Wow! Just a big wow at how intricately the plot is woven around the theme of a woman with amnesia who forgets everything once she falls asleep. Liv is the victim of a traumatic incident in her life, resulting in her amnesia and also putting her life in danger. When two friends are killed and she is the only witness as well as a suspect, Liv cannot remember what happened at all, but her life depends on her regaining her memory. When another friend is killed and Liv is the primary suspect, she wanders around the city trying to recall who she is and where she should be. I really enjoyed how tightly woven together the plot was and how it all came together in a spectacularly mesmerizing conclusion. I was impressed by the detective work of Halliday and her dogged determination to find out the truth about the murders. There were interesting details added, like Liv’s work at a magazine called Cultura and her hanging out at a bar called Nocturnal. I liked that all of the details ended up being important in the end and were actually clues. This is a book to read for pleasure the first time and to read for honing your detective skills the second time. It would also make a great book for a book club, with the discussion centered around the effects of amnesia and recovered memory. This was edge-of-your-seat suspense with a lot of psychological thriller mixed in, just the right combination to enthrall, entice and entertain.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I was introduced to Megan Goldin when I was asked to review “Night Swim,” a novel that kept me up into early morning to reach its finale. When I was asked to review “Stay Awake,” I knew that I would need to stay awake to get to the end because of how Goldin can hook her reader from the novel’s opening scenes and then refuse to let her go.

Can you imagine waking up one day with no idea of how you got where you’re at and the last two years of your life completely erased? That is what happens to Liv who wakes up in the back of a cab, unable to recollect the moments that led her there. Yet, when she returns to the apartment she shares with her roommate, she discovers she no longer lives there and hasn’t for quite awhile. She finds written notes on her hands that say things such as “stay awake.” Apparently, Liv has a type of amnesia that when she falls asleep, she forgets everything. And now she’s on the run for murder and she’s not completely sure if she’s innocent.

What I liked about this novel is I felt pulled into Liv’s thoughts and feelings. Moreover, the reader also gets into the POV (and an alternative timeline) of one of the investigating detectives, Halliday. Yet, can the reader trusts Halliday’s perceptions any more than Liv’s?

I don’t want to give too much more away but be prepared for a roller coaster ride with plenty of dips and turns. I appreciate an author that can keep you guessing. I kept thinking I had figured out what was going on, only to discover I was wrong again.There was a bit of plausibility, in the book but then who wants to read a book about things that can actually happen.

Special thanks to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an opportunity to review this novel.

Warning: read with the light on! This is a thrilling story that will keep you on the edge of your seat! My first book to read by this author but I cannot wait to read more. Highly recommend!

"Stay Awake" by Meg Goldin — get ready for a ride.
The novel follows Liv Reese as she awakens with a bloody knife wrapped in a t-shirt. She has no memories of how she got there or the past two years due to a memory loss issue. Liv soon finds herself in the center of a murder investigation as she races to figure out who's the identity of the real killer before they get — all while doing everything she can to stay awake.
This thriller is full of suspense, unexpected twists and unpredictable characters. Goldin unfolds the plot expertly with multiple non-linear timelines for the big reveal. It's an enthralling read that thriller lovers shouldn't miss.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this advance copy with me in exchange for my honest review.

Stay Awake is a suspenseful mystery about Liv, a woman who develops recurring amnesia after a traumatic event. Every time she goes to sleep, she wakes up unable to remember the last two years of her life. When Liv wakes up holding a knife, next a dead man, she becomes the prime suspect in his murder and she goes on a journey to put the pieces of her life together and exonerate herself.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged throughout, had me questioning Liv's Innocence, and got me to suspect everyone! It was a very solid murder mystery. At times, I found it a little repetitive. There were several times I found myself asking, "Haven't I read this scene already?" I also found the ending a bit dissatisfying because there was no explanation for the motive behind some of the big events in the story.

Overall, I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy mysteries, thrillers, and suspense.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Have you ever read a book that captured you from the very beginning, and refused to let you go until the very end? THIS is that book.

What I loved; the lead detective is a woman, the main character follows her instincts even though she has no memory to assist those instincts, the Memento/50 First Dates similarities. What I disliked; NOTHING.

