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Insomnia
In this twisty, mind-bending thriller from the bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes, Emma Averell worries that her crippling insomnia is a sign that she’s slowly going insane—like the mother she’s worked so hard to leave in her past.
Emma Averell loves her life—her high-powered legal career, her two beautiful children, and her wonderful stay-at-home husband—but it wasn’t always so perfect. When she was just five years old, Emma and her older sister went into foster care because of a horrific incident with their mother. Her sister can remember a time when their mother was loving and “normal,” but Emma can only remember her as one thing—a monster. And that monster emerged right around their mother’s fortieth birthday, the same age Emma is approaching now.
Emma desperately wants to keep her successful life separate from her past, so she has always hidden her childhood trauma. But then she’s unable to sleep, and now losing time during the day, also one of the first symptoms her mother showed. Is the madness in her blood, just as her mother predicted? Could she end up hurting her family in her foggy, frenetic state? Or is she truly beginning to lose her mind?
Emma Averell loves her life—her high-powered legal career, her two beautiful children, and her wonderful stay-at-home husband—but it wasn’t always so perfect. When she was just five years old, Emma and her older sister went into foster care because of a horrific incident with their mother. Her sister can remember a time when their mother was loving and “normal,” but Emma can only remember her as one thing—a monster. And that monster emerged right around their mother’s fortieth birthday, the same age Emma is approaching now.
Emma desperately wants to keep her successful life separate from her past, so she has always hidden her childhood trauma. But then she’s unable to sleep, and now losing time during the day, also one of the first symptoms her mother showed. Is the madness in her blood, just as her mother predicted? Could she end up hurting her family in her foggy, frenetic state? Or is she truly beginning to lose her mind?
352 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2022
1240 people are currently reading
62468 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Pinborough
81 books7,975 followersSarah Pinborough is a New York Times bestselling and Sunday Times Number one and Internationally bestselling author who is published in over 30 territories worldwide. Having published more than 25 novels across various genres, her recent books include Behind Her Eyes, now a smash hit Netflix limited series, Dead To Her, now in development with Amazon Studios, and 13 Minutes and The Death House in development with Compelling Pictures. Sarah lives in the historic town of Stony Stratford, the home of the Cock and Bull story, with her dog Ted. Her next novel, Insomnia, is out in 2022. You can follow Sarah on Twitter at @sarahpinborough.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,564 reviews
February 22, 2022
Love the cover, the book not so much.
The author has been a hit or miss with me, but when the blurb described this one as a "twisty, mind-bending thriller", I had to give it a try. Who doesn't love a twisty thriller?!
I'm going to describe this as extremely slow, and painfully repetitive. It wins for the most annoying and frustrating characters I've encountered in awhile. The constant whining was driving me crazy/mad!
Emma's insomnia, her paranoia, her sanity/insanity, her turning the big 4-0 (oh dreadful), the silly poem about candles, the awful husband, naive daughter and unconvincing plot made for a tedious read.
If you're a fan of the author, maybe it will work better for you. It has 4 and 5 star reviews that might interest you.
It made me toss and turn, not from anticipation or being twisty, but from forcing myself finish it. Argh
I received a NG ebook and a physical copy of the ARC. OUT April 12, 2022
The author has been a hit or miss with me, but when the blurb described this one as a "twisty, mind-bending thriller", I had to give it a try. Who doesn't love a twisty thriller?!
I'm going to describe this as extremely slow, and painfully repetitive. It wins for the most annoying and frustrating characters I've encountered in awhile. The constant whining was driving me crazy/mad!
Emma's insomnia, her paranoia, her sanity/insanity, her turning the big 4-0 (oh dreadful), the silly poem about candles, the awful husband, naive daughter and unconvincing plot made for a tedious read.
If you're a fan of the author, maybe it will work better for you. It has 4 and 5 star reviews that might interest you.
It made me toss and turn, not from anticipation or being twisty, but from forcing myself finish it. Argh
I received a NG ebook and a physical copy of the ARC. OUT April 12, 2022
August 2, 2024
Whoop whoop! The adaptation of this thrilling book into a series on Paramount Plus is here! I am planning to dive in as soon as I binge-watch the entire season 3 of The Bear!
What the heck did I just read? I saw so many mixed reviews, and I was absolutely curious if I would be a hater or a liker after reading this psychological thriller! The blurb was so tempting! Lack of sleep can open the lock of the secret door that leads you to the kingdom of madness.
Without giving away too much information, I can only admit a few things:
First of all, I liked this book! Even though the perpetrator’s reasoning for orchestrating the incidents was a little far-fetched, like one of the biggest slappers says (who-must-not-be-named): “Love makes you do crazy things.”
Secondly, Emma is an absolutely likable character who reminds me of a juggler, trying so hard to balance all those balls above her head, multitasking all the time by putting others first.
She’s a successful lawyer, working 12 hours a day, and then comes back home to finish the chores her stay-at-home, lazy, most dislikable husband left behind, and reads bedtime stories to her little boy. She’s not invincible! After all those pressures and the secret past—the not-so-dead mother she hides from her family, having an accident at the facility she was locked in thirty years ago, the unexpected arrival of her sister Phoebe, and her upcoming 40th birthday—are the reasons for her insomnia. How can she sleep when she’s going to be the same age her mother’s psychological condition deteriorated?
Thirdly, I’m still absorbing the revelations about the mystery of those numbers and the reason for Patricia’s madness!
Fourthly, the reason I rounded my 3.5 stars to 4 is THAT AMAZING AND SMART ENDING! If you read Behind Her Eyes, you’re going to adore this part! But you should read the book or watch the brilliant Netflix adaptation first (or do both to compare the differences).
Overall, even though I found some explanations a little exaggerated, the high tension, the suspense, and the unfolding mystery, along with the gripping and riveting storytelling, were great. Most of the characters are definitely annoying, but at least I loved Emma!
Go into this story blind! Be open-minded! Expect the unexpected to enjoy the full and absolutely crazy wild ride!
medium blog
April 25, 2022
This was the most fun I've had reading a thriller in a while. The beginning was so slow, I actually almost DNF'ed it a few times, but then it got so interesting and creepy around 80 pages in and I was hooked. Nearly finished the whole book in a day. Wasn't a huge fan of the twist near the end, I thought it was a little obvious, but there's some interesting things that happen toward the end of this book that I didn't expect, that is wild and a little ridiculous like some of this authors other books, but still a really fun time.
I included this in a thriller reading vlog: https://youtu.be/JYo8g2YQKtY
I included this in a thriller reading vlog: https://youtu.be/JYo8g2YQKtY
April 12, 2022
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Will somebody please get this woman some melatonin?!
The big Four-O is quickly approaching, and no one is more anxious about her birthday than Emma Averell. While she seemingly has the perfect life as a successful high powered divorce attorney, a stay at home husband, and two beautiful children, time is not on her side.
At 40, her mother went mad and ended up in a psychiatric facility. Emma is just like her mother because she is also the second child. Is she doomed to the same terrible fate?
Twelve days before her birthday, Emma begins to suffer from terrible insomnia. She is slowly losing time and is compelled to do the same things her mother did right before she went mad.
Rattle the locks, stand at the window, mumble numbers, check the cupboard…
“Oh look, look a candle, a book and a bell, there to remind me…”
When she is accused of murdering her mother, a chain of events is set into motion that threaten to upend Emma’s perfect life.
Is Emma a murderer? Could she be going mad too?
