What do you think?
Rate this book
I'll Be the Monster
From the moment I read the opening of I'll Be The Monster I was gripped. An ingenious premise, backed up with pitch-perfect dialogue, arresting scenes, and a caustic humour... one of our most promising emerging writers' Sophie Mackintosh, author of Cursed Bread
The college bars were shuttered. Parties banned. Suicide watch was the new normal. And yet, outside, the air was sweet. Trees exploded in white and pink. Birds sang through long, pastel dusks. When I think of that time, I think of pale skin and outrageous blossoms. I think of choices.
A homicidal couple embarks on a luxury holiday to save their marriage.
After years of secrets and self-restraint, they’ve reached breaking point. But three days into the trip, they run into Benny, an acquaintance from their Cambridge days. And Benny is desperate to reminisce about a time – and a person – they would rather forget.
Darkly funny and razor-sharp, I’ll Be The Monster follows a dangerous game of cat and mouse as it plays out under the stifling heat of the Mediterranean sun. From a major new talent in literary fiction, this gripping debut is a love story about the worst people you know – and of what happens when a change of heart occurs too late.
The college bars were shuttered. Parties banned. Suicide watch was the new normal. And yet, outside, the air was sweet. Trees exploded in white and pink. Birds sang through long, pastel dusks. When I think of that time, I think of pale skin and outrageous blossoms. I think of choices.
A homicidal couple embarks on a luxury holiday to save their marriage.
After years of secrets and self-restraint, they’ve reached breaking point. But three days into the trip, they run into Benny, an acquaintance from their Cambridge days. And Benny is desperate to reminisce about a time – and a person – they would rather forget.
Darkly funny and razor-sharp, I’ll Be The Monster follows a dangerous game of cat and mouse as it plays out under the stifling heat of the Mediterranean sun. From a major new talent in literary fiction, this gripping debut is a love story about the worst people you know – and of what happens when a change of heart occurs too late.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published February 12, 2026
13 people are currently reading
416 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
November 13, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed reading I'll be the monster! It's not my usual type of read (I tend to err somewhat on the more light hearted side of reading) but the blurb really appealed to me - who wouldn't be curious about a homicidal couple? I'm so glad I gave it a go. The authors style of writing is uniquely wonderful and the book was filled with such heartbreakingly beautiful insights on life that the best way to I can describe their style is a hybrid of Chuck Palahniuk mixed with Louis Theroux. Two of my favourite bits below capture a bit of what I mean:
"[Raph] was the nasty voice in your head, gratuitous, cruel. What a pleasure to clap for that voice rather than resist it. What a thrill to unleash it on someone else. Raph understood that even vegans crave red meat"
"People in their early twenties see their youth as intrinsic, not circumstantial. He regards my age as something that will never happen to them" (This was very much me in my 20s)
Disclaimer: I managed to get hold of an early pre read copy for free hence the early review :)
"[Raph] was the nasty voice in your head, gratuitous, cruel. What a pleasure to clap for that voice rather than resist it. What a thrill to unleash it on someone else. Raph understood that even vegans crave red meat"
"People in their early twenties see their youth as intrinsic, not circumstantial. He regards my age as something that will never happen to them" (This was very much me in my 20s)
Disclaimer: I managed to get hold of an early pre read copy for free hence the early review :)
November 14, 2025
Sean Gilbert is an extraordinary new talent. Buy and read this book now. He has just taken me on a wonderful physical and mental journey. Savour the pace, the acute observations and the twisted yet so often humorous perspectives. Patricia Highsmith, amongst many others, will love this once it hits her heavenly or hellish bookshelf. This is darkly entrancing.
December 11, 2025
So grateful to have received an e-arc of this from NetGalley because I absolutely DEVOURED this book. I recommend going in as blind as possible to this story because it is definitely not gonna be like anything you expect. I had such a good time with this twisted story, this is a fantastic read.
February 18, 2026
Very well done. This is like a cross between Abigail Dean's "The Death of Us" for narrative perspective and "The Secret History" for themes and setting.
This would be the perfect beach bag addition for those that want more than fluff for their holidays, especially if heading to Turkey.
This would be the perfect beach bag addition for those that want more than fluff for their holidays, especially if heading to Turkey.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I'll Be the Monster is a psychological thriller that wants to be tense and unsettling, but for me, it sadly never quite gets there.
I liked the setup: a toxic homicidal couple on a luxury holiday trying to save their marriage and coincidentally meeting a figure from their past who disrupts everything.
However, this is where it ends. I spent most of the book waiting for something to actually happen and was left disappointed, with the pacing being painfully slow and focusing more on implications and atmosphere than an actual payoff.
i also struggled connecting with any of the characters. I know they're written to be unlikable on purpose, but I found myself more bored than intrigued, and their dynamic also quickly started to feel repetitive. I did keep reading to see if the book would get better, but the ending felt underwhelming, and I wish I had just DNFed instead.
