Everyone I know is dying - Emily Slapper

I really enjoyed the narration and really felt like she was the main character. I felt that there was so much to enjoy from the characters and they were nicely complex. I think this story worked really well as an audio book, and not sure that I would of enjoyed it as much as a physical book, I raced through it as an audio book. Many thanks HarperCollins UK Audio for this audio book in return for my honest thoughts and opinions

Highly recommend! As a reader, I love being invited into a character's head. To see and feel their thoughts in real time. 'Everyone I Know is Dying' invites us into Iris's mind, showing us the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I tore through the audiobook in no-time flat, listening at 1.5 speed because I couldn't wait. Sofia Engstrand did a wonderful job narrating the book. To me, she IS Iris.

No spoilers, but I thought the ending was very well done.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

5/5 stars

This book is a fascinating portrayal of a woman going through a mental health crisis. Narration was spot on and the characters were well-developed and multi-dimensional.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This novel follows Iris from the point that she breaks down following a promotion at work until she goes to see her GP for help. It’s a long, slow and painful journey and one that will, sadly, be relatable for many young women.

Three stars from me means that I believe the author achieved their aims and it’s a good book, but that I personally didn’t fall in love with it.

Three Word Review: sad girl slo-mo.

I thoroughly enjoyed this - as much as you can enjoy a book which encapsulates mental illness in such an Intrinsically authentic way. I’m glad I got the audio version - it felt like a friend was telling me their story; soft, comforting, and increasingly claustrophobic

This book is about a girl named Iris who feels really bad about herself. She jumps from one boyfriend to the next, hoping they'll make her feel good. It’s like getting a peek inside her head, and it's both funny and sad. Sometimes you want to shake her and tell her to snap out of it, but you also feel sorry for her. Her family life seems to be part of the problem.

The book is really honest about how people feel inside, and I think lots of people will relate to it. It's written in a way that's kind and understanding. I liked it a lot and would read more by this writer.

4 5⭐️ Just missed the 5 as I explained further, feeling beginning could have been summarised a little.

Wow ok firstly I'd like to say this this book is extremely raw, real and authentic I'd say the 3rd section of synopsis covers the story for the bigger part so come in to this knowing what your going to read / listen to may shake your own core values! It wasn't really what I expected but actually it was better!!!

At first, I found the beginning a little drawn out as the character is built with her life and various other characters around her. Possibly this is due to the fact I already have a good awareness of various mental health issues and had an idea of where it was heading but for me personally this part could have been summarised a little as it seems a little repetitive at times showing how Iris goes through the motions. How her mental health begins to decline is shown from her pov. However, at points, it does have you wondering exactly what it is going on for her. Is it something deeper than depression/anxiety!

We all live in a world where society impacts and affects our daily lives to the point anyone and most people have experienced at some point themselves where self reflection is required. Usually, at least the transition from teenager to adult if nothing else but anytime in life, and during this first half of the story, this could get a little muddled at points.

So moving on to when imo it really began to gather momentum was when we get to the section where Iris jas gone home for the weekend and is out with Sarah meets Chloe and others ends up at Paul's house and well I won't reveal details but this is where you can feel she is really spiralling feeling no control over her life and looking for a solution to escape her reality. She is searching for answers in a very lost and lonely world of which she doesn't understand. The anxiety, the fear, the darkness that takes over her soul after a bad heavy weekend trying to escape is so clear how much it has only exacerbated all her issues but also seems to be her breakthrough.

It becomes apparent after these events how isolated she really feels and moving forward isn't going to be easy but how can she continue to destroy her life as she has been doing one day after another she soon realises that only she can be accountable. "It isn't productive to just have a bath," is it? Well yes it is when you have been slendinf your days starinf blankly or on survival autopilot this is actually a really big deal to be able to manage self care yes it is everyday hygeine however when someone becomes deeply depressed this ceases to become important or necessary so this is a notable point that infact it is a big deal!
This is a very difficult vulnerable place to be with any mental health issues finding yourself at breaking point however thankfully for Iris she is able to get back up and find her own inner strength and recognise that she must take control.

This audiobook most definitely hit the mark at certain points as it brought me to tears at the authenticaticy the sheer rawness of these feelings for anyone who may have experienced depression / anxiety or similar in their lives at all to any degree I'm sure will be able to understand and relate deeply.

This is a good book particularly for younger adults who can understand in more of a self-help way than as an ideology which teens may do if they are in this predicament, so discretion on appropriate ages recommended.

This was well narrated with all characters drawing me in from the beginning, easy to follow and listen to without distraction.

With gratitude to Netgalley & Harper Collins UK Audio for this ARC in return for an open, honest review.

