Don't Wake Up

by Elle G. Keating

Don't wake up, the disembodied voice whispers to Lyla in the depths of her increasingly terrifying nightmares. She can't seem to escape the shadowed entity haunting her within. Each night his hold on her grows stronger as Lyla grows weaker, slowly losing her grip on reality. Unable to discern what may be a hallucination caused by sleep deprivation or a malevolent force reaching out of a hellish dreamscape, Lyla finds herself in a desperate battle for answers in order to reclaim her life and protect the ones she loves.

Her struggle as an aspiring painter and her despondent view as a failure to her estranged family leaves her susceptible to a dark presence, that is eager to take control. Begging the question, can our negative perception open us up to the evils lurking in the night?

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 25, 2025

About the author

Elle G Keating is a horror author from Ontario, Canada. She is a devoted mother, who enjoys spending time with her son when she's not writing.
Her Passion for the horror genre was ignited at a young age, beginning a relentless quest to explore the darkest corners of her imagination. With a pen in hand and a head full of frightful inspiration, Elle has crafted a collection of spine-tingling short stories, hoping to transform each one into full-length novels. She composes tales that captivate and terrify, inviting readers to embrace the thrill of the unknown.

Reviews

[Joseph J Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a crazy ride. Imagine suffering from relentless nightmares night after night until the sleep deprivation starts breaking your body and mind down. Then those same horrifying visions begin bleeding into reality. That’s exactly the kind of terrifying experience this suspenseful horror delivers. It completely changes the way you think about nightmares and the thin line between dreams and reality. Great job Elle!!

[Mattie B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a whirlwind of a psychological horror! There was so much grotesque imagery that had my stomach turning. I couldn’t imagine being in Lyla’s shoes, thinking she was losing her mind. This was a fun, quick paced read that’s great for the spooks!

[Kelly C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted this book, and the cover and blurb had me. When i started reading it, I just had to keep saying to myself okay, just one more chapter today over and over. I thought I had the story figured out a few different times, but every time I did, the plot twisted in a way I didn’t see coming, It’s a well-written thriller that will hook you from start to finish. The surprises kept building, and the ending completely caught me off guard, not what I saw coming like many recent reads. This was a gripping read that definitely exceeded my expectations. And bonus points for Elle being a local author to me I could support.

[K.W. Schofield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't Wake Up? More like Don't Sleep On This Book... okay enough of that.

This book was phenomenal! A well-paced, creepy, fun, and utterly engaging descent into madness. Elle G. Keating is an incredibly talented writer whose vivid, visceral descriptions will put you directly into these ghoulish nightmares with ease. As a lifelong horror fan, I'm inclined to think I've seen it all, but this one had some eyebrow raising moments.

It strikes a great tone, serious but never a drag; fun, but never veering too far into goofy or over-the-top. Always right where it should be, and grounded by an extremely likeable protagonist you want to see make it out of this. A fantastic read.

[Keri Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will have you questioning your own sanity. We follow protagonist Lyla as she seemingly goes through a breakdown. Or is it something more sinister? Throughout the entirety of this read I questioned if this was a mental illness or if there was something darker at play. But who or what is stalking Lyla?
Fantastic read, page turner for sure! The author makes you love some characters and question others motives. Bonus is this is a Canadian author! If you love the horror genre you’ll love this one.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping from the start! Writting from Lyla's view point. Centering around three friends; Lyla, Miguel & Alessia. The character building is excellent & really keeps you invested. You move through emotions of fear, shouting at the characters & crying. This novel is a great mix of thriller & horror. Read in less than 3 days & every time I had to put it down, I couldn't wait to get back to it! Do not sleep on this one!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you enjoy reading a book that keeps you up at night?
This is the one! It’s not only the perfect spooky read, it also has a story line that keeps you on your toes.

Christmas is coming! Gift your horror book lovers this as their next read - it won’t disappoint 🖤

[Chantal Keating · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was remarkably well put together from start to finish. The storyline was intriguing and drawing me deeper in with each chapter. Elle balanced the character development with a steady, engaging pace that made it hard to put down. Every twist felt purposeful!