In Sleep You Know was one of the books in my SPFBO 9 batch that I cut at the 20% mark.
In Sleep You Know was the book I was the most interested in when we got our books. Yes, I know, I’m super predictable. Give me the word “music” or “band” or “singer” in a blurb, and you got my attention, no questions asked. This one had “graffiti” to boot, so I definitely got curious.
I’d say that In Sleep You Know is a contemporary UF, which is also up my alley. It tells the story of Merrick, who decides to sneak into a party at an old mansion, surrounded by rumors. He wants to see for himself what that great deal is about and meets people who will turn his world upside down. Being a short book, it’s pretty fast-paced. Maybe too much so. We are dropped right into the middle of the events, and I kept having the feeling that I should have had previous knowledge somehow. Maybe because there is barely any worldbuilding, to begin with.
There are some fun ideas in this one, but the execution fell a bit flat for me. Dialogues were awkward, and it was hard to understand why Merrick decided to trust a bunch of strangers who managed to bond him to them without much explanation. He also falls in love in like 2 minutes. Look, I have nothing against romance in books, but insta love is where I’m drawing the line.
I’m not sure if I was more disappointed by In Sleep You Know because I wanted to love it based on the blurb, or because it had potential but needed some more polishing. Probably both. A shame, really.
This book didn’t quite work for me, but I still encourage you to take a look and make your own decision.