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Nerve Damage: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 12 May 26A riotous revenge novel about a woman’s quest to escape her stalker ex-boyfriend—by stalking him herself.
"It’s impossible for a book so chilling, so uncanny, so urgent to also be this funny. Nerve Damage is a major debut.”
—Kaveh Akbar, New York Times bestselling author of Martyr!
Clarice’s breakup with P.T. began the usual way—she discovered he was cheating. Then came the constant texts, the nonstop emails from burner accounts, countless phone calls from dozens of different numbers. He showed up outside her apartment and her office. He sent her flowers and poems, and, perhaps most sinister of all, a link to the music video for Dido's “White Flag.” Relief arrived only when Clarice finally obtained a restraining order and one-way ticket from New York to L.A.
Just as the restraining order expires—and three years to the day since she left him—Clarice spots a man who looks suspiciously like P.T. at a nightclub. Could it be him? Her best friend thinks she’s imagining things. Her therapist wants her to focus on healing her inner child. Her mother is busy planning her wedding to her fourth husband. A psychic medium can only reveal that P.T.’s energy is too volatile to locate on the spiritual plane. As painful memories resurface, Clarice is convinced her ex has returned to ruin her life. But with scant evidence to prove it, she takes increasingly unhinged steps to uncover the truth, ultimately leading to a place where paranoia and reality begin to blur.
A profane and poignant debut novel, Nerve Damage is a different kind of survivor narrative, about how far one woman will go to wrest back control of her life in a world determined to send her spiraling.
"It’s impossible for a book so chilling, so uncanny, so urgent to also be this funny. Nerve Damage is a major debut.”
—Kaveh Akbar, New York Times bestselling author of Martyr!
Clarice’s breakup with P.T. began the usual way—she discovered he was cheating. Then came the constant texts, the nonstop emails from burner accounts, countless phone calls from dozens of different numbers. He showed up outside her apartment and her office. He sent her flowers and poems, and, perhaps most sinister of all, a link to the music video for Dido's “White Flag.” Relief arrived only when Clarice finally obtained a restraining order and one-way ticket from New York to L.A.
Just as the restraining order expires—and three years to the day since she left him—Clarice spots a man who looks suspiciously like P.T. at a nightclub. Could it be him? Her best friend thinks she’s imagining things. Her therapist wants her to focus on healing her inner child. Her mother is busy planning her wedding to her fourth husband. A psychic medium can only reveal that P.T.’s energy is too volatile to locate on the spiritual plane. As painful memories resurface, Clarice is convinced her ex has returned to ruin her life. But with scant evidence to prove it, she takes increasingly unhinged steps to uncover the truth, ultimately leading to a place where paranoia and reality begin to blur.
A profane and poignant debut novel, Nerve Damage is a different kind of survivor narrative, about how far one woman will go to wrest back control of her life in a world determined to send her spiraling.
- GenresLiterary FictionFiction
Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 5, 2025
"So much of love is whatever horrible shit only the two of you know."
What happens when crazy meets someone even crazier?
Phew! This was f**king wild!
The thing that caught my eye was obviously the cover. Then the synopsis hit me. There was no way that I could turn my back on something like this and I'm glad that I didn't because this was insane in the best way possible.
What we have here is something I've never seen before. The stalked becomes the stalker. Let me tell you, this was one hell of a wild ride. I was glued to these pages and could not put this down. I was in disbelief as I kept reading. Maybe cringed a little bit. Clarice had me screaming obscenities as more of her story unfolded. Even after finishing, I sat there stunned. I may still be sitting here with wide-eyes thinking about this story.
'Nerve Damage' is a must read. I love a good unhinged woman and Clarice is just that. Her decent into becoming more and more unhinged as the story progressed was a masterpiece. I'm ready to read it again. Don't sleep on this book or Clarice will get you!
What happens when crazy meets someone even crazier?
Phew! This was f**king wild!
The thing that caught my eye was obviously the cover. Then the synopsis hit me. There was no way that I could turn my back on something like this and I'm glad that I didn't because this was insane in the best way possible.
