Something on Your Mind

by George Morris De'Ath

Genres: Horror

336 pages, Paperback

Expected publication May 19, 2026

Reviews

[Rachel Drenning · Rating 5 out of 5]

This blew my mind. No, seriously, my mind is gone and it's gonna take some time to recuperate. Book hangover? Quite a doozy one. Send help.

[seidi Lou who · Rating 2 out of 5]

Um I don’t know where to begin… I had high expectations for this book because the plot sounded really interesting & the cover art is beautiful (yes I did judge a book by its cover lol). However this book didn’t really make sense to me. I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters especially the main character. In fact I had more interest in the side character TO the side characters. I need a book based on Nana please and thank you.🙂‍↕️ There was too many Povs for me I couldn’t tell whose experiences I was reading at times. Also I didn’t think the characters were that connected, so their friendship fell flat.
The main character Theo father dies and he finds out that he has a tumor with 6 months left to live. He also has a little friend named Frank who lives in his head who likes to tell him to do bad things. Frank convinces him to go to L.A. to find a cure to “survive” aka a way for Frank to take over Theos mind and body ofc. At first when weird things start happening on his trip I thought it fit the story but then instances happen that just didn’t make sense at all even if it was make believe for the main character… There’s a part where he turns into a video game character, then he’s in a 1950’s sitcom, and then all of the sudden there’s a random 10 page comic in the book?! Honestly I think the story would be more interesting in comic form that was pretty fun but it was out of the blue. And not to mention Area 51?! But that’s not in his imagination that’s actual life um—- right lol The ending? Well he gets praised for his photography & him being a “good person”. W H A T.
I had high hopes going into this book and I left with more questions and very confused.
It did have some fun action packed sequences I just wish we got to see more of him and his dad interacting so the main characters final battle coming to turns is more impactful.


Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an Advanced Readers Copy📖💫

[TheNovelNomad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book doesn’t just tell a story — it destabilizes you.

What impressed me most was the commitment to Theo’s fractured perspective. The hallucinatory elements aren’t decorative or gimmicky; they are the narrative. The voices, the devil-on-the-shoulder imagery, the constant sense of pressure and urgency all work together to create an experience that feels claustrophobic and relentless. Reading this felt less like observing a spiral and more like being pulled inside it.

The Los Angeles setting is used brilliantly. It mirrors Theo’s internal chaos — sprawling, disjointed, overwhelming — and reinforces the feeling that there’s no clear path forward, only momentum. The city never feels like a backdrop; it’s part of the psychological architecture of the book.

I also appreciated how the novel handles friendship. Even as reality fractures and Theo’s morality slips, the presence of other people grounds the story emotionally. The tension between care, responsibility, and helplessness feels painfully real, especially within the context of a quarter-life crisis and untreated mental health struggles.

This is not an easy or comfortable read, and I don’t think it’s meant to be. The prose is abrasive in places, deliberately disorienting, and sometimes exhausting — but that exhaustion feels intentional and effective rather than indulgent. Readers looking for clarity or clean resolutions may struggle, but those willing to surrender to the chaos will find something powerful here.

Overall, this is a bold, unsettling psychological horror that fully commits to its vision. It’s messy, intense, and emotionally raw, and it left a lingering sense of unease long after I finished. A striking, mind-bending read that will absolutely find its audience — and stick with them.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

** This is an ARC review**

Trigger warnings:
Death, violence, mental illness, mental health, family relationships.



Fans of Stephen King and similar authors are bound to like this story- I wonder if the author is a fan? (The energy of this book gives off the feel of King’s work, but is genuinely originally the author’s.) In other words, I enjoyed reading this book- it’s another facet of the human condition regarding mental illness, the struggles one faces, especially after a tragic incident.

I found other than a few spots, overall the pacing of the story was pretty smooth. A few things here and there that made it feel choppy at moments.The impact of the scenes with more distance between could have increased, but…overall the twist and turning of it went well. It’s a down to earth story that does show the complexities of human relationships, growth and how healing is messy.

The characters overall were believable, and felt like people you would encounter in everyday life. I also appreciated the attention to little details that gave glimpses of Theo as a child versus now. It shows these people are rather ordinary in a situation that many of us could relate to. For me, it adds value to a book personally, when themes or even characters can resonate with me after I finished the book.

There are times when things feel a bit foggy (mild spoiler- just like Theo’s state of mind can feel at times), but as the story unfolds things get a bit clearer.

Would I recommend this book to a friend? I would say it’s a solid read- but if anything in the horror genre isn’t your cup of tea, then I would say give it a pass.

[Tera Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Theo lost his father then finds out he has an inoperable brain tumor. With only six months to live, his childhood imaginary friend, Frank, reappears telling Theo he needs to find a cure! Theo, accompanied by his school best friends, sets off on a journey to Los Angeles to find The Dragon. What could possibly go wrong?

***Potential Spoilers***

This book left me with more questions than answers because I couldn’t tell which direction the story wanted to go. At first I thought everything was a hallucination due to the tumor. Then I began to wonder if Theo’s friends were even real or if they represented parts of his psyche. Then I thought Theo was caught in some futuristic reality television program or video game with all the glitches and focus on colors like RED, GREEN, and BLUE.

I thought the virtual game show had more credibility when the phrase SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND would randomly show up, or when the friends suddenly found them in a paradox of a sitcom show. But then we get random comic panels? It felt like everything including the kitchen sink was thrown into this story and mashed together creating a hodge-podge of words. Kidnapping, check. Weird Area 51 experiments, check. Assassination used as a cover up, check. All this to end with everyone - except our tragic hero - gets an unusually happy ending of wealth and fulfillment?!

All in all I felt there was a lot of potential for this story, but I really wish it had a focus on what the book wants to be.

[Troubs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall something on your mind was a very positive reading experience in my eyes. The writing style is easy to interpret and the surprises and twists are constantly present leaving you to think further. Towards the beginning I was a little weary to switch my usual genera’s. Theo was and is a strong character for his character and the illness will keep you guessing. The relationships that you are opened up to leaning and caring for are something you can relate to yourself. There were a few areas where I felt myself losing touch with some of the circumstances but was quickly brought back with some switches. This is my first read of this particular authors books although I feel I will be keeping an eye out for some other interesting books released. I feel the book could have been a little bit longer to give more details on certain things but does not affect the readability. Se only this could be a good book to re read in the future again. I typically enjoy thrillers or mystery’s but this was a well rounded experience for a first read. I am hoping to see a series of sorts continuing on with how this effected others lives in the book. Overall I would highly recommend this as a good read to keep you captivated and guessing with relationships that are relatable. The book is not too long, so is a perfect read for a rainy weekend or nice cozy day indoors!
Thank you for your work and I’ll be keeping an eye out for more!

[Dadreadsanreviews (james) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks net galley for the chance to review review this book. The premise of the book was interesting. We follow the life of mentally ill young man through tragedy with his friend group as a counter to the fever dream of his fractured mind. Our young hero seeks to save his life from a tumor only to fall further and further into madness. The author has a large friend group for our main character and much of the book centers them apart from the main character, and that separation didn’t paint a picture of the relationships. They appear as grounding characters in the story with their owns struggles, but it was difficult to see how they connected to the story. The author also resolved tensions between characters during dialogue rather than letting them linger so that the characters could individually appear as they are. The author also utilized extensive back and for dialogue without tagging speakers leading to confusion.


Overall, the premise is interesting, but too many players and micro narratives as well as a flat prose style and confusing dialogue mitigated the book’s story. The story mirrors the fragmented mind of the main character, but the prose and dialogue were difficult to connect with on an emotional level, for me.

[Kelbe Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something on Your Mind is a character‑driven story that pulled me in more than I expected. What stood out to me most was how honestly the book handles the emotional weight each character is carrying. Theo’s storyline is the one that lingered with me—watching him struggle with the truth and slowly come to terms with it felt raw and believable. The author doesn’t rush his growth, and that made his moments of clarity feel earned.

I also appreciated the dynamic between JJ and his father. Their tension felt real, and the way their relationship unfolds is handled with a quiet kind of honesty instead of dramatic blowups. Amber and Steve add a softer thread to the story, and even though things don’t go the way you might expect, their connection still feels meaningful.

The pacing is mostly smooth, though there were a few moments where I wished the story had slowed down just a bit to let certain emotional beats settle. Some scenes hit back‑to‑back, and giving them a little more space would have made the impact even stronger.

Overall, this is a thoughtful, emotionally grounded read with characters who feel genuinely human. If you like stories that focus on personal growth, complicated relationships, and the messy parts of healing, this one is worth picking up.

[Thanassis Stamelos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book, and it was a fairly interesting, easy read overall. The story mixes psychological tension with darker, unsettling themes that slowly build as the book goes on. It focuses on a young person dealing with grief, personal struggles, and things that may or may not be real. The idea of past fears returning later in life adds an eerie element that keeps the story moving. The pacing is steady and the writing is simple, making it easy to follow along with. At no point did I feel at a loss with either the story or interactions. The characters are believable enough, even if they are not all that deep, but you feel as though you get enough from each to make reading this tale fulfilling and not a chore. While a few moments feel a bit dramatic, the story still keeps your attention and makes you curious to see what happens next, keeping you wanting to turn the page.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this ARC with a lot of enthusiasm, but my interest waned around the halfway mark. It’s hard to say if that was due to a loss of momentum on my part or the pacing of the narrative, but the story began to feel dragged out. By the final act, I found myself skimming, particularly through the hallucination sequences which felt overextended and disconnected from the main plot. Then the ending was wrapped up way too quickly, with a kind of ridiculous ending. While the premise is strong and the ideas are there, the execution needs tightening. Rating: 2.5 stars (rounded up to 3).

Thank you NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing Co. for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story messes with you. It’s a hard read but not in a bad way. It twists you up and keeps you reading. It sticks with you and the characters are so well written that they are memorable.

I hope people find this book.

Thanks to NetGallery and The Publisher for his Arc in exchange for my honest review.

[DomNewall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in tears throughout, any bucket list should include Hemmingway, Tolkien, and De'ath