Book Review: When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole

Blurb:

Rear Window meets Get Out in this gripping thriller from a critically acclaimed and New York Times Notable author, in which the gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood takes on a sinister new meaning…

Sydney Green is Brooklyn born and raised, but her beloved neighborhood seems to change every time she blinks. Condos are sprouting like weeds, FOR SALE signs are popping up overnight, and the neighbors she’s known all her life are disappearing. To hold onto her community’s past and present, Sydney channels her frustration into a walking tour and finds an unlikely and unwanted assistant in one of the new arrivals to the block—her neighbor Theo.

But Sydney and Theo’s deep dive into history quickly becomes a dizzying descent into paranoia and fear. Their neighbors may not have moved to the suburbs after all, and the push to revitalize the community may be more deadly than advertised.

When does coincidence become conspiracy? Where do people go when gentrification pushes them out? Can Sydney and Theo trust each other—or themselves—long enough to find out before they too disappear?

Thank you to William Morrow Books for my review copy.

My thoughts:

Let me start of by saying this book is no ordinary thriller. Why is that? Because everything in this book has happened and continues to happen in the Black community and marginalized groups.
⠀
This book is a scary but realistic portrayal of gentrification that happens in the Black communities. I, myself have seen it happen and its truly heartbreaking. Rents are raised, people are forced out of their homes. Then the neighborhood starts “changing for the better” and before you know it everything you know and love is gone. We do have a lot of micro aggressive characters in this book and it pissed me off to NO end.
⠀
Sydney was a very refreshing character, she pulled no punches and gave it to Theo straight with no chaser. At one point she almost had me feeling a tad bit sorry for him. 😂
⠀
I am a huge fan of Alyssa Cole and I was excited to see that her latest book was going to be a thriller. Let me say Cole did not disappoint. The pacing of the story was slow and steady at first but once it all came together I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. My heart was racing while reading the last few chapters of this story. I really feel that everyone needs to read this book especially White people.