What we have here is something I've never seen before. The stalked becomes the stalker. Let me tell you, this was one hell of a wild ride. I was glued to these pages and could not put this down. I was in disbelief as I kept reading. Maybe cringed a little bit. Clarice had me screaming obscenities as more of her story unfolded. Even after finishing, I sat there stunned. I may still be sitting here with wide-eyes thinking about this story.
'Nerve Damage' is a must read. I love a good unhinged woman and Clarice is just that. Her decent into becoming more and more unhinged as the story progressed was a masterpiece. I'm ready to read it again. Don't sleep on this book or Clarice will get you!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My first e-arc :') many thanks to the publisher.
"So much of love is whatever horrible shit only the two of you know. You mistake that for loyalty, living through what you don’t want. Enduring is the work."
Whew, this one hit me where it hurts. If you have ever been abused, stalked, or harassed, this is going to feel so real.
What really struck me about this book is the nuances of the relationship between a man and the woman who fears him. Women are often raised to be afraid of men in a variety of ways, and those fears are rendered entirely legitimate over and over, literally driving some of us to madness.
I really recommend this, if anything for its dark humor, but also for its hard-hitting truths about relationships and the terror of a toxic ex.
"So much of love is whatever horrible shit only the two of you know. You mistake that for loyalty, living through what you don’t want. Enduring is the work."
Whew, this one hit me where it hurts. If you have ever been abused, stalked, or harassed, this is going to feel so real.
What really struck me about this book is the nuances of the relationship between a man and the woman who fears him. Women are often raised to be afraid of men in a variety of ways, and those fears are rendered entirely legitimate over and over, literally driving some of us to madness.
I really recommend this, if anything for its dark humor, but also for its hard-hitting truths about relationships and the terror of a toxic ex.
December 18, 2025
DAMN.
I am so thankful to Annakeara Stinson, aaknopf books, and NetGalley for granting me advanced access to this spiraler of a book before it hits shelves on May 12, 2026.
Unfortunately, Clarice is living a hell so many of us have felt, utter delusion following the messy breakup and further harassment from her ex-lover turned stalker. After multiple restraining orders and protective rulings, she thinks she spies him at a concert venue across the country, thus sending her into a state of delusion that has her risking her life and the safety of those in her space to uncover the truth.
Stinson unveils the years of generational trauma Clarice underwent throughout her youth, leading her to the present day, where her expectations of love set a low bar. Sad but true, this is so real and felt by many, and I felt this was a very accurate description.
I am so thankful to Annakeara Stinson, aaknopf books, and NetGalley for granting me advanced access to this spiraler of a book before it hits shelves on May 12, 2026.
Unfortunately, Clarice is living a hell so many of us have felt, utter delusion following the messy breakup and further harassment from her ex-lover turned stalker. After multiple restraining orders and protective rulings, she thinks she spies him at a concert venue across the country, thus sending her into a state of delusion that has her risking her life and the safety of those in her space to uncover the truth.
Stinson unveils the years of generational trauma Clarice underwent throughout her youth, leading her to the present day, where her expectations of love set a low bar. Sad but true, this is so real and felt by many, and I felt this was a very accurate description.
November 6, 2025
Unique, strange, and addicting - I couldn’t out this book down. Flipping the tables on an obsessive stalker ex, Clarice is an epic main character. It was fascinating to see her becoming more unhinged as the book goes on. I was becoming as paranoid as she was and really felt like I was inside her brain. This is a must read for women. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is so good, covering hard topics (trauma, stalking, isolation) in a way that is somehow profound and funny, relatable and revelatory all at once. I felt like I knew the protagonist and cared about her right away, so that as she stumbles and makes mistakes and navigates her life and fear I was fully invested in understanding what led her to this place and how she would find her way out again. I laughed out loud (which rarely happens, even in books marked for humor) and also re-read passages to drink in the language and ideas. I was in a reading rut before I picked this up, struggling through a handful of well-written books tackling big concepts but that were hard to pick up and easy to put down. This was the opposite. I tore through this and had a hard time putting it down at night because I wanted so much to know what happened and spend time with these characters. Readable and exciting, different, fun and moving. What more can you ask for?
December 17, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
"You don't realize how free you are just walking around living life until you aren't anymore, until you're always expecting something."
