There are so many things that I love about this book. Meagan Goldin’s way with words entices you to stay engaged throughout the story. This story has an unreliable narrator which is a thriller trope that I love. This storyline jumps back and forth between multiple points in time. The author does this so that she can create an air of mystery between a characters past and present. She has a subtle way of telling you that you are wrong about the ending. I love that I did not guess then ending as quickly as I normally do. The development of the two main characters causes the reader to be come fully engaged with their stories.

One critique that I have is the time jumping. While I do not mind having multiple timelines that converge into one throughout the story, it can be hard to keep up with. This story jumped back and forth often and then another mini timeline was added into the mix. Initially, when I started reading the book, the time jumps confused me. It wasn’t until after I finished about 5 chapters that I was able to clearly see the pattern.

This is my second Meagan Goldin book and I am obsessed!

wakes up each day and doesn’t remember a thing. She thinks she is still living in a world from two years ago. She relies on her journal and clues written by herself to get her through the day. When she is assumed guilty of a murder she feels the needs to truly figure out who she truly is and why she is being called guilty. The story switches from two time periods, and I love it! It’s definitely a fast paced thriller.

I loved this book! It was fast paced and kept you guessing. I love a book that ends with justice for the wounded.

Stay Awake by Megan Goldin has such a unique plot. Whenever Liv wakes up, her memories of the past two years are completely erased, and she must try to figure out her life each time this occurs. This is even more troublesome due to the fact that one day when she awakes, she is holding a knife covered in blood with no recollection of what happened.

I loved the pacing and plot of Stay Awake, and it was such a treat to pick it up each time I read it. Goldin is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine, and I look forward to her next novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

I have had the opportunity to read and review Megan Goldin’s previous books so I was thrilled when the publisher provided me an e-ARC of Stay Awake. I enjoyed the other two books but Stay Awake is by far my favorite! Megan Goldin is now an auto-buy author for me. This book had great characters and excellent suspense. It was written in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next. I don’t want to leave any spoilers but the ending did a feel a little rushed and there were a couple loose ends. That said it’s still a compulsive 5 star read!

My first 5 star fiction read of the year! This was a super creative, fun thriller. A page turner of a wild ride. Seriously, this is the first time this year that I wanted to stay up late, wake up early, and read every second I could til this book was finished! Although I guessed "the culprit" early on, that did not in any way take away from the excitement and frenetic energy that was this book.

The story begins with a woman (Liv) knocking on the door of an apartment late at night, thinking that it is her own. A strange couple opens the door, and it is clear that it is not Liv's apartment, it doesnt look anything like it and none of her things are there. From there, things get wild as it is clear that Liv has no idea where she is nor does she recognize her life.

The book goes back and forth between present day (amnesia Liv) and 2 years ago, before Liv had amnesia. The book follows side by side as we discover what happened to Liv 2 years ago, but suddenly realize that amnesia Liv could still be in danger today.

This book was amazing at creating life-like characters, and throwing in red herrings. At one point, the "culprit" could have been any one of about 5 different suspects. Liv has writing she finds on her hand to "trust no one" and that is honestly the best advice when reading this book!

I would highly recommend this twisty and fast-paced thriller. With each chapter ending in a cliff-hanger, you won't want to put this one down. I honestly have read so many thrillers at this point that it takes a lot to surprise me, but this one was totally unique and an exciting read.

Special thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! Just a big wow at how intricately the plot is woven around the theme of a woman with amnesia who forgets everything once she falls asleep. Liv is the victim of a traumatic incident in her life, resulting in her amnesia and also putting her life in danger. When two friends are killed and she is the only witness as well as a suspect, Liv cannot remember what happened at all, but her life depends on her regaining her memory. When another friend is killed and Liv is the primary suspect, she wanders around the city trying to recall who she is and where she should be. I really enjoyed how tightly woven together the plot was and how it all came together in a spectacularly mesmerizing conclusion. I was impressed by the detective work of Halliday and her dogged determination to find out the truth about the murders. There were interesting details added, like Liv’s work at a magazine called Cultura and her hanging out at a bar called Nocturnal. I liked that all of the details ended up being important in the end and were actually clues. This is a book to read for pleasure the first time and to read for honing your detective skills the second time. It would also make a great book for a book club, with the discussion centered around the effects of amnesia and recovered memory. This was edge-of-your-seat suspense with a lot of psychological thriller mixed in, just the right combination to enthrall, entice and entertain.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I was introduced to Megan Goldin when I was asked to review “Night Swim,” a novel that kept me up into early morning to reach its finale. When I was asked to review “Stay Awake,” I knew that I would need to stay awake to get to the end because of how Goldin can hook her reader from the novel’s opening scenes and then refuse to let her go.