Insomnia is Sarah Pinborough’s best thriller since Behind Her Eyes. Emma is a terrific unreliable narrator and had me guessing until the very end. While I did guess the Who, I did not figure out the Why. Some readers may feel that the book is overly repetitive, but there are frequent hints at new clues so I never lost interest. And, it is super creepy!
While I am not 100% satisfied with the reveal, it is more plausible than the plots of many of her previous thrillers. I disliked Emma’s blatant favoritism of her younger son and the gaslighting trope is becoming overused in thrillers. Once again, the epilogue is unnecessary.
However, if you are looking for a twisty, creepy thriller, I think you will enjoy this one!
4/5 stars
Expected publication date 4/12/22
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for the ARC of Insomnia in exchange for an honest review.
Will somebody please get this woman some melatonin?!
The big Four-O is quickly approaching, and no one is more anxious about her birthday than Emma Averell. While she seemingly has the perfect life as a successful high powered divorce attorney, a stay at home husband, and two beautiful children, time is not on her side.
At 40, her mother went mad and ended up in a psychiatric facility. Emma is just like her mother because she is also the second child. Is she doomed to the same terrible fate?
Twelve days before her birthday, Emma begins to suffer from terrible insomnia. She is slowly losing time and is compelled to do the same things her mother did right before she went mad.
Rattle the locks, stand at the window, mumble numbers, check the cupboard…
“Oh look, look a candle, a book and a bell, there to remind me…”
When she is accused of murdering her mother, a chain of events is set into motion that threaten to upend Emma’s perfect life.
Is Emma a murderer? Could she be going mad too?
Insomnia is Sarah Pinborough’s best thriller since Behind Her Eyes. Emma is a terrific unreliable narrator and had me guessing until the very end. While I did guess the Who, I did not figure out the Why. Some readers may feel that the book is overly repetitive, but there are frequent hints at new clues so I never lost interest. And, it is super creepy!
While I am not 100% satisfied with the reveal, it is more plausible than the plots of many of her previous thrillers. I disliked Emma’s blatant favoritism of her younger son and the gaslighting trope is becoming overused in thrillers. Once again, the epilogue is unnecessary.
However, if you are looking for a twisty, creepy thriller, I think you will enjoy this one!
4/5 stars
Expected publication date 4/12/22
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for the ARC of Insomnia in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2023
On the outside lawyer Emma lives a pretty good life with stay-at-home-hubby, 17 year-old daughter and a young son; but throughout her adulthood she has always fretted about reaching 40 because of childhood family trauma. Her wanderer sister returns to dwell nearby; her husband might be having a mid-life crisis; the wife of one of her clients might be stalking her; her son his having behavioural issues; her daughter his hiding secrets; and most of all she is having memory lapses and suffering from insomnia, it's 11 days before her birthday.
Mostly written from the first person Emma's point view we follow her thoughts and feelings as she tries to establish whether she is going insane or someone or some people are messing with her. I didn't expect much from this one, but found myself fully pulled in, until the conclusion (and indeed the core concepts) which really annoyed me, despite them making sense of sorts. I can see why many will adore this read and many will think it's ultimately just a weak overall idea, but I'd like to think that we can all agree that the narrative voice of someone feeling on the brink and the suspense around her reality and the people she interacts with was pretty good? A 6 out of 12, Three Star read for me :)
2023 read
Mostly written from the first person Emma's point view we follow her thoughts and feelings as she tries to establish whether she is going insane or someone or some people are messing with her. I didn't expect much from this one, but found myself fully pulled in, until the conclusion (and indeed the core concepts) which really annoyed me, despite them making sense of sorts. I can see why many will adore this read and many will think it's ultimately just a weak overall idea, but I'd like to think that we can all agree that the narrative voice of someone feeling on the brink and the suspense around her reality and the people she interacts with was pretty good? A 6 out of 12, Three Star read for me :)
2023 read
September 29, 2025
Sarah Pinborough is a damn genius. My only critique of her writing is that there isn’t enough of it. I’m becoming addicted to her master classes in how the suspenseful thriller should be written. She is insanely clever.
Alright, so Emma is not necessarily the most likable character. In fact, she can be pretty bitchy at times. I found her very relatable…not sure what that says about me.
We as readers are meant to question how reliable of a narrator Emma is. This is an enduring theme throughout this work.
The actual insomnia is scary. I need my sleep, so I cannot imagine how miserable and freaked out I’d be. The pacing really picks up towards the end and the conclusion is delicious.
That this ended with Dr. David Martin making an appearance was a chef’s kiss touch.
This read has cemented Sarah Pinborough as my absolute favorite contemporary author. Bloody brilliant.
Alright, so Emma is not necessarily the most likable character. In fact, she can be pretty bitchy at times. I found her very relatable…not sure what that says about me.
We as readers are meant to question how reliable of a narrator Emma is. This is an enduring theme throughout this work.
The actual insomnia is scary. I need my sleep, so I cannot imagine how miserable and freaked out I’d be. The pacing really picks up towards the end and the conclusion is delicious.
That this ended with Dr. David Martin making an appearance was a chef’s kiss touch.
This read has cemented Sarah Pinborough as my absolute favorite contemporary author. Bloody brilliant.
November 11, 2021
4.5 stars
It’s twelve days until Emma Averell’s fortieth birthday which is much more significant to her than most people as it links to her childhood and what happens as her mother approaches forty. Emma is still carrying the trauma of it as it haunts and overhangs her life. We’re on a countdown to her birthday and that’s a rollercoaster ride as we hurtle towards it with a number of serious incidents accumulating and careening Emma to the edge of a mentally destructive precipice. A cruel bout of insomnia exacerbates her state, is she going mad, losing her mind …. Or???
Sarah Pinborough has a way of yanking you into a plot and keeping you transfixed frequently with your mouth open in shock as the plot unfolds. There are so many clever elements to this that it’s impossible to mention them all but suffice it to say they all combine really well in another original novel. It’s conceptually amazing, in fact it’s like navigating Hampton Court maze as you reach dead ends in your thought processes and have to track back until you find the truth path. You cast a wide net of suspicion and there are several characters that give you more than just cause. Emma’s portrayal is powerfully conveyed especially her tortured soul, her insomnia, her confusion, her past, her relationships and her love for her children. I especially like how the author has shone a light on the difficulties of balancing a high powered and responsible job (Emma is a lawyer) with that of motherhood. As Emma unravels you ponder on the turn of events which are very unsettling and quite eerie at times, at others it’s positively sinister, you feel her fear and at times there’s tension so taut you could cut the atmosphere with a knife. The ending takes a bit of thinking about but it’s not left field by any means, it does make sense of a lot but I would say it’s a go with the flow ending!
Overall, if you liked Behind Her Eyes then this one will appeal too. It’s well written, a bit different, fast paced with numerous plot twists and turns.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, HarperFiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest revie
It’s twelve days until Emma Averell’s fortieth birthday which is much more significant to her than most people as it links to her childhood and what happens as her mother approaches forty. Emma is still carrying the trauma of it as it haunts and overhangs her life. We’re on a countdown to her birthday and that’s a rollercoaster ride as we hurtle towards it with a number of serious incidents accumulating and careening Emma to the edge of a mentally destructive precipice. A cruel bout of insomnia exacerbates her state, is she going mad, losing her mind …. Or???
