⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you love introspective, character-driven novels then this little gem should be on your TBR! Musings on capitalism, sexual politics, family and sibling dynamics. Funny, insightful and sad, with lots of great dialogue.

Thank you so much Arcade and Netgalley for the advance copy of this one!

I stumbled upon an Instagram post that piqued my interest, and I decided to request a copy of the book. And let me tell you, it was an absolute delight! The writing style reminded me of Sally Rooney, but in some parts, it was even more captivating. The complex characters immediately drew me in, and I couldn’t wait to discover their journeys. The intricate plot that intertwined between each character kept me turning the pages, and I finished it in a single day. I highly recommend this book and will definitely be checking out Matthew Gasda’s backlist next!

the title honestly felt fitting because i, too, was a sleeper during this book.
i usually love character-driven novels and fully expected to love this one too—hence why i requested the ARC—but i found it incredibly boring. i didn’t care about any of the characters, there were entire sections that felt completely unnecessary (why were we reading entire paragraphs about the characters shitting?), and if it hadn’t been an ARC, i probably would’ve DNF’d it.

i actually liked the first chapter and akari’s storyline, but then the narrative immediately shifts to mariko and dan and barely returns to akari until the very end—which, in my opinion, ruined the only interesting thread it had. my favorite part of the whole experience was finishing the book, not because i enjoyed it, but because i felt genuinely proud for making it through.
before reading this, i never really understood when people said they’d DNF a book even if they had just ten pages left. but now i do-and it’s a shame, because i really did want to love it. one star.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review!

The Sleepers follows four New Yorkers; a cinematographer, an actress, a professor, and a college student. They are sisters, lovers, mentors, and pupils simply existing in the digital age. Driven by the characters and their dialogue, the story lets the reader peer in to both their internal battles and their interpersonal conflicts. The war between their bodily desires, pursuits, sense of self and morals is wonderfully explored through their thoughts and speech. At its core, this is an exploration of the human condition.

The Sleepers will probably be a polarizing novel. You’ll either love or hate the writing style. I personally fall in the former category. It felt true and authentic, as if I were eavesdropping on the cast of characters. The speech is written exactly as it would occur; with pauses, “likes”, stutters, and interruptions. The story reads like a transcript which feels incredibly authentic.

The characters are very in-your-face jaded millennials which, again, you’ll either find endearing or obnoxious. It is easy to identify with any one of them but Mariko, in particular, I resonated with. Every character is flawed but also incredibly self aware. They mess up, wrestle with guilt, grief, shame, heartbreak, and love. They all feel beautifully and devastatingly human. Matthew Gasda clearly understands the human psyche and all the complexities it encompasses. The way we portray ourselves outwardly versus our most wretched thoughts. The irony of holding others to different standards than we hold ourselves. How emotions shape our behaviors. The desire to form real connections but also safeguard our emotions. Holding on to toxic relationships because we’re scared of loneliness.

From the internal commentary while using a public bathroom to the less than kind thoughts about friends and their shortcomings, this novel made me come to the realization that we really are not as unique as we believe. There are people walking around living their life having the same thoughts and inner monologue.

An underlying theme throughout The Sleepers is technology and its effect on interpersonal relationships. The very real addiction people have to their phones and the true consequences of having access to so much knowledge. To the characters, technology is a tool to distract themselves from their despair and benumbed existences; a habit most of us can probably relate to.

The Sleepers may be the most thought-provoking piece I have ever read. Even after completion, I find myself still moved and in an introspective state brought on by my reading it. The prose left me feeling despondent by the realness of it; the same way that I look at the world with feelings of despair and hopelessness. This isn’t a book to get lost in and distract from reality: this is an in-your-face look at that reality.

I will absolutely be recommending this to as many people as I can reach. If you like character driven plots and stories that leave you staring at walls, this is your Roman Empire.

