This story gets full marks for originality. The theme of insomnia is a relatable one and the author's interpretation an interesting balance of imagination and reality.

It begins with Thea's desperation to sleep, which makes her apply for a scientific trial that uses new techniques. She ends up on a creepy island with a medley of different characters. The first part of the story is atmospheric and disturbing, the people running the programme are they trustworthy? Thea's sense of what is real is impaired, as is her judgement. The author creates a believably, frightening world.

There's nail-biting drama and then the story twist into something else. After dramatic events, the story becomes more like a science-fiction, dystopian drama, but with the same characters.

The characters are vivid, and the events described using sensory imagery that draws the reader into the story. There's something for everyone in this mix of genres. This is a unique and disturbing story, with an eerie ending.

I received a copy of this book from HQ via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Sleepless is a psychological thriller that will have you on edge, precariously teetering as you follow Thea on her journey to discover the root of her sleep issues.
Thea suffers from insomnia. But not occasional bouts of sleeplessness; Thea hasn't slept for more than 3 hours (if she's lucky) for years. While I can relate to having insomnia, I, luckily, can manage to sleep (although not well) for more than 3 hours a night (but still less than the recommended 7-8). Being tired all the time sucks. And Thea learns that the hard way.
The book opens with a car crash. Thea seems to float along through the aftermath of the accident, though, while her phone receives notifications about Morpheus, a sleep study that isn't like all the others. Eventually, Thea decides to try her luck with Morpheus, and that's when things get weird.
Thea's mother, who happens to be very interesting and entertaining (her first scene has her wearing a scarf with tiny vaginas on it), jokes that Morpheus is a cult, and that her daughter will soon be having orgies. Little does her mother know, a cult would probably be preferable to Morpheus.
There's a lot of creepy, unsettling stuff happening within the pages of this book. Is Thea hallucinating? Is it real? What, exactly, is going on with the island Morpheus is taking place on?
I enjoyed the story, although it does tend to get a little mind-bendingly futuristic at times, and closer to the end is a little hard to follow, but overall, this isn't a bad debut. It's tense. It's claustrophobic. It's strange. I liked it.
If you're looking for a thriller that has a very relatable theme (insomnia), check out Sleepless. You won't be disappointed.
4 stars!

This was much more a sci-fi book than a thriller and as I love one and not the other it’s hard to give a fair review. However I read it and found lots to interest me but nothing to convert me to sci-fi.
I disliked Vivian, Thea’s mother and couldn’t get Ab-fab out of my mind when she was talking particularly in the early chapters. Some characters remained just a blur like the landlord and most of the other participants. They never came to life for me.
I will give three stars but if you are a sci-fi fan please don’t let it put you off.

I was invested in Thea from just reading the blurb but discovering more about her situation I sympathised more and this drove me to continue reading. The premise intrigued me and I wasn't disappointed. Sleepless is an entertaining thriller that made me question what I would do in those circumstances.
It is clever and disturbing because it feels only one step away from reality despite the overall sci-fi feel to the novel. The plot delves into the importance of sleep and the consequences of interfering with the mind. With increased tension throughout the book with many twists and turns I did find the ending abrupt and had to double check I had not missed something.

Can you imagine only sleeping 1 to 2 hours every night?
Thea has been an insomniac all of her adult life, she “functions” with only a couple of hours each night but she knows that this is not a way to live, so when she sees a trial to help people to sleep, she can’t wait to be part of it. As you can imagine things will not be as “perfect” as they are selling it and Thea will have to prioritize her needs.
This had been a slow paced story; full of tension and secrets; it was easy to get glued to the story. I’ll admit that I don’t trust many trials, and if they promise you a trip to an idyllic island for 6 weeks, run, there’s something they are not telling, no one gives anything for free.
I can understand Thea’s need to overcome her insomnia, her body needs to sleep and she doesn’t know what more to try. But as soon as she is accepted to the trial they remove any personal objects from her, change her diet and make her wear some special clothes. She has a detailed schedule for all the days and she can’t leave her room whenever she wants, it has to be when she is told… So, when the leader of the trial asks her to be part of an sleepless elite, she starts to wonder what’s the real point of the experiment and what are they doing to them at night…
It was not difficult to enter the story and be charmed with the characters, Thea has always been a solitary person but she will discover the real friendship and the value of it on this island. Because in the worst moments of life, having someone that cares for you it’s the only way to keep living.
Ready to discover what “Sleepless” means?

