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They're Watching You
When a secret society has you in their sights, it can lead to power, privilege... or death.
It's been two weeks since Polly St. James went missing. The police, the headmistress of Torrey-Wells Academy, and even her parents have ruled her a runaway. But not Maren, her best friend and roommate. She knows Polly had a secret that she was about to share with Maren before she disappeared― something to do with the elite, ultra-rich crowd at Torrey-Wells.
Then Maren finds an envelope hidden among Polly's things: an invitation to the Gamemaster's Society. Do not tell anyone, it says. Maren is certain her classmates in the Society know the truth about what happened to Polly, though it's no easy feat to join. Once Maren's made it through the treacherous initiation, she discovers a world she never knew existed within her school, where Society members compete in high-stakes games for unheard-of rewards―Ivy League connections, privileges, favors.
But Maren's been drawn into a different game: for every win, she'll receive a clue about Polly. And as Maren keeps winning, she begins to see just how powerful the Society's game is―bigger and deadlier than she ever imagined. They see, they know, they control. And they kill.
It's been two weeks since Polly St. James went missing. The police, the headmistress of Torrey-Wells Academy, and even her parents have ruled her a runaway. But not Maren, her best friend and roommate. She knows Polly had a secret that she was about to share with Maren before she disappeared― something to do with the elite, ultra-rich crowd at Torrey-Wells.
Then Maren finds an envelope hidden among Polly's things: an invitation to the Gamemaster's Society. Do not tell anyone, it says. Maren is certain her classmates in the Society know the truth about what happened to Polly, though it's no easy feat to join. Once Maren's made it through the treacherous initiation, she discovers a world she never knew existed within her school, where Society members compete in high-stakes games for unheard-of rewards―Ivy League connections, privileges, favors.
But Maren's been drawn into a different game: for every win, she'll receive a clue about Polly. And as Maren keeps winning, she begins to see just how powerful the Society's game is―bigger and deadlier than she ever imagined. They see, they know, they control. And they kill.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 3, 2023
540 people are currently reading
22693 people want to read
About the author
Chelsea Ichaso
7 books800 followersChelsea Ichaso writes twisty thrillers for young adults and is also the author of the adult thriller, So I Lied. Her novel, The Summer She Went Missing, earned a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly, a spot on Barnes & Noble’s Best of 2024 list, and was a 2025 TAYSHAS reading list selection. Her latest release, We Were Warned, is a Junior Library Guild Selection and has been featured on Marie Claire’s list of the 18 Most Anticipated Mystery Thrillers of 2025 as well as Goodreads Guide to 2025’s Biggest Mysteries & Thrillers. Chelsea currently resides in Southern California with her husband and children. When she’s not writing, she can be found cheering from the sidelines at her kids' soccer games or attempting to strum a tune on the guitar. You can visit her online at chelseaichaso.com or on Instagram @chelseaichaso.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 851 reviews
October 12, 2025
Well, that didn't go as I expected...
They're Watching You was a highly-anticipated release for me. Unfortunately, this story and I did not get along.
In this novel we're following Maren, a student at the prestigious Torrey-Wells Academy. Two weeks ago, Maren's best friend, Polly, went missing from school. Prior to her disappearance, Polly said some cryptic things to Maren.
When everyone, including the police and school headmistress, assume that Polly has run away, Maren knows that's not true. Polly was her roommate, she knew her better than anyone. Polly would never leave her hanging like that.
Thus Maren begins looking into it. To her it's clear, her friend is in trouble and she'll do anything she can to help.
When Maren finds an envelope hidden among Polly's things, containing an invitation to a secret society, she knows this is a lead worth following.
Rumors have swirled at school about this mysterious Gamemaster's Society for years, and as Maren digs in, she realizes there may be a lot of truth behind the whispers. Luckily, she finds out from classmates just the info she needs to secure her own invitation.
Before she knows it, Maren is elbow-deep in secret society craziness. There is a whole underground world at her school, one very few people get to see.
The games cooked up by the society are one thing, but Maren discovers she is playing a game of her own. For every win, she's one step closer to finding out the truth about what has happened to Polly.
Y'all, I really wanted to love this and in the beginning, I thought that maybe I would. Sadly, this never got off the ground for me and the ending, easily anticipated, left me underwhelmed.
The set-up was intriguing. I liked the idea behind what Ichaso was building, but the execution did not fit my tastes at all. I found the characters to be flat and frankly, boring, especially Maren.
Maren's personality was practically nonexistent. Besides her insistence on not giving up on Polly, I couldn't feel anything from her. All these wild things are happening, yet her thoughts and actions put me to sleep. I felt zero-intensity.
Additionally, the romantic elements felt so forced and out of place in lieu of all that was happening. I sort of get one of the connections, as she is working closely with a certain someone to try to gain the information she needs, but it still felt out of place.
Lastly, the person who appears to be running everything, our villain, was ridiculous. I just could not get behind that person as an evil mastermind. Nope, nope, nope.
It just wasn't for me. The motivations, the romance, the fatuous games that everyone willing participated in for no truly logical reasons and the fact that our heroine is hypocritical and boring, just never allowed this one to connect for me.
With this being said, this is 100% personal opinion. I know that a lot of Readers will enjoy this and I am so happy for those that do. Everyone has different tastes, that's one of the best things about reading, how subjective it is.
So if this sounds interesting to you, if the synopsis raises your eyebrows, you should absolutely pick it up and give it a go. I certainly wouldn't be opposed to picking up more from this author in the future. Perhaps their next release will be more to my liking.
Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks Fire, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate having the opportunity to share my opinions.
They're Watching You was a highly-anticipated release for me. Unfortunately, this story and I did not get along.
