whom can she trust? What does it mean to be a bastion? And is it ever OK to kiss a girl who’s trying to hunt you down? From an award-winning author comes a masterfully plotted thriller that holds character and relationship on a par with action and nail-biting suspense.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 2025
44 people are currently reading
4842 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
January 22, 2025
This is a wild mix of action, secrets, and heart. Tru is such a fun protagonist—she’s tough, relatable, and wrestling with a double life of babysitting gigs and assassin training (yes, really). The story doesn’t hold back, throwing you straight into suspenseful chases, unexpected betrayals, and even some tender moments that catch you off guard.
The concept of BountyApp is such a clever twist, blending humor with danger in the best way. If you like fast-paced reads with just the right balance of action and emotion, this book is such a ride.
The concept of BountyApp is such a clever twist, blending humor with danger in the best way. If you like fast-paced reads with just the right balance of action and emotion, this book is such a ride.
December 22, 2024
I went into this one thinking that it was going to be a babysitting gone wrong gig, which is technically true, but it’s so much more than that!
April 14, 2025
(rounded up from 3.5)
This was fast-paced and fun, but felt a bit underdeveloped and may have been better as a more fleshed-out duology. Teens with superpowers, a tragic murder of Tru's parents when she was a baby, a secret identity while training to be an assassin, a great friend group, plus a cute baby that needs to be protected. We've got it all here for a fun, YA adventure. However, I feel like the worldbuilding would have benefited from more attention and fleshing out and the romantic subplot was so anemic it was barely there (and I cannot care about a relationship when the characters have literally spoken three times and suddenly are in love) so I feel like the focus should either have been on the adventure or the story should have been extended out to a duology for a proper bit of character and world growth.
This was fast-paced and fun, but felt a bit underdeveloped and may have been better as a more fleshed-out duology. Teens with superpowers, a tragic murder of Tru's parents when she was a baby, a secret identity while training to be an assassin, a great friend group, plus a cute baby that needs to be protected. We've got it all here for a fun, YA adventure. However, I feel like the worldbuilding would have benefited from more attention and fleshing out and the romantic subplot was so anemic it was barely there (and I cannot care about a relationship when the characters have literally spoken three times and suddenly are in love) so I feel like the focus should either have been on the adventure or the story should have been extended out to a duology for a proper bit of character and world growth.
March 28, 2025
i've loved or just had a great time overall with every book by natalie c. parker that i've ever read, and this one was no exception to that. i really enjoyed all the characters, the superpowers/worldbuilding was a hell of a lot of fun (the only exception was like... the names of the types of superpowers, but that's a personal thing, i almost always hate the names people come up with for these types of things), and the lowkey side sapphic romance was sweet with one BANGER of a smooth line by lila at one point.
ALSO THAT END BIT??!!!? sequel maybe???
really fun. i listened to the audiobook narrated by jeremy carlisle parker and she's been a consistently decent narrator for me. she works really well for ya and did a great job here.
ALSO THAT END BIT??!!!? sequel maybe???
really fun. i listened to the audiobook narrated by jeremy carlisle parker and she's been a consistently decent narrator for me. she works really well for ya and did a great job here.
June 6, 2025
Note to self: If we don't use this for ToB at work, start a riot 🤷🏾♀️😂
Real Review to come!
Real Review to come!
May 31, 2025
A thrill ride with heart! I loved this book and how smart and snappy it was. Can't wait to read the next one!
Read
March 13, 2025This was NOT what I was expecting in the best way possible! This feels like it could be a Divergent-style trilogy - I just have a feeling that these characters aren't done yet. This world is too big and interesting to just be one book! Official petition for more books in this world (maybe an Embry or Amethyst book next?)
March 21, 2025
I was in a bit of a reading slump and this book brought me out of it. Yes this might be a teen book and not for everyone, but I absolutely loved this book. I could totally see this being a Netflix series.
The whole premise of having Talents is so interesting and Tru’s Talent of being an indestructible Bastion is the most feared of all. This is why she’s been keeping it a secret, this is why her parents were murdered and she was left with assassin Logan.
The whole premise of having Talents is so interesting and Tru’s Talent of being an indestructible Bastion is the most feared of all. This is why she’s been keeping it a secret, this is why her parents were murdered and she was left with assassin Logan.
