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Sweat
Finally, this felt like revenge.
I was out of the labyrinth, it was all a memory, no map needed. I could enjoy the scenery. Enjoy looking. So I looked.
The tautening skin, the stirring muscles, those green eyes, vibrant despite their sightlessness. I stared at him as if he were a picture. I stared at him the way women never get to stare at men: without fear.
All Liam ever wanted was to help Cassie reach her full potential; to push her body to new extremes. Exercise, determination, being the optimum versions of themselves together forever. And Liam always knew what was best.
Nothing could break their intense love for one another, not Liam’s obsessive desire for physical perfection or his relentless control of every aspect of Cassie’s life. Until the day he pushes Cassie far beyond her limits, and she walks out of their flat and away from their toxic relationship for good.
Two years on and Cassie is stronger, fitter, healthier than ever before. And then she sees him – Liam – those green eyes, those stirring muscles. Something inside her flips.
But she holds the power now.
It’s Liam’s turn to sweat.
I was out of the labyrinth, it was all a memory, no map needed. I could enjoy the scenery. Enjoy looking. So I looked.
The tautening skin, the stirring muscles, those green eyes, vibrant despite their sightlessness. I stared at him as if he were a picture. I stared at him the way women never get to stare at men: without fear.
All Liam ever wanted was to help Cassie reach her full potential; to push her body to new extremes. Exercise, determination, being the optimum versions of themselves together forever. And Liam always knew what was best.
Nothing could break their intense love for one another, not Liam’s obsessive desire for physical perfection or his relentless control of every aspect of Cassie’s life. Until the day he pushes Cassie far beyond her limits, and she walks out of their flat and away from their toxic relationship for good.
Two years on and Cassie is stronger, fitter, healthier than ever before. And then she sees him – Liam – those green eyes, those stirring muscles. Something inside her flips.
But she holds the power now.
It’s Liam’s turn to sweat.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2025
About the author
Emma Healey
6 books1,144 followersEmma Healey grew up in London where she studied for her first degree in bookbinding. She then worked for two libraries, two bookshops, two art galleries and two universities, before completing an MA in Creative Writing at the University East Anglia. Her first novel, Elizabeth is Missing, was published to critical acclaim in 2014, became a Sunday Times bestseller and won the Costa First Novel Award. Her second novel, Whistle in the Dark will be published in May 2018. She lives in Norwich with her husband, daughter and cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 289 reviews
May 8, 2024
Sugar, sugar….
Cassie, a personal trainer, can finally look at Liam without fear. How so? These two have a difficult backstory which is narrated by Cassie in the present day and looks back at the relationship.
Inevitably, this isn’t an easy read as the central theme is about control and an abusive relationship which is difficult and makes you feel uncomfortable. The portrayal of Liam gives me the shivers and though you empathise and sympathise with Cassie, she isn’t always easy to like and some of her actions are questionable. The overriding emotion though, is one of anger on her behalf especially as few people believe her when she tries to explain the circumstances. The after effects of the relationship and its lasting impact on Cassie is very well done and her fears are totally understandable.
You also wonder about Liam in the present day as it becomes apparent that a ‘game’ of cat and mouse is afoot and you hope it won’t turn deadly but it sure gets twisty.
The novel is well written, the two timelines flow naturally between one and the other, allowing you insight although wondering about the reliability.
The pace is good once it gets going, the dialogue feels authentic and the principal backdrop of the sweaty gym is inspired where maybe we’ll get the truth along with a cardio high. The ending is excellent although requires some suspension of disbelief but it’s certainly very visual and dramatic.
Overall, this is a thought provoking novel. As well as shining a light on aspects of control, it makes astute observations about male and female perceived roles.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Cornerstone for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
U.K. publication date is January 2025
Cassie, a personal trainer, can finally look at Liam without fear. How so? These two have a difficult backstory which is narrated by Cassie in the present day and looks back at the relationship.
Inevitably, this isn’t an easy read as the central theme is about control and an abusive relationship which is difficult and makes you feel uncomfortable. The portrayal of Liam gives me the shivers and though you empathise and sympathise with Cassie, she isn’t always easy to like and some of her actions are questionable. The overriding emotion though, is one of anger on her behalf especially as few people believe her when she tries to explain the circumstances. The after effects of the relationship and its lasting impact on Cassie is very well done and her fears are totally understandable.
You also wonder about Liam in the present day as it becomes apparent that a ‘game’ of cat and mouse is afoot and you hope it won’t turn deadly but it sure gets twisty.
The novel is well written, the two timelines flow naturally between one and the other, allowing you insight although wondering about the reliability.
The pace is good once it gets going, the dialogue feels authentic and the principal backdrop of the sweaty gym is inspired where maybe we’ll get the truth along with a cardio high. The ending is excellent although requires some suspension of disbelief but it’s certainly very visual and dramatic.
Overall, this is a thought provoking novel. As well as shining a light on aspects of control, it makes astute observations about male and female perceived roles.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Cornerstone for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
U.K. publication date is January 2025
November 10, 2024
'For months - years - I'd moved, hid, ducked, grateful to avoid Liam's scrutiny. That was over. I didn't have to hide anymore. I could look at him. It was my turn'.
Two years have passed since Cassie managed to physically escape Liam's clutches, his controlling behaviour, his corrosive presence. Even once she left, she had to endure months of stalking and harassment, but that too has finally ceased. That is, until she's introduced to her next, blind, PT client: Liam - the ex. A maelstrom of memories gurgle up, popping with possibilities of revenge, 'Wouldn't you want to at least enjoy the possibility of doing something? Getting your own back? Taking revenge?'. However, what seems like an opportunistic chance to toy with the man who caused her so much grief, turns into its own form of obsessiveness.