In this novel we're following Maren, a student at the prestigious Torrey-Wells Academy. Two weeks ago, Maren's best friend, Polly, went missing from school. Prior to her disappearance, Polly said some cryptic things to Maren.
When everyone, including the police and school headmistress, assume that Polly has run away, Maren knows that's not true. Polly was her roommate, she knew her better than anyone. Polly would never leave her hanging like that.
Thus Maren begins looking into it. To her it's clear, her friend is in trouble and she'll do anything she can to help.
When Maren finds an envelope hidden among Polly's things, containing an invitation to a secret society, she knows this is a lead worth following.
Rumors have swirled at school about this mysterious Gamemaster's Society for years, and as Maren digs in, she realizes there may be a lot of truth behind the whispers. Luckily, she finds out from classmates just the info she needs to secure her own invitation.
Before she knows it, Maren is elbow-deep in secret society craziness. There is a whole underground world at her school, one very few people get to see.
The games cooked up by the society are one thing, but Maren discovers she is playing a game of her own. For every win, she's one step closer to finding out the truth about what has happened to Polly.
Y'all, I really wanted to love this and in the beginning, I thought that maybe I would. Sadly, this never got off the ground for me and the ending, easily anticipated, left me underwhelmed.
The set-up was intriguing. I liked the idea behind what Ichaso was building, but the execution did not fit my tastes at all. I found the characters to be flat and frankly, boring, especially Maren.
Maren's personality was practically nonexistent. Besides her insistence on not giving up on Polly, I couldn't feel anything from her. All these wild things are happening, yet her thoughts and actions put me to sleep. I felt zero-intensity.
Additionally, the romantic elements felt so forced and out of place in lieu of all that was happening. I sort of get one of the connections, as she is working closely with a certain someone to try to gain the information she needs, but it still felt out of place.
Lastly, the person who appears to be running everything, our villain, was ridiculous. I just could not get behind that person as an evil mastermind. Nope, nope, nope.
It just wasn't for me. The motivations, the romance, the fatuous games that everyone willing participated in for no truly logical reasons and the fact that our heroine is hypocritical and boring, just never allowed this one to connect for me.
With this being said, this is 100% personal opinion. I know that a lot of Readers will enjoy this and I am so happy for those that do. Everyone has different tastes, that's one of the best things about reading, how subjective it is.
So if this sounds interesting to you, if the synopsis raises your eyebrows, you should absolutely pick it up and give it a go. I certainly wouldn't be opposed to picking up more from this author in the future. Perhaps their next release will be more to my liking.
Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks Fire, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate having the opportunity to share my opinions.
December 17, 2022
Outlier alert! I just couldn't get behind the cult vibes and overall unbelievable storyline.
This is a YA novel, set in an elite school. Maren's roommate Polly has gone missing and no one really cares or thinks there is anything strange about it. Maren discovers that there is a secret society and they might know what happened to Polly, so she goes on a mission to infiltrate it and find Polly.
The book started strongly, I was intrigued by the missing person/secret society angle. Then it got weird. And weirder. And even with all of the weirdness, I was still bored and had to force myself to keep going to find out what happened. In the end, I just couldn't wrap my brain around how any of it worked and how anyone could have gotten away with it for so long. So much of it was massive Scooby Doo--"who is behind the Gamemaster mask? It's..." over and over again. For being such a secret there were way too many people involved for it logically to stay a secret, especially with kidnappings and poisonings, etc.
After a while I was saying "Who cares about stupid Polly, she's obviously fine" What if they had just gone to the police or the media with the videos? And to top it all off the romance angle was just awful. A bizarre love triangle that was absolutely unneeded.
Maybe I'm just not the right reader for this because I just did not connect with it in any way. I was expecting The Inheritance Games and got Scooby Doo instead.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This is a YA novel, set in an elite school. Maren's roommate Polly has gone missing and no one really cares or thinks there is anything strange about it. Maren discovers that there is a secret society and they might know what happened to Polly, so she goes on a mission to infiltrate it and find Polly.
The book started strongly, I was intrigued by the missing person/secret society angle. Then it got weird. And weirder. And even with all of the weirdness, I was still bored and had to force myself to keep going to find out what happened. In the end, I just couldn't wrap my brain around how any of it worked and how anyone could have gotten away with it for so long. So much of it was massive Scooby Doo--"who is behind the Gamemaster mask? It's..." over and over again. For being such a secret there were way too many people involved for it logically to stay a secret, especially with kidnappings and poisonings, etc.
After a while I was saying "Who cares about stupid Polly, she's obviously fine" What if they had just gone to the police or the media with the videos? And to top it all off the romance angle was just awful. A bizarre love triangle that was absolutely unneeded.
Maybe I'm just not the right reader for this because I just did not connect with it in any way. I was expecting The Inheritance Games and got Scooby Doo instead.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
December 27, 2022
Maren's friend Polly disappears. She quickly puts the pieces together that there is a secret society on campus and that it has something to with Polly's disappearance. Maren manages to secure an invite and quickly become a pawn on the chessboard.
A really interesting take on a modern day cult like society. This is pure YA and I almost wished it wasn't so it could have been a bit darker. The characters were great and the story flowed well. Loved the twist at the end. I didn't care to much for the bit of romance displayed but I was really rooting for Gavin to save the day...
Overall not a bad read.
Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
A really interesting take on a modern day cult like society. This is pure YA and I almost wished it wasn't so it could have been a bit darker. The characters were great and the story flowed well. Loved the twist at the end. I didn't care to much for the bit of romance displayed but I was really rooting for Gavin to save the day...
Overall not a bad read.
Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
May 15, 2024
This was a nice light thriller. Just something g to take you mind off life and relax into someone else’s drama. Haha. The main characters bestie goes missing so she has to join a secret club at a private school. Seems like all thrillers take place in a private schools where the adults are never paying attending to what the students are doing. 😂. The plot is good with a few surprises and a bit of romance 💘
January 11, 2023
When Maren Montgomery’s roommate suddenly disappears, Maren is sure that something sinister happened. And Maren’s suspicions are heightened when she discovers an invitation from the Gamemaster’s Society among her roommate’s things. Maren only heard vague rumors about the existence of a secret society. But the invitation in front of her served as confirmation that a secret society existed at her school. Perhaps the society was the reason for her roommate’s disappearance.
Driven by curiosity and the need to locate her best friend and roommate Polly, Maren sets out to secure her own invitation to the Gamemaster’s Society. It was Maren’s hope that she would be able to uncover the truth about Polly from within the Society’s membership. A membership that could prove deadly.
They’re Watching You was an adrenaline packed read. The novel hooked me from the start and I could not put it down. I finished the book in two sittings. A first for me.
The characters are fleshed out and well developed. There’s quite a number of them, but it wasn’t too difficult to distinguish one from the other. Author Ichaso managed to capture the essence of private high school teens — the ones that have money and power, and the ones that don’t. I found Ichaso’s depiction of those high schoolers so real.
I loved the plot. There were a number of twists that kept me guessing all the way till they end. Add in some riddles to the equation and you have one heck of a novel that really tested my puzzling skills.
They’re Watching You is a definite must read if you’re a fan of Diana Urban, Cate Holahan, and Jennifer Mathieu. Five outstanding stars.
I received a digital ARC from SOURCEBOOKS Fire through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Driven by curiosity and the need to locate her best friend and roommate Polly, Maren sets out to secure her own invitation to the Gamemaster’s Society. It was Maren’s hope that she would be able to uncover the truth about Polly from within the Society’s membership. A membership that could prove deadly.
They’re Watching You was an adrenaline packed read. The novel hooked me from the start and I could not put it down. I finished the book in two sittings. A first for me.
The characters are fleshed out and well developed. There’s quite a number of them, but it wasn’t too difficult to distinguish one from the other. Author Ichaso managed to capture the essence of private high school teens — the ones that have money and power, and the ones that don’t. I found Ichaso’s depiction of those high schoolers so real.
I loved the plot. There were a number of twists that kept me guessing all the way till they end. Add in some riddles to the equation and you have one heck of a novel that really tested my puzzling skills.
They’re Watching You is a definite must read if you’re a fan of Diana Urban, Cate Holahan, and Jennifer Mathieu. Five outstanding stars.
I received a digital ARC from SOURCEBOOKS Fire through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
December 13, 2022
Thank you so much to Chelsea Ichaso and Sourcebooks Fire for this book that comes out January 3, 2023. It was about Polly St. James, a girl who went missing from the elite Torrey-Wells Academy. Her best friend Maren knows she didn't run away like the school is saying, especially because Polly was about to tell her something before she disappeared. When Maren finds an envelope hidden among Polly's things, an invitation to the Gamemaster's Society, she thinks her classmates in the Society know the truth about what happened to Polly.
Maren decides to try to join the society and once she makes it through initiation, she discovers a world she never knew existed within her school, where Society members compete in high-stakes games for unheard-of rewards―Ivy League connections, privileges, favors. For every win, she'll receive a clue about Polly and as she keeps winning, she begins to see just how powerful the Society's game is.
Thoughts: This book was so twisted! I loved the boarding school setting and it had lots of my favorite themes like cults, a secret society, creepy games, underground crypts, and a mysterious disappearance. There were some very twisted characters in this book and it was full of lots of puzzles which was fun. I liked Maren as a main character and didn't even mind the YA love triangle in the book. The ending was super predictable and obvious, and the twists were easy to see coming. Regardless, it was well-written and a fun and quick read! 4-stars!
Maren decides to try to join the society and once she makes it through initiation, she discovers a world she never knew existed within her school, where Society members compete in high-stakes games for unheard-of rewards―Ivy League connections, privileges, favors. For every win, she'll receive a clue about Polly and as she keeps winning, she begins to see just how powerful the Society's game is.
Thoughts: This book was so twisted! I loved the boarding school setting and it had lots of my favorite themes like cults, a secret society, creepy games, underground crypts, and a mysterious disappearance. There were some very twisted characters in this book and it was full of lots of puzzles which was fun. I liked Maren as a main character and didn't even mind the YA love triangle in the book. The ending was super predictable and obvious, and the twists were easy to see coming. Regardless, it was well-written and a fun and quick read! 4-stars!
August 6, 2022
This is my third and so far favourite Chelsea Ichaso read.
An elite academic institution, a secret society, sinister disappearances, and deadly trials all form the nexus for this thrilling and fast-paced read. Everything featured in the sentence above are my buzzwords and so I had very high expectations concerning this storyline, all of which were easily met.
This was a dark and thrilling read, with clues and puzzles for protagonist, Maren, and reader to solve in order to uncover what happened to her former-best-friend, Polly, before her disappearance. Not one of the extended cast were trustworthy and so my suspicions never rested on just one individual, which added to the already tense situations that they were exploring.
The society Maren gained access too only heightened this unease, with trials featuring throughout for her to gain more information and increased authority. Every chapter had a new reveal, all of them led to more raised questions, and nothing about this novel was expected.
The ending did border on becoming a little overwhelming but the author pulled it back off the precipice and delivered something unique and fresh in this genre instead. I'm excited what else she will deliver in the future!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Chelsea Ichaso, and the publisher, Sourcebooks Fire, for this opportunity.
An elite academic institution, a secret society, sinister disappearances, and deadly trials all form the nexus for this thrilling and fast-paced read. Everything featured in the sentence above are my buzzwords and so I had very high expectations concerning this storyline, all of which were easily met.
