I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Emma is sick and not getting better. Because she’s ill she and her daughter live with her mother, her abusive stepfather and his daughter. She meets Adan- perfect in every way— but is he? Adam is married to Celeste but he wants out- but she has the money, can he concubines Emma to. Be part of his plan or does she have her own agenda? A wild read that will keep you guessing!

Sick to Death by Chris Bridges

A riveting first book by this author , hopefully they will have a few up their sleeve as I'm a fab of their work.
I really enjoyed how the story slowly unfolded and gently drew me in .
I felt sorry for Emma and her debilitating illness and the lack of care & understanding from those around her .
The book picked up space as we found out more and a few twists were thrown in to get us guessing.
Really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Sick to Death was a little unconventional and that gave it an edge amongst books with a similar overarching plot. I’d best describe this as a unique take on Strangers on a Train with the understanding that this isn’t hard to guess from the blurb or the heart of what’s happening at the book (so no spoiler). What is at the heart of this is a woman who is ill with a sickness not revealed until the end, with a lack of support or belief from those who should be advocating for her and helping her. When she meets a charismatic man who does believe her, what unfolds is wildly different that most other thrillers and mysteries and won’t be guessed at.

I loved the second part of this book when the perspectives moved away from Emma, our sick main character, to others. While I have nothing against Emma (except her obsession with birds, though it did serve the plot) and she was a great way for the reader to feel as isolated and lonely in per perspective as she was in life, the inclusion of others added to the tension and really moved the action along as well. The culmination of our main mystery was done quickly and perhaps a little too neatly but since that wasn’t the real ending, I felt this finished strongly in the true endings and left me feeling unsettled. A great book if you want a slow creeper that is more of a psychological thriller. I’d also recommend reading the author’s note to understand some context begin the idea for the book and to gain some education if you’ve not experienced, personally or through those close to you, the absolute horrendous journey a person can take in figuring out why they’re sick when it’s not obvious in the traditionally found ways.

"Sick to Death" is a compelling and emotional novel that follows the journey of Emma, a woman dealing with a severe neurological illness. Confined to her home, she struggles with the reality of being unable to care for her daughter, relying heavily on her mother and stepfather for support. Life seems bleak and stagnant until she meets a compassionate doctor who brings a new sense of hope and possibility.

Emma's relationship with the doctor becomes a central focus of the story, offering her a glimpse of a brighter future. However, their budding romance is complicated by the doctor's marriage, adding layers of tension and moral conflict. The novel deftly explores the lengths to which Emma will go to pursue the life she dreams of, raising questions about the true nature of happiness and the sacrifices required to achieve it.

The story is filled with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. Trust is broken, friendships are forged and tested, and moments of heartbreak are balanced by glimmers of hope. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making their struggles and triumphs deeply affecting.

This was one of the bets thrillers I've read. I couldn't put it down and it left me with questions and got me thinking. It's a wild ride and I don't know how to explain it without giving too much away. If you like thrillers you should give this one a go.

This is a slightly different psychological thriller than I usually read. A thought provoking storyline with plenty of twists and turns but also things happened that I didn’t expect. It’s a very good portrayal of the isolation and frustration that someone with a chronic illness experiences. It felt a bit like marmite with the characters,you either loved or hated them. All in all a great debut novel.

Pretty cool thriller! you can pretty much guess what will happen but not quite how it will happen, and the how is VERY interestingly done. cool protags too. 4 stars. would recommend.

This is absolutely brilliant, an excellent psychological thriller which is disturbing, gripping and scary. It's quite sinister because the reader has no idea what it's all building up to. I found it thought provoking as it gives a unique insight into what it might be like to live with a disabilitating illness. I liked the bird anecdotes. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

As someone who suffers from chronic pain I was intrigued by this book. I think the author portrayed Emma really well, I really related to her and could feel her desperation to escape her situation. It was a great thriller, with plenty of twists and turns.

I really enjoyed it and would happily read other books by the same author in the future.

A really interesting depiction of a protagonist with a chronic illness. At the beginning, none of the characters are particularly likeable but they grow on you as you discover more about them. There are a lot of twists and turns which keep you intrigued until the end. A really good read.

Thanks Netgalley for the free ARC! This novel was very well written and engaging. However, I thought the denouement was unbelievable with many bits and pieces that would not have been conceivable. All in all, I enjoyed reading and I do recommend this book. This is my honest opinion and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

A different type of thriller with a unique plot. Emma suffers from an invisible illness, and the author did a wonderful job with making me feel empathy for Emma’s struggle and isolation; that exceptional character development helped explain how she made the choices, and made the plot more believable. Suspenseful, thought-provoking, with a satisfying end, this is a five star thriller!

Thanks for the opportunity to read in advance!

I received an ARC for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Sick to Death by Chris Bridges is a story about Emma, a woman with an invisible disability, who dreams of living a normal life without the pity of others surrounding her. When she meets Adam, a handsome man outside of the hospital, Emma feels that her life could be changing in a good way. All that currently lies in her path aside from her illness is some of their family and she dreams about how to remove them as obstacles.

After much planning, Emma is confronted by the ugliest of truths and enlists the most unlikeliest of allies after a plan falls flat. With a new goal at the ready, Emma and her new accomplice set about a way to right the wrongs handed to them. When their plans are prematurely discovered, Emma and her newfound friend have to change tactics so that their devious plans and friendship wouldn't be discovered as the bodies pile up around them.

The story was good although it took a lot of build-up to get to a quick and tidy ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Chris Bridges for the ARC.

There’s an interesting cast of characters, including the main character with a debilitating neurological condition. The plot had potential with a few different strands and possible directions.
Unfortunately, it didn’t really work for me as a thriller. I didn’t feel much tension or threat and found it quite meandering.
I can see from other reviews that others enjoyed it much more, but I’m sorry to say it wasn’t one for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK

I absolutely loved this! As someone that also suffers from an invisible chronic illness, I think the author captured the isolation and frustration brilliantly. I liked the writing style and jumping between the characters points of view. Refreshingly different.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC, I look forward to more from this author.

There’s a lot to like about this book, the plot which is unique and the twists. Unfortunately I can’t stand the characters! The story is good and probably not like anything I have read before but the people spoilt it for me.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for this ARC. The publication date is 27th Feb 2025. Wow, where do I even begin with this book it was a nail- biting and disturbing thriller with many twisty moments throughout!

I found it thought- provoking and moving I really liked the main character Emma. This is definitely a must read for 2025 and for all thriller fans.

I’d highly recommend this book I wish I could read it again it was that good!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟stars

This book was a really good psychological thriller! It really had me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen next. There were lots of twists and turns, and a lot of things that happened but I was not expecting to. Very good

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Emma is not at all well. Despite her frequent visits to hospital, with scans and examinations being the norm, no one can give a definite diagnosis. This doesn’t help Emma win any popularity contests at home, where step dad Peter does his obnoxious best to belittle and demean her. Relegated to sleeping on the sofa due to Peter really, really needing an office, Emma is desperate to find alternative accommodation for herself and daughter Ava. A chance meeting with handsome doctor Adam leads Emma to become besotted with him and her daydreams of a life together flourish.

For a debut novel this is soooooo good! An author to watch out for.

The characters were definitely in two camps, love or hate, no sitting on the fence here. I defy anyone not to shout NO at the relationships, you will get totally caught up in the story.

Great plot, superb characters, an OMG ending!

Brilliant!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. I was really impressed by this debut novel, absolutely loved it. Great characters with lots of depth and growth. The storyline evolved in such a clever way and I was totally hooked right till the end. A suspenseful and complex story with many layers and a fantastic ending. Highly recommended. 5 stars