I can’t Sleep is a fascinating read about a girl, Becky who struggles with insomnia as her past is still hunts her. Is Becky’s brain really tricks her, or someone is after her? A kind of fast paced book that most of us want to finish in one sit eagerly chasing after more and more. The reader can get involved very quickly with the characters and the story itself. Absolutely number one read for anyone who likes thriller and mystery genres. After this book I’m looking forward to read more from the author.

This book is not easy to read, if you have no prior knowledge of the true effect of insomnia. Several times I found myself backtrack to make sense of what had just happened. When the truth hits you, it hits you hard. I’m trying to express my enjoyment of “I Can’t Sleep” without spoilers and it’s hard. It is hard because almost every page has a minute detail of what our main character is experiencing.

This is a riveting read, unlike anything I’ve read in a long time.

Thank you NetGalley for the review copy of “I Can’t Sleep”.

First up I would say that this book is a quick read, I would catagorise this book as a novella.

I Can’t Sleep is told from the first person perspective of Becky Braithwaite as she begins her first year at university. Becky has had a severe form of insomnia, triggered by a traumatic event which she is still struggling to come to terms with. Which, we as the reader slowly get information about as the story unfolds.

It’s a thriller, where we, as the reader try to understand Becky’s world and try to determine, as she also tries to determine, if she is indeed being harassed and stalked by someone, or if the incidents Becky is experiencing are due to her sleep deprived mind being utterly confused.

This booked hooked me in right from page one and I really enjoyed the story… then by about 88% in, I really started watching the page count…considering it was coming to an end, but REALLY wondering where this story was going…what is happening here?

I don’t want to write a spoiler here in my review, so from here on out I am going to be a bit vague…

The ending does have a twist, a twist I was not expecting at all (which was great) but also confusing and left me with more questions than answers. At first I simply did not like the ending because I think it does not work, or make sense being written from a first person perspective. I didn't think it worked.

Then I gave myself time to digest the book a bit more and have a think overnight about it. I really don’t understand exactly what happened at the end of the book (what was ‘real’, what was not ‘real’?) …and again, the first person perspective still REALLY bugs me at the end…but, I started to wonder, what if that is the exact intention of the author?

What if, with the theme of the book being focused on uncertainty, confusion and mental health that we are meant to be left wondering…wondering ‘what did I just read? what happened…?’ So, what if we are meant to be left confused? And if we are meant to be left that way…what an absolute genius ending!

To sum it all up…I do recommend this book to anyone seeking out something quick to read, that can also really get you thinking about the ‘what ifs’.

This story about Becky, the girl who can't sleep, has been stuck in my head for a while now. It was a quick, but thought provoking read about a girl with insomnia after the loss of her brother who goes to uni but when there things start to get weird.
The complete book is told from Becky's point of view and she's speaking to you directly. which drew me into the story even more. It opened my eyes to see what insomnia can do to your brain, it makes you doubt everything that happens and functioning as normal human being is near impossible. The tension in this book was drawn out well and I got increasingly more uncomfortable about the events unfolding as the story progressed. The ending came as a surprise and left me with the big question: what was true and what wasn't? What did really happen? Did anything really happen? Downside for me was the epilogue, that felt a bit like wanting to put too much information all at once and it didn't clear anything up just left me with more questions. For me personally the ending would have been stronger without this epilogue that felt a bit rushed.
But all in all a book I would highly recommend if you like a psychological thriller.

*** An ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review ***

Becky can't sleep. She's being haunted by the ghosts of the past. She's a broken girl, doesn't matter how much she tries, she can't fit in.

After the tragic events Becky tries to start afresh. To fulfil her brother's dream she enrolls in University and starts journalism course and moves away from home to live on a campus.
The girl's lucky to have really cool house mates. They get on well. When her next door neighbour Cally finds out Becky suffers from insomnia she very understanding and offers her support.

The stress caused my the change of the environment makes Becky even more edgy, her sleeping problems get worse. She's constantly exhausted and starts doubting herself. She's being paranoid about someone constantly watching her. Feels threatened as she receive silent calls from the unknown caller.

