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The Sleeper: A Novel
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In this gripping alternate reality thriller by international bestselling author Holly Seddon, one woman must navigate a life that was never meant to be hers in order to uncover unsettling truths about her past and the man she loves.
Librarian Maya is traveling home from Edinburgh to London when her sleeper train is struck by lightning. She wakes the next morning in a version of London she doesn’t recognize.
Not only is a stranger living in her apartment, but her husband Arthur has disappeared. Worse, in this reality, the Berlin Wall never fell, the Cold War never ended, and Britain is an authoritarian Soviet state. Maya’s parents did not kiss by the falling Berlin wall while on their gap year travels, and so Maya was never born.
Confused, alone, and with nowhere to go, Maya stumbles across the resistance movement, in which librarians like her play a key part. Sent undercover into the heart of government, Maya must navigate this terrifying world while desperately trying to find the people she loves—and a way home.
Librarian Maya is traveling home from Edinburgh to London when her sleeper train is struck by lightning. She wakes the next morning in a version of London she doesn’t recognize.
Not only is a stranger living in her apartment, but her husband Arthur has disappeared. Worse, in this reality, the Berlin Wall never fell, the Cold War never ended, and Britain is an authoritarian Soviet state. Maya’s parents did not kiss by the falling Berlin wall while on their gap year travels, and so Maya was never born.
Confused, alone, and with nowhere to go, Maya stumbles across the resistance movement, in which librarians like her play a key part. Sent undercover into the heart of government, Maya must navigate this terrifying world while desperately trying to find the people she loves—and a way home.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 17, 2026
About the author
Holly Seddon
12 books941 followersHolly Seddon is the international bestselling author of eight thrillers, including TRY NOT TO BREATHE, THE HIT LIST, 59 MINUTES and THE SLEEPER. Her novels are twisty, high-concept thrillers exploring love, family, identity and the extraordinary things people do when their worlds are turned upside down.
Her latest novel, THE SLEEPER, is an alternate-reality thriller about a woman who wakes to a London where the Cold War never ended — and discovers that, in this world, she was never born.
Before becoming an author, Holly worked as a journalist and editor and has lived in London and Amsterdam. She now lives in Kent with her family and co-hosts the popular Honest Authors Podcast with fellow author Gillian McAllister.
Find her on Instagram and Facebook @hollyseddonauthor and TikTok @therealhollyseddonauthor.
Her latest novel, THE SLEEPER, is an alternate-reality thriller about a woman who wakes to a London where the Cold War never ended — and discovers that, in this world, she was never born.
Before becoming an author, Holly worked as a journalist and editor and has lived in London and Amsterdam. She now lives in Kent with her family and co-hosts the popular Honest Authors Podcast with fellow author Gillian McAllister.
Find her on Instagram and Facebook @hollyseddonauthor and TikTok @therealhollyseddonauthor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Holy cow I COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWN. Between this and 59 Minutes, Holly Seddon has cemented herself as a must read author. Her novels are absolutely bananas. Like homegirl ARE YOU OKAY? I love whatever is wrong with her. This concept was so damn clever. I couldn’t get enough of it.
Thank you to Atria for an advance copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Atria for an advance copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
September 27, 2026
Holly Seddon has been a must read author for me for me for many years. I love how different her books are and how she deals with storylines that are unique and interesting.
I started reading The Sleeper on the overnight train from Melbourne to Sydney which was apt. Luckily my train wasn’t hit my lightning, unlike Mayas overnighter from Edinburgh to London. When she arrives home in London, she finds a city that she can hardly recognise. Her flat is no longer hers, her husband is nowhere to seen, there are no Starbucks to be seen, nothing is the way it should be. She soon learns that the Berlin Wall is still standing and Britain has been Sovietized. This is bad news for librarian Maya, whose parents met whe the wall came down… meaning so doesn’t exist in this world.
I love a parallel universe and reality in a book. This new world is scary and unpredictable and she needs to keep her wits about her. I had no idea how on earth she was going to get back to her real life. At first the cheap groceries and free travel seems like a good thing, until she has to live in this new world, without any loved ones, no mobile phones or signs of her normal modern life.
With short chapters told from multiple points of view and timelines, this is an easy book to get totally lost in. I did wonder how I would have survived in this world, sure that I would not be hugely successful.
Thanks so much to Atria Books for my early copy of this book. I love the cover too. Publishes on November 17th.
I started reading The Sleeper on the overnight train from Melbourne to Sydney which was apt. Luckily my train wasn’t hit my lightning, unlike Mayas overnighter from Edinburgh to London. When she arrives home in London, she finds a city that she can hardly recognise. Her flat is no longer hers, her husband is nowhere to seen, there are no Starbucks to be seen, nothing is the way it should be. She soon learns that the Berlin Wall is still standing and Britain has been Sovietized. This is bad news for librarian Maya, whose parents met whe the wall came down… meaning so doesn’t exist in this world.
I love a parallel universe and reality in a book. This new world is scary and unpredictable and she needs to keep her wits about her. I had no idea how on earth she was going to get back to her real life. At first the cheap groceries and free travel seems like a good thing, until she has to live in this new world, without any loved ones, no mobile phones or signs of her normal modern life.
With short chapters told from multiple points of view and timelines, this is an easy book to get totally lost in. I did wonder how I would have survived in this world, sure that I would not be hugely successful.
Thanks so much to Atria Books for my early copy of this book. I love the cover too. Publishes on November 17th.
