You Watched In Silence – A Vlogoshpere Thriller

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. 

You Watched in Silence by H. Lee Justine is a creepy psychological thriller that digs into the rot beneath influencer culture. The story follows Caitlyn, a young woman hired as a live-in nanny for a pair of cancelled family vloggers. It’s a dream job that, of course, unravels into a nightmare. Caitlyn and her ex–best friend spent years obsessed with Bella Greene, so when she arrives at the Greenes’ remote island home in Washington, she’s primed to believe she’ll get an up close look at the curated perfection she’s always known. But the glossy façade frays fast, and the family’s “fresh start” starts to look more like a horror show.

The central mystery hooked me immediately. I loved peeling back each character’s secrets and seeing how the book’s online controversy was shaped like real life. Honestly, this book practically begged for a fictional 15-part TikTok docuseries about the Greene drama, and I wish the author had leaned all the way into that. One of my favorite elements is how quickly we realize Caitlyn is an unreliable narrator. The book doesn’t explicitly spell it out, but the clues are all there. You learn early that you shouldn’t trust her perspective, but you’re not exactly sure if what she’s seeing is real and that confusion carries beautifully.

I also love that the title, You Watched in Silence, works on multiple levels. It echoes through the story in different ways and it lands every time.

That said, the book deals with some heavy content: child exploitation, self-harm, cyberbullying, and suicidal ideation. If those themes are difficult for you, consider skipping this one.

But if you’re looking for a thriller that blends social commentary with the psychological, this one delivers. I really enjoyed it and absolutely recommend giving it a read.