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Awake Awake
Mary has started remembering things that she knows aren't real—but the events feel exactly like her actual memories. Who is she, if she can't be sure she knows her own past?
A writer in her 30s struggling to make rent, Mary has moved back to her childhood town to bartend and save money, when she starts remembering absurd events, clear and visceral as if they’d really happened to her. But she knows they’re too wild to be possible. Flashing back to her school years, she searches the past for what could have caused this split in her reality. The lives of their close group of school friends have since diverged, as life choices and politics, partners and children, have taken them to different places and placed them into other stories. But Mary must reconnect with them to find solid ground again.
Set against the disorienting and rapidly changing political backdrop of the 2000s and 2010s, Booker Prize finalist Mozley’s disarming coming-of-age tale is addictively readable, and poignantly captures the shakiness of identity – both personal and national – and the anchoring force of friendship.
A writer in her 30s struggling to make rent, Mary has moved back to her childhood town to bartend and save money, when she starts remembering absurd events, clear and visceral as if they’d really happened to her. But she knows they’re too wild to be possible. Flashing back to her school years, she searches the past for what could have caused this split in her reality. The lives of their close group of school friends have since diverged, as life choices and politics, partners and children, have taken them to different places and placed them into other stories. But Mary must reconnect with them to find solid ground again.
Set against the disorienting and rapidly changing political backdrop of the 2000s and 2010s, Booker Prize finalist Mozley’s disarming coming-of-age tale is addictively readable, and poignantly captures the shakiness of identity – both personal and national – and the anchoring force of friendship.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2026
About the author
Fiona Mozley
9 books477 followersFiona Mozley grew up in York and went to King's College, Cambridge, after which she lived in Buenos Aires and London. She is studying for a PhD in medieval history. Her first novel Elmet was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 11, 2026
3.75⭐️ Awake Awake by Fiona Mosley is a quiet, emotional literary fiction novel that explores memory, identity, family, and the lingering effects of the past. The story centers around Mary, a woman struggling with her memory and trying to navigate both her present reality and the fragmented pieces of her past. As the novel unfolds, it becomes a deeply reflective story about loss, confusion, and the way memories shape who we are.
Fiona Mosley’s writing was one of the strongest parts of the book for me. Her prose is atmospheric, thoughtful, and beautifully detailed. She writes emotions in such a subtle and realistic way, allowing the reader to slowly sink into Mary’s world and mindset. There’s a dreamlike quality to parts of the novel that really matched the themes of fading memories and uncertainty. Even during slower moments, the writing itself kept me interested because it was so carefully crafted.
Mary was an especially compelling character because of how vulnerable and human she felt. Her struggle with memory added an emotional depth to the story and created a sense of tension throughout the novel. I also appreciated the complexity of the relationships in the book. The interactions between characters felt layered and authentic, with unspoken emotions and histories simmering beneath the surface.
The pacing was a little mixed for me overall. Some sections felt quite slow, and there were moments where I found myself losing momentum and wanting the story to move forward more quickly. However, other parts completely drew me in, especially when more details about Mary’s memories and emotional state started coming together. Those moments made me feel genuinely invested in the story and the characters.
What really stood out to me was the way the novel explored memory not only as recollection, but as something fragile and unreliable. Fiona Mosley captures the uncertainty and emotional weight of forgetting in such an intimate way. The book feels more focused on atmosphere, emotion, and character reflection than on plot-driven action, which gave it a haunting and thoughtful tone that stayed with me after finishing it.
Overall, Awake Awake is a beautifully written and emotionally layered novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy introspective literary fiction and character-driven stories. While the pacing didn’t always fully work for me, the writing, themes, and emotional depth made it a worthwhile and memorable read.
Thank you NetGalley, Algonquin Books, and the author Fiona Mosley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing date: June 4th, 2026
Fiona Mosley’s writing was one of the strongest parts of the book for me. Her prose is atmospheric, thoughtful, and beautifully detailed. She writes emotions in such a subtle and realistic way, allowing the reader to slowly sink into Mary’s world and mindset. There’s a dreamlike quality to parts of the novel that really matched the themes of fading memories and uncertainty. Even during slower moments, the writing itself kept me interested because it was so carefully crafted.
Mary was an especially compelling character because of how vulnerable and human she felt. Her struggle with memory added an emotional depth to the story and created a sense of tension throughout the novel. I also appreciated the complexity of the relationships in the book. The interactions between characters felt layered and authentic, with unspoken emotions and histories simmering beneath the surface.
The pacing was a little mixed for me overall. Some sections felt quite slow, and there were moments where I found myself losing momentum and wanting the story to move forward more quickly. However, other parts completely drew me in, especially when more details about Mary’s memories and emotional state started coming together. Those moments made me feel genuinely invested in the story and the characters.
What really stood out to me was the way the novel explored memory not only as recollection, but as something fragile and unreliable. Fiona Mosley captures the uncertainty and emotional weight of forgetting in such an intimate way. The book feels more focused on atmosphere, emotion, and character reflection than on plot-driven action, which gave it a haunting and thoughtful tone that stayed with me after finishing it.
Overall, Awake Awake is a beautifully written and emotionally layered novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy introspective literary fiction and character-driven stories. While the pacing didn’t always fully work for me, the writing, themes, and emotional depth made it a worthwhile and memorable read.