August 2, 2026
Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Booms for the ARC of this title. I loved the last book I read by this author (59 minutes) so I had high hopes for this one. It did not disappoint!
We’re following Myra who falls asleep and a sleeper train and wakes up in a completely different world, an alternate universe where no one knows her and the Berlin Wall didn’t fall. I wish I knew more of the history because I do think this would have made more sense if I did.
But I still enjoyed the way this story played out and even how it ended. It was wild how the author went between timeframes just perfectly. I really liked this one! 4 stars
We’re following Myra who falls asleep and a sleeper train and wakes up in a completely different world, an alternate universe where no one knows her and the Berlin Wall didn’t fall. I wish I knew more of the history because I do think this would have made more sense if I did.
But I still enjoyed the way this story played out and even how it ended. It was wild how the author went between timeframes just perfectly. I really liked this one! 4 stars
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
⭐️⭐️⭐️½ — 3.5/5 stars
The Sleeper by Holly Seddon has such a fascinating premise: part alternate history, part alternate-reality story, and part thriller.
Maya is a librarian traveling home from Edinburgh to London on a sleeper train when the train is struck by lightning. When she arrives in London, she discovers that she isn’t exactly home. She’s entered an alternate reality where the Berlin Wall never fell, the Cold War never ended, and Britain has become the People’s Republic of Britain, an authoritarian state under Soviet influence.
Even more unsettling? In this reality, Maya’s parents never met. She was never born.
That means she has no identity, no documentation, and no place in this world. Her husband, Arthur, exists—but he has no idea who she is. Her mother exists, but her parents never became a couple. Maya is essentially a stranger trying to navigate a version of her own country where nearly everything is just slightly—or dramatically—wrong.
Those differences were actually my favorite part of the book. There are no smartphones or Google. The fashions and hairstyles are different. Russian is taught from elementary school, so Maya’s complete inability to speak it immediately makes her suspicious. Soviet cultural influence is everywhere, and simply behaving like someone from our version of Britain can put her in danger.
It gave me a little bit of a Back to the Future feeling—not because this is time travel, but because of that sensation of Marty McFly arriving in 1955 and recognizing the place while simultaneously realizing that everything is different. Maya knows London, but she doesn’t know this London, and she has to figure out how to blend in before the authorities figure out that something about her doesn’t add up.
My biggest frustration is also probably a sign of how much the premise intrigued me: I wanted SO MUCH MORE alternate history! I wanted to understand the point of divergence. Why didn’t the Berlin Wall fall? How exactly did Britain end up here? What happened throughout the rest of Europe? What does America look like? What happened with China? I had approximately one million geopolitical questions, and the book wasn’t especially interested in answering them.
To be fair, that’s not really the story Seddon is telling. This is primarily Maya’s thriller: Can she survive this world, reconnect with the people she loves who don’t know her, avoid imprisonment, and somehow find a way back to her own reality? There’s also an interesting emotional component to seeing how people Maya knows have become very different versions of themselves because their lives unfolded under completely different circumstances.
Once I accepted that this wasn’t going to be the deep alternate-history exploration I wanted and surrendered to the thriller, I had a really good time with it. The concept is wonderfully unsettling, and watching Maya try to navigate a familiar world that isn’t actually hers kept me turning the pages.
If you enjoy thrillers with speculative elements, alternate realities, or alternate history, this is definitely one to put on your radar.
⭐️ 3.5/5 stars
📚 The Sleeper publishes November 17, 2026.
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing me with an advanced reading copy!
The Sleeper by Holly Seddon has such a fascinating premise: part alternate history, part alternate-reality story, and part thriller.
Maya is a librarian traveling home from Edinburgh to London on a sleeper train when the train is struck by lightning. When she arrives in London, she discovers that she isn’t exactly home. She’s entered an alternate reality where the Berlin Wall never fell, the Cold War never ended, and Britain has become the People’s Republic of Britain, an authoritarian state under Soviet influence.
Even more unsettling? In this reality, Maya’s parents never met. She was never born.
That means she has no identity, no documentation, and no place in this world. Her husband, Arthur, exists—but he has no idea who she is. Her mother exists, but her parents never became a couple. Maya is essentially a stranger trying to navigate a version of her own country where nearly everything is just slightly—or dramatically—wrong.
Those differences were actually my favorite part of the book. There are no smartphones or Google. The fashions and hairstyles are different. Russian is taught from elementary school, so Maya’s complete inability to speak it immediately makes her suspicious. Soviet cultural influence is everywhere, and simply behaving like someone from our version of Britain can put her in danger.
It gave me a little bit of a Back to the Future feeling—not because this is time travel, but because of that sensation of Marty McFly arriving in 1955 and recognizing the place while simultaneously realizing that everything is different. Maya knows London, but she doesn’t know this London, and she has to figure out how to blend in before the authorities figure out that something about her doesn’t add up.
My biggest frustration is also probably a sign of how much the premise intrigued me: I wanted SO MUCH MORE alternate history! I wanted to understand the point of divergence. Why didn’t the Berlin Wall fall? How exactly did Britain end up here? What happened throughout the rest of Europe? What does America look like? What happened with China? I had approximately one million geopolitical questions, and the book wasn’t especially interested in answering them.
To be fair, that’s not really the story Seddon is telling. This is primarily Maya’s thriller: Can she survive this world, reconnect with the people she loves who don’t know her, avoid imprisonment, and somehow find a way back to her own reality? There’s also an interesting emotional component to seeing how people Maya knows have become very different versions of themselves because their lives unfolded under completely different circumstances.
