A dark and intimate look into mental health. Told in a unique way it dances on the border of realities. This was a difficult read but one that was also gripping.

If you appreciate stories that leave you questioning the boundary between reality and illusion, coupled with a generous dose of body horror and a taste of the bewildering nature of navigating the healthcare system, "The Patient Routine" might be the right choice for you.

The stream of consciousness narrative style lends itself to a swift and absorbing reading experience. The story's ability to immerse you directly into the depths of the horror within Ashton's internal world during their ordeal is palpable, creating an atmosphere of oppression and dread that keeps you engrossed.

While the central character may not be particularly likable, their complexity and the heart-wrenching nature of their condition make them compelling. It's difficult not to become emotionally invested in their story, adding an extra layer of poignancy to the narrative.

I appreciated the way the format and chapter headings of this book reflected the mental health of the character and increased the unreliable narrator vibe. Reading it also made me feel like I was going crazy with the character, kind of like in House of Leaves. The book was as long as it needed to be and I'm glad it wasn't needlessly extended. The reading experience probably would've been better as a physical book, as the format could be tricky to follow on Kindle/e-reader.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishing house, for sending me this e-arc to read and review. This was a great book. I read it here a few months ago and loved it. The cover art is beautiful, and the writing style is beautiful. I can't wait to see what else this author comes out with in the future. It's such a spooky read that I recommend people to read.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for providing this ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Gosh this novel, THIS ONE. RIGHT HERE. Had me guessing and wondering what was ACTUALLY real. It was such a good little disturbingly wonderful book. I will most definitely add this to my "read again" list!!!

There are Trigger warnings, so please check them out before reading.

A disturbing story related as a poem. It gives one empathy and understanding of a patient’s response to self and what is happening in the hospital. This poem/story is an exploration of a mind searching for answers. Will the patient find out about his self and death? It is a unique poem/story..

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This book focuses strongly on mental health and the chapter titles and text format often reflects the mental state of Ashton. The format did make it a little difficult for me to read at times but I still appreciated what it was for and the overall effect. It’s the kind of horror that makes it difficult to tell what is real and what isn’t all the way through and can be spooky at times. I did, however, think the trigger warnings at the end should be at the beginning as some themes could be potentially triggering to some people but not many people look to the end for trigger warnings and assume if they aren’t at the beginning it’s safe.

I have to start by saying I hated the layout of this book. Quite hard to read and follow and be honest very annoying. I found the story was quite jumbled and all over the place to which may be the point but for me personally it was hard to follow and get engrossed in. I also found myself with so many unanswered questions reading the book and parts where I was just confused.

It was a shorter book so quite a quick read. There was parts of the book I did like such as how the author approached mental health in regards to the characters experiences and struggles (as someone who is also a mental health sufferer).

I think the story was okay but could have elaborated in parts giving more details and going more in-depth. I also think the writing style/format really let the book down.


*I was given an advance readers copy (ARC) from NetGalley for my honest opinion of this book*

Nasty in the best way. The format is perfect for this type of an unreliable narrator and this type of an anxiety-based horror, and it really worked for me. The emotions were truly coming through to me and it was a thrilling read. Great job.

TW: Mental illness, violence, death, suicide, self harm

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was intense … in a good way! I found it to be soo good and the writing was so unique. I really did love it. I read it in one sitting .. it was a short story but I wish it was longer.

Thank you netgalley!
#ThePatientRoutine #NetGalley

This was a dark look into the mind of Ashton. From hallucinations that make you feel like you are losing your mind, to startling visions of the terror inducing sort. This story was a short story that approaches mental health and identity in a dark and grasping way. The fluidity of the story really adds to the overall spook factor and I hated to put it down.

TW: Mental illness, violence, death, suicide, self harm, transphobic behaviors
What an incredible read! This book was unnerving and beautiful in it's own sense. It touches on how healthcare systems treat repeat patients and transgender individuals. It is a book that deserves additional read throughs and a full dig-in as there are surely underlying messages and meanings. The way the story is written is haunting and anxiety inducing. It is so wildly unique and I would love to see another story written similarly. I ate this book up in one sitting and cannot wait for more from this deserving author.

This really did feel like a fever dream. Although its short, it had my attention from start to finish. Its a kind of psychohorror I enjoy (minus the insects).

I would suggest checking the TW/CW before reading if inclined.
I was drawn in by the interesting description of The Patient Routine, and it was a quick and engaging read. The story touched on sensitive issues and made me question what was real and what was in the main character's mind. The book was quite graphic, which I found exciting, and it dealt with heavy topics too. I liked its uniqueness, with sections organized by time instead of regular chapters. However, I struggled with the layout of the words, making it hard to read smoothly due to the scattered text on the pages.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC

I have read many summaries that say the book is like a fever dream but never have I agreed with that assertion but in The Patient Routine by Lunary Haul his execution of a panicky over sensitized paranoid patient Aston who is just perfect. He goes to see the doctor it worries about everything from the patient having surgery to the doctor and when the hospital goes on lockdown his paranoia hits 1000 this is a great book and one I found very entertaining and although it isn’t very long it is very interesting I usually get annoyed when a character is paranoid or panicky but found Ashton to be very likable and even lovable it’s a great book and one I highly recommend I love the authors books and can’t wait for the next one. I want to think Net Galley and Bridget Gates press please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Two and a half, actually, but I will always round up for queer voices writing from the heart, because deep down, warts and all, that's what this is.
I get what the author is trying to do, with the stream of consciousness and the verse writing, but for me it didn't work; it was WAY too long to be done exclusively in verse and chaos. No matter the turmoil in a character's head, the reader needs some kind of structure to navigate the plot. Because there is a plot, by the way. I strongly believe that in a more extended form, with verse strictly rationed, I'd have gone nuts for this one. I can see, however, that plenty of people are already going nuts for this wee gem, so maybe it's just me.
My recommendation? Give it a go. Life is too short to bypass a 70-odd page story that may end up your next favorite thing.

This was a haunting story about a person named Ashton who believes they are dying. It's gross with body and insect horror, Ashton's hallucinations are scary and would have anybody running for the hills.

I had to dnf about 20% of the way in. I’m not sure if it was just my Kindle, but the format was all jumbled and I had a hard time reading it. I think I would have really enjoyed this one, but with a physical copy instead.

This was a hard to read story - not because of the subject matter, though the transphobia was all too real - but mostly because of the writer's stylistic choices. It was disorienting both in the context of the story but also to myself as a reader, and there were significant chunks where I simply couldn't pay attention or understand what was being said.

Overall, there was a vast, well-done amount of anxiety and gore, but I personally feel it was let down a little by the style choice.

This was an extremely visceral and panic stricken read. I enjoyed it a lot at first, it lost me a bit in the middle but it had a good ending. It was written in an interesting type of prose. The anxiety and panic of the character was very well described and you really felt for the character.