Thank you NetGalley, Algonquin Books, and the author Fiona Mosley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing date: June 4th, 2026
Did Not Finish
July 20, 2026The premise of this is so interesting and it’s clearly well written, but it’s just not drawing me in or holding my interest AT ALL. I think I was expecting something different. DNF’ing at around 22 %.
Did Not Finish
July 29, 2026dnf @ 30%. I ultimately couldn't get into the story. This is on me, as I assumed the story would have a more unsettling vibe based on the synopsis and cover.
The writing is nice, and I think it does a good job of building an atmospheric setting, but the story was too slow, and I found myself constantly rereading sentences because I was too bored to pay attention. Maybe I'll come back to it when I'm in the mood for something of this nature, but I will be putting it down for now
The writing is nice, and I think it does a good job of building an atmospheric setting, but the story was too slow, and I found myself constantly rereading sentences because I was too bored to pay attention. Maybe I'll come back to it when I'm in the mood for something of this nature, but I will be putting it down for now
June 30, 2026
My review for this book was published by Library Journal in July 2026:
Booker-nominated Mozley (Elmet and Hot Stew) returns with a disorienting third novel, narrated by a protagonist who readily admits she cannot be trusted. Mary Mooney is a writer in her 30s, prone to torrents of memories that feel in her bones capital-T True, even in defiance of the factual record. With her therapist, she revisits her childhood and adolescence in York, England, spent mainly with her friends Amelia, Eve, and American-born Eric, as the quartet navigates dramatic episodes of life in the Blair-era UK: school trauma, antiwar protests, budding love, and jealousy. Mary recounts these scenes in vivid detail, confident in the role they have played in the constructed reality of her life’s history, yet she compares those close to her to actors performing in a play for her benefit. She has also come to believe, despite protestations from her friends, that her grandfather was responsible for Adolf Hitler’s death. Are these invented memories delusions of grandeur, evidence of psychosis, or, in Freud’s view, the fulfillment of a wish? VERDICT A slow-burn novel that hums with disquieting energy and likely needs a second read to be fully absorbed.
Copyright ©2026 Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. Reprinted with permission.
Booker-nominated Mozley (Elmet and Hot Stew) returns with a disorienting third novel, narrated by a protagonist who readily admits she cannot be trusted. Mary Mooney is a writer in her 30s, prone to torrents of memories that feel in her bones capital-T True, even in defiance of the factual record. With her therapist, she revisits her childhood and adolescence in York, England, spent mainly with her friends Amelia, Eve, and American-born Eric, as the quartet navigates dramatic episodes of life in the Blair-era UK: school trauma, antiwar protests, budding love, and jealousy. Mary recounts these scenes in vivid detail, confident in the role they have played in the constructed reality of her life’s history, yet she compares those close to her to actors performing in a play for her benefit. She has also come to believe, despite protestations from her friends, that her grandfather was responsible for Adolf Hitler’s death. Are these invented memories delusions of grandeur, evidence of psychosis, or, in Freud’s view, the fulfillment of a wish? VERDICT A slow-burn novel that hums with disquieting energy and likely needs a second read to be fully absorbed.
Copyright ©2026 Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. Reprinted with permission.
April 7, 2026
Awake Awake is a descriptive journey that begins with a vivid recounting of Mary’s childhood and the cast of characters she remembers fondly. The author is clearly talented, using a lush writing style to capture these memories and create sensory experiences for the reader.
However, the story’s pace was too slow to maintain momentum. I found myself setting the book aside for days at a time, and upon picking it back up, I struggled to feel invested in Mary and her storyline. While I truly enjoyed the author's writing style, the narrative fell short of capturing my interest.
Thank you Algonquin Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
Rating ⭐️⭐️
Genre Literary Fiction
Buy/Skip/Borrow
Skip. While the writing is vivid, the slow-burn nature of the plot may not satisfy readers looking for a more engaging, character-driven hook.
Read if you like descriptive narratives that feel like real memories
However, the story’s pace was too slow to maintain momentum. I found myself setting the book aside for days at a time, and upon picking it back up, I struggled to feel invested in Mary and her storyline. While I truly enjoyed the author's writing style, the narrative fell short of capturing my interest.
Thank you Algonquin Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
Rating ⭐️⭐️
Genre Literary Fiction
Buy/Skip/Borrow
Skip. While the writing is vivid, the slow-burn nature of the plot may not satisfy readers looking for a more engaging, character-driven hook.
Read if you like descriptive narratives that feel like real memories
July 19, 2026
I’m struggling to make any sense of this book and what point the writer is trying to make.
Mary is a writer, devoted to her friends, grieving her beloved father, and solicitous of her younger brother who appears to be suffering from schizophrenia. She also fears she too is psychotic, having a number of (apparently) false memories.
We learn about Mary’s past and how her relationships have survived the passage into adulthood.
Mary is a writer, devoted to her friends, grieving her beloved father, and solicitous of her younger brother who appears to be suffering from schizophrenia. She also fears she too is psychotic, having a number of (apparently) false memories.
We learn about Mary’s past and how her relationships have survived the passage into adulthood.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am not sure whether it is advisable to pay too much attention to the history of a place; whether the contemporary drive to memorialise serves to prohibit repetition – as we are often told – or whether it mimics the procession of intrusive thoughts that harass a troubled mind. It is possible these repetitive utterances plough deep furrows in our collective unconscious; that they draw out the poison from the ground and scatter it across the land. And does this truly inoculate us? Or do we walk through a toxic landscape with a righteous but ultimately false certainty we are protected? Deep furrows allow the flood to spill through the same channels, making these channels deeper and then, when the flood waters abate, we arrive confidently with our spades and hoes and make the ditches deeper still, or we line them with stone and we say, ‘This is where the river has always flowed; this is where the river will always flow.’