Suffering from insomnia is not only frustrating but if you suffer from it long term, it can also have a detrimental effect on both your physical and mental health. I think one of the most frustrating aspects is when you struggle to stay awake before you go to bed but the minute you lie down,you are wide awake and your brain insists that you stay that way,right up until the moment that your alarm is due to go off. Our main character and heroine Thea has spent years suffering from insomnia,struggling to manage on just three hours of sleep a night or day in her case. She is desperate to have a good night's sleep and live a normal life so the text that she receives about the mysterious Morpheus programme appears to be the answer to her prayers. But when she gets to the sleep centre that is situated on a small island,isolated from civilisation, Thea gradually discovers that she should have listened to her mother Vivian's warnings and that Thea along with her fellow insomniacs are actually trapped in a waking nightmare of control and manipulation. But what secrets were hiding within the rooms and corridors of the sleep centre? What did the people in control have planned for the guests? Could Thea trust anybody on the island or did everyone have hidden agendas. The cast of characters were a mixed bag of vivid individuals who each had their unique identities and personalities. I really liked Thea, the author's portrayals of her conflicting emotions, sleep deprived behaviour and mistrust of others were realistic,she was a very well rounded character. I also liked fun filled, boisterous Rosie,I thought she was a wonderful character but my number one favourite was Thea's mother free spirited mother Vivian. I thought she was a absolutely fantastic character who refused to take no for a answer and was determined to find out what had happened to her daughter. The setting for this story fitted perfectly with the sinister plot, a isolated island overlooked by the ruins of a monastery with its hidden dangers and terrible past and the secrets contained within the lighthouse that towered over the island.

OMG, this is a extremely well written debut, a unputdownable, thrill ride that this is packed full of action, twists and turns, untrustworthy characters and breath taking suspense. A sense of foreboding permeated the pages and the tension increased as the story unfolded. I really really enjoyed this gripping thriller and would love to watch a film or mini series adaptation of this book. Worth all the stars and very very highly recommended

Beginning at the scene of a car crash we are thrown straight in to the consequences of insomnia, and this is the catalyst for Thea to take it seriously and get help.

Then just like those mind reading Facebook ads, a new clinical sleep trial promising a cure appears like magic on her phone. This is where the book dons a spacesuit and takes a leap into sci-fi territory. Think mash up of The Island and The Matrix but still communicating with NASA and keeping the thriller aspects.

The characters of Thea, her mother and their relationship was enough to keep me invested as the plot spun on its head. The pacing did dip in places but not enough for me to nod off (see what I did there ha ha).

I’m probably making no sense at all and I’m no expert on sci-fi, apart from the odd read it’s a genre I rarely pick up. What I will say is that if you enjoy Blake Crouch then Louise is definitely floating in the same atmosphere.

An unusual read for me, but no less interesting.

Thea doesn't sleep; it's not that she doesn't need her sleep - it's just that she can't sleep for her full eight hours, or anything like it. So when she reads an ad on her phone promising to sort it all out, she realises that she has to pursue what may be her last chance as a decent night's sleep. What Thea doesn't realise is how high a price she'll have to pay in return for the elusive zzzz's. Separated from family and friends, kept isolated and having to seek permission even to leave her room . . .

Now, I normally pass on anything with the word 'dystopian' anywhere near it, but this one appealed to me and certainly didn't disappoint. A gripping and enthralling read, I soon found myself totally immersed in the story and needing to find out where it was going. There is plenty happening and the creep factor figures large in this one - I shuddered, often! A good read which demonstrates how each of us can dig deep and find something in ourselves that we didn't know was there, and the type of book where once started, it has to be finished! If you enjoy a bit of a spine-chilling read, then this is one for you. Four stars from me.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

“Don’t close your eyes. Don’t fall asleep. Don’t let them in”
Thea rarely sleeps, ok so about an hour just when she could do with getting up. She reads, she thinks and occasionally watches T.V to pass the hours. Her eyes feel like sandpaper and she is at the point that she would give almost anything to get some shut eye. She sees an ad for “Morpheus” a company which takes test subjects once passed rigorous testing that promises sleep like no other. Her mother, an activist, thinks it's a cult and warns her to beware when she is accepted. Once the trial begins Thea is taken to an island where there are about 50 other test subjects. She takes a walk one day and finds a disused monastery and sees a ghostly like shadow that plays on her mind. When she next visits she goes with her new friend Rosie who has a rather nasty accident. Who is at the monastery and what is the real reason behind the sleep trial as Thea knows there is far more to it?
This is almost a dystopian/sci-fi type read to me rather than a psychological thriller. A clever concept and an interesting premise- one to ponder on (perhaps whilst trying to get to sleep!!) John Marrs is mentioned in the blurb. If you enjoyed “ The One” or “ The Passengers” this could be for you. A futuristic read that is maybe only a REM sleep away.
(amazon done- misfits farm)

Gosh, reading this book about an insomniac, and suddenly all I wanted to do was curl up and have a cheeky nap. Every time I picked up the book! Poor Thea, I really could not imagine what it was like to be so sleep-deprived.