Maybe this will work for readers who enjoy subtle and implication heavy stories, but it sadly just wasn't for me.
I liked the setup: a toxic homicidal couple on a luxury holiday trying to save their marriage and coincidentally meeting a figure from their past who disrupts everything.
However, this is where it ends. I spent most of the book waiting for something to actually happen and was left disappointed, with the pacing being painfully slow and focusing more on implications and atmosphere than an actual payoff.
i also struggled connecting with any of the characters. I know they're written to be unlikable on purpose, but I found myself more bored than intrigued, and their dynamic also quickly started to feel repetitive. I did keep reading to see if the book would get better, but the ending felt underwhelming, and I wish I had just DNFed instead.
Maybe this will work for readers who enjoy subtle and implication heavy stories, but it sadly just wasn't for me.
November 13, 2025
I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn’t put it down! Totally unforgettable. Already excited for the next book from this author
February 17, 2026
This is the kind of book that creeps up on you. It has the ultimate slow burn and it blends real life horror with romance so well. It was so dark and had such an engaging plot, I literally didn’t want to put it down. I had to know where it was going and what was happening, i was literally thrown for a loop multiple times. I find it so hard to believe this was a debut novel, it was everything I needed and more.
Told in the second person we get the POV from the husband and husband alone. I felt like this really added to the story. It was very unsettling to see the inside of his mind so clearly. I felt very on edge and full of dread throughout, it’s like you’re not sure of what is real and what isn’t. Each character had their own issues and it was so fun diving into their pasts and seeing exactly how that shaped them throughout the story!!
I highly recommend this one. If you want something that you’re going to be thinking about even when you finish that last page, pick this one up immediately.
Told in the second person we get the POV from the husband and husband alone. I felt like this really added to the story. It was very unsettling to see the inside of his mind so clearly. I felt very on edge and full of dread throughout, it’s like you’re not sure of what is real and what isn’t. Each character had their own issues and it was so fun diving into their pasts and seeing exactly how that shaped them throughout the story!!
I highly recommend this one. If you want something that you’re going to be thinking about even when you finish that last page, pick this one up immediately.
January 12, 2026
read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and this publisher.
I had such an intense reading experience with this book. I yo-yo’d from my interest slackening to being snapped straight back by a single line. This happened multiple times.
The writing is quite fascinating. It’s incisive, it’s lovely at times, it’s brutal at others. This is very character focused . There’s often broad sections of observation. Frequently cruel. The story alternates between being told in the second person in the present, then reflections on the past in third person. I enjoyed the past reflections more. Though this book didn’t second person writing much better than in some other books I’ve read where it felt unnatural. This did work in the context of this married couple tale.
There was less horror in this than I expected. It was described as a being about a homicidal couple. It felt more literary than horror or thriller. The character focus here sees us looking into the darkest, cruelest parts of the couple’s psyche. The facade of normality they show to others (sometimes) being completely unmasked with each other.
I did enjoy this, it felt so tense, as though we were continually on edge waiting for absolute carnage to explode at any moment. Read it expecting an in depth, character study.
I had such an intense reading experience with this book. I yo-yo’d from my interest slackening to being snapped straight back by a single line. This happened multiple times.
The writing is quite fascinating. It’s incisive, it’s lovely at times, it’s brutal at others. This is very character focused . There’s often broad sections of observation. Frequently cruel. The story alternates between being told in the second person in the present, then reflections on the past in third person. I enjoyed the past reflections more. Though this book didn’t second person writing much better than in some other books I’ve read where it felt unnatural. This did work in the context of this married couple tale.
There was less horror in this than I expected. It was described as a being about a homicidal couple. It felt more literary than horror or thriller. The character focus here sees us looking into the darkest, cruelest parts of the couple’s psyche. The facade of normality they show to others (sometimes) being completely unmasked with each other.
I did enjoy this, it felt so tense, as though we were continually on edge waiting for absolute carnage to explode at any moment. Read it expecting an in depth, character study.
February 28, 2026
ILL BE THE MONSTER - REVIEW
By: Sean Gilbert
AD|PR Product
Thank you to @duck_books and @instabooktours for this gorgeous book.
Today is my review stop 👇🏼
I must admit, this book wasn’t what I expected. I was thinking gore and outright horror. This was more a literary, psychological, dark fiction, focusing on the characters and toxic relationships. However, I still really enjoyed this novel. Let me tell you why … 👇🏼
That cover for a start … err, yes please 🐙 .
This is a slow burn tale and I quite like a slow burn, depending on the narrative. It worked so well for this story because i think it added to the unease and the ambiguous tone that ran throughout. Its one of those stories where it feels like not much is happening, but at the same time everything is happening. If you know what I mean? 🤔
This story is massively character driven. A group of (largely unlikable) personalities, that were complex and flawed. Mainly spoken from the husbands pov but with some Chapters that flitted back to 2010-12 from a couple of other characters, allowing us to see their back story and what made them tick, which I found so fascinating and also unsettling 👀.
