In Their Eyes

by Simon F. Godin

Gracie Boone’s small-town life has always felt safe and comfortable. She has a doting father, a steady relationship, and a promising future at university. But the illusion of security begins to crumble the moment she moves into her new dorm room.

Before long, a motionless figure looms in the darkness outside Gracie’s window, silent and watching her in the night. But no one else sees it, and no one else believes her. Gracie’s world further unravels when she faces evidence suggesting she may have been abducted as a child by her hometown’s police chief, the man she calls Dad.

Driven by her rising paranoia, Gracie must unearth the truth about herself and determine who keeps watching her in the dark. But she has to tread lightly, as alerting her father could ruin their relationship forever, or even put her in danger.

Most of all, Gracie fears uncovering her darkest reality, that she’s been manipulated for years, and that her life is nothing more than a carefully constructed façade.

Genres: Psychological Thriller, Thriller

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 15, 2026

About the author

Simon F. Godin is a Canadian horror and psychological thriller author whose work explores dread, paranoia, and slow-burning emotional tension. Holding degrees in psychology and neuroscience, he has long been fascinated by the darker corners of human behaviour and consciousness.

His obsession with horror and storytelling began at a very young age after discovering Stephen King at eight years old, admittedly far too young. Since then, he has been drawn to stories that unsettle and linger long after the final page.

Simon wrote his debut novel, In Their Eyes, while battling blood cancer and is currently working on his second book.

Reviews

[Dozelina 666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say… this book completely surprised me.

I read a lot of psychological thrillers, and while some really work for me, a lot of them unfortunately don’t. But this one? This one genuinely got into my head.

As the blurb says, we follow Gracie as she leaves home for college and tries to navigate a completely new life: dorms, friendships, parties, studies, awkward social situations… all the usual stuff.

At first, things seem mostly normal. She slowly starts connecting with her roommate and the girls living across the hall.

Or maybe not ...

Because one night, Gracie notices someone standing outside her dorm window, just watching her. And by the time she reacts, the figure is gone.

Of course, nobody really believes her.

Honestly, at some point, even Gracie herself doesn’t know what to believe anymore.

Things get even worse when her roommate shows her something that suggests Gracie may have actually been abducted as a child.

And from there… the story absolutely spirals.

I genuinely questioned everything alongside Gracie. Was she/were we paranoid? Was she/were we having some sort of breakdown? Or was the man who raised her actually hiding something terrifying?

I honestly had no clue what to believe for a huge part of the book, and that’s exactly what made this such a strong psychological thriller for me.

The paranoia and uncertainty were done really well, and the story kept me hooked so badly that I stayed awake until 9am finishing it.

The final chapters especially became incredibly intense (I legit screamed a bit because wooow, everything escaladed super fast).

My only real criticism is that the book leans more toward slow-burn pacing, which occasionally made me wish things moved a little faster. And the ending… oh boy, ohhh boy...

I’m personally not the biggest fan of uncertain/open-style endings where multiple interpretations are possible. I KNOW some readers love that, but my Libra brain wanted clearer answers.

Still, overall, this was a really impressive debut. Well written, tense, unsettling and genuinely engaging.

⭐ 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this book early.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, Simon Godin, for providing me with an ARC on his debut novel in exchange for an honest review.

This is a psychological thriller that follows Gracie Boone as she enters her first year at University, living away from home for the first time. She is moving away from her father, who raised her, and her high school boyfriend. Even though she is seemingly in a positive relationship with both those men in her life, she starts to feel a strain from them as she’s advocating for her independence at school.
Soon after she moves into her dorm room, Gracie sees a figure staring at her outside her window before she goes to sleep. She then learns from her roommate that there is a chance Gracie could have been abducted as a child. This is where the paranoia and tension start to creep in. This is a slow burn build up to the final act where I couldn’t read through those pages fast enough!
As the reader, we are uncovering the puzzle pieces alongside Gracie; her journal giving us an insight into her perspective on what is happening as she tries to figure out her reality. Has her entire life been a lie?

This is a really well done debut novel and I am looking forward to what Simon Godin has in store for us!

Themes include: stalking, paranoia, gaslighting

[Lorelei J · Rating 4 out of 5]

review of advanced copy received from the author !

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I had so much fun reading this book! When Simon approached me, I knew that the plot was right up my alley, but what I did not expect was to become as fully invested as I was. The action started pretty swiftly, and I was constantly on the edge of my seat wondering what was going on. There were so many layers of odd events happening to our main character, but as they slowly came together I was brought further into this world and Gracie’s life. The tension surrounding everything was built well throughout and I almost couldn’t put the book down. I was even trying to figure things out with Gracie a lot of the time.
The writing style in this novel also has a way of bringing the reader in as if they were experiencing the events, which was done often through the characters themselves. The strength of Gracie’s emotions worked well with the thriller aspect and created a connection between character and reader. I truly felt stressed in her moments of fear and proud in her moments of empowerment. The characters just felt so real and close. I will also say that our main character was easy to relate to early as I’ve been in her shoes as a college freshman.
The one thing I am still on the fence about is how I feel about the ending. To keep this spoiler free, I won’t reveal specifics, but I don’t know if I enjoyed it necessarily with this story. I do often like conclusions similar to this one, but I still find myself sitting here and wanting more answers. I’m gonna let myself sit with it for a bit!
I would definitely recommend this book as well as read it again in the future! Watch out for its release on September 1, 2026! <3

[Cin (cinsnextchapter) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gracie Boone sees a hooded figure watching her from outside of her dorm room window on her very first night away from home. Everyone laughs it off except Gracie, who knows what she saw. And that’s just the beginning.