She feels like someone is taunting her. The chain of unexplainable events makes her question herself even more. Everything that's happening around her seems unreal.

I read this book almost in one sitting. I loved that the story was narrated by the main character. We could take a deep look inside of her mind.
It was gripping read, a real page turner. I enjoyed every minute of it. It kept me guessing right till the end.

The only thing I can fault this book is a few unexplained things. I guess it will give me a sleepless night trying to figure out if I missed out on something.

Overall, I think it's worth reading. The lovers of psychological thrillers will definitely enjoy it.

I Can't Sleep by J. E. Rowney is a gripping psychological thriller. Becky's past is traumatic, which has caused her to have insomnia. She's tried everything to get some sleep. She goes away to college, hoping that things will get better. Instead, strange things begin to happen.

The book has some creepy moments and hooks you from the start. It's a quick read but has you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The book clearly shows what people go through when they have chronic insomnia and how it creates stress on the mind and body. I Can't Sleep is a great read and one I would recommend.

#ICantSleep #NetGalley

This is the first book I’ve read from JE Rowney, and I believe it’s also her first thriller. She totally kills it.

Becky Braithwaite can’t sleep. She is a freshman at Wessex University- Becky has suffered some tragedy, but we don’t know what it is. All we know is that she can’t sleep. She becomes friends with Cally, one of the girls in her dorm, and it seems like maybe Becky will have a promising future. As she and Cally begin to become closer friends, strange things start happening to Becky. She is convinced that someone is stalking her, but nobody believes her and there is no evidence. Is Becky imagining things due to sleep deprivation? Or is someone actually coming for her?

The ending will really surprise you. My only gripe is that I was still left with questions!

Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for my free e-ARC In exchange for an honest review.

Great book that really makes you think. I thought I would just dip in and out of this one whilst reading other things, but I was very wrong - I couldn't put it down and finished it in one afternoon. It's one of those books where nothing really happens but everything happens all at the same time. On the surface it's a day to day story of a girl getting used to being at university after a number of terrible things have happened to her, but underneath it's so much more.

It ill definitely leave you a little bit unsure of what you think you know about the storyline. Rowney has written a really good book that explores many complicated issues but inspires you to keep reading.

My Review: ★★★★☆ (3.5/5 stars)

I don't often read thrillers, but when browsing through Netgalley this one stood out to me. I'm sure if you've read any of my previous posts or follow me on social media, you know already that I'm always looking for new books with LGBT+ representation, so seeing this tagged as such got my attention!

I Can't Sleep is told from the first person perspective of Becky Braithwaite as she begins her first year at university. Becky has had a severe form of insomnia for the last two years, initially triggered by a traumatic event which she is still struggling to come to terms with. She is determined to succeed in her degree despite this, and she definitely felt deserving of sympathy.

I felt hooked in by the plot, wanting to know what had happened in Becky's past since it was such a driving force in her narrative but also wanting to know the truth behind the strange things happening to her in the present. As it says in the blurb, there are questions about whether she is in danger or whether she is experiencing side effects as a result of her insomnia and medication - even Becky isn't sure, since the combination of trauma and minimal sleep can have profound effects on memory.

I don't want to say much more for risk of spoiling the story, but as a queer reviewer here are some quick notes on the LGBT+ representation so that my fellow LGBT+ readers know what to expect:
None of the characters' sexualities are labelled in the book, but through descriptions it is clear that one character is definitely sapphic and at least two other characters are questioning/sapphic.
Lesbophobic slurs are used towards one of the characters.
This book is not focused on romance, and there is no romantic subplot.
If you prefer books where all LGBT chracters have happy endings, this might not be the book for you.
I have mixed feelings about the ending, but overall I did enjoy I Can't Sleep.

If you feel like a short, fast paced thriller I would recommend keeping an eye out for it in the Kindle store when it is released this coming October! And if you read it, please do get in touch and tell me what you thought.

Happy reading!

Maisie Rose x

"I CANT SLEEP"
I was sold just by the title as I myself suffer from episodes of insomnia on quite a few nights.
An edge of the seat, fast paced, unputdownable psychological thriller. 4/5 stars
The story tells us about the debilitating effects and the mental state of a person who loses the privilege to sleep.

