I'm so conflicted with how to write this review and what to rate it because I equally loved and hated so many parts of it. I do not like long chapters in books and these seemed to go on for awhile. The chapters were so long I sometimes found it hard to remember what I had previously read. The bouncing back and forth between Johnny & Madison was a little confusing. Although this did have horror aspects, to me it was more of a psychological thriller. I also did not care for the horse getting shot. I preferred Madison's story over Johnny's which is why I'm conflicted on the review. I will give it a middle ground rating. It was just okay for me.

I recall reading "The Stone Man" from this author about 10 years ago, and I really enjoyed it. I had a good feeling starting this one -- and I was right. It's good.

The dual narratives didn't make sense for a while, but when they did, it worked for me. I enjoyed Madison's tale a little more, but both were full of tension, pain, and extremely well-written. It's creepy, psychologically taxing and hurts to read.

That's all I'll say -- I enjoyed this, and the author is quite talented.

Will I read more from the author? Yes.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

This was a well written mystery with supernatural bits that made it a very entertaining read. The characters are especially well done and it was a jolly good time following the story from their pov. It was a nonstop ride of thrills and questionable life choices. Not the most moving book in the platform, but certainly an enjoyable one.

I'll Quit When I'm Dead was an interesting psychological thriller. The story definitely has dark moments and suspenseful moments. I think the biggest issue for me was that the storylines of the two main characters just didn't merge well so the story never reached a point of seamlessness. Each character's POV just felt like a really long story that was taking too long to develop. It wasn't a bad story by any means.

This was such a fun and creepy read! I’ll Quit When I’m Dead pulls you in right away with two gripping storylines that keep you turning the pages. Madison’s experience at the intense boot camp is full of suspense, and Johnny’s fight with addiction—and what’s lurking in the shadows—is chilling and unforgettable.

The book is fast-paced, dark, and really makes you think about what people will do to change their lives. Luke Smitherd does a great job blending real-life struggles with horror in a way that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking.

If you like stories with a twist and keep you guessing, this one is definitely worth picking up!

This story was a great twist of psychological thriller and horror. The whole premise on how far people will go to fix themselves was the price you have to pay is unique. This book is perfect for spooky season.

I found this book to be an enjoyable read. The story kept me engaged from start to finish and had some moments that really stood out. Overall, it offered an entertaining reading experience.

About three quarters of the way through this book I started mentally creating my review and it began with "While the connection between the two stories is revealed early on in the novel, I feel they would work better as two separate stories to be more fleshed out."

Oh, how wrong I was. Luke Smitherd, I will try to not doubt you in the future.

This novel seamlessly blends the two stories to their ends and has you caring about the characters as death seems to wait for them on each and every page. Madison is going through a tough time, she dropped out of college, went through a breakup, and is currently unemployed. She hears about an intensive workout class (think CrossFit Cult on steroids) from a friend at the gym, who returned from the month long intensive essentially a whole new person. Madison signs up, but as the class gets going and she learns more and more, and punishments become more extreme, she wonders just how far she is truly willing to go to change herself, and what exactly she wanted to change in the first place. In the other story, Johnny is a musician who is struggling with addiction and leaning on an old friend for somewhere to stay while he tries to kick it. But the house seems to have its own plans for Johnny that are inescapable, after all, some agreements are more than legally binding.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in cult stories, insane workouts, and psychological and folkloric horror. Luke Smitherd, I'm already waiting for the next book that your mind creates.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this novel, I am leaving this review of my own choice.

This was a bit disturbing, but a good psychological thriller should be.

Two people who really want to fix themselves

Madison and Johnny have issues. Serious issues and the time has come to fix that. But the way they go about things is not great.

The chapters were so long and really I didn’t see much connection in their stories. And the expletive could have been lessened.


NetGalley/ Little, Brown and Company October 14, 2025

I liked the conflicting yet similar battles each character was facing. I think a point in all our lives, we fall to the "lesser than" rabbit hole and do similar things to fix our lives.

While I didn't like the ways these characters kept their obsessions going, I did like the way the author executed the resolution.

Thank you so so much to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for this ARC!

This was a pretty delicious dark thriller. It was also my first book by Smitherd. And it definitely will not be my last.

Creepy, underlying dread, supernatural monsters, and the ever-present frenemy. Two totally different characters are out to improve their lives, but forces beyond them, dark forces, just don't want them to succeed.

This was so gripping and intriguing. I was dying to find out how these two stories would converge. My one and only issue: long chapters. They made the story feel like it was longer than it was which stole from the thrill and suspense.

