A very charming little book that makes a great beach read for a long afternoon. It was a bit predictable in so many ways but still enjoyed it. Good luck with the book and thanks for the early read.

3.5 ⭐

Relatively new-to-me author Will Dean turned the safe into the perilous and had me shovelling popcorn in a piggish proportions.

I loved how he harnessed the isolated setting trope and constructed the perfect stage for his suspense and drama. Drew, Peggy and Samson are cut off from the rest of the world as their narrowboat drifts away from the influence of society, creating heightened anxiety for both the reader and the characters. As the manipulation and gaslighting escalated, I could see the progression of the isolation as a character, influencing the arcs of those in the boat.

If you enjoy a dark and intense psychological thriller that explores human behavior in constrained conditions, and plenty of the implied to send your mind down some dark passages, you’ll want to investigate this twisty story. I appreciated the resilience in the face of adversity and cruelty, a unique narrative outcome and the role of wickedness.

Avail yourself of trigger warnings concerning abuse.

I was under no obligation to provide a review for this gifted copy.

Peggy and Drew are living an abnormal life on a canal boat after they decided to sell Peggy’s late mother’s house in an attempt to simplify their life. Both Peggy and Drew are aspiring writers searching for their big break and hoped that boat life would allow them more time to write. Their fourteen-year-old son, Samson, is trying to navigate life at a new school and suffers from relentless bullying due to his physical appearance. In an attempt to isolate his family, Drew continuously moves the canal boat further from civilization causing many daily hardships for his family.

When Peggy receives an offer from a publisher to buy one of her books, Drew simmers with jealousy and takes his frustrations out on everyone around him in different ways. As the boat continues to move farther down the canal, Drew’s manipulations grow to new heights that the family may not be able to survive.

This book strangely felt like a fever dream. I was impressed by how unsettled the author was able to make me feel about the life being led on the canal boat. I don’t often struggle with unlikeable characters, but Drew was something else! I can’t ever remember disliking a character this much. With that being said, both Peggy and Samson are lovely characters, and I enjoyed getting to know and rooting for both of them. While this one was not my favorite, I adore Will Dean and his writing. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next :)

Thank you to Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First off, thank you to NetGalley for early access to this amazing novel. I was fully interested from the first page until the end of the second epilogue.

Five. Big. Stars. ⭐️

Peggy, a mother and wife, just trying to find her way in life. She was quiet, polite and wanted the best for her son. Sadly, she fell into a trap that so many women fall into these days; leaving you to find out that part on your own.

Through the heartbreak, the story very slowly unfolds and Sammy is the glue to the family. He is such a strong, courageous young man. He is emotionally mature for his age and his ability to read the room doesn’t go unnoticed. I loved his outlook on the horrible school situations he was faced with — focusing on the bigger picture.

As far as Drew, there’s a special place in hell for that man. I’ll leave it at that and let yall make your own opinions about him.

This book tore me to shreds at the end for many reasons. The main one being the truth behind all this pain and how common these types of stories really are. I was nearly screaming for Peggy’s success at the end. If you read this book and related — please reach out for help. YOU MATTER! 🫶🏽 This book will stick with me for a long time.

I had no clue what to expect with this one as I went in blind. This was also my first introduction to Will Dean.

Let me start by saying, this book was HEAVY. Within the first few chapters I found myself feeling on edge solely from the suffocating and heart breaking family dynamic between Samson, Peggy, and Drew. Drew’s insufferable God complex had me holding my breath and feeling nervous for the other characters. And he’s SO manipulative?! Man, I seriously cannot stand this man. I can’t spoil anything but the things he put his family through are next level psycho.

Dean did an amazing job with this book and I am excited to read more of his releases. He has clearly mastered an atmospheric writing style. So much so that I kept wanting to jump through the pages and save this poor family (except Drew of course … I don’t like him if you didn’t notice). AND SAMSON??? PHOENIX?? I love a good plot twist and I did NOT see that one coming!!

All of that to say, I read this book in one sitting and will be recommending it to my fellow thrill lovers.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for providing this ARC. Excited for the release in February!

I’ve always wanted to sleepover on a houseboat! After reading Dean’s latest story, I’m questioning that desire! This story is propulsive, mysterious, and fascinating all at once. I had a hard time with some of the storyline dealing with abuse, but it is at the heart of this book, so it’s necessary. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. I felt the claustrophobia and tension with every mention of the boat. I don't think this is a thriller though, it's much more of a domestic drama; touching on abuse, gas-lighting and bullying. I hated Drew and was so tense with every interaction but that's a sign of a good author when you hate a character so passionately. Great book!