We never actually learn the husband’s name and he refers to his wife as “you”, which felt very unusual and intense, but I loved it.
There was a continuous ominous feeling in this story and a kind of vague perspective, that left me thinking, am I right in thinking what I’m thinking? But at the same time every word felt very intentional and deliberate. I found it intriguing and once I’d got used to the unique writing style, I felt compelled to keep reading.
I feel like the ending was purposely cryptic. Allowing the reader to have their own interpretations. I have so many thoughts about the end, but I don’t want to voice them here because of potentially spoiling anything for readers.
Was this story what I expected? Nope.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes I did.
I think this novel will be quite an acquired taste, but It kept me on my toes and thinking well after the last page. If a slow-building, smart, ambiguous tale sounds like your cup of tea, I recommend.
•••••
By: Sean Gilbert
AD|PR Product
Thank you to @duck_books and @instabooktours for this gorgeous book.
Today is my review stop 👇🏼
I must admit, this book wasn’t what I expected. I was thinking gore and outright horror. This was more a literary, psychological, dark fiction, focusing on the characters and toxic relationships. However, I still really enjoyed this novel. Let me tell you why … 👇🏼
That cover for a start … err, yes please 🐙 .
This is a slow burn tale and I quite like a slow burn, depending on the narrative. It worked so well for this story because i think it added to the unease and the ambiguous tone that ran throughout. Its one of those stories where it feels like not much is happening, but at the same time everything is happening. If you know what I mean? 🤔
This story is massively character driven. A group of (largely unlikable) personalities, that were complex and flawed. Mainly spoken from the husbands pov but with some Chapters that flitted back to 2010-12 from a couple of other characters, allowing us to see their back story and what made them tick, which I found so fascinating and also unsettling 👀.
We never actually learn the husband’s name and he refers to his wife as “you”, which felt very unusual and intense, but I loved it.
There was a continuous ominous feeling in this story and a kind of vague perspective, that left me thinking, am I right in thinking what I’m thinking? But at the same time every word felt very intentional and deliberate. I found it intriguing and once I’d got used to the unique writing style, I felt compelled to keep reading.
I feel like the ending was purposely cryptic. Allowing the reader to have their own interpretations. I have so many thoughts about the end, but I don’t want to voice them here because of potentially spoiling anything for readers.
Was this story what I expected? Nope.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes I did.
I think this novel will be quite an acquired taste, but It kept me on my toes and thinking well after the last page. If a slow-building, smart, ambiguous tale sounds like your cup of tea, I recommend.
•••••
February 3, 2026
This was an interesting story, but I didn’t love it. I probably went into it with the wrong expectations, as I thought there would be more action and the odd killing spree. Instead, it felt closer to dark literary fiction.
While I thought the narrators did a really good job differentiating between the characters, I just didn’t like the characters themselves. The only one I did like was the young woman’s mother, and it was difficult to listen to the way she was treated by her daughter.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While I thought the narrators did a really good job differentiating between the characters, I just didn’t like the characters themselves. The only one I did like was the young woman’s mother, and it was difficult to listen to the way she was treated by her daughter.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2026
✨ALC Review✨
The authors writing style is haunting in this book, and will leave you with many passages and quotes in your head.
A deliciously dark, twisted read with dark humour. This was a wild ride from start to finish.
The authors writing style is haunting in this book, and will leave you with many passages and quotes in your head.
A deliciously dark, twisted read with dark humour. This was a wild ride from start to finish.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'll Be The Monster is a unique and explosive story that explores the psyche and all those dark thoughts that are in it. The writing is wicked and very alluring. It was less horror and more of a psychological roller coaster which examines humans and what we are capable of.
The premise is delightful, a homicidal couple embarks on a luxury holiday to save their marriage. And someone from their past comes and unsettles them. This was very funny to me and it made everything more chaotic and disturbed.
I disliked all the characters, and that is what made this book so authentic and enjoyable. It is the writing and the musings that make this story so great. I felt like I was listening in on their therapy session with a marriage counselor. The topics were intense, dark and sometimes cruel. I loved every bit of this book!
Thank you Netgalley and Duckworth Books for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
The premise is delightful, a homicidal couple embarks on a luxury holiday to save their marriage. And someone from their past comes and unsettles them. This was very funny to me and it made everything more chaotic and disturbed.
I disliked all the characters, and that is what made this book so authentic and enjoyable. It is the writing and the musings that make this story so great. I felt like I was listening in on their therapy session with a marriage counselor. The topics were intense, dark and sometimes cruel. I loved every bit of this book!
Thank you Netgalley and Duckworth Books for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
February 13, 2026
I’ll Be the Monster by Sean Gilbert is a dark, funny, and psychologically incisive debut that completely pulled me in. Gilbert has an uncanny grasp of obsessive desire and the petty, twisted dynamics that underpin love and resentment. The writing is controleld and often lyrical, and so many lines captured feelings I’ve had but never quite articulated.
