Insomnia audiobook

This was the most fun I've had reading a thriller in a while. The beginning was so slow, I actually almost DNF'ed it a few times, but then it got so interesting and creepy around 80 pages in and I was hooked. Nearly finished the whole book in a day. Wasn't a huge fan of the twist near the end, I thought it was a little obvious, but there's some interesting things that happen toward the end of this book that I didn't expect, that is wild and a little ridiculous like some of this authors other books, but still a really fun time. I included this in a thriller reading vlog: https://youtu.be/JYo8g2YQKtY

What the freaking heck I just read! I saw so many mixed reviews and I was absolutely curious if I will be hater or liker after reading this psychological thriller! Blurb was so tempting! Lack of sleep can open the lock of the secret door that gets you to the madness kingdom. Without giving much information, I can only admit few things:First of all: I liked this book! Even though the perpetrator’s reasoning to orchestrate the incidents was a little far fetched. But like one of the biggest slapper says ( who-must-not-be-named ) : “love makes you do crazy things” Secondly: Emma is absolutely likable character who reminds me of a juggler: trying so hard to balance all those balls above her head, multitasking all the time by putting the others first. She’s successful lawyer, working 12 hours a day and then comes back home to finish the chores her stay at home- lazy- most dislikable husband left behind, reading bed stories to her little boy. She’s not invincible ! After all those pressures and the secret past: the not so dead mother she hides from her family, having an accident at the facility she’s locked thirty years ago, unexpected arrival of her sister Phoebe and her upcoming 40th birthday are the reasons of her insomnia. How can she sleep when she’s going to be at the same age her mother’s psychological condition deteriorated! Thirdly: I still absorb the revelations about the mystery about those numbers and the reason of Patricia’s madness! Fourthly: the reason I rounded my 3.5 stars to 4 is THAT AMAZING AND SMART ENDING! If you read “Behind Her Eyes”, you’re gonna adore this part! But you should read the book or watch the brilliant Netflix adaptation at first ( or do both for comparing the differences ) Overall: Even though I find some explanations a little exaggerated, the high tension, the suspense and mystery’s unfolding, gripping and riveting storytelling were great. Most of the characters are definitely annoying but at least I loved Emma! Go blind with this story! Be open minded! Expect the unexpected to enjoy the full and absolutely crazy wild ride!

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!Will somebody please get this woman some melatonin?!The big Four-O is quickly approaching, and no one is more anxious about her birthday than Emma Averell. While she seemingly has the perfect life as a successful high powered divorce attorney, a stay at home husband, and two beautiful children, time is not on her side. At 40, her mother went mad and ended up in a psychiatric facility. Emma is just like her mother because she is also the second child. Is she doomed to the same terrible fate?Twelve days before her birthday, Emma begins to suffer from terrible insomnia. She is slowly losing time and is compelled to do the same things her mother did right before she went mad.Rattle the locks, stand at the window, mumble numbers, check the cupboard…“Oh look, look a candle, a book and a bell, there to remind me…”When she is accused of murdering her mother, a chain of events is set into motion that threaten to upend Emma’s perfect life. Is Emma a murderer? Could she be going mad too?Insomnia is Sarah Pinborough’s best thriller since Behind Her Eyes. Emma is a terrific unreliable narrator and had me guessing until the very end. While I did guess the Who, I did not figure out the Why. Some readers may feel that the book is overly repetitive, but there are frequent hints at new clues so I never lost interest. And, it is super creepy!While I am not 100% satisfied with the reveal, it is more plausible than the plots of many of her previous thrillers. I disliked Emma’s blatant favoritism of her younger son and the gaslighting trope is becoming overused in thrillers. Once again, the epilogue is unnecessary.However, if you are looking for a twisty, creepy thriller, I think you will enjoy this one!4/5 starsExpected publication date 4/12/22Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for the ARC of Insomnia in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars It’s twelve days until Emma Averell’s fortieth birthday which is much more significant to her than most people as it links to her childhood and what happens as her mother approaches forty. Emma is still carrying the trauma of it as it haunts and overhangs her life. We’re on a countdown to her birthday and that’s a rollercoaster ride as we hurtle towards it with a number of serious incidents accumulating and careening Emma to the edge of a mentally destructive precipice. A cruel bout of insomnia exacerbates her state, is she going mad, losing her mind …. Or??? Sarah Pinborough has a way of yanking you into a plot and keeping you transfixed frequently with your mouth open in shock as the plot unfolds. There are so many clever elements to this that it’s impossible to mention them all but suffice it to say they all combine really well in another original novel. It’s conceptually amazing, in fact it’s like navigating Hampton Court maze as you reach dead ends in your thought processes and have to track back until you find the truth path. You cast a wide net of suspicion and there are several characters that give you more than just cause. Emma’s portrayal is powerfully conveyed especially her tortured soul, her insomnia, her confusion, her past, her relationships and her love for her children. I especially like how the author has shone a light on the difficulties of balancing a high powered and responsible job (Emma is a lawyer) with that of motherhood. As Emma unravels you ponder on the turn of events which are very unsettling and quite eerie at times, at others it’s positively sinister, you feel her fear and at times there’s tension so taut you could cut the atmosphere with a knife. The ending takes a bit of thinking about but it’s not left field by any means, it does make sense of a lot but I would say it’s a go with the flow ending!Overall, if you liked Behind Her Eyes then this one will appeal too. It’s well written, a bit different, fast paced with numerous plot twists and turns. With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, HarperFiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest revie