This book grabbed me immediately and did not let go. The storytelling was fantastic and I felt like I was right there in Gracie’s world for the whole ride. The chapters are on the longer side, but I barely noticed because I was so caught up in the plot.

There are several layers to the mystery, and as soon as I had one answer, I found myself racing toward the next. There were definitely some tense moments and I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough.

In Their Eyes had me turning pages way past my bedtime and I had to stop to pick my jaw up off of the floor more than once. Definitely check this one out!

[Jess Reads Horror · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received an eARC from the author and here are my honest thoughts.

Gracie is from a small town and was raised by a single dad. Upon graduation, she moved about two hours away from her home to go to college. Quickly though, she starts feeling uneasy as she notices a shadowy figure watching her. She confides in her roommate, and in turn, her roommate shows her something that completely shifts her world. Gracie doesn’t know who to trust, so she sets out on a journey to find out for herself.

4.5 stars rounded up! I was completely surprised by how this story managed to pull me in! Starting off, I was expecting a tame thriller about a college kid, more along the lines of YA and college drama. About a third of the way in though, things took a wild turn and I was completely hooked. I don’t want to spoil anything so you may need to read it to find out.

But that’s not it! The twists and revelations just keep coming, I feel like I’m getting slapped around left and right. Maybe unreliable narrator, but also, I trust no one. Everyone seems to be hiding something, and eventually the cracks start showing. Starting small with the girls across the hall, then Stephen… and yeah. Gracie is 18, but her troubles are definitely aging her prematurely.

The ending though, man! I want more! I don’t necessarily need concrete answers all the time but this is one of those times. I grew rather fond of Gracie, so I would have loved to see her get the ending she deserved, though with everything that happened… idk, life is tough.

[Bridget Thomas (Cruisingthroughpages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for sending me an advanced reading copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Possible minor spoilers (I hate spoilers so trying to keep this as spoiler free as possible).


This story completely caught me off guard. It was like I was on some crazy drug induced trip but in the best way possible. I love a good physiological thriller and this story really messes with your head. I felt like I was experiencing everything right along with Gracie. I was yelling at her and wanting to comfort her. Being able to make you feel so invested in what is happening with a character isn’t easy to do, but I found myself right there next to Gracie and we were going through this together.
The atmosphere is palpable and I immediately felt uneasy right from the start and continued to stay that way through the entire story. The sense of dread and fear was high and then that twist hit and my jaw dropped. Like what? I didn’t even think that could be a possibility!
But then again, is it? What’s even real?
My head was spinning and my thoughts were everywhere. This will leave you literally questioning everything.
And that’s my biggest complaint. I need to know! I want answers. I want an epilogue to the epilogue. Sometimes I don’t mind an ambiguous ending. But in this one, I really wanted a concrete answer. Also, I was hoping for a “reunion” so to speak. I’ll let my brain make it up I guess. But seriously, I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.

[Jason Lavoie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When people show you who they are, believe them. However, after reading In Their Eyes, I don’t know who or what to believe.

Thank you to the author, Simon F. Godin, and Eerie Pines Press for the advanced reader’s copy of In Their Eyes. This is Simon’s debut novel and will be published in September 2026.

This follows the journey of Gracie Boone as she navigates life in her first year of university in a small town yet larger than the town she was raised. After some strange occurrences, she begins to question, well, everything. Friends, family, relationships and her existence.

After reading two-thirds of this book, I began questioning those very same things. What is and isn’t real? It’s during one particular scene when it almost begins to make sense.

As an ARC reader, I’ve read books by independent authors and those more established. I find that the writing from independent authors to be significantly more polished than the more established authors. This was no exception as it was superbly written and well plotted.

This was a psychological thriller that progresses steadily from chapter to chapter. The tension doesn’t stop building even once we get to the end. As one question gets answered, you have a plethora of more questions.

It was an absolute five-star mind-bender that makes you question reality. I think it’s a testament to a great story when after reading 350+ pages you still want more.

[ThrillersDoodles · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* I’m kind of torn on rating this one. There’s a decent story here.

What I didn’t care for as much:
It is quite slow for more than the first half.
The BF Stephen enraged me as did the tolerance level for his behavior. I had a hard time looking past this. It’s a me problem.

What I liked:
The ending ramped into high gear when it found its stride and didn’t let up. The tension was palpable and the anxiety high.
There were some great clues to track and figure out.