'Sweat' switches from the present to the recent past, slowly revealing the increasing web of toxicity Cassie has been caught in, highlighting the cause of her increasingly erratic behaviour in the present. This story is dark but you will keep turning the pages to find out where it all ends up. For me, the ending wasn't as strong as I would have liked but it does manage to tie up a lot of loose ends, which I appreciated. I also thought some points within the story could have had a bit more pace, to keep up the thrill. Overall though, this book has an intriguing premise that will keep you turning the pages just to find out what actually happens in the end!
'He'd got something he wanted: my compliance again, my obedience, my fear'.
Two years have passed since Cassie managed to physically escape Liam's clutches, his controlling behaviour, his corrosive presence. Even once she left, she had to endure months of stalking and harassment, but that too has finally ceased. That is, until she's introduced to her next, blind, PT client: Liam - the ex. A maelstrom of memories gurgle up, popping with possibilities of revenge, 'Wouldn't you want to at least enjoy the possibility of doing something? Getting your own back? Taking revenge?'. However, what seems like an opportunistic chance to toy with the man who caused her so much grief, turns into its own form of obsessiveness.
'Sweat' switches from the present to the recent past, slowly revealing the increasing web of toxicity Cassie has been caught in, highlighting the cause of her increasingly erratic behaviour in the present. This story is dark but you will keep turning the pages to find out where it all ends up. For me, the ending wasn't as strong as I would have liked but it does manage to tie up a lot of loose ends, which I appreciated. I also thought some points within the story could have had a bit more pace, to keep up the thrill. Overall though, this book has an intriguing premise that will keep you turning the pages just to find out what actually happens in the end!
'He'd got something he wanted: my compliance again, my obedience, my fear'.
January 26, 2025
His love was more terrifying than anything
This is a deliberately challenging read because Healey doesn't make it easy to navigate the emotional complexities of the relationship between Cassie and Liam. Coercive control and abuse on one side, co-dependency and an unhealthy approach to body image, eating and self-policing on the other coalesce into something frightening.
Add to that the present day story as Cassie finds herself in the position to take revenge on a newly vulnerable Liam and I found myself disturbed throughout.
Healey draws careful parallels between different forms of control: power over another person and a rigid and unyielding policing of oneself. Both Cassie and Liam live by rigid rules and are in freefall when those rules are broken. Both of them show similar obsessive behaviours and both of them appear to have troubled relationships with their parents.
In the end, the book comes down on Cassie's side but it doesn't make that a given leaving this reader on tenterhooks, feverishly turning the pages. It's fascinating to see nuance in this issue of abusive relationships and the way Cassie's trauma continues by making her echo her abuser as a form of revenge.
There are some holes in the plot: it's hard to believe the main premise that allows this toxic relationship to restart. I also wanted clearer directions on to what extent Cassie was already suffering with eating and body image disorders before Liam. Her parental relationships could also have been clearer.
Nevertheless, this is a completely gripping read which merges an intelligent and nuanced approach to pressing issues of mental health and abuse with a dark revenge plot - that I couldn't wholly endorse the actions of the vengeful woman is precisely what makes this so clever and complicated.
Many thanks to Random House, Cornerstone for an ARC via Netgalley.
July 15, 2024
This was a tough read for me. I found the content harrowing, and often had to take breaks in the middle of reading to compose myself. This was primarily due to my own personal experiences and is not a criticism of the novel, however I do think it is important to point out to readers that this book centres around an abusive relationship and disordered eating. If you're more sensitive to those topics, I would recommend giving this novel a miss.
Aside from that, I thought this was a strong novel from Emma Healey. The story was engaging and perfectly paced, and Healey seamlessly switched between the past and present day in a way that maintained the momentum of the plot and kept me gripped throughout. Additionally, the characters were complex and well-written; I found myself heartbroken for Cass yet deeply frustrated at her choices, an indication that Healey did a good job of communicating the complex emotions one might experience when dealing with an abusive partner. My only criticism is that I felt Liam had very few redeeming qualities, giving no logical reason for Cass to want to stay with him besides his companionship. I think the positive side of their relationship could have been explored a bit more to make sense of this.
The reason I'm not giving this book a higher rating is that I felt something was missing from the final chapters. Cass is physically and psychologically abused throughout the novel, yet this is never directly addressed in the text. Rather, the reader is assumed to understand that Liam's behaviour is abusive and immoral. Cass never discusses why she stayed with Liam for so long or whether her perspectives changed after escaping the relationship. Her belief of Liam's teachings, that it was right for her to starve, to practice discipline and self-control, was never corrected - the book even ends with a (distasteful) quip about calorie control. Though I appreciate that Cass's outlook may not have changed, I feel the book needed someone to reaffirm that Cass was abused, that Liam's behaviour was inexcusable, and that their attitudes towards food and exercise were unhealthy.
Thank you to Penguin Random House, Cornerstone and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Aside from that, I thought this was a strong novel from Emma Healey. The story was engaging and perfectly paced, and Healey seamlessly switched between the past and present day in a way that maintained the momentum of the plot and kept me gripped throughout. Additionally, the characters were complex and well-written; I found myself heartbroken for Cass yet deeply frustrated at her choices, an indication that Healey did a good job of communicating the complex emotions one might experience when dealing with an abusive partner. My only criticism is that I felt Liam had very few redeeming qualities, giving no logical reason for Cass to want to stay with him besides his companionship. I think the positive side of their relationship could have been explored a bit more to make sense of this.
The reason I'm not giving this book a higher rating is that I felt something was missing from the final chapters. Cass is physically and psychologically abused throughout the novel, yet this is never directly addressed in the text. Rather, the reader is assumed to understand that Liam's behaviour is abusive and immoral. Cass never discusses why she stayed with Liam for so long or whether her perspectives changed after escaping the relationship. Her belief of Liam's teachings, that it was right for her to starve, to practice discipline and self-control, was never corrected - the book even ends with a (distasteful) quip about calorie control. Though I appreciate that Cass's outlook may not have changed, I feel the book needed someone to reaffirm that Cass was abused, that Liam's behaviour was inexcusable, and that their attitudes towards food and exercise were unhealthy.