Listening to "Everyone I Know is Dying," narrated by Sofia Engstrand, was an experience that took me on a wild and poignant ride through the chaotic mind of Iris, a young woman grappling with her insecurities, mental health struggles, and the heavy weight of societal expectations. Right from the start, I was drawn into Iris's world—one that teeters on the edge of dark humour and painful realism.
Iris is a character who, at first glance, seems to have it all figured out. She is ambitious, fully engaged in her job, and has an interesting relationship with her boss. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that beneath this confident façade lies a tumultuous journey through self-doubt and emotional turmoil. I found myself both laughing and cringing at Iris's observational humour. Her sarcastic takes on her colleagues' lives and her desperate need to validate her self-worth through toxic relationships rang achingly true.
The novel leans heavily into Iris's inner monologue, which feverishly cycles through her daily rituals—like the ridiculousness of ‘scheduled relaxation’ and her meticulously crafted morning routine. At times, it felt like I was peering into the life of a brutally honest vlogger, exposed and unfiltered. This glimpse into Iris's thought process was often hilarious but also profoundly relatable. There were moments when I wanted to scream at her to wake up and recognize the self-destructive path she was on, reflecting the frustration many of us feel when watching a loved one struggle.
Slapper tackles heavy themes like mental health challenges, disordered eating, and crippling depression with an unflinching lens. The honesty in Iris's story is where the book shines. I found her narrative relevant and empathetic, striking a chord with the pressures young women face today. However, I can't overlook the fact that after the first half of the novel, I felt the momentum wane. While I was initially captivated by Iris's raw voice, the repetitiveness of her internal monologue began to dull the impact of her journey. The compelling start gave way to a sense of monotony that made it hard to stay engaged.
Despite its drag in the latter half, the book still raised important questions about self-identity, connection, and the pursuit of validation. Iris eventually starts yearning for deeper connections, questioning if there’s more to relationships than mere approval from those around her. This evolution, however gradual, felt significant and necessary to her growth.
If I had the physical copy or eBook, I would have loved to highlight memorable quotes and passages that captured Iris's inner struggles, but I found that the audiobook version truly brought her voice to life, making me feel her pain and humour intimately. The narrator's delivery made Iris's world even more accessible, allowing me to empathise with her plight as if her thoughts were my own.
However, as much as I appreciated the journey Emily Slapper crafted, I can't ignore that the second half faltered and that some readers might find themselves disengaged. It’s a story that begins with such promise and then stumbles—perhaps a reflection of life itself.
In conclusion, "Everyone I Know is Dying" is an undeniably clever, raw, and sometimes uncomfortable exploration of a young woman's existential struggles. It offers a striking commentary on mental health and relationships that is both relatable and thought-provoking. Just be prepared for a rollercoaster—while the beginning might grip you, the ride may lose some of its thrill as it progresses. I’m left with a mixed but ultimately appreciative feeling toward Iris’s convoluted journey. This is a book that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt the crushing burden of trying to fit in while navigating the complexities of modern life. 3.5 stars

Better than Sally Rooney?!
Unlikable, unreliable, self-obsessed-and-absorbed, confident, but actually extremely insecure Iris.

With activities such as ‘scheduled relaxation', a list of her wake up routine starting at 6:44am, exfoliating before shaving, stepping into the perfume, etc; this almost at times feels like reading a vlogger. A vlogger who is brutally honest and shows us her true self behind the facade.

I think the reason this is receiving such mixed reviews is because it is also so blisteringly true. Iris’s thoughts are definitely thoughts we have had at some point - sarcastically, or hidden deeply; dormant or repressed. Maybe just not as extreme.

As the story progresses, we see Iris realising how stupid her routine is, her perfectionism strained to breaking.

We follow along as Iris starts to yearn for connection, for more in her relationships. She wonders if there is more in looking for meaning rather than a nod in gratification or approval from people she, in reality, barely knows.

I can't understand why people don't like to be seen as objects when to be seen as an object is to be desired. This is why I keep coming back.

I do wish I had the ebook or physical copy so I could highlight and include more quotes in my review as WOW. However, I also loved listening to the audiobook as I think otherwise the monotony of the lists and Iris’s constant inner monologue might have got boring and frustrating for me. Listening to it made it feel like Iris’s very voice was inside my head.

Saying that, after the first 50%, I found I really couldn’t care for the plot or the characters. It started to feel repetitive and it lost that oomph from the start.

This started out ridiculously strong and then stumbled and then fell off.

Trigger warnings for mental health, disordered eating behaviour, and suicidal thoughts.

Thank you to Harper Collins for providing the audiobook in exchange for a review!

This was not my typical read and if I'm honest not a lot seemed to happen plot wise however it was absolutely compelling and I could not stop listening!

Iris is plagued by mental health and self-esteem issues, bouncing from man to man to validate her self-worth and her attractiveness. We're treating to every single thought that goes through Iris's head and some are laugh out loud funny, observations of all the people she comes into contact with as well as her internal monologue. At times she seems very self aware and other times I wanted to scream because I could see where she was heading. Her relationship with her family is strained and likely where a lot of her issues have stemmed from.

It's a very realistic look at some of the mental health issues people face today and I think many people, including me, will find it relevant yet also sensitively handled.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I'd definitely read more from this author again.

Saw this all over bookstagram so was desperate to grab a copy, so glad I managed to get the audio version. A few of us were approved at the same time so read and listened to it as a group. All members of the group agreed that it was an enthralling read/lusten. The characters are brought to life and have depth, this aspect of the book reminded me of Sorrow and Bliss. The audio was really well paced and the narrator a great match. The storyline is easy to follow , I finished it in two days because it was enjoyable. Cover art was great and would have had me purchasing the hardback from the book shop (I probably still will in all honesty)