You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

One of the group reads for September is In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead Please discuss the book in this thread.

Nistha will be leading the discussion.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. have read the book before or during September 2024.
2. discussed it in this thread. Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read, for example, thoughts, opinions, impact it had on you, what was your favorite part, was it what you expected it to be like etc. You may also like to review the book and post a link to the review in this thread. Please refer to our group spoiler policy for further information.
3. Report that you have read AND discussed the book in the reporting thread (include a brief summary of what you thought of the book).

A note on discussion: Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read, for example, thoughts, opinions, impact it had on you, what was your favorite part, was it what you expected it to be like etc.

In addition to this, the group reads are meant to be a "read along" so it is preferable that you discuss the book as you read rather than wait until you've finished the book.

And finally, discussion is not about just listing your thoughts. Please interact with the other group members, comment on their thoughts, and if they comment on yours, respond to them. This is what makes a good book discussion!

You may also like to review the book and post a link to the review in this thread.

Please refer to our group spoiler policy for further information.

General Rules:
1. Please mark your spoilers with the spoiler tags along with mentioning what stage of the book you are at so other's don't get a nasty shock. Chapter numbers/titles are generally best as they are the same across all formats and editions. See our spoiler policy
2. The book may be combined with the Year Long Challenge, Topplers, and Monthly Challenges.

Happy reading!

I hope to join in this discussion a little later in the month. I have a couple others I need to read first.

The cover of this book is very eye catching. I hope the words live up to it.

Ch 1 Jessica Miller (view spoiler)[ is “a top percentile of a human being” with a healthy dose of imposter syndrome. She seems delightful. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 2 Jack (view spoiler)[ The suspect of killing Heather though the police didn’t have enough evidence. Wants Jessica to say hi to Eric Shelby ( Heather’s brother) who is convinced he’s guilty. Weird request. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 3 arriving at Duquette. (view spoiler)[ The field trip story was sad. Would definitely leave a mark. (hide spoiler)]

It reads very fast.

I’m curious what everyone’s opinion of this friend group. I find them (view spoiler)[ petty and very emotionally stunted.

Jessica especially is in need of serious therapy. She’s almost 30 and way too into how others view her. It all seems very shallow. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 8/9 is where the story starts picking up and where I’m at now. Starting chapter 10.

I’m through chapter 22. It goes back and forth between then and now timelines-which I enjoy

I started reading the book and currently reached chapter 4. It indeed reada very fast and so far has gripped me. I need to progress a bit ahead to know more about the characters to have any thoughts, but for now I am suspicious of everything.

I’m glad you have started this one and yes being suspicious of everyone is how I go through most mysteries. It’s a good strategy.

I’m just picking this one up today and am on chapter 31. The chapters are very short. I’m still very interested in solving this one but (view spoiler)[ boy are these characters trying. Jessica is a complete psycho. She was upset with Heather because she won a scholarship Jessica wanted badly and it seems to have broken her. She has no coping strategies lol. (hide spoiler)]

Eric (view spoiler)[ Why are they giving him the time of day? He is exposing all their secrets and they just keep staying there. They are acting like high schoolers. I’m finding myself judging all of them. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 40

This book has a lot of themes of insecurity and measuring up so I find it hilarious (view spoiler)[ that the murdered girl wasn’t even the target. Heather just happened to be sleeping in Jessica’s bed. Being killed is awful…being killed by mistaken identity seems to add salt to the wound. I’m not sure the author intended to crack me up but I can’t stop laughing. Oh and I’d guessed the killer. (hide spoiler)]

I am in chapter 14 now and I find it very intriguing. I was planning to read a fast-paced thriller like this for a long time. Not sure how it will end, but so far it has been going pretty well. I agree with you, the characters are cheaters, liars, shallow and heavily dependent on other people's perceptions.

My top suspect is (view spoiler)[ Caro (hide spoiler)] for now. (view spoiler)[ The earlier chapter mentions she was found in Jessica's bed so this could be something interesting. Plus, she seems too sweet - I dont trust sweet people haha (hide spoiler)]

I have finished till ch30 - really like the pacing though the story is very unbelievable and dramatised.

(view spoiler)[ I can't believe Jessica cheated on Mint so many times and then dared to blame Courtney. I still think it is Caro or Mint (hide spoiler)]

Marnie wrote: "I’m glad you have started this one and yes being suspicious of everyone is how I go through most mysteries. It’s a good strategy.

I’m just picking this one up today and am on chapter 31. The chapt..."

Haha! I agree. (view spoiler)[ I mean I understand that was important to her and she did go to a long length to get the stupid recommendation. Jessica is such a bad friend though. I feel bad for Heather.