Thank you to Penguin Random House, Cornerstone and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
November 26, 2024
This is an extremely claustrophobic book with some very difficult issues covered - self-harm, domestic abuse, eating disorders, coercive control and two characters neither of whom are particularly likeable or believable.
Cassie is our protagonist. She is a few years out of a relationship which was exceptionally abusive. It has left her with mental scars that may never heal. Her ex Liam was a controlling person who pushed Cassie into an eating disorder and over-exercising, which has not left her in the intervening time. She works as a personal trainer whose obsession with food and exercise has pushed her friends and family away.
However, one day she gets a new client. Liam who claims he has lost his sight. She pretends to be another trainer in order to get close to him and the abusive relationship is switched. But can she believe a word Liam says? Is he truly blind or is this yet another way of keeping her close;of controlling her every move.
The tone of this book remains sinister throughout. It gets more and more claustrophobic and threatening as the narrative continues and Cassie's state of mind becomes more precarious. But there was a tiny niggle at the back of my mind the entire time - that Cassie might just be an unreliable narrator; that you were never quite sure who the real manipulator was.
I enjoyed this book up to a point. It is not an easy read due to the subject matter. It certainly left me feeling powerless and anxious a lot of the time. I'd say Emma Healey did an excellent job of putting doubts into my mind about what was real and what was not. Recommended.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Random House, Cornerstone for the advance review copy.
Cassie is our protagonist. She is a few years out of a relationship which was exceptionally abusive. It has left her with mental scars that may never heal. Her ex Liam was a controlling person who pushed Cassie into an eating disorder and over-exercising, which has not left her in the intervening time. She works as a personal trainer whose obsession with food and exercise has pushed her friends and family away.
However, one day she gets a new client. Liam who claims he has lost his sight. She pretends to be another trainer in order to get close to him and the abusive relationship is switched. But can she believe a word Liam says? Is he truly blind or is this yet another way of keeping her close;of controlling her every move.
The tone of this book remains sinister throughout. It gets more and more claustrophobic and threatening as the narrative continues and Cassie's state of mind becomes more precarious. But there was a tiny niggle at the back of my mind the entire time - that Cassie might just be an unreliable narrator; that you were never quite sure who the real manipulator was.
I enjoyed this book up to a point. It is not an easy read due to the subject matter. It certainly left me feeling powerless and anxious a lot of the time. I'd say Emma Healey did an excellent job of putting doubts into my mind about what was real and what was not. Recommended.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Random House, Cornerstone for the advance review copy.
December 20, 2024
the reading equivalent of having a panic attack
January 2, 2025
Sweat is the third novel by award-winning British author, Emma Healey. Cassie has been working at the gym for about a year when the CEO makes a costly gaffe on YouTube that sees people with various disabilities taking advantage of a half-price offer. When a workmate asks her to take his new blind client, she’s shocked to see it’s her abusive ex, Liam.
A million thoughts run through her head: she should refuse to take him as a client, explain to her manager why; she should get as far away from him as she can. But the overriding one is that this is her chance to be in control: she can do to him what she likes, get her own back.
She alters her speech, wears a fragrance a client has left behind, checks that his vision impairment in genuine, and feels safe enough to continue with his weekly gym sessions. When she shares this development with her closest friend, Tanya is aghast: she’s seen how Liam broke her, had been there to support Cassie, and warns her that she can’t cope with a repeat.
Liam’s control began so subtly, and its incremental increase was so insidious, his gaslighting so polished, Cassie second-guessed herself into believing his intentions were good, were always for her benefit. And when she finally left him, the stalking and harassment continued mercilessly for months. Perhaps Cassie’s need for payback is understandable, but is it wise? Because, as Tanya says, “he’s still hot, only now he’s all vulnerable and needy and apparently non-threatening.”
Healey paints a vivid picture of the addictive nature of the high that exercise and diet can offer: “We want this. We like it. We like to be sore and we like to be stiff and we like to be tired. Everywhere in the Western world these feelings are being cultivated, and PTs and their clients are bruising and tearing and hungry and aching and high. So high.”
But there are limits: “Going hungry because of someone else is not the same. Just as pain inflicted by someone else is not the same. I loved my next-day muscle ache, even the very worst kinds. But I didn’t want to be hurt. I liked fasting because it was an achievement and I could feel proud of the results. But I didn’t want to be starved.” Gradually revealed, readers will find the level of Liam’s control jaw-dropping.
Tension builds as the reader waits to see what Cassie will do next and observes the danger into which she puts herself. The climax is a nail-biter and the resolution to this dark and powerful tale is very satisfactory. Once again, Healey does not disappoint.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Random House UK Cornerstone
A million thoughts run through her head: she should refuse to take him as a client, explain to her manager why; she should get as far away from him as she can. But the overriding one is that this is her chance to be in control: she can do to him what she likes, get her own back.
She alters her speech, wears a fragrance a client has left behind, checks that his vision impairment in genuine, and feels safe enough to continue with his weekly gym sessions. When she shares this development with her closest friend, Tanya is aghast: she’s seen how Liam broke her, had been there to support Cassie, and warns her that she can’t cope with a repeat.
Liam’s control began so subtly, and its incremental increase was so insidious, his gaslighting so polished, Cassie second-guessed herself into believing his intentions were good, were always for her benefit. And when she finally left him, the stalking and harassment continued mercilessly for months. Perhaps Cassie’s need for payback is understandable, but is it wise? Because, as Tanya says, “he’s still hot, only now he’s all vulnerable and needy and apparently non-threatening.”
Healey paints a vivid picture of the addictive nature of the high that exercise and diet can offer: “We want this. We like it. We like to be sore and we like to be stiff and we like to be tired. Everywhere in the Western world these feelings are being cultivated, and PTs and their clients are bruising and tearing and hungry and aching and high. So high.”