Annakeara Stinson's debut novel is bold, captivating, and at times darkly funny. What starts as a harrowing recount of obsessive harassment and stalking evolves into an unpredictable psychological journey as the main character confronts her past. The story is sharp, propulsive, and I didn't want it to end. I wish I had a million books like this one waiting on my shelf, and I hope Annakeara Stinson plans to write many more novels, because I will absolutely be reading them.
"You don't realize how free you are just walking around living life until you aren't anymore, until you're always expecting something."
Annakeara Stinson's debut novel is bold, captivating, and at times darkly funny. What starts as a harrowing recount of obsessive harassment and stalking evolves into an unpredictable psychological journey as the main character confronts her past. The story is sharp, propulsive, and I didn't want it to end. I wish I had a million books like this one waiting on my shelf, and I hope Annakeara Stinson plans to write many more novels, because I will absolutely be reading them.
December 28, 2025
If you enjoy the fast pace of a thriller, but want something more emotionally/psychologically driven, you’ll want to add Nerve Damage to your tbr right now! Seriously, add it.
Clarice is attempting to heal: from her absent father, parade of unhealthy men her mother brought into her adolescence, and most pressingly, her last relationship . Having moved across the country to avoid her ex-boyfriend, PT - whose harassment escalated to the point of requiring a protective order - Clarice has been able to focus on therapy, friendships, and her remote job. But when the two-year protective order expires and she thinks she spots PT at a local bar on the West Coast, she understandably panics. Rather than waiting to be found, Clarice becomes consumed with locating PT first, setting the novel’s tense tone and quick pace. As a reader, I felt second-hand anxiety driving me to keep reading until I also had the answers Clarice was searching for!
Clarice is a deeply developed FMC and will be (unfortunately) relatable to many women, in some capacity. Stinson skillfully provides just enough background to understand Clarice more fully without slowing down the current day plot line.
I greatly appreciated the portrayal of a woman actively engaging in therapy, genuinely trying to process her trauma in a healthy way, though I fully empathized with (and maybeee even rooted for) her more unhinged moments. The depiction of the protective order process was also powerful; it depicted how bureaucratic, drawn out, and retraumatizing seeking protection through our judicial system can be.
Know going in that there are some really heavy themes (harassment, stalking, SA, addiction/ACOA, etc.) and take care of yourself if needed while reading. But Nerve Damage is a must read in my book!
Clarice is attempting to heal: from her absent father, parade of unhealthy men her mother brought into her adolescence, and most pressingly, her last relationship . Having moved across the country to avoid her ex-boyfriend, PT - whose harassment escalated to the point of requiring a protective order - Clarice has been able to focus on therapy, friendships, and her remote job. But when the two-year protective order expires and she thinks she spots PT at a local bar on the West Coast, she understandably panics. Rather than waiting to be found, Clarice becomes consumed with locating PT first, setting the novel’s tense tone and quick pace. As a reader, I felt second-hand anxiety driving me to keep reading until I also had the answers Clarice was searching for!
Clarice is a deeply developed FMC and will be (unfortunately) relatable to many women, in some capacity. Stinson skillfully provides just enough background to understand Clarice more fully without slowing down the current day plot line.
I greatly appreciated the portrayal of a woman actively engaging in therapy, genuinely trying to process her trauma in a healthy way, though I fully empathized with (and maybeee even rooted for) her more unhinged moments. The depiction of the protective order process was also powerful; it depicted how bureaucratic, drawn out, and retraumatizing seeking protection through our judicial system can be.
Know going in that there are some really heavy themes (harassment, stalking, SA, addiction/ACOA, etc.) and take care of yourself if needed while reading. But Nerve Damage is a must read in my book!
December 21, 2025
Nerve Damage by Annakeara Stinson. Thanks to @knopf for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Clarice’s restraining order on her ex has just expired and she thinks she’s seen him even though she now lives on the opposite coast of the US. Trying to figure out if it’s him, she begins stalking her stalker.
I thought this was going to be a thriller, but I read it more as a literary fiction, which was actually a nice surprise. It really makes you think as you live with Clarice and the aftermath of the experience. This is a good reflection on the emotional damage harassment can cause ; as some may question the harm when there was no violence or physical abuse. I liked how her family history came into play as well.