I just want to give a shout out to the person I follow on instagram who posted this book in her upcoming book releases to watch out for list! The cover caught my eye and I was lucky enough to snag a gifted copy on netgalley, and I ended up really enjoying it! I wish I could remember your name but thank you anyway 😆🙏🏻

This is my first book by this author and definitely won’t be the last!

“I’ll quit when I’m dead” is a masterpiece of Psychogical horror, there are elements in the story that really get under your skin with their realism and psychological components and it’s definitely one that sticks with you long after you’ve finished reading.

Expect to be up all night unable to put the book down but I do recommend keeping on your lights after dark because it gets super creepy 😆😆

Thank you to Luke Smitherd, Mulholland books and little brown and company for the arc!

Publishes: October 14th for spooky season

This book is a wild, creepy ride—and I mean that in the best way. "I’ll Quit When I’m Dead" follows two people in crisis: Madison, who signs up for a super intense fitness boot camp that quickly turns... very weird, and Johnny, a musician trying to kick his pill addiction in a remote cottage—only to find something terrifying lurking there, watching his every move.

Luke Smitherd blends real-world struggles with some truly unsettling horror, and he does it with sharp writing and just the right amount of dread. Both stories pull you in fast and keep you guessing, with a theme that hits hard: how far would you go to fix your life?

If you're into smart, eerie horror with a side of emotional punch, definitely give this one a go.

Shocking great at first I was like I don’t
Know of I like it as I kept reading I’m like him and then I hit the twist and I was like yes this is it such a great book that will pull you right on in I will recommend

Review of Digital Galley

Sometimes, life needs to take a different path.

Madison, determined to do something positive for herself, signs up for a fitness/mental residential boot camp called No Days Off. But is the extreme camp really the answer she’s seeking and is Ellie really concerned with her best interests?

Musician Johnny Blake, troubled with OCD, takes a nasty fall during his concert and ends depending on pain pills. In an effort to get his life back on track, he decides to spend some time detoxing in a remote cottage, courtesy of his friend, Ivan. But what is hiding in the cottage? And why has the Boggart come for Johnny?

=========

This disturbing tale, mostly a psychological thriller about two people desperate to “fix” themselves, puts Madison in the position of being manipulated while Johnny dealings with the Boggart bring into play the supernatural aspects readers have come to expect from a horror story. There’s an underlying sense of dread that keeps the readers on edge as the unfolding story shows the ramifications of dire choices

But . . . L-O-N-G chapters have a tendency to impede the story and pull readers out of the telling of the tale. And there’s only the most tenuous of connections between Johnny’s story and Madison’s story. In addition, the overuse of a particularly offensive expletive . . . one that does absolutely nothing to move the story along . . . is likely to offend many readers.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Little, Brown and Company / Mullholland Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#IllQuitWhenImDead #NetGalley

This book is publishing in October just in time for spooky season. This was a fun read for me, I thought it was intriguing from the synopsis and was thrilled when I received the approval. Thank you NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the eARC in exchange for my review.

The story follows two main characters, Johnny and Madison who are both struggling with their own monsters/personal demons. This book is more psychological horror then anything with some some supernatural elements and body horror. Honestly this book was completely unpredictable in the best possible way and I ate it up. Such a fun read!!

Oh what a fun read! This is one where there are two main stories going and you don't really know how they will tie together but once they do it's so satisfying. By far one of the best endings I've read in a while!
This is definitely a story where you're not sure where it's going since the two main characters are nowhere near each other in every sense of the word. Keeps you guessing until the end, then leaves you smiling.
Very straightforward and easy read; a great book to read to unwind at the end of the day.

This book had an interesting premise but I really just wasn’t interested once I started reading it. I really can’t consider it really “horror” as I expect it but more a psychological thriller-ish anyway. But the two stories didn’t really mesh or have the ability to suck me in really. It just wasn’t the format for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: I'll Quit When I'm Dead by Luke Smitherd
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Horror
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: October 14, 2025
📖 384 pages

Extreme Weight Loss Boot Camp
OCD Representation
Alternate World
Psychological Abuse

Review: This is such a strange horror. It bounces between Johnny, a rocker with OCD and a penchant for trouble, and Madison, a young lady who feels she lacks discipline and enrolls in a hardcore boot camp. I was fairly entertained by the twist in Johnny's story, seeing as it actually felt like I was reading a horror story, but felt that Madison's story was upsetting because of how she's manipulated and, though the boot camp operated more like a cult, it wasn't truly horror and wish it had been written to mesh a bit better with Johnny's.

While this one wasn't for me, I feel that if you enjoy horror with psychological aspects, you might want to give I'll Quit When I'm Dead a read!

Thank you so much Mulholland Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy!

I really enjoyed Madison and Johnnys story. This book was definitely unsettling but in the best way. I think it will be perfect for an October release also the cover is amazing just saying