Once I accepted that this wasn’t going to be the deep alternate-history exploration I wanted and surrendered to the thriller, I had a really good time with it. The concept is wonderfully unsettling, and watching Maya try to navigate a familiar world that isn’t actually hers kept me turning the pages.
If you enjoy thrillers with speculative elements, alternate realities, or alternate history, this is definitely one to put on your radar.
⭐️ 3.5/5 stars
📚 The Sleeper publishes November 17, 2026.
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing me with an advanced reading copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love a book that makes you sit with an uncomfortable "what if," and Holly Seddon's alternate-reality thriller does exactly that. Librarian Maya boards her usual sleeper train from Edinburgh to London, but when lightning strikes the carriage she wakes into a London she doesn't recognize — one where the Berlin Wall never fell, the Cold War never ended, and Britain is an authoritarian Soviet state. Her husband Arthur is missing, a stranger is living in her flat, and because her parents never had their gap-year kiss by the wall, Maya herself was never born into this version of the world. Alone and adrift, she falls in with a resistance movement built largely around librarians like her, and gets sent undercover into the government itself, desperate to find her way home and the people she loves along the way.
It's part Cold War spy thriller, part time-travel science fiction, and the blend mostly works, even if the pacing sags somewhat. What I loved most was the doubling of Arthur — one version in Maya's real timeline, one in this Soviet-London reality — set against a single Maya who has to become someone else entirely just to survive. That contrast does a lot of quiet work, and it's where the book's emotional core really lives. The lightning-strike-as-portal device asks for a fair bit of suspension of disbelief, but I was willing to grant it for the story it unlocks. I did find myself occasionally frustrated by how long Maya goes without picking up the language or customs of the world she's landed in — it stretched credulity a bit for someone this resourceful.
Where the book shines is in its small, telling details of a world with less — parents actually holding their children's hands and talking to them instead of staring at phones, kids clutching dolls and rattles instead of screens, a boy playing spy with real gusto because that's the entertainment he's got. It's a clever way of making the reader question what our own abundance and freedom have cost us. And I loved that libraries end up as the story's literal safe haven — as someone who thinks of libraries as sanctuaries myself, that felt exactly right.
A big thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #AtriaBooks
It's part Cold War spy thriller, part time-travel science fiction, and the blend mostly works, even if the pacing sags somewhat. What I loved most was the doubling of Arthur — one version in Maya's real timeline, one in this Soviet-London reality — set against a single Maya who has to become someone else entirely just to survive. That contrast does a lot of quiet work, and it's where the book's emotional core really lives. The lightning-strike-as-portal device asks for a fair bit of suspension of disbelief, but I was willing to grant it for the story it unlocks. I did find myself occasionally frustrated by how long Maya goes without picking up the language or customs of the world she's landed in — it stretched credulity a bit for someone this resourceful.
Where the book shines is in its small, telling details of a world with less — parents actually holding their children's hands and talking to them instead of staring at phones, kids clutching dolls and rattles instead of screens, a boy playing spy with real gusto because that's the entertainment he's got. It's a clever way of making the reader question what our own abundance and freedom have cost us. And I loved that libraries end up as the story's literal safe haven — as someone who thinks of libraries as sanctuaries myself, that felt exactly right.
A big thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #AtriaBooks
September 13, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of this book.
This is my second book by Holly Seddon, and once again, she reeled me in immediately with the premise. The story ventures into an eerie alternate reality, that had me glued to the pages while simultaneously wondering how on earth she was going to make an ending that would make any sense. Thankfully, I needn't have worried. as the ending was absolute perfection.
The story follows Maya on an overnight sleeper train from Edinburgh to London. After passing through a thunderstorm, she steps off the train to discover her world has changed. In this alternate reality, Britain is part of the Soviet state, the Berlin Wall never fell, a stranger and not her husband is living in her flat, and because her parents could never have met, Maya technically doesn't even exist.
It’s one of those unsettling thrillers that leaves you constantly asking: What on earth would I do in this situation? While Maya makes a few questionable choices along the way, to be fair, she isn't exactly working with a wealth of great options.
The narrative cleverly weaves two storylines together mixing a tense thriller with a side of romance:
* The Present Survival: Maya navigating a world where she is simply trying to survive and hope to find some way back to her true reality.
* The Past & Romance: Chapters narrated by her husband that unpack their meeting, his background, and the emotional core of their relationship.
I loved the author's subtle social commentary throughout. Without cell phones or the internet, kids actually play with physical toys and adults pack out local libraries. The concept of free public transport and cheap food sounds ideal at first glance until you realize a full week’s labor only earns you £100. It's a classic case of "everyone is equal, but some are more equal than others."
A fast-paced, thought-provoking 4-star read for me.
This is my second book by Holly Seddon, and once again, she reeled me in immediately with the premise. The story ventures into an eerie alternate reality, that had me glued to the pages while simultaneously wondering how on earth she was going to make an ending that would make any sense. Thankfully, I needn't have worried. as the ending was absolute perfection.
The story follows Maya on an overnight sleeper train from Edinburgh to London. After passing through a thunderstorm, she steps off the train to discover her world has changed. In this alternate reality, Britain is part of the Soviet state, the Berlin Wall never fell, a stranger and not her husband is living in her flat, and because her parents could never have met, Maya technically doesn't even exist.
It’s one of those unsettling thrillers that leaves you constantly asking: What on earth would I do in this situation? While Maya makes a few questionable choices along the way, to be fair, she isn't exactly working with a wealth of great options.
