#Netgalley

The Sleepwalkers immediately caught my eye, both for that dreamy cover and the description, which sounded like the perfect summer read.

Evelyn and Richard arrive on a small Greek island for their honeymoon. It’s the end of the holiday season, a storm is coming (in more ways than one), and although the area they’re staying in is idyllic, a refugee camp is situated on the other side of the island, heightening the couple’s awareness of their white privilege.
To make matters worse, their hotel stay was a “gift” from Richard’s mother and it’s not what Evelyn would have chosen. The hotel owner clearly has eyes for Richard, and maddeningly he both refuses to acknowledge it, and gaslights Evelyn into thinking she’s imaging it. Do I hate Richard a little bit? Why yes, yes I do.
The book is told from both of the couple’s perspectives, via lengthy letters they’ve written to each other, that over the course of the novel reveals some shocking and disturbing secrets they’ve both been keeping. Secrets that will truly rock their brand new marriage to its core.

The first half of this book was excellent and really drew me in. Around the halfway mark it starts to get a little bit muddled, although the author does pull it back in time for the ending. I have to say though, elements of the story felt a little too far fetched to me, and I’m usually pretty good at suspending my disbelief!

Overall I think this is a decent summer read but there are some grim themes in here that left an unpleasant after taste; if you’re looking for a happy beach read, this isn’t it. That said, I’m looking forward to seeing what this author writes next as this was an interesting concept, just not quite right for me in the end.

With many thanks to @netgalley and @simonandschuster for the early copy, as always all opinions are my own.

I love Scarlett Thomas’s writing and was super excited to read this new book. It blends the uncanny, mythical and eerie with a picture postcard location in Greece. Hard to write about without giving too much away but I loved the structure which slowly gives us clues as to what is going on and the cast of articulately drawn characters. Not your average holiday mystery, and all the better for it. Loved it.

For fans of Patricia Highsmith, Victoria Hislop and Deborah Levy (which I am)! This book, which starts as a letter from Evelyn to her husband at the curtailment of their honeymoon, feels tense throughout but for the first half I didn’t know why. It’s extraordinarily clever and original and an utterly addictive read.

Reading this gave me the feeling of waking up in a hot room where you can’t quite catch a breath. I loved the setting and felt like I was there. There isn’t exactly chapters to the book (or if there are they are at times lengthy sections) which meant finding a break point could be tricky, but stylistically the lack of breaks suited the story and telling.

4 stars because I’m not sure I liked the ending. I think I’d have preferred something cleaner, less convoluted but still very enjoyable.

Thoroughly enjoyed this. I wasn’t sure initially about how the book was organised, with letters from different characters, but it all seemed to work well together in the end. It was an intriguing plot and there was lots going on that I wanted to know more about.

"The Sleepwalkers" is a scintillating gothic thriller by the author of "The End of Mr Y." Set on an idyllic Greek island, newlyweds Evelyn and Richard's honeymoon turns nightmarish as they unravel the mystery of 'the sleepwalkers,' a couple who drowned in a tragic accident the previous year. The hotel's eerie proprietor, Isabella, adds to the tension with her strange behavior, leading Evelyn and Richard into a web of deception and intrigue.

With clever storytelling, dark humor, and unexpected twists, the novel explores themes of toxic relationships and hidden truths. Combining elements of Patricia Highsmith and Daphne Du Maurier, Thomas creates an unforgettable, suspenseful, and subversively funny tale that cements her reputation as a standout author in modern gothic fiction.

Another book which is difficult to talk about without revealing its secrets: this mesmerising novel joins newly-married Evelyn and Richard on honeymoon in Greece, recovering from what appears to have been a total disaster of a wedding. In a powerplay that (it becomes clear) is far from unusual, Richard’s mother has booked them the hotel stay as a gift, but has reserved it between very specific and tricky dates at the end of high season. Evelyn’s irritation at this is not responded to warmly by Richard, which gives you the first of many tiny, little gut-clenching rug-pull realisations about their relationship: if you’re not in it together, perhaps you shouldn’t be in it at all. Much to Evelyn’s disbelief the hotel’s owner Isabella openly flirts with Richard and disregards or deliberately misinterprets Evelyn’s every request: yet Richard continues to insist that Evelyn is imagining it all, gaslighting his new wife and raising her frustration levels to breaking point.
Soon it is revealed that the slightly unsettling hotel is the scene of a recent tragedy where a couple - known as the sleepwalkers - were drowned at sea in a storm: with bad weather on the horizon again, Evelyn and Richard’s tempestuous relationship starts to mirror the climate outside. With travel options limited by lightning they really are stuck with each other, but they’ve also never been further apart: can they find their way back to one another before the storm breaks? A haunting, gripping thriller in a stunning setting that sees a relationship dissected in excruciating detail: you’ll laugh out loud in parts, and be totally transfixed in others. Perfect for a beach holiday, but perhaps not a honeymoon?

