"It wasn't terrifying that the ocean was about to consume me, that I was helpless to escape, it was terrifying that I might survive & have to live".

This was the most unique book I've read so far and it was such a wild ride! I truly loved it and I absorbed every word with such amazement!

There are several trigger warnings but I guess the major one is around mental illness as the protagonist's life (Ashton) is completely taken over by their hypochondria, resulting in a gravitational pull towards hospitals and doctors.. And in a hospital, and to be specific, in an ER is where the whole story unfolds, as we witness the complete meltdown of Ashton since the admission of a patient in a stretcher and the hospital being put in a lockdown.

I loved the stream-of-consciousness writing style, done brilliantly, that really made me feel inside Ashton's head and share with them their anxiety, their hopelesness and their desperate need of help! This is a horror book for many reasons, first because of the theme treated but also for body horror throughout and the steady high level of panic until the end.

No matter if you like the horror genre or not I think this book is so original and so well executed that I suggest anyone to give it a go!

Thanks to Luna Rey Hall and NetGalley for a copy and this is my honest review.

Fast read since the formatting is quite (purposely) jumbled. Not sure if I would classify this as horror. I'm sure there are underlying nuances I just don't understand and I'm not sure what the purpose of this book was but I hope the author found catharsis after finishing it.

I don't usually enjoy verse but I thought the format really added to the unsettling, unreliable narrator vibe of this book. The body horror was top notch and a couple of scenes (especially the tonsil stone one) made me physically ill. The portrayal of a queer protag and mental illness were sympathetic without being saccharine or one-dimensional. A fun anecdote: I happened to read this the day before I had to go to the ER for a bad allergic reaction, so I was worried about finding worms in every corner for my entire visit.

3.5

Book's TWs:
Mental Illness
Excessive violence
Death/dying
Suicide/self-harm
Transphobia

*it really goes there so if you're triggered by any of this, I would suggest skip it, as these are seen all throughout the book*

I liked this one. The use of "prosetry" was really interesting. The short, quick lines really made you feel the anxiety building, and it also helped showcase the stream of consciousness vibe as well.

I also thought the message of the story was delivered in a very unique way. Feeling trapped in your skin, body dysmorphia, not feeling able to trust yourself. It was very unique.

The main thing that bothered me I guess is the entire plot of the person on the stretcher and the lockdown. I don't know if I'm simply not getting it, or if it actually wasn't explored/explained enough. It almost seemed like it was just there to make the main character stay alone in the hospital for so long. It was also a bit confusing, as since we have an unreliable narrator, unsure what's real or in their head, it made the story difficult to follow.

Also as a side note: unsure why the trigger warnings were at the back of the book, but they should really be moved to the front.

The reality gets blend with stream of consciousness and unending thoughts of mind. On the brink of reality, inevitable life grips with nightmares and innumerable emotions. The book is poetic and lyrical. It has truth, reflection of inner thoughts and the brilliantly crafted story blending genres.

Thank you Netgalley, Author and Publisher.

This was a great quick read. The writing was super unique almost felt poetic in a way. This story really portrays how the mind can sometimes trick you into believing things that aren't really there and the horror aspect of it entertained me till the very end.

Please read TW/CW before reading!


I really enjoyed The Patient Routine. It was unique, gory, dealt with real-life issues, and the writing was cool because each section was separated by time, not named chapters. I'm wasn't a fan of the layout of the words, though. It made the book hard to focus and read the right way. What with some of the words being on the left side, the center, jumbled around, or to the right of the screen.

The description drew me in. The book was a very quick read and really interesting with sensitivity subject matter. Sometimes, it was hard to tell what was real or in the MC's head. They seem to have extreme hypochondria as well as having some other things going on, with little to no help or support. This book was heavy on the gore, which I found entertaining. As well as touching on heavy topics.


Thank you, Netgalley and Brigid's Gate Press, and Luna Rey Hall for the opportunity. All opinions are my own.

3.5*

trigger warnings for mental illness, excessive violence, death/dying, suicide/self-harm, gore and transphobia

I really loved how the book captured the horrors of mental health and how difficult it is for patients visiting the hospital. Especially for Ashton who has no idea what is happening to them and trusts the hospital staff to take care of them.

They do, to the best of their abilities but Ashton's mental health works against them in every way.

The book perfectly showcases how mental health is a vicious cycle and how difficult it is to come out the other end and feel okay.

The worst thing I ever read.
I am a big fan of experiments on literary forms and language, but this is such a mess with everything wrong...

Thanks, Netgalley for this gem! This was infectious. I was in a frenzy the whole time I was reading. As someone who also suffered, maybe still does, from health anxiety (formerly called hypochondria), this was relatable. The oddly specific hypochondriac thought spiral in your brain when you feel a minor pang or ache, in your body, is shockingly well written. This mind-blowing, spellbinding novel written in verse reverberates through your body as you read it at the speed of Jason Statham drifting on the streets of Tokyo. It is teeming with gore, blood, and puss. Its sharp descriptions of everything that can go wrong in a human body are haunting. Luna Rey Hall does not shy away from anything, no matter how vile or disgusting. Do not read this if you're squeamish! There might be a zombie apocalypse going on... or it could be a mere hallucination. Who knows?
This may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I tore through it in an hour and it made me super tense. I like having visceral reactions to horror books.

