Ok, so… I will go ahead and start with the things that I didn’t like and get them out of the way first.

The main character, Zoe, was… not very likeable at all. I understand she was going through an incredibly hard time, but she was just…ugh. She treated her husband pretty crappy. She made him out to be this horrible person. At the end of the book, she goes back to being with him, but it doesn’t really feel like she wants to be with him at all. She is also extremely selfish. Pretty much every action she has is selfish and it got extremely annoying. And then to make an already unlikable character even more unlikable, she was one of those sort of people who bit the head off of any guy who tried to be nice and help her. There were a lot of times when something like this happened:

*Man goes to open and hold the door for Zoe*

Zoe- “What is that supposed to mean!? Are you trying to say I can’t hold my own door open?? Women are just as capable as a man at holding doors open!! *angry face* ”

That wasn’t an actual scene, but stuff similar to it happened. A lot. Zoe had her tail in such a twist any time a guy did anything or said anything to her. I get that she felt marginalized by her husband, but that doesn’t mean she has to be such a huge jerk to every man on the planet. It just got so frustrating watching her act like that through basically the whole book. She never won me over and I didn’t really find myself caring about her at all.

The other thing that bugged me about this book was that there were several erotic scenes that were just a big “No thank you”. I understand that there was a sexual desire entity about/ in the house, but I don’t know… sometimes it just felt like too much unsatisfying sexual angst that was only a few steps away from rape. I seriously didn’t need to hear about Zoe’s swollen, sore, moist groin that much. In fact, I was pretty good never having to hear that from her at all. It wasn’t a heavily erotic book, but there was enough there that it was a turn off for me. I am not a fan of that sort of stuff at all, but if you like reading things along those lines, you might enjoy this book more then I did.

I did enjoy the premise. I didn’t really see it as much of a psychological thriller, but more of a modern gothic romance. Pretty interesting history attached to the house and I did have fun watching that part of the story unfold. You really had two mysteries to follow, the history of the original house owner, and that of a young boy who went missing the year before Zoe moved in. While the mystery about the missing boy was kind of predictable, it was still a fun mystery to follow to the end.

I did not like the very ending of the book. While most of the book left you unsure what was really going on, the very ending felt too predictable. You could guess a million miles away about Zoe’s secrets and what had happened to the lost boy. For most of the book, the writing was really well done, but the ending was just too convenient and tacked on feeling. And, as I said earlier, Zoe makes choices to go back to someone she seemed to really dislike, so it was pretty WTF. Like, you ran away to escape and caused all this drama, and then you just go back home like nothing happened?? What was the point then? What did she learn? How did any of this help her? :/

I know it sounds like I must have hated While You Sleep, but I didn’t. But I didn’t love it either. It had a nice gothic element too it and some interesting lore. I just wished the main character was more likeable and that the erotic sexy time angst was dialed back a little. That, and with a slightly different ending, this could have been a really good book instead of just an ok book.

While You Sleep is a Paranormal, Thriller, Mystery that is a fascinating tale. It may have a few slow spots, but overall this was a great book and I can't wait for more.

This was a decent read, with some chills and thrills, but it wasn’t my very favorite. I think it just didn’t grip me the way I wanted to be gripped, but the writing was good and it did give me some really nice spooks.
Will use in a challenge and let the menbers of chapter chatter pub know it’s out!

While You Sleep by Stephanie Merritt is an startling gem, a true treasure that will leave readers lusting for part two.

After a short, beautifully written prologue, Merritt slams readers directly into the action, leaving them breathless. Zoe Adams arrives on a tiny island off the coast of Scotland. She wants to be alone, but the islanders are intent on examining her, managing her. An atmosphere of dread begins to seep into the minds of readers. Zoe has left her past behind in America and only wants to paint in peace and solitude, as so she says. However, ambiguities hover over Zoe like a dark cloud. Who she really is and why she chose this rugged island will remain a mystery for most of this Gothic tale.

During Zoe’s very first night in a renovated mansion, a shocking episode will leave readers stunned. Zoe begins her journey toward darkness or light; only time will tell which will prevail. It is obvious that Zoe cannot trust the islanders or herself. She does make two friends, but their intentions are as convoluted as are Zoe’s true motives. The plot is deliciously complex and tortuous. Readers will constantly struggle to decide what is real, human, supernatural, or madness. A surprise lurks around every corner. The inclusion of the archetypal British Demon Lover trope is the luridly compelling twist that triggers a connection with the reader’s collective unconscious, driving readers to wonder if he is real, only a psychotic complex, or something much more dangerous.

The characters are all unique and clearly drawn. The each speaks with his own voice and mannerism, obliterating any possibility of confusion that might slow the reading process. Each has secrets and murky backstories, so none of them can be trusted. In addition, in each of them lurks hints of impending menace. The only possible character nit is the fact that Zoe speaks with a decidedly British accent. She uses terms few Americans will recognize. But that is okay. Readers will root for her and care deeply about her welfare.

The setting melds perfectly with the plot. The highly atmospheric landscape is rugged, barren, and tumultuous, a metaphor for Zoe’s life and interior conflicts. Turbulent winds, waves, and storms batter Zoe, reminding her of the danger she has called into her life. Because the island is so remote and undeveloped, communication with the outside world is often impossible, allowing her to conceal hidden truths. She is truly alone in her battle for survival and self-awareness and the transformation that might lead to insight and happiness.

The complex combination of literary elements meld to produce a unique, dreamlike, and deliciously disturbing tale that will burrow into the minds or readers. The inclusion of enough accurate supernatural content easily guarantees the willing suspension of disbelief which is only outpaced by the enthralling literary quality of the text which make While You Sleep a smooth, clean, pleasurable read.

While You Sleep comes highly recommended for a broad range of differing audiences. It is a gripping tale that will not allow readers to turn away.

Oh my goodness!! Y’all! This book will have you questioning every bump in the night. It will influence your dreams and waking thoughts.

With a bit of suspense, paranormality, and erotica, you will be hooked from the start!

Sometimes you just need to get away from everyday life so you can see it better. Sometimes it’s not such a great idea. Sometimes fantasy is deadlier than reality.

Let’s run away to a Scottish Isle and see what’s awaiting us!

Deemed a psychological thriller, Stephanie Merritt's While You Sleep is unlike many other books in that popular genre. Merritt weaves so many paranormal and Gothic elements into her narrative, that I am not even sure I entirely agree with the "psychological thriller" label. What she does do is create something very unique here, but it is not without its faults.

Zoe Adams has just arrived on a secluded Scottish island from America. She has rented out the McBride house, not knowing the tragic history of it beforehand. A young woman and her son perished there a century ago, and a boy disappeared there just last year. Zoe wants to use the house to escape from her troubled marriage, but she soon finds herself in the midst of the house's danger, with all the strange occurrences that go with it.

Merritt hooked me immediately with a very strong first chapter. But then without warning, she delves into graphic sexual situations, which seemed very jarring and out of place right off the bat. I thought I was reading one thing and then got another. These scenes do eventually make sense to the plot, however. Most of Merritt's chapters are strong but long-winded, and some of them are absolutely terrifying. All in all, While You Sleep, for me, was an average read.

MY RATING - 3

While You Sleep is an engrossing gothic tale that had me hooked from page 1. It's beautifully descriptive, atmospheric and disturbing with an unreliable narrator. Perfect makings for a ghost story if you ask me! It certainly keeps you guessing with some nice twists thrown in along the way. You're never quite sure if the house is really haunted...or if it's simply all in Zoe's head.
I absolutely loved the combination of a psychological thriller with a ghost story. It sets it apart from other thrillers which are becoming so similar that reading this was a breath of fresh air!

Zoe Adams has left her husband and son to spend a month on a remote Scottish Island. She's hoping for inspiration and a temporary reprieve from her failing marriage. She'll be staying at the newly renovated McBride house which has quite the haunting past. Superstitions surround the house due to a century old mystery regarding the disappearance of a reclusive widow and her son followed by many other strange occurrences over the years. The most recent being the disappearance of a 10 year old boy the year prior. Of course, none of the locals are willing to discuss the house's past..at least not until she meets an old bookshop owner named Charles and a young schoolteacher named Edward who eagerly divulge the houses secrets that the owner would much rather keep buried. After all, the stories are enough to scare off any possible renter let alone a lone woman.
During her first night in the house she begins having realistic nightmares and hears singing/voices that cannot be explained. After all, there's no one else in the house but her. Or is there?
Charles wants her to believe it's simply echoes of the houses dark past but she can't help but wonder if there's more to it. The locals certainly aren't very welcoming so the idea that they could be messing with her isn't out of the realm of possibilities. She's resilient though and is determined to uncover the mystery that is the McBride house.

"It begins, they say, with a woman screaming " Zoe Adams has traveled from Connecticut to a remote Scottish Island in the hopes of finding herself and reclaiming her life as an artist. At the local Pub the townspeople hint at stories better left unsaid which only serves to pique Zoe's interest. Zoe found the McBride house to rent on the Internet and is bemused to find out that since it has been remodeled, she is the first tenant. Zoe is so exhausted from her trip that she falls asleep fully dressed only to wake from an erotic dream to find herself naked in another room. How did she get there, it was a dream wasn't it? Zoe seeks to uncover the secrets of the old house and discover what happened to Ailsa McBride and her mysterious son over a century ago. Just last year a boy disappeared while he and his friend dared each other to go into the house late one night. Alisa's husband dabbled in the occult and have the two of them unleashed a demon attached to the house? The townspeople relish their superstitions about the past and gossip about Zoe while ignoring the signs of evil around them. Zoe is determined to prove that she is not unstable and that there is a human behind the pranks being played on her in the house.

Part gothic novel, part mystery, complete with romance, sex, ghosts, murder, and demons. Merritt hints at past actions overshadowing the present, but in this breath-taking novel, she keeps us guessing at who is to blame. This is one of those books when finished, the reader says, "I didn't see that coming."

I DO love a scary island story.

Zoe escapes her marriage and rents the remote McBride house, a house full of rumors and secrets. Surrounded by folklore of a widow and her son...and more recently where a young boy has disappeared. Zoe is a non-beliver but as the strange events start to pile up, she can't deny that something is going on.

With the help of the local bookseller and a local schoolteacher, Zoe set out to figure out the mystery of McBride house.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book was a miss for me, personally. I feel there was a TON of potential for the story line and the characters, however and that made me push through to the end of the book. It just took me FOREVER to to get through. I had to force myself to come back to it over and over again. For some reason it wasn't compelling to me, even though I did feel a pull to know what was happening...It took me over 2 weeks to read, when I usually I read books in 1-3 days.

Stephanie Merritt delivers a spooky and creepy ghost story that kept me up at night. This book kept me interested from start to finish. I loved the setting...a remote island in Scotland. The book had a very gothic vibe to it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Wow! I am not usually a fan of supernatural elements, but I kept hearing about this book and couldn’t resist. I’m glad I read it. The story grabbed me immediately with the prologue. I’m a fan of narrators directly addressing readers in this case. I had a hard time putting this one down; the characters were quite likable and the pacing was terrific. I would definitely use this in a modern fiction course.

I wanted to read this book because of thriller, horror and historical genre.
The book started slow, I kept reading it. I tried. I finally read it.
This book was just OK for me. Perhaps I had such high expectations prior reading it?
The good thing was - the writing was fine, plot was fine, and yes I loved the title.
The not so good thing was - the book was slow to take off, a little predictable, all over at times for me.
I would say if the author took me for a steady ride reading "While You Sleep" when I expected a roller-coaster instead.
Perhaps you might have another view of this book, so please don't be discouraged by my review. We all view things differently. What I might not find so good, you might love it.

This was one was slow starting for me. We meet Zoe at the beginning of the book as she is leaving her husband and something in her recent past in the states and temporarily relocating to an old, remote, seaside home in Scottland. She isn’t moving permanently, but as an artist, wants to find a muse again.

When she first meets Mick, her landlord, it’s clear that there is something going on with the house that he is not telling her about. And she even wonders, could it be haunted? As she meets some other townsfolk, she has even more questions. Although the question of the house being haunted is answered on her first night alone there.

I almost put this one down about a quarter through. Spoiler alert here!! I’m not a prude, I’m all for a character who is in touch with her sexuality. But the erotic and S&M type of encounters she has with the ghosts were a little off putting for me. I felt like I was in the middle of some sexy ghost romance novel. Which I found weird.

I did figure out one of the major twists early on. The second one, I wasn’t really that taken in by. I thought it was perhaps a bit interesting, but kind of confusing. Still, Merritt writes well and the setting and lore aspects of the book were spot on. This one wasn’t completely to my taste, but I’m sure a lot of readers will appreciate it.

Specials thanks to Pegasus Books and Netgalley for an e-galley in exchange for my review. This one is out March 5, 2019. I will post this review to my blog on February 22, 2019.

If you're looking for something new, without the tired haunted house tropes, this isn't it.

When I found this on Net Galley I had to request it. I'm a horror junkie, and a sucker for gothic, haunted house stories. I'm always hoping to find something that surprises me, or, if it doesn't surprise me, at least entertains me for a while.

This one kind of managed to entertain me, but I was never surprised by anything. I had the entire story figured out from very early on, and I'm not happy about that. There are a few tropes I encounter somewhat frequently in horror (movies and books) that really irritate me, and this one had at least a couple of those. Unfortunately, I can't talk about those things without giving away spoilers. I'll just say that I kept hoping I was going to be wrong, that this book was not going to go where I thought it was, but then it did.

Before I get into what I didn't like, I will say that I enjoyed the writing. Stephanie Merritt is not a bad writer, and I will definitely be looking into her other books. I think she is certainly capable of writing a good story, this one just didn't work for me personally.

The characters were okay, but not great. I only really liked Charles (known by locals as The Professor), but by the end I wasn't even a huge fan of his character. (I didn't dislike him, I was just not surprised by anything.)

Zoe just annoyed me. I wanted to like her, but I was pretty sure from the first few chapters that she was going to be a particular cliche, and I was right (and so angry about it).

While I had somewhat high hopes at least for the atmosphere of this one, it fell short for me. It started off alright, and I got excited. Maybe this one would succeed in creeping me out! A restored (but still creepy) old house, strange sounds and happenings, the isolation... It seemed perfect, and I was so ready to feel claustrophobic and uneasy. That lasted about a minute, and then it never got creepy (in the paranormal way) again. If you're easily scared, this might not be an issue for you, though.

This book has graphic sexual scenes, so if that makes you uncomfortable, you should skip it.

I wanted to like this so much more than I did, and I'm not sure if it's me (and my increasing exasperation with certain tropes in horror) or the book, but it didn't really work for me. The plot was a lot of cliches, which isn't necessarily bad, I was just hoping for something new, or a unique spin on tropes that took it in an unexpected direction.

I'm giving it 2 out of 5 stars (actual rating more like 2.5, but I didn't want to round up to 3 stars).

Finished this ARC last night and wow.

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While You Sleep by Stephanie Merritt sucked me in so hard! A haunted house, a small town, and a possible unreliable narrative. That makes a recipe for one of my favorite kind of stories🌟🌟🌟🌟

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Zoe arrives to a small island town off the coast of Scotland. She has rented a beautifully restored house on the far side of the island with intentions to work on her art. Things aren’t right in the house, and the only people that are willing to help her get to the bottom of it is the local school teacher and an aging bookshop owner. Is Zoe having some sort of mental break or does something truly sinister reside in the McBride house?

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Check it out March 5th!

I was very intrigued by the description of Stephanie Merritt's book While you Sleep. I have to admit, I wanted to stop reading for the first few chapters. I just couldn't get into the story line. I am glad I stuck with it because then I was hooked! Merritt has you guessing until the end. And the ending...... tears! So many tears!! Merritt introduces you to a Scottish town full of history and a past that is uncovered piece by piece. Books like this make me want to travel to other countries, especially little towns like this one. The characters were great, even Dougie who I really didn't care for. I felt for Zoe and the life she was running from. Her poor son, I can only image what Zoe must be going through. Overall, an excellent read. I am glad I stuck out the first few chapters. Special thanks to NetGalley and Pegasus Books for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

#WhileYouSleep #NetGalley

I received a free e-copy of While You Sleep by Stephanie Merritt from Net Galley in exchange for my review.

When I read the description of this book, I was eager to read a haunted house, gothic type story, with plenty of eerie bits and spooky moments. While there are a few of those in While You Sleep, I wanted there to be more. There was never a time that I truly felt scared to keep reading, and those moments are always my favorite.

I also did not expect to find so many graphic sex scenes in a book I thought was a straight horror novel. I would consider While You Sleep erotic horror, if there is such a thing. For my personal tastes, there could have been about a quarter of the included sex scenes, and that particular point of the story would have been just as clear.

And while I also figured out two big twists fairly early in the book, which was kind of disappointing, I still enjoyed seeing the reveal when it came. This book is extremely well-written, and the overall story is good, especially if you allow yourself to suspend disbelief enough to not be irritated at certain choices made by the characters.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This story was masterfully written! From the first sentence on, I felt leery, uncomfortable, and probably a little paranoid. Stephanie Merritt kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. This disturbing novel just wanders along in a slow burn constantly eluding to something could be happening at any time. I loved it!

The topic itself is not novel - we have an unreliable protagonist (is Zoe delusional?), we have a sort of 100-year-old witch hunt story (was Aisle McBride mad or misunderstood?), and we have a very isolated, most likely haunted house on a remote island in Scotland filled with superstitious and slightly hostile townsfolk.

What drew me in was the mysteriousness of Zoe's back story (why is she taking refuge in this place that isn't very welcoming to outsiders?), her slowly developing friendships with the elusive Charles and the overeager Edward (with their own secrets!), as well as her reoccurring eerie and foreboding dreams. The dreams specifically show Merritt's genius in creating an atmosphere with words. I loved how they slowly escalated blurring the line between fiction and reality. We never really know what are the signs of a madwoman and what are paranormal or maybe even perfectly explainable occurrences. The spooky events taking place at McBride house could be the evil doings of spirits, the delusions of a single woman, and the deeds of a sick perpetrator, or something completely different.

This story is complex. No one answer can explain it all. Or can it?

As a side note, I don't think the current synopsis on Goodreads does the book justice. It gives too much away and not enough. It slightly, but enough to be confusing, misrepresents what this book is actually about. The less you know the better it will be.

While You Sleep is a psychological thriller. Zoe,an American fleeing a bad marriage, rents a house on an isolated Scottish island. The house is straight up creepy, like the house in A Series of Unfortunate Events that hangs over that cliff, only worse! It's the vibe of the house that makes or breaks the story. I think it's a little underrated unfortunately. It's a story full of tension and gothic style horror. The sex scenes were just unnecessary. Characters were cliche. It's overall a good read if you can get past the beginning. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.