Review: Watch Me by Jody Gehrman

He’s been watching her. He knows they belong together. It’s only a matter of time before she will be his.

Five years ago, Sam read Professor Kate Youngblood‘s book for the first time and it was love at first read. Ever since then, every move he’s made has been to get closer to her. Everything he does is for her. He would kill for her, he would die for her. Now, in her creative writing class, his dreams are within arms reach. All his careful plotting and planning has led up to this.

Kate is at a crossroads in life. Her best friend’s brand new spawn has her too preoccupied for Kate. Her ex-husband is about to marry a new, younger beauty. Her work in progress isn’t shaping up to her editor’s expectations.

Though she finds herself unusually attracted to her student, she can see Sam is somewhat disturbed. Nonetheless, he’s a brilliant writer — the first writer with real potential to strut into her classroom. But even as she finds herself more drawn to him, a little warning is going off in her head. When you’re a woman of a certain age, you start to feel invisible. When you feel that watchful gaze from an admirer, when you finally feel seen, it is intoxicating. Will Kate succumb to that feeling or will she heed that voice in her head telling her to run far, far away?

This book was compelling enough to keep reading to see what happens next, but it was easy to walk away from too. It wasn’t the Up All Night To Finish It kind of story. But rather, a steady slow-burn. The characters were mostly unlikable but with just enough redeeming qualities to make them palatable. The plot was predictable but solid. While it was enjoyable, it just wasn’t the kind of story that is going to stick with you. Reading the story as a writer myself I did enjoy the little writerly tidbits — like how even while it was happening Kate noted what a great story this would make if she makes it out alive — but it also had the effect of being self-indulgent. I usually stray away from books about writers for this reason. Overall it was a relatively enjoyable read, but not my cup of tea.

3/5. Thank you to NetGalley, publisher St. Martin’s Press, and author Jody Gehrman for the ARC of this book.

For an in-depth discussion of this book, including spoilers, click here.

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