September 15, 2025
this was ok, I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it either…
It was required for one of my classes, and I definitely wouldn’t have picked it up on my own. I love superheroes or people with superpowers, but in books I feel like it’s a little hard to do well. The power system in this was kinda weak and uninteresting, which is what bothered me the most.
Don’t get me wrong, this book does a lot of things well, the plot is good and flows well, and everything made sense…it just wasn’t for me🤷♀️
It was required for one of my classes, and I definitely wouldn’t have picked it up on my own. I love superheroes or people with superpowers, but in books I feel like it’s a little hard to do well. The power system in this was kinda weak and uninteresting, which is what bothered me the most.
Don’t get me wrong, this book does a lot of things well, the plot is good and flows well, and everything made sense…it just wasn’t for me🤷♀️
January 19, 2025
Thank you Candlewick Press for an advance copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This book was so fun! I was pulled in by the premise, hooked with the dedication to Keanu Reeve's John Wick, and stayed for the excitement.
There is a touch of magic in this book, but it is relatively uncomplicated and easy to follow. There are four different types of magic people can have, and for whatever reason one is incredibly rare and feared by the masses. It was cool seeing how that storyline tied into everything else, and the author does a good job of dropping a few details about it at a time....just enough to keep you going.
The main character, who has this highly secret fourth type of magic, has such a ride or die group of friends behind her, and a mentor that taught her everything she knows. We see flashbacks of her training, and it all plays into stuff she does today. I loved those little tidbits and seeing how they tied into the larger story! Her friends were all unique too, and while there is no in-depth backstory for them, they are still easy to root for.
This book could easily be twice as thick as it is now, or even a whole series. There is so much that could be expanded on, but the author chose to keep things short and sweet for the sake of the story - and I am grateful for it. This book has some pretty quick pacing with very few slow parts to it, and it was both easy to follow and enjoyable to read about. Even if you aren't a fantasy reader, this is an easy one to get into!
All in all, I was surprised with how much I enjoyed this story. Even when I set the book down I would think about it, and look forward to the next time I could pick it up! This is an action packed story full of good friends and a touch of magic, and definitely worth the read. A good standalone story if you need one, I highly recommend.
Content warnings: loss of a parent, violence, child abuse, blood, injury/injury detail
This book was so fun! I was pulled in by the premise, hooked with the dedication to Keanu Reeve's John Wick, and stayed for the excitement.
There is a touch of magic in this book, but it is relatively uncomplicated and easy to follow. There are four different types of magic people can have, and for whatever reason one is incredibly rare and feared by the masses. It was cool seeing how that storyline tied into everything else, and the author does a good job of dropping a few details about it at a time....just enough to keep you going.
The main character, who has this highly secret fourth type of magic, has such a ride or die group of friends behind her, and a mentor that taught her everything she knows. We see flashbacks of her training, and it all plays into stuff she does today. I loved those little tidbits and seeing how they tied into the larger story! Her friends were all unique too, and while there is no in-depth backstory for them, they are still easy to root for.
This book could easily be twice as thick as it is now, or even a whole series. There is so much that could be expanded on, but the author chose to keep things short and sweet for the sake of the story - and I am grateful for it. This book has some pretty quick pacing with very few slow parts to it, and it was both easy to follow and enjoyable to read about. Even if you aren't a fantasy reader, this is an easy one to get into!
All in all, I was surprised with how much I enjoyed this story. Even when I set the book down I would think about it, and look forward to the next time I could pick it up! This is an action packed story full of good friends and a touch of magic, and definitely worth the read. A good standalone story if you need one, I highly recommend.
Content warnings: loss of a parent, violence, child abuse, blood, injury/injury detail
December 25, 2024
4.5 stars
This was so much fun! A superpowered teen on the run with a baby while assassin's try to kill both of them.
This was so much fun! A superpowered teen on the run with a baby while assassin's try to kill both of them.
January 11, 2025
I’ll be honest that I knew nothing about this book and downloaded the audio solely on the title.
Tru has been hiding all her life. Her parents taught her to conceal her bastion Talent: indestructible skin, muscles, and bones. In a world where Talents are common and varied, no one trusts a bastion—they’re too powerful. Hiding failed to keep Tru’s parents alive, but moments before their murder, Tru’s mom pointed her to Logan Dire, a famed recluse assassin who adopted and trained orphaned Tru. At seventeen, she’s still hiding. Not even her closest friends know her true name or Talent, or that she’s balancing high school with knife and stealth training (while crushing on her BFF’s older sister).When assassins interrupt a mundane babysitting job booked through BountyApp—where lethal hunters find work and babysitters for their kids—Tru flees with a one-year-old strapped to her chest and spiraling questions: Who killed her parents? Whom can she trust? What does it mean to be a bastion? And is it ever OK to kiss a girl who’s trying to hunt you down?
The action starts on page one and doesn’t slow down until the end. I love the idea of being born with special talents and the found family these kids found within each other. The self growth journey that are FMC went through was very realistic and applaud worthy.
HOWEVER. THIS IS A BIG ONE.
Obviously to get good at these assassin worthy skills, these teens do all kinds of training, including ones that use imagery the idea of picturing things in your mind to hone in on your particular skill you’re trying to perfect. Great. Perfectly normal thing to do. BUT the author uses an example of animal cruelty as an imagery project and I HATE IT. it absolutely ruined the whole story for me and was completely completely completely unnecessary. The whole scene takes 1 second so why bother including it in the first place. I honestly wanted to rate this one star because of this.
So yeah, overall loved the story, the unique plot and the writing style/narrators for the audio portion but really lost respect for the author for that one scene.
Also there’s lots of talk about blood so if you’re squeamish maybe skip.
Tru has been hiding all her life. Her parents taught her to conceal her bastion Talent: indestructible skin, muscles, and bones. In a world where Talents are common and varied, no one trusts a bastion—they’re too powerful. Hiding failed to keep Tru’s parents alive, but moments before their murder, Tru’s mom pointed her to Logan Dire, a famed recluse assassin who adopted and trained orphaned Tru. At seventeen, she’s still hiding. Not even her closest friends know her true name or Talent, or that she’s balancing high school with knife and stealth training (while crushing on her BFF’s older sister).When assassins interrupt a mundane babysitting job booked through BountyApp—where lethal hunters find work and babysitters for their kids—Tru flees with a one-year-old strapped to her chest and spiraling questions: Who killed her parents? Whom can she trust? What does it mean to be a bastion? And is it ever OK to kiss a girl who’s trying to hunt you down?
The action starts on page one and doesn’t slow down until the end. I love the idea of being born with special talents and the found family these kids found within each other. The self growth journey that are FMC went through was very realistic and applaud worthy.
HOWEVER. THIS IS A BIG ONE.
Obviously to get good at these assassin worthy skills, these teens do all kinds of training, including ones that use imagery the idea of picturing things in your mind to hone in on your particular skill you’re trying to perfect. Great. Perfectly normal thing to do. BUT the author uses an example of animal cruelty as an imagery project and I HATE IT. it absolutely ruined the whole story for me and was completely completely completely unnecessary. The whole scene takes 1 second so why bother including it in the first place. I honestly wanted to rate this one star because of this.
So yeah, overall loved the story, the unique plot and the writing style/narrators for the audio portion but really lost respect for the author for that one scene.
Also there’s lots of talk about blood so if you’re squeamish maybe skip.
April 21, 2025
If you’re thinking that this is Invincible meets Adventures in Babysitting, you are very much right on the money. And if, like me, you didn’t know this book is queer, you’ll be decidedly surprised to know that the MC is, in fact, in love with her best friend’s sister… so not only was I surprised to find that it has all the vibes I love, but it’s also very gay.
Trained from a young age to be able to defend herself in case the assassin that murdered her parents finds out that she is still alive, Tru might look like a regular helpless teenager, but she’s anything but. She’s keeping a secret from everyone around her, except for her adopted father, a recluse assassin in his own right. She has one of the most rare powers that can manifest and if anyone finds out, she’ll be hunted to the edge of the Earth.
When Tru and her best friend take on a babysitting job, they don’t realize that the night would turn into a run for their lives… and tomorrow would change the futures of the known world. Because the baby’s parents would be murdered and her own adopted father would be the target of a bounty, stating that he’s the murderer. But it’s all a lie. Someone is out to kill them and she has to be the one to stop them.
Filled with action from the very start of the book, The Assassin’s Guide to Babysitting was a ride I didn’t want to end. I love the found family aspects, as well as the whole secret identity storyline. Not to mention, they are superheroes without the capes. I’m always here for a superhero story, especially when it’s queer.
