Review: Watched by C.J. Lyons

Watched

Author: C.J. Lyons
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: YA Contemporary/Thriller
Format: ebook
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Source: egalley received from publisher via Netgalley
Rating: 3 Stars
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***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way changed my opinion of the book. The review below is my open and honest opinion.***

Synopsis from Goodreads:

When hackers can hijack any cellphone or computer webcam, no one is safe - including Jesse.

Jesse seems like a normal sixteen-year-old, but he isn't. He is a victim of King - a ruthless hacker who has been blackmailing Jesse with incriminating screen photos and videos. So far, Jesse's given in to King's demands in order to protect his family. But now King wants something that's too horrible to contemplate- and if he doesn't get it, King will kill Jesse's little sister.

Terrified and helpless, the answer to Jesse's prayers arrives in the form of a plain manila envelope. Inside there's a phone number and a note: I can help. 

My Review:

Watched is a gritty and realistic story of the terrifying realities of cyberbullying and child pornography. This book is hard to read at times and will make you sick to your stomach, but this is an important subject that shouldn’t be ignored as it often is.

The two main characters, Jesse and Miranda are both victims of cyberbullying, which in turn has resulted in child pornography. Jesse is trapped in a life where he must “perform” for King or risk his mom and sister’s lives. Trapped in a life ruled by King and his uncle, Jesse struggles with his own self-worth. He believes that he is a coward because he can’t break free, can’t say no. I thought this was a pretty realistic thought process for him. It was heartbreaking watching him go through all of this without anyone to turn to.

Miranda on the other hand, has been through a similar ordeal, only she has broken somewhat away from King. Not entirely. But enough to where she’s no longer “performing” for him. But as a result of her ordeal, Miranda suffers from severe mental illness. She has agoraphobia, the fear of leaving her home. I have never personally known someone with this, so I can’t say with 100% certainty, but I do feel like her mental state was well portrayed. Miranda wanted so desperately to take King down, but she struggled with her own feelings of cowardice. Both of these characters’ stories intertwined into a painful, but beautiful struggle. They are both pushed to their breaking points, do extreme things, but in the end they are fighting for the same thing: justice.

A thriller of sorts, this book will leave you on the edge of your seat waiting and hoping desperately for someone to catch the sick, twisted man that King is. There were some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and the plot line definitely kept me turning the pages. All that being said, I did lack a certain connection with the characters. As emotional as the story was (or I guess was supposed to be), I didn’t really get all that emotional. Sure, I cringed at how sick King and Jesse’s uncle were. And it made me sick to my stomach knowing that Jesse and Miranda weren’t his only victims. But I never connected on the deep emotional level that I wanted to which is why I only gave this one three stars. Still, it’s an important story that I think needed to be told.

Have you read this one yet? What did you think of the two main characters? Did you feel a lack of emotional connection like me?