Review: The Edge of Sleep by Jake Emanuel; Willie Block

Have you ever thought of a world where we sleep and never wake up? The concept of the novel The Edge of Sleep is just that. In this novel, humans who sleep are not waking up.

We follow a group of people who either can not sleep or don't sleep once they figure out that sleeping is death. One set of the groups has more coverage than the other. Dave is the main character, and we get to read his short stories throughout the book.

This book is really unlike anything I have read before. I am not sure which genre this book belongs to. I am going to say Scifi and apocalyptic. It's not horror, but it has some highly graphic visual elements that could constitute disturbing. I am not sure how I feel about this book. It's not my usual genre, but the twists and turns kept me reading till the end. I am not convinced with the ending. If you want to read something out of the ordinary, this book is a good choice.

Thank you St.Martin's Press and Netgalley, for this book.

If you enjoy end-of-the-world novels, this one is for you!

Dave, the ring leader of the survivors, is tortured by flashbacks that seem to have some clue about the future, but he struggles to understand their meaning. The flashbacks, sleeping (or should I say dead) bodies, and interspersed chapters of this apocalyptic phenomenon occurring all over the world create anxiety and dread. These feelings are heightened by the short chapters, creating a fast-paced story. With all this stress, tension, and bizarre reality, Mateo (Dave’s friend) offers levity to the story with his continual misuse of words and phrases. One moment I’m stressed out, and the next, I laugh at Mateo. Franz Drameh, our narrator, delivers ALL of this, shocking me at times that the narration wasn’t full cast but simply Franz Drameh's clever narration of all the characters and action. His talent bumped up the rating for me.

Overall, the edginess of this story will be a winner for fans of the podcast or books like Leave of the World Behind by Rumaan Alam.

DNF @ 21%

When it comes to sci-fi and speculative fiction, I'll be the first to admit I often feel out of my element. But I've also always been fascinated by the world of sleep and dreams: a world far beyond our physical reality. The premise of this book caught my attention, as main character Dave learns that he might have difficulty far beyond his sleep troubles. He wakes up to see dead bodies all over town...and later learns that each of these people died right where they were found...and they ALL died in their sleep. Recruiting the help of some of his friends and a nurse, the group needs to solve the mystery and fast - because if ANY of them fall asleep, they just might not wake up.

I tried to go into this with a very open mind, looking for detail and trying so hard to connect with the characters. This fell apart quickly, however, since Dave's friends consisted of a few dude bros who were interchangeable and not too fun to read and whose main shared character trait was screwing up pop culture references (much to Dave's chagrin). The narrative itself is also just very stiff and doesn't feel much like a novel. I'm not sure if hearing the audio would be helpful, but in many ways, this felt like a podcast trying to be a book, rather than a book that could also work as a podcast. There was no flow and rhythm and though I had trouble discerning exactly what was going on, I could tell that if I kept reading my frustration was likely to snowball.

Though I'd hoped to dive into The Edge of Sleep, I was glad to stop this one before it SENT me over the edge entirely.

*Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC*

I didn't realize until I'd finished it, but The Edge of Sleep is a novelized version of a serial podcast, that was also made into a TV show. So this is one of the rare cases when the book did not come first.
Knowing that now, this book makes a lot more sense. It felt almost cinematic, the way it was written with frequent perspective and time shifts. The dialogue felt real and the dream sequences were very stream-of-consciousness. I read this entire book in half of a day and really enjoyed it. I did find the ending pretty weird and confusing, so I couldn't quite give it 5 stars.

The Edge of Sleep is based off a podcast of the same name, and I can totally see how this book would work well as an audio drama. It's an end of the world-type novel that’s big on drama and light on details, but a fun read!

It’s about Dave and his small group of survivors who, for various reasons, have not slept overnight. Come early morning, they realize people who fell asleep that night–so, basically almost everyone–never woke up. Yep, they’re dead. That’s not a spoiler, it’s in the book blurb. It’s a heck of a premise, super hooking right off the bat.

There is other weirdness happening: meaningful dreams; strange symbols; and corpses not behaving how they should. The other tension in the book is that all the main characters have to fight to stay awake. Ugh, it was painful to read at times–in a good way! – because it brought to mind all of those times where I’ve been so tired and just badly wanted to fall asleep. Like at the beginning of a boring uni lecture and you start to head bob in the front row in the first ten minutes. It’s torture!

I enjoyed a couple of the other storylines, and the vignettes of people who succumbed to the sleep-death. Despite its strong premise, it didn't quite take me the distance with the plot. It seemed light on the whys of what was happening, and I wanted a deeper exploration of the sciencey bits behind the mass dying. That said, I don’t think this is a book that set out to be too scientific or detailed, so I can’t really fault it.

So as a beginning to a larger narrative, this was a simple, entertaining story. Very plot-based, it stayed at surface level without plumbing the deeper aspects of character or explanation. Given that it’s adapted from a podcast, this probably makes sense. And stick around for the ending because it promises a rollicking Book Two.