This book has earned its spot as my favorite book of the month, if not the year. I loved everything about it.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Megan Goldin for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Stay Awake will be available for purchase on August 9th 2022.

Thank you to Megan Goldin, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. This was a really unique read! It did take me a couple chapters to get into it because the concept seemed quite unbelievable, but by about 30% I was hooked!

This book is definitely the unreliable narrator trope... but to good reason. The concept of losing ones memory was interesting and worked in this case. It was fun to learn what was happening as it unfolded for Liv (the main character) as well in real time. This was definitely a good thriller, and it kept me reading, wanting to know what happened. I will say by about 75%, I had it all figured out, but it was still fun to have it play out in the book. We did find the end a bit disappointing though, it was very obvious who the murderer was, and it seemed a little bit out of character that Liv spent most of the book not knowing what to do, and then in a time of great stress, was able to grab her phone, text the police officer and hide all in a few short moments.

We have read two of Megan Goldin's books now, and will continue to read more! I recommend if you are looking for a fun thriller!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

We follow Liv Reese who awakens with a bloody knife wrapped in a T-Shirt. She has no memory of the past two years and is unclear as to what is going on; however it appears that she is the prime suspect to a murder. She can’t recall anything that has happened because every time she goes to sleep, she loses her memory. It becomes a race against time to figure out who the real killer is before they find her.
*
I really enjoy Megan Goldin’s writing style! She knows how to hook you from the beginning and keep you wanting to turn the page. She also does a great job with telling the story from present day and flashbacks from 2 years ago so that the reader doesn’t get confused while reading. I did think the story was slow at times, but definitely picks up at the end! I’ve read one book by Goldin (The Escape Room) and enjoyed it! I’ve heard good things about The Night Swim and cannot wait to read more books by her!

If you like thrillers with dual timelines and unpredictable characters then you should read this book! Also, if you liked the movie 50 First Dates, but add a little bit of murder, you would enjoy this as well!

This review will be posted to my Instagram blog (read_betweenthecovers) in the near future!

Stay Awake is packed with tension, suspense, and drama. The mystery behind Liv’s amnesia is intriguing, and the way the novel unfolds makes it unputdownable. I was so wrapped up in Liv’s mental state that I missed some obvious clues about the identity of the murderer. Very grateful for the opportunity to read this arc

4.5 STARS

Whew....

This was a wild and exhausting trip! STAY AWAKE , DON'T SLEEP!, WAKE UP!

Liv Reese is in danger. She can feel it in her bones. She arrives at her apartment to find two strangers living there. "Who are these people? Where's my stuff?"

Poor Liv finds herself entangled in a murder investigation referred to as "The Sleepless Killer". She has no memory of the victim or being near the scene of the crime.

What an engaging read! It clipped along at a frantic pace. I could feel Liv's life spinning out of control with everything out of sync. Many good red herrings along the ride. I loved the two detectives on the case and how they bounced theories back and forth. The two timelines worked well for me, although there is a bit of repetition as Liv's memory issues repeat some of her mantra.

I had a great time reading this one, racing to get to the end to connect the dots. Overall, a quick, entertaining and page turning entertainment. Don't overthink this one!

Stay Awake is a thrilling book that gave chills.

Liv Reese wakes up in the early morning on the back of a cab carrying a bloody knife wrapped in a T-shirt and with no memory of the past two years.

Across the city, two detectives start investigating a homicide. The victim was stabbed and his blood was used to paint Stay Awake on the window of the apartment.

Liv is the prime suspect. And with her short-term memory disappearing every time she goes to sleep, Liv must stay awake to find the real killer and clear her name . . . before they find her and finish her off for good.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was thrilling and the writing captivated me from beginning to end.

But there were some rooms for improvement. One was the structure of the story. The chapters jump from Liv's life two years ago; her current life (after waking up in the cab); and the detectives investigating the crime. There were no headings to mark the chapters so when I started one, it took me a while to adapt to the scene. Nevertheless I found the story compelling and felt sympathy for Liz. I'm not a fan of using amnesia in thrillers, but it was clear that this condition would be a major factor in this novel so I knew what to expect before starting the novel.

I love Goldin's writing. She's talented in creating worlds, characters and tension. But I was disappointed about the perpetrator's identity. It was too obvious and part of what I love about thrillers is getting surprised at the twist/reveal at the end.