The protagonist, Becky hasn't been able to sleep normally since last two years due to a tragic event that took place. She struggles with consternation and it hampers with her daily activities to the point that she cant seem to be certain about anything anymore. She tries to leave the past behind and embarks on a fresh start by joining a university far away from her city. Being an introvert she doesn't really have many friends and leads an isolated life. Soon, some weird things start happening and you cant really understand whether they are real or our unreliable narrator's mind is playing tricks.

What I liked about it (4/5 stars)
- Page turner, short read, devoured it at once (good for getting you out of a reading slump)
- Chatty narrative
- Mystery/ Thriller punch keeps you hooked
- You wont be able to anticipate the ending. (I am usually quite good at that )

I do low key wish that the ending could have been better.

If you are someone who likes a good mystery and are looking for an intriguing, adrenaline filled read definitely pick this one!
If you cant sleep , start reading "I cant sleep". I would definitely look forward to reading more from the author.

Thankyou @NetGalley and @JERowney for an arc of this book.I would definitely look forward to reading more from the author.

It is well-written book that you want to read from start to finish so you can find out what actually happened that made our protagoinst as she is. I just couldn't realte to the main character somehow.

This book had so much build up just for the last five percent to leave me speechless in frustration and disappointment. Becky is the definition of an unreliable narrator to the point that she's unsure if she can trust her own judgment. Ninety-five percent of the book is really good but the ending ruined the whole experience.

I received a copy of this book via the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unless I’ve simply forgotten a previous read, I do believe I Can’t Sleep by J.E. Rowney is the first psychological thriller I’ve ever read. I absolutely adore the genre in movies, so when I saw this book featured an LGBTQ+ main character, I jumped onboard with both feet. Luckily for me, it was worthy of being my first-ever read in a genre I will likely start keeping a closer eye on.

I loved the tension weaved into this story. It kept me turning the page and the gears in my brain spinning. I guessed—to an extent—the ending fairly early on, but not exactly as it played out. And there was just enough mystery as to whether what was happening on page truly was happening or if it was all in Becky’s head, that I couldn’t be sure my guess was accurate. So, I was delightfully on edge the entire read. Not usually something I say with a smile on my face, but I am apparently here for the heart-pounding thrill.

As a completely new reader of the genre, I can’t speak to how the ending played out in comparison to other stories with similar themes and constructs. However, I’ll admit it was a tiny bit of a disappointment to me. After being on the edge of my seat the whole book, the ending felt like a clunky and disingenuous resolution. And one I guessed fairly accurately rather early on. Still, because this story was written with an unreliable narrator and left the reader wondering with every flip of the page, I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing that I was able to predict the ending. I just happened to be one of the lucky ones who decided to lean one way rather than the other based off the information provided.

I would recommend this to any psychological thriller lover, but I think it’s also an excellent gateway read for those who might be intrigued by the genre but never found themselves motivated enough to dip their toes in.

I Can't Sleep by J E Rowney is a gripping psychological thriller. Becky Braithwaite, a young introvert suffering from insomnia is the protagonist in the story. Struggling to move on her life by forgetting her past, Becky finds no one, but herself can help her. She lost her brother in a car accident and the story shares the tragic events happens in Becky's life after she finds that someone is stalking her. Traumatized by her past, Becky really wants someone to share her problems and worries and she want others to accept her as she is. This book is very well written and clearly explains the stress and struggle an insomniac would encounter.
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The twisted and tangled thoughts of Becky is scary and it scares me a lot. I felt like I'm her and being an insomniac is terrible!! This book was so good and I never expected such an amazing twist in the story. Through the life of Becky, the author clearly portrays the importance of love and care should be given to a paranoid person.

Far from the kind of book I'd usually read but being somewhat of an insomniac I was intrigued......
The single voice of self centred character both free me in and annoyed me. Overall this is a bizarre, self absorbed teen/young adult novel.
Unfortunately not for me.

I'm not usually a psychological thriller type reader. I'm much more of a romance reader. However, I stumbled across this book and decided it was a must-read. I'm not even sure what it was about the description, but it did it for me.

