A review by erinnh
Sleep by Honor Jones

challenging dark emotional reflective sad

4.0

 
Sleep is a debut literary fiction novel by Honor Jones that explores the continued and varied impacts of childhood trauma and dysfunctional family dynamics on individuals throughout one’s life. We meet Margaret as a child when she is experiencing something traumatic she doesn't understand with no support from those around her, and we meet her also 25 years later as she navigates difficult a divorce and other life transitions. We see how these experiences influence her, and how relationships around her inform her as a person, then and now.

I am surprised this is a debut novel. Jones navigated difficult topics with a keen eye to create a quotable and emotional novel that will resonate with a lot of readers. I found the relationship between Margaret and her mother, Elizabeth, to be particularly compelling. 

If you struggle with character-focused novels or novels that deal with detailed depictions of trauma and other heavier topics, this one may not be for you. (Check for content warnings). But otherwise, if you enjoy character-focused novels, especially those focused on dysfunctional family dynamics and/or how the past impacts our present, then I recommend Sleep.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group/Riverhead Books for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!*
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