I thought this book had an explosive beginning but by half-way through, this started to wane. Intrigued by the theme of control in this sci-fi/dystopian narrative, I was expecting this to be more dominant during the entire novel. When I finished the book, I think I was way more paranoid than Thea and could not accept that things were going to be ok.

This is what I felt was lacking in the narrative. It all seems to fizzle out over the story that the sleep company may or may not be fully controlling Thea. (I guess I was expecting something akin to The Matrix films!) Instead, the body count mounts and the people that Thea can trust rapidly dwindles. I found her “release” at the closing more convenient than anything else; I was expecting there to be motive for a sequel story but I don’t think this was strongly established.

However, despite my misgivings, Mumford expertly portrays the exhaustion of an insomniac that cannot rest. I found the narrative in the early chapters as tiring and claustrophobic as Thea herself experiences it. The atmosphere was heavy and I think that made me feel so lethargic!

As the story moves to the remote island where the sleep trial takes place, it felt very sci-fi, from the clothing that the participants have to wear, to the crisp, clean lines of the architecture. I relished in the remoteness of the island and think this really intensified the atmosphere throughout. Thea begins to find out more about the sleep trial and realises that there are higher powers involved that she was not aware of. I think this turning point of the narrative was where Mumford’s plot weakened; I was anticipating conspiracy theories and more paranoia, rather than just escaping.

This is a pretty good read and definitely something different to what I have read recently. However, I think Mumford could have established more of the themes in the story and even left it on a cliff-hanger. Considering that I normally do not favour sequels, I think there is possibly unfinished business for Thea and her sleep trial.

With thanks to HQ books, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

OK. I thought I had suffered from insomnia. I've gone days without sleeping. I have nothing on Thea. She sleeps about 1 hour a day. And she somehow makes it through her life. A close call with a car accident and some well timed advertisement bring her to a strange little island for a sleep study. I am such a rookie in the insomnia department.

This book goes in so many different directions-sci-fi, thriller, horror...but it stills works. I was spellbound and hooked from page one. This is no ordinary island. A mysterious abandoned monastery and a shady tech company promising the impossible. Yes! bring me that. Any more would be too much. If you like any of the above genres then you should pick this one up.

First, I want to thank Louise Mumford, HQ, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.

Louise Mumford’s Sleepless is one book that I know many will relate to. I know that I saw a lot of myself in Thea’s shoes. This book addresses Insomnia and other sleep disorders. Myself, the main character Thea and the author Louise Mumford all suffer from this sleep disorder.

This book is dedicated to Jason as this book would have never happened without him. Louise also wants to dedicate this book for her Mom and those nights playing hangman in the living room as a child when she could not sleep.

Louise really did her homework on researching what the brain does while we sleep. I found the information very informative, educational and extremely interesting. I was impressed that she put this information into the book to educate her readers.

WOW!! The opening of this book was a huge wake up call for what could really happen with lack of sleep. It was a great way to introduce the book and how in need of sleep Thea really needed.

There were a lot of comical moments in this where I could not stop laughing. Mostly between Thea and her mother! I don’t know many mothers would talk about orgies and blow jobs to their daughters! Not mine that is for sure!!

Having had a sleep study myself I laughed at the part where the fire alarm started blaring! It is hard to finally fall asleep but once you do and the fire alarm goes off-not good!

Thea seeks help in the Morpheus Sleep School to help her get to the root of her sleep problems. However, it is not what she thought she signed up for!! It was a wild ride!

Sleepless is extremely fast paced, action packed, interesting cast of characters, informative, educational, thrilling and suspenseful.

Unfortunately, there were some typos in the book that I received.

The premise of this book is likeable but I didn’t connect with any of the characters and they were often confusing. The beginning of the book had me gripped but towards the middle it seemed to simmer to a slow burner.

This was an unputdownable thriller to the point that I was scared to even go to sleep. It crazy what technology people can invent and this book was frighteningly inventive to the point it could be believable.

