3.5*

I really wanted to give this one a higher score and I was looking forward to entering a Golden Age, Great Gatsby type setting, btu I feel as though it didn’t quite live up to what I anticipated. I will mention, this book is a companion to The Chosen and the Beautiful, so it may make a bit more sense to those who have read the companion.

As a standalone, I was not given much information regarding what it meant to be a paper soldier. With regards to Nghi Vo’s writing, he could truly be made of paper, or he could be a writer who writes for a cause. Nevertheless, the story wanders off on its own bizarre escapade as we seem to talk to demons with people trapped in the ceiling. This is very much like a fever dream, but it has some really good angst.

If The Chosen and the Beautiful was a Greta Gatsby retelling, this story takes place after those events have occurred. Even though Jay Gatsby is “dead”, Nick encounters him in a nightclub. I don’t think this is the story for me, however, from other reviews, it does seem it would have been more impactful had I read the companion piece.

I’m really glad I decided to read The Chosen and The Beautiful first because I would’ve been a bit lost without the context of that book. The writing in this short novella is stunning and beautiful. I enjoyed seeing more to the story from The Chosen and The Beautiful and I wish we got maybe even a bit more than just this short novella. I’m a sucker for anything retelling wise and this mixed with Gatsby and magical elements had me hooked. Unfortunately, I do wish we got to see Nick fleshed out a bit more, because a full length novel with more character growth and backstory would’ve been a potential 5 star for me!

Thank you tordotcom and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies of this book and audio!

DNF at 25%

I received the ALC through NetGalley but I could not get into the story at all. Will retry later with the physical book..

I loved the haunting writing style and gothic world building. But dang it! I'm bummed this was marketed as a standalone. It definitely was not. It was a continuation of another story, with most of this book referencing back to characters, relationships, and events we current readers knew nothing about. I wish I had read the first book first.

Well, it was intriguing. I enjoyed the mysterious quality of it- the feeling of entering a speakeasy or a fever dream. But I can’t say I necessarily feel glad I read it? I think a big component was that I hadn’t realized this book was a companion novella to The Chosen & the Beautiful. I usually catch that sort of info in a blurb, but I think the lack of cohesive elements in the covers made it less obvious. I will read that other book someday and reevaluate my thoughts!

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.

Nick Carraway has been living as a novelist, pretending to be human. He's gotten much better at it, if he does say so himself. But on the eve of the second World War --seventeen years after the events of the summer of 1922 -- he discovers that someone has been watching him, and they know everything. Will he discover who is watching him and regain his memories?

So it wasn't until after I read this that I learned this was a companion novel that works well as an extended epilogue, and I didn't read either of those. BUT! Viewing this from a standalone point of view, this was excellently written. I wasn't really sure what a few things that were happening were, which I assume was explained in the novels, but for the most part I was taken on a wild ride of magic and demons and monsters. I love the idea of wearing someone else and the dead coming back, and I think I can definitely see myself rereading this after I dive into the novels because there is just so much to unpack and think about for something so short. I loved how it ended and I have so many questions that don't need to be answered but I would love to have them answered nonetheless. I'm starting to find that I really am enjoying Nghi Vo's writing and will most definitely be reading more by them.

Since this is a novella, I would only recommend this book to anyone who read The Chosen and the Beautiful. It is a continuation of that story. I love really anything that is The Great Gatsby related. This novella is not my favorite, but like I said, it does continue the story of the previous book.

This book felt like a fever dream. If you’ve read the great Gatsby, this book may make more sense. Because our main character is the author and knew Gatsby. This book had a bunch of different characters that were also the same people.
I was able to listen to this on audio, and the narrator did a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life.

This was a great companion to Nghi Vo’s “The Chosen and the Beautiful” and her alternate reality of what could exist within The Great Gatsby, if it were inhabited by demons and the fae.

Vo has an unmatched ability to create characterization in a novella format, but boy oh boy did I want this book to be longer - which is probably my only core critique! I wanted every forward plot point to go deeper.