Trained from a young age to be able to defend herself in case the assassin that murdered her parents finds out that she is still alive, Tru might look like a regular helpless teenager, but she’s anything but. She’s keeping a secret from everyone around her, except for her adopted father, a recluse assassin in his own right. She has one of the most rare powers that can manifest and if anyone finds out, she’ll be hunted to the edge of the Earth.
When Tru and her best friend take on a babysitting job, they don’t realize that the night would turn into a run for their lives… and tomorrow would change the futures of the known world. Because the baby’s parents would be murdered and her own adopted father would be the target of a bounty, stating that he’s the murderer. But it’s all a lie. Someone is out to kill them and she has to be the one to stop them.
Filled with action from the very start of the book, The Assassin’s Guide to Babysitting was a ride I didn’t want to end. I love the found family aspects, as well as the whole secret identity storyline. Not to mention, they are superheroes without the capes. I’m always here for a superhero story, especially when it’s queer.
March 16, 2025
This book felt like a strange mashup of The Hunger Games, Babysitter's Club, Harry Potter, and #MurderTrending.
At first I was like what's happening, who's what now? Because of the unique words and terminology used, but once I got the hang of it, I was like oh okay, I see what's happening. Also, thankfully, the action starts pretty quickly so when I thought they were gonna lose me, I was right back into it.
Tru's parents were murdered when she was very young and she was sent to live with Logan (a high level assassin). Logan became like her pseudo dad and started training her, but she had to hide her training, because if anyone discovered who/what she was, she was in danger that even he couldn't protect her from. Now a teenager with a tight-knit group of friends, each with their own unique talents (and they don't know hers), while on a babysitting job, someone tries to kidnap the baby and so Tru takes the baby and runs. Tru and her friends go into hiding with the baby (Thea) and start unraveling secrets of their world and its rules.
This was kind of dystopian but also kind of magical, as well as had some modern day phone/media things going on. It was better than I thought it would be and once I reached the second half of the book, I got on a roll and couldn't put it down.
Will also note, the main character has the hots for her best friend's sister, so there is some LGBTQ+ rep, though romance is definitely not part of the main storyline. It's more of a sidebar.
At first I was like what's happening, who's what now? Because of the unique words and terminology used, but once I got the hang of it, I was like oh okay, I see what's happening. Also, thankfully, the action starts pretty quickly so when I thought they were gonna lose me, I was right back into it.
Tru's parents were murdered when she was very young and she was sent to live with Logan (a high level assassin). Logan became like her pseudo dad and started training her, but she had to hide her training, because if anyone discovered who/what she was, she was in danger that even he couldn't protect her from. Now a teenager with a tight-knit group of friends, each with their own unique talents (and they don't know hers), while on a babysitting job, someone tries to kidnap the baby and so Tru takes the baby and runs. Tru and her friends go into hiding with the baby (Thea) and start unraveling secrets of their world and its rules.
This was kind of dystopian but also kind of magical, as well as had some modern day phone/media things going on. It was better than I thought it would be and once I reached the second half of the book, I got on a roll and couldn't put it down.
Will also note, the main character has the hots for her best friend's sister, so there is some LGBTQ+ rep, though romance is definitely not part of the main storyline. It's more of a sidebar.
January 10, 2025
The Assassin's Guide to Babysitting by Natalie C. Parker is everything I hoped for and so much more. This superpowered adventure delivers on its promise of thrilling action, quirky shenanigans, and nail-biting suspense while weaving in themes of identity, found family, and trust. It’s an absolute page-turner that kept me hooked from start to finish.
Tru is a fantastic protagonist, and I loved how the story unfolded not just her character but also the world around her. The way the world and its Talents were revealed throughout the book felt natural and immersive, pulling me deeper into the story. Tru’s backstory, glimpsed through her reflections and Logan’s teachings, added depth to her character and gave me a better understanding of why she’s so determined and guarded. Her journey is thrilling and emotional, balancing high-stakes action with moments of vulnerability and self-discovery.
The supporting cast is just as strong. Tru’s friend group and the love interest brought heart and humor to the story, while also exploring what it means to have a chosen family. Logan, as her gruff yet caring adoptive parent, was another standout, and his relationship with Tru added layers to the story. The mix of heartfelt moments and high-octane suspense made this book feel fresh and well-rounded.
