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.

It’s been awhile since I requested this, and my tastes have changed a little bit so I won’t be reading and properly reviewing this title.

Again, another book by a male author, but I actually enjoyed it. I thought the chapter links were good, and I enjoyed the cover and the descriptive Ness of the story.

This was an odd but enjoyable book. I really appreciated the way that people came together in their hours of need. While it isn't a very long book, and the short chapters move it along quickly, I was able to connect with the characters pretty well.

I"m not sure I fully understood it, but I liked it and thought it was an overall interesting premise that was executed fairly well.

📕I’m getting The Cell vibes, The Dreamers vibe, The Stand vibes. You sleep you die. It came out of nowhere. Like the cell signal in The Cell, like the dream state people stuck in The Dreamers, and the freaking apocalypse riding in The Stand. Sleeping is like dying only you hope to open your eyes next morning
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📗Dave had a terrible case of insomnia. With his childhood trauma and nightmares stemmed from it, sleeping wasn’t his favorite thing. One day he and his sassy best friend Matteo found themselves in unbelievable circumstances: people were sleeping only to die immediately after
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📘Not knowing how bad the situation was, Dave decided to go on an expedition with his best friend, girlfriend, and only person alive with medical knowledge trusting the message he received in his dream of 2 minutes. Was he able to solve the mystery? Or was this a crazy sci-fi story? Read and see!

A riveting speculative fiction that had me anxious and uncertain throughout, if you enjoy those types of stories then this might be for you. It was a fairly quick read that kept the tension high throughout it's ups and downs.

The plot of anyone who sleeps will die was both fascinating and horrifying and I was eager to find answers. Unfortunately this felt like more of a short story that was expanded upon in unnecessary ways and I felt let down when I got to the last page. Attempts to flesh out the world were distracting to me and felt like an attempt at emotional damage that fell flat. Apparently this was a podcast which I was unfamiliar with so maybe it worked better in that format.

There are two main plots we follow with two different groups and these were the strongest parts of the story. I really enjoyed the characters, their interactions and banter were great but I definitely would have loved more backstories on them. Dave was a riveting character because we got so much of his history.

Overall this story was quite engrossing but in the end left me dissatisfied but I can see why others would quite enjoy it for it's intrigue and characters.

The Edge of Sleep had an interesting premise. You fall asleep, you die. How long will it last? Will it happen to everyone?
There were several different characters introduced, but it was really hard to feel much of anything for the characters. They were dull and fairly flat. Matteo and his regular pop culture botches were irritating and not necessary. It just seemed like nonsense that he didn't know what things were called. It was like he had lived under a rock his entire life. Dave was disjointed, which actually made sense because of his sleeping disorder and lack of restful sleep. Linda was not necessarily sleep deprived in the beginning, but she was crazy one minute, and sane and in charge the next.
There were a few reality inconsistencies, like several cars on the street where the driver was dead, which meant that they fell asleep at the wheel. Are there really that many people who fall asleep at the wheel? I didn't buy it.
Overall, a decent read. And a decent twist at the end.

Dave, leader of the group of survivors, grapples with haunting flashbacks that offer tantalizing glimpses of the future, yet their true significance eludes him. The intertwining threads of these unsettling flashbacks, lifeless bodies in slumber, and sporadic chapters detailing the global apocalypse all conspire to evoke a relentless sense of anxiety and foreboding. This relentless tension is amplified by the brisk, compact chapters, crafting an unrelenting narrative pace.

While the concept was undeniably inventive, regrettably, it fell short of resonating with me. The story launched with considerable vigour, thrusting readers headlong into a nightmarish world that readily seized their attention. However, the sudden introduction of incongruous characters unrelated to the central plot, and other elements felt out of place. Additionally, certain character traits, like Matteo’s humorous misuse of words, initially amusing, ultimately grew grating. I always appreciate authors who venture into uncharted territory, seeking innovation, but in this instance, the execution simply did not align with my tastes.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love dystopian-esque books and this one was interesting enough to keep my attention. I wasn't overly blown away by the book, but I wasn't disappointed either.

"Here’s what I can say with some certainty. Something is happening. Case in point: WZPE’s AM news show usually ends at 8am. Not today. They’ve basically got the phone lines wide open, and people are calling in by the hundreds. The last caller just sobbed, “They’re dead, they’re dead, they’re dead,” and disconnected.
There are TV and radio stations all over the state that just . . . aren’t on the air at all.
From my window, if I elevate my chair, I usually have a great view of the mile-long gridlock at the intersection of Monaghan and Wolcott. The traffic lights there aren’t even working, but the intersection’s just . . . dead. No cars that I’ve seen.
Usually by now my upstairs neighbor is jazzercising. But the whole building is strangely subdued. I haven’t heard a single other person.
Perhaps it’s my overactive imagination . . . but I really don’t think that’s the case.
If you have any information about what might be happening, I’ll see you in the comments."
—Posted by Eli Broder, 7/4/25 9:12am

Dave Torres is a security guard at Daxalab. He and his co-worker and best friend, Matteo Leon, are having a bad night. After their shift they head, quite late, to a party only to find the guests mostly gone already. Of course, some are more gone than others. Like the one on the couch whom they had thought was passed out. Turns out he had passed on. Dave goes looking for their host only to find him in bed, in no better shape than the couch stiff. What is going on? And why are the roads so empty?

Off to the hospital they head, to see that the bodies are handled, or, out of the frying pan…The body count there is impressive, and growing. They meet a tough nurse, Linda, who is doing her best to keep it all together, but things are clearly falling apart. Dave gets that sleep is the trigger and desperately calls his ex to warn her. Katie finally joins them.

"A large room, lined with storage bins and shelves, has been transformed into a morgue. Shoved along the west wall are gurneys bearing zippered white bags. Human-sized bags, arranged haphazardly, as though they were rolled into the room and released to drift where they may. Which is exactly what happens next: An orderly in a white smock bangs into the room through an adjacent door, back first, then drags a fresh gurney into the room, pivots, and releases it, sending it spinning across the floor. It thumps into another gurney, and both roll in separate directions. The orderly, not pausing to admire his handiwork, disappears through the door again."

So we have a small group that sets out to decode the situation. There is a separate pair. Eli Broder (of the opening quote) is confined to a wheel chair. Boston is quiet, too quiet. His online messages begging for information on what is happening receive scant response. Millie is a narcoleptic coder, in the process of being fired from her job, who finally responds. She goes to him and they face the situation together.

These are our two primary threads. Third is a lookback for Dave to events from this childhood. He has had sleep issues all his life, for which he has received some serious medical intervention. His miseries include nightmares about an elephant and a whale since he was a kid. When his dreams slip into the waking world, his life becomes seriously troubled.

They all figure out in short order that going to sleep is a bad idea. To sleep, perchance to dream? Nah. More like to sleep, perchance to die. Each group goes through challenges in progressing to understanding, and getting, geographically, from where they are to where they want to be. Ergo, road trips. During these, we get more insight into the characters. As they begin to glean some truths behind the sleep-bomb that appears to be wiping out humanity, it becomes harder and harder to function, even to think, as their fatigue become profound. How long can the primaries remain awake? Where can they find answers to the why and how of it all? Even if they find answers will they retain consciousness enough to actually do anything about it?

The story is set, primarily, in Santa Mira, California. No, it is not a real place, but it may, still, sound familiar. That is because the fictional place has been used in many films.

"So we have a small group that sets out to decode the situation. There is a separate pair. Eli Broder (of the opening quote) is confined to a wheel chair. Boston is quiet, too quiet. His online messages begging for information on what is happening receive scant response. Millie is a narcoleptic coder, in the process of being fired from her job, who finally responds. She goes to him and they face the situation together.

description
Podcast episode 3 - the Black Triangle - image from Markiplier Wiki

These are our two primary threads. Third is a lookback for Dave to events from this childhood. He has had sleep issues all his life, for which he has received some serious medical intervention. His miseries include nightmares about an elephant and a whale since he was a kid. When his dreams slip into the waking world, his life becomes seriously troubled.

They all figure out in short order that going to sleep is a bad idea. To sleep, perchance to dream? Nah. More like to sleep, perchance to die. Each group goes through challenges in progressing to understanding, and getting, geographically, from where they are to where they want to be. Ergo, road trips. During these, we get more insight into the characters. As they begin to glean some truths behind the sleep-bomb that appears to be wiping out humanity, it becomes harder and harder to function, even to think, as their fatigue become profound. How long can the primaries remain awake? Where can they find answers to the why and how of it all? Even if they find answers will they retain consciousness enough to actually do anything about it?

The story is set, primarily, in Santa Mira, California. No, it is not a real place, but it may, still, sound familiar. That is because the fictional place has been used in many films.

"Santa Mira felt like a fun nod to Invasion Of The Body Snatchers, a huge influence on the show. And we think it’s a cool tradition that many writers and creators have used the same town." - from Paul Semel interview

The 1956 version of Invasion was set in Santa Mira, as was E.T., a Dean Koontz novel, Phantoms, and several Sharknado sequels.

Edge all began with an eight-episode podcast, the first season airing in 2019. I have listened to some of the podcast, although not all of it, reluctant to spoil the read. There is a link to that in EXTRA STUFF. It was adapted for TV, filmed in Vancouver in 2021. I was unable to find definitive intel on where that might be available. A second podcast season is slated for release this year (2023). Emanuel and Block, authors of the podcast, already rewrote the podcast for the TV series, and with this novel, it is yet another version. They tried to keep it fresh with each rewrite. They even brought in a fresh set of eyes in Jason Gurley to help out. To keep themselves sane, they made changes with each rewrite, so you can expect that this book is not slavishly attached to the original podcast.

"After working on The Edge Of Sleep for so long, and in so many different iterations, we needed a fresh set of eyes. Jason had some really creative and cool ideas to expand the story." - from the Paul Semel interview

The authors include a considerable list of one-off characters who struggle with fatigue, and succumb. Were they added for texture, or to establish them for future episodes?

The main characters had at least a bit of depth to them, but only Dave was really developed enough to hold much interest. On the other hand, if one looks at this as the first part of a longer series, it is usual to introduce the characters and plan on developing them later.

There are elements that are creative and intriguing, having to do with dreaming, sleep disorders, and things too spoilerish to note here. On the other hand, there are some significant downsides. First is that the ending, while offering some resolutions, feels like too much of a cliffhanger. Explanations were interesting but far too sketchy. If you are interested in continuing on with this series, by all means, dive in. But if you are looking at The Edge of Sleep as a stand-alone read, you are likely to be very disappointed. The characters had a bit of depth to them, but only Dave was really developed enough to hold much interest. On the other hand, if one looks at this as the first part of a longer series, which it certainly is, it is usual to introduce the characters first and develop them later on. While it had conceptual bits that were satisfying, my bottom line on The Edge of Sleep was that it was a bit of a snooze.

"“Mama,” Davy, the child, moans.
“This is your fault,” the beast says. Its trunk searches out Davy’s face, presses slick against his cheek, exhales hot, sour breath into his hair. “I warned you, didn’t I.”
Davy looks down at his pajama shirt. Something beneath bulges. Utter panic consumes him as he clutches at his shirt, trying to hold it away from his skin. He looks wildly at the thing above him.
“I can’t stop it now,” the elephant grunts. Its mouth unhinges, and a thick river of mustard-colored bile streams onto Dave’s legs. “I wouldn’t if I could. You aren’t a good boy.”
Davy, blinded by pain, cups his hands over his chest in time to catch the small elephant that bursts from his breastbone. Yellow foam rises in Dave’s throat; he can’t clear it to breathe.
The small elephant stretches in Davy’s little palms, glistening and damp. Davy’s vision blurs; he’s suddenly terribly sleepy, and his hands fall limp."

Review posted - 07/28/23

Publication date – 06/23/23

I received an ARE of The Edge of Sleep from St. Martin’s Press in return for a fair review. I was able to get some shut-eye between reading sessions. Thanks, folks, and thanks to NetGalley for facilitating.

interesting read with an intriguing premise. Kept me hooked and wondering what was going to happen. Very enjoyable.