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I'll Be the Monster
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Expected 12 Feb 26From 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
Expected publication February 12, 2026
182 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
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.
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 :)
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.
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.
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.
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
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✨
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.
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 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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a really entertaining read. The plot was crazy, I recommend going in as blind, the plot is bonkers and it's definitely not gonna be like anything you expect.
Reading about a homicidal couple was very fun, I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn’t put it down! I almost read this in one day.
To be honest, I thought the story would be much more darker but even with all the insights into their life and the actual mystery, there were a lot of moments when I was laughing out laud. The humor was great in this book and that made the reading experience much more pleasant.
The writing style reminded me a bit to a mix of Chuck Palahniuk and Bret Easton Ellis, which to be honest was amazing. The narrators did a great job with this novel, bringing the characters to life and making the story flow even better.
The characters are very likable, and well developed and the story is quite entertaining. If you like thrillers, humor in book and a bit of a crazy plot this is for you.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an ALC of this novel, all opinions are my own.
Reading about a homicidal couple was very fun, I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn’t put it down! I almost read this in one day.
To be honest, I thought the story would be much more darker but even with all the insights into their life and the actual mystery, there were a lot of moments when I was laughing out laud. The humor was great in this book and that made the reading experience much more pleasant.
The writing style reminded me a bit to a mix of Chuck Palahniuk and Bret Easton Ellis, which to be honest was amazing. The narrators did a great job with this novel, bringing the characters to life and making the story flow even better.
The characters are very likable, and well developed and the story is quite entertaining. If you like thrillers, humor in book and a bit of a crazy plot this is for you.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an ALC of this novel, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Duckworth Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows a homicidal couple who embark on a luxury holiday to save their marriage, but when they run into Benny, an old acquaintance who is desperate to reminisce, the couple find themselves in a dangerous game of cat and mouse as it plays under the stifling heat of the Mediterranean sun.
I really wanted to like this one but sadly it wasn’t for me. I think I made the mistake of thinking this was more of a horror than a thriller, but even with it being a thriller I was sadly quite bored and nothing excited happened until 90% of the way in. The main characters were incredibly unlikable and as I was just reading the book I realised I just didn’t care? The cover of the book made it look so exciting but it just fell flat sadly.
I will say I did really like the way it was written and I also thoroughly enjoyed the banter between the main couple. This book isn’t bad by any means, and I know some people will adore this, but it just sadly wasn’t for me.
This book follows a homicidal couple who embark on a luxury holiday to save their marriage, but when they run into Benny, an old acquaintance who is desperate to reminisce, the couple find themselves in a dangerous game of cat and mouse as it plays under the stifling heat of the Mediterranean sun.
I really wanted to like this one but sadly it wasn’t for me. I think I made the mistake of thinking this was more of a horror than a thriller, but even with it being a thriller I was sadly quite bored and nothing excited happened until 90% of the way in. The main characters were incredibly unlikable and as I was just reading the book I realised I just didn’t care? The cover of the book made it look so exciting but it just fell flat sadly.
I will say I did really like the way it was written and I also thoroughly enjoyed the banter between the main couple. This book isn’t bad by any means, and I know some people will adore this, but it just sadly wasn’t for me.
February 8, 2026
First of all, kudos to Sofia Engstrand and Louis Hill for bringing the characters to life. Were it told by one person, I would have been confused with the switching POVs. I think including which chapters were the present would help out a lot too. From the audiobook, we only get the year in chapter titles if it were a flashback.
That said, I was pleasantly surprised by the switching POVs. Our present POV is in second-person told by husband and our past POV is in third-person told by Elle, the wife, and eventually Benny, their former acquaintance.
I was expecting some bloody, homicidal scenes but really this book unravels the history between the main protagonists and the real nasty things they’ve been through. I’m talking about Elle. Hers was the more awful of the two and I find myself enjoying her parts more, even though it makes me sick (but I’d say Benny’s last chapter takes the cake).
It’s a pretty well done book! It may have dragged a little in the middle section, but I’d say it’s worth the read.
Rating: 3.5/5
Thank you NetGalley for an ALC of this book!
That said, I was pleasantly surprised by the switching POVs. Our present POV is in second-person told by husband and our past POV is in third-person told by Elle, the wife, and eventually Benny, their former acquaintance.
I was expecting some bloody, homicidal scenes but really this book unravels the history between the main protagonists and the real nasty things they’ve been through. I’m talking about Elle. Hers was the more awful of the two and I find myself enjoying her parts more, even though it makes me sick (but I’d say Benny’s last chapter takes the cake).
It’s a pretty well done book! It may have dragged a little in the middle section, but I’d say it’s worth the read.
Rating: 3.5/5
Thank you NetGalley for an ALC of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’ll Be the Monster is a book that grabs you by the ankles and drags you into the dark, then forgets why it grabbed you in the first place. One minute I was terrified, the next minute I was confused, and at one point I think I accidentally started cheering for the monster because at least it seemed to know what it was doing.