Thanks @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC!

The Edge of Sleep is fresh, freaky, and fun! I had no idea where the story would take me, but it was a journey I thoroughly enjoyed.

Dave Torres has issues with sleep since he was a kid. Intense, strange and often terrifying dreams have plagued Dave for years, to the point where he sometimes isn't sure what's real and what isn't. Along with his friend Matteo, Dave works as a night watchman in a coastal California town. The morning of July 5th, Dave and Matteo are coming off of a work shift when the world as they know it changes forever. Anyone who was asleep overnight is now dead, and the bodies just keep on dropping. Dave and Matteo, along with Dave's ex-girlfriend Katie, and nurse Linda, may well be the last people alive in the world. In order to stay that way, Dave has to look for answers in the place that frightens him most: his dreams. Can they all stay awake and alive long enough to save the world?

There are echoes of The Stand in this book, which is high praise to me. The characters are nuanced and well fleshed out. I raced through the pages to try and get to the end as fast as possible and I still wanted more when I finished. The Edge of Sleep has a little something for every horror fan and it's available for purchase everywhere you buy books now! Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to review this advance copy.

I would label this book as more Sci-if rather than horror.
A plague has descended upon earth, it causes everyone to fall asleep.
It’s an interesting premise since I have battled insomnia for three decades.
There were parts of the book that made me sleepy since they moved slowly, but overall it’s a chilling prospect.

The Edge of Sleep is without question, one of the most addictive, unique, thought-provoking, wild, creepy, intense and brilliantly crafted dystopian horror stories that I’ve read to date. I freaking LOVED this book.

For context, I picked this one up last night with the intention of getting a few chapters in. I then very literally stayed up, well into the night, to finish it. When I say I couldn’t stop reading it because I HAD TO see what happened next, I’m not exaggerating. It is so absorbing, and the pacing and intensity of the plot suck you right in.

The story is of a night watchman who finishes his shift only to find out that everyone who went to sleep the night before have died. He and a motley crew of survivors are left scrambling for answers and a way to survive….and to not fall asleep before they figure it out.

I can’t even explain this one (and you should go in blind - its going to make the experience so much better not knowing what to expect), except to say that it is worth taking a chance on. It haunts, the characters are scrappy and you desperately want them to win this battle, there’s laugh out loud moments of levity and the entire time you just want this to be made into a show or a movie because OMG would this make a good show or movie.

This is a must have for this summer, truly. Try it out and then come talk to me about how absolutely, insanely perfect this story ends up being. You won’t regret it. It’s out today, so you don’t even need to wait to find out how much fun this kind of oh-shit-dystopian-future can be to immerse yourself in. Temporarily.

Thank you so much @stmartinspress for the copy. PLEASE, give us more of these characters and this story, I beg.

"The Edge of Sleep" by Jake Emanuel and Willie Block is a Blend of Dystopian and Speculative Fiction!

The day after Independence Day, Night Watchman David Torres wakes in the quiet coastal town of Santa Mira, CA to find bodies lying everywhere.

Bodies of people who fell asleep and died right where they slept.

Dave self-medicates, he knows it's wrong but it calms him. He has had debilitating sleep terrors and nightmares since he was a child and sometimes they spill over into his life which is never good, especially for those around him.

Is this what's happening now? Are Dave's dreams leaking into his consciousness?

Dave, his ex-girlfriend Katie, his BFF Matteo, and a nurse named Linda have grouped together, not only to keep each other awake but to find answers to this mysterious "sleep death" before it happens to them...

"The Edge of Sleep" is creative, different, original, and if you've read my reviews, you know that's what I love in a book. To be honest though, this story is pretty bizarre, way-way-out-there. And you know what? It kept me laughing, listening, and curious enough to keep with it to the end. And that ending. I'm still thinking about it. And thinking about it.

I must admit, Matteo's hipster dialogue was off-putting at first. The characters, the story, and the humor grew on me though and I found myself giggling at what funny-guy Matteo would say to straight-guy Dave, and how Dave corrects Matteo's misuse of words. I never grew tired of their banter and I learned to enjoy and appreciate how the humor mixed with the heavy topics balances the 'edginess' of this story. (See what I did there?)

I have both the DRC and the ALC formats and alternated between them. The digital copy is a good tool for referencing the long chapters that have multiple sections. It can get confusing. The audiobook narrator, Franz Drameh, is an amazing voicing talent and one of the reasons I enjoyed the story and the characterizations. I don't believe you would be disappointed with either format but I will say, I re-listened to parts of the audiobook 'just because' of the narrator's voicing-narration skills.

"The Edge of Sleep" is a unique and fun SciFi ride with a touch of Horror and I'm still rolling that ending around in my head to see what my brain can make of it. I'll think of something and I'm guessing these two authors had a whole lot of fun writing it.