I have read other books by Scarlett Thomas and loved them and with comparisons to Du Maurier and Highsmith, I was thrilled to be offered an advance read of The Sleepwalkers. The story started well, and some of the writing was beautiful. I believed I was in for a treat. Sadly, however, I lost interest part way through the book. I did finish it, but I found some of the story confusing.

I'm sure there will be others who will love this book. Perhaps for me, the timing was off.

They check in to an exclusive hotel, the Villa Rosa, where the proprietor Isabella — a strangely intense woman of indeterminate accent — flirts outrageously with Richard while treating Evelyn with a rudeness bordering on contempt. Isabella tells them the story of 'the sleepwalkers': a couple who stayed at the hotel the year before and drowned in a tragic and unexplained accident. It starts to feel like the entire island is obsessed with 'the sleepwalkers', but what at first seems like a fun tale to tell before bed quickly evolves into a living nightmare. 

Firstly, I didn’t like reading page after page without a break and I don’t understand why a writer/publisher would do that. There seems no reason for it. It is the quality of the writing that kept me going. Brilliant descriptions of people, places and emotions make this book so readable.

The Sleepwalkers by Scarlett Thomas feels like a book that isn't doing anything, it exists, it's not bad, but can't say that it left an impression

This is a well structured, well written novel and it's set on a Greek island. What's not to love? And I'm sure many readers will love it. Unfortunately, it and I just didn't connect. I didn't like the characters and didn't really care about them or what happened to them. It did hold my interest, albeit barely, through to the end.

Some very good scenes and a strong story overall, although many plot twists failed to convince. The comparisons to Daphne Du Maurier and Patricia Highsmith are a stretch, to say the least, and I also failed to find much humour in it.

I would tend to dismiss the praise The Sleepwalkers has received as media hype but there also seem to be a lot of [independent] readers who have written very positive reviews. So it must be me, then.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. All my reviews are 100% honest and unbiased, regardless of how I acquire the book.

Evelyn and ROBERT were married against his family‘s wishes despite that his mother books them A honeymoon on an Italian island Evelyn has a bad feeling and it starts even before the hostess Isabell totally either ignores her or brings her something less than what she ordered and the whole time gives goo goo eyes to her husband ROBERT. She’s riding all this in a letter that will ramp up to eventually be a windfall I really didn’t see this book going where it went and for the most part I totally love that especially when Evelyn would mention something I would be like OMG that’s what that was I love books like that but I think the whole kerfuffle with the movie deal I DK I think it took it off the rails a bit but having said that I still finished it and would still recommend it because it is a good book you can tell the author has a massive amount of talent I would think it’s not easy writing a book that’s mostly letters and I do believe she did a pretty good job. I want to thank Simon and Schuster and Net Galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

A rather intriguing style, with unreliable narrators and unfinished sentences. I rather enjoyed trying to decipher the audio recording, written as heard so you almost had to read it aloud.

I think the reason that I liked it, not loved it, was there was too much going on. I really enjoyed learning about the protagonists‘ weird relationships, but the background plot on the island itself felt like a step too far. (Trying not to give spoilers! 🤪)

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

I found this book disappointingly
difficult to get into. The first section with Evelyn felt quite rambling, and while I liked the writing itself I felt I needed more to hook me into the story. Once it moved on to other characters and types of story telling I enjoyed it more, although whilst I enjoy an unreliable narrator, unfinished sentences and a very confused plot just made me feel a bit irritated!
I will look out for more novels by this author though as I'm interested to see where her writing takes her next time.
Thank you to netgalley and Simon and Schuster for an advance copy of this book

3,5 - Probably more ‘domestic thriller’ than literary fiction, but I enjoyed it and it flows nicely on audio whilst cooking or shopping. The setting is a Greek island (which always helps) and the topic is a honeymoon gone terribly wrong. The hotel is strange and the owner even stranger – or is it our narrator who is the strange one? What exactly has happened we don’t know as our narrators are unreliable and communicate with each other in letters. The plot is surprising and well thought through. It’s all pretty dark and clearly there has been a lot of cheating going on.