The vibes are immaculate. The logic is occasionally on vacation. Characters make choices that had me wondering if everyone was secretly competing for a Worst Decision Trophy. The pacing also behaves like a caffeinated squirrel. Sometimes it sprints, sometimes it freezes, sometimes it wanders off to think about its life.
And yet. I kept reading. I wanted to know what weird thing would happen next. I wanted to see if anyone would finally stop and say, “Hey, maybe we should not do the obviously dangerous thing.” Spoiler alert, they rarely do.
Is it perfect? No. Is it chaos? Absolutely. Did I enjoy the chaos? More than I probably should have.
The vibes are immaculate. The logic is occasionally on vacation. Characters make choices that had me wondering if everyone was secretly competing for a Worst Decision Trophy. The pacing also behaves like a caffeinated squirrel. Sometimes it sprints, sometimes it freezes, sometimes it wanders off to think about its life.
And yet. I kept reading. I wanted to know what weird thing would happen next. I wanted to see if anyone would finally stop and say, “Hey, maybe we should not do the obviously dangerous thing.” Spoiler alert, they rarely do.
Is it perfect? No. Is it chaos? Absolutely. Did I enjoy the chaos? More than I probably should have.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an e-ARC and am giving my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity!
I enjoyed reading this book, but only because I was expecting some sort of ending that wrapped everything up, revealed something about the man narrating most of the story, or something. But we got... nothing, really. We got an ending, but was it really?
The entire novel is spend alluding to something between the woman and the man, and we do see what that is, to an extent, but the way the book opened made everything seem as if it would all be important or, even, historic. There were plot points that were either forgotten about, or halfheartedly brought up on the last page as if suddenly remembered. There was so much build up, and scenes of random moments in which the man and woman's entire demeanor and act did a total 180 and then that was that.
This was wholly disappointing, sadly. I wish I had liked it.
I enjoyed reading this book, but only because I was expecting some sort of ending that wrapped everything up, revealed something about the man narrating most of the story, or something. But we got... nothing, really. We got an ending, but was it really?
The entire novel is spend alluding to something between the woman and the man, and we do see what that is, to an extent, but the way the book opened made everything seem as if it would all be important or, even, historic. There were plot points that were either forgotten about, or halfheartedly brought up on the last page as if suddenly remembered. There was so much build up, and scenes of random moments in which the man and woman's entire demeanor and act did a total 180 and then that was that.
This was wholly disappointing, sadly. I wish I had liked it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars
It took me a while to get through this one.
I often had no idea what was going on.
I don't mean it was difficult to understand, in fact it was a joy to read. The words just flowed.
I just had no idea of the what or why, and often even who was narrating.
Thankfully I pieced it together (maybe I just needed more coffee) and I enjoyed it.
It's got the right amount of dark, and as I said, a joy to read.
Worth being confused a while for.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy.
It took me a while to get through this one.
I often had no idea what was going on.
I don't mean it was difficult to understand, in fact it was a joy to read. The words just flowed.
I just had no idea of the what or why, and often even who was narrating.
Thankfully I pieced it together (maybe I just needed more coffee) and I enjoyed it.
It's got the right amount of dark, and as I said, a joy to read.
Worth being confused a while for.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A quite interesting read. Sort of like American Psycho where you're not sure what actually happened. I didn't like any of the characters, apart from the taxi driver at the very start, and I think that was the whole point. They were all complicit in some way. Even the wife, who as a young woman watched her mother get beaten by her father, she remained silent and refused to get involved. I think this book exposed some of the worst traits in people but also their biggest insecurities. And they all have them.
I enjoyed it but I wish it was slightly darker.
I enjoyed it but I wish it was slightly darker.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wowwwww I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this book and it is incredible. Sean's writing is some of the most excting to emerge in recent years and this is a book I will be thinking about for a long time to come. The sense of dread and unease builds so masterfully throughout the book, I was totally hooked. THE anti valentines book of 2026
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5
What I thought was a horror was actually a thriller (my bad for not paying attention). It took me a while to get used to the narrative voice but I loved reading the story of all these morally corrupt people. They're always the most interesting to read about. I'm excited to see what else Sean Gilbert writes.
Thanks to Netgalley and Duckworth Books for the ARC.
What I thought was a horror was actually a thriller (my bad for not paying attention). It took me a while to get used to the narrative voice but I loved reading the story of all these morally corrupt people. They're always the most interesting to read about. I'm excited to see what else Sean Gilbert writes.
Thanks to Netgalley and Duckworth Books for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was able to get my hands on this early and couldn’t put it down. It’s gripping from the start and gives you an eerie feeling right from the beginning. I want to see this written as a screenplay, I think it would make a good movie too. Anyway I cannot wait for the authors next book!
November 17, 2025
One of the best books I've read in ages - dark, funny, and jam-packed with insights that made me go "I've felt that before, but could never have articulated it!"
December 18, 2025
Acutely observed and caustically funny, Sean Gilbert demonstrates an intuitive grasp of the twisted psychological dynamics that underlie obsessive desire. I loved this book- finished it in a weekend!
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.
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