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A Little Bit Psycho
Katherine Powers is terminally ill. Her husband Adam is an innovative surgeon who promises he can save her.
It begins with a choice: wait for the inevitable, or take a chance at living with an experimental surgery. Katherine chooses life, even if there are risks involved. After all, she’s not ready to die, and Adam insists he will get it right this time. What does she have to lose? The last thing Katherine hears before the anesthesia kicks in, is Adam’s voice...
But when Katherine wakes up post-surgery, she’s in an unfamiliar hospital room and Adam has vanished. This isn’t the body she chose. The psychological toll of seeing a stranger in the mirror is greater than she ever imagined. Hurt, angry, and left to fend for herself, Katherine must find a way to survive. She’ll assume the life of her host while she hunts for Adam. And she will find him. But who can she trust...and can she even trust herself?
It begins with a choice: wait for the inevitable, or take a chance at living with an experimental surgery. Katherine chooses life, even if there are risks involved. After all, she’s not ready to die, and Adam insists he will get it right this time. What does she have to lose? The last thing Katherine hears before the anesthesia kicks in, is Adam’s voice...
But when Katherine wakes up post-surgery, she’s in an unfamiliar hospital room and Adam has vanished. This isn’t the body she chose. The psychological toll of seeing a stranger in the mirror is greater than she ever imagined. Hurt, angry, and left to fend for herself, Katherine must find a way to survive. She’ll assume the life of her host while she hunts for Adam. And she will find him. But who can she trust...and can she even trust herself?
- GenresHorror
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2019
6 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
April 23, 2023
Many thanks to BookSirens, and J. L. Strange for a chance to review this book. I was given this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion. I have not felt compelled, in any way, by the author, the publisher, or BookSirens to alter my sincerest thoughts on this book. Every word of this review is solely and completely mine. The horror in this book is real, terrifying, and it should be a huge draw to this book. The narrative is told in the first person point-of-view, which adds to the horror, because the reader is attuned to the machinations of what is occurring and despite me saying don’t do that, the writer makes us complicit in actions we did not, would not have chosen. There is a great deal of puppeteering here, which is a huge positive in my view. The problem is that there are characters in this book (especially the narrator) who are not really pleasant characters. The narrator, Katherine, is excessively whiny and the villain, Adam, is really a one note, flat, cardboard cutout. In my opinion, it’s really an uneven book. The horror is great, but the characters not so much.
October 2, 2019
The premise of A Little Bit Psycho is what grabbed my interest – imagine this: you have been sickly and just found out you’re terminal with cancer. Your husband, who has the emotional range of a gnat – which is acknowledged ad nauseum by you throughout the book - has the ability to transplant your brain into a healthy individual and because you, too, are a sociopath who doesn’t mind a little murder if it is personally beneficial, you say ‘Hell yeah, I’m in” and then you wake up in a dudes body. Wow! What a book that would be! Sadly, A Little Bit Psycho missed the mark by a mile.
The characters were unlikable and poorly developed, Katherine was just whiny and lacked any insight and Adam could've been a paper-doll, he was so one dimensional. Made it hard to slog through to the end. The end, by the way, is exactly what I predicted would happen when I started the book. There just wasn't anything redeeming about this book. One of the problems I had is that the author writes Katherine as a victim but her behavior is just as bad as her husband. It made the story that much more unbelievable to me.
Not one that I would recommend.
A big thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The characters were unlikable and poorly developed, Katherine was just whiny and lacked any insight and Adam could've been a paper-doll, he was so one dimensional. Made it hard to slog through to the end. The end, by the way, is exactly what I predicted would happen when I started the book. There just wasn't anything redeeming about this book. One of the problems I had is that the author writes Katherine as a victim but her behavior is just as bad as her husband. It made the story that much more unbelievable to me.
Not one that I would recommend.
A big thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 15, 2019
Throughly enjoyed this read ! From the beginning I was drawn in. It read through smoothly. The past-present format keeping you entertained and equally frustrated, wanting to know what happens next. Scary to think this or something like it could very well be in our future. Overall , I thought it was an amazing debut novel by this author. I look forward to her future works.
Thank You Book Sirens for providing a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank You Book Sirens for providing a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2019
To read more reviews like this, check out my blog keikii eats books!
78 points, 4 stars
Quote:
Review:
The thing you should know about A Little Bit Psycho is that it is mega fucked up. There isn't a single likable person in the book. The premise is what drew me to the book and it didn't disappoint. At times, I didn't know how to feel about what I was reading. However, at every point I was both massively interested in what was going on, but also slightly turned off at how fucked up it was. It did what it set out to do very well.
Seriously though, none of the people in this book are good people. They are selfish and cruel. They do bad things. Many bad things. They're abusive. For me personally, it made it a bit difficult to fully get into the story, since I typically do need to like someone in the story to like the story for itself. This time, I had to settle for being hopeful that one of the characters would change at the last moment.
All told, I liked reading A Little Bit Psycho. I was able to draw me into the story incredibly well. It read quickly and easily. My biggest interest throughout the book was probably the part that played out the least throughout the course of the book. Which was a bit unfortunate. I was interested the most in how Katherine coped with and managed being in a male body. Instead of this, the biggest focus was on Katherine seeking revenge on her husband for what he did to her . Which, coincidentally, was the least interesting part of the story.
A Little Bit Psycho is set up so that it threads the past and present, alternating chapters, to varying degrees of effectiveness. Sometimes it feels like it works, other times it doesn't. The biggest reason why it doesn't always feel like it worked is because it made the biggest twists in the story entirely predictable. Yet it was also a positive, because it showed the worsening state of Katherine, both mentally and physically.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to J.L. Strange and Netgalley for providing the opportunity to review this copy!