Fiona Mozley’s debut novel “Elmet” – a rurally based (South West of her York birthplace) Northern-England Gothic tale of a small family and which examined abandoned communities, property ownership, gender roles and inequality, bought her to immediate prominence in 2017 when it was included on the Booker Longlist. That year was probably the most predictable and strongest Booker longlist of all time – as seen both before the list (no less than 8 books were in the top 10 of the Goodreads Listopia and 11 in the top 20) and after the list (with longlisted books winning pretty well every other major English-language novel literary prizes on both sides of the Atlantic). Alongside those 11 though were two debuts of which “Elmet” was one – and not just in Elmet’s case a debut but a previously unheralded one. My review of Elmet (which I managed to pick up due to a I think erroneous early Kindle availability) was I believe the first (other than by a friend of the author) anywhere online or in print. The other notable feature of the 2017 year was that the judges then proceeded to drop almost all the really well known books at shortlist stage and include both debuts – although in my view deservedly in this case. “Elmet” went on to win the Polari Prize, be shortlisted for the Ondaatje Prize and longslitged for both the Women’s and Dylan Thomas Prizes.
Her second novel “Hot Stew” was also Dylan Thomas Prize longlisted but otherwise did not match her debut’s success. Very different in setting (a sprawling Soho building) and cast (a Dickensian ensemble) it shared themes of property ownership and gentrification.
This her third novel is a return to York (the City itself) and in many ways is very different again although I was reminded of a description she gave of the aims of “Elmet”: “I wanted to capture the ambiguity of local historical recollections; to say something about their double-edged thrall … very particular relationship with their history; in which the cultural memory is almost haunted by certain eras or events”.
The novel is told in first person by Mary – a York born and based novelist successful by literary standards (her debut is shortlisted for a reasonably prestigious prize, she has a US book tour) but not economically (she shares a small house and works in a Cinema bar); her father based a priest based at York Minister, looking back across her memories of her life (personal, familial, friends and world events) and sifting through them for a sense of truth.
The first chapter recalls the last of a series of memorably exuberant birthday parties (held on the farm of the foster parents of two twin classmates) and which introduces us to some important characters : Billy Fletcher – one of the twins and already known as something of a “nutter”, and Mary’s two closest friends – the quiet Amelia (daughter of a property developer) and fiercely brave Eve (bought up by her divorced mother, herself a close friend to Mary), as well as by future reference to Eric (a son of two New York based writers who later move for a short period to York with Eric joining the friendship group).
The second chapter though starts with the opening sentences which sum up much of the novel ”All is recollection save for the slender membrane of now. Every present thought, every present feeling, collides with a league of their familial ghosts. And if our lives in this moment seem flimsy, that is because they are. We dwell on that slim edge of experience while the waters of all that has been foam and swell”.
From there, and partly if not largely we realise due to her sessions with a psychiatrist Sita, these memories are unpacked in a series of interrelated strands.
The interactions between the four friends (and with their parents) and how these develop through childhood and afterwards – with complexities being introduced by an unacknowledged attraction between Amelia and Eric, by differences in worldviews between Amelia and Mary’s parents, and later by Eve’s much more activist worldviews. We sense early on that there is a story of loss also associated with Eve.
World events – initially 9-11 and the Anti-Iraq war protests (and a peace camp/squat that Eve joins unbeknownst to her mother) but later and ultimately much more consequentially the Syrian civil war – Eve who studies at the SOAS becoming increasingly drawn to the Kurdish cause.
Recurring memories of appearances of Billy Fletcher
And then – much more distinctively a series of seemingly false memories (at least in the view of both common sense and others testimonies) but which to Mary are as real as her more shared memories – in which at a series of three literary events in London she gets to know two writers who realise that she plays a crucial part in a historically suppressed event they are uncovering ……. Her Jewish Doctor grandfather present at a successful British mission to assassinate Hitler in his Berlin bunker.
And with her brother (a musical prodigy as a child) still living with her parents (her father having struggled with his Anglo-Catholic faith in light of the evil in the world and quitting his Church role to take up a form of Gnosticism) already suffering psychotic episodes involving Nazis we and she (and those around her) question what is happening in her mind.
There is some really beautiful literary writing in this novel particularly around the idea of memories, some really nostalgia filled writing about the girl’s childhood and also some really interesting examinations of how the childhood friends drift both apart and together as they grow up and become more or less politically aware in a post 9-11 world.
If I had a criticism I wonder if the novel would have had a better balance and consistency if Mary’s memories while seemingly false (or at least falsifiable by others) were more plausible ones – particularly when connected to her brother’s episodes they felt so implausible as to make this part of the novel, while thematically vital to its ideas of memory rather disconnected narratively.
And I almost wondered if the author felt the same, or at least wanted to de-emphasise the actual memories (rather than the idea of unreliable memory) by towards the novel’s end refusing to resolve this part and instead to reforeground the story of Billy in an episode which neatly links to the opening birthday party chapter and, in my reading, causes the other friends to live up a little to Eve’s more fearless attitude to the issues of the present rather than the past.