It’s more of a slow-burn psychological drama than a full-throttle thriller. There aren’t constant shocks or action-heavy twists. But that restraint is part of its strength: the dread builds quietly, and the unease lingers.
The characters are mostly awful — yet so acutely observed and darkly funny that I couldn’t look away. A bold, unsettling, and brilliantly written novel that feels both daring and deeply controlled.
It’s more of a slow-burn psychological drama than a full-throttle thriller. There aren’t constant shocks or action-heavy twists. But that restraint is part of its strength: the dread builds quietly, and the unease lingers.
The characters are mostly awful — yet so acutely observed and darkly funny that I couldn’t look away. A bold, unsettling, and brilliantly written novel that feels both daring and deeply controlled.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.25⭐️
Definitely not what i was expecting. This one gave me mixed vibes of "The secret history" and "My darling wife" - past chapters were these dark academia and present ones showed not so well-behaved married couple.
But it is not exactly a full on thriller more like psychological thriller drama.
I liked the writing. A lot! Gilbert has written her characters very well and strong, with a decent background. The tempo is more to slower pace, there won't be action after action. But i still enjoyed every page.
I am not a fan of the cover but ending absolutely explained the choice of it.
Definitely not what i was expecting. This one gave me mixed vibes of "The secret history" and "My darling wife" - past chapters were these dark academia and present ones showed not so well-behaved married couple.
But it is not exactly a full on thriller more like psychological thriller drama.
I liked the writing. A lot! Gilbert has written her characters very well and strong, with a decent background. The tempo is more to slower pace, there won't be action after action. But i still enjoyed every page.
I am not a fan of the cover but ending absolutely explained the choice of it.
March 7, 2026
Thank you LibroFM & Bolinda Publishing for this book!
This book sounded so promising with its twisted nature and the way it starts off so strong. It starts off twisted and I was totally intrigued. Unfortunately my intrigue tapered off as there was not much action or much happening for a massive portion of the book. It was back and fourth about the same topics and I felt that it was less a horror because of this. Diving back into the protagonists past and exploring how it intertwines with the present definitely kept me reading - but unfortunately the ending just lacked that shock factor I was craving.
Don't let this review put you off as a slow burn and strong character focus might be just what you need!
This book sounded so promising with its twisted nature and the way it starts off so strong. It starts off twisted and I was totally intrigued. Unfortunately my intrigue tapered off as there was not much action or much happening for a massive portion of the book. It was back and fourth about the same topics and I felt that it was less a horror because of this. Diving back into the protagonists past and exploring how it intertwines with the present definitely kept me reading - but unfortunately the ending just lacked that shock factor I was craving.
Don't let this review put you off as a slow burn and strong character focus might be just what you need!
February 27, 2026
This was such a brilliantly written book. I loved the dark humour, it had me laughing out loud numerous times.
The story is told is the past and the present timelines and the POV’s of the husband, his wife Elle and also Benny. We don’t actually get to know the husband’s name, his POV is told in second person and he only refers to his wife as ‘you’ he never uses her name.
I liked the past chapters at Cambridge, when they all first met. I was so intrigued to find out what had happened between them.
There is such a such a sense of unease throughout the book never knowing when something is going to happen.
Thank you to Instabooktours for having me on the tour and to the publisher for sending me a copy of the book.
The story is told is the past and the present timelines and the POV’s of the husband, his wife Elle and also Benny. We don’t actually get to know the husband’s name, his POV is told in second person and he only refers to his wife as ‘you’ he never uses her name.
I liked the past chapters at Cambridge, when they all first met. I was so intrigued to find out what had happened between them.
There is such a such a sense of unease throughout the book never knowing when something is going to happen.
Thank you to Instabooktours for having me on the tour and to the publisher for sending me a copy of the book.
January 12, 2026
I’ll be the monster is all the dark intrusive thoughts you let fester, manifested in the form of some of the most unlikable characters that you can’t help but to watch devour each other.
Like a moth drawn to a flame I couldn’t put this one down, darkly humorous complicated and completely toxic.
I know the tag line is a love story about the worst people you know but I don’t believe anyone was in love it was deep dark obsession right from the start.
I can totally see why this is pitched for fans of Dona Tartt I got Bunny vibes from all of these insanely broken individuals they are totally deluded and entangled in the messiest ways.
I really enjoyed this one! 4.5✨
Like a moth drawn to a flame I couldn’t put this one down, darkly humorous complicated and completely toxic.
I know the tag line is a love story about the worst people you know but I don’t believe anyone was in love it was deep dark obsession right from the start.
I can totally see why this is pitched for fans of Dona Tartt I got Bunny vibes from all of these insanely broken individuals they are totally deluded and entangled in the messiest ways.
I really enjoyed this one! 4.5✨
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this
So I'll start by saying this book was nothing like I expected and I don't think that's a bad thing. It's definitely more a psychological thriller than a horror in my opinion but it certainly has horror elements to it.
The plot follows a couple who are trying to save their marriage by taking a holiday together and it seems to be going fairly well until someone from their past shows up asking questions they'd rather not answer.