If you enjoy thrillers with intricate plots, rich character development, and a healthy dose of action and suspense, this book is for you. From Tru’s indestructible abilities to the chaos of babysitting gone wrong, the story balances wild adventures with meaningful relationships. The ending left me eager for more, and I sincerely hope we’ll see a sequel that dives deeper into Tru’s world and the mysteries yet to be explored.
Final Thoughts:The Assassin's Guide to Babysitting is an exhilarating read that offers everything from superhero-like action scenes to heartfelt themes of family and identity. It’s a must-read for fans of thrillers and superpower adventures. I can’t wait to see what comes next! (Again, please tell me there is a sequel coming!)
Thank you to Natalie C. Parker and Colored Pages Book Tours for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
February 6, 2025
In one word—delightful! The Assassin’s Guide to Babysitting is the superhero/villain lesbian sci-fi book I had no idea I needed, but I’m so profoundly glad that I got the chance to read it. If you loved Not Your Sidekick or Renegades, you have to check this one out immediately—I’ll be recommending this book for years to come!
Tru is a truly fantastic protagonist. Whether mourning, pining, plotting, or fighting, she has a sharp, witty voice that propels the story at a fast pace and a caring heart that made me fall in love with her and this story from page one. Parker is truly a master at crafting well-drawn and relatable characters in even the most minute details, and Tru is exactly that, made even more multidimensional by the relationships she has with the supporting cast. This book has both a brilliant friend group and one of the most caring father-daughter relationships I’ve read in years,
There are plenty of books starring supervillains or superheroes, but The Assassin’s Guide to Babysitting makes every detail feel new through its madcap execution and brilliant twists. Whatever impression of this book you have from the title is spot-on—Parker throws together the most unlikely scenarios and pulls them off with commendable ease, making even the most outrageous scenarios as natural and believable as Tru’s love of baking. The sheer normalcy and bureaucracy associated with superpowers was spot-on, and though this was a pitch-perfect standalone, I found myself wishing for a sequel to spend more time with these characters and world.
I can’t recommend The Assassin’s Guide to Babysitting highly enough—five extremely well-deserved stars!
Special thanks to Colored Pages Book Tours and Candlewick Press for the gifted copy of The Assassin’s Guide to Babysitting! All opinions expressed here are my own.
Tru is a truly fantastic protagonist. Whether mourning, pining, plotting, or fighting, she has a sharp, witty voice that propels the story at a fast pace and a caring heart that made me fall in love with her and this story from page one. Parker is truly a master at crafting well-drawn and relatable characters in even the most minute details, and Tru is exactly that, made even more multidimensional by the relationships she has with the supporting cast. This book has both a brilliant friend group and one of the most caring father-daughter relationships I’ve read in years,
There are plenty of books starring supervillains or superheroes, but The Assassin’s Guide to Babysitting makes every detail feel new through its madcap execution and brilliant twists. Whatever impression of this book you have from the title is spot-on—Parker throws together the most unlikely scenarios and pulls them off with commendable ease, making even the most outrageous scenarios as natural and believable as Tru’s love of baking. The sheer normalcy and bureaucracy associated with superpowers was spot-on, and though this was a pitch-perfect standalone, I found myself wishing for a sequel to spend more time with these characters and world.
I can’t recommend The Assassin’s Guide to Babysitting highly enough—five extremely well-deserved stars!
Special thanks to Colored Pages Book Tours and Candlewick Press for the gifted copy of The Assassin’s Guide to Babysitting! All opinions expressed here are my own.
February 19, 2025
I enjoy Natalie Parker's writing style; it's super readable and her stories flow so well. This was a cute adventure novel that I won't remember too much of in the long run, but I had fun with it while reading. It's super short in that way that makes me feel the publisher declared it YA and thus should be X amount of pages and things had to be cut that could've made it a bit stronger and less rote. Though for an actual young adult (whose attention span may also be shorter than mine) who enjoys these types of stories but doesn't have as much exposure, it may feel fresher and be the exact right length.
The way it is written it would make for a fun movie-of-the-week, more mature Disney Channel movie of the early 2000s; it was all very cinematic and easy to picture. I love that Parker dedicated the book to Keanu Reeves because she thinks he'd be perfect to play Logan, lol. I did appreciate that bit of head-casting!
The way it is written it would make for a fun movie-of-the-week, more mature Disney Channel movie of the early 2000s; it was all very cinematic and easy to picture. I love that Parker dedicated the book to Keanu Reeves because she thinks he'd be perfect to play Logan, lol. I did appreciate that bit of head-casting!