The narrative cleverly weaves two storylines together mixing a tense thriller with a side of romance:
* The Present Survival: Maya navigating a world where she is simply trying to survive and hope to find some way back to her true reality.
* The Past & Romance: Chapters narrated by her husband that unpack their meeting, his background, and the emotional core of their relationship.
I loved the author's subtle social commentary throughout. Without cell phones or the internet, kids actually play with physical toys and adults pack out local libraries. The concept of free public transport and cheap food sounds ideal at first glance until you realize a full week’s labor only earns you £100. It's a classic case of "everyone is equal, but some are more equal than others."
A fast-paced, thought-provoking 4-star read for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The Sleeper had a really interesting premise. On her way from Edinburgh to London, Maya is transported into another reality where the Berlin Wall never fell, and Britain is under Soviet control. She finds herself working with librarians who are part of the resistance, while trying to find a way back to her reality. Will she be able to return or is she stuck in this new world forever?
The story is pretty fast paced and it’s easy to stay engaged. I was curious to see how the story would meet its conclusion as Maya manages to get herself into quite a pickle. My issue with the story was Maya herself. She didn’t take greater care of trying to fit into this new reality where the smallest provocation can get you thrown in jail for the rest of your life or killed. She made questionable decisions and had very little survival skills. I found it hard to believe should be so laissez faire about it all. There were moments in the novel that could’ve had more tension, but fell flat for me. Knowing she’s sent to uncover where librarians are being held prisoner, why does she not keep a low profile while she’s undercover, but rather blatantly begins to have an obvious affair with her husband in this reality who happens to be married. (Don’t worry, he’s actually separated and in the process of a divorce, but she doesn’t know that, so tread carefully if cheating is a trigger for you.) The ending felt like a fever dream and was tied up too neatly, though I will say it wasn’t what I expected, so points for that. Look it’s not a bad book, but I just found the heroine was a little TSTL and couldn’t really connect with her or her motivations.
The Sleeper had a really interesting premise. On her way from Edinburgh to London, Maya is transported into another reality where the Berlin Wall never fell, and Britain is under Soviet control. She finds herself working with librarians who are part of the resistance, while trying to find a way back to her reality. Will she be able to return or is she stuck in this new world forever?
The story is pretty fast paced and it’s easy to stay engaged. I was curious to see how the story would meet its conclusion as Maya manages to get herself into quite a pickle. My issue with the story was Maya herself. She didn’t take greater care of trying to fit into this new reality where the smallest provocation can get you thrown in jail for the rest of your life or killed. She made questionable decisions and had very little survival skills. I found it hard to believe should be so laissez faire about it all. There were moments in the novel that could’ve had more tension, but fell flat for me. Knowing she’s sent to uncover where librarians are being held prisoner, why does she not keep a low profile while she’s undercover, but rather blatantly begins to have an obvious affair with her husband in this reality who happens to be married. (Don’t worry, he’s actually separated and in the process of a divorce, but she doesn’t know that, so tread carefully if cheating is a trigger for you.) The ending felt like a fever dream and was tied up too neatly, though I will say it wasn’t what I expected, so points for that. Look it’s not a bad book, but I just found the heroine was a little TSTL and couldn’t really connect with her or her motivations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A librarian boards a sleeper train from Edinburgh to London. Lightning strikes. She wakes up in a version of Britain she doesn't recognize — her apartment belongs to a stranger, her husband has vanished, the Berlin Wall never fell, the Cold War never ended, and, in a particularly cruel twist of alternate-universe logic, she was never born. As premises go, I was in immediately.
I think the multiverse, sliding-doors concept is one of the hardest things to pull off in fiction. It asks the reader to hold two realities at once and care about both of them, which only works if the emotional stakes are clear and the world-building is airtight. Seddon has a genuinely fascinating setup here, but whether it fully sticks the landing is where I started to waver.
Maya is a tricky protagonist. She is not particularly likeable, which I can work with — unlikeable characters can be compelling. The bigger issue is that she seems to lack basic instincts throughout. And for a librarian, a character whose entire identity and usefulness to the resistance is rooted in books and knowledge, she is not exactly what I would describe as well-read. That disconnect pulled me out of the story more than I wanted it to.
The ending is genuinely creative, and I give Seddon full credit for it. But after a book that takes its time building out this alternate world in considerable detail, the ending felt rushed, and I wanted more time there.
Three and a half stars, rounded up. It hooked me and held me even when it frustrated me, which counts for something.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
I think the multiverse, sliding-doors concept is one of the hardest things to pull off in fiction. It asks the reader to hold two realities at once and care about both of them, which only works if the emotional stakes are clear and the world-building is airtight. Seddon has a genuinely fascinating setup here, but whether it fully sticks the landing is where I started to waver.
Maya is a tricky protagonist. She is not particularly likeable, which I can work with — unlikeable characters can be compelling. The bigger issue is that she seems to lack basic instincts throughout. And for a librarian, a character whose entire identity and usefulness to the resistance is rooted in books and knowledge, she is not exactly what I would describe as well-read. That disconnect pulled me out of the story more than I wanted it to.
The ending is genuinely creative, and I give Seddon full credit for it. But after a book that takes its time building out this alternate world in considerable detail, the ending felt rushed, and I wanted more time there.
Three and a half stars, rounded up. It hooked me and held me even when it frustrated me, which counts for something.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2026
Thank you @atriabooks for my complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
MY THOUGHTS: I was thrilled to receive this alternate reality thriller from Atria Books! The story begins with Mila, who, after falling asleep in a sleeper car on a train journey across Britain, awakens to find herself in a chilling dystopian world where the Soviet Union has taken control of Europe. The stark contrast between her familiar life and this oppressive regime sets the stage for an intense journey of identity and survival.