78 points, 4 stars
Quote:
"True he's given me a body, but it isn't the right one. It isn't the one I chose. It isn't even the right fucking gender. And then he disappeared. Every man for himself."
Review:
The thing you should know about A Little Bit Psycho is that it is mega fucked up. There isn't a single likable person in the book. The premise is what drew me to the book and it didn't disappoint. At times, I didn't know how to feel about what I was reading. However, at every point I was both massively interested in what was going on, but also slightly turned off at how fucked up it was. It did what it set out to do very well.
Seriously though, none of the people in this book are good people. They are selfish and cruel. They do bad things. Many bad things. They're abusive. For me personally, it made it a bit difficult to fully get into the story, since I typically do need to like someone in the story to like the story for itself. This time, I had to settle for being hopeful that one of the characters would change at the last moment.
All told, I liked reading A Little Bit Psycho. I was able to draw me into the story incredibly well. It read quickly and easily. My biggest interest throughout the book was probably the part that played out the least throughout the course of the book. Which was a bit unfortunate. I was interested the most in how Katherine coped with and managed being in a male body. Instead of this, the biggest focus was on Katherine seeking revenge on her husband for what he did to her . Which, coincidentally, was the least interesting part of the story.
A Little Bit Psycho is set up so that it threads the past and present, alternating chapters, to varying degrees of effectiveness. Sometimes it feels like it works, other times it doesn't. The biggest reason why it doesn't always feel like it worked is because it made the biggest twists in the story entirely predictable. Yet it was also a positive, because it showed the worsening state of Katherine, both mentally and physically.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to J.L. Strange and Netgalley for providing the opportunity to review this copy!
September 24, 2019
My review goes live on Thu 26th Sept, 2019 at my blog:
thebespectacledbibliophile.home.blog
I got a free advance copy in exchange for my honest review
This was an excellent first attempt by J.L. Strange. The plot was extremely interesting and the ending was superb. The author obviously put a lot of thought into the events throughout the plot. I like it when everything ties in neatly at the end of a book, with no loose strings.
The conversation flowed naturally. The stuttering attempts of the first brain transplant patient, Emily, was written excellently enough that I felt as if I could hear her. Even the robotic speech of Katherine in her male body was perfectly done. I felt as if I could hear the monotonous speech anytime she opened her mouth.
The characters were well developed. I found myself feeling angry on Katherine’s behalf. I even pitied poor Emily, even though I found some of her actions to be quite repulsive. Theresa, Sean’s wife, was also quite pitiful, even though she was a bit irritating.
I was thinking that with this being a book by a new author meant that I would cringe at the many grammatical errors that were bound to occur. However, this book was extremely well-edited.
thebespectacledbibliophile.home.blog
I got a free advance copy in exchange for my honest review
This was an excellent first attempt by J.L. Strange. The plot was extremely interesting and the ending was superb. The author obviously put a lot of thought into the events throughout the plot. I like it when everything ties in neatly at the end of a book, with no loose strings.
The conversation flowed naturally. The stuttering attempts of the first brain transplant patient, Emily, was written excellently enough that I felt as if I could hear her. Even the robotic speech of Katherine in her male body was perfectly done. I felt as if I could hear the monotonous speech anytime she opened her mouth.
The characters were well developed. I found myself feeling angry on Katherine’s behalf. I even pitied poor Emily, even though I found some of her actions to be quite repulsive. Theresa, Sean’s wife, was also quite pitiful, even though she was a bit irritating.
I was thinking that with this being a book by a new author meant that I would cringe at the many grammatical errors that were bound to occur. However, this book was extremely well-edited.
September 17, 2019
Worcester, Massachusetts is not one of the places that come to mind when thinking about medical or scientific breakthroughs. This tale will change that perspective.
Katherine has devoted her life to her husband and his work. He promises to change the landscape of medicine forever.
When Katherine learns she has Stage IV cancer and that it continues to spread rapidly, she knows it is going to kill her. However, Adam has a plan. He says he has perfected the Brain Transplant procedure and a plan is put in place.
Many things go right. Katherine is alive. Her constant, excruciating pain is gone. But ... Something has also gone drastically wrong. When she awakens from her coma, she discovers that instead of using the body they had chosen together, Adam has instead trapped her inside the body of ......... a man.
Imagine her shock. Imagine the betrayal she feels. Imagine how ridiculously strange it would feel to have a man's body and a woman's brain. She is living a nightmare and her "husband" is nowhere to be found.
This is where the real nightmare begins...
I was sucked into this story from the very first chapter and I just couldn't put this book down.
Delving deep into her character's (and her reader's) psyches, the author taps into the universal fear of being trapped. Whether someone is buried alive, or is trapped inside the body of another, either way, it is the fear of helplessness that every human being harbors deep inside.
It is amazing to me that A LITTLE BIT PSYCHO is author J.L. Strange's debut novel. Her writing reminds me of some of the truly great horror authors of our time, including Robin Cook, Stephen King and Dean Koontz, yet she also has a style all her own.
I am 100% certain J.L. Strange is a writer to watch and I fully expect to see her name gracing multiple Bestseller Lists.
I rate A LITTLE BIT PSYCHO as 5+ OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and I encourage everyone reading this review to mark your calendars for October 28th, 2019 and to purchase a copy of this terrifying story, or better yet, go ahead and pre-order a copy today to be among the first to discover this astounding new talent on the horror author scene. You will be glad you did.
**** I would like to say a special thank you to #NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book. ***
To read more of my reviews visit my blog at
Amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
Follow me on Instagram @Amiesbookreviews and on Twitter at @Amiesbookreview
Katherine has devoted her life to her husband and his work. He promises to change the landscape of medicine forever.
When Katherine learns she has Stage IV cancer and that it continues to spread rapidly, she knows it is going to kill her. However, Adam has a plan. He says he has perfected the Brain Transplant procedure and a plan is put in place.
Many things go right. Katherine is alive. Her constant, excruciating pain is gone. But ... Something has also gone drastically wrong. When she awakens from her coma, she discovers that instead of using the body they had chosen together, Adam has instead trapped her inside the body of ......... a man.
Imagine her shock. Imagine the betrayal she feels. Imagine how ridiculously strange it would feel to have a man's body and a woman's brain. She is living a nightmare and her "husband" is nowhere to be found.
This is where the real nightmare begins...
I was sucked into this story from the very first chapter and I just couldn't put this book down.
Delving deep into her character's (and her reader's) psyches, the author taps into the universal fear of being trapped. Whether someone is buried alive, or is trapped inside the body of another, either way, it is the fear of helplessness that every human being harbors deep inside.
It is amazing to me that A LITTLE BIT PSYCHO is author J.L. Strange's debut novel. Her writing reminds me of some of the truly great horror authors of our time, including Robin Cook, Stephen King and Dean Koontz, yet she also has a style all her own.
I am 100% certain J.L. Strange is a writer to watch and I fully expect to see her name gracing multiple Bestseller Lists.
I rate A LITTLE BIT PSYCHO as 5+ OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and I encourage everyone reading this review to mark your calendars for October 28th, 2019 and to purchase a copy of this terrifying story, or better yet, go ahead and pre-order a copy today to be among the first to discover this astounding new talent on the horror author scene. You will be glad you did.
**** I would like to say a special thank you to #NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book. ***
To read more of my reviews visit my blog at
Amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
Follow me on Instagram @Amiesbookreviews and on Twitter at @Amiesbookreview
October 20, 2019
*thank you to Netgalley, J.L. Strange and Xpresso Book Tours for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Well this was interesting. It was well out of my comfort zone and not quite what I was expecting yet it turned out to be one pretty good read. It's been classed as a horror story but what I didn't realise is that it's not a horror in the classic sense but more fitting to a psychological thriller. This did not lower my opinion of it though. It was still a great story.
Imagine one day you are dying of cancer and are at the very near stage of death. Then the next day, you wake up, it turns out you have been in a coma, and you are suddenly shocked to see that you are now living in the body of the opposite gender. Katherine is now Sean. It's Katherine's brain but it's been transplanted into the body of a male named Sean. Katherine's husband is the reason for this as it was him that did the surgery, yet he is now no where to be found and Katherine is not happy. This was not the arrangement that they had planned. Or was it?
I found the first half of this a bit of a struggle to get into. Not much but a bit. But at around the half way mark it picked up and I was completely drawn in. Katherine was a creepy person. She is the definition of a psychopath. I can't say more because of spoilers, but this book is worth reading.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Well this was interesting. It was well out of my comfort zone and not quite what I was expecting yet it turned out to be one pretty good read. It's been classed as a horror story but what I didn't realise is that it's not a horror in the classic sense but more fitting to a psychological thriller. This did not lower my opinion of it though. It was still a great story.
Imagine one day you are dying of cancer and are at the very near stage of death. Then the next day, you wake up, it turns out you have been in a coma, and you are suddenly shocked to see that you are now living in the body of the opposite gender. Katherine is now Sean. It's Katherine's brain but it's been transplanted into the body of a male named Sean. Katherine's husband is the reason for this as it was him that did the surgery, yet he is now no where to be found and Katherine is not happy. This was not the arrangement that they had planned. Or was it?
I found the first half of this a bit of a struggle to get into. Not much but a bit. But at around the half way mark it picked up and I was completely drawn in. Katherine was a creepy person. She is the definition of a psychopath. I can't say more because of spoilers, but this book is worth reading.
May 1, 2020
How far would you be willing to go to cheat death? Katherine has been diagonosed with terminal cancer but is simply not prepared to die. Her husband, Adam, is a surgeon who thinks his new technology can save her.
God this book leaves me so conflicted. I absolutely LOVE the idea of it...but...I hate every single character with a fiery passion. Adam is a narcissistic asshole with the personality of rock. He is callous and patronising towards everyone except that zombie he created. Honestly how much of a prick do you have to be to cut out your wife's brain and put it in the body of a drug addicted male?! Unfortunately his wife Katherine isnt much better. It wouldn't be a stretch to say they really should have been perfect for each other. The only character who I remotely felt pitty for was Emily who was turned into something not quite human.
This was overall a well written and thought provoking debut novel. The story was easy to follow even while bouncing between past and present. If you enjoy medical thrillers you will probably enjoy this book.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Booksirens in exchange for an honest review
God this book leaves me so conflicted. I absolutely LOVE the idea of it...but...I hate every single character with a fiery passion. Adam is a narcissistic asshole with the personality of rock. He is callous and patronising towards everyone except that zombie he created. Honestly how much of a prick do you have to be to cut out your wife's brain and put it in the body of a drug addicted male?! Unfortunately his wife Katherine isnt much better. It wouldn't be a stretch to say they really should have been perfect for each other. The only character who I remotely felt pitty for was Emily who was turned into something not quite human.
This was overall a well written and thought provoking debut novel. The story was easy to follow even while bouncing between past and present. If you enjoy medical thrillers you will probably enjoy this book.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Booksirens in exchange for an honest review
September 29, 2019
Free Advanced Reader Copy provided by Booksirens in exchange for an honest review!
You can read all my reviews at my blog: https://persephonesyndrome.wordpress....
As an artist and designer, I have to say I pick a lot of my books because of the cover. Yes. The cover many times attract me read the synopsis, and from them I decide if I'm going to read it or not. Of course,many times I pick books solely by friends recommendations or because I liked the synopsis, but covers, for me, can say a lot about a book.
