'How To Sleep At Night' is a book where very little and very much happens all at once. As I was hurtling towards the final chapters, I kept thinking to myself 'this cannot possibly be close to finishing, there is so much yet to be wrapped up and we spent SO LONG meandering around in the middle'. And yet, there it was. The end. For me, this novel was a solid 3.5 book - it wasn't bad, it wasn't fantastic, it just slotted itself somewhere neatly in the middle.

To be honest, I think this book is going to sink a little purely because of the context in which it was published. There are multiple long speeches given by the Republican candidate character Ethan that just made me feel exhausted and slightly sick reading them - which, credit to the author, because they are word for word what we hear on the hour now from American politicians who can't possibly believe half the crap they come out with. I actually skipped most of those because I just didn't want to read it. I found the secondary storyline between Nicole and Kate to be an odd addition - really, I'd have just read a whole novel about Gabe and Ethan and been done with it. It didn't intertwine well with the primary narrative and I honestly felt a bit disappointed whenever we jumped to their perspective because I was far more invested in the other storyline.

I enjoyed the writing and despite the speed of the ending and how everything wrapped up, I found the closing moments to be interesting - if slightly underwhelming. I don't know. With a concept like this, I just wonder if there was a narrative that was better suited to the idea, which isn't the thing we got. I'm not even underwhelmed. I'm not even whelmed at this point. Apathy isn't necessarily the best reaction you want to a book you've just read.

I really enjoyed this book and read it in just over a day! It was easy to follow and a unique plot, and different to anything I’ve read before. The book was reviewed by Dolly Alderton as shown on the front cover and I will literally read anything Dolly recommends. It was witty, fast-paced and full of family drama. It explores politics, loyalty and when the two collide.

I found myself putting my head in my hands on several occasions and getting second hand embarrassment from some of the very bad decisions from several of the characters. It questions the lengths we are willing (and not willing) to take to support our partners and families. My only critique would be I wish it was longer!

I wasn't really sure what the point of How To Sleep At Night, NYT journalist Elizabeth Harris's debut novel, was. It sells itself as being about a progressive gay New York couple, Ethan and Gabe, who find themselves at odds when Ethan decides to run for Congress as a Republican, but even this plotline is stunningly politics-lite. Then at least half the book is taken up with another plot altogether, as Ethan's sister Kate stupidly rekindles her relationship with old flame Nicole, even though Nicole is not only married with children, but has bad news written all over her. So it's character-led, maybe, but I found it difficult to warm to any of the characters. Ethan and Nicole, for different reasons, are obvious jerks. I started off liking Kate and Gabe but they are both such pushovers and make such dumb decisions (especially Gabe) that I eventually went off them. Despite the central conflict being about Ethan's party affiliation, nobody ever seems to think about the consequences of his campaign other than a few half-hearted moans. I then wondered if this is meant to be more of a social satire along the lines of of Laura Blackett and Eve Gleichman's Trust & Safety - but it's not remotely funny or sharp. I wanted a fun fictional take on US politics, but How To Sleep At Night is just blandly underwritten.

I absolutely ✨thrive✨ on these multiple POV stories where the characters are linked or know of each other and then how each story unfolds throughout the book. So when I spotted this on NetGalley I was hoping I’d be able to read this before it’s published. A huge thank you to HarperCollins UK, The Borough Press and NetGalley for granting my wish!

No spoilers but I was gutted when I finished How To Sleep at Night, because I’d had so much fun reading it. I feel like it could have gone a bit further into the characters future or jumped in an epilogue to see what they were up to months or years after the book ended. I want to listen to this on audiobook when it’s out because I think it would be even better professionally narrated.

I can see why this book will be talked about a lot this year and not just because of that cover 🩷💙 I’m so grateful to HarperCollins UK and The Borough Press for letting me read an advanced copy and I can’t wait to reread this when the book + audio are out on 16th January 2025!

This was easy to read but unfortunately did not hit for me. It focused much more on romance than I expected and the very minimal political commentary was nothing new. Every character in this book got on my last nerve - I can get behind flawed (and even unlikable) characters but these ones kept making reckless, if not downright stupid, decisions and I found myself not caring when things went wrong.