But there are limits: “Going hungry because of someone else is not the same. Just as pain inflicted by someone else is not the same. I loved my next-day muscle ache, even the very worst kinds. But I didn’t want to be hurt. I liked fasting because it was an achievement and I could feel proud of the results. But I didn’t want to be starved.” Gradually revealed, readers will find the level of Liam’s control jaw-dropping.
Tension builds as the reader waits to see what Cassie will do next and observes the danger into which she puts herself. The climax is a nail-biter and the resolution to this dark and powerful tale is very satisfactory. Once again, Healey does not disappoint.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Random House UK Cornerstone
April 11, 2024
In Sweat, we meet Cassie as a personal trainer in a gym, who ends up assigned to her ex-boyfriend, Liam. The catch - Liam is now blind from a recently diagnosed brain tumour. Cassie alters her voice and personality to adopt a new persona, ensuring that Liam will not figure out who she is, allowing her to finally be the one with the upper hand in their relationship. Through dual timelines, we learn about their power-imbalanced, controlling relationship, and the subsequent attempt at getting her own back.
The tagline that sold me on this book was this: “I stared at him as if he were a picture. I stared at him the way women never get to stare at men: without fear.” Unfortunately, I don’t feel as though this is a particularly accurate representation of what the book embodies. I think Sweat has the bones to be that kind of a novel, but it falls short in a number of ways.
Within the first couple of pages, I found the humour of the book to feel quite misplaced. It didn’t get much of a laugh out of me, and I laugh at anything. Paired with the fact that we are immediately introduced to an abusive relationship that is always treated with deep levels of sincerity, it felt like a very strange tonal juxtaposition. Cassie’s first interaction with Liam post-blindness was bizarre and totally confusing. Why are you not just telling people this guy is your ex so you don’t have to work with him? I know - without this, there would be no book, but I immediately found it frustrating.
Cassie’s motivations are supposedly: I want to get revenge, I want to make him feel as bad as he made me feel, I want to look into his eyes without feeling scared. Love it, makes total sense given the scenario you found yourself in, keep it up. Except, none of this really comes through in the text? The most she does to him is fill his water bottle with toilet water (which she almost immediately dumps out and replaces with fresh water), puts soy sauce in his ramen, and gives him uneven weights. There’s a lot of talk about what she wants to do, but little of it comes through in her actions.
I found the tension build up in this book very minimal, and ultimately quite unconvincing. In theory, I understand why Cassie would want to follow Liam around, go through his bins, mess with his stuff, but because we don’t have a satisfying increase of tension or change of mindset in Cassie, it just seems like she’s doing these things because she has no impulse control. I think these events would have been far more effective if the snippets of their relationship were listed chronologically, and we could experience the increasing control, restriction and abuse that she faced from Liam, rather than flitting in and out of random vignettes of their relationship. We are immediately thrown in at the deep end and understand that she is in a toxic situation, which removes any kind of tension or anxiety that could have really made this story more compelling.
Similarly, she gets cut off from her friend as soon as she tells her that she is training Liam in the gym. There is barely an explanation for this, and relies heavily on the reader inherently understanding that she had been in a relationship that bad. We don’t know anything about Cassie or Tanya’s friendship, how she was supported by her during the relationship and pre/post-breakup. We know little about Liam at the point this occurs. It all feels rushed, and as if there hasn’t been enough of a picture formed of the past that led to this severing of ties.
I did enjoy parts of this book - yes, it left me unsatisfied, but it was easily readable, and kept my attention. Some parts were better than others, but unfortunately these parts end as quickly as they begin, without really delving deeper into the subject matter. For example, the passage about Liam not wanting her to be on birth control, but then being unsafe with his protection, and the following conversation about Tanya ‘telling her not to have children’. This was really effective and gave us an insight into Liam as a person, and it also felt tense: this could be detrimental to her, and their relationship, but as soon as conflict and dialogue grows, the chapter ends. We spent more time reading about her walking home from school with her friend and her kids than we did about this.
Ultimately, I felt like this never really went anywhere. We seemed to circle the same drain for 300+ pages, never really witnessing any character growth or plot progression. Cassie by the end of the book was identical to Cassie from the first page. As an exploration of coercive control, this book did a decent job, it just didn’t land as well as others of its type have. I think if this had been billed as a dark comedy, with Cassie’s revenge hijinks dialed up a bit (a lot), getting more and more twisted/peculiar, it would have been better at succeeding as more of a ‘good for her’ type.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.
The tagline that sold me on this book was this: “I stared at him as if he were a picture. I stared at him the way women never get to stare at men: without fear.” Unfortunately, I don’t feel as though this is a particularly accurate representation of what the book embodies. I think Sweat has the bones to be that kind of a novel, but it falls short in a number of ways.
Within the first couple of pages, I found the humour of the book to feel quite misplaced. It didn’t get much of a laugh out of me, and I laugh at anything. Paired with the fact that we are immediately introduced to an abusive relationship that is always treated with deep levels of sincerity, it felt like a very strange tonal juxtaposition. Cassie’s first interaction with Liam post-blindness was bizarre and totally confusing. Why are you not just telling people this guy is your ex so you don’t have to work with him? I know - without this, there would be no book, but I immediately found it frustrating.
Cassie’s motivations are supposedly: I want to get revenge, I want to make him feel as bad as he made me feel, I want to look into his eyes without feeling scared. Love it, makes total sense given the scenario you found yourself in, keep it up. Except, none of this really comes through in the text? The most she does to him is fill his water bottle with toilet water (which she almost immediately dumps out and replaces with fresh water), puts soy sauce in his ramen, and gives him uneven weights. There’s a lot of talk about what she wants to do, but little of it comes through in her actions.
I found the tension build up in this book very minimal, and ultimately quite unconvincing. In theory, I understand why Cassie would want to follow Liam around, go through his bins, mess with his stuff, but because we don’t have a satisfying increase of tension or change of mindset in Cassie, it just seems like she’s doing these things because she has no impulse control. I think these events would have been far more effective if the snippets of their relationship were listed chronologically, and we could experience the increasing control, restriction and abuse that she faced from Liam, rather than flitting in and out of random vignettes of their relationship. We are immediately thrown in at the deep end and understand that she is in a toxic situation, which removes any kind of tension or anxiety that could have really made this story more compelling.