Quite a different read which started as a thriller and then moved to become slightly sci-fi dystopian. I was not keen on the amalgamation at first, but after a few pages, I didn't mind the story as the pace was kept fast and story felt to be like a movie. I was immersed in the last few chapters.
The book intrigued me as I too went through days where sleep was kept afar from my brain and it became tiresome. The main character went through some tough moments of life until a sleep clinic called her and offered to pay for conducting tests on her.
The story, for me, was slightly staccato, but still managed to capture me. The credit went to the main character Thea. She managed to pull me in even when the book turned directions. I liked her mother and the bond they shared. The second half was swift-paced and managed to bring the story to a great finish. An incredible debut.

I’d like to thank HQ and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Sleepless’ written by Louise Mumford in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Theo suffers from insomnia and sleeps barely an hour or two a night. When an advert appears on her mobile phone offering to get her back to better sleeping Thea applies and is soon being welcomed by representatives of Ing Enterprises for the six weeks trial.

I have no doubt that Louise Mumford is an accomplished writer and although I enjoyed the first quarter of ‘Sleepless’ I started to lose interest in the plot and found myself falling asleep with boredom, not interested enough in the story or the characters to continue any further. I’m sorry that I can’t be more positive but this is my own opinion and I’m sure a lot of readers will enjoy it.

I love the premise of this book! Thea has not been able to sleep for more than a few hours every night and it's starting to affect her life. She is invited to attend a sleep trial so she can find help to get more sleep. While there, she meets other participants in the trial, all with their own reasons to be there. I find studies on sleep really fascinating, and I liked how the book shows the different ways lack of sleep can affect someone - nightmares, sleep paralysis, insomnia, etc. I liked Thea's sense of humor and the other characters are interesting too. I also liked Thea's relationship with her protective mother.

I expected the story to go down the path of bad company and tech gone wild, and in a way it does. But the plotting is not cohesive and I found myself confused about the characters' motivations. It's hard to understand who the Big Bad is because it's never made clear, nor exactly what their intention is. While it seems that certain people have their eyes on Thea for nefarious purposes, the way she is treated doesn't exactly reflect that. The ending is disappointing. I never understood what the endgame was after all that. While I liked the tinges of horror in the story and how the action moves fast towards the end, I wish I wasn't left with so many questions.

i had to dnf at 24%, its not that the book was bad, the writing was good i was just really bored and it wasnt captivating enough for me to want to carry on with it

Sleepless is an intensely gripping psychological thriller and Louise Mumford’s debut novel. It's a dystopian thriller with elements of science fiction and technology working together to create a fantastic read. 27-year-old administration assistant Thea Mackenzie has suffered from crippling insomnia for as long as she can remember; it has seeped into all aspects of her life, causing difficulty concentrating, low mood, and issues with skin, memory, happiness and her social life and now she's at the end of her tether and willing to try anything to relieve the impact getting only a few hours sleep per night, if she's lucky, can have. Her desperation for change intensifies when, after having only four hours sleep that week, she is involved in a car accident she knows was the fault of her terrible sleeplessness. Suddenly, her phone vibrates and she receives a notification and an advert pops up from one of her apps—”Morpheus. Dream your way to a better you - one sleep at a time,” it proclaims. Days later she decides to click on it and discovers they will pay her to take part in their 6-week clinical trial. Brainchild of revered internet guru Moses Ing, of Ing Enterprises, the technology used in the trial can reprogramme the brain and has been under development for many years. She is appointed a sleep guru by the name of Harriett Stowe who comes round to interview her in order to test her suitability.

To both her surprise and relief she passes the preliminary interview and the sleep assessment, the last stage before approval. Once approved she is invited to the island of St Dunstan’s, off the UK coast, along with 50 other volunteers, where the sleep school is located. But she soon begins to notice strange and disturbing things happening around her: when she wants to call home the phone lines are always engaged, she sees a face at the window of a dilapidated and seemingly abandoned monastery on the island and all of her personal items are confiscated. This feels very much like incarceration and those at Ing Enterprises aren't interested in performing altruistic experiments on their subjects—they want to control them. Can Thea escape this waking nightmare before she is put to sleep for good? This is a scintillating, unputdownable nail-biter of a techno-thriller right from the start and is refreshingly original and on a topic close to most peoples hearts: sleep. And in this case the lack thereof. Many reviews complain that Thea jumping headfirst into a trial to try to cure her long-term, debilitating insomnia is far-fetched, but I disagree entirely; it's clear those reviewers have never had major sleep issues. I would go so far as to say this is one of the most riveting, creepy and palpably tense thrillers I've read in the past few years. Unreservedly recommended.

Very gripping debut novel and scarily believable!

Likeable characters and a few good twists. I enjoyed reading this and would recommend to the 6th form students at my school.