Scarlett Thomas's Sleepwalkers is funny, sad, dark, hopeful, and a thoroughly enjoyable read that I romped through.
The dialogue is good, the awkwardness of the couple is spot on, and the darkness slowly creeps in. It's entirely written in letters (at least I don't recall a non-epistle part except for the hilarious audio transcription) and from both the main characters viewpoints. I love a bit of relationship analytics. But it IS dark, and disturbing, and wriggles and moves through many themes and directions. It's perhaps a little confusing towards the end but perhaps I wasn't paying close enough attention to the subtle clues. (Which is a theme in itself!) In short: recommended.

The premise of The Sleepwalkers by Scarlett Thomas really intrigued me, and I was excited to be given access to an early copy. Unfortunately this book just was not for me, I found it very difficult to continue reading as I was not invested in the characters or the storyline. I did enjoy the setting and the depictions of Greece. and the storm. The epistolary nature of the prose was interesting to begin with but quickly became tired and kind of irritating. The section that is a transcription of an audio recording (with missed words and misunderstandings) was a unique concept but made for a confusing and unsatisfying experience. there are some very dark subjects in this book which I personally don't feel were handled with the care and sensitivity they required.
However, I have read many positive reviews about this book praising the multilayered nature and its creativity and uniqueness, I am very aware that this may just have not been the book for me and I hope it is a hit for other readers.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster UK and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Any book that has a (minor character) called the dapper little man who runs a local curio shop is always going to be a hit for me and this book was , mostly.

I absolutely loved the first half of this book, the Patricia Highsmith vibes are strong and the protagonist, Evelyn, was such a beguiling character . The book opens with Evelyn and Richard escaping to a supposed Greek island paradise to relax after the chaos of their honeymoon. However things go wrong, badly so.

This was a dark, funny, sharp and unsettling read. When the book switched narratives my interest waned a little but the book pulled me back in with its twisty atmospheric ways. What started as an examination of a relationship becomes so much more . A little unevenly paced but overall a deeply satisfying read.
Recommend.
4 star.

Evelyn and Richard's honeymoon, a surprise gift from Richard's mother, Annabelle, takes a dark turn when they arrive at Villa Rosa on the island of Kathos. Evelyn senses something amiss, from the unsettling behavior of the hotel's owner, Isabella, to the eerie stories of past tragedies involving sleepwalking couples.

"The Sleepwalkers" unfolds as a gripping tale of mystery and suspense, delving into themes of fate and the unknown. The narrative, told through letters, recordings, journals, and photographs, creates an atmospheric and chilling experience. While the format may require readers to connect the dots, it ultimately adds depth to the story.

The novel's strength lies in its unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The plot's ambiguity contributes to its unguessable nature, leaving readers in awe of the author's storytelling prowess.

Despite occasional challenges in piecing together the narrative, "The Sleepwalkers" is a captivating read that showcases the author's skill in crafting a compelling and suspenseful story. It's a journey filled with surprises and revelations that will leave readers admiring the intricate plot construction and the gripping storytelling style of Ms. Thomas.

This book started off so well - great setting in the Greek Islands, intriguing premise, unreliable narrator and some stylish and wickedly funny writing. However, around the 50% mark it took a weird, fragmented structural turn that jolted me out of the story for a while. It did recover but the lost momentum meant this wasn’t quite the book I had hoped it would be.

Evelyn and Richard are an English couple on their honeymoon in Kathos, a fictional Greek island resembling Samos. They’re staying at the ramshackle Villa Rosa, where the previous year two holidaymakers died when they apparently sleepwalked into the sea, a story which has piqued the interest of two Hollywood filmmakers who arrive at the hotel to buy the rights to the story.

The hotel is run by the beautiful and enigmatic Isabella who immediately takes a shine to Richard, much to Evelyn’s irritation. Doors stay unlocked at the hotel and there’s a sinister vibe to it all, the decadent beauty of the hotel a stark contrast to the squalid refugee camp on the other side of the island.

It’s obvious from the start that Evelyn and Richard’s marriage is marred by secrets and lies, though it’s some time before those are revealed to the reader, through a letter from Richard to Evelyn. It’s quite a shocking reveal too, so reader caution is advised.