What I was so-so on:
The ending was too vague for me. While I don’t need an HEA, I do like resolution, or at least more than I found here. It felt too open for me but I can’t say much else without it becoming a spoiler.

Thanks to the author for an advance reading copy.

[Madame Strange · Rating 5 out of 5]

“In Their Eyes” - Did I actually read this book or was it all just a big fever dream?

★★★★★

This novel messed with my head in the best possible way. I went in blind, and immediately got so invested in Gracie’s story that I can safely say I have a book hangover and I am not okay!
I boarded an emotional and psychological rollercoaster and the ride was intense and left me shook. Simon F. Godin you are on my radar, this may be your debut novel but I’m already signing myself up for whatever you write in the years to come!

(A Massive thank you to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review)

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Author

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I don’t know if I’ve ever been this conflicted about a book.

For most of its runtime, In Their Eyes felt like a five-star read.

Simon Godin accomplishes something remarkably difficult: he recreates the emotional reality of being eighteen with painful accuracy. Not the romanticized version of young adulthood, but the vulnerable one. The version where every relationship feels life-altering, every mistake feels permanent, and every decision carries more weight than it probably should.

Gracie’s anxiety became my anxiety.

The mystery surrounding her identity was compelling, but what truly impressed me was the atmosphere. The dread in this novel does not come primarily from the hooded figure outside the window. It comes from watching a young woman who struggles to trust herself navigate a world full of people who want something from her.

A controlling boyfriend. Questionable authority figures. Friends she isn’t sure she can trust. A father she desperately wants to believe in. Every chapter deepens the feeling that Gracie is missing some crucial truth about her life, and as a reader I became completely invested in helping her uncover it.

The novel is filled with clues.

Photographs with concealed dates.

Recordings.

Contradictory accounts.

Strange warnings from seemingly random people.

Suspicious behavior from nearly everyone around her.

The result is one of the most effective experiences of paranoia and uncertainty I’ve encountered in a long time. I found myself questioning every interaction and building theories constantly. The book made me feel as disoriented and obsessed as Gracie herself.

That is not a criticism.

It is one of the book’s greatest strengths.

Unfortunately, it is also why the ending frustrated me so deeply.

I have no problem with ambiguity. In fact, I often enjoy it.

But ambiguity needs to be earned.

The issue is not that the novel leaves questions unanswered. The issue is that it spends over 300 pages training the reader to engage with it as a mystery before ultimately refusing to commit to an answer.

Was Gracie Maggie?

Was she delusional?

Was Hank protecting her or manipulating her?

What was the true nature of the conspiracy surrounding her?

The novel presents evidence, contradictions, and clues as though these questions have discoverable answers. Then, at the final moment, it steps away from them.

For me, that distinction matters.

An ambiguous ending can be powerful when the story’s themes are strong enough to support the uncertainty. Here, however, the mystery is so central to the reading experience that withholding the answer felt less like thematic depth and more like narrative hesitation.

I understand the argument that the novel is ultimately about self-trust, identity, and learning to live without certainty. Those are worthwhile ideas. But after spending hundreds of pages constructing a mystery, I don’t think the ending fully earns the right to abandon it.

The most frustrating part is that everything else works.

The characterization works.

The atmosphere works.

The anxiety works.

The social dynamics work.

The gradual unraveling of reality works.

This is not a case of a bad book being saved by a clever ending. It’s a case of an excellent book being weakened by an ending that refused to make a choice.

I still recommend it.

I still think it is one of the most emotionally immersive psychological thrillers I’ve read recently.

But I closed the final page feeling less haunted by the mystery than frustrated by its refusal to resolve.

And perhaps that frustration is the greatest compliment I can give the novel.

If I didn’t care so much about Gracie, I wouldn’t still be arguing with this ending.

[Richard Quist · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've gotta tell ya, In Their Eyes by Simon F. Godin, is creepy as hell! This is also his debut novel. Let that sink in for a moment... This is a debut novel. HIS VERY FIRST ONE. The book is so well-paced, so well-written and so riveting, it feels like it came from a seasoned author with a massive back catalog of books to his credit. 

Grace Boone - Gracie to her few friends - is a freshman student at Elora University in Winding River. While not a large city, it's much larger than her hometown of Caldmore, Ontario, where she's lived with her police chief father, Hank, all her life. Moving into her residence hall marks her first time away from her hometown and her father, and she's hoping to fit in and find new friends as she majors in Psychology. 

While it's been a (long) while since I went to college, I think Bodin captured the excitement, and anxiety, of moving away from home for the first time and trying to find your place, and your people, in a new environment. Unlike my own experience, however, Gracie Boone experiences a series of unsettling events, beginning with a mysterious hooded figure watching her room from the parking lot at night, and continuing with discoveries that trigger an identity crisis, and have her questioning how safe and secure she really is. She even begins to have doubts about the people around her, including Raven, her roommate and closest friend, and starts wondering who she can really trust as her life begins to unravel around her. 

The story alternates between first person journal entries and third person narration, which works really well. We get to share Gracie's thoughts, her fears and anxieties, as she struggles to find independence, while also maintaining long distance relationships with both her father and her boyfriend, and we get to see the impact of events as they happen to and around her. This is incredibly effective in ratcheting up the tension as the story unfolds.

I'm not a book critic. I'm not a professional book reviewer. I didn't major in Literature in college. As the blog description says, I'm just a reader. Yet when I say that In Their Eyes is absolutely INCREDIBLE, I mean it. This is a tale full of surprises and shocking revelations that made it difficult to put down at night. It captivated me from the very first page. It was dark, creepy, suspenseful and disturbing, making me question who could be trusted, and what the actual truth was.   

If I hadn't known from the outset that this was Godin's debut novel I would immediately be looking to get my hands on the other books he'd written. As it stands, I'll have to wait. But I don't have to be patient about it!!! Where's your next book, Simon??? 

Thanks to the author for offering to send me the eARC of In Their Eyes to review ahead of its publication on September 1, 2026. 

Highly Recommended 

[Corinne Westbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Their Eyes is a tense psychological thriller built around paranoia, identity, and the terrifying possibility that the person who loves you most may also be the person who has trapped you. The novel follows Gracie Boone, a sheltered first-year university student whose attempt to start an independent life quickly becomes tangled in disturbing visions, missing-child clues, and the suspicion that her father has hidden the truth about who she really is.

One of the book’s strongest qualities is its atmosphere. From the beginning, the story makes Gracie’s world feel unstable. A figure outside a dorm window, a missing-girl photo that looks too familiar, strange memories that may not be memories, and a father who seems loving but controlling all work together to create a constant sense of unease. The novel is effective because it keeps the reader questioning the same things Gracie questions. Is she uncovering a real conspiracy, or is she losing her grip on reality?

Gracie is a sympathetic protagonist because her fear is mixed with guilt, loneliness, and a desperate need to trust someone. Her relationships with Raven, Stephen, Dr. Lintz, and Hank all reveal different kinds of manipulation. Raven gives her courage, Stephen undermines her confidence, Lintz crosses professional boundaries, and Hank uses love as a weapon. The book’s best emotional material comes from Gracie slowly realizing that protection can become control, and that comfort can be part of a cage.

The central mystery is compelling. The connection between Gracie and missing girl Maggie Webber gives the plot a strong hook, and the final revelations about Hank’s surveillance, Stephen’s betrayal, and the fabricated family history are genuinely unsettling. Hank is especially disturbing because he does not see himself as a monster. He justifies his control as care, which makes him feel more realistic and more frightening.

The novel also handles ambiguity well. Even after the violent climax, the ending refuses to give the reader full certainty. Gracie believes she is Maggie, and the evidence points strongly in that direction, but the book leaves a trace of doubt. That uncertainty fits the story’s themes. After so much gaslighting, Gracie cannot simply step into the truth with confidence. She has to choose to trust herself.

There are moments where the story leans heavily on twists and repeated uncertainty, and some readers may want a more definitive ending. The hallucination reveal involving Raven is intriguing, but it also asks the reader to accept a lot at once. Still, the emotional payoff works because Raven represents more than a trick. She becomes the buried version of Gracie’s identity, the part of her that refuses to disappear.

Overall, In Their Eyes is a gripping and unsettling psychological thriller with a strong sense of dread and a memorable final act. It is a story about identity, coercive love, and the courage it takes to believe your own instincts after someone has spent your life teaching you not to. The book is disturbing, fast-moving, and emotionally charged, with an ending that lingers because it does not let the reader feel completely safe.

[Dhawy Febrianti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of an advance copy received from author

No, this is the kind of book that forces me to devour my read within a day, or better yet, less than a day if it keeps my brain fully awake. If it keeps messing with my emotions through all the psychological aspects. If it keeps me curious. If it keeps shocking me with twists.

Not only does this book meet every single one of my checklist to not put it down, but every chapter keeps me busy connecting tiny little dots about what is really going on with the main character. Every chapter ending makes you stop, question everything in your mind, and then continue reading again with full pumped-up spirit.

Aside from all the questions appearing at the end of each chapter, I also caught myself constantly making theories… only to later edit those theories myself hahaha. But surprisingly, none of it gives me a headache. There’s only enjoyment and contentment slowly climbing higher and higher as the story progresses.

The story follows Gracie Boone’s journey to uncover who she really is. On the very first night staying in her university dorm room, she sees a motionless figure watching her from outside the window. Of course, no one else sees it.

As days pass, something slowly makes Gracie question her own identity. She starts believing she is not herself. That maybe she was taken away from her real parents. But how could that even happen when her dad is the chief of police in town?

With her paranoia growing stronger, Gracie loses her sense of safety. She becomes desperate to find evidence for what she believes, but doing that means taking the riskiest path of her life. And the whole time, she still has to navigate classes, toxic friendship, and a crumbling long-distance relationship all. at. once.

———

What I love the most is how the psychological tension keeps tightening without making the story feel confusing at all. I can tell, the author knows exactly how to feed little clues little by little without revealing the mystery too early. And honestly? That balance is hard to pull off.

The atmosphere also feels constantly unsettling in the best way possible. Not overly dark to the point where it exhausts you, but like I said, it’s eerie enough to make your mind stay alert the entire time.

This is absolutely the kind of psychological read that keeps whispering “just one more chapter” while your brain keeps running nonstop. Every answer only creates more questions and plants more curiosity in your mind. Suddenly, you realize you finish half the book in one sitting. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[READERSBEWARE · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Their Eyes grabbed me almost immediately because it doesn’t rely on cheap scares to create tension. Instead, it slowly builds an unsettling sense that something is fundamentally wrong, and it keeps you questioning what is real right alongside Gracie. I became invested in her from the opening chapters because she feels like an actual eighteen-year-old trying to navigate university, loneliness, grief, first independence, and the desperate need to fit in. Those grounded emotions make every strange event hit even harder. The journal entries were one of my favorite parts because they let me experience her fears and self-doubt firsthand rather than simply being told about them.

What really stood out to me was how the novel blends psychological suspense with mystery. Instead of racing from scare to scare, it patiently layers clues about Gracie’s identity, the Hooded Figure, Raven, and the missing Margaret Webber until the revelations begin falling into place. Some twists genuinely caught me off guard, especially as the mystery surrounding Maggie evolved into something much bigger than I initially expected. The emotional moments landed just as well as the suspense, particularly Gracie’s struggles with trust, trauma, and trying to determine whether her own memories can be believed. The book tackles heavy themes without losing sight of the human relationships at its center.

My only minor criticism is that the deliberate pacing in the middle may feel slow for readers expecting nonstop horror or action. The story spends a lot of time developing relationships and psychological uncertainty before delivering its biggest payoffs. For me, that patience was worthwhile because the ending felt earned rather than rushed, and I walked away thinking about the characters long after finishing the final page. If you’re looking for a horror novel filled with atmosphere, emotional weight, psychological tension, and a mystery that constantly makes you second-guess yourself, In Their Eyes is an easy recommendation. It earned 5 out of 5 stars from me because it succeeds as both an emotionally engaging coming-of-age story and a genuinely unsettling psychological thriller.

[Nicole Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading the ARC of In Their Eyes by Simon F. Godin, and wow... where do I even begin?

In Their Eyes is described as a slow-burn psychological thriller centered around Gracie Boone, a first-year university student from a small town in Canada whose seemingly perfect life begins to unravel the moment she leaves for school.

As Gracie navigates new friendships, peer pressure, a long-distance relationship, and a mysterious dark figure that no one else seems to see, she also uncovers evidence that the man she has always known as her father may not actually be her father at all. When she begins to suspect she may have been abducted as a child, Gracie sets out to uncover the truth about her past.

I was excited to start this book because the synopsis immediately grabbed my attention. What I didn't expect was to discover one of my favorite reads of 2026.

It's honestly hard to believe this is Simon F. Godin's debut novel. If this is what he delivers in his first book, I cannot wait to see what he writes next.

As someone who reads a lot of thrillers and suspense novels, it can sometimes feel like familiar themes and twists begin to repeat themselves. That wasn't the case here. This story felt fresh, unpredictable, and completely unique. Every time I thought I had something figured out, another twist sent me in a different direction.

While the book is marketed as a slow burn, it didn't feel slow to me at all. From the very beginning, I had questions that demanded answers, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. The mystery hooked me immediately and never let go.

If psychological thrillers, family secrets, missing persons cases, and jaw-dropping twists are your thing, make sure this one is on your radar.

📖 Release Date: September 1, 2026

...And I am honestly telling you, you need to run, don't walk, to get your had on this book. You won't be disappointed.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars

[dnrizm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memento meets Bunny in this novel by Simon F. Godin.

When a young woman goes to college, she is on her own in a big city and gets lost trying to find the truth of her past as it begins to consume her life. But she may be causing more problems than she solves. And the deeper she digs, the more convoluted the questions surrounding her past become.

One of the largest milestones for many people could be going away to college. Just last year you were a child. Now you're an adult. Living on your own in a big new city.
Trying to navigate the politics of this new life, this new you, can be trying and exhausting. It can also change your opinion of yourself. Maybe even make you become more scrutinizing of how you grew up, how you were raised. Your friends and family back home take on a new persona, being distilled down into a more pure version of who they really are. Maybe the inside jokes and years of friendship were the glue that held you together, but you inevitably grew apart because you have become different. You've grown up.
Your parents can become more "human". Less like the adults that guide your daily life and more like other adults who have their own lives--now existing separately from yours more than you've ever realized.

I'm not sure if the book is 100% about mental illness, but to me it felt like the metaphorical monster that is really the emptiness of entering adulthood on your own. Responsibility is scary and so is solitude. We need emotional outlets because life is hard to navigate alone. And in this story, Gracie continues to alienate herself, to find her truth. But I'm not sure if it helped her or hurt her in the end.

What do you think happens next in her life?

[Micaela J · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Their Eyes focuses on the fmc Gracie Boone. Gracie is a 19 year old girl off to her first year of Elora University in the bustling Winding River. Hank (Dad) who is also the chief of Police in small town Caldmore (Gracie’s hometown) and Stephen (Boyfriend) are some of the only people she still has in her corner after an incident that happened in her past. When Gracie gets to Elora she sees a mysterious figure in the parking lot outside her dorm room window. The only problem is, no one else has seen them and no one else seems to believe her. As days pass more mysterious happenings occur, including evidence that Gracie’s Father may not be who she thinks he is. Gracie is left with a lot of questions as her world and life as she knows it begins to unravel with only her dorm mate Raven to turn to, or so she thought…

This was such an interesting read, and I can’t believe this is a debut. I can’t say that I have read anything like it before. I loved that it is set in Ontario (where I am from). There were multiple twists that I did not see coming and I found myself thinking about what Gracie was going to do next after I put this book down to go to work or sleep. The diary entries are such a neat way to provide an insight into Gracie’s perspective and I really enjoyed reading them. This was a psychological and emotional rollercoaster, and I am definitely left with some questions at the end. I will certainly be keeping my eyes peeled for any of Simon F. Godin’s future work.

I would like to thank @simonfgodin for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Leslie Powell-Mccarty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually, I gave this 4.25 stars but we can't do that here.

Gracie Boone's first night away from home and on her own is the beginning of the unraveling of the only life she's ever known which sends her on a devastating journey to discover her truth.

This book had me hooked from the start because I immediately felt uneasy like something was off. I would love to go into specifics but fear I might give something away. Gracie was protected her whole life and comes across as slightly strange and a bit withdrawn, all of which are relatable. The story started off slowly then hits top speed at just past the half-way point. The slow pacing is needed to build the ever present tension, suspicion, paranoia, and self-doubt. The characters are well-drawn. Some are likeable the rest not so much. We are introduced to the loving Dad, the supportive roommate, the attentive boyfriend, and a charming professor to name a few. I found the writing style easy to follow and engaging. The author uses both first and third person POV. First person being used while Gracie is journaling or dealing with the thoughts swirling around in her head. It's definitely effective.

I read this in one night and couldn't put it down because I couldn't wait to find out what was happening! The whole story felt fever-dreamy and chaotic which I love. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be reading more from this author.

A big thank you to Simon F. Godin for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Rebekah Marks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for an early copy!


This was not at all what I was expecting and I’m glad for it. I was immediately hooked by the premise of this, I’ve seen movies and heard of other stories with a similar set up: abducted as a child by their ‘parent’ - I eat it up every time. But this was a really different take on that.

I think the pacing was done very well, we got some things happening pretty quick but it was a little tease before we got into more story building, and then things sprinkled throughout, ramping up until the end.

There were so many different things happening that I had zero idea how they would come together into something that made sense but they did and it was all very twisty.

It took me a few chapters to get sucked in but once I did, I finished this in one sitting. I was right there with Gracie, confused, trying to put everything together and even feeling crazy in these last few chapters. I thought I had guessed things but the author did really well in making you second guess. I liked the journal entries, being in third person it was nice to have that first person point of view and dive a bit more into Gracie’s head.

The ending was not at all what I expected and I both like it and hate it. I prefer clear strict endings so this being different had me turning the page going, “what? That’s it??”

I would absolutely recommend this, it’s twisty and a little creepy and hits the nail on the head for a psychological thriller.

[Linnea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reminded me of the kind of psychological horror paperbacks I used to see in bookstores growing up. Even the cover has that nostalgic 90s horror feel, and the story embraces a slow-burn mystery that gradually slips into psychological horror.

The first portion of the novel was the hardest for me because college freshman Gracie is intentionally very timid, inexperienced, and uncomfortable in her own skin. Once the story takes a major turn, the book becomes much more compelling. From that point on, I found myself constantly questioning what was real, who could be trusted, and how much of Gracie's perspective I should believe. After a winding up period, the book truly becomes a page-turner where I couldn't read fast enough to see how it would end.

My favorite aspect was the unreliable narrator, and Godin writes the perfect main character that you want to root for but that you aren't sure whether you should. As more pieces fall into place, you begin to realize that Gracie may not understand herself as well as she thinks she does, and that uncertainty creates some genuinely tense moments.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators, creeping paranoia, and stories where the truth is constantly shifting beneath your feet, this one is worth checking out. I think fans of slow-building psychological suspense will have a good time with this book.

Thank you to Simon F. Godin for the ARC!

[michaela smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Review of advanced copy received from author*

Gracie is excited to start at her new college, even if it means having to live away from her loving father, her high school boyfriend, and her home town. When she sees a hooded figure outside her dorm room, everyone she speaks to tries to convince her that she was only seeing things. Gracie’s new roommate Raven believes her, though, and the discovery of a missing child case lead the two to think that maybe Gracie’s life isn’t as simple as it seems; maybe Gracie was kidnapped as a child. A roadtrip to find more answers only turns up more questions and leaves Gracie wondering what she really knows about the people closest to her, and even about herself.