Similarly, she gets cut off from her friend as soon as she tells her that she is training Liam in the gym. There is barely an explanation for this, and relies heavily on the reader inherently understanding that she had been in a relationship that bad. We don’t know anything about Cassie or Tanya’s friendship, how she was supported by her during the relationship and pre/post-breakup. We know little about Liam at the point this occurs. It all feels rushed, and as if there hasn’t been enough of a picture formed of the past that led to this severing of ties.
I did enjoy parts of this book - yes, it left me unsatisfied, but it was easily readable, and kept my attention. Some parts were better than others, but unfortunately these parts end as quickly as they begin, without really delving deeper into the subject matter. For example, the passage about Liam not wanting her to be on birth control, but then being unsafe with his protection, and the following conversation about Tanya ‘telling her not to have children’. This was really effective and gave us an insight into Liam as a person, and it also felt tense: this could be detrimental to her, and their relationship, but as soon as conflict and dialogue grows, the chapter ends. We spent more time reading about her walking home from school with her friend and her kids than we did about this.
Ultimately, I felt like this never really went anywhere. We seemed to circle the same drain for 300+ pages, never really witnessing any character growth or plot progression. Cassie by the end of the book was identical to Cassie from the first page. As an exploration of coercive control, this book did a decent job, it just didn’t land as well as others of its type have. I think if this had been billed as a dark comedy, with Cassie’s revenge hijinks dialed up a bit (a lot), getting more and more twisted/peculiar, it would have been better at succeeding as more of a ‘good for her’ type.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Did Not Finish
January 30, 2025I unfortunately had to DNF this at 45%, I felt there was nothing keeping me invested in the book, I didn't particularly like the main character which made for an ultimately difficult, boring read.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC.
October 17, 2024
First off, please check your triggers warnings. Contains coercive and controlling behaviour that is realistic and unsettling.
This is not an enjoyable book to read. It's a suffocating, dark, and very uncomfortable story. If I had realised what this book was about, I probably wouldn't have read it.
This book is a lot to take in, and I have pondered on how I should write this review. There are moments in this book that felt too real to me. Liam's character, who is controlling and coercive, is hard to read. What he puts Cassie through is not pleasant and feels like it's hitting a raw nerve. Not everyone is going to get, see, or feel the full effect that this book can have on you. That is a good thing, though.
What I couldn't grasp is Cassies character acting how she did. Coming from that toxic relationship to putting herself in such a vulnerable position again after so long, it just didn't sit right with me. I just felt like she wouldn't have done all the things she did. The ending, from the pov of Liam that felt real, but again, would Cassie have put herself in that situation? Again, these are just my opinions.
Overall, it's worth a read because it's a very real and insightful look into what a narcissistic, controlling, and coercive person is like.
Thank you to Random House UK, Cornerstone | Hutchinson Heinemann for my ARC.
My opinions are my own
Out January 2025
This is not an enjoyable book to read. It's a suffocating, dark, and very uncomfortable story. If I had realised what this book was about, I probably wouldn't have read it.
This book is a lot to take in, and I have pondered on how I should write this review. There are moments in this book that felt too real to me. Liam's character, who is controlling and coercive, is hard to read. What he puts Cassie through is not pleasant and feels like it's hitting a raw nerve. Not everyone is going to get, see, or feel the full effect that this book can have on you. That is a good thing, though.
What I couldn't grasp is Cassies character acting how she did. Coming from that toxic relationship to putting herself in such a vulnerable position again after so long, it just didn't sit right with me. I just felt like she wouldn't have done all the things she did. The ending, from the pov of Liam that felt real, but again, would Cassie have put herself in that situation? Again, these are just my opinions.
Overall, it's worth a read because it's a very real and insightful look into what a narcissistic, controlling, and coercive person is like.
Thank you to Random House UK, Cornerstone | Hutchinson Heinemann for my ARC.
My opinions are my own
Out January 2025
April 18, 2025
This probably should have been a DNF because I knew about 50 pages in that I wasn’t overly hooked. This was not an enjoyable book to read, it felt claustrophobic and suffocating.
Some parts of this book were interesting/sad, particularly around the protagonist’s clear ED and experience of coercive control in her relationship. But I really don’t like this sort of book being painted as a ‘psychological thriller’. There is nothing thrilling about abuse 😣
Some parts of this book were interesting/sad, particularly around the protagonist’s clear ED and experience of coercive control in her relationship. But I really don’t like this sort of book being painted as a ‘psychological thriller’. There is nothing thrilling about abuse 😣
June 13, 2024
It took me a really long time to write this review once I finished the book, I think part of me was hoping that if i took a step back, I would have better things to say about it.
In truth, there is nothing particularly wrong with this book, and especially considering how fast I tore through it, I don’t understand why it left me so cold.
I think I didn’t like the framing, mainly. Everything was happening so fast, there was no enjoyable escalation, you were just part of the action from the start until the end without any breathing room, change of rhythm or particularly effective twists and turns. It all felt a little one note I suppose, and I didn’t particularly care about the main character.
I’ve actually been thinking that if the story had been told from the courtroom perspective, slowly dissecting the case and uncovering the facts one by one (and thus allowing a slow painting of the main character’s downward spiral) it may have worked better for me.
That said, this book is still highly readable and I think it will find its audience and do really well. The very specific kind of orthorexic abuse it depicts was absolutely fascinating and was the main reason it kept me interested - but because the way it was delivered did not work for me, it really only left me hungry for more and disappointed.
I don’t think this is a bad book but I just really think it could have been so much better with a pinch more subtlety, more warmth, and above all a (relatively) slower and more varied pace.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the eARC of this book.
In truth, there is nothing particularly wrong with this book, and especially considering how fast I tore through it, I don’t understand why it left me so cold.
