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Watch Your Back
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer...
Kara is starting the school year without her best friend, Eden — who’s now way too busy with her new boyfriend.
Enter a girl from her year with no friends. Kara finds herself drawn to her but the more Kara hangs around with Romilly, the more unsettling things start to happen.
There's the break into her locker... the silent cold calls... and more. But can Kara be sure it's Romilly who is derailing her life?
One thing is for sure. Someone is targeting Kara, and if she doesn't work out why, who knows what they will do next...
A nail-biting teen thriller, perfect for fans of Karen McManus, Natasha Preston, and `We Were Liars´.
Former journalist Sue Wallman, now a secondary school librarian, is an award-winning author and one of the UK's top teen thriller writers. Her debut featured in the WHSmith/Zoella book club.
Kara is starting the school year without her best friend, Eden — who’s now way too busy with her new boyfriend.
Enter a girl from her year with no friends. Kara finds herself drawn to her but the more Kara hangs around with Romilly, the more unsettling things start to happen.
There's the break into her locker... the silent cold calls... and more. But can Kara be sure it's Romilly who is derailing her life?
One thing is for sure. Someone is targeting Kara, and if she doesn't work out why, who knows what they will do next...
A nail-biting teen thriller, perfect for fans of Karen McManus, Natasha Preston, and `We Were Liars´.
Former journalist Sue Wallman, now a secondary school librarian, is an award-winning author and one of the UK's top teen thriller writers. Her debut featured in the WHSmith/Zoella book club.
Audible Audio
Published January 29, 2026
22 people are currently reading
209 people want to read
About the author
Sue Wallman
11 books287 followersFrom eight to eighteen years, I lived in Highcliffe, Christchurch, on the south coast of England. Before that we lived in various places, including a hospital in York where my dad was a psychiatrist.
After Oxford Brookes University (I was one of the first people to do their publishing degree), I became a magazine journalist. A couple of years later, I went to live in Paris where I was editorial assistant for an American newspaper. Eventually, I returned to England via travelling around South America. I now live near Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey.
I love words. I've been a sub-editor, letters page editor and deputy features editor. In my spare time I've always written different types of fiction. In January 2007 I decided to stop faffing about and take seriously the one thing I'd wanted to achieve all my life. Five books and eight years later, I signed a book deal. Then, in May 2016, Lying About Last Summer, my debut novel, was published.
After Oxford Brookes University (I was one of the first people to do their publishing degree), I became a magazine journalist. A couple of years later, I went to live in Paris where I was editorial assistant for an American newspaper. Eventually, I returned to England via travelling around South America. I now live near Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey.
I love words. I've been a sub-editor, letters page editor and deputy features editor. In my spare time I've always written different types of fiction. In January 2007 I decided to stop faffing about and take seriously the one thing I'd wanted to achieve all my life. Five books and eight years later, I signed a book deal. Then, in May 2016, Lying About Last Summer, my debut novel, was published.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 18, 2026
So many trigger warnings needed!
I found this a particularly difficult and disturbing read and I’m not sure how easy this would be for a YA reader. Most topics are pertinent and realistic, and that’s what makes this so challenging to read. Friendship, bullying, family dynamics and relationships underpin this novel. The author does an excellent job of bringing all these issues to the fore without the usual angles of cyber bullying or excessive reliance on social media. I did find it long winded in places but I’m also not the target demographic for the novel.
Overall, a gut-wrenching, emotionally charged read.
I found this a particularly difficult and disturbing read and I’m not sure how easy this would be for a YA reader. Most topics are pertinent and realistic, and that’s what makes this so challenging to read. Friendship, bullying, family dynamics and relationships underpin this novel. The author does an excellent job of bringing all these issues to the fore without the usual angles of cyber bullying or excessive reliance on social media. I did find it long winded in places but I’m also not the target demographic for the novel.
Overall, a gut-wrenching, emotionally charged read.
September 22, 2025
Content warnings: violence, physical injury, bullying
3.5 stars
I've read several of Wallman's books now and I think this might be my least favourite? Not because there's anything WRONG with the story, just because it was a little slower paced on the mystery front and the big reveal came completely out of the blue in an extremely weird way and I still, days after finishing it, don't know how I feel about it.