This novel was truly gripping. Every time I thought I had an answer, another twist proved me wrong and had me rethinking everything I thought I knew. It was unpredictable in the best way, and certain key details are artfully hidden until just the right moment.

While most of the novel is slow paced, the ending is fast and exciting. My one “gripe” with the novel—which this is completely personal preference—was the ending. I wish it was more concrete with specific answers, but I can also appreciate that it is open ended.

I highly recommend this book once it is published; thanks to the author for the advanced copy!

[VibekeN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gracie Boone leaves her small hometown of Cladmore to attend Elora University. With a steady realationship, a promising future, and a father who happens to be chief of police, Gracie believes her life is safe and predictable.

But the illusion quickly begins to crack.

New friends. Parties. Drugs. Strange behavior from her boyfriend Stephen. A growing feeling that someone is watching her. And when evidence surfaces suggesting Gracie may have been kidnapped as a child, a relentless hunt for the truth begins.

This book is a psychological thriller that had me in a chokehold from the first chapter. I had emotional outbursts, slapped my forehead, and lost sleep because I needed to know what would happen next. I needed answers. At one point I genuinely thought, ”if this author does this to me, I’m gonna be pissed!"
Don’t worry. I still like him.

The descriptions of characters and scenery were top tier. I felt Gracie’s paranoia, anxiety, love, and grief so clearly that thinking back on this book almost feels like remembering my own memories. That’s how vivid it was.

Simon F. Godin looked me directly in the eyes and chose psychological violence.

If you want a slow-burn psychological thriller filled with paranoia, tension, and emotional punches, this is definitely one to pick up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -Vibeke.

In Their Eyes drops September 1. mark your calendar, horror fans.

[Lorrie Ness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Simon Godin, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

College is stressful enough. Final exams. Financial pressure. Homesickness. Hangovers. Homework. And the reward looming at the end of it all...the angst of finding a job and hoping you're prepared. Gracie Boone, college freshman, wishes those were her only worries. Those things would be a cakewalk cuz things have gone sideways for poor Gracie.

She's also dealing with a hooded figure looming outside her dorm room staring at her through the window. Oh, and her roommate finds evidence that Gracie might have been abducted, and her father (the chief of police) has the tools at his disposal to cover it up. And lets throw in a controlling boyfriend and creepy professors just to round things out.

Sound like a good time? Maybe not IRL, but in this book it's SUCH A GOOD TIME!!!

As the book description says, Gracie Boone must pick apart layer after layer of manipulation that is her life. While other college students are studying econ, she's just trying to get a handle on reality, identity and personal safety. Who can she trust? How far will people go to keep her placid and compliant? Who is holding the puppet strings and where are they attached?

This book is for fans of psychological thrillers with a new-adult vibe, and readers who are craving a character whose arc propels them from sheltered and naive to eyes-wide-open in a short time. You also have to be okay with open endings and a few loose ends. I like an conclusion where things aren't neatly shelved and we aren't really sure the exact path the resolution will follow, and this hit that note perfectly. However, if you are in the mood for airtight and tidy, save this for another time when an open-ended mood strikes.

[Aleesha Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alright Mr. Simon Godin... you have yourself a fan!!! If psychological horror is your thing, put this on your radar.

The story follows Gracie as she leaves her small Canadian hometown for college, leaving behind her dad, her boyfriend, and the fallout from a friendship that ended..badly. As soon as she moves into her dorm, everything starts going sideways.

And when I say everything...I mean EVERYTHING.

One of my favorite tropes is when a character's life starts spiraling so aggressively that you feel suffocated right alongside them. It's like watching a car accident in slow motion, you know something is wrong, but you can't stop reading.

A quick heads up tho, this is 336 pages with only 16 chapters, so the chapters are LONG. Thankfully, diary entries are sprinkled throughout and help break things up while adding another layer to the mystery. The longer chapters gave the story room to build tension and set you up for bamboozlement!

Like...What is actually happening here? Who can I trust Can I trust ANYONE? 😭

The twist completely got me, and the last 30% was so easy to fly thru. There's a little gore toward the end, but this is definitely psychological horror first and foremost. And the ending….the kind that leaves you sitting there uncomfortable, replaying everything, and arguing with yourself about what the truth really was.

[Lana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one so much! What a sweet surprise. Thank you so much to @simonfgodin for sending me an ARC!

Gracie Boone is starting her freshman year of college at Elora University, excited for what's to come, but also aware of the uncertainty of being on her own for the first time. I loved how relatable Gracie was. She brought me right back to my freshman year. College, eeeeyuckk. 🤣

This is a psychological thriller so blossoming into independent womanhood isn't the only horror, there's also a strange masked figure stalking Gracie on campus. Who could it be and why? On top of that, she's found evidence that links her to a missing girl. In the midst of all this, her long-distance boyfriend and dad also won't stop asking her to come home every weekend. Her roommate is the only person she can lean on, and together, they search for answers.

There's so much that happens in this one, a lot of mysterious elements at play, but it all comes together beautifully in the end. There's a lot of tension and high stakes. It's one I couldn't put down because I needed answers, too! Graciebear! Girl! 🥹

Highly recommend! Wonderful debut. I loved the twists and turns and the psychological elements used in this one. Perfect mix of character introspection and scares.