Also, yeah, Eric so weird, appearing out of shadows and whatnot. And everyone is going along with him. That makes me think that initially, Jack wanted Jess to say hi to him. (hide spoiler)]

Marnie wrote: "Chapter 40

This book has a lot of themes of insecurity and measuring up so I find it hilarious [spoilers removed]"

Hahah! Yeah the story is far away from reality

Okay, I finished and I liked the book. It kept me hooked. It was wayyyy dramatic but I did not mind it.

(view spoiler)[ I did not see the last twist coming. I kept thinking it was Caro that when it was Mint, I was like yeah okay. But Jessica is the worst I think - she thought so highly of herself and she left her friend to die? Like who does that? (hide spoiler)] Thank God, I was never a part of the popular rich kids gang, they are absolute worse!

Am I the only one who haven't get the grip of it? I'm on chapter 10 and need to focus. I usually have no problem with nonlinear narrative, but maybe it's because there are so much to swallow. I know that it's a (view spoiler)[whudunit mystery. But seeing them at this point makes me think that there might be more that one suspect? I mean, everyone could be guilty and they could hurt her in one way or another? (hide spoiler)]

Ayacchi wrote: "Am I the only one who haven't get the grip of it? I'm on chapter 10 and need to focus. I usually have no problem with nonlinear narrative, but maybe it's because there are so much to swallow. I kno..."

Hmm, I did find this one quite engaging but maybe its the nonlinear timeline and presence of a lot of characters that makes it confusing in the beginning. Hopefully, as there traits come out it becomes clearer? (view spoiler)[ There can definitely be multiple people in a whodunnit (hide spoiler)]

Nistha wrote: "Hmm, I did find this one quite engaging but maybe its the nonlinear timeline and presence of a lot of characters that makes it confusing in the beginning. Hopefully, as there traits come out it becomes clearer?..."

Maybe because I listen to the audiobook while reading the text, but the problem is they aren't sync. I'm on chapter 27 and started to enjoy it more. Can't wait to see (view spoiler)[the other secrets they hid. So far, Courtney is the least favorite character of mine. She's guilty but would be the first to jump to point people out. It's a wonder how a person like Heather, whom portrait as a nice friend could be disliked just because she was lucky. But maybe it's human emotions? Sometimes we find nice people annoying. (hide spoiler)]

Marnie wrote: "Chapter 40

This book has a lot of themes of insecurity and measuring up so I find it hilarious [spoilers removed]"

Oh my... (view spoiler)[I didn't see it coming. The killer had the least motive to kill her, even their interactions were limited. (hide spoiler)]

I said before that (view spoiler)[I don't like Courtney, but turned out her husband is just the same as her. I know he had family problem and was cheated on, but what makes him disgusting is how his pride didn't allow himself to be humiliated. Like, everything bad that happened in his life is other people's fault. So it's normal to punish them, shame them, and regain his power. Ugh, they really make a great couple! (hide spoiler)]

Ayacchi wrote: "Marnie wrote: "Chapter 40

This book has a lot of themes of insecurity and measuring up so I find it hilarious [spoilers removed]"

Oh my... [spoilers removed]

I said before that [spoilers removed]"

I also hated (view spoiler)[ Courtney! I believe they made her character to be the evil one. Her husband is a real piece of work - and I do feel characters like him exist with such huge egos.

But I did not like Jessica also. She cheated on her boyfriend and kept playing the victim card. (hide spoiler)]

I am glad you enjoyed the book even though it started off as a bit confusing!

Started the book and will give my first thoughts as soon as I can be on my laptop again.
So far it’s going well!

I'm currently in the middle of chapter 18

(view spoiler)[Most books I have on my TBR I add because of the title, the cover or the author, without even knowing what it's about. Same with this one, I went into it blindly.
So far, I really enjoy the setup and storyline. I had a little bit of trouble remembering who is who in their friend group but I think I'm getting the hang of it.
I currently have no clue what could've happened to Heather the night she died.
One thing I find a bit odd is Jess's obsession with being the best and her feeling so invisible. Not quite sure how to feel about that (hide spoiler)]

Marnie wrote: "I’m curious what everyone’s opinion of this friend group."

My thoughts on the friend group so far
(view spoiler)[It seems like they actually secretly hate each other lol
Wouldn't say that they are real friends, more like a group that somehow sticks together because of the circumstances (hide spoiler)]

Nistha wrote: "I am in chapter 14 now and I find it very intriguing. I was planning to read a fast-paced thriller like this for a long time. Not sure how it will end, but so far it has been going pretty well. I a..."

I haven't really thought about who my top suspect is but tbh I agree with you. Something must be wrong with that person.

Fiona wrote: "Marnie wrote: "I’m curious what everyone’s opinion of this friend group."
."

Haha totally agree on this! So toxic!

I decided to put aside my longer book so I could read this one before the end of the month. I'm only through chapter 2, but (view spoiler)[ Jessica is something else, isn't she? She really needs to feel like she's the best and have everyone else think she's the best, yet she's actually really insecure. Sounding like a bit of narcissism there. Curious to learn more, but I'm certainly not loving her from the start.

Jack was an interesting character too. What's with the letters he's been getting? He said they're the opposite of hate mail? Do they have anything to do with why he wants Jessica to say hi to Eric, Heather's brother? Definitely curious. (hide spoiler)]

Way to go, Kristie!

Thanks, Sandra :)

I'm done and rated the book 4 stars :)

Chapter 26
(view spoiler)[I was listening to the audiobook on the train and I struggled to stay composed when Jess's mom slapped her grandma at the funeral. That was so deserved and I wanted to scream "You go girl!"
Around the same time I started wondering why the book has "knife" in the title but there are scissors on the cover. Thought there would be a reason (only read if you have finished the book (view spoiler)[and I was correct. But that had me wondering if they mentioned Heather being stabbed by scissors early on? Maybe I didn't notice it but in the beginning I thought she got stabbed with a knife. (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Overall
(view spoiler)[This was definitely a nice, engaging read. The twists were twisted and I pretty much suspected everyone at least once. My mind was probably on Caro the longest but I for sure enjoyed how everything played out. I would say this was a 4.5 star read. Definitely want to read more from this author. (hide spoiler)]

Nistha wrote: "I have finished till ch30 - really like the pacing though the story is very unbelievable and dramatised.

[spoilers removed]"

Oh this was my exact thought!! (view spoiler)[The scene where she was begging him to stay at the restaurant was soooo humiliating and she was so bitter because Mint cheated on her and then it turns out she not just had sex with the professor (ewww) but she also cheated on Mint with Coop the whole time. wtf. (hide spoiler)]

Kristie wrote: "I decided to put aside my longer book so I could read this one before the end of the month. I'm only through chapter 2, but .."

I had the same thoughts at this point ... Excited to see how it evolves

Fiona wrote: "I'm done and rated the book 4 stars :)

Haha! Some parts of this book was so dramatic .. actually this book was too dramatic but I liked it! As you said, it was engaging and kept me guessing. (view spoiler)[ I was hung on Caro for a long time also lol (hide spoiler)]

Nistha wrote: "Kristie wrote: "I decided to put aside my longer book so I could read this one before the end of the month. I'm only through chapter 2, but .."

I had the same thoughts at this point ... Excited to..."

(view spoiler)[ Understandable that she'd feel a need to be perfect with how her parents treat her. Very sad. (hide spoiler)]

I will be finishing this one tomorrow while out and about because I have the audio. I'm enjoying the book, but what a bunch of messed up characters. I wouldn't want to be friends with any of them.

Almost done. Found out who done it and why. Just need to wrap it up now.

I finished today, but I haven't written my review yet. I feel like I need to let it settle a bit because I was really enjoying it, then started to have some trouble with suspending my disbelief towards the end. I'm not really sure if it was just a me problem or a book problem.

Even though I was enjoying it, none of the characters were really likable. The bit at the very end where (view spoiler)[ Jessica reveals that she left Heather to die was unnecessary. It was wrapped up perfectly fine without making her seem even worse. Plus, Mint said she was dead when he left the room. How long after he left did Jessica supposedly come back? I don't know... that bit just made me start questioning the timeline and things.

The fire part didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. I just couldn't picture it. The fire grew so fast that it blocked people off, but it felt like they were in there for a while. I don't know... I guess it was just one of those moments where I was supposed to suspend my disbelief, but it was towards the end and I was already thinking it was weird how Eric kept showing up and it was feeling a bit over the top. Like, how did Caro follow everyone around for years and end up overhearing things, but she never once caught Jessica and Coop? And why would they confront Frankie on the float in front of everyone? They wouldn't even give him a chance to explain himself? I think I was just starting to overthink by that point. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, I thought it was really good. It was very engaging, but I was ready for them to wrap it up towards the end. There were a lot of secrets to be revealed and damaged people.

I just realized this book was Winstead's debut. I didn't realize that while reading it and don't think it reads as being written by a new author. I do think think this was quite excellent for a debut. I would definitely read more of her work.

Remember to report your read!

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