He Knows When You’re Awake

by Alta Hensley

Review

I went into He Knows When You’re Awake expecting to feel the same way I did after He Sees You When You're Sleeping—solid, somewhere in the middle of the hype, enjoyable but not earth-shattering. To my surprise, this one pulled me in much more. The character interactions felt smoother and more intentional, and I really enjoyed the dynamic between them. It had this almost-kidnapping vibe—not quite the trope, but definitely brushing up against it in a way that added tension without making me uncomfortable. She knew more or less what she was walking into, yet there was just enough of that “hidden away” energy to keep things fun and dramatic.

There were a few stalker-ish actions leading up to everything, but they didn’t hit the same intensity as the first book. And where the first book occasionally pushed into uncomfortable territory for me, this one didn’t at all—overbearing at times, sure, but never crossing the line. Even though I rated both books four stars, this one definitely sits at the higher end of that rating. It’s the kind of follow-up that made me appreciate the concept of the series a bit more.