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Don't close your eyes
There must have been a moment when Vivian McAllister’s life broke open and reset itself, though she was too distracted to notice.
One day she was part of the world she had built for herself. The next, she was treated as if she had already disappeared.
Vivian was a psychologist working with rare and severe cases. She was trained to understand isolation, not to live it.
After an incident at the clinic, everything began to slip. A lapse in judgment. A breach in procedure. A death that should never have happened. Guilt settled in, heavy and relentless, and with it came the dreams.
At first, they felt familiar. Nightmares she has known since childhood. But soon they began to change. They followed her into her waking hours. They bleed into her memory, perception, and thought. The distinction between what was real and imagined started to dissolve.
As Vivian’s grip on reality weakened, she was forced to confront the possibility that her mind was not simply breaking under pressure.
Something else was taking shape beneath the surface, something that has been waiting for her to look away.
*Don’t Close Your Eyes is a psychological thriller about guilt, perception, and psychological collapse. It explores the slow erosion of sanity and the terrifying question of whether the mind can become its own most dangerous enemy.
One day she was part of the world she had built for herself. The next, she was treated as if she had already disappeared.
Vivian was a psychologist working with rare and severe cases. She was trained to understand isolation, not to live it.
After an incident at the clinic, everything began to slip. A lapse in judgment. A breach in procedure. A death that should never have happened. Guilt settled in, heavy and relentless, and with it came the dreams.
At first, they felt familiar. Nightmares she has known since childhood. But soon they began to change. They followed her into her waking hours. They bleed into her memory, perception, and thought. The distinction between what was real and imagined started to dissolve.
As Vivian’s grip on reality weakened, she was forced to confront the possibility that her mind was not simply breaking under pressure.
Something else was taking shape beneath the surface, something that has been waiting for her to look away.
*Don’t Close Your Eyes is a psychological thriller about guilt, perception, and psychological collapse. It explores the slow erosion of sanity and the terrifying question of whether the mind can become its own most dangerous enemy.
Unknown Binding
Published October 1, 2026
About the author
Thaise Wolff
10 books21 followersThaise Wolff writes about deep psychological themes and taboo subjects, exploring the shadows that shape human behavior. Her novels blend tension, vulnerability, and unsettling truth to create immersive psychological narratives.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a dark and unsettling read, and I absolutely loved the feeling of unease that followed me throughout the story. There was this constant sense that something wasn't right, even when I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was. The atmosphere was eerie, heavy, and almost suffocating at times.
Vivian’s journey really pulled at me. She’s already carrying so much guilt and emotional pain and watching everything around her slowly become harder to understand made her story incredibly heartbreaking. I could feel her desperation as she tried to hold on to the pieces of reality she still trusted.
What I enjoyed most was the psychological aspect. The nightmares begin to feel far too real, memories become questionable, and the line between what Vivian is imagining and what is actually happening becomes thinner and thinner. I loved being kept in that uncertainty because I never felt completely sure of what I could trust.
There were moments that genuinely gave me chills, especially when it felt like something was watching, waiting, or hiding just beyond Vivian’s awareness. The idea that something could be taking shape inside the darkness while she was desperately trying to understand what was happening made the story even creepier.
I also really connected with the emotional side of Vivian’s character. Her guilt isn't something that simply sits in the background—it follows her, consumes her, and changes the way she sees everything. I felt her fear, confusion, and exhaustion as the story progressed, and there were times when I honestly just wanted her to catch a break.
I did have a few moments where the pacing didn't completely work for me, which kept this from being a five-star read, but I still found myself thinking about the story long after putting it down. There is something especially disturbing about a thriller that makes you question whether the real danger is outside of you or something much closer.
Dark, emotional, creepy, and psychologically twisted. This one definitely got inside my head, and I loved how it made me question what was real, right alongside Vivian.
Vivian’s journey really pulled at me. She’s already carrying so much guilt and emotional pain and watching everything around her slowly become harder to understand made her story incredibly heartbreaking. I could feel her desperation as she tried to hold on to the pieces of reality she still trusted.
What I enjoyed most was the psychological aspect. The nightmares begin to feel far too real, memories become questionable, and the line between what Vivian is imagining and what is actually happening becomes thinner and thinner. I loved being kept in that uncertainty because I never felt completely sure of what I could trust.
There were moments that genuinely gave me chills, especially when it felt like something was watching, waiting, or hiding just beyond Vivian’s awareness. The idea that something could be taking shape inside the darkness while she was desperately trying to understand what was happening made the story even creepier.
