by Alex Crespo
First published 2025
Shay and her girlfriend Lauren fight about revealing their secret relationship on the Oregon coast. Their argument awakens the Watcher, a creature that feeds on hidden truths. The beast injures Lauren badly before they escape. Rumors spread about Lauren's wounds, and people blame Shay. She knows the Watcher caused the attack, but she needs proof. Shay asks Zoe, an aspiring photographer seeking subjects bold enough for her art school portfolio, to capture the creature on camera. Together with friends Jack and Parker, they hunt the local legend. The Watcher grows stronger as it stalks them, threatening to expose the secrets each teen keeps from their town and each other. They must destroy the creature before it feeds on their hidden truths and destroys their lives.
Genres: mystery, horror, supernatural, contemporary, young-adult
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, eerie, emotional, suspenseful, tension-filled
Tropes: forced-proximity, found-family, monster-hunting, secrets-revealed
Setting: Oregon Coast
352 pages · Hardcover · Peachtree Teen
Content warnings: violence