A standout, unsettling, complex, distinctive domestic drama/thriller mystery.The insomnia began eleven days before Emma Averell’s 40th birthday.As did the nighttime rituals;Rattle the handle on the back door.Press her hands against the glass of the upstairs window, and stare out.Look in the cupboard under the stairs..Check on her children.Emma’s mother has been a resident of the Hartwell Secure Unit for over thirty years, following a complete mental breakdown on the date of her own 40th birthday. Her symptoms started around the same time, and are eerily similar to Emma’s. Is history repeating itself? Or, is there something far more sinister going on?Tick tock…Meet our narrator Emma. She has a lot to deal with, as she tries (and fails) to juggle her time between her successful career as a divorce lawyer and family commitments, all the while dealing with a resentful stay-at-home husband, her troubled, interfering sister, teenage angst, a withdrawn son who may be being bullied, and envy and loneliness over not being able to connect with the other mother’s at the school gate. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg in regards to her domestic situation. On top of that, Emma’s sleep deprivation is making her paranoid, anxious and unable to function effectively during the day. Furthermore, she’s plagued by memories of past childhood trauma, and a mother whose lack of sleep led her to a very dark place. As if that wasn’t enough, slashed tires, and an angry note on her windshield means Emma may very well have a stalker as well.Sarah Pinborough, I eat my words, as a statement I made on my review of another of your books turned out to be incorrect. And, don’t ask me to explain myself any further, except to say that this was a very different and unique type of thriller, but in the best way possible. Those last twelve chapters had me on the edge of my seat, marvelling over the cleverness as all the puzzle pieces finally slotted into place. As someone who rarely suffers from insomnia, (which is lucky for everyone around me as I get cranky without at least 7-8 hours of shut-eye), the very idea of lying awake night-after-night, or prowling a quiet dark house desperate for dreamland, really freaked me out, and I felt real sympathy for Emma’s plight.This is my fourth read by this talented, versatile author, and even though I’ve rated them all highly, I think this just might be her best work yet. A firm 2022 favourite! Pretty please Netflix, acquire the rights to adapt Insomnia into a limited TV series.

Even though two of her books are problematic AF towards the gay community, I still was interested in reading Sarah Pinborough's upcoming psychological thriller, Insomnia . As usual, Pinborough takes her mystery/thrillers to the next level with nods to the supernatural, but this time it's really more of a dash and it works perfectly. Insomnia reads more of a classic BA Paris novel than one written by Pinborough, so I definitely see the shift in the author's writing. The story focuses on a mother of two and attorney, Emma Averell, and the days leading up to her 40th birthday. Emma is worrying about this monumental birthday as it reflects back to a darker time in her childhood when her mother began to struggle with mental illness. Emma and her sister Phoebe escaped an extremely dark time and their lives where forever changed after their mother turned 40. Emma is not having a somewhat midlife crisis; she's effectively becoming paranoid. It doesn't help that the insomnia that has come over her has been affecting her marriage and children, but also her sanity. Can Emma balance all these emotions or will she suffer the same fate as her mother?This book was interesting because I almost DNF'd it. After 50 pages, I was struggling to see what the purpose of this story was, but I pushed through because I knew there had to be more. This book is a shift in Pinborough's writing, and I'm happy to see that because I wasn't sure how to navigate reviewing this book otherwise. I think the author really does a great job of zooming into the psyche of Emma and her current surroundings and this book can truly be called a psychological thriller. I definitely think fans of the author and fans of the genre will very much enjoy Insomnia .