I think I didn’t like the framing, mainly. Everything was happening so fast, there was no enjoyable escalation, you were just part of the action from the start until the end without any breathing room, change of rhythm or particularly effective twists and turns. It all felt a little one note I suppose, and I didn’t particularly care about the main character.
I’ve actually been thinking that if the story had been told from the courtroom perspective, slowly dissecting the case and uncovering the facts one by one (and thus allowing a slow painting of the main character’s downward spiral) it may have worked better for me.
That said, this book is still highly readable and I think it will find its audience and do really well. The very specific kind of orthorexic abuse it depicts was absolutely fascinating and was the main reason it kept me interested - but because the way it was delivered did not work for me, it really only left me hungry for more and disappointed.
I don’t think this is a bad book but I just really think it could have been so much better with a pinch more subtlety, more warmth, and above all a (relatively) slower and more varied pace.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the eARC of this book.
December 29, 2024
I’m glad this is over
February 3, 2025
a bit triggering, a bit interesting? I did eat a huge almond croissant after finishing it though - no regrets there.
March 28, 2024
TW: abusive relationships, controlling behaviour, attempted murder/suicide, talk of eating disorders, food control, abuse and violence.
This book had me on the edge of my seat and made me so uncomfortable. The characters were flawed and incredibly difficult to read about. Cassie was paranoid, and rightfully so, given her abusive relationship with Liam. I didn’t necessarily enjoy Cassie as a main character, but I still felt her anxiety and panic and sympathised with her. The book is told through two timelines as Cassie revisits her abusive relationship with Liam through her present day connection with him. I was furious reading this book, screaming internally for someone to listen to Cassie and believe her. Liam was so incredibly infuriating, and equally terrifying with his abusive tactics and controlling behaviour. I couldn’t put this book down, I needed to know what was going to happen, even though I was so angry reading. A scary reminder of the control people have over us.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #Sweat #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This book had me on the edge of my seat and made me so uncomfortable. The characters were flawed and incredibly difficult to read about. Cassie was paranoid, and rightfully so, given her abusive relationship with Liam. I didn’t necessarily enjoy Cassie as a main character, but I still felt her anxiety and panic and sympathised with her. The book is told through two timelines as Cassie revisits her abusive relationship with Liam through her present day connection with him. I was furious reading this book, screaming internally for someone to listen to Cassie and believe her. Liam was so incredibly infuriating, and equally terrifying with his abusive tactics and controlling behaviour. I couldn’t put this book down, I needed to know what was going to happen, even though I was so angry reading. A scary reminder of the control people have over us.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #Sweat #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
September 29, 2024
Absurd IMO
December 17, 2024
This is a hard hitting book!
Cassie is a personal trainer who works at a gym, when her coercive, controlling ex, Liam comes through the door and she is asked to work with him. Plot twist he is now registered blind.
This is a story of a toxic relationship that is handled so delicately and sensitively, with a dash of humour, in the right places.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.
Reviews also published on:
Instagram || Threads || BSky || Coffee and Kindle Blog || The StoryGraph || Amazon || Bookmarks
Happy to make friends on all socials
Cassie is a personal trainer who works at a gym, when her coercive, controlling ex, Liam comes through the door and she is asked to work with him. Plot twist he is now registered blind.
This is a story of a toxic relationship that is handled so delicately and sensitively, with a dash of humour, in the right places.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.
Reviews also published on:
Instagram || Threads || BSky || Coffee and Kindle Blog || The StoryGraph || Amazon || Bookmarks
Happy to make friends on all socials
February 9, 2025
I stuck with this because I was delulu enough to believe that the plot would unravel in way I wasn’t expecting. Joke’s on me.
December 7, 2024
thank you to the publishers for my advanced review copy.
sweat is an intense slow burn of a thriller, focusing on an abusive relationship and revenge. it does get very heavy at times so please do check for trigger warnings and make sure you’re in a good frame of mind before reading. overall i did like this book, but i would have enjoyed it more if it was faster paced as it took a while to hook me and get me properly invested. it does pay off at the end though.
sweat is an intense slow burn of a thriller, focusing on an abusive relationship and revenge. it does get very heavy at times so please do check for trigger warnings and make sure you’re in a good frame of mind before reading. overall i did like this book, but i would have enjoyed it more if it was faster paced as it took a while to hook me and get me properly invested. it does pay off at the end though.
March 19, 2026
Μια ιστορία εκδίκησης, μια ιστορία που διαβάζεται πολύ εύκολα κ γρήγορα. Μια ιστορία που μπορεί να αποτελέσει τριγκερ για όσα άτομα έχουν αντιμετωπίσει θέματα διατροφής. Μια χειριστική και άκρως τοξική σχέση, που μ έκανε να σταθώ σε αυτές τις συμπεριφορές «αγάπης» που καποι@ μπορεί ν αντιμετωπίσουν. Ένα τίμιο 3/5 ⭐️ από εμένα.
May 29, 2026
I don't know what made me read this book, but at least I read it so you don't have to. Vile characters, coercive control, excessive dieting/exercising, it had it all. After all of that I'm going to have (guilt free) a white chocolate Magnum because 1) I deserve it for completing this book and 2) I haven't got a misogynistic man telling what I can and can't eat. 😆
September 6, 2024
Having read Elizabeth is Missing some years ago, a new Emma Healey book seemed promising.
Sweat is a very challenging book.
This is the story of Cassie who finds herself the survivor of a frightening coercive relationship-under the control of fitness fanatic Liam who controls her life down to what she eats, how she breathes at night, her relationship with friends and so much more
Some time after the relationship ends Cassie meets Liam again but in very different and somewhat reversed circumstances- Cassie now has the control.
Set against the backdrop of the world of gyms and fitness which again weave a control over people in today's instagram driven/likes society - this is a frightening read about life of today
This is an uncomfortable read - there is no light way to treat coercion but is 'an eye for an eye' the solution?