Despite all of that, it was still very readable. So...that's something?
3.5 stars
I've read several of Wallman's books now and I think this might be my least favourite? Not because there's anything WRONG with the story, just because it was a little slower paced on the mystery front and the big reveal came completely out of the blue in an extremely weird way and I still, days after finishing it, don't know how I feel about it.
Despite all of that, it was still very readable. So...that's something?
March 29, 2025
This was an amazing book, I loved the friendship and I think what really sold the book for me was the fact that there was a lot of stuff that I can relate to in it like starting her GCSEs and that she’s a similar age to me. There were also a lot of characters who had the same names as people I know in real life which made it even more realistic.
April 15, 2025
I remember reading Sue's first two novels (and loving them) when they first came out so reading this felt very nostalgic. I loved the setting of the book - it REALLY brought me back to Teddington and teenage friendship dynamics. Can't wait for the next one!
Sophie Wallman your mum’s the goat.
Sophie Wallman your mum’s the goat.
March 31, 2025
Thank you for @scholastic_uk for sending me a copy of this book, I really enjoyed this one.
Kara has gone back into the new school year minus her friend Eden, who now has a boyfriend and a whole new set of friends. Kara is feeling lonely and missing her friend. She develops a new friendship with Romilly, the weird girl in her year that no one seems to like. Initially she’s happy to have a friend again, someone to do things with. However, the longer she spends with her she starts to become concerned about Romilly’s behaviours. She’s dressing more and more like Kara, changes her hair like hers, there’s strange things happening like a break in to her locker, things going missing. Someone is targeting Kara, and she needs to work out why before something more serious happens.
This kicks off with Kara having been accused of GBH and taken in by the police. You then go back from chapter one to the start of the story and the book then tells the story of how she got to that point. You’re gripped from the start as to why this teenage girl has been accused of such a thing.
The tension in this book really builds. It’s lots of little things, strange occurrences, unsettling behaviours little accidents that make you feel more and more on edge.
You start to question things, you are left wondering is Kara just being paranoid? Reading into things too much? Or is there something more sinister going on.
I liked the theme of friendships. It reminded me of friendships from when I was at school. How you can easily fall out, but the loneliness of not being in one of the key groups. It was nice to see some of Kara’s friendships develop. However, you also really felt her loss and grief over her friendship with Eden and I think we’ve all been through that feeling of losing a friend and not being sure why.
The twist really surprised me, it was a great reveal and I didn’t guess this at all. This is a great YA thriller, easy to read, tense and has made me want to read more from this author.
Kara has gone back into the new school year minus her friend Eden, who now has a boyfriend and a whole new set of friends. Kara is feeling lonely and missing her friend. She develops a new friendship with Romilly, the weird girl in her year that no one seems to like. Initially she’s happy to have a friend again, someone to do things with. However, the longer she spends with her she starts to become concerned about Romilly’s behaviours. She’s dressing more and more like Kara, changes her hair like hers, there’s strange things happening like a break in to her locker, things going missing. Someone is targeting Kara, and she needs to work out why before something more serious happens.
This kicks off with Kara having been accused of GBH and taken in by the police. You then go back from chapter one to the start of the story and the book then tells the story of how she got to that point. You’re gripped from the start as to why this teenage girl has been accused of such a thing.
The tension in this book really builds. It’s lots of little things, strange occurrences, unsettling behaviours little accidents that make you feel more and more on edge.
You start to question things, you are left wondering is Kara just being paranoid? Reading into things too much? Or is there something more sinister going on.
I liked the theme of friendships. It reminded me of friendships from when I was at school. How you can easily fall out, but the loneliness of not being in one of the key groups. It was nice to see some of Kara’s friendships develop. However, you also really felt her loss and grief over her friendship with Eden and I think we’ve all been through that feeling of losing a friend and not being sure why.
The twist really surprised me, it was a great reveal and I didn’t guess this at all. This is a great YA thriller, easy to read, tense and has made me want to read more from this author.
February 10, 2026
This book was Amazing! At first I thought Romilly was a creepy stalker girl… but turns out not! When Will was going to kill Kara… I basically freaked out! But in the end, it all turned out nicely! Thank you for the thrilling read Sue Wallman!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2026
When Kara's best friend, Eden, gets a new boyfriend she completely ghosts her and Kara doesn't understand what she's done wrong. She's all alone until the school outcast, Romilly, defends her against a bully. But then strange and unsettling things start to happen - her locker is broken into, someone keeps calling her and hanging up, then the situation escalates and someone gets hurt. The only new person in Kara's life is Romilly, but is she really the one targeting her or is she just desperate to make a friend?
I really enjoyed the structure of the book - the story begins when Kara is charged with grievous bodily harm, but we don't know the victim, and then Kara recounts the events that led up to her arrest. This is a book about friendship dynamics and Sue Wallman is deft and insightful on the psychology of teenage friendships. (I'm sure working as a secondary school librarian has helped with that.) 'Watch Your Back' is a gripping, twisty thriller that is still somehow completely authentic and relatable, and evokes empathy for all of the characters - however badly they are behaving. The ending is entirely unpredictable and completely satisfying.
I read 'Watch Your Back' with my KS3 book club over six weeks, under the agreement that we would not read ahead of the allocated pages, which meant that we could have week-by-week discussions on how the plot was developing and what our theories were. (Nobody guessed the ending!) Amongst other book club activities, we had a lot of fun 'designing a friend' (either a healthy or toxic friendship) including common interests and annoying habits. One book clubber also exhaustively looked up the meanings behind all the characters' names to verify that they suited their personalities - an author's dream reader! And now we're all looking forward to Sue's upcoming author visit and thriller-witing workshop.
I really enjoyed the structure of the book - the story begins when Kara is charged with grievous bodily harm, but we don't know the victim, and then Kara recounts the events that led up to her arrest. This is a book about friendship dynamics and Sue Wallman is deft and insightful on the psychology of teenage friendships. (I'm sure working as a secondary school librarian has helped with that.) 'Watch Your Back' is a gripping, twisty thriller that is still somehow completely authentic and relatable, and evokes empathy for all of the characters - however badly they are behaving. The ending is entirely unpredictable and completely satisfying.
I read 'Watch Your Back' with my KS3 book club over six weeks, under the agreement that we would not read ahead of the allocated pages, which meant that we could have week-by-week discussions on how the plot was developing and what our theories were. (Nobody guessed the ending!) Amongst other book club activities, we had a lot of fun 'designing a friend' (either a healthy or toxic friendship) including common interests and annoying habits. One book clubber also exhaustively looked up the meanings behind all the characters' names to verify that they suited their personalities - an author's dream reader! And now we're all looking forward to Sue's upcoming author visit and thriller-witing workshop.
March 4, 2025
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
WATCH YOUR BACK is a thriller that plays with paranoia and steadily stacking events up into something sinister.
This book is the thriller equivalent of slow burn. The oddities start of innocuously, little things that could quite easily be dismissed as random coincidence. But the number of these events increases, as does the severity of them, leading to injury and jeopardising Kara's future. Eventually, it cannot be explained away and it becomes a race to work out why this is all happening. This all helps ramp up the tension and pacing of the book. By the end it's escalated into something incredibly dangerous, making you turn the pages, desperate to know how it ends.
It also helps explain why the adults are all so ready and willing to dismiss matters - by themselves, it seems so ordinary. I was starting to wonder if Kara was being paranoid and fixating, if she'd made it up. Was she reliable or not?
Female friendships are at the heart of this book. Kara and Eden are no longer friends, thanks to a boy. Kara is making a new friend in Romilly, but it's going strangely. I liked that the romantic interests took a back seat, focusing instead on the vulnerability and betrayal in friendship. We rarely expect friendships to fall apart, but they hurt just as much as a romantic breakup - if not more - when they do.
WATCH YOUR BACK is a thriller that plays with paranoia and steadily stacking events up into something sinister.
This book is the thriller equivalent of slow burn. The oddities start of innocuously, little things that could quite easily be dismissed as random coincidence. But the number of these events increases, as does the severity of them, leading to injury and jeopardising Kara's future. Eventually, it cannot be explained away and it becomes a race to work out why this is all happening. This all helps ramp up the tension and pacing of the book. By the end it's escalated into something incredibly dangerous, making you turn the pages, desperate to know how it ends.
It also helps explain why the adults are all so ready and willing to dismiss matters - by themselves, it seems so ordinary. I was starting to wonder if Kara was being paranoid and fixating, if she'd made it up. Was she reliable or not?
Female friendships are at the heart of this book. Kara and Eden are no longer friends, thanks to a boy. Kara is making a new friend in Romilly, but it's going strangely. I liked that the romantic interests took a back seat, focusing instead on the vulnerability and betrayal in friendship. We rarely expect friendships to fall apart, but they hurt just as much as a romantic breakup - if not more - when they do.
March 13, 2025
4.5 rounded up ✨
I absolutely raced through Watch Your Back! Sue Wallman has a real talent for creating suspense, and this book was no exception. From the very first chapter, the tension starts building, and I found myself completely absorbed in Kara’s story. The eerie messages, the unsettling feeling of being watched, and the twists and turns along the way made this such an addictive read.
Kara was a great main character—relatable, determined, and easy to root for as she tried to piece everything together. The mystery had me second-guessing myself the entire time, and just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist completely threw me off! The pacing was spot on, with short, gripping chapters that made it impossible to stop reading.
I also loved the unsettling atmosphere throughout the book. The creeping paranoia, the little details that made you feel like something was just off—it all added up to such an intense reading experience. If you love YA thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat, Watch Your Back is definitely one to add to your TBR!
📖 Grab Watch Your Back today, thank you @scholastic for the ARC! ✨
I absolutely raced through Watch Your Back! Sue Wallman has a real talent for creating suspense, and this book was no exception. From the very first chapter, the tension starts building, and I found myself completely absorbed in Kara’s story. The eerie messages, the unsettling feeling of being watched, and the twists and turns along the way made this such an addictive read.
Kara was a great main character—relatable, determined, and easy to root for as she tried to piece everything together. The mystery had me second-guessing myself the entire time, and just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist completely threw me off! The pacing was spot on, with short, gripping chapters that made it impossible to stop reading.
I also loved the unsettling atmosphere throughout the book. The creeping paranoia, the little details that made you feel like something was just off—it all added up to such an intense reading experience. If you love YA thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat, Watch Your Back is definitely one to add to your TBR!
📖 Grab Watch Your Back today, thank you @scholastic for the ARC! ✨
September 26, 2025
I really enjoyed reading Watch Your Back; it kept me riveted from start to finish.
Kara is going through a hard time at school when she is dropped by her best friend Eden. Finding herself alone, Kara is befriended by Weird Romilly but it feels like Romilly has an ulterior motive, especially when strange things start happening to Kara and her family.
Oh the paranoia and suspense is dialled to the max and I didn’t trust any of the characters, not even those in Kara’s own family. I couldn’t read fast enough to see who had it in for Kara and I didn’t guess who it was, simply because everyone was a suspect in my eyes.
I do enjoy reading YA because it’s not as dark and grisly as adult thrillers but this one really kept me on my toes and there is a huge threat of menace hanging over the whole book. I would definitely recommend reading this one - I loved it.
Kara is going through a hard time at school when she is dropped by her best friend Eden. Finding herself alone, Kara is befriended by Weird Romilly but it feels like Romilly has an ulterior motive, especially when strange things start happening to Kara and her family.
Oh the paranoia and suspense is dialled to the max and I didn’t trust any of the characters, not even those in Kara’s own family. I couldn’t read fast enough to see who had it in for Kara and I didn’t guess who it was, simply because everyone was a suspect in my eyes.
I do enjoy reading YA because it’s not as dark and grisly as adult thrillers but this one really kept me on my toes and there is a huge threat of menace hanging over the whole book. I would definitely recommend reading this one - I loved it.
April 25, 2025
Watch Your Back is a tense, gripping YA thriller that had me hooked from the very first page. I devoured it in one sitting — it's that addictive. The story is packed with plot twists that kept me constantly guessing and Wallman has a real talent for gradually building suspense. Just when I thought I had it figured out, another layer was revealed, making it impossible to put down. Wallman's writing draws you into the characters' world with just the right balance of intrigue and emotional depth.
If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller with a sharp edge and a few jaw-dropping surprises, Watch Your Back is absolutely worth a read. It’s the kind of book that makes you forget everything else around you (in the best way).
If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller with a sharp edge and a few jaw-dropping surprises, Watch Your Back is absolutely worth a read. It’s the kind of book that makes you forget everything else around you (in the best way).
July 25, 2025
Like always her books are my favourite and this is no exception! At first I was very sceptical of her new friend because of the weird rumours around her and the way the writer portrayed her as. I did actually think she was behind all theses events that were happening to her as her new friend got very strangely close and close to her family. But the fact that it was Will brought me shock because it was very unexpected but then it all added up together as this all happened when Eden and Will got together and were a couple. I was in absolute shock by this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2026
3.5/5
After Kara has a falling out with her best friend Eden and makes friends with the Romily a bunch of strange things start happening to her and her family leaving Kara trying to figure out who is terrorizing them. The plot twist genuinely had me shocked because I was not anticipating the actual antagonist once they were revealed. The reasoning for why another thing that I didn't see coming at all. The audio also adds an additional layer to it since the narrator is British and this book is set in England.
After Kara has a falling out with her best friend Eden and makes friends with the Romily a bunch of strange things start happening to her and her family leaving Kara trying to figure out who is terrorizing them. The plot twist genuinely had me shocked because I was not anticipating the actual antagonist once they were revealed. The reasoning for why another thing that I didn't see coming at all. The audio also adds an additional layer to it since the narrator is British and this book is set in England.
March 4, 2025
📚 Thank you to scholastic for sending me a copy of this book early in exchange for an honest review 📚
What a book! I’m really loving YA thrillers at the moment and this ticked all the boxes that I was looking for
Trust no one, not even your closest friends!
I read this book in one sitting, I just couldn’t put it down. I needed answers and when I tell you I wasn’t expected the big reveal!
This YA thriller was a nail-biting tale of toxic friendships and trust!
What a book! I’m really loving YA thrillers at the moment and this ticked all the boxes that I was looking for
Trust no one, not even your closest friends!
I read this book in one sitting, I just couldn’t put it down. I needed answers and when I tell you I wasn’t expected the big reveal!
This YA thriller was a nail-biting tale of toxic friendships and trust!
August 21, 2025
4.75/5 stars (18.08.2025-21.08.2025). This book is a mix of Every Word A Lie and I Know You Did It. I liked this book but I was rushing to get through it. This book is heavy in detail, especially with all the teachers names and roles I had to remember. One particular critique I have of this book is in the end where Dillon goes from hating the FMC to liking her with little to no explanation. This made no sense to me. Otherwise on the overall this book is pretty solid.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2025
I loved this book it was so good we follow Kara Fisher who attends a new school her best friend Eden left her for a boy called Will which turns out to be Kara half brother in the end I loved the relationship Kara had with Rhys and how Rhys himself was the sweetest boy who wanted to be there for Kara I think I would enjoy to read more of Ms Wallman in the near future
August 31, 2025
Personally, I think this book went a bit slow at the beginning as nothing really happened until halfway through, and I think the style of writing wasn't really for me, but then it got a whole lot better and I really loved the huge plot twists at the end. (Don't let my opinion put you off, it's a great book!)
May 3, 2025
I can’t be bothered to write a long review so I’m going to keep this one relatively brief..
Definitely a very addictive book, as all of Wallman’s books are. Exciting, with lots of plot twists
Not sure about the ending…
Loved all of the characters
Fantastic plot!!
Definitely a very addictive book, as all of Wallman’s books are. Exciting, with lots of plot twists
Not sure about the ending…
Loved all of the characters
Fantastic plot!!
July 22, 2025
Walking through Waterstones and picked this book up on a whim. And I am soooo happy that I did! This book is great from start to finish. Only 1 big twist but an amazing one indeed! Loved the ending to this book,had me grinning and kicking my feet out like a kid😂 10/10 recommend!!
August 23, 2025
Like many others, I found this book very addictive and read it in one day! An easy-to-read yet gripping YA thriller.
For me, the ending let the story down a bit as it felt rushed. Ultimately, I would’ve liked it if the impacts of the “twist” on the characters had been explored in greater detail.
For me, the ending let the story down a bit as it felt rushed. Ultimately, I would’ve liked it if the impacts of the “twist” on the characters had been explored in greater detail.
November 19, 2025
Really enjoyed this book. It was a bit slow in some places but I overall really enjoyed it. The ending was partly easy to figure out. I guessed who was stalking and harassing Kara halfway through, but the reasoning was shocking. Overall a great book that I do recommend.
April 19, 2025
I devoured this book. It was just that good
April 24, 2025
Halfway through I thought to myself ive got you figured out ik who the stalker is it turns out i was miles off. I loved this book
June 8, 2025
Great book, it is nice that there is always something going on in the friendship/ family it keeps you reading. I also very liked the plot twist at the end 🙂 overall a really great read!
October 18, 2025
Not the best but not thw worst either. Didn't expect it to be will but th story line of his wasn't the best
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2025
this was a very quick read but i didnt feel shocked at the plot twist. it just felt abit predictable unfortunately.
March 29, 2025
👭
I was very nicely welcomed home with this book from my husband @thecolour_blindartist. He said, "I saw it, and knew it'd be your kind of book," and he wasn't wrong.
👭
I've read a couple of Sue's books and have enjoyed everyone, so i knew I'd enjoy this one, too.
👭
Kara used to be bffs with Eden until Eden got a new boyfriend and pretty much ghosts Kara. Kara acknowledges she's doomed to go through high school, without any close friends, that is, until Romilly, the weird girl with no friends.
Romilly and Kara get on like a house on fire until it feels like Romilly is encroaching into Karas life, a bit too close for comfort. Someone is targeting Kara, and all clues point to Romilly...
👭
It did feel a bit obvious that Romilly was coming after Kara, but could it be a double bluff? I had no idea! However, what I really appreciated, when it's released who is the mastermind, and all is explained, the story continues afterwards, not just a happy ending with a romance or friendship, but Kara and her friends working hard to find evidence.
👭
If you're a YA fan, a Sue Wallman fan, or most likely both, I'm sure you'll enjoy this book.
👭
I was very nicely welcomed home with this book from my husband @thecolour_blindartist. He said, "I saw it, and knew it'd be your kind of book," and he wasn't wrong.
👭
I've read a couple of Sue's books and have enjoyed everyone, so i knew I'd enjoy this one, too.
👭
Kara used to be bffs with Eden until Eden got a new boyfriend and pretty much ghosts Kara. Kara acknowledges she's doomed to go through high school, without any close friends, that is, until Romilly, the weird girl with no friends.
Romilly and Kara get on like a house on fire until it feels like Romilly is encroaching into Karas life, a bit too close for comfort. Someone is targeting Kara, and all clues point to Romilly...
👭
It did feel a bit obvious that Romilly was coming after Kara, but could it be a double bluff? I had no idea! However, what I really appreciated, when it's released who is the mastermind, and all is explained, the story continues afterwards, not just a happy ending with a romance or friendship, but Kara and her friends working hard to find evidence.
👭
If you're a YA fan, a Sue Wallman fan, or most likely both, I'm sure you'll enjoy this book.