Emma Averell awakens at a few minutes past 1am and is unable to fall back asleep. Not just for that night but for many more that follow. She is convinced some tragedy has befallen her children or that an intruder has snuck into their home, despite the repeated house checks proving otherwise. Her nights are torture but she continues to be tormented in the daylight, loosing long patches of time and acting in strange ways. She fears that her mother's illness has transferred itself to her body but is determined to continue to block all memories of her childhood firmly away, despite the return of both her sister and the fears that continue to haunt the entire family. Is history repeating itself? Is Emma now a risk to her family? Is someone else conjuring these connections to the past?This was a truly twisted, little read, whose ending bore some resemblance to Behind Her Eyes, in shock value but not in plot device. I never accurately knew where the storyline was going and my suspicions were cast on every character that featured throughout it, as I quested for the truth along with protagonist, Emma.The cover definitely gave off a far more sinister vibe than was ever experienced underneath it, but there was a subtle eerie undertone that dogged all that occurred. This never became a truly horrifying novel but remained an entirely thrilling and intriguing one, throughout.The conclusion devolved into chaos and it took me a little while to acclimatise to what was revealed. Once I had done so, I could only applaud Pinborough for her repeated ingenuity and the different elements she brings to the genres she pens in. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Sarah Pinborough, and the publisher, Harper Collins, for this opportunity.

(3.5 stars). Oddly enough, I started off really liking this book. I literally wanted to stay up all night just to finish it. Then the ending came, and ruined this whole shocking vision that I thought might happen…Insomnia focuses on the main character of Emma, who is approaching her fortieth birthday. Emma is having flashbacks from her childhood, and worried that she may end up like her mother did when she turned forty years old. During these days leading up to her birthday, Emma starts to deal with a horrible case of insomnia. While she is sleep deprived, she starts to question herself and those around her- especially family members. I felt that I could resonate a lot with Emma because while I have never suffered from insomnia, I have been severely sleep deprived. Being a single mother, working full time (often overtime), household chores, etc… I was lucky to get a couple of hours of sleep a night. Like Emma, I had zero support system and I did start to question myself (of course not to the level that Emma was). Throughout this book, Emma is constantly questioning herself and her sanity, and wondering who is working against her. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough at first, because every family member was suspicious. Then we come to the final reveal, and I was totally underwhelmed. Like really? Also, about halfway through this story, there tends to get a lot of repetition. I felt like I read some of the same pages and lines over and over…Regardless, this was still an enjoyable read. It was a fast read with nice short chapters as well (my favorite). I think fans of this author will enjoy this book, therefore I do recommend it.

3.5 starsI went into this book giddy with anticipation as Sarah Pinborough is one of the most creative writers in the thriller genre. Even when I'm not totally on board with an ending, and that's the case with Insomnia, I can still say I enjoyed the crazy and wild ride. As the 40th birthday of Emma Averell nears, she is not getting much sleep. She might be appear to have it all with a successful career as a lawyer and a husband and two kids, but she also had a rough childhood. When she was five years old, Emma and her sister were placed in foster care after a disturbing incident with their mother. Their mom's monster like behavior coincided with her 40th birthday. Lack of sleep was one of her symptoms in the days leading up to the incident. Emma is concerned that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and history might repeat itself. Even though Emma isn't a character I loved, she works well given the context of the story. You just don't know what to think as the author successfully strings everything along. I'm not going to lie, the ending is not the most satisfying, but I didn't exactly hate it either. Once again, Sara Pinborough delivers a book that is ripe for discussion.I won a free advance copy from Shelf Awareness. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.

This was a thrilling read. I loved the psychological aspect of it, the questions about paranoia or real malice by others. The book was fast-paced and well-written. There were not too many suspect and although I guessed some of what was going on, I found the twist convincing and satisfying. I didn’t love the paranormal aspects, but some might love it. It didn’t disturb the narrative, which I found captivating,

As someone who has suffered from chronic Insomnia, I can say that going without sleep can truly make you feel like you are going crazy. The stress and anxiety that you feel from not being able to fall asleep at night and the state of exhaustion you feel all day is the absolute worst. Sarah Pinborough upped the ante and made an already terrible condition into something completely nightmarish. Emma Averell just can't fall asleep. Emma went through a traumatic event when she was only 5 years old at the hands of her mentally ill mother, on her mother’s 40th birthday. The week before the incident, Emma’s mother also suffered from Insomnia. Emma turns 40 in one week and is terrified that she is going to follow in her mother's madness and a terrible history will repeat itself. I became completely immersed in this story and felt as if I were going crazy along with Emma. I had no idea how this one was going to play out and for once I didn't even try to guess or figure it out. If you pay attention, there is even a nod to Behind Her Eyes at the end of Insomnia. I love dark and suspenseful thrillers and I can always count on Sarah Pinborough to deliver. Insomnia is a completely original and unique psychological thriller that I highly recommend! Fans of Behind Her Eyes will not fall asleep on this one(pun intended).