Sarah Pinborough has a way of yanking you into a plot and keeping you transfixed frequently with your mouth open in shock as the plot unfolds. There are so many clever elements to this that it’s impossible to mention them all but suffice it to say they all combine really well in another original novel. It’s conceptually amazing, in fact it’s like navigating Hampton Court maze as you reach dead ends in your thought processes and have to track back until you find the truth path. You cast a wide net of suspicion and there are several characters that give you more than just cause. Emma’s portrayal is powerfully conveyed especially her tortured soul, her insomnia, her confusion, her past, her relationships and her love for her children. I especially like how the author has shone a light on the difficulties of balancing a high powered and responsible job (Emma is a lawyer) with that of motherhood. As Emma unravels you ponder on the turn of events which are very unsettling and quite eerie at times, at others it’s positively sinister, you feel her fear and at times there’s tension so taut you could cut the atmosphere with a knife. The ending takes a bit of thinking about but it’s not left field by any means, it does make sense of a lot but I would say it’s a go with the flow ending!
Overall, if you liked Behind Her Eyes then this one will appeal too. It’s well written, a bit different, fast paced with numerous plot twists and turns.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, HarperFiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest revie
May 3, 2022
A standout, unsettling, complex, distinctive domestic drama/thriller mystery.
The insomnia began eleven days before Emma Averell’s 40th birthday.
As did the nighttime rituals;
Rattle the handle on the back door.
Press her hands against the glass of the upstairs window, and stare out.
Look in the cupboard under the stairs..
Check on her children.
Emma’s mother has been a resident of the Hartwell Secure Unit for over thirty years, following a complete mental breakdown on the date of her own 40th birthday. Her symptoms started around the same time, and are eerily similar to Emma’s. Is history repeating itself? Or, is there something far more sinister going on?
Tick tock…
Meet our narrator Emma. She has a lot to deal with, as she tries (and fails) to juggle her time between her successful career as a divorce lawyer and family commitments, all the while dealing with a resentful stay-at-home husband, her troubled, interfering sister, teenage angst, a withdrawn son who may be being bullied, and envy and loneliness over not being able to connect with the other mother’s at the school gate. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg in regards to her domestic situation. On top of that, Emma’s sleep deprivation is making her paranoid, anxious and unable to function effectively during the day. Furthermore, she’s plagued by memories of past childhood trauma, and a mother whose lack of sleep led her to a very dark place. As if that wasn’t enough, slashed tires, and an angry note on her windshield means Emma may very well have a stalker as well.
Sarah Pinborough, I eat my words, as a statement I made on my review of another of your books turned out to be incorrect. And, don’t ask me to explain myself any further, except to say that this was a very different and unique type of thriller, but in the best way possible. Those last twelve chapters had me on the edge of my seat, marvelling over the cleverness as all the puzzle pieces finally slotted into place. As someone who rarely suffers from insomnia, (which is lucky for everyone around me as I get cranky without at least 7-8 hours of shut-eye), the very idea of lying awake night-after-night, or prowling a quiet dark house desperate for dreamland, really freaked me out, and I felt real sympathy for Emma’s plight.
This is my fourth read by this talented, versatile author, and even though I’ve rated them all highly, I think this just might be her best work yet. A firm 2022 favourite! Pretty please Netflix, acquire the rights to adapt Insomnia into a limited TV series.
The insomnia began eleven days before Emma Averell’s 40th birthday.
As did the nighttime rituals;
Rattle the handle on the back door.
Press her hands against the glass of the upstairs window, and stare out.
Look in the cupboard under the stairs..
Check on her children.
Emma’s mother has been a resident of the Hartwell Secure Unit for over thirty years, following a complete mental breakdown on the date of her own 40th birthday. Her symptoms started around the same time, and are eerily similar to Emma’s. Is history repeating itself? Or, is there something far more sinister going on?
Tick tock…
Meet our narrator Emma. She has a lot to deal with, as she tries (and fails) to juggle her time between her successful career as a divorce lawyer and family commitments, all the while dealing with a resentful stay-at-home husband, her troubled, interfering sister, teenage angst, a withdrawn son who may be being bullied, and envy and loneliness over not being able to connect with the other mother’s at the school gate. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg in regards to her domestic situation. On top of that, Emma’s sleep deprivation is making her paranoid, anxious and unable to function effectively during the day. Furthermore, she’s plagued by memories of past childhood trauma, and a mother whose lack of sleep led her to a very dark place. As if that wasn’t enough, slashed tires, and an angry note on her windshield means Emma may very well have a stalker as well.
Sarah Pinborough, I eat my words, as a statement I made on my review of another of your books turned out to be incorrect. And, don’t ask me to explain myself any further, except to say that this was a very different and unique type of thriller, but in the best way possible. Those last twelve chapters had me on the edge of my seat, marvelling over the cleverness as all the puzzle pieces finally slotted into place. As someone who rarely suffers from insomnia, (which is lucky for everyone around me as I get cranky without at least 7-8 hours of shut-eye), the very idea of lying awake night-after-night, or prowling a quiet dark house desperate for dreamland, really freaked me out, and I felt real sympathy for Emma’s plight.
This is my fourth read by this talented, versatile author, and even though I’ve rated them all highly, I think this just might be her best work yet. A firm 2022 favourite! Pretty please Netflix, acquire the rights to adapt Insomnia into a limited TV series.
May 2, 2022
2.5 stars
It's never a good sign when you are overly anxious to a book to be over and that is exactly how I felt about Insomnia. While I did like the premise of a woman who believes herself going crazy because of an insane mother who went crazy at age forty, (an age Emma, the main character, was quickly approaching), the book moved slowly and certainly might be able to cure anyone's insomnia. 🙂
Emma's sleep problems have started before her fortieth birthday and of course without sleep, 💤 she is aware her view of reality is slipping. Her mother is in an asylum and from what we hear from Emma a truly horrible mother who set the tone years ago for their eventual estrangement. Emma's life is falling apart 😪 and as her birthday approaches, she becomes more and more irrational, unable to handle the stresses of family life and her high prestige position of lawyer in a very well-known firm. Emma feels like everyone is out to get her from her sister, to her husband, no one is spared her inability to be rational. It's a recipe for disaster 🌋 and the disasters 🌊 seemed to be headed straight for Emma's door.
The slowness 🐢 of the story, combined with the constant whining of the main character really was a deterrent to the story. Coupled with the repetition, it made for a read that was driving me to dnf. However, I stuck it through but if I heard one more “Oh look, look a candle, a book and a bell, there to remind me…” I think I would have gone a little crazy myself.
It was to me anther mediocre story and one that I listened to. The narrator did a fairly good job with the material so that may be the reason I stuck with it.
Please do take a look at other reviews who viewed this book quite differently than I did.
It's never a good sign when you are overly anxious to a book to be over and that is exactly how I felt about Insomnia. While I did like the premise of a woman who believes herself going crazy because of an insane mother who went crazy at age forty, (an age Emma, the main character, was quickly approaching), the book moved slowly and certainly might be able to cure anyone's insomnia. 🙂
Emma's sleep problems have started before her fortieth birthday and of course without sleep, 💤 she is aware her view of reality is slipping. Her mother is in an asylum and from what we hear from Emma a truly horrible mother who set the tone years ago for their eventual estrangement. Emma's life is falling apart 😪 and as her birthday approaches, she becomes more and more irrational, unable to handle the stresses of family life and her high prestige position of lawyer in a very well-known firm. Emma feels like everyone is out to get her from her sister, to her husband, no one is spared her inability to be rational. It's a recipe for disaster 🌋 and the disasters 🌊 seemed to be headed straight for Emma's door.
