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Try to Keep Up
Not yet published
Expected 1 Sep 26Twenty-two-year-old Kody Thomas takes a nanny job hoping for the clean slate she desperately needs. Instead, she walks into a house where nothing-and no one-is what they seem.
Fifteen-year-old Piper wakes up as different versions of herself. Some days she's shy and soft-spoken. Other days she's bold, impulsive... or chillingly strategic. Her handwriting changes.
Her memories don't align. Her moods snap like a switch flipping in the dark. And the girl Kody is meant to protect may be hiding truths even from herself. When the boy next door goes missing, a diary of disturbing drawings suggests Piper knows more than she's saying.
Trapped in a tightening maze of fractured memories, shifting identities, and buried secrets, Kody must uncover the truth before it's too late. Because the danger might be living behind Piper's eyes, or lurking much closer.
Fifteen-year-old Piper wakes up as different versions of herself. Some days she's shy and soft-spoken. Other days she's bold, impulsive... or chillingly strategic. Her handwriting changes.
Her memories don't align. Her moods snap like a switch flipping in the dark. And the girl Kody is meant to protect may be hiding truths even from herself. When the boy next door goes missing, a diary of disturbing drawings suggests Piper knows more than she's saying.
Trapped in a tightening maze of fractured memories, shifting identities, and buried secrets, Kody must uncover the truth before it's too late. Because the danger might be living behind Piper's eyes, or lurking much closer.
360 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 1, 2026
About the author
Shay Knudsen
1 book58 followersShay Knudsen writes psychological thrillers that dig into secrets and the things people try to hide. When she’s not plotting dark twists and sinister motives, you can usually find her buried in a book, wandering through bookstores like a detective hunting for clues, or quietly imagining what terrible thing could happen next.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 8, 2026
Thank you so much for picking up my book, it truly means more to me than I can put into words. As a debut author, every read, every page turned, and every moment you spend in this world I created means so much to me. I’m truly grateful for every reader who chooses to spend their time in this story, and I hope it stays with you long after the final page.
May 8, 2026
The book is totally good! I loved the characters, the way everything is described in a very detailed way.
The plot will make your head spin 🔥🔥 The twist is unexpected and makes you question if you guessed it right 😂
It's like a very thrilling rollercoaster ride!
My Rating: 4/5⭐
The plot will make your head spin 🔥🔥 The twist is unexpected and makes you question if you guessed it right 😂
It's like a very thrilling rollercoaster ride!
My Rating: 4/5⭐
May 10, 2026
A R C • R E V I E W
Kody Thomas works as a nanny for the Kennison children, Piper and Trystan. Everything is perfect until after a car accident, 15 year old Piper wakes up as different versions of herself. Some days she’s shy, some days she’s sarcastic, some days she’s bold and impulsive. Kody starts noticing these changes and begins to worry about Piper. And when Bobby, the boy next door goes missing, a diary suggests maybe Piper knows more than what’s being said.
✨ I just want to say a huge thank you to @shayknudsenstories for allowing me be apart of her amazing ARC team and part of the first strand of readers! 🫶🏼
Trystan is definitely my favorite character! He makes me want a baby boy even more now 😅 He’s such a sweetheart.
This book was so wonderfully written! It had me hooked from start to finish. I was literally trying to keep up constantly with all the chaos! Such a thrilling page turner!
Be on the lookout 🎭 SEPTEMBER 1 !
Kody Thomas works as a nanny for the Kennison children, Piper and Trystan. Everything is perfect until after a car accident, 15 year old Piper wakes up as different versions of herself. Some days she’s shy, some days she’s sarcastic, some days she’s bold and impulsive. Kody starts noticing these changes and begins to worry about Piper. And when Bobby, the boy next door goes missing, a diary suggests maybe Piper knows more than what’s being said.
✨ I just want to say a huge thank you to @shayknudsenstories for allowing me be apart of her amazing ARC team and part of the first strand of readers! 🫶🏼
Trystan is definitely my favorite character! He makes me want a baby boy even more now 😅 He’s such a sweetheart.
This book was so wonderfully written! It had me hooked from start to finish. I was literally trying to keep up constantly with all the chaos! Such a thrilling page turner!
Be on the lookout 🎭 SEPTEMBER 1 !
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow… this is INCREDIBLE!
Is this really a debut? Because it certainly doesn’t feel like one.
Try To Keep Up completely blew me away. It’s immersive, chilling, packed with twists and tension from start to finish. I could go on and on about everything I loved, but honestly, just trust me and add this to your TBR immediately.