I tend to enjoy books that sprinkle in little nuggets of philosophical thoughts and ideas - and this one definitely scratched that itch. However, I found the dialogue a bit unrealistic at times. It often felt harsh, even cruel, in a way that didn’t align with how someone struggling with anxiety might actually express themselves. The book managed to be both relatable and unrelatable - capturing the millennial experience in a way that made me feel seen, but also left me feeling annoyed. This book made me frustrated and reflective.

i love books that explore the human condition and the messy ways people navigate each other. that said, i found myself getting distracted at times and struggled to stay fully immersed. still, the concept worked for me and i would recommend it if you enjoy character-driven stories

Matthew Gasda’s The Sleepers was admittedly a cover-request for me, and I knew nothing about it prior to requesting the book. I got lucky, however, because it turns out that this simmering litfic story set in New York City was just up my alley.

The Sleepers is an unflinching character study of four New Yorkers whose lives begin to unravel under the weight of their own contradictions. As they navigate ambition, self-deception, and the personas they project, their intersecting stories expose the tension between who they claim to be and who they really are. Identity is one of my favourite themes to read about, and The Sleepers did not disappoint in delivering on this.

Gasda’s prose is intricate and razor-sharp, capturing the nuances of human behavior with painful precision. There’s a relentless intellectual intensity to the dialogue, which was at times disorienting, but always undeniably immersive. Some passages are so existentially raw that they feel like a gut punch, especially for readers prone to overanalyzing their own lives (myself included).

The novel leans heavily into Dan and Mariko’s dynamic, and while I found Dan to be mildly insufferable, his contradictions made him a fascinating character to dissect. Like most, if not all, literary fiction novels, this is not a plot-driven book; so if you need a gripping storyline and tons of action, this might not be the book for you. But if you love introspective, character-driven fiction with simmering tension and philosophical depth, The Sleepers is a novel that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for providing me with an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not influenced by any third parties.

four people in new york, all caught in their own complicated dynamics. a teacher pursuing his student. his girlfriend wrapped up in her own affair. her sister dealing with her own relationship struggles. their lives inevitably collide in unexpected ways.

i love books that explore the human condition and the messy ways people navigate each other. that said, i found myself getting distracted at times and struggled to stay fully immersed. still, the concept worked for me and i would recommend it if you enjoy character-driven stories about the chaos of everyday life.

thank you netgalley for the arc as alwaysss ❤️ !!!!

3.5 stars

I thank NetGalley for this ARC, but I will admit I struggled pretty hard with this one. Not negative, but the writing is aggressive and in your face. It’s vulgar and unclean, grimly. There isn’t a single character that is inherently likeable. The bridge between the characters was guide rough. It takes you out of the story as you have to keep tabs on where you are. The book felt genuinely stressful to read.

The Sleepers is a unique story about messy relationships, blurred identities and the contradiction between desires and values.
The book was initially difficult for me to get into , partly because of the long chapters until the story unravels and we get to know the characters.

I need to say though that I love stories set in New York with a diverse set of characters.
If you are on the search for character driven stories with focus on the human experience, this is for you!

Thank you NetGalley and Arcade for am ARC of this book!

“The Sleepers” chronicles a brief period of time for 4 people living in New York. As the narrative develops, their lives intersect and change. Through each character’s choices and plot, the reader gets clued in to the disconnect between beliefs and action.

Ultimately, I thought that the plot of this book was quite effective, but the writing style was disjointed and flat. I found that the flow from character to character was a little broken, which took me out of the reading experience.

DNF @ 33%

I really tried to get on with this one, but it got to the point that I knew I was pushing through just because it's a short book, even though I wasn't enjoying myself. I definitely related a lot to Mariko's inner thoughts. I found the second chapter (Mariko's) to be very stressful, the way her and Dan were communicating (or failing to communicate) and it made me really anxious! I think the chapters are far too long for me, if it were shorter segments of their failure to communicate effectively it may have landed better for me. But being immersed in it would certainly work great for some!

The Sleepers by Matthew Gasda follows the lives of four intersecting New Yorkers. We are introduced to Akari, a cinematographer, her sister Mariko, a struggling actor, and her husband Dan, an acclaimed professor. The central storyline revolves around these three main characters as they confront the collapse of their social identities.

Starting off, I found this tricky to get into. There are very long chapters (some over an hour) but I actually enjoyed these as you really have time to bond with and understand each character and their individual struggles and motivations.