I also really connected with the emotional side of Vivian’s character. Her guilt isn't something that simply sits in the background—it follows her, consumes her, and changes the way she sees everything. I felt her fear, confusion, and exhaustion as the story progressed, and there were times when I honestly just wanted her to catch a break.
I did have a few moments where the pacing didn't completely work for me, which kept this from being a five-star read, but I still found myself thinking about the story long after putting it down. There is something especially disturbing about a thriller that makes you question whether the real danger is outside of you or something much closer.
Dark, emotional, creepy, and psychologically twisted. This one definitely got inside my head, and I loved how it made me question what was real, right alongside Vivian.
September 5, 2026
The theme of dreams has fascinated me since childhood. Even as a kid, I had incredibly strange dreams: dreams where I could control reality and knew I was dreaming; where I could fly, jump into the sky, and had superpowers. And then there were the terrifying ones — monsters, creatures, nightmares whose plots would repeat and continue over many nights.
The protagonist has a serious problem with dreams: her nightmares have haunted her all her life. None of my theories about the nature of her dreams turned out to be right — the author weaves together mystery and the supernatural in such a way that you simply cannot get ahead of her.
The atmosphere is dark and tangled. Vivian keeps losing the boundary between dreams and reality, and as a reader, you start losing it too. She became a psychologist in an attempt to understand and overcome her nightmares, but will that actually help her? Is knowledge enough to solve a problem like this?
I did feel that I needed a little more of the story involving her mother, as well as the events revealed in the epilogue. I would have loved to see some of that explored through flashbacks or separate chapters.
Despite that, I’m giving this a solid four stars — and I definitely don’t recommend reading it right before bed. 😏
The protagonist has a serious problem with dreams: her nightmares have haunted her all her life. None of my theories about the nature of her dreams turned out to be right — the author weaves together mystery and the supernatural in such a way that you simply cannot get ahead of her.
The atmosphere is dark and tangled. Vivian keeps losing the boundary between dreams and reality, and as a reader, you start losing it too. She became a psychologist in an attempt to understand and overcome her nightmares, but will that actually help her? Is knowledge enough to solve a problem like this?
I did feel that I needed a little more of the story involving her mother, as well as the events revealed in the epilogue. I would have loved to see some of that explored through flashbacks or separate chapters.
Despite that, I’m giving this a solid four stars — and I definitely don’t recommend reading it right before bed. 😏
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Unexpected…Powerful
I’ve got so much to say but won’t spoil it for anyone.(Only good things though)
At first, it felt like a simple story about a woman going about her life, with small hints scattered here and there.
Then the narrative took a drastic turn, that threw me on a roller coaster ride and left me confused and guessing. Yes, I had a theory but I was way off.
The ending was nothing I could have imagined and I was left devastated for Vivian and William. One of the strongest takeaways is ‘love cannot be forced’ which as painful as it is, is a fact and the story shows that.
⚠️ Worth noting. This book comes with a list of trigger warnings so do check them out before diving in.
Overall, it was haunting, unpredictable journey that left me heartbroken.
I’ve got so much to say but won’t spoil it for anyone.(Only good things though)
At first, it felt like a simple story about a woman going about her life, with small hints scattered here and there.
Then the narrative took a drastic turn, that threw me on a roller coaster ride and left me confused and guessing. Yes, I had a theory but I was way off.
The ending was nothing I could have imagined and I was left devastated for Vivian and William. One of the strongest takeaways is ‘love cannot be forced’ which as painful as it is, is a fact and the story shows that.
⚠️ Worth noting. This book comes with a list of trigger warnings so do check them out before diving in.
Overall, it was haunting, unpredictable journey that left me heartbroken.
August 31, 2026
I just knew I had this all figured out….boy was I wrong!!
I was drawn in right from the beginning & couldn’t put this one down.
It has the perfect amount of eerie atmosphere and creepy tension to lead right into spooky season.
I questioned the intentions of each character and wasn’t sure who or what to trust. The nightmares had me questioning what was real & what was a dream.
The suspense lasted til the very end. I really enjoyed this one!!
Thank you to the author for this advanced reader copy!!
I was drawn in right from the beginning & couldn’t put this one down.
It has the perfect amount of eerie atmosphere and creepy tension to lead right into spooky season.
I questioned the intentions of each character and wasn’t sure who or what to trust. The nightmares had me questioning what was real & what was a dream.
The suspense lasted til the very end. I really enjoyed this one!!
Thank you to the author for this advanced reader copy!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is sure to make you unsettled, which to me is considered a good thing.
I knew something was not right from when I started the book but could not put my finger on it. I love anything that is psychological, especially when nightmares are involved.