Shay Knudsen’s writing is exceptional. It flows so effortlessly that you forget you are even reading, it feels like you are right there beside the characters, experiencing every moment with them. I found myself completely invested, cheering them on, piecing things together, and fully absorbed in the story.
The characters are beautifully developed, strong yet vulnerable, and incredibly real. The plot is both clever and unique, blending emotional depth with a gripping, edge of your seat narrative.
And those final chapters… absolutely devastating in the best way. They were so vivid and powerful that I couldn’t hold back my emotions, I just let it all hit me.
To my fellow book lovers and thriller fans, don’t hesitate. This one is something special.
A huge thank you to Shay Knudsen for this unforgettable story, your hard work truly shines through. And thank you for the eARC, I’m so grateful to have experienced this and to share my honest review.
Is this really a debut? Because it certainly doesn’t feel like one.
Try To Keep Up completely blew me away. It’s immersive, chilling, packed with twists and tension from start to finish. I could go on and on about everything I loved, but honestly, just trust me and add this to your TBR immediately.
Shay Knudsen’s writing is exceptional. It flows so effortlessly that you forget you are even reading, it feels like you are right there beside the characters, experiencing every moment with them. I found myself completely invested, cheering them on, piecing things together, and fully absorbed in the story.
The characters are beautifully developed, strong yet vulnerable, and incredibly real. The plot is both clever and unique, blending emotional depth with a gripping, edge of your seat narrative.
And those final chapters… absolutely devastating in the best way. They were so vivid and powerful that I couldn’t hold back my emotions, I just let it all hit me.
To my fellow book lovers and thriller fans, don’t hesitate. This one is something special.
A huge thank you to Shay Knudsen for this unforgettable story, your hard work truly shines through. And thank you for the eARC, I’m so grateful to have experienced this and to share my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Try to Keep Up is perfectly named, because it is a fast paced thriller that will constantly keep you guessing. Perfect for fans of Jeneva Rose or Freida McFadden, this story centers on themes like what does it mean to protect your loved ones? What does having an identity mean? And what lengths are we willing to go to, to protect our family?
Kody was giving Nick Carraway vibes in a good way. As the nanny of a family in the middle of a crisis, she is within, but also without. She loves, but there is also always line she doesn’t cross. She is a great FMC to get perspective of.
And l’ll be the first to tell you, when the plot centers around children, the mama bear in me roars. And I don’t like it when it’s not done well, but Try to Keep Up is in a rare league like Hidden Pictures. Absolutely serious when it comes to the matter of children and rooted in reality, but still eerie as hell of what could be. I am so thankful that Shay trusted me with a copy in advance. I can’t wait for you all to read it.
Kody was giving Nick Carraway vibes in a good way. As the nanny of a family in the middle of a crisis, she is within, but also without. She loves, but there is also always line she doesn’t cross. She is a great FMC to get perspective of.
And l’ll be the first to tell you, when the plot centers around children, the mama bear in me roars. And I don’t like it when it’s not done well, but Try to Keep Up is in a rare league like Hidden Pictures. Absolutely serious when it comes to the matter of children and rooted in reality, but still eerie as hell of what could be. I am so thankful that Shay trusted me with a copy in advance. I can’t wait for you all to read it.
May 13, 2026
It has been such an honor to be part of Shay Knudsen’s ARC team for this one! First things first— I absolutely judged this book by the cover because LOOK AT IT. Instantly obsessed. But thankfully the story completely lived up to the vibes.
This book genuinely rattled me in the best thriller kind of way. The concept alone is terrifying. Nannying is stressful enough, but nannying for a teenager whose personality, memories, handwriting, and behavior constantly shift? Absolutely not. The entire atmosphere of this book felt deeply unsettling, and there were moments where I genuinely did not want to read it alone in the dark.
What really worked for me was how immersive everything felt. The multiple POVs, diary entries, and actual drawings scattered throughout the story made it feel incredibly real and added so much tension. I was constantly questioning who to trust, what was real, and where things were heading. Every time I thought I had things figured out, the story shifted again.
This one is creepy, emotional, layered, and genuinely hard to put down. If you love psychological thrillers with unsettling vibes, unreliable characters, and a constant sense of dread creeping under your skin— get this one on your radar immediately.
Out in September & absolutely worth the read.
This book genuinely rattled me in the best thriller kind of way. The concept alone is terrifying. Nannying is stressful enough, but nannying for a teenager whose personality, memories, handwriting, and behavior constantly shift? Absolutely not. The entire atmosphere of this book felt deeply unsettling, and there were moments where I genuinely did not want to read it alone in the dark.
What really worked for me was how immersive everything felt. The multiple POVs, diary entries, and actual drawings scattered throughout the story made it feel incredibly real and added so much tension. I was constantly questioning who to trust, what was real, and where things were heading. Every time I thought I had things figured out, the story shifted again.
