The Insomniacs

by Allison Winn Scotch

The lives of four sleepless strangers intersect late at night as they attempt to solve not just their own anxieties but also the mysterious disappearance of one of their own, from New York Times bestselling author Allison Winn Scotch.

In the city that never sleeps, it’s not always easy to share what’s on your mind with the people who know you best. Huddled in an all-night diner over coffee and pancakes, a lonely middle-aged mom, an injured baseball pro, an elusive retiree, and a young waitress examine the thoughts that plague them in the middle of the night.

Empty-nester Sybil does what she does best: rolls up her sleeves and spearheads the efforts to turn this group of strangers into friends. Aimless after an injury threatens to ruin his career, Zeke finds genuine connection among the unlikely group. Tight-lipped Julian, who’s seemingly adrift in retirement and attempting to rebuild a relationship with his daughter, expands their circle when he takes their cagey diner waitress, Betty, under his wing. Betty, cautious about strangers and uncertain about strokes of good luck, entertains the trio in an attempt to resolve her own problems, which she keeps close to the vest.

Within a few restless months, the group of strangers have become a fragile family. And when one of them goes missing in the dead of night, they’re thrust into a propulsive mystery pulled straight from the true-crime podcasts Sybil obsesses over. Though ill-prepared and unequipped for the job, they begin to piece together the clues left behind. In chasing down answers, they uncover a reason for their friend’s disappearance, and are forced to wrestle with the question of how well you can really know anyone—and once you do, how much are you willing to risk to save them? And in doing so, save yourself?

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Contemporary, Adult

400 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication April 14, 2026

About the author

I'm the bestselling author of eight novels including, CLEO MCDOUGAL REGRETS NOTHING, IN TWENTY YEARS and TIME OF MY LIFE, currently in development at Sony. My latest book, THE REWIND, will be released in Nov 2022 by Berkley Books.

As an author, I know how brutal reviews can be, so I'll only post about books I've enjoyed. (Just in case you're wondering why all of my reviews are positive!)

Reviews

[Jodi Schulz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I am a huge Allison Winn Scotch fan and while this book was different than her other books I loved it. About 4 strangers who start hanging out because they are up all night (a fact I can relate to), it then turns into a mystery. While the mystery is one I easily figured out, I enjoyed all of the characters and the banter between them.

[maddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute! i’d recommend this to mystery fans who aren’t keen on constant super dark stories. the characters were delightful to follow, and i loved the inter-connected desires and the role of sleep as their physical goalpost. however, the writing wasn’t very strong, and there was certainly some noticeable repetition. some questions were left unanswered and not in a satisfying way (in as spoiler-free a way as possible, here’s an example: what exactly was his plan in the last stretch of the book? to me, it seemed like he was just there to be a convening point.) overall, this was a low stakes, effective palette cleanser, the sort of mystery you can solve early but still want to read until the end.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for providing me an ARC through Netgalley!

[Kim Territo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read this author before and kind of lost track of her, so was pleasantly reminded when this book became available for review. What I thought was going to be a cute little story turned into a suspense/mystery that I really liked. The storyline and characters were great and I would highly recommend!

[Quill&Queer]

This has the potential to fill the void left by Graveyard Shift

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to love this one because I LOVE the author as a person. Unfortunately, it wasn’t for me. I wasn’t attached to any of the characters so it just ended up falling a bit flat. Great writing though!

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Such a great premise… but the execution never fully clicked for me. The Insomniacs by Alison Wynn Scotch had all the ingredients for a compelling, slightly eerie, character-driven thriller—an online group of strangers bonding over sleepless nights, secrets, and anonymity—but it ended up feeling more convenient than convincing.

What I liked:
The concept is genuinely intriguing. A group of insomniacs forming connections through late-night chats and then taking those relationships into the real world? I was immediately in. There are also some solid thriller elements woven in—Betty’s mysterious, cult-like past adds tension, and once the stakes start to rise (especially around the midpoint), the book definitely becomes more propulsive. It’s an easy, fast read, and I was curious enough to keep going just to see how everything would unravel.