I think in some ways mental health is so stigmatized that people do not dare go and get help for it. This book shows us what it is like in a world of feeling as though something is always wrong with you. No matter what anyone tells you. Our protagonist knows something needs to be done in order to help him relieve the pain. Or atleast he thinks so. Could it be all in his head? The setting is an ER where after trying to receive treatment, a new patient arrives and it sends the whole hospital In total lockdown.. At this point you are trying to understand what is happening as the story moves at a quick pace. There are a few times that the storyline just did not keep my attention. I knew what the author was trying to convey to the reader but the way it was done made it hard to comprehend what was happening. The writing was very much different than what I was used to but the emotional roller coaster it took me on was more than I was expecting. It was engrossing and claustrophobic in many ways. I think there is a certain type of reader this was meant for and while I am probably not it, the storyline was great. I just wish it were written a little differently.

3 out of 4 stars


Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Do you like stories that leave you wondering what's real and what's not with a strong splash of body horror and a dash of the crazy-making nature of interacting with a healthcare system that makes you feel unheard? If so, look no further the patient routine has you covered.
The stream of consciousness format made for a very quick read and there was something so oppressive and dread inducing about being pulled directly into the heart of the horror that is Ashton's internal life throughout the ordeal that I just didn't see time fly.
While the character through which we experience the story is not especially likeable they're compelling in their own way and there is something just so heartbreaking about their condition that I couldn't help but be invested in them.
Disclosure: I received a digital review copy of this book Brigids Gate Press through NetGalley.

A chaotically haunting and gruesome exploration of how far a person might go for their pain to be validated and how one's own mind can become their worst enemy.

Versed, peculiar and creepy.... I'm not entirely sure what I just read, but it certainly kept my attention.

Thank you NetGalley and BGP for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Date: 6/16/23

This wasn't for me at all. Absolutely hated the layout, I can see what the author is trying to do, but no just stick to a normal format.
I just had no sympathy for the character. They are an annoying waste of time person who wastes doctors time. I don't feel the story flowed well either, it just seemed all over the place. Maybe that's the point? But not for me.

This book wasn’t what I was expecting, but I do like the way the author approaches mental health and the experiences of the main character during their struggles.

The writing is not in a form I’d normally choose to read; it’s written in verse and works quite well for this story. It was captivating and really conveyed the anxiety and inner turmoil of Ashton.

Overall some parts were confusing to me and I wasn’t sure what exactly was going on once Ashton was admitted from the waiting room. Was there an outbreak? Who was the man in the lobby and the creature in the hallway. I think this would be classified as psychological/body horror instead of classic horror or supernatural.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author & Brigids Gate Press for a copy!

“you never know when something will happen. the world is unpredictably predictable.”

This was such a unique and fascinating book! The author did an incredible job writing this that I felt I’m the main character in the book and I’m going crazy through the story, it was insane!
The story was about a nonbinary character. Ashton is convinced they are dying so they’ve checked into the ER, something they’ve done many times before, but this time something is seriously wrong…
I was genuinely creeped out by the story and I loved everything about this book.
I highly highly recommend reading this brilliant story!

Thank you to @netgalley and @brigidsgatepress for providing me an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

I wanted to read this Book since it was shelved under Horror and the premise seemed too good to be true. The cover was well done, too.

I enjoyed reading about Ashton, since we share a few similarities.
Their Day at the ER of the local Hospital was nerve wrecking, but in a good way for me as a reader.
It was a bit like a study on how people like Ashton think and feel, as they manoeuvre through an episode like this.

The Author made it easy for me to dislike the protagonist, Ashton, with every sentence though. :)
At certain scenes it was hard for me to have sympathy for them.
<spoiler><b>Though there is the part in me who says, man… this person is a wreck and really should get professional help.</b>
As an European I am always in shock how a certain country in North America treats its patients with mental health issues.
There isn't enough care AND Ashton in this case really needs help, no matter if they want to seek it out or not.</spoiler>

𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫!
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐘𝐎𝐔, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞. 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠!

(Unfortunately to me!) It is mostly the less typical Horror and gravitates more towards suspense & a psychological/mental (back-)story sprinkled with horror elements.
Which is not a problem though, just a matter of personal taste!

I give it a 3.3 Star Rating, since the story was hard to follow here and there.
The writing style might be interesting to some… yet in this case it made it harder to read, at least for me.

What a fascinating read! I was immediately drawn in, made to feel nervous, curious, and grossed out - but wanted MORE, I found myself questioning what was happening, and yet loved every page. A unique book with a very unique style.. Highly recommended.

After checking into the hospital, Ashton is trapped when the facility goes on lockdown because of a patient with a mysterious disease. Although I love experimental writing and different formats in books, the very poetic style in which this book was written often got in the way of the actual story. I sometimes found myself struggling to understand what was going on, and reading sections multiple times before I could fully follow the narrative. However, this book is filled with beautiful, fascinating lines that I’m sure I will be thinking about for a long time. The mixing of science fiction and poetry is something that I am particularly interested in, and this book did a wonderful job. The physical horror of the things that are happening to Ashton reflect their complicated feelings about their own body in a way that is both thought provoking and wonderfully horrifying.