This was a dark and thrilling read, with clues and puzzles for protagonist, Maren, and reader to solve in order to uncover what happened to her former-best-friend, Polly, before her disappearance. Not one of the extended cast were trustworthy and so my suspicions never rested on just one individual, which added to the already tense situations that they were exploring.
The society Maren gained access too only heightened this unease, with trials featuring throughout for her to gain more information and increased authority. Every chapter had a new reveal, all of them led to more raised questions, and nothing about this novel was expected.
The ending did border on becoming a little overwhelming but the author pulled it back off the precipice and delivered something unique and fresh in this genre instead. I'm excited what else she will deliver in the future!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Chelsea Ichaso, and the publisher, Sourcebooks Fire, for this opportunity.
December 31, 2022
They’re Watching You by Chelsea Ichaso is a young adult, dark academia novel filled with secret societies, deadly games, and enough suspense to keep your blood pumping! I enjoyed this one a lot and finished it in nearly a day (sleep got in the way of course). I love how the missing friend’s aspect played a prominent role in the mystery and was quite shocked when I found out what happened to them. It certainly made for a twisted read!
If you’re a fan of young adult mysteries that revolve around secret societies, gothic structures, a boarding school setting, puzzle solving (both the mystery and the games they play), and disturbing secondary characters then this is a must read for you! It’s books like this that make me LOVE the YA mystery genre!
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙:
• Dark Academia
• Secret Societies
• Young Adult Mysteries
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you’re a fan of young adult mysteries that revolve around secret societies, gothic structures, a boarding school setting, puzzle solving (both the mystery and the games they play), and disturbing secondary characters then this is a must read for you! It’s books like this that make me LOVE the YA mystery genre!
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙:
• Dark Academia
• Secret Societies
• Young Adult Mysteries
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
July 3, 2022
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
They're Watching You gave me all the creepy vibes that I wasn't necessarily looking for. Then again, what does one ever expect from a secret society with deadly games? Not rainbows and sunshine.
In this, you will meet Maren. Now she is very concerned about her best friend, Polly, who is missing. She's also kind of annoyed that no one else seems to be. Right about now, you're probably wondering why she doesn't see this has a giant red flag. Don't worry, I didn't see it either until it was too late.
Long story short, there's so many twists and turns throughout this. There's also a ton of people to sus out because one has no idea who can or cannot be trusted. Okay, it was me. I had no idea, and it was driving me nuts. That being said, I could only hope for the best outcome when it came to Maren trying to solve Polly's mystery.
In the end, I was entertained from start to finish. I don't think I would be able to survive these games but I'm happy to read about them. Will be on the lookout for another one of Chelsea's books! Especially if they are about another secret society!
They're Watching You gave me all the creepy vibes that I wasn't necessarily looking for. Then again, what does one ever expect from a secret society with deadly games? Not rainbows and sunshine.
In this, you will meet Maren. Now she is very concerned about her best friend, Polly, who is missing. She's also kind of annoyed that no one else seems to be. Right about now, you're probably wondering why she doesn't see this has a giant red flag. Don't worry, I didn't see it either until it was too late.
Long story short, there's so many twists and turns throughout this. There's also a ton of people to sus out because one has no idea who can or cannot be trusted. Okay, it was me. I had no idea, and it was driving me nuts. That being said, I could only hope for the best outcome when it came to Maren trying to solve Polly's mystery.
In the end, I was entertained from start to finish. I don't think I would be able to survive these games but I'm happy to read about them. Will be on the lookout for another one of Chelsea's books! Especially if they are about another secret society!
July 13, 2022
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND THE PUBLISHER FOR THIS REVIEW COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
Private Academy and Secret Society----It only took words to convince me. Maren's best friend, Polly, has been missing for two weeks and Maren can't get over it. Rumors say she ran away but Polly shared everything with Maren, does she? wasn't her behavior a bit odd from the last few months? Something strange happened to her but Maren needed a shred of evidence to convince others.
This book started really well, with dangling suspense, slow introduction, and character development along with a good amount of suspense. But as the story proceeded, this book wasn't much different from Dead Girl Can't Tell Secrets.
The concept had the potential but the execution was half-baked. The characters were so flat and dull. I couldn't think of anything else after reading Remington's name except hair straightener 😂. The force love triangle was one of the worst I've ever read, everything sounded so middle school so maybe the target was a young audience but I am not sure. The entire concept of secret society couldn't be executed more poorly. There were so many plot holes and loose strings that I stopped thinking about logic. The story was far from reality-I agree that it is fiction but the entire concept of running a secret society for centuries didn't sit well with me, I needed more background stories to believe that people were able to keep it secret for YEARS.
I don't think I'll read another book by this author, It was pure disappointment.
Private Academy and Secret Society----It only took words to convince me. Maren's best friend, Polly, has been missing for two weeks and Maren can't get over it. Rumors say she ran away but Polly shared everything with Maren, does she? wasn't her behavior a bit odd from the last few months? Something strange happened to her but Maren needed a shred of evidence to convince others.
This book started really well, with dangling suspense, slow introduction, and character development along with a good amount of suspense. But as the story proceeded, this book wasn't much different from Dead Girl Can't Tell Secrets.
The concept had the potential but the execution was half-baked. The characters were so flat and dull. I couldn't think of anything else after reading Remington's name except hair straightener 😂. The force love triangle was one of the worst I've ever read, everything sounded so middle school so maybe the target was a young audience but I am not sure. The entire concept of secret society couldn't be executed more poorly. There were so many plot holes and loose strings that I stopped thinking about logic. The story was far from reality-I agree that it is fiction but the entire concept of running a secret society for centuries didn't sit well with me, I needed more background stories to believe that people were able to keep it secret for YEARS.