Mozley is a talented writer – young enough for a third Dylan Thomas listing I think (which would be deserved), and I would not rule out other prize success for this book (which of course is an automatic Booker entry).
My thanks to John Murray for an Arc via NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Awake Awake is the curious, somnambulant tale of Mary, a pathologically passive young woman suffering from false — but utterly convincing — memories.
We learn this quite early in the story and, of course, it makes us immediately suspicious of our narrator.
Mozley drizzles Mary’s memories across and through one another, with various parties — including Mary herself — denying any recollection of certain key events. The three unlikely memories Mary believes to be false, though they feel as real to her as any other, concern an outlandish claim regarding her grandfather’s actions towards the end of World War II, something she cannot accept as true. She does not quite recall all three events directly, but instead remembers being reminded of each previous event during the one that followed.
Though this sounds like the plot of a feverish paranoid thriller, Mozley takes us somewhere more psychologically disturbing and perplexing. Some of Mary’s memories — the ones she believes to be wholly real — conflict directly with statements she makes elsewhere, while at other times her recollections are improbably detailed, even regarding events in which she played no direct part. Everything feels subtly but persistently out of kilter.
As Mary recounts the events of her younger life — her family’s struggles, the bonds and rivalries within her friendship group — we begin to detect the currents of unrest that have shaped her character. What emerges, and what Mary herself ultimately admits, is that she is a passive presence within her own life. Though she can intellectually comprehend injustice and horror on a global scale, she feels little emotional connection to it. It takes horrors much closer to home to touch her heart.
Mozley deftly illuminates Mary’s unsettled state of mind as well as her complacency and emotional distance, and her bafflement as one of life’s observers unable to trust her memory.
We learn this quite early in the story and, of course, it makes us immediately suspicious of our narrator.
Mozley drizzles Mary’s memories across and through one another, with various parties — including Mary herself — denying any recollection of certain key events. The three unlikely memories Mary believes to be false, though they feel as real to her as any other, concern an outlandish claim regarding her grandfather’s actions towards the end of World War II, something she cannot accept as true. She does not quite recall all three events directly, but instead remembers being reminded of each previous event during the one that followed.
Though this sounds like the plot of a feverish paranoid thriller, Mozley takes us somewhere more psychologically disturbing and perplexing. Some of Mary’s memories — the ones she believes to be wholly real — conflict directly with statements she makes elsewhere, while at other times her recollections are improbably detailed, even regarding events in which she played no direct part. Everything feels subtly but persistently out of kilter.
As Mary recounts the events of her younger life — her family’s struggles, the bonds and rivalries within her friendship group — we begin to detect the currents of unrest that have shaped her character. What emerges, and what Mary herself ultimately admits, is that she is a passive presence within her own life. Though she can intellectually comprehend injustice and horror on a global scale, she feels little emotional connection to it. It takes horrors much closer to home to touch her heart.
Mozley deftly illuminates Mary’s unsettled state of mind as well as her complacency and emotional distance, and her bafflement as one of life’s observers unable to trust her memory.
June 11, 2026
Thank you Algonquin for the gifted early copy!
⏳Awake Awake will be out 08/04! ⏳
“A writer in her 30s struggling to make rent, Mary has moved back to her childhood town to bartend and save money, when she starts remembering absurd events, clear and visceral as if they'd really happened to her. But she knows they're too wild to be possible. Flashing back to her school years, she searches the past for what could have caused this split in her reality. The lives of their close group of school friends have since diverged, as life choices and politics, partners and children, have taken them to different places and placed them into other stories. But Mary must reconnect with them to find solid ground again.”
Mary is an intriguing narrator because she has false memories that are completely real to her. As the story moves between past and present, memories start to blur together, making it hard to know what actually happened. I enjoyed the uncertainty because it elevated what could have been a simple mystery into something much more psychological. I also really enjoyed the coming-of-age aspects of the story. Mary's relationships with her family and childhood friends are at the heart of this novel, and the detailed memories she has with them are so realistic that it is both satisfying and conflicting because they are so enjoyable while also making you wonder, is this real?
Mozley's writing is thoughtful and often beautiful, particularly when dealing with nostalgia, loss, and the lingering effects of the past.
Awake Awake is one of those books that slowly pulls you in. It starts out feeling like a story about family, friendship, and growing up, but it gradually becomes something much stranger as it explores memory, identity, and what happens when you can't fully trust your own mind. This one will stay in my mind for a long time. 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⏳Awake Awake will be out 08/04! ⏳
“A writer in her 30s struggling to make rent, Mary has moved back to her childhood town to bartend and save money, when she starts remembering absurd events, clear and visceral as if they'd really happened to her. But she knows they're too wild to be possible. Flashing back to her school years, she searches the past for what could have caused this split in her reality. The lives of their close group of school friends have since diverged, as life choices and politics, partners and children, have taken them to different places and placed them into other stories. But Mary must reconnect with them to find solid ground again.”
Mary is an intriguing narrator because she has false memories that are completely real to her. As the story moves between past and present, memories start to blur together, making it hard to know what actually happened. I enjoyed the uncertainty because it elevated what could have been a simple mystery into something much more psychological. I also really enjoyed the coming-of-age aspects of the story. Mary's relationships with her family and childhood friends are at the heart of this novel, and the detailed memories she has with them are so realistic that it is both satisfying and conflicting because they are so enjoyable while also making you wonder, is this real?