“You don’t realize how free you are just walking around living life until you aren’t anymore, until you’re always expecting something.”
Read if you like:
-Stalking tropes
-Survivor narratives
-Mental health fiction
Nerve Damage comes out 5/12.
Clarice’s restraining order on her ex has just expired and she thinks she’s seen him even though she now lives on the opposite coast of the US. Trying to figure out if it’s him, she begins stalking her stalker.
I thought this was going to be a thriller, but I read it more as a literary fiction, which was actually a nice surprise. It really makes you think as you live with Clarice and the aftermath of the experience. This is a good reflection on the emotional damage harassment can cause ; as some may question the harm when there was no violence or physical abuse. I liked how her family history came into play as well.
“You don’t realize how free you are just walking around living life until you aren’t anymore, until you’re always expecting something.”
Read if you like:
-Stalking tropes
-Survivor narratives
-Mental health fiction
Nerve Damage comes out 5/12.
November 21, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and Knopf for the ebook. Clarice is irrationally in love with P.T., even though it feels so unhealthy. When he cheats on her, she finally leaves him. Then P.T. seems to have a manic period where he’s constantly emailing, calling and texting Clarice until see has to get a restraining order. Three years later, Clarice lives in LA, but is still dealing with the wounds of that relationship, alone and petrified to even think about dating. Her best friend drags her out to a bar and she’s shocked to see P.T. at the bar, flirting with a bartender. She flees, but did she really see him? So now Clarice is forced to make sure. It’s not lost on her that she’s now stalking her stalker. Somehow the author makes this story hilarious and harrowing.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Nerve Damage may win the prize for the greatest whiplash I’ve ever felt in reading a book that I was positive I would never finish – and then ended up not being able to put down.
In the first pages I was inside a windowless black box listening to an all-male free jazz trio with a young and unhinged narrator on the day before Halloween. Her life is chaotic: her mother is getting married for the fourth time, her ex-boyfriend named P.T. may be stalking her once again and she’s verging on paranoia. And me? As a reader, I’m already searching for the exit door.
Then comes chapter 2. And suddenly, I can’t get this book out of my head. Because it’s fresh. Chilling. Profound. Excellently written. And impossible to believe it’s a debut book. Clarice (and yes, she was named after THAT Clarice, from Silence of the Lambs) is courageously honest, genuinely searching, and trying desperately to claw her way forward to confirm her own truth and reclaim her life.
Clarice and P.T. share a lustful sex life until she found out he cheated on her. She breaks it off and he begins stalking her. Dozens of emails a day. Lots of calls and texts to friends and acquaintances. Unwanted gifts. Even used Q-tips at her front door. She ends up getting a temporary restraining order but as soon as the order expires, he is back again at his old tricks. Clarice ends up fleeing across the country from N.Y. to L.A. where, a few years later, she believes she catches a glimpse of him.
The question that looms is, did she really? Or is she blurring her victim trauma with an unhealthy dose of PTSD? As she tries to figure out her own state of mind, she leaves the reader to wonder: who is the stalker now and who is the person being stalked? Her sessions with her therapist provide some insight into her state of mind, exposing decades of intergenerational trauma that have dulled her sense of knowing who to trust and how to love in a healthy way.
Through Clarice’s darkly comic and deeply unfiltered and sometimes absurd voice, we see how she struggles to cope with her escalating isolation and fears – and we root for her. Nerve Damage is an excellent and unique look into the effect of trauma on survivors, and I am most grateful to Knopf and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
In the first pages I was inside a windowless black box listening to an all-male free jazz trio with a young and unhinged narrator on the day before Halloween. Her life is chaotic: her mother is getting married for the fourth time, her ex-boyfriend named P.T. may be stalking her once again and she’s verging on paranoia. And me? As a reader, I’m already searching for the exit door.
Then comes chapter 2. And suddenly, I can’t get this book out of my head. Because it’s fresh. Chilling. Profound. Excellently written. And impossible to believe it’s a debut book. Clarice (and yes, she was named after THAT Clarice, from Silence of the Lambs) is courageously honest, genuinely searching, and trying desperately to claw her way forward to confirm her own truth and reclaim her life.
