Emma Miller, 30, suffers from a neurological condition that leaves her with frequent numbness in her limbs and dizziness. Unable to work, she ives with her mother and stepfather, Peter, who is a disgusting man constantly cruel to her. She dreams of getting revenge on him. She has a daughter, Ava, 11, and does her best to care for her. She is divorced from her husband. Her stepsister, Becky, helps her care for Ava. As Peter took over her bedroom for his office, she has to sleep on the sofa at night after everyone goes to bed. Emma enjoys bird watching and has some books from which she enjoys learning more about them.

One day, Emma meets a man who helped her as she left the hospital one day. His name is Adam, 36, who tells her he is a doctor. Turns out he lives not far from her with his soon to be ex-wife, Celeste, in a large home. They meet up from time to time just to walk somewhere. He is kind to her. As they become closer, he convinces Emma that he wants to be with her but he needs to get rid of Celeste first. She says that she would like to get rid of Peter too. So, they agree that she will kill Celeste and he will kill Peter.

As this story evolves, the original plan goes awry and we learn more about the characters and their true motives. This is a dark, sad, and emotional novel. I think the only characters I liked were Celeste and Ava. Even with Emma’s illness, I didn’t find that I cared that much for her. Her illness is very real from what I have learned although doctors are baffled as to the cause. Unfortunately, the book is OK but not a favorite for me.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Sick to Death surprised me, when I started reading it I thought I had it sussed but no, but a bit like the birds Emma loves this story sweeps and swerves and keeps changing and keeps you interested in what is happening with the characters most of whom are quite repulsive and the ending was great. definitely worth reading.

Wasn’t able to read this one digitally but I did order a copy of the book so will be reviewing it after I’ve read it. I’m really excited for it as I’ve only heard great things about it.

I wanted to like this more than I did. As someone with chronic illness, I was unable to relate which isn't super important but it feels like it is when the book is kind of centered around that. I also felt like it was just too long.

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

Emma is sick—of her illness, of being stuck in her cramped family home, of people telling her to "get over it." She’s also sick of being the other woman. Adam has everything—money, a career, a wife. And Emma has a new obsession: Celeste. But Emma’s sickness isn’t what you expect.

I struggled with Emma as a character—her self-pity got under my skin. The story unfolds from multiple perspectives, and while the writing was strong, the pacing was slow at first. The real twists don’t hit until the second half. A tale of love, jealousy, betrayal, and revenge.

A good debut that starts slow but really picks up. Full of suspense and twists with well drawn characters. Well plotted that once you get past the start will keep you hooked. Thanks to Avon books and Netgalley for this review ARC.

Sick To Death by Chris Bridges was an attractive arc book for me to read when I saw it. A woman with a chronic illness as one of the main characters? Sold!
It’s a great story that I.couldn’t get enough of. My kindle was always in my hands until I had finished reading it.
Poor Emma has a debilitating illness. Not only that, but her family are not sympathetic. Her step father has taken her bedroom and made himself an office and left poor Emma the sofa as the only alternative. Her daughter has to share a bedroom with Emma’s older step sister, so you can tell there are quite a few adults squashed into their house.
Emma meets Adam, a kind doctor who she becomes involved with and he ends up telling her about his unhappy life. They have a lot in common. They joke about what they would do to be free….
The plot is absolute dynamite, the characters are so complex that there are lots of unexpected twists. I loved every minute of it! Boy was I hooked!!!
Many thanks to Avon Books for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #AvonBooks, #ChrisBridgesWriter.

This is another slow-burn that once it picks up, it really picks up. I have to say that if you find yourself pushing through the beginning, hold on. It will be worth the ride. There weren't any likable characters, but they still are fascinating in their behaviors. One of my favorite things about this aside from the twists was the author's knowledge of invisible illness. The impact of those around you not believing the realness, let alone severity of it. This will be perfect for fans of Frieda McFadden. Four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Avon Books UK, for this ARC.

This was such a clever, twisty and addictive thriller. It certainly kept me guessing.

The first half was a slow burn, getting to know and understand our main players. You really do appreciate Emma’s situation and isolation due to her illness. Her stepfather is truly awful to her but she feels stuck as she cannot work and take care of herself and her daughter. Her hope is wonderful when she meets Adam, a good looking doctor who cares about her.

I really appreciated the way the author deal with the characters illness, a somewhat invisible one that had people thinking she was faking it or taking advantage of things. As somebody who has been there, it was refreshing to see a character like Emma, who was still tough and determined. After reading the author’s note, I see that it comes from his own personal experiences.