(Spoiler) WHO IS THE WOMAN IN THE CEILING AND WHAT WAS SHE TRYING TO SAY???

The ending was heart shattering and so delicately done.

Magical realism is owned by Nghi Vo, you cannot tell me differently.

Thank you to NetGalley and @Macmillan.Audio for the audioARC of this elegant novella!

firstly, thank you to the publisher for sending me an alc!

i hadn’t realized that this was a companion to nghi vo’s the chosen and the beautiful, which is a great gatsby retelling. i think it’s rather fitting (and probably part of the reason) this novella is being published during the 100th anniversary of the classic novel.

i really enjoyed this queer, magical reality of the great gatsby in which nick stumbles upon jay one night at a club despite jay being dead, but think i would have enjoyed it a bit more if i had read the chosen and the beautiful.

as for the narrator, i think he did a fine job!

i’ll definitely be reading the rest of nghi vo’s backlist!

This book is marketed as a standalone and it can definitely be read as such, but I think that reading The Chosen and the Beautiful first is the right move. I haven't read that book and I was able to enjoy the story nonetheless. I've tried some Gatsby retellings before and they've all been either disappointing or infuriating (excluding Francesca May's Wild and Wicked Things). The inclusion of fantasy elements adds a really interesting and horrifying layer to the story. Demonic hunger as a metaphor for capitalism and the sacrifices that one makes for the American Dream is a really interesting way to explore those ideas. Unlike some other retellings/reimaginings this book feels like it's trying to say something with it's queerness and racial diversity. Specifically, I'm thinking about the YA Gatsby book I read a year or two ago and the current Broadway musical. I think that we should make these stories more diverse and authors should also think about the implication of diversity on the themes of the story. It just makes the text richer and more complex. What makes a retelling compelling is that the bones of the original story are taken and the author uses new elements to further expand on the existing themes. Also, I'll say that this narrator was quite solid if you're wanting to pick up the audiobook. I'll definitely be picking up The Chosen and the Beautiful at some point this year.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free audio-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A quick little novella. Definitely horror vibes which I was not expecting but that was because I hadn’t read the authors other works. You’ll enjoy this if you like historical, sapphic, fantasy/horror style books.

I really enjoyed the world, but wanted more from it. Love the author and her ease with storytelling. Just wanted more from this book.

A dark and compelling companion novel to The Chosen and the Beautiful that answered some outstanding questions and deepened character arcs.

Disclaimer: I received a physical copy of this book from Tor. But I did read this as an audiobook from NetGalley. Thank you so much to Tor and to NetGalley for the free copies. All opinions on my own. This is my honest and and voluntary review.

This was a very quick audiobook that absolutely answered some questions for me and gave some characters from the chosen of the beautiful more depth. This book mostly focuses on Nick and his life after the events in the chosen and the beautiful. We got a return of his relationship and how he feels surrounding Gatsby. It did not touch on any additional world building or a storyline or anything of that nature. It just really deep into the characters and gave some nuance.

Overall, I really liked this installation that gave more information about Nic. I really like where it left off and I hope that we get more companion novels in the future.

Audio Narration: 5/5 I enjoyed the narration quite a bit! Greg D. Barnett is the perfect voice for our older mature Nick Carraway!

This companion novella to The Chosen and the Beautiful feels a like an extended epilogue - one you didn't realize you needed, but now you can't imagine not having!

There is something wildly magic about Nghi Vo’s writing. I find myself completely engrossed - even in the mundane or monotonous scenes. I typically find slice-of-life style narratives repetitive and boring, but Nghi Vo’s ability to weave magic into everyday life is like a shot of adrenaline to my brain. I can’t stop reading, and I’m always hungry for more.

Don’t Sleep With the Dead was no exception.

I loved the exploration of paper-soldier Nick Carraway's life, the absolutely stunning prose, the magic and mythology, and the contrast of paranormal horrors to that of the everyday horrors of life.