June 5, 2025
YA Fantasy with grit, grief, and slow-burning depth
This story starts off feeling like a typical Wattpad-esque YA fantasy—with familiar tropes, quirky superpowered teens, and a secretive shadow world—but give it time, and it slowly deepens into something more emotionally resonant. Tru, our reluctant heroine, is tough, flawed, and deeply shaped by loss. The themes of grief, survival, and trust are layered well through sharp one-liners and thoughtful memories, especially from Logan—a mentor figure whose presence lingers throughout.
The world-building is sometimes clunky, with info-dumps and too-frequent background reveals, but the relationships and character arcs keep it grounded. Think Arcane vibes meets secret society drama. The pacing struggles in places, but the emotional payoff lands.
If you're patient with it, you might find more heart beneath the chaos than expected.
This story starts off feeling like a typical Wattpad-esque YA fantasy—with familiar tropes, quirky superpowered teens, and a secretive shadow world—but give it time, and it slowly deepens into something more emotionally resonant. Tru, our reluctant heroine, is tough, flawed, and deeply shaped by loss. The themes of grief, survival, and trust are layered well through sharp one-liners and thoughtful memories, especially from Logan—a mentor figure whose presence lingers throughout.
The world-building is sometimes clunky, with info-dumps and too-frequent background reveals, but the relationships and character arcs keep it grounded. Think Arcane vibes meets secret society drama. The pacing struggles in places, but the emotional payoff lands.
If you're patient with it, you might find more heart beneath the chaos than expected.
October 1, 2025
What a great YA thriller!! LOVED IT! A community of X-Men like "talents" trying to survive in "underhill" a secret world that keeps them safe from those typical people who don't know they exist. Only there is one particular and rare talent that all talents fear and are hunted, and a group of teens are trying to safeguard one of these precious ones. I can't say much else without giving away spoilers, but I really loved the originality of this story. The writing is good, the friendships are relatable, the found family theme is heartwarming, the romance is endearing, the adventure is fun, the danger is exciting, and the cliff hanger left me wanting more! I will e recommending this book repeatedly in the future!!
April 1, 2025
Ok this was delightful! It's my first Natalie C. Parker book but definitely will not be my last. It was a one sitting page turner and I really hope there will be more to come in this universe.
Tru (MC) and her friends are the the kind of characters that makes you care from the start. It's a sweet found family story full of action and adventure against appropriate YA villains.
I did the audiobook version because I just love Jeremy Carlisle Parker's narrations. This one does not disappoint in that regard.
My only knock against the book is that I wish there had been just a little more character and world building at the beginning. BECAUSE I did the audio version, I could not easily go back and review details that went by so fast at the start that I didn't fully comprehend them.
Tru (MC) and her friends are the the kind of characters that makes you care from the start. It's a sweet found family story full of action and adventure against appropriate YA villains.
I did the audiobook version because I just love Jeremy Carlisle Parker's narrations. This one does not disappoint in that regard.
My only knock against the book is that I wish there had been just a little more character and world building at the beginning. BECAUSE I did the audio version, I could not easily go back and review details that went by so fast at the start that I didn't fully comprehend them.
February 22, 2025
3.5 ★
This wasn't what I was expecting when I read the synopsis but I'm pleasantly surprised. I thought it was a good read with an interesting plot without making it too heavy. I did feel like the world-building could have been better considering how important the idea of special abilities is in the society. It didn't help the plot twist's case in seeming believable. I didn't find myself caring that much for the romance since they had legit three scenes together and then tried to convince me they were in love. If there's a sequel I would read it though.
This wasn't what I was expecting when I read the synopsis but I'm pleasantly surprised. I thought it was a good read with an interesting plot without making it too heavy. I did feel like the world-building could have been better considering how important the idea of special abilities is in the society. It didn't help the plot twist's case in seeming believable. I didn't find myself caring that much for the romance since they had legit three scenes together and then tried to convince me they were in love. If there's a sequel I would read it though.
April 27, 2025
Very fun read. Not perfect, could use less derpy romance though it was needed for some plot points, but overall it kept drawing me back. Would recommend!
June 23, 2025
Middle school appropriate. A good mix of your classic hero with special powers growing up in hiding and also the power of strong friendships.
September 24, 2025
Okay....WOW....I was not expecting this....not expecting so much WOW. 10/10 badassery.