Will Dean masterfully crafts tension, creating an eerie, unsettling atmosphere where the ocean becomes both setting and sinister character. The plot unfurls like a tide, pulling you deeper with every chapter. Dean’s writing is sharp, cinematic, and emotionally charged, capturing both the physical danger and psychological unraveling that come with being utterly alone—and hunted.

What sets Adrift apart isn’t just the high-stakes premise, but the unsettling questions it poses about memory, trust, and desperation. The pacing is relentless, the twists are gut-punching, and just when you think you’ve found solid ground, Dean tips the boat again.

Fans of survival thrillers like The Woman in Cabin 10 or The Last One will devour this in one breathless sitting. It’s the kind of book that lingers, like salt on your skin and dread in your chest.

4.5 Stars due to the two chapters of epilogues. I preferred them to be condensed into a single paragraph, but I raised it to 5 stars because of the powerful, captivating storyline. I was thrilled to receive the ARC from NetGalley and Atria Publishers. It is scheduled to be released on February 17/2026, but books by Will Dean go immediately to the top of my reading list. The author writes intense psychological thrillers that are difficult to put down. My all-time favourite was 'The Last Thing to Burn', and I enjoyed 'The Chamber' and his Teva Moodysun series. I found 'Adrift' to be his darkest, emotionally intense, and heart-wrenching story yet.

Adrift explores isolation, gaslighting, mental control, abuse, ambition, and emotional torment. Drew has moved his wife, Peggy, and their fourteen-year-old son. Sampson, into a small, ramshackle houseboat, after he refused to receive any help from her Peggy's late, wealthy parents. The houseboat is situated in a remote canal in the Midwest, USA. Drew is not above murder to get what he wants. He once won an award as a promising writer and believes he is now writing a masterpiece.

In the cramped, claustrophobic space of the boat, he demands complete silence while he writes. Sam and Peggy are very protective of each other, but there is little they can do to escape Drew's wrath, so they pretend to agree with his demands. Drew allows the houseboat to drift farther from the bus stop and the school and library, which coincides with the psychological descent into emotional trauma.

Peggy volunteers at the town library, where she has secretly written a book that a publisher has accepted for publication. She hopes that this will provide the financial means to escape with her son. She applies for a paid position in a larger library. Both these attempts are sabotaged. There is little money for food or fuel for heating and running the boat, and Drew forces them to live in poverty. Peggy notices that her jewelry and items of clothing have been going missing, and is told that this is due to her ongoing confusion and memory loss. One time, Drew allows hot water for Peggy to take a bath, but she is confined to a mental asylum for an apparent suicide attempt while bathing.. Samson is told that he is forbidden from visiting her there.

Sampson is distressed by harsh words from his father and his mother's treatment. He is forced to walk a distance to the school bus since the boat is being moved further away from town. He is an excellent student and hopes to win a scholarship to college and to get away. He is relentlessly mocked and bullied by other students due to his skinny frame and poorly fitting used clothing. They attack him physically. Drew now insists his son take a paying menial job at his workplace, although he is underage. Sampson manages to make a good friend of an elderly man on a neighbouring houseboat and enjoys playing with the man's small dog. Both his elderly companion and the dog die, giving Sam more grief to contend with.

The book gradually builds an oppressive atmosphere through sharp, edgy writing. I was riveted to the pages, wondering if there was any hope for Peggy and Sampson, but dreading the outcome.
Highly recommended!

Will Dean's Adrift is an intense thriller that grips you from the first page and refuses to let go. I read 25% before bed and woke up at 3am and had to keep reading. The novel explores the chilling effects of mental abuse, isolation, and control. It's a book that is unputdownable—but be warned: it may be triggering for many readers.

The story follows a couple’s supposed dream getaway, which quickly unravels into a psychological ordeal. What begins as a an idyllic escape becomes a slow-burn horror as Peggy realizes she is not safe, not even from the man she thought she knew.

Adrift is a chilling examination of mental abuse. Dean doesn’t rely on graphic violence or cheap thrills; instead, he delves deep into the emotional torment of gaslighting, manipulation, and coercive control. As a reader, you feel trapped right alongside the victim.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Adrift explores the slow unraveling of a family isolated on a canal boat, and while the emotional tension builds steadily, the pacing sometimes drags. The premise is compelling — two struggling writers, a bullied son, and a husband increasingly resentful of his wife’s success — but I found it difficult to fully connect with the characters.