What didn’t work:
The biggest issue for me was believability—across the board. The friendships develop way too quickly, going from online chats to deep, life-altering bonds (and even living together) in a matter of weeks. I just never bought into the emotional connection, which made the higher-stakes moments land a lot softer than they should have.

The characters also felt a bit flat—more like archetypes than fully realized people. Even as we learn more about them, it feels like we’re only getting one defining “slice” of each character rather than real depth. Because of that, dynamics like Sybil and Zeke’s relationship didn’t feel earned.

The insomnia itself also didn’t feel realistic. It’s more of a concept than something grounded in how people actually function, which made the entire setup feel a little shaky. And by the end, the way everything resolves—including the sudden shift around their sleep—felt a bit too neat.

Betty’s backstory, while interesting, also becomes increasingly convoluted, leaning into familiar “cult-like” tropes without adding enough nuance to make it feel fresh.

This is one of those books where I loved the idea of it more than the actual reading experience. If you’re looking for something quick, readable, and lightly suspenseful, this might work for you—but if you need strong character development and believable relationships to stay invested, this one might fall a bit flat.

[Angie Miale · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌙📖 THIS BOOK KEPT ME UP ALL NIGHT… and I regret NOTHING 😱✨

WOW. I am still reeling from the ending of The Insomniacs by Allison Winn Scotch 🤯💭

This story pulls you in FAST with some seriously rich character development. We follow four strangers who can’t sleep and meet in a Sudoku chat room (yes, you read that right 🧩💻), and somehow… it works SO well.

✨ Meet the crew:
⚾ Zeke Rodriguez — an All-Star pitcher for the New York Mets
👩‍⚕️ Sybil — former med student turned stay-at-home mom in her 40s (she’s my fave)
🍬 Julian — a candy shop owner and devoted father
☕ Betty — the overnight diner worker who sees it all

They form a late-night bond, calling themselves The Insomniacs 🌃 — but here’s the thing… everyone is hiding something 👀

And trust me, you do NOT want spoilers for this one 🤐

I was so hooked I literally blew off work just to finish it 😅📚 It felt like the pages reached out and pulled me in — I couldn’t stop until I knew the truth.

🔥 What I loved:
✨ Unique pacing that doesn’t follow your typical mystery formula
✨ Twists, red herrings, and constant “wait… WHAT?” moments
✨ Themes of identity, secrecy, and even some cult-like undertones using Christian language ⛪
✨ A subtle, budding romance 💕 that adds just the right touch

Honestly, this book felt like a breath of fresh air in the mystery genre 🌬️📖

If you love stories where nothing is as it seems and the ending leaves you stunned… this one is for you 💥

🙏 Huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!
📅 Publishes April 14, 2026 — add it to your TBR NOW!! 📚✨

[Susan Scribner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pub. date 4/14/26

Dependable women's fiction author Allison Winn Scotch ventures into the mystery/thriller genre with mixed results. In the early chapters, the novel feels like your basic found family story: three disparate individuals who connected on a forum for insomniacs decide to meet in person at a local diner. Together with the diner's waitress, they start to bond despite their differences. But then something happens, and the quartet becomes a duo.

The book's first half POV rotates among the four characters, but Part Two leaves us with just Sibyl, a forty-something empty nester whose marriage is dying; and Zeke, a star pitcher for the Mets who is recovering from a potentially career-ending injury. Sibyl is smart, controlling, and insufferable. She insists on mothering the young waitress, despite obvious clues that Betty doesn't welcome Sibyl's involvement. Zeke is a sad rich major leaguer and not the sharpest tool in the shed. For some unconvincing reason, they are drawn to each other.

The mystery/thriller answers are slow to emerge, and rely in several cases on Sibyl's "just knowing" whether or not someone is telling the truth. The climax is well executed, although it made me wish that Scotch had included the POV of a key secondary character. Short chapters kept me reading, as did occasional bursts of quirky humor. I don't need my MCs to be completely likable, but I needed a compelling reason to engage with Sibyl and Zeke, and the author didn't provide one.