As someone who doesn't generally read the genre, I can't compare this story to others within the psychological thriller category. All I can do is give you my honest impression and explain how it made me feel.

So, that being said... I was on the edge of my proverbial chair almost all the way until the end. If nothing else, I'm pretty sure this book has just opened me to a whole new world of genre reading. It will not be the last psychological thriller I read. Not by a long shot.

However, once I actually got to the end, I was... disappointed, to say the very least. All the tension and drama and ohmygodwhat'sgonnahappennext that went into the first 90% of the book just fizzled out into nothingness. It all felt like it was for nothing.

***SPOILERS AHEAD***

I knew Becky had some pretty serious mental health issues. That wasn't hard to guess, and in fact, was part of the plot. Part of what got me as the book progressed was trying to figure out how much of what was happening was in her head and how much might actually be happening. The scenarios were written just well enough to be completely implausible while also still having a note of plausibiility. I had guessed that SOME of the things were happening and it was throwing her into a tailspin so she was imagining the rest.

But when the murderous girlfriend showed up, even before the epilogue, I realized it had to've been all in her head. Because she blamed herself, so the angry Jennie beating her up was a part of her mind blaming her for Jordan's death. It all came together, but also was just... meh. So when I saw the epilogue, I was like yessss. Closure. But then all it really provided was confirmation of my assumptions as well as knowledge that she committed suicide and everything that happened at the end was likely going through her head while she was drowning.

Yes, this book makes me want to read more psychological thrillers, but mostly because I'm hoping others will do the genre better justice. Because the lead up to the end was phenomenal, but it petered out to nothingness.

Becky Braithwaite is traumatised by the accident of her older brother, Jordan, two years ago and the unfortunate tragedy has led her to having insomnia since then. Now a university student at Wessex, she intends to put the past behind her but it isn't as easy as she's thought.

For starters, she keeps receiving calls from an unknown number and when she answers them, the other party refuses to speak. Then, there are times that she thought someone is stalking her and when she turns around, no one is there. And the most troubling is, someone left her a note and a book titled "You Killed Him" and after a wild goose chase, these items have mysteriously gone without a trace after she returned. Is her mind playing tricks on her given her mental condition, or is there someone out to get her?

First off, the storyline was gripping and the unreliable narrator theme always appeals to me. Becky's insomnia condition sounds terrible and this made me worried about her and yet this also made me wonder about her credibility at the same time. The first half focused on her life at the university and her relationship with her flatmates as well with a glimpse of her troubled past although it is vague and not much information is given, which is understandable. The second half was better intense-wise but I was a bit disappointed with the ending given it was rather abrupt. That said, the author has done a good job in creating the claustrophobic atmosphere of uncertainty and the character's distrust in herself, her fear and anxiety so this made an interesting case of character study alongside the suspense.

An absolutely fast paced thriller about a woman who’s life spirals out of control. I s gripped from page one and finished it in three days.

The author knows exactly how to ramp up suspense and pace and wrap it all up with a breathtaking finale.

I would definitely recommend

Traumatized by the events of her past, and exhausted by insomnia, Becky Braithwaite believes a new start will help her to recover. She leaves home to fulfill her brother’s dreams, and honor the life he never had. She soon finds that escaping from the past is not as easy as she imagined. Is her mind playing tricks on her, or is the danger truly lurking in the shadows?

J.E.Rowney is an award-winning poet. She also writes short stories. "Charcoal", her first novel, was published in 2012 to critical acclaim.

Becky Braithwaite can't sleep. She's suffered from insomnia since her brother's tragic death two years ago. Overcome by grief, guilt and fatigue from her insomnia, she enrolls in college with plans on leaving the past behind and making a fresh start. However, strange things start happening and she believes she is being targeted. The problem is, she's unsure if the events are real or just paranoid delusions brought on by her insomnia.

This is a fast paced, engaging novel about a young woman's slow spiral into madness.
I enjoyed this book so much until the end. It was such an abrupt and confusing ending that left more questions than answers and some of the story lines unfinished. This was a pretty short book. I wish it had been a bit longer so the ending could have been fleshed out in a more meaningful way.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.