Mila suddenly has no home, no husband, and no ties to anyone. She manages to track down her mother in this alternate reality, only to discover that her mother does not recognize her.
As Mila struggles to adapt, she finds herself joining a group of other librarians secretly dedicated to uncovering the fate of missing colleagues. Mila uses this opportunity to search for her husband, Arthur, hoping he will somehow know her.
However, when Arthur unexpectedly appears in a surprising role, the dynamics shift dramatically. Tension escalates as Mila faces the moral dilemma of rekindling her relationship with Arthur, with the knowledge that he is married to another woman in this world. Her struggle intensifies as she is eventually pressured to betray her husband!
The character dynamics and Milo's internal conflicts make this a compelling read. The narrative addresses themes of loyalty, love, and sacrifice. By the end, Mila emerges as a relatable and empathetic character, making her journey all the more impactful.
This book is perfect for readers who enjoy alternate reality thrillers with rich character development and moral complexities.
MY THOUGHTS: I was thrilled to receive this alternate reality thriller from Atria Books! The story begins with Mila, who, after falling asleep in a sleeper car on a train journey across Britain, awakens to find herself in a chilling dystopian world where the Soviet Union has taken control of Europe. The stark contrast between her familiar life and this oppressive regime sets the stage for an intense journey of identity and survival.
Mila suddenly has no home, no husband, and no ties to anyone. She manages to track down her mother in this alternate reality, only to discover that her mother does not recognize her.
As Mila struggles to adapt, she finds herself joining a group of other librarians secretly dedicated to uncovering the fate of missing colleagues. Mila uses this opportunity to search for her husband, Arthur, hoping he will somehow know her.
However, when Arthur unexpectedly appears in a surprising role, the dynamics shift dramatically. Tension escalates as Mila faces the moral dilemma of rekindling her relationship with Arthur, with the knowledge that he is married to another woman in this world. Her struggle intensifies as she is eventually pressured to betray her husband!
The character dynamics and Milo's internal conflicts make this a compelling read. The narrative addresses themes of loyalty, love, and sacrifice. By the end, Mila emerges as a relatable and empathetic character, making her journey all the more impactful.
This book is perfect for readers who enjoy alternate reality thrillers with rich character development and moral complexities.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you Atria for my gifted copy!
I truly mean it when I say I finished The Sleeper with my eyes bulging out of my skull.
Holly Seddon scared me last year with 59 Minutes. Adrenaline fueled nuclear horror. Literally the stuff of my ten year old nightmares. It was a thriller that could not be topped. Until I read The Sleeper.
Look, I am an overthinker. I will sit and existential crisis myself into a spiraling panic attack. And one of those spirals is about parallel universes. The fact that, theoretically, I am existing everywhere all at once across the span of time and the universe scares the sh*t out of me. I am of this world and it seems like a privilege compared to other worlds. Compared to this current world where someone born the same time as me is living a completely different reality.
Imagining waking up in a Sovietized version of my current world? Well… the scary part is, we’re not far off. This takes place in Europe, where, luckily, they aren’t run by a dictator who is hell bent on making American’s lives as miserable as possible. So. Yeah I guess we’re already there. And that’s what makes this book so tangibly horrifying. Librarians jailed for decades. Authors books banned and the authors jailed themselves. It’s all happening right here. Right now. And also in other universes.
And here I go. Down my spiral.
Read this. It’s dark. Horrifying. But it’s also brilliantly written and entirely propulsive.
I truly mean it when I say I finished The Sleeper with my eyes bulging out of my skull.
Holly Seddon scared me last year with 59 Minutes. Adrenaline fueled nuclear horror. Literally the stuff of my ten year old nightmares. It was a thriller that could not be topped. Until I read The Sleeper.
Look, I am an overthinker. I will sit and existential crisis myself into a spiraling panic attack. And one of those spirals is about parallel universes. The fact that, theoretically, I am existing everywhere all at once across the span of time and the universe scares the sh*t out of me. I am of this world and it seems like a privilege compared to other worlds. Compared to this current world where someone born the same time as me is living a completely different reality.
Imagining waking up in a Sovietized version of my current world? Well… the scary part is, we’re not far off. This takes place in Europe, where, luckily, they aren’t run by a dictator who is hell bent on making American’s lives as miserable as possible. So. Yeah I guess we’re already there. And that’s what makes this book so tangibly horrifying. Librarians jailed for decades. Authors books banned and the authors jailed themselves. It’s all happening right here. Right now. And also in other universes.
And here I go. Down my spiral.
Read this. It’s dark. Horrifying. But it’s also brilliantly written and entirely propulsive.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a cool concept but my gracious goodness, Maya must be the most foolish librarian I've ever encountered, in literature or real life... This is a woman who carries a tote bag that says "I love libraries" and who presumably reads, yet you would certainly never guess that from any of her behavior. She seems to lack all common sense: she doesn't know where her husband works, she doesn't realize that in a surveillance state she can't draw attention to herself, and she doesn't seem to have any self-preservation instincts at all. I found myself more annoyed with her than anything else, which was frustrating because the concept was interesting and I do enjoy a good bit of alt history every now and then...
