You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
I was incredibly impressed with this psychological thriller. It was suspenseful, propulsive, enthralling and addictive. I couldn’t stop turning the page. I just had to know how this story would end. I was also very pleased with how the author constructed the ending. I found the final few chapters had me on tender hooks. J.E. Rowney really knows how to write a tense finale.
This novel follows 18 year old Rebecca Braithwaite who is starting her first semester at Wessex University. This will be her first time away from her parents and is the next step on the natural road to be becoming an adult. But since losing her brother Jordan to a car accident fatality a few years ago, Becky has had trouble sleeping ever since. She has suffered extreme insomnia which she has previously had psychiatric help for.
Unperturbed, Becky looks forward to university as an opportunity to escape her tragic past but things only seem to get worse for her when she settles into her new university life. Over the next few weeks, her lack of sleep gets worse and worse to the point where she starts to feel like she’s being stalked. But is she really being stalked or are her suspicions a result of her sleep deprived paranoia?
For fans of psychological thrillers, you will devour this book. I think more thriller fans should get their mitts on this book as it’s so well written and fast paced and a really absorbing read. I can guarantee you will enjoy the reading experience. But in summary, this author has certainly piqued my interest and I am certainly eager to check out their other books very soon!
Thanks to the author J. E . Rowney and Voracious Readers Only for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
This novel follows 18 year old Rebecca Braithwaite who is starting her first semester at Wessex University. This will be her first time away from her parents and is the next step on the natural road to be becoming an adult. But since losing her brother Jordan to a car accident fatality a few years ago, Becky has had trouble sleeping ever since. She has suffered extreme insomnia which she has previously had psychiatric help for.
Unperturbed, Becky looks forward to university as an opportunity to escape her tragic past but things only seem to get worse for her when she settles into her new university life. Over the next few weeks, her lack of sleep gets worse and worse to the point where she starts to feel like she’s being stalked. But is she really being stalked or are her suspicions a result of her sleep deprived paranoia?
For fans of psychological thrillers, you will devour this book. I think more thriller fans should get their mitts on this book as it’s so well written and fast paced and a really absorbing read. I can guarantee you will enjoy the reading experience. But in summary, this author has certainly piqued my interest and I am certainly eager to check out their other books very soon!
Thanks to the author J. E . Rowney and Voracious Readers Only for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book has a really good concept, but for me it was executed poorly. It was boring but also I wanted to know what was going to happen. I was 60% through and still knew nothing about what happened. The last bit for me was a cop out and not at all good. The most exciting part of the book happened in the last 20 pages.
This book is very gripping. I read it in two sittings and only stopped during the first because I had to do something. This is easily a book I could have read in a single sitting.
The story is very fast-paced and reveals little pieces of Becky's past throughout, only giving you enough to keep you guessing.
During thrillers and mysteries, I always enjoy guessing the ending, and I often end up guessing correctly. But I am always pleasantly surprised when I am wrong, and this book was one of them. The ending was something I didn't see coming and I think it was a great way to end a thrilling book.
A great read, very well-written and developed throughout. A book I recommend.
The story is very fast-paced and reveals little pieces of Becky's past throughout, only giving you enough to keep you guessing.
During thrillers and mysteries, I always enjoy guessing the ending, and I often end up guessing correctly. But I am always pleasantly surprised when I am wrong, and this book was one of them. The ending was something I didn't see coming and I think it was a great way to end a thrilling book.
A great read, very well-written and developed throughout. A book I recommend.
A great psychological thriller. I love a story with an unreliable narrator. Well written and interesting. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I can't sleep is a psychological thriller following the story of Becky, who has been suffering from insomnia since the passing of her older brother. Having moved away for university, she suddenly starts to experience strange events, leading her to wonder if someone is following her or if her mind is playing tricks on her due to her lack of sleep. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and found myself continuously trying to guess whether Becky was imagining things or not. I enjoyed the concept of reading through the point of view of an unreliable narrator, never convinced that what she was experiencing was true or not. I must admit, I was a little disappointed with the ending and would've preferred the book end on a more conclusive note. However, I would still highly recommend this book as I had a lot of fun reading it.
I received this book from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
I suffer from insomnia and OMG J.E. Rowney has just made it worse! I Can’t Sleep is a mind-bender in the best way. I was kind of thinking it was going in one direction and Rowney slammed me in another direction. I love it! Then Rowney did again! It hurts so good.
Rowney is twisted and it is delicious. I Can’t Sleep is the perfect book to kick off your Halloween reading as there is no gore but there is plenty of fright. There are red herrings, doubt, and possibilities. This is a book I can see made into a movie.