Mozley's writing is thoughtful and often beautiful, particularly when dealing with nostalgia, loss, and the lingering effects of the past.
Awake Awake is one of those books that slowly pulls you in. It starts out feeling like a story about family, friendship, and growing up, but it gradually becomes something much stranger as it explores memory, identity, and what happens when you can't fully trust your own mind. This one will stay in my mind for a long time. 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this one, even though it left me with more questions than answers. Honestly, that might be the whole point.
The novel follows Mary, a writer in her 30s who moves back to her childhood home in York and starts experiencing vivid memories of events that couldn’t possibly have happened. They feel completely real, which makes them even more unsettling, and sends her searching back through her past for something to hold onto.
What stood out to me most is how the book explores identity and the idea of “awakening.” The phrase “awake, awake” has biblical roots as a call to rise up and become spiritual aware and empowered. In this novel, the idea of awakening is complex and layered. Mary’s grip on her own story begins to slip, not knowing which memories are true or false. Meanwhile, the lives of her friends play out the idea of awakening in vastly different ways, shaped by politics, belief, and personal choices.
The writing is subtle and atmospheric. It moves between past and present in a way that mirrors Mary’s disorientation. My favorite part was the interactions between the friends throughout the years, which serve an anchoring point for all of them, especially as the wider political landscape shifts around them.
The book shies away from wrapping everything up neatly, and instead leaves you sitting with uncertainty. I finished it feeling a little confused, but I also can’t stop thinking about it.
If you like books that focus on mood, identity, and open-ended questions, this one is definitely worth picking up. #awakeawake #fionamozley #newrreleases #newbooks
The novel follows Mary, a writer in her 30s who moves back to her childhood home in York and starts experiencing vivid memories of events that couldn’t possibly have happened. They feel completely real, which makes them even more unsettling, and sends her searching back through her past for something to hold onto.
What stood out to me most is how the book explores identity and the idea of “awakening.” The phrase “awake, awake” has biblical roots as a call to rise up and become spiritual aware and empowered. In this novel, the idea of awakening is complex and layered. Mary’s grip on her own story begins to slip, not knowing which memories are true or false. Meanwhile, the lives of her friends play out the idea of awakening in vastly different ways, shaped by politics, belief, and personal choices.
The writing is subtle and atmospheric. It moves between past and present in a way that mirrors Mary’s disorientation. My favorite part was the interactions between the friends throughout the years, which serve an anchoring point for all of them, especially as the wider political landscape shifts around them.
The book shies away from wrapping everything up neatly, and instead leaves you sitting with uncertainty. I finished it feeling a little confused, but I also can’t stop thinking about it.
If you like books that focus on mood, identity, and open-ended questions, this one is definitely worth picking up. #awakeawake #fionamozley #newrreleases #newbooks
Read
May 4, 2026> *“All is recollection save for the slender membrane of now. Every present thought, every present feeling, collides with a league of their familial ghosts. And if our lives in this moment seem flimsy, that is because they are. We dwell on that slim edge of experience while the waters of all that has been foam and swell”*
>
Mozley's novel pulses in and out of past and present. The past is deeply rooted in British history and politics; the present is Mary's ongoing psychoanalysis sessions. The first two hundred pages were disorienting, but the final hundred pulled everything together with a quiet potency, centred on friendship and the ways people show up for each other when it matters.
Mozley's writing is sharp and poignant. Each line feels underline worthy, the kind of prose that makes you slow down because you do not want to miss anything. The novel is also meticulously researched, steeped in the detail of the Blair era and the Iraq war protests. These historical moments sit inside the narrative unevenly, sometimes feeling slightly out of place, other times illuminating exactly why a character made the choices they did.
What grounded the novel for me, more than anything else, was place. York. The city that all the characters are eventually drawn back to, no matter how far they have wandered or how many countries the novel passes through. York is stability here, and care, a place that holds these people even when they cannot hold themselves. It is also, as Mozley seems quietly aware, a city that rarely gets to be the centre of anything in fiction. It deserves to be.
>
Mozley's novel pulses in and out of past and present. The past is deeply rooted in British history and politics; the present is Mary's ongoing psychoanalysis sessions. The first two hundred pages were disorienting, but the final hundred pulled everything together with a quiet potency, centred on friendship and the ways people show up for each other when it matters.
Mozley's writing is sharp and poignant. Each line feels underline worthy, the kind of prose that makes you slow down because you do not want to miss anything. The novel is also meticulously researched, steeped in the detail of the Blair era and the Iraq war protests. These historical moments sit inside the narrative unevenly, sometimes feeling slightly out of place, other times illuminating exactly why a character made the choices they did.
What grounded the novel for me, more than anything else, was place. York. The city that all the characters are eventually drawn back to, no matter how far they have wandered or how many countries the novel passes through. York is stability here, and care, a place that holds these people even when they cannot hold themselves. It is also, as Mozley seems quietly aware, a city that rarely gets to be the centre of anything in fiction. It deserves to be.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Women’s Prize-longlisted and Booker Prize-shortlisted author Fiona Mozley returns with her latest book, ‘Awake Awake’. Mozley’s novel is all about memory and how childhood memory can have a major effect on someone’s adult life. Mozley’s protagonist, Mary, often has difficulty with her memory, and it’s this troublesome relationship to the past that prevents her from truly being able to live in the moment. She’s constantly attempting to put together fragments of her past.