I don't think I'll read another book by this author, It was pure disappointment.
October 8, 2022
Thank you Netgalley for the free eARC (and the publisher + author, too!).
This was unputdownable! A solid dark academia thriller read with stakes and numerous twists and turns. Though I ended up predicting a couple of twists, I still loved the book and really enjoyed the read! I thought the love triangle was a little redundant and the guy I was rooting for most of the book didn't end up with Maren but I'm willing to forgive the book for that. The love story that was told I didn't fully believe but the plot kept me going!
This book picked up so quickly and around the 50% mark I was well and truly hooked and I didn't move, didn't dare breathe for the last 50% from there. I enjoyed this much more than Dead Girls Can't Tell Secrets. Ichaso has really developed her style!
Victory or Dust.
3.5 stars
This was unputdownable! A solid dark academia thriller read with stakes and numerous twists and turns. Though I ended up predicting a couple of twists, I still loved the book and really enjoyed the read! I thought the love triangle was a little redundant and the guy I was rooting for most of the book didn't end up with Maren but I'm willing to forgive the book for that. The love story that was told I didn't fully believe but the plot kept me going!
This book picked up so quickly and around the 50% mark I was well and truly hooked and I didn't move, didn't dare breathe for the last 50% from there. I enjoyed this much more than Dead Girls Can't Tell Secrets. Ichaso has really developed her style!
Victory or Dust.
3.5 stars
November 2, 2025
Okay, this book had a good bit of plot twists I didn't see coming. Poor Maren wants to know what happened to her best friend; she didn't ask for all of the chaos that came with finding that out. I was rooting for Remington the whole time. There were moments I was like, This guy is suspicious.
There were a lot of Greek mythology references in this book, plus the catacombs seemed super creepy. The last two chapters got me good, though I wasn't expecting those plot twists at all. I thought I knew who the Gamemaster was, but I was 100% wrong until right before it was announced in the book.
The book gave me Hunger Games, Pretty Little Liars, and Season 1 of Cruel Summer vibes.
There were a lot of Greek mythology references in this book, plus the catacombs seemed super creepy. The last two chapters got me good, though I wasn't expecting those plot twists at all. I thought I knew who the Gamemaster was, but I was 100% wrong until right before it was announced in the book.
The book gave me Hunger Games, Pretty Little Liars, and Season 1 of Cruel Summer vibes.
July 6, 2022
A wonderful page turning thriller. I binged this book within a few hours of reading.
A secret society that has the ability to give you the life of your dreams or take it all away. One student plans to infiltrate them to save her best friend but things aren't always what they seem. Who can she trust if anyone. As she is pitted against another member only one can save the person they care for most. They are led through a series of dangerous games and challenges but there can only be one winner. And to lose is death.
I loved this book it was a fun read with lots of twists and turns and second guessing. I recommend this book to thriller and psychology twist lovers.
A secret society that has the ability to give you the life of your dreams or take it all away. One student plans to infiltrate them to save her best friend but things aren't always what they seem. Who can she trust if anyone. As she is pitted against another member only one can save the person they care for most. They are led through a series of dangerous games and challenges but there can only be one winner. And to lose is death.
I loved this book it was a fun read with lots of twists and turns and second guessing. I recommend this book to thriller and psychology twist lovers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2022
Thank you author and NetGalley for letting me review this novel.
It is suspenseful and fans of Diana Urban will also like this novel!
Plot development ☆☆☆☆☆
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P.S. Add me as a friend :) I like to read romance novels and mystery stories
It is suspenseful and fans of Diana Urban will also like this novel!
Plot development ☆☆☆☆☆
Find me on:
Instagram: @chevreads - for bookish news
Wattpad: @writerthursday
Pinterest: @thursdayfrappe
Youtube: @chevreads - posting soon!?
P.S. Add me as a friend :) I like to read romance novels and mystery stories
August 27, 2022
Thank you author and NetGalley for letting me review this novel.
It is suspenseful and fans of Diana Urban will also like this novel!
plot development ☆☆☆☆☆
It is suspenseful and fans of Diana Urban will also like this novel!
plot development ☆☆☆☆☆
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December 11, 2022
They're Watching You really didn't work for me. The premise sounds so intriguing, but the execution lacked quite a bit in development and tension for me to enjoy reading it.
This ended up being one of those rare reads I knew I wasn't going to like from the first few chapters. I thought the initial set up was so incredibly rushed in terms on introducing the conflict and the characters and the rest of the book didn't change my mind on that. It was all very surface level writing so the fast pace would move the plot along from riddle to riddle and from twist to twist. This meant I, personally, didn't have anything to hold on to.
Because of the point above, I wasn't able to connect with any of the characters. I didn't find them complex or interesting in any way and didn't care about what they were going through as the story progressed. I also found the high school setting a really odd choice here, considering how everything went down and the scope of the society itself.
And the romance... ugh. The forced love triangle was awful, personally. It didn't endear me to anyone and was very annoying. It was obvious who Maren was going to end up with and so that conflict, on top of everything else that wasn't working for me already, dragged the story down even more.
*
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This ended up being one of those rare reads I knew I wasn't going to like from the first few chapters. I thought the initial set up was so incredibly rushed in terms on introducing the conflict and the characters and the rest of the book didn't change my mind on that. It was all very surface level writing so the fast pace would move the plot along from riddle to riddle and from twist to twist. This meant I, personally, didn't have anything to hold on to.
Because of the point above, I wasn't able to connect with any of the characters. I didn't find them complex or interesting in any way and didn't care about what they were going through as the story progressed. I also found the high school setting a really odd choice here, considering how everything went down and the scope of the society itself.