July 17, 2025
Simply put: Keanu Reeves/John Wick fan fiction for teens. Amazing, I love the concept and the main character was likable without being a martyr. It is great, read it!
April 8, 2025
Man who knew assassins could make you teary eyed?? This book was more touching than I thought it would be! Highly recommend!!!!
February 18, 2025
Overall, this was a pretty good book. I loved following the characters adventures. This book was very well thought out, through all the different details. The ending was good, and I definitely need a sequel now! I would love to see what happens with the baby, as well as the main character. I liked seeing how all the different characters were willing to help the main character with whatever she needed. Although a few parts were a bit odd, I liked seeing how they made it out.
February 28, 2025
“Because knowledge is power. And there are people in this world who want to control both.”
I adored The Assassin’s Guide to Babysitting. I was so hooked since the ebook’s first pages that I bought the audio to be able to keep discovering this (addictive) story without any delays and listened to it in one go.
It is first –of course– a coming of age story (like most YA books), but I loved that the found family in there is one of the most important components as Tru was adopted then needs the help of all her friends during her adventures. The theme of (self) acceptance –about getting to know what you don’t and scares you because of that lack of knowledge– is another developed one, and I loved that ostracised people are the most powerful here. That book was a great metaphor about what it is to feel different, to have to mask who (what) you really are because of people’s prejudices, and how your differences can become an addition to Society if these same people learn to look at you differently (without their own standards). We need more books like that, especially fun books like this one (Baby Thea was the perfect ambassador, and most of the cute and funny scenes include her, as much as meaningful ones –but … I don’t want to spoil).
I wish Tru and Lila’s romance wasn’t secondary, but it was cute and important to the plot (and would have probably slowed down both the plot and the pacing).
(also the end… I hope it DOES mean that some kind of sequel is planned… pretty please?)
Thank you Natalie C. Parker, Colored Black Pages and Candlewick Press for the eARC. My opinions are my own.
I adored The Assassin’s Guide to Babysitting. I was so hooked since the ebook’s first pages that I bought the audio to be able to keep discovering this (addictive) story without any delays and listened to it in one go.
It is first –of course– a coming of age story (like most YA books), but I loved that the found family in there is one of the most important components as Tru was adopted then needs the help of all her friends during her adventures. The theme of (self) acceptance –about getting to know what you don’t and scares you because of that lack of knowledge– is another developed one, and I loved that ostracised people are the most powerful here. That book was a great metaphor about what it is to feel different, to have to mask who (what) you really are because of people’s prejudices, and how your differences can become an addition to Society if these same people learn to look at you differently (without their own standards). We need more books like that, especially fun books like this one (Baby Thea was the perfect ambassador, and most of the cute and funny scenes include her, as much as meaningful ones –but … I don’t want to spoil).
I wish Tru and Lila’s romance wasn’t secondary, but it was cute and important to the plot (and would have probably slowed down both the plot and the pacing).
(also the end… I hope it DOES mean that some kind of sequel is planned… pretty please?)
Thank you Natalie C. Parker, Colored Black Pages and Candlewick Press for the eARC. My opinions are my own.
March 31, 2025
(3.5)
as far as янґедалтики go, цей – справді хороший. тут класний сеттинг та світоустрій, переконлива романтична лінія, справді захопливий сюжет та доладний пригодницький вайб з дійсно відчутною напругою. мені вкрай сподобалось те, що всі основні персонаж_ки тут поводились достатньо реалістично, а тим паче вже беручи до уваги ту непересічну ситуацію, в якій вони опинились. утім, найбільшою перлинкою для мене тут все ж лишились саме стосунки тру з лоґаном – їхні флешбеки відверто трощили мені душу.
з мінусів можу згадати лиш хирляву й anticlimactic мотивацію головної антагоністки (чи пак – її зображення), а усі інші сумнівні моменти були доречною й органічною частиною оповіді (і просто мені особисто не прийшли до смаку).
з задоволенням колись цю історію за нагоди переслухаю!
as far as янґедалтики go, цей – справді хороший. тут класний сеттинг та світоустрій, переконлива романтична лінія, справді захопливий сюжет та доладний пригодницький вайб з дійсно відчутною напругою. мені вкрай сподобалось те, що всі основні персонаж_ки тут поводились достатньо реалістично, а тим паче вже беручи до уваги ту непересічну ситуацію, в якій вони опинились. утім, найбільшою перлинкою для мене тут все ж лишились саме стосунки тру з лоґаном – їхні флешбеки відверто трощили мені душу.