Unfortunately this one felt vaguely familiar, as many of its challenges and tension elements have been used in similar novels I've encountered in the past. When you pair that with a heroine who doesn't seem to have much common sense, it makes for a fairly depressing and slow-going read. I was disappointed that I wasn't more engaged, but just couldn't get there. The writing is engaging, but I struggled mightily with the main character and her decision making. I kept shaking my head in disbelief and it kept pulling me out of the story...
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
Unfortunately this one felt vaguely familiar, as many of its challenges and tension elements have been used in similar novels I've encountered in the past. When you pair that with a heroine who doesn't seem to have much common sense, it makes for a fairly depressing and slow-going read. I was disappointed that I wasn't more engaged, but just couldn't get there. The writing is engaging, but I struggled mightily with the main character and her decision making. I kept shaking my head in disbelief and it kept pulling me out of the story...
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Maya is a librarian who is traveling home to her husband Arthur in London. When her sleeper train is struck by lightning, she wakes up in a version of the world where the Berlin Wall never fell. Britain is now a Soviet state with rules that Maya does not know which makes her stand out, and not in a good way. Looking for anyone from her old world to help her, Maya finds a resistance movement made up of librarians. She is reluctantly sent undercover and finds herself torn between the two sides when a familiar face from her old world shows up unexpectedly.
I liked the concept of this book, but a lot of the historical references went over my head and I think that took some of the enjoyment out of the book for me. I’m not a history lover but if you are, this might be the book for you! The story is told from Maya’s point of view (present) and Arthur’s point of view (past). While I got a bit lost in the politics of the book, I thought the ending was fantastic. Really creative and an exciting twist to what you would expect. I really enjoy Holly Seddon’s work, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next :)
Thank you to Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the concept of this book, but a lot of the historical references went over my head and I think that took some of the enjoyment out of the book for me. I’m not a history lover but if you are, this might be the book for you! The story is told from Maya’s point of view (present) and Arthur’s point of view (past). While I got a bit lost in the politics of the book, I thought the ending was fantastic. Really creative and an exciting twist to what you would expect. I really enjoy Holly Seddon’s work, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next :)
Thank you to Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2026
The Sleeper by Holly Seddon 📖
When Maya is traveling home from Edinburgh to London, her sleeper train is hit by lightning. In the morning she wakes up to a London and life she no longer recognizes. The Berlin Wall is standing and Britain is a Soviet State. She can’t find her husband and in this bleak world, her own mother doesn’t recognize her. As a librarian, she seeks comfort in the nearest library, but that’s different too. She has stumbled into a resistance movement where librarians are the good guys and badasses.
When Maya meets up with Arthur in this new world, it answers questions about him in the old world. The Sleeper is a thriller and a love story showing how nature versus nurture affects people. “Where is the lie, and who told it first?” I must say, I love how this one ended.
The Sleeper has an ambitious plot, and it works. Time travel and alternate universes are tricky to write, and I think the author nails it. I’ve enjoyed all of Holly Seddon’s books, but 59 Minutes and The Sleeper are my favorites.
I’ve been signing up over the years since 2011 for Goodreads giveaways. Yes, for 15 years! Well apparently it paid off since I won this ARC! Thank you @goodreads
When Maya is traveling home from Edinburgh to London, her sleeper train is hit by lightning. In the morning she wakes up to a London and life she no longer recognizes. The Berlin Wall is standing and Britain is a Soviet State. She can’t find her husband and in this bleak world, her own mother doesn’t recognize her. As a librarian, she seeks comfort in the nearest library, but that’s different too. She has stumbled into a resistance movement where librarians are the good guys and badasses.
When Maya meets up with Arthur in this new world, it answers questions about him in the old world. The Sleeper is a thriller and a love story showing how nature versus nurture affects people. “Where is the lie, and who told it first?” I must say, I love how this one ended.
The Sleeper has an ambitious plot, and it works. Time travel and alternate universes are tricky to write, and I think the author nails it. I’ve enjoyed all of Holly Seddon’s books, but 59 Minutes and The Sleeper are my favorites.
I’ve been signing up over the years since 2011 for Goodreads giveaways. Yes, for 15 years! Well apparently it paid off since I won this ARC! Thank you @goodreads
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
When I read the premise for this book, I wasn’t sure I’d like it. It’s a little bit time travel plus alternate reality plus parallel universe.
Maya boards a sleeper train from Edinburgh to London. During the night, a storm rolls in and lightening strikes the train, transporting her to an alternate reality. She arrives in London only to find that it’s not the same London she left.
Someone else lives in her apartment, her cell phone doesn’t work, and worst of all, she doesn’t know where her husband, Arthur, is.
As a librarian, she takes refuge in the only place she’s familiar with: the library.
But even that has changed.
The book is fast paced as Maya is pulled into service with the resistance. But her first and only goal is to find her husband, if he even exists in this new world.
Spoiler alert: he does, but of course he doesn’t know who she is.
I enjoyed the little twists and turns. It was fun to put two and two together as the plot thickened. Especially after Arthur’s point of view was added into the mix.
Overall it was a fun read.
When I read the premise for this book, I wasn’t sure I’d like it. It’s a little bit time travel plus alternate reality plus parallel universe.
Maya boards a sleeper train from Edinburgh to London. During the night, a storm rolls in and lightening strikes the train, transporting her to an alternate reality. She arrives in London only to find that it’s not the same London she left.
Someone else lives in her apartment, her cell phone doesn’t work, and worst of all, she doesn’t know where her husband, Arthur, is.
As a librarian, she takes refuge in the only place she’s familiar with: the library.
But even that has changed.
The book is fast paced as Maya is pulled into service with the resistance. But her first and only goal is to find her husband, if he even exists in this new world.