I found Mozley’s writing highly evocative of someone grasping for meaning at a time of chaos. When Mary is unsure of the past or if her own memories are tricking her into believing something contradictory, Mozley’s book hinges on something deeper—how we often have to live in the unknown. We live in families that tell stories, and those stories can be based in truths and lies at the same time. Mozley captures beautifully that contradiction in how we often live in delusions to get through the day.
In a way, I was reminded of the classic novel, Sue Kaufman’s ‘Diary of a Mad Housewife’ where Tina also starts to question her life and past. She looks for answers in trying to piece together who she is as a person, and this is what Mary does in Mozley’s work. Mozley’s writing is inviting and confrontational at times, as we learn the full nature of Mary’s situation. How do we assess Mary’s character? How reliable can Mary be in the circumstances? Readers must ask themselves those questions. The rewards are well worth it, as Fiona Mozley’s ‘Awake Awake’ is a challenging and psychological portrait of a woman in search of answers.
I found Mozley’s writing highly evocative of someone grasping for meaning at a time of chaos. When Mary is unsure of the past or if her own memories are tricking her into believing something contradictory, Mozley’s book hinges on something deeper—how we often have to live in the unknown. We live in families that tell stories, and those stories can be based in truths and lies at the same time. Mozley captures beautifully that contradiction in how we often live in delusions to get through the day.
In a way, I was reminded of the classic novel, Sue Kaufman’s ‘Diary of a Mad Housewife’ where Tina also starts to question her life and past. She looks for answers in trying to piece together who she is as a person, and this is what Mary does in Mozley’s work. Mozley’s writing is inviting and confrontational at times, as we learn the full nature of Mary’s situation. How do we assess Mary’s character? How reliable can Mary be in the circumstances? Readers must ask themselves those questions. The rewards are well worth it, as Fiona Mozley’s ‘Awake Awake’ is a challenging and psychological portrait of a woman in search of answers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“They told me that my Jewish grandad assassinated Adolf Hitler.”
Unfortunately, this is not really a mystery about whether Mary’s grandfather killed Hitler, nor is it interested in explaining her delusions in any definitive way. Instead, it explores how family secrecy, inherited trauma, historical knowledge, and psychiatric vulnerability can combine until someone experiences history as personal memory.
The title also seems important. “Awake, awake” appears to echo a biblical phrase, especially given her father’s spiritual awakening, though that connection is my own reading. I found it especially interesting that his break from ordinary reality is given a spiritual framework, while Mary’s and her brother’s experiences are understood as mental illnesses.
But I was much more interested in thinking about this novel than I was in actually reading it. The long childhood recollections and political conversations felt too diffuse, and I never found enough emotional pressure or narrative pull to keep me engaged. I enjoy slow and intellectually ambitious books, but I still need something I can get my teeth into. Unfortunately, this just didn’t work for me. I would definitely read Fiona Mozley’s next work, as the ideas here were so compelling.
Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Unfortunately, this is not really a mystery about whether Mary’s grandfather killed Hitler, nor is it interested in explaining her delusions in any definitive way. Instead, it explores how family secrecy, inherited trauma, historical knowledge, and psychiatric vulnerability can combine until someone experiences history as personal memory.
The title also seems important. “Awake, awake” appears to echo a biblical phrase, especially given her father’s spiritual awakening, though that connection is my own reading. I found it especially interesting that his break from ordinary reality is given a spiritual framework, while Mary’s and her brother’s experiences are understood as mental illnesses.
But I was much more interested in thinking about this novel than I was in actually reading it. The long childhood recollections and political conversations felt too diffuse, and I never found enough emotional pressure or narrative pull to keep me engaged. I enjoy slow and intellectually ambitious books, but I still need something I can get my teeth into. Unfortunately, this just didn’t work for me. I would definitely read Fiona Mozley’s next work, as the ideas here were so compelling.
Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed the reading experience of Awake Awake and, as a non-linear narrative, unreliable narrator, lit fic enjoyer this definitely scratched the itch I hoped it would.
Plot wise, this was really interesting. It was far more invested in world history and politics than I anticipated, and most of the time, this was well executed. There were interesting themes throughout about political polarization, the value of taking of moral stance, and the question of what we pay attention to, remember, and value. That being said, I do think this bit off just a little bit more than it could chew. There were so many through lines and pieces that, while I'm sure were meant to put the reader into a similar headspace as the protagonist Mary who is trying to sort through her own memories (which is a really clever framing and device), did mean that a lot of elements were unresolved in a way that was less than satisfying. In particular, I think that a little more clarity around the intersections or overlaps of Mary and her brother Jos' experiences would have taken this to the next level. This is where the book lost a star for me.
That being said, this is beautifully written and the actual experience of engaging the writing was deeply positive. It's lush, descriptive, and lyrical without feeling flowery which I think is a deeply difficult line to walk. The characters are all flawed and interesting and read in ways that feel accurate to the teenage into early adolescence years. Because of this, I really felt for them and was invested in their growth, happiness, and connections. The way that friendship is portrayed in this also felt realistic. The main three characters that we follow through Mary's point of view and the ways that the take care of, lie to, and navigate conflict with each other—at times disagreeing vehemently—but still loving each other because while their approaches may differ their values are ultimately aligned was really lovely. On a final note, I loved the way that this book dealt with religion and the implications of morality embedded (or not) in different variations of Christianity.
Ultimately, I loved this and will be picking up a physical copy when it's available in bookstores!