Will Dean does a good job capturing the creeping claustrophobia of isolation and toxic patterns within a family unit, but I wanted more payoff from the buildup. Some of the plot developments felt more frustrating than suspenseful.

It’s well-written and atmospheric, but for me, it didn’t quite deliver the intensity or resolution I hoped for. Still, a solid read for fans of slow-burn domestic thrillers.

Adrift is an intense book and I loved every minute of it. It’s very well written and a powerful story. There’s abuse involved so keep that in mind if that’s a trigger warning for you.

5 stars-“My existence is a bare wall in a jail cell, each year checked off with a short, well-chewed pencil.”

I felt like this entire novel was me holding my breath, trying to be quiet so I didn’t disturb Drew or his writing even though he is just a character you feel his presence looming over. There is so much tension and claustrophobia in the story and in the writing that you feel deep into your heart as you read. Just the opening chapter alone…

I give so much credit to Will Dean for writing what seems to be a very personal novel. It is outstanding in so many ways and so very different from anything that I have read. Peggy and Sammy will be with me for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc. This will for sure be on my best books of the year list!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of Adrift.

This book had me in an absolute chokehold... I could not put it down! As beautiful as it was heart-wrenching. Will Dean has an incredible talent for writing deep, gritty, interpersonal stories and this was his best, by far, in my opinion. I'll be recommending this book to anyone who will listen.

5 big stars!!

Will Dean, usually delivers sharp, edgy thrillers that grab you by the throat, but Adrift is a different kind of beast—an oppressive, psychological descent that’s as dark as it is emotionally intense. Set on a houseboat with Peggy, Samson, and Drew, the story starts with isolation and only grows more suffocating as the trio drifts miles from civilization—physically and emotionally.

This is not a plot-driven thriller but a slow, methodical spiral into trauma, grief, and the unraveling of human connection. As the characters travel deeper into unfamiliar waters, they also drift further from each other and themselves. The claustrophobia, both literal and emotional, is thick throughout.

While Adrift isn't my favorite Dean novel, it’s undeniably gripping in its own haunting way. The pacing is slow, but that slow burn builds toward an intersecting and emotionally bruising ending. A tough, often bleak read, but one that lingers.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Of course, all,opinions are my own.

Adrift is a slow-burning, emotionally intense read about a family living on a canal boat, trying to chase their writing dreams while barely holding it together. Peggy is the heart of the family, doing her best while her son deals with bullying and her husband, Drew, starts unraveling when her writing career takes off. The further they drift from society, the more cracks begin to show especially as Drew’s behavior turns manipulative. It’s a raw look at ambition, isolation, and the damage of repeating old patterns. Tense, beautifully written, and at times heartbreaking.

4 stars

Drew once one a writing contest and that win lives in his head. Now he, wife Peggy and son Samson live a subsistence life on a ramshackle house boot in a canal near Cairo, Illinois. Samson is a scholarship student at a local school where he is bullied relentlessly. Both Peggy and Samson dream of breaking free while Drew gaslights Peggy and emotionally terrorizes the family.

I loved Dean’s THE CHAMBER and the book led me to choosing this one. It was second novel in a row involving spousal abuse, which is a bit much, but this one was far better than the last. This was tough to read at various times, but a good book. Unlike in my last book, I understand (to a point) why Peggy feels like she cannot leave her marriage. A reader feels the claustrophobia she and Sam must live with.

Oh, one quibble. I’ve said this before. British/European writers who want to write books set in America, that will have a large American audience, should really consider having an American read the book before it goes to press! Americans don’t worry about “bailiffs” coming to the door, or dress out in football “kit,” and you know we’re not talking about the same game? It’s the little things!

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Emily Bestler Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Adrift is dark and pay psychological, really delving into family dynamics and our relationships with those outside our family. First, be aware that in exploring family there is also the exploration of abuse. Not surprising given the siloed world Drew tries to create as he writes a novel that will showcase his talents, believing that he needs quiet that living on a boat with son and wife just really shouldn’t be expected to give, and the extreme control he exerts on them.

Peggy and Samson, Drew’s family, try to edge around Drew but have their own struggles in addition to the toxic environment he has created. And with that, we have an intense story with plenty of mysteries. While not consistent (I wasn’t a fan of the ending), the story will haunt you.

This was intense and hard to read, but very powerful. Definitely a trigger warning for abuse. But very well-written and I read it all at once because I didn’t want to put it down.