The slowness 🐢 of the story, combined with the constant whining of the main character really was a deterrent to the story. Coupled with the repetition, it made for a read that was driving me to dnf. However, I stuck it through but if I heard one more “Oh look, look a candle, a book and a bell, there to remind me…” I think I would have gone a little crazy myself.
It was to me anther mediocre story and one that I listened to. The narrator did a fairly good job with the material so that may be the reason I stuck with it.
Please do take a look at other reviews who viewed this book quite differently than I did.
February 21, 2022
What I love about Sarah Pinborough’s books is that they are wholly original, and always take big fictional risks. Sometimes the risks pay off and sometimes they don’t, but the experience of getting to the end is always a unique and wild ride.
This book was a mixed bag for me because there was a lot to like here, but one or two big things I didn’t like. I’ll approach each in turn.
WHAT I LIKED: The fantastic and addictive and unique writing. Pinborough is so talented at weaving complex and original tales and I always enjoy her page-turning prose. Here it was interesting because the writing style was more disjointed, but this seemed intentional, and successfully gave you the feeling of being in the head of an insomniac who may or may not be going mad.
WHAT I ALSO LIKED: The subject matter. As a fellow insomniac, I could definitely relate to the horrible feeling of being unable to sleep and going slightly mad about it. I also know that some people are getting tired of the “is the main character going crazy or being gaslit?” narrative, but I most certainly am still a fan of this trope. I am here for the alternate reality plot lines, and the feelings of claustrophobia and terror, and the creepy dread about one’s one mental health. (Haven’t we all worried at times if we were going a little crazy?)
WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE: The execution. The first half of of the book was unusually slow for Pinborough and did not have the usual breakneck twists or brisk suspense I am used to from this author. I found myself a little bored, which is a shocker and a first for me from Pinborough. When the twists did come, they were fairly predictable, which I’m also not used to from this author. But she still managed to throw some curve balls and shocks my way.
OVERALL: Pinborough remains a cut above other suspense authors, and I will always read anything she puts out, no matter what the topic, because of her writing skill and her awesome plots and ideas. The execution of these ideas varies for me from book to book. This one did not end up being one of my favorites and the execution was not on the level of Behind Her Eyes for me (a book I loved until the very end - that divisive last twist!), but I am still glad I gave it a try.
Thanks to William Morrow, NetGalley, and the author for the ARC.
This book was a mixed bag for me because there was a lot to like here, but one or two big things I didn’t like. I’ll approach each in turn.
WHAT I LIKED: The fantastic and addictive and unique writing. Pinborough is so talented at weaving complex and original tales and I always enjoy her page-turning prose. Here it was interesting because the writing style was more disjointed, but this seemed intentional, and successfully gave you the feeling of being in the head of an insomniac who may or may not be going mad.
WHAT I ALSO LIKED: The subject matter. As a fellow insomniac, I could definitely relate to the horrible feeling of being unable to sleep and going slightly mad about it. I also know that some people are getting tired of the “is the main character going crazy or being gaslit?” narrative, but I most certainly am still a fan of this trope. I am here for the alternate reality plot lines, and the feelings of claustrophobia and terror, and the creepy dread about one’s one mental health. (Haven’t we all worried at times if we were going a little crazy?)
WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE: The execution. The first half of of the book was unusually slow for Pinborough and did not have the usual breakneck twists or brisk suspense I am used to from this author. I found myself a little bored, which is a shocker and a first for me from Pinborough. When the twists did come, they were fairly predictable, which I’m also not used to from this author. But she still managed to throw some curve balls and shocks my way.
OVERALL: Pinborough remains a cut above other suspense authors, and I will always read anything she puts out, no matter what the topic, because of her writing skill and her awesome plots and ideas. The execution of these ideas varies for me from book to book. This one did not end up being one of my favorites and the execution was not on the level of Behind Her Eyes for me (a book I loved until the very end - that divisive last twist!), but I am still glad I gave it a try.
Thanks to William Morrow, NetGalley, and the author for the ARC.
April 16, 2022
This was a thrilling read. I loved the psychological aspect of it, the questions about paranoia or real malice by others. The book was fast-paced and well-written. There were not too many suspect and although I guessed some of what was going on, I found the twist convincing and satisfying. I didn’t love the paranormal aspects, but some might love it. It didn’t disturb the narrative, which I found captivating,
September 22, 2023
Emma Averall is a successful divorce attorney with a loving husband who manages the day-to-day lives of their family as the stay-at-home parent of their two wonderful children. Granted, her husband has been a bit standoff-ish lately as his resentments about not being the money earner have festered. And sure, her teenage daughter has become a closed-off shell of the bright, bubbly girl she used to know and her endearing five year old son has become worryingly withdrawn. But surely with a little time everything will sort itself out.
But as Emma’s fortieth birthday approaches, her world begins to shift. Because thirty-five years ago her mother quite literally lost her mind on the cusp of her own fortieth birthday. Even worse, she had spent the first five years of Emma’s life warning her that she would lose hers as well. Now with the date looming, she finds herself unable to sleep and is plagued by terror drenched memories of her childhood. Is her greatest fear of following in her mother’s footsteps actually coming true?
Piled on top of all of Emma’s worries, however, is the very real sense that someone is out to get her. Slashed tires, an anonymous note, and the very real sense she’s being watched. Is it possible she has a stalker? Or are her sleepless nights creating a rising paranoia that is coloring her days? Unsure whether she can even trust her own sanity, Emma’s world begins to fall apart. Can she save herself or was she always doomed to lose her mind?
OMG! What an utterly transfixing and mind-bending novel Insomnia was. The first I’ve read by Sarah Pinborough (what on earth has taken me so long?!?), there is no possible realm where I could have ever guessed where the plot was leading. And let me tell you, it was so deftly engineered that only an absolute maestro of the written word could have created such an absolutely perfect (I’m going to overuse this word in my review, so get used to it) novel.
Outside of the superb storyline, I simply don’t know how I can describe how incredibly perfect Emma’s unraveling was. I found myself repeatedly going back and forth between believing that she was being gaslighted and then being convinced she was losing her mind. And it all felt so undeniably real. So many times it could have easily swerved into the land of melodrama, but it didn’t. Not once. So a huge round of applause on that miraculous feat, Ms. Pinborough!
Filled to the brim with a multitude of red herrings and entirely credible suspects behind Emma’s undoing, I was also left reeling by the sublimely perfect twist to end all twists. Because, as I raced through the last one hundred or so pages, I found myself utterly gobsmacked when the ultimate revelation was unveiled. How I could both see and not see what was right before my eyes I will never know, but I’m so thankful that I remained unaware.
So, in the end, perhaps that’s why I had such a difficult time writing this review as I strived not to spoil the plot in any way. After all, the downright perfection (I did warn you) held within this book’s pages is best faced blind. All I know is, I’m already wishing I could reread this one fresh. It was simply that good. Rating of 5+ stars.
Trigger warning: anxiety, OCD, child abuse, statutory rape, gaslighting, pedestrian vehicular accident, acrimonious divorce
But as Emma’s fortieth birthday approaches, her world begins to shift. Because thirty-five years ago her mother quite literally lost her mind on the cusp of her own fortieth birthday. Even worse, she had spent the first five years of Emma’s life warning her that she would lose hers as well. Now with the date looming, she finds herself unable to sleep and is plagued by terror drenched memories of her childhood. Is her greatest fear of following in her mother’s footsteps actually coming true?
Piled on top of all of Emma’s worries, however, is the very real sense that someone is out to get her. Slashed tires, an anonymous note, and the very real sense she’s being watched. Is it possible she has a stalker? Or are her sleepless nights creating a rising paranoia that is coloring her days? Unsure whether she can even trust her own sanity, Emma’s world begins to fall apart. Can she save herself or was she always doomed to lose her mind?
OMG! What an utterly transfixing and mind-bending novel Insomnia was. The first I’ve read by Sarah Pinborough (what on earth has taken me so long?!?), there is no possible realm where I could have ever guessed where the plot was leading. And let me tell you, it was so deftly engineered that only an absolute maestro of the written word could have created such an absolutely perfect (I’m going to overuse this word in my review, so get used to it) novel.
Outside of the superb storyline, I simply don’t know how I can describe how incredibly perfect Emma’s unraveling was. I found myself repeatedly going back and forth between believing that she was being gaslighted and then being convinced she was losing her mind. And it all felt so undeniably real. So many times it could have easily swerved into the land of melodrama, but it didn’t. Not once. So a huge round of applause on that miraculous feat, Ms. Pinborough!
Filled to the brim with a multitude of red herrings and entirely credible suspects behind Emma’s undoing, I was also left reeling by the sublimely perfect twist to end all twists. Because, as I raced through the last one hundred or so pages, I found myself utterly gobsmacked when the ultimate revelation was unveiled. How I could both see and not see what was right before my eyes I will never know, but I’m so thankful that I remained unaware.
So, in the end, perhaps that’s why I had such a difficult time writing this review as I strived not to spoil the plot in any way. After all, the downright perfection (I did warn you) held within this book’s pages is best faced blind. All I know is, I’m already wishing I could reread this one fresh. It was simply that good. Rating of 5+ stars.
Trigger warning: anxiety, OCD, child abuse, statutory rape, gaslighting, pedestrian vehicular accident, acrimonious divorce
January 26, 2022
Even though two of her books are problematic AF towards the gay community, I still was interested in reading Sarah Pinborough's upcoming psychological thriller,
Insomnia
. As usual, Pinborough takes her mystery/thrillers to the next level with nods to the supernatural, but this time it's really more of a dash and it works perfectly.
Insomnia reads more of a classic BA Paris novel than one written by Pinborough, so I definitely see the shift in the author's writing. The story focuses on a mother of two and attorney, Emma Averell, and the days leading up to her 40th birthday. Emma is worrying about this monumental birthday as it reflects back to a darker time in her childhood when her mother began to struggle with mental illness. Emma and her sister Phoebe escaped an extremely dark time and their lives where forever changed after their mother turned 40. Emma is not having a somewhat midlife crisis; she's effectively becoming paranoid. It doesn't help that the insomnia that has come over her has been affecting her marriage and children, but also her sanity. Can Emma balance all these emotions or will she suffer the same fate as her mother?
This book was interesting because I almost DNF'd it. After 50 pages, I was struggling to see what the purpose of this story was, but I pushed through because I knew there had to be more. This book is a shift in Pinborough's writing, and I'm happy to see that because I wasn't sure how to navigate reviewing this book otherwise. I think the author really does a great job of zooming into the psyche of Emma and her current surroundings and this book can truly be called a psychological thriller. I definitely think fans of the author and fans of the genre will very much enjoy Insomnia .
Insomnia reads more of a classic BA Paris novel than one written by Pinborough, so I definitely see the shift in the author's writing. The story focuses on a mother of two and attorney, Emma Averell, and the days leading up to her 40th birthday. Emma is worrying about this monumental birthday as it reflects back to a darker time in her childhood when her mother began to struggle with mental illness. Emma and her sister Phoebe escaped an extremely dark time and their lives where forever changed after their mother turned 40. Emma is not having a somewhat midlife crisis; she's effectively becoming paranoid. It doesn't help that the insomnia that has come over her has been affecting her marriage and children, but also her sanity. Can Emma balance all these emotions or will she suffer the same fate as her mother?
This book was interesting because I almost DNF'd it. After 50 pages, I was struggling to see what the purpose of this story was, but I pushed through because I knew there had to be more. This book is a shift in Pinborough's writing, and I'm happy to see that because I wasn't sure how to navigate reviewing this book otherwise. I think the author really does a great job of zooming into the psyche of Emma and her current surroundings and this book can truly be called a psychological thriller. I definitely think fans of the author and fans of the genre will very much enjoy Insomnia .
October 10, 2024
"في طريقي إلى الأربعين، في طريقي لأصير نسخة أمي."
"لكم تشبهينها! تشبهينها في الماضي"
في ساعات الليل الهادئة يتسرب الأرق لإيما، و مع اقترابها من الأربعين تهاجمها أشباح الطفولة، و تتنامي هواجسها. ينمي أرقها شعورها بالريبة.. تقوم بعادات أمها الليلية دون وعي منها.. تشعر بانفصال ليلها عن نهارها.. بنوبات فقدان الإحساس بالزمن.تتحول لشخصية مرتابة.ثمة صوت يهمس بداخلها
"لا عجب فالبنت مرآة أمها"
علاقات إيما واهنة و طفولتها صعبة.. و لكنها نجحت مهنيًا و أصبحت محامية لامعة و استطاعت تكوين أسرة تليق بمحامية ناجحة مثلها، و لكن الأسرار و الغيرة تنخر بداخلها. هناك من يحاول بالخفاء سرقة حياتها و أسرتها و سعادتها.. من يراقبها عن كثب و يتربص بها و يترك لها رسائل مزعجة؟ بل و يحاول تعكير صفو حياتها؟
هل تحولت إلى نسخة من أمها؟ هل حقا أصابها الجنون؟ أم هو فقط أمر هرموني و خوف مؤقت؟
تتفاقم الأزمة عندما تهدد تصرفات إيما أمن أسرتها و المحيطين بها بل و عملها. فهل تؤذي إيما أسرتها؟ هل تتحول لقاتلة دون أن تشعر؟
"ما هي حدود أفعالي؟ هل حقًا أعرف؟ هل أنا الشئ الذي يفزعني؟"
و لكنها تهدئ من روعها
"هذا ليس الماضي، و أنا لست هي."
بسرد متردد تحكي سارة بينبرو علي لسان إيما حكايتها و تشاركنا مخاوفها و تتلاعب بالقارئ.. و تبث الشك بداخله في الجميع.
"هل أنا راوي قصتي غير الموثوق به؟"
لكل منهم دوافعة لكره إيما أو الحقد عليها. يتزايد قلق إيما و ارتيابها مع اقتراب يوم ميلادها بسبب نبوءة أمها لها مع بلوغها الأربعين. و أخيرًا تقرر إيما أن تحرر مخاوفها و تنبش ماضيها و منها تستطيع حل الأحجية. أول قراءة للكاتبة و سعيدة بالتجربة و جرعة التشويق المركزة و الترجمة ممتازة للمبدعة شيرين هنائي.
December 17, 2024
*4.5* I inhaled this story. This is an unsettling psychological thriller that perfectly blurs the lines between reality and delusion.
Emma Averell, a high-powered attorney whose seemingly perfect life begins to unravel as her 40th birthday. Memories of her mother's mental collapse on her own 40th birthday start to trickle in, causing her to lose sleep, and time.
Pinborough’s writing brilliantly captures the paranoia and desperation of Emma’s insomnia. Going without sleep really is torture, especially when you have a family to take care of.
Psychological/domestic thriller
Family trauma
Shocking twists
Fast-paced
HFN???
The entire book has a thick atmosphere of dread. I was questioning everyone and everything! I'm still not sure about the twist at the end, but I was fascinated by the ideas of hereditary supernatural trauma.