The characters in this are all unlikable but somehow at times you still find yourself rooting for them which I think is a sign of how well written this piece is.
My word of warning is that it's a very slow paced novel so if you don't enjoy slower paced reads this might not be for you. However I didn't dislike the pace I think it worked really well for the story the author wanted to tell. The style in which this is written is also really interesting as its told as though written from one partner for the other to read. It took a little getting used to and I wasn't sure if it would be for me at first but I ended up enjoying it. The author also does a really good job of ramping up the tension and intensity even when not a lot of actual events are happening.
But overall if you're after a good high tension psychological thriller and can handle something that's a bit slower in pace then this might be perfect for you!
So I'll start by saying this book was nothing like I expected and I don't think that's a bad thing. It's definitely more a psychological thriller than a horror in my opinion but it certainly has horror elements to it.
The plot follows a couple who are trying to save their marriage by taking a holiday together and it seems to be going fairly well until someone from their past shows up asking questions they'd rather not answer.
The characters in this are all unlikable but somehow at times you still find yourself rooting for them which I think is a sign of how well written this piece is.
My word of warning is that it's a very slow paced novel so if you don't enjoy slower paced reads this might not be for you. However I didn't dislike the pace I think it worked really well for the story the author wanted to tell. The style in which this is written is also really interesting as its told as though written from one partner for the other to read. It took a little getting used to and I wasn't sure if it would be for me at first but I ended up enjoying it. The author also does a really good job of ramping up the tension and intensity even when not a lot of actual events are happening.
But overall if you're after a good high tension psychological thriller and can handle something that's a bit slower in pace then this might be perfect for you!
February 14, 2026
I absolutely loved this. The story of a couple attempting to flee their past takes some surprising twists and turns - the characterisation of Benny is particularly tenderly done. I also enjoyed the references to a time in Cambridge I remember extremely well - Kambar, Robinson ‘bop’ nights and the camaraderie of a cigarette shared outside the UL. I’d love to read more Sean!
March 24, 2026
2.5⭐️
Took a bit of getting going and then suddenly had me in a chokehold which didn’t let go.
Which is good for reading but also…ouch…let go of my neck !!
Took a bit of getting going and then suddenly had me in a chokehold which didn’t let go.
Which is good for reading but also…ouch…let go of my neck !!
May 3, 2026
I still don't really know what happened in this book... It was difficult for me to follow what was happening to who and it just felt like it dragged on.
Read
February 21, 2026There is 'poetry voice', there is 'extremely even MFA voice' and there is also 'Oxbridge voice'. Obviously, not every writer who writes poetry, or has an MFA and/or went to Oxbridge has that voice, but they are definitely things. It's just a thought!!!
I wanted homicide. Just got a very very young seeming hetero couple apparently in their thirties being tetchy. Not enough weirdness to feel tension. The woman is barely there (she's the 'you' of the second person narrator). The marketing is doing a lot of work, but the other reviews are all very good, and so YMMV.
I wanted homicide. Just got a very very young seeming hetero couple apparently in their thirties being tetchy. Not enough weirdness to feel tension. The woman is barely there (she's the 'you' of the second person narrator). The marketing is doing a lot of work, but the other reviews are all very good, and so YMMV.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2025
I'll Be the Monster is a novel about a murderous couple on holiday who run into an old university friend and rehash the past. A couple who met at Cambridge are now trying to keep their marriage alive through a luxurious holiday, but a few days in, they run into Benny, who they know from those days. What follows is a tortuous game between them all, with secrets lurking underneath.
This book is a distinctively written story that is gripping, but doesn't really get as dark as you might expect it to be. Much of the narrative is written from the second-person perspective of the husband, addressing his wife, and this creates an unreliable narrator through a lens that puts the reader at a remove from the action, which works well for this couple who you never really learn that much about. There are also chapters from the Cambridge days that show things from the wife's and Benny's perspectives to give a bit more backstory, and I welcomed these sections as they delve a bit further into the incident that they're mostly thinking about in the novel. Otherwise, the story is a lot of interactions and paranoia without much actually revealed about anyone, making it at times more of a vibe. It is fascinating how much the book skirts around the couple's actual actions at any point and I do feel conflicted about how much I liked that fact about it, but it is certainly an interesting choice.
I'll Be the Monster is readable literary fiction that slowly draws you in and then toys with you, without offering too many definitive answers about the present day of the book. At times I wish it lingered more on the darker elements and the imagery of them—especially the central opening image of someone floating on a punt down the river—but I liked how excruciating the couple's relationship with Benny and each other was as they navigated what him being there meant to them. I do think it is one of the many books that would benefit from not being compared to The Secret History, as I think some people have compared it to, as I think that misrepresents the narrative and focus of the book.
This book is a distinctively written story that is gripping, but doesn't really get as dark as you might expect it to be. Much of the narrative is written from the second-person perspective of the husband, addressing his wife, and this creates an unreliable narrator through a lens that puts the reader at a remove from the action, which works well for this couple who you never really learn that much about. There are also chapters from the Cambridge days that show things from the wife's and Benny's perspectives to give a bit more backstory, and I welcomed these sections as they delve a bit further into the incident that they're mostly thinking about in the novel. Otherwise, the story is a lot of interactions and paranoia without much actually revealed about anyone, making it at times more of a vibe. It is fascinating how much the book skirts around the couple's actual actions at any point and I do feel conflicted about how much I liked that fact about it, but it is certainly an interesting choice.
I'll Be the Monster is readable literary fiction that slowly draws you in and then toys with you, without offering too many definitive answers about the present day of the book. At times I wish it lingered more on the darker elements and the imagery of them—especially the central opening image of someone floating on a punt down the river—but I liked how excruciating the couple's relationship with Benny and each other was as they navigated what him being there meant to them. I do think it is one of the many books that would benefit from not being compared to The Secret History, as I think some people have compared it to, as I think that misrepresents the narrative and focus of the book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A homicidal couple go on an extravagant holiday in order to save their marriage. However, a few days in they run into Benny, an acquaintance from their days studying at Cambridge University. Benny is desperate to reminisce about the past, and a certain person they’d rather not speak about. While the couple are eager to get rid of him, they are suspicious that he might know more about the past than he lets on.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I was gripped early by the rising tension and dark humour, which gave me a similar feeling to when I watched the TV show White Lotus for the first time. There were moments that had my jaw on the floor, and also had me laughing out loud. I really loved the prose, particularly the way the author explained certain feelings and experiences. It would often be in a way I would never think to explain something, but it made SO much sense. I will also say that there is not a single good character in this story, they are all so deeply unhinged, which I absolutely love in books and is something I look for.
The POV in this book is not something I have read before, you have chapters of the husband speaking in second person about his wife and then also third person from the wife and one other character in the flashback chapters. I wouldn’t usually go for a second person POV book, but in this instance it really works. It’s told through very obsessive prose from the narrator about his wife, and everything is about her, so much to the point that you don’t even find out his name. I did enjoy this and love obsessive stories, but at some points I did find myself confused about the POV shifts (especially at the beginning) and I did feel a little bit disconnected from the narrator at times.
The only reason I didn’t give this book 5* is because I wish at some points it could’ve dug a bit deeper and darker, it skirted around some actions and left them vague. But overall, I really loved this story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I was gripped early by the rising tension and dark humour, which gave me a similar feeling to when I watched the TV show White Lotus for the first time. There were moments that had my jaw on the floor, and also had me laughing out loud. I really loved the prose, particularly the way the author explained certain feelings and experiences. It would often be in a way I would never think to explain something, but it made SO much sense. I will also say that there is not a single good character in this story, they are all so deeply unhinged, which I absolutely love in books and is something I look for.
The POV in this book is not something I have read before, you have chapters of the husband speaking in second person about his wife and then also third person from the wife and one other character in the flashback chapters. I wouldn’t usually go for a second person POV book, but in this instance it really works. It’s told through very obsessive prose from the narrator about his wife, and everything is about her, so much to the point that you don’t even find out his name. I did enjoy this and love obsessive stories, but at some points I did find myself confused about the POV shifts (especially at the beginning) and I did feel a little bit disconnected from the narrator at times.
The only reason I didn’t give this book 5* is because I wish at some points it could’ve dug a bit deeper and darker, it skirted around some actions and left them vague. But overall, I really loved this story.
March 12, 2026
I’ll Be The Monster (arc) – Sean Gilbert
4.5⭐️
A homicidal couple embarks on a luxury holiday to save their marriage. Say less. I’m sat. Colour me intrigued.
Ok so I genuinely wanted to inject this entire book into my veins. What do you MEAN this was the writing?!?!??! This was amazing! The wit, humour and banter between the characters was absolutely elite. I found that this book had everything – commentary on any and every life matter you can possibly think of and written in such beautiful prose that you can’t help but devour the entire thing in one sitting.
The dynamic between the two mc’s was so delicious and villainous. Something sinister lurked between the surface that tethered them together. I feel like they understood eachother on a cosmic level and could communicate without saying anything. Something so sexy about this. Like what do you mean this is the dialogue?!
“I would go to hell for you. I would stay there, to keep you company.” Honestly this is the standard.
The internal monologue of the mc’s was hilarious. I loved the humour (yes, I’ll keep repeating it because it was just *that* clever and well written) and all the literary references woven through. I felt like this book was like stumbling upon a little treasure trove – you never knew what each page was going to bring! So much fun! I had no idea where this book was going the entire time and I went in completely blind and honestly? I had the most absolute best time.
Cannot wait to see what Sean writes next !!
Thanks to NetGalley, Duckworth Books and Sean Gilbert for an advanced copy of this book!
4.5⭐️
A homicidal couple embarks on a luxury holiday to save their marriage. Say less. I’m sat. Colour me intrigued.
Ok so I genuinely wanted to inject this entire book into my veins. What do you MEAN this was the writing?!?!??! This was amazing! The wit, humour and banter between the characters was absolutely elite. I found that this book had everything – commentary on any and every life matter you can possibly think of and written in such beautiful prose that you can’t help but devour the entire thing in one sitting.
The dynamic between the two mc’s was so delicious and villainous. Something sinister lurked between the surface that tethered them together. I feel like they understood eachother on a cosmic level and could communicate without saying anything. Something so sexy about this. Like what do you mean this is the dialogue?!
“I would go to hell for you. I would stay there, to keep you company.” Honestly this is the standard.
The internal monologue of the mc’s was hilarious. I loved the humour (yes, I’ll keep repeating it because it was just *that* clever and well written) and all the literary references woven through. I felt like this book was like stumbling upon a little treasure trove – you never knew what each page was going to bring! So much fun! I had no idea where this book was going the entire time and I went in completely blind and honestly? I had the most absolute best time.
Cannot wait to see what Sean writes next !!
Thanks to NetGalley, Duckworth Books and Sean Gilbert for an advanced copy of this book!
February 9, 2026
4 ⭐️
Thank you sooo much to NetGalley and the author and his team for giving me the opportunity to read this in advance. A big reason why people should pick this book up is the author’s GORGEOUS writing. I was stunned to come to know that this is a debut novel. I find it really refreshing when authors write despicable and insufferable characters in a way that’s not annoying and frustrating, and I feel like that really displays a lot of Gilbert’s talent.
I was a little misled by the overall presentation of the book: the cover, title, and premise (especially the ‘the white lotus’ comparison) all made me think this was a horror/thriller book. It’s not, and I only recently found out when I went and double-checked on NetGalley after some doubts (goodreads still hadn’t updated a lot of info on this!), but it is general fiction (with yes, a hint of thriller). This unfortunately lowered my reading experience at first because I was expecting for something to happen… but that moment never seemed to come. After reframing my mindset to the book’s actual genre, though, I started enjoying this a lot more.
This is a love story, a love story between two horrible people, where you’re often left with questioning how far they’re gonna go for each other. The pacing is a little challenging (a mixture of both slow and incredibly, satisfyingly fast), but you’re rewarded with gasp-worthy twists and a “rewarding” conclusion.
Overall, really enjoyed it, but it’s going to be hard to find the right people to recommend this to.
Thank you sooo much to NetGalley and the author and his team for giving me the opportunity to read this in advance. A big reason why people should pick this book up is the author’s GORGEOUS writing. I was stunned to come to know that this is a debut novel. I find it really refreshing when authors write despicable and insufferable characters in a way that’s not annoying and frustrating, and I feel like that really displays a lot of Gilbert’s talent.
I was a little misled by the overall presentation of the book: the cover, title, and premise (especially the ‘the white lotus’ comparison) all made me think this was a horror/thriller book. It’s not, and I only recently found out when I went and double-checked on NetGalley after some doubts (goodreads still hadn’t updated a lot of info on this!), but it is general fiction (with yes, a hint of thriller). This unfortunately lowered my reading experience at first because I was expecting for something to happen… but that moment never seemed to come. After reframing my mindset to the book’s actual genre, though, I started enjoying this a lot more.
This is a love story, a love story between two horrible people, where you’re often left with questioning how far they’re gonna go for each other. The pacing is a little challenging (a mixture of both slow and incredibly, satisfyingly fast), but you’re rewarded with gasp-worthy twists and a “rewarding” conclusion.
Overall, really enjoyed it, but it’s going to be hard to find the right people to recommend this to.
December 19, 2025
Big thanks to NetGalley for an early copy of this book!
What a wild ride. I'll be the Monster is a tense, unsettling read that thrives on atmosphere and readers' imagination rather than explanation. From the beginning of the book, I felt a sense of impending doom-an undercurrent of dread and angst that never fully lets up. For me, that slow, claustrophobic tension was the book's greatest strength. It dug it's claws into me and did not let go.
The characters are also a highlight. They're strange, flawed, and uncomfortable. Their imperfections made them feel human and unpredictable, adding to the unease and reinforcing the novel's dark tome. Rather than offering clear heroes or villains, the story leans into moral ambiguity, which I thought worked well with the lack of explanation.
That said, there were moments for me where the story felt a bit too restrained. I wanted more, especially with the murders. I wanted to feel what the characters felt. A deeper exploration of these moments might have heightened their emotional and narrative impact, making them linger long after the book ended.
Overall, I gave the book 3.5 stars (rounded to 4). I felt like the book excelled at tone and character atmosphere. While it left me wanting more detail in key moments, its sense of dread and unsettling characters make it a compelling read for anyone who is a fan of psychological and character-driven horror, especially those who appreciate discomfort over closure.
What a wild ride. I'll be the Monster is a tense, unsettling read that thrives on atmosphere and readers' imagination rather than explanation. From the beginning of the book, I felt a sense of impending doom-an undercurrent of dread and angst that never fully lets up. For me, that slow, claustrophobic tension was the book's greatest strength. It dug it's claws into me and did not let go.
The characters are also a highlight. They're strange, flawed, and uncomfortable. Their imperfections made them feel human and unpredictable, adding to the unease and reinforcing the novel's dark tome. Rather than offering clear heroes or villains, the story leans into moral ambiguity, which I thought worked well with the lack of explanation.
That said, there were moments for me where the story felt a bit too restrained. I wanted more, especially with the murders. I wanted to feel what the characters felt. A deeper exploration of these moments might have heightened their emotional and narrative impact, making them linger long after the book ended.
Overall, I gave the book 3.5 stars (rounded to 4). I felt like the book excelled at tone and character atmosphere. While it left me wanting more detail in key moments, its sense of dread and unsettling characters make it a compelling read for anyone who is a fan of psychological and character-driven horror, especially those who appreciate discomfort over closure.
February 19, 2026
This is a book I should have disliked. Really, it has all the ingredients of my book nightmares: unlikable characters, unnerving psychology, long stretches where basically nothing happens and a second-person narration. And yet… I was hooked.
“I’ll Be the Monster” follows a married couple with enough shared psychopathology to keep half of London’s therapists gainfully employed. The story unfolds partly through the husband’s eerie “you”-address to his wife, Elle, and partly through flashbacks involving Elle and Benny, an old university friend who drifts in like a ghost from the past. The whole thing has a strange, magnetic pull—like eavesdropping on a couple you wish you hadn’t sat next to on a long train ride, yet can’t stop listening to. The pacing meanders, but the mood never slips; Gilbert’s writing hums with quiet menace, and the performances from Engstrand and Hill make every line feel just a bit too intimate for comfort.
By the end, I wasn’t sure whether I understood the characters or simply fell under their spell. It’s unsettling, disjointed, even absurd—but in the best way. I can’t say I loved “I’ll Be the Monster”, but it definitely got under my skin, and that, I suspect, is exactly what it wanted to do.
Thank you to Bolinda Audio, NetGalley and Sean Gilbert for an advance listening copy of this book.
“I’ll Be the Monster” follows a married couple with enough shared psychopathology to keep half of London’s therapists gainfully employed. The story unfolds partly through the husband’s eerie “you”-address to his wife, Elle, and partly through flashbacks involving Elle and Benny, an old university friend who drifts in like a ghost from the past. The whole thing has a strange, magnetic pull—like eavesdropping on a couple you wish you hadn’t sat next to on a long train ride, yet can’t stop listening to. The pacing meanders, but the mood never slips; Gilbert’s writing hums with quiet menace, and the performances from Engstrand and Hill make every line feel just a bit too intimate for comfort.
By the end, I wasn’t sure whether I understood the characters or simply fell under their spell. It’s unsettling, disjointed, even absurd—but in the best way. I can’t say I loved “I’ll Be the Monster”, but it definitely got under my skin, and that, I suspect, is exactly what it wanted to do.
Thank you to Bolinda Audio, NetGalley and Sean Gilbert for an advance listening copy of this book.
February 6, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
The opening scene of this books is absolutely cracking, and it sets up a really impressive book. It’s a little weird, and it gives you an idea of the characters that we’ll be dealing with throughout the book.
Unfortunately, I don’t feel like the book that followed matched the introduction. The story that unfolded left a lot to be desired, and it meant that we were left as readers with nothing concrete, which made enjoying this hard. I expected to be given a bit more of a horror novel, with hefty thriller elements, but I did find this was made of a lot of shadows and not much in the way of solidity.
I understand that nobody in this is supposed to be a good person, necessarily, but I don’t feel like it made this any easier to enjoy. It got a bit tired after a while, and I found myself rolling my eyes at how annoying the characters became. Again, I know it’s the point, but still.
There were some things I thought could have been wrapped up a bit better too, but it just didn’t happen. I do think that some of the prose was gorgeous, but there were moments of brilliance among what was also muddy.
The opening scene of this books is absolutely cracking, and it sets up a really impressive book. It’s a little weird, and it gives you an idea of the characters that we’ll be dealing with throughout the book.
Unfortunately, I don’t feel like the book that followed matched the introduction. The story that unfolded left a lot to be desired, and it meant that we were left as readers with nothing concrete, which made enjoying this hard. I expected to be given a bit more of a horror novel, with hefty thriller elements, but I did find this was made of a lot of shadows and not much in the way of solidity.
I understand that nobody in this is supposed to be a good person, necessarily, but I don’t feel like it made this any easier to enjoy. It got a bit tired after a while, and I found myself rolling my eyes at how annoying the characters became. Again, I know it’s the point, but still.
There were some things I thought could have been wrapped up a bit better too, but it just didn’t happen. I do think that some of the prose was gorgeous, but there were moments of brilliance among what was also muddy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews