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ghostlyreader's review against another edition
4.0
Stay Awake was such a fun read and had me hooked the whole time. The only reason that I am giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the ending. The ending wasn't bad but it felt really rushed compared to the rest of the story and there were some unanswered questions. This is the second book by Megan Goldin that I have read and I really loved both of them. I plan on reading her others sometime this year because they are a blast.
gabbyscarlet's review against another edition
3.0
The writing style was engaging enough, but the twist was so predictable… Ughhhh.
Like gee, Liv’s best friend and boyfriend are having an affair and the best friend’s boyfriend is the murderer? Shocker.
Probably won’t remember this one within a few months.
Like gee, Liv’s best friend and boyfriend are having an affair and the best friend’s boyfriend is the murderer? Shocker.
Probably won’t remember this one within a few months.
bookph1le's review against another edition
1.0
I'm not one-starring this because I think it's necessarily a bad book, but because I didn't like it--which according to the Goodreads scale, is what a one-star review means.
It is an intricate novel and I did admire the way it unfolded, but I never bought the plot entirely, probably mostly because I am not a fan of the amnesia trope in mystery books. I did think this sort of plot could work really, really well in a sci-fi mystery novel if the memory loss were due to, say, a new drug or some sort of new technology invented for nefarious or benevolent purposes, but that is not what this book is. If the book I mentioned there is ever written (or if it already has been and I just need to discover it), we'll see if I feel differently about the amnesia plot line.
However, it's not just the amnesia plot I didn't like. While I liked Halliday as a character, I think she would have been better served in her own book, possibly as part of a series. Goldin does a good job of giving her some shades here, but I didn't really understand what the point of giving her shades *is*, since this book is ostensibly about Liv and whatever is going on with Liv's memory that makes it impossible for her to remember whatever traumatic event triggered her memory loss problems. Was there just not enough plot surrounding Liv for this to work? As it was, this book felt like two halves of a book mashed together, one about a woman who forgets everything whenever she sleeps, and the other about a female veteran turned cop who's trying to prove herself.
And the last thing that left me cold about this book was the revelation of the villain.
This was definitely a disappointment. It has some good bones but could use a lot of remodeling.
It is an intricate novel and I did admire the way it unfolded, but I never bought the plot entirely, probably mostly because I am not a fan of the amnesia trope in mystery books. I did think this sort of plot could work really, really well in a sci-fi mystery novel if the memory loss were due to, say, a new drug or some sort of new technology invented for nefarious or benevolent purposes, but that is not what this book is. If the book I mentioned there is ever written (or if it already has been and I just need to discover it), we'll see if I feel differently about the amnesia plot line.
However, it's not just the amnesia plot I didn't like. While I liked Halliday as a character, I think she would have been better served in her own book, possibly as part of a series. Goldin does a good job of giving her some shades here, but I didn't really understand what the point of giving her shades *is*, since this book is ostensibly about Liv and whatever is going on with Liv's memory that makes it impossible for her to remember whatever traumatic event triggered her memory loss problems. Was there just not enough plot surrounding Liv for this to work? As it was, this book felt like two halves of a book mashed together, one about a woman who forgets everything whenever she sleeps, and the other about a female veteran turned cop who's trying to prove herself.
And the last thing that left me cold about this book was the revelation of the villain.
This was definitely a disappointment. It has some good bones but could use a lot of remodeling.
annemansad's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
3.75
gammys_reads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
OH MY GOODNESS!! This book was so amazing!! Thank you Goodreads and St. Martin's Press for granting me access to this book ahead of publication date.
What a captivating psychological thriller that keeps readers engaged to the very end!! This is the first novel I have read by author Megan Goldin and will not be my last. She is easily becoming one of my favorite authors.
Awake is about a woman suffering from a rare type of amnesia that puts her in the center of a murder investigation. Every time Liv fell asleep, she lost the last two years of her life. Those two years held secrets that she desperately tried to remember. In order to remember Liv had to stay awake.
We are all shaped by our memories. What a terrifying thought to wake up every day without my memories.
How do you know what to believe is true or who you can trust?? I literally could not put this book down! It is a gripping, intriguing, suspenseful, action packed novel. I would highly recommend this book!! All the stars!!’ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
evarano's review against another edition
4.0
Another hit by Goldin!
Liv Reese wakes up, over and over again, not knowing what's going on and realizing she doesn't remember anything that's happened for a little over the past two years. Her apartment isn't hers, she looks different, she can't find her friends, her boyfriend and more alarmingly, she has a bloody knife on her and she doesn't know where it has come from. Darcy Halliday is a detective trying to break into the homicide unit. One morning she gets a call to investigate a murder scene, a man has been murdered and oddly, there's a message in blood on the window, "Stay Awake". Darcy is committed to solving the case, and how it involves Liv Reese.
This was a great story! Different and interesting I was excited to read it. I would say it's between a 4 and 4.5 I have some notes though, the writing is amazing as always, characters are well developed and I felt that I knew them. However, it hard for me to grasp that everything happening in the present time in the story happens over one day. It was just so much! I could not figure out the big twist, I figured out a smaller one along the way, I don't know how Liv didn't but in the end I thought the twist and reveal was well done. However, the re-direction to other suspects along the way was a bit confusing to me. I just didn't see the point in all of it, I don't think it fit the best into the story. At the end I think the story wrapped up way too quickly. I wanted to know the motivation behind everything that happened on a deeper level, how did those other tiny characters contribute to the bigger event. Also, if I were Liv, I would be so terrified I would go to a hospital and never leave. Obviously that wouldn't be great for the story but I found it a tiny bit unbelievable. All in all, great story! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free preview in exchange for an honest review.
Liv Reese wakes up, over and over again, not knowing what's going on and realizing she doesn't remember anything that's happened for a little over the past two years. Her apartment isn't hers, she looks different, she can't find her friends, her boyfriend and more alarmingly, she has a bloody knife on her and she doesn't know where it has come from. Darcy Halliday is a detective trying to break into the homicide unit. One morning she gets a call to investigate a murder scene, a man has been murdered and oddly, there's a message in blood on the window, "Stay Awake". Darcy is committed to solving the case, and how it involves Liv Reese.
This was a great story! Different and interesting I was excited to read it. I would say it's between a 4 and 4.5 I have some notes though, the writing is amazing as always, characters are well developed and I felt that I knew them. However, it hard for me to grasp that everything happening in the present time in the story happens over one day. It was just so much! I could not figure out the big twist, I figured out a smaller one along the way, I don't know how Liv didn't but in the end I thought the twist and reveal was well done. However, the re-direction to other suspects along the way was a bit confusing to me. I just didn't see the point in all of it, I don't think it fit the best into the story. At the end I think the story wrapped up way too quickly. I wanted to know the motivation behind everything that happened on a deeper level, how did those other tiny characters contribute to the bigger event. Also, if I were Liv, I would be so terrified I would go to a hospital and never leave. Obviously that wouldn't be great for the story but I found it a tiny bit unbelievable. All in all, great story! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free preview in exchange for an honest review.
hammockreader's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Loved the mystery of this book. Unique plot and kept me on the edge of my seat!