Thank you Dan for such a fabulous recommendation!
Emma Averell, a high-powered attorney whose seemingly perfect life begins to unravel as her 40th birthday. Memories of her mother's mental collapse on her own 40th birthday start to trickle in, causing her to lose sleep, and time.
Pinborough’s writing brilliantly captures the paranoia and desperation of Emma’s insomnia. Going without sleep really is torture, especially when you have a family to take care of.
Psychological/domestic thriller
Family trauma
Shocking twists
Fast-paced
HFN???
The entire book has a thick atmosphere of dread. I was questioning everyone and everything! I'm still not sure about the twist at the end, but I was fascinated by the ideas of hereditary supernatural trauma.
Thank you Dan for such a fabulous recommendation!
April 8, 2022
I loved Behind her Eyes by this author in book format and on Netflix.
I anticipated this new release with eager anticipation and I enjoyed it.
It’s not a full 5* for two reasons from me.
The reveal.
And the repetition. It’s been said that the pace is a little slow, I didn’t notice that as I read this mostly (or should I say, listened to it mostly) on audio. I play the speed a bit faster as I like listening to my books like this so maybe that’s why I can’t comment on the slowness.
Emma Averell Is zooming up to her big 4…0 and this brings worried events to the forefront of her mind. Her Mother went mad when she was 40. Is this what’s happening to her?
She’s suffering from insomnia and slowly feels like she’s loosing time and the plot!
I can relate to something that can cause this type of anxiety.
My dad died at 53 of a heart attack.
His dad died at 50 from the same thing and his dad before him….again in his 50’s.
I had at the back of my mind that if I survive past my 50’s it won’t happen to me and hopefully I’ll get a few more years left. It’s real folks. The mind can really enforce you to stay in that mode of anxiety and sleepless nights fearing to sleep just in case…….
I could totally connect with this characters concept.
I did enjoy this much for more reasons than I deducted 1*.
This book I Will remember for quite a while even-though the reveal wasn’t as jaw dropping as I’d hope.
I anticipated this new release with eager anticipation and I enjoyed it.
It’s not a full 5* for two reasons from me.
The reveal.
And the repetition. It’s been said that the pace is a little slow, I didn’t notice that as I read this mostly (or should I say, listened to it mostly) on audio. I play the speed a bit faster as I like listening to my books like this so maybe that’s why I can’t comment on the slowness.
Emma Averell Is zooming up to her big 4…0 and this brings worried events to the forefront of her mind. Her Mother went mad when she was 40. Is this what’s happening to her?
She’s suffering from insomnia and slowly feels like she’s loosing time and the plot!
I can relate to something that can cause this type of anxiety.
My dad died at 53 of a heart attack.
His dad died at 50 from the same thing and his dad before him….again in his 50’s.
I had at the back of my mind that if I survive past my 50’s it won’t happen to me and hopefully I’ll get a few more years left. It’s real folks. The mind can really enforce you to stay in that mode of anxiety and sleepless nights fearing to sleep just in case…….
I could totally connect with this characters concept.
I did enjoy this much for more reasons than I deducted 1*.
This book I Will remember for quite a while even-though the reveal wasn’t as jaw dropping as I’d hope.
May 11, 2022
I have been intending on reading a Sarah Pinborough book for some time but have never gotten around to it, so this was my first. I have no idea about her other books, but this one was a winner!
Emma is a solicitor in Leeds who specializes in high profile divorces. She’s worked hard and has built her reputation up to the point that she is about to be made a partner at her firm — all right before her 40th birthday. The only problem is that the milestone is even more anxiety-ridden for Emma than it is for most women, because she's been keeping a big secret from her husband and kids - Emma’s mother suffered a psychotic breakdown when she turned 40 and tried to smother Emma’s older sister, Phoebe, with a pillow. Emma has told Robert and the kids that her mother died years ago. When Phoebe, who has been estranged from Emma, turns up at Emma’s house right before her birthday and tells Emma that their mother, who has been in a sanitarium since her breakdown, is dying, Emma knows she cannot keep her secret much longer. She has already been experiencing sleepless nights, and Phoebe tells Emma that she has the same “bad blood” as their mother. Even more chilling is Robert’s accusation that she is terrorizing their young son by standing beside his bed at night with a pillow in her hands. Emma has no memory of this behavior, but it’s hard to think straight when she’s functioning on so little sleep. Is she really a monster or is someone just going to great lengths to make her think so?
I did really enjoy the plot of this one, because it was much more complex than it seems - there are many characters to suspect here - even Emma herself - and Pinborough does a fantastic job at switching focus on each of them. I also liked Emma (although her character was perhaps a bit cliché - exhausted professional mother with a seemingly perfect house husband. Friends and neighbors find her cold and unfriendly with a husband who does little to alleviate this image, yatta yatta). I did not like Robert at all - I was hoping he would be the next pillow victim lol, and Phoebe was not much better. For the love of god, get these people a good family therapist! 🤦♀️ The one thing I will say is that I sometimes struggle with books where the gaslighting is so thorough that I feel uncomfortable and tense, as it leaves me unsettled. This is most assuredly one of those reads, and a few times, as much as I enjoyed the book, I just wanted it to end (if that makes sense!). I'm not sure I loved the ending either, but I will leave that there.
Overall though, an extremely compelling, dark psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the last page as to what is the truth and who should be trusted. 4 stars.
Emma is a solicitor in Leeds who specializes in high profile divorces. She’s worked hard and has built her reputation up to the point that she is about to be made a partner at her firm — all right before her 40th birthday. The only problem is that the milestone is even more anxiety-ridden for Emma than it is for most women, because she's been keeping a big secret from her husband and kids - Emma’s mother suffered a psychotic breakdown when she turned 40 and tried to smother Emma’s older sister, Phoebe, with a pillow. Emma has told Robert and the kids that her mother died years ago. When Phoebe, who has been estranged from Emma, turns up at Emma’s house right before her birthday and tells Emma that their mother, who has been in a sanitarium since her breakdown, is dying, Emma knows she cannot keep her secret much longer. She has already been experiencing sleepless nights, and Phoebe tells Emma that she has the same “bad blood” as their mother. Even more chilling is Robert’s accusation that she is terrorizing their young son by standing beside his bed at night with a pillow in her hands. Emma has no memory of this behavior, but it’s hard to think straight when she’s functioning on so little sleep. Is she really a monster or is someone just going to great lengths to make her think so?
I did really enjoy the plot of this one, because it was much more complex than it seems - there are many characters to suspect here - even Emma herself - and Pinborough does a fantastic job at switching focus on each of them. I also liked Emma (although her character was perhaps a bit cliché - exhausted professional mother with a seemingly perfect house husband. Friends and neighbors find her cold and unfriendly with a husband who does little to alleviate this image, yatta yatta). I did not like Robert at all - I was hoping he would be the next pillow victim lol, and Phoebe was not much better. For the love of god, get these people a good family therapist! 🤦♀️ The one thing I will say is that I sometimes struggle with books where the gaslighting is so thorough that I feel uncomfortable and tense, as it leaves me unsettled. This is most assuredly one of those reads, and a few times, as much as I enjoyed the book, I just wanted it to end (if that makes sense!). I'm not sure I loved the ending either, but I will leave that there.
Overall though, an extremely compelling, dark psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the last page as to what is the truth and who should be trusted. 4 stars.
March 1, 2022
I just don't think Sarah Pinborough's books are for me.