з мінусів можу згадати лиш хирляву й anticlimactic мотивацію головної антагоністки (чи пак – її зображення), а усі інші сумнівні моменти були доречною й органічною частиною оповіді (і просто мені особисто не прийшли до смаку).
з задоволенням колись цю історію за нагоди переслухаю!
February 3, 2025
I'm not usually into YA, but the synopsis of a babysitter having to protect their charge using their special powers had me hooked. Just gonna add here for the girlies who come to check on the spice level, it's looow spice. As in, a couple of heated kisses close to the end is all you are getting. Which is about what I'd expect of a YA book honestly.
****spoilers ahead****
17 year old Tru attends a special school for people with superpowers they call Talents. Grouped by their powers of super strength, super speed, super precision, and lesser known of self exploding powers. Tru and her uncle/adopted father Logan train her in secret and hide the fact that she has ALL the powers plus rapid healing powers (known as Bastions), that due to a rogue Talent of lore, is deemed too powerful and must be detained/monitored if found. To give her a "normal" childhood, they keep her Talent a secret to stay safe.
That night, Tru is assiting her friend Sash babysit a toddler. Her Talents are tested when someone attempts to kidnap the toddler.
Logan attempts to find out why the baby was a target, and Tru asks for her 4 best friends help with baby duty/care while he's gone.
When he's out, a bounty is called for Logan, naming him the killer of the toddlers parents and the toddler. Knowing this is untrue, the foursome decide to get to the bottom of the matter and uncover who is behind the whole mess. Under attack, Logan is killed trying to give them time to escape, putting even more importance on finding whoever is behind this and staying safe.
While cooking in a safe house, Tru's friends have a minor accident which should have hurt the baby, however no mark is left on her. They figure out the baby has the feared Bastion powers and that's why she was targeted.
The foursome figure that orders like these could only come from the top, however finding someone to help them put a stop to it puts them in several difficult situations. Not helping is the fact that her best friend's older sis, whom Tru has a hard crush on is one of the ones chasing them. With nowhere else to turn, they explain their situation to her and she in turn takes them to her mentor and someone who may be able to help.
The culmination of the story is a real twist and I won't give THAT spoiler here, but as a true crime fan that can usually spot the villain, this one got me!
Kudos to the writing and pacing, this one is one I'll gladly share as a YA or sci-fi/fantasy recommendation. I'll also keep a lookout fir this author too, I can't wait for the next offering!
****spoilers ahead****
17 year old Tru attends a special school for people with superpowers they call Talents. Grouped by their powers of super strength, super speed, super precision, and lesser known of self exploding powers. Tru and her uncle/adopted father Logan train her in secret and hide the fact that she has ALL the powers plus rapid healing powers (known as Bastions), that due to a rogue Talent of lore, is deemed too powerful and must be detained/monitored if found. To give her a "normal" childhood, they keep her Talent a secret to stay safe.
That night, Tru is assiting her friend Sash babysit a toddler. Her Talents are tested when someone attempts to kidnap the toddler.
Logan attempts to find out why the baby was a target, and Tru asks for her 4 best friends help with baby duty/care while he's gone.
When he's out, a bounty is called for Logan, naming him the killer of the toddlers parents and the toddler. Knowing this is untrue, the foursome decide to get to the bottom of the matter and uncover who is behind the whole mess. Under attack, Logan is killed trying to give them time to escape, putting even more importance on finding whoever is behind this and staying safe.
While cooking in a safe house, Tru's friends have a minor accident which should have hurt the baby, however no mark is left on her. They figure out the baby has the feared Bastion powers and that's why she was targeted.
The foursome figure that orders like these could only come from the top, however finding someone to help them put a stop to it puts them in several difficult situations. Not helping is the fact that her best friend's older sis, whom Tru has a hard crush on is one of the ones chasing them. With nowhere else to turn, they explain their situation to her and she in turn takes them to her mentor and someone who may be able to help.
The culmination of the story is a real twist and I won't give THAT spoiler here, but as a true crime fan that can usually spot the villain, this one got me!
Kudos to the writing and pacing, this one is one I'll gladly share as a YA or sci-fi/fantasy recommendation. I'll also keep a lookout fir this author too, I can't wait for the next offering!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews