Watching You

by Kate Anslinger

Allie Winslow has hit rock bottom.

At forty-two, she’s newly divorced, stuck in a job she’s wildly overqualified for, and struggling to rebuild a life that feels like it’s already passed her by. Her ex-husband has moved on to a younger, vibrant woman who can give him the one thing Allie never could: a child. Everywhere she turns, Allie is reminded of what she’s lost and what she’ll never have.

Determined to take back control, she makes a simple New Year’s resolution: reinvent herself. It starts at the gym—where she encounters Julia Parker. Julia is everything Allie isn’t: effortlessly beautiful, confident, and composed. Her life appears flawless, both in person and online. To Allie, Julia isn’t just inspiring; she’s aspirational.

So, Allie starts watching her. At first, it’s harmless—just a follow on social media and a glance across the gym. But fascination quickly turns into obsession, and Allie's quiet comparisons lead her down a dangerous path.

What begins as a chance encounter evolves into an unexpected friendship, and for the first time in years, Allie feels seen, chosen. But as their bond deepens, small inconsistencies and contradictions begin to emerge.

What happens when the line between admiration and obsession blurs?

271 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 26, 2026

About the author

Kate is the author of the Grace McKenna Mystery series and The Town Series. She’s also penned several standalone novels and co-authored a nonfiction book or two. In addition to her life as a novelist, Kate is a ghostwriter, book coach, and a veteran of the United States Air Force. Her debut novel Saving Jason, touches upon the struggles of PTSD, a topic that is near and dear to her heart. Kate lives on the North Shore of Boston with her husband, two daughters and golden retriever pup.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watching You
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kate Anslinger

Wow! What a ride! So many twists and turns and is really going to make me think about social media from a different perspective.

The friendship between Allie and Julia made me think about realizing life shown on social media isn’t always as it’s portrayed!

Every book I’ve read of Kate Anslinger has been a banger!

[Lacey Fatura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay this was a journey of plot twists and character turns you do not see coming! I felt on the edge of my seat from the start. The more you get into the story the more puzzle pieces you feel come together until you’re thrown for a loop! I thought I had it all figured out and BAM I was wrong which I love in a thriller! Absolute thriller perfection 👌

Also, love that the elements that are in this book could easily happen in real life which makes it even more impressionable!

[Kelsey Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the privilege of arc reading this amazing book! From the beginning the prologue sucks you in!!! The whole time I thought I had everything figured out and bam plot twist!!!! If you love a good thriller where you don’t see the ending coming this is your book!!! Add to your TBR 🖤🖤

[Tracy Bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★★ 5 Stars

I went into Watching You completely blind, and honestly, that made this psychological thriller even better. From the very beginning, I was hooked by Allie’s story. After going through a divorce after seven years, losing her finance job, and being forced to start over in a small apartment, she’s at one of the lowest points in her life and just trying to rebuild herself from the ground up.

When Allie befriends a beautiful influencer who seems to have the perfect life online, things start to take a darker turn. The more Allie gets pulled into her world, the more she realizes that social media perfection can hide some very ugly truths. What starts as a friendship slowly becomes something much deeper and far more dangerous.

This book did such a great job exploring loneliness, manipulation, online personas, and the pressure of appearances. I loved how tense and emotional the story became as the layers started peeling back. The suspense kept building until the life-changing events at the end completely pulled me in.

If you love psychological thrillers with messy lives, toxic friendships, secrets behind social media fame, and characters that feel incredibly real, this is one I absolutely recommend.

[Destin Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another banger from the Queen of Plot Twists, Kate Anslinger! I had the honor of ARC reading Watching You, and from the very first pages, I was hooked. The prologue alone delivers a twist right out the gate…honestly, SUCH A LEGEND!!! This book is a nonstop ride, packed with twists and turns that keep you questioning everything. In true Kate fashion, EVERYONE is a suspect… but never in the way you expect. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, she pulls the rug out from under you in the best way. It’s like a sleight of hand magic trick, you’re looking one way while the real twist is happening right in front of you. The character development really stood out to me too. Each character feels layered and intentional, which makes it so easy to get pulled into the story and start second-guessing everyone. You’re not just reading the book, you’re fully invested, trying to piece it all together. The plot is gripping, and the twists are even better. Watching You absolutely deserves a spot on everyone’s radar, it’s a must read! At this point, I’ve come to expect being completely consumed by a Kate Anslinger book, and once again, she delivered!

[Marla Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate writes another twisty banger!! 🏆Thank you for the ARC Kate! I loved how relatable Allie was and how I could empathize with her character.

The prologue is a must read and I kept it in mind while reading. It was a great way to start off right out of the gate😉Loved discovering all the hidden connections as I read further.

I felt the emotions Allie went through. I understood her need to please, her willingness to help, her loyalty, her insecurity, her devotion to her friend. It’s hard to write this without spoilers! One of the best parts is how all questions were answered at the end 🤗 I loved how we are given all of Julia’s side and perspective!

Nothing is always as it seems, especially on social media. Very clever and multiple twists!!! Great job Kate! 🩵 5 🌟 ALSO….THAT COVER IS FIRE! 🔥 👏🏼👏🏼

[Heather Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was an amazing psychological mind game that has twists and turns and continually keeps you guessing. I finished it in two days, it was so hard to put down.
This story reads like a movie and I could seriously see this story playing out in the real world with how the crazy this world is.
One girl so desperate to turn her world around from a recent divorce and a stagnant job, she befriends a woman that she holds to a higher standard and would like to be more like. Little did she know her world would soon take a huge turn that may change her future forever, all because of trusting a new friend.
Things are not always as they seem and people are not always who they say they are.
I highly recommend this book and any of this authors other books.

[Chellsvibes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as an ARC and this was an easy five-star for me.

I went into this not trying to figure anything out, and I’m so glad I didn’t because I never would have seen that twist coming. The way everything comes together at the end completely caught me off guard.

What stood out the most for me was the feeling throughout the book. There’s this constant sense of being watched and not really knowing what’s real, and it makes the whole story feel unsettling in a way that keeps you reading.

This is one of those books where you think you understand what’s happening, but you really don’t, and that’s what made it so enjoyable.

If you like thrillers that keep you guessing and pull everything together in a way you don’t expect, this one definitely delivers.

This was an ARC, and these are my honest thoughts

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTkpGAUXg/

[Amber B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Kate Anslinger for an advanced copy of her upcoming release, “Watching You”.

Please excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor. Wow! What a twisty rollercoaster ride of a thriller! This is a very unique tale of obsession that explores how easy it can be to dig into a person’s life on social media. The prologue gives you a small insight into the ending, but it absolutely couldn't prepare me for what actually happens!

I have to say that I think this new book officially tops my list of favorites that Kate has written. I thought I had an idea of what was actually happening and of course, Kate pulled the rug out from under me and proved me wrong yet again.

[Katie England · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Watching You by Kate Anslinger and I really loved this book. It kept me interested from beginning to end, and the suspense made it hard to put down. The story had me constantly trying to figure out what was happening and who I could trust. Near the end, I was completely surprised by what happened. The plot twist was so unexpected and changed everything I thought I knew about the story. I love books that make me rethink everything, and this one definitely did that. If you enjoy mystery and suspense with surprising twists, I would highly recommend this book.

[Lisa R, · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allie is at rock bottom after her divorce. She’s unhappy with her life, her looks, her job… everything. Then she meets Julia at the gym and slowly becomes obsessed with her. What starts as admiration turns into stalking, lies, secrets, and so much manipulation.

This book had me hooked the whole time. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, something else happened. Super addictive psychological thriller with messy characters and toxic friendships. I could not put it down.

[Hillary McGuckin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Anslinger has quickly become a must read author for me. This book was twisty and I love a female psychopath. No spoilers in this review. I only had one loose end with a side character. I thought this person was involved the whole book!! Excellent psychological thriller!

Thank you to the author for giving me an ARC of this book.

[Kelley D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Moly! If you love twisty, turny plots, this is the one for you! Kate has such a talent for leading you down one path only to flip the story on you. Not just once, but multiple times. I could not put it down because I was afraid, I’d miss something in the storyline. This story would be a great TV-Movie!

[Tish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew this was going to be a good one, don't ask me how I knew, I just did. And of course, I was right.

Talk about a page turner!! I was kept on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Just when I thought I knew what was going on, something would happen that would change everything I thought I knew.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a banger. It has the "unputdownable" factor. Fast paced, curiosity provoking, and grabs you from the jump. The link in characters is something I truly did not see coming. Thank you for another twisty one. Wonderful addition to my vacation reading 📚!

[Krissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book by Kate that twisted in a way I didn't expect. The lengths that one character went through to manipulate everyone in her life is astounding. This book is a good reminder to not trust what you see on social media and you never truly know someone (even family).

[Kim Seay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun and twisty thriller! The games these characters play will give you whiplash! I gave this a 4.5 and would definitely recommend to my thriller loving readers.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not want to put this book down! I never would have guessed the way all the characters tied together in the end!!

I've never been a huge thriller fan but I love Kate's books!

Thank you Kate for allowing me to be part of your ARC team again!!