ARC provided by publisher and Net Galley.

[Angelie · Rating 3 out of 5]

What to say about The Insomniacs...The style of writing made for a quick read. I really did like the premise. Being an occasional insomniac, I was particularly drawn in, but I just didn’t connect to any of the four main characters very much. Their past and present life details didn't really ignite intrigue, as getting to know them was not easy. The group of four forms a friendship founded on insomnia. Not entirely believable at first as it took a while to see how they had the ingredients to be friends beyond playing sudoku with each other online at 3am. Their interconnectedness throughout the story seemed pretty loose. There was a romance subplot that didn’t work for me. It did not fit. I ultimately decided that the writing personality didn't link well with mine. Sadly, I also didn’t really connect with the unfolding of the story and what it decided to become. The author does keep you intrigued by secrets, though. And other reviewers are loving it, so there is that. 2.5 stars for me.

Good to know-there were some profanity blasts in some chapters. Not all.



Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

For lovers of character-driven stories, this is a must read. Four disparate people come together because they can’t sleep and forge a friendship and bond to solve a mystery. And, this works for “I could not put this book down.”

A retiree, Julian; an injured baseball player, Zeke; an empty-nester, Sybil; and a waitress, Betty, meet in a diner. Their friendship grows and even the illusive Betty finds herself happy to be part of this “family.” When one of the group goes missing, the friends feel compelled to find their friend and solve what happened.

This is a slow burn mystery but you don’t mind because the friends are so interesting and as their burgeoning friendships grow, you become so invested in them. I especially liked Sybil who has such resilience and spunk. Her relationship with Zeke adds a little lightness to the story. And Betty is so secretive and the tension is finding out way is palpable. Julian just has a calmness that balances the four out.

The mystery in the book is interesting too. No spoilers here - you have to read the book (it’s a good one). I liked how the author put in newspaper excepts to tell part of the story. While there is a bit of fluff near the end, this is such a good story for all the good characters in it, it doesn’t diminish a good story.

I’d like to thank NetGalley/BookBrowse and Berkley Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC.

[Ashleigh Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you love a mystery story, this is probably the book for you. It is not gory or dark. A cozy mystery is a great way to describe it.

That being said, I did not overly enjoy this story. I found it a bit disjointed at times. Since the book was multiple POV's, I felt that we did not get to spend a ton of time with each character or the opportunity to truly understand their motivation. I understand why it was written the way it was but there is a part of me that wishes it had primarily been written from Betty's POV in the beginning and then switched to Sybil or Zeke's later. I would loved this as a two part book to add to the mystery. Especially when the disappearance occurred.

I found Betty to be the most intriguing of the characters and exploring her back story would have made me so happy. I know we got some details but even the ones the reader got felt lacking. Which left a lot of questions unanswered. Is there going to be a second book to answer these questions?

I also thought the conversation about being an insomniac was interesting and I did love that the author explored how the lack of sleep can impact you in your every day life. But I do think a missed point would have been the exploration of whether or not the lack of sleep was making the characters "think" or "see" something that may have not actually been true. Which I feel like could have added to the story. Making the reader wonder if the character is a reliable narrator.

For me, it's okay. But I can see people loving the cozy mystery aspect and enjoying it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Larissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

The Insomniacs by Allison Winn Scotch
4/5 ⭐️
N/A 🔥

Thank you to @netgalley for the ARC!
Publication date: April 14, 2026

I thought I finished this book last night.

Turns out, it wasn’t finished with me

Because this morning I was still thinking about it, still replaying the twists, still wanting to grab a coffee and crawl right back into this story. So yes, I am officially dealing with a mild book hangover.

This book is full of the kind of unease I love — unlikely friendships, complicated people, buried truths, and that creeping sense that no one is telling the whole story. And then, just to make it even better: cults.

Yes. Cults.

Notes I made while reading:

oh, I love an unlikely friendship
Okayyy Erin Brockovich nod!!
Wait… what?!
Oh
OH?!
Religious cults? Say less!
okay, I definitely figured this out

…and then immediately being humbled because no, I absolutely did not figure it out.

Read this if you like:

• unlikely friendships
• found family
• cults
• whodunnit energy
• messy, complicated humans
• books that quietly ruin your ability to move on


This one sneaks up on you — and lingers

Happy reading 📖

•
•
•

#bookstagram #bookreview #arcreview

[Charla Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It starts when three people that can’t sleep start talking on the internet and decide to meet up at an all night diner. At the diner during the groups first in person meet up, they are waited on by a young waitress that works the over night shift because she also can’t sleep and decides the perfect job is to work the late shift. So, the waitress joins the group. As the group of four continues to meet up regularly, first at the diner and later at their homes, they form an unusual friendship.

The group consists of Sybil, a middle aged woman who is a Harvard medical doctor graduate. Next up is Zeke, a world famous baseball player. Then there’s Julian, a retired owner of a candy store. Finally, there’s Betty, a young waitress that seems afraid of everyone and everything. Although every one of the insomniacs seem to have secrets, they quickly learn to rely on one another. However, some of the secrets they keep are huge. As the secrets start coming out trouble soon follows and we soon find that some of the secrets are deadly. There’s a fire in which several people die, there’s infidelity, a dangerous cult, a hit and run incident, and so much more.

[Kathryn E Hagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone has secrets. Allison Winn Scotch has written a captivating story about four insomniac New Yorkers who are holding on to some doozies. Betty, the young waitress at the diner: it’s clear she never quite answers personal questions. Julian, the 60-year-old widower, doesn’t want the other insomniacs to know exactly what he’s up to. Sybil (the cheated-on wife and mother) and Zeke (the wounded professional baseball player) round out the quartet, and it seemed that Scotch lets readers know a bit more about those two.

The longer the insomniacs meet, the fonder they grow of one another. That doesn’t necessarily mean they share their secrets.

Then tragedy strikes. Cross-country travel ensues to initiate a rescue effort. Have some of the insomniacs broken the law? Who knows? All bets are off until the very end, which is just the way I’d hoped it would be.

I recommend “The Insomniacs.” I would compare it to “The Thursday Murder Club” and other stories where characters develop family ties with former strangers.

Thank you to Book Browse and NetGallery for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.

[Andi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. THE INSOMNIACS features four insomniacs of varying ages and backgrounds who meet online and form a friendship, meeting once weekly at a local 24-hour diner. When one of their group disappears, the others decide to find out what happened.

All of these characters came vividly to life through their chapters.
* Sybil - is a forty-six-year-old empty nester housewife whose husband works long hours in the ER
* Zeke - is a thirty-four-year-old professional baseball player who seriously injured his arm during a game
* Julian - is a sixty-year-old retiree and widower who now owns a candy shop
* Betty - is a secretive twenty-two-year-old woman who works at the diner

Of the group, I liked Julian the most. He was quietly observant, and I loved learning more about his character. I was engaged from the very beginning, and while the pacing slowed somewhat in the middle (interestingly, after the disappearance), I did enjoy the ending.

🌟Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.🌟

[Janet Fiorentino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a change to read Allison Winn Scotch’s “The Insomniacs.” While this novel is a slight departure from her earlier work, I absolutely enjoyed it.

When the novel opens, we meet for strangers in NYC who connect because they have difficulty sleeping at night. Each has his/her own reasons, but while they connected over lack of sleep, other common threads begin to weave strong relationships between these four individuals.

Scotch creates four delightful, engaging characters, though I admit I hold a little bias in favoring Sybil and Zeke. The accompanying mystery was also well-developed with a few surprises thrown in that I could not guess. The writing is fresh (even though the setting itself is a cliché—as New York is the city that never sleeps).

Four and a half out of five stars.

Thank you the Allison Winn Scotch, NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Insomniacs, by Alison Williams Scotch is an engaging mystery that grabs you and doesn’t let go. Set in New York City, three insomniacs, Zeke, Sybil and Julian, meet first online and then in person at a diner to escape the loneliness of being awake all night. Here they meet the waitress, Betty, a young troubled fellow insomniac.

It’s clear from the start that both Julian and Betty have secrets that keep you guessing until the truth is slowly revealed, perhaps too slowly. Relationships deepen as a mystery evolves involving a Megachurch with a corrupt leader and the FBI. An improbable romance develops between Zeke, a renowned superstar Major league pitcher and Sybil, a frustrated housewife and would-be gifted surgeon, who is married to a cheating husband.

Sybil aptly summarizes The Insomniacs when she says “ this whole thing was meant to be a quiet cadre of friends who could calm each other‘s anxieties…None of this was at all what she imagined it would be.” This reader agrees.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book… had such a clever premise… a group of strangers who all struggle with insomnia meet online, decide to gather once a week, and slowly become an unlikely, heartwarming found family. Along the way, they even end up solving a bit of a mystery, which kept things fun and engaging.

I don’t read a lot of mystery, and I picked this up because it was labelled as women’s fiction/general fiction — but honestly, I really enjoyed it! The balance between emotional storytelling, character development, and light mystery was just right for me. The dynamic between the four sleepless strangers felt genuine and warm, and watching their bond form was my favourite part. 🌿💫

A cosy, thoughtful story about connection, loneliness, and the unexpected people who come into our lives when we need them most.

✨ Thank you to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group for the early eARC! ✨

[Bria Celest · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a bit conflicted about this read. On one hand, it really intrigued me and gripped me from the beginning. Which is a great sign, however I was left feeling like I wanted more by the end.

The mystery itself is alluring like who is Betty and what's going on with her but I felt the story really could've dived deeper into it. For such a dark subject matter, the book is very lighthanded, which could be your thing! I prefer my mysteries to take it there though and this one just never did.

The characters were interesting but i would've liked a less heavy hand in the way we're told about character motivations; maybe due to the third person POV aspect but I would've rather been shown actions rather than told "this person is discontent with life because of ____".

Like I said, i was gripped though and the writing is good. I mostly enjoyed it

[Katie Katieneedsabiggerbookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when four insomniacs meet in a chat room and decide to meet for late night coffee and pancakes? Well...a lot can happen apparently! The waitress Betty, an empty nester Sybil, a professional baseball player recently hurt Zeke, and a reserved Julian, the foursome quickly become friends. When one of them disappears however, they are determined to find them and uncover their secrets.

It felt very on brand that I started this book during a week where sleep was just not coming for me. Didn’t love the insomnia part, but did love this book! I really enjoyed that it started as a nice little found family for a group that all needed that, but turned into a bit of a mystery as the book went on. I definitely found myself wanting to know more as the book continued, and I loved how the ending came together!

Thank you to @berkleypub for my gifted copy of this book!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book in less than 2 days - couldn’t stop reading to find out what was next. It was a clever storyline - group of strangers meet under unique circumstances and become close, solving a mystery along the way. You have to suspend some belief at times around coincidences, situations etc - but the characters were all likable and interesting, especially Sybil. I felt like I was rooting for them all.
One last thought - I love reading books during their appropriate season and this book takes place during the fall/winter time period - Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s. Reading it as an ARC, it is perfectly timed. However, this book comes out in April 2026!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Helena · Rating 3 out of 5]

It doesn’t make too much sense because this book is about insomniacs, but every time I picked it up as soon as they started talking about not being able to sleep, I got really sleepy. 🤣

A unique plot, I was invested in the characters pretty much right off the bat. However, I will say it was very slow and steady pacing. I was hoping for a little more excitement throughout or progress in the mystery.

I didn’t dislike the story/book at all, I would still recommend. But it was just slow enough that I wasn’t ready to grab it first thing in the morning to see what happens next.