Can you imagine waking up one day with no idea of how you got where you’re at and the last two years of your life completely erased? That is what happens to Liv who wakes up in the back of a cab, unable to recollect the moments that led her there. Yet, when she returns to the apartment she shares with her roommate, she discovers she no longer lives there and hasn’t for quite awhile. She finds written notes on her hands that say things such as “stay awake.” Apparently, Liv has a type of amnesia that when she falls asleep, she forgets everything. And now she’s on the run for murder and she’s not completely sure if she’s innocent.

What I liked about this novel is I felt pulled into Liv’s thoughts and feelings. Moreover, the reader also gets into the POV (and an alternative timeline) of one of the investigating detectives, Halliday. Yet, can the reader trusts Halliday’s perceptions any more than Liv’s?

I don’t want to give too much more away but be prepared for a roller coaster ride with plenty of dips and turns. I appreciate an author that can keep you guessing. I kept thinking I had figured out what was going on, only to discover I was wrong again.There was a bit of plausibility, in the book but then who wants to read a book about things that can actually happen.

Special thanks to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an opportunity to review this novel.

Warning: read with the light on! This is a thrilling story that will keep you on the edge of your seat! My first book to read by this author but I cannot wait to read more. Highly recommend!

"Stay Awake" by Meg Goldin — get ready for a ride.
The novel follows Liv Reese as she awakens with a bloody knife wrapped in a t-shirt. She has no memories of how she got there or the past two years due to a memory loss issue. Liv soon finds herself in the center of a murder investigation as she races to figure out who's the identity of the real killer before they get — all while doing everything she can to stay awake.
This thriller is full of suspense, unexpected twists and unpredictable characters. Goldin unfolds the plot expertly with multiple non-linear timelines for the big reveal. It's an enthralling read that thriller lovers shouldn't miss.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this advance copy with me in exchange for my honest review.

Stay Awake is a suspenseful mystery about Liv, a woman who develops recurring amnesia after a traumatic event. Every time she goes to sleep, she wakes up unable to remember the last two years of her life. When Liv wakes up holding a knife, next a dead man, she becomes the prime suspect in his murder and she goes on a journey to put the pieces of her life together and exonerate herself.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged throughout, had me questioning Liv's Innocence, and got me to suspect everyone! It was a very solid murder mystery. At times, I found it a little repetitive. There were several times I found myself asking, "Haven't I read this scene already?" I also found the ending a bit dissatisfying because there was no explanation for the motive behind some of the big events in the story.

Overall, I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy mysteries, thrillers, and suspense.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Have you ever read a book that captured you from the very beginning, and refused to let you go until the very end? THIS is that book.

What I loved; the lead detective is a woman, the main character follows her instincts even though she has no memory to assist those instincts, the Memento/50 First Dates similarities. What I disliked; NOTHING.

This book has earned its spot as my favorite book of the month, if not the year. I loved everything about it.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Megan Goldin for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Stay Awake will be available for purchase on August 9th 2022.

Thank you to Megan Goldin, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. This was a really unique read! It did take me a couple chapters to get into it because the concept seemed quite unbelievable, but by about 30% I was hooked!

This book is definitely the unreliable narrator trope... but to good reason. The concept of losing ones memory was interesting and worked in this case. It was fun to learn what was happening as it unfolded for Liv (the main character) as well in real time. This was definitely a good thriller, and it kept me reading, wanting to know what happened. I will say by about 75%, I had it all figured out, but it was still fun to have it play out in the book. We did find the end a bit disappointing though, it was very obvious who the murderer was, and it seemed a little bit out of character that Liv spent most of the book not knowing what to do, and then in a time of great stress, was able to grab her phone, text the police officer and hide all in a few short moments.