Clarice and P.T. share a lustful sex life until she found out he cheated on her. She breaks it off and he begins stalking her. Dozens of emails a day. Lots of calls and texts to friends and acquaintances. Unwanted gifts. Even used Q-tips at her front door. She ends up getting a temporary restraining order but as soon as the order expires, he is back again at his old tricks. Clarice ends up fleeing across the country from N.Y. to L.A. where, a few years later, she believes she catches a glimpse of him.
The question that looms is, did she really? Or is she blurring her victim trauma with an unhealthy dose of PTSD? As she tries to figure out her own state of mind, she leaves the reader to wonder: who is the stalker now and who is the person being stalked? Her sessions with her therapist provide some insight into her state of mind, exposing decades of intergenerational trauma that have dulled her sense of knowing who to trust and how to love in a healthy way.
Through Clarice’s darkly comic and deeply unfiltered and sometimes absurd voice, we see how she struggles to cope with her escalating isolation and fears – and we root for her. Nerve Damage is an excellent and unique look into the effect of trauma on survivors, and I am most grateful to Knopf and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2026
Thank you to Library Journal for allowing me to read the ARC of this book!
This novel is in the perspective of Clarise, the victim of being stalked and harassed by her ex-boyfriend, P.J. In the midst of taking him to court and obtaining restraining orders, she decides to uproot her life from NYC to LA. One night, years after that ordeal went down, she is out with her friends at a local bar/club; she sees him talking and laughing with the bartender. From here, she swears it was him. It was him, she tells herself. She, in response, becomes the stalker and harasser. She goes to great lengths in order to prove to herself she's "not crazy" and is only trying to help herself move on with her life again.
I will keep it short and simple to hopefully entice you to read the novel. There were times throughout the novel I felt the need to justify certain aspects of peoples behaviors; it also makes you realize that we are in the day and age where social media has impacted our lives to such negative extents. Though this topic of social media is not a main focus of the story, it helped me put into perspective that we all need to just mind our business as well as keep our social media profiles on private.
I enjoyed this read much more than anticipated. I had a lot of time to finish this novel, but I flew through it.
This novel is in the perspective of Clarise, the victim of being stalked and harassed by her ex-boyfriend, P.J. In the midst of taking him to court and obtaining restraining orders, she decides to uproot her life from NYC to LA. One night, years after that ordeal went down, she is out with her friends at a local bar/club; she sees him talking and laughing with the bartender. From here, she swears it was him. It was him, she tells herself. She, in response, becomes the stalker and harasser. She goes to great lengths in order to prove to herself she's "not crazy" and is only trying to help herself move on with her life again.
I will keep it short and simple to hopefully entice you to read the novel. There were times throughout the novel I felt the need to justify certain aspects of peoples behaviors; it also makes you realize that we are in the day and age where social media has impacted our lives to such negative extents. Though this topic of social media is not a main focus of the story, it helped me put into perspective that we all need to just mind our business as well as keep our social media profiles on private.
I enjoyed this read much more than anticipated. I had a lot of time to finish this novel, but I flew through it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Initially, I was drawn to this novel for its premise. A woman deciding to stalk her stalker ex? Tell me more!
Nerve Damage is a nuanced, honest portrayal of the psychological toll that abuse and harassment can have on a person. Predominantly character-driven, the story is shaped by Clarice's refreshingly unfiltered reflections on her relationship with P.T. and her understandably chaotic means of processing his potential reappearance in her life.
This novel was haunting, and I mean that to be a compliment. Clarice is a character who will stay with me. I think her familiarity made her stand out for me. She is a woman simply trying to do her best while reckoning with the horrible things she's lived through.
Being situated in Clarice's mind will make you doubt yourself, which is a testament to Stinson's brilliant writing. Can you trust a narrator who doesn't trust herself? Would it be better to believe her, really? How far is too far to prove you can trust your own mind?
I would recommend this one! Just make sure you read it with the curtains drawn and the windows locked.
Thank you to Annakeara Stinson and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for an advanced reading copy via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
Nerve Damage is a nuanced, honest portrayal of the psychological toll that abuse and harassment can have on a person. Predominantly character-driven, the story is shaped by Clarice's refreshingly unfiltered reflections on her relationship with P.T. and her understandably chaotic means of processing his potential reappearance in her life.
This novel was haunting, and I mean that to be a compliment. Clarice is a character who will stay with me. I think her familiarity made her stand out for me. She is a woman simply trying to do her best while reckoning with the horrible things she's lived through.
Being situated in Clarice's mind will make you doubt yourself, which is a testament to Stinson's brilliant writing. Can you trust a narrator who doesn't trust herself? Would it be better to believe her, really? How far is too far to prove you can trust your own mind?
I would recommend this one! Just make sure you read it with the curtains drawn and the windows locked.
Thank you to Annakeara Stinson and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for an advanced reading copy via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
December 20, 2025
Nerve Damage by Annakeara Stinson follows Clarice after she thinks she spots her ex-boyfriend (former stalker) on one of her outings. This encounter marks the beginning of her descent into paranoia, as the effects of trauma intertwine with a dive into her past and formative years, painting a complex understanding of her psyche. Paranoia emerges as the thematic core, underscoring how her perception is warped by fear, leaving the reader to question reality alongside her.
Overall, the story had me gripped by the role reversal of the stalker becoming the stalked victim, as we witness the extremes Clarice goes to to get answers about P.T. after their suspected encounter. This exploration into paranoia deepens the discomfort, striking a chord that resonates with anyone who might have faced similar unsettling experiences. It was compelling to try to rationalize her actions initially, only to find myself screaming, 'holy shit, girl, what are you doing?!'
I would recommend this to anyone who wants to read about a character doing the most out-of-pocket actions in pursuit of understanding.
Overall, the story had me gripped by the role reversal of the stalker becoming the stalked victim, as we witness the extremes Clarice goes to to get answers about P.T. after their suspected encounter. This exploration into paranoia deepens the discomfort, striking a chord that resonates with anyone who might have faced similar unsettling experiences. It was compelling to try to rationalize her actions initially, only to find myself screaming, 'holy shit, girl, what are you doing?!'
I would recommend this to anyone who wants to read about a character doing the most out-of-pocket actions in pursuit of understanding.
January 11, 2026
just finished!
nerve damage by annakeara stinson
3.5/5✨
thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book! nerve damage was captivating, anxiety inducing, and thrilling. i finished the large majority of this book in one sitting and found myself thinking about it while i wasn’t reading it.
nerve damage follows clarice, a woman who had uprooted her life and moved across the country only a few years ago, as she discovers her stalker ex-boyfriend may have found her in the place she escaped to, so shortly after the long-term restraining order ended. this time around, she’s the one tracking him.
for the most part i really enjoyed this book, i wish that it was maybe a bit longer and more time was spent with the external relationships the character had, and i felt that a storyline discussed throughout the book didn’t have a very decisive conclusion, however it is discussed towards the end of the book.
overall i enjoyed this book and would absolutely read more from this author.
nerve damage by annakeara stinson
3.5/5✨
thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book! nerve damage was captivating, anxiety inducing, and thrilling. i finished the large majority of this book in one sitting and found myself thinking about it while i wasn’t reading it.
nerve damage follows clarice, a woman who had uprooted her life and moved across the country only a few years ago, as she discovers her stalker ex-boyfriend may have found her in the place she escaped to, so shortly after the long-term restraining order ended. this time around, she’s the one tracking him.
for the most part i really enjoyed this book, i wish that it was maybe a bit longer and more time was spent with the external relationships the character had, and i felt that a storyline discussed throughout the book didn’t have a very decisive conclusion, however it is discussed towards the end of the book.
overall i enjoyed this book and would absolutely read more from this author.
February 2, 2026
I really savored this one because the writing of how someone with a traumatic past sees love made for beautiful liners.
“We don’t love these guys despite them being assholes, I’ll tell her. We love them because they’re assholes! These are the subtle power of self-hatred.”
“I’ve only recently begun to suspect that love and struggle are not necessarily one enterprise.”
“The reason you are the unfortunate way you are, it’s got to be transgenerational stress inheritance.”
What happens when you are on fight or flight mode since the beginning? Since you were a child. You were shown love you don’t see on TVs. Your innocence taken and you’re pushed into adulthood faster than you can say stop. So you keep pushing through, pushing the bad memories down. Down so deep. Where ultimately, you don’t know if you can believe your eyes or your mind. You had to learn to make your reality a different scenario to make it through. To survive it. Your paranoia then becomes your closest ally. Your friend in survival.
“We don’t love these guys despite them being assholes, I’ll tell her. We love them because they’re assholes! These are the subtle power of self-hatred.”
“I’ve only recently begun to suspect that love and struggle are not necessarily one enterprise.”
“The reason you are the unfortunate way you are, it’s got to be transgenerational stress inheritance.”
What happens when you are on fight or flight mode since the beginning? Since you were a child. You were shown love you don’t see on TVs. Your innocence taken and you’re pushed into adulthood faster than you can say stop. So you keep pushing through, pushing the bad memories down. Down so deep. Where ultimately, you don’t know if you can believe your eyes or your mind. You had to learn to make your reality a different scenario to make it through. To survive it. Your paranoia then becomes your closest ally. Your friend in survival.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was an electrifying journey alongside Clarice (yes, unfortunately, named after THAT one) as she tries to finally turn the tables on an ex-boyfriend who has been stalking her for years. Our narrator here is (understandably) unreliable as she panics about her ex potentially following her clear across the country, and the situation is murky until the very end. It didn’t take the direction I was expecting, but it really worked to show how abuse can affect a person’s capacity to take in information and act on it. Through her misadventures, Clarice becomes quite the heroine of her story, unraveling how the childhood abuse she experienced and her dysfunctional family life has shaped her until this point.
This novel is a phenomenal thriller about mental illness, generational trauma, cycles of abuse, and healthy relationships. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
This novel is a phenomenal thriller about mental illness, generational trauma, cycles of abuse, and healthy relationships. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Nerve Damage by Annakeara Stinson is a true winner. This hit so many spots. It's a thriller with an unhinged woman at the forefront.
Clarice broke up with her boyfriend P.T. after discovering he's cheating on her. However, P.T. isn't ready to let Clarice go. After ongoing stalking, psychological torment, and the recent end of her restraining order against P.T., Clarice sees someone who has an unmistakable resembles to her nightmare ex. Is she imagining things? Has he not given up? This novel follows Clarice as she decides she needs to take back control.
In addition to this being a tense, wild ride the author also explores how trauma shapes our perception of relationships and our own reality.
Thank you Netgalley and Knopf for the opportunity to read this ARC. I will be buying myself a copy when it comes out in May 2026. I need to reread and highlight all my favorite quotes.
Clarice broke up with her boyfriend P.T. after discovering he's cheating on her. However, P.T. isn't ready to let Clarice go. After ongoing stalking, psychological torment, and the recent end of her restraining order against P.T., Clarice sees someone who has an unmistakable resembles to her nightmare ex. Is she imagining things? Has he not given up? This novel follows Clarice as she decides she needs to take back control.
In addition to this being a tense, wild ride the author also explores how trauma shapes our perception of relationships and our own reality.
Thank you Netgalley and Knopf for the opportunity to read this ARC. I will be buying myself a copy when it comes out in May 2026. I need to reread and highlight all my favorite quotes.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Well, Clarice… have the lambs stopped screaming?
This book was a wild ride—fast-paced and had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. It masterfully blends genres while exploring how we move through trauma at different stages of life. Reading it made me want to hug my 21-year-old self… and also punch her in the face at times.
I finished this book in a single day and loved every second of it. Weird-girl literary fiction at its finest. If you’re interested in survivor stories of abuse, transgenerational trauma, and unapologetic female rage, this is absolutely the book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, and Vintage for providing this ARC.
Release date: 5/12/26
This book was a wild ride—fast-paced and had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. It masterfully blends genres while exploring how we move through trauma at different stages of life. Reading it made me want to hug my 21-year-old self… and also punch her in the face at times.
I finished this book in a single day and loved every second of it. Weird-girl literary fiction at its finest. If you’re interested in survivor stories of abuse, transgenerational trauma, and unapologetic female rage, this is absolutely the book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, and Vintage for providing this ARC.
Release date: 5/12/26
February 6, 2026
this one just really didn’t work for me…
although i am sympathetic to the fmc here, everything that happened to her, & the millions of women she represents, everything about this book felt flat. the characters left me wanting more, the pacing felt off, & the premise (which was promising!) didn’t deliver.
pacing was a major hiccup in this book for me considering the back & forth jumps in the narrative were not written distinctly enough for me to truly know where we were chronologically until a few paragraphs in.
not a waste of a read, just felt my time would’ve been better spent elsewhere.
lots of thanks to netgalley & the publisher for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion
although i am sympathetic to the fmc here, everything that happened to her, & the millions of women she represents, everything about this book felt flat. the characters left me wanting more, the pacing felt off, & the premise (which was promising!) didn’t deliver.
pacing was a major hiccup in this book for me considering the back & forth jumps in the narrative were not written distinctly enough for me to truly know where we were chronologically until a few paragraphs in.
not a waste of a read, just felt my time would’ve been better spent elsewhere.
lots of thanks to netgalley & the publisher for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion
January 24, 2026
Clarice is trying to take control of her life after being constantly harassed by her ex-boyfriend, P.T. This is really the only thing you should know when going into this book, because you will be in for a ride! I could not put this down, every page just made this story more unhinged and the flashback POVs added to the craziness of the story, they felt so disorienting that you just wanted to keep reading to figure out what was going on.
And that ending WAS NOT what I was expecting at all! This is a book I will be thinking about for a while.
Read this!
Thank you to Knopf and author for providing a free copy of this book through NetGalley.
And that ending WAS NOT what I was expecting at all! This is a book I will be thinking about for a while.
Read this!
Thank you to Knopf and author for providing a free copy of this book through NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh my goodness, I absolutely devoured this book. In the span of 240 pages, I developed an all-encompassing relationship with Clarice as she navigated the all-too-familiar journey recovering from a toxic relationship. I wanted to slap her, to hug her, to tell her to get a grip, to make her laugh, to cry with her. Like a perfectly aged bottle of wine, Stinson's prose is absolutely gorgeous. She deftly and successfully weaves a complex character into a hilarious friend that I couldn't, can't stop thinking about.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was pretty excited when Clarice eschews all advice and proceeds to stalk her stalker ex-boyfriend, P.T. So many synopses say how funny this book is, but I don’t see where the humor is, though I did have a little chuckle when P.T. compared her nudes to Egon Schiele’s artwork. Definitely a weird girl literary fiction read—character driven story showcasing Clarice’s path to healing from childhood trauma, but also great pacing with suspense ramping up towards the end. A nice mix of genres.
Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the eARC. Pub date May 12, 2026.
Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the eARC. Pub date May 12, 2026.
February 6, 2026
I liked this book. I would say it’s a mix of fast and slow plot lines, but it was a good read! It speaks a lot about generational trauma something that I personally think needs to be spoken and read more about it to how it affects who we are.
However, I need someone to talk about it with……especially the ending. I’m happy for Clarice, I really am, but did she just……..and then found out that……and then proceeds to have the best sleep of her life? Like slay diva but I think we have some things to talk about.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for giving me this ARC for an honest review!
However, I need someone to talk about it with……especially the ending. I’m happy for Clarice, I really am, but did she just……..and then found out that……and then proceeds to have the best sleep of her life? Like slay diva but I think we have some things to talk about.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for giving me this ARC for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a masterful story about processing through the aftermath of a destructive relationship. I am in awe at how the author was able to deliver this narrative so thoughtfully and comprehensively. This is not a revenge comedy, it is a true survivor story that portrays every part of the main character’s life gently but with unflinching honesty.
Thank you to Knopf and Net Galley for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Knopf and Net Galley for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
Sentence to sentence, this is one of the most exciting debuts I've ever read. Manages to ride an absolutely exhilarating line between unhinged, harrowing and genuinely laugh out loud funny. There are details and descriptions in this book that I'll remember forever, all guided by a nuanced and almost unbearably relatable unreliable narrator. Loved and have recommended to everyone.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Unbelievable how a book so deeply emotionally and brutally honest can also make you laugh out loud. Adding Annakeara Stinson to my shelf next to ottessa moshfegh and Melissa Broder - aka bitches who *get it*. 5 gorgeous stars.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 stars
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