When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole

Book Review

Apr 01, 2025

Genre & Modality

Thriller
Audiobook

Spoiler-Free Synopsis

After Sydney’s beloved Brooklyn neighborhood is deemed “up and coming,” she notices her neighborhood is changing rapidly and not for the better. Her Black and Brown neighbors are selling their homes or being pushed out due to rising property taxes and are being replaced with White families and couples looking to revitalize the area. Relators are knocking down her door, trying to get Sydney to sell, and the harder she tries to hold on, the more she loses her grip.

My Rating & Review

Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

Alyssa Cole's When No One Is Watching delivers the same unsettling tension as Get Out and Ace of Spades, immersing readers in a chilling exploration of gentrification and its insidious impact. As Sydney's suspicions about her new neighbors grow, the narrative expertly blurs the lines between her perception and reality, leaving both her and the reader questioning what's truly happening in her Brooklyn neighborhood. While the climax effectively leverages Theo's privilege, a “for us by us” approach would have resonated more with me. Nevertheless, this gripping thriller will keep you second-guessing until the very last page and I highly recommend this all too real thriller.