There is much talk about birds in this book which really creeped me out as someone who is not a bird lover! it worked in the story but images of all these birds did little to keep me calm!

A unique thriller thatI can highly recommend.

Many Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my early copy of this book to read.

A compelling read with plenty of twists along the way and what a cliffhanger ending!

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

3.5 stars rounded down

Emma is sick. She can't work because of a neurological condition, so she is stuck in her family's tiny council house. Emma is sick of being told to "get over it." Her step=father, her doctor, strangers - everyone has an opinion. Emma is sick of being the other woman. Her boyfriend Adam has got a great job and an amazing home. His wife Celeste is the problem. Emma is sick of being underestimated. All she wanted was a target. And now she has Celeste. Emma is sick. Just not in the way you thought.

I didn't care for the main character, her self-pity started to annoy me. The story is told from multiple points of view. Some of the twists were good, but it's a bit of a slow burn to begin with. I quite liked the author's writing style. We are into the second part of the book before we get any twists. The story covers betrayal, hope, love, jealousy. and revenge.

Published 27th March 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #ChrisBridges for my ARC of #SickToDeath in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars
In this book we follow Emma. She currently lives with her family although she is a grown up with a child of her own. See, she has a neurological condition which means that she can not work, and also can not be trusted to look after herself or her child. So they live with her mum, step-father and step-sister in their small council house. She kips on the sofa which really isn't helping her health.
But... things are about to change for her. After one of her many hospital visits she bumps into a young doctor, Adam, who assists her when she suffers a setback. And then they bump into each other again closer to home as Adam, it transpires, lives near her. With his wife, Celeste. Who, he says, he is estranged from. They start to get to know each other better and begin a relationship. But Emma starts to get bored with being the "other woman" and starts to wonder what would happen if Celeste is out of the picture, egged on by Adam...
And that's all I can say without spoilers. Apart from, omg I really didn't think we would end up THERE! Especially the way I was kinda being led by the author and the characters... But nothing is without foundation and I got all swept up in what I thought was happening that I kinda blinkered myself along the way... but, with hindsight...
As well as a twisty turny, expertly executed plot, we also had some interesting and intriguing characters. Dysfunctional is a word that immediately springs to mind, but it would be hard to say much more about them individually without spoilers. Suffice to say that you need to keep an open mind...
And the ending... which isn't the one you expect. Excellent! And... it's a debut to boot. Wow! I really can't wait to see what the author serves up for next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

My thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Sick To Death’ written by Chris Bridges in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Some illnesses are invisible to the human eye and cause problems for those suffering from them such as single mother Emma who has a functional neurological disorder that causes extreme fatigue, fainting episodes and numbness to her leg and arm. Her family doesn’t understand especially her step-father who says she’s lazy and a burden. Emma falls in love with Adam who says he’s a junior doctor, but there’s one obstacle to them being together – his wife Celeste.

‘Sick To Death’ is the disturbing story of Emma who spends her time bird-watching and has the desire to destroy those who are causing problems to the wellbeing of herself and her eleven-year-old daughter Ava. This is a well-written novel with plenty of suspense and twists that had me wondering what was going to happen next. Despite some of the narrative being overly stretched out making the novel unnecessarily long, it’s an excellent debut novel with nicely described characters and an unbelievably dark plot that I’ve enjoyed.

Emma is the main character in this tale - she is sick in body, and it would appear sick in her mind. Her symptoms and day to day ups and downs are well portrayed which surprised me until I learnt that the author lives with MS, a disability which can change daily.
The start was quite slow as we were introduced to Emma and her family - the resentment she has for her step-father; her mother's lack of empathy for her; her step-sister's sarcasm and how her daughter is not considered to be safe in Emma's care.
I thought I knew where the story was going - only for a change of direction and then another.
Cleverly told. Look forward to more by this author.
Three and a half stars.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Chris Bridges/Avon Books UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Meet Emma. Emma is sick.
She can’t work because of a neurological condition, so is stuck in her family’s tiny council house.
Emma is sick of being told to ‘get over it’.
Her stepfather, her doctors, strangers – everyone has an opinion.
Emma is sick of being the other woman.
Her boyfriend Adam is perfect: he’s got a great job and an amazing home. His wife Celeste is the problem.

This is a nice easy read. Well written with good three-dimensional characters. Lots of twists and turns along the way. I enjoyed the writing style and the story as a whole. It has a killer twist at the end too.

Sick to Death is the debut thriller by Chris Bridges. Chilling and thrilling with some good and unexpected twists, some good blood-boiling moments and suspense as well as good friendship vibes when needed.
All in general I really enjoyed this book but I really struggled with Part 1. It was extremely slow and could be cut in half without losing any important part of the storyline. Starting with Part 2, the story picks up speed and you are drawn into the story.

One timeline, and multiple points of view, but the characters are so different that it is easy to follow.

Single mum Emma lives with her unwelcoming family because she has a neurological illness that leads to blackouts and exhaustion, muscle weakness and a general struggle to look after her daughter. After one of her many trips to A&E, she meets Doctor Adam, charming, and gorgeous but married. Emma feels a spark and hope when Adam explains that his marriage to Celeste is at the end stage and if Emma helps him, they will be together forever... but things go terribly, terribly wrong!

Thank you NetGalley for this copy, I enjoyed it a lot and looking forward to Chris Bridges next work.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Chris Bridges delivers a darkly comic and sharply incisive tale with "Sick to Death", with a narrative that’s as brutal as it is thought-provoking. This novel is an exploration of morality under extreme pressure, wrapped in a framework of sardonic wit and biting satire.

The logic keeps readers tethered to the story’s moral complexities. The character’s descent into darkness is not just physical but philosophical, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable questions about revenge and justice.

Bridges' prose balances the macabre with the absurd, delivering moments of shocking violence alongside instances of grim hilarity. The result is a tone that feels almost Coen Brothers-esque—brutal yet wickedly entertaining.

However, this novel is not without it's flaws, I didn't like the characters, and I personally want to relate to or find at least ONE character redeemable or relatable, which is one thing lately I have found routinely missing from a lot of today's stories.

Sick to Death by Chris Bridges is a psychological thriller about a woman who is "sick", stuck in her parents home, but has found the love of her life, if only he wasn't married..

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Avon Books, and the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Opinions:
This is a debut novel, and the author is a really good writer, but boy was this a slow start.  I admit not liking the first part at all, and often considered stopping.  Nothing was happening, but I guess we did get a good (if long) introduction to the characters.

This was a very "uncomfortable" read.  Someone having an invisible illness doesn't bother me.  The character bothered me.  She was an unlikable, self-pitying, and yet naive woman.  Even after finding out more background, it did not really change my opinion of her.  Actually, there were no really likeable characters.

Now for the good parts.  There are many.  I liked how the author dealt with an invisible illness, how many thought Emma was faking, which was just sad.  It also showed how she tried to cope with this, and in the end, how strong she actually was.

The story was told through many different perspectives, and this worked well.  Basically, the story was about love, and lies, and greed, and revenge.

Once we got through the first part of the story, the twists began, and WOW, they were good.  I may have wanted to quit reading through the really slow start, but I am really glad I didn't.  All of a sudden, I could hardly turn the pages fast enough.

I wouldn't say I grew to love the characters, but some did become more likeable.

Overall, I ended up enjoying this, and will watch this author.  If the start had not been so slow, this would be a 5 star read.

 Anyway, until next time....

Sick to Death is the debut psychological thriller from Chris Bridges. I was really keen to read this as the author seems so friendly over on Instagram and I'm a big fan of his book reviews. You can guarantee that if he has recommended it, it will be good – so make sure to check out his page for more books to add to your TBR!

Unfolding in three parts, we first meet Emma, who has chronic illness. It's a neurological, invisible illness that has rendered her unable to work and she has to rely on others. As such she still lives at home with her mum, stepdad, stepsister and her own daughter, Ava. Emma tells us that she is "trapped in a life that I didn't choose." This line floored me and reminded me how fortunate I am. My family and friends have been affected by various illnesses and it's so important to make the most of the time we have. Not to take anything for granted.

The book also explores the wealth and working-class divide. When COVID hit, Emma's heinous stepfather turned her bedroom within their 3 bedroom council house into an office and relegated her to the downstairs sofa. Meanwhile, her daughter shares a bedroom with her stepsister. Her stepfather is always berating Emma whilst her mum, despicably chooses to look the other way.

Within the same neighbourhood, there is an opulent house that tells a very different story – home to celebrity chef Celeste and her handsome husband, Adam. They are worlds apart.

Adam collides into Emma's world – quite literally – when he helps her after a fall at a hospital check-up. She is enamoured by his care for her and after a second chance meeting it isn't long before he divulges that he's divorcing Celeste. Emma quietly notices the bruises on him... She begins to enjoy their time together and starts to see a way out of her current situation.

Part one sets up the story well. I did feel it was going on a little long, but wow part two certainly packed a punch and made sure I knew it had arrived! An amazing debut, I can't wait to see what comes next.

Thank you Avon Books and NetGalley for the ARC