The Patient Routine was truly an unique read, written in an almost lyrical style that aided to the increasing horror as the plot progressed.

It features an unreliable narrator who whilst waiting to be seen in a hospital's A&E department, gradually succumbs to increasing despair at the activity around them. A repeat visitor, we are left wondering if the visions they see are because of a mental health issue, or is actual reality. I feel like I'd have to read this a few times round to make a conclusion - at one point, I was considering zombies, but towards the end, it became more apparent that the patient (Ashton) is not a reliable narrator and I began to question their supposed reality.

The book was cleverly written, being empathetic towards hypochondriacs and those with mental health problems. There are trigger warnings as it is a horror, and some parts are quite graphic; I felt comfortable reading it and am not a horror reader, but I would advise checking those trigger warnings for yourself before reading, as it is quite an immersive read!

I read it on my kindle, and at some points, the text didn't appear well unfortunately. It was designed to mimic Ashton's convoluted thoughts and so the text was sometimes placed sparaodically but it didn't put me off the read, and to be honest, added to the atmosphere!

Read as an ARC. Wow!! Thanks for giving me this opportunity to read. A book has never made me squirm while reading. The writing was a little different than what I'm used to, I had to keep re-reading at times but overall a pretty good short story! Out of my norm and I'm glad I went out on a limb.

Seriously disturbing, really well done, I felt trapped inside Ashtons head. Scary stuff. I felt it provides insight into the mind of a person who suffers with their own thoughts.

I really tried to read this book. "It's not my cup of tea" There was a lot of violence and suicide/self harm. I'm sure that some people will like it.

In 2019 my health started going down hill and I didn't take into consideration what that would mean for my book reviewing. Sadly, I've been trying to play catch up for years and it's been affecting my ability to keep up with present day tasks. So I greatly apologize for this but I am going to clear out all these older review books and focus on present day. I will come back and update this review if I end up reading the book, which is very possible as a lot of these books are still ones I would like to read, I just don't think the pressure looming over me is helpful. Thank you for giving me a chance to early read these books and I am so sorry I wasn't able to provide what was needed.

I have no idea what I just read. Definitely didn't get it. I first thought Ashton was a hypochondriac. Then I thought maybe this is about zombies. Then I thought this was all in their head. Could have been all or none of those things. Couldn't tell ya. Not a book for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for this eARC.

I enjoyed it a lot at first, it lost me a bit in the middle but it had a good ending. This is an excellent horror novel. This story really portrays how the mind can sometimes trick you into believing things and has you qu3stioning yourself. I think it depicts inner turmoil and anxiety well

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the copy.

I FREAKING LOVED THIS!!!! The Patient Routine by luna rey hall was so scary and foreboding and incredible! I felt scared all the way thru and also triggered my OCD lmao I was truly thankful to have gotten to read this before most people! I would like to purchase this one for my physical library!

A dark and intimate look into mental health. Told in a unique way it dances on the border of realities. This was a difficult read but one that was also gripping.

If you appreciate stories that leave you questioning the boundary between reality and illusion, coupled with a generous dose of body horror and a taste of the bewildering nature of navigating the healthcare system, "The Patient Routine" might be the right choice for you.

The stream of consciousness narrative style lends itself to a swift and absorbing reading experience. The story's ability to immerse you directly into the depths of the horror within Ashton's internal world during their ordeal is palpable, creating an atmosphere of oppression and dread that keeps you engrossed.

While the central character may not be particularly likable, their complexity and the heart-wrenching nature of their condition make them compelling. It's difficult not to become emotionally invested in their story, adding an extra layer of poignancy to the narrative.

I appreciated the way the format and chapter headings of this book reflected the mental health of the character and increased the unreliable narrator vibe. Reading it also made me feel like I was going crazy with the character, kind of like in House of Leaves. The book was as long as it needed to be and I'm glad it wasn't needlessly extended. The reading experience probably would've been better as a physical book, as the format could be tricky to follow on Kindle/e-reader.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishing house, for sending me this e-arc to read and review. This was a great book. I read it here a few months ago and loved it. The cover art is beautiful, and the writing style is beautiful. I can't wait to see what else this author comes out with in the future. It's such a spooky read that I recommend people to read.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for providing this ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Gosh this novel, THIS ONE. RIGHT HERE. Had me guessing and wondering what was ACTUALLY real. It was such a good little disturbingly wonderful book. I will most definitely add this to my "read again" list!!!

There are Trigger warnings, so please check them out before reading.

A disturbing story related as a poem. It gives one empathy and understanding of a patient’s response to self and what is happening in the hospital. This poem/story is an exploration of a mind searching for answers. Will the patient find out about his self and death? It is a unique poem/story..

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This book focuses strongly on mental health and the chapter titles and text format often reflects the mental state of Ashton. The format did make it a little difficult for me to read at times but I still appreciated what it was for and the overall effect. It’s the kind of horror that makes it difficult to tell what is real and what isn’t all the way through and can be spooky at times. I did, however, think the trigger warnings at the end should be at the beginning as some themes could be potentially triggering to some people but not many people look to the end for trigger warnings and assume if they aren’t at the beginning it’s safe.

I have to start by saying I hated the layout of this book. Quite hard to read and follow and be honest very annoying. I found the story was quite jumbled and all over the place to which may be the point but for me personally it was hard to follow and get engrossed in. I also found myself with so many unanswered questions reading the book and parts where I was just confused.

It was a shorter book so quite a quick read. There was parts of the book I did like such as how the author approached mental health in regards to the characters experiences and struggles (as someone who is also a mental health sufferer).

I think the story was okay but could have elaborated in parts giving more details and going more in-depth. I also think the writing style/format really let the book down.


*I was given an advance readers copy (ARC) from NetGalley for my honest opinion of this book*

Nasty in the best way. The format is perfect for this type of an unreliable narrator and this type of an anxiety-based horror, and it really worked for me. The emotions were truly coming through to me and it was a thrilling read. Great job.

TW: Mental illness, violence, death, suicide, self harm

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was intense … in a good way! I found it to be soo good and the writing was so unique. I really did love it. I read it in one sitting .. it was a short story but I wish it was longer.

Thank you netgalley!
#ThePatientRoutine #NetGalley

This was a dark look into the mind of Ashton. From hallucinations that make you feel like you are losing your mind, to startling visions of the terror inducing sort. This story was a short story that approaches mental health and identity in a dark and grasping way. The fluidity of the story really adds to the overall spook factor and I hated to put it down.

TW: Mental illness, violence, death, suicide, self harm, transphobic behaviors
What an incredible read! This book was unnerving and beautiful in it's own sense. It touches on how healthcare systems treat repeat patients and transgender individuals. It is a book that deserves additional read throughs and a full dig-in as there are surely underlying messages and meanings. The way the story is written is haunting and anxiety inducing. It is so wildly unique and I would love to see another story written similarly. I ate this book up in one sitting and cannot wait for more from this deserving author.