How To Sleep at Night by Elizabeth Harris is a sharp, witty exploration of love, politics, and personal evolution that centres on a devoted couple, Ethan and Gabe. Together since their early twenties, they have built a life in the New Jersey suburbs with a successful marriage, a young daughter, and stable careers. Yet, their bond is tested when Ethan announces his intention to run for Congress as a Republican—something he will only pursue if he has Gabe’s blessing. Gabe, a progressive, is torn between supporting his husband's dream and staying true to his own left-leaning ideals. As Ethan’s political ambitions grow, Gabe finds himself gradually pulled into the whirlwind of his spouse’s campaign, even as he becomes publicly labelled as the conservative partner.

Meanwhile, in a nearby town, Nicole, a suburban mother, is grappling with a sense of stagnation. Her vibrant past in New York City, where she freely explored her identity and a career in the arts, feels like a distant memory. Bored and frustrated, Nicole longs for something of her own, and she unexpectedly reconnects with Ethan’s sister, Kate—an old flame who now works as a political reporter. Kate, at the pinnacle of her career, is captivated by the reappearance of Nicole, just as Ethan’s controversial campaign begins to disrupt her world. Kate’s carefully constructed life is suddenly thrown into chaos, forcing her to confront not only her professional ambitions but also her past relationships.

Harris’s debut is a beautifully layered book about the complexities of love, ambition, and self-discovery. The characters are multifaceted and engaging, each grappling with their own evolving identities, be it through politics, career, or relationships. With its exploration of how we change over time and how those changes shape our connections to others, How To Sleep at Night is a captivating read that offers much to reflect on. The book is filled with nuanced characters whose struggles and growth resonate deeply, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a witty, intelligent, and thought-provoking story. For those in search of a book that balances humour with emotional depth, Harris’s work is a delightful treat that can easily draw readers out of a slump.

Read more at The Secet Book Review.

What if your conservative brother runs for Congress, his husband hates it and your toxic fling from 20 years ago shows up again? The narrators cycle through reporter Kate, brother in law Gabe and her ex Nicole as they all watch their lives combust around a NJ campaign for Congress. It's a timely and well written commentary on politics and when you wake up in your 40s and wonder 'Is this my life?'

I really tried to get into this. The characters are indistinguishable from each other. I had to keep asking myself "Who's this again?"

The politics is the main character in this story. And I'm not American so it fell soundlessly flat for me. The author is felt heavy handed in every word and her lessons or morals are clearer than any of the characters' motivations.

Dnf

I enjoyed this debut novel. As it got further into the story and the election was getting closer you could really feel the tension and atmosphere between the characters. It felt very real and I really felt for Gabe.

A must read! I usually know within the first couple of chapters how much I’m going to enjoy a book but I knew within the first 2 pages that this was one I was going to struggle to put down. There are not enough words for how much I enjoyed this book. It was entertaining, clever and the narrative was stunningly intelligent. I couldn’t put it down I was captivated.

This was a nice book to read, I read it quite quickly and it was an easy one to pick up and put down when I had a spare half hour. The story was interesting, it made me really think about what I’d do in the characters’ positions as someone who is quite set in her own politics. It was a fun read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my ARC.

A funny and lighthearted read, one for a rainy day. I enjoyed how easy this was to read but would have liked more character development and overall, just a stronger story. The book is ok, but not one that will stick with me.

Happily married with a young daughter, Ethan and Gabe find themselves at opposite ends of the political spectrum. Ethan’s drift to the right culminates in his announcement that he wants to run for Congress on a Republican ticket, but only with Gabe’s blessing. Torn between his dearest beliefs and his love for Ethan, Gabe lends his support to his husband, gritting his teeth at photo shoots designed to show how Republicans can be gay too. Over a campaign which sees Ethan publicly espousing beliefs Gabe finds abhorrent, their private life is picked over in public and Gabe loses the trust of his students and colleagues. Crunch time comes with the Primary.
Harris writes wittily, peopling her novel with engaging characters, but her exploration of the campaign machinery, the many compromises made and the effects on family and friends makes serious points. Given my interest in politics, this one had instant appeal for me but even if you find the prospect of a political novel dull, I’d still recommend it. Aside from political shenanigans, it’s about love, compromise and relationships wrapped up in a highly entertaining piece of storytelling.

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this book as an arc
This isn't exactly my favorite topic to read about but this book kept me interested the whole way through so l think that says a lot about the way it was written
It was serious and funny at the same time and I had a great time reading it
The characters were all flawed but that made feel more real even though sometimes they were a bit much If you are looking for a book that will incorporate politics and more important themes but still in a very casual easy to read way I think this is the way to go

(3.5 stars)