I really wanted to like this book. The synopsis held so much promise, but the book failed to deliver as much as I hoped for from it. I enjoyed it well enough, but with a few tweaks it could have been an even more enjoyable read.

Ness and Alton work together, and both have one thing in common - they can't sleep.

Or at least they can't until they start stealing Morpheum, a sleeping tablet from the clinical trial which they are working on.

Morpheum means sleep us no longer a problem! Until they discover a different side to Morpheum they didn't see coming - they are now sharing their dreams. Going on adventures, making new memories...

But what happens when the lines between awake reality and realistic dreaming overlap?

Not like anything I've ever read before - now it's time to get stuck into reading the sequel "Poison Dream"!

4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Special thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Honestly I don’t have an interest in reading this book anymore and I want to be more selective with what I request.

I really enjoyed this book, and the beautiful way in which it was written.
The lead character Ness was hard for me to warm up to, however when she finally made a choice on which path to take in life, i found myself really admiring her and her flaws.
There were two men who were in love with her, and they are both equally likeable. Past traumas have made her struggle with life, and as the story progresses you get a better understanding as to why that is.

An enjoyable, well written story.

This book was difficult to get through but the writing is witty in parts. Overall, could improve with a logic editing

As a native Seattleite, I loved the description of the setting and how the characters moved within it. I no longer lived there, but it reminded me of home! I loved the concept, too, and how the characters got to know each other through the dreams.

Content Warning: This book does address rape, sexual assault, unwanted pregnancy, and addiction.

When Vanessa, "Nessa," Brown finds her coworker, Altan, stealing pills from a drug trial her company is running, she decides she wants to try one as well, hoping it will help her sleep at night. Instead, the two realize that by taking these pills together, they can share each other's dreams. They begin to do this almost every night, going on adventures through each other's memories. Nessa and Altan get really close, and when Nessa begins to realize that her sleeping life is better than being awake, she begins to lose grasp on reality, and everything begins to fall downhill around her.

Sleeping Together is a chaotic story full of drama, action, and romance. Although there were parts of the story that I really enjoyed, so much of it felt too dramatic or implausible that I found myself rolling my eyes at times. I thought the concept was so unique to what I usually read, but I also felt like there was such a strong focus on the dreams that Nessa and Altan were having that we only got to see them together in real life for short amounts of time, which wasn't enough to convince me of their eventual love for each other. Even then, there was very little discussion as to how taking these pills together (which also didn't seem realistic to me) would help the "greater good," which is essentially why Nessa and Altan decided to start their little experiment in the first place.

Nessa could have made so many better choices to save her marriage with such a great man, but instead, she was willing to risk everything for a little pink pill. This annoyed me because at times it seemed like she didn't even try to salvage what she had with Pete, despite claiming to love him, but when it came to Altan, this carnal desire overtook her, and they hardly even knew anything about each other outside of their dreams.

The farther along I got in the book, the more I became invested in what was going on. Getting to see how Nessa was being affected by these pills in her real life was very interesting and well-done, to the point where I couldn't even tell when she was dreaming and when she was awake. I was also really sad to see the story end the way that it did--I was rooting for Pete. I will say, however, that my curiosity has definitely been piqued, and I will be checking out the sequel, which looks to be even more intense than this one.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Brass Anvil Books for providing a review copy of Sleeping Together in exchange for an honest review.

Such an interesting premise! The plot reminds me a little of My Year of Rest and Relaxation for the sort of trippy feeling you have while reading it.

It's not my usual genre but it definitely worth a read.

It doesnt support or open after I download the pdf version of it. It's also not showing in my shelf in netgalley and I cant open it to read Please look into the issue and if you can send me the pdf in my mail ID- taniagungunsarkar@gmail.com I cant read the book from here. Please look into the issue

This book was so fun to read and had me thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading it. Relatable characters in relatable situations, for 30-somethings in long term relationships, anyway, but also drugs and magical dreamscapes! Highly recommend.

This book was difficult to get through and took a lot of time and skim reading to finish. There were a lot of plot holes and was hard to follow at times.

An unconventional "romance" story! I appreciated that Ness was a complicated woman, even if I didn't agree with her approach to things. Unfortunately, even with how weird the concept of the book was, I felt like it went completely off the rails towards the end. I'll also forewarn readers, this book contains sexual assault and attempted rape, which... I'm not sure what to say. I have a lot of conflicted feelings about this one. It's a unique concept with interesting characters, and it takes a very close look at the stuff that's not so black and white about relationships and life.

I don't read romance for the simple fact that it all seems quite shallow and formulaic. So if I was going to read romance, I wanted to read something different and challenging, and this was both. I actually sort of disliked the main character, Ness. I threw up my hands in frustration every time she gave in to her addiction, but by the end, once she'd made her choices, I admired her for it. I didn't entirely hate her as a character because despite her flaws, she was a sympathetic person. Two men were head over heels in love with her and I liked them both as characters, and who I am to question their judgment? She was broken by past trauma and I understood that because of that awful experience, she was an incomplete person unable to cope with life. And I had something in common with her--not wanting children. Her husband's response, in being told that she wasn't sure about having kids, really ticked me off and put me firmly on Team Ness. I cannot stand a man who doesn't think a woman knows her own mind.

I received an advance reader copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sleeping Together was a total rollercoaster ride, start to finish! This is a very unique and original concept, I came across this book on NetGalley, read the synopsis, and my interest was immediately peaked. The book details a very transition based time in protagonist Vanessa Brown's life. The dream sequences were huge in range and very imaginative. This book touches on much darker themes and topics then I was expecting from the synopsis. The book was confusing at times but did a really great job detailing the downward spiral of both Vanessa and Alton. Overall, this book was much different than other books I've read in the romance/sci-fi genre and the fast-paced nature of it kept me read and wanting more.

The premise of Sleeping Together reminded me of Netflix's Maniac off the bat. I never got all that into the show albiet I watched a few episodes. The common concepts of a 'drug trial' concept and dream sharing piqued my interest. Where they differ pretty clearly though is the characters. I would probably categorise this as a somewhat dark or gritty women's fiction/sci fi.
This is the story of Vanessa Brown; she hasn't been sleeping well since her well-meaning and sweet yet clueless husband Pete brought up having children together. It also follows the perspective of her co-worker Alton Young, in the format of his journal entries, who is having his own sleeping trouble following his divorce.
This is not the novel for people who have to find their protagonist lovable. Ness makes a lot of interesting and questionable choices. She loves keeping secrets like"...Kegel exercises for the mind". I spent a majority of the novel willing her to seek out therapy because she desperately needs it. There is a lot of discussion of her experience as a rape survivor and portrayal of workplace sexual harassment so proceed with caution. She doesn't really know what she wants and is riddled with unresolved trauma. She has a lot of difficulties with the concept of having children. I really appreciated -especially in the first half or so - the fact she was leaning towards being child free. <spoiler>It is often dismissed by her husband or approached as something to talk her out of... I can't help but once again be frustrated that this wasn't a conversation they hashed out before they got married.</spoiler>
Alton is more likable, he's an almost hipster thirty-something Asian American man who seems to wear his heart on his sleeve. He is charming and something of a free spirit which juxtaposes really interestingly with Ness as she grapples with the trauma-imposed limitations on her life.
I really loved the writing and descriptions in this book. There are moments of beautiful, evocative dreamscapes and adventures. It is a really strong debute from Kitty Cook, full of witty and evocative descriptions. Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I felt pretty immersed in the world. I was quite content with the ending. In spite of how much I liked this overall the synopsis for the sequel at the end didn't really capture me as necessary (although the direction completely makes sense for the content and looks to follow the loose ends well). I don't know if I want to continue with these characters but I am definitely interested in following more of Kitty Cook's writing.
Content Warnings for Addiction, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual Harassment, Drug Abuse, Overdose, Sexual content, Abortion
<i>A big thank you to Brass Anvil Books for providing me with this copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review</i>

I came for the cover. Stayed for the witty dialog and cool references. Ran through it because of what came later. It was easy to get through and definitely a wild ride.

Ness is married to Pete who wants to expand their family. Ness on the other hand is a woman who doesn't have pets, kills plants because she doesn't remember to water them, and she's not sure she wants babies. To escape the pressure of making the decision, and the nightmares she has been having, she starts taking Morpheum sleep pills. These cause intense dreams, in which she meets her co-worker and cerebral partner-in-crime, Altan. We find out later on that Ness has difficulties to this day, due to her sexual assault during college, and struggles with the past which she can't let go. This influences her decisions to this day.

Some of the descriptions of people, habits or simply things are laugh out loud. I loved the comparisons as they were sharp and funny. Nothing cliche. I loved Ness with all her flaws and all, as it made her very real and relatable. A character you can envision and almost draw in real life from the imagination. I could identify with her in so many aspects. The dialogs were a real treat and pleasure, and you could learn a lot about the main characters through their conversations, which is my favourite way of learning more about someone.

Throughout the entire book, I felt sorry for Pete and Altan, but mostly Pete. Malcolm was unbearable. An infuriatingly, disgusting, privileged character, demonstrating what men who have money and power allow themselves to do. He felt like a character from cartoons almost, who was so supremely evil, a bit exaggerated at times.

It's one of those books you could easily see as an episode on Black Mirror or as a TV show, thanks to the detailed descriptions and comparisons that paint the right picture. The writing is captivating, and we can also read diary entries from Altan , which add more information and an additional perspective, and keeps the pace of the book fast.

I particularly enjoyed descriptions of Morpheum-induced dreams, where we can witness everything from Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson to sasquatch and mermaids. But they also offered more than just that. They were intimate journeys of the characters, because this is where we truly dive deep into the events of the past, their struggles and emotions. We dive deep into the darkest corners of their minds and find out what lies behind the characters' emotions as well as actions in real life.

The further the book goes, the more of a mess Ness gets as she starts to struggle more with decision-making, and abuse the drug even more. She can't accept help, sort of as if she does she admits she is weak. The story is Ness-centric, but at times she would trample over the people that loved her because she was so confused and an absolute mess. She infuriated me. It felt like emotional injustice. So if Pete didn't want her, then she went to Altan. Instead of her coming to some sort of a revelation and to look around and realise the damage she has made, she completely embraces her selfishness as if it didn't leave life changing consequences. This part was a little disappointing.

The ending felt a bit rushed, and Pete's character didn't get any justice.

Overall, I thought the book was inventive, entertaining and enjoyable, and very dynamic!

2.5 Stars

I have complicated feelings about this one and that's mostly due to my own expectations of what I thought this book would be like based on the synopsis. I was expecting something twisty and fun, but the overall tone of this book is such a downer. I was sooo stressed out while reading, sometimes in a good way and sometimes in a really frustrating way. That being said, I really enjoyed Kitty Cook's writing style and found it to be gripping and entertaining to read. Hence the complicated feelings!

I was super intrigued by the premise (shared sexy dreams??? Count me in!!) but I think I was ultimately bothered too much by the infidelity aspect to really enjoy that part. That is 100% on me, given that the whole cheating on the husband thing isn't exactly a secret. I definitely wouldn't consider this book to be a romance, though, since there's not a single romantic partnership I was rooting for in this book.

I liked Ness as a main character and I think a lot of women can empathize with the pressure she feels to start a family without being 100% sure. She's been through a lot in her past and she's kept all of it a secret from her husband Pete out of fear for ruining their relationship. Again, a lot of women can relate to this. What bugged me a bit about her is that she doesn't really have a lot of character development through the book. She's the same indecisive, impulsive, and secretive person from start to finish.

TW: Rape, Sexual Assault, Addiction, Drug Abuse, Infidelity

This book was free and sent to me as an ARC on NetGalley. However, all opinions are my own.

TW: Rape, Gasslighting, Drugs misuse

The premise of this book was different and entertaining for me. This book follows Vanessa and Altan who work in a pharmaceutical company and are working on a new product where they are trailing out a new drug on willing volunteers. At first, I didn’t know what to expect, but as I kept reading I found I couldn’t stop. I wanted to know what was going to happen next.

There was some near misses and whilst reading you really find yourself rooting for both Ness and Altan to crack the drug. Until it becomes apparent they’re addicted to the feeling it gives them too.

Marcus, the manager, is completely inappropriate with Ness and informs her that the only way she will keep her job is if she gives herself in for his own sexual gratification- Ness eventually outs Marcus in front of everyone, which was such a hard thing for her to do considering her past.

I REALLY did enjoy this book and I didn’t expect to enjoy it just as much as I did. It was detailed, yet not complicated. You would laugh, smile and feel sad all at the same time. Such a good book!

This book was super good. It was super original and I flew through it. It didn't feel like anything I've read in the past. Can't wait to read more from the author!! This book was unputdownable.

“But having a baby will not create more of me. It will cut me in half.”
-Kitty Cook, Sleeping Together

In this novel, Vanessa is dealing with the issue of her husband wanting to expand their family. Altan provides Vanessa with an out in the form of Morpheum. This small pill gives Vanessa a peaceful rest without dreams filled with babies. However, as Vanessa’s dependency on Morpheum worsens, so does her real life.

One issue, of many, in this novel, is the main characters. The main characters, Vanessa and Altan, are two of the worst characters ever. Being a victim of sexual assault, Vanessa, being dependent on this pill, becomes borderline selfish. She becomes not only reliant on these pills, but she also becomes dependent on Altan. Instead of suggesting a psychologist, Altan keeps enabling Vanessa. As she is pouring out her heart to him, he listens, but he still gives her Morpheum. It’s so frustrating as Vanessa and Altman mask their problems with these “magic” pills.

Altman’s issue is divorcing his wife because he doesn’t want to try for children. So, he takes a job at WellCorp, where he steals the trial product for his personal use under the guise of doing it for research. Amid his thievery, he decides to involve Vanessa. As he continues with Vanessa, it becomes apparent that these two are getting way too involved with one another that ending this train wreck seems impossible.

These protagonists are selfish and self-medicating with an addictive drug. Instead of going to a therapist, these two try to sleep their problems away with Altan replaying his travels with his first wife, to Vanessa imagining life without distraction. To sum up the book, this is a novel about a drug addict and her love affair with her dealer.


Thanks to NetGalley and IBPA for allowing me to read this e-book in exchange for an honest review.