This book was a bit redundant. I think it was also extremely unrealistic. I didnt really think the characters were very developed and i thought the same scenes happened too often.

Wtf did I just read ? Thriller is not usually my preferred genre, and this might be the reason why. It’s so hard to find one that has a crazy plot, with plot twists you don’t see coming or with the ones you dont find too over the top. I have the other two books by this author on the shelf and this one made me not excited to read them tbh wtf

Between loving The Night Swim and the super positive early reviews for Stay Awake, I had HIGH expectations for this one. But wow did they fall short.

Some of my meh attitude toward this book may be related to my deep dislike of the narrator for the lead character Liv. I honestly cringed every time Liv's parts came on. The part was overacted and totally obnoxious. Liv of two years ago was condescending and every sentence contained attitude and felt over the top. Liv of present (understandably) sounded confused, exhausted, weak, and totally powerless, which I guess she was so it sort of worked but it was just way overacted and I am so over the helpless female protagonist role.

Furthermore, I often struggle with "groundhogs day-esque" novels and this one definitely fell into the trap of repetitiveness. So much of the novel felt circular, with Liv never really finding out any new information before falling asleep again and the pattern repeating - YES, please go back to Nocturnal and remind me about how you have no idea who the bartender is and YES, please re-read every scribble written on your hands and arms -- insert eye roll emoji here. The details of the mystery were revealed maddeningly slow and I felt like there weren't enough breadcrumbs given for us to figure out much of it on our own.

Thank goodness the novel also featured a strong female lead, Detective Halliday. Her character was great and her narrator - while slightly robotic (exact opposite of Liv) - was much more palatable. She also gave us way more information and kept the novel moving along.

Finally, it took A WHILE to learn that her memory issues had only been going on for a couple weeks. I had been under the impression for much of the book that they had been going on for two years (back to when they kept flashing back) but that wasn't the case. The fact that it had only been going on for a couple weeks felt less dramatic to me and made the whole situation seem less Memento and more Hangover.

All in all this was entertaining but I probably should have skipped the audio as I likely would have enjoyed it more. If you're a fan of a good mystery and the Groundhogs Day trope, then I definitely recommend.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this novel.

At first the sleep amnesia was a bit confusing, but it got much easier to follow along as the book progressed. With alternating points of view, you would go back to Liv and not always realize that she had fallen asleep and was starting over again. That confusion to start is the only reason I couldn't give this book the full 5 stars. The mystery behind Liv's amnesia is so intriguing and I had to get to the bottom of it which made this new novel unputdownable. Gripping, fast paced and a twist that I didn't guess makes this a book I would hugely recommend to anyone and I plan to add Megan Goldin's other works to my TBR!

Thank you to Megan Goldin, St Martin's Press & NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book will be published on August 9th.

The story starts when Liv has a fuzzy memory of what happened that night. She goes to what she thought was her apartment but her belongings or roommate are not there. When she was kicked out, she found a knife in the sweater she was wearing and discarded it. She has written on her hand Stay Awake along with an address. She goes to the address and the bartender knows who she is and remembers her from that night. But she has no recollection being there or leaving. The bartender told her that she had said that bad things happen when she goes to sleep.

From the detective's timeline: she runs to a crime scene where a man was stab but doesn't appear to have defended himself in the attack. And in blood on the window it says Wake Up.

If you are a fan of amnesia driven stories, then this is for you!

This book is told from 3 different POV/timelines - one from Liv, one from the detective, and one from Liv's past (2 years prior). You piece together from the 3 timelines and I thought the pace moved quickly especially in the 2nd half. I was more into the detective pov the most. Just to see them trying to piece together the complex person that is Liv Reese.

I was iffy on the formatting but the further I went on the better I got with it. It ended up working out great with how the story unfolded.

As with any thriller, I always think I know where it is heading but of course I was wrong. There wasn't anything mindblowing at the end or one big final twist so I was a little bummed about that. Without giving too much away of the ending, I like how the author incorporated a small detail that stuck out in Liv's memory that ended up tying it all together with who did it. I do wish we found out why the killer did what they did.

I didn't love this but I also didn't hate it. I was invested in how the story played out and needed to find out the conclusion.

3.5

I previously read Megan Goldin’s The Escape Room and I still have an advanced reader’s copy of The Night Swim in my to-be-read pile. Megan writes fast-paced thrillers that usually take place in a short period of time, but jumps back and forth from past to present in examining how our characters ended up in their predicaments.

Stay Awake is told from main character Liv’s perspective as she keeps waking up in strange places with no recollection of having gotten there. Each time she awakens and starts to figure out where she is, Liv realizes that her last memories are from a sunny summer afternoon two years prior. Her only guide is messages she’s written all over her hands and arms telling her not to fall asleep and not to trust anyone. During Liv’s fugue state, a murder was committed that ties her to the crime and running from the police as she tries to figure out what her connection was.

The book itself, to me, was fairly predictable. Unlike in The Escape Room, I figured out pretty early on what Liv’s roommate Amy was up to and, from there, it wasn’t to much a stretch to keep coming back to my main suspect. That being said, it did not make the book any less interesting. The fast-pace and short chapters kept my heart racing along with Liv’s and I couldn’t put this book down.

Fugue states are so fascinating and really emphasizes how little we know about how our brains work. I read another book years ago about a man who disappeared (presumed dead) and washed ashore in another country with no memory of his previous life, so the way Liv reacted to her trauma really intrigued me and is what I’d want to learn more and understand.

The plot of this book sounded super interesting to me and I really enjoyed Goldin‘s previous book, The Night Swim so I was thrilled when I got my hands on this ARC…. I’ve seen a lot of glowing reviews for this book, and I think I’m in the minority here, but it was not a win for me. Overall it was missing the thrill and suspense I was hoping for.

I felt like I was on a hamster wheel- just going round and round but not getting anywhere. The book started off really slowly, and things didn’t pick up until almost halfway into it. The chapters seemed repetitive and I was uninterested in the detectives and their backstory.

Speaking of backstory…I loooove a good flashback. Learning a characters history is always fascinating to me, and I love that the more I read the closer I get to the truth and current time in the book. But with this one, it took quite awhile until I felt like the backstory was relevant to the story, and by the time the truth and twists were revealed I just wasn’t into it.

And the ending…I didn’t feel invested in the characters at all, and after the big “who was the bad guy reveal”….I was just underwhelmed and a little bit like “wait, what??”

I had too many questions, mainly about how Liv was able to live her life not remembering key details and I just ended up being frustrated, but I don’t want to give any more details away!

This was a true 2.75 star rating for me

Megan Goldin’s The Night Swim was one of my top thrillers of 2021 so I was beyond excited to learn I was selected for an ARC through NetGalley for a chance to read her sophomore novel, Stay Awake, before its release on August 9, 2022.

The book begins when Liv Reese wakes up in the back of a cab with no memory of how she got there. Every time she falls asleep, her memory is completely gone–the last thing she remembers is answering her phone at her desk over two years ago. To make matters worse, she soon discovers she has a bloody knife wrapped in her jacket and has no idea where it came from. Full disclosure, when I started reading this book I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it. The first few chapters felt repetitive, with Liv falling asleep, forgetting everything, just for it to happen all over again.

I’m happy to report that after the first few chapters, things picked up considerably. Liv’s present-day story is interwoven with the story of her life two years ago, specifically with the days leading up to when her memory suddenly stops. Readers also follow two detectives who are trying to solve the murder of an unknown man found in a short-term rental. Could Liv be involved? Even she starts to doubt herself as the police close in on their suspect. I thought the change in POV and timelines was nicely written, flowed well, and held my interest throughout. Each chapter kept me captivated and wanting to read more.

This turned out to be a very enjoyable mystery/suspense novel. I highly recommend it to mystery and thriller fans. Stay Awake is my second book by Goldin and she’s quickly becoming a must-read author for me!

A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Above my knuckles are letters written in black ballpoint pen. I put both my fists together. The letters spell out the words STAY AWAKE."