Cassie has been so damaged by Liam and his manipulative nature that even her family doubt her words and when she finds her path to retribution her closest friend cannot support her.
This is a story of obsession, a story that mirrors society's obsession with fitness and regimes and denying pleasure but ultimately this is a story about the horrendous and hidden nature of victimisation experienced by so so many people
You are pulled through the story by the sense of foreboding towards wanting to know the outcome ... every story of coercion is different and fortunately society and the legal system is waking up to this horrendous "everyday ' crime. Does Cassie make the right choices? Are her actions a direct result of the damaged inflicted upon her ? Could she or should she have taken another path?
This is a claustrophobic read and if you have experienced any coercive actions then it may be too much. This a book that will be talked about . It is like a thriller and the toxicity is palpable.
An important focus on a difficult theme but not an easy read .
Sweat is a very challenging book.
This is the story of Cassie who finds herself the survivor of a frightening coercive relationship-under the control of fitness fanatic Liam who controls her life down to what she eats, how she breathes at night, her relationship with friends and so much more
Some time after the relationship ends Cassie meets Liam again but in very different and somewhat reversed circumstances- Cassie now has the control.
Set against the backdrop of the world of gyms and fitness which again weave a control over people in today's instagram driven/likes society - this is a frightening read about life of today
This is an uncomfortable read - there is no light way to treat coercion but is 'an eye for an eye' the solution?
Cassie has been so damaged by Liam and his manipulative nature that even her family doubt her words and when she finds her path to retribution her closest friend cannot support her.
This is a story of obsession, a story that mirrors society's obsession with fitness and regimes and denying pleasure but ultimately this is a story about the horrendous and hidden nature of victimisation experienced by so so many people
You are pulled through the story by the sense of foreboding towards wanting to know the outcome ... every story of coercion is different and fortunately society and the legal system is waking up to this horrendous "everyday ' crime. Does Cassie make the right choices? Are her actions a direct result of the damaged inflicted upon her ? Could she or should she have taken another path?
This is a claustrophobic read and if you have experienced any coercive actions then it may be too much. This a book that will be talked about . It is like a thriller and the toxicity is palpable.
An important focus on a difficult theme but not an easy read .
June 20, 2024
TW for this book around domestic abuse, coercive control. I think this might be a difficult read for anyone who has ever been in a controlling, abusive relationship.
Before beginning this review, I have to say Emma Healey is an author who is difficult to categorise. I have read all three of her novels and it would be difficult to believe they were all written by the same author. Many will be familiar with Elizabeth Is Missing a tale of a woman spiralling into dementia trying to solve the mystery of her missing friend but I actually think, as a parent, Whistle in the Dark was a better book - a parent's struggle to understand what caused her daughter to disappear.
In Sweat, we meet Cassie, who has previously been in an abusive relationship with Liam. However, when Liam comes back into her life, Cassie has gained something of the upper hand (I won't explain why) but this causes her to behave in a difficult, but understandable, way.
The book is told across along two timelines - Cassie and Liam's previous relationship - and how they have met again in the present day. Whilst some of Cassie's behaviour does appear to difficult to understand, I am really not qualified to judge it. This is a difficult but powerful book to read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone | Hutchinson Heinemann for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Before beginning this review, I have to say Emma Healey is an author who is difficult to categorise. I have read all three of her novels and it would be difficult to believe they were all written by the same author. Many will be familiar with Elizabeth Is Missing a tale of a woman spiralling into dementia trying to solve the mystery of her missing friend but I actually think, as a parent, Whistle in the Dark was a better book - a parent's struggle to understand what caused her daughter to disappear.
In Sweat, we meet Cassie, who has previously been in an abusive relationship with Liam. However, when Liam comes back into her life, Cassie has gained something of the upper hand (I won't explain why) but this causes her to behave in a difficult, but understandable, way.
The book is told across along two timelines - Cassie and Liam's previous relationship - and how they have met again in the present day. Whilst some of Cassie's behaviour does appear to difficult to understand, I am really not qualified to judge it. This is a difficult but powerful book to read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone | Hutchinson Heinemann for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
April 17, 2024
3.5 stars
I’d definitely recommend checking trigger warnings before reading this book, as the synopsis doesn’t give much away.
This was a really unique slowburn literary thriller. I really enjoyed the use of dual timelines to explore the depth of the abusive relationship and coercive control. I can see this book being a crowd pleaser.
I did genuinely really like this book, and I think it explored a lot of topics in an interesting way. The writing was also commendable.
The reason this is rated this way is because I don’t think it’s particularly memorable or brilliant. I did enjoy it but I reserve my 4 and 5 star reads for ones that I feel have more impact on me/better reading experience.
Thank you for NetGalley and the publishers for access to an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’d definitely recommend checking trigger warnings before reading this book, as the synopsis doesn’t give much away.
This was a really unique slowburn literary thriller. I really enjoyed the use of dual timelines to explore the depth of the abusive relationship and coercive control. I can see this book being a crowd pleaser.
I did genuinely really like this book, and I think it explored a lot of topics in an interesting way. The writing was also commendable.
The reason this is rated this way is because I don’t think it’s particularly memorable or brilliant. I did enjoy it but I reserve my 4 and 5 star reads for ones that I feel have more impact on me/better reading experience.
Thank you for NetGalley and the publishers for access to an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 23, 2025
DNF - nothing interesting
February 8, 2025
Cassie works as a personal trainer in a gym. Her boss wanted their place to be seen as ‘inclusive’, therefore they started offering half price classes to people with disabilities.
In walks Liam, a blind man. Cassie does a double take, as she knows that man.
Liam is her controlling ex, who made her life a misery. However, Liam is now blind, but when he was Cassie’s boyfriend, he definitely could see. Is this one of his ploys so Cassie will feel sorry for him?
Cassie changes her accent and her name to ‘Steph’, so that Liam won’t recognise her voice (just in case he is blind).