3.5 Stars, rounded up. Pinborough is most likely one of my favorite psychological thriller writers out there, and Behind Her Eyes is probably one of my top five favorite thrillers. That being said, I always look forward to one of Pinboroughs releases, finding myself getting antsier as publication day approaches. Insomnia, unfortunately, was just okay for me. I hate that it was just a little bit better than mediocre, but I can't deny the ending was a disappointment for me. Emma is a successful solicitor, helping those in an unhappy marriage move on. As a divorce attorney, she's naturally made some enemies along the way. One day when she receives a haunting message from her older and estranged sister Phoebe, she rushes to her side at the hospital only to find it is in fact her mother who is ailing. Her mother, who has been in a psychiatric institution for the past 30 years, has unsuccessfully attempted suicide. All just days before Emma's 40th birthday. Three decades prior her mother in fact went mad on the same birthday, attempting to smother her older daughter. Fast forward to present day and Emma has put her family's dark past behind her with a successful career, a loving husband and two beautiful children. But on the night of the hospital visit she inexplicably encounters a case of insomnia. One night without sleep is followed by two, then three, then four, and so on. With each night Emma goes without rest, and the closer her 40th birthday approaches the more detached from reality and sanity she becomes. Strange events begin occurring, such as someone slashing her tires and keying her car, her son experiencing a trauma only he can communicate through horrifying drawings. Has someone, possibly a disgruntled former client, targeted Emma? Is her family truly in danger, as Emma believes, keeping her up all night every night, or is she simply paranoid on account of her past? The synopsis alone had me wanting to read this one ASAP! Unfortunately, I did feel like this book read a little bit long at times, and I truly felt like I was experiencing every single ounce of fatigue and anxiety as our protagonist! I knew that there was something more at work here than just the paranoia that accompanies insomnia, but I was conflicted in what exactly I thought could really be happening and I feel like this could have been less drawn out. I did not predict the grand reveal, which manifested in the last couple of chapters, but that doesn't mean I was reeling in shock and impressed either. It did all feel like a bit of a stretch and of course I had to suspend my disbelief in order to still enjoy it to the extent I did, but I suppose I was expecting something else. Something better, considering this was her first attempt at the paranormal and macbre since Behind Her Eyes. I'm not saying it was a complete fail, but after I read it all I just kind of shrugged my shoulders and said "that's was just aiight." I want to make clear that had I not had such high expectations for this author, this would surely have probably been more impressive to me. I think a reader who has not read this author's previous work will most likely enjoy this one more than I did. The writing was on par with her previous efforts, and I was undoubtedly intrigued throughout, I just needed my reveal to hurry up and happen! And once again I'm sure my expectations were unfairly high. I do recommend this to my fellow horror, psychological thriller fanatics and sincerely hope it is more enjoyable for them. While this effort wasn't exactly the Grand slam I wanted it to be, it was still relatively enjoyable, and I will always be a fan, and look forward to reading any forthcoming release by this fantastically talented writer!

Literally 🫣😱Full review coming !5 ⭐️.Thank you to #partners BIBLIOLIFESTYLE, Sarah Pinborough & William Morrow Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to William Morrow and Sarah Pinborough for this book that comes out April 12. I loved Behind Her Eyes so I was super excited for Insomnia. Emma can’t sleep. She tries and tries, but as she approaches her 40th birthday, she wakes up at 1:13 am and can’t get back to sleep. How long can someone go without sleep, she wonders? Why is she suddenly developing obsessive tendencies, checking and rechecking the locks, standing with her hand against the window, and losing time?To make matters worse, Emma’s mother went insane just before her own 40th birthday and tried to smother Emma’s sister Phoebe. She has spent the last few decades locked up in an asylum and was recently admitted to a hospital for trying to kill herself. It doesn’t help that Emma’s mother always told Emma she would go crazy and that it runs in the family. As her insomnia gets worse, Emma begins to wonder where the line is drawn between dreams and reality. As she feels herself slowly slipping into madness, she grasps at everything she can to keep her sane.Thoughts: I am a huge fan of Behind Her Eyes and think she is the master of utilizing psychological components to change a reader’s point of view. She is a fantastic writer and uses the slow build paired with a gradual release of information to really wow the reader. I loved the plot of this story and felt an overwhelming sense of dread as I read the book. She uses slightly unbelievable and supernatural plot lines to help accomplish the impossible. I enjoyed the setting but didn’t connect with any of the characters. The plot was amazing and I’m happy there was a neat ending, but I was hoping for more of a surprise twist. I think it was pretty obvious what was going to happen, but it was still a fun book. 4-stars.

Well that was pretty wild! I have trouble sleep but nothing like this. Crazy!!