Overall, I would recommend this to those who love thrillers with good writing.

Stay Awake is definitely one you want to add your TBR. Megan Goldin has done it again with another amazing book.

I was hooked from the very beginning until the last page. I can honestly say I didn’t figure this one out and that made it even more enjoyable.

Thanks so much NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my gifted ARC.

Told in present and flashbacks, the story opens on a murder and two detectives who are trying to figure out who the victim is and who the murderer is. Liv Reese is totally confused. She wakes up each morning not knowing what is going on, but senses she's in danger. She tries to contact her friends, but they aren't answering their phones. She has things written on her palms and arms and a large gash on her abdomen. There is some stranger living in her apartment. When her face is flashed on the TV as part of the murder, she wonders who she can trust.
Fast-paced murder / thriller mystery packed with suspense.

Another book about an amnesiac- apparently I have a type 😂. The intrigue of a murder suspect's perspective hooked me right away and held up through to the end. I could not put it down and I finished it before the book I was reading before starting this. I loved learning all the juicy details with our main character, Liv, with the bonus of seeing things from an outside perspective a la the homicide detective investigating Liv for murder. The twists at the end were well placed and revealed to the effect that it fit and worked with the story rather than being for pure shock value.

I spent Valentine’s Day reading this twisted gem by Megan Goldin. (Author of The Night Swim, which is a great must read if you like twisty messy stories.) Kudos for some pure veg out twisted entertainment. What would you do if every time you woke up, you couldn’t remember the last two years of your life? A two years that was kicked off by a trauma that others seem to know, but you have no memory? That’s what Liv experiences every time she goes to sleep. STAY AWAKE! Fans of psychological dramas will eat this book up.

Holy crap batman this was good. I'm still fairly new to Megan Goldin's writing and stories and let me tell you, she is quickly becoming an auto-read author for me!

Exciting thriller. Kept my interest and had me spell bound. I searched and read more from this author. A new author for me, but one I will be reading from now on. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for introducing me to this great author

Liv Reese wakes up in a cab with no memory of how she got there. Everthing she thinks she knows about her life is wrong and she has notes to herself written all over her arms. Every time she falls asleep her memory resets and shes back to starting over again.

The premise was pretty good and the story unfolds with perspectives from Liv current day, Liv two years ago before the memory loss and Detective Halliday who is trying to solve a murder that is somehow connected to Liv. It was a little confusing to keep the storylines straight....both for the reader and for Liv which made the book that much more compelling.

I liked Detective Halliday's back story and perspective more than I did Liv's and the troiuble she has to go through to piece together the story was pretty effective.

The ending was only so so...more than a few details were left unresolved and the story ends pretty abruptly after the murder mystery is solved. Overall I liked the book and would recommend it. The unraveling forgotten memories reminded me of The Silent Patient, but with a less satisfying ending.

This was a fast paced murder mystery. It cycled between present time and two years previously. I really enjoyed this book and it kept me guessing! I give it 5 stars.
Liv has had a very dramatic physical attack two years previously that put her in a coma. She slowly recovered and moved to England. Her life and mind get turned upside down after a break up with her fiancé. She returns to America knowing her attacker/ murderer is still unaccounted for and her life is in danger. Her roommate and past boyfriend have been murdered during her attack but she has a mental block about this.
Liv must STAY AWAKE! Every time she falls asleep she forgets everything in her past. She leaves herself notes and writes on her hands to keep some type of information about her life. The killer knows she is back and it’s a cat and mouse game with a twist !
Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read this spellbinding book

I just finished reading Megan Goldin’s latest masterpiece, Stay Awake, and HOLY CANNOLI what an incredible, creepy, suspenseful story she weaved!! Megan’s storytelling pulls you right in to this murder mystery. I couldn’t read this fast enough! Wanting to know who did it and what was happening to Liv Reese. As the story unfolds between present time and flashbacks you get to see how the puzzle is put together. Will Liv remember what happened? I was thinking several different scenarios along the way. You have to read Stay Awake to find out! I also really liked the character development of detective Halliday and would love to see more stories in the future with her. Mark your calendars for 8/9/22 and pick up a copy! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!!