We have read two of Megan Goldin's books now, and will continue to read more! I recommend if you are looking for a fun thriller!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

We follow Liv Reese who awakens with a bloody knife wrapped in a T-Shirt. She has no memory of the past two years and is unclear as to what is going on; however it appears that she is the prime suspect to a murder. She can’t recall anything that has happened because every time she goes to sleep, she loses her memory. It becomes a race against time to figure out who the real killer is before they find her.
*
I really enjoy Megan Goldin’s writing style! She knows how to hook you from the beginning and keep you wanting to turn the page. She also does a great job with telling the story from present day and flashbacks from 2 years ago so that the reader doesn’t get confused while reading. I did think the story was slow at times, but definitely picks up at the end! I’ve read one book by Goldin (The Escape Room) and enjoyed it! I’ve heard good things about The Night Swim and cannot wait to read more books by her!

If you like thrillers with dual timelines and unpredictable characters then you should read this book! Also, if you liked the movie 50 First Dates, but add a little bit of murder, you would enjoy this as well!

This review will be posted to my Instagram blog (read_betweenthecovers) in the near future!

Stay Awake is packed with tension, suspense, and drama. The mystery behind Liv’s amnesia is intriguing, and the way the novel unfolds makes it unputdownable. I was so wrapped up in Liv’s mental state that I missed some obvious clues about the identity of the murderer. Very grateful for the opportunity to read this arc

4.5 STARS

Whew....

This was a wild and exhausting trip! STAY AWAKE , DON'T SLEEP!, WAKE UP!

Liv Reese is in danger. She can feel it in her bones. She arrives at her apartment to find two strangers living there. "Who are these people? Where's my stuff?"

Poor Liv finds herself entangled in a murder investigation referred to as "The Sleepless Killer". She has no memory of the victim or being near the scene of the crime.

What an engaging read! It clipped along at a frantic pace. I could feel Liv's life spinning out of control with everything out of sync. Many good red herrings along the ride. I loved the two detectives on the case and how they bounced theories back and forth. The two timelines worked well for me, although there is a bit of repetition as Liv's memory issues repeat some of her mantra.

I had a great time reading this one, racing to get to the end to connect the dots. Overall, a quick, entertaining and page turning entertainment. Don't overthink this one!

Stay Awake is a thrilling book that gave chills.

Liv Reese wakes up in the early morning on the back of a cab carrying a bloody knife wrapped in a T-shirt and with no memory of the past two years.

Across the city, two detectives start investigating a homicide. The victim was stabbed and his blood was used to paint Stay Awake on the window of the apartment.

Liv is the prime suspect. And with her short-term memory disappearing every time she goes to sleep, Liv must stay awake to find the real killer and clear her name . . . before they find her and finish her off for good.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was thrilling and the writing captivated me from beginning to end.

But there were some rooms for improvement. One was the structure of the story. The chapters jump from Liv's life two years ago; her current life (after waking up in the cab); and the detectives investigating the crime. There were no headings to mark the chapters so when I started one, it took me a while to adapt to the scene. Nevertheless I found the story compelling and felt sympathy for Liz. I'm not a fan of using amnesia in thrillers, but it was clear that this condition would be a major factor in this novel so I knew what to expect before starting the novel.

I love Goldin's writing. She's talented in creating worlds, characters and tension. But I was disappointed about the perpetrator's identity. It was too obvious and part of what I love about thrillers is getting surprised at the twist/reveal at the end.

Overall, I would recommend this to those who love thrillers with good writing.

Stay Awake is definitely one you want to add your TBR. Megan Goldin has done it again with another amazing book.

I was hooked from the very beginning until the last page. I can honestly say I didn’t figure this one out and that made it even more enjoyable.

Thanks so much NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my gifted ARC.

Told in present and flashbacks, the story opens on a murder and two detectives who are trying to figure out who the victim is and who the murderer is. Liv Reese is totally confused. She wakes up each morning not knowing what is going on, but senses she's in danger. She tries to contact her friends, but they aren't answering their phones. She has things written on her palms and arms and a large gash on her abdomen. There is some stranger living in her apartment. When her face is flashed on the TV as part of the murder, she wonders who she can trust.
Fast-paced murder / thriller mystery packed with suspense.

Another book about an amnesiac- apparently I have a type 😂. The intrigue of a murder suspect's perspective hooked me right away and held up through to the end. I could not put it down and I finished it before the book I was reading before starting this. I loved learning all the juicy details with our main character, Liv, with the bonus of seeing things from an outside perspective a la the homicide detective investigating Liv for murder. The twists at the end were well placed and revealed to the effect that it fit and worked with the story rather than being for pure shock value.