Now, Cassie holds all the cards. Time for revenge…
I really enjoyed this tense psychological thriller. I liked how the story went back and forth, as I was desperate to uncover what happened in Liam and Cassie’s relationship.
Without a doubt, we can call Liam a tyrant. When he met Cassie, he was working as a PT, while she wasn’t into fitness or healthy eating. Bit by bit, Liam would ‘strip’ all of Cassie’s layers, and she turned skinny and wouldn’t touch an ounce of sugar. If she did, Liam would punish her. Punishments varied from putting a lock on the fridge to poisoning her favourite chocolates. Liam would always have an explanation behind his actions, and would always turn it, so that Cassie was to blame – a ‘classic’ abuser move.
This book raises important issues, such as body image, focusing on being perfect the whole time, and going to absolute extremes the said perfection.
In walks Liam, a blind man. Cassie does a double take, as she knows that man.
Liam is her controlling ex, who made her life a misery. However, Liam is now blind, but when he was Cassie’s boyfriend, he definitely could see. Is this one of his ploys so Cassie will feel sorry for him?
Cassie changes her accent and her name to ‘Steph’, so that Liam won’t recognise her voice (just in case he is blind).
Now, Cassie holds all the cards. Time for revenge…
I really enjoyed this tense psychological thriller. I liked how the story went back and forth, as I was desperate to uncover what happened in Liam and Cassie’s relationship.
Without a doubt, we can call Liam a tyrant. When he met Cassie, he was working as a PT, while she wasn’t into fitness or healthy eating. Bit by bit, Liam would ‘strip’ all of Cassie’s layers, and she turned skinny and wouldn’t touch an ounce of sugar. If she did, Liam would punish her. Punishments varied from putting a lock on the fridge to poisoning her favourite chocolates. Liam would always have an explanation behind his actions, and would always turn it, so that Cassie was to blame – a ‘classic’ abuser move.
This book raises important issues, such as body image, focusing on being perfect the whole time, and going to absolute extremes the said perfection.
March 7, 2025
This book left me feeling conflicted and uncomfortable throughout and I feel this could be a very triggering read for many.
I absolute loved the writing style and the structure to the book. It made it easy to read, great character development and an easy distinction between the past and the present.
However, I found the main character Cassie a little bit frustrating at times. I found it hard to understand why and how she could make some of the decisions she did throughout the book and I found myself wanting to scream at her because if the relationship was the way it was, I couldn’t understand why she continuously went back and put herself in multiple dangerous situations for no reward or gain. It left me feeling incredibly conflicted throughout.
Overall, I don’t think I’ll be recommending this book to people, but I would pick up other books by this author due to the writing style being enjoyable.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I absolute loved the writing style and the structure to the book. It made it easy to read, great character development and an easy distinction between the past and the present.
However, I found the main character Cassie a little bit frustrating at times. I found it hard to understand why and how she could make some of the decisions she did throughout the book and I found myself wanting to scream at her because if the relationship was the way it was, I couldn’t understand why she continuously went back and put herself in multiple dangerous situations for no reward or gain. It left me feeling incredibly conflicted throughout.
Overall, I don’t think I’ll be recommending this book to people, but I would pick up other books by this author due to the writing style being enjoyable.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
April 23, 2025
I like this author.
The subject matter for her books have not been comfortable. Dementia for the first one, emotional smothering for the second. This one concerns obsessional control and revenge. Unlike the first two books which were very introspective, in that the story was told through the thoughts of the affected characters, this one is much more based on events and reactions. It took me a while to get used to this different style but it ended up being just as engaging and thought provoking.
I hope there are more to come.
The subject matter for her books have not been comfortable. Dementia for the first one, emotional smothering for the second. This one concerns obsessional control and revenge. Unlike the first two books which were very introspective, in that the story was told through the thoughts of the affected characters, this one is much more based on events and reactions. It took me a while to get used to this different style but it ended up being just as engaging and thought provoking.
I hope there are more to come.
March 27, 2025
What a weird little book. Enjoyed it, but gosh they were both annoying. It all felt very depressing, but I guess that’s the point!
June 25, 2024
This book should be covered in trigger warnings, more for the food controls and obsessions even than the abusive relationship that it portrays I think. I personally really love a slice of cake, but I could feel it worming its way into my head as I read, making me wonder if cake is bad...No! Cake is not bad! Anyway, it was a difficult read and although I wanted to finish the story I was reluctant to pick it up at bedtime each night because of what was happening and how it made me feel.
I didn't much like Cass, but I think a lot of that had to do with how she was behaving around Liam at the start of the story. We don't immediately see her abusive relationship, we don't fully understand it's awfulness until quite far into the story. So although it's intimated, she just seems like she's a bit crazy with the way she's behaving around this new blind client who happens to be her ex. And what was she doing anyway...trying to get revenge but not getting revenge very well? I struggled a bit with that side of things to be honest, and the idea that Liam wouldn't recognise her.
But still, in spite of the niggles as I read there was that compelling edge...Liam was awful. Just really, really awful. So I was invested in what would happen.
I don't know that I liked the ending. My favourite characters were Tanya and her daughter Ashlie. Definitely dark and unsettling, if that's your kind of thing.
With thanks to Net Galley for my copy.
I didn't much like Cass, but I think a lot of that had to do with how she was behaving around Liam at the start of the story. We don't immediately see her abusive relationship, we don't fully understand it's awfulness until quite far into the story. So although it's intimated, she just seems like she's a bit crazy with the way she's behaving around this new blind client who happens to be her ex. And what was she doing anyway...trying to get revenge but not getting revenge very well? I struggled a bit with that side of things to be honest, and the idea that Liam wouldn't recognise her.
But still, in spite of the niggles as I read there was that compelling edge...Liam was awful. Just really, really awful. So I was invested in what would happen.
I don't know that I liked the ending. My favourite characters were Tanya and her daughter Ashlie. Definitely dark and unsettling, if that's your kind of thing.
With thanks to Net Galley for my copy.
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