3.5 stars
Stay Awake, by Megan Goldin, is a type of Groundhog Day re-imagining. Every time Liv Reese wakes up, she believes it’s two years in the past and has no memory of her current life at all. Her last memories are of being at work during the summer and now it is Fall two years later, and all of her memories in between have vanished.

Liv awakes each and every time to find “Stay Awake” written all over her hands, and “Every time you fall asleep you forget” on her arms. She also has a strange scar on her abdomen. Her work and apartment are vastly different, her boyfriend and best friend have disappeared, some people seem shocked to see her, “given what she’s gone through”, while others are concerned over her strange caffeine addiction and tendency to forget everything. She struggles to make sense of things, and then the same scenario plays itself out over and over again, every time she falls asleep. Each time she begins anew, the danger escalates and more pieces of the puzzle begin to fit together.

Though the story held my attention, it was highly repetitive, and my patience wore a bit thin with the protagonist, Liv, who was a rather infuriating character. Her reactions to situations seemed unrealistic, idiotic and made little sense. On the other hand, I loved the detectives perspective. Those perspectives were very interesting and insightful. There were some scenes included in the plot, such as the art exhibit, which felt unrealistic and absurd, and I’m not sure of their relevance. I also can’t fathom the notion of trying to stay awake indefinitely because it simply cannot be done. Going to a specialist of some sort seems like a much wiser, more sensible course of action.

Despite my frustrations with Liv, and the repetitiveness of some sections, I enjoyed the story. The unraveling of the mystery was satisfying and quite captivating. The conclusion was also compelling, despite some plot holes. Stay Awake definitely had some issues, but it was also engaging and entertaining enough to keep me turning the pages to see how it would all turn out.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this one fell a little flat for me. I was SO excited for this because I loved The Night Swim!

Overall, this felt a bit repetitive / left me wanting to get to the point quicker. HOW did no one think to call the cops to help this woman?! Idk, I felt frustrated with the characters (which could have been intentional... it just didn't work for me - and that's okay!) I also felt like there were some plot holes that left me more confused than before.

I still look forward to Megan Goldin's next book! Just because this didn't entirely work for me doesn't mean it's a bad thing. I know she will continue to do great work and can't wait for the next one. :)

I really liked this one! It was fast paced with short chapters. I like the unreliable narrator and the detectives’ pov. Kept my guessing and wanting to know what was going to happen. I look forward to reading more from Megan Goldin

I really enjoy Megan Goldin's writing. I loved her last thriller, so I was very excited to get approved for this one! I enjoyed the unique concept of amnesia and really had no clue where the story was going, which I appreciate in a thriller since I read so many they can often be predictable. I did not see the twist coming at the end! There were a few red herrings that I personally would have liked more resolution with (Kevin the waiter and Q the artist) but overall I really enjoyed this book!

I loved Megan Goldin’s novel, The Night Swim, so was super excited to find this one as read now a while back. While I still enjoyed The Night Swim more, this one was worth the read too! The plot is interesting and the repetition works for the storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the eARC in exchange for my review!

I couldn't put this book down! I 'm a sucker for a good amnesia mystery (blame it on my soap opera days) and this one did not disappoint. A lot of twist and turns that you don't see coming! I can't wait to read what Megan Goldin writes next!

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy of this book in order for an honest review!

I'm so glad I read this during the daytime, or else I probably wouldn't have been able to fall asleep. This story kept me on my toes the entire time, constantly trying to figure out what tragic event happened to make Liv lose her memory. I can't imagine having your mind reset to a specific day in your past, every time you fall asleep.

With plenty of plot twists and moments you won't expect, you'll be questioning who to trust, and whether she's safe with anyone she interacts with. The author did an amazing job of telling the story, while not confusing you with the time jumps as it unfolds. Loved this book and will definitely be recommending it to suspense lovers!

Stay Awake by Megan Goldin

Overall an enjoyable, fairly fast paced thriller. The author did a great job of capturing the reader’s attention on the first page by diving right into the action. However, I do feel the book is a bit long for a thriller, and considering the structure of the book this hampered my enjoyment of the story. Due to the length and a few too many repetitions of the main character waking up without their memory it was easier be taken out of the story. I started thinking critically about what was happening and started finding flaws in the logic of the book. Regardless, it’s a fun time and would be a great rainy day read for those interested!