This one is creepy, emotional, layered, and genuinely hard to put down. If you love psychological thrillers with unsettling vibes, unreliable characters, and a constant sense of dread creeping under your skin— get this one on your radar immediately.
Out in September & absolutely worth the read.
Review of advance copy
Wow, this book was so good. Once I started reading, I didn’t want to put it down. I connected with the main character right away, and she felt like a real person to me. I was fully invested in her story and in the lives of the kids she takes care of.
This story kept me guessing from beginning to end. Just when I thought I knew what was happening, something would change and throw me completely off. I was wrong over and over, and that made it even more fun to read. The suspense was so strong that I kept saying, “just one more chapter,” and before I knew it, it was 1 a.m.
What I loved most was how emotional the story was. It’s not only a thriller with surprising twists, but also a touching story about family and how far people will go to protect the ones they care about.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves psychological thrillers with relatable characters and twists you won’t see coming.
This story kept me guessing from beginning to end. Just when I thought I knew what was happening, something would change and throw me completely off. I was wrong over and over, and that made it even more fun to read. The suspense was so strong that I kept saying, “just one more chapter,” and before I knew it, it was 1 a.m.
What I loved most was how emotional the story was. It’s not only a thriller with surprising twists, but also a touching story about family and how far people will go to protect the ones they care about.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves psychological thrillers with relatable characters and twists you won’t see coming.
May 13, 2026
As soon as I read about this one I knew it would be right up my alley and it didn’t disappoint! This one doesn’t waste anytime and had my attention from the very start. The author does a great job with her writing where it’s descriptive but not too wordy/lengthy and a good pace throughout the book. Piper was definitely an interesting character and one I found myself wanting to learn more and more about up to the very last page. My mind went to every possibility I think you could come up with for this one and one of them did turn out to be correct. However, that did not take anything away from the shock factor or the story itself.
If you like a good thriller that has characters that will keep you on your toes, keep you questioning who’s telling the truth, and keep your attention from start to end then you should definitely put this one on your TBR to check out. Thank you Shay for the opportunity to read the ARC
If you like a good thriller that has characters that will keep you on your toes, keep you questioning who’s telling the truth, and keep your attention from start to end then you should definitely put this one on your TBR to check out. Thank you Shay for the opportunity to read the ARC
Review of advance copy
Absolutely amazing debut! From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked. The writing pulled me in right away, and I felt like I was right there with Kody and the kids. The characters felt so real, and I became deeply invested in what would happen to them.
The suspense was done so well. The twists were shocking and kept me guessing until the very end. The pacing was great, and I had a hard time putting this book down. What really made this book stand out was the emotional depth. It’s not just a thriller with big twists it’s also a powerful story about family, trauma, and strength.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves psychological thrillers with unforgettable characters and surprising twists. It’s hard to believe this is Shay’s debut novel. Such an incredible read, and I can’t wait to see what the author writes next.
The suspense was done so well. The twists were shocking and kept me guessing until the very end. The pacing was great, and I had a hard time putting this book down. What really made this book stand out was the emotional depth. It’s not just a thriller with big twists it’s also a powerful story about family, trauma, and strength.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves psychological thrillers with unforgettable characters and surprising twists. It’s hard to believe this is Shay’s debut novel. Such an incredible read, and I can’t wait to see what the author writes next.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book had me hooked from the very first few pages. I picked it up thinking I’d read a chapter or two, and suddenly half the night was gone. The story moves at the perfect pace, always giving you just enough information to keep you guessing without revealing too much.
I really loved the relationship. Their bond felt genuine, and that made everything that happened hit even harder. I was constantly worried about the kids and needed to know how it would all turn out.
The best part was trying to figure out the truth. I changed my mind so many times about what I thought was going on. Every time I felt confident in my guess, the story threw in another surprise that made me question everything.
This book is creepy as hell and impossible to put down!!! If you enjoy psychological thrillers that keep you on edge, you need to read this one. An incredible debut!
I really loved the relationship. Their bond felt genuine, and that made everything that happened hit even harder. I was constantly worried about the kids and needed to know how it would all turn out.
The best part was trying to figure out the truth. I changed my mind so many times about what I thought was going on. Every time I felt confident in my guess, the story threw in another surprise that made me question everything.
This book is creepy as hell and impossible to put down!!! If you enjoy psychological thrillers that keep you on edge, you need to read this one. An incredible debut!
May 14, 2026
Wow… this is a debut novel, and I have to say this author has definitely gained a new fan here.