This book has a little bit of everything, even the supernatural. I sure did not see that ending coming. I would be sure to check the trigger warning and proceed with caution. I will be sure to check out more from this author.
Thank you again to the author or the complimentarily copy all opinions are my own.
4.25 stars
I knew something was not right from when I started the book but could not put my finger on it. I love anything that is psychological, especially when nightmares are involved.
This book has a little bit of everything, even the supernatural. I sure did not see that ending coming. I would be sure to check the trigger warning and proceed with caution. I will be sure to check out more from this author.
Thank you again to the author or the complimentarily copy all opinions are my own.
4.25 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC copy.
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
I genuinely don't know what I expected going into Don't Close Your Eyes, but it wasn't this. This book starts out feeling like a psychological thriller about a psychologist slowly losing her grip on reality, and then it keeps getting darker and stranger until you realize you've been looking at the wrong thing the entire time. Vivian's nightmares are horrifying on their own, but what really got me was the constant uncertainty over whether there was a rational explanation for any of it. Every time I thought I had figured out what was happening, the story basically went, “Cute theory. Anyway…” and pulled the rug out again. The William situation was especially messed up because I couldn't decide whether I wanted Vivian to stay away from him or get closer to him, which is probably exactly the kind of uncomfortable reaction this book was aiming for.
And that ending... I liked that the book didn't take the easy way out and turn all the suffering into a neat explanation about trauma and repression. The supernatural reveal made the earlier parts of the story take on a completely different meaning, and the epilogue somehow managed to make everything even more depressing. There is something particularly cruel about a horror story where the real horror isn't simply the monster, but the choices people make when they're desperate enough to bargain with one. I did have moments where the nightmare sequences started to feel repetitive, and I think some parts could have been tightened, but the atmosphere and the gradual descent into complete psychological chaos kept me reading. This is dark, disturbing, sexually charged, and absolutely not a comfort read. If you like psychological horror where you can't trust what the protagonist is seeing, supernatural horror that takes its time revealing itself, morally questionable characters, and endings that leave you staring at the page for a minute afterward, this one is worth picking up.
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
I genuinely don't know what I expected going into Don't Close Your Eyes, but it wasn't this. This book starts out feeling like a psychological thriller about a psychologist slowly losing her grip on reality, and then it keeps getting darker and stranger until you realize you've been looking at the wrong thing the entire time. Vivian's nightmares are horrifying on their own, but what really got me was the constant uncertainty over whether there was a rational explanation for any of it. Every time I thought I had figured out what was happening, the story basically went, “Cute theory. Anyway…” and pulled the rug out again. The William situation was especially messed up because I couldn't decide whether I wanted Vivian to stay away from him or get closer to him, which is probably exactly the kind of uncomfortable reaction this book was aiming for.
And that ending... I liked that the book didn't take the easy way out and turn all the suffering into a neat explanation about trauma and repression. The supernatural reveal made the earlier parts of the story take on a completely different meaning, and the epilogue somehow managed to make everything even more depressing. There is something particularly cruel about a horror story where the real horror isn't simply the monster, but the choices people make when they're desperate enough to bargain with one. I did have moments where the nightmare sequences started to feel repetitive, and I think some parts could have been tightened, but the atmosphere and the gradual descent into complete psychological chaos kept me reading. This is dark, disturbing, sexually charged, and absolutely not a comfort read. If you like psychological horror where you can't trust what the protagonist is seeing, supernatural horror that takes its time revealing itself, morally questionable characters, and endings that leave you staring at the page for a minute afterward, this one is worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
🅳🅾🅽'🆃 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅴 🆈🅾🆄🆁 🅴🆈🅴🆂
Bʏ:Tʜᴀɪsᴇ Wᴏʟғғ @thaisewolffauthor
Pᴜʙ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ: Oᴄᴛ. 1, 2026
👉 Synopsis
I love a good psychological thriller. But one that includes the psychology of dreams and that fine line between reality and the nightmare that had a hold on you are my favorite.
Vivian, our FMC has had nightmares all her life. She even became a psychologist in hopes of understanding her own mind and maybe finding a way to stop them. But when they begin to bleed into her waking hours things take a turn. I could feel her desperation as she tried to cling to the last fragments of reality
Thaise created a beautifully dark and unsettling atmosphere with a sense of unease that runs below the surface throughout the whole story.
Overall it's a heartbreaking and haunting journey of the darkest corners of the mind that definitely gets inside your head while reading.