Liv Reese wakes up every time remembering nothing. There are new people living in her apartment, new staff at her office, new voices answering familiar phone numbers, and new words written all over her hands. All she knows is something isn't right.

This was a fast paced thriller that kept you as in the dark as the main character. I loved the short chapters, that gave you just enough to keep you wanting more. In a constant state of not knowing made you second guess and look at everyone as a suspect of disaster. I loved Goldin’s The Night Swim and this novel came back strong. I loved that there were no romances and the female characters were survivors of their own histories.

This book had a very interesting concept of not being able to remember the last two years of your life every time you fell asleep. I think it was very well done and it kept my interest.

Interesting thriller. It captivated me to finish it right away. I definitely see this being a movie with beautiful people. A bit repetitive the last half. I would also if liked a reason.

This reminded me a lot of 50 First Dates but instead of a rom-com it is more a thriller like Memento. It alternates between now and prior and keeps the reader engaged. I never suspected the killer. Quick read.

This reminded me a lot of 50 First Dates but instead of a rom-com it is more a thriller like Memento. It alternates between now and prior and keeps the reader engaged. I never suspected the killer. Quick read.

This book started really quick with the actions and the thrilling elements! I'm not the best at predicting thrillers and this book was no exception! I swear that I would come up with a theory that positively had to be the answer to what was happening, but I got it wrong every time. I definitely think this book is worth reading if you want a fast-paced thriller and you want to be thoroughly confused! It was an overall enjoyable read and I will definitely be picking up more from this author.

I love and unreliable narrator that keeps me on my toes and this book had it in spades. It's a psychological thriller that blends memory with reality beautifully. There's so many twists and turns that keep you guessing. And Megan Goldin's writing remains simplistic and direct with purposeful descriptions and detail.

The writing wasn't great, but I was really interested to find out what happened. It was overall an enjoyable and engaging read.

A fast paced thriller, with great tension as it's unclear who, exactly the bad guy is- there are so many options. The timelines can get a little confusing, so readers will have to stay alert along with Liv. Readers get a great sense of Liv's disorientation as she tries desperately to put together enough clues before the next time she succumbs to sleep and loses the past two years again.

While this story was a little slow in the beginning, once it picked up it was INTENSE. I loved Liv as a MC. I feel so bad for her not being able to remember anything that happened for the past two years. I honestly can't even imagine how that would feel. I was completely thrown off by the twist - was not expecting it at all! The Night Swim was the first book I ever read by Megan Goldin, but Stay Awake made me so excited to read what's next!

Liv Reese is living the life in NYC. She has a great roommate, great boyfriend, and a great job. When she wakes up in the back of a cab with no clue how she got there, her life takes a bizarre turn. She has writing all over her hands and arms warning her not to fall asleep. Somehow she has lost the last 2 years of her life. Every time she goes to sleep she forgets everything from the precious 2 years. Live must work to figure out who she is and what has happened to her life, but if she falls asleep then she has to start all over.

This book is a wild ride. My head was spinning as I read it, but totally in a good way! There were so many things I didn’t see coming that the author worked in seamlessly! Very impressed with this story! Highly recommend!

“Stay Awake” by Megan Goldin follows Liv Reese. Following an attempt on her life, Liv develops a condition in which when she falls asleep she forgets everything. Now, two years later, she is having a major episode, placing her in danger- the killer is still after her. Will Liv piece together her life in time? Or will it be too late? “Stay Awake” was a mind-bending mystery from beginning to end.

This book felt very much like 50 First Dates gone wrong to me in the beginning. Liv’s memory is wiped clean every time she goes to sleep. She keeps journals and notes written on her hands to remember the important details, but it feels pretty easy for her to get lost or confused, especially in a caffeinated state of paranoia.

As the story progresses, I began to really feel for Liv. She doesn’t remember any of the past two years so there’s a whole life she’s lived without really knowing it. Her drive to figure out what is going on is infectious- I needed to know what had happened in that gap as badly as she did.

In the end, I gave this book 4 stars. It was a quick read with some interesting plot points (don’t worry, no spoilers here). If you like mysteries with a splash of amnesia, this book is definitely for you!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!