I do not need to write anymore words as I have praised this book enough. Now you need to read it! Start your Halloween off right with this fright.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
Rowney is twisted and it is delicious. I Can’t Sleep is the perfect book to kick off your Halloween reading as there is no gore but there is plenty of fright. There are red herrings, doubt, and possibilities. This is a book I can see made into a movie.
I do not need to write anymore words as I have praised this book enough. Now you need to read it! Start your Halloween off right with this fright.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
A solid 3.75 star read. I really enjoyed this book and very nearly gave it 4 stars. The concept of Becky’s, the main character, insomnia was excellent and really kept the reader guessing as to what was real and what she was imagining right until the last page. The suspense level of this novel really did keep me reading I couldn’t put it down! I also loved how the writing was mostly in short sentences as it really gave a breathless feel to the words and heightened the fear factor for me. My only criticism is that for all the amazing build up I felt the ending was a little rushed. However, in some ways I believe that was the idea as the ending did not give a solid conclusion and keeps the reader guessing long after they’ve put the book down. A great little read which would be perfect for cosying up with on an autumn night with a hot drink! 3.75 ⭐️
3.7/5
I received I Can't Sleep through the Voracious Reader's program.
The beginning had me hooked. The way J.E. Rowney writes is excellent, especially for a thriller. There's so much tension in each line. I really liked the story until the very end. At that point, it felt like it should have been a 2/3rds twist and then continued to be a big bang of a story. As it is, it didn't feel right, and the end too away all my sympathy for Becky. My only other complaint is that the stalker's identity becomes clear early on only because, with the revenge tone set, there aren't a lot of candidates. Thrillers that I've loved tend to equally set up a lot of possibilities for the bad guy so I'm guessing until the end.
Even with these problems, I Can't Sleep is one of the best books I've gotten from the Voracious Reader's program and I'm excited to see more from J.E. Rowney in the future.
I received I Can't Sleep through the Voracious Reader's program.
The beginning had me hooked. The way J.E. Rowney writes is excellent, especially for a thriller. There's so much tension in each line. I really liked the story until the very end. At that point, it felt like it should have been a 2/3rds twist and then continued to be a big bang of a story. As it is, it didn't feel right, and the end too away all my sympathy for Becky. My only other complaint is that the stalker's identity becomes clear early on only because, with the revenge tone set, there aren't a lot of candidates. Thrillers that I've loved tend to equally set up a lot of possibilities for the bad guy so I'm guessing until the end.
Even with these problems, I Can't Sleep is one of the best books I've gotten from the Voracious Reader's program and I'm excited to see more from J.E. Rowney in the future.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
This review was also posted to my blog: https://maisierosereads.wixsite.com/blog/post/i-can-t-sleep-by-j-e-rowney-review
I Can't Sleep is due to be published on Friday 16th October 2020, so this review will be free from spoilers! I received a copy of the ebook in exchange for honest feedback on Netgalley.
I don't often read thrillers, but when browsing through Netgalley this one stood out to me. I'm sure if you've read any of my previous posts or follow me on social media, you know already that I'm always looking for new books with LGBT+ representation, so seeing this tagged as such got my attention!
I Can't Sleep is due to be published on Friday 16th October 2020, so this review will be free from spoilers! I received a copy of the ebook in exchange for honest feedback on Netgalley.
I don't often read thrillers, but when browsing through Netgalley this one stood out to me. I'm sure if you've read any of my previous posts or follow me on social media, you know already that I'm always looking for new books with LGBT+ representation, so seeing this tagged as such got my attention!
I Can't Sleep is told from the first person perspective of Becky Braithwaite as she begins her first year at university. Becky has had a severe form of insomnia for the last two years, initially triggered by a traumatic event which she is still struggling to come to terms with. She is determined to succeed in her degree despite this, and she definitely felt deserving of sympathy.
I felt hooked in by the plot, wanting to know what had happened in Becky's past since it was such a driving force in her narrative but also wanting to know the truth behind the strange things happening to her in the present. As it says in the blurb, there are questions about whether she is in danger or whether she is experiencing side effects as a result of her insomnia and medication - even Becky isn't sure, since the combination of trauma and minimal sleep can have profound effects on memory.
I don't want to say much more for risk of spoiling the story, but as a queer reviewer here are some quick notes on the LGBT+ representation so that my fellow LGBT+ readers know what to expect:
- None of the characters' sexualities are labelled in the book, but through descriptions it is clear that one character is definitely sapphic and at least two other characters are questioning/sapphic.
- Lesbophobic slurs are used towards one of the characters.
- This book is not focused on romance, and there is no romantic subplot.
- If you prefer books where all LGBT chracters have happy endings, this might not be the book for you.
I have mixed feelings about the ending, but overall I did enjoy I Can't Sleep.
If you feel like a short, fast paced thriller I would recommend keeping an eye out for it in the Kindle store when it is released this coming October! And if you read it, please do get in touch and tell me what you thought.