• unreliable narrator
• Dark romance
• psychological horror
• thriller
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
🅳🅾🅽'🆃 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅴 🆈🅾🆄🆁 🅴🆈🅴🆂
Bʏ:Tʜᴀɪsᴇ Wᴏʟғғ @thaisewolffauthor
Pᴜʙ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ: Oᴄᴛ. 1, 2026
👉 Synopsis
I love a good psychological thriller. But one that includes the psychology of dreams and that fine line between reality and the nightmare that had a hold on you are my favorite.
Vivian, our FMC has had nightmares all her life. She even became a psychologist in hopes of understanding her own mind and maybe finding a way to stop them. But when they begin to bleed into her waking hours things take a turn. I could feel her desperation as she tried to cling to the last fragments of reality
Thaise created a beautifully dark and unsettling atmosphere with a sense of unease that runs below the surface throughout the whole story.
Overall it's a heartbreaking and haunting journey of the darkest corners of the mind that definitely gets inside your head while reading.
• unreliable narrator
• Dark romance
• psychological horror
• thriller
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Don’t Close Your Eyes is the kind of thriller that gets under your skin fast. This was an ARC from NetGalley, and I tore through it in a single sitting. Thaise Wolff builds tension in such a sharp, claustrophobic way—every chapter feels like it’s tightening the walls around you.
What really worked for me was the emotion beneath all the fear. Other readers have talked about the blend of trauma, memory, and that creeping sense that something is watching, and I felt that too. The shifts between past and present make the story feel unstable in the best way, like you’re piecing together the truth right alongside the characters.
Dark, fast‑paced, and genuinely unsettling. A perfect late‑night read.
What really worked for me was the emotion beneath all the fear. Other readers have talked about the blend of trauma, memory, and that creeping sense that something is watching, and I felt that too. The shifts between past and present make the story feel unstable in the best way, like you’re piecing together the truth right alongside the characters.
Dark, fast‑paced, and genuinely unsettling. A perfect late‑night read.
September 30, 2026
Unfortunately I couldn’t connect with this book. It started off ok and I liked the dark atmosphere it gave and the mystery surrounding William. But from about half way through the jumping from dream to dream was so chaotic and a bit messy and never ending. I felt like so much was said but not much happened in terms of plot development, it was too cryptic and very repetitive. Also I lost count of how many typing errors and spelling mistakes there were, I’d say I noticed at least 40. I would understand if this was a Beta copy but it just made it frustrating to keep coming across mistakes. Not for me but thank you for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 stars.
Thank you for allowing me access to this book!
I loved it!
Well written and well developed and most importantly told at a good pace.
I've always loved stories about psychology and psychologists and about confronting your inner self.
This one was good. You get into it from the start. You feel like you are IN it. This book makes you question your own sanity.
Maybe I would have liked it to be a bit deeper, darker...
I recommend it!
Thank you for allowing me access to this book!
I loved it!
Well written and well developed and most importantly told at a good pace.
I've always loved stories about psychology and psychologists and about confronting your inner self.
This one was good. You get into it from the start. You feel like you are IN it. This book makes you question your own sanity.
Maybe I would have liked it to be a bit deeper, darker...
I recommend it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well this one keeps you on your toes and gave me quite the unexpected ending.
I'm always pleased to see one of those!
Fast paced, but with questionable actions from our main character for the most part.
I was as keen as she was to find the cause of the nightmares.
I feel I've read something just a bit different in this one, and hope others think so too.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy
I'm always pleased to see one of those!
Fast paced, but with questionable actions from our main character for the most part.
I was as keen as she was to find the cause of the nightmares.
I feel I've read something just a bit different in this one, and hope others think so too.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy
October 2, 2026
I honestly didn’t know what to expect from this one, but I ended up being completely hooked. There’s something about the way the story slowly reveals what’s really going on that kept me reading because I never felt like I could fully trust what I was seeing. I also really enjoyed how messy and complicated the characters were.
The last part of the book really got me. The ending left me sitting there for a minute just processing everything. Such a wild read .
The last part of the book really got me. The ending left me sitting there for a minute just processing everything. Such a wild read .
Review of advance copy received from Author
Don’t Close Your Eyes was both incredibly difficult and deeply rewarding to write.
It explores the darkest corners of the human mind where fear, trauma, memory, and reality become impossible to separate.
I hope Vivian’s story pulls you in just as much as it unsettled me🖤
It explores the darkest corners of the human mind where fear, trauma, memory, and reality become impossible to separate.
I hope Vivian’s story pulls you in just as much as it unsettled me🖤
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thankyou Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately i wasnt a fan of this book. However, i did like the twist at the end.. butt for me that was the best part.
Unfortunately i wasnt a fan of this book. However, i did like the twist at the end.. butt for me that was the best part.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews