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

I love dystopian/apocalyptic fiction & at first this book seemed right up my alley. I loved the first part of the book as everyone was trying to figure out what was happening. But then it just devolved into silliness and got hastily wrapped up in the last 8%…very unsatisfactorily. It was as if the authors didn’t know how to finish it. Or there should have been another 50 pages. Turns out, as I found out while reading Goodreads reviews, that this book is based on a podcast. Which explains a lot. I think the authors just should have continued with the podcast.

This might be the strangest book I’ve ever read. Somehow, even though it felt like an acid trip, I was thoroughly engaged with what was happening. The last 1/4 of the book was particularly bizarre and I hope at some point we’ll get a second book with some resolution.

Despite The Edge of Sleep starting off as a podcast, then getting a small adaption with Markiplier, and then getting announced for a second adaptation with mainstream actors, I had somehow never heard of it. After reading this book, I would certainly be interested in watching the newest adaptation and potentially listening to season 2 of the podcast when it comes out.

Here's the deal: if you like apocalyptic stories following ragtag groups of survivors (like Birdbox or The Walking dead, even) I think you'd enjoy this! Personally, I'm a sucker for stuff like that, and this is an apocalypse I surely wouldn't survive–what can I say, a girl likes her naps.

The beginning was a little hard to get into, but I would say the book started to pick up shortly after people started to realize what was going on. Tandem reading the e-book while listening to the audiobook definitely helped me stay engaged, as the narrator is great and will be playing one of the main characters in the upcoming adaptation.

That ending though...I am confused, yet intrigued.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Don't read before bed! The Edge of Sleep is a great example of terrifying existential horror. What if most of the world's population died overnight, simply by falling asleep? This story follows Dave, (a man with a serious sleep disorder), his friend Matteo, his ex-girlfriend Katie, and a nurse named Linda, as they discover what is happening and strive to stay awake as long as possible. Is there anyway to survive this devastation? Dave is determined to find out.

This was a highly creepy read, especially if you do like I did and stay up all night reading. I enjoyed the group dynamic of Dave and the others, but I think I enjoyed the interesting vignettes of others experiencing their last few hours even more. It added so much depth and humanity to the world. The depictions of sleep disorders made me quite glad to have my own less troublesome experience with sleep. The unexpected ending of the novel definitely sets this up for a sequel, which I would happily pick up. I'm also interested in checking out the podcast that this was apparently an adaptation of. Seems like it would work well in audio format. Would recommend the novel either way.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

An interesting read with a mysterious premise.

Some of the sidekicks added a bit of humor but if I was in a different mood I could easily have found them annoying.

The overall story line was full of so many activities that the story quickly became ridiculous to me. Speculative fiction may be that way anyway, but usually in a good way.

A lot of mixed feelings about this one. I think I’m landing on - it was just ok.

This book has a great premise, but I struggled to connect. The story felt slow and confusing at times and I just didn't care about the characters. I struggled to stay engaged and as a result found myself tuning out of the storyline (which could be a large reason I didn't love this one).
While not for me, this book is great for someone who enjoys a slow burn.

In "The Edge of Sleep" by Jake Emanuel, Willie Block, and Jason Gurley, an unsettling premise draws readers into a world where sleep takes a chilling twist. While intrigued by the concept, this book landed as a three-star read for me – it was decent, but not a standout favourite.

Dave Torres, a night watchman battling personal sleep troubles, finds himself in a waking nightmare when he wakes up to a world where everyone else is asleep and doesn't awaken. As Santa Mira, California, becomes deserted, Dave and his companions, including his ex-girlfriend Katie, best friend Matteo, and a new acquaintance named Linda, race against time to untangle the mystery and avoid sharing the same fate.

The story's foundation in a podcast adds perspective, clarifying some elements of its structure. Despite the intriguing premise, the book's characters felt underdeveloped, emphasizing plot over their own growth. The narrative seemed driven by events rather than character dynamics, which was a notable drawback for me.

While I appreciated the creative premise, "The Edge of Sleep" didn't fully captivate me. It was an okay read, but not one that became a favourite due to the somewhat underwhelming character portrayal. The plot carried the story, and while it didn't quite hit the mark for me, it still offers an interesting exploration of the eerie and unpredictable nature of dreams.

The Edge of Sleep By Jake Emanuel, Willie Block, Jason Gurley

I thought the premise of The Edge of Sleep sounded really good. But in all actuality, it was putting me to sleep. I felt that I couldn't connect with any of the characters or the storyline itself.

While I enjoyed this story - as I oddly enjoyed The Stand in late 2020 - I was disappointed by the conclusion and the vagueness of the ending (are they really alive? Are they perhaps zombies or something similar?) I guess even when reading science fiction I still hope for explanations that could be believable or rooted in fact.

I was really intrigued by the premise of this book (a nightwatchman realizes those who fall asleep died, and sets out to find out what's really happening) but a lot of it went over my head. I respect a little bit of mystery but it was too hard for me to follow. It may have been disjointed and vague on purpose, but I just ended up getting frustrated and made it harder to finish. I didn’t listen to the podcast but maybe existing fans will find this easier to process or digest.

Bizarre.

This type of novel is new to me, and my oh my was I not prepared. The premise is interesting, and it was a pretty great read. The ending really goes off whatever expected course I thought we were on, but it works for this bizarre world.

Dnf at 15% I cant get into this at all, the language and way the characters speak is way too hard for me to follow.

I was so excited to read this book but... I just don't get it? Maybe I'm not the intended audience. I honestly couldn't get through a single chapter, much less the whole thing. I even tried skipping forward to see if I just needed to get into it, but I can't understand this book.

(Actual: 3.25⭐, rounded down) HA! So.... this was a lot freakier to me than I thought it would be lol (aka yes, I got scared, especially as a fellow chronic insomniac 😭). THE EDGE OF SLEEP is a dystopian tale with elements of science-fiction & magical realism thrown in; it definitely felt very much like "Nightmare on Elm Street" where, essentially, if you fall asleep you die. I liked the overall pacing of the story - there was always something happening, with enough twists & turns to keep me engaged and continue reading. However, the ending...... now, don't get me wrong: I have nothing against open endings, nor do I think all stories need to end neatly wrapped with a bow. BUT. I can see how readers, myself included, wanted (and perhaps expected) a bit more and were left with more questions than answers. I wish the author was able to stick the landing, but ultimately believe they fell somewhat short. I'd still read more from Emanual & Block though, so I'm excited for what's to come in the future!

😴 This book is crazy!

😴 What I loved: I loved the concept. The thought of not being able to go to sleep was intense and impacted me beyond the words on the page. I loved the morbid, helpless feeling the story invoked. I loved the crazy dream sequences. I loved the random snippets about people who weren’t even connected to the main story but fell asleep and died. I loved the four main characters and the two secondary characters. I loved the banter. I was on a fantastic ride with this book! It is an original, creative, crazy, wild story!

😴 What I didn’t love: The ending. Huh? I’m confused, I’m angry, I’m disappointed, and I’m completely lost. I honestly have no clue what that ending was. Maybe I’m supposed to be confused? I don’t know. I DO know I would have preferred some kind of understandable conclusion or at least a clearer explanation.

😴 Until the strange conclusion, I LOVED the book and I still recommend it for anyone who loves speculative, dystopian, or apocalyptic fiction.

Thank you @NetGalley and @stmartinspress for an eARC of this book, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I dnfed this title, this was so boring. I wasn’t interested whatsoever. I didn’t care about the characters or the story. My brain would wonder as I was reading.

How scary would it be to have to stay awake in order to not die? In this creepy, dystopian novel, four people have to do just that. The night before, everyone that fell asleep did not wake up again; they died. Now, the four surviving have to try to figure out what caused this. This book was different and sometimes disjointed for me but I did like the premise of it.

The Edge Of Sleep by Jake Emanuel and Willie Block with Jason Gurley is a unique tale about a night watchman grappling with a sleep deprivation disorder. The twist? He discovers that sleep could mean death. Talk about intense! As he races against time, he must save himself and others from a fate that could spell their doom.

Some parts felt a bit far-fetched and unrealistic, and the ending left me somewhat disappointed.

Still, despite its flaws, the book kept me engaged, and I wouldn't mind checking out other works by these authors. Give it a shot and see what you think! (Linda - Guest Reviewer)

This novel is based on a podcast with the same name. The premise of the book spooked me! Dave wakes one morning and gradually realizes that most people in the world are dead. He teams up with other who haven't been taken yet and they figured out that when you fall asleep you die!. Now he and his band of survivors must stay awake and uncover the secret of this global epidemic! This book kept me on the edge of my seat. #thedgeofsleep #netgalley