The novel is composed greatly of deep, intricate prose and Gasda is nothing short of masterful in his observation of human behaviour. I found these insights painfully relatable, with an uncanny ability to capture the human experience with striking accuracy. Certain excerpts left me with an overwhelming sense of dread but in a ‘Wow how did you read my mind I can’t believe someone has articulated my darkest thoughts’ kind of way. People that live in their head and overthink everything and pick apart each moment of their life will really enjoy this and feel seen. Very existential but very poignant.

I did find the main focus to kind of fall to Dan and Mariko and would’ve liked to hear more about Akari but overall it was still very good. If character driven books aren’t your thing, I would definitely give this a miss but if they are, then this is a real gem.

Thank you to NetGalley and SkyHorse Publishing for my ARC.

Matthew Gasda’s The Sleepers is a captivating exploration of memory, identity, and the blurred lines between dreams and reality. Gasda’s writing style is both poetic and raw, weaving intricate layers of emotion that draw readers into a world where the boundaries between waking and sleeping often dissolve.

The story centers around the lives of its complex characters, who grapple with both their internal and external worlds in profound ways. The author’s keen observations of human nature are evident in his portrayal of the quiet struggles and emotional tensions that define the everyday lives of his characters. What stands out is Gasda’s ability to take seemingly mundane moments and imbue them with significance, creating a narrative that is as much about self-discovery as it is about the passage of time.

The pacing of The Sleepers is deliberate, allowing for reflection on the themes of the book. Some readers may find the slow buildup rewarding, while others might wish for a quicker narrative, but the overall effect is one of quiet contemplation. The novel’s dreamlike quality gives it an otherworldly feel, often leaving the reader questioning what is real and what is imagined.

In The Sleepers, Gasda expertly navigates the complexities of human connection, the fragility of memory, and the unknowable paths we travel in our subconscious. This book will resonate with anyone interested in exploring the depths of the human psyche and the quiet, yet powerful, forces that shape our lives.

this story was very unique to me, i requested it cause it was set in my city. the novel dissects the contradictions between identity, ambition, and desire. set in New York’s cultural and intellectual circles, it follows four characters whose carefully curated lives start to unravel in ways they never expected.

Dan, a leftist academic and blogger, risks his career and credibility for an affair with his student. his partner, Mariko, a struggling actor, reconnects with an old flame—her dying mentor and former director. meanwhile, Mariko’s sister, Akari, a cinematographer visiting from LA, navigates a volatile relationship with a younger woman *SO MUCH DRAMA* so, the four of them chases success and fulfillment, yet all find themselves caught in self-deception, compromising the ideals they claim to uphold.

prose is sleek and unflinching, pulling the reader into the emotional turbulence of characters who are both deeply flawed and painfully real. there's no moralizing here—just an honest, razor-sharp look at a generation torn between the personas they project and the messy, complicated realities they live. it was a very thought-provoking read—one that lingers long after the final page. the author delivers a striking meditation on ambition, self-delusion, and the weight of our choices in a world that demands both authenticity and performance.

4 stars. writing was beautiful.

This felt like an "artsy" read to me. I enjoyed it! It was full of interesting characters and I liked seeing how they developed throughout the story. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

**The Sleepers** by Matthew Gasda is a novel that explores the intertwined lives of thirty-somethings in New York City from 2016 to 2019. The main characters include Dan, a professor and writer; his partner Mariko, a struggling actress; and her sister Akari, a cinematographer. The novel primarily focuses on themes of relationships and identity.

With knife sharp, authenticity, and wit, Gasda provides an almost documentary-like portrayal of these individuals. The narrative immerses us in their lives over a few summer days and nights, offering insights into their inner thoughts. These inner monologues reveal a disconnect between who they truly are, who they aspire to be, and how others perceive them. The strain of navigating evolving relationships and the sensation of being stuck or in limbo as time passes is palpable. Gasda delves into the narratives we create about ourselves and each other along with the complexities of life.

I was genuinely impressed with Gasda’s storytelling abilities; it was both engaging and relatable. It captures a kind of disillusioned coming-of-age experience meets a pre-mid-life crisis, set against the backdrop of a country undergoing a significant cultural shift and identity transformation.

Fans of Oisin McKenna, Sally Rooney, CoCo Mellors, or Edward Albee might find this novel appealing. I highly recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing | Arcade for the ARC.