3.75⭐rounded up and I do recommend "The Edge of Sleep" to readers who enjoy a mix of Dystopian and Speculative Fiction that's just a little bit different like I do!

Thank you to Jake Emanuel, Willie Block, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for a DRC and ALC of this book through NetGalley. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review. Due to publish 6/20/23.

Get ready to fall down the rabbit hole and suspend reality. This story is a twisty apocalyptic adventure that explores our will to survive and our need for personal connection. A fun and fresh perspective on the-end-of-the-world-as -we-know-it genre, this story might be just what you need to escape reality for awhile.

💕You might like this book if:
🔹you are a fan of shows like The Twilight Zone
🔹 you enjoy books that create their own version of reality
🔹 you like books where unlikely characters join together in hopes of surviving

Characters were an interesting assortment of people who had trouble sleeping. I really liked Linda who was feisty and determined to do what had to be done to get through the horrible situation.

The story flew by as you had to keep reading to find out what was causing people to fall asleep and die. I liked how the author interjected little bits of what people were doing at the time they fell asleep in between the main characters striving to stay awake. There were hints of Stephen King and Dean Koontz throughout the story. The ending was creepy and satisfying even though I long for a part two.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.

If you fall asleep you die. That's what Dave, Matteo, Katie and Linda are trying to avoid in this sorta sci fi sorta horror novel that might well be a love it or hate it proposition. They've got to figure out why this is happening before they themselves succumb and no spoilers from me about what happens to them. This has short chapters, which is a positive in terms of getting the reader to turn the pages and a negative because the characters don't feel fleshed out. That said, it's an unusual and entertaining read that while it skips about, proves to be a well rounded portrait of a very strange event. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Interesting read.

I thought the story was so original and was very excited that I received an ARC. Unfortunately, it wasn’t really what I was expecting. I tried multiple times but wasn’t really able to immerse myself or feel for any of the characters the way I wanted to. It was suspenseful and creepy though.

It's the end of the world in this dystopian scifi thriller, but the only people who really know that are the ones who are still awake.

This is creepy. I have one of those minds that always jumps to worst-case scenarios for myself, so this concept is so so so going to haunt me! The people in this book who fall asleep... die! However, there is a small group of survivors narrating throughout this story interspersed with some chilling scenes of others on the verge of sleep.

I enjoyed this one and I liked the kind-of open ending that allowed my imagination to fill in some blanks.

Out June 20, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

Unfortunately this did not pull me in. Perhaps at the time of reading it I was just more in the mood for lit fic, though. The material is very accessible with good writing. With all the factors there to be a great read, I’m not sure if I was just missing something or if the book was lacking. Will reread at some point to give another chance. 2.5/5.

The Edge of Sleep offers a refreshing perspective on the apocalyptic genre. The story's unpredictable twists and turns will captivate readers, leaving them on the edge of their seats, anxiously anticipating what will happen next. Emanuel skillfully weaves a tale that is both thrilling and thought-provoking. Don't miss out on this gripping novel that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Unfortunately I made it to 70% and got bored. I feel like this story had such potential but the short clipped chapters threw me off and didn’t help me stay connected to the story. I really wanted to like it since epidemic apocalyptic books are amazing but this fell short.

Honestly, I liked "The Edge of Sleep" way more than I expected.

Here's what I loved:
-The plot or the idea of people dying in their sleep is very very creepy to me. "The Edge of Sleep" is definitely very plot driven, and even when the book flashes to other characters, I still felt like it had a good flow to it. There wasn't any moments where I got bored and wanted to put the book down. Plus the entire idea of trying to make yourself stay awake was actually painful for me to even process.

Here's what I didn't love:
-I LIKED the characters, but truthfully I wish they would have been fleshed out a little more. Like I said, with the pacing of the book, this wasn't a particular issue to me but I think others could see it being a problem.
-I really have no idea what the ending was. Not a clue. I'm not sure if I was too sleepy when I was reading so I wasn't processing things well (which is frightening if you know the plot of the book), but it felt like it just ENDED and I was left scratching my head. I couldn't tell if it was on purpose to maybe lead into a sequel, which I'd probably read if it existed, but was kind of a let down.

Because of the ending, I'd rate this book a 3.5 stars. It's a really fun read, and I think it'd be a great movie. Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher for giving me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review! The "Edge of Sleep" has a release date set for June 20th!

I received a digital ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This has to be the strangest novel I have read. Yet, I connected with the main characters and could nor put this book down. Set in the not too distant future - I believe the year 2025 is mentioned in passing at one point - everyone who goes to sleep does not wake up. If I say more than that, I will spoil the rest.

Thanks to NetGalley for sharing this ARC!

DNF’d. I desperately wanted to but was not able to get into this book past 25%. I wouldn’t say that is a true representation of how the book is written, but more so that I just could not find any interest in continuing.