Thank you to the publisher, Algonquin Books, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
*Read the e-book ARC on e-reader*
Plot wise, this was really interesting. It was far more invested in world history and politics than I anticipated, and most of the time, this was well executed. There were interesting themes throughout about political polarization, the value of taking of moral stance, and the question of what we pay attention to, remember, and value. That being said, I do think this bit off just a little bit more than it could chew. There were so many through lines and pieces that, while I'm sure were meant to put the reader into a similar headspace as the protagonist Mary who is trying to sort through her own memories (which is a really clever framing and device), did mean that a lot of elements were unresolved in a way that was less than satisfying. In particular, I think that a little more clarity around the intersections or overlaps of Mary and her brother Jos' experiences would have taken this to the next level. This is where the book lost a star for me.
That being said, this is beautifully written and the actual experience of engaging the writing was deeply positive. It's lush, descriptive, and lyrical without feeling flowery which I think is a deeply difficult line to walk. The characters are all flawed and interesting and read in ways that feel accurate to the teenage into early adolescence years. Because of this, I really felt for them and was invested in their growth, happiness, and connections. The way that friendship is portrayed in this also felt realistic. The main three characters that we follow through Mary's point of view and the ways that the take care of, lie to, and navigate conflict with each other—at times disagreeing vehemently—but still loving each other because while their approaches may differ their values are ultimately aligned was really lovely. On a final note, I loved the way that this book dealt with religion and the implications of morality embedded (or not) in different variations of Christianity.
Ultimately, I loved this and will be picking up a physical copy when it's available in bookstores!
Thank you to the publisher, Algonquin Books, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
*Read the e-book ARC on e-reader*
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I found this novel compelling from the start and intriguing throughout. I very much enjoyed reading it but found the ending a little strange, though also inevitable. Though the writing is superb, and as I've said, gripping, I am not entirely sure what to make of the book. It's about memory and forgetting and the tricks memory can play, and also about mental health and the impossibility of helping those who cannot or will not be helped. I got a sense of the futility of well-meaning attempts to help the unhelpable.
It's thought-provoking and puzzling and doesn't do what books usually do - all of which is wonderful. I did get a bit confused by the name of one of the characters (Jonathan Miller) as I kept thinking it referred to the former actor and theatre director. This was distracting but maybe that's just my problem.
It's thought-provoking and puzzling and doesn't do what books usually do - all of which is wonderful. I did get a bit confused by the name of one of the characters (Jonathan Miller) as I kept thinking it referred to the former actor and theatre director. This was distracting but maybe that's just my problem.
June 11, 2026
…but I was asleep
Unreliable memory, fractured reality, identity slipping – on paper, this is exactly my type of read, but in reality, I just never felt emotionally invited into this super clever, super ambitious book.
Mary’s mind is maxxing – too many memories, too many versions of the truth, some plausible, some completely unhinged. My problem was I just didn’t care. There was a distance that never closed. I didn’t feel anchored. I was always observing. For a book that lives and dies on interiority, this was a problem. It circles big ideas but because it didn’t land (for me) emotionally, it always felt like a concept rather than an experience.
I think this is going to divide readers, what didn’t land for me will light up someone else but I appreciate the opportunity I was given by NetGalley and John Murray Press to read an advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Unreliable memory, fractured reality, identity slipping – on paper, this is exactly my type of read, but in reality, I just never felt emotionally invited into this super clever, super ambitious book.
Mary’s mind is maxxing – too many memories, too many versions of the truth, some plausible, some completely unhinged. My problem was I just didn’t care. There was a distance that never closed. I didn’t feel anchored. I was always observing. For a book that lives and dies on interiority, this was a problem. It circles big ideas but because it didn’t land (for me) emotionally, it always felt like a concept rather than an experience.
I think this is going to divide readers, what didn’t land for me will light up someone else but I appreciate the opportunity I was given by NetGalley and John Murray Press to read an advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
May 18, 2026
When Mary is back home, she is faced with memories that feel so startingly real to her that she can't decipher where they end and she begins. When she begins searching her childhood memories to unravel the vestiges from her past that may have been possible, she is lead back to her friends from elementary school to start. This is one of those books that follows people observing things, and while the premise was fun, the lean in this one is political/ world events in a way that really took me out of this story. I think this one will be great for someone looking to do a deep dive into religion and politics alongside characters who are trying to find their future. Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for the eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I requested "Awake Awake" because I loved the slow, atmospheric build of "Elmet," and couldn't wait to get my hands on a new book by Fiona Mozley. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with "Awake Awake" in quite the same way. I might well come back to it in another moment, but I decided to put this down around the halfway mark. This book deals with memory, history, morality, and friendship in a unique and extremely smart way. This is less a story told by an unreliable narrator as it is an entirely unreliable narrative. In the right head space, this book will really hook the right readers who have the patience to let the memories wash over them.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Mary is in her thirties, broke and back in her old York town pulling pints, when she starts remembering things that cannot possibly have happened. From there the book slips back into her school days during the Blair years and the Iraq War protests, and into the slow drift of childhood friends becoming different people.
I really liked it. The writing is warm, the friendships feel real, and that wobbly memory thing landed for me. It loses half a star because the central mystery does not punch as hard as I wanted, but the coming of age side of it is lovely. A solid four stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
I really liked it. The writing is warm, the friendships feel real, and that wobbly memory thing landed for me. It loses half a star because the central mystery does not punch as hard as I wanted, but the coming of age side of it is lovely. A solid four stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
When I first read the description for Awake Awake I couldn’t help but be reminded of the idea that you can only really remember a moment once because after that your brain is only remembering the last time you remembered it, and that’s how memories can change so much over time. I definitely felt that tone throughout this book. Mary understands that she has certain memories that feel so real but are completely unrealistic, and she delves into her past to look for answers. Along the way we can really see how her life experiences have shaped her and those around her in different ways.
The writing was so beautiful and Mozley really has a talent for pulling off a seamless feeling story.
The writing was so beautiful and Mozley really has a talent for pulling off a seamless feeling story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In her soon to be released novel, Awake Awake, acclaimed author Fiona Mozley tells the story of a young writer struggling with the memories of her past and how she navigates that journey in order to find a balance in life. To me, the most enduring quality of this novel are the relationships between the narrator, Mary, and her friendships with Amelia, Eric, and Eve. Thus, having a wonderful group of friends to grow up with myself, this novel helped me experience a sense of nostalgia I’ve not found in most of what I’ve read in recent years. Many thanks to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for making this title available.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Awake Awake slowly unfolds through Mary's memories as she returns home and begins reflecting on childhood friendships, family history, and the ways memory can become unreliable over time. There's an unsettling, dreamlike quality throughout that creates a constant feeling that something significant is just out of reach. I really enjoyed Mary's friendships, which we see throughout the book.
This could be for those who enjoy literary fiction, introspective character studies, and the writing was beautiful! It was just not for me.
Thank you so much to Netgalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own!
This could be for those who enjoy literary fiction, introspective character studies, and the writing was beautiful! It was just not for me.
Thank you so much to Netgalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Awake Awake is one of those novels where the atmosphere matters as much as the plot. The story moves through memory, history and friendship in a way that constantly leaves the reader slightly off balance, never quite sure how much of Mary’s recollections can be trusted. The strange memory sequences could easily have become too much, but Fiona Mozley keeps the book grounded in ordinary lives and relationships.
The York setting during the Blair and Iraq War years was particularly well done. It captured that period without turning into a nostalgia exercise, and some of the strongest parts of the novel were simply the changing dynamics within friendships as people grew older and drifted in different directions.
The York setting during the Blair and Iraq War years was particularly well done. It captured that period without turning into a nostalgia exercise, and some of the strongest parts of the novel were simply the changing dynamics within friendships as people grew older and drifted in different directions.
June 19, 2026
An interesting read in style and subject. Mary is our narrator and walks us through her current life and memories of what has passed. Have her early experiences shaped her memories with truth or fiction.
I was heartened that she has a loving family and close bonds with school friends, but felt that their experiences had shaped her own struggles.
For me it ended with too many questions and unfinished business. Although life rarely ties up all those loose ends I felt it could have ended differently.
I was heartened that she has a loving family and close bonds with school friends, but felt that their experiences had shaped her own struggles.
For me it ended with too many questions and unfinished business. Although life rarely ties up all those loose ends I felt it could have ended differently.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm not really sure what I've just read even though I enjoyed it very much. The sections in York centring around her teenage years are brilliantly written and engaging. However it didn't really hang together with the sections on memory and the 3 incidents. It almost seemed like two books and I feel like I've missed the point, fascinating though it was.
I don't think I could describe it to another person, it seemed so disjointed, but so beautifully written and always interesting.
I don't think I could describe it to another person, it seemed so disjointed, but so beautifully written and always interesting.
Review of advance copy
Beautifully written and proud at times. Unreliable narrative that captures life as a teenager in 2000s Britain. It’s a book about heroism, courage and cowardice, with threads joining WW2, Iraq, Syria. Ultimately I think it’s a book about trying to find something to explain who we are, and why; it’s about complexity of identity, action, decisions and non-decisions and relationships. It will linger, even if I don’t quite understand it yet!
Did Not Finish
August 1, 2026I DNFed at 40%. I tried but this just wasn't gripping me at all. I had the same experience with her novel, Hot Stew. I think her writing is too meandering for my taste. It is fine if there is no plot, but there needs to be something interesting being laid out. This just seemed all over the place and I rather spend my time reading something that at least keeps my attention.
This just was not for me but it may be perfect for someone else.
This just was not for me but it may be perfect for someone else.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Actually an ebook.
As ever, I enjoyed reading about the main character’s childhood. Unfortunately, Mary’s psychosis, her unreliable memory, her therapy sessions, and the storyline about her grandfather left me cold and I admit I skim read these.
I’m sure others would enjoy this, especially if the vagaries of the mind interest them.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.
As ever, I enjoyed reading about the main character’s childhood. Unfortunately, Mary’s psychosis, her unreliable memory, her therapy sessions, and the storyline about her grandfather left me cold and I admit I skim read these.
I’m sure others would enjoy this, especially if the vagaries of the mind interest them.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy
A story, well told, of shifting allegiances within a group of friends, from their early childhood, through adolescence and into adult life. Regrets, mistakes, relationships and accidents all recounted by the narrator herself while she struggles to understand the reliability or otherwise of her memory. An intriguing premise that somehow failed to reach a worthy conclusion.
Review of advance copy
Mary is a writer based in the UK. In her 30s, she's meticulously piecing together memories from her teen years that may be real but in fact are a mishmash of falsehoods. Well written examination of growth, friendship, loss and often challenging examination of your inner self.
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