I read Behind Her Eyes years ago, and liked it up until the end. Insomnia I was on the fence with, and then totally hated the ending. She just throws these weird, unbelievable things at the end of her books that make no sense. Some people are going to love this book, like they did her others, but I think this is my last book of hers.
I read Behind Her Eyes years ago, and liked it up until the end. Insomnia I was on the fence with, and then totally hated the ending. She just throws these weird, unbelievable things at the end of her books that make no sense. Some people are going to love this book, like they did her others, but I think this is my last book of hers.
December 5, 2022
(3.5 stars). Oddly enough, I started off really liking this book. I literally wanted to stay up all night just to finish it. Then the ending came, and ruined this whole shocking vision that I thought might happen…
Insomnia focuses on the main character of Emma, who is approaching her fortieth birthday. Emma is having flashbacks from her childhood, and worried that she may end up like her mother did when she turned forty years old. During these days leading up to her birthday, Emma starts to deal with a horrible case of insomnia. While she is sleep deprived, she starts to question herself and those around her- especially family members.
I felt that I could resonate a lot with Emma because while I have never suffered from insomnia, I have been severely sleep deprived. Being a single mother, working full time (often overtime), household chores, etc… I was lucky to get a couple of hours of sleep a night. Like Emma, I had zero support system and I did start to question myself (of course not to the level that Emma was). Throughout this book, Emma is constantly questioning herself and her sanity, and wondering who is working against her.
I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough at first, because every family member was suspicious. Then we come to the final reveal, and I was totally underwhelmed. Like really? Also, about halfway through this story, there tends to get a lot of repetition. I felt like I read some of the same pages and lines over and over…
Regardless, this was still an enjoyable read. It was a fast read with nice short chapters as well (my favorite). I think fans of this author will enjoy this book, therefore I do recommend it.
Insomnia focuses on the main character of Emma, who is approaching her fortieth birthday. Emma is having flashbacks from her childhood, and worried that she may end up like her mother did when she turned forty years old. During these days leading up to her birthday, Emma starts to deal with a horrible case of insomnia. While she is sleep deprived, she starts to question herself and those around her- especially family members.
I felt that I could resonate a lot with Emma because while I have never suffered from insomnia, I have been severely sleep deprived. Being a single mother, working full time (often overtime), household chores, etc… I was lucky to get a couple of hours of sleep a night. Like Emma, I had zero support system and I did start to question myself (of course not to the level that Emma was). Throughout this book, Emma is constantly questioning herself and her sanity, and wondering who is working against her.
I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough at first, because every family member was suspicious. Then we come to the final reveal, and I was totally underwhelmed. Like really? Also, about halfway through this story, there tends to get a lot of repetition. I felt like I read some of the same pages and lines over and over…
Regardless, this was still an enjoyable read. It was a fast read with nice short chapters as well (my favorite). I think fans of this author will enjoy this book, therefore I do recommend it.
February 22, 2023
A mind-bending novel of paranoia, revenge, and questioning everything you think you know. Through blackouts and explosive conflicts, we see the fragility of trust under stress, in others as well as in ourselves. We see how easy memories can be influenced, how difficult it is to let go of vengeful thinking. This novel features a number of twists and is overflowing with tension; a solid choice for bookclub.
November 2, 2021
Emma Averell awakens at a few minutes past 1am and is unable to fall back asleep. Not just for that night but for many more that follow. She is convinced some tragedy has befallen her children or that an intruder has snuck into their home, despite the repeated house checks proving otherwise.
Her nights are torture but she continues to be tormented in the daylight, loosing long patches of time and acting in strange ways. She fears that her mother's illness has transferred itself to her body but is determined to continue to block all memories of her childhood firmly away, despite the return of both her sister and the fears that continue to haunt the entire family. Is history repeating itself? Is Emma now a risk to her family? Is someone else conjuring these connections to the past?
This was a truly twisted, little read, whose ending bore some resemblance to Behind Her Eyes, in shock value but not in plot device. I never accurately knew where the storyline was going and my suspicions were cast on every character that featured throughout it, as I quested for the truth along with protagonist, Emma.
The cover definitely gave off a far more sinister vibe than was ever experienced underneath it, but there was a subtle eerie undertone that dogged all that occurred. This never became a truly horrifying novel but remained an entirely thrilling and intriguing one, throughout.
The conclusion devolved into chaos and it took me a little while to acclimatise to what was revealed. Once I had done so, I could only applaud Pinborough for her repeated ingenuity and the different elements she brings to the genres she pens in.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Sarah Pinborough, and the publisher, Harper Collins, for this opportunity.
Her nights are torture but she continues to be tormented in the daylight, loosing long patches of time and acting in strange ways. She fears that her mother's illness has transferred itself to her body but is determined to continue to block all memories of her childhood firmly away, despite the return of both her sister and the fears that continue to haunt the entire family. Is history repeating itself? Is Emma now a risk to her family? Is someone else conjuring these connections to the past?
This was a truly twisted, little read, whose ending bore some resemblance to Behind Her Eyes, in shock value but not in plot device. I never accurately knew where the storyline was going and my suspicions were cast on every character that featured throughout it, as I quested for the truth along with protagonist, Emma.
The cover definitely gave off a far more sinister vibe than was ever experienced underneath it, but there was a subtle eerie undertone that dogged all that occurred. This never became a truly horrifying novel but remained an entirely thrilling and intriguing one, throughout.
The conclusion devolved into chaos and it took me a little while to acclimatise to what was revealed. Once I had done so, I could only applaud Pinborough for her repeated ingenuity and the different elements she brings to the genres she pens in.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Sarah Pinborough, and the publisher, Harper Collins, for this opportunity.
March 18, 2022
3.5 stars
I went into this book giddy with anticipation as Sarah Pinborough is one of the most creative writers in the thriller genre. Even when I'm not totally on board with an ending, and that's the case with Insomnia, I can still say I enjoyed the crazy and wild ride.
As the 40th birthday of Emma Averell nears, she is not getting much sleep. She might be appear to have it all with a successful career as a lawyer and a husband and two kids, but she also had a rough childhood. When she was five years old, Emma and her sister were placed in foster care after a disturbing incident with their mother. Their mom's monster like behavior coincided with her 40th birthday. Lack of sleep was one of her symptoms in the days leading up to the incident. Emma is concerned that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and history might repeat itself.
Even though Emma isn't a character I loved, she works well given the context of the story. You just don't know what to think as the author successfully strings everything along. I'm not going to lie, the ending is not the most satisfying, but I didn't exactly hate it either. Once again, Sara Pinborough delivers a book that is ripe for discussion.
I won a free advance copy from Shelf Awareness. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
I went into this book giddy with anticipation as Sarah Pinborough is one of the most creative writers in the thriller genre. Even when I'm not totally on board with an ending, and that's the case with Insomnia, I can still say I enjoyed the crazy and wild ride.
As the 40th birthday of Emma Averell nears, she is not getting much sleep. She might be appear to have it all with a successful career as a lawyer and a husband and two kids, but she also had a rough childhood. When she was five years old, Emma and her sister were placed in foster care after a disturbing incident with their mother. Their mom's monster like behavior coincided with her 40th birthday. Lack of sleep was one of her symptoms in the days leading up to the incident. Emma is concerned that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and history might repeat itself.
Even though Emma isn't a character I loved, she works well given the context of the story. You just don't know what to think as the author successfully strings everything along. I'm not going to lie, the ending is not the most satisfying, but I didn't exactly hate it either. Once again, Sara Pinborough delivers a book that is ripe for discussion.
I won a free advance copy from Shelf Awareness. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
June 18, 2022
Such a shame. This started off well.
The story line seemed to be going in one direction, but, as usual, in an effort to come up with a spectacular twist, all credibility went out the window towards the end.
Snakes eating their own tails, indeed! And to top it off, at the very end, a massive breach of the solicitor/client confidentiality rules - this just blew this wild, meandering story off the plausibility grid for me.
Pinborough starts off at a very harrowing but controlled slow pace. She set the scene so well - too well, maybe? Foreboding creeps in: a sense that this is not going to end well for this happy little family. (As I got to the final quarter section of the novel, I got a sense that Pinborough had started off with one viable plot line in mind, then decided to trash her ending and inject this totally off the wall summation into the mix?
That ending! The author - even for very "open-minded/willing to suspend her disbelief" me - strayed so far off the path of credulity that I literally dropped the book with disappointment. (Spoiler alert:
Ultimately, this story was filled with too many rehashed, overdone stereotypes. Also, characters would appear to be diabolical or ruthless, only to appear lamb-like or "not so very bad" at the end. So exhausting and annoying! And yet, the first part of this book was a riveting read - very reminiscent of the author's earlier efforts.
For me: a promising start with a totally unsatisfying, rushed ending. I'm still giving this a three out of five stars because the writing was stellar in the beginning.
The story line seemed to be going in one direction, but, as usual, in an effort to come up with a spectacular twist, all credibility went out the window towards the end.
Snakes eating their own tails, indeed! And to top it off, at the very end, a massive breach of the solicitor/client confidentiality rules - this just blew this wild, meandering story off the plausibility grid for me.
Pinborough starts off at a very harrowing but controlled slow pace. She set the scene so well - too well, maybe? Foreboding creeps in: a sense that this is not going to end well for this happy little family. (As I got to the final quarter section of the novel, I got a sense that Pinborough had started off with one viable plot line in mind, then decided to trash her ending and inject this totally off the wall summation into the mix?
That ending! The author - even for very "open-minded/willing to suspend her disbelief" me - strayed so far off the path of credulity that I literally dropped the book with disappointment. (Spoiler alert:
Ultimately, this story was filled with too many rehashed, overdone stereotypes. Also, characters would appear to be diabolical or ruthless, only to appear lamb-like or "not so very bad" at the end. So exhausting and annoying! And yet, the first part of this book was a riveting read - very reminiscent of the author's earlier efforts.
For me: a promising start with a totally unsatisfying, rushed ending. I'm still giving this a three out of five stars because the writing was stellar in the beginning.
June 1, 2022
'Insomnia' was not at all what I was expecting. Unfortunately, I just could not get into the plot's premise and found it to be lacking in thrills and suspense. Overall, I was disappointed, as I have enjoyed Ms. Pinborough's work in the past.
Narrator Sarah Durham does a fine job as the solo voice of this novel. She seamlessly brings the different emotions of all the characters to life - making it an easy to follow and pleasant listening experience.
Narrator Sarah Durham does a fine job as the solo voice of this novel. She seamlessly brings the different emotions of all the characters to life - making it an easy to follow and pleasant listening experience.
September 30, 2025
Overall I thought this was pretty fun! This is the second Pinborough book I’ve read recently, and I love the way she writes her MC’s descending into madness. The way the MC was sleep deprived and finding herself in these strange fever dream scenarios was really well done imo.
It’s a bit predictable, but it’s a good time!
It’s a bit predictable, but it’s a good time!
January 21, 2024
Încă o carte ciudată, marca Sarah Pinborough. Sunt convinsă că și aceasta va fi ori albă, ori neagră pentru cititori. Fie îți place foarte mult și îi accepți ciudățenia de la final, fie nu rezonezi cu ea, la fel ca "Prin ochii ei".
Autoarea ne amețește bine de tot și de această dată. Este protagonista noastră nebună? Își pune în pericol familia? Episoadele de insomnie dinaintea împlinirii vârstei de 40 de ani, la fel ca în cazul mamei sale, vin cu întâmplări ciudate, cu gesturi pe care nu își amintește să le fi făcut. Le face altcineva în locul ei, este nebună, este drogată? Își face rău cu mâna ei sau altcineva pune totul la cale?
Pe parcurs, odată cu protagonista, trecem pe lista vinovaților fiecare personaj, fără să știm asupra cui să ne oprim. Parcă o luăm și noi razna. 😁
Deși am crezut că am prins firul după primele 50 de pagini, m-am înșelat amarnic. Iar episodul s-a repetat de mai multe ori pe parcursul celor aproximativ 400 de pagini.
Autoarea ne amețește bine de tot și de această dată. Este protagonista noastră nebună? Își pune în pericol familia? Episoadele de insomnie dinaintea împlinirii vârstei de 40 de ani, la fel ca în cazul mamei sale, vin cu întâmplări ciudate, cu gesturi pe care nu își amintește să le fi făcut. Le face altcineva în locul ei, este nebună, este drogată? Își face rău cu mâna ei sau altcineva pune totul la cale?
Pe parcurs, odată cu protagonista, trecem pe lista vinovaților fiecare personaj, fără să știm asupra cui să ne oprim. Parcă o luăm și noi razna. 😁
Deși am crezut că am prins firul după primele 50 de pagini, m-am înșelat amarnic. Iar episodul s-a repetat de mai multe ori pe parcursul celor aproximativ 400 de pagini.
May 3, 2022
RTC 3.5 stars
May 9, 2022
Slow, repetitive, underwhelming ending. Borrowed from the library.
April 29, 2022
As someone who has suffered from chronic Insomnia, I can say that going without sleep can truly make you feel like you are going crazy. The stress and anxiety that you feel from not being able to fall asleep at night and the state of exhaustion you feel all day is the absolute worst. Sarah Pinborough upped the ante and made an already terrible condition into something completely nightmarish.
Emma Averell just can't fall asleep. Emma went through a traumatic event when she was only 5 years old at the hands of her mentally ill mother, on her mother’s 40th birthday. The week before the incident, Emma’s mother also suffered from Insomnia. Emma turns 40 in one week and is terrified that she is going to follow in her mother's madness and a terrible history will repeat itself.
I became completely immersed in this story and felt as if I were going crazy along with Emma. I had no idea how this one was going to play out and for once I didn't even try to guess or figure it out. If you pay attention, there is even a nod to Behind Her Eyes at the end of Insomnia.
I love dark and suspenseful thrillers and I can always count on Sarah Pinborough to deliver. Insomnia is a completely original and unique psychological thriller that I highly recommend! Fans of Behind Her Eyes will not fall asleep on this one(pun intended).
Emma Averell just can't fall asleep. Emma went through a traumatic event when she was only 5 years old at the hands of her mentally ill mother, on her mother’s 40th birthday. The week before the incident, Emma’s mother also suffered from Insomnia. Emma turns 40 in one week and is terrified that she is going to follow in her mother's madness and a terrible history will repeat itself.
I became completely immersed in this story and felt as if I were going crazy along with Emma. I had no idea how this one was going to play out and for once I didn't even try to guess or figure it out. If you pay attention, there is even a nod to Behind Her Eyes at the end of Insomnia.
I love dark and suspenseful thrillers and I can always count on Sarah Pinborough to deliver. Insomnia is a completely original and unique psychological thriller that I highly recommend! Fans of Behind Her Eyes will not fall asleep on this one(pun intended).
September 21, 2025
Fast paced and wickedly clever!
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