Thank you to NetGalley, Megan Goldin and St Martins Press for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I really flew through this one, I didn't want to put it down for anything. The premise and the main character were just so totally unique and you just knew that something else was going on and that linked to something else. There is so much action and running around in this novel and I didn't find a single dull moment throughout the whole thing. I would definitely recommend this one!

I love a good thriller that makes you wonder what is happening straight from the first page! Liv doesn’t remember anything after she falls asleep. She wakes up 2 years in the future from the last day she remembers and tries to puzzle together whatever happened and why she feels like she’s been on the run for the past 2 years.

The synopsis of this novel intrigued me and it gives a pretty clear picture of the main plot points of the book. Even though it was a fast-paced story, I felt there were some parts that could have been condensed (mainly due to repetition). There were also a couple of plot holes I noticed by the end- but maybe they won’t be as noticeable for others. Although this wasn’t my absolute favourite thriller I’ve read lately, I did enjoy it overall and I haven’t read something like it recently.
I do own two of Goldin’s previous novels but I admittedly haven’t read them yet- I will be sure to do so in the near future.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read an ARC of “Stay Awake”!
3.5/5 stars

Liv Reese is lost. She is confused, the city she lives in, New York, doesn't look like she remembers. She finds a bloody knife in her purse and wonders where it came from. She has notes scribbled all over her hands. Can she figure out where the knife came from and get back to her regular life?

Such a crazy ride, I really enjoyed this one! Kept me guessing the whole way through. Another hit by Megan Goldin!

I LOVE Megan Goldin’s books she is such an amazing author. Her thrillers leave me on the edge of my seat and this was absolutely not an exception. I was hooked from the very beginning and I just could not put it down. Sometimes the amnesia storyline can be too obvious but I was just mind blown throughout the book.

Slow start to this one but once I was hooked, there was no stopping me from putting this down. A predictable twist or two, but this was fast paced and fun. I enjoyed Megan Goldin’s Night Swim and after finishing Stay Awake, I’ll definitely keep her futures books on my radar. Thank you to the author, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this free ARC! I was excited for Stay Awake and it didn't disappoint. I loved how the author played with the timeline and even how she structured the chapters with the time. I definitely was surprised by a few of the twists and liked how the story played out. I'll definitely be recommending it to people!

This was a book that I was anxiously awaiting. And it did not disappoint! The characters and the writing were amazing kept me turning the pages - and I finished it in one sitting.

Wow!! This book was one crazy ride.
Definitely a psychological thriller, as you really have no idea what is going on.
Liv Reese wakes up in a cab with no memory of how she got there. She is dropped off at her at her brownstone, she finds out she doesn't live there anymore. In fact, in looks completely different, and the new owners threaten to call the police.
So begins one of the craziest stories I've read in a long time.
You begin to piece together what happened to Liv, and how she ended up in this precarious situation. It is a little confusing, but that's the point. You feel as confused as the narrator.
Not my favorite of Megan Goldin's works, but a fast-paced read nonetheless.

I have not been a fan of Megan’s past books, but I was very excited for this new release by her. The chapters were short and made it a really quick read. I loved her writing and descriptions of what the main character was going through. Liv, the main character has amnesia and you could really feel her confusion throughout the book. The switching of timing was slightly confusing when we got closer to the end, but overall I felt like the book kept me engaged. I figured out who the actual killer was pretty early, but I just wish Goldie explained what the killers motive was.

Liv wakes up in the backseat of a cab. She doesn’t know how long she has been asleep or why she is even in a cab. When it pulls to the curb to let her out, she looks at the building in front of her and remembers that this is where she lives with her best friend, Amy. She looks up at the sky and thinks how lovely the stars are.

When she realizes she does not have her keys, she rings the doorbell over and over again. Why won’t Amy wake up and let her in! A few minutes later, the door is opened by two irate strangers who tell her she has the wrong building. Confused Liv goes to a park to think about this situation. After a time, she nods off and wakes to sunlight. Once again, she doesn’t know why she is sleeping on a park bench or what happened to her purse.
Everywhere Liv goes, she bumps into people she knows and they all ask her questions she doesn’t know the answers to … Is she back in the states now? Did she like living in London? … What has she been doing the past two years? Liv’s mind is a blank. Where is Amy, her best friend; and Marco, her boyfriend?

I found this book very suspenseful. I devoured it in no time at all and then gave it to my sister who said it was the best book she had read in some time. I read Megan’s previous two books and found them wonderful. She writes in a way that mesmerizes the reader and you don’t want to put the book down until you are finished. Keep them coming Megan, we love your books! Readers of B. A. Paris will enjoy this novel.