I’m obsessed with this author so I wish I could glow this review up a little more but just wanted to be completely honest.

[Maile · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn’t what I expected, in the best possible way. I came for a story of friendship, and while this book absolutely delivers on this front, I was surprised by the mystery and intrigue woven into the plot. Secret identities, someone on the run, and even a cult were all crucial parts of this story and I loved getting to know these characters.

I always enjoy this author and I love what she did with The Insomniacs. My favorite Insomniac is Betty, who is fascinating with a compelling backstory. Though I found myself identifying more with Sybil - the middle aged woman looking for more in life and desperate to care for those around her.

Check this book out!

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd like to send a thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC! I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was definitely an interesting read for me. The book was fast paced in the beginning and had no intention to slow down. It's a fun and cozy mystery that follows four strangers in New York City. The story is told through multiple perspectives and contains the trope of found family. I especially enjoyed when their lives finally intersected in order to solve the disappearance. This is one cozy mystery that I will be reading again when the weather starts to get cooler. This title is set to be released on April 14th, 2026.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about four strangers that cannot sleep. They chat with each other online and agree to meet up together once a week. As they get to know each other they find themselves in the middle of a mystery. The way it was written kept my interest and me turning the pages to find out what happened next. I give this book a solid 4.5 and will round up because it kept my interest throughout. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a quick mystery read that unfolds during the darkest hours of the day.

[Ramona Thompson]

Four people who have trouble sleeping at night find an on line for discussion group for insomniacs. . One of them suggests a midnight meeting at a local all nite cafe. The group. an elderly man, an empty nest mother.. the cafe waitress, and a baseballl player become a family..
Then one of the family is murdered, another of the group is murdered and another one disappears, the remaining two decide they have to solve the murder. Good characters that we learn a lot about, and a good mystery to solve with a satisfactory ending. A good read for mystery lovers who like well developed characters. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc with no pressure for a positive review.

[Eileen Acosta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story line. Three insomniacs, all from different walks of life, meet online and form an Insomniacs club. When they decide to meet in person, they meet at a diner and also befriend the all night waitress. Seems wonderfully sweet and cozy until you realize that one of them is running away from something and one of them is looking for someone. Good mystery with a little romance thrown in. I have to say, while reading of their insomnia, it made me want to take an ambien! There were a couple of loose ends, but a satisfying ending just the same. Thank you to NetGalley for this digital advance readers copy.

[Anjali · Rating 3 out of 5]

This mystery-thriller has a found family element that is enjoyable, but overall the characters were a little flat and I struggled to buy in to the story. Four very different people who are struggling with insomnia band together, with one of them hiding a smallish secret and another one hiding a really big secret. I was not a fan of the romance subplot, and in general there was a lack of chemistry among the characters that kept me at an arm's-length. The chapters are short and punchy, and I did fly through this book fairly quickly. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a digital review copy.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected ebook ARC of 'The Insomniacs' by Allison Winn Scotch - expected release date of 04/14/2026

ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was ok. The storyline and characters were fine I just felt eh about it as a whole. There were no loose ends but the reveals were kinda predictable and safe, nothing really stood out as super exciting or mysterious as it played out. It moved along well, didn't drag out, but I was left wanting more after I was done.

[Rebecca Holliman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this gripping, unusual novel about an ill-assorted group of individuals who meet online in a forum for insomniacs and discover that they all live close enough to meet in person. When they meet at an all-night diner in the city, where their waitress also admits that she struggles to sleep, friendships begin to be forged amongst the group across barriers of age, gender, and socio-economic status. The chapters shift between the characters and follow a timeline of 26 nights until the story takes us back into the past, and we realize that the group's meeting may not have been as random as it first appeared. The tension increases as the mystery takes some unexpected turns, and I had a hard time putting it down. The novel explores toxic family relationships, found family, and self-worth vs narcissism, and features relatable, flawed characters, psychological suspense, and romance.