I actually needed a couple of days to process this story. It’s an intense read that portrays the reality of a certain mental disorder in a very raw and thought-provoking way. I’ll admit that while reading, I questioned some parts because of my own skepticism, but after doing a little research, I realized I was completely wrong.
The writing was engaging, although some sections felt a bit more complex than my usual fast-paced reads — likely because English isn’t my first language. Even so, I was fully invested in the story.
The FMC was incredibly complex and unhinged (to say the least 🤭), while the rest of the characters felt believable and well-written.
The plot was clever and included a couple of really strong twists. Overall, this was a thought-provoking read that I would absolutely recommend!
I actually needed a couple of days to process this story. It’s an intense read that portrays the reality of a certain mental disorder in a very raw and thought-provoking way. I’ll admit that while reading, I questioned some parts because of my own skepticism, but after doing a little research, I realized I was completely wrong.
The writing was engaging, although some sections felt a bit more complex than my usual fast-paced reads — likely because English isn’t my first language. Even so, I was fully invested in the story.
The FMC was incredibly complex and unhinged (to say the least 🤭), while the rest of the characters felt believable and well-written.
The plot was clever and included a couple of really strong twists. Overall, this was a thought-provoking read that I would absolutely recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
I am SO grateful to be part of Shay's wonderful ARC team and so very lucky to be one of the first few people to read and review her amazing book.
Shay’s writing is nothing short of amazing. The attention to detail is second to none. The tension was built perfectly and then the twists really did just keep on coming; you think you’ve figured it out then BAM, another twist.
Piper and Trystan had my heart from the beginning, it’s impossible not to have a soft spot for Piper deep down and T was just the sweetest soul. Absolutely brilliant and I LOVED the ending.
The illustrations in this book are absolutely incredible and add so much depth to the story! Fabulous read. Thank you Shay and team.
I am SO grateful to be part of Shay's wonderful ARC team and so very lucky to be one of the first few people to read and review her amazing book.
Shay’s writing is nothing short of amazing. The attention to detail is second to none. The tension was built perfectly and then the twists really did just keep on coming; you think you’ve figured it out then BAM, another twist.
Piper and Trystan had my heart from the beginning, it’s impossible not to have a soft spot for Piper deep down and T was just the sweetest soul. Absolutely brilliant and I LOVED the ending.
The illustrations in this book are absolutely incredible and add so much depth to the story! Fabulous read. Thank you Shay and team.
Review of advance copy
This book was so good and honestly kind of creepy in the best way! There were so many moments where I had to literally close the book and just sit there for a second because I couldn’t believe what just happened. I kept thinking about the scenes after I stopped reading because they stuck with me that much. It pulled me in really fast and the story kept surprising me over and over, and I was constantly wrong about what I thought was going on, which made it even more fun to read, hence the title TRY TO KEEP UP.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you're a fan of jaw dropping, twisty thrillers, you need to add this to your wishlist now.
Shay has created a whirlwind of a story, that kept me guessing, thinking I'd got it all figured out, only to be wrong. Aren't those the best kinds of thrillers?!
The plot - cleverly written.
The characters - likeable, and intriguing.
The last few chapters - mind blowing.. I didn't know whether I was coming or going.
Shay has created a whirlwind of a story, that kept me guessing, thinking I'd got it all figured out, only to be wrong. Aren't those the best kinds of thrillers?!
The plot - cleverly written.
The characters - likeable, and intriguing.
The last few chapters - mind blowing.. I didn't know whether I was coming or going.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I LOVED this book. The author’s writing pulls you into the story, and I immediately felt a connection to Kody and the kids right off the bat. I truly cared about these characters. The twists and turns are incredible, there were so many times I thought I had it figured out… nope! And the ending was fabulous!!! I would recommend this one to everyone. Shay did such a good job, especially knowing this is the author’s debut. I will definitely be picking up her next book, no questions asked!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Such a good book! I loved that is kept me on my toes the entire time and I was completely invested from chapter one. The plot is so fun and creative, unlike anything I have read before, so it was very unique, which I loved. The characters were so full of heart and I loved all of them. Definitely add this debut to your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
I received a copy of this book as a Beta reader. This book was so creepy good!! Twists that just keep coming and keep you guessing till the very end!! How Perfect that it comes out this fall. Get your pumpkin latte and enjoy this spooky book. (probably with the lights on 😜)
Review of advance copy
Amazing!!! This book was so well done, I loved it! Creepy and suspenseful all in one. And the ending was unforgettable!
Review of advance copy received from Author
DEBUT?!? NO WAY! This book was soooo good! What I loved most, is that it was so different than any other thriller I have ever read. Trust me, give this one a read.
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