And the romance... ugh. The forced love triangle was awful, personally. It didn't endear me to anyone and was very annoying. It was obvious who Maren was going to end up with and so that conflict, on top of everything else that wasn't working for me already, dragged the story down even more.
*
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2022
This was a cute and interesting book. The secret society is quick to enter the story. In just the first few chapters, the MC is aleady in and doing their dirty work. I liked the societies games and riddles to solve even if the stakes were higher than Maren thought. It is entertaining to read, especially if you like the secrets and the twists.
But I found this to be a little sweeter and lighter than I thought it would be. It was cute, and I liked it, just didn't love it. Oh and the twist totally had me, I never guessed a thing!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
But I found this to be a little sweeter and lighter than I thought it would be. It was cute, and I liked it, just didn't love it. Oh and the twist totally had me, I never guessed a thing!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
January 18, 2023
4- 4,5 STARS
This was a great read, it was fast paced and I find it fun!It kept me on my toes most of the time, I was so invested to the story.I loved the set up in this one it gave me dark academia vibes , it has secret societies, it's twisted ,it has disappearance and love triangle.Maren remind me myself at some points I loved her and she grown up through the story.I loved the writing and I can't wait to read more books from this author!
This was a great read, it was fast paced and I find it fun!It kept me on my toes most of the time, I was so invested to the story.I loved the set up in this one it gave me dark academia vibes , it has secret societies, it's twisted ,it has disappearance and love triangle.Maren remind me myself at some points I loved her and she grown up through the story.I loved the writing and I can't wait to read more books from this author!
September 8, 2024
Another amazing book!
I had my superstitions about polly and boy was i right, greedy selfish little B*tch that would do anything to be famous and rule the world even giving up her best friend to be sacrificed to the Society.
If you like suspense and mysteries please read! you wont be disappointed
I had my superstitions about polly and boy was i right, greedy selfish little B*tch that would do anything to be famous and rule the world even giving up her best friend to be sacrificed to the Society.
If you like suspense and mysteries please read! you wont be disappointed
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2025
no thoughts just...lots of plotholes and filler things and the most bland mc i have ever met in my entire life. dry cardboard has more personality than maren
June 24, 2022
This book combines two of my favorite plot points, a secret society and deadly games. These elements make the story dangerous, thrilling, and kept me glued to the end. I thought this was fast paced, twisty, and a fun read!
Maren's former best friend is missing and no one but her seems concerned. Everyone thinks she just ran away, but Maren thinks there's more to it. When she investigates Polly's last few months, she stumbles upon an old secret society. As she's drawn further in, things start getting dangerous and Maren isn't sure who to trust. I went back and forth on who I thought was actually misleading Maren and who might be able to help her and it was a tough call. I liked that doubt is at every turn and I had to keep going to see if things were going to work out or end badly.
Maren can be impulsive and at times I thought she was making a mistake by trusting the wrong person. She's a loyal friend though and I admired how much she fought to make it through the games and figure out what happened to Polly. Some of the games sound like a lot of fun and I would play them in a non-deadly version.
The story is action-packed and a great ride. I'll be checking out more books from this author!
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for the copy.
Maren's former best friend is missing and no one but her seems concerned. Everyone thinks she just ran away, but Maren thinks there's more to it. When she investigates Polly's last few months, she stumbles upon an old secret society. As she's drawn further in, things start getting dangerous and Maren isn't sure who to trust. I went back and forth on who I thought was actually misleading Maren and who might be able to help her and it was a tough call. I liked that doubt is at every turn and I had to keep going to see if things were going to work out or end badly.
Maren can be impulsive and at times I thought she was making a mistake by trusting the wrong person. She's a loyal friend though and I admired how much she fought to make it through the games and figure out what happened to Polly. Some of the games sound like a lot of fun and I would play them in a non-deadly version.
The story is action-packed and a great ride. I'll be checking out more books from this author!
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for the copy.
January 8, 2023
Rating: 2 stars.
This was not great, unfortunately. The plot was very all over the place, very confusing with lots of things happening but still, it never got suspenseful or exciting. The mystery was very bland, I wasn't sure why I was supposed to care about it at all and it also ended the exact way I predicted it would end. The whole set up of the story seemed promising at first, but it turned ridiculous and far-fetched by the beginning of the second half and I didn't care anymore.
The characters also didn't make this any better, the romance was so boring and the love triangle felt unnecessary and out of place within the plot. It felt like the characters just didn't have anything better to do.
This was not great, unfortunately. The plot was very all over the place, very confusing with lots of things happening but still, it never got suspenseful or exciting. The mystery was very bland, I wasn't sure why I was supposed to care about it at all and it also ended the exact way I predicted it would end. The whole set up of the story seemed promising at first, but it turned ridiculous and far-fetched by the beginning of the second half and I didn't care anymore.
The characters also didn't make this any better, the romance was so boring and the love triangle felt unnecessary and out of place within the plot. It felt like the characters just didn't have anything better to do.
March 6, 2023
I received an ARC of this book and let me tell ya, you’re not going to want to miss it when it comes out in January. This had me gagged by the first page. I’m talking a secret (possibly murderous) society, a love triangle of sorts, dark academia vibes, and one bad bitch main character who TRUSTS HER GUT - some queen energy right there. Very entertaining book overall!!
December 4, 2023
this was wickedly entertaining.
is it realistic not really but its a novel.
you got greek gods inspired goodness, creepy tombs/catacombs, secret society/cult vibes it was literally everything I love in books combined to make one book.
10/10 will recommend!
is it realistic not really but its a novel.
you got greek gods inspired goodness, creepy tombs/catacombs, secret society/cult vibes it was literally everything I love in books combined to make one book.
10/10 will recommend!
July 17, 2024
overall rating: ☆☆☆.5 | vibes:mysterious & dark | writing: pretty solid | ending: wtf whyyyy?
Jump into the dark academia-style world of Torrey-Wells Academy where you will find missing teens, secret societies, maze of catacombs and dangerous games.
This is one of those books that will keep you not only entertained but entranced by the amount of secrets everyone is holding. Add in a slight love triangle and you won't be able to set this one down.
The cover was what made me pick this one up from my local library and once I heard secret society I was sold.
Maren, our MC, is on the hunt for her missing roommate, Polly, who everyone claims just ran away but she knows better. Once she finds an envelope that reveals Polly could have been apart of a secret society. So Maren is determined to get into it to discover what Polly was hiding and if the society had anything to do with her disappearance.
This original plot had me hooked, I NEEDED to know more about this secret society and I was 1000% there for the mystery aspect.
Maren disappointed me in a way because she felt like she was lacking in the personality department and that her life revolved around her one friend who disappeared. Plus, she was pushing everyone else away that was even trying to be her friend (including completely fucking one over- which I will get into later).
The romance element between Remington and Gavin had me CAPTIVATED. Team Remington all the way. Gavin was a little annoying to me - first he lied to her (which fair you are in a secret society BUT STILL) then he kept going back and forth with Maren. I loved this element that gave it an angsty feeling in between all of the secrets.
One thing that bothered me at that point was Maren's insistence the whole book that they needed to tell a teacher or go to the police. Like girl are you THAT STUPID. Clearly this society has some high up people involved and they are most likely ALL involved. Why would you think you could trust someone involved in the school??
Then Maren gets her friend involved like nothing bad is going to happen to her. Why would you do that to someone you wanted to be friendlier with?! This just gave Maren the feeling that she was only about herself.
I was 1000% here for this book until the grand reveal at the end. I had a feeling it was going to go the way it did and that was what dropped this book from a 4.5 star to a 3.5 star read. The ending just didn't feel plausible.
At this point the MCs were making the stupidest decisions possible and I just felt annoyed at what happened in the last 100 pages. WHY WOULD YOU TRUST ANYONE??
The reveal of the Grandmaster or whatever it was called was so out of pocket and so disappointing. There's no way that specific person was the HEAD of whatever was going on. There's just no way I refuse to believe it. There were just too many plot holes at the end.
If you are a fan of secret societies and culty YA thrillers then I would say give this one a shot you might like the ending better than I did.
Jump into the dark academia-style world of Torrey-Wells Academy where you will find missing teens, secret societies, maze of catacombs and dangerous games.
This is one of those books that will keep you not only entertained but entranced by the amount of secrets everyone is holding. Add in a slight love triangle and you won't be able to set this one down.
The cover was what made me pick this one up from my local library and once I heard secret society I was sold.
Maren, our MC, is on the hunt for her missing roommate, Polly, who everyone claims just ran away but she knows better. Once she finds an envelope that reveals Polly could have been apart of a secret society. So Maren is determined to get into it to discover what Polly was hiding and if the society had anything to do with her disappearance.
This original plot had me hooked, I NEEDED to know more about this secret society and I was 1000% there for the mystery aspect.
Maren disappointed me in a way because she felt like she was lacking in the personality department and that her life revolved around her one friend who disappeared. Plus, she was pushing everyone else away that was even trying to be her friend (including completely fucking one over- which I will get into later).
The romance element between Remington and Gavin had me CAPTIVATED. Team Remington all the way. Gavin was a little annoying to me - first he lied to her (which fair you are in a secret society BUT STILL) then he kept going back and forth with Maren. I loved this element that gave it an angsty feeling in between all of the secrets.
One thing that bothered me at that point was Maren's insistence the whole book that they needed to tell a teacher or go to the police. Like girl are you THAT STUPID. Clearly this society has some high up people involved and they are most likely ALL involved. Why would you think you could trust someone involved in the school??
Then Maren gets her friend involved like nothing bad is going to happen to her. Why would you do that to someone you wanted to be friendlier with?! This just gave Maren the feeling that she was only about herself.
I was 1000% here for this book until the grand reveal at the end. I had a feeling it was going to go the way it did and that was what dropped this book from a 4.5 star to a 3.5 star read. The ending just didn't feel plausible.
At this point the MCs were making the stupidest decisions possible and I just felt annoyed at what happened in the last 100 pages. WHY WOULD YOU TRUST ANYONE??
The reveal of the Grandmaster or whatever it was called was so out of pocket and so disappointing. There's no way that specific person was the HEAD of whatever was going on. There's just no way I refuse to believe it. There were just too many plot holes at the end.
If you are a fan of secret societies and culty YA thrillers then I would say give this one a shot you might like the ending better than I did.
September 13, 2022
This is one of those creepy, dark books that you know from the beginning will keep you reading until the end! Maren's best friend at Torrey-Wells Academy has gone missing and Maren is determined to find her, knowing Polly would never just leave without a trace. When Maren is "invited" to a secret society headed by The Gamemaster, she is determined to find out if this had anything to do with Polly's disappearance. But she has no idea what she's in for: secrets, lies, jealousies, blackmail, crypts, mythological references, and more! My heart was racing during most of it and I'm still a little shaken. It's billed as YA but I believe for a very mature "young"audience so beware as it's surely not going to make you want to go "away" to college! Whew!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
April 5, 2025
It started slow. I was just about to give up when it started getting interesting.
The main character gets mixed up in a secret society and finds out it's deadly secrets. Will she survive?
The main character gets mixed up in a secret society and finds out it's deadly secrets. Will she survive?
June 2, 2022
Due for release in January 2023, I was thrilled to get a copy of this via NetGalley. The cover and blurb had me tingling in anticipation…and now I’ve finished, I can’t wait to recommend this to others.