In Their Eyes will be available on September 1st! ✨

[Stormie Barton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the arc of his debut novel!

In Their Eyes follows our main character Gracie Boone on her journey as a new university student who is also traversing a truly terrifying ordeal.

Gracie has been presented with information showcasing that she could be the victim of a kidnapping from when she was just a toddler.

To make the situation even more horrifying, there is a hooded figure watching Gracie yet no one else claims to see this person.

As this news shakes and rocks her foundation, Gracie must navigate cautiously as she works to uncover the truth—if the only father she’s ever known could potentially be a monster disguised.

I really enjoyed this book! It is fast paced, witty, and psychologically thrilling with numerous unexpected twists and turns.

As someone who completed university almost more than a decade ago now, it was a bit difficult to get in the mindset of Gracie yet I do appreciate the young adult perspective and experiences. I believe they are extremely relevant and demonstrate the stresses of finding oneself while getting an independent footing.

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy a psychological thriller sure to keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish!

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gracie Boone has always believed she knows who she is. With a loving father, a stable relationship, and a bright future ahead of her, life seems perfectly normal, until she leaves home for university. Everything starts to unravel and she is forced to confront the possibility that the life she's always known may have been built on lies.

This book completely pulled me in from the first few chapters. There was an unsettling atmosphere hanging over every page, and I constantly felt like something wasn't quite right.

The author does an amazing job building tension and making you question what is real alongside Gracie.

I especially loved how the story slowly peels back the layers of the mystery. Every answer seemed to raise even more questions, and I found myself racing through chapters because I needed to know the truth. Gracie was a compelling protagonist, and watching her struggle with fear, doubt, and the possibility that everything she believes could be wrong was gripping.

The paranoia, suspense, and psychological elements were incredibly well done, and the twists genuinely caught me off guard. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story took another turn.


Thank you so much Simon F. Godin for the #gifted earc!
All opinions are my own 🖤

[Derrick College · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an honour for the author to ask me to read and review this book. If you are looking for a Psychological Thriller that makes you ask yourself “ What the fuck is happening?” Look no further. On September 1st ( release date ) Get your hands on a copy this phenomenal debut novel. It has just become one of my favourite of this year. I’ve said that about a few others and that’s because those books stayed in my mind, just like this will.
Characters: Gracie Boone- is our MC. She’s moved into her dorm at College. But her “overprotective father-
Hank Boone- is overbearing. And her boyfriend-
Stephen- is a total red flag from the start.
We have Raven Sinclair, who gets Gracie to live a little. But uncovers a mystery that Gracie wants to solve.
Professor Robert Lintz is not what i thought he was.
Then there’s vivid side characters: Jasmine Forsythe and Veronica Culvert, party girls across the hall. And the sweet Lionel O’Rourke.
But as things get started a mystery plucks it way into Gracie’s life and Gracie is plummeted into lies and a mystery that will change her life for ever. Who can she trust.. what is real? Find out when you read this!! I hope there will be a sequel.( I know this sounds like a promotional review, it’s not, I genuinely loved this book. )

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars.

This is a very solid debut novel! It’s a very slow paced thriller that keeps you guessing until the end and it’s one that feels like you get a pay off. With twists that I wasn’t expecting and thriller tropes turned on their head, I found myself nodding along, impressed with the twists and turns it was taking.

I did find it hard to get into it as it does feel like a YA/New Adult book and me being in my 30s? I can’t really relate to the dorm life anymore. It was also quite bloated in its length and it could have been parred down to make the novel more effective. I also think this won’t work for everyone being that it takes a certain route as a thriller/horror book. But if you’re willing to just let bygone be bygones and have a little fun, you will enjoy the ride.

I see a lot of people disliking the ending but I enjoyed it and thought it was the perfect way to wrap the book. Typically I am an ambiguous ending hater through and through but for this story and concept I think it’s good to keep the reader wondering. Overall very solid read and I could definitely bring this to my book club and I know my thriller friends would eat this up!

Thank you to the author who provided me a gifted ARC.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Their Eyes by Simon Godin whisks us to the first days of college.

Gracie leaves her hometown for the first time and is dropped off at college by her dad. Mom passed long ago, so she is somewhat torn about him being alone in the house and the incredible college scene.

When in classes, Gracie sees what she can be, how great her future can become. Issues arise in the other hours. Dorm life. The hooded man she is sure she sees outside her dorm window. Then there are the parties. She had to go if she wanted new friends, right? But when enough is enough, because she has a boyfriend back home, life goes wrong. Confusing.

Her only safe place is in her dorm room, chatting with her roommate. Raven is so understanding and strong. Raven is studying criminology, and the day she shows printouts from slides in her class, Gracie's life changes.

The premise is great. Themes are fantastic. Some scenes go on too long. The story has an ending that will make you think. Tell me what your thoughts of Gracie's last journal entry.

I was given a pre-published copy by the author. All views are my own.