Overall this was a very good read, albeit that the structure of the book didn’t always work for me. I loved Evelyn’s chaotic messiness, Richard’s bumbling uselessness (never having matured beyond his private schoolboy teenage years) and Isabella’s fiendish, manipulative ways. Clever, perhaps ultimately just a little too clever that it lost its smoothness. 3.5/5 ⭐️

*Many thanks to the author, publisher Scribner and @netgalley for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

In The Sleepwalkers, Scarlett Thomas dissects a relationship (or rather, allows it to dissect itself). Newlyweds Evelyn and Richard are on a Greek island where his mother, her mother-in-law, has booked an idyllic (...supposedly...) hotel for the honeymoon. However, fissures are apparent from the very start, with Evie resentful of Annabelle's machinations, which both required the wedding to be brought froward and had them kicking their heels in a cheap hotel until their room at Villa Rosa become free. Moreover, it's the very end of the season, the island is visibly closing down day be day, and the locals say bad weather is coming. And Evelyn feels that Isabella, the owner of the hotel, is slighting her, talking past her to Richard, flirting with him. It may be true - the partial account that Evelyn gives certainly supports that, but then Richard's (also partial) account doesn't, or may not. Possibly he, a man flattered by Isabella's attention, isn't seeing, or doesn't want to see, what's going on.

Their relationship is hardly built on sold ground - there is the Thing that happened at the wedding, some scandal or a revelation so seismic that of course Evie and Richard won't discuss it at all.

Reflecting that fractured relationship, we get instead partial accounts of their final 48 hours on the island, letters written by each to the other, sound recordings, scraps torn from a hotel guest-book and other remnants. Some are incomplete, meaning that sentences break off or whole pages are absent:

"I knew he liked my innocence, and so I wore my

'Slut!' he said, pulling my hair and"

The whole is assembled into an archive letter and offered for our enlightenment. The list of items is given at the start of the book, a list that the reader may assume will guide then through this volume, but it will lead you astray. Apart from the items marked as missing (such as the set of photos) others are absent, or given out of order, or simply incomplete. So from the start we're in unreliable narrator territory, the narrator - or curator - of the story being Evie, who's compiled the documents in this particular case for reasons that only gradually become apparent.

Evie is, as becomes clear, somewhat obsessive, not only about Isabelle but also for example about the "beautiful people", a group of mysterious tourists on the island who are, seemingly, not just beautiful but wealthy, privileged and annoyingly, well, unavailable. With Evie's obsessions and Richard's wandering eye, and the secret they're not talking about, this is an enclosed, almost gothic, atmosphere, with trouble clearly brewing.

But the book is so much more than that. Always good at exploring and analysing the expectations placed on young women (if I can write "young women" without sounding about 150) here Thomas really takes the gloves of to expose stresses, pressures and tensions - as well as predatory males.

I love the way that Thomas presents this story, a many-layered, collusive telling that, in effect, makes everybody a biased witness. It's just revelatory to see the different, self-justifying, partial accounts which it is tempting to try to resolve, perhaps, into a single narrative - even though doing so involves taking sides, making choices, judging, aligning, excusing. Here the bonus is that both Evie and Richard also dodge backward and forward, explaining their earlier lives to try and account for their more recent actions. Sometimes this seems to the point, sometimes it seems to meander. Sometimes one ostensible form of writing gets taken over for another purpose, for example when Evie's attempt at a playscript (she's an actor and writer) veers off to explore a painful episode of her earlier life. (I would give a context warning here for rape references).

The focus is often on the impossible demands, indeed the regular treasons, inflicted on women by men. There are some awful examples cited, from the life-wrecking inflicted on the unfortunate Chloe to a background of trafficking on the holiday island to a sober law professor sitting down a distressed student to tell her not to pursue her allegations against a couple of young men.

The fault line there is that between Evie and Richard, each of whom has secrets both from others and from themselves, the fragmentary structure of the book an ideal way to peel the layers back and reveal all (but also, due to the teasingly incomplete text, not all).

In keeping with the ravelled, incomplete and biased selection of sources we're presented with, the conclusion is also left teasingly unclear. This is a story that blends troubled personal relationships with possible criminal conspiracy, the two acting and reacting in unpredictable ways, and there are various ways we can imagine it resolving - few of them however good.

It's a complex, engaging and passionate story, in many respects a tragedy, the story often carried by what isn't said, by who isn;'t there, by letters that can't be found and things that aren't talked about. Silences can speak volumes, don't you think?

Strongly recommended.