Ichaso strikes the right note here. At the outset, I was sucked in by Maren’s quest to find out what happened to her friend. She is gutsy, a little reckless, but it soon become obvious that someone was toying with her and that this game could be a lot more serious than she imagined.
What Maren learns is that Polly had become part of a secret society in their exclusive boarding school. Maren digs until she finds a way in…and then we started a curious cat and mouse game.
From the moment the Society is mentioned, Ichaso ramps up the tension. There’s a love triangle (of sorts) but it’s never clear who can be trusted, and Maren herself falls prey to this. Some of the challenges seemed rather childish…but it was evidently part of a much bigger plan. As we learn about the scope of the Society we start to see how serious this could be.
Once underway, this was a hard story to put down. It exploited the fears of the characters very well, and was written in a way that always left me with a niggling suspicion.
For a book about secret societies, deadly rituals and with potentially life-threatening scenarios this was great fun!
Ichaso strikes the right note here. At the outset, I was sucked in by Maren’s quest to find out what happened to her friend. She is gutsy, a little reckless, but it soon become obvious that someone was toying with her and that this game could be a lot more serious than she imagined.
What Maren learns is that Polly had become part of a secret society in their exclusive boarding school. Maren digs until she finds a way in…and then we started a curious cat and mouse game.
From the moment the Society is mentioned, Ichaso ramps up the tension. There’s a love triangle (of sorts) but it’s never clear who can be trusted, and Maren herself falls prey to this. Some of the challenges seemed rather childish…but it was evidently part of a much bigger plan. As we learn about the scope of the Society we start to see how serious this could be.
Once underway, this was a hard story to put down. It exploited the fears of the characters very well, and was written in a way that always left me with a niggling suspicion.
For a book about secret societies, deadly rituals and with potentially life-threatening scenarios this was great fun!
December 24, 2022
I was iffy about this since I wasn't too keen about a Secret Society, but the plot quickly drew me in with the many twists and turns as Maren attempted to solve the disappearance of her best friend. Even though the story was unrealistic, I still enjoyed how fast paced Maren's quest was and her infinite loyalty to discover answers. Thank you Edelweiss for an ARC.
July 17, 2023
I did it.
I have achieved what I set forth to do.
I wanted to read a book that would have me:
1. chew my fingernails down to the beds
2. hold my breath in angst
3. fear what lurks in the shadows.
I had to call my therapist after concluding They’re Watching You.
This is in no way shape or form a bad thing, the fact that this book had this much of an impact on me is still mind boggling BUT if anyone could do it, it was sure to be Chelsea Ichaso.
I read Dead Girls Can’t Tell Secrets, awhile back and right there I knew that Ichaso and I had formed a "book-ship" of sorts, that would eventually escalate and lead me down a path of unwavering obsession to her books both published, and yet to be published.
Does Chelsea Ichaso, have that effect on you too? Maybe we can start a support group.
All kidding aside, Theyre Watching You, has easily snuck on in to my number one slot of most favored books.... EVER.
Teaser:
When a secret society has you in their sights, it can lead to power, privilege… or death.
It's been two weeks since Polly St. James went missing. The police, the headmistress of Torrey-Wells Academy, and even her parents have ruled her a runaway. But not Maren, her best friend and roommate. She knows Polly had a secret that she was about to share with Maren before she disappeared― something to do with the elite, ultra-rich crowd at Torrey-Wells.
Then Maren finds an envelope hidden among Polly's things: an invitation to the Gamemaster's Society. Do not tell anyone, it says. Maren is certain her classmates in the Society know the truth about what happened to Polly, though it's no easy feat to join. Once Maren's made it through the treacherous initiation, she discovers a world she never knew existed within her school, where Society members compete in high-stakes games for unheard-of rewards―Ivy League connections, privileges, favors.
But Maren's been drawn into a different game: for every win, she'll receive a clue about Polly. And as Maren keeps winning, she begins to see just how powerful the Society's game is―bigger and deadlier than she ever imagined. They see, they know, they control. And they kill.
I have achieved what I set forth to do.
I wanted to read a book that would have me:
1. chew my fingernails down to the beds
2. hold my breath in angst
3. fear what lurks in the shadows.
I had to call my therapist after concluding They’re Watching You.
This is in no way shape or form a bad thing, the fact that this book had this much of an impact on me is still mind boggling BUT if anyone could do it, it was sure to be Chelsea Ichaso.
I read Dead Girls Can’t Tell Secrets, awhile back and right there I knew that Ichaso and I had formed a "book-ship" of sorts, that would eventually escalate and lead me down a path of unwavering obsession to her books both published, and yet to be published.
Does Chelsea Ichaso, have that effect on you too? Maybe we can start a support group.
All kidding aside, Theyre Watching You, has easily snuck on in to my number one slot of most favored books.... EVER.
Teaser:
When a secret society has you in their sights, it can lead to power, privilege… or death.
It's been two weeks since Polly St. James went missing. The police, the headmistress of Torrey-Wells Academy, and even her parents have ruled her a runaway. But not Maren, her best friend and roommate. She knows Polly had a secret that she was about to share with Maren before she disappeared― something to do with the elite, ultra-rich crowd at Torrey-Wells.
Then Maren finds an envelope hidden among Polly's things: an invitation to the Gamemaster's Society. Do not tell anyone, it says. Maren is certain her classmates in the Society know the truth about what happened to Polly, though it's no easy feat to join. Once Maren's made it through the treacherous initiation, she discovers a world she never knew existed within her school, where Society members compete in high-stakes games for unheard-of rewards―Ivy League connections, privileges, favors.
But Maren's been drawn into a different game: for every win, she'll receive a clue about Polly. And as Maren keeps winning, she begins to see just how powerful the Society's game is―bigger and deadlier than she ever imagined. They see, they know, they control. And they kill.
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