I had only read one of Reid's previous novels 'I'm thinking of end things' which I thought was fantastic. It was definitely not my usual type of novel which I think made it even better.

So when I say his new novel on Netgalley I knew I had to request.

Penny lives alone after the death of her long term partner. After a few falls, it is clear she is unable to live alone and is moved to an assisted living facility, a very small scale care home with only a handful of residents.

When she gets there, she begins to lose a grip on reality.....or does she?

Reid definitely has an immense talent as an author of taking a subject and with sparse, gentle writing making it into a novel which will definitely make you think.

I am not quite sure about the ending but then, given the subject matter, I am not quite sure I need to be and am not quite sure it matters.

Massive thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster UK, Scribner UK, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Artist Penny is losing interest in the things she once loved. Alone after her partner dies, she’s struggling with ageing until a fall forces her landlord to take her to a long term care facility Penny is assured she chose as a failsafe for when she grew unable to care for herself. When Penny finds herself returning to her passions – painting, eating and enjoying the company of others – she starts losing her grip on her sense of time and her memories. Is this normal? Or is something more sinister occurring?

A timely read on the obsession with youth and prolonging the inevitable, WE SPREAD is a deliciously uncomfortable, creeping gothic horror full of some of my favourite things – fungus, puzzles, and terrifyingly dreamy motifs.

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Honestly what a book. I started it and that was it, I needed to finish it - I needed to know what was going on.

All of Iain Reid's books are captivating but this one is definitely a stand out novel. I loved our journey with Penny from the beginning - by the end I felt almost protective of her and I hated what was going on.

The ending left me perplexed but in a good way - I'm a sucker for an ambiguous ending.

If you enjoyed I'm Thinking of Ending Things then you definitely need to check this book out!

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

What a weird wonderful little book. Mr. Reid gets better and better with each offer, but this felt especially au courant after lock down. Both cynical and optimistic about humanity, I’m looking forward to rereading it several times to make sure I get each subtlety. Easy five