
Member Reviews

I read this book back in 2023 so unfortunately I don’t remember many of the details. I do recall enjoying it and I gave the audiobook 4 stars.

Dave lives alone and self-medicates to neutralize his dreams. The morning after Independence Day, Santa Mira, California, is so quiet Dave can hear the ocean from miles away. And all over town, there are bodies, lying right where their owners left them. Dead right where they slept.
Dave and a handful of people struggle to unravel the mystery before sleep overtakes them all...

Honestly I listened to this audiobook and it didn’t really hook me so I didn’t post about it. I was a bit lost!

If you like thrillers, then pick this up! It's dark and twisty and has everything you'd want in a thriller!

A nightwatchman, his friends, and an ER nurse learn that if you go to sleep-you die.
This was unreadable. I got to about the 40% mark and could not push myself any further. This read like a high school creative writing assignment. And of course once I did some research into the authors (two with a third contributing?) I found this was based off of a fictional podcast. So I guess the unreadable part makes a little more sense now. I truly do not care how this book ends. The premise was absurd and the chapters peppered in from the perspectives of random civilians and their experiences right before their deaths were obviously just there to up the page count. If I read anyone call anyone else "dear" or "sweetie" in an entirely condescending tone one more time I was afraid I was going to break my Kindle. I'm only being kind and giving this 2 stars since I didn't finish it.

The premise of The Edge of Sleep reminded me of something Stephen King would create (this is a good thing), although the story and writing are definitely not King style. Enjoyed the Matteo character and his malapropisms.

This was an intriguing psychological thriller that explores the disturbing effects of sleep deprivation and its impact on the mind. The story follows a protagonist whose struggle with insomnia leads to unsettling and blurred boundaries between dreams and reality. The pacing can be uneven at times, and some plot developments may feel contrived or predictable. Despite these flaws, is a thought-provoking and suspenseful read.

Apparently this is a novel adaptation of a podcast from Markpiler. I didn't know that going into this, and I think if I had known more about the podcast I would've been able to follow it easier. There's an attempt to adapt the audio log-esque environment of a podcast, but mostly it just leaves you with very disjointed subchapters. The premise was intriguing! The execution left a lot to be desired, but the man tried.

Well, I thought I would like this one but it was very sci-fi, end of world, weird stuff, a bit too out there for my liking. I’m not saying it wasn’t good, but just not good for me.

"The Edge of Sleep" by Jake Emanuel and Willie Block thrusts readers into a dystopian scenario where night watchman David Torres grapples with a haunting mystery: people are dying in their sleep. Dave, alongside his ex-girlfriend Katie, his friend Matteo, and nurse Linda, races to uncover the truth. The novel blends humor with heavy themes, anchored by engaging banter and character dynamics. While initially off-putting, Matteo's dialogue evolves into a source of amusement, enhancing the story's originality. The narrative's audaciousness may be unconventional, but it captivates with its creativity and leaves a lasting impression. "The Edge of Sleep" offers a unique and enjoyable sci-fi experience, with an ending that lingers in the mind long after the final page.

This book had such an interesting premise! I enjoyed reading about their struggles with sleeplessness as they try to figure out what is going on in the world. I did find the story confusing when we switched POVs however, I would have preferred to stick with one group's experience of the events. I also really disliked the ending. It felt rushed and in my opinion, did not fit the themes set earlier in the book. Overall, great idea but disappointing execution of the ending.

While I understand that this particular book may be appreciated by others, it did not resonate with me. Nevertheless, I acknowledge the hard work and dedication put into creating such a fascinating and unique story. The concept and the world-building were intriguing, but unfortunately, I found it difficult to connect with the story.
Voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of NetGalley, the Publisher, and the author, Jake Emanuel, Willie Block, and Jason Gurley.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. A truly interesting read that was both confusing and entertaining.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for gifting me an advanced reader copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

I enjoyed this until about the last 10 percent, and then it just got really weird and confusing. Needless to say, I was not a fan of the ending. I still don't know what to make of that epilogue, either.
This book had an interesting and unique concept, where anyone who falls asleep endings up dying. The stakes were high here, since obviously the human body can only go so long without sleep, so I was on the edge of my seat for a lot of this. I like how the book portrayed the delusions and madness that come with lack of sleep.

feel like this book is a mix of dystopian fiction, scifi, horror, apocolypic, and psychology. It is really hard to explain this book, but I'm going to give it a whirl. I'm still thinking about this book and trying to understand it, but in a good way.
I love books that are about sleep/dreams. Imagine a book when people fall asleep they never wake up. Okay, you have my attention. David tries to get to his ex-girlfriend, Katie, before she falls asleep after her graveyard shift. David, Katie, Matteo (David's friend), and Linda (a nurse from the hospital) all team up to stay awake and figure out how to solve or deal with this real-life nightmare. Once I got into the groove of the book, I enjoyed it more and more. Apparently, this book is based on a podcast or has something to do with a podcast. I'm not sure, to be honest, but I didn't need to know about the podcast to enjoy this book.
The book was a whirlwind and kinda f*cked up. I didn't expect that ending at all.
The only part I didn't like was the “bro” attitude. This was more in the beginning of the book. I'm glad I continued to read the book. It was worth the read/listen!
I've been doing the read/listen thing since Arctober, and I've been enjoying it. I preferred reading this book over the audio only because there was so much going on, and it was hard to keep my brain on track with what was happening

Santa Mira, the morning after the Fourth of July is quiet; in fact, it's almost too quiet. The roads are empty, stores remain closed, and there is no one to be seen walking around town. Dave, a night watchman and insomnia sufferer, can’t even begin to comprehend what is going on, especially when the few people Dave can find all seem to have one thing in common: they are all dead right where they fell asleep. Dave, with the help of his ex-girlfriend, his best friend, and an overworked nurse, is desperate to uncover the mystery surrounding the sleeping dead before he, or anyone else, falls asleep.
I really like the general plot of The Edge of Sleep, but at times I struggled with this novel. There were some sections that were slow and dragged, but others that were edge-of-my-seat good. I think my favorite thing about this whole novel was the little mini-stories focusing on random people that were spread throughout the narrative; some of these sections were almost more powerful than the novel itself. I enjoyed the characters, especially Matteo, but the ending fell a little flat for me, almost seeming rushed.

Interesting blend of dystopian and speculative fiction. It was ok to me but I am sure others will love it, Thanks for the review copy.

Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The Edge of Sleep wastes no time jumping into the story. Right away, we see the beginning of the new pandemic. People start going to sleep and never wake up. The only way to survive is to not sleep. But how long can you stay awake before biology takes over and you just crash?
This was a decently quick read. When you're reading it, it's not hard to get caught up in it and get through a chunk in a short amount of time.
I was expecting this to be a lot creepier than it was. Rather than creepy, it was more of an "oh, shit!" vibe. I wouldn't classify this as a horror by any stretch of the imagination. It didn't have the slow, creepy, drawn-out aspect or the heart pounding, fast-paced, have to get to the next page aspect either. It's simply "a thing that is".
It was a miss for me, and once this is posted, I'll probably never think of it again. If there is a sequel, I wouldn't pick it up.

Eerie, raw, and at times gripping. Maintains the immersive atmosphere of the podcast while expanding the story in interesting ways.