I do think this works best as a companion to The Chosen and the Beautiful, if you choose to read as a true standalone I think you’ll be missing out! I read this directly after finishing The Chosen and the Beautiful and throughly enjoyed getting an “extended” version of the story.

My only complaint is that I could have easily enjoyed a longer version of the story. The narrative progresses fairly quickly and I just wanted a little more time to sit with this new version of Nick.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC and Tor Books for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Much like The Chosen and the Beautiful, Nghi Vo's writing style is especially equipped to fully transport the reader into the world she's created. This is something that I love about Vo's novels and is the reason I will continue to read anything she writes.

I thought that I wouldn't enjoy this book because of its start, but Nghi Vo has a way of captivating her readers and the more I listened, the more I wanted to know. I wanted to know Nick's story, his connections and how he hides his identity. Having read The Chosen and the Beautiful, I wanted to see what else Vo could conjure from the world of Gatsby and she didn't disappoint. Magic, demons, and deals, written in such a way where the reader can both imagine the desire and outcome and yet still crave just a little more.

A writer to whose work I will always return.

As always, Nghi Vo's prose is exceptional. This novella transported me briefly to another world. I felt all of Nick Carraway's emotions vividly, and I also was equally confused about what was happening as invested in the story.

This is technically a standalone companion to Vo's The Chosen and the Beautiful, but I would recommend reading TCATB before picking this one up for the fullest effect.

Greg D. Barnett delivered a great audiobook performance, I felt like the vibes were cinematic and the atmosphere was on point for the time period.

4/5 stars. Thank you to Nghi Vo, Macmillan Audio/Tordotcom, and Netgalley for the ALC/audio ARC.



A novella companion that occurs after the events of <i>The Chosen and the Beautiful</i>, a queer, inclusive reimagining of <i>The Great Gatsby</i>. Nick Carraway is surviving at the edge of WWII, watching the world move around him. But he catches a glimpse of Jay Gatsby and again, his world is thrust into the chase to find out <i>how?</i> and also <i>why?</i>.

Through acquaintances new and old, we travel alongside Nick as he tries to find the truth - or the version he's given. Nghi Vo's real talent shines in Nick's inner monologues and the ability to imbue emotion in the few pages (hours) in the novella. Her prose has a way of capturing my complete attention and satisfying the writer in me with the sheer talent. A wonderful addition to Vo's catalogue of fantastic novellas.

47-year-old Nicholas Carraway finds himself in New York and, between the lull and thrum spanning from Christmas to New Year’s, he misses Gatz. The missing hasn’t left Nick since 1922, but this episode starts when he catches a glimpse of Gatsby when the man should be dead. This sets Nick on a frantic pursuit in search of the supposed late Gatsby. Interestingly, this Nick is not the original Nick Carraway who died in an accident; rather, our main character is crafted out of old magic—a Nick made out of paper—to fight in the Great War in OG Nick’s stead. With the help from some liquid courage, demoniac, Nick bargains with the demon, December. In exchange for Nick’s paper heart, December will conjure Jay from the dead. Desperate for the reality and love of Gatsby, Carraway heartily accepts the trade. Carraway pays the price when Gatsby removes his crumped, bloody heart.

I must admit that I’ve never read <i>The Great Gatsby</I>, nor have I seen the film adaptations (I’m sorry). I’m guessing this reimagining would be significantly more wonderful if I were more familiar with Fitzgerald’s work. Additionally, the publisher advertises <i>Don’t Sleep with the Dead</i> as “a standalone companion novella.” This may be true—I haven’t read <i>The Chosen and the Beautiful</i> either (sorry). Again, I do wonder if I would’ve enjoyed this more (i.e., appreciate Vo’s unique eye for the fantastical to fortify the great novel) if I had. Since I’m seeing other readers rave about Vo’s newest, I’m guessing others should avoid my error and familiarize themselves with the aforementioned books (if you aren’t already) before starting Nick’s tale. Even though I wanted the sentences to grip me more, the story held my interest.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for an ARC. I shared this review on GoodReads on March 21, 2025 (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7423825764).