And this book cover called me right away (props to the designer, I would like to know the name). The two faces in the cover are unknow to the reader, who are they? When I read the synopsis I knew, this cover was perfect for the story.
The story is amazing, it starts from the middle of the narrative (present) and develops from there, but it also show us the events that leaded to the present. The chapters jump between present and past, and soon you start to learn how Katherine ended where she are.
Almost nothing that happens in the book is empty information or filler, the author took care to create a complex and linear narrative with no loose ends, but instead of telling it in a linear way, she had the clever idea to start from the middle and unveil the plot bit by bit. This, in my opinion, made almost impossible for readers to foresee what would happen, and boy oh boy I loved the fact I wasn't guessing stuff on (which usually can be a turn off for me if it is too predicatable).
The only flaw for me, is that at some point it drags so much I started to feel annoyed, as the chapter felt almost exaclty the same as the one before. Maybe this was intencional, to biuld a certain anxiety in the reader, but I had to take a break from the book because I felt I was in the same page for years.
Katherine is a cold, collected woman. She is in control of her emotions and despite being terminally ill, she almost never loses composure. Her husband on other hand, is completely insane, but also a genious. He has a severe lack of empathy I felt it to be extremely disturbing. He's also very very disingenuous.
Throughout the entire book we are inside Katherine's mind, we know every little thing she feels or thinks. We are so deep in her intimate that it's weird how detached I felt from her. Her life was miserable since day one with Adam, her husband, yet, she never left her side even though she wanted it. She hardly stood up for herself, she hated everything about her life, he was deadly sick but at the same time she was at the same time so collected about it all, that she looked almost as devoid of any emotion as her husband, that I couldn't feel sad for her, or relate to her at all. I knew every little thing about her, yet, I couldn't understand why she acted the way she acted in the past.
But during the present, the story is different. I was so surprised, that suddendly, when she is literally drained of all emotion, I started to relate to her more. Is that weird? Does that make sense? The sense of vengeance she had, to do whatever it takes, I felt she was more human there than she ever was, besides being dulled of all her emotions.
We get to see her demise as a normal human being to reborn into a twisted person, slowly. But in such a way I can't think of her as lunatic.
I was so satisfied with the end (but I was not sure if it really was at first), because even though there was not a single loose end in the plot, the end was open to imagination. So her I am wondering, what Katherine, a woman trapped inside a stranger, a male stranger, will do from now on after she got what she wanted.
This book is not for people with weak gut. And I'm neither sure if it is for someone with strong gut, in the end. But once you start reading, you will hardly put the book down.
You can read all my reviews at my blog: https://persephonesyndrome.wordpress....
As an artist and designer, I have to say I pick a lot of my books because of the cover. Yes. The cover many times attract me read the synopsis, and from them I decide if I'm going to read it or not. Of course,many times I pick books solely by friends recommendations or because I liked the synopsis, but covers, for me, can say a lot about a book.
And this book cover called me right away (props to the designer, I would like to know the name). The two faces in the cover are unknow to the reader, who are they? When I read the synopsis I knew, this cover was perfect for the story.
The story is amazing, it starts from the middle of the narrative (present) and develops from there, but it also show us the events that leaded to the present. The chapters jump between present and past, and soon you start to learn how Katherine ended where she are.
Almost nothing that happens in the book is empty information or filler, the author took care to create a complex and linear narrative with no loose ends, but instead of telling it in a linear way, she had the clever idea to start from the middle and unveil the plot bit by bit. This, in my opinion, made almost impossible for readers to foresee what would happen, and boy oh boy I loved the fact I wasn't guessing stuff on (which usually can be a turn off for me if it is too predicatable).
The only flaw for me, is that at some point it drags so much I started to feel annoyed, as the chapter felt almost exaclty the same as the one before. Maybe this was intencional, to biuld a certain anxiety in the reader, but I had to take a break from the book because I felt I was in the same page for years.
Katherine is a cold, collected woman. She is in control of her emotions and despite being terminally ill, she almost never loses composure. Her husband on other hand, is completely insane, but also a genious. He has a severe lack of empathy I felt it to be extremely disturbing. He's also very very disingenuous.
Throughout the entire book we are inside Katherine's mind, we know every little thing she feels or thinks. We are so deep in her intimate that it's weird how detached I felt from her. Her life was miserable since day one with Adam, her husband, yet, she never left her side even though she wanted it. She hardly stood up for herself, she hated everything about her life, he was deadly sick but at the same time she was at the same time so collected about it all, that she looked almost as devoid of any emotion as her husband, that I couldn't feel sad for her, or relate to her at all. I knew every little thing about her, yet, I couldn't understand why she acted the way she acted in the past.
But during the present, the story is different. I was so surprised, that suddendly, when she is literally drained of all emotion, I started to relate to her more. Is that weird? Does that make sense? The sense of vengeance she had, to do whatever it takes, I felt she was more human there than she ever was, besides being dulled of all her emotions.
We get to see her demise as a normal human being to reborn into a twisted person, slowly. But in such a way I can't think of her as lunatic.
I was so satisfied with the end (but I was not sure if it really was at first), because even though there was not a single loose end in the plot, the end was open to imagination. So her I am wondering, what Katherine, a woman trapped inside a stranger, a male stranger, will do from now on after she got what she wanted.
This book is not for people with weak gut. And I'm neither sure if it is for someone with strong gut, in the end. But once you start reading, you will hardly put the book down.
December 9, 2019
Review for 'A little but Psycho' by J. L Strange
Read and reviewed via NetGalley
Katherine is terminally ill.
