In this creepy, atmospheric thriller, an elderly woman named Penny finds herself with no family or friends to rely upon. Suddenly, she's moved to a mysterious nursing home where the workers and tenants aren't quite what they appear...

Reid is absolutely phenomenal at the eerie slow burn! His books are always shorter and fast paced, but the thrilling moments have the perfect pacing and the characters are always just fleshed out enough to keep you reading, but not enough to make you super attached to them. I loved how Reid took different perspectives on aging and dying and illuminated them in this equally depressing and terrifying novel. This one will keep you thinking for sure!

Iain Reid is one of my very few one-click authors, so I was so happy when I was able to get an e-ARC. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher!!

If you've seen my other reviews of Reid's books, you know that I'm a huge fan. Truly. He's one of my all-time favorite authors. I love the way his writing morphs with each book, adding just the right amount of feeling to make you keep reading.

Although I think it's hard to compare his work, and I know most authors wouldn't want their work constantly compared, I do think that overall, the readability is one of the most distinct attributes of his. The pacing, the storylines- they're all so neatly and brilliantly constructed that you'll likely read them all in one sitting.

I will say that this one was harder for me to get through than the others, but that's not Iain's fault. In fact, it means that he did his job incredibly well.

This story follows an older woman as she embarks on her journey to a facility. She's confused at first, as she doesn't remember making plans to stay there. As the story progresses, you don't really know what's happening, evoking a sense of dread deep in your bones.

Is this her mind slowly deteriorating, or is there something truly sinister about the facility?

Because it's told through Penny's point of view, we never really know.

As someone with a grandparent going through this loss of memory right now, it was an incredibly hard read for me, and it took way longer than any other book normally would. But there was a beauty in it, for sure.

I would definitely recommend this book, although I'm not sure I would recommend this be anyone's first book of Reid's.

I was first introduced to Reid's work with the book, Foe, and loved that one. He has the ability of writing really emotional stories, and this book confirms that. While I didn't connect with the actual story as much, I thought the writing was beautiful and haunting. You never know where he is going to take his reader, but it's almost certainly going to be thought-provoking. *Advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

A short but extremely compelling read. Iain Reid scares me with the way he is able to capture the human condition. This book made me feel weird but in a good way? It’s hard to even explain how this is to make you feel, but I enjoyed it!

We Spread is the latest psychological thriller by Iain Reid, and boy, is it a doozy. This time around, Mr. Reid explores dementia and old age. Through Penny's eyes, we experience what it is like to forget to accomplish mundane household chores, forget the names of things, and lose time. If that isn't scary enough, we also experience life in a long-term facility. As Penny succumbs to more lost memory, all we can do is sit, watch, and wonder if we are getting the complete picture. After all, Mr. Reid is an expert in misdirection or at least making you think it is misdirection. After yet another intense novel, Mr. Reid is quickly becoming a must-read author!

This book was so interesting. The first half had me in tears as Penny adjusts to her life as a widower, alone in her apartment. Then the book switches into a totally weird, mind messing situation. And I loved it.

Aging is scary and this book captures it perfectly.

This book is perfect for fans of literary fiction.

This is a phenomenal story! I would classify this as an "coming of old age" light horror. The story is beautifully written and the ending was so mesmerizing. I am so glad I took a chance on this novel. At first I was unsure if I should try it. It is my second book by Iain Reid. I think I enjoy this writing style quit a lot!

Thank you #NetGalley to sending me #WeSpread

Iain Reid always does such a good job writing stories that unsettle the readers and this was no different. At first, I was unsure about this novel, since it's being marketed as a horror but there was nothing very "horror" about it, but as the story went on it definitely got there. The horror is absolutely very slow burn. The author does a really great job writing a slow decent to madness, and the theme of it being around aging was really impactful. This novel had a few very good lines about society's fear of aging, simply just "getting old", and dying. I'm really looking forward to reading more from this author.

From the author of I’m thinking of ending things, comes this new story. I was hesitant it wouldn’t be as good but luckily I really enjoyed this book. The writing is spectacular and the plot was interesting and engaging enough to keep me on my toes and interested the entire time throughout the read. I would highly recommend this one!

This was horror of a different realm. A more realistic horror about the fear of growing old. Valid for many people as their greatest fear. This was incredibly well written and brought me to tears near the end.

This book was not at all what I was expecting. It was a nice surprise. I enjoyed reading this! I love how creative and unique Iain is.

Iain Reid is a master of the psychological thriller. Things are never what they seem. Great characters and a plot that has you going in many different directions.
I have read all of his previous novels and this one is just as good. For those that want a bit of horror and a good unraveling, We Spread is perfect. Loved it!

4.5 stars

WTF.

So here we are. Following Penny, an artist/widow, and losing the ability to care for herself as an elderly person. Enter the long-term care residence that her late partner chose years prior for her future care (she does not remember this decision). While she initially feels a kinship with the other residents, it isn't long before the care center starts to feel....shady. Something is clearly going on here.

WELL. That was quite a ride. The summary I gave doesn't do this story justice. I was completely sucked in and befuddled in the absolute best way possible. If you're looking for something that wraps up nicely with a cute little bow, this is not the book for you. If you enjoy books that make you struggle philosophically and leave you with some huge existential questions, pick this up. It's pretty incredible.

Iain Reid never fails me! This is a chilling story about aging, fearing the unknown, and feeling a loss of control over your memory and grasp on reality. If these ideas sound as terrifying to you as they do to me, this is the perfect book to pick up and instill a sense of unease. I liked the eerie way we were introduced to Penny and her time at Six Cedars, where she is forcefully placed after a bad fall shows she may no longer be able to care for herself on her own. We feel the full force of Penny's discomfort and loss, and when things start to unravel it's hard to tell what is happening and what might be deterioration in Penny's body. I enjoyed this ambiguity and found it added to the overall horror of We Spread.

This was my first Iain Reid novel and now I know I need to go back and read this other works. Not knowing what was real or not, what was happening at Six Cedars, and the realness of aging for Penny, made this an engaging read.

Thanks To netgalley for an advanced copy.

I have a stepmother who has dementia so this book really hit home. It really gives you an inside view of what a person with dementia or Alzheimer’s goes through.

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

This book was so good! Iain Reid has such a way with words.

I really liked the format this was written in because it made it so easy to fly through. The messages of this book are really profound and beautiful, and they really had me thinking.

Reid's writing is just really beautiful, and it just really blows me away.

I wasn't a huge fan of I'm Thinking of Ending Things, but this could have also been because it felt way over my head.

I would have LOVED to read this with a group of people so I could read it and discuss with people. Instead, I will probably just get everyone I know to read it so that we can all talk about. I hope as that happens I can began to understand the ending more and more.

From The New York Times bestselling author of “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” and “Foe” comes “We Spread,” a psychological thriller following artist and long-term care resident Penny as she slowly starts to lose her grip on reality. A meditation on morality and perception that colors reality, “We Spead” might be the scariest book on this list, simply for its grounding in an all too possible existence that no one, regardless of gender, location or affluence, can escape. “Despite the lack of resolution, the story feels complete as it closes with a disturbingly upbeat and peaceful scene,” a starred Publishers Weekly review reads. “This deep plunge into fears about growing old and losing control is unforgettable.”

TWO-CENT TUESDAY

Below are a few (somewhat) brief $.02 opinions about books I've read or listened to recently but don't have the opportunity to review in full. Many of these titles I enjoyed as much or more than those that got the full court press. I hope you'll consider one or two for your own TBR stack if they strike your fancy whether they struck mine or not.

WE SPREAD, by Iain Reid

This fantastic cover would have made me pick this up even if Reid hadn't exploded my brain with I'm Thinking of Ending Things a few years back. We Spread gave me similar creepy feelings of horror and the unknown as I read it, but it was also much different. Penny has lived in the same apartment for decades with her unnamed partner, an artist. She herself is a painter, but does not have the confidence to show anyone her work. After her partner dies and she has a fall, Penny's landlord packs her up and takes her to Six Cedars, a unique care facility that has only four rooms and two staff members. The food is good, the views beautiful, the care detailed. But the schedule is strict, the rules plenty, and no one is allowed to go outside. As strange things begin to happen to Penny, she questions how she ended up at Six Cedars and what the intent behind the "care" really is. Reid does spooky ambiguity better than just about anyone and We Spread is full of it. Ultimately, it's either a creepy tale of the horrors of elder care, or a heartrending look into aging and losing what one used to be.

⁉️Do you worry about what will happen as you age? Physically or mentally or otherwise?

BOOK REVIEW
We Spread, by Iain Reid @tidydissolve
Pub date: September 27, 2022
304 pages
@gallerybooks @scoutpressbooks

This book was like Sally Rooney’s Normal People if all the characters had been elderly and also, maybe it was a horror (lite) story?

You may know that I’m a big Sally Rooney fan. So, while it took some time to digest the ending of this one, toggling between love and hate, I’ve officially landed on love.

It isn’t without flaws, but the commentary on age alone (the physical side, the mental and emotional piece, the social dynamics of getting older ugh 😫) made this such a rewarding read.

I worked in a nursing home back in college for a few summers, and the dialogue between the protagonist (Penny) and the other residents in the home she finds herself in felt so wildly authentic. I’d love to know more about how and where Reid did his research for this story.

So much of the narrative had meaning beyond the physical text. I don’t won’t to share much, because so much can be given away so easily. If you pick this one up, definitely don’t read it passively. It is short, but requires your attention, I think.

This was definitely superior storytelling to I’m Thinking of Ending Things, imo, and has me itching to read Foe by the same author. I don’t think this will work for all readers, but if you don’t mind loose ends I think this will delight you. All three of his books have been/are being adapted to screen btw.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks @netgalley and @scoutpressbooks for the ebook ✌️

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