👭
February 15, 2026
…otherwise known as, a middle-class person we’re meant to feel sorry for blatantly calls an autistic kid weird for trying to be her friend.
because how did kara get to be such a cunt to everyone and STILL have friends by the end of the book? the blind faith of autistic people in neurotypicals! and how undeserved it is!
it was clearly never romilly behind any of it, but i assumed it would be alfie - the will stuff came out of absolutely nowhere, much the same as the ending of wallman’s Every Word A Lie, so it didn’t feel like a satisfying conclusion. i also found that compared to wallman’s other books and their death counts, this one was quite tame.
i know i said i’d stop picking apart trivial problems from books but i just cannot help myself with this one. “that wasn’t kind, kara. you hardly ever have to do childcare on the weekend” HELLO?? WHY WOULD SHE? SHES ALSO A CHILD? parents should not choose to create people that they don’t have the resources to care for. you can’t create another person to do that job for you. they didn’t sign up for that.
UGH.
2.5 stars.
because how did kara get to be such a cunt to everyone and STILL have friends by the end of the book? the blind faith of autistic people in neurotypicals! and how undeserved it is!
it was clearly never romilly behind any of it, but i assumed it would be alfie - the will stuff came out of absolutely nowhere, much the same as the ending of wallman’s Every Word A Lie, so it didn’t feel like a satisfying conclusion. i also found that compared to wallman’s other books and their death counts, this one was quite tame.
i know i said i’d stop picking apart trivial problems from books but i just cannot help myself with this one. “that wasn’t kind, kara. you hardly ever have to do childcare on the weekend” HELLO?? WHY WOULD SHE? SHES ALSO A CHILD? parents should not choose to create people that they don’t have the resources to care for. you can’t create another person to do that job for you. they didn’t sign up for that.
UGH.
2.5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2025
Watch Your Back is another excellent YA mystery from a defining voice in the genre.
Sue Wallman is a stalwart cornerstone of UKYA mysteries and thrillers. Every time, she delivers and this is no exception. Right from the opening page, I was hooked into Kara’s story. This is a riveting story of obsession and secrets, with escalating stakes. You think you know where it might end, but Wallman has a habit of tripping you up just when you least expect it. The mystery is gripping and flows well with increasing tension as new events unfold. I really enjoyed the twists and the themes they brought up for discussion, as they’re relevant and important for teenagers. Wallman adds layers to this, making it thought-provoking long after the final page.
Kara is a character I felt myself connecting with quickly. She is smart and driven, even though part of this comes from familial pressure rather than what she may really want. However she is isolated and lonely after her closest friend has abandoned her. I think many readers will be able to relate to that desperation for connection and the feeling of pressure stacking up on them. There is an expectation to have your life all planned out from such a young age, having a clear path to follow. Life is often not that easy or simplistic though as Kara discovers. Her unlikely friendship with Romilly comes from this desperation but can she really trust this fledgling friendship?
Watch Your Back is an entertaining read with a simmering sense of dread and suspense that boils up into a great final third.
CW: violence, injury, blackmail, animal death, gaslighting, manipulation, stalking
Sue Wallman is a stalwart cornerstone of UKYA mysteries and thrillers. Every time, she delivers and this is no exception. Right from the opening page, I was hooked into Kara’s story. This is a riveting story of obsession and secrets, with escalating stakes. You think you know where it might end, but Wallman has a habit of tripping you up just when you least expect it. The mystery is gripping and flows well with increasing tension as new events unfold. I really enjoyed the twists and the themes they brought up for discussion, as they’re relevant and important for teenagers. Wallman adds layers to this, making it thought-provoking long after the final page.
Kara is a character I felt myself connecting with quickly. She is smart and driven, even though part of this comes from familial pressure rather than what she may really want. However she is isolated and lonely after her closest friend has abandoned her. I think many readers will be able to relate to that desperation for connection and the feeling of pressure stacking up on them. There is an expectation to have your life all planned out from such a young age, having a clear path to follow. Life is often not that easy or simplistic though as Kara discovers. Her unlikely friendship with Romilly comes from this desperation but can she really trust this fledgling friendship?
Watch Your Back is an entertaining read with a simmering sense of dread and suspense that boils up into a great final third.
CW: violence, injury, blackmail, animal death, gaslighting, manipulation, stalking
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