Her husband Adam is an innovative surgeon with the technology to save her.
When Katherine wakes in an unfamiliar hospital room, she discovers her brain has been transplanted into the body of a man and Adam is nowhere to be found. This is where her nightmare begins.
She must find Adam at all costs, even if that means pretending to be someone she's not.
But something is wrong inside her. Very wrong...
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this very unique book!! I thought the characters were very strong and the writing itself was very good. It sucked me straight in from the first page until the end and was filled with suspense, deception and twists and turns. This book is perfect for fans of horror, suspense, thrillers, psychological books as well as a good read in general. I was not expecting the ending but I was also very slightly disappointed by the abruptness of it. However, not that much to allow it to lose a star from the 5/5 I've given it on Goodreads. I would definitely read more books from this author and look forward to seeing more of his work produced. I enjoyed the fact that there wasn't any lose ends that some authors tend to leave a book with even though it ended quite suddenly, everything had still been explained. I believe what adds to the horror factor is that it is also very much something that may well be able to happen in the not so distant future. I would highly recommend this page turning and unique book!!
Read and reviewed via NetGalley
Katherine is terminally ill.
Her husband Adam is an innovative surgeon with the technology to save her.
When Katherine wakes in an unfamiliar hospital room, she discovers her brain has been transplanted into the body of a man and Adam is nowhere to be found. This is where her nightmare begins.
She must find Adam at all costs, even if that means pretending to be someone she's not.
But something is wrong inside her. Very wrong...
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this very unique book!! I thought the characters were very strong and the writing itself was very good. It sucked me straight in from the first page until the end and was filled with suspense, deception and twists and turns. This book is perfect for fans of horror, suspense, thrillers, psychological books as well as a good read in general. I was not expecting the ending but I was also very slightly disappointed by the abruptness of it. However, not that much to allow it to lose a star from the 5/5 I've given it on Goodreads. I would definitely read more books from this author and look forward to seeing more of his work produced. I enjoyed the fact that there wasn't any lose ends that some authors tend to leave a book with even though it ended quite suddenly, everything had still been explained. I believe what adds to the horror factor is that it is also very much something that may well be able to happen in the not so distant future. I would highly recommend this page turning and unique book!!
December 16, 2019
A Little Bit Psycho is an interesting although strange book that spends most of the book flipping between two stories involving the same person in two different bodies. We have Kathrine who is dying from aggressive cancer and the body she has been put into which is Sam, a person they kidnapped when disguised as EMT’s. The jumping back and forth between these two timelines does work but at times, you wonder where the human condition comes to play.
JL Strange’s book raises a lot of questions but does it seldom go beyond the first person narrative of Katherine who is not very likable. Her views on the world around her are as tainted when she has cancer and more complex when her brain is imported into a new vessel. This book does hold the reader’s attention but it seems that most of the plot is led by miscommunication between her colleagues and the world around her. If she was slightly mellowed with a little bit of compassion, she may have been a bit more relatable. Even as a mother of an ill child, there is a lack of warmth and empathy which makes it a little hard for the reader to get on board with Katherine.
The characters are interesting though Adam, the mad scientist husband is a cardboard cut-out that lacks anything warm but as this is done from the first person’s narrative, this maybe down to Katherine’s view of him. The other two lab assistants seem to have more empathy and warmth and would have been nice to have rounded this off. If the story was written in the third person, we may have something a bit more three dimensional.
The plot is the key element to the book and it is interesting and involving. The ending, without giving anything away, is not very satisfying but works within the story structure of the book. I did feel that it ended in a natural way for the story path it choose to take but it seems to be brought on miscommunication and can be frustrating as you are left wondering why can’t these people just speak to each other.
Overall, this is a fascinating flawed book but kept me interested until the final page. Although it is very hard to be in tuned with any of the characters and when your sympathy aligns with one of the most pathetic sad characters aka Sam’s wife, you do wonder why I would want to spend time with these people. The science comes across as solid and earns itself as the focal point of the story. Some questions do get raised but never realised and one has to wonder if the violence is part of the transplantation process or is it because the person is naturally that way. I think that it is a book that will keep people attuned to the plot but would have liked more of a story arch for Katherine where there is a personality change from the past to the present to give it that extra punch. It is well worth the read.
JL Strange’s book raises a lot of questions but does it seldom go beyond the first person narrative of Katherine who is not very likable. Her views on the world around her are as tainted when she has cancer and more complex when her brain is imported into a new vessel. This book does hold the reader’s attention but it seems that most of the plot is led by miscommunication between her colleagues and the world around her. If she was slightly mellowed with a little bit of compassion, she may have been a bit more relatable. Even as a mother of an ill child, there is a lack of warmth and empathy which makes it a little hard for the reader to get on board with Katherine.
The characters are interesting though Adam, the mad scientist husband is a cardboard cut-out that lacks anything warm but as this is done from the first person’s narrative, this maybe down to Katherine’s view of him. The other two lab assistants seem to have more empathy and warmth and would have been nice to have rounded this off. If the story was written in the third person, we may have something a bit more three dimensional.
The plot is the key element to the book and it is interesting and involving. The ending, without giving anything away, is not very satisfying but works within the story structure of the book. I did feel that it ended in a natural way for the story path it choose to take but it seems to be brought on miscommunication and can be frustrating as you are left wondering why can’t these people just speak to each other.
Overall, this is a fascinating flawed book but kept me interested until the final page. Although it is very hard to be in tuned with any of the characters and when your sympathy aligns with one of the most pathetic sad characters aka Sam’s wife, you do wonder why I would want to spend time with these people. The science comes across as solid and earns itself as the focal point of the story. Some questions do get raised but never realised and one has to wonder if the violence is part of the transplantation process or is it because the person is naturally that way. I think that it is a book that will keep people attuned to the plot but would have liked more of a story arch for Katherine where there is a personality change from the past to the present to give it that extra punch. It is well worth the read.
October 2, 2019
A dark, psychological thriller with cutting edge medical ideas. What if your body was dying, and your spouse said that they could save you and give you a whole new body? What if you have seen them be fairly successful? So you agree, but then when you wake up again it isn't the body you chose and your spouse has vanished. Would you risk it all to find them again? If so, would you take revenge? Dark and very thought and emotion provoking. I couldn't stop reading this.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 2, 2019
Very interesting book! Definitely captured my interest right away. Uses the point of view of past one chapter and then present the next and it works well that way. Lately I gave been reading a lot of books about future ideas and it is kind of scary to think about some of these things. Overall good read and keeps you hooked until the end.
Disclaimer - I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Disclaimer - I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 7, 2020
“ A Little Bit Psycho” is an interesting concept but the ending will anger readers as it just stops in the middle of a scene. I am hoping the author will correct that before publication.
Katherine was dying so when her husband, Adam wants to perform the surgery he has performed just one time before with horrifying results she is too weak to resist. They have a technique where they implant the brain of a sick or dying person and implant it in a healthy body. The only problem? They do not tell the donors what they are really volunteering for. They also find donors by using an ambulance and intercepting calls. These are not likable characters.
When Katherine wakes up she is not in the place or body she expected. She is in a man’s body and her name is now Sean.
She becomes consumed with rage and intent on hunting down Adam and seeking revenge.
The author touches on a few of the differences that would face a female waking up as a male but I think missed an opportunity to really show the horror that would be felt by anyone who woke up in that situation. Katherine/Sean also has developed a penchant for killing people who she finds annoying.
She then reaches out to Thiago, the man who worked with them at the clinic to help her get rid of the bodies and help track down Adam.
I would have liked to have more explanation as to what Thiago and Chloe’s roles were and why they kept assuring Katherine/Sean there was a plan and she would be safe. Their storyline was kind of left incomplete as was the end of the book. This was an interesting concept and a good first novel that could use a little touching up. I look forward to more by this author.
Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for the free ebook in exchange for my honest opinion.
Katherine was dying so when her husband, Adam wants to perform the surgery he has performed just one time before with horrifying results she is too weak to resist. They have a technique where they implant the brain of a sick or dying person and implant it in a healthy body. The only problem? They do not tell the donors what they are really volunteering for. They also find donors by using an ambulance and intercepting calls. These are not likable characters.
When Katherine wakes up she is not in the place or body she expected. She is in a man’s body and her name is now Sean.
She becomes consumed with rage and intent on hunting down Adam and seeking revenge.
The author touches on a few of the differences that would face a female waking up as a male but I think missed an opportunity to really show the horror that would be felt by anyone who woke up in that situation. Katherine/Sean also has developed a penchant for killing people who she finds annoying.
She then reaches out to Thiago, the man who worked with them at the clinic to help her get rid of the bodies and help track down Adam.
I would have liked to have more explanation as to what Thiago and Chloe’s roles were and why they kept assuring Katherine/Sean there was a plan and she would be safe. Their storyline was kind of left incomplete as was the end of the book. This was an interesting concept and a good first novel that could use a little touching up. I look forward to more by this author.
Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for the free ebook in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 2, 2021
I received a copy of a little bit psycho through #Booksirens in exchange for an honest review.
This was a great story, very well written and executed well. While reading this book, I was constantly questioning what choices I would have made in Katherine’s position. How far would we go to achieve a longer, healthier life when faced with our own mortality?
It was refreshing to read something new and out of the box. I’ve been surrounded with books promising horror and suspense like I wouldn’t believe and left with the same canned and predictable outcomes novel after novel. I felt that a little bit psycho was authentic and didn’t try hard to be mainstream like so many books I’ve been reading.
If I was shocked, or confused, or upset while reading this book, it was genuine and that’s something hard to come by nowadays.
The only con in my eyes ( and not even a big enough issue to warrant a star loss here) was the ending… mainly because it seemed abrupt and kind of left me hanging. In a way, though, I can understand why it ended the way it did… perhaps to keep you thinking long after you were done with the book. If that’s the case, then well done!
This was a great story, very well written and executed well. While reading this book, I was constantly questioning what choices I would have made in Katherine’s position. How far would we go to achieve a longer, healthier life when faced with our own mortality?
It was refreshing to read something new and out of the box. I’ve been surrounded with books promising horror and suspense like I wouldn’t believe and left with the same canned and predictable outcomes novel after novel. I felt that a little bit psycho was authentic and didn’t try hard to be mainstream like so many books I’ve been reading.
If I was shocked, or confused, or upset while reading this book, it was genuine and that’s something hard to come by nowadays.
The only con in my eyes ( and not even a big enough issue to warrant a star loss here) was the ending… mainly because it seemed abrupt and kind of left me hanging. In a way, though, I can understand why it ended the way it did… perhaps to keep you thinking long after you were done with the book. If that’s the case, then well done!
July 21, 2020
3.50☆'s
A very interesting plot. The author does a good job of leading the reader from past to present with hints of what is possible. The characters are well developed although we are never sure if what we are told and what is are true. It may have been interesting to have included an alternative storyteller to narrate.
The medical aspects are intriguing and at times the reader is caught up in the 'science fiction' of the possibilities. We can believe what happens, but shudder at the myriad of possible outcomes. Are we who we are because of our intellect or emotion that we develop. How easily can we be manipulated by outside influence or artificial stimulus.
The story wanders here and there and toward the end it comes together too quickly to be a satisfied finish.
Will there be a sequel that will answer the questions left unasked, unsaid? What happened to the investigation? What else with Kat and Emily uncover and how will they continue to function.
A very interesting plot. The author does a good job of leading the reader from past to present with hints of what is possible. The characters are well developed although we are never sure if what we are told and what is are true. It may have been interesting to have included an alternative storyteller to narrate.
The medical aspects are intriguing and at times the reader is caught up in the 'science fiction' of the possibilities. We can believe what happens, but shudder at the myriad of possible outcomes. Are we who we are because of our intellect or emotion that we develop. How easily can we be manipulated by outside influence or artificial stimulus.
The story wanders here and there and toward the end it comes together too quickly to be a satisfied finish.
Will there be a sequel that will answer the questions left unasked, unsaid? What happened to the investigation? What else with Kat and Emily uncover and how will they continue to function.
November 25, 2020
As the main character Kathleen says of her husband Adam, what he does as a surgeon is more than a bit Frankenstein. Transferring the brain of cancer victims and the like into the bodies of crash victims. All in the name of Science. Moreover, Kathleen is to discover that her new body is of the wrong gender.
There surely can't possibly be more horrors in connection to this premise?
There are. As with Frankenstein, this novel is as much science fiction as it is horror, with its implied warnings about why perhaps it may be a no-no to use cutting-edge technology to play God with human free will. But this writer does not waste the opportunity to explore the differing ways the genders are treated either. Kathleen's own medical expertise is not given the respect it deserves, and the patriarchal tendencies to assume what women want without checking are noted. There is an element of the revenge story too as Kathleen's new body and persona make their own point overall.
There surely can't possibly be more horrors in connection to this premise?
There are. As with Frankenstein, this novel is as much science fiction as it is horror, with its implied warnings about why perhaps it may be a no-no to use cutting-edge technology to play God with human free will. But this writer does not waste the opportunity to explore the differing ways the genders are treated either. Kathleen's own medical expertise is not given the respect it deserves, and the patriarchal tendencies to assume what women want without checking are noted. There is an element of the revenge story too as Kathleen's new body and persona make their own point overall.
May 16, 2021
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Book Sirens, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I quite enjoyed the concept for this book, and I enjoyed the switching back and forth between past and present. I felt that the pacing was solid, the character progression was spot on, and I was hooked from the beginning. The ending, however, did leave a lot to the imagination - a bit more than I would like to see at the end of a book.
I identified a lot with the main character of this book, especially after the operation had taken place in the present time. I saw a lot of myself and others I've known within the character, which allowed me to really get into this book. I tended to agree with most, if not all of the choices made by the main character, which only added to my enjoyment of the book, though it didn't make for any 'wow' moments in particular - the reason for my not giving it 5 stars. While the book was quite enjoyable, it didn't wow me, but that's just me and my own personal take on it.
I quite enjoyed the concept for this book, and I enjoyed the switching back and forth between past and present. I felt that the pacing was solid, the character progression was spot on, and I was hooked from the beginning. The ending, however, did leave a lot to the imagination - a bit more than I would like to see at the end of a book.
I identified a lot with the main character of this book, especially after the operation had taken place in the present time. I saw a lot of myself and others I've known within the character, which allowed me to really get into this book. I tended to agree with most, if not all of the choices made by the main character, which only added to my enjoyment of the book, though it didn't make for any 'wow' moments in particular - the reason for my not giving it 5 stars. While the book was quite enjoyable, it didn't wow me, but that's just me and my own personal take on it.
August 11, 2020
Was really looking forward to this. When I read the summary, it instantly caught my attention .The first few chapters were really good,but the further I got it became a bit of slog to get through. I was also not the biggest fan of the characters overall. They felt a bit wooden at times and lacking depth. Also while it was touched on some, would have thought least at the start there would have been more of exploration of Katherine now having to live in the male body of Sean. I also just overall lost interest in Katherine as a character.Also just wish Adam as a character was explored more in general. Finally found the ending a bit overly predictable. Overall thought this book had an interesting concept but was overall poorly executed.
Thank You Book Sirens for providing a free copy in exchange of an honest review
Thank You Book Sirens for providing a free copy in exchange of an honest review
May 12, 2021
I received a copy of this for free.
This book is very science fiction a la Frankenstein - which I love! Like in a good portion of that, this entire story is told from the POV of ''the creature''; a woman who wakes up inside a man's body, her doctor husband having put her there after her own body was dying of cancer.
It's very psychological, she talks about all her struggles in the present as well as before. Every other chapter for most of the book goes back and forth between the timelines. It's pretty well done, they bounce off each other really well, the pacing of how things develop and things that are revealed is good, so is the ending.
Sounds interesting? If you're not squeamish, definitely check this out.
This book is very science fiction a la Frankenstein - which I love! Like in a good portion of that, this entire story is told from the POV of ''the creature''; a woman who wakes up inside a man's body, her doctor husband having put her there after her own body was dying of cancer.
It's very psychological, she talks about all her struggles in the present as well as before. Every other chapter for most of the book goes back and forth between the timelines. It's pretty well done, they bounce off each other really well, the pacing of how things develop and things that are revealed is good, so is the ending.
Sounds interesting? If you're not squeamish, definitely check this out.
May 6, 2020
Katherine is terminally ill.
Her husband Adam is an innovative surgeon with the technology to save her.
When Katherine wakes in an unfamiliar hospital room, she discovers her brain has been transplanted into the body of a man and Adam is nowhere to be found. This is where her nightmare begins.
She must find Adam at all costs, even if that means pretending to be someone she’s not.
But something is wrong inside her. Very wrong…
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuousluy.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
Her husband Adam is an innovative surgeon with the technology to save her.
When Katherine wakes in an unfamiliar hospital room, she discovers her brain has been transplanted into the body of a man and Adam is nowhere to be found. This is where her nightmare begins.
She must find Adam at all costs, even if that means pretending to be someone she’s not.
But something is wrong inside her. Very wrong…
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuousluy.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
June 16, 2020
Just finished A Little Bit Psycho. Interesting premise, it caught my attention from the first page. Very disappointed when it started to bog in the middle -- lots of indecision, confusion, more violence than I expected. Some of those questions answered by the end and I am glad that I finished the book-- I seriously pondered putting it down about halfway through. 3 stars because the bog-down in the middle is depressing and confusing. I didn't know how it could possibly end but the author managed a satisfying conclusion. I wanted more info, motives made clearer, though, which is another reason for only 3 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 15, 2021
The plot is quite interesting. A woman becomes a medical guinea pig for her doctor, researcher husband. She is dying of cancer and ultimately has two choices: go through with the dangerous surgery or die.
We are told the story switching back and forth from past to present events. This style worked well. The timelines are slowly brought together; facts and mysteries are uncovered.
While I enjoyed the story concept, I found the characters very unlikable. Adam, the husband is awful. Abusive, belittling, controlling of his wife Katherine. A dominating, manipulating person is not evil or psycho.
A miss for me in some areas, a cleaver plot in others.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
We are told the story switching back and forth from past to present events. This style worked well. The timelines are slowly brought together; facts and mysteries are uncovered.
While I enjoyed the story concept, I found the characters very unlikable. Adam, the husband is awful. Abusive, belittling, controlling of his wife Katherine. A dominating, manipulating person is not evil or psycho.
A miss for me in some areas, a cleaver plot in others.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 10, 2020
What a thriller! One of most unique books I have ever read. I am not giving away any spoilers, but the main character, Katherine, wakes up to find out her husband has mislead her, and it has basically changed her entire life. The psychological drama was well written, I could feel Katherine's pain while reading her story (it is fiction, but it is still her story). I actually carried my e-reader around while doing chores and read the book in one span. I couldn't put it down. Do yourself a favor and read this book!
I received a free advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest and open opinion.
I received a free advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest and open opinion.
April 27, 2020
Really great story! When modern science meets doctors with God complexes your in for a bumpy ride. The main character Katherine is a character who is very complex and we see her go from a cold professional to a dying woman to a character who has lost all control to the whims of her Doctor Husband. . The twists in this book keep you turning the page and wanting to know more of the characters and what makes them tick. It is a well written page turner but leaves you wanting more.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 1, 2020
I didn't like the characters so I wasn't hooked but it was an easy read. The author really delved into the emotions of the characters and managed to run the past and the present along side each other in a way that was coherent and relevant.
November 7, 2020
The premise of this book is really awesome and I'm glad that I read it. If you were dying of cancer and able to take part in an experiment where your mind can inhabit another body would you do it? Such an awesome idea and kept my interest throughout the entire book!
May 20, 2023
A little bit psycho by JL Strange, a gripping story, Katherine wakes from a coma in the body of Sean. Her surgeon husband Adam has disappeared. She's out to track down what has happened. What Why who. Dealing with Seans wife Theresa. A great story, twists and turns. 4* kindle.
January 5, 2021
I loved this book. It kept me interested throughout the whole story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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November 8, 2019“ A Little Bit Psycho” is an interesting concept but the ending will anger readers as it just stops in the middle of a scene. I am hoping the author will correct that before publication.
Katherine was dying so when her husband, Adam wants to perform the surgery he has performed just one time before with horrifying results she is too weak to resist. They have a technique where they implant the brain of a sick or dying person and implant it in a healthy body. The only problem? They do not tell the donors what they are really volunteering for. They also find donors by using an ambulance and intercepting calls. These are not likable characters.
When Katherine wakes up she is not in the place or body she expected. She is in a man’s body and her name is now Sean.
She becomes consumed with rage and intent on hunting down Adam and seeking revenge.
The author touches on a few of the differences that would face a female waking up as a male but I think missed an opportunity to really show the horror that would be felt by anyone who woke up in that situation. Katherine/Sean also has developed a penchant for killing people who she finds annoying.
She then reaches out to Thiago, the man who worked with them at the clinic to help her get rid of the bodies and help track down Adam.
I would have liked to have more explanation as to what Thiago and Chloe’s roles were and why they kept assuring Katherine/Sean there was a plan and she would be safe. Their storyline was kind of left incomplete as was the end of the book. This was an interesting concept and a good first novel that could use a little touching up. I look forward to more by this author.
Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for the free ebook in exchange for my honest opinion.
Katherine was dying so when her husband, Adam wants to perform the surgery he has performed just one time before with horrifying results she is too weak to resist. They have a technique where they implant the brain of a sick or dying person and implant it in a healthy body. The only problem? They do not tell the donors what they are really volunteering for. They also find donors by using an ambulance and intercepting calls. These are not likable characters.
When Katherine wakes up she is not in the place or body she expected. She is in a man’s body and her name is now Sean.
She becomes consumed with rage and intent on hunting down Adam and seeking revenge.
The author touches on a few of the differences that would face a female waking up as a male but I think missed an opportunity to really show the horror that would be felt by anyone who woke up in that situation. Katherine/Sean also has developed a penchant for killing people who she finds annoying.
She then reaches out to Thiago, the man who worked with them at the clinic to help her get rid of the bodies and help track down Adam.
I would have liked to have more explanation as to what Thiago and Chloe’s roles were and why they kept assuring Katherine/Sean there was a plan and she would be safe. Their storyline was kind of left incomplete as was the end of the book. This was an interesting concept and a good first novel that could use a little touching up. I look forward to more by this author.
Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for the free ebook in exchange for my honest opinion.
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