Spoiler alert: he does, but of course he doesn’t know who she is.
I enjoyed the little twists and turns. It was fun to put two and two together as the plot thickened. Especially after Arthur’s point of view was added into the mix.
Overall it was a fun read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Holly Seddon's "59 Minutes" earned one of few 5-star ratings for me last year, so I was very excited to see "The Sleeper" pop up! And, I was not disappointed. The premise is unique and engaging, revolving around Maya as she suddenly finds herself in an alternate reality. As someone who admittedly needs to brush up on world history, some of the historical events that make this story intriguing were a bit lost on me - but it did drive me to research, so I can't be mad at that.
The writing, pacing, and plot were all 5 stars for me. But unfortunately, Maya herself is the reason for a 4-star review. She seemed a bit too naive and brazen for a world where any misstep can land you in prison - or worse. I think there could have been more tension had she not gotten away with as much. But overall, a great read that forces you to consider consciousness and relationships on a new level.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The writing, pacing, and plot were all 5 stars for me. But unfortunately, Maya herself is the reason for a 4-star review. She seemed a bit too naive and brazen for a world where any misstep can land you in prison - or worse. I think there could have been more tension had she not gotten away with as much. But overall, a great read that forces you to consider consciousness and relationships on a new level.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 10, 2026
This book called to me because I have a thing for parallel universes and dystopian worlds/regimes. And I loved 59 Minutes by the same author so I knew there was just no way I wasn't going to like this story.
I loved the concept and the writing was incredible. The only reason this was a 4 star instead of a 5 is because of the main character Maya. Her lack of survival skills just really annoyed me to the point where I rolled my eyes a few times when she did something stupid. She was always blurting things out before she could stop herself. Doing things she was explicitly told not to do. Making bold statements that could easily get her in trouble. Etc.
But Maya's insistence on making the worst possible decisions aside, the rest of the book was a joy to read. One of my favorite books of 2026 so far and will probably be a re-read later.
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the concept and the writing was incredible. The only reason this was a 4 star instead of a 5 is because of the main character Maya. Her lack of survival skills just really annoyed me to the point where I rolled my eyes a few times when she did something stupid. She was always blurting things out before she could stop herself. Doing things she was explicitly told not to do. Making bold statements that could easily get her in trouble. Etc.
But Maya's insistence on making the worst possible decisions aside, the rest of the book was a joy to read. One of my favorite books of 2026 so far and will probably be a re-read later.
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2026
I received this ARC from a Goodreads giveaway. I loved this book! This is a dystopian alternate reality novel where the MFC, Maya, is transported to Soviet Peoples Republic of Britain (PRB) after lightning strikes her sleeper train. In her new reality, the wall never fell and Russia rules Britain with an iron fist. It is as terrifying as it sounds. In this world, Maya doesn’t exist. She ends up reluctantly joining a resistance movement run by librarians like herself. Lost, broken-hearted, and utterly alone she desperately searches for those she loves and some way to return to her own life. By writing with a dual timeline, the author unravels what has really been happening in Maya’s life and how it intertwines with her PRB life. I highly recommend this novel! Thank you Simon and Schuster for this ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️¾ 3.75/5 ARC Review
I really loved how this one started! Maya wakes up on a train after it’s struck by lightning, only to realize she’s confused, disoriented, and somehow in a completely different world than the one she went to sleep in. ⚡️🚆
The story blends a little bit of thriller, historical fiction, and fantasy, as Maya moves between her old and new worlds. I thought the writing was very well done, and the unique premise definitely kept me curious about where the story was going.
That said, I just didn’t love Maya, and while this was a well-written story, it ultimately just wasn’t quite my cup of tea. ☕️📚
A creative and intriguing read, even if it wasn’t a personal favorite!
#TheSleeper #HollySeddon #ARCReview #BookReview #BookTok #Bookstagram #HistoricalFiction #FantasyBooks #ThrillerBooks #MysteryBooks #BookRecommendations #NetGalley
I really loved how this one started! Maya wakes up on a train after it’s struck by lightning, only to realize she’s confused, disoriented, and somehow in a completely different world than the one she went to sleep in. ⚡️🚆
The story blends a little bit of thriller, historical fiction, and fantasy, as Maya moves between her old and new worlds. I thought the writing was very well done, and the unique premise definitely kept me curious about where the story was going.
That said, I just didn’t love Maya, and while this was a well-written story, it ultimately just wasn’t quite my cup of tea. ☕️📚
A creative and intriguing read, even if it wasn’t a personal favorite!
#TheSleeper #HollySeddon #ARCReview #BookReview #BookTok #Bookstagram #HistoricalFiction #FantasyBooks #ThrillerBooks #MysteryBooks #BookRecommendations #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Concept thrillers are hit and miss for me, but you’ve got to keep trying…
The Sleeper is an alternate reality thriller in which Maya wakes up in a version of London that she doesn’t recognise, one that has been under Soviet rule for decades. She searches for her family, her husband, their flat. So much has changed. Her actions attract the resistance who want her to infiltrate the state and obtain information.
It conjures up a 1984 and Julia style authoritarian vision, look deeper and it’s about where do you turn, who can you trust, what can you do when everything you know has changed.
It’s thought-provoking, bleak and tense.
I wasn’t disappointed in the twists and big reveals.
Highly recommended. Definitely a hit with me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books
The Sleeper is an alternate reality thriller in which Maya wakes up in a version of London that she doesn’t recognise, one that has been under Soviet rule for decades. She searches for her family, her husband, their flat. So much has changed. Her actions attract the resistance who want her to infiltrate the state and obtain information.
It conjures up a 1984 and Julia style authoritarian vision, look deeper and it’s about where do you turn, who can you trust, what can you do when everything you know has changed.
It’s thought-provoking, bleak and tense.
I wasn’t disappointed in the twists and big reveals.
Highly recommended. Definitely a hit with me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Traditional format (digital) 📕 . Release date November 17, 2026
Holly Seddon was a new-to-me author when I read her last book "59 Minutes" but now after reading that one and this new one "The Sleeper" she is going to be on my "must read" list of authors.
The Sleep was a very cool mix of Dystopian/Thriller/Sci Fi (time travel) where the main character Maya enters a parallel universe while returning from a train trip. The plot is difficult to describe without spoiling it but it was a really well done and engaging page turner of a book!
I would definitely recommend this one if you enjoyed Seddon's last novel. I give this one a 4.25/5!
Thank you to Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Net Galley for a digital ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Holly Seddon was a new-to-me author when I read her last book "59 Minutes" but now after reading that one and this new one "The Sleeper" she is going to be on my "must read" list of authors.
The Sleep was a very cool mix of Dystopian/Thriller/Sci Fi (time travel) where the main character Maya enters a parallel universe while returning from a train trip. The plot is difficult to describe without spoiling it but it was a really well done and engaging page turner of a book!
I would definitely recommend this one if you enjoyed Seddon's last novel. I give this one a 4.25/5!
Thank you to Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Net Galley for a digital ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I don't know what I think about this book. It unsettled me with the "what if" aspect of a parallel universe. The beginning held me enthralled but at the same time it was too slow and I almost put it down. About 24% of the way in, things started moving along quite quickly. At that point I was sold! The ending was one of the most perfect endings I can remember.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complementary ARC and the chance to be an advanced reader. This review is my own words and my own opinion. I was not influenced in any way.
Three and 1/2 stars rounded up to 4.
Publish date: 11/17/26
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complementary ARC and the chance to be an advanced reader. This review is my own words and my own opinion. I was not influenced in any way.
Three and 1/2 stars rounded up to 4.
Publish date: 11/17/26
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC.
This was impossible to put down, I read it in a day and have the headache to prove it!
The protagonist, Maya (Natasha) is on a train when lightning strikes and when she alights, she realizes the London she knows is no longer. She's in a parallel universe and she is terrified ... she doesn't belong here.
The Russians have taken over, the Berlin Wall is still there, she had no phone, people are suspicious of her and where can she go?
The story is unputdownable, the menace palpable and the ending a shock, I loved it!
This was impossible to put down, I read it in a day and have the headache to prove it!
The protagonist, Maya (Natasha) is on a train when lightning strikes and when she alights, she realizes the London she knows is no longer. She's in a parallel universe and she is terrified ... she doesn't belong here.
The Russians have taken over, the Berlin Wall is still there, she had no phone, people are suspicious of her and where can she go?
The story is unputdownable, the menace palpable and the ending a shock, I loved it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this alternate reality story, reminiscent of "The Man in the High Castle" by Philip K Dick. As a matter of fact, I didn't want the book to end, which hasn't happened very often in my reading career.
I just bought in to the concept, and the author's presentation was believable and compelling.
It's set up for a sequel, so...fingers crossed.
Will I read more from the author? Absolutely.
I received a complimentary e-copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.
I just bought in to the concept, and the author's presentation was believable and compelling.
It's set up for a sequel, so...fingers crossed.
Will I read more from the author? Absolutely.
I received a complimentary e-copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.
August 27, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of The Sleeper by Holly Seddon. I enjoyed the premise of this alternate world story. Maya is on a sleeper train heading home when lightening strikes. When she gets off the train she is in the past-during the Cold War. Will she be able to return or is she stuck in this new time period? This was not my type of genre. I really like this author- she wrote 59 Minutes , which I loved.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a fun twist on a time travel story, what if you traveled not to a different time but timeline but it was for the worse. The same people but different lives and politics and problems. I enjoyed the fmc and the timeline travel. I didnt understand why Arthur had his chapters, that storyline really didn't tie in with the rest of the story the way it should and made a big disconnect.
August 16, 2026
One sign of a unputtadownable story is not being able to put it down without immediately wanting to go back. I read this in one day. Each chapter making me want to read more. This story begins on a sleeper train during a lightning storm. From there, a parallel universe opens up and everything the main character, Maya - aka Natasha - knows is that everything is different, she doesn’t exist in this new world, and she’s constantly being watched and is in danger. No one is who they seem and history has rewritten itself where present day London is under Russian control and the Berlin Wall still stands.
This book held my anxiety in its tight claw and didn’t let it go the entire time. I immediately downloaded another book by this author and can’t wait to dive in.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.
This book held my anxiety in its tight claw and didn’t let it go the entire time. I immediately downloaded another book by this author and can’t wait to dive in.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.
September 27, 2026
I read this compulsively whenever I had the chance.
No spoilers here but the frighteningly plausible world Holly creates in this book sets the scene for a thrilling story and utterly brilliant conclusion.
An excellent book!
No spoilers here but the frighteningly plausible world Holly creates in this book sets the scene for a thrilling story and utterly brilliant conclusion.
An excellent book!
Want to Read
August 1, 2026#goodreadsgiveaway
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A wild ride.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a wild ride of a thriller, when a lightning strike to a London train turns the world upside down